So, since quitting, I have made plans to have a garage sale at the end of this month to keep from going in the red too quickly.
Our wedding is in November, only three months away, and one month ahead of the holidays.
I made a promise to my son that if he received nothing but good remarks from school for the first semester, he would receive an X-Box for Christmas.
I know this seems extreme to some, but if he goes 90 school days without getting in trouble ONCE, then he deserves it!!!
I will be working extra at my security job I have had since 2006, so we aren't in dire straits.
The State Fair is here today and I will be working at my job I quit for one more week.
The people I am training to take over are in awe of the crap that I have been dealing with over the last almost full year and don't know how they will do it.
I said to ask the boss if they didn't know where something went, such as checks written with no reason, and they knew that he would lie or make up a reason before even asking.
That's why I am leaving.
I hope the kids school year does well, that our wedding goes off without a hitch (pun intended), and the year finishes as well as it started.
I bought four dollars in scratch off tickets and won $20. I think I'll be starting up with the challenge again. I find change constantly and never add it up. I will again be doing this.
Great to be back and doing so well!

I have learned that if I am ready to go by the time I awaken the Kraken from their beds, I will yell less, freak out less, can provide food and love more, and the whole house has a better feel to it. This saves our sanity, which saves me money. If I am up early, I can get my caffeine fix and not stop at the gas station on the way in to work.
Breakfast found in the fridge and cabinets will be cheaper than the bar or bag I grab to go with that great big soda at the same station.
I have my kids eat everyday, but making myself do it is another story.
If I get ready early, I can sit and eat with them, instead of putting socks on people who have been capable of that for YEARS. Saving my sanity and some cash one morning at time!

I tried to post this in the forum, but I guess I still can't post new threads.

When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I am TRYING to close on a home that was purchased by a bank from a Sheriff's sale. I assumed it was a foreclosure. Now, the title company says that I can not purchase this because they have recorded that there is more land attached to it. Funny thing is that someone else says they own that land. It has the same address, is located directly behind the house, and is legally attached to the house. Why can't I get a clear title. I have to register my children for school by the 28th of this month, due to close for the second time today. This will not happen.
Any suggestions on how to fix my delima?

So much going on. I forgot spring was so busy.
Little league baseball, official score keeper
Concert season on a roll, official patter-downer
Moving to a new house, new school district, new side of town
About to graduate, but not with the GPA I started with, in a few weeks, kids out of school next week
Indy 500, work, and the holiday of remembrance for all those who died for us to have the freedom to enjoy a bar-b-que or whatever we desire
So much to worry about, not letting stress get to me
Forgetting those who cause more stress in my life will be easier said than done
I will not stop reaching for my dreams and goals.

With all the problems the entire world is having with their money, I haven't posted in a while as I didn't even want to think about MY finances.
I am a grownup and will face it like a woman.
So, my credit stinks, my longest open card just closed on me and won't reopen it. I have been hanging on by string, but still making it. I also have gotten a new job. My training starts after Christmas. I am excited about that.
I worked Saturday night at my current job. I hadn't worked before then since Oct. 30th. Wow!
I am not worried a bit about Christmas as we know we are not getting much. Our drawing for the adult kids is going strong again for the third year in a row. I am not worried about school either. I am certain that I will pass with flying colors. My hope that I will do better next year doesn't seem so bleak. I could be way worse off.
On a better note, i am saving with SmartyPig and my Santa savings I just opened will be mighty full by next Christmas!
I am also taking part in a drug study that will pay $1115 after 8 months. I am happy with that too. It is for a weight loss drug. So, I want to win two ways. One to lighten my load and one to fatten my savings wallet.
The sun is shining...

