Money Woes

Ergh! I'm pretty sure that I posted an entry about us having some extra $. I have no idea what I was thinking. We have no $. I can barely keep our heads above water here.

We have to go out of town this week for T-giving. Logan's b-day is 12/16, Christmas is 12/25, our 10th anniversary is 12/27. And there just isn't enough $ to cover everything I want to do...barely enough to cover the bills.

I got on-line this morning to check my balance and about had heart failure. I had done some christmas shopping on-line and totally forgot about my insurance payment that was being withdrawn today. *sigh*

So, once again, I'll have to break out the emergency credit card and use that for groceries and our gas, etc for this trip. I guess I can transfer a little bit of money between our two checking accounts. Actually, I guess I won't even bother. I just checked the other balance..it's not worth messing with. LOL

I really need to get some more hours at work...4 hours/week just isn't cutting it. Although I LOVE my free time. I wish I didn't have to work at all...EVER! LOL

Job for Kyle....

Larry, that's my Brother-in-law, Tammy's husband, is the maintenance supervisor at a very large apartment complex here in town. He called last week and said that he was getting ready to fire one of the maintenance guys and told Kyle that if was interested, he could "get him on". So, Kyle of course told him he was definitely interested.

The next day, Larry called and told him to go online and fill out an application and take the on-line test. So, Kyle did. The next day, he received a contigency offer of employment--he has to pass a background and drug test. Fast, huh? (Sure beats the heck out of having to interview with 6 people sitting at conference tables asking him a hundred different questions!!) He signed the offer right away, faxed it back in and went saturday morning to take his drug test. As soon as everything comes back ok, my husband will no longer have the role of stay at home dad!!

It's really very exciting and has been a LONG time coming. We are looking forward to having some "breathing room"...you know, money-wise. The only "bad thing" is that we had planned to go on vacation for about a week in mid-september. Now, we won't be able to do that. :( But, really, thats good too--that will save us money fo'sho'!! We are thinking of just taking a weekend trip to Indiana or something.

Life is Short

Mom and I went to lunch and out shopping today and while we were at lunch we were discussing my sisters MIL and the fact that since her husband has died she quit working. Mom asked why she quit and I explained to her that she no longer NEEDS to work..with his pension and her SS starting in 2 months and all the money they have in IRA's etc and his life insurance. She's pretty set and doesn't want to work in a factory anymore...who can blame her..she's old.

Mom said she hoped that I would learn from that and start thinking about retirement so when I am her age I can be "set". That conversation led to "HA! I can barely afford to live..much less save!" But I know she is right. Something else we need is life insurance. I have it..but K doesn't...he had it with his job...but since he no longer has that..... Maybe I will check into Globe Insurance or something like that. I know that if he dies I'd like to have money to bury him...can't keep him in my freezer or bury him in the backyard!

Quest for the perfect vaca

So, the search continues. Seems like I spend a LOT of my free time looking for a place to vacation. As soon as I think I have found the perfect place, I check the price and my jaw drops to the ground.

I wish we could afford Disney this fall instead of next fall and just go ahead and book a nice Orlando rental home and be done with it. But, we can't do it this year...I'm HOPING (fingers crossed) that we can go with our tax refund next year.

Anyway, I thought I found a great place on Norris....with a pontoon..but it's one lot away from the lake and Kyle would like to be right ON the lake. So the search continues....

Ratatouille

I took a half day off work yesterday and went to see Ratatouille with my mom, brother, 2 nieces, and my boys. It was a really cute movie. I don't think I am ever taking my kids to the full price movie again though. It's so expensive, I just about needed to take out a payday loan to pay for it!! Then, Logan ended up climbing on the chairs in front of us...I had to repeatedly tell him to sit down, Dylan kept asking to go home...it was very annoying.

I'm toying with the idea of taking them to the drive in this weekend....but I'm not sure if I want to deal with their nonsense in a car. The drive-in is definitely cheaper...It'll be $15 for all of us...and we can see two movies! I don't know...we'll see.

Vacation Thoughts

Kyle and I were discussing where we want to go on vacation, IF we can scrape together some money for it. We asked the kids and they want to go to a cabin on a lake and rent a boat. There are some places not to far from here, that the rates aren't too god-awful. I'll have to check some more into it. We wouldn't be able to go until my job ends on 8/31, which means I will have to take Logan out of school for a few days. Not that that will be a problem since his school encourages family trips, etc.

Kyles aunt and uncle are building a house right on the lake in TN and I can't wait for it to be done..so we can visit them and vacation CHEAP! LOL They are retiring of course, so it will be another 18 months or so before they get down there..the house will be done soon though..so it will just be sitting there un-lived in. Kyle is going to try to talk them into renting it out by the week untile they can move down full time. I'm not sure they will go for it...it sounds like it's going to be REALLY nice!

