18 days till the big move..... (Springfield, Joplin: real estate, home, food)

[tzulady]

And grits. They have grits in Bolivar and south, so am sure they'll have grits in Cabool too. LOL!

[2beamissourian]

Originally Posted by mrsgenealogy

It's funny...when we bought last year, we were told that those deals didn't exist...and then we found one. And now, we hear they don't exist anymore for sure...and yet, you found one! This is a great lesson for those who haven't bought their home, yet...Don't listen to those naysayers! If you listen to them, you'll stay right where you are and nothing will ever change! Or worse, you'll come here and buy something for much more and then regret it later. Rent if you have to...I know it's a pain to move twice...but do it and find work (temp agencies are one option!) so you aren't just pouring money down the drain...but at least then, you can spend weekends driving around to find a home and an area that meets your needs.

For many of us, the dream can't be complete unless we save significantly on our mortgage. We had friends who had already moved here a few years before we did. They got a GREAT DEAL on a BEAUTIFUL home in Ozark but her husband didn't find work that he wanted and decided to open a business of his own. Well, that took money and then has taken so long to get where it is making much money and they have found it difficult to keep up with all their house and car payments.

That wasn't much change from their CA situation so once they saw what we had done, they sold their big home and moved into a smaller one, cutting their mortgage in half. So, let this be a lesson to you...it takes time to find them but if you can hang in there (yes, this can cost money, too), you can still find a good deal.

None of us know the future and the time has come to quit spending every penny we have. If we can stop trying to keep up with "The Joneses" (no offense meant if your name is Jones! ), we can create a simple life and start saving for our future...our retirement...and have money for those rainy days.

My husband and I are almost debt free with only a $30,000 mortgage to pay off. We plan to accelerate our payments once we are both steadily working and hope to have that paid off in 5 to 10 years, at most. We are both in our 50s and having been self-employed most of our lives, we have never had a real plan for retirement and no 401k or pension plan set up. So, we came up with a plan:
1. Sell our CA home
2. Move to MO and buy a home with a smaller mortgage
3. Quit using credit cards and buy nothing on credit.
4. Keep expenses down
5. Live within our means and say "No!" to our wants
6. Work hard while we can so we can afford to live when we can't.
7. Start setting at least 3 months and preferably 6 months of living expenses aside for hard times that may come, something that can be done since we don't need every penny we make just to "keep our head above water".
8. Begin thinking of and looking for ways to make income in other ways so we will be able to still earn money if one of us is injured or eventually, to supplement whatever social security we make, when that time comes.
9. Remember to enjoy life...not work our tails off just to pay for all the stuff...and not even able to enjoy it. This includes finding time for our hobbies since we won't be working every waking minute.
10. Set aside money and time to travel and to visit our families, which are two things that we struggled to do when we had to work all the time just to get by.

Well, I hope I have inspired some of you to keep dreaming and to turn YOUR dreams into goals. Then, pursue them consistently and diligently until you've attained them or changed them!

MrsG

I just read somewhere (a man who does taxes for daycares) says everyone should have at least 1000 in a acct set aside for emergencies..he says you should have this before paying off your credit cards ..because if an emergency comes we have a tendency to use the credit cards. If you stick away 10 a month ..you wont miss it ..thats about 1 trip to Mcdonalds ...that wont be missed!
Great advice.. I have been reading up on such topics lately. When we make the move we are hoping to be completely debt free. and planning for our retirement.
I am self employed so sticking cash away is a must .. at this time I do not have to pay quarterly. We also have to think our daughter will be reaching the age that we can not claim her any longer.
Lots of great advice Mrs G!! Thanks!

Life is not always about who has the most or whos home is the bigger .. its the love ya put into it that shows!

[CaboolBound]

WOW, mrsgenealogy, great advice. We looked for about a year before even making a road trip down. Hubby has lost everything once, due to a motorcycle accident, and vowed never to be in that spot again. We have 4 kids now and we learned a long time ago that nothing is for sure. We have no credit cards and no car payments. We got such a small settlement from this car accident that we decided to put a bit in the bank, just in case money, and we put 30% down on the house in Mo. I would have liked a nice vacation but I am so glad hubby has his head on right because instead we bought in an area where we can breath and not be financially strapped. We are living on social security and a small insurance benefit that I get paid to do things for hubby. I would love to have a brand new home and brand new car but I have learned that in a heartbeat your life can change for the rest of your life. We have a home now in MO that is all one floor, which is better for us, great view and is about 60-70% cheaper than where we are now. You are so right on everything that you said. I am 38 and hubby is 47,since our accident almost 3 years ago, we have no pensions or 401k to look forward to. I am glad that we never got caught up into living like the Jones. That would take too much energy. LOL We are simple people and we live within our means. It is nice to be able to sleep at night and know that you don't owe every tom, dick or harry. Anyway, I am babbling and I need to get things down. We are so glad that we got on this forum. You all are great and we can't wait to meet you all. God bless.
Kim

