The business of budgeting: This week we paid off three bills altogether. So there cuts out those three debts. Now to take those three monthly payments and put them toward a credit card bill.
Grocery envelopes: Starting the envelope system for the month of February. A month is a really long time when you are seriously watching every cent. The money does run out before the month.
Miscellaneous envelopes: This will be a little easier to control, because we don't HAVE to go see a movie, or at that movie buy drinks or popcorn. We almost never do, just because they scalp you at the register.
Emergency fund: Well, my power steering has gone out and needs a new pump I think, I need a new windshield since there is a crack all along the front horizontally, and I need a new windshield wiper. Hopefull our Son-in-law can fix the power steering, I'm going to make an appointment to get the windshield fixed and I'll go to Auto Zone and have them put on a windshield wiper. The windshield wiper fluid just piddles out and doesn't hit the windshield, maybe that will change when the temperature warms up a little. Empty water bottles littered the front seat of the car til last week. I'm going to do my own detailing and get my PT Cruiser back to as good of shape as I can. It still bears scars from the run-in with the semi.
General: I've noticed that it is much easier to write out a check than it is to spend dollar bills. That is why I think the envelope system will work, we'll have to really THINK about our purchases, because when it is gone, it's gone.
Still haven't shut off the Dish satellite, but will do so this week.
My new glasses are in. I hope I don't look stupid in them. They are red. "Normally" I am a pretty happy person, but when I am depressed I'm afraid they will look out of place on my face. I'm excited. The frames were only $89. Well within the insurance limit. I pick them up tomorrow.
We are going to join netflix again and I am going to rent some workout videos to have here when I can't go to the Y or as supplements to that. That way I can cut down on my gas mileage. Pinching pennies may not be the most exciting thing to blog about but getting out of debt is a huge deal. I have met many people doing the same things that we are. I like to listen to Dave Ramsey and hear people yell out, 3, 2, 1, "We're debt FREEEE!" I want to be one of them.
I am sending off my book to Boyds Mills Press for them to consider for publication. I sincerely hope they accept it. I have heard from a "vanity press" that will produce my book for $1,000 and advertise it on Amazon.com and other places. For my money I will get that, And a whopping one hardcover version of my book and five soft cover books. Whew..what a deal! I'm thinking I'm going to go the traditional route for a while. I know that rejections are on my way, unless Boyds Mills press, the first I send it to accepts it but the odds are highly against that, especially since they receive literally thousands of books from unsolicited authors and illustrators.
In the mean time, I will be watching my debt go down. Do you think a spoonful of sugar will help?
A year of living like college students. Basically like living on nothing.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Paid off bills, losing weight, my book and volunteering
Tonight I went to Weight Watchers and lost half a pound. That's good since I ate half a leg of a gigantic gingerbread man! Man, that was good! That comes to 7 1/2 pounds now. Next week I'll need to purchase another monthly pass. It's all working out well. I'm thinking of going to the town of Arthur for meetings, it is a little closer and Arthur is an Amish town, very small town, I think I would like that better. Eating tons of fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, egg white omelets and yogurt. Lots of casseroles for both the weight watchers and the budget.
Today we paid off Sears and Lowes. We took some money out of our savings to do it. And also today Bob closed a mutual fund and we will get that money back to pay off our debts. If all goes according to plan we will be out of debt including my student loan in a little less than 24 months. Then we will start our six month emergency fund and start paying off the house.
When we paid off Sears and Lowes we were paying $360 a month on those two bills just to whittle them down. We will now roll those over and pay off the loan for dental work, it is the third smallest debt we owe.
Still haven't cancelled satellite tv since we had an entire month left on our account, but we are looking forward to not having the tv in the living room. I watch too much of the news and it is depressing. The best we can do is stay abreast of the goings on in the world through the internet and Bob will bring home the paper from work everyday so we can see that and get the coupons from the inserts.
The livingroom is getting back to "normal" the tree has been gone for a week or so, and I am just putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations. For a centerpiece for our dining room table I put one of our kerosene lamps and need to get some fuel for it. We have about five of these lamps and are going to keep them filled in case of emergency.
I'm trying to think of more ways in which we are saving money. I have been going to the library quite a bit, getting books on CD for when I'm driving or working around the house. I've "read" several books that way. We will start shopping from our "envelopes" one for food for each week, one for miscellaneous.
Speaking of books...I got copies of my book, "The Visitors of Pompadour" preview edition copied and stapled ready to send to book publishers. I am sending it first to Boyd's Mills Press..aka, Front Street Press, Calkins Creek, wordsong, and Lemniscaat publishers. They accept unsolicited manuscripts from first time authors and respond within three months. I have joined an online literary agency search and will be looking for an agent, so even though I am not bringing in tons of money, hopefully this book will be printed one day and it will be successful. I am working on Two others, one a novel and one a "documentary-type" book. But for now my focus is on Pompadour.
More on money later.
One thing Bob and I have decided to do is volunteer to teach adults how to read. One hour a week. There is a waiting list of 48 people. I may end up volunteering more often than once a week. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Voc. Rehab in helping me get a job with my disability. A general checkup and then having missionaries over for dinner. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
Have a great day!
Today we paid off Sears and Lowes. We took some money out of our savings to do it. And also today Bob closed a mutual fund and we will get that money back to pay off our debts. If all goes according to plan we will be out of debt including my student loan in a little less than 24 months. Then we will start our six month emergency fund and start paying off the house.
When we paid off Sears and Lowes we were paying $360 a month on those two bills just to whittle them down. We will now roll those over and pay off the loan for dental work, it is the third smallest debt we owe.
Still haven't cancelled satellite tv since we had an entire month left on our account, but we are looking forward to not having the tv in the living room. I watch too much of the news and it is depressing. The best we can do is stay abreast of the goings on in the world through the internet and Bob will bring home the paper from work everyday so we can see that and get the coupons from the inserts.
The livingroom is getting back to "normal" the tree has been gone for a week or so, and I am just putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations. For a centerpiece for our dining room table I put one of our kerosene lamps and need to get some fuel for it. We have about five of these lamps and are going to keep them filled in case of emergency.
I'm trying to think of more ways in which we are saving money. I have been going to the library quite a bit, getting books on CD for when I'm driving or working around the house. I've "read" several books that way. We will start shopping from our "envelopes" one for food for each week, one for miscellaneous.
Speaking of books...I got copies of my book, "The Visitors of Pompadour" preview edition copied and stapled ready to send to book publishers. I am sending it first to Boyd's Mills Press..aka, Front Street Press, Calkins Creek, wordsong, and Lemniscaat publishers. They accept unsolicited manuscripts from first time authors and respond within three months. I have joined an online literary agency search and will be looking for an agent, so even though I am not bringing in tons of money, hopefully this book will be printed one day and it will be successful. I am working on Two others, one a novel and one a "documentary-type" book. But for now my focus is on Pompadour.
