I got my new Capital One Quicksilver credit card. After updating my spreadsheet, I decided to put my Chase card away and utilize the Quicksilver in order to earn the $100.00 cash reward once $500.00 is spent within the first 3 months of activation.

Well.....today was a pretty big "spend day". But I am very pleased with the path taken. Check it out:

I went to my local Ford dealership to get an oil change and tire rotation. While there, I asked the service man to provide me a quote on the top five tires from cheapest to most expensive. I told him I was about due for new tires and this would help me determine what tire I would purchase and also to shop around (they promote shopping their prices around).

The man was very rude. Almost like me giving him my money was a bother to his day. He was short, direct and project body language that said, "why do you need this information when all you have to do is let me sell you the tire I think is best for the price I think is fair and move on".

Well, that did not, nor ever would fly with me. To a fault, I suppose, I have no patience for companies, individuals or others whose job is to provide a service, yet, feel entitled to my money without leading with said service.

I tried to work with him and continued my line of questions regarding the quotes he reluctantly printed off for me.

Finally, I laid the quotes on his counter, smiled and said, "you may very well have just cost your dealership this sale, but before I leave, I think your boss may want some feedback on my time hear today."

So into the bosses office I sauntered! Twenty minutes later, I was the proud owner of four brand new tires, at cost, without the balance or mounting fees, tire recycling fee, valve stem replacement fee or any other fee they tack on. I paid cost plus tax. Total charge to the Quicksilver: $313.00/four tires!!!!!!

Of course upon returning home, I googled the tires and found that the cheapest retail price, via Monro Muffler was $675.00 plus tax!

I GOT FOUR TIRES FOR THE PRICE OF TWO! Now, do I think bitching to get something free is ethical or wise. No, I do not. But trust me when I tell you, although I have no problem paying $50.00 for a steak dinner, I better darn well get what I pay for, with a smile and good service to boot.

I then dropped about $40.00 in gas to fill 'er up, $30.00 on groceries since the girls wanted tacos in a bag, leaving about $120.00 left to charge in 3 months.

No problem. I will then send in my check for $500.00, paying the balance to zero, earn my $100.00 cash reward and throw that sucker toward my mortgage pre-payment goal.

Phew...what a spendy day. But hey, $500.00 worth of charges for $400.00....works for me...Jamie

4/9/14

Balance: $47.99
Deposit: $3.90
Balance: $51.89

4/8/14

Balance: $23.46
Deposit: $24.53
Balance: $47.99

$50.00 prepayment around the corner. That, along with my budgeted $50.00 prepayment per month is a nice little kick to the old principal pants!

As an FYI, I withdrew $45.00 from an old pass through checking account I found still open. From it I put $20.00 toward my Loose Change fund, $20.00 in my pocket for tolls/gas and took the remaining $4.53 I had in my pocket to round out the deposit. Also, of the $4.53, $.02 were found on the ground leaving the grocery store where I bought mild turkey sausage, a cucumber and edemame for dinner tonight. See, sometimes it pays to walk with your head down! Jamie

4/7/14

Balance: $22.56
Deposit: $.90
Balance: $23.46

Well, not actually.....in fact, here is the story/update. So, as many of you know, one of my financial goals was to increase my available lines of credit. My pre-goal picture looked like this:

1. Personal Banking Line of Credit - $40k
2. Personal Credit Card Line of Credit - $15k
3. Total Available Line of Credit - $55k

My goal tasks were as follows:

1. Obtain two additional credit cards and increase my overall available lines of credit

2. Determine no end date to the banking lines of credit

Outcome (including the LIE)

1. Personal Banking Line of Credit - $40k revolving with no expiration/loan mandates

2. Obtained a Capital One Credit Card - $15k

3. Obtained a Personal Bank Credit Card (was told it was for $10k)....upon receipt, I found out it was for $15k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. Existing Credit Card of $15k

Now, was it really a lie?!?!?! Nawwwwwwwww....an educated guess I suppose. But that said, I now have access to $85k in credit....again....just in case. Jamie

4/6/14

Balance: $17.11
Deposit: $5.45
Balance: $22.56

Wootwoot....over $20.00 baby!