[2beamissourian]

Oh Kim I wondered what happen! I can sooo relate ..
about 7 years ago we almost lost everything .. I was in a bad accident .. was in bed for sometime unable to walk .. insurance was not paying up and was awful ..the accident was my fault i was working 15 hour days .. 6 days a week (got caught in the jones net!) well the police said I was not drinking but my body was in the same condition as a drunk driver due(No I was not drinking) to my lack of sleep and working to many hours .......... for about3 years after I couldn't even travel on a highway without being sick .. we went to Osage Beach this last weekend and the highway I think i have imprints on the door handle .....from hanging on like we were going to crash .. I guess that never will go away
(I drove down a embankments flipping my car bumper to bumper and went through a cement wall stopping inches away from a swollen creek bed)

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by kareybear

Wow that is some great advice MR.G.

Thanks, KareyBear! I just think it's important to share what we have learned so that others can learn from OUR mistakes instead of having to go through it themselves. Of course, not everyone agrees...or listens...but at least, we've tried! I'm glad you've listened...and grateful you took the time to acknowledge it.

Originally Posted by DeborahWade

I just read somewhere (a man who does taxes for daycares) says everyone should have at least 1000 in a acct set aside for emergencies..he says you should have this before paying off your credit cards ..because if an emergency comes we have a tendency to use the credit cards. If you stick away 10 a month ..you wont miss it ..thats about 1 trip to Mcdonalds ...that wont be missed!
Great advice.. I have been reading up on such topics lately. When we make the move we are hoping to be completely debt free. and planning for our retirement.
I am self employed so sticking cash away is a must .. at this time I do not have to pay quarterly. We also have to think our daughter will be reaching the age that we can not claim her any longer.
Lots of great advice Mrs G!! Thanks!

Life is not always about who has the most or whos home is the bigger .. its the love ya put into it that shows!

Great quote, Deborah! That tax man gave a simple idea and a simple way to follow through and DO it! I think it is a great way to start...because most of the time, we keep waiting for more money to set aside and wind up not doing it at all. I do, however, believe that three months is a more realistic goal for emergencies so hope that once we get in the habit of putting $10 aside, maybe we'll go ahead and put $20 or more whenever we can. Depending on your expenses, $1,000 could be a monthly or weekly expense budget so it might not carry you very far.

Originally Posted by CaboolBound

WOW, mrsgenealogy, great advice. We looked for about a year before even making a road trip down. Hubby has lost everything once, due to a motorcycle accident, and vowed never to be in that spot again. We have 4 kids now and we learned a long time ago that nothing is for sure. We have no credit cards and no car payments. We got such a small settlement from this car accident that we decided to put a bit in the bank, just in case money, and we put 30% down on the house in Mo. I would have liked a nice vacation but I am so glad hubby has his head on right because instead we bought in an area where we can breath and not be financially strapped. We are living on social security and a small insurance benefit that I get paid to do things for hubby. I would love to have a brand new home and brand new car but I have learned that in a heartbeat your life can change for the rest of your life. We have a home now in MO that is all one floor, which is better for us, great view and is about 60-70% cheaper than where we are now. You are so right on everything that you said. I am 38 and hubby is 47,since our accident almost 3 years ago, we have no pensions or 401k to look forward to. I am glad that we never got caught up into living like the Jones. That would take too much energy. LOL We are simple people and we live within our means. It is nice to be able to sleep at night and know that you don't owe every tom, dick or harry. Anyway, I am babbling and I need to get things down. We are so glad that we got on this forum. You all are great and we can't wait to meet you all. God bless.
Kim

Well, Kim, good for you! And good for your family! Choosing peace and security...and your family...over the stress of being in debt! I applaud you...and Jim, too!