They are so cute...typical retired couple...she is in to stamps...like rubber stamps and making greeting cards and he is all about golf. He is usually talking about some new Callaway golf item he has purchased or wants. I know they will be so happy when they can focus on their hobbies full time.

Anyway, I am hoping I get a job lined up so we can spend a small piece of my "bonus" on our vacation. and I hope I can find some place nice for us to go!

The price of

I went to the grocery today, a 12 pk of coke was $4.19 and a 12 pk of Pepsi was $4.50. I refused to buy either. That's outrageous.

Gas, however, is down to $2.75 a gallon--so that's a plus!

My dress for the wedding got here. It's very pretty and it fits..it's a little clingy on my fat roll, though. ohwell.

All good things must come to an end

On Tuesday I was notified that due to some changes in the business, my job would be ending at the end of August. Unless I want to move to NJ. I really like my job..and I am the one supporting our family right now. I seriously considered moving..until I saw the cost of rent in NJ. LOL

I was absolutely devestated. I understand why the changes are being made, but I am still heartbroken. It took a few hours to really *hit* and then I sat down and sobbed.

I've had 4 days for it to soak in now..and I *think* I am ok. I am starting to look for a job and thinking about other things I might like to do. I would love to get into some kind of school position that would allow me to be off when the kids are. I checked at Logans school and they have 2 positions that would equal part time if I did them both. The pay--$6.85 an hour. I don't think I can do that unless K could find something that pays a whole lot more. But--I have time to look.

I am trying to remember when God closes a door, He always opens a window. I think that's how the saying goes, right?? LOL

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Gas Prices

Yesterday, I filled up and gas was $3.25/ gallon. (Took $52 to fill the tank...maddening I tell ya!!)

This morning, I took Logan to school...gas was $3.17/gallon. I was SO annoyed..seems like everytime I fill up, the NEXT DAY the price has gone down.

This afternoon, I picked Logan up. Gas was $3.49/gallon. SO glad I filled up yesterday!!

love me some Avon

My friend, Michele is selling Avon now and I am so excited. I used to sell it and loved it...then Kyle lost his job and money got tight overnight and I was late..real late paying my Avon bill and they ditched me. Oh well. Keeping a roof over our heads and eating were more important at the time..go figure!

Anyway, I'm so excited for Michele and plan to give her some business as soon as my paycheck gets here. I was telling her that when I was a rep I had the CUTEST business cards and address labels made. I miss them! I should make some more cute ones..don't know what I would put on them...but I should make some!!

Closet Treasures

My closet is an absolute nightmare. I can't find anything in it.

Luckily..all the stuff that's in there I don't really NEED so I don't HAVE to find it. You know, until I wake up at 3 am and KNOW that's where my yearbook from senior year is and need to get it RIGHT THEN. *rolleyes*

I was trying to find my knitting stuff the other day and actually came across a padded envelope that had never been opened. I opened it and it was a bottle of Hoodia! I was hoping for some cool jewelry or money or something. But you know..a weight loss supplement is good too. IF I was in that frame of mind right now...which I'm not.

Hmmm...wonder what time Dairy Queen closes tonight?!?

Excess Coinage

I think I posted about selling our old car, right? And I used that money to buy the new furniture, remember??

When we cleaned it out there was a TON of coinage in the cup holder. So now I have all this change sitting here in a dish towel. 'cause we had to wash it..it was SO dirty--and like sticky. BLECK. So..it's sitting in the dishtowel while I figure out a good place to start a loose change spot. We keep a little plastic box thing in the car for loose change, but it's full. I'm thinking we need an in-home change holder.

I have fantasies of filling a big something up and then taking it all to the coin sorter at the bank and finding out it totals $10,000 and going on a kick ass vacation!! Yeah, I dream BIG!

Easy Saver

My bank has this cool new savings account option called Easy Saver. The way it works is that everytime we use our debit card, they round the $ amount up to the dollar and debit the account for that much, and then take the difference and deposit into the savings account. I signed up a week and a half ago and already have $10.59!! Not too bad for savings that I don't have to even think about. It's made saving a no brainer and I love that.

While checking my balance today I was looking at an online calculator to see how long it would take to save a specific amount of money. What I need to do is find a place to transfer my no brainer savings so I can get a higher interst rate. After looking around a little bit, I realized that I can Compare online banking, find a savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com. I was really excited to find it, I love when I find the information I need with a few taps of the keyboard and clicks of the mouse.

