January has been VERY expensive

Dave Ramsey puts a "blow" category in his budget. It's for those moments of weakness and unexpected little expenses. It kinda makes it sound like he's a crack addict but none the less it's a very good idea. I make our budget SUPER tight, much too tight in fact. We don't have any sort of blow category. I'm not comfortable cutting back on credit card payments at the beginning of the month in anticipation of spending too much. If we spend too much and I have to cut back on some of the payments then, ok, you have to do what you have to do.

With three months of NO paychecks rapidly approaching I've devised a super tight budget as always only there isn't any extra for credit card payments. This month we've had numerous expenses that I didn't foresee and didn't budget (not to mention the husband's spending category has been ridiculously over budget).

$40.86 Oil change husbands vehicle
$45 Birthing class
$19 Stamps
$35.61 Hospital bill / blood work
$32.44 Oil change my vehicle
$60 Extra water payment
$62.50 Blood work for the dog
$295 GONE just like that in one month = sweating just a bit.


 I'm not panicking yet. I'm certain that we will be getting some sort of tax refund. I haven't budgeted that at all. But I am looking ahead to a year of financial struggle and headache. This is going to be one spectacularly FABULOUS and horridly difficult year. Ah, but we will survive and I'm certain we'll come out the other end of it much better off and stronger people.

Boz is the one on the right.

Praying against the unexpected expenses from here on out!!!

Oh, I feel I should mention that our little Bozzy's gum disease has progressed. He needs his teeth veterinary cleaned again and they said they'll probably have to remove another 3 teeth (at least). We're looking at another $500 bill on that one. We're going to have to put it off for a bit but it's SOOOO awful when your babies are sick. I just can't stand it   : (

Week 3 Wrap up

Anyone who's been reading along with this exciting journey of me attempting to pay off debts and change spending habits knows that I'm not a big fan of the cash envelope part of the Dave Ramsey system. I have however been pretty faithfully following the "spend cash" part of the plan since the beginning of last December and I've learned a few things already. It is easier to stick to budget with cash in hand, as opposed to using a debit card for purchases. The debit card and I have become enemies. We don't see eye to eye.

I've learned that when I run out of the week's cash I'm still going to make purchases (go over budget). BUT if I withdraw an additional amount of cash, say $10 and try to stick to that amount for the remainder of the week I'm much MUCH much less likely to go as far over budget. If I don't withdraw additional cash and just use the debit card for the "little" extras that we still need inevitably my budget will be blown sky high!

To put it plain and simply: It's just better to spend cash. I think I'm a cash envelope convert. Now I just have to remind myself of this and withdraw more when I run out. The debit card is off limits. No debit card! Debit card bad!

I ended up $18.72 over budget this week. Maybe I'm just in a funk but I'm feeling kind of happy that the overage is under $20, as opposed to being upset about going over. So far this year I've gone over budget 2 out of 3 weeks. I really need to do better than that!

Week Three's 34 Purchases (exact same amount as week one)
34. Subway $12.19
33. Cinnamon Roll $1.87
32. Coffee $1.06
31. Cereal $3
30. Grapefruit $2
29. Bread $1.50
28. Reeses 67 cents
27. Ground chicken $3.19
26. Spaghetti sauce $1.92
25. Noodles $1.34
24. Coffee $1.47
23. Thankyou cards $5.70
22. Coffee $1.06
21. Salad $4
20. Pizza $10
19. Coffee $1.47
18. Subs $13.77
17. PB cups 67 cents
16. Latte $3.76
15. String Cheese $3
14. Milk $5
13. Eggs 99 cents
12. An orange pepper $2
11. Carrots $1.50
10. Cucumber 67 cents
9. Romas 85 cents
8. Bananas $1.03
7. Detergent $12.29
6. Taco Bell (this is becoming a very bad habit) $3.25
5. Peanuts $3.49
4. Those darn Cadbury eggs $2.37
3. Stamps $9.50
2. Sandwich $2.12
1. Coffee $2.12

Sleep Eludes Me

SOOOOOOO tired!

AND I really actually hate money. Can we go back to working the fields and bartering our goods please? I'll get a cow and some chickens, have a big veggie patch, and probably almost starve during the middle of these harsh winters but at least I'll feel more like a human being* and less like a machine. Wait, I guess that's sort or what farmers and the Amish do... but there's still money involved.

This could go on for hours. Instead, I'm going to leave for work and try and be on time today.


