I spent $37.51 at the gas station.
I spent another $8.11 on cigarettes.
I drank free booze, but am out of Mt. Dew and Kool-Aid

Tuesday is a special day where I get to spend money.
I will go to the store and buy groceries, buy some more gas for my car, get plenty of paper products that we are out of, and much more.
If I play my cards right, I should spend about $100 and have enough food for the rest of the month.
I have hamburger, porkchops, and steak in the freezer. I only need side items and staples.
Sugar
Milk
Mt. Dew
Paper plates
Fruit
Veggies
and the like.

I will use as many coupons as I can, buy sale items only if I need them, not only because they're on sale.
I also have to buy some extra party supplies as we are planning a suprise birthday party for my best friend's little bro. He will be 21.
Guess what I'm buying?

After three months of slow work, things are finally starting to pick up. I will be working Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Last week I was to work Friday and Sunday, but after half an hour on Sunday, they asked me if I wanted to go home. I said no, then they told me to clock out and go see the show.
I understand that they were trying to be nice, knowing I wanted to see the show, but I would have rather been paid to see it, than to sit down and see it. I got bored and left early, but only after I stayed for an extra two hours off the clock. I should have watched Brooks and Dunn for free, but I figured that my children need me more and I am not making anything sitting in the grass.

The county fair is going on and tonight is the only night I can go. Should I?
The food is the real reason I want to go, but I am willing to buy tickets for the boys to enjoy some rides. I just have to keep DH away from the carny games that are rip offs. The food will be super expensive too. But, since we will not be going to the State fair, unless my Mom takes them, this will be their only chance this year.

I hope DH is in a good mood when he gets home. I have to get a couch out of the living room for my Momma's yard sale this weekend. I can't forget that on Friday she wants me to stop by in case she has to use the bathroom. I hope she doesn't drink a lot of water.

I looked up prices in a city guide for the race tickets.
For the cheap seats, it's $70-$95 per ticket.
I received two.
For parking, it is anywhere from $5-$25, so that is awesome too. Since I pick up my tickets at the parking lot, it works out. I am sure they planned it that way.

I haven't bought my freezer, but I am buying a bed with my rebate check. I can't see buying a freezer if we will just keep junk in it. Of course, I will stock up on some meat, but I am not a bake a months worth of food in one night.
I have two cassaroles in the freezer now, but they didn't want to eat the first one, so I am saving it for Dad when I am working at night and he wants to have food in a hurry.

Next Thursday is my birthday. Yeah. My mom is planning something awesome for me and my best friend and I are going out for lunch and then to mani-pedis. She knows how much I love them, but that I am saving money and not pampering myself in ways that cost. I do things at home, for less, and she is treating me for my b-day.
I also know my mom is going to blow me away with her gift.
She told me she wanted to take me to the gambling boat, but said that I would rather have the money than blow it. I said that was true.
Then she said that she was going to lay down about $1000 for a bed for me. WOW!!!

But, since I said that I was buying one with my rebate check, she said there went that.
Ouch!
So my gift is going to blow my socks off, I am sure.

I haven't posted for a day or two as I am busy finishing up school work. Finals are next week so all of my big projects are due this week.
I am looking forward to spring break now.
I don't have any money to speak of, as I got my paycheck on Monday, and it is down to $15 today, Wednesday.
I must put money away for a trip this summer, but I don't know where it will come from.
I also am taking a road trip Friday with family, and I have no money but gas money right now.
If I spend it all in gas, what will I eat? Will I have the money to buy necessities?
I hope that I can make my money stretch.

At my job, I mostly stand. I stand in front of doors that someone is not allowed to enter, I stand at the elevator making sure that no one with out a ticket can use it. I stand all the time. My feet hurt. I was told a long time ago to take care of my feet, as they will last me my whole life. If I don't want them to hurt, I need to take care of them.

Well, my $30 shoes are wearing out, causing my feet pain. If I were to buy new shoes, they would hurt again, as they would be new and have to be broken in.

What's a girl to do. I could not work as much, but that isn't an option.
I could ask my mom to buy me some shoes, but she is already helping me pay for my children to join little league for the first time this year. I guess I could just deal with it, but this summer, I will be doing some more hard core working, causing me to walk a mile or more a night, and standing, standing, standing.

I can't wait till then. I will definately have new shoes by then.

I never went to a store, but I did pay my rent today. I also bought $15 worth of gas and got 4.20 gallons. It was aprox. $3.69 a gallon.
I am taking my no spend day today. We didn't go to a store, I didn't buy Sunday liquor, since we can't buy any here on Sunday. We never went to a store so I didn't spend any unnessassary money.
So, can I count my two dollars for myself?
I will anyway. I also saved money by going to my neighbors today for some fun. We didn't need to go out and spend money to have fun. I want to have a campfire tonight. I hope I can find some wood.