Perm

I'm biting the bullet and getting a perm today. I have been wanting one for quite awhile and keep putting it off because of money...well, the lack of. We still have some of the tax return hanging out in our bank acct and I figure if I don't do it now..I'll have missed my window of opportunity. So at 12:00 today I'm going for it.

I am going to BoRics because it's so much cheaper than other places...I hope I don't regret it. The good thing is...I'm not really looking for a style...I gave up on style a few years ago. LOL My hair is always twisted up and secured with a clip with the ends sticking out...with a perm, the ends will be curly and look a little less ugly-that's the plan anyway. So, as long as I end up with curly ends and unfried roots. I'll be happy.

Tax Return

I know that next year I will be looking for this info...because I was looking for it THIS year. LOL I filed my taxes on 2/2 and it was direct deposited 2/16 and by 2/23 it was pretty much gone...at least spoken for. (that's what being poor all year will do for ya!) Money goes WAY too fast..I know that! But we have all been spoiled by it...so life is good. :-)

Shopping Woes

I have THE.HARDEST.TIME shopping. Not just for gifts, but myself as well. I look and look and look for the perfect thing and then obsess about whether I am getting the best price, if there is a coupon or discount code somewhere for it, etc. It's really maddening and drives me crazy. I had to quit shopping for clothes for the boys last night because it was too overwhelming. How sad is that? LOL

Thank God for the gift card. I can't even tell you how many times this little pre-paid credit card has saved me when I have a gift to give. What I really love are the gift cards that are redeemable practically anywhere. That way I don't even have to think about what store someone would like to shop at...they can figure that out for themselves!

So, that solves my problem of the perfect gift...I don't think there is any hope for my own personal shopping. Maybe I should just make my husband do it.

Come ON already!!

I am SO anxious for our tax return to get here. I am making lists and researching and driving myself nuts, honestly. I swear I visit the IRS 5 times a day to check the status. LOL I just want it to get here so I can buy the few big things we are getting and then figure out the best way to use the rest of it. I was really really hoping it would be deposited yesterday..based on the time it took for last year's return..but no. Darn! Hopefully this coming week...I *think* they only deposit on Fridays though. I just want it NOW. I know..I have no patience!

Payday Buffer

I am really so amazed that since October I have made over $470 with PayPerPost. It has been easy and enjoyable and has really provided a nice buffer between paychecks.

When I first became interested in adding sponsored content to my blog and started PayPerPost, I had decided that any money I made was going to go into our Disney fund so we could take the kids to Disney World. Plans have since changed. LOL It was a nice idea and would have worked wonderfully..but the truth is..when you only get paid once a month..sometimes you need a buffer between paydays. It seems like every month, right before payday we are BROKE and we need gas or milk or something and that PPP money has been a godsend! It's really nice because it is deposited in my paypal account and I can use my paypal debit card for instant access. Actually, I guess that is good AND bad...I bet if I didn't have the debit card, more of that money would have been saved. Oh well...you do whatcha gotta do, ya know?

One of the best things about PPP is that the money is constantly coming in, right now I get a deposit every few days..sometimes twice a day. My "goal" is to make 2 PPP posts a day so I get 2 deposits a day...but I haven't become that disciplined yet. Which is really sad since it is so easy to make money this way. But laziness is one of my biggest problems..I'm working on it though!

Spending Tax Return $ Wisely

I filed our taxes on Friday and am already making big plans for it.

I have no plans to save it and I think my tentative plans for using some it for an awesome vacation have been put on the back burner.

Truth is, we really need to take care of some stuff around our house...buy some things to make our day to day life a little easier/better etc.

For one thing I really really need to look at home office chairs and purchase one. Mine is AWFUL..and since I am working so many hours a week now, I really need to get a new one. In the last couple of weeks I have been in a lot of pain in my neck and upper back..and I KNOW the chair has something to do with it.

So..I am in a search for that...and while I'm looking for that..I think I am going to look at Bunk Beds for the boys..their beds take up so much room and I really like having them in one room and the play room in the other.

There are so many sites out there to look at for this kind of stuff but I have found some really great furniture of ALL kinds at great priced furniture.com. It is so fun to look at all the different kinds of furniture and get ideas (and dream) about what I would like to have in my house.

So, if I'm scarce...it's because I am lusting over furniture somewhere!! *wink*

1 Time a Month

As much as I love my job, I hate that I only get paid once a month. When payday rolls around again, I am ALWAYS hurting for money. And sometimes, things come up that make me REALLY need money before that next payday. I really like that I have the option of taking advantage of Payday Cash Advance Loans if I would ever need to. Up to this point...my mom has been my cash advance loan..but that might not always be an option.