When the money is taken right out of your account every month, you really can save. I am earning interest on the cash that was in my checking account earning nothing. I am truly working hard on spending only on needed things.
A rebutal to a previous comment on a post of mine: We needed a new bed! The Wii is just another piece of plastic from China but a bed was an absolute necessity due to back problems of my DH who works hard as a construction worker. If he hurts when he works, that hurts us. We can't afford to have him off work either.
The Wii was also a birthday present for me from my dear Momma, so there will be no extra controlers, games that are $50 a pop, or any other extravagance coming from me into this house.
The water bill is bad, my phone is shut off, and Rent is due in 10 days. I have no plans to even rent a game in the next 6 months.

Debt
Credit Card 1:$309.11 Premier
Credit Card 2:$383.56 Premier
Credit Card 3:$716.28 Orchard
Credit Card 4:$361.47 Macys
Credit Card 5:$227.89 Fingerhut
Credit Card 6:$451.12 Credit One
Credit Card 7:$541.49 Key/Citi
Total Debt owed:$2990.92 Credit Cards Only

I am coming up with a plan that I can actually live with to pay off these suckers once and for all.
I will start with the low ones first.
#1 will be Fingerhut. That will be the last thing I order over the phone!
#2 will be 1st Premier 1 card.
#3 is the Macys card and an end to store cards. That was a huge mistake.
#4 will be my 1st Premier card 2. There are two cards from the same company. How stupid is that?
#5 is probably going to be the Orchard account, as it is the furthest behind.
#'s 5 &6 will be Key with Credit One. They have different amounts but mean more to me to be paid off together and get it done and over with finally.
I am looking forward to typing my final payment to them in ONE YEAR OR LESS.
Don't make a liar out of me, me.

After receiving my 3.94 GPA, the school asked for their share.
I started school with the impression that I would be receiving a check from them when my student loans paid more than what it cost.
Boy was I wrong. I have had a balance ever since last quarter. I really don't know what to do about next quarter. If there isn't any money left over, or they want even more money from me, I will be strapped for cash even more than I am now.
I am doing great in school though. It is worth the cost, as I will have a great job that I love and this $10,000 a year joke will go away.
Maybe since DH is working more this summer things will be good. I am crossing my fingers.

I can not seem to keep my payments up on my credit cards. I want to scrap the whole thing and wait 10 years from the time they last thought of me. Really, what's a girl to do? I haven't been working as much since I am going to school, and all of DH's money goes to current bills that are necessities.

Advice anyone?

My mom went and got my Wii. I am so happy. The hardest thing is to do the dishes and laundry and not play all day.
My children have to have their chores done, homework done, and have been good at school all day before they can play. I love it.

I went to work last night at the Tim McGraw concert. I enjoyed finally getting a full nights work in. Today is another full days work also. May Day is always crazy and they need plenty of help!
I am going to the Indy 500 tomorrow! It will be the first time going inside on race day. I have been to the night before several times, hanging out outside and eating the wonderful food. I can remember so well when my dad went to the race and telling me that it was no place for a little girl. I am no longer little and think that I can handle it. The heat is the worst thing I can think that would make tomorrow hard.
I plan on spending no more than $30 total. That will include food, drinks, and anything that I deem is a useful memoribilia item for me to remember that wonderful day. I will try to post more often. My school is taking a lot out of me, studying and such.

I spent $617 for a new bed. Thank you Stimilus Package!
I also have purchased $300 worth of car parts for my vehicle.

Right now, I am trying to save money for three different reasons.
I continue to save for my Wii, and should have enough for lots of accessories by Christmas.
I want to visit my cousin in Flordia this summer; she aggreed to help me pay for my round-trip flight.
I have also started a Smarty Pig Account for a great party in November of 2011. I have put a date on having a wedding, if there is to be one. This savings will go to having a great time for whatever happens at that time.

School is going great. The boys are doing good in school, and will be starting a new school in July. All and all, with some money put away, Mommy isn't as stressed. That is good.
I think that I am changing my ways for the better, although not all of my bills are up to date. I am making some progress anyway.

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 been posting for a week or less, and my money is slipping away. Ever so slowly, I am not accountable for my money actions, so, I don't think about it.
I don't have to tally up anything on My Balances Page, so there's nothing to worry about right?
I wish I had maybe been writing it down, saving more receipts or something. But no, I didn't want to stick to budget or stop spending.
I will slap my wrist and get back into it.
I hope that I do not have to go the library to post next week. I let my bill go and they canceled by cable, and my cable modem. That'll teach me to slack off, won't it?

I have put my $20 challenge money into my account. I have $15 saved now. If this keeps up, I will have so much money this summer. I can't even begin to think about how much debt I can delete with the cash gained.
I also want to call and see what the penalty will be for withdrawing money early out of my CD. I sort of can't wait till August.

