For the last two weeks I have done nothing but school. Today, Friday the 13th, I get to work tonight. And it is an early call so I should get an extra hour or so. This starts a few weeks of working that I have not had for a while. You don't know how depressing it is to pick up your bi-weekly check and see five hours on it. Last Monday's check was okay, for 28 hours, but that is for two weeks. This is my lucky day and many more work hours are to come. After finals, I can work all day, except for the weekends, where my children have little league baseball. That still leaves my Saturday nights open to work, and that is when most events are anyway.
DH has been asked to start working overtime soon, and I will be pushing towards it. Now, I know that I will be doing extra around the house to make him happy when he gets home, when I am tired from working, but he makes twice what I do and works twice as hard. I can make that sacrifice.

I have saved and scrimped for rent this month. I only bought gas, paid for daycare for the week, and only bought lunch one time, spending $6.52 total.
I think that we can make it. As long as my DH check is as large as it should be, we will be okay.
My Grandma told me to come and get her credit card to buy my Grandpa his Father's Day gift. I would be happy to go and get him something that he wants.
He never asks for anything anyway.
He deserves it!
He asked for a weed eater, gas powered with a metal blade and a strap to keep some of the weight off his arms.
That will be nice.
She will be happy that I won't ask her for help with rent, even though I will ask her to write the check.
Thanks to that woman, and my Mother a time or two, I have never been late with my rent in over 4 years.
Thanks!

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.

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 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 spent the day with my family on a road trip yesterday. We went to southern Indiana to visit our grandparents and my father at the cemetary. We bought some cheap flowers and built arrangements for everyone. We also visited the last family members who still live down south, and we talked for about four hours about how much we miss our dearly departed. They took me and my two cousins out to dinner and it was a great time. I will make an effort to go down there more often. This was only the second time in ten years that I have been there. This summer, we will have a family reunion of sorts and have even more fun. It will be great, and I will take my two children and BF and show them a piece of my history along with family.
We did buy some snacks to eat on the way there, and only spent about $10 total. I feel like we can take the trip for less than $50 everytime we go. Gas is the only big purchase needed for the two hour trip down there. I can't wait to go back.
I will also make it a point to post more often than I have in the last week.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 love my job. I was really late to school today. That's what I get for hanging out with the artists after the show. I hate that I was late, but its okay since I enjoyed my night at work.

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.

I am getting my budget ready for the month. I don't know how we did it, but I figured out that with credit card payments, rent, gas, lights, phone, daycare, and basic needs like gas, cigarettes, and food.
I have gotten us to flat even. WOW!
It helped that I paid extra on credit cards last month and now my min. payment is down.
I think this site is the reason.
You are watching me. You are holding me to a common sense standard.
Thank you.
I have figured in my son's birthday, which is going to figure in a movie and popcorn. Great idea son!
I think this is going to be a good year, and it is really just starting.
If you think about it, we are going towards Christmas. I am not worried.
You are helping me and you don't even have to try!

We had a sleepover last night. We spent no money last night or today. So there's money to go into the challenge. $2.50 for gas saved, .15 for Laundry money found, and $5.50 not spent on a replacement hampster.
I wanted the pet, not my kids. I just want someone else to talk to besides Spike the goldfish.

I got two of my credit cards down below the credit limit. Go me! I didn't even use my tax check to do it. I sacked that away in a CD. I maybe should have put the money on my cards, but I was more intrested in being able to use my money, not toss it away the second I got it.

I also wanted to tell everyone who has been commenting on my posts, I appreciate the help, tips, and support you give. Thanks so much.

The end of March is my youngest son's 5th birthday. We will be having another small party at home. This time, the party will be even cheaper, as we will have a movie and popcorn for snack. After cake and presents, there will be a few games, or I could just hand out gift bags. Also, the time for the party will be later, so that maybe we could have a sleepover for family who wants to stay. I plan on asking at least one person to stay, which I don't see a problem with.
Also, I don't forsee anyone coming to this party who did not come to the last one. I invited several more people to come who didn't. My mom said to not let my feelings get hurt. They aren't. We didn't have room for all those people in my house in the first place. So I anticipate a great party this time too!

