Quicken Softare Purchase

During lunch today, I ran over to the campus computer store and bought Quicken Deluxe 2008! I can't wait to get going with it! Along with tracking my budget, it'll also help with savings goals. It's been a long time since I've tried to stick with a budget, and decided to do it now. I had a birthday day before yesterday, and decided this was one of my goals for this coming year. No doubt, it'll help me save for a new home.

I did a little research to decide between Quicken and Microsoft Money. I asked around, posted to message boards, even checked out Yahoo Answers, and decided to go with Quicken. I'll post in a few days to let you know how it goes.

George's grandparents gave me some money for my birthday and Hanukkah, so I used that to purchase the software. I'd been thinking about buying it for quite some time, so I'm grateful.

Subprime Mortgage Crisis

With all the mess surrounding the subprime mortgage crisis, it makes me want to take extra care with my finances and saving for a downpayment. More inspiration to keep my nose clean and keep saving!

World's Most Expensive Homes 2007

Well, I'll never be able to afford one of the homes on this list, it's still fun to dream!

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/103723/World's-Most-Expensive-Homes-2007

A neighborhood to check out later

I was out in northwestern (I think) Raleigh this evening, running errands and such, and decided to turn down a street to explore a little bit. I saw several townhomes for sale and decided to get a couple of the fliers available. Although they seemed a bit cookie cutter, the prices seem affordable. One has the asking price of $164,9o0, the other $158,900. These are 3BR, 2BA, two-story townhomes. The flyer with the most info said it's 1386 sq. ft., and is the cheaper of the two. It's only slightly smaller than our current apartment. Monthly HOA dues are $115. Community area has a pool and tennis courts. Built in 2004, the zip is 27613.

Back to the library

I'm returning a couple of house-buying books to the public library this evening. They're due tomorrow, and I've already renewed them online once. I guess I'm not that far along on the home-buying journey. Well, other things have priority right now, is what it amounts to. I haven't given up on the dream, and I am working on saving for a down payment and getting my finances in order. I'm sure I'll be checking those books out again in the future.

Location, location, location

George and I have been talking a little bit lately about location, as he and some co-workers were comparing rent prices between where we live and the Mebane area. Mebane prices are a lote cheaper then where we are now, but I wouldn't want to live in Mebane at this point! Too far out. I guess a good thing is that is has us talking about things that are important to us in terms of housing.

More advice

Yesterday I glanced through the 3rd edition of the book 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask: With Answers From Top Brokers Around the Country, by Ilyce Glink. It's a pretty thick book, and not one that I'd want to read cover-to-cover at this point, but it would make a good reference book. (I checked it out of the Wake County Library. ) Just in the flipping though that I did, it made me realize how much I need to get my ducks in a row. Okay, that and the fact that I spent more time yesterday shredding old financial documents. Doing that made me feel like I'm making some progress, BUT....I have a lot more organizing and goal-setting and saving to do. The thought of buying a new home is both exciting and overwhelming. I'm wishing I'd done a better job of keeping my ducks in a row before. All the paper shredding bummed me out a little, I must admit.

Things I need to work on including consolidating some accounts (I have several little accounts left over from credit unions and retirement accounts at former jobs) because bank balances count when applying for a mortgage, paying off credit balances, and stepping up my savings a notch.

Financial Goals

Recent unpacking and (especially) reading have urged me to set five financial goals for the next year, and not wait until January 1 to make such goals. Of course, one of my financial goals is to increase my home downpayment account. I'm using an online bank for this and a few other savings goals, partly for the better interest rates, and partly to make it a little harder to have access to the money. (Last time I transfered money back to my brick-and-mortar bank, it took a couple of days.)

Weekend progress

This weekend I spent some time getting my financial papers and information in order. Saturday I started a notebook of various accounts and balances, and last evening I spent a couple hours shredding old documents to help with consolidating and organizing current and important papers. Every time I've started getting organized with my finances, it's always been an eye-opening experience. I think I'm going to need to purchase a 2-drawer filing cabinet, would help me feel more organized than having various portable filing units around.

I started reading David Bach's Smart Couples Finish Rich over the weekend. I've had it on my bookshelves for a while, and decided it would be a good thing to read since George and I have made the commitment to move in together. I haven't shared the book with him yet. I feel like I should get my own financial ducks in a row anyway. My thinking it that he'll look to me as an example in all of this...what's working for me, and how I'm doing, and why it's important to be financially organized and all.

New apartment

George and I moved in together a couple of weeks ago. We like our new apartment, though we've had some glitches, including a change of address and a delay in getting our washer and dryer. We're on a cleaning schedule that's pretty rigorous, but so far it's working out pretty well. I imagine it will need some tweaking to make it ideal.

