I've taken a break from blogging because I felt like maybe I got a little too personal with my last two blogs. I guess I just had to get it off my chest. I will try to keep it strictly financial from here on out.

Now that our only outstanding debt is our mortgage, we have decided to apply an extra principal payment each month. According to the mortgage calculator, this should reduce our payoff time by about 9 years.

Currently working on our emergency fund. We hope to get at least $15,000.00 in it by years end. I will show my progress in my sidebar when I make my first deposit mid-month.

Adding $100.00 to the challenge, bringing the total to $1589.00.

Teenagers....SHEESH! Was I ever that bad? Ask my mom and I'm sure you will get all kinds of stories! When do these kids stop thinking they know it all? 25? Progress reports came out yesterday, and I was not happy. Oldest got a FAILING grade in Advanced English! He just didn't find it neccesary to do an assignment that was a test grade and a daily assignment grade also. This brought his average WAY down. There is no excuse, and I told him this. He said he didn't have time. Baloney! This kid hardly has to put forth any effort and still manages to be on the honor roll. I thought he was diciplined enough to take care of his own buisness. I was wrong.

I feel like I'm at such a loss. Questioning my parenting abilities....

On another note, I saved $192.00 with coupons and gift cards this last week bringing my challenge total to $1489.00

Went to unload the dishwasher this morning and noticed that the bottom wash arm was leaning to one side. All I can see I need is a retainer nut. Went ahead and ordered another part that needed replacing also. Total bill with shipping $25.00. Not bad. Just have to hand wash for a few days.

It's near the beginning of the month, so it's time to change the A/C filter. Once a month I also clean the lint catcher in the dryer. Just get a little dish washing soap and an old toothbrush and give it a little scrub. Rinse, let air dry, good as new.

Anyone else have any once month chores that they do?

Does anyone know who to contact to get the converter box coupon for Feb 2009 when all goes digital? I saw a comercial for it awhile back, but haven't seen one recently.

Rounded up my cks. and debits for March and am adding $10.00 to the challenge. Adding $23.00 for coupon savings.
Total now: $1297.00

Let me start by saying my oldest son (13 yrs.) was invited by a friend to stay at the lake this weekend. I talked it over with his dad and we agreed it would be okay. Well, he got packed and was waiting to be picked up. During this time I talked about being responsible, etc. He agreed. Now let me back up and say this is a good kid. Honor roll and all, takes care of his momma when shes not feeling well...very grown up for his age.

Well, lo and behold, I came around the corner and he had just taken two cigarettes out of my purse! AAAHHH! I asked what he was doing and he said he was getting them for his friends brother (who is 16). He then started freaking out asking me not to tell his friends mom. What? He was more worried about his friend than himself? This all is just so unbelieveable. I told him he was stealing from me, and also there is the trust issue. Don't know what to do. I told him we would discuss it later (when I get it all straight in my mind.)

Sorry about the rant. Just had to get it off my chest.

Okay, so my curiosity got the best of me and I hypermiled with my last tank of gas. My milage per gallon went from 15 to almost 20. Not bad for just letting up on the gas a little. The first day I tried this my 13 y.o. said "why are we going so SLOW???" I just laughed and explained what I was doing. (He already knows I'm crazy.) Several days pass, and he's calculating how much money I've saved! We figure about $12.50 a tank.

I went grocery shopping today . My total was $32.78. After coupons, $18.86. Also saved $35.00 at CVS with coupons and ECB.

New challenge total $1264.00

I've been gone awhile. DH and myself have been sick. Didn't stick to the budget with eating out and all. Neither of us was up to doing much, so money was spent where it shouln't have been.

Ended up making $600.00 at my garage sale. Wow, didn't know I had that much crap. Crap that other people wanted at that! It's good to get cold, hard cash for it though. This goes to the challenge bringing the total to $1202.00.

Since money is going to be tighter than usual, we are trying to eat what is in the pantry/freezer. I have found some pretty good (and simple) recipes. (Interested BA?) I have beef jerky in the oven right now. YUM!

I have a lot to do today since I'm having a garage sale this weekend. Why, oh why, do I procrastinate? All money earned will go to the challenge.

I have taken two surveys in the last week and already have recieved a ck for one. That's $5.00 to the challenge. Adding $5.00 to the challenge for a NSD. These are few and far between. Also adding $2.00 for 2 days of no heat/air. The weather has been cooperating so I can open the windows and let the fresh air in. Total challenge money: $1169.00

I just paid the end-of-the-month bills and came to the realization that money is going to be tight thru the end of May. I'm reaaly going to have to watch the spending. Not that I'm frivilous anyway.

Just my DH speeding ticket was $250.00. He went with deferred judication. Also paid Medco $80.00.

I got the results of my MRI back. They said it is a buldging disk. I did some research on the web and it said that buldging disks usually don't cause much pain. HA! Maybe it's a herniated disk? It also said that this usually happens to older people. (Am I older now??? LOL!) Some days I feel like I am. Anyone else have experience with this sort of thing?

All kids are back at school today. Let's see if I get a call to pick one up.