*for at least the first 10 years of my life I thought we were called human BEANS. No one could ever explain to me how we were in any way related to a bean because they never understood that I was saying BEAN. I was very inquisitive along these lines for YEARS. It frustrated me so much. If I'd never learned to read you my friend (and I) would still be human beans (at least in my little world).

10 days left until 37 weeks.

We're up to 17 hooded bath towels now. SEVENTEEN for one baby!



(really, I'm not complaining about the towels here. Its just getting really funny)

One day at a time

I'm feeling a bit better today. I slept better last night than I have in weeks AND I had a nap today.

I've been doing pretty well with the budget this week. With only 3 days left I'm having one of those light at the end of the tunnel moments. Seriously every week I strive to make it to day 4 knowing that with only 3 days left I'm pretty much in the clear. It's hard work avoiding purchases all the time. There's just so much out there calling my name (food... it's pretty much all food). Obviously there's a lot that I do not avoid but geesh it's difficult to actually avoid all the things I do.

The count down begins. Only 11 days until the little man is full term (37 weeks). He's measuring big and with me being on my feet all day long I'm having quite a lot of contractions. He may be here VERY soon. Less than a month now until the actual due date. We're so unbelievably excited. I've been telling him everyday for weeks that as long as he's ready at 37 weeks we're more than ready to meet him. We'll see how it works out!

Baby Shower Round 2

I think I've turned into a monster.

I am mildly suffering from a cold and apparently colds and pregnancy don't mix well because I've been crying all day. None the less I'm feeling terrible for the feelings I'm experiencing after the baby shower today. You'd expect me to be overcome with gratitude and thankfulness, much like I was after the last AWESOME shower of blessings we received. Instead I'm feeling incredibly overwhelmed by all the STUFF that we just received, much of which we do not need at all. (we did get some GREAT gifts that will be used daily once the little guy arrives... but there was ALOT of... random stuff)

I live in a house full of stuff. I'm trying to bring as little as possible into this house now that I've come to the realization that we need very little of what we already have. I'm also trying to get rid of a lot of the stuff that we've accumulated that's just taking up space and causing me restlessness. Additionally I'm trying to pay off debt (alot of which is the direct result of said STUFF!). This paying off debt thing AND having a difficult time affording things we actually NEED, like car maintenance, dog food, healthy people food... oh my am I ranting... it's not exactly what I'd call fun.

Ok, okay get to the point. Now our unborn child has all this stuff of his very own, much of which is terribly unnecessary and I'm feeling very overwhelmed, and ungrateful, and like a horrible person. Well folks I believe I've officially turned into a simplist. I'm having a difficult time being thankful for the mound of stuff that's just entered our house. That's TERRIBLE! It's really terrible. I've become a monster.

I think I need to take some more vitamin C and go to sleep now. Good nite.

For example we received 15 hooded bath towels for our little guy. The husband and I only own in total 7 bath towels for ourselves. I'm pretty sure we don't need 15 hooded bath towels for the baby. Ok, I'm done now.

A Pleasant Tuesday Evening / 45 Goals Friday

The husband had band practice Tuesday night. I decided I'd take the few hours free time and focus on the 45 daily goals. I like them and the fact that they encourage me daily to accomplish a lot of stuff that I might otherwise have forgotten but I certainly have not been accomplishing them all on a regular basis. I'm pretty good with the financial goals: balance the check book, write down purchases, only use cash, ect; But I neglect a lot of the little ones that I put in place specifically so that I might enjoy the journey a bit more.

I successfully marked off all but 5 of them. I was late for work, so I couldn't mark off goal 16. I didn't eat enough veggies but I wasn't going to make a special trip to the store just so I could mark off goal 18. I didn't keep track but I'm sure I spent more than an hour on the computer (stupid computer); goal 29. I did not sell anything, or ear mark anything for sale; goal 31. And I did not accomplish anything artsy; goal 37. Although if I had an hour more free time I'd have ventured out into the icy night to take photographs of the snow covered cat tails and icy bushes.

It was very nice having the free time to mark off many of the other goals that I'd yet to tackle. Lately I feel like I haven't a moment free, ever. I took a long shower followed by foot creme (that always makes me feel pampered). I completed 2 loads of laundry (yes folded them too). I brushed the dogs teeth. It'd been several days since the last brushing. I spent some time reading the Bible, which was very nice. I got rid of a few more things from the bathroom cupboard that I haven't used in years. I also made a little home for baby stuff in there. I like the 45 goals alot. I wish I had a few hours every night to devote to them. Ideally I should accomplish most of them throughout the day but at least I was able to bundle them all together the other night and feel the success.

