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Comfort for Those of Us with Underwater Mortgages

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It’s not hard to wind up with underwater mortgages. When you have an underwater mortgage, it can feel like you’re sinking because you find yourself in a position where you owe more than you could currently sell your home for.

How Underwater Mortgages Happen

My husband and I bought our first and current house in 2007. My husband had just returned from a year of military service in Iraq, then I got pregnant (like, right away), and we knew we were going to soon outgrow our 2-bedroom apartment. Plus, we were anxious to have our OWN place in a quiet neighborhood, where we would no longer have to listen to our apartment neighbors yelling at each other and blasting their music at 1 in the morning. (We didn’t pick the best apartment complex to live in.)

underwater mortgageThe house we bought was the 3rd house we looked at (lucky number 3, right?). It was a gem compared to the first two, and had pretty much everything we wanted, so thinking that home prices were likely to just get higher, we jumped on it. Everything went smoothly, and a few months later, our daughter Heidi was born.

However, little did we know…

We bought our house at the right time for us, but the WRONG time for the housing market.

Shortly after we bought our house, the housing market crashed, and house prices began to fall. Fortunately, interest rates went down so we refinanced a couple years later to save money over the 30-year term of the loan.

But now – 6 years later – we still owe about the same amount we bought our house for in 2007. And now its taxable value is $50,000 LESS. So we – like millions of others – are “underwater” with our mortgage. We owe more than our house is worth. [Read more…]

Operation Glass Slipper at Southdale Mall, March 9-10

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Operation Glass Slipper’s 2013 Princess Event is being held at Southdale Mall, 3rd Floor, this Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10.

Operation Glass Slipper provides free prom gowns and accessories to high school girls in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area whose financial circumstances make it impossible to attend prom due to cost.

Each girl is referred to Operation Glass Slipper by an adult (school teacher, clergy member, etc.) who is aware of the student’s need.

Visit their website for more info!

 

 

Monkey House in White Bear Lake

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Yesterday my husband and I took the kids to the new Monkey House in Maplewood, a “party and play center” near Maplewood Mall. I heard it had just opened up a few months ago and we were curious. Plus, we wanted a place for them to burn off their energy other than at home!

Heidi at Monkey House

The Monkey House is located at 1815 Buerkle Road in White Bear Lake, just north of 694 and the Maplewood Mall area. It’s kind of hidden among a bunch of exciting warehouse-type businesses like carpeting and medical supplies stores (ok…not THAT exciting!). But it’s exactly what we expected otherwise – 5000 square feet of indoor fun!

Monkey House

[Read more…]

Easy Quiche Recipe with variations

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Easy Quiche recipes? Quick, easy and delicious. Who doesn’t like that? This is my go-to recipe for quiche (which I LOVE).


Ingredients:

Meat (if using) such as 1 can (3 oz) of bacon bits, 1 cup of cooked, cubed ham or bacon, or cooked sausage crumbles
1/2 cup chopped onion
8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crust
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half cream [Read more…]

Book Review: Pocket Your Dollars by Carrie Rocha

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I recently finished reading Carrie Rocha’s new book, Pocket Your Dollars: 5 attitude changes that will help you pay down debt, avoid financial stress, & keep more of what you make.

Carrie Rocha is the founder and owner of Pocket Your Dollars.com, a popular money site on the web based right here in the Twin Cities. I’ve been following her site for several years now (she and I started our blogs at about the same time), and have saved money by using her grocery lists (she lists deals store by store by combining sales with coupons available) and other helpful posts.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for myself. It was a quick read – it took me about 2 weeks to get through it, which is pretty good for a busy, working mom like myself (I’ve only read one other book cover to cover in the past year!)

Pocket Your Dollars was hard to put down! I kept identifying with Carrie throughout the book and many of the challenges she and her family faced while paying off almost $60,000 in debt. I enjoyed her many stories and anecdotes that engage and connect with the reader. [Read more…]

Presidents’ Day Thrift Store Sales – Monday, Feb. 18th!