We went to my kids fall festival today at school. $9 for three plates of spaghetti. $1 for two drinks and 14 pieces of candy from the hallway trick r treat. What really got me, other than me paying for all that, was the pumpkin auction. The different classes painted and decorated at least 20 pumpkins. There was a real auctioneer there getting the price up as high as he could. When the price was $5 to $20, I would bid, but they were getting rather pricey. $60 for a pumpkin painted black with white stripes to look like Darth Vader. A King Tut one went for $65. $105 for a pumpkin with a blonde wig that was meant to look like the principal. I do love my kids, but really. How on earth can you afford to pay that for a painted pumpkin? Yes, I wanted to buy the ones my children helped to do, but there's no way I can pay more than $20 for a piece of fruit I can only have for one season. I guess its a good thing I took pictures of all of them, so that I have the memories forever, and am only out ten bucks. Wish I could do more, but I think some of them were ridiculously high. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

If I thought I didn't know how to handle money before, my class is letting me know how much I really don't know!

Strange that when the numbers get into the millions and higher the difficulty in dealing with it. I am doing well in the class, but it is a little stumping!

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.

Went to work tonight. Made $59.50 before taxes. Picked up $.20 change tonight but had some REALLY STIFF competition. There was a police officer who would pick it up right after the person dropped it. Why would you be so rude. If they are standing right there, give it to them. But he was really petty about it. A penny fell and he actually went under my feet to get it. I told him next time, I would step on his fingers. There was another penny, and I think he believed my threat because he didn't dive bomb after it. I stood on it and he waited right next to me waiting for me to move for 30 minutes. I figured he was really hard up for money. Anyway, that gave me something to talk about. I still found 1/5 a dollar.
Found money is a wonderful thing.
Counting money jar balance:$9.13
Total now:$9.38
Something's wrong with my counter!!!!!



Oh, I went back to college. I signed up Tuesday and go the end of September. Wonder what classes I'll have and what books I have to buy.

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 am torn. Do I return to college this fall? My first day back is a day when my kids are off for the day. Missing the first day is bad. I guess I should stop trying to find things to stop me. That is what got me here.

I am shocked that after all this hard work that I had done over the last eight months has been to end in flames after less than two months of penny rolling.
My yard sale is two days away and I am worried that I won't have anything but a couple of cents and a couple of bucks for change. When I first got set up I had $60 for change. This week just needs to shape up.
Working less, which is weird, since I just got a $0.50 raise. My boss said that it would be on my check from yesterday, but it wasn't. When I asked him, he said that I should be happy I got it. Okay, but I still haven't gotten it yet! And it would have really helped to be on this check!
Signed oldest kid up for a runner's club after school two nights a week for 4 1/2 weeks. That should help him get some activity and separate the brothers that need some alone time. Got to get out there and find a job that will work with my schedule of school and my kid's school. Good Luck!

I returned a car part that was purchased but not needed. That was $42.
I worked from 6:30 to about 10:30 and made $25.
I did not buy any cigarettes or alcohol today, which is awesome for me since I am feeling down.

I contacted my cable company and they told me that in order to get service without buying a box for digital signal, my bill will be raising on September 11th from $33 to $45. "You get more channels." Don't you get that I am trying to go cheap? I guess I will see when those digital boxes are less and get a coupon for reimbursement or something. We can live with Fox and public television but with nothing even I will go crazy.

I tried to call my college today and it was a weird conversation. They changed the name of my school, which is cool, but I asked to talk to some really well known people in the office and the girl answering the phone did not know who I was talking about. So after asking if the dean was the same, she explained that there was an entire staff meeting and she was filling in. I asked her if there was a list of people's extensions so that I could leave a voicemail and she was looking at the list and no one I mentioned was on it.
Weird. I will call again tomorrow and get the down low on what I need to do to start up again this September 29th. Before you jump my case about needing work worse, I can't afford to start paying my student loans, which are about $10,000.00. I have only two months until my six month grace period is over. Really, it is over in August, but I will be registered by then. I forgot that I found two pennies on the ground today.

GO ME!!!