We have our share of doubles, especially in the kitchen--double pots, double silverware, double cleaning supplies, double George Foreman grills (!)--since we've moved two apartments into one. It's causing some space issues at the moment, but I'm sure we'll work it out.

Packing

I've been packing up boxes the past few weeks, and it's been an interesting process, going through my belongings and deciding what do to with them. I can't believe I still have some stuff, especially old bills and old clothes (I'm more of a packrat then I believed!). It's been a walk down memory lane, for sure, and I hope that the work I'm doing now will make the next apartment more organized.

I hope the next move will be to a new house!

Cleaning out the financial clutter

This week I've been working on shredding old financial documents as I get ready for my June move. I've been going through old bank statements, credit card and utility bills, various receipts, paystubs...it's amazing what I STILL have! Meanwhile, I'm hanging on the appropriate 3-7 years worth of paperwork, depending on what it is. I'm determined to have my financial papers in order when I move! Meanwhile, it's been a walk down Memory Lane, going through all those papers. It's good motivation to continue working on getting my finances in order for buying my first home.

New apartment!

George and I have completed our apartment hunt, and will be moving to Morrisville in June! I've excited to be getting away from our current apartment complex, which is lacking! The rent was cheap, but it's definitely time to move on!

We've enjoyed exploring the area around our new complex, which is close to shopping, restaurants, a movie theater, the interstate, and Raleigh.

Personally, it's helping me to get my apartment in order in terms of clutter....I AM NOT moving a bunch of stuff I don't want! I'm shredding ancient bills, making piles of clothes that are too big now, and getting a sense of better organization.

I'm also getting my finances in better order, which is great! For example, I've been paying for Earthlink dialup for the past year and a half while my computer has been down. When I do get a new computer, I'm sure I'll get Road Runner. It's time. Anyway, I'll be able to use that $21.95 a month in other ways. This financial tidying up will help in the long run, too, with buying my first home, which is part of the point here.

Exploring

Yesterday afternoon, I had some free time between my doctor's appointment and supper at the Rice House, so I drove down Guess Road to try to find the neighborhood that my fellow "Ricer" (Rice Diet participant) suggested I check out. I finally drove far enough down Guess Rd. to find it at the intersection of Guess Road and Latta Circle. It looks nice (but affordable) from the gate. It is a gated community, as she said, and gives the feeling of security. The neighborhood that I could see was all free standing homes-- a little different to same a gated house community in Durham. I've seen some apartment communities around here that are gated. I couldn't cruise the neighborhood because of the gate, so I'll try to find some prices online.

Thanks, Linda!

Thanks to Linda, a former co-worker, for the link recommendation for the North Carolina Hosuing Finance Agency. It looks like a really good resource that might help me get into a home sooner rather than later.

Something to think about

I'm still reading David Bach's Start Late, Finish Rich, and read an interesting story in there yesterday that's had me thinking. The author relates how he had a conversation with a long time friend who was lamenting renting, especially with a baby on the way. David Bach asked his friend what he would be willing to do to get into a house in 18 months. It has me thinking about setting a deadline for myself, knowing it won't be forever, but giving me a kick in the seat to head toward homeownership a little faster. I want to be careful but not drag my feet!

Reading and other things

I'm still working on the book, Start Late, Finish Rich. (I tend to have several books going at one time.) David Bach talks about the importance of home ownership, but so far, most of his writing on saving is geared toward putting money away for retirement. I need to work on a balance of saving for various things. I've started several accounts with the online bank ING Direct, which helps. It's easy to transfer money from my brick-and-mortar bank to ING, but I need to remember to do it consistantly for the various things (including my technology, next car, vacation, and emergency accounts in addition to the home downpayment account).

George and I have looked at several apartment complexes together, which has been fun for the most part, but has led to some interesting discussions as well. My next home will be another apartment, I'm sure. Meanwhile, I'm getting back into cleaning my own place, which is in need of a clutter sweep in several places. One of my main goals is to reduce the "hot spots" that attract clutter in my apartment.

Fresh Start

With the new year here, my main resolution is improving my financial situation. I want to become a financial whiz in time, but first I need to get my financial house in order! I've picked up Start Late, Finish Rich, by David Bach again, and am looking forward to finishing the book this time! He gives some pretty good advice so far, mainly having to do with not worring about the financial mistakes you made in the past, start fresh today! Sure, you may have to pay for some past mistakes (like with higher interest rates for past credit mistakes), but it's important to think and work forward.