More on money later.
One thing Bob and I have decided to do is volunteer to teach adults how to read. One hour a week. There is a waiting list of 48 people. I may end up volunteering more often than once a week. Tomorrow I have an appointment with Voc. Rehab in helping me get a job with my disability. A general checkup and then having missionaries over for dinner. Tomorrow will be a busy day.
Have a great day!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Recapping last year, being myself, being happy
When I started blogging, it was a little over a year ago and my blog was dedicated to dealing with bi-polar disorder and going off meds and onto vitamins, minerals and amino acids. I wasn't able to continue that treatment as I got very sick for 11 weeks. A year ago in March it will be a year since I was hospitalized twice for depression, going back on my meds, and getting them adjusted. I have been doing very well since then.
Part of the reason for that is that I have gotten a few things in my life in order. I was under a ton of stress in remodeling the house, keeping it "perfect" for potential buyers coming through, finally selling it, moving and purchasing a new house. Now, we are in our new home of five months, I don't feel totally "at home" here yet, but my fears about the area have been put to rest basically and our house is clean and organized.
But there were other things in my life that I needed to put into perspective. I decided I needed to give myself a break, a little breathing room and not try for perfection in everything because it is literally impossible. There is only one thing I can be perfect at and that is in being the best me I possibly can. I know my limits, what affects me adversely in different areas and try to avoid them. A year or so ago I made a list of my beliefs that I could share with my husband and both agree that we can live with them. I did that in the hospital and it has made the biggest difference ever since. I think it has made me healthier.
Working out has made me healthier too, no doubt about it. Joining weight watchers is keeping me on track weight-wise, and the total money makeover is stretching our imaginations in ways to keep costs down and get out of debt.
A year ago, I was going to Greece, but because of my new treatment, and illness I couldn't do it. But my brother is coming to see me and my husband in March and I'm so happy about that.
I feel relaxed. I don't feel that if I don't do thus and so that I am condemned. I'm trying to use my talents and I have been taking my time getting to know people yet still not making myself sick worrying about what they think of me. I'm just me.
I have not been seeing a psychologist, I barely think about it anymore. I do talk with my old therapist each quarter, but I'm moving that to every six months.
Being more at peace with myself has been so wonderful. I haven't lessened any expectations of myself, in fact I'm trying to stretch myself in trying to get illustrating jobs to do here at home, and am looking for a graphic arts position "on the outside".
I'm healthy, happy, still on medication that will likely be adjusted again, but my mouth opens now when I think things are not right and I don't hold things in anymore. This may make some people uncomfortable. I'm not obnoxious about it, I can still be kind, I just take a moment and give my opinion if I feel strongly about something. It's all good.
Financially we have a very short term emergency fund and we are prepped to pay off two - three debts on February first. Sooner if I can get my husband to go with it and realize we are being charged interest every day and everyday we can pay off these things sooner, the better. It is the taking money out of investments that is a sticky point. There is a measure of security there but we have to pay off our debt before investing in anything again. The market isn't that great now anyway. With our economy the smart thing is to get out of debt as fast as possible and get a six month emergency fund. Ours is not six months, it is minute, but it can handle emergencies.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Part of the reason for that is that I have gotten a few things in my life in order. I was under a ton of stress in remodeling the house, keeping it "perfect" for potential buyers coming through, finally selling it, moving and purchasing a new house. Now, we are in our new home of five months, I don't feel totally "at home" here yet, but my fears about the area have been put to rest basically and our house is clean and organized.
But there were other things in my life that I needed to put into perspective. I decided I needed to give myself a break, a little breathing room and not try for perfection in everything because it is literally impossible. There is only one thing I can be perfect at and that is in being the best me I possibly can. I know my limits, what affects me adversely in different areas and try to avoid them. A year or so ago I made a list of my beliefs that I could share with my husband and both agree that we can live with them. I did that in the hospital and it has made the biggest difference ever since. I think it has made me healthier.
Working out has made me healthier too, no doubt about it. Joining weight watchers is keeping me on track weight-wise, and the total money makeover is stretching our imaginations in ways to keep costs down and get out of debt.
A year ago, I was going to Greece, but because of my new treatment, and illness I couldn't do it. But my brother is coming to see me and my husband in March and I'm so happy about that.
I feel relaxed. I don't feel that if I don't do thus and so that I am condemned. I'm trying to use my talents and I have been taking my time getting to know people yet still not making myself sick worrying about what they think of me. I'm just me.
I have not been seeing a psychologist, I barely think about it anymore. I do talk with my old therapist each quarter, but I'm moving that to every six months.
Being more at peace with myself has been so wonderful. I haven't lessened any expectations of myself, in fact I'm trying to stretch myself in trying to get illustrating jobs to do here at home, and am looking for a graphic arts position "on the outside".
I'm healthy, happy, still on medication that will likely be adjusted again, but my mouth opens now when I think things are not right and I don't hold things in anymore. This may make some people uncomfortable. I'm not obnoxious about it, I can still be kind, I just take a moment and give my opinion if I feel strongly about something. It's all good.
Financially we have a very short term emergency fund and we are prepped to pay off two - three debts on February first. Sooner if I can get my husband to go with it and realize we are being charged interest every day and everyday we can pay off these things sooner, the better. It is the taking money out of investments that is a sticky point. There is a measure of security there but we have to pay off our debt before investing in anything again. The market isn't that great now anyway. With our economy the smart thing is to get out of debt as fast as possible and get a six month emergency fund. Ours is not six months, it is minute, but it can handle emergencies.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Closing down satellite, movie deal, losing weight
I'm calling the satellite service today to find out how far our last payment to them keeps us connected and request to be disconnected the day after.
Last night we went to the movie "The Dilemma" very good I thought. Funny, intelligent, well done. It was super savings night so popcorn and soda were a dollar a piece. I haven't had movie popcorn in so long. But with weight watchers I can have three cups for only 4 points (I get 29 pts a day). And I don't drink soda anymore, but a diet pepsi sounded too good to pass up.
We didn't go out to dinner, we'll do that next month, but we celebrated Bob's anniversary with his job here with the movie. Then I couldn't sleep. Was up 'til 2 a.m. again, but did bake some chocolate cakies, German Chocolate with "chocolate rock" chips for him to take with to his planning conference this week.
Bob took his car to the planning conference instead of car pooling because the last time he went to the planning conference last year he had to drive to Clinton, Iowa because I was in the hospital. I'm not going to be needing to go to the hospital any time soon, but he took it as a precaution.
I plan to finish his portrait now that I can have it out all day without his comming home unannounced, and since it is oil and I don't want to cover it up, I won't have to.
Today I will stop by Dollar Tree and make a list of some things that we will be buying there on a regular basis, for find things we can stock up on.