Ahhh, accomplishment!

The Goals: I highlighted the ones I've been accomplishing daily

1. Balance the checkbook everyday
2. Get rid of something useless everyday
3. Throw some change in the Christmas jar everyday
4. Cash envelope it!
5. Cook everyday/ Don't eat out (one weekly allowance)
6. Stretch please
7. Write down EVERY purchase
8. Sorry, no coffee shop coffee today (one monthly allowance)
9. Really sincerely thank someone today
10. Set aside $2 for future purchases
11. Designate $2 for the peanut
12. There's $10 for spending today
13. Remember your 50 cent sugar allowance
14. Pray... it helps significantly
15. DO NOT throw out food!
16. Be on time for work.
17. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit
18. 2 to 3 servings of Veggies (yes you can)
19. Lots and lots of water... about 72 oz.
20. Don't buy something; Just put it back!
21. Brush the dog's teeth
22. Read a book for at least 15 minutes everyday
23. Pay a bit of attention to me; sit in massage chair, or put on hot neck wrap, or use foot cream, or sit in a quite room with a cup of tea, something for me
24. Notice the lovelies... look, look, look and keep on looking
25. Go outdoors
26. Give something to the husband
27. Fold the laundry
28. Conserve energy: turn off lights, use less water
29. No more than 1 hour on computer
30. Take advantage of facebook and leave someone a note
31. Sell something
32. 1 pat on the back: Point out 1 positive thing about me
33. 1 pat on the back: Point out 1 positive thing about the hubby
34. Don't complain
35. Recycle (more)
36. Compost
37. Get artsy: Photograph, draw, sew, write, craft... DO SOMETHING ARTISTIC today!
38. The overdraft account is not an option!
39. Make some Bible time
40. Think about/ remember Guatemala. Put things into perspective everyday.
41. Eat Chocolate
42. Exercise
43. Tell my boy how much I love him and possibly sing him a little song (probably don't need to make this one of the 45 but I couldn't resist)
44. Blog

I haven't come up the 45th one yet.

Week 3 of 2012 Begins

I managed to stick to budget. Yay, hooray. Week 2 equals a success! I didn't make up the $11.09 overage that I was shooting for from last week but I made up 99 cents of it.

This week I made 30 purchases. The Jet's pizza was totally uncalled for. I'm surprised that I was able to pay $15.22 for a photo album and still make budget. There is also coffee shop coffee in those 30 purchases. I have these moments of weakness and I just can't do what's right. What a little kid I am. 

The other day I saw this 2 year old walk over to a carton of cupcakes. They were really good looking cupcakes. His mom was still getting the shopping cart ready; pulling it out of the coral, wiping it off with the little sanitizer wipe. He picked up the carton of 8 or so little cakes and brought them right over to the cart. He was too short to put them in it but he lifted them up at the side and attempted to get them in the freshly sanitized cart. I thought it would have made for a splendid first purchase. Of course his mother grabbed them, brought them back to the cupcake table, lifted him up into the cart and rolled off. He didn't protest but he watched the cupcakes fade from his view. 

I thought to myself, "now that little guy knew what he wanted." There wasn't anything special about the situation but he seemed so grown up about it. Just matter of fact, "I'm going to get these cupcakes." I was thinking that his idea was a rather impressive one. For a moment I thought I might give a home to the recently orphaned cakes. Then I realized that what I want is to get out of debt. What I want is to be financially stable, financially free, financially healthy. What I want is a good strong home for my little man and for my big man. What I want doesn't involve (too many) cupcakes, or dinners out on the town, or new things. If a two year old doesn't have to think twice about what he wants, "I'm getting these cupcakes," then it shouldn't be that difficult for me to act upon my impulses. Apparently I just need to get my impulses to line up with what I really want.