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 haven't posted since Friday. I hate going more than a day without consulting my friends here. You help me more than you know. If you were here, you would be so proud of me. I have gone from a dollar store queen, to the girl that passes up Wal-Mart for a special treat down the line. I am saving money everyday, and it is thanks to you all. If I wouldn't have found this site, who knows what I would be drownding in now.
I just want to thank you, tell you that I love you, and that I appreciate your help with my everyday life.

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.

For the next five months I will be saving my income for the $20 challenge. I have not been working since August, and I consider all that I earn to be "extra".
I think that toning down my cable and phone bill, I can come up with some spare change.
I also don't think that we will be eating out but three times a month. That is way better than three times a week.
I also am not going to buy any liquor or anything of the like. I will see how much better I feel with a month without the devil's water. If it is worth the sacrifice, I will continue and probably not even miss it. Since I haven't been going out with friends to drink, it will be super easy to give up for a while.
I spent $9.75 on $3.00 worth of gas this morning. I also couldn't bring myself to pay $3.69 for premium. I got regular for $3.45.
I have been taking the stairs at school for three days now. I want to count those steps and challenge myself to take five more steps daily. I don't know how well I will remember these numbers, but I will figure something out.

I made dinner tonight, including dessert.
It only took about twenty minutes, start to finish, and it smelled wonderful. That is worth it to me to continue to cook at home. I do have to work Friday and Sunday night, but I can cook at lunch time.
Save $30.00 on Chinese food that DH wanted for dinner towards the challenge and off I go to a high balance. I will deposit the money tomorrow.
Off to a great start.

"Cutting expenses is the first step in a two step process. In addition to cutting your expenses, you actually have to place the difference between what you were paying and the new price after cutting the expenses into a savings account (toward debt reduction). While this may seem obvious as you read, many people fail to do just that and wonder why cutting their expenses hasn't resulted in more savings (or debt reduction)."

I took this from the site and wanted to let you know how right you are.
I have added up a lot of money with my $20 challenge. I have only been here since late January, but I have accumulated over $350.00. Do I have $350.00 in the bank? NO. Should I have? YES!
I wish that I would have read this earlier. I knew that I should be socking away the money I claimed, but I really was just happy to be saving it, and didn't have the money in my hand to put into a source.
I will be opening a new savings account tomorrow, and tracking my $20 challenge money that way.
I am just so disappointed that I didn't do this two months ago.

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 am loving life today! I gave a great speech in class a little bit ago. I called and am working a whole four days this week. Yahoo. Also, I am anticipating that my check that was due one week ago today may have a bonus for the payroll person screwing up so badly.
My boss really likes me and doesn't want anything to make me mad so that I quit.
I was unemployeed from August to January. The person that was responsible for my termination never consulted with his boss, the owner of the company, and fired me. When I came in to get my last check, I was on my way to an interview. Obviously I didn't get a job, but W-2's were due and I went to pick mine up. I asked the boss if I could work this summer at a major venue they cover, and he wanted me to begin right away.
When the owner saw me again, he questioned me about why I quit.
I didn't quit, T*** fired me.
WHAT?!
He was unaware of my being let go and was very angry. If I would have complained in August, I would have had a job the whole time. I did enjoy the time off, even if we were broke, and I started college in January.
It was good for me to have a break, but I am ready for the busy season to come back to get more hours. Four days this week is good for me. I think that things are picking up and hopfully will continue to go smoothly.

I received a negative comment that I deleted from my post that I wrote while drinking. I want to let everyone know that I was not blind-stinking drunk while posting. My children were well taken care of, and no one was hurt.
I don't think that one should not drink because of the fears of what people think. Alcoholism does not run in my family, even though my mom likes her Cosmos every once and a while (she is a bartender and loves to serve others). But I don't think that I should be viewed as a drunk. I save my drinking for the weekends that I don't work. I spend all of my working days watching drunk people enjoying their day. Sometimes I want to be only half as drunk as them. But, I feel that drinking is a right of passage for those 21 and older. I am of age, drank in my own home, going no where afterwards. If you have a problem with liquor, or are a recovering alcoholic, please, don't drink. But don't criticize me for doing it. I was within my right, hurt no one but myself, and had a great night.
What does this have to do with finances? SIMPLE! The liquor cost me money. I made sure that I got my $19 out of the bottle I bought. I believe that if you drink responsibly, you can do so. If you can't control yourself when you do, then don't.
But I like it and will continue to. I look at it this way: I didn't buy cocaine from someone and drive into someones mother killing them. I had a drink at home, while with my children, and everyone was safe.
I do understand that drinking hurts your body, you can not reverse the effects of drinking, and I am not an addict. I like to let loose once in a while, like every other weekend.
I have been drinking today, pretty much finishing up the bottle I had, but in no way am I drunk. I just like to vent here, and this is one of the best places I can do it. I just want to ask forgivness from those that I offended.
I leave you with a picture that only a drunk person would appreciate. ME in the shower.

