Thanks all - it does feel good! I remember when someone here had a debt chain and cut off a link at specified $ paid down - and I remember thinking, OMG, I would NEVER get to the end of the chain, but we did! I'm not too stressed about the cc, since that was what we have credit for - times when we just can't /won't pony up the cash. And next summer we may take out a small equity loan to do some things we have been putting off forever and are now unable to do ourselves (more insulation, fix the kitchen roof/ceiling/floor, run electric to the barn).
Way to go you guys - I also love tea (and coffee!) but we are using down our stash. I figure we'll be through it by 2025, lol.... sweetana3, good buys! Joann's is a rabbit hole for me, and I don't even like the quality of much of their stuff! Still, I find myself with a cart, wandering around with a glazed look on my face - oww, look at the pretty sari fabrics! Oh, those wool plaids are SO pretty - what can I make with them (I don't LIKE wool clothing!!)? Wouldn't that fabric look GREAT overdyed and used in a rug?? What IS it about that place??
rosa, we have a lot of LPs too. What a great fix! Our stereo/turntable suffered a cruel death (think aging cat with a UTI...) and I took a chance on a small suitcase portable from ALDI, of all places, for $35. So far it's been great, plays all speeds ( I can listen to Benny Goodman again! All of his stuff that we own is on 78s) so I'm hopeful that has fixed the problem. If not, I have another turntable stashed somewhere, and when I run across it, I'll check the belt, thanks for the idea! I wonder if a piece of that non-skid drawer or rug liner would work for a mat?