The first big news story (which to me wasn't really news) was that out of the MILLIONS of dollars the hardworking people of the US are donating to Haiti - they will only see 1 - ONE - penny of each dollar for actual aid. No wonder that place is in such a world of hurt. Whenever someone tries to help them either corruption (ie - their own countrymen or outsiders) are stealing what was donated to them in the first place.
This is why I didn't donate anything.
I did a lot of thinking at work today. About bills, money in general and a few other things. I have goals I want to meet. I have yet to really think about how to obtain them. A few I know what I have to do I just have to get started on them. Others will require more thought and planning. Some sacrifices, some changes in daily living, etc. Most will be easy to accomplish. Others will be a bit more tough for me.
I do think I can reach the goals I have in mind. It is just a matter of me deciding to do it and stick to them.
The President is talking to the nation tonight. I am not watching. I don't have the energy and I am not a big TV person. I know - I sell them, I know them inside and out and I have them in my home.
Right now - the TV is on but so is the humidifier. And the humidifier is on high so I can't hear the thing anyway. Can't or won't turn it up as KK is in bed and I don't want to wake her up so I am sitting here typing away before bed with the TV on low and the fan on the humid on high.
Real exciting life I lead. lol
I looked at my face today in the mirror (shocker I know! Like it is the first time I have ever done so right?). I saw the beginning of some wrinkles and lines. I have earned them and am surprised I have not seen them before now.
So I ran to Mallwart and bought some OLAY Regenerist stuff. A daily moisturizer (at 19.00 a bottle yo!) and some night cream stuff that smells absolutely horrid (at 10.00 a bottle!).
This shit had better deliver on the promises the boxes made. For that price it should clean my bathroom and sweep the kitchen for me also.
As I sit here smelling this horrid stuff I am wondering why we women spend so much money to look "good". I mean - really - who do we want to look good for? Ourselves? HAHAHAHA - noooo, do we want to look good for our significant others? Once in awhile. Ok - maybe more than once in awhile but still. You want to know who I really think we want to look good for? Other women.
Yup. Other women. Wanna know why? Because we are our own worst critic/enemies. We profess to love each other no matter what (till one of us gets a bug up our ass about something. Then watch the fireworks! They will last for years!!) but we still judge each other on our looks, clothes etc.
Most anyway. I have a few and by a few I mean I can count them on one hand, good friends who honestly don't give a shit what I wear and if I put makeup on or not every day. They just like ME. And I love them for that.
So I dress up for them when I see them! LMAO.
I love them for who they are and could give a rats ass if they are wearing a potato sack or dressed to the nines. I am happiest when we are just hanging out and being bums together, lamenting the cleaning that needs to be done but won't be today, the things our kids do or have done, the things spouses/partners do/did, etc. Just being friends.
Remember how when we were small and when we were with our friends all we cared about was being together and just laying in the grass all dirt smeared from running and playing jump rope and tag then just staring up at the clouds trying to see shapes etc?
Those are the kinds of friends I want today. Friends who will just stare at the clouds with me and find shapes of animals, buildings, faces in them. Talk about everything and nothing. Friends who don't judge, just accept.
Isn't that what we all want really? And for some people we find it right away. For others they search for a lifetime and never find that. I find that sad. Sometimes they don't find as they have their expectations set too high. Others just turn to the wrong people time and again, never learning from previous relationships. I feel for them but at the same time I want to slap them upside the head and ask what the hell is wrong with them?
But I firmly believe that people come into our lives for a reason and when that reason is fulfilled sometimes it is time for them to leave. It isn't always easy or right but that is life and that is how it goes. We can either chose to accept it, learn from that person(people) and move on or stay stuck in the woe is me mentality.
I chose to move on and learn and grow. I thank them, each one, for the things they have taught me, even the ones I no longer like or care to even think about anymore. They all taught me something about myself. I appreciate that.
There are more thoughts floating around in this head of mine but right now it is almost 10:30pm and I am exhausted. More later.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It;s Tuesday
I did my usual running around. Cleaned B's house, played with the animals, did laundry, splurged and bought Chinese for late lunch, bought a sexy nighty and regular jammies (on clearance at Fashion Bug) and now it is 3pm and I have cancelled my date for this afternoon, have changed into my nice comfy new jammies (the non sexy kind) and am going to sit down and read until I need to go get KK from my mom's.