I have concluded that $5 will be sufficent for counting towards my total for the challenge for having a NO SPEND DAY!!! I like being at home with family, and it is getting easier to have more of these.
Library books are keeping me company, as well as the children cleaning their room, laundry going in that room, and the living room being clutter free for weeks now.
I am happy to be here, and that helps. I would have the boys go to the store with me to just get out of this house, full of clutter, stinking from dishes, and dirty clothes everywhere.
I have learned how to fight this urge, by cleaning my home. I no longer go ANYWHERE but here, just to escape. I still had to come home. I usually had two or three bags full of new crap. That wasn't helping.
I will count this towards my challenge, and every purchase that I pass up as well. If I were in my previous state of mind, it would have made me feel better to buy, buy, buy. I am better now, and working hard to teach my children the correct ways.

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.

August 14th can't come soon enough. I am waiting on my $1000.00 to come back to me. I was dumb and didn't pay off debt with my tax refund. I should have done this, now I know. But, I was scared to waste my money, spending it as soon as I received it. That is what happened the last two years. I didn't want that to happen this year. So, I saved it, am gaining about $32 for the agonizing 6 months I must wait, and will have money this summer, just in time for school to start. My oldest will be in 1st grade, and my youngest will be starting Kindergarden. They will have awesome backbacks, clothes, shoes, and supplies.
I will buy cheap school supplies for myself, and will not waste the money when I can use it.
I hope that I will have my Credit Card Debt paid down so low that I don't need to use my CD money for it.
I also must have some restraint in the spending department before I get the money out.
If I save like I should, I may not be so anxious about getting it.
With DH working now, but who knows how much longer, I want to save while he wants to spend. I understand that he sees it as his money, but he has to pay bills first. I just want him to see this as a priority, not just what I do for fun.
I will win him over yet.

I have put the money saving tip thingy on my side bar of this blog, and find myself just refreshing to see the next one. It is cool.

That is a great country song about everything he doesn't want to talk about. As I sit here drunk, thinking about what to say, I can't think of anything good to write about. My children are being very good and quiet, not fighting or crying, and my DH is out helping his sister with her DH. If I could say anything about right this minute, I would say that money isn't everything, you can live without it, and happiness is blessing you always.
Do you need to alter reality to see the good in life? I think that when I wake up in the morning, I will remember the stress of paying the rent after DH spent $162 on brake parts for his car. I don't want to think about it right now.
I will also remember that I shouldn't have bought such a big bottle of liquor today at the grocery. But, that is neither here nor there.
Also, thanks to all those who support me in my ways, good or bad, and are there for me through thick and thin. I am getting to the thin part. HA.
Good night to you all, and a happy no stress day tomorrow. I am feeling no pain right now, so all is good.

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.

Well, add my four hours in at work tonight and I might be able to put gas into my car this weekend.
I haven't been doing any unnecessary driving since gas is so high, but I am getting tired of staying home. The kids are driving me batty.
I think that we need to play some old games or do some more of our puzzles.
That would be great if I could find something fun for at home that wouldn't cost any money.

I feel as if my money can see me coming from a mile away. If I have money, it jumps out of my hand, or rather, my card slips from my grip, and it is gone. If I am expecting money my way, it takes more than expected, I didn't plan without it, and I am drowning.
My school work is also slipping, but I have it under control. As long as I keep answering to myself, I can do it. I have spent so much money for dining out, that it is too terible for me to even think about it. But, since I am recording it, it makes me look at it, and that my money could be working for me rather than against me.
I'll get there.

Since my children are sick with strep, I won't be going anywhere today, except for work tonight.
Womens NCAA Big 10 basketball tournament is going on, and they plan on being busy.
So, saving money is my key today. I will be doing laundry, using my surplus of laundry soap, and having the children help me straighten up.
Sicky will be in bed most the day, but my oldest son is just here for support. That and I didn't want to dress three people this morning, going out in the cold for no reason.
A three day weekend never hurt anyone anyway.
I need to get library books back too, but that can wait till Saturday.
No gas spent=$5.00 for $20 challenge
No cigarettes bought=$4.20 for $20 challenge

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.

I have been reading several people's blogs that incorporate their weight loss goals with their money saving goals.
I wish that I could save more and loose more at the same time.
If I could do everything I wanted, I wouldn't need this site. I am more worried about my financial health than my actual health. Is that scary?
I can't help it.
I know that I am overweight. I am about 75 lbs from being "normal for my height" right now. I don't starve myself, and I think that is why I still weigh the same as I do now.
I also know that my birth control choice is hindering my weight loss process. I would rather be fat than pregnant. Can't help the way I feel about it.
I don't think that I will be putting my weight loss goals on this site, as that is way too much for me to think about right now. If I can afford to eat, this site is doing it's job.