Something we need to talk about is, there are some repairs that need to be done around here. They need to be taken care of before the money is spent on some bills. We are going to insulate the attic and we need to have the septic checked, possibly pumped. We knew we faced those things when we bought the house we just haven't done them yet.
Tonight I go to weight watchers. According the the scale at the Y I have lost 7 pounds! Thank goodness this is working. I am eating so much more and being satisfied while the weight is coming off. So happy about it. For breakfast I had a banana and a chocolate WW shake that was so satisfying. Most mornings I either have oatmeal with sliced up apples and cinnamon or fried egg whites with a little shredded cheese added. Still buying yogurt in the "great value" walmart brand fat free plain and adding flavored gelatin to it to help it taste better. I've been working out every day and lately I've just been doing cardio, my muscles have not been recovering quickly enough doing weights everyday, so I do them every other day or sometimes every three days. Getting myself moving and sweating is important.
Now that's attractive...
Have a great day!
Last night we went to the movie "The Dilemma" very good I thought. Funny, intelligent, well done. It was super savings night so popcorn and soda were a dollar a piece. I haven't had movie popcorn in so long. But with weight watchers I can have three cups for only 4 points (I get 29 pts a day). And I don't drink soda anymore, but a diet pepsi sounded too good to pass up.
We didn't go out to dinner, we'll do that next month, but we celebrated Bob's anniversary with his job here with the movie. Then I couldn't sleep. Was up 'til 2 a.m. again, but did bake some chocolate cakies, German Chocolate with "chocolate rock" chips for him to take with to his planning conference this week.
Bob took his car to the planning conference instead of car pooling because the last time he went to the planning conference last year he had to drive to Clinton, Iowa because I was in the hospital. I'm not going to be needing to go to the hospital any time soon, but he took it as a precaution.
I plan to finish his portrait now that I can have it out all day without his comming home unannounced, and since it is oil and I don't want to cover it up, I won't have to.
Today I will stop by Dollar Tree and make a list of some things that we will be buying there on a regular basis, for find things we can stock up on.
Something we need to talk about is, there are some repairs that need to be done around here. They need to be taken care of before the money is spent on some bills. We are going to insulate the attic and we need to have the septic checked, possibly pumped. We knew we faced those things when we bought the house we just haven't done them yet.
Tonight I go to weight watchers. According the the scale at the Y I have lost 7 pounds! Thank goodness this is working. I am eating so much more and being satisfied while the weight is coming off. So happy about it. For breakfast I had a banana and a chocolate WW shake that was so satisfying. Most mornings I either have oatmeal with sliced up apples and cinnamon or fried egg whites with a little shredded cheese added. Still buying yogurt in the "great value" walmart brand fat free plain and adding flavored gelatin to it to help it taste better. I've been working out every day and lately I've just been doing cardio, my muscles have not been recovering quickly enough doing weights everyday, so I do them every other day or sometimes every three days. Getting myself moving and sweating is important.
Now that's attractive...
Have a great day!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Burning the dollars at both ends this week!
What a budget buster! $122 for haircoloring! I blew it. It's my fault. I had gone to this one salon before for a haircut which I thought was reasonable $35. I had my hair professionally colored for $45 there. So when I went in with a special request I didn't know it was going to cost us a third of the month's miscellaneous budget! I wanted to go back to a little darker hair with blonde highlights. I didn't ask before hand, but I assumed, the "A" word, that it wouldn't be too much. I didn't want a haircut. From this point on I will go to a school of cosmetology to get a haircut.
So the beautician mixed the color's and applied them and decided I needed darker eyebrows. I admit that I like them darker. I didn't have a whole lot of say in the matter. I guess I could have put my hand out and yelled "STOP" or maybe not yell, but could have stopped her. She said, "I'm just going to color your brows so they don't disappear on you." I figured in my head that, "well, she's using the same color that is on my hair, no need to mix anything extra up, okay." So off I went to sit while the coloring processed. During my wait she fit in a second customer and washed, cut and styled her hair. "Time deepening" Bob would call it. She might as well, she had the time. She got back to me and rinsed the hair. I loved it. Best color job ever. It's a lot darker than my driver's license photo I just had taken.
Then she said, "So, what are we doing with your hair today?" I said, "I don't want to cut it, I just wanted it colored today." She said, "Why don't I just trim off the ends a bit so you have a clean edge..." "Okay". WHAT AN IDIOT!!!! She probably has a bridge to sell me in Brooklyn too, and in my ignorance I would buy it!
So, I gathered up my purse, after she, trimmed, dried and styled my hair..and went to pay. I asked, thinking it might be $50 since she did highlights..., "what do I owe you for today..?" "One twenty two." and it wasn't the time we were talking about. Without throwing up which I was very proud of, but mute, I wrote out the check and gave her a paltry $8 tip. I almost didn't, but I always tip. I just couldn't justify paying anymore...so...$130. Had to go to my bank and get some money out of the savings.
I apologized up and down to my husband. How stupid could I be...that is what my vanity cost me. He said he liked it, "I suppose I'd better for that price," he said. An expensive lesson. I usually get my color out of a box. Well, that is where it is coming from from now on. I suppose I can justify it by knowing that today, when I cut my husband's hair, If I added up every haircut I have given him over the past 30 years (I'm the only one who cuts his hair), we're probably way ahead. But that is rationalizing.
Another stupid thing I did. We had ordered a Lenox "Peanuts Christmas Pageant" decoration for Christmas. It was back ordered until January 6. So I cancelled it. I don't know why we reordered it again, but it was before we started our total money makeover. I got a letter about four days ago that said it was backordered until March 14, so if I signed this form and returned it I could still have it reserved. I decided, "no. I don't want to spend the money." I didn't sign the form, thus cancelling the order and threw the form away. UPS showed up in our driveway today. The box was from Lennox. When the truck pulled up I could not fathom what could be being delivered. Christmas was over and I hadn't ordered anything since cutting up the credit cards. Voila! The Christmas Pageant set. China with gold plating on each piece. It is sitting on our mantle right now, next to the roundish Nativity set I bought in place of it back in December.
No wonder we're in debt! Two thirds of our budget blown in two weeks! AHHHHHHHHH!! As Charlie Brown would say.
On the bright side...through weight watchers I have lost over 5 pounds! That is cause for celebration! Today, Martin Luther King Day was Bob's one year anniversary of working here. As "planned" we are going out to a movie (tuesday night is free popcorn and drinks) and going out to dinner. I think we are going to see "The Dilema" with the guy from King of Queens. I'm looking forward to it. It looks funny, is rated PG-13 and was directed by Ron Howard.
Talked with our daughter and son-in-law tonight. They are doing the total money makeover too. They are ahead of us in progress. They have the money envelopes for groceries, misc., and other things and when the envelopes are empty that is the end of it. We haven't instituted that yet, but we will next week!! Enough of this jazz. They shop at Aldies, we used to. We are going to be shopping at Aldies and Dollar Tree. Dollar General is too expensive. It's not all a dollar, but at Dollar Tree it is and they have brand name cleaning supplies, wrapping paper, and odds and ends. No odds and ends are coming into this house. Christmas is over and my disastrous shopping spree has come to an abrupt halt.