I feel like I should have kept the date but I honestly don't know if I am ready. So I cancelled it. Yes, the kids played into it a bit but I also rearranged my livingroom and am just vegging out and enjoying the openness (especially once Chel gets her futon out of my kitchen) of the place.
Finally earned enough to get another free 25.00 Game Stop gift card today! Yay.
I shopped at a consignment store today also. Picked up a nice new silky plum colored comforter for my bed for 10.00, and 2 sweaters. All for 21.00. Love thrift/consignment stores!
I feel like I should have kept the date but I honestly don't know if I am ready. So I cancelled it. Yes, the kids played into it a bit but I also rearranged my livingroom and am just vegging out and enjoying the openness (especially once Chel gets her futon out of my kitchen) of the place.
Finally earned enough to get another free 25.00 Game Stop gift card today! Yay.
I shopped at a consignment store today also. Picked up a nice new silky plum colored comforter for my bed for 10.00, and 2 sweaters. All for 21.00. Love thrift/consignment stores!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Just not feeling it
I guess I was more damaged than I thought when I came here from Multiply.
I miss blogging. A lot. But I am just not feeling it the way I used to.
I should blog for me and only me. But I can't find where you can make your blogs private or accessible to only a certain few so I have been keeping pretty quiet.
News I can share.
James found a new girlfriend. According to my daughter she is about my height, my weight, has my hair coloring, my color eyes, etc. Only big difference (other than the fact that she digs him and I don't) is that she smokes.
Kendall is not pleased. Says James isn't the same person anymore. And she feels that the GF is hiding something but she doesn't know what.
Finally got my Sony Spiff money so now I can go pay on my couch. My Panasonic Spiff money should be here in about a week so that will also go on my couch. Then I only owe about $300 more and it is MINE!
I am getting child support this week (after not getting it for 2 weeks) so that will help. And income tax is due in my account this coming Friday so I can then start my new car fund and pay off some older medical bills (for tax deductions this year).
After a rather rough start to this year it seems things are looking up a bit. I am optimistic and hopeful that they continue this trend.
With hard work on my part I think they will.
I miss blogging. A lot. But I am just not feeling it the way I used to.
I should blog for me and only me. But I can't find where you can make your blogs private or accessible to only a certain few so I have been keeping pretty quiet.
News I can share.
James found a new girlfriend. According to my daughter she is about my height, my weight, has my hair coloring, my color eyes, etc. Only big difference (other than the fact that she digs him and I don't) is that she smokes.
Kendall is not pleased. Says James isn't the same person anymore. And she feels that the GF is hiding something but she doesn't know what.
Finally got my Sony Spiff money so now I can go pay on my couch. My Panasonic Spiff money should be here in about a week so that will also go on my couch. Then I only owe about $300 more and it is MINE!
I am getting child support this week (after not getting it for 2 weeks) so that will help. And income tax is due in my account this coming Friday so I can then start my new car fund and pay off some older medical bills (for tax deductions this year).
After a rather rough start to this year it seems things are looking up a bit. I am optimistic and hopeful that they continue this trend.
With hard work on my part I think they will.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Another Tuesday
So last night James sends KK a message asking her if she would like to meet someone. He, apparently, has finally listened to me (only took him 5+yrs) and went and got himself a girlfriend. Good for him. So long as he is happy that is all that matters.
What pisses me off is the fact that my family knew and lied to me about it. I really don't care if he has a new woman, or man, or monkey in his life. So why lie to me? And my mother is the one who is constantly harping about how she HATES liars etc. SMDH - I swear I will never understand that woman.
I was supposed to meet up with a friend this morning but decided to cancel. Instead I met my cousin at my dad's garage so he could look at her jeep and we took off for the day. She got to experience first hand what one of my "days OFF" is like.
