I saved over $100 today at the store, and I didn't even use a coupon. I also did not buy a ton of stuff that we didn't need, so who knows how much I really saved.
I am glad that I had my mom cash my check for me. She gave me a couple more bucks than it was for and I sprung for paper plates and cube steaks.
Taco Night is tonight and Manwich is for lunch tomorrow.
Can't wait to try out that new bag of french fries I got on sale. They are Rally's~Checkers brand. They should be yummy!

So sorry folks. Life sure does get in the way sometimes.
Also, I have had such a time with a house fiasco I forgot to tell you all about it.
I did not get that house for two reasons, one: it wasn't meant to be, and two: if something is cheap, there is usually a reason.
So, we paid an extra $20,000 for a cute, much smaller, perfect neighborhood ranch.
Plenty of room to grow, plenty of room for now, and we're in the neighborhood we want to be in.
I have made five mortgage payments so far, only 355 to go!
Also, I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!
November 11th of this year!
11*11*11
I can't wait!

I see that I did post about my study drug to see if they could make a better fat burning drug.
I lost a total of 25 pounds but did not receive the total $ I was expecting. They clearly laid out what was to be paid, but they canceled the study early. I only lost around $140. I got my last check today for $205 instead of $345.
not bad

In my quest to save the Earth, I turn off my gas guzzler at the pharmacy and go inside to wait for our prescriptions. During the wait, of course I browse for things. I think about what I may be out of at home. I found some cheese dip for $2. At least three times last week someone was looking for cheese dip.
I picked it up.
I carry no basket, push no cart, and carry my heavy purse that prevents me from picking up what I need.
I did not needlessly pick up things that I know I want. This lead me to a form of, carry it around and put it down before you leave. No, I didn't put it back. I paid for it and was upset later.
I will not do this anymore.
I picked up a bag of pita chips with sea salt.
Why do I need these? Don't I have chips and wanted them before but didn't have salsa or cheese to go with it.
I put the item down and backed away. I then sat and waited until my name was called.
I'm proud of myself.
BTW I did buy one more thing, an impulse purchase set on the counter next to the pharmacist's cash register, but I need it. It is a new spray to help my son swallow pills easier. I know it is just sugar water, but the picture on the box of the little boy smiling will work more wonders than the spray to help out my youngest.
Guess that's better than it used to be, with a cart full of items "on sale".

It is amazing what happens when you stay away too long.
I am in the process of buying a house, finishing school, and even thinking hard about getting married.
Since there is no common-law marriage anymore, we will have to do the real deal.
But, more importantly, we are buying a house.
After careful deliberation, we have found a fixer-upper in a good neighborhood for $89,000. This is a great investment, as the last appraisal quoted it as worth $140,000.
My FHA loan is locked with a 30-year fixed rate of 4.8%.
Tell me about lucky, I already know.
Since I am moving into a home that is three times the one I am renting now, I will have some work to do by sticking to a budget for furniture. We are working towards minimization. That sounds like a lie, since we are getting so much room, but I want the home to be better than here, so that means downsizing or crap.
Hopefully this change in status from renting to owning will enhance the pride we have in our stuff.

Well, I guess this is my chance to prove to myself that I am responsible with money now. Since I only have around $1,500 to save and not blow on the holiday season, I think that I should be cautious to stay out of the mall, the stores, and especially the grocery. For some reason every year I always want to be the one to bring the best snacks or treats at a holiday party. This year I bought some pretzel rods and fancied them up with icing and chocolate. I promised myself and family that this was the only thing I was making. Then, I bought cookie mix and marshmellows to make some frosted flake wreaths. I am not very good about making promises to myself. I will keep this promise to my kids that I will have some money when the new year comes around. I already have bills that need to be paid too.
I WILL NOT OVERSPEND!
I WILL NOT OVERSPEND!
I WILL PRETEND THAT I AM AS BROKE AS I ALWAYS AM.
I WILL NOT BUY MYSELF MORE THAN TWO PRESENTS THIS YEAR. I WILL NOT!!!!!!!!!
(thanks for listening)

About two or three weeks ago, I had a weirdo idea. I wanted a dog. My mom told me that I shouldn't get a dog unless I was going to have another baby. A puppy is like a baby. It is expensive, needs diapers, and chews and puts everything in their mouths. Well, she was right. I had to buy puppy pads for it to pee on. I spent about $20 on treats, special food, and a brush with spray to help him not stink. What a great idea.

Two problems: I am not allowed to have a pet, not even temporarily.
I also know that I have to get the dog shots. I think the dog is about three months old and it hasn't had any yet.
I don't want to think about what could happen. I am currently still working on having the boys get dressed and eating breakfast instead of playing with the puppy.

Any ideas about our Christmas pup? 22 days until Christmas. Should I buy him a $10 bed? Should I expect to keep him for more than two more months? I am not worried about my landlords finding out about him, but know my neighbors would be upset, since they can't have a dog either.