We were going to get some money out of a mutual fund. We should have done it last week when I was thinking about it. It has lost $700.00 within that amount of time. We need to gather as much money as possible and put it toward our debts. We will be able to pay off everything with that and another investment and part of my student loan. Then that will be paid off at about $800 per month. From there we will start a huge emergency fund, which would come in handy about now. Three days ago the power steering went out on my car and it isn't the fluid. It may be a leak or a pump, filter or whatever. If it is "whatever" that can go on to hurt the transmission etc. according to our son-in-law the mechanic. After the student loan and emergency fund we will start paying off the house.
Like I said, our daughter and son-in-law are way ahead of us in the total money makeover...like about 27 years ahead. He is fixing up his car to sell with parts found on Craig's list for about $20 a piece instead of $250 and selling it, and getting a less expensive car. They also have a large screen tv which is a rent-to-own that they figured out would, if they kept paying on it, would eventually cost them $6,000. Rather than saving and buying one outright for $2,000.
Using them as our example, we have decided to pull the plug on our tv and drop satellite. We may have a penalty since we signed a contract, but in the long run we will pay less and who needs the crap that we get on that anyway. We will still upgrade our internet speed and get our news online. We will take the tv armoir out of the livingroom, put a big cozy chair in that corner, bring in a rocking chair in the other corner and it will be as calming as our place in Iowa was. We'll keep the TV somewhere else in case we want to watch a movie. Our livingroom will be an oasis again where we can read to each other, one of our favorite forms of entertainment.
I've rambled on long enough. Good things and bad going on. Tomorrow I have an eye exam, which is covered by insurance. I will get the most attractive frames for the lowest level the insurance allows and will not get scratch protection, etc. They are on my face 98% of the time anyway.
Have a great day.
So the beautician mixed the color's and applied them and decided I needed darker eyebrows. I admit that I like them darker. I didn't have a whole lot of say in the matter. I guess I could have put my hand out and yelled "STOP" or maybe not yell, but could have stopped her. She said, "I'm just going to color your brows so they don't disappear on you." I figured in my head that, "well, she's using the same color that is on my hair, no need to mix anything extra up, okay." So off I went to sit while the coloring processed. During my wait she fit in a second customer and washed, cut and styled her hair. "Time deepening" Bob would call it. She might as well, she had the time. She got back to me and rinsed the hair. I loved it. Best color job ever. It's a lot darker than my driver's license photo I just had taken.
Then she said, "So, what are we doing with your hair today?" I said, "I don't want to cut it, I just wanted it colored today." She said, "Why don't I just trim off the ends a bit so you have a clean edge..." "Okay". WHAT AN IDIOT!!!! She probably has a bridge to sell me in Brooklyn too, and in my ignorance I would buy it!
So, I gathered up my purse, after she, trimmed, dried and styled my hair..and went to pay. I asked, thinking it might be $50 since she did highlights..., "what do I owe you for today..?" "One twenty two." and it wasn't the time we were talking about. Without throwing up which I was very proud of, but mute, I wrote out the check and gave her a paltry $8 tip. I almost didn't, but I always tip. I just couldn't justify paying anymore...so...$130. Had to go to my bank and get some money out of the savings.
I apologized up and down to my husband. How stupid could I be...that is what my vanity cost me. He said he liked it, "I suppose I'd better for that price," he said. An expensive lesson. I usually get my color out of a box. Well, that is where it is coming from from now on. I suppose I can justify it by knowing that today, when I cut my husband's hair, If I added up every haircut I have given him over the past 30 years (I'm the only one who cuts his hair), we're probably way ahead. But that is rationalizing.
Another stupid thing I did. We had ordered a Lenox "Peanuts Christmas Pageant" decoration for Christmas. It was back ordered until January 6. So I cancelled it. I don't know why we reordered it again, but it was before we started our total money makeover. I got a letter about four days ago that said it was backordered until March 14, so if I signed this form and returned it I could still have it reserved. I decided, "no. I don't want to spend the money." I didn't sign the form, thus cancelling the order and threw the form away. UPS showed up in our driveway today. The box was from Lennox. When the truck pulled up I could not fathom what could be being delivered. Christmas was over and I hadn't ordered anything since cutting up the credit cards. Voila! The Christmas Pageant set. China with gold plating on each piece. It is sitting on our mantle right now, next to the roundish Nativity set I bought in place of it back in December.
No wonder we're in debt! Two thirds of our budget blown in two weeks! AHHHHHHHHH!! As Charlie Brown would say.
On the bright side...through weight watchers I have lost over 5 pounds! That is cause for celebration! Today, Martin Luther King Day was Bob's one year anniversary of working here. As "planned" we are going out to a movie (tuesday night is free popcorn and drinks) and going out to dinner. I think we are going to see "The Dilema" with the guy from King of Queens. I'm looking forward to it. It looks funny, is rated PG-13 and was directed by Ron Howard.
Talked with our daughter and son-in-law tonight. They are doing the total money makeover too. They are ahead of us in progress. They have the money envelopes for groceries, misc., and other things and when the envelopes are empty that is the end of it. We haven't instituted that yet, but we will next week!! Enough of this jazz. They shop at Aldies, we used to. We are going to be shopping at Aldies and Dollar Tree. Dollar General is too expensive. It's not all a dollar, but at Dollar Tree it is and they have brand name cleaning supplies, wrapping paper, and odds and ends. No odds and ends are coming into this house. Christmas is over and my disastrous shopping spree has come to an abrupt halt.
We were going to get some money out of a mutual fund. We should have done it last week when I was thinking about it. It has lost $700.00 within that amount of time. We need to gather as much money as possible and put it toward our debts. We will be able to pay off everything with that and another investment and part of my student loan. Then that will be paid off at about $800 per month. From there we will start a huge emergency fund, which would come in handy about now. Three days ago the power steering went out on my car and it isn't the fluid. It may be a leak or a pump, filter or whatever. If it is "whatever" that can go on to hurt the transmission etc. according to our son-in-law the mechanic. After the student loan and emergency fund we will start paying off the house.
Like I said, our daughter and son-in-law are way ahead of us in the total money makeover...like about 27 years ahead. He is fixing up his car to sell with parts found on Craig's list for about $20 a piece instead of $250 and selling it, and getting a less expensive car. They also have a large screen tv which is a rent-to-own that they figured out would, if they kept paying on it, would eventually cost them $6,000. Rather than saving and buying one outright for $2,000.
