Hello! I hope all of you had a great weekend and a great Valentine’s Day. It was a fairly relaxing weekend for us, and I enjoyed it very much.
Spending
Spending in the past week was again higher than normal. One reason is because we have a squirrel problem.
They managed to destroy a bunch of the soffits (I think that’s what they are called) in the back of our house and have been tunneling into our attic because it’s been so cold outside.
It’s almost baby making time for squirrels so I definitely want them gone before we have a bunch of baby squirrels living and dying in our home (we have been told by numerous people who said that getting rid of the smell of a squirrel is near impossible unless you cut out a piece of your ceiling and replace it).
They can also destroy homes by eating wires and causing fires, so we definitely want them gone.
Lets not forget about the constant chewing that they do right above our bed that sounds like a woodpecker pecking at a tree for hours at a time (and it always seems to happen between around 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.).
The other day we woke up from the sound and banged on our ceiling until they ran away. But then they came back a few minutes later and started again.
The cost is $200 for them to set up the traps and $75 for each squirrel that they remove.
They said that there are probably only two or three of them. They said they do it all humanely, so lets hope that it is true. They can’t just trap and let them go right near our house though, because they tend to nest for a long time and will come back over and over again since our home is now their home, so they are being released around 30 miles away (that is where the company is located).
We also added another machine to our home gym and I think our home gym is now complete. The cost of the addition was $500 after a 50% discount. Yes, it was expensive but it is something that we are happy to spend money on.
Business Income
February is going well for me. I finally received a few payments that I have been waiting on for what feels like forever, which is always nice. I’m still waiting on a few more from December, but I don’t know if I can really hope for those anymore…
I also sort of can’t wait until this wedding is over so that I can start focusing more time on my business. It is extremely easy to take a break from work and look at the wedding section on Pinterest… Less than four months to go!
If anyone needs any help, check out my Hire Me page and let me know what services you are interested in.
Being healthy
I have been extremely healthy this month so far. It has been my healthiest month ever. I have been running anywhere from 3 to 5 miles each day (with a two-day break each week), I’ve been doing T25, and I’ve also been eating super healthy.
We also had a healthy meal plan created for us by a trainer and we have been sticking to it pretty closely.
Wedding Planning
Wedding planning is still going very well. I have no complaints. There are still many things that I need to do though. Oh the joy of having an outdoor wedding on a family property! 🙂
My next big task that I need to work on is creating a wedding website. Is there a website that you recommend for this?
I need to include directions on the wedding website (Google Maps or a GPS won’t take you to the right address), information about shoes (wedges will work for women, but heels may make you miserable since it is on grass), and dress code information as well since many people have been asking me about that.
The next thing we need to do is register as well. I have received too many text messages to count that have asked us where we are registered and asking us to do it ASAP. We are not sure where we want to register yet, mainly because we don’t really need anything. Living together for 7 years can do that though! I think we will probably just register for a lot of upgrades and replacements for things that we haven’t bought in awhile.
I want to register at Target just for their home section (they have the cutest pillows and decorations), but I have heard that their wedding registry sucks. Is this true?
Recent posts on Making Sense of Cents
- Reasons You’re Still In Debt – This was a very popular post last week. Do you know why you’re in debt? This is the first step to getting out!
- How To Eliminate Your Debt – After you realize why you are in debt and you can figure out what you need to do to stop the bad cycle, you need to work on eliminating it.
- $12,640 in January Business Income – January was a great month!
- Income Series: Stella & Dot Independent Stylist + GIVEAWAY – I love Stella & Dot, so when Alyssa e-mailed me about posting I could not say no. Plus, she is having a giveaway for $50 to Stella & Dot as well.
Have you been doing well with your income, spending and being healthy?
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[email protected] says
This month my health has been much better as my back issues have cleared up. It’s my bonus time however that’s spoken for from a family emergency. Always glad to see you dong well on the business income.
Michelle S. says
That is good that you are doing better Charles. I hope your family is okay!
MMD says
Sorry to hear about your squirrel problem. We’re having a pest control person come out today as well to do an inspection. I’m pretty sure we have an unwanted guest in the attic.
Michelle S. says
Ugh that stinks! Do you know what may be in your attic?
MMD says
We think it could be bats!
Michelle S. says
AHHHH!
[email protected] says
I hope they can catch the squirrels and let them go far, far away from your house! I wouldn’t want them trying to live in my roof either =/
Michelle S. says
Yeah it’s no fun at all! They completely ruined the back of our house and we need to get everything repaired/replaced after the squirrels are gone.
DC @ Young Adult Money says
A home gym is something I would love to have one day, but I don’t think we’ll ever get around to it in our current house. I’d want a little more room if I was going to go that route. My wife set up a wedding website on theknot.com for us, seems to be a popular option.
