$12 a day AND a baby on the way

Last Weeks Wrap Up

2012-02-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

As I'd expected it's much easier to not spend money when I'm not in the supermarket for 8 hours a day. This past week I only made 27 purchases and 2 of those were for a birthday. The budget for week 6 of 2012 came in a few cents under $12 a day at $83.54. Yay! Back on track (sort of).

Still no baby here. He's taking his dear sweet time, getting bigger and bigger everyday and mildly driving me insane but I'm doing much better now that I'm done working (just don't have any patience left).

The budget without any income from me for the next three months is still looking ok. The husband is trying to spend less... he is really trying. We've still had some stupid extra expenses popping up. I paid a $117 dentist bill last week. Life is SOOOO not cheap.

Week 6's 27 purchases and FIVE no spend days!
Feb. 15 NO SPEND
Feb. 14 NO SPEND
Feb. 13 NO SPEND
Feb. 12 NO SPEND
27. Milk $5
26. Cheese $5
25. Cranberry Juice $8.49
24. Peanut Butter $3.19
23. Apple Juice $1.97
22. Celery $1.69
21. MnM's (not for me) $1.25
20. Cadbury eggs $2.37
19. Birthday Legos $8.99
Feb. 10 NO SPEND
18. Blueberry syrup $1.39
17. Cherrios $2.99
16. Turkey $8.99
15. Milk $5
14. String chesse $3
13. Milk bones $4.99
12. Chocolate chips $4.59
11. Strawberries $2
10. Bagels $1.50
9. Cream cheese $1.50
8. Life cereal $3.34
7. Turkey bacon $2.59
6. Asparagus $1.04
5. Muffin mix 49 cents
4. Pancake mix $2.12
3. Cadbury eggs $2.37
2. Bananas $1.22
1. Light bulbs $1.58

44 Items of Clutter

2012-02-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.
-Henry David Thoreau

Only two posts back this was my debt quote Tuesday quote. I keep seeing it when I update/ open the blog. I really love this quote. Time is SOOOO valuable and our lives are so very full of things we need to maintain. Think of cleaning your home: If you husband is anything like mine then you spend a considerable amount of time each day just placing things where they belong. IF none of those things were present that time would be spent elsewhere. I love the idea of a simplistic minimalist lifestyle because it frees up so much time to embrace life, to be outdoors, to notice all the little things that make life splendid, to be with loved ones (free of clutter). I just keep reading the above quote and it just keeps stirring something in me.

Goal number two of the 45 is to get rid of something useless everyday. So far this year I've been rather preoccupied and haven't paid any attention to this goal. Today Thoreau inspires me to clean a little clutter out of life. I'm going to attempt to get rid of 44 things today; one item for each day of the year thus far. This is a VERY difficult task for me. Even though I love the idea of simple living, even though I hardly ever acquire anything new I have a terrible time throwing anything that could have any sort of use out. And when it comes to taking something to the thrift shop I have to wonder 5 billion times if I might in the future need said item. I'm rather ridiculous about not wasting anything ever. The other day at the mall my mother in law grabbed two handfuls of ketchup and mustard packets for her pretzel, used half of them, and then threw the rest in the trash. This little act of waste is STILL driving me crazy. Why would anyone think it's ok to throw out a handful of unopened unused perfectly good sauces???

So, 44 things of wasted space and unwanted residence in my house HERE I COME! (hopefully)

*so far the $12 a day budget for this week is going well : )

Past Few Weeks

2012-02-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit lazy with the blogging, with the budgeting (sticking to budget), and with the 45 daily goals. To be honest I'm up half the night, asleep half the day, and CONSTANTLY thinking about meeting the little fellow that I've been waiting for most of my life. This end part is atrocious.

Last week I went $39.06 over budget. The week before that I went $48.23 over budget. Both of those are pretty horrible outcomes. I'm not going to excuse either of them. In fact I'm planning on cutting $10 out of the budget each week for the next month in an attempt to make up some of that reckless spending. This week's going pretty well though. So far this year I've spent an average of $14.67 a day.

We'll see how it goes once the little guy arrives. I can't even begin to imagine what we're going to need or how our spending habits are going to evolve. I like to think the husband will be leaving the house a bit less so that'll save some money (fingers crossed). We shouldn't have any formula costs if everything goes according to plan and I am cloth diapering (no diapering costs... after I finish acquiring all the BumGenius we need). We can do this. Yes we can.

A quick update on the hooded towel conundrum: We returned several of the extra hooded towels along with some duplicate items and a few things we in no way shape or form needed which we'd received at the baby showers and we were able to purchase a nice swing for our little guy without spending a penny. It's assembled, sitting in the living room, and waiting patiently for baby (unlike mommy who's lost all patience at this point).

Debt Quote Tuesday/ I met a little Thoreau

2012-02-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.
-Henry David Thoreau

I'm fascinated by almost every word in Walden. As many times as I've read it I've yet to actually read through it. There's so much to think upon. Thoreau was such an interesting man with such an interesting mind. He lived quite an elaborate experiment. He's now respected by so many but in honesty what would you think of someone you know if they told you they were going to move into the woods with virtually nothing and build a tiny home, grow some beans, read books, and think in their down time?

If you're a minimalist like me you're thinking, "YEAH, more power to you. Way to go!!! It's a lifestyle I kind of dream of. I sort of envy you. You rock!" But would you REALLY think that? If a real person, someone you actually know, a person in your life at the moment told you they were going to "live off the land" starting from the ground up like Thoreau did what would you really think?

I conversed for a bit with a little Thoreau at a pub that my husband was performing at the other night. This individual has always been the town eccentric. He doesn't drive but has pretty much always rode a bike instead (for those of you over seas, in the US (at least outside of big cities) EVERYONE drives). He looks a bit like a pirate, like a Johnny Dep Pirates of the Caribbean pirate. He's a little guy with ALOT to say and he's friendlier with more energy than most people you'll ever meet. He moved away/ across country for several years. He's back now because his parents sold him several acres of land for $1. He was ecstatic about his new land. He said he planned to build a small home from the trees on the property. He was going to plant some crops and sell his goods at farmers markets or wherever. The entire time I conversed with this fellow I admired his passion and vision and I couldn't help thinking that I was talking with a modern day Thoreau. But he seemed like a crazy man. Our lives are SOOOOO involved with stuff and modern day conveniences for anyone to talk about living off the land and truly simplistic living it just seems too far fetched to be real.

The whole experience has enlightened me a bit. I admire Thoreau so much but I'm now thinking that if I'd had met him when he was alive, lived when he lived, witnessed his experiment first hand I imagine I'd have been just like everyone else really. I'd have thought he was a crazy man.

Life is about constant change and growth. If you're not changing, if you're not growing then in fact you're not really living. I'm not proud of this new revelation (about Thoreau and that in reality I think he's a crazy man) BUT I'm excited about the doors it opens. I've such a long way to go on this journey called life. There are so many passions within that don't line up with the steps I take. It's exciting really to think about taking new steps, steps that will bring me closer to the life I love, to the passions that are flaming within my chest. I'm excited about the idea of growing into the me I really want to be (even though I fully realize it shall take me a lifetime).

It took only a simple conversation with an eccentric pirate like person to help me better see. May your eyes always be open and ready to see something grand, something new in your little world!

2012-02-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

Quick update: no baby yet. I'm feeling much better now that I'm done working but my days have consisted mostly of me resting. I'm not sleeping well (as is to be expected) so I'm napping a lot. The doctor says that the little chunker is probably over 8 pounds already so we'll see how long before he's ready to see the world. Hopefully soon!

After several days of totally neglecting the finances I went over the budget and the bank account this morning. Nothing too horrible but, again this is looking to be a rough year. I'm really happy we're in the place financially that we are. In other words that I've learned how to spend less, live on a budget, and stop throwing money to the wind. I don't see the debt drastically going down this year but at the same time it shouldn't go up either(it should keep going down some).

I can't imagine if we were still in the place financially that we were in a year or two ago and we tried to pull off bringing a little one into our family. We'd be charging EVERYTHING right now. Charge the dinner. Charge the gas. Charge the bills (it still weirds me out that you can even do that... put your electric payment for example on a charge card). It was always the easy way out before. If we ever wanted or needed anything we'd just charge it. I'm so thankful that that's changed. Life on a budget isn't exactly easy but it feels so much better than it did when we were in that deep dark hole of debt that appeared to have no opening up top.

I'm happy and ready to meet our son.

Gourmet Scented Pencils

2012-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed all the nonsense for sale? I genuinely think that our entire culture may be insane. There are these societies of people all over this planet who live their lives with strictly the bare minimum. They have just enough food. They have clothing adequate enough to cover their nakedness. They have rickety shelters to house them. There may possibly be somewhere in existence one ratty old toy to entertain the children of the household. The divide between the cultures is intense. And I'm not going to even say "woe is them... poor, poor people... how very sad." I've seen some very happy unaware "poor" people. I wouldn't try and convince them for one second that they need more toys for their children or higher quality clothing. I haven't any right to judge the cultural divide. I believe everyone SHOULD have adequate food, and shelter, and clothing, access to medical care and education. The fact of the matter is there is plenty to go around so these things shouldn't be begrudged anyone. It just doesn't make common sense when they are. BUT that leads me away from my point.

I noticed a pack of Gourmet scented pencils at the store the other day. The THINGS we've come up with!!! Really, really, gourmet pencils!?!? There are moments in the day when my eyes open and I notice all the trinkets, all the toys in the toy department of the store, all the gadgets in housewares, all the accessories for our vehicles and I wonder what we're all thinking. Have we actually gotten to the point where we're just trying to find stuff to spend money on? I certainly know that the house I'm living in contains oodles of nonsense items. WHY?

Why does anyone need to take money they've earned, money they've spent time laboring for from their wallet (or for that matter money they don't even possess yet because they're using a charge card and borrowing the bills from a credit card company) so they might own gourmet scented pencils? I think we've come too far. I really think we may have lost it.

I'm Home

2012-02-03T13:57:00.000-08:00

I'm officially on maternity leave. Actually I JUST got home from work and I'm freaking out a bit. I feel HORRIBLY guilty for taking off of work before our little guy is actually here. There are two weeks until the due date but I could not work any longer. I'm on my feet all day. I do a lot of lifting and crouching and kneeling and walking and it was getting down right unbearable. I have hardly been sleeping and everything hurts. My feet look horrendous and feel just as bad. BUT I am feeling awful for being home now without the baby.

There's SOOOO much on my mind as you might imagine. This last month of pregnancy has been quite a struggle and now I'm feeling SUPER guilty about being done with work too (for the next three months)!

Just letting off steam, had to put it out there because it's heavy on my mind.

Money: You suck! Can't I just have a little peace in life please!

2012-02-02T03:42:00.000-08:00

Oh goodness it's February.

That last week in January totally got away from me.

I'm almost finished doing the taxes. Baby will be here soon. I'm done with work (for three months) after Friday. It's getting very difficult to walk (feet started swelling about two weeks ago... ouchy). House kind of looks like something exploded in here. Someone brought us a homemade meal last night. How awesome is that! We don't even have a baby yet.

Happy Thursday all!

January has been VERY expensive

2012-01-29T05:33:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-28T06:49:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-27T03:21:00.000-08:00

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).

2012-01-23T23:36:00.001-08:00

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

2012-01-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-20T01:14:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

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???

2012-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-12T02:13:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-08T04:16:00.000-08:00

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)

2012-01-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-05T03:21:00.000-08:00

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?

2012-01-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

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!

Happy New Years Eve to Everyone

2011-12-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

Out with the old. In with the new.

2011 wasn't bad. I spent over half of the year pregnant... a long time dream come true. I paid off close to $5000 in credit card debt. I paid off close to $10,000 in total debt. I tried, tried, tried with most of my might to spend responsibly and stick to a crazy budget.

I'm learning to take life one day at a time but I'm also looking forward to a new year (and a new little fellow in my life). In 2012 I would like to read more (like I did in 2010). I would like to complain less and notice more lovelies. I would like to spend just a little more time with the people in my life that I care about. I do not see my nieces and nephews nearly enough, or my mom. I would also like to let go a bit. I'm always trying to be so focused which is probably good in the long run but it can drive me totally crazy.

Realistically I know that I'm not going to go hog wild with the debt reduction because we're incurring a grand new expense AND I'm taking 3 months off of work BUT if I'm able to stick to the budget and spend responsibly amidst all of the life changes I will be VERY happy and the debt will continue to go down.

Let's do it!

2012, Here We Come

2011-12-29T06:08:00.000-08:00

A new week begins!

-Went to the bank/ took out this weeks cash
-Put $14 in the future purchases envelope
-Gave husband his spending money for the week
-Balanced the checkbook
-Bought the bare necessities at the grocery store and this months prenatal vitamins
-Accomplished half of the 45 (actually 30 right now) goals for today
-Paid off the small discover card BEFORE the 0% expired and checked goal number 6 off on the side bar!

I'm feeling pretty accomplished and ready to take on the New Year. It's going to be tough. Right now I'm pretty sure we've got enough to make it through three months without pay BUT that's sticking to a TIGHT budget and being super disciplined (on very little sleep). I think 2011 was just prep for 2012.

This year I'm going to have to really buckle down, stick to my guns, and kick butt. I have every reason in the world to grow up, act responsibly, spend what we can afford and pay back the debt. I cannot wait to meet our little guy and I CANNOT wait to be debt free and able to stay home with him for good. We're on our way.

AND there's a stroller and car seat sitting in the living room right now (thanks mom in law)!!! I'm SOOOOO excited. Why does the stroller and car seat make it feel so very official?

Wednesday

2011-12-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow starts a new financial week for me. I'm SOOO ready for some normalcy. It's one day, one week at a time with this financial mess. Baby step, baby step.

I have this week off from work. It's the perfect amount of down time to meet with some friends, clean up a bit around the house, and get the financial plan for next year in order. Ah, breath of fresh air.

Side note: I'm very thankful for all the Christmas blessings (gifts) from family this year (despite some weird unnecessary trinkets). My mom and sis gave us some much needed money for maternity leave. That takes a weight off. My sister in law and brother gave us the cutest little sleeper and burp clothes. My other sister in law and brother gave us a little baby toy. It's so much fun getting all the gifts for the him. I know he's not going to care one iota about any of it but I just can't wait for him to get here so he can meet everyone and see how much everyone cares about him. My mom in law took us to Carters and bought us a ton of clothes for the little guy. And my aunt sent us some money for the baby too. I feel very VERY blessed!