Using them as our example, we have decided to pull the plug on our tv and drop satellite. We may have a penalty since we signed a contract, but in the long run we will pay less and who needs the crap that we get on that anyway. We will still upgrade our internet speed and get our news online. We will take the tv armoir out of the livingroom, put a big cozy chair in that corner, bring in a rocking chair in the other corner and it will be as calming as our place in Iowa was. We'll keep the TV somewhere else in case we want to watch a movie. Our livingroom will be an oasis again where we can read to each other, one of our favorite forms of entertainment.
I've rambled on long enough. Good things and bad going on. Tomorrow I have an eye exam, which is covered by insurance. I will get the most attractive frames for the lowest level the insurance allows and will not get scratch protection, etc. They are on my face 98% of the time anyway.
Have a great day.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Rearranging Money to Pay Off Debts
I posted a day or so, "I need a glue stick but I'm on a tight budget!" It was true, I did "need" a glue stick..but it turned out to be a want. I used a paper plate a puddle of glue and Q-tips to work on a collage. It is fun trying not to spend money.
We are going to take money out of investments. Not retirement benefits from work, but some other investments. At the high end they might be gaining 12 percent interest. But credit card debt. accrues 21 and higher interest. For us to pay off our debt, the smart thing is to take our money out of the low interest mutual fund and snowball it into our debt and we will be out of debt sooner except for the house. We have a small emergency fund. Once our debts are paid off we will build it up to a six month emergency fund and start working on paying off our house.
We figured out that $75 a week for food is not enough, unless we plan better. I know I talked about yogurt (no that is not all that I eat). I compared my 32 oz. container of fat free plain to Activia (which is lower in cost than yoplait) and 32 oz of Activia is $4.40 compared to the 32 oz. of the bulk yogurt at $2.00. We needed to go back to the store for more fruit and spinach. I like a nice spinach and mandarin orange salad with slivered almonds. Tasty and nearly free on the Weight Watcher's program.
While we look at taking money out of our mutual funds we need to look at the penalty if there is one. One lady refused to take her money out because there was a 2% penalty. We will look at what kind of penalty we will have on our funds. But according to Dave Ramsey paying off high interest creditors is more important than keeping money in low interest gaining (or staying stable) investments. I will be needing to do that because I am "gazelle intense" on getting us out of debt. So I will be the one doing the work over the phone.
The more I read the more convinced I am that living on credit is not the way to go. We have cut up our cards and have one that we have used for emergencies. We are going to close that account as soon as the debt is paid off on it and in the mean time and from now on we will get a Visa-secured debit card to carry for emergencies. Visa-secured debit cards can be used to reserve hotel rooms and pay for airline tickets. They work as well as a credit card but they are drawing on actual money that you have in your account.
We can start investing once we start putting $1,000 extra toward our house payment each month.
Nothing really new, except the fact that spending has really come to a halt for things that are not necessities. This week I am faced with a baby shower. That will have to come out of our miscellaneous fund, but it is a little unexpected. I'm new in the area and don't even know who it is that is having the baby, but they are from church and I want to get to know the people better, so I am going to go. I'm not sure what I will get, but most likely it will be something practical but cute.
That is all for today, I'm getting ready to send off more copies of my book, The Visitors of Pompadour, and working on my letter to send to reproducibles publications. Tonight I hear there is a good football game on tonight. We haven't gotten rid of our dish yet. I'll need to work on that tomorrow!
Have a great day!
We are going to take money out of investments. Not retirement benefits from work, but some other investments. At the high end they might be gaining 12 percent interest. But credit card debt. accrues 21 and higher interest. For us to pay off our debt, the smart thing is to take our money out of the low interest mutual fund and snowball it into our debt and we will be out of debt sooner except for the house. We have a small emergency fund. Once our debts are paid off we will build it up to a six month emergency fund and start working on paying off our house.
We figured out that $75 a week for food is not enough, unless we plan better. I know I talked about yogurt (no that is not all that I eat). I compared my 32 oz. container of fat free plain to Activia (which is lower in cost than yoplait) and 32 oz of Activia is $4.40 compared to the 32 oz. of the bulk yogurt at $2.00. We needed to go back to the store for more fruit and spinach. I like a nice spinach and mandarin orange salad with slivered almonds. Tasty and nearly free on the Weight Watcher's program.
While we look at taking money out of our mutual funds we need to look at the penalty if there is one. One lady refused to take her money out because there was a 2% penalty. We will look at what kind of penalty we will have on our funds. But according to Dave Ramsey paying off high interest creditors is more important than keeping money in low interest gaining (or staying stable) investments. I will be needing to do that because I am "gazelle intense" on getting us out of debt. So I will be the one doing the work over the phone.
The more I read the more convinced I am that living on credit is not the way to go. We have cut up our cards and have one that we have used for emergencies. We are going to close that account as soon as the debt is paid off on it and in the mean time and from now on we will get a Visa-secured debit card to carry for emergencies. Visa-secured debit cards can be used to reserve hotel rooms and pay for airline tickets. They work as well as a credit card but they are drawing on actual money that you have in your account.
We can start investing once we start putting $1,000 extra toward our house payment each month.
Nothing really new, except the fact that spending has really come to a halt for things that are not necessities. This week I am faced with a baby shower. That will have to come out of our miscellaneous fund, but it is a little unexpected. I'm new in the area and don't even know who it is that is having the baby, but they are from church and I want to get to know the people better, so I am going to go. I'm not sure what I will get, but most likely it will be something practical but cute.
That is all for today, I'm getting ready to send off more copies of my book, The Visitors of Pompadour, and working on my letter to send to reproducibles publications. Tonight I hear there is a good football game on tonight. We haven't gotten rid of our dish yet. I'll need to work on that tomorrow!
Have a great day!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Becoming Both Physically and Fiscally Fit
Joining Weight Watchers was a great idea! Saved on the overall cost and now I'm getting more physically fit as we get fiscally fit. The foods that are on the perimeter of the aisles in the store are always fresher and healthier than the items in the middle of the store and ususally less expensive. And that is where most of the foods I'm eating for WW are coming from.
I bought a large container of yogurt, 32 oz. (sounds like a lot but I really eat a lot of it. It's good for you and the doctor recommends eating some everyday.) Anyway, looking at my Weight Watchers book it is a power food. Usually I have bought Activia or Yoplait flavored yogurts, but they are expensive for their individual packaging. I saved money by purchasing the bulk yogurt. But it is plain. No problem, adding the sugar-free gelatin to it gives it flavor. I know I mentioned it before, but this time I'm not adding it to vanilla individual yogurts. So I can have peach, raspberry, lemon, cherry, strawberry and other flavors all from one container and inexpensive off-brand gelatin.
Also, in Dave Ramsey's book he recommends eating foods like beans and oatmeal. So for breakfast I made some oatmeal. Another power food. Comes in bulk, is recommended by Weight Watchers, and is an inexpensive alternative to boxed cereal. I cut up an apple to go in it and it really fills you up for less money and fewer calories. On the WW program most fruit is free and so it is there to help you eat fresh, get the nutrition you need and keep you full. I think joining was one of the smartest things I've done in a while.