We left Westmoreland, ran to the bank to deposit my check, went and put the wet clothes from the washer into the dryer at the laundromat, went to Price Chopper to do some shopping (scored big time there - more in a minute about that), went back and got the clothes, dropped off clothes and groceries at house and put the food away, headed back out to go to lunch, stopped at a thrift store, found a cute baby blanket for one of the impending grandchildren to be, stopped at another consignment store near the chinese restaurant and found some clothes I need to go back and get, and then went to lunch. We both had what is called a Bento box. A bento box has multiply food items in it. They give you your choice of soup (we had wonton), 2 sides (we chose crab rangoons, chicken fingers, and chicken wings), rice, 6 california rolls, and your main dish (we chose sweet and sour chicken). We also had tea and water and she had Gingerale. All for 10.00 per person. Can't beat that!
Now before I move on, I did a bit more of a shopping trip than I had planned. But in my defense, Price chopper had some kick ass specials. Tons of veggies on sale, some fruit, and a mega meat sale. I didn't buy a lot of meat just a family pack of boneless, skinless chicken breast, a family pack of various cuts of pork (chops, ribs, etc), pork eye roasts (BOGO free), the ham (BOGO free), and a package of cracked pepper turkey meat (never go shopping on an empty stomach - seriously). With the milk, Gatorade and other items it came to $131.04. I paid $95.17. Could have done much better had I gone through my coopins before going but not bad overall. And KK and I now have enough meat to get us through the next few weeks if not more and enough veggies/fruit to get us through at least a week. Eating healthy is expensive man!
After lunch we drove back up to my dad's to check on Sharon's Jeep and played with Panda Mae (my dad's teeny, tiny, little rat terrier puppy). We finally separated ways and I went and completed three errands I have been putting off, got KK from school, and we came home.
I was exhausted. I could have laid down and slept until tomorrow. KK? Did homework and took a good 2 hour nap. She would still be sleeping if I hadn't woken her up to eat dinner. We snuggled, I said screw the housekeeping for yet another day and here I am.
And here I go. Time to call B and then it is time for bed.
What pisses me off is the fact that my family knew and lied to me about it. I really don't care if he has a new woman, or man, or monkey in his life. So why lie to me? And my mother is the one who is constantly harping about how she HATES liars etc. SMDH - I swear I will never understand that woman.
I was supposed to meet up with a friend this morning but decided to cancel. Instead I met my cousin at my dad's garage so he could look at her jeep and we took off for the day. She got to experience first hand what one of my "days OFF" is like.
We left Westmoreland, ran to the bank to deposit my check, went and put the wet clothes from the washer into the dryer at the laundromat, went to Price Chopper to do some shopping (scored big time there - more in a minute about that), went back and got the clothes, dropped off clothes and groceries at house and put the food away, headed back out to go to lunch, stopped at a thrift store, found a cute baby blanket for one of the impending grandchildren to be, stopped at another consignment store near the chinese restaurant and found some clothes I need to go back and get, and then went to lunch. We both had what is called a Bento box. A bento box has multiply food items in it. They give you your choice of soup (we had wonton), 2 sides (we chose crab rangoons, chicken fingers, and chicken wings), rice, 6 california rolls, and your main dish (we chose sweet and sour chicken). We also had tea and water and she had Gingerale. All for 10.00 per person. Can't beat that!
Now before I move on, I did a bit more of a shopping trip than I had planned. But in my defense, Price chopper had some kick ass specials. Tons of veggies on sale, some fruit, and a mega meat sale. I didn't buy a lot of meat just a family pack of boneless, skinless chicken breast, a family pack of various cuts of pork (chops, ribs, etc), pork eye roasts (BOGO free), the ham (BOGO free), and a package of cracked pepper turkey meat (never go shopping on an empty stomach - seriously). With the milk, Gatorade and other items it came to $131.04. I paid $95.17. Could have done much better had I gone through my coopins before going but not bad overall. And KK and I now have enough meat to get us through the next few weeks if not more and enough veggies/fruit to get us through at least a week. Eating healthy is expensive man!
After lunch we drove back up to my dad's to check on Sharon's Jeep and played with Panda Mae (my dad's teeny, tiny, little rat terrier puppy). We finally separated ways and I went and completed three errands I have been putting off, got KK from school, and we came home.