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Today’s a great day to shop the thrift stores in your area!

Presidents’ Day Sales – Monday, February 18th

Savers and Unique Thrift Stores – 50% off clothing, shoes, accessories, and bed & bath. Excludes new merchandise (red tags). 9:00am-9:00pm.

Arc’s Value Village – 50% off everything, excluding orange & white tagged items. 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Goodwill (excluding Goodwill outlet) – 50% off Blue, Green and Yellow tags, and furniture. 9:00am – 9:00pm.

If you have another thrift store near you, be sure to check out their own specials and hours.

FREE Bridal Showcase presented by Goodwill in St. Paul – Saturday, Feb. 23

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Planning a wedding? Then don’t miss this FREE event presented by Goodwill in St. Paul on Saturday, February 23 from 9:00am – 3:00pm.

Find the dress of your dreams at a price you’ll love!

Bridal Showcase presented by Goodwill Goodwill Main Office
553 Fairview Avenue N
St. Paul, MN.

Find your dream dress for less:
Choose from new and once-worn gowns, including top designer names.

Free alteration consultations will be on-hand.

Shop for mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaid dresses.

Enjoy music, refreshments and wedding experts to plan the perfect wedding day!

FREE admission!

IRS delays 2013 tax filing season: 4 tips from my tax preparer

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We just got our family’s taxes prepared today – earlier than ever – because last month we got an email from our tax preparer about the IRS delaying the 2013 tax season (and subsequently, any refunds issued!). If you’re expecting a refund this year (like us), then get your taxes filed ASAP!

I’m sharing what he wrote in his email because it’s very helpful and important information for everyone! Read on:

IRS delays 2013 tax filing season

To be fair, I cannot really blame the IRS. The Congress held us on the edge of the fiscal cliff until after the New Year. When the politicians were finally done, it was already 2013. Guess what? The IRS now has to change the tax forms and reprogram their computer systems.

Imagine preparing for a wedding when the bride and the groom cannot decide whether or not they are marrying. When they finally agree, it’s the day before the wedding. Invitations are not sent, dresses are not tailored, caterers and entertainers are not hired… What will you do? Obviously, you will have to postpone the wedding. [Read more…]

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies Recipe

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To me, nothing’s better than chocolate and mint together. I found this double chocolate mint cookies recipe online a couple years ago – this is my own tweaked version. Note: It’s hard to eat only one of these!

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Double Chocolate Mint Cookies Recipe

The Ingredients

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder (I use Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa powder)
1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup Andes Crème de Menthe Baking chips + 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, OR 1 cup Nestle Toll House Winter Chocolate Chips (crème de menthe and dark chocolate –which is what I used)

[Read more…]

Kids and that Weird Phenomenon called “Eating”

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Drat, kids and eating your food, what is it?! I was just enjoying some homemade ice cream cake that a friend had given to me when my 2-year-old Thor stopped by to climb on me, only to discover what I was doing.

“Ehhh! Ehhh! Ehhh!” he said to me (that’s what it sounds like when he’s telling me he wants something).

“Okay, you can share it with me.” I responded. Then he and I exchanged bites of what was left of the yummy vanilla ice cream, caramel and Oreo cookie dessert that seemed like the right thing to be eating on a very cold, white and snowy day.

How my kids eat

Thor

HeidiThortableIn actuality, this is how Thor gets most of his food. I’ll give him his own plateful of food and place it on the kids’ table, next to the kitchen table. He may pick at it a bit, then play, run around, pick a little more, and play some more. Other times he’ll just come over to me and see what I’m eating (usually the same thing). Then he’ll crawl on my lap and try to eat off of my plate.

For whatever reason, my food just looks that much more appetizing to him, even when it’s identical to his. I guess it’s like when you try someone else’s homemade soup, eggs or toast, and for whatever reason, it just tastes way better than yours, even when it’s the simplest thing in the world to make. (Unless you really do make the best homemade toast…then I’d like to try yours!) [Read more…]