Michelle S. says
Yeah, our basement is fairly full right now. It will stink when we have to move because taking it apart will be a major pain.
DC @ Young Adult Money says
Oh I didn’t even think of that! Maybe you can just pay someone to do it for you? haha.
Michelle S. says
Haha I can only imagine the cost of that! The thing we put up last night took around 5 hours to build!
John S @ Frugal Rules says
Sorry about the squirrels. We had an issue with our house, before we bought it, as the inspector found some massive birds nest in the attic and we had to get it removed. Thankfully it was prior to us moving in as I think it would’ve unnerved my wife a little bit. 🙂
Michelle S. says
That’s good that it was before you moved in. I’m just hoping that the squirrels are removed quickly, I hate hearing them scamper around up there!
Lauren says
Sorry to hear about the squirrels- that would freak me out to hear them running around! Hopefully once they’re removed, they won’t come back!
Michelle S. says
Yes, it does freak me out! I’m so worried that they will start munching on wires or chewing holes through the side of my house. UGH!
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer says
You’re doing great with your health goals, Michelle!! We just had a squirrel in our chimney – hate it when that happens! Luckily, ours found his own way out. Hope you get rid of yours and that they stay out. 🙂
Michelle S. says
Thanks Laurie!
And yes, I hope we can get rid of them. We used to have birds living in our back soffits, but never got rid of them because they were never really too much of a problem, and they contained themselves to one spot so we forgot about the problem. However, I guess the squirrels kicked the birds out and added more to their nest so the back of our house is like one LOOOOOOONG squirrels nest now. UGH
Alicia @ Financial Diffraction says
I had a squirrel eat a chunk out of my driver’s side care seat last fall. Wasn’t impressed, but not worth replacing. My car is turning into more of a dump, day by day 🙂
Michelle S. says
Wow that is crazy! How did they get in?
Alicia @ Financial Diffraction says
Left my window down to air out the car. Totally my fault! But it was within a two hour window… talk about timing.
Michelle S. says
That is crazy!
Jacki F says
Don’t give up on getting paid. You did the work, you deserve to get paid for it. Not sure what invoicing system you use, but I use Freshbooks (Referral link: http://bit.ly/1dwaOio). It automatically sends out up to 3 reminders in 30 day increments (or however days many you want). Each one is worded stronger then the next. If I’m still unpaid after 95 days, I send a letter threatening small claims. I’ve only had to go through with a small claims threat once and even then I was paid before our court date. Send a few (nice) email reminders, then a certified letter demanding payment.
I recommend never starting work with a new client without either a deposit or a credit card number (or both). You should put these things in your contract, and word it so that if you are not paid by a certain date, you are authorized to charge the credit card for the amount due.
Michelle S. says
Luckily, the amount wasn’t too large, but I have been following up a lot. With one client, I have followed up at least 15 times. They keep promising payment, but I have yet to see it.
Liz says
Squirrels can be really destructive. My parents have a sprinkler system for their lawn. Somehow those squirrels managed to chew threw some on the wiring for the system and and the system broke. It was an expensive repair too. February has been going okay for us. We have to pay our car insurance premiums in a few days.. not looking forward to that!
Michelle S. says
Ugh that really stinks about their sprinkler system!
We just paid our 6 month car insurance premium. That is never fun.
Debt and the Girl says
I hate little critters that get in your house. We had a bad roach problem in the house and had to throw a few bug bombs in there but is was a major ordeal. It can be a real pain.
Michelle S. says
Ugh that stinks! During the summer we usually have a bad spider problem. AHH!
[email protected] says
We don’t really have that many squirrels out west, but there were tons in KY. I don’t remember them getting into my parent’s attic, but one did get in the house once. It was like Christmas Vacation! Our worst problem i s a herd of deer that eat all of the bark off our trees, then the tree dies. They are really cute, but big pests. Trees are expensive!
Michelle S. says
We have tons of squirrels, they are all over!
Michelle S. says
Wow that is crazy! I hope that doesn’t happen to us.
Shannon @ Financially Blonde says
I never knew that a squirrel problem could be that expensive! That is crazy! I wish that I was as healthy as you. Unfortunately with all of this winter weather, my work out routine has been in a funk. I can’t wait for the spring where I am going to kick it back into high gear.
Michelle S. says
Yes, they can be so expensive! The traps were just put outside around 5 minutes ago, so here’s to hoping.
E.M. says
My parents had squirrel and raccoon problems at our old house. They loved to try and nest right above my room, too! It was annoying to wake up to the sounds. The raccoon destroyed part of the roof about a month before they sold the house, which was horrible timing. I hope they don’t come back!
Michelle S. says
Ugh that is horrible! I can’t wait until they leave. I’m pretty sure I just heard them running around again.
Marvin says
Always hate to see critter problems, they can create absolute havoc on a home. Any amount of money you had to spend is worth it in the long run.