Week Two's 30 Purchases (4 less than last week)

30. Taco Bell $3.36 1.17
29. Sandwich $1.06 1.17
28. An Orange 40 cents 1.17
27. Coffee $1.06 1.17
26. Yogurt 40 cents 1.17
25. Eggs 99 cents 1.16
24. Milk $2.50 1.16
23. Cadbury egg 79 cents 1.16
22. Jets Pizza $15.89 1.14
21. Greenies (dog bones) $4.32 1.14
20. Panera $5.59 1.14
19. Photo Album for baby shower $15.22 1.14
18. Cadbury eggs $2.37 1.14
17. McD's ??? 1.13
16. Cereal $4 1.13
15. Grape Juice $3 1.13
14. Toilet Paper $8.13 1.13
13. Yogurt $2 1.13
12. Chai mix $3.85 1.13
11. Ground Chicken $3.19 1.13
10. Milk Bones $2.99 1.13
9. Spaggetti Sauce $1.92 1.13
8. Latte $3.76 1.13
7. Taco Bell $3.57 1.12
6. Peanuts $1.19 1.12
5. coffee $1.06 1.12
4. Banana 20 cents 1.12
3. Lunchable $1.58 1.12
2. cookies 38 cents 1.12
1. Yogurt 50 cents 1.12

Debt Quote Tuesday

The greatest inhibitor to economic growth is debt.
-I heard someone say that on the radio yesterday

Debt is bad!

I didn't exactly stick to the plan this week. The plan was to spend $11.09 under the $12 a day budget in order to make up for half of last weeks overage. I'm going to have to blame the "failure to stick to the plan" on a moment of weakness and splurge on Jets pizza. I just can't say no to Jets and we had a coupon.

However, there is only one day left in our financial week and I still have cash left in the envelope. It looks like I will at least stick to budget. I'm certainly not going to complain about that. I may have missed the mark with week one of 2012 but week two is looking good! AND I didn't buy any Cadbury eggs today. That's a tiny accomplishment in itself <smiles>

Today's Lovely: Crystal twigs. The snow began to melt, it started to rain, then it froze, and began snowing again. Every branch, every stick, every twig is coated in white crystal brilliance!

Baby Shower Round 1

We just got home from the first baby shower. It was great!

He's very, very real and active but I'm still having such a difficult time comprehending that in just a few weeks there's going to be a new little boy in our lives, in our home, in our family. It was AWESOME and overwhelming receiving all the gifts from the wonderful people who showed up for the party.

I can hardly wait to meet the little man!!!

Happy Easter???

THE CADBURY EGGS ARE BACK!!!

This could be bad for the budget. I've got 3 months ahead of me now of attempting Cadbury egg resistance. (I bought three of them today as soon as I saw them). Uh oh.

I've officially decided that Cadbury eggs are my favorite candy after the boutique chocolate from Vosges in Chicago. Those bad boy's run about $2.50 per truffle BUT they're a once or twice a year purchase and pretty much I only ever get them as a gift from someone who loves me. Cadbury eggs run about 79 cents each which seems like a ton of money for a small ball of chocolate BUT it's so worth it to me. It's a good thing that I won't be in the stores during half of February, all of March, and April.  That should help : )  I don't think I can resist those little chocolate eggs for too long.

Week 2 of 2012 Begins

Wrapping up the first financial week of 2012 I'm $22.18 over budget.

The $36.56 bag of cat food did not help the budget this week, that's for sure. The plan this week is to try and make up for at least half of the overage $11.09. I'm not going to set aside money for future purchases this week because obviously we've already spent it. I'll take $72.91 cash out of the bank, put it in the spending envelope, and shoot for a balanced budget this week. I also need to figure something out with the husband's spending. He's been VERY undisciplined since Christmas. I'm trying to keep a level head about it BUT it's driving me crazy.

I'm REALLY enjoying keeping track of all my purchases. I only spent money on 34 things this week. I'd say most people have twice that in their shopping carts on a regular basis. I could definitely have done without the lunch at Applebees but it seemed necessary. I was SOOO mad at the husband for his reckless spending and if I hadn't treated myself to that little outing with my sister I think I may have caused him bodily harm (due to bent up anger and frustration). I'm pretty satisfied with everything else on the list.


34. Fig Newtons $2.50  
33. Water 74 cents
32. Yogurt $1
31. lunchable $1.58
30. Banana 24 cents
29. coffee $1.06
28. Bread $1.67
27. Toilet Paper $2.50
26. Fish sticks $3.99
25. Sausage $2.89
24. Eggs $1.79
23. Shower Curtain Liner $3
22. Brownie $1.79
21. Pizza $12
20. Cereal $2.50
19. Chai $3.85
18. Blueberries $4
17. Milk $5
16. Coffee $1.06
15. LUNCH (applebees) $12.51
14. Cookies 41 cents
13. Lean Cuisine $2.00
12. Coffee $4.82
11. Dog food $40.99
10. Cat food $36.56
9. Lunchable $1.58
8. Bananas $1.17
7. Cereal $2.50
6. Restroom stuff 80 cents
5. Coffee $1.06
4. Eggs $1.79
3. Ketchup $2.59
2. Candy 15 cents
1. Phone call $2.00

Here's to a new financial week, hopefully a quick Thursday and Friday (as work is getting very difficult), a later blizzard than predicted (as I have to drive an hour home in the white stuff), and a day filled with lovelies!!!