Merry After Christmas!

2011-12-26T02:08:00.000-08:00

Now that it's all said and done I feel that life can return to normal again. No more buying things. No more needing things. No more rush, rush, spend, spend... is that totally awful? I'm officially not used to spending money/ buying things. Officially it feels weird and awkward and Christmas this year was just strange.

That's the fat cat... she was our Christmas card this year

I also learned something this Christmas. If you tell everyone that you would appreciate them to not buy you gifts for Christmas because you would really just like a little extra money for the upcoming baby expenses (three months of work with no pay is a HUGE expense in itself) then you will inevitably receive weird little trinkets. I appreciate the thought. I do love opening gifts (no matter how odd the outcome maybe). But when I said, "truly I want nothing," and you give me some really girly weird items that I would never in a lifetime use I'm not going to be able to muster up a super excited expression. My face just doesn't work that way.

Only 55 more days until the due date. Yes, less than two months now. I don't feel (at present) that there's a lot we need to acquire for the little guy (I'm putting a lot of faith into those upcoming showers) but there certainly is a lot we need to do. Apart from work I'm vastly looking forward to these next 55 days or so. Wowwy life is going to change... Hooray!

I do hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas time! There really is nothing like the holidays (I just wish I hadn't turned into such a freak as of late).

It's Christmas Time

2011-12-23T04:11:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure that phrase "It's Christmas Time" is code for "throw out the budget and buy everything in sight... pretend you're on a toys r us shopping spree and figure out how to pay for it later... everyone you've ever met NEEDS some sort of gadget by the 25th of December, now figure out what you're going to give them... GO!"

I thought I was done Christmas buying a long time ago. My husband got some good overtime/ holiday pay from Thanksgiving and we only went a bit over that and it was great. Hooray, we did it! Hahaha... then Christmas got closer and closer and closer and all of the sudden there was this, and that, and the horderve for the Christmas Eve party and the gifts for the people I failed to complete making gifts for, and the thing I found for my husband that I knew he'd love. And SHOOT I still don't have a gift for her... or them, yikes. It's Christmas time!

Normally it's no big deal. Normally I try and be frugal and then I try and make up for the over spending once the New Year rolls around. Normally a few extra hundred dollars... whatever. But this year I can't stop thinking about every extra penny. This year, I actually feel poor. I wish I could give everyone I know that one special thing that would really REALLY bless them. Like my mom wants a new recliner. My brother and sister in law would be so blessed by a mini vacation. I can only think of awesome expensive things for my little sis... and she'd love them all. I got my husband TWO gifts and the budget is blown. Honestly if I could I'd buy him 50 things or more. He's just like a kid on Christmas morning opening his gifts and glowing from ear to ear. Two things just makes me feel like a failure.

I know, I know Christmas isn't about the gifts BUT I'm a gift giver. It's in me. I've always picked up little things here and there that instantly make me think of someone. I've been making things and thinking of extra special perfect gifts for birthdays and holidays all my life. Christmas is the perfect time when you can bless everyone all at once BUT then there's money, bleck! It ruins everything.

Sorry, this is just my little "Christmas Time" rant. I'm mad at myself for not accomplishing alot of the things I'd planned AND for spending more than I should've and I know that there are a few more things I have to pick up from the store this morning. I'm just being moody and grouchy and I needed to get a bit of it out.

Rant finished!

Off to the store I go.

2011-12-17T16:19:00.000-08:00

I'd planned to blog everyday this month... oops.

I've about 8 weeks left before the baby boy makes his debut. I'm noticing that when I'm not on my feet for 8 hours a day working (and using the restroom ALOT) I'm pretty much just sitting on my bum. I'm feeling sort of huge (but not complaining... I'm so happy he's growing and growing and growing). Tons of stuff is falling to the way side though; cleaning, socializing, blogging, Christmas. We haven't one single decoration up in this house. This is the first year out of the 9 I've been married that I haven't sent Christmas cards out (yet).

In other words I've all these things on my mind, things that I most likely should attend to but I'm finding it very difficult to move once I get home from work. I think I'm taking the next 8 weeks off. No cleaning, no obligations, nothing. Just go to work, go home and then rest, rest, rest!

Oh money, how I hate you.

2011-12-16T03:45:00.000-08:00

Only $3.22 over budget last week. Not going to complain about that! I'm not sure where the days are going. One minute it's Sunday and then it's Thursday... wait, it's Friday. Apparently that's what happens when Christmas is coming and you've 500 things to do. Oh, and you've less than 10 weeks until you meet the baby but you've nothing for him but a few outfits. yikes.

Actually I got a $75 gift card for zulily.com for signing up for an American Express card (which I'm not going to use)... is that sneaky. Anyway, I got our first diapers with that $75. Only a few. Cloth diapers are NOT cheap! But I'm on my way, yippee.

Working my way to Forty Five

2011-12-13T16:01:00.000-08:00

25. Go outdoors

Ok, so I go outside all the time; when I go to work, when I come home, when I go to the store (wait, that's work). This goal would require me to step outside, if only for a moment strictly to look at the stars or the clouds or the sunset, or to listen to the birds singing for a minute or the crickets chirping. The world out there is SOOO peaceful and beautiful and yes we come in contact with it all the time but how much attention do we actually pay it? This may only require 10 seconds of my time each day but I'm certain it'll bring about peace, calm, relief, and a gratitude that I'm to miss if I neglect those 10 seconds.

26. Give something to the husband

He's beginning to comprehend my eagerness to get rid of this debt. Slowly but surely he's attempting to spend more wisely. He's finally making some frugal decisions. In other words he's come along way. I wish I could give him the world. I wish I was able to let him buy anything and everything his little heart desires. Sadly I was raised by a mother who lavished us kids with gifts (and went further and further into debt) in order to show her love for us. My dad sort of did the same when he was around. AND the husband's mother is the exact same way. I feel like I need to buy him stuff (or let him buy stuff) in order to show him how much I appreciate him. It's ingrained. BUT this is not a truth. Goal number 26 shall encourage me to do something a little extra each day. Today I left a note hanging from a door frame saying that I love him so that when he got home from work he'd see it hanging there. I can try and make a meal he really enjoys on certain evenings. I can clean out his van for him sometimes (he NEVER cleans it). There are potentially billions of little "things" that I can give him without spending money I just need to make the effort. Yeah, yeah he's my husband. I cook and clean and do hundreds of things for him each day but I want to do one little extra something everyday just because I love him.

27. Fold the Laundry

There is ALWAYS a basket of clean clothes in the hallway. I have this horrible habit of folding most of the clothes and so this basket always just sits with the unfolded ones in the hallway. It kind of drives me crazy and I always tell myself, "you really need to get rid of that basket," but I never do. Goal number 27 potentially would get that basket out of the hallway and would eliminate that one thing that's always hanging out there ever unchecked on the imaginary to do list. The imaginary to do list that exists somewhere in the atmosphere over head is SOOO annoying. Just fold the laundry already!

Today's lovely: I watched a flock of sparrows eat a peanut butter sandwich while on my lunch break. It was extremely entertaining and I observed that sparrows are way more friendly with each other than seagulls. I was pleasantly surprised at their ability to share with one another. Except for one little meany. But there's always one.

45 Goals Friday

2011-12-09T02:55:00.000-08:00

45 Daily Goals for 2012 UPDATE

1. Balance the checkbook everyday - I'm glad this is number one. I love this goal!!!

2. Get rid of something useless everyday - This has been easy so far... I have a lot of old food in the house. Can anyone say "lazy pack rat."

3. Throw some change in the Christmas jar everyday - I missed the past few days because I'd run out of money for the week but otherwise this goal has been going well.

4. Cash envelope it! - Still doing pretty well, still HATE the cash envelope.

5. Cook everyday/ Don't eat out (one weekly allowance) - Horrible the past few days, we ate out three times I think, last week.

6. Stretch please - this one hasn't been happening. Geesh it's such an easy goal too.

7. Write down EVERY purchase - Still on it. Good.

8. Sorry, no coffee shop coffee today (one monthly allowance) - I've bought one coffee from Starbucks this month. Let's see if I can make it another 21 days without breaking down and getting another one.

9. Really sincerely thank someone today - I keep forgetting this one. But I did do it on Tuesday and it was neat. The guy was like, "wow, thanks, I really appreciate that." It'd be a really cool thing to do everyday.

10. Set aside $2 for future purchases - nope... I think I buy the "future" purchases on Thursday when the week starts.

11. Designate $2 for the peanut - been spending a bit more than $2 a day on the peanut.

12. There's $10 for spending today - Only $3.98 over budget last week!

13. Remember your 50 cent sugar allowance - Averaged 59 cents a day last week. That's amazing for me!

14. Pray... it helps significantly - slacking a bit.

15. DO NOT throw out food! - So far, good. There's one thing that I do need to throw out this week though : (

16. Be on time for work. - I was early 2 days and then late the rest. I did talk to my boss about it though and he said that I'm actually incredibly punctual (in comparison) and that it really doesn't matter. I'm still going to try and be on time though.

17. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit - Check!

18. 2 to 3 servings of Veggies (yes you can) - Been eating lots of carrots. My baby might be orange.

19. Lots and lots of water... about 72 oz. - Been averaging 48... need to step it up this week.

20. Don't buy something; Just put it back! - Did good a few days, then forgot about this goal.

21. Brush the dog's teeth - I'm implementing this one to save on future vet bills, to impact the overall health of my dogs, and to remind myself that it needs to be done. They're worth it!

22. Read a book for at least 15 minutes everyday - totally do-able, right? I've REALLY slacked off with reading this year. It's not something I'm proud of. 15 minutes a day will sure add up. I can do it!

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 - Thanks for the suggestion Absentminded Mother. This is a good goal.

Thursday, Payday, ahh

2011-12-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

The financial week is over. A new financial week begins. I don't know if it's just me but this week is going by more slowly than any week EVER. I feel like every hour of work yesterday took 3 hours to get through. It's only Thursday, which normally wouldn't be bad but yesterday felt like Friday and I'm certain today must be Saturday. But I have to leave for work in a few minutes. Blah.

I went $3.98 over budget this week and that's because I bought a $3.98 coffee from Starbucks on Monday. Ideally that'll be my coffee shop coffee for the month... ideally. I tried so unbelievably hard to stick to budget this week and to only use the cash envelope (the Starbucks purchase was debit). It was HARD work! I'm happy with the results... a practically balanced budget for the first week of December. I'm also quite enjoying the 45 goals. They really are helping to add little bits of accomplishment to each day and move me along the desired path to financial freedom. Now lets just see if I can come up with another 24 of them : )

Any daily goal suggestions???

Debt Quote Tuesday/ You'll be Missed Fred

2011-12-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

I think about the old Chevy slogan, "getting there is half the fun." I think it's all the fun.
-Fred Meijer

This paying off debt thing may be a headache but life is meant to be LIVED. I'm going to turn this computer off, make some Christmas cookies and hot cocoa, and snuggle with my dogs while the baby boy does his regular nightly aerobics. Not a bad way to end the day : )

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Would I Buy IT Covered in Poo?

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

I woke up really early today since I went to bed really early last night. I figured I'd turn on the tele while I munched on my PB toast. After all there's no need to be too active (wash dishes, fold laundry, de-clutter) at 4am. I'm 7 months pregnant; need to take it easy. Well I tried to watch the news but I ended up watching commercial after commercial after commercial and at least five of our ten channels were exclusively selling something. They almost had me convinced that I need all new furniture for the entire house.

Have you ever thought about all the advertising you take in during a normal day? Whether on the radio, tv, billboards, internet, in shopping centers, fliers, I don't know do they advertise on smart phones somehow now (I don't have a cell)... it's crazy. We're all really accustomed to it. I know I am. Think of the beautiful signs in front of Starbucks with the holiday beverages on them. They're not just placed there for something neat to look at. The displays in the main aisles of stores, or at the registers... do you know how many people constantly buy unnecessary stuff just because of where it's been placed in the shopping center? Just the words "sale" or "clearance" cause this weird gotta have it reaction in most of us. I'm pretty sure most of us don't ever give a second thought to the fact that someone is pretty much ALWAYS trying to sell us something. I bet you think you decided to buy THAT. Someone in a high rise somewhere probably sold it to you very much like the car sales men and tv sales men that we so cleverly avoid... except that someone gets paid better and never had to talk to you.

Chicago!!!

I'd encourage everyone to spend sometime maybe a day at it and pay attention to what you're being sold. How many signs, how many ads, how much clever product placement did you come in contact with today? With this crazy holiday season in full swing I'm going to be much more on the the look out. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean that I need it and neither does that loved one of mine who I've yet to buy a gift for. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a sci-fi movie. When did the world become so inundated with "useful" nonsense; when did we become machines, programmed to react in certain ways to visual stimulation; when did this mirage of necessary become our truth?

I think I may just start imagining everything I might consider buying removed from the store, removed from the packaging, sitting in a pile of poop in a field somewhere. If I'd pay a farmer the ticket price for that item knowing full well that I'm going to have to dig it out of poo and clean it off before I could use it then maybe I'll buy it. Maybe.

Just Put it Back

2011-12-05T02:13:00.000-08:00

Don't buy something... just put it back!

This goal will be an interesting one. Yesterday I went to the store to buy some food for the day. I intended to get lettuce for the tuna fish sandwiches but I forgot it while I was in the produce department. As I started back for the lettuce I decided that was going to be the "something" I wouldn't buy yesterday.

Each day I intend to not buy something that I would otherwise have bought. If I don't buy anything at all for the entire day then this goal is accomplished. Otherwise, something must not be bought.

45 Daily Goals for 2012

1. Balance the checkbook everyday - so far so good
2. Get rid of something useless everyday - on it!
3. Throw some change in the Christmas jar everyday - practically perfect
4. Cash envelope it! - yuck, but doing pretty well.
5. Cook everyday/ Don't eat out (one weekly allowance) - not great but better.
6. Stretch please - this one hasn't been happening
7. Write down EVERY purchase - Yep
8. Sorry, no coffee shop coffee today (one monthly allowance) - Good job so far!
9. Really sincerely thank someone today - keep forgetting
10. Set aside $2 for future purchases - not good
11. Designate $2 for the peanut - ok
12. There's $10 for spending today - balanced the budget last week!
13. Remember your 50 cent sugar allowance - Hahahaha, nope (averaging 59 cents a day)
14. Pray... it helps significantly - ok
15. DO NOT throw out food! - So far, good (but there's some stuff in the fridge that I'm questioning)
16. Be on time for work. - gonna try today
17. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit - been eating at least 1 each day
18. 2 to 3 servings of Veggies (yes you can) - been eating at least 2
19. Lots and lots of water... about 72 oz. - pretty close
20. Don't buy something; Just put it back! - Done (once)

Reality Setting In

2011-12-04T06:28:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to worry about sticking to it next year. With my losing 3 MONTHS of pay AND our acquiring a wonderful new expense debt payoff and debt snowball aren't going to be top priority.

