Mooshocker's Personal Finance Blog

Heading to Libertyville Illinois Tomorrow

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:44:28 PST

I am blessed to travel to Marytown, the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, founder of the Militia Immaculata.

This weekend is the National Convention for all of the Knights of the Immaculata to attend.

I am so excited and blessed to be going! Please say a prayer for...

Spare Change Anyone?

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:05:44 PST

So, as many of you know, I LOVE using my own little forced savings practice. As a reminder, this is where I round my checks and deposits. If I write a check for $46.00, I make my registry entry for $50.00. If I deposit $200.00, I make my registry entry for $150.00.

As of last...

Spare Change and Forced Savings

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:39:08 PST

Although it has been a long time since I have blogged, the time has come to rejoin my SA friends. Great to see all of your efforts and stories.

My spare change container is full. Before the weekend is out, I am going to take it and the girls to the store to have them counted and...

Need Help with a Side Bar Ticker

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:51:41 PST

Hello SA Family,

I would really like to put a side bar ticker up to show the progress I am making with paying off my mortgage.

I thought it would be easy to do, but, I am not really good with computer things (always had my secretary or IT Department do it for me).

If someone...

You may have seen this before, but I had not so I thought I would share

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:50:42 PST

Slow Dance

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer. She wants to see how many people get her poem. It is quite the poem. Please pass it on. This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital It was sent by a medical doctor - Make sure to read...

Mortgage Payoff Challenge

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:42:19 PST

Let's try this. Every time any of you make a pre-payment against the princpal of your mortgage, drop a line. My personal goal is to pre-pay $6000.00 this year.

Now, some of you may find this a lofty goal. I do too. My wife really does. Especially since the money is to come...

Got my Juicer

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:08:14 PST

I finally did it! As I blogged a few weeks ago or so, I was in the market via Ebay, etc., for a juicer.

After much research, I decided on the Juiceman versus Jack Lalanes Juicer.

The Juiceman ran me $52.00 including tax, no shipping, right from Target.

The other juicer was...

First Time for Everything

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:50:28 PST

So, I asked my wife if I could take over the shopping last week. She does so much and I, although am working with a start up company which keeps me pretty busy, I felt I was ready to take on a little more of the household responsibilities.

So two weeks ago I ordered the Couponizer....

Dropped 14k today!!!!!!!!!!

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:51:21 PST

Okay...it's not as bad as it sounds. First, out of my $32k in savings, I decided to fully fund my ROTH IRA for the sixth year in a row in the month of January. There goes 5k.

Then, I decided I was tired of writing checks every month for my truck payment so I dropped $9k and paid...

Forced Checkbook Savings

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:43:21 PST

I can't believe the blog replies and other emails I have received regarding my "round up/round down" method for my check register. I figured I would start a new blog based on one of my replies.

Your questions and comments have been great! I understand how tough it is to keep track...

Off Topic but Very Important

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:11:09 PST

I am 37 years old. I am just over 5'10". That said, I feel I am about twenty pounds over weight. I would like to be at around 190 lbs but stand at 210.

I have been given a book on juicing. My thoughts are portion control, no sugars or processed flours, reduced carbs and not...

I am so jazzed about this "forced savings"

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:41:45 PST

Okay, so it's like beating a dead horse. However, I just want to stand on top of the roof and scream, TRY IT!

Round down your checking deposits and round up your checks written.

Keep a second register with true and accurate amounts that you only update when you balance each...

NSD Tracking

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:14:25 PST

Okay, I failed miserably keeping track of NSD. But this time, I am going to give it my best!

Starting yesterday, 1/11/09, I had a NSD. Let's see if I can keep track and report diligently.

Still Finding the "Rounding" of the Checkbook Astounding

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:38:45 PST

Some time ago, I suggested rounding up check's written and rounding down your deposits in your check register.

I started this around April, 2008 and once I balanced my account in December, I was astounded to see that I had "saved" over $2,500.00. A few bucks here and there which...

I Am Back!

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:48:22 PST

Well, even though many of you have not noticed, I have been gone for a while. Spring break came about rather quickly and thus, taking the wife and three daughters to Disney to "play" and spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa snowbird occupied a lot of time.

We all had a wonderful...

Found A Nice Treasure

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:10:11 PST

In a time when the market conditions are at its worst in years, real estate is at its worst in years and national confidence is at its worst in years, I thought I would share a nice little story with you from this past weekend.

On Friday, the kids were off from school as it was...

Spend Free Day

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:38:49 PST

After viewing many on this site who keep track of spend free days, I am going to attempt the same. You are all very inspirational and I think if I acknowlege each of my spend free days, the overall number may very well rise. Wish me luck.

My personal account will begin March 1,...

You AINT gonna believe this!!!!

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:18:43 PST

I was messing around online the other evening when one of those cavemen commercials came on for Geico.

I decided to try their online quotes. Well, I found out two things within a few minutes:

1. My current insurance agent who handles my home, auto, motorcycle, camper, rental...

Another unaccounted chunk in the checking account

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:25:56 PST

I really went off the deep end this last payroll, leaving out about $75.00 worth of deposit from my register. I truly can't wait to see exactly how much "savings" I have accumulated by using my "rounding" methods.

Getting ready to make a deposit

jshoemaker71@yahoo.com (J.T. Shoemaker) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:23:26 PST

I hit the 5,000 necessary points on my VISA card in order to redeem $50.00. This or course will go toward my mortgage payoff challenge. I peeked into the change bank this weekend and saw a $5.00 bill and some silver so I have to assume there is about $7.00 or so waiting for deposit.

I...