I don't think that today will turn out this way. I will chip in for parking at the Downtown Library where I am with my group working on a school project. So far so good though.
I think that I will save from not spending money on lunch though.
Plus, what is a buck on 5 dollar parking anyway. Not much at all.
Saved from Lunch in:$7.50

This morning, my live in baby daddy said that he is glad I am working since every little bit helps. He is correct in that aspect, but his reasoning is stupid. Right after that, he said so that we can have more stuff. We don't need more stuff. We have enough stuff. We need less stuff and more debt paid off. Right now I have a few necessities:Rent is number one, daycare is number two, phone and lights is number three, along with all other utilities, and four is making sure that my two children and the two of us have everything we need to survive. We don't need toys or to eat breakfast out every weekend. Right now it is on Sundays, as our splurge day. We need to stop that mentality. I have learned it somewhat already. The crap we had I got rid of. It was cluttering our house, minds, and spirits. We would fight more often, since money was a big part of the buying crap. Also, I don't think that the key to happiness is having stuff, or money for that matter. I just want our family to be happy. Yes, I buy my kids toys. Yes, I buy junk food at the grocery store. Yes, I even buy more cigarettes and liquor than I should, but that is not what I base our lives on.
Maybe when I start to show him that stuff leads to more arguements and loss of money, he will appreciate what I am trying to do for our family.

I will be meeting with my group at school tomorrow, and will be bringing a lunch. I will get here at 10 a.m. so I will be hungry in the middle. I also can't justify buying food from a machine that I could have gotten from the grocery at more than half price for more food. If they get hungry and want to go to a fast food joint, be my guest, but I will be here when you get back after eating something more enjoyable for a fraction of the price.

$1.00 goes to the $20 challenge for not being able to buy my milk at school today. It makes me mad when they don't work, but I cuss them since they take so much money. $1.25 for a pop is high.
I will not use them again.

Yesterday, I went to the bank.
I withdrew money from my checking account, as I want all my money to be in my saving account that I can stand.
I cannot spend more that I withdrew from the bank, as not many places will take a check anymore, and I have lost my debit card.
Thank You!!
I can no longer go out to eat, as that will take up all my money I just took out.
I also think this will help my splurge spending. I want no more of that happening.
I have to work again tonight, so I have to pay to park. That stinks, but it is only two bucks for downtown. I shouldn't ask for more.

Also, for not having my check card, I saved myself 13.00 at the grocery store, so I will add that to my challenge money. I never get to add anything.

My sons birthday went off without a hitch.
Everyone had a great time. The party was such a great success, we have decided to have my youngest son's birthday there as well. That is in one month. Friends and family was the way to go.
Also, I see the next party to be cheaper this time too. I will be going to the party store to scope out some sale prices this week.
Maybe I will find clearence stuff that will work.


I hit 6,000 visits on my page today. Thanks for checking out my pages, and thanks for all the help.

Yesterday was a no spend day. If I wasn't out of milk, today would be too.
Since the laundry is getting caught up, the dishes get their turn. My youngest likes to dry.
I will let the oldest vacuum his room as well as the hallway.
I am making preping for his birthday part of his responsibilities. He must make sure that everything in his room is ready for guests. I will take care of the kitchen, bath, and my room. The living room has been everyone's responsibility. I yell at Daddy for tossing dirty socks on the floor. I am guilty for leaving my shoes everywhere, but we have too many and I need to lessen them.
How much would you suggest that I give myself for the $20 challenge? I used no gas, didn't buy cigs, and did not buy dinner out. We made pizza.
Whatever makes them want to eat, like letting them help make it, works for me.
I am also saving gas heat money, as I was close to disconnect not so long ago.