Finishing my paper tonight I realized that I am getting better with my money. I needed to be in a big hole so that I could see how nice it is out of it. Happines is important, but money won't bring it. We (the fam) are doing well about not fighting, giving each other space, and when we don't have something, finding fun by giving something else a whirl. Can't wait for Christmas!

Grandma:$500.00
Credit line:$175
Credit line#2:$165
Rent:$460
TV:$1000
Cable:$140
Phone:$50
Lights:$100
Gas:$75 on budget

That doesn't seem too bad to me.
I am glad that I have paid down the money I owe my grandma. I have no other outstanding debts, besides my student loans.
Way to go me!

When I don't post, I am irresponsible with money. I did make a good decision with about $100 though. I have purchased an electric heater for our living room to keep the gas heat off for as long as possible. $88 plus tax is $96.14. When I saw the ad in the paper, I was excited. I saved for a while for something in the house that was for all of us, and I think this was a good purchase.

I am currently finishing up a paper due for my Intro to Finance class. DIP financing is not as interesting as is sounds, but I am glad that some institutions are willing to help in these tough times.

My darling children are out of school for three weeks. Their fall break comes after my school semester is just beginning. Thank goodness for moms and best friend's moms!!!
My Smarty pig account is slowly but surely getting bigger. I added a goal to help my saving of daily money and when I roll change that I collect, I add it to those accounts.
Breakfast is over and cartoons are going. I am volunteering at the church for a rummage sale today. I really don't want to buy anything there, but I am taking $5 just in case I see something we need.

Well, working the last two nights instead of three took some hours, but I did pocket some change off the ground last night, so I think I made out.
I forgot I got a raise and have earned an extra $.50 an hour more. Tonight I earned $48.88 before taxes. Last night I made the same so I get $97.76! Woo Hoo
Also, I picked up so much change off the ground that I couldn't fit it all into my change purse. COOL
I am sort of nervous about my call tomorrow on the Dave Ramsey show. Should I be getting a lot of info ready to go in case he asks me? How do I keep from babbling or sounding foolish? You know what is really foolish? I am holding on to two of those $1 a day movies and I haven't even watched one. I will do it tomorrow and take them back. That goes on my to do list. As well as getting my check, taking it to the bank, and paying on the light and gas bills! Go me, pay the bills, it's your birthday!

Someone took my signs down last night. I know they were taken down and not blown off because they were on there good and there was no sign of it to be found.
So, I put new ones up. Can't get me down that easy. While I was putting a new one up, someone asked me where it was and stopped by. Thanks people! I'm feeling the love from strangers as I tell them that things are $1 and 50 cents. Take it out and give me peace. Too much stuff is probably how I ended up in this no money business in the first place. So far, there is $21.75 to put into Smartypig. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

I am selling my children's clothes and my useless crap! Dirt cheep prices will move the stuff, I hope. I have advertised craigslist.org and put 10 signs on corners around my street. I only plan on having a break when my mom shows up for a minute and on Friday when my kids are out of school.
My oldest boy will stay here with me and help out. He wants to sell his stuff. Awesome buddy. Help the family out. I will automatically put all the funds received from the sale smartypig.com account.
My mom gave me money for my kid's school pictures that they are taking tomorrow. Thanks, Mom!
I only need to get some change at the bank on the corner, a little cooler of water for my hot day tomorrow and pray for no overnight rain. I hate when I leave things outside as it is, but if they get rained on, I my be discouraged.
I hope that when we make some money the kids focus on me putting it away instead of spending it right away. I will let them keep the money from their toy sales, but encourage them to save it until they have $20 to put into their accounts at the bank.

I have managed to keep a small chunk of change, and I do mean change, in their accounts. I am not expecting to make more than $100 all weekend and so they should get what their stuff brings. They can see their account balance and I need to get them into the recording of the deposits. I will get a recorder book from the bank for them.
Wish me well on my money making endeavor. I only need a little shove, not a push over the edge!

I paid $660 to have hot water. I am thankful. I am a little pissed about how ghetto the operators were to me. After I took my dishes to my grandmother's to do them, I told her that I almost felt sorry for making fun of my ex-sister-in-law for trading sexual favors to get her utilities turned back on. Almost.

Lights and gas paid. Water and phone are next. Maybe a credit card will get paid next month.