I'm coming to terms with the fact that priorities are going to include:
-Spending frugally and intelligently.
-Not using any sort of credit card for any reason no matter how tight the finances become.
-Planning much better than I did this year... in other words working on some sort of savings for emergencies.
-Getting sleep.
-Taking very good care of our brand new son.

Unless something amazing happens there's just not going to be extra money for really great debt payoff. However, the way I see it the debt payoff is what keeps me motivated to not spend money, to pinch the pennies, and to watch the finances like a hawk. Every time a balance goes down, every time a card is payed off, every time I send an extra hundred or so to one of those credit cards it makes the tight living worth it. It's nice to see the work paying off. BUT if the work isn't visibly showing me grand results (which is what I'm anticipating for at least the first half of next year) I'm a tad bit worried I'll lose it.

Hopefully the 45 daily goals for next year are setting me up to really push through it. Hopefully the new little guy in our lives will be motivation enough to live financially responsible lives. Hopefully I've grown enough to not NEED the instant gratification of watching the cards go down in order to do what's right. Spending money (even money you don't actually have) is SOOOOOO stinkin easy. Oh, especially when you're tired, worn down, and not seeing grand results of your not spending the money.

Say a prayer, wish me luck, next year is going to be AMAZING and some really gosh darn hard work!

Sidenote: I'm still reading through my entire blog. I've only made it to March so far. I really like THIS POST. When I wrote it I was pretty sad about not being able to travel while paying off debt but today it's quite encouraging. There is life after this struggle, there is a whole world to be seen, and once the hard work has come to fruition there's a lot to be enjoyed free of debt!

Really Scatter Brained Today

2011-12-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking: I could post about the 45, about the budget, about Christmas, about the baby... I don't want to write a GIANT blog but I don't want to write 4 posts today either. hmm???

45 highlights
It's been going OK. There are a few that I have not even begun to hit on yet. There are others that I've diligently done every single day. Oh, I've estimated my sugar spending (goal 13) at about $1.05 a day since I instituted that goal. The 50 cent allowance is going to be a really good challenge for me. We've eaten out once already this week (and twice last week).

I'm still hating the cash envelope part of the plan although I have been sticking to it. Last week I did manage to balance the budget. YAY! I only have $21 left for the next four days of this week. With a lot of hard work I think we can survive 4 days on $21 but it makes me crazy (and it's unlikely). For the past Five weeks in a row my husbands spending has gone done little by little... SUPER excited about that! Way to go hubby! I'm looking forward to 2012.

I actually started Christmas shopping and gift making. It's not going great but at least it's begun. I've REALLY been having a hard time of it this year. With the baby coming, the coming expenses and wanting to pay off as much debt as possible as fast as possible there just isn't any money for Christmas. I think I can officially cross 4 people off my list of 17 though AND we used overtime money from my husband's paycheck to purchase all of those gifts. I'll probably be making gifts and not purchasing anything for at least 7 others on the list (so that's 11 people taken care of). Only 6 more to go.

Making Jingle Bell Necklaces

It seemed like a good idea but the necklaces are actually turning out a bit ugly. Also, if you really want to tick off your husband try making jingle bell necklaces while he's watching tv. At least I think they sound really cool.

No. 16

2011-12-02T13:31:00.000-08:00

Be on time for work.

I hate this one. I work alone and I set my own schedule BUT I'm still supposed to follow my schedule so that my office knows where I'm at. I'm NEVER on time for work. I'm making this one of the 45 because I should be more diligent about honoring my employer. My income is based solely on them paying me for the job I do. I'm pretty sure that sticking to my schedule is (if not only a tiny little bit) a part of the job they're paying me for.

Goal number 16: Be on time for work. Blek.

Waste Not

2011-11-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

Goal 15: Do NOT throw out food.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to start this goal once my refrigerator is completely cleaned out. However this is something that I REALLY look forward to focusing on. I HATE throwing out food. It might be weird but it makes me a bit sad every time I dump something because it wasn't able to fullfill it's purpose: nourishing me and my family. No little strawberry should ever have to end up in the trash. Due to poor time management SOOOO much food is wasted throughout the year. I should be fully aware of what's in the house and if I can spend money on it then I should be fully capable of utilizing it before it's expired. Right?

I have begun to imagine a large poster that shall display all Forty Five goals. I intend to place it somewhere in this house before the first of next year where I'll be able to look at it each morning and every evening. These goals are really starting to add up but each and everyone of them are just tiny things that I should really be in the habit of doing already. I'm really just taking a few good steps in the right direction I suppose.

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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
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
15. Do NOT throw out any food

A Little Prayer Time

2011-11-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

Goal 14: Pray.

I'd like to think that I take a bit of time out everyday to say a prayer or two but I'm almost certain that's not the case. Number 14 of 45 is to pray everyday, to take a bit of time out to thank the good Lord for the many many blessings He's poured into my life, and to ask for strength and grace that I might make it through the day frugally, financially responsible, and on top of the 45 (14 at present).

Lake Michigan

Happy Holidaze

2011-11-29T03:46:00.000-08:00

The holidays are here. The lights are going up. The trees are going up. The snow is close at hand. The Christmas music is almost in full swing in all the stores. The shopping... well the shopping is downright outta hand. I'm getting so frustrated with the overall atmosphere of "want," "need," "gotta have it." Each week I work at 10 different supermarkets. People are literally walking around the stores with their eyes bugging out of their heads trying to find something "on sale" that they or someone else MIGHT "need." I've caught the bug a few times. Yesterday I walked past a display of food storage sets. Oh how they glowed. I thought, "ooh, I might need one of those." After all they're so much nicer than the food storage I currently have (even though I've never had an issue storing food before).

It's happened a few times. It seems as though all of us are keyed up, we're on the hunt, on the look out for a good bargain and a neat gadget that we MIGHT just NEED. All of the sudden we all need, and think everyone we care about needs everything imaginable. It's driving me crazy. I know that I don't need anything. I'm trying to get rid of stuff because our house is so cluttered. I'm pretty sure the majority of folks I know don't need anything either but we're all in a consumer crazy zoned out frenzy. It's a tad bit scary. Are we really buying for people because we want to bless them with that warm fuzzy feeling on Christmas morning when they open that perfect gift or are we buying for people because that's just what you're supposed to do?

Christmas this year needs to be about family, congregation, celebration, enjoying all of the little itty bitty things that the season has to offer AND about the birth of Jesus. That should about do it. Big flat screen TV's, Ipads, Gaming systems, Toys, Clothes, Kitchen gadgets, Hobby accessories, ALL that other STUFF... let's prioritize here folks, please?!?! It feels like a disease and it's gotten under my skin a few times. I just can't stand it this year.

I NEED to get out of debt! That's it. Maybe I should take some extra vitamin C to ward off this nasty holiday bug! (it's really super contagious)

Today I Tackle Sugar

2011-11-28T03:09:00.000-08:00

I thought about this one while attempting to sleep last night. What a horrible night tossing and turning and thinking, thinking, thinking. Hello Monday (snarl)!

Coffee and Sugar are two necessities (at least for me); two things that brighten my life. Everyday I tend to pick up a 79 cent candy bar or something sweet from bulk foods for under a dollar. If I really have no will power I'll buy a thing of cookies or a brownie or a donut to enjoy throughout the day. We don't ever have sweets in the house but I like to make a half batch of cookies, mix up some chocolate pudding, or pick up a bit of light ice cream for after dinner. Actually we love stopping by Wendy's for small frosty's to top us off after dinner. In other words we tend to have some sort of dessert at least every other night of the week and I usually have something sweet while working.

Today I'm instituting goal number 13: A 50 cent daily sugar allowance. I guess I have a cash envelope for sugar now; $3.50 a week. This one could be really good for the budget, after all every little bit helps. If I'm spending a bit less on sugar, just like if I'm spending a bit less on coffee then my daily spending allowance will be able to stretch farther. I could get really creative with this and probably not cut out as much sugar as I'd like. If I bake more at home and bring treats with me to work that'll help the spending. This is one of the goals I just may fail miserably at but I'm interested in taking on the challenge. So, here goes.

So far this week I've been doing quite well with the cash envelope and the budget (and most of the 45... well 13 at present). One really great thing about using cash is knowing that nothing is happening with the checking account. It makes balancing the checkbook (notebook) really easy.

HAPPY MONDAY!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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
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

Slave to the Lender

2011-11-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to get really fueled up for next year. So far with instituting the 45 I'm really getting a head start and I've noticed myself having much more motivation and discipline as of late. I'll tell you what, getting a good head start on the New Years Resolutions BEFORE Christmas is a GREAT idea!

I've started reading through my blog. I'd like to read every post before January. It's really interesting to see where my pitfalls were and the moments that I was really motivated and overcame obstacles. I came across this post "Slave to the Lender" from January 8, eight days into this blog and I really like it. It reminds me why it's so important for me to stay motivated and win this war.

I have two primary reasons for wanting to get out of debt NOW: So much of our income is tied up in payments (and interest payments) that we can't afford things we need anymore and the weight of the debt just sitting there over our heads is unbearable. I need it to be gone.

The other day I was fighting with myself over a pop. I had a headache, I was super thirsty, work was dragging by more slowly than one would think possible and I was pretty certain that a soda would grant me at least a few moments of alleviation and delight. Once again I thought I'd lost the battle. I decided to spend the money on the pop. I had to have it (my priorities are so skewed). "What's a $1.49"... this is always my argument... "it's just loose change!"

But then I realized a $1.49 that I don't have; a $1.49 that's not in my budget is a $1.49 that I'm essentially borrowing from one of my creditors (even though we stopped using charge cards over a year ago). Do I really want to owe Discover card or Chase $1.49 (plus interest) for any longer than I have to? Is a pop today, and maybe tomorrow, and maybe a few days from then (which adds up to WAY more than $1.49) worth the burden?

That one soda fight FINALLY made me realize that my money; the little bit that I work really hard for isn't mine, none of it is. Every penny I bring home is owed to someone that I borrowed it from and every time I spend a cent, be it on food that I need to survive or payments towards heat and electricity I'm essentially borrowing money from someone. That's sickening to me. I am not free. I do not own anything (figuratively speaking). I do not have an income. My money belongs to a long list of creditors and even though I always pay my bills on time, and even though my credit score is amazing, and even though no one is coming after me for delinquency or what have you, until I pay back EVERY LAST DOLLAR, every penny I spend is a penny borrowed.

I'm ready to grow up and take responsibility and get my life back (I think).

Forty Five Goals Friday (er, Saturday)

2011-11-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Several of you have asked for the recipe for the cheesecake. I'd love to type it all out for you but it's rather involved. Here's the link for the recipe that I use and LOVE: Betty Crocker Pumpkin Cheesecake

The Pumpkin Cheesecake was a success (and is almost gone). Yum!

I was going to do a little "45 Goals" update yesterday. Now that I'm instituting the 45 I thought, "Hey, Forty Five Friday sounds like a good idea." But I didn't get around to it yesterday so I'll have to settle for 45 Saturday this week instead.

1. I have been balancing the checkbook everyday since I started this one. It's been great for the spending, the budget, and my peace of mind.

2. I've tossed more than one thing per day since starting goal two. They've all been silly things so far like expired food and expired bathroom supplies. None the less it's already a bit cleaner around here and I'm glad that those items that have been sitting around the house untouched for YEARS are finally gone.

3. Some days it's a dime, some days it's a dollar but I've tossed money in the Christmas jar just about every day since starting this goal. The trouble I'm running into is that a lot of days I just don't have any change available to dedicate to the jar. I try and put a little extra in the next day but that kind of goes against the goal. I'm going to have to work on figuring out the best way to accomplish this one.

4. "Only spend cash from the envelope" is still REALLY hard for me BUT I'm instituting the 45 goals 45 days before the new year so that I can get used to them and baby step my way into them. I'll keep working on this one. The past few days I have accomplished this goal. So that's good.

5. The first two days after I laid out the cook at home goal I'm pretty sure we ate out. I don't think we've eaten out since then though. I've been making meals every day as planned. (It's so much cheaper to eat at home)

6. I believe that it's been 7 days since I decided that I needed to make stretching a daily goal. I'm pretty sure I accomplished the task 3 times so far. You'd think that this was the easiest one of all the goals thus far and yet I've done the worst on it. Good habits can be quite hard to form.

7. I have written down every purchase so far and I'm loving it. Today I needed to go to the store for milk and for some reason, even though we don't need any food right now I was thinking of all the other yummy things I could pick up while there. I'm certain if I didn't have to write them down on the list when I'd gotten home I'd have bought stuff other than milk. This is a great goal!

8. I have not bought any coffee.

9. I have ended up just as I'd anticipated thanking my husband for random things in the evening because I didn't think to thank someone else during the day but I like this goal and so far so good.

10. I don't have very much money left this week for spending so I think I'll be starting the "set aside $2 a day for future purchases" next week. But we'll see. I might be able to pull this one off yet.

Plan, Plan, Plan... Execute Plan

2011-11-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

The initial conversation with myself this year before starting this blog went a little something like this:

You did a pretty good job not buying "stuff" last year (2010). Way to go me!

BUT you spent WAY too much money on food.

We really need to do something about that.

Hey, I bet I could live off of $10 a day.

Yeah, I think I'll try that... wait, what about toilet paper, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and then there's gifts; birthdays, ect. Darn it, that stuff adds up fast!

Maybe I could set aside $2 a day for expenses other than food.

Well, $12 a day it is!

Today's goal number 10 of 45: Set aside $2 a day for future purchases. I did not do this aspect of my plan at all this year. Basically this means that I'll have a food/ spending envelope with $70 cash in it at the beginning of the week. I'll put $14 each Thursday into the future purchases cash envelope. That money goes towards bigger things like dog food, toilet paper, and birthday gifts. This year I am more willing to tweak the plan but I have to at least try it out before I can tweak it.