Paying off cards to get the credit card companies to stop calling me 20 times a day hardly seems worth it. I am now $200 lighter and my life seems bleak. Rent is paid, but we still have no hot water. The cable company is going to shut us off and repo our box. I don't know how much longer I can take this. My children have started school and their supplies and textbook fees really strapped me. At least I don't have to pay the $50 a week for Kindergarten this year.

$658 for gas due
$117 for cable due
$132 for phone due
$156 for lights due
$50 for one credit card due
$40 for another credit card due
$101 for yet another credit card due
$60 for my major credit card due
$18 for my last credit card due

My head is above water for now, but it won't be soon. My kids keep me going. My job lets me hang on. My sanity is still in check. Without those things, you would never hear from me again.

What is the name of my blog? You must first help yourself, which I have been doing, by doing a minimum of 20 hours of job searching every week. That is time I could be working and earning money, but my job isn't the best about giving hours. It isn't their fault. I will continue to look, since I am to be starting school again this fall.

Wish me luck!

Work and more work are planned for this weekend. We are sitting at home with the kids and watching TV. Lunch will come out of the freezer and dinner is on Dad. I hope that it doesn't rain on me at work tonight. It is raining now, so that is why we aren't going anywhere. Also, I work 25 miles away so I am saving our gas. Next week is back to school night and school starts that next Monday. Time flew so fast. We have most of our supplies ready to go. I hope that we have a good year this year.

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.

Well, the children are home from school, as am I until the fall. Times are good. We are eating, Joe and I are working, and everything is right in the world.
We are struggling to make ends meet with bills, including rent, but we are still happy and healthy. So, I complain not.
I guess I am a little bummed out about canceling our bar-b-que to celebrate little league letting out. But, I have to work all this weekend.
I also am thankful for having the foresight to not spend any extra money on clothes this spring. Although my oldest can't fit the shorts I bought for Christmas, we are getting by. The cigarette man is getting more money from me, and I hate that, but I am stuck in his snare and am having a hard time letting go. I went for 4 and 1/2 days last time, giving in only because I could. The stress level was high, but I made it the other days without.
Sending my hope out to you, those who think that it can't get any worse. It will soon get better for you. Don't wait for something to happen to you. Do it for yourself.

I just turned in my research paper online. I can't wait for break this time. The last three breaks weren't looked to as wonderful as this one will be. I have been strung out this go round. I think it is just the holidays, this is a quarter that was more difficult. I also have been missing classes because of my boy's school. That isn't helping.
My grades shouldn't suffer that much.
Two more weeks!
Two more weeks!
The boys are out then too.
Whoopee!

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 so need to get a part time job.
I talked to a career person at my college today. She might have something that is right up my alley.
I only need to work about 20 hours a week. That should suffice for now. Obviously, when I finish school, I will get a good job where I work while my boys are in school. That gives me a year to get my stuff straight and work hard.
I do know that starting out right after school, I won't get a great job, but it doesn't take much to make me love a place. If I like what I am doing and the people I work with, it will be good to me.

I hate the fact that I only weigh myself every three months now. I used to love it, not knowing. But now, my BMI indicator on my side bar is not moving. I know that I am at least losing fat, if not weight. I do have a ton of muscle, which weighs more. But there is more than that there.
I don't weigh in until December 4th. So, if you think I am making no progress, it just isn't showing on here yet. I am pulling my pants up all the time, even when wearing a belt. I am also noticing that my bra isn't working as hard as it is used to.
In case you didn't know, your breasts are the first thing to lose mass. Way before the thighs or butt goes, the goods go. I have also noticed that my face is looking less fat. There is no nicer way to say it. I am not ashamed to say that my face is less fat than before.

I have been taking the stairs at school everyday, including the days that I wore heels too. I will start paying myself for that. It is at least worth a dollar a day to me to do it. I have been doing it for free.
Let's hope for at least 5 lbs. loss in December from what it is now.
Wish me luck!

I found a penny on the sidewalk when I left for school, and I found a penny at school on the ground.

Lucky me!