I fell victim to the "I'm lazies"!
We had two parent teachers conferences tonight, got out sorta late, and I ordered food in. I didn't want to, but I also didn't want to cook. My kitchen hates me. I know I need to get over this. It is killing my budjet.

Reading some money saving tips, I found some ways to cut corners in my budget. I can cut down on the "unnecessary trips" in my car to save gas. I will limit my alcohol consumption, even though I did save money staying home instead of going out. Cigarettes poses a bigger problem though.
I have signed my kids up for baseball this week, so in the coming months I will be spending time there rather than spending money somewhere else. I also live about 1/2 a block from the diamonds so we will pack lunch and drinks to drag there. Concession stand prices are crazy.
I know I have told myself this before, but we really HAVE TO QUIT EATING TAKEOUT!
Since I have a big grocery budget, I need to use it a little more wisely. I also can make all the foods we like to eat out at home. Us parents just need to quit being lazy. I am more guilty of it, as Daddy works early to late Monday through Friday. He should be tired. He gets up over an hour before we do.
I subscribed to recipe site that sends me weeks worth of food, the shopping list and all, but I have yet to implement it into our daily lives.
When I save up enough for my chest freezer, I know that I will use the cook and freeze a week method more. Right now my little freezer is full of crap.
I buy the healthy foods for us, and they go to waste. I think that is why I don't cook as much. Fast food tastes better. I love a homemade hamburger better, but my children are used to the flat, tasteless patty.
I also want to grill out at least twice a week this summer. That will be entertaining, and good for us. Outside in the sun, running and laughing; I can't wait.
If anyone has any suggestions on how I can make myself STOP the fast food route, PLEASE let me know. I tried doing it, complaining when Daddy brought it home, but I ate it and was glad he did. I would love to get out of that trap. Telling myself how much more money it costs isn't helping.
Also, I need to do the freeze it meals because I work nights and weekends, and DH works days. If I want both of us to quit buying, I need to have it ready for him to thaw or nuke and serve.

Veggies and Fruit are our least favorite. I want to add more of that into my children's diet. Grown ups too. So maybe I can buy a chocolate dip for them to have. Marshmallow sounds good too.

I was told that he was just going to do a simple oil change on my car. Now I am paying for two more parts for over $40 a piece. I wanted to pay rent. If my car breaks down and I can't work, I can't pay rent. I see his reasoning, but really, so close to the due date? I can't win.

Can I do it? I think the cold weather will keep me in for the next two days. I can always send the Man of the House out to get milk, bread, and any chocolate I may need. I don't mind spending money on such items, as they are needed. If I went to the corner store, I could come back with three or four bags of stuff and forget the milk I went after.
That is why I am about to cut up my debit card.

I paid down a credit card, so I want to spend.
I was thinking about getting my hair done at the beauty college tonight, before work.
Would going to a school for a discounted doo be saving money? NO, I could go without the hair dye and be fine, but not happy.
Does everything I do need money? YES, but I don't need everything.

The unlimited pass at Mike's is a great deal. I got a works wash for free today, and I will be going at least every other day.
I will be monitoring how much I have saved, and will be adding that to the $20 challenge. Since I start with a withdrawl from my credit card, it won't seem like a savings, but it really is.

I will be trying the new method that I started last week.
I will withdraw an amount every week and when the money is gone, it is gone. I don't count every expense to this. A weekly payment to daycare doesn't count, as that is fixed. Also, I won't be counting the utilities, but defintely the gas, cigarettes, and phone bill.
My phone bill is outrageous!
I have budgeted for the next three months, but then am thinking about cutting down.
I have gotten a little obsessed with this budget thing.
I counted my Sunday breakfast with a coupon, and every other penny spent for the next two weeks.
Well, I guess it's better late than never right?
I hope so.

How long ago did I take that money out of the bank? Not too long ago. This morning I handed over my last two bills for gas and cigarettes. That was it. I have no more money until Monday? How will I do it?
Was this such a good idea?
Now I know how much money I spend in a days time. I just didn't expect to be out of money so fast.
I must really crack down on doing my homework. I don't like homework. I try to get everything done in class. But I have a test today and I didn't study. Yes, I went to work last night and got home late, so I didn't study, but I didn't even bring my book home if I wanted to.
I just don't like to do school work at home. Now I have three big projects due soon, as the quarter draws to an end, and one of them is a group project. AHH!!
I am just glad that I have good grades so that if I lose a couple points, that won't be any big deal!
I paid $450 to a credit card, and they still hate me. Why is this so hard? I just want to see my account online, and they don't want to let me. They told me that the money is posted and I am below my credit limit, but I was transfered to five different people and spent 34 of my precious cell phone minutes trying to get on, but to no avail. No bother, I don't have internet at home right now anyway. They shut me off because my $100 payment didn't cover another $27 that I was still late on. Big deal. I gave you everything I had.