Ultimately I need to improve on my frugality. I need to really set my priorities and stick to them. I need to execute a really good strategy for really weak moments. So far I'm liking the 45. How does that scripture go again...

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5

I'm devising a plan. Sorry poverty, I have no interest in you!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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
9. Really sincerely thank someone today
10. Set aside $2 for future purchases

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:55:00.000-08:00

I love this holiday. In 1 hour we'll be driving across state to chow down on a feast with my dad's side of the family. Food and family are my favorite.

On this day of thanks I'm inclined to blog about the MANY many things I'm thankful for but the list would be quite long and most likely grow more and more uninteresting as you attempted to read through it. I will say that I am really truly thankful for more than I could ever list. And I will mention that I'm thankful that all of you have chosen to join me on this blogging journey.

Today's goal number 9 of the 45 I put forth in observance of the holiday: Really sincerely thank someone. Life can get rather expensive rather quickly. Finding ways to save money, pinch pennies, and live responsibly is a full time occupation. Having to daily decide, "do I really need that?" or "should I settle for this," and "what the heck am I going to eat that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?" is tiresome. But life has so much to offer completely and totally free of cost. One of the most invaluable assets to these spectacularly complex lives we lead are the people who daily grace our pathways. While focusing on money, money, money I'd like to take a moment each day to thank a priceless person for what they're contributing to my life.

I have a feeling that I'll often be finding myself at the end of the day having forgotten goal number 9 and then thanking my husband for something. Not a bad situation to be in though.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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
9. Really sincerely thank someone today

Adios Cafe

2011-11-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

The week is over. I spent 50 cents less than last week. While preparing/ prepping for next year I'm ending the financial week on Wednesday from now on and starting on Thursday. We get paid on Thursday and it'll just be WAY easier to start the week over then. It's the little things that really throw me off so this bit of a week re-arranging will definitely help me out.

Goal number 8: Cafe coffee is a thing of the past (at least for this year (2012)). With a once a month exception I'd like to eliminate coffee shop purchasing from my lifestyle this year. Don't get me wrong, I love cafes but it's a luxury I cannot afford. At least in keeping with the, "if I owe someone anything at all then until it's been paid back my money isn't really my money," mentality.

8. Sorry, no coffee shop coffee today

Debt Quote Tuesday and Some Pondering

2011-11-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

I was part of that strange race of people aptly described as spending their lives doing things they detest to make money they don't want to buy things they don't need to impress people they dislike.
-Emile Henry Gauvreau

I've had a few weird inward dilemmas lately. We haven't bought anything for our son yet. I don't feel wrong about it because I know it's more important for him to grow up in a financially stable home then it is for him to have a vast array of brand new items upon his entering this world. But it is a little weird. I know most new parents are buying furniture and stuffed dolls and adorable clothing. We've already been given alot of hand me downs. I know the baby showers will supply a vast array of items. There's a used crib, changing table, and dresser at my dad's if we want them.

One part of me says this is our first baby. He deserves the absolute best. Really he deserves the entire world. He's a miracle, he's a dream come true, he's perfection in a tiny little body. But there's another part of me, a louder part of me that says it'll be much MUCH better for him if we don't buy him the world (we can't afford it after all).

Here's the dilemma: one of the questions I've been hearing the absolute most lately is, "do you have the baby room all ready?" Well the answer is no. But I can picture it in my mind. I'm really quite a day dreamer. I can picture the all white glossy walls, the all white furniture, the soft fuzzy white rug in the middle of the room on the chestnut hardwood floors. One of the walls is painted with large bold zebra stripes, but they're lighter and then darker blue instead of black and white. The other three white walls have blue picture frames on them. The frames alternate between the colors of the zebra stripes. In the darker blue frames there are black and white photos of family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, grand and great grand parents, some that are no longer with us. In the lighter blue frames are adorable little sketches of playful cartoon like African animals; zebras, elephants, giraffes. It's a gorgeous little room but no matter how frugally or diligently I might attempt to pull off this little day dream it'd cost a pretty penny we just don't have.

When I first came to the realization that I might not be able to create the "perfect" baby room for my little boy I was a bit heart broken. "He deserves the best!" after all. But the more I've thought about it the more I've realized that it's absolutely not a necessity. We'll love him with or without a magical room. We'll take care of him just the same with or without the perfect room. He'll be his same wonderful little self with or without the room. Only now that I've come to terms with NOT creating a beautiful baby room for our little guy I feel like the whole world is looking down on me and expecting me to do the right thing (give him his awesome little room gosh darn it!). No one's said anything of the sort but it's how I feel about it. It seems wrong to not lavish him with an expensive room. Like I'll be less of a parent if we don't paint and get matching furniture.

Just a little something that's been on my mind as of late.

Seven

2011-11-22T03:24:00.000-08:00

Goal 7 (of 45): Write Down Every Purchase. I have a notebook ready and waiting.

This one's going to take some determination and focus. Ideally I'll be balancing the checkbook everyday. Good, that'll help me not ever spend more than we make, pay all the bills on time, and not have to stress about overdraft and little money at the end of the week (so far so good). Ideally I'll be purchasing items with cash only (not quite there yet). That'll help me stick to budget and it makes balancing the checkbook easier. If I write down EVERY purchase I make next year; 10 cents tootsie rolls, $1.26 eggs, $30 pants, then I'll know exactly where every penny went which oddly sounds like fun. My alter ego is a HUGE nerd. I'm pretty certain of this. I'd like to think I'd be more inclined to not purchase something like $3.98 Starbucks coffee (I always buy the littlest one) because I'll feel a tad bit ashamed to put it in the ledger.

7 down 38 to go!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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

Loved this tree at Newgrange (Ireland)

Starting Week 47

2011-11-20T05:43:00.000-08:00

I came in over budget AGAIN this week BUT I'm less over than I was last week. So that's good. $13.78 over. I'm going to try to get closer to budget than $13.78 over for this week. Okay, go!

Yesterday I spent all but $3.97 of this week's budget. I NEVER do that. I knew there were a ton of GREAT sales this past week and I knew they were ending yesterday so I woke up early and actually went grocery shopping. (I don't do that) Now the challenge is that we don't go out to eat, that we don't run into any little extras needed (apart from $3.97 worth) and that we eat what I bought. I think we can pretty safely pull it off. I managed to get a few more holiday baking supplies too (I'm totally stocked up for peanut butter balls (buckeyes)). This week's budget is scaring me a bit but at the same time I'm slightly excited about the challenge AND it feels really good weird to have food in the house.

Yes, those of you who know me personally I do own some make up. But the above pictured is 15 years old... shows how often I use it.

Yesterday I was inspired by one of Tasmanian Minimalist's daily facebook challenges (back in October). I chose to clean out the bathroom cabinet of expired items. Honestly there are still several in there that I couldn't let go of but all of the above are gone. Can you believe that we had items that expired in 2004 in our bathroom cabinet? Bye, bye. It's only been a few days since I instigated "Daily Goal number 2: Toss one thing a day" but so far I'm really enjoying it and getting rid of quite a bit more than one item per day. Hooray for a clean home!

I'm going to go easy on today's new goal... I've really been throwing out some big boys so far. Goal number 6: stretch. There's a lot of tension involved in life with work, marriage, (attempting) maintaining a home, growing a baby, AND the biggest one for me: trying to get out of debt. I always feel better when I stretch in the morning but I hardly ever do it. Goal number 6 is going to be to stretch every day even if it just means touching my toes before I leave the house. I actually write this on my to do list almost everyday (that I make a to do list). Well, now it's on the 45. I'm serious about these bad boys. The 45 is my new years resolution. 2010: don't buy stuff, went over really well. 2011: $12 a day, has really changed our financial life. 2012: the 45 goals, stepping it up baby! Oh, one year at a time.

Daily Goal Numero Cinco

2011-11-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

This one's REALLY aiming high. I mean the cash envelope thing is a huge disciplinary stretch for me but this one is going to break bones. Daily Goal Number 5: Don't eat out (one day a week exception).

We eat out ALOT. Making dinner takes a lot of time and effort and I'm really tired most of the time when I get home from work. Buying groceries, planning meals, cooking, cleaning up after; food is a chore! I don't like chores. But eating out is divine. For the budgets sake we must refrain, we must attempt, we must take that next needed step and cook. Ugh. These 45 goals are going to bust my butt.

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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)

Milestones

2011-11-19T07:21:00.000-08:00

We (will) owe UNDER $20,000 in credit card debt (as of December 31st). After next months payments I've estimated this years credit card payoff at $4584. That's only $524 short of doubling what we paid off in 2010. If there were 13 months in a year I'd totally have hit that mark. I'm only $271 short of a 20% payoff this year. 18.88% in ONE year, "way to go ME!(and hubby)"

We now owe less than $10,000 on the car. I know, I never talk about the car but I had to mention the milestone. Ok, that's a bit lame because we've had the car for two years and we hadn't wanted to even spend $10,000 in the first place (thank-you clever car sales guy and hubby and I's weak wills) BUT but but I'm happy to be under $10,000 on it. And it's a really great car. After 15 years of driving ALOT (over 1500 miles a month) and owning 5 different cars this one is BY FAR the best car I've ever had AND we owe less than $10,000 on it. Hooray!

We almost paid off $10,000 in total debt this year; house, equity line, car, credit cards. This just makes me smile. And then it makes me day dream a little about a day when there won't be any debt and we'll have $10,000 PLUS all the interest payments that were just flushed down the toilet a.k.a stuffed into a rich mans pockets to do whatever we darn well please with. Ahh, freedom.

Milestone number 4: after 9.25 years of marriage and over a decade of hoping to someday be a mommy I'm entering the third trimester of this pregnancy with a large round tummy and an active little boy reminding me regularly that very soon we'll be parents; very soon we'll have a son.

2011-11-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

So far so good with the 45 goals. I've done each of them each day since they've been instituted. So what if it's only been 3 days.

Today's goal I can honestly say I hate but it must be done. In 2012 I'd like to start actually doing the cash envelope thing. Dave's a smart guy and he HIGHLY recommends the cash envelope system for very good reasons. I can't stand it... I've never entirely had the discipline for it but I think I'm ready to commit. Today's goal is to cash envelope it everyday for the rest of this year and the next. Yikes.

45 Daily Goals for 2012
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!

Debt Quote Tuesday

2011-11-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.
-Vince Lombardi

The way I see it no athlete makes every goal they aim for. In practice a basketball player might shoot 100 free throws but they're bound to miss some of them. I'm NOT perfect and I'm not going to hit the mark every time (you've been reading this blog for almost a year... you're fully aware of this fact by now). But as long as I keep trying, as long as I keep trucking, as long as I keep setting goals and aiming for them I'm still in this fight and I will win.

Today's spending was okay. I thought that I was going to do great until I was walking out of work and I suddenly "needed" frozen blueberries that cost almost $4. Then I realized we were almost out of milk: $2.50. Today's spending quickly went from under $3 to over $10. Still, that's not bad and we've two dinners worth of food in the house right now so I could technically get by the next two days only spending a few bucks. We'll see : )

Today's goal is a little weird. I'm horrible at saving, like really really awful. I have a huge amount of debt that I want gone RIGHT NOW and I certainly don't want to set aside any money for anything when it could be going towards the debt. That's just the way it is. Right now I'm genuinely a bit depressed about Christmas this year. I'm REALLY hoping that maybe, somehow, somewhere some money's going to show up. I could get a Christmas bonus... it's happened before (a long time ago). My husband tends to get some overtime and decent holiday pay this time of year. We can put that towards presents if it comes. I can make some gifts. My family is really good about receiving homemade trinkets. But overall I need some money for Christmas and I dropped the ball this year and didn't budget any. Today's goal is to throw some change into the newly designated Christmas jar every single day for Christmas next year. The money in the Christmas jar can't be taken out for ANYTHING except Christmas. That's the rule.

Ok, I have to go balance the checkbook for today. Later!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
1. Balance the checkbook everyday
2. Get rid of something useless everyday
3. Throw some change in the Christmas jar everyday

This and That

2011-11-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

I'm in a pretty good mood today. I only spent $2.35. I'm about to make a cheap yummy dinner (and we have pumpkin pie for dessert). I'm most likely meeting with a friend tonite about a baby shower, yay! I've 7 of my Thanksgiving thank-yous done. Technically I'm 7 behind if I were writing one a day as originally planned but honestly I'm just happy to have written the ones I already have and to have sent them out. You know it makes one feel really good to express thanks. It's a very uplifting little gesture. I also have balanced the checkbook the past two days in row. (Out my window I noticed that you said you hate balancing the checkbooks, plural with an S. Oh my goodness I'd fail miserably if I had more than one.) Accomplishing little tasks like that make me feel so much more at peace. I'm kind of excited about the 45. Responsibility really is a good thing!

I am quite a bit over the budget so far this week. I've been buying holiday baking items that are on sale a little bit at a time but it's still putting me ahead a bit. So a far I've got the crispy onions to top the green bean casserole. I stocked up on Chocolate chips and a bag of butterscotch chips for Christmas baking (I just have to not eat them). I got a bunch a peanut butter for baking when I heard the price was going up. I bought a bag of pecans that should get me through the holidays and they were VERY on sale. (not sure why anyone would care about any of this... oh well) Still gonna try and make it closer to the budget than I did last week.

The goal I'm adding to the list today is to get rid of one thing every day. Our house is FULL of stuff. I think I've said it before but we bought my husband's grandparents house and it came with all the stuff that no one in the family wanted (including closets full of clothes, and attic spaces full of junk). Also, when my husband's father passed away we inherited all of his belongings. He was a collector so we've got quite the collection of things. I could easily get rid of one thing a day, it's just a matter of doing it. I hate throwing things away but before I start dinner I'm going to find one thing is this palace that's truly junk and then I'm going to toss it. It's one thing to think and dream about a nice clean home, it's another thing to start making it happen. Here's to goal #2.

Hope everyone's week has gotten off to a terrific start. Yay for Monday basically being over!

45 Daily Goals for 2012
1. Balance the checkbook everyday
2. Get rid of something useless everyday

45 Goals

2011-11-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

There are one and one half months left till 2012. That gives me one and one half months to prepare for the upcoming boxing match. I'm going to take Keshling's advice and get a jump start on the New Year's resolutions. Why wait?

For the next 45 days(ish) I'm going to implement 45 goals to begin right off and carry through the new year. At present I've no idea what they'll be. Today's goal starting now and carrying through all of next year is to balance the check book every day. I really only get into trouble when I take a few days off from this task. It needs to be done EVERYDAY and starting today I'm on a mission.