Last night I made goulash. I did something to incorporate more vegetables into the family staple without it being noticeable. I don't know if I cooked all of the nutrition out of it, but I steamed it till very soft, and put it in the blender and pureed it. I can't eat it raw, and I don't usually like it cooked unless there is butter involved. So, after I pureed it I mixed it in with the hamburger to make it moist, cooked it and you could not even detect the color or the taste. So there I am getting some extra vegetable nutrition that is hidden, and made the hamburger go just a tad farther and kept it moist. Bob loved it.
Being so amped about these new changes, I made another change, I joined a pilates class. Went to the 12-12:45 class yesterday. Now when a person joins Weight Watchers it is not usually when they are feeling their best. I was disgusted with myself for gaining the weight and knew I had to do something. So when I went into the pilates room with the wall of mirrors staring back at me, I wasn't very happy at what I saw. Since I lift weights I am pretty muscular, but I am not very flexible, so I thought pilates would help with that. I found out I was highly inflexible. So, while we were through part of the class a man came in with a large camera. I didn't think a whole lot about it, I thought, "great, what a good time to take photos for their brochure.." but that was about it. He was aiming it at the instructor from the back of the room so hopefully I would not be in it. But then he moved it to the front of the room and aimed it directly at my body, my being in the front row on the corner. There is no way the rest of the class could be seen very well past my stomach. Crap! Oh, well, picked a good day to start a new fitness class looking great in my sports bra under my bland grey too-tight shirt and wearing my husbands black sweats!
It got worse.
It turned out it was a camera man from the local tv station and he wasn't taking snapshots for any brochure. It was on the news last night. I didn't watch. I told the guy and the anchor woman afterward that I was very uncomfortable and hoped they didn't get much footage of me. Kind of hard when the camera is facing directly at you. If I had known ahead of time that this is what was going to happen in that class I wouldn't have gone. But hey, it all comes with starting something new. Where I am at physically, I wouldn't have been happy if they took a picture of me reading a magazine.
Today is a new day, eating right, keeping the money in the bank, getting healthy in the debt department and where my body is concerned. I'm making wiser choices. I did spend $.84 a package for four packages totalling 24 metal clasp envelopes in which to send my book. My children's book called, "The Visitors of Pompadour."
Setting and reaching for goals. It keeps a person looking forward. And as a friend said, seeing as I didn't watch the news last night, "If you don't see it, it didn't happen." I don't agree with that statement, but I'm borrowing it for the sake of my self esteem. Things don't always go the way you want, but I'm still going to keep up my class. I just hope they don't show up for the "Shape and Bend" class!
Have a great day, you'll see less of me next week I hope, and more money in the bank.
I bought a large container of yogurt, 32 oz. (sounds like a lot but I really eat a lot of it. It's good for you and the doctor recommends eating some everyday.) Anyway, looking at my Weight Watchers book it is a power food. Usually I have bought Activia or Yoplait flavored yogurts, but they are expensive for their individual packaging. I saved money by purchasing the bulk yogurt. But it is plain. No problem, adding the sugar-free gelatin to it gives it flavor. I know I mentioned it before, but this time I'm not adding it to vanilla individual yogurts. So I can have peach, raspberry, lemon, cherry, strawberry and other flavors all from one container and inexpensive off-brand gelatin.
Also, in Dave Ramsey's book he recommends eating foods like beans and oatmeal. So for breakfast I made some oatmeal. Another power food. Comes in bulk, is recommended by Weight Watchers, and is an inexpensive alternative to boxed cereal. I cut up an apple to go in it and it really fills you up for less money and fewer calories. On the WW program most fruit is free and so it is there to help you eat fresh, get the nutrition you need and keep you full. I think joining was one of the smartest things I've done in a while.
Last night I made goulash. I did something to incorporate more vegetables into the family staple without it being noticeable. I don't know if I cooked all of the nutrition out of it, but I steamed it till very soft, and put it in the blender and pureed it. I can't eat it raw, and I don't usually like it cooked unless there is butter involved. So, after I pureed it I mixed it in with the hamburger to make it moist, cooked it and you could not even detect the color or the taste. So there I am getting some extra vegetable nutrition that is hidden, and made the hamburger go just a tad farther and kept it moist. Bob loved it.
Being so amped about these new changes, I made another change, I joined a pilates class. Went to the 12-12:45 class yesterday. Now when a person joins Weight Watchers it is not usually when they are feeling their best. I was disgusted with myself for gaining the weight and knew I had to do something. So when I went into the pilates room with the wall of mirrors staring back at me, I wasn't very happy at what I saw. Since I lift weights I am pretty muscular, but I am not very flexible, so I thought pilates would help with that. I found out I was highly inflexible. So, while we were through part of the class a man came in with a large camera. I didn't think a whole lot about it, I thought, "great, what a good time to take photos for their brochure.." but that was about it. He was aiming it at the instructor from the back of the room so hopefully I would not be in it. But then he moved it to the front of the room and aimed it directly at my body, my being in the front row on the corner. There is no way the rest of the class could be seen very well past my stomach. Crap! Oh, well, picked a good day to start a new fitness class looking great in my sports bra under my bland grey too-tight shirt and wearing my husbands black sweats!
It got worse.
It turned out it was a camera man from the local tv station and he wasn't taking snapshots for any brochure. It was on the news last night. I didn't watch. I told the guy and the anchor woman afterward that I was very uncomfortable and hoped they didn't get much footage of me. Kind of hard when the camera is facing directly at you. If I had known ahead of time that this is what was going to happen in that class I wouldn't have gone. But hey, it all comes with starting something new. Where I am at physically, I wouldn't have been happy if they took a picture of me reading a magazine.
Today is a new day, eating right, keeping the money in the bank, getting healthy in the debt department and where my body is concerned. I'm making wiser choices. I did spend $.84 a package for four packages totalling 24 metal clasp envelopes in which to send my book. My children's book called, "The Visitors of Pompadour."
Setting and reaching for goals. It keeps a person looking forward. And as a friend said, seeing as I didn't watch the news last night, "If you don't see it, it didn't happen." I don't agree with that statement, but I'm borrowing it for the sake of my self esteem. Things don't always go the way you want, but I'm still going to keep up my class. I just hope they don't show up for the "Shape and Bend" class!
Have a great day, you'll see less of me next week I hope, and more money in the bank.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Free classes at the Y and low cost bowling date night
Last evening I went to the Y and realized there was a class starting soon, so I took my water bottle and towel and went to one of the aerobic rooms and did a 45 minute strength training aerobics class. It went really well. So glad I have been working out for a long while. Some women came up to me after class, I was using 12 lb. weights for the heavy part, I usually use 15 for bicepts, anyway, they said, "here I was trying to use my little three pound weight and there you are with a ten pounder like it's nothing.." Made me smile. I wasn't going to tell them it was a 12 pounder. Really worked out hard. I think I needed that. I have a good workout plan for the weight room and eliptical and treadmill, but working out to a beat to keep up really does work you out quite a bit. Then I found out that every class at the Y except Yoga and Karate, Tai Chi and Jujitsu were free! I can drop in anytime I want! YAY!!