The weekend is coming soon, and I am happy!

This Sunday is my oldest sons sixth birthday. Saturday is my best friends birthday. Next is my cousins daughter's birthday.
Where is the money going?
My mom is paying for most of the party here. Decorations, prizes, and gift bags are among the cheapest things. She even helped me clean the house.
Well, I am about to go to lunch/dinner with my best friend and her family. At least I know that my money will be well spent. I am having all you can eat shrimp. I will make it worth my money.

Well, we finally did it. The laundry is on its way to never being on the floor again. We also cleaned the kid's room well enough to vacuum the floor in there. I got rid of a ton of trash, as well as some donatable toys. Most of them will go to my best friend, but I know some other children that are in need.
I have been doing a great job of weeding out my closet by getting rid of clothes that I never wear and do not fit anymore.
I did go out today and spend a little money. I mentioned that I ran out of soap, so I bought two. I wanted to get a new hamper for the hallway, but decided that I just need to keep the one I have out there empty. Same goes for clothes. I didn't buy a drawer setup, as I have no place to put it, and I want to rid myself of extras, not find another place that I won't end up putting them.
Purge and you will see the floor!-Me
I saved at least $10.00 while we were gone though. My boys did not want to eat out. Good for them. I was starving! But we came home, put our items away, and I warmed up food in the microwave.
Thanks for keeping Mommy in check boys!

When I woke up this morning, I just wanted to spend money. I want to buy a chest freezer for my kitchen. I want to get new socks for me and my youngest son. I want to spend, spend, spend.

WHY?

I want to buy a pretty bucket to put cigarette butts in outside.
I want new rugs in the bathroom.
I just want it all.

WHY?

I don't need any of these things, as I have socks, they just need washed, I have three bath rugs, and my freezer can wait another month or so.
Do I need a "pretty" bucket if it will just sit outside, getting rained on? NO, it is for nasty cig butts.
I am not going anywhere today, to control my hand in the money pocket.
Yeah for me. I can control myself!

I love my children but they are driving me crazy. My oldest is getting in trouble at school, and I don't know how to deal. I was the same way in school, and if I could not figure out how to be good, how can I tell him to be the way I wasn't?
I am lost. His father is a little help, but I am mostly the one going to the school and talking with teachers and the director. They don't call him a principal there.
I was on a first name basis with my principal in school, and I already expressed my feelings that I did not want him to go through that.
I will figure something out. I have to. If he goes to first grade and continues this behavior, they will just kick him out.
On a plus for the day, it was free pancake day at IHOP and I partook. I made a donation to the Childrens Miracle Fund and tipped the server for my meal. It was great.

I know that I have money in my account, so now I want to spend it. I will go to breakfast and try to not go shopping after that. But I wouldn't have had the money to go to breakfast without my state tax refund check. Oh well. I will spend a little and make sure I save money to put on my credit cards. I thought of paying off one of mine this year, like I did last year, but I think I will just make my payments with extra to eat away at the intrest I have built up.
Yum, pancakes!

I could not go anywhere.
My kids will drive me crazy.
Where could we go for free?
It's too cold for the zoo.
I want to go to my Grandma's, but then there are about 15 stores on the way home. I will want to stop and "just look".
I could finish the dishes, laundry, clean the bathroom.
My kids will drive me crazy saying they are bored.
They won't want to help though.
I must figure out what to get from the grocery store tomorrow. That makes me want to shop today. I won't go!
I won't do it!
I am going tomorrow only.
I just need to stay here, read the books I have already, and have the kids play in their room for a while. I just don't want to hear the Playstation all day.

I am sooooo glad that I finally went to the laundry mat and took 6 blankets that have needed washing since this summer. I had them in storage in the shed. They have been bugging me for some time. I took a twenty dollar bill, with $3.75 in quarters.
My three loads of blankets cost $17.00 to wash and dry. I really don't care how much it cost though. Like I said, I've been meaning to do it for months.
Our picnic blanket, denim jean blankets and camping blankets are now clean, and I feel great. I may be broke, but I still feel good.

Okay, so I did spend $2.00 on a new puzzle from the Salvation Army, but that puzzle will give us plenty of nights of entertainment. My two children love to do puzzles. I just wanted to have one that was more challenging for Mommy and Daddy.

I came up with a great idea on how to get rid of all this extra money that I keep saying I have. I spent 32.00 on Quicken to tell me how I spend my money. I already had online with my bank. What did I need that for?
I have done s@#t like that before. And I know I'm wasting it too. Smack me!