You will never regret that 30% down that you chose over a vacation. Every month, when the mortgage bill is paid, you'll remember that it could have been more, and your gratitude will continue. Besides, you're going to feel less in need of a vacation because of your wise choices to live where you have and with less debt. Also, there are beautiful and inexpensive places to have fun all around you so you can go "on a vacation" often.

We put 50% down on our place and have a 15 year mortgage for the rest. Then, we put enough money in that bank so that they can take out our mortgage monthly for a year or so. That gives us a little less to pay each month while we're getting back to work and getting our businesses established. Wish we had enough to set aside for the other things, too!

Originally Posted by DeborahWade

Oh Kim I wondered what happen! I can sooo relate ..
about 7 years ago we almost lost everything .. I was in a bad accident .. was in bed for sometime unable to walk .. insurance was not paying up and was awful ..the accident was my fault i was working 15 hour days .. 6 days a week (got caught in the jones net!) well the police said I was not drinking but my body was in the same condition as a drunk driver due(No I was not drinking) to my lack of sleep and working to many hours .......... for about3 years after I couldn't even travel on a highway without being sick .. we went to Osage Beach this last weekend and the highway I think i have imprints on the door handle .....from hanging on like we were going to crash .. I guess that never will go away
(I drove down a embankments flipping my car bumper to bumper and went through a cement wall stopping inches away from a swollen creek bed)

Oh, my gosh, Deborah! YOU are the POSTER CHILD for not doing the keeping-up-with-the-Jones's thing! Bless your heart! I have to share what my husband used to say all the time: "We learn one of two ways...impact and repetition." It's amazing how often that subject comes up for me. Now, I'm the one saying it all the time! And YOU definitely learned THAT one by IMPACT! OUCH! So, moving to Missouri must be just another step in your journey out of that lifestyle and into one of simplicity and wisdom...not to mention, PEACE! Hooray for you!

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us! I can only hope that your story and the ones Kim and I have shared will impact many other's lives as they read them. Kareybear is one who appreciated it enough to share her thoughts...but most won't take the time. I still believe we have contributed to helping others.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! Hahaha!

Make it a great day, everyone!

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by tzulady

And grits. They have grits in Bolivar and south, so am sure they'll have grits in Cabool too. LOL!

Ya know, I have never had grits in my life and I haven't noticed grits on menus around here so I'm either gonna have to pay closer attention or just figure out how to make my own. They look simple enough.

Got a favorite recipe you'd care to share, tzulady? I'm sure I'm not the only one, ex-Californian or other, who might be interested. If not, I've seen them make it on Food Network and I can always go to their website and get a recipe.

Oh! Since you mentioned Bolivar and points south, do you by any chance have a restaurant you can recommend that makes it? Preferably in the Springfield or Ozark areas since I am near them. I rarely go to Branson but if you have a referral for there, I'd be willing to check that out, too.

If you don't have a recipe or referral, don't feel bad. Instead, how about a grits story or tip?

[firebll31]

For grits: find the nearest Cracker Barrel restaurant and order a breakfast (it's served all day, my favorite is the Uncle Hershel's Favorite). Be sure to tell them to include the grits. Then doll 'em up however you want- I like lots of butter mixed in, my hubby likes syrup.
OR
Buy Quaker Quick Grits at your local supermarket, in the hot cereal section. They're cheap so if you don't care for them, no great loss.

[da jammer]

I love grits, wife hates em. How is the Cracker Barrel restaurant..good stuff?? Always looking for nifty breakfast places

[mrsgenealogy]

Originally Posted by firebll31

For grits: find the nearest Cracker Barrel restaurant and order a breakfast (it's served all day, my favorite is the Uncle Hershel's Favorite). Be sure to tell them to include the grits. Then doll 'em up however you want- I like lots of butter mixed in, my hubby likes syrup.
OR
Buy Quaker Quick Grits at your local supermarket, in the hot cereal section. They're cheap so if you don't care for them, no great loss.

Thanks, firebll31! I'll do it! I haven't been to a Cracker Barrel but one time...and that was over in Joplin...and we didn't have breakfast so it'll be a first for us in Springfield. We'll try it with butter first...and then add syrup before it's done.

By the way, we liked whatever it was that we had before. Is there anything else there that you recommend?

MrsG

[2beamissourian]

Are you there yet .....are you there yet.... are you there yet??? ... mom where is my toothbrush.....mom I cant find my pillow .... well were are you now>?