Working on cutting costs

As we continue to tighten things up here, we fortunately find ourselves in the position right now of being able to both save up some money as well as hammering at our home equity loan. Yay! We've been making bi-weekly payments on it, which has really helped, but we want to get this thing g-o-n-e.

So we're going to take what I'm making teaching, throw a majority of it at the loan (in addition to our regular bi-weekly payment) and the rest into savings (in addition to the other amounts we are saving). Our estimate is that we will have it paid off in about six months.

And then there is the mortgage. We have been making bi-weekly payments on it (against "sound financial advice") and would like to get ourselves to the point where we don't owe anyone anything (other than the property taxes) -- the peace of mind is a very intangible benefit. As we've been discussing and researching this, I did come across this great video by Financial Peace University guru Dave Ramsey.

I'm sold on the idea of working down the mortgage -- I can then save that money, and more importantly take the amount that we would be paying on interest and dedicate that to the Lord (and take the added benefit of the tax deduction, since both interest and charitable contributions both are reported on Schedule A), and take the amount that we would be paying on the principal and put that into savings (for such things as home improvements and replacing vehicles).

And THAT will help give us some financial peace!!

It's good that we are reducing our electric usage

This way, we can pay more for our electricity!

You read that correctly -- WE Energies is asking for another 7 percent increase, due to "slowing sales."

As consumers and businesses scale back during the worst economic slump in decades, We Energies says it must ask for more.

The deepening recession is slowing sales of electricity more than projected, so the Milwaukee utility is asking the state Public Service Commission for a bigger rate increase to cover the gap.

Under the new proposal, residential electric bills are forecast to rise 7% in 2010, up from an earlier forecast of 4.9%.

The utility now is seeking $126 million in higher rates, up $50 million from its earlier request. The new proposal would mean an annual increase of $64 next year for the typical residential customer using 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. The typical customer's bill would rise by another $44 in 2011, under the utility's plan.

Well isn't that special?

Families in this state -- which is in a deep recession -- are cutting back wherever they can, including in electric usage, and what is the reward? Higher electric bills!

While WE Energies is not my family's utility company (WPS is), I can foresee WPS doing the same thing should this rate increase get approved by the PSC.

I drive my family nuts in making sure everything is turned off in rooms which no one is in, and to not run stuff (i.e., lights) if they don't have to. We are regularly monitoring our usage and finding ways to reduce it.

So using electricity is bad, but cutting back is also punished. That makes sense. NOT.

Birds of a Feather

60.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled today that Al Franken should be seated as the Junior Senator from Minnesota.

Now the Democrats have their fillibuster-proof 60 votes.

Hang on to your wallets, folks!

RIP Michael Jackson

I was never a big fan of Michael Jackson's but did like his Thriller and Bad albums -- in the last 15 years or so he just got too weird and creepy for me.

The moment I remember most is when he broke out at the Motown 25th Anniversary celebration at the Apollo Theatre, with his performance of "Billie Jean" -- it was an electrifying moment:

Join the Party of KNOW!

The Party of KNOW

The Party of KNOW has been started by WTAQ's Jerry Bader and blogger and businessman Todd Lohenry, and they are planning a gathering for Thursday, June 11, near Southwest High School in Green Bay, where President Obama is scheduled to hold a town hall type meeting on health care reform.

Become a member of the Party of KNOW!

What We're Losing ...

Heard Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone" from the movie Cars (a fave at our house), and the beginning lyric, "I'm American made, Bud Light, Chevrolet ..." (in looking at some of the lyrics, it could also be "I'm American made, but I like Chevrolet ..."), but now that it's Government Motors the government has taken over General Motors, will we ever again see cars made which these images evoke?



and ...



Sigh.

Quiz

Pick one:

Gov. Jim Doyle went to Washington D.C. to discuss:

1. How other states are dealing with huge budget deficits, similar to Taxconsin's.
2. How other states are addressing huge job losses and businesses leaving their states, like Taxconsin has been experiencing.
3. Choo-choo trains.

If you chose number 3, you are correct! Gov. Doyle was in Washington D.C. to discuss high speed rail trains with Vice President Biden.

Railroads are going to create some jobs for the short-term, but is Gov. Doyle honestly staking the state's future on this? That people are going to flock to Taxconsin because of it's choo-choo trains?

Yes, will the last business to leave Taxconsin please turn off the lights?

Now I will leave you with an oldie, but a goodie ... we'll need to get used to hearing it:

Ok, here's one more: