Madge H

How much did you spend getting ready for your baby to come, with such items as a crib, changing table, pack and play, swing, bedding, breast pump, you get the idea? What is really needed, what was 'nice to have', and what went unused?

My fiance and I closed on our house Thursday at 3:30 pm. At 11:00 am, the mortgage processor called me and said that some deposits to my bank account needed to be verified (she was insinuating that we had borrowed money from someone for the loan, but this was not the case). She said it was fine to go ahead and close on the house, and that we could get the verification to her after closing. At closing, we received the keys, and the seller and the realtors received their money. Why on earth is she wanting to verify my information/finances AFTER the mortgage has already closed??!! I understand that the money for closing needed to be ours, and not borrowed, but why is she needed to verify this so bad AFTER closing? I am just so confused and panicky.

How much does it cost to replace and install a heat pump?

We are looking at a house that is listed for $124900 in Winston Salem, NC. It has been on the market for 3 months, and is in a neighborhood with a lot of houses for sale (most of these are listed around 121K-123K, this one is more because it has more land with it). We are planning to put an offer in of $118,500, also asking the sellers to pay our closing costs of about $3500. Does this seem to be an acceptable number to begin negotiations? I don't want to offend the seller so that she doesn't even respond.

He does not do any drugs not, but used to smoke weed in the past. I do not feel comfortable with him hanging out with a punch of pot/coke heads. I know I have to be reasonable regarding his family, but I hate the fact that all of his friends are a bunch of druggies. Am I wrong to try to discourage him from hanging out with them and possibly seeking new friends?

I am going to graduate with my B.A. in accounting in Dec.2009, and start work on my Masters in January 2010. I am considering having my first child so that I will be taking care of the baby and going to school (probably part-time) at the same time. I want to be able to stay with my baby at least 6 months, and I am worried that once I start my career, I won't be able to do this, at least for a while. Has anyone else done this on purpose? Any thoughts?