One more good thing about staying at the Y.
Didn't make it to the ceramics studio yesterday, I'm shooting for today. I have errands to run and then Weight Watchers tonight. Yesterday on my way into town I stopped at Playmore Lanes, a bowling alley, they had a special on Tuesdays where you could bowl for $1 per game and $.50 for shoes. I thought that I would get in a little practice for the next time Bob and I go bowling (which has been years). Back in Iowa, I would go to the Archery range (I now have one in my back yard thanks to some friends!), or on sunny summer days I would go out to Pollmiller park and rent a boat for $5 an hour and $1 admission and row out to the middle, stop and write. Very self soothing, something I need to concentrate on sometimes. I asked Playmore if the special was still on and they said that it ended at Christmas. I asked what their normal rates were, $4 per game and $1 for shoes, so for $5 a week, that could be a self-soothing activity that isn't very expensive, also a great date-night activity. (i just kind of want to build up a decent percentage before we go on a "date") What a miracle, she learned how to bowl!
So, free aerobics classes and core building, strength training, boot camp, etc. looking forward to the classes to jump start my metabolism for no other out put of money other than my membership.
I have been reading more and more of Dave Ramsey's book and am so excited to start paying down our debt. It is not nearly as bad as it could be. But we have a debt reduction snowball chart and know when each bill will be paid off. One in February, take that money and put it toward the personal finance debt (dentist) until that is paid in April, take both totals and put toward a credit card that will then be paid off in June. We cut all but one credit card up and that one is for emergencies only. It feels very good to not have that temptation in my wallet.
It is a beautiful day to get out and do some errands, finish washing the clothes, work on a portrait and send off a book. The saying "all good things come to those who wait" was altered to say, "All good things come to those who hustle while they wait." Let's get going!
Have a great day!
One more good thing about staying at the Y.
Didn't make it to the ceramics studio yesterday, I'm shooting for today. I have errands to run and then Weight Watchers tonight. Yesterday on my way into town I stopped at Playmore Lanes, a bowling alley, they had a special on Tuesdays where you could bowl for $1 per game and $.50 for shoes. I thought that I would get in a little practice for the next time Bob and I go bowling (which has been years). Back in Iowa, I would go to the Archery range (I now have one in my back yard thanks to some friends!), or on sunny summer days I would go out to Pollmiller park and rent a boat for $5 an hour and $1 admission and row out to the middle, stop and write. Very self soothing, something I need to concentrate on sometimes. I asked Playmore if the special was still on and they said that it ended at Christmas. I asked what their normal rates were, $4 per game and $1 for shoes, so for $5 a week, that could be a self-soothing activity that isn't very expensive, also a great date-night activity. (i just kind of want to build up a decent percentage before we go on a "date") What a miracle, she learned how to bowl!
So, free aerobics classes and core building, strength training, boot camp, etc. looking forward to the classes to jump start my metabolism for no other out put of money other than my membership.
I have been reading more and more of Dave Ramsey's book and am so excited to start paying down our debt. It is not nearly as bad as it could be. But we have a debt reduction snowball chart and know when each bill will be paid off. One in February, take that money and put it toward the personal finance debt (dentist) until that is paid in April, take both totals and put toward a credit card that will then be paid off in June. We cut all but one credit card up and that one is for emergencies only. It feels very good to not have that temptation in my wallet.
It is a beautiful day to get out and do some errands, finish washing the clothes, work on a portrait and send off a book. The saying "all good things come to those who wait" was altered to say, "All good things come to those who hustle while they wait." Let's get going!
Have a great day!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Joining Weight Watchers and still saving $ per week.
Last night we went grocery shopping. $83.00 for the week. We were trying to keep it to $75 even though when we were in school we were living on about $12 a week, sometimes $5.00 per week. We think $75 per week is a good amount for a budget. We plan on making goulash and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, that will keep us healthy and going for a week. Plus I have a plethora of cake mixes so I CAN make a treat any time I want, but that would defeat my purpose...I'm joining Weight Watchers this week.
I worked out yesterday and spent $1.25 on some fugi-apple-pear water. Instead we bought some propel water additive and I will be bringing my own water each day to work out. So, $1.25 x 5 = $6.25 per week, making it $25.00 per month. A year and a half ago I lost 65 pounds. It has crept up 17 pounds, and I don't seem to be doing anything right about it. I do work out otherwise it would be 30 pounds gained. So, I have decided to join Weight Watchers. The monthly pass brings the total down to about $10 per week including online charting. So..although WW is $40 a month and my water habit is $25.00, by reducing my water consumption from the vending machine and subtracting that from the WW fee that is $15.00 per month that I will still be spending or $3.75 per week. If I weren't joining weight watchers it would be a big difference, but instead looking at it differently, I am only spending $15 a month to join Weight Watchers, saving me $25 in membership. So either way you look at it, I'm still spending my $6.25, just putting it toward Weight Watchers instead. I guess that's confusing enough for one entry.
By using my own water instead of the fancy water from the dispenser I'm saving $6.25 per week. By attending a meeting during the week that is only 9 miles away rather than driving into Decatur (where the Y is) that is 25 miles away I will be saving money on gas each week as well. I'll work out 4 days a week instead of 5 unless I drive in with Bob making it a one car trip. I'm looking at going to Weight Watchers as my way of "sharpening my axe" during the week to keep me in check making my working-out days more profitable. I think I'm making a wise decision. I still have to pay that extra $15.00 per month than I am now, BUT a regular Weight Watchers walk in fee is $12 per meeting. Yeah, I think I did okay. Get this weight back off and maintain it! When the weather is nice out maybe I'll bike to the meeting! Right Jim?! :)
Some of the groceries bought were light Activia yogurt that I add small amounts of sugar free jello mix to (the gelatin is good for hair and nails) and we bought some flax cereal, a good fat. I don't do too well with wheat that is in the cereal, but I wanted to try it to see how it goes. Sugar free jello boxes are about $.39 each and one packet lasts for about three days. I use them to flavor the vanilla yogurt, so I get raspberry, cherry and peach, flavored yogurt and the benefit of gelatin.
Tonight I am going to the Y and then to my sign language class. On the way I am going to stop at "Next of Kiln" where the owner answers the phone by saying, "Next of Kiln, what's your favorite color?" (She's an elf). I'm going to stop in to see if some of my sculptures have been fired and drop off some more. Hopefully the ones I have left will be ready to glaze. I pay $6.00 per pound of clay, can make three elf doors, fire and glaze them and then sell them for $6.00 a piece in the store, still leaving me a little clay left over to do something I don't want to sell. Also it gives my creativity an outlet for no cost at all. Win-win!