45 Goals
1. Balance the checkbook everyday

Pondering the New Year

2011-11-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

I came in $15.36 over budget again this past week. Since the weathers cooled down I've been struggling with my coffee love affair again (mostly decaf for the little guy). It's not good for the budget. According to my calculations I've been spending an average of $14.30 a day since August (just to clarify that's total... it kinda sounds like I've been spending that much on coffee, no). $14.30 a day really doesn't sound that bad to me BUT it adds up QUICKLY!

Lately I've been brainstorming new methods, new goals, new ideas to start out next year fists held high again. All throughout my brainstorming though I'm thinking to myself why do I need a 2012 at the end of the date in order to go at it full force? I could be sticking to the $12 a day budget RIGHT NOW. I could be saying no to the occasional expensive coffee RIGHT NOW. I could be diligently balancing the checkbook and drawing up quick weekly budgets EVERY week for the husband RIGHT NOW.

I am so undisciplined. I'm certain that it takes time to become disciplined and I know that I've come a long way. In 2010 I learned how to stop buying stuff, unnecessary, pick up on a whim, who really needs it stuff. I learned how to start appreciating more the world around me, it's beauty and all it has to offer (free of charge). In 2011 I really took a microscope to our spending, watched every penny, and learned how to be MUCH more frugal. In fact Ramon Noodles became a dear tasty friend of mine. Our credit card debt payoff doubled this year from last (and that with a horrible economy, pretty bad inflation, weakening of the dollar, and no raises at work). Maybe I have failed the original mission: stick to $12 a day, but I am victorious.

In 2012 I'd like to step it up another notch. I'd like to really stick to the $12 a day budget. I'd like to start saving some, pay off tons more credit card debt, and get more frugal. Maybe the hubby and I can actually sell some of the valuables that are sitting around this house collecting dust. Maybe I can plan a little better, make more gifts, and do a little thrift shopping (I HATE thrift shopping). I will win this war!

Right now I really just need to make it out of Christmas (and 2011) alive AND with a smile on my face. I need to take the very best care of this baby boy that I possibly can and I need to focus, focus, FOCUS on sticking to the budget whatever it takes. Ideally I'd like to end this week less than $15.36 over budget. It's shooting low, yes, but it's something to shoot for.

So far I've 5 thanksgiving thank-you's DONE. That's more then I sent out last year : )

Today's lovely is from Thursday: I was leaving work and I noticed a man who'd just finished buying his groceries setting a few pennies on the base of "Sally" the electronic pony ride at the front of the store. In all the time I've been shopping and working at the stores (just about 8 years working, decades shopping) I do not recall ever seeing anyone set aside pennies on the pony. It may be a very common occurrence but none the less one I've never noticed before. It was truly lovely. He was kinda woodsy looking, scruffy, flannel jacket, tall, late 50's; he just set those few pennies on the pony and walked away. I'm sure several very happy children who's parents pay completely electronically for everything have been extremely blessed by those pennies. You can't swipe a card at the penny pony. I gave up pony rides years ago but seeing those few little pennies lying there sure made my day.

Score!

2011-11-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

I've been spending a bit over budget every week. Yesterday I noticed that there were only a few dollars left in the bank account. We get paid tomorrow. Grr. Last night while the husband was away I went to cleaning just as I'd planned. I accomplished a nice thorough deep cleaning of our bedroom; swept the floors, changed the bedding, adiosed the laundry (and washed some of it too), got rid of a ton of clutter, dusted AND tracked down all the dust bunnies lurking in dark corners and crevices. Dust bunny hunting is actually quite enjoyable for me. Although I keep track of every penny like they're my children my husband neglects his loose change. I found around $3 last night while cleaning. I managed to make it through the whole day without spending all the loose change I found last night. We're eating eggs for dinner again tonite (a really really cost effective dinner) but I'm quite proud of myself for hardly spending anything today and not having to use the bank card at all. Double score: the bedroom is clean and cozy AND I hardly spent anything today. Oh, and I got two more thanksgiving notes done today. Oh yeah!

A little sidenote: before I started cleaning last night I wanted more than anything I could think of to make some sugar cookies. I enjoy baking and even more so I enjoy scarfing down sugary treats. I thought despite it putting me WAY over my calorie count for the day I might make the cookies sometime before my husband got home but after I'd cleaned a bit. Turns out the chores were quite a workout and I exhausted myself to the point of having no energy for baking left over. By the time I'd finished every little task I'd set to doing I was no longer craving the cookies either. Again, double score.

Maybe I can't make my credit card debt disappear over night but the little accomplishments sure do help the journey along.

Debt Quote Tuesday

2011-11-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5

I think my husband has band practice this evening. I'm not going to sit around and mope. Tired as I may be tonite I'm going to clean up a bit around here. A little laundry, a little sweeping, a bit of dust bunny hunting and I think I shall feel a considerable amount of the weight lifted. I may not have an abundance of money to throw at the debts and ease up some of the mental tension but I most certainly can tackle a few of the chores that I've been neglecting. You know when the list gets longer and longer and it starts to press down on you and you can hardly function any longer? There are a lot of things on the list that I can't do much about (the stuff I blogged about this morning) but I can chop some of the littler things off. It's amazing how a clean house can make you feel 40 pounds lighter.

Moping and fretting never made anything better. Hormones, hehe. I don't feel like I'm hormonal but I imagine you can't see it when you're in the middle of it. I'm just gonna have to keep up the fight and in the mean time take care of what I can take care of (whether I want to or not). Maybe I can get a few of my Thanksgiving thank-yous done tonite too.

I'd like to express my thanks today to all of you lovely people who've been commenting on this blog. I really appreciate your support and input. You've been encouraging and uplifting, all of you. Many Many MANY thanks!!! AND thanks for reading : )

Not the Most Uplifting Blog

2011-11-08T03:03:00.000-08:00

Just checkin in.

Everything's sort of piling up and its making life heavy. Christmas is rapidly approaching. On one hand I'm excited for it. I love the lights, the music, the snow, the entire season of it really. There's just a whole different atmosphere surrounding Christmas and it makes for a great end to the year. However money is getting tighter everyday and at present there's NO money for Christmas. Knowing that I'm going to have to find/ pull some money from somewhere and that the season is just getting closer everyday is wearing.

The year is coming to a close and there are things I'd like to have accomplished: paying off the smallest card, having a certain amount in the savings fund for maternity leave, having reached a 20% credit card payoff. I'm not nearly where I'd like to be with any of those things. It's from stupid extra spending like when I'm bum tired after a 10 hour day and we go out for pizza. Or when the husband's work shoes suddenly fall apart. They literally fell apart. Or when someone was pretty sure they got a promotion and spent a bit more money on video games then they should have and then ended up not getting the promotion. (Seriously, I'm glad he's got the video games to take his mind off it though).

I haven't paid the car payment from last month yet and it's driving me crazy. Sometimes the money just isn't in the account when you need it you know.

I've also been gaining weight a bit faster than I should be with this little guy I'm growing. (yeah, everyone wants to hear about that huh) It's certainly not a huge deal but it's on my mind. I don't think my feet, knees, ankles... I don't think my body would be very happy with me if I gained 60 pounds before the little man arrives. I've been watching what I eat very closely and I'm realizing that I've been eating ALOT. (I do love food, and I'm pretty sure this child does too) Ugh, the many many humdrum's of life. Funny when life is heavy I can't stand the weight of it and all I want to do is sleep and eat and not pay attention to responsible things like, "how much money am I spending." I say it's funny because the very things that are weighing on me right now are the things I tend to fall back on when I'm stressed. Viscous cycle.

This year will come to a close. Christmas will come and go. I'm just going to have to try my hardest to focus on the accomplishments and not the missed goals. I can not let all the balls fall, not now, not just before the year closes. November is going to be a good month by golly!

HEY, hey... I have written AND mailed 2 of this months 30 Thanksgiving thank-you notes. Hooray for a little accomplishment there!

It's Just a Bump in the Road

2011-11-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

I'm very proud of my husband for getting the promotion. I'm not super happy with the individual who decided at the last minute before everything was finalized that they wouldn't be leaving the position he got after all.

He's pretty devastated. It's been close to a month since he interviewed. He's heard back once with strong implications that he'd gotten the job. Many higher ups were implying that he would have the position any day now. We were day dreaming about an extra almost $200 a week income. It was truly one of those points in the path where he felt very proud to have made this accomplishment. We certainly felt one step closer to being ready for our little guy's debut. I frankly was dreaming about the debt melting away. The store director was all praise, said his referrals were tremendous, that his interview was excellent. He answered all of the questions with very good ideas. He said that if a different position opens up he hope's that my husband will apply because he'd love to have him working at his store.

It's gonna be a somber few days at the $12 a day house. You know the horrible part is now that he didn't get the promotion AND the raise all I want to do is spend money. I want to buy him things to try and comfort him and make him feel better. I'm pretty much positive that I won't. You and I both know we can't afford it. I don't know if you've all heard about the 5 love languages. I'm pretty sure my husband's top one is "receiving gifts." Funny, out of the five that's my very last one. I can think of SOOO many things that he wants that would put such a huge smile on his face and warm his little heart but we can't really afford them. Grrr.

I could go on and on and on... I think I've said enough. The truth is that we both believe that what's been done is very much what was meant to happen. The road we're traveling will go in a different direction*, one we hadn't anticipated but we're believing that it's a better direction and one that's meant to be. It's difficult at the time, disappointing and frustrating but what's done is done and he'll keep on going. We both prayed about this early on and we know that things will work out for the best. In the mean time golly this sucks.

*Just to clarify he still has a job. Nothing has changed except that everyone he works with has been assuming for at least two weeks that he was leaving. He's been training other people to take over some of his responsibilities. They had someone else lined up to take his current position. He really had gotten the promotion it just suddenly isn't available. I think it was funny though, he said right after he found out, "It's a darn good thing I didn't burn any bridges." That would have been awful!

2011-11-04T02:45:00.000-07:00

This week has pretty much come and gone and I'm not quite sure where it went.

I finally bought a new work shirt. I tried on several and don't love the one I got. I really only need it for 3 months (and then baby will be here). I hate shopping and I'm pretty sure I officially highly dislike buying stuff. I'll tell you what though I went to Macy's on a lunch break to check out the maternity clothes. I wanted to get something nice, maybe a little dressy, respectable for work. The first shirt I looked at was almost $50. The second was over $70 and the third was $89.95 for a shirt, one shirt. What the heck??? Why would anyone pay that much for a shirt? I'm uncomfortable paying over $10. I really genuinely cannot imagine in what world I would grab a $89.95 shirt off the rack, take it to the register, and hand the total stranger with the (generally) fake smile my $90 cash. That world no longer exists. Needless to say I left Macy's (after trying on one plain long sleeve shirt that fit horribly).

Well the week just keeps rushing by. I must scoot before I'm late for work.

A Tad Bit Glum

2011-10-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

I spend a considerable amount of time each Saturday morning working the numbers and contemplating the budget, the bills, the debt, the future blah. I came in $9.30 over budget this past week. $9.30 is better than the week priors $12.73. I'm not to glum about it. But I hate looking at all the future expenses.

I hate knowing that the dogs need haircuts (we tried once to do it ourselves. It took several days to accomplish one pooch's trimming and it was a miserable fail) and we don't have money for it. We went to a celebratory dinner last nite for a very good friend who just received a great promotion but that starts this week's budget with $23 (2 days worth of spending) blown on one small meal and there's no food in our house right now but a few potatoes and box of cereal. The husband just got his guitars done (adjusted or whatever). Apparently it's been too long already and it SHOULD be done twice a year but the $110 expense is irking me beyond belief. OH, and I don't have any money budgeted for Christmas. That ones gonna bite me in the rear... I just know it.

I feel like a child right now, you know the "I don't want to clean my room. I don't want to eat my peas. I don't want to take the garbage to the road..." ranting type child. I don't want to spend money on gasoline, and dog hair cuts, and groceries, and for crying out loud I need one pair of pants that fits. I want to pay my bills and put the money towards the debt AND savings that I've budgeted and that's that. I'm sick of all the expenses. I know it's dumb. The expenses are the whole reason for the money in the first place but. "mommyyyy... I don't want to!"

phewy!

"Sorry honey, we're eating cereal for lunch today"

My November Thanksgiving Plan

2011-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Oh goodness, I'm so excited for Christmas this year. The back rooms at the stores are starting to fill with Christmas candy and the Christmas departments are pretty much all stocked (a tad bit weird, and way too early). I almost broke open a few different boxes of Christmas candy while walking around in back today. I LOVE Christmas time. BUT Thanksgiving comes first!!!

Thanksgiving is awesome and not just because I love food. I love the big family gatherings only one month before more big family gatherings and I love the food! I'm already dreaming up all of the thanksgiving dishes I could experiment with this year. Honestly I'm having to daily remind myself that I don't need to splurge and go all out. I can enjoy the holidays with simplicity. I can... I think I can... I know I can.

I believe that being thankful is one of the most important things you can do in life and the "Thanks" part of Thanksgiving is really why I love the holiday. Every November for the past several years I've made a tradition out of writing thank-you notes to different people I appreciate. Every time I've given someone their Thanksgiving thank-you letter they've been SOOO thrown off guard. A few years back when I wrote one to my mother in law I made her cry and our relationship changed very much for the better from that moment on. The food is great but the Thanks is really what it's all about.

This year I'm pledging (and this is a big one) to write AND mail one Thanksgiving thank-you note every day in November. I don't think I've ever given out more than 10 in a single year. I'm going to allow myself the ability to stock pile. If I don't write any all week but send out 7 on Saturday that will be fine. I REALLY want to do this though. I LOVE sending thanks to the people in my life who I care about and appreciate and there are way more than 30 of them.

I don't need to spend and splurge on elaborate tasty foods (the traditional pumpkin cheese cake WILL happen though). A simple Thanksgiving can be just as grand. Giving thanks however, I can splurge on that and I dare say I shall enjoy it as much if not more than all those tasty dishes.

October has been a pretty great month all in all and now I'm SUPER excited about November.