Debt Quote Tuesday

The man who never has money enough to pay his debts has too much of something else.
-James Lendall Basford

I love this one. What is the "something else" that's standing in the way of your debts being paid? Hm, interesting...

Today's lovelies: A gorgeous morning moon. A beautiful sunrise on the way into work. A familiar sentiment evoking aroma of Guatemala in the air. It really is the little things that add spice to life.

Pondering Things/ People are GREAT

Praise the Lord for the weekend! Work is getting to be VERY tiresome and difficult (with 6 weeks still to go).

The budget for this week is TIGHT! First thing Thursday we bought food for the cat and dog who were completely out. All day Wednesday all our kitty ate was treats. The food will last awhile but there's $36.56 instantly gone from the $84 budget for the week. Yikes that's a hit!

I do have to say that people are very generous and I'm so blessed by everyone in my life. Tonite a friend gave us a pump, a bouncy seat, a nursing cover, two boppy covers, and a boppy rest thing that you can lay the baby on. We haven't even had a baby shower yet and people have given us quite a lot of hand me down clothing, blankets, shoes, hats, and the mother in law bought us a really nice car seat and stroller combo. I'm keeping a journal for the little guy and I've felt compelled a few times to apologize to him for our lack of purchases (I haven't done it though). We really haven't bought anything for him yet. I know ALOT of first babies get EVERYTHING brand new and shiny. It feels almost neglectful in a way to not be buying him the world but I REALLY want to be financially stable, debt free with a nice savings and able to be there for him. I'd much rather be his mom than his stuff provider.

I dream of being able to stay home with him (and his future siblings), do crafts with him, take him on outings, spend TIME with him. It seems you must choose between time and money. All I've ever wanted to be really is a mom. My dream is coming true BUT I can't be a full time mommy AND maintain the debt we've accumulated. My priorities are set and pretty shiny new things just don't fit into the plan. Baby step, baby step, baby step...

45 Goals Friday (ok, Saturday)

Four Daily Goals that I haven't done very often but that I love
21. Brush the dog's teeth: This is a goal that's been helping remind me to do a chore that I really dread but that really needs to be done.
22. Read a book for at least 15 minutes everyday: I've actually done pretty good with this one. I love that it's on my daily goals list because it's a great reminder to make the time to do something that I love to do. This is one of my favorite goals.
23. Pay a bit of attention to me: This goal is nice because it reminds me to consciously take a bit of time out to pamper myself, to relax, to let it all go and just be calm.
25. Go outdoors: I love this goal because even when I don't accomplish it (which is lame because it's the easiest thing in the world to do) it reminds me every single day that the real world exists outside of our walls; work walls, home walls, car walls. Even when we don't notice them the stars, the trees, the wind, the rivers, puddles, and lakes, the wildlife and majesty of the great outdoors is still all there.

Four Daily Goals that I've kicked butt with that I think are great
1. Balance the checkbook everyday: I really feel that this is the number one thing that keeps me on track with spending responsibly. I'm very thankful for this goal.
3. Throw some change in the Christmas jar everyday: I'm loving this one too. It's neat watching the money build up. I've never been a big saver but it's kind of fun knowing that you're putting away a little something for good future use.
7. Write down EVERY purchase: This has been great too, so far. It's neat jotting down what I bought and seeing that it's just the necessities. I feel pretty darn accomplished for having made it through a day successfully (financially speaking).
41. Eat Chocolate: This goal makes me feel great. Everyday I've made a point to eat a bit of chocolate and I always feel good about it because I'm accomplishing a goal every time I do. This might be my favorite of the 45 goals (43 so far).