My wife and I are starting up our health regiment as well!
Michelle S. says
Yes, I can’t wait until they are gone!
Momager says
Ugh! We had squirrel problems like that once so I know exactly what you are going through. It is hard to believe that something so small can be so very noisy and destructive! We were late and had the mama and the babies in our attic. It was the worst. Good luck getting rid of them!
Michelle S. says
Oh my god how did you get rid of them after the babies were there? I heard that is the worst!
Momager says
It was awful! We thought they were out, had somebody repair the soffits, then the mama busted back through one, and left the babies behind. We used a live trap in the attic. They really liked peanut butter bread so we were able to catch all 5 (!) of them within 1 night. We put a temporary cover on the soffit hole until the repair guy could come back the next day. Never want to do that again!
Michelle S. says
Ugh that really stinks!
[email protected] and the Beach says
I had no idea about the squirrel smell and it being so difficult to get out. Ugh that would be pretty awful. Hope the traps are a success. Congrats on the healthy month! Despite my injured calf, I’m doing really well health wise too! If there’s a will…
Michelle S. says
Yes, I’ve heard so many horror stories about the smell! I definitely do not want that.
And that is good that you are doing well health wise still 🙂
Crystal @ Prairie Ecothrifter says
Sorry to hear about your squirrel problems. 🙁 We’re going to be putting a few hundred towards front yard beautification this week (10-11 new rose bushes and greenery, weed and feed, and new mulch over the tilled old mulch). We’re going to attempt to keep all other expenses to a minimum since February is being slow for our business.
Michelle S. says
We need to put some more money towards improving our curb appeal. There are so many things that we need to fix before we list our house next year. Luckily, we have a year before we really have to worry about anything 🙂
Samuel Pustea says
Michelle,
I know how it feels. Squirrels can be very annoying pests and I can’t imagine dealing with them all the time.
Being healthy should be a constant goal for each individual. I’m a bodybuilder also, so I know what it means to be committed to becoming a healthier person.
Since the new year rolled around the corner, I’m trying to be consistent with every aspect in my life. I need to put in 120% every day.
Thanks for the post!
– Samuel
Michelle S. says
Sounds like you are doing very well Samuel. Thanks for stopping by!
Fig @ Figuring Money Out says
Sounds like a great week except for those squirrels!
Michelle S. says
Thanks!
The First Million is the Hardest says
One of the benefits of having a dog…no squirrel dares come within 100 feet of our yard! That sucks you have such a problem with them though, I never realized they could do such damage to a house.
Michelle S. says
Haha one of our dogs usually eats them (sad to say, but it happens), but these squirrels are hopping from our front yard tree to our house!
Connie @ Savvy With Saving says
Those squirrels sound pesky! I’ve never liked squirrels – for some reason when I was little, I thought they were rats with giant tails. Maybe it’s the city girl in me talking 🙂
Michelle S. says
They are just rats with furry tails! You are right!
Michelle S. says
Haha well it’s because they charge for each squirrel that they trap 🙂
KK @ Student Debt Survivor says
I had no idea squirrel removal is so expensive! My office is in an apartment building (old hotel that was converted into residences for low-income people) and there are a bunch of mice in the ceilings/walls. One died in the wall between my office and my case managers’ office. It was the worst smell you can imagine. It was so nauseating they had to hire a special company to come in and cut a hole in the wall to remove the carcass. It was horrible. I think you’re doing the right thing in having them removed before you have any issues. It might be expensive on the front end, but will save you a lot of time, money and smell on the back end.
Michelle S. says
Yes, it’s so expensive! And yes, someone recently told me a story similar to your mouse story but with a squirrel dying between the walls. It is crazy!
Melissa S. says
I’m wondering where to register as well. I worked at Target for 7 years and although I never had a registry there I never saw anyone have a problem with it. I think I will register there as well. I did have a problem with Bed, Bath & Beyond’s registry. It was very hard to find the couple’s things they asked for. No aisle numbers etc. made it a guessing game. I have heard of looking into Macy’s or Kohl’s not sure though. I have though about a hardware store, or outdoor, recreational store like REI. I have also seen where couples give out their paypal account and money can be sent there for honeymoon or whatever.
For a wedding website I have seen the knot used and looks nice. I think I’m going to set mine up with them as well.
Michelle S. says
We are definitely going to be registering at REI. I’m glad I’m not alone on that one 🙂
Lisa E. @ Lisa Vs. The Loans says
I cannot imagine having to deal with squirrels! Hope the problem goes away soon.
As far as the Target registry – I think it’s great! My friends had their wedding registry there and they requested everything from appliances to home furnishings and even electronics.
DNN says
I missed this past post, but so sorry ot hear at the time you were suffering from squirrels disrupting you. Good to know you’re living out & about now.