Consolidating Old Accounts

Since I am re-assessing my finances, I decided to close out my poor performing mutual fund and put it in a CD at 5% if I can find one by the time they send me the check. This mutual fund was one that I opened about 8 years ago along with a IRA and another mutual fund invested in international stocks. When I bought my house I used the IRA funds and the international fund for part of the down payment. The international fund was a big loser. I think it lost 2/3 of it's value while I owned it. The other fund was sold to another investment company and it has only performed at 5% over the last 5 years. Well, I can get 5% guaranteed with a CD and I won't have to worry about the market fluctuating and losing value.

I promised my mom that when I got a real job I would take her to Rome. Well, I have had a real job for 8 years now but one thing or another has kept us from going on our trip. This money from my mutual fund is part of that trip money so I don't consider it a long term investment. I might need it any day. Now my mom wants to go on a train trip across Canada instead of to Rome. I hope we get a chance to do it eventually. I only get 2 weeks vacation now so it would be hard to get enough time off to go on a long trip. I think 2 weeks for a train trip would be nice. Maybe when I pay off my house I can take a leave without pay and then I wouldn't have to worry about not having enough vacation time. See, paying off the mortgage will give me more freedom! That is the biggest benefit.