We are not rich

I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting surprises in our bank account!!! Not only did our federal taxes get deposited sometime during the night but Josh got a little extra on his paycheck too!

Minneapolis school district had a pay freeze in affect for the last two years so no raises were given and no pay increases were given for completing masters degrees and such. Well last fall they determined they had no right to put the pay freeze in affect and all teachers were promised some back pay to catch them up. This was going to happen in December and January. December and January's checks came and they were a little larger than normal, we were satisfied. Josh isn't making a lot of money but it is what it is, being a teacher and all, so we were pleased with the small raise and backpay. Well then today's paycheck came...and it was bigger than the December and January's checks.

I don't really pay attention to Josh's checks, I'm only allowed to see the deposit, I don't see a pay stub and I don't know how to interpret the stupid thing anyway. I assumed everything was paid out in December in January and that our checks would be the normal amount from now on. So this came very unexpected- but what a great surprise!

Contrary to what many people believe we are not rich. Yes I make a nice income but it cost me so much money to get to that income and for the next 24 years I will be paying that back. So pretty much we live on a very tight month to month budget with not a lot of wiggle room.

Our new years resolution for 2011 was to be debt free (not including student loans and mortgage). So this will help us make a dent in our debt and get us going on our new years resolution!