4/4/14

Balance: $12.21
Deposit: $4.90
Balance: $17.11

Close to $20.00........this is really fun!

So, as you all know, my loose change is going toward my mortgage principal. My question is: what is the minimum you apply to your principal? Should I wait until I have $20.00, $25.00, $50.00???

I know every penny counts, truly I do, however, do you have a minimum amount?

4/3/14

Balance: $11.61
Deposit: $.60
Balance: $12.21

I think I may some dollar bills to add tomorrow. I have a five and my tolls will only be $1.10. We shall see!

Soooo....after reading RTW's Home Warranty blog and after much deliberation, consideration and thought, I decided to contact a Home Warranty company regarding a free quote. Below is the covered items for my policy quote......

Covered Items
Air Conditioning System
Heating System
Electrical System
Plumbing System
Plumbing Stoppage
Water Heater
Whirlpool Bathtub
Refrigerator
Oven / Range / Stove
Cooktop
Dishwasher
Built-In Microwave
Garbage Disposal
Clothes Washer
Clothes Dryer
Ductwork
Garage Door Opener
Ceiling and Exhaust Fans
Limited Roof Leak
Stand Alone Freezer
Well Pump
Septic System
Sump Pump
Septic Tank Pumping

Total Price for 13 months: $600.00
Total Deductable Per Call: $45.00

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again RTW

I have seen it used so often since I returned to SA and I am finding it hard to identify what it truly means. I am probably pretty dumb to not know this but hey, there is always the ignorant one in the family right?!?!

Nothing to add today! It's amazing how extremely bummed out I am over this. I even found myself looking around for a couple pennies at least. Oh well, maybe tomorrow!

Awesome advice and feeback....thank you very much! So, I called my lender and this is what I learned. First, you cannot attach your monthly mortgage payment to a credit card. Boooooooo.....although I really understand and respect the reasoning. But I also learned that there is no penalty, rule or issue with sending in multiple pre-payments towards principal at any time. They provided me with a specific address to send said payments and I simply created my own "coupon" outlining the following:

1. Blank Line for Date
2. Subject Property Address
3. Property Owner: Hey, that's me!!!!
4. Loan Number
5. Blank Line for Amount
6. Statement saying "For Principal Only"
7. The "special" address to mail it to (so I don't have to keep looking it up"

I then was able to fit five of these coupons on one sheet of paper and printed off 50. So I now have 200 coupons ready to use. Here we go. I may send them a check for $.12 today versus putting it in my Mortgage Payoff Challenge bucket! Hahahahahahahahahaha

Good Morning SA Family....so, I woke up out of a sound sleep at around 11:30 last night and started thinking....."why not make additional principal payments to my mortgage throughout the month, when funds are available, versus waiting until the mortgage payment is due and including the pre-payment with it?"

What say you? Should I simply photocopy a bunch of my mortgage payment coupons, black out the due date, use for the banks tracking purposes and start funneling in various amounts of money toward the princpal? I have never, in all my years and experience with principal pre-payment done this. I think it wise to first contact my lending institution to see if there are any "laws" against this or "processing fees" attached...but other than that, why not get the extra monies to them asap versus sitting on them for a month? Hmmmmmmmm......

Good evening SA Family.

As I blogged last night, it was a very busy financial day. Opening another account, applying for my second and third credit card and verifying the standing of my lines of credit and setting up auto bill to my credit card to start earning cash back rewards/gift cards (I am hoping to use it like a nice Christmas Club account)

Today, I am happy to report that I was approved for my final credit card! I received the email this afternoon! I am now the proud holder of $75k in available lines of credit.

God forbid, but If I ever need access to a large sum of money, albeit temporarily, I have the peace of mind knowing I am all set. Thanks Retired to Win for the support and encouragement! Jamie

4/1/14

Balance: $7.81
Deposit: $3.80
Balance: $11.61

Woooohoooo