I was exhausted. I could have laid down and slept until tomorrow. KK? Did homework and took a good 2 hour nap. She would still be sleeping if I hadn't woken her up to eat dinner. We snuggled, I said screw the housekeeping for yet another day and here I am.
And here I go. Time to call B and then it is time for bed.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A new beginning
Well, lots has happened since the last time I posted a blog back in August of 2008.
After fighting a losing battle of trying to get the hubby to work WITH me, I gave up and decided it was time to move on. It was the best decision for both of us. He refused to be a husband in all meanings of the word (IE - no intimacy, etc.) and I refused to give him what he wanted (Money). So I did the bare minimum until I could get out.
And get out I did. KK and I are now in a 2 bedroom apt with rent that is manageable (instead of living in the money pit house that HE had to have) and bills are getting paid off. It is very nice to have money to spare and money to go do things with if we choose to. It is also nice to not have to sit there watching HIM watch TV every waking moment when he was not working.
I filed for divorce last week. It should be final in 30 days. Since we don't have any kids or property to fight over it is a quickie divorce.
It is sad that the marriage ended. I invested almost 7 years of my life into something that just wasn't meant to be. But I learned from it. I learned a lot. And hopefully he did also. He still talks to the kids at times and is still Grandpa to Myles and will be to the new additions to my family in the coming year.
I am still at the same job, 12 years now. I am loving life at this point. I don't have to answer to anyone other than myself, KK and I can go where we want, when we want, and do what we want. No negative people to drag me down.
I plan to be debt free in 2 1/2 yrs or less. I have 2 small credit cards to pay off and my student loan to pay off. I also have the medical bills from the kids and I. Then I am done.
I am starting a new car fund so I can upgrade my vehicle, a vacation fund so KK and I can travel to Idaho later this summer, and a general savings account.
I was at another social networking place that I loved and miss. I miss some of the people greatly and others I don't miss at all. It is very unfortunate that one person in particular ruined it for me. That place was my second home.
But, as with some things, they must come to an end and we move on. People (and things) come into our lives for a reason. When that reason is fulfilled, we let them go (or force them to go) and move on. For the better.
I think this will be for the better. I am excited to start this new chapter of my life. I can't wait to see where it takes me and the adventures I will experience. Not all will be good, as not all life is good, but I expect most of it will be quite interesting.
After fighting a losing battle of trying to get the hubby to work WITH me, I gave up and decided it was time to move on. It was the best decision for both of us. He refused to be a husband in all meanings of the word (IE - no intimacy, etc.) and I refused to give him what he wanted (Money). So I did the bare minimum until I could get out.
And get out I did. KK and I are now in a 2 bedroom apt with rent that is manageable (instead of living in the money pit house that HE had to have) and bills are getting paid off. It is very nice to have money to spare and money to go do things with if we choose to. It is also nice to not have to sit there watching HIM watch TV every waking moment when he was not working.
I filed for divorce last week. It should be final in 30 days. Since we don't have any kids or property to fight over it is a quickie divorce.
It is sad that the marriage ended. I invested almost 7 years of my life into something that just wasn't meant to be. But I learned from it. I learned a lot. And hopefully he did also. He still talks to the kids at times and is still Grandpa to Myles and will be to the new additions to my family in the coming year.
I am still at the same job, 12 years now. I am loving life at this point. I don't have to answer to anyone other than myself, KK and I can go where we want, when we want, and do what we want. No negative people to drag me down.
I plan to be debt free in 2 1/2 yrs or less. I have 2 small credit cards to pay off and my student loan to pay off. I also have the medical bills from the kids and I. Then I am done.
I am starting a new car fund so I can upgrade my vehicle, a vacation fund so KK and I can travel to Idaho later this summer, and a general savings account.
I was at another social networking place that I loved and miss. I miss some of the people greatly and others I don't miss at all. It is very unfortunate that one person in particular ruined it for me. That place was my second home.
But, as with some things, they must come to an end and we move on. People (and things) come into our lives for a reason. When that reason is fulfilled, we let them go (or force them to go) and move on. For the better.
I think this will be for the better. I am excited to start this new chapter of my life. I can't wait to see where it takes me and the adventures I will experience. Not all will be good, as not all life is good, but I expect most of it will be quite interesting.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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