http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454 Combining simplicity, frugality, and environmentalism Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:01:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-46949 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:57:11 +0000 http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-46949 [...] And we’ve agreed that the money we used to put in the pickle jar would go towards the mortgage. When we started paying off the lead HEL, we switched the pickle jar to that. Then, when that was going well, we started splitting the larger monies like from rebates, testing, Deal Barbie, and credit card cash back in 3s–pickle jar, Eric, and me. (And the pickle jar fund morphed into funds for treating visitors. Which we ADORE doing.) Except for testing, the money will go 1/3rd to treating, and the rest towards the house. Since testing is considered work (we pay taxes on it, and we split child care the rest of the weekend), we’ll split that as before. We’re not talking large sums of money, but an extra dollar now on a 30 year mortgage saves a surprising amount of interest. (Quick estimate with 5% interest on a $100,000 loan,an extra dollar a month saves you $471 in interest on a 30 year mortgage. Or almost 1 month’s payment.) [...] […] And we’ve agreed that the money we used to put in the pickle jar would go towards the mortgage. When we started paying off the lead HEL, we switched the pickle jar to that. Then, when that was going well, we started splitting the larger monies like from rebates, testing, Deal Barbie, and credit card cash back in 3s–pickle jar, Eric, and me. (And the pickle jar fund morphed into funds for treating visitors. Which we ADORE doing.) Except for testing, the money will go 1/3rd to treating, and the rest towards the house. Since testing is considered work (we pay taxes on it, and we split child care the rest of the weekend), we’ll split that as before. We’re not talking large sums of money, but an extra dollar now on a 30 year mortgage saves a surprising amount of interest. (Quick estimate with 5% interest on a $100,000 loan,an extra dollar a month saves you $471 in interest on a 30 year mortgage. Or almost 1 month’s payment.) […]

]]> http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-40586 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:25:59 +0000 http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-40586 [...] Just 15 months ago, I told you we planned to pay off our home equity loan in just 3 years. I paid it off today! I’m not sure when we actually got it, but I think it was about November 06, which means we paid it off in 15 months. WOW. [...] […] Just 15 months ago, I told you we planned to pay off our home equity loan in just 3 years. I paid it off today! I’m not sure when we actually got it, but I think it was about November 06, which means we paid it off in 15 months. WOW. […]

]]> http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-15336 Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:45:32 +0000 http://am.paulukonisstudio.com/archives/454#comment-15336 [...] As discussion previously, we’re trying to pay off our home equity loan early. As part of the plan, we reduced our household and grocery budgets. As these have been chronically difficult to keep within budget, I made a concurrent goal of bringing in an additional $50/month to put towards these areas. [...] […] As discussion previously, we’re trying to pay off our home equity loan early. As part of the plan, we reduced our household and grocery budgets. As these have been chronically difficult to keep within budget, I made a concurrent goal of bringing in an additional $50/month to put towards these areas. […]

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