These next two weeks are going to be outrageous with things that need to be done. I have already started on the laundry from our trip, but other than that I have to schedule my son's eye surgery, we have a family meeting with the school counselor, a lot of bills are due, and work is hounding me to come in early this week. Tomorrow I have to sign up the boys for school and finish getting their school supplies together. What else needs to be on my plate right now. I am starting school in the fall too. I had a six month break and I am ready to go back, get into the grove, and graduate. Hopefully with my degrees I can talk my boss into that raise I've deserved for over a year. I could also talk him into some working while the kids are at school sort of thing. I did that for a while, but he wanted me to do physical work instead of paperwork. I really hated getting dressed in my fancy office clothes to dust and clean on my hands and knees. I had no problem doing the laundry of the company, but really, scrubbing the table legs in a dress didn't work for me and I told him. Since I am deaf on the phone, I wasn't the best message taker for lunch time either.
I am going to be looking for a new job. Wish me luck.

Have I even thought about how much gas would cost to drive south this weekend. We are taking a non-gas guzzler, so that is a plus. But I have been to worried about having fun and budgeting that and forgot about gas. Food is good, clothes are owned, and we are ready to go. I hope that we only have to fill up twice. Once on the way there, and once on the way back.

While starting my list for what to buy, don't I first need to write what I need to take first. I have a lot of the stuff that we are taking down with us, but I am worried about camping outside with two young ones and a high maintenance man. I don't need towels. I don't need swim suits or trunks. I don't need I don't need any toys to keep the kids occupied. I really only need food, and I don't want to buy that until I get there. I will take some, but milk and eggs and things don't need to travel since we aren't in the boonies.


I have already spent $85 on this trip. An air mattress and new swim shoes cost me. Sleeping shorts for the men and I still need to buy a small bottle of laundry soap. Grocery shopping is going to cost me the most, because we really don't have the money to eat at restaurants. I can't wait to start our FAMILY VACATION!!!

Four Gal milk:$1.98 each
1 bag Doritos:$2.22
2 lbs. hamburger:$2.98

Not bad, or so I thought.
Did you know that in addition to showing how much you saved, Marsh shows you a percentage of how much of your bill you saved. I saved 34% on that bill. WOW!
I guess I should have been saving at other places all the time.

I am also doing my best to not support China and stopped buying at Walmart as much. Since I have no money, not shopping is easy. But, not going there for groceries is kinda hard. I am a hard-core Kroger girl, but for paper products, you couldn't beat the low, low prices.
Doing my part for the earth and my wallet.

Starting a new job can be hard. I didn't know that starting a new business would be this hard. I knew it would be hard, and cost money, but not this much.

I have put all my faith into myself to do this and do it well. I just hope that all of my hard work pays off and that I am back in the black again soon.

I guess that you get out of it what you put into it. Since I am putting my all into it, I should have a healthy reward. I also plan on having this business build my credit up enough to buy a house in less than three years. I have one picked out, but if push comes to shove, I have one built on some remote piece of land down south.

Any ideas on what I could do to further my business? I will take all sorts of advice, even if it isn't the best.

I am going to sell my heart out at the Spring Fling tomorrow night, with the help of my best friend. Also, when my Mom gets back in the country, she can help me with networking a home party for her friends. She is so good at getting people with money to come to a party, drink some, and spend whatever they want.
I went to a Mary Kay party that she had for a customer she served in a bar. Why did she help her so much? She liked her shoes. I have to admit, they were awesome shoes, but really, that is where I get my salesmanship prowess from, her.

I think I am stressing to much over this, but I am because I have spent a lot of money on this deal. Money that I didn't really have to begin with. But, if this goes well, guess who will be paying debt down faster than Dave R. can say "snowball".

Anyone who owns their own business that can give me some pointers about getting over the beginning sticker shock of prices and how to maximize my minimal advertising?

I love clearance!!

I bought a ton of stuff for next year. I have added up on my receipt and found out that I only spent $32.75(not including tax) on about $100 worth of stuff. The little line that states you saved this much said that I saved $61.07(not including tax).
That is a lot to me. That is why I wait till now to buy those items. I found 6 rolls of 90 square feet of wrapping paper for $.70 each.
I did have to spend $13 on a new paper holder, but the one I had was too short anyway. I was upset when I got home and the paper I had didn't fit. The new one is almost as tall as me and I think it will be perfect.

I will also have to sort out the gift bags I got so they aren't folded in the cold and heat in my shed. Soon, I will be getting summer stuff out and will have a better idea on how much holiday stuff I really have.

In less than two months, my oldest son will be seven. I have decided that home is a great place for the party. Since we are gaining tons of Wii stuff and the like, I believe that video games will be his theme. I can't wait to have fun. It will be cheap too. Then one month later, another b-day party for a six-year-old. Wonder what he will want as his theme.

This year's new year's bash is kid friendly. We are having a board game frenzy. Monopoly, Pictionary, and Sorry are just a few of the offerings that will be there.
I am looking forward to this weeks Girl's Nite, as my best friend is coming. She can never make it because she works Tuesday nights. Not this week. I can't wait for everyone to play RockBand on the Wii. Maybe the boys will go to a playdate that night and we can be loud and crude. We couldn't last week. Everyone got tired of going outside to smoke too. I guess they didn't mind too much though, since they are coming back this week.