I'm Certainly not in the 1% but I Refuse to be one of the 99, Debt Quote Tuesday

2011-10-25T16:03:00.000-07:00

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work.
-Robert Orben

This wall street thing is driving me crazy. The birds wake each morning singing their birdy songs. They go about collecting food and building nests. The ants march to and fro... continuously, working, working, working. The bees buzz and collect and build and work, work, work. The elephants, whales, penguins, animals all over the planet trudge the yearly paths they must follow in order to survive. It takes work to get somewhere. I think that's a fact of life. Right???

I have one brother who's paid his way through a very nice college. He works long hours in an office where he's proud of his job and worked his way up from the factory floor. He lives in a very nice home, drives a very nice vehicle, and he's incredibly responsible with his income. His wife takes incredibly good care of the family, my brother, and their three gorgeous daughters (one of those Martha Stewart type moms). She also works part time (I believe) as a special needs teacher. They're not rich but they're prosperous and very responsible. They also love each other very much, spend tons of family time together, and know what's important in life.

I have another brother who just lost his home. He's had a difficult time holding down jobs. Either he quits spontaneously because he can't stand the job any longer or he's been laid off due to the economy. It's horribly judgmental but it's also the facts: he's not responsible with the money he earns. He lived in his home for practically a year without paying any sort of a mortgage or rent payment and when the day came that he HAD to move he went asking people if he could borrow some money to put down on the first months rent for the new place. He did have a fairly nice income for a vast majority of the time he lived rent free in the house he was losing. Why the heck didn't he have a down payment for his new place? If I lived rent free for a year I'd be LOADED! I love him. He's a great guy. He trys to be the best dad he can be. But he doesn't seem very happy and I don't think he sees past RIGHT NOW.

I remember writing about this earlier in the year. I wondered at the possibility of two types of people. The type that plans and looks ahead, and the type that has absolutely no regard for the future. The first type of person works hard because they know as a fact of life that's what needs to be done. They plan, they do what needs to be done, and life might not be easy but it's not a futile struggle. The second type, well I was there for quite a long while... they want, want, want, but don't look ahead and then the world crashes down around them because they refused to watch it falling down (and didn't want to put the effort into stopping it).

My world began to fall. I could have easily decided to stop paying "the stupid banks." I could have declared bankruptcy. I could have blamed them for my debt. After all HOW DARE THEY charge me the exorbitant interest that I AGREED to pay them when I borrowed their money. In fact I could have gotten pregnant years ago, divorced my husband (just for legality sake... we would have stayed together in this scenario) and gone to college for free, gotten free daycare, and free food. Oh, how wonderfully easy life would have been.

I think I ramble upon this subject a bit too often but I'm kind of angry about it. If you want something then WORK FOR IT! Your life is in your hands. My life is in my hands. I'm responsible for what happens along the path I choose to follow. Why should ANYONE else be responsible for you, I mean unless of course you're a baby who needs to be bottle fed and have his or her diaper changed for them.

If you want to be rich then do what it takes. If you're just mad at other people for being rich then you have a problem. Apparently there's something I'm not getting. I don't think it's the government or anyone else's for that matter responsibility to take care of me??? In fact I don't want "free" food or "free" school. I'm pretty sure food you actually work for tastes considerably better than the free stuff anyway.

I only spent $3.08 today : )

$13.77 a Day

2011-10-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

Just a random morning ramble.

I'd hoped to be somewhere near a $10,000 debt payoff by the end of the year. I might make it pretty close to $10,000 total in credit card payments including interest. I'm really happy with the $4000 we've paid off so far. It's getting close to double what we paid off last year. BUT I still really REALLY wish it was more.

After yesterday's post "$4000 paid off in 42 weeks" I did the math. I've paid OFF $95 a week in CC debt. $13.77 a day has gone to pay OFF credit card debt. I've paid well over $150 a week in credit card payments (that's over $20 a day!!!). I harp on myself for spending $4 a week on coffee. I've been trying to live off of $84 a week for ALL spending. My husband who I complain up the wazoo about spends between $80 to $100 a week on nonsense (and food). The point I'm trying to make and one I'm exceedingly happy with at the moment is that we've been regularly putting more money towards the debt than ANYTHING else. $150 a week is a TON of money for us. $4000 doesn't seem like a super lotta money (especially when reading about some other people's pay offs) but $150 a week is genuinely really extreme for us and I'm a little amazed right now.

Ramble done. Another little self inflicted pep talk complete.

Week 42 of this Grand Adventure

2011-10-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

This past weeks budget ended $12.76 over. I'm sad to have gone over but I'm not angry about the $12.76. That's not a horrible figure. We are spending more frugally again. The husband is even slowly stepping on board. So far so good, thats what I say.

I re-worked the number's yesterday and I've paid over $4000 in credit card debt this year which comes to almost $7000 paid out with interest included. I'm only $200 away from being under that $20,000 mark for the CC debt. I've been wishing for this moment for YEARS! It's like someone who's weighed over 200 pounds for such a long time and they've always hoped but never thought they'd see that 198 or 197 on the scale. I'm so excited for the $20,000 mark to be passed once and for all.

16.68% of the CC debt is gone so far this year. Especially if the husband gets the promotion (which we haven't heard back on yet) our credit cards should be completely paid off in 3 to 4 years. I've had credit card debt since I was 17. For over 14 years I've owed numerous banks debt and interest due to purchasing items I could not truly afford. Just 2 years ago I thought I'd owe debt and interest for the rest of my life. I felt like I was in such a deep dark hole that there was no possibility of ever surfacing. In 3 to 4 years I should be free and clear of owing anyone any longer. I'll have the opportunity to spend and save the income I make. I'll have the opportunity to live life free from that cloud of foolish past decisions and wasteful want. Every single day I take the tiniest little step forward towards my dream of freedom (which isn't free, doesn't come easy, and requires a lot of respect) but all the tiny steps are getting me somewhere.

It's moments like these, moments when I know that I'm really doing it; moments when life seems sweet and a pleasant aroma of accomplishment and satisfaction fills the air; these moments make the journey what it is and it is worthwhile.

A Pleasant October

2011-10-23T01:37:00.000-07:00

Thus far I've very much been enjoying fall. The leaves changed beautifully but due to a few very strong wind storms they fell off much too quickly. Still the bright neon yellow bushes that spot the landscape on the drive north are all in full array. The delightful crispy crunchiness of walking down leaf covered sidewalks is ever present. The cool breeze accompanied by warm sweaters is so enjoyable. I also love how the earth tips northernly and the sun begins to rise southernly and the sky changes in overall appearance. If not for the temperature one can know it's Autumn simply by the change in the sky.

I LOVE this tree... I feel like it's an old friend.

I've been putting up a list for each month on the right hand side bar and sadly I don't often attain to much of the items displayed there. So far this month I've indulged in a piece of pumpkin pie, a few chai lattes (mixed up at home... much cheaper), one of my all time favorite seasonal beverages salted caramel mocha, apple cider fresh from the orchard, apple pie (home made and delicious), and I've even been to a bon fire fully equipped with smores. I intend to make the seasonal pumpkin cheesecake before the month is out. I'm looking forward to that one tremendously. I've also been reading more as of late (hooray... I LOVE to read but often do not find the time). I've gone over budget a bit but I'm quite happy with how October is progressing. Officially I've made it past the mid year slump. It happened to be a rather long slump but I'm on my way.

Additionally my son is growing and growing and every little thought of him makes life rather splendid.

Happy October everyone! Thanks for stopping by and reading : )

Birthday's Get me Everytime

2011-10-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when an AWESOME 9 year old who lives across the country, who you miss and adore turns 10 in October, even though you promised not to buy anything new... Well (instead of making a card because I was informed of the event last minute) I bought a card and some Hello Kitty stickers and mailed them to Seattle. Thus, THREE new things have been purchased during "Buy Nothing New October." Alas, I should have embarked up "Buy Nothing New September," because I didn't buy anything in September.

It's been nice really focusing and paying attention to my purchases again (even though I've failed the mission). That first purchase didn't count because Bryallen informed me that I'd used a free pass that I hadn't previously known about. But these two purchases definitely do. Still, I didn't buy the new shower curtain or the shower mat, I've totally avoided purchasing a new shirt for work (I'm going to have to get the sewing box out today for the current one) and I also have decided that I should get one new pair of pants. Winter is coming quickly and only my work pants and PJ's are fitting me now. BUT I won't be buying those until November. So, if nothing else I have spent a bit less in October because of the challenge.

Today's Lovely 10.22.11: The sun has yet to rise and the green green grass is crispy and crinkly with frozen dew. Winter is coming and I don't mind that one bit.

Quick little update

2011-10-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

It's pretty much a given that if I haven't been blogging then I have been spending money. What an awful week food wise. I began everyday telling myself, "ok, you need to be wise with the spending and eat healthy foods." And then... yikes. I really don't want to add it all up.

As for buy nothing new October, thus far I've only purchased the few prints from the ultrasound disc. Two days ago I decided that I desperately need a new work shirt. I'm not sure how you can suddenly desperately need a new shirt but I believe I do. Yes I only have one. I'm cheap, what can I say. Despite the situation my plan is to wait until November 1st. I'm not going to buy anything (else) new this month. So there.

Reason #1 Why Not to Spend Money

2011-10-15T04:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry but I find this quite amusing.

The cat in our family is very limited to her space. The kitchen belongs to her. She's established a few safe spots with the dogs. As long as she can make it to the bed or the ottoman she's off limits. I'm not sure how they worked that deal out. Table tops, her cat tree, the coke machine... the dogs can't get to her as long as she's up high. Our youngest dog is pretty sure that the cat is a game. "Get the Kitty" is the name of the game and the kitty is in no way shape or form amused by it. She may be a humane society backwoods runty stray with a little bit of Siamese in her BUT if you were to ask her she'd let you know first thing that she's 100% Siamese. AND she's not about to play silly kid games with a mini-schnauzer.

Every time I walk through the pet department I want to buy her a nice fluffy cat bed. I mean she's a Siamese queen and she deserves a bit of comfort. Of course I don't want to spend the money on it. She's always sleeping on the table and the buffet, in piles of junk mail or on magazines. I've also thought about making her a nice kitty bed but I haven't gotten around to it. Pure laziness.

My husband had to get new shoes for work several weeks ago. Of course he set the empty box on the buffet (I mean where else would it go). Deedee has been quite contentedly sleeping in "her box" every single day since he got those shoes. Here I thought I should buy her a fancy cat bed or spend hours sewing her something nice and she's as happy as a clam in an empty shoe box. She's a bit chunky so I have had to duct tape one corner already. She tore it while she was snuggling her chubby self into the box. I'm pretty sure this thing is going to make her very happy for a very long time however.

Reason #1 Why Not to Spend Money: an empty shoe box will do just fine.

Today's Lovely 10.15.11: The wind this morning is absolutely musical.

2011-10-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

I spent $10.38 over the budget this week. I'm going to attempt to spend $10.38 under the budget in the upcoming week. It's my goal to balance the $12 a day budget for the month of October. I've done really well so far and I'd be SOOOO happy to have stayed on track all month this month.

She's crying for food right now. I must go feed the hungry cat. Later.

I've a busy weekend ahead of me but I'm hoping to accomplish some de-cluttering somewhere in between all the plans. I totally dropped the ball on purging stuff (so far) this year. ooops. Wowwy life sure gets busy and flys by.

No news on the husband's potential promotion yet.

Hey, thanks to everyone who's checked out the ads on my blog (some of them are so irrelevant). I can't believe I actually get paid just for you all clicking on them. I'm getting close to another check. Woohoo. I'm so looking forward to chucking another snowball at one of those credit cards!

: )

Goal Number 3 in the Works

2011-10-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

We've had $10 in the bank account for the past 4 days. I hate when that happens... it's so stressful. I decided that I wasn't going to transfer money from the overdraft for a cushion because my husband was fully aware of the situation and we could make it to today without the transfer.

Well yesterday he got a job interview for a promotion. Wednesday night we scrambled to get a resume thrown together for him (he's been working at the same job for 13 years... never needed a resume before) and he mentioned that he didn't have a dress shirt (at least not one with buttons... thanks Bozzy). WELL, I went ahead and transferred money from the overdraft so that he could get a nice shirt for the interview. I am married to a VERY t-shirt and blue jeans guy!

I got home from work after an 11 plus hour day. I had tried to call home once from a payphone but he didn't answer. I was dying to hear about the interview. When I walked through the door my husband was quite proud of himself. He said the interview went very well. He would find out later about the job but even if he didn't get it he said the interview was great experience, he'd received some tremendous references from the higher ups and he was having a terrific day. AND (he was glowing about this one) he didn't buy a new shirt. Apparently he'd played dress up for awhile with some clothes he'd inherited when his uncle passed away and he informed me that he "looked VERY good!"

So, I did transfer some money from the overdraft BUT he didn't even use it. Seriously, who is this man??? Two weeks in a row he's stuck to his spending cash allowance and on the heels of a big interview he declines purchasing a new shirt. Ahhhhh, life is changing.

Maybe babies do make people grow up : )

Stuff

2011-10-12T16:58:00.000-07:00

I bought something new : (

I was sure that I could make it the whole month easily without buying anything new (food not included). I never buy anything. But we had the ultrasound a bit ago and they only printed out 2 photos for us and they're already starting to get a little ragged from me showing them around so I ordered copies. $1.88 spent on 2 photographs and "buy nothing new October" is shot. The worst part is that the prints aren't that great because the originals were formatted pretty small and I could so easily have waited to buy them until November. Grr.

I certainly don't intend to buy anything else this month but I'm bit regretful that I didn't wait on those photos.

I did turn down a show curtain liner that was on clearance. I really wanted to get it. I replace the shower curtain liner about twice a year. It's weird but it's one of the only things I really buy. Clearance shower curtain liners were VERY tempting to me. At least that's a victory : )

Occupy Wall Street Movement and Debt Quote Tuesday

2011-10-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: spend less than you earn. -Paul Clitheroe

I come from an anomalous family. My grandparents (both sets) were very well off. My mother's siblings have done pretty well for themselves. My dad's siblings (and he's Irish Catholic so there's ALOT of them) are all (with the exception of one) VERY wealthy.

My parents spent ALOT of money when we were kids, when they were married. They actually spent ALOT of money that they didn't have. A few mortgages, several credit cards, and a divorce later my family (or I guess I should say my mother) was really quite poor and VERY in debt. Somehow my mom still managed to get new credit cards, additional personal loans, another refinance on the house... you name it she did what it took to have money. But eventually she was just trying to scrape by (the very same position I found myself in a year or so ago).