I worked out yesterday and spent $1.25 on some fugi-apple-pear water. Instead we bought some propel water additive and I will be bringing my own water each day to work out. So, $1.25 x 5 = $6.25 per week, making it $25.00 per month. A year and a half ago I lost 65 pounds. It has crept up 17 pounds, and I don't seem to be doing anything right about it. I do work out otherwise it would be 30 pounds gained. So, I have decided to join Weight Watchers. The monthly pass brings the total down to about $10 per week including online charting. So..although WW is $40 a month and my water habit is $25.00, by reducing my water consumption from the vending machine and subtracting that from the WW fee that is $15.00 per month that I will still be spending or $3.75 per week. If I weren't joining weight watchers it would be a big difference, but instead looking at it differently, I am only spending $15 a month to join Weight Watchers, saving me $25 in membership. So either way you look at it, I'm still spending my $6.25, just putting it toward Weight Watchers instead. I guess that's confusing enough for one entry.
By using my own water instead of the fancy water from the dispenser I'm saving $6.25 per week. By attending a meeting during the week that is only 9 miles away rather than driving into Decatur (where the Y is) that is 25 miles away I will be saving money on gas each week as well. I'll work out 4 days a week instead of 5 unless I drive in with Bob making it a one car trip. I'm looking at going to Weight Watchers as my way of "sharpening my axe" during the week to keep me in check making my working-out days more profitable. I think I'm making a wise decision. I still have to pay that extra $15.00 per month than I am now, BUT a regular Weight Watchers walk in fee is $12 per meeting. Yeah, I think I did okay. Get this weight back off and maintain it! When the weather is nice out maybe I'll bike to the meeting! Right Jim?! :)
Some of the groceries bought were light Activia yogurt that I add small amounts of sugar free jello mix to (the gelatin is good for hair and nails) and we bought some flax cereal, a good fat. I don't do too well with wheat that is in the cereal, but I wanted to try it to see how it goes. Sugar free jello boxes are about $.39 each and one packet lasts for about three days. I use them to flavor the vanilla yogurt, so I get raspberry, cherry and peach, flavored yogurt and the benefit of gelatin.
Tonight I am going to the Y and then to my sign language class. On the way I am going to stop at "Next of Kiln" where the owner answers the phone by saying, "Next of Kiln, what's your favorite color?" (She's an elf). I'm going to stop in to see if some of my sculptures have been fired and drop off some more. Hopefully the ones I have left will be ready to glaze. I pay $6.00 per pound of clay, can make three elf doors, fire and glaze them and then sell them for $6.00 a piece in the store, still leaving me a little clay left over to do something I don't want to sell. Also it gives my creativity an outlet for no cost at all. Win-win!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Introducing "Living Like College Students"
Happy New Year!
As a couple we have been together for 31 years, married for 30 and have a 27-year-old daughter and a son-in-law that we love. "We" refers to my husband and me. We have read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" and have decided to try things he recommends.
We had already decided that we needed to reign it in a little where money is concerned. This past year included two remodeling projects for our old house, an apartment for my husband while he lived in the place he got his new job while I tried to sell our house. The cost of putting in a new septic system prior to sale of our old house and the purchase of a new one this year was very stressful.
At least we are under one roof again and in a few days it will be a year that my husband has been at his "new" job. We still have debt. We've cut up our credit cards and are living on cash only at this point. Yay! But we want to be completely out of debt, so we are going to "live like no one else so we can live like no one else."
There is one area that we are going to keep, that we couldn't afford when we were first married and having my husband in school, and that is, we are keeping our Y membership. We decided for health reasons that that was a must. However, we will be making many new changes to our lives in entertainment, shopping, activities, car pooling etc.
This blog is to keep me on task with this goal and hopefully share some of our successes and failures. I am going to try to get a part time job, and submit my line art to reproducibles publications to increase our income. I am on disability, but I am going to see what I can do to contribute.
We had considered getting a large, flat-screen tv, (yes, there is at least one family living in this century that doesn't have one yet.), but have decided that our 21 inch is large enough. We are considering getting rid of dish tv, and using that money to improve our internet service. We're still debating this. We thought about getting a Wii before Christmas, but are not sure if we will or not. These are some things we are planning to address as substitutes for current more costly entertainment. We may get the wii and join netflix. Maybe we will get the wii fit and cut down on our drives into town to work out and save some gas money.
We are trying to set up the field and live from that point on and see how much we can save and pare down our bills. Medication and doctor visits are necessity due to mental illness and so those are two things that cannot be dropped. Purhaps that doesn't seem fair to say we are going to be living on nothing, and then have these "luxuries" but in truth they are necessities.
I am looking forward to the challenge. I will pass on any money saving tips I can as I find them.
Have a happy new year!
As a couple we have been together for 31 years, married for 30 and have a 27-year-old daughter and a son-in-law that we love. "We" refers to my husband and me. We have read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" and have decided to try things he recommends.
We had already decided that we needed to reign it in a little where money is concerned. This past year included two remodeling projects for our old house, an apartment for my husband while he lived in the place he got his new job while I tried to sell our house. The cost of putting in a new septic system prior to sale of our old house and the purchase of a new one this year was very stressful.
At least we are under one roof again and in a few days it will be a year that my husband has been at his "new" job. We still have debt. We've cut up our credit cards and are living on cash only at this point. Yay! But we want to be completely out of debt, so we are going to "live like no one else so we can live like no one else."
There is one area that we are going to keep, that we couldn't afford when we were first married and having my husband in school, and that is, we are keeping our Y membership. We decided for health reasons that that was a must. However, we will be making many new changes to our lives in entertainment, shopping, activities, car pooling etc.
This blog is to keep me on task with this goal and hopefully share some of our successes and failures. I am going to try to get a part time job, and submit my line art to reproducibles publications to increase our income. I am on disability, but I am going to see what I can do to contribute.
We had considered getting a large, flat-screen tv, (yes, there is at least one family living in this century that doesn't have one yet.), but have decided that our 21 inch is large enough. We are considering getting rid of dish tv, and using that money to improve our internet service. We're still debating this. We thought about getting a Wii before Christmas, but are not sure if we will or not. These are some things we are planning to address as substitutes for current more costly entertainment. We may get the wii and join netflix. Maybe we will get the wii fit and cut down on our drives into town to work out and save some gas money.
We are trying to set up the field and live from that point on and see how much we can save and pare down our bills. Medication and doctor visits are necessity due to mental illness and so those are two things that cannot be dropped. Purhaps that doesn't seem fair to say we are going to be living on nothing, and then have these "luxuries" but in truth they are necessities.
I am looking forward to the challenge. I will pass on any money saving tips I can as I find them.
Have a happy new year!
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