Making an Effort, No matter how small

I take time every week or so to reconcile my dads accounts (I reconcile my own daily). His checking, the checking I opened for him for his spending money, and any credit accounts he has that have an online system are kept watch of.

I’ve noticed recently that dad has taken it upon himself, without any sort of prodding from me, to start paying double on his Tractor Supply account (his largest account with the most ridiculous interest rate). He still spends money on this account for feed for the animals and occasional odds and ends, but the money he pays back onto this account covers that -and- his minimum payment.

So, slowly but surely he is actually reducing the amount of money on that account all on his own. This is a very good thing, and I am proud.

I’m sure it helps that he no longer has to go the wound-care center, which was costing $112/month in treatments + $50/week in gas, approximately.

He is making an effort, and making small progress. That is what counts. Now if only I could curb some of his spending 🙂 But one step at a time.

In other news, I got a surprising rebate today from my USAA card of almost $50. Hey, free $50 automatically placed onto debt repayments. I like this idea.

I’ve also noticed I am anxiously awaiting my bi-yearly auto-insurance bill. In fact I’ve been quite impatient about it, checking every day HOPING(??!) I can go ahead and send the money in that I saved up over the last 6 months. I started doing that 2 years ago and it saves me quite a bit of money paying the entire 6 months at once rather than each much individually. I just round up what they normally charge me and divide it by 6. That’s my payment to myself every month. After 6 months, I just send them a check with that money. Any excess (usually $50 or so) is usually placed towards any other debt or savings available. No stress, no worry.

To think in 2003 I let my car insurance lapse because I didn’t have the money to pay it that month. And it cost $150 extra to get it back on. Blah.