I knew it was bad. I didn't really understand why but I knew we were broke, poor, struggling... it was bad. When I was a kid and we were in our horrible financial mess I remember getting quite angry with the relatives. Here we were surrounded by millionaires (no joke). They were purchasing crazy elaborate things that no one really needs and we were having a difficult time buying groceries. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't just give us money. I was sure that if my mom asked for money they'd have to "help us out." For years I didn't understand why they were allowed to have so much while we struggled by. It just wasn't fair.

I'm intrigued by the current world economic situation. I feel like ALOT of people are almost exactly in the place we were in as a family when I was a kid. And ALOT of people are looking at the wealthy "relatives" with fury and anger because it's just not fair! I know there's a lot more to it than that but boiled down to the basic bare bones of the matter it's quite similar. What I didn't see when I was a kid was that my relatives had worked very hard for their money. Each of them had spent MANY many years in college. They worked long hours at their office jobs. They handled their money responsibly, not purchasing things with credit, or things they could absolutely not afford. They earned their income and they were taking good care of it. My parents did the exact opposite. They always spent money they didn't have. They had pretty decent jobs but they weren't responsible at all.

If you constantly spend less than you earn, no matter your situation you will get ahead, be ahead, have that financial stability and security that I longed for as a child and am working diligently towards now as an adult. If you are constantly spending above your income level then it won't take too long before it's difficult to see the top of the pit you've dug for yourself. Them's the facts.

Life isn't fair but I can understand now why my relatives weren't entitled to give us poor folks their money. They could have. It would have been a nice thing to do (my parents would have blown it and I think it's safe to say that it wouldn't have done any good in the long run). I'm finally at a place in life where I'm really not looking towards anyone else to help me out of the pit I've dug. I realize that hard work and wise responsible living will go eons farther than a helping hand up. Life is about learning, growing, experiences, trials and victories. I'm all for helping people. But I'm inclined to believe that "it's better to give than to receive" is 100% true. I'm pretty sure that every time, the giver does actually receive more than the getter.

TOTALLY different subject: baby's first photo

It's so fuzzy. But I'm pretty sure he's the most adorable thing I've EVER seen!!!

Just by the Hair of my Chinny Chin Chin

2011-10-07T17:39:00.000-07:00

Actually I'm REALLY glad that I don't have any hair on my chinny chin chin but I do like that saying.

I managed to stick to the budget AGAIN this week. That's two weeks in a row. Oh yeah, I am back baby! It certainly wasn't easy. We ate some pretty cheap dinners this week (healthy, but cheap). I'm proud to say that the husband did a very good job with his spending money as well. He spent $30 less this week than he did last week and he's been paying very close attention to what he's been spending his money on. He's like a whole different man (almost). He has been quite and grouchy all day today and I have a feeling that he's stewing about the tight budget. The week I pay the mortgage (this week) it's always SUPER tight around here. He says nothing's wrong and that he just doesn't want to talk but I'm not dumb. There's probably something that he really wants to buy and he's resisting asking me about it. Who knows (well he does). He can only hold out for so long.

Thank-you for all the congratulations on the baby BOY!!! I CANNOT wait to meet him BUT we certainly have a lot to do before his debut. We are really genuinely so excited. He is another REALLY good reason to reign in the spending and grow up and (to throw in a little Dave) to live like no else right now so that later we can LIVE like no one else!

Today's lovely is actually from yesterday, 10.6.11: I place fairly large stickers on the floor as advertisements in the stores that I work in. It's just a small part of my day but I get to do it everyday. Kids that notice my "fun" job are always extremely fascinated. I think some of them may actual aspire to be me when they grow up... who wouldn't want to get paid to put huge stickers on the floor (little do they know). Well yesterday I was putting down a sticker (I think it was for Campbell's soup) and I looked up and a super adorable little boy (probably about 4 years old) was standing directly in front of me. He said in the most genuinely sincere little voice, "Would you like some help?" It was too cute, really.

Pretty Good Week

2011-10-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

Shoot I missed debt quote Tuesday AGAIN.

Only 3 days left in the week and just over $30 left in the budget. I'm cutting in close again. We've done really well with spending this week but yesterday I bought lots of little food items at work that added up really fast. If I could redo yesterday I'd still have the $12 a day budget left for these next three days. Oops.

Something miraculous has happened. My husband's spending money ran out (I give him the spending cash on Thursday when we get paid) yesterday... that's not the miraculous part. So yesterday he apologized for spending $4 with the debit card on food at work and today he asked permission to spend a few extra dollars for food at work. Last week he was screaming about me not wanting him to spend $30 a week on outings with his friends and now he's watching every penny like a hawk. Even if this is just for one week, I'll take it. It's a amazing.

As for Buy Nothing New October: So far so good. I haven't made any purchases (other than food).

Little life update: We had the ultrasound on Monday (Wowwy was that AMAZING) and we are expecting a son in February!!!

I'd better go to work now. Hope everyone vastly enjoys today!

Buy Nothing New October

2011-10-01T17:35:00.000-07:00

Tasmanian Minimalist, a fellow blogger who's been quite inspiring to me has just embarked upon "Buy Nothing New October." I think it's a great idea and I've decided to come along for the ride.

I cannot believe that October is actually here. But I'm ready. October ushers in great sweatshirt weather, beautiful multi colored leaves on all the trees, and great temperatures for walking/ exercise. We've the first ultra sound on Monday... boy or girl!?!? I've never been so excited about anything in my life. I feel like I'm back in the game with the budget and I'm hopeful that the first week in October is going to be another balanced budget week.

I can't remember the last time I bought something new BUT I'm looking forward to consciously thinking about it again everyday. I'm kind of looking forward to buy nothing new/ stick to the budget/ work with the husband on OUR spending October.

Let's do this!

Budget Balanced!!!

2011-09-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

The week is over and I did it. I stayed on budget... $12 a day (plus $3 a day for the peanut). It feels so good. All the hard work and self discipline are so worth it. I love the accomplishment!

Now that my husband is being regularly informed (whether he likes it or not) I'm feeling REALLY compelled to hold up to my end of the bargin/ stick to the $12 a day budget for my spending and all the groceries/ household supplies.

I left next weeks budget summary on the counter in the kitchen for him yesterday. There's no cushion this week. The ending balance before payday is 16 cents. When I got home from work I asked if he'd looked at it. I received a simple "Yes." So far he's not complained about anything budget related for the upcoming week.

Despite the grumbling he actually did a pretty good job only spending his "spending" cash this week. There were a few random debits... a video game rental and a food purchase at work when he ran out of money. (ok, after his intial revolt/ CD purchase) But otherwise props to him for spending considerably less than normal and really attempting to comply with the dreaded budget.

Goal number 3 is officially under way and I am SOOO back in the game!

One Good Thing

2011-09-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Bad thing: Angry unreasonable husband (not making life fun at the moment).
Good thing: I'm totally sticking to the budget this week (if not only to show him that I'm serious about this whole ordeal)

My recent fury and frustration due to the husband's unreasonable stubbornness towards financial responsibility (or irresponsibility) has sparked a new fire in me to stick to the budget. This week I've done really well. I'm cutting it pretty close but it looks like this is the week I'm finally back on board. I've only one day left. I've more money left than many other weeks that I managed to stick to it... I CAN DO THIS!!!

Horray! Yipee! If nothing else the confrontation has got me back in the game : )

Something interesting that I've noticed: Even though I don't enjoy penny pinching and denying myself little delights like sugary coffees and peanut butter m&m's I'm a tad bit happier when I'm sticking to my budget. I've even got a little extra spring in my step. It's hard work but when I'm not living a financially responsible lifestyle a little dark cloud hovers overhead. Life is much brighter when the ugly little cloud isn't there.

Hehe, I'm so Smart

2011-09-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

Yeah, NOPE... it back fired.

He's been bringing up budget issues EVERYDAY. He needs his guitars (I don't know what you call it) adjusted. $50 each, 3 guitars. Because I complain about him spending at least $20 once a week to go to lunch and a movie with his friends apparently I'm "against him having friends." I've told him numerous times that he can hang out with his friends every day of the week for all I care he just needs to stop spending so much money on his outings. I asked him what the $16 Amazon charge was (over and above the cash I gave him... encroaching upon the $30 cushion) and apparently I'm supposed to have ESP because I just should have known that it was a CD he needed. Oh, my oh my the ranting and raving just goes on. He's really REALLY angry at me for suggesting that he cut back his spending a bit and stick to a budget.

Ok, he's got issues but I love him and he's not as evil as this blog is making him out to sound. He's just REALLY... not wanting to take responsibility for anything.

I'm sorry to be venting about this all on here. I've tried very hard to be respectful to my husband and not include him too much in this blog. Unfortunately that's left me ignoring Goal number 3. I take one week and try and make one little baby step towards goal number 3 and now I have a furious husband who thinks I am trying to ruin his life. Ok, here's what I don't understand: I hand him a written budget for the week showing clear as day the starting account balance, the paycheck deposit, gasoline, spending, cable bill, electric bill, equity line payment, and ending account balance. How am I responsible for there not being enough money for him to buy every little thing his heart desires?

I'm REALLY frustrated right now AND I am currently writing up his budget summary for next week. His week long temper tantrum is NOT getting him off the hook. From here on out he will see every penny that comes in and goes out. I don't spend anything EVER and yet I'm the bad guy. Oh no, it does not work that way!!!

Goal Number 3 Here I Come

2011-09-25T04:03:00.000-07:00

I handed him the cash and the very basic very self explanatory budget and said, "I intend to give you one of these each week." He noticed instantly what it was and scowled a bit. He REALLY really HATES anything having to do with the finances (except spending them). Surprisingly he read through it, only let off a little grr (I think it's when he got to the part where I wrote down that he'd already spent $33 in the past two days. He never believes me when I tell him how much he's wasted), and that was that.

I started off his little budget summary with how much was in the checking account before the paycheck was deposited. Then I added and subtracted this weeks income and this weeks bills/ expenses. There are only 6 items on the list and when all is said and done the bottom of the paper shows $30 left in the bank account before the next payday. It's all right there in blue and white for him to plainly see and without me harping on him in anyway he now knows that if he spends more than his cash (and more than the $30 pocket) we will go into overdraft. The ball is in his court now. I'm not the one responsible for slicing down payments on things to cover his extra spending now. I'm not the one having watch like a hawk for overdraft now. He's fully aware and he's no excuse.

I sort of feel like I tricked him in a way. He refuses to talk about the budget. Dave Ramsey says that the budget is something that both people need to be in agreement on. Both people NEED to have a say and take part in it. But half of my people don't want to hear about it, don't want to talk about it, don't want to think about it, and tend to throw a little tantrum when it's brought up. When I handed him the VERY basic budget and the cash he willingly perused it and that was that. No discussion needed, no argument, nothing. BUT later that day he says to me, "you know I'm going to need an oil change next week, and there are several (PS3) games coming up that I'm planning on getting." I said something to the effect of, "that's fine, the oil change is officially in next weeks budget and if you write down when and how much those games are going to be I'll put them in the budget too. But I need you to let me know about them. You can't just spring it on me." He agreed and whalah, we had a little budget meeting (without him even knowing it) hehehe : )

Tiny little victory here at the $12 a day household!!! This debt will be gone. Maternity leave savings... oh yeah. A happy financially free family is in the works.

Almost

2011-09-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

This week was awful. I worked 51.5 hours, with commute that 57 hours in 5 days. I'm quite officially tired, sore, and grouchy. In fact I'm over budget this week but I'm surprised that I'm not $100 over budget. I've noticed that when I am forced to work an obscene amount (which includes lots of crouching, kneeling, climbing, lifting, walking... it's like getting paid to work out) I tend to feel the need to buy food to ease the discomfort. I ate two bags of peanut butter m&ms on Thursday. Let me tell you they really helped get me through that 12 plus hour day.

This week's budget came in $14.24 over. It's STILL over. I didn't balance the budget AGAIN but it's so close. I'm happy with it. It's the closest I've come in awhile. I feel like I'm getting back on track. Yay me.

In other news I failed in my attempt to rein in the husbands spending. I really didn't attempt it at all. I didn't attempt anything these past two psychotic weeks while working my butt off. BUT he spent $38 less this past week then he did the week before. $38 is ALOT of money (considering that his spending is basically all nonsense, nonessential, blah... and a little food while he's at work). This morning's agenda: post this blog, go to the ATM, withdraw cash for him (for this week), write down the weeks budget on paper clear as day, and hand him the cash and the budget when he gets home from work. The idea is that if he knows what we have, where it's going and how much he can spend then maybe he'll be a little more considerate about the seemingly endless supply of money he throws out the window as he drives through town. He just gets so crazy when I talk about money or try and get him to think about the budget. I think this is a simple plan: Hand him the budget and spending money. He can do whatever from there.

Cash, not my friend

2011-09-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

I hate the cash envelope system. If I have a pile of cash I feel like I can spend it. But it makes so much sense and it's SOOOO easy to over spend with the debit card. Grrr.

I REALLY want to try and come as close to being on budget as possible this week. I've been progressively getting closer each week but ever since my June/ July downfall I've been struggling to get back in the game. I've only two days left in the budget this week and it looks like I might actually make it. I withdrew the remainder of the budgeted spending today and the plan is to cash envelope the next two days.

Yay, cash envelope... here goes.

Debt Quote Tuesday and a little Optimism

2011-09-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.
-Henry Ford

It's been slow going around here but I'm trying. I'm thinking about spending constantly. I'm slow stepping forward and not back.

It's funny to me that even though I'm NOWHERE near the debt payoff I dreamed of when I began $12 a day I'm still very happy with the payoff we've accomplished thus far. No matter how many times I screw up the budget; no matter how many times I fall short of my goals; no matter how many times I must return to blogger to complain to you all about how I messed up AGAIN the debt is going down, and it's going down considerably faster than it ever has before.

I guess what I'm getting at (and this certainly isn't a go get em, win big speech) is that "nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs." Just keep baby stepping. Just keep moving (forward ideally). Just keep going and EVENTUALLY you'll get there. Despite all of my... um, shortcomings the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter and brighter and much much more lovely as each day goes by.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.
-Lao Tzu

Tuesday

2011-09-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Apparently my work is trying to make up for the past month of slow going (I've been short at least an hour every week in the past month) all in one week. Oh... my... goodness am I wore out. BUT I did a pretty good job with spending today. I came in under budget. I also recorded all the spending thus far for the week and balanced the checkbook (I don't write checks but I'm not sure how else to explain it... balanced the bank account). AGAIN I've spent more in the first 3 days of the week than I had thought. I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to, if nothing else, pay attention!