I tried to not spend any money today.
I took a banana and crackers for a snack at school. I ate them between classes and was satisfied, until I got home. After picking the kids up at the babysitters, and she said that they already ate lunch, I was hungry. I tried to come home and eat a bowl of cereal. I just couldn't do it.
I drove to Subway. I don't like their $5 foot longs, I want what I want.
I spent $6 for my sandwich and cookies.
I walked outside, found a quarter on the ground, and decided that I had to come here, to find the money on the ground.

$112.15
+$0.25
-------
$112.40 Balance for $20 Challenge

I called and cancelled my fitness thing in time and they said they could give me a full refund.
Whew!!!
I also have been doing my extra payments on two credit cards.
Today I called and asked for some help on one, she gave me a deal.
"If you pay $29.00 today, I can put a credit for an over-the-limit-fee of $29.00."
"So it would count as a $58.00 payment?"
"Yes, but I have to add the $7.95 pay-over-the-phone fee."

Well, some help is better than none I guess.

I also mailed off an extra $10 to my other credit card.
By January, I should be all caught up.
I need to pay off:$312.49 on one and $502.83 on another by January 09.
I am also saving up for rent, school fees, and the like. I hope I can do it. If I would quit spending like a fool, I probably could.
I believe I will count that $29.00 she credited me to my $20 Challenge balance. That will raise it up a bit.

$83.15 Previous Challenge total
+$29.00 Add this money I "found"
-------
$112.15 New total for Challenge since June 08

My first day of school was awesome.
I did hurt myself though. I was trying to get into my car in a parking lot where spots are small and cars are big. I ripped my earring out of my ear and lost it.
It was actually quite painful.
But besides that, I have two classes on campus and one online. My professors are both fun and talkative, which I am too.
I feel that I will have a ton of fun this quarter.
I have been stupid with my money.
I spent $158 to a stupid fitness thing online. I didn't have to spend that much to get the info that I could have gotten for free. Hell, that could have paid for a year at a gym.
Boy I feel dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if I should pay myself to walk and do my exercises.
I have walked 1.5 miles four days this week. Thursday I didn't because my neighbor had her grandchildren that morning.
How much would be enough for a mile?
and should I have to pay extra for when I don't walk? I wonder how long it will take for the snow to get to me and I not want to go.
So far, So good.
Next week is a real test though.
School starts at 9:30. I have been getting back from our walks at about 9:10.
Does that give me time for a shower? NO.
But, I can't start any earlier because I don't go until the boys get on the school bus.
I am going to buy a chest freezer tonight. I have waited over a year and that was my first goal on Smarty Pig.
I found one for $168 and it will suit my needs fine.
I believe with a $10 mail in rebate card, it's a good deal.

I don't want to take any online classes and they are making me. I figure that I am paying the school to teach me, not for me to teach me. I also have to pay an extra $90 for my online class, which means I am losing twice. I am trying to keep an open mind, but as my meeting with financial aid didn't go as well as I had planned, and that is where I found out about the online class, it is getting harder and harder to do.

Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with college personnel in getting what you want out of them?

It's finals week. I was stressing all weekend. I didn't have my final projects ready to go and I was worried about the tests tomorrow and Thursday. I can swing it, and I did with my papers. I had to finish typing it last night and do a presentation today. I have such faith in myself that I winged two presentations and did great on both of them. It helps that I can make the class and teacher laugh, and I think that is what bumps my score up.
With my first presentation, we just sorta talked about why we picked the topic we did and threw out some facts that we had on some charts. I also had some extra charts that were printed in black and white that we passed around. PLUS
The presentation I did today was about psychedelic drugs and I talked about how they could help people and how I don't recommend using them without a DR supervision. When I told them that there was nothing in my paper about the street usage and where to obtain, but they could see me after class. The teacher even laughed, knowing that I was joking.
I love the fact that I have a year under my belt and my second year doesn't seem that it will be that hard.
School is going great. I love the challenge it is giving me too.