Grrs

So I just typed out this longish blog with a nicely comprised rant about how angry I am at my husband for spending WAY too much money the past two days on frivolous nonsense. Then this lovely laptop that he just "had to have" deleted the entire thing. (we didn't just buy the laptop even though the previous sentence makes it seem as though we did. We've had it for awhile now. Just to clarify). I'm going to take it as a sign that I'd said to much in anger about the foolish man I love and leave it at that. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! <-that's me screaming! (on the inside... I'm not really screaming for anyone to hear. It might startle the pups and kitty)

On another note: The dogs now have food. The cat has food. Dinner has been prepared and consumed AND "we" didn't get take out... came VERY close. All that's left for today and this ridiculously long, seemingly never ending week is a much desired reunion with my pillow. Oh sleep, how I love you.

Today's lovely:  The stars this morning in the crisp deep dark blue sky were mesmerizing. Also, after I woke up from a somewhat accidental nap in my car during break time at work the sun was shining extra bright and it was unusually warm and comforting (especially for the middle of winter). Two extra lovely moments in one long day.

Goodnite.

Week one of 2012

Today starts a new financial week and technically for me the first financial week of 2012.

The budget for last week is officially balanced. I didn't think I was going to be able to pull it off but I did. And I'm super stoked! $12 a day to finish out 2011. Yay!

The cat needs food. The dog who's food comes from the vet needs food. We need food (the cupboards and fridge are pretty bare) but the week starts a fresh today and I didn't spend a penny over last week.

Success!

How Much Weight Did you Lose Today?

Apparently "attempting" to get healthy is a holiday season now. At least that's how the stores are making it seem. There are displays all over (including where the Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas items currently were) containing health foods, work out videos,  exercise equipment, you name it... it's get in shape time!

I couldn't help but giggle about it all day today while I was working in the stores. In my opinion "getting in shape" never really works. Diets aren't healthy. Trying to lose 20 pounds usually backfires a few months down the road and additional weight is found. Healthy living is a constant, daily lifestyle choice not a seasonal holiday type experience. If you don't regularly eat healthy foods then trying to eat healthy for a season won't do you much good. If you don't regularly exercise then working out for a few months isn't going to do you a huge amount of good. Thems the facts folks. For anyone who wants to get in shape: more power to you! But I think it should come with a commitment to live life differently then what got you to where you're at and apparently unsatisfied with.

It's the same with finances. If you stop using credit cards while you attempt to pay them back but then resume using credit you'll probably end up in the same mess all over again. If you stick to a budget while you're broke and then throw it out the window once you come into some money you'll probably end up broke all over again. Life, responsible living with grand results is much more difficult to transverse then we all acknowledge. Responsible healthy living cannot be a seasonal thing. Either you live it or you don't.

I'm pretty excited to be starting a second year of debt reduction, penny pinching, focused on financial freedom living. Every baby step gets you closer. Every good decision moves you towards that light at the end of the tunnel. I'm in this for the long haul.

I've 23 of the 45 goals accomplished for today. With the exception of two that I already failed at I should be able to get the rest accomplished before bed.

Today's lovely: The snow. We haven't had snow but twice this entire winter and it didn't stay for more than a few hours the previous two times. Today we're having a blizzard, a beautiful, ferocious, fluffy white blizzard. I LOVE the way snow completely transforms the entire world. It's breath taking, mesmerizing, awe inspiring, and today we're finally getting pummeled!

January First 2012

I wrote all the goals out and put a few photos with them. I still have two goals to think up and I'll add more photos later. I would like to have made my list in color but I couldn't find any crayons or markers so a black sharpie it was. The photo is awful but here's the list big and bold and hanging on my wall for me to view everyday.

I have a lot of challenges, a lot of hard work and stickin to it to do this year but I'm ready to start a fresh. I do not intend to accomplish every goal every day but it's something to shoot for. I think I'd be happy if I accomplish half of the list every day although I imagine it'll be much more than that. We'll see.

This morning I calculated our spending for 2011. The $12 a day spending ended up coming out to $13.70 a day. I think that's fabulous. I think I can officially call 2011 a success. 

Happy 2012 to all my faithful readers and everyone who happens to stop on by!!! This year has quite the potential  : )

BIG SHOUT OUT to my sis and sister in law, Bryallen, Out My Window, Joy, Michelle P, Tasmanian Minimalist, Louise, Kathryn, Hawaii Planner, Mysti, allie.duckienz, babybluewater, Absentminded Mother, Keshling, Andy, Mom of G, and Melanie who left many many MANY a supportive comment over the year!!!

I know there're many others who've commented and who are faithful readers without commenting... I greatly appreciate you all too!