Loan Denied

The bank denied my home equity loan request yesterday morning.  Freaked out, cried, emailed my friend Susan, then called the bank to see what other options I have.  They don't allow borrowing against your 401k so the only other option I had was a personal loan with a limited available amount, for five years, with an insane interest rate.  But I had to do it because I have absolutely no other choice.  So now I just have to figure out how I'm going to make that loan's monthly payment until I get my tax return back.  Then my wonderful friend Susan called me with a great idea!  She surfed the web and found you can get personal loans from Capital One (thanks Susan!!!!) so I looked into that. I submitted my application online, was approved, but have to talk to a rep on Monday to get the details to see if it's a good deal and then maybe can finalize. Keep your fingers crossed!  This whole money aspect is so stressful I cannot even describe it.  People say, "oh it will be worth it in the end."  Well of course it will be!  But that doesn't help that stress in trying to get money when you don't have it and then the stress of how to make the payments. I honestly don't know how people adopt twice!!!  I'm calling my tax person on Monday to see how bad I'll get hit with taxes if I cash in my company stock.  I just know the second I get my W2, I'm heading to the tax preparer to get my paperwork in to get money back as soon as I can :)

If anyone wins the lottery....remember me please :)
Gorgeous weekend, enjoy it!
~Amy

Eeekkk....Loan Date

So I have to pay my final agency fee on Nov. 12th. I pray the bank comes through with my loan by then!  I just got a stack of papers to sign today in the mail, signed them and am dropping them back in the mail tomorrow morning. I wrote on the coverletter that I need the loan by Nov. 8th. Let's pray it works!
~Amy

Second Trip Plans

Just heard from my agency and they managed to shorten my second trip by three days! I am SO happy!  I wanted to get Christian home as soon as I can before I go to my family's for Christmas. I have a large family and don't want him to get too overwhelmed, so the more time I have with him by myself the better.  So now for the second trip I will only be gone 8 days instead of 11....YAY!

I sent my sister the revised dates and hopefully she'll still be able to go with me. I should know in a few days, then I will be searching for flights.  Staying in Moscow is expensive but thanks to my adoption yahoo group friends, they clued me to apartment rentals in Moscow that are much more reasonably priced.  So I looked into that and I found one that will work great I think. It is close to the US Embassay and a grocery store.  It is also close to an interesting historical street with shops and restaurants that we can wander through as time permits.  Someone also said there is a park nearby but being there in December, I am not sure how cold it will be. I plan to wear layers and dress Christian in layers!  I have to wait to receive the "invitation" so I can apply for our visas. It is getting closer and I am getting more and more excited!!!
~Amy

First Trip Booked

I got my first trip booked for my court date.  Because I was able to book it early, I was able to use some of my frequent flyer miles and saved some money.....YAY!  I'm coming home during the 10 day waiting period and it'll actually be cheaper than if I stay there. So now I have to look into travel arrangements for the second and final trip to bring my son home. I'm still getting used to saying, "my son" :)

I got a cash out on my house loan when I refinanced so now I just have to wait to see if I'm approved for the balance I need to complete the adoption. I'm supposed to hear mid next week so I pray it's good news.
Otherwise I am putting the finishing touches on his room and need to take photos to take to court.
This time in two months we'll be home and starting on our life adventure together.  I am so excited!
~Amy

Upset with Travel Dates

I got my travel itenarary today and am upset by the dates. The first trip isn't bad, I'm just there during Thanksgiving, but I can handle that. I can't afford to stay there during the 10 day waiting period so I'm coming back home. The second trip is the one that upset me.  I have to travel and be there for 14 days!  I'm upset because again, the cost. I just wish I could get past the cost of everything, but it just keeps adding up and I have no money now.....hence waiting with baited breath to hear if I get my loan.  I thought coming home during the 10 day waiting period would save me money and never dreamed the second trip would be that long. So yes, I am saving money from the waiting period but that money I thought I was saving is now going to the second trip.  Yes I have heard it over and over again, and yes I completely understand and believe it, that it will be all worth it in the end when I have him in my arms. I just don't know how I am going to pay for it when we get home. I just hate that I am allowing my excitement for my "Gotcha Day" being overshadowed by my anxiety about money.  I am going to give it my very best effort to put it in perspective, make a financial plan and look to the positive.
Well of course, I AM going to buy a lottery ticket tomorrow....you never know :)
~Amy

Finally, paperwork done!

Whew!  Finally the court paperwork is done.  YAYYYYYY!!!!!!
The 2:15 drive to Jefferson City to wait 30 minutes for my state background check, then drive back to STL 2:15 was tiring. It was a beautiful day last Friday for the drive but for some reason I was SO tired. I had to stop twice to get a soda for caffeine and then I had an ice cream sandwich for my supper :) So off the documents go in the mail tomorrow morning. Let's just hope the judge is fine with everything.

I got my tentative travel dates today. Looks like I will be flying during Thanksgiving. Not looking forward to that at all. Several years ago I flew to visit my Grandpa and it was a mess, so many people traveling, flight delays due to weather and then they gave our rental car away.  I just pray this holiday travel will be better!

Holding my breath until tomorrow. I'm supposed to hear if my loan is approved...eeekkk!  If it doesn't, several people have given me other money raising ideas from robbing the bank to selling my body.  Well neither of those will happen because if I robbed the bank, I would definitely get caught and selling my body......well enough said about that :)

I came home to find the rocking horse I ordered sandwiched between my screen door and front door! I'm so excited, so that's my project tonight, to put it together.  Let's hope all the pieces are here this time. The other one had some missing pieces so I had to take it back and have another sent.  It's so cute :)
Off to start assembling......good night.
~Amy

Bank Visit

On my lunch hour today I ran to the bank to beg for a loan. Well not quite beg, but I did shamelessly plan the adoption card. I told the loan officer that I need the money for my adoption and if I don't get the loan, then I have to push back the court date which may be a couple of months.  So those of you who have been through the adoption process know that this is a very real possibility. Yes I am desparate and trying not to freak out, but I have to have a loan and absolutely do NOT want to push my court date.  Well it worked, because the lady surfed around on her computer, asking all kinds of questions, running numbers until we found a loan type and amount the just might work.

Now I have to complete paperwork and give them a couple of pay stubs, submit and pray I am approved.  My credit score is good so that should help. If approved, things will be extremely tight (I'll be living on PB&Js) but I think I can handle it until I get my tax return back. This type of loan will allow me to plunk down my tax return, then it readjusts so the monthly payment will go down, which is what I have to have.  So cross your fingers that I get approved!!!
~Amy