Girl's Nite was wonderful. It was just me and my two cousins. We talked and listened to Christmas music. Not a dime spent!
We also planned some Christmas Carolling.
I can't wait. I have a research paper to write. Wanted to let you know that I am doing good with saving. I haven't blown any budgets for Christmas yet, except for maybe food. I can make up for the splurge at the grocery by not buying any Mt. Dew next time.

I heard a great saying on a website. I guess I read it really. It said that life is not about having everything you want, but wanting what you have.

I have been thinking about this for a while, way before Thanksgiving. What am I glad that I have in my life?

Family is number one.
A home and vehicles are another.
A job that I can relate my skills that I have now to.
And the urge to go and get everything out of life that I can is another.

What I am trying to write is that you have plenty now, even if you think you have nothing, you have so much more.

I have been thinking about our savings too. I am trying to figure what is going to keep saving.
What am I willing to give up to get what I want? I want savings. I don't want to spend good money on crap anymore. So, I am giving up crap. That is hard to do during the holiays. I can't help but get the cute crap that sits on the shelves. I will do my best and regretfully post anything I buy.

I am growing up. I can tell.
When hunger pains hit today, I didn't stop at the Mc'Ds, Long John's, or the Pizza Hut. I went straight home, heated up some of the last of Turkey day leftovers, a steak and potato from last night, and a big glass of water.

I am proud of myself, since I really wanted a steaming greasy burger with a pop.
I don't have those things here, since we are trying to cut down.

Way to go me. My reward was a great meal that was worth the 15 minute wait of driving home and heating it up for 3 mins.

I don't think that I have had a no spend day in months.
I didn't leave the house today, didn't order anything on the computer, and didn't worry about what bills were about to cash their checks, since they already did.
Way to go for me. Hopefully Sunday will be just as good.

I am not going anywhere today.
I don't think shopping is worth all that crap. I am watching the news and they are talking about the lines being long and horrible.
No Way!
I am glad that I have most of my gifts wrapped. I didn't get any GREAT deals like these people think they are getting, but, I didn't blow a budget with one shopping spree either.
I love sleeping in.

I have made a list of things that we have a surplus of at home, and we don't need to buy new ones at the store.
I am trying to save, I really am, but I have weaknesses.
So, I am trying to steer clear of wish lists, online window shopping, and the like.
I am trying to be more thankful for what I do have. That is the reason for the list.
I have a list on the fridge of things we need that we run out of in the kitchen.
I do put other household items that we may need:ear cleaners, t.p., soap, etc.

We have plenty of school supplies for all three of us in school.
I will never have to buy a pen or pencil again. There are too many food storage containers. I will not buy another box of sandwich bags until I have used all other items at home to hold things in.
Holidays always bring in candy.
True that most of the Halloween candy is gone, I don't want to buy any new since they will be getting some for Christmas.
This is really more than just about saving money, it is to show my family that we have so much and should be thankful. There are those out there without a home to live in, job to go to, and car to get there in.
We have warm beds, two vehicles, food in the fridge, and each other.

No more living above our means. I just ordered a part on the internet for my DS2BH's car. I can't believe things cost so much. So, as of right now, we are cutting back. Starting with Christmas, we are going to the roots of what we need. I am not going out for anything that we already have. There are school supplies in a small box table in the corner of the living room. We have meat and pantry items in the kitchen. There is nothing that we really need to have for the next three to six months. I am going to save like I have never saved before. I may spend about $8 on the Sunday paper, for the coupons. I am also thinking about having the boys make a piniata, so I will need the newspaper.
I have started a list on the side of the fridge that will have the items we NEED from the store. I have written down what we run out of, when we run out.
This way, there is no over spending at the store.

I can not imagine having a house payment, along with all the insurance a house has, along with other payments on our salaries now. I am trying to change that. I will be looking for another job soon. I want something that will make money quick. I don't want to start a career right now. I am still in school. I can start serious job hunting when I graduate.

I am trying to get us ready for the life ahead. Our children are growing up, and fast. I am looking forward to our lives together in the years to come. I don't want those years to be filled with worry about debt and money.

My little construction worker is about to build me some shelves in our shed. I will be able to put things up off of the floor. I will not have to step over or lean over crap to get to the crap that I want.
I am also about to do the switch of Summer Clothes for Winter Clothes. I got some space bags from my Momma for my birthday. I will empty them and fill them up again. Then, by that time, there will be shelves to put them on in the shed.
Thank goodness for my man. He got the wood from a guy at work yesterday. It was a little inconvenient, but it was worth it. I may have to buy a board or two for hanging it, but other than that, we are all set. My least fav part is going to be the emptying of the shed to build the things.
I am going to need pantry shelves too. Do you think I should buy those white wire ones?