I've spent $28.02 over the $12 a day budget so far this week. All I can say is that I intend to try my hardest (which hasn't been too great lately). I'd like to see that number not go up. In fact I'm not going to aspire to balance the budget for this week because I think I'll get too frustrated and overwhelmed. BUT I am going to try and get that $28.02 under $20 by Friday. Ok, goal.

Today's Lovely: There was a giant magenta sun creeping over the horizon as I drove to work. The sky was gorgeous. This crazy day began ever so beautifully and peacefully.

A Little Morning Pep Talk

2011-09-13T03:33:00.000-07:00

The week is just about half over (I start our budget on Saturday) and... not great. Today is a good day to stick to the budget! Today is a good day to record all those transactions and get caught up on the week. Today is ALSO a good day to read and enjoy ALL of the little things. Ok, lets get going on today.

Today might be a good day to show up to work on time as well. Scurrying...

Let's Get This Show on the Road

2011-09-11T05:57:00.000-07:00

New week starts yesterday. Last week I went $33.75 over budget. Considering that I didn't start buckling down and sticking to the new budget until half way through last week I think I didn't do so terribly awful.

This week I'm focused. I really need to start paying attention again to the little things. When I pick up groceries the budget busters tend to be the few extra things that cost a few extra dollars which didn't need to be spent. I also need to jot down my spending and balance the checkbook everyday. This one simple act is really what keeps me in balance with this whole financial game. It's rough getting back into it but the hiatus was long enough!

If I can end this week with a balanced budget (which hasn't happened in a very long time) I will be a VERY happy camper. (I love how many expressions I throw in while blogging. I wonder if I use just as many in speech.)

Goal number three: Get husband on board budget, has been just sitting there on the right side bar list of goals untouched since the very beginning. This week I'm going to put a little extra effort into goal number three. I'm not going to hound him. I'm not going to pester him but I'm going to gently guide him to spend a bit less money then he's been spending. I need to put more effort into making sure he knows what our budget is. He doesn't want to know but I can at least do the work and get it on paper in front of him for him to peruse at his discretion. I need to get him spending cash so he doesn't free for all it with the bank card. I need to check up on him and make sure the cash isn't being spent all in one day. I tend to steer away from giving him cash because that's what he tends to do. We all know it (as much as I'm in denial about it) if I can't get him to spend a bit less then I'm not going to reach my savings goal for the maternity leave.

I've got some work cut out for me this week but I'm ready.

Stop keeping up with the Joneses. They're broke. -Dave Ramsey

2011-09-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

There are 7 new people and two large canines living in the house next door. I believe I've mentioned it before. (If by some freak chance they happen to read this blog it'll be a dead give away that I'm blogging about them... NOT COOL!)

We've spent the last three weeks watching them move in. For at least two weeks before they actually occupied the place they were there every day painting and doing who knows what else inside, tearing out bushes everywhere in the yard (the forsythia bush is gone now), putting in new landscaping and slowly moving all their stuff (non-essentials) over. I must say that I was envious of all the painting at first. My husband and I have lived in our place for 6 or 7 years now and the only thing we've ever painted was our tiny pea soup green bathroom. I couldn't stand it so it became robins egg blue pretty much first thing. People always say paint is cheap but in my opinion the primer and extra cans you hadn't anticipated buying, the brushes and rollers, trays, drop clothes, prep cleaning supplies... well it adds up fast. It's never been cheap when I've done it. So, we haven't painted. (I really don't count the base paint I put on the foundation of the house a bit back... that was really just maintenance)

It's been weird watching them come and go like worker ants for at least two weeks. We saw the kayak and the canoe arrive. The play houses and outdoor toys. The pop up camper, the weird maybe hunting tent thingy that's laying in the back yard now. Their yard is full of stuff. My husband's been wanting a Kayak all year. He's pretty jealous of that one. The house has got to be bursting at the seams. It's really quite small. Ok, so the story goes they bought the house on a land contract because they couldn't get a mortgage. There last house was foreclosed on and it looks like they've been living with relatives until now. We're over here drooling over all the money they're putting into the new place and all the stuff that's showing up on the scene and wondering how you can have SOOO much and spend so much and have lost a home.

I write all of this rather intrusive, judgmental observation to say that even though I want to paint a few things around here I know I don't need to. I need to pay off the debt. Even though I'd love to plant a few new bushes and do a bit of landscaping I know I don't need to. I need to pay off the debt. Even though my husband would love a kayak. We don't need one (he can use his parents) and we need to pay off the debt. It's sooooo easy to look at the world around you, the lives around you, and feel less than adequate. Every time we go to Chicago I feel like a bum in sack clothing. Over 90 percent of the people you pass by are wearing hundreds, HUNDREDS, like 3 and 4 and 5 hundreds of dollars of apparel and accessories. Just seeing them can make one feel defective.

BUT I don't need new things!!! I have the stars, the sunrises and sunsets. Everyday the clouds are new and spectacular. The fields and rolling hills are filled with trees and wildflowers reflecting life and beauty one could NEVER own. My life is full of loved ones, each more of a blessing than I'll ever deserve. When you look at the stuff and my oh my there's SOOOO much of it and think of all the "things" you don't have life can seem so lacking. But the truth reins supreme and declares "you've more already then you'll ever realize, utilize, or fully grasp." I'd like to believe that everything else no matter how glamorous or seemingly necessary is really just clutter.

My life is already full and new each morning. I DO NOT need to keep up with the Joneses and I really don't want to.

No time to blog

2011-09-08T16:14:00.001-07:00

Balanced budget three days in a row!!! Woohoo!

I Feel Like I Missed About a Hundred Debt Quote Tuesdays

2011-09-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

‎The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan. -Dave Ramsey

The checkbook is caught back up. I've been paying close attention to spending the past few days. I'm proud to say that today I stuck to the budget perfectly.

It's been quite difficult getting back into the swing of things but I think I'm ready to do this. I have a plan laid out. I will have that little Discover card paid off before the end of the year. I will have enough money saved up to take 8 weeks maternity leave by the time the little one comes. I think I'm back.

As much as I'd love to do a major beat down on myself for stepping away from the game for two plus months I'm just going to put it all behind me, focus, and try and do what needs to be done. Into the future I go, living right here and right now I shall, the past is done and gone.

Today's Lovely - The dogs had a confrontation with the new neighbor dog early this morning. (it wasn't really a confrontation because there is a fence between our two yards). None the less there was lots of barking and growling and scratching at the fence. It's always embarrassing to have your little ones misbehaving so, especially in front of the new neighbors at 5 in the am. I had to run out there and grab our littlest one. She's in lala land whenever there's another creature anywhere to be seen. I picked her up barking and scratching and trying with all her might to escape. I then headed to the house, turned around and called for our older dog (the one in the t-shirt photo) to come inside with us. He took one look back at the new neighbor dog and without hesitation he trotted happily along side me and crazy Maggie back indoors. My lovely moment today is honestly how happy I was and how proud I was that our little Bozzy behaved so well, listened so well, and really practically made my morning. Sidenote: the morning sickness, having to walk about 30 minutes to my husbands work to get the keys for my car because my set was left in the car last night, and the simple fact of having new neighbors did NOT make my morning.

Little Update

2011-09-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

This is going to be a bit more positive blog. I've been in a slump and my blogs as of late have been horribly negative.

After this month I will have paid almost $3500 in credit card debt this year. Last year was our biggest credit card payoff year to date. We paid $2836 off during all of last year. I'm going to be really half glass full and say if nothing else at least we've exceeded last years pay off. That is progress and as always every penny paid off is a spectacular thing. I'm pretty sure that by the end of this year the Credit card debt will be under $20,000. Yes, that's still REALLY high but I've been waiting for this milestone FOREVER. I'm pretty excited.

One last note of positive: Our total debt payoff this year is already over $7000. Hey, I might make it to a total debt payoff of $10,000 this year even if less than half of that is from the dreaded credit cards. It is what it is. I'm certainly not going to complain.

Its Hard to Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

2011-08-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

I'd be the old dog in this scenario. I'm one of those old dogs that eats at the exact same time everyday. Lays around for a specific amount of time and then wanders outdoors to poo at the exact same time everyday. You don't change my food. You don't expect me to go for a walk if it's not on the schedule. I'm not going to be nice to new people because I don't know them. I'd probably growl a bit if a vehicle drove by my home that I didn't recognize the sound of. I imagine I'd know a neighborhood squirrel (through the living room window) quite well and I'm sure I'd be aware of the time of day he always climbs the oak tree next door. Ok, so the new tricks would be learning how to live a financially responsible life after decades of the exact opposite but you get the idea.

Confessions: 1. I've used overdraft transfers a few times in the past several weeks. I'd love LOVE love to blame falling back into this nasty habit on my husband. Each time I've resorted to the transfer has been because he spent a ridiculous amount of money right before we got paid BUT if I were on top of things this wouldn't be happening. So, no blame applicable. 2. We've reverted back to eating out ALOT, virtually every night. It's due to pure laziness (and gluttony). It's horrible and there's no excuse for it.

I thought I had this old dog pretty well trained into the new way of doing things. Nope. It takes alot of work to stay on track, stay on task, and change a lifestyle. Hopefully now that I've confessed my short comings on this lovely (heavy) blog I'll try harder to stay on task.

Things I desperately need to work on in the short run:
Sticking to the awesome new budget.
Blogging regularly (it's crazy how much it helps to just sit down and spill about it every day)
Balancing the checkbook (tonites chore while my husband is out hanging with the guys)
NO OVERDRAFT grrrrr
Lessen the meals out on the town. Yes old dog, you must eat at home!

okay.

Today's lovely: An evening alone at home. Sometimes solitude is so wonderful.

It's gonna be difficult BUT sigh of relief... I can do this!

2011-08-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Writing yesterday's blog really helped (I should have done that at least a month ago).

All of your comments and support really helped! I'm going to take your advise. I'm going to pay off our littlest credit card. It has zero percent interest that ends in December. I really want to get it gone before the interest kicks back in. I'll feel great eliminating another card even if it's just a tiny one (without interest). That will leave us with four cards at the end of this year, 2011. We started the year with NINE..

The other cards are going to have to sit on the back burner. I've just worked out a budget for the next six months (headache) and even though it's a super tight penny pinching budget that's going to be very difficult to stick to it pays all the bills and saves enough money for me to take 8 weeks maternity leave without any worry. (Sorry about the run on sentences... my husband says I'm awful for that) I'd LOVE to take the full 12 weeks but right now I've got 8 weeks worked into the budget. I'm happy with that!

Fortunately the tax refund will come very near the same time our little one arrives. I can either use that for another 4 weeks leave or to put towards the hospital bills. I will cross that bridge when I get to it BUT at least I have that little honey jar sitting out there in the future. PLEASE DON'T RAISE THE TAX RATE US of A!!!

As for baby stuff I haven't bought anything... ok except a kids book. I've been slowly giving away my wonderful kids book collection as birthday gifts and such for the past few years as I've seen no kids coming our way and it was very practical. I felt REALLY good purchasing a new book for my dwindling collection knowing that we're going to have our own little one to read them to. Wow, getting a little teary eyed writing this.

We've already been given a few baby gifts. Honestly since we waited NINE years to have our first child (and everyone had almost given up on us) all of the family and friends are super excited and I'm pretty sure we'll be getting tons of baby stuff (and buying VERY little). One friend of mine recently brought over all her old maternity clothes. I genuinely don't plan on having to buy anymore YAY... THANK YOU BARN (thats her nickname)!!! Over the past year and a half I've gotten really good at NOT buying stuff. I don't think the new little addition to the family will change that.

Well this WAS going to be a quick short blog. Sorry about that... I'm finding my blogs sort of run on and on. Sigh of relief: I'm really glad I FINALLY sat down, worked out the numbers and have a little plan. Now, thee most important and difficult thing of all is going to be sticking to it AND sticking to this blog because I tell you what I would NOT have made it through the first six months of this year and the $3000 credit card payoff without being able to vent everyday and receiving all of your wonderful support and advice. Thank-you blogging community! I love you!

Baby, baby, money?

2011-08-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

It was sooo easy when it was just the two of us and the credit card debt (SUPER amount of sarcasm there). I had a plan and I was pretty well following it: Pay off the credit cards and don't spend money.

I decided pretty much first thing that every extra penny would go towards the credit cards. At first I was debating between saving, paying down the car, paying down the credit cards, and other little monetary issues like fixing things around the house and so forth. I sat down made the decision and put everything on the back burner. The credit card debt NEEDED to be addressed first thing. Everything else would come in time. Once I had a plan I struggled but I knew where I was going. I always had an answer to the "where does this money go" question: THE CREDIT CARD DEBT!

It's been TWO WEEKS since my last blog post; two weeks of aimless spending and frustrated questioning. I really genuinely couldn't be happier about the little one we're planning to welcome six months from now. But I'm looking forward to these next six months less than any others I've ever faced. I don't get paid leave from work. I'm not sure if I can get some sort of disability insurance to cover the baby leave. I can't imagine even going back to work after I meet my little one but that's an entirely different blog altogether, it's something that has to be done, and I'm just going to try my hardest not to think about it. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Back to business, we have health insurance but the hospital bills for this new little bundle are going to be expensive, I'm estimating at least $2000.

Basically I don't know where to start. Do I go back to paying minimums on the debt and start saving for the hospital bills and work leave? Do I keep paying down the cards (tackling the ridiculous interest payments that go down every single month that I pay extra on the cards) and just worry about the new expense when it comes? Do I just declare bankruptcy, quite my job, get government assistance for my food and health care like everyone else and live the stay at home mom dream? (That's a joke by the way. No matter how difficult life gets I'm not going to fall back on quitting responsible living... ok, maybe if we find out we're having triplets or something like that I'll consider it).

I don't handle change well. I'm really dysfunctional. I'm faced with a new scenario and instead of sitting down and trouble shooting I just let the cards fall and pretend that life isn't happening (and eat everything I can get my hands one). Geesh, this way of handling things is NOT working out. I've got a substantial amount of credit card debt as proof to the above statement. Any input is appreciated. I really cannot figure out the best thing to do here. I've wasted two months now wondering and coming to no conclusions. Keep paying down the cards? Start saving for baby? Cross the bridges once I get to them? Does anyone know anything about disability insurance?

Well... at least I've finally posted a new blog : )