A not so good happening

A not so good thing happened today. Hubby got notification in the mail that Sears is suing him for the $2400.00 we owe on that credit card. Here I am thinking things will get better and I think we can do this and then SLAM. We get this in the mail. He does not dispute that we owe the money. We just don't have it to pay in full.



So I will keep plugging along and make payments as much as I can to them and my student loans while finding frugal things to incorporate in our lives to try to ease the burden. It can be done. I know it can. I just have to have determination that I can do it. I am a very stubborn person so it shouldn't be hard to find that determination. It is just frustrating.

I am still learning the ways around here so it can be a bit confusing but it will all work out.

I plan to make our own laundry soap this week. I have done it before and it worked really well. I just got lazy and started buying the expensive commercial stuff (I do love the smell of TIDE though don't you? lol). I will also make our own cleaning products instead of buying the over priced bad for you commercial stuff.

I will also be posting a bunch of stuff on Ebay Thursday - if my camera cooperates. And my stereo system will be going on Craigslist as we never use it anymore and it takes up too much space in the livingroom as it is.

I have been signing up for freebies etc on the net as well (I refuse to complete offers though just to get a free sample of something). I get things for the house and stuff for stocking stuffers for x-mas. There are some neat freebies out there.

I have completed the next two months menus. A lot of meat that I think can be pared down so I will probably rework some of the days menus over the weekend before I post it and the estimated costs to make everything.

We have a rather large chest freezer that is great for good deals on food. It helps to have the freezer. I highly recommend saving for one or getting one if you have the space.

Being that is time to get the kids ready for bed I need to jet out of here. School starts next week!! WOOHOO My electric bill will go down now that they kids aren't here 24/7!

The beginning

Hi All!

Welcome to my journey. I have been blogging for a couple years now. First in Yahoo 360 and currently at Multiply. I have decided that after years of being in debt and watching the debt grow while the money in my pocket continuously shrinks, to reverse that trend.
I have been reading about frugality for awhile now. Years really. I have read books by the Economides family, books on budgeting, saving money, spending money, the works.

I am finally ready to change my and my family's lives.

I have taken a lot of suggestions that the Economides family wrote in their book to get myself started. I have broken down my bills into categories, set goals, created a budget, and for the months of September and October have created a simple, easy, healthy, cheap meals list.

All told my bills, with mortgage, future emergency savings account, and window replacement savings account total - are you ready for this - $180,970.65!!!

This amount includes the mortgage of about $122,000.00, future emergency savings account of $18,166.02, savings for new windows to replace the 30 yr old windows in our house $3000.00, past due bills, and current bills projected out over a year.

I have taken all of these amounts and broken them down into monthly and weekly payments.

We were lucky enough to have paid off our car a few months ago. That saved us $311.11 a month. We bought the car used (it is a 99) BUT the car is now in the shop for new front axles, brakes, new O2 sensors (our Nissan Maxima has 4 of the silly things) and will cost close to 800.00-1000.00. My dad is my mechanic so I lucked out in the fact that if I get charged labor it will be very little. Parts I pay for. Our truck (also used) is a 98 and needs new struts/shocks or something in the front end. That will go into the shop once we get the car back. I think the truck also needs a new exhaust.

Since I started this journey 2 weeks ago I have managed to pay off one bill of $140.00. I took some unused vacay pay (without taking the time off) and used that to pay off the bill this week. I have 40 hours of vacay left for emergencies that I can either take the money or the time off if needed.
I have been at my current job almost 11 years (with a 9 month break - no, no baby was born lol). I also have a medical condition called Ulcerative Colitis. On my best days I can function almost 100% normally. On my worst days I am stuck at home in the bathroom for days on end. So while the money I earn is pretty decent I never know how or when a recurrence of the UC will happen which means that my paychecks can either be very good or slim to none.
My husband, J, works at the hosp here in town. He had lost his job at Home Cheapo last November. His income was literally cut in half but we are making do.


My family:
I have 4 children, 1 grandchild, a husband, and 6 cats (3 of which will be adopted out when they are old enough). My oldest son is 20 and lives on his own, my oldest daughter is 18 and lives in Florida with my grandson and her boyfriend, the youngest son (16) and youngest daughter (11) live at home with me.

In later blogs I will outline some of the changes I have made and more changes to come. I will also post a copy of the spreadsheets I have completed for our budget, goals, etc.

I welcome all input - good or bad - and hope others out there will be inspired to tackle debt the way I am.