[this is a ymoyl update.]

the expense line went through the roof last month, but it’s all right. i refinanced my mortgage, exchanging the remaining 13 years of my 7% loan for a 10-year one at 4.375%. i decided to pay the closing costs in cash instead of rolling them into the loan, so $3,434.95 went there. in the end, i’ll save $22,103.41 over what i would have paid if i’d stayed with my original loan. the graph will even out over the next couple of months; my first payment on the new loan isn’t due until september.