I'm having a garage sale this weekend to hopefully bring in some money. I'm really trying to simplify. The less you have, the less you have to take care of.

Have 2 of my 3 kids home from school today. My 6 y.o was running fever, and my 13 y.o. went to school, but is now home feeling nauseous. He is also having pains in his chest. Could be the meds he is on. I will keep a close eye on him today.

Adding $60.00 to the challenge for coupon savings, $5.00 for NSD yesterday, and $1.00 for no heat/ air yesterday. Total now is $1157.00

My daughter and I went to a garage sale in a very affluent neighborhood early this morning. We found a Sony Mini DV Digital Handycam. Included are an Infolithium battery, USB cable, AV cable, memory stick, carring bag, and there were even tapes that can be taped over. WOW! The cost was $25.00. (she is paying half.)She is only 11 y.o. and delighted! When we got home my DH said it was better that the one we have (and she wont trade)!

My 13 y.o came to me the other day, handed me $200.00, and asked me to put it in his car savings acct. I was in disbelief as he was saving for an Xbox 360. When asked why, he said he just changed his mind. WOW! So I took it and ran.

He then went to his 11 y.o. sister and told her what he had done, so she had to "one up" him, and she gave me $200.00! $100.00 for her car acct, and $100.00 for her reg. savings acct. This money was mainly birthday money.

Okay, I was now 2 for 2. On to my 6 y.o. I asked him how much cash he had in his wallet. He counted it (very number savvy kid) and had $104.00. I asked him if he would put some into his savings. Immediately he said "half, $52.00." (I talked him up to $72.00)

Some may ask, why do the kids have so much cash? They save. They each have savings accts with ING and are doing quite well. I don't make them deposit their cash, though I try to persuade (sp) them in the right direction.

Now the question...

I have a young friend that is trying to get her financial life in order. She is 22, a single mom, and has a $1000.00 emergency fund. Her 2007 tax refund was $5000.00! (You have got to be kidding!) Anyway, I was telling her she should be investing this money in a Roth IRA.

A little history...She grossed around $16,000 in 2007.

Standard deductions...$7850.00
Exemptions...$6800.00
Taxable income...$1793.00

Fed witholding...$1650.00
EIC...$2680
Add. child tax credit...$704.00


She has since gotten a new job with a better income. Now making about $25,000-$30,000 annually.

How does she figure how many deductions to claim w/o having to pay in at the end? She would prefer to have a small $100.00 tax cushion a mo.

If anyone needs more details, feel free to ask.

Another kicker... She now works for an ins. agency, and someone there is telling her to get whole life. ARGH!

Saved $51.00 shopping today with coupons and a gift card. Also had free coupons for Chili's. Tried their new bacon smokehouse burgers. Pretty good. Almost $35.00 worth of food for F-R-E-E! I love free! Adding these savings to the challenge along with $1.00 for no heat/air and $2.00 for 2 NSD, bringing the total to $1091.00

Oh, also got $25.00 rebate/gift card in the mail yesterday. I will add that to the challenge when I spend it.

Got up early this A.M. to go to a garage sale with a friend. It was at a church where they rented booths. There were several "venders". I only spent $3.25! There were some things I thought about purchasing, but just yesterday I was decluttering my own house for a garage sale. I just kept telling myself that I don't need any more crap! Less is more...Less is more. What I did end up buying was a brand new poker set for my son ($2.50 talked down from $3.50) a ruler with a calculator in it (.25), and a new address book for my daughter (.50). All items that were previously needed or requested.

Now I am off to declutter some more...

Rounded up all my cks. for the mo. of Feb. Came up with $12.00 to add to the challenge. Also adding $40.00 for coupon savings. Brings the total to $1002.00.

Several weeks ago I bought two frozen items at the grocery store. When I went to open the package, the food was freezer burnt. Checked the experation date. Yep, out of date by one month. The people at the store are too lazy to rotate stock??? Called the 800 number on back of package, and recieved coupons for free items. Also let the store know that their stock was out of date. Management wasn't very happy! Got a refund from the store also.
Point is, call the 800 number on the back of products and give them your feedback (good or bad) and they will usually mail you generous coupons.

Counted the change in my cars ashtray. $33.50! Added to the challenge. Total now is $950.00.

I finally broke down and made an appt. for a MRI today. My back and leg is still really bothering me. Hope all goes well.

On another note, my family and I went out of town this last weekend. Returned Monday exhausted. DH got a speeding ticket going 83 in a 70. I'm a little upset (told him several times to slow down...but nooooo!) So this will put a $200.00 damper on my budget. Ouch! No defensive driving either. He's alrerady taken it w/i the last year.

Will have to figure out the budget when we get home. I've kinda let it go lately.

I went grocery shopping the other evening, and upon getting into the car noticed that I didn't get the discount. At this particular store the items ring up regular price with the discount immediately after it. On my forth item of the same thing my discount wasn't applied. The next time I was in that store, I showed "customer service". She gave me every excuse, but finally gave up and refunded my $1.69.

Yesterday we recieved the emergency room physician's bill (daughter fractured her arm on 4-wheeler) for $423.00 after insurance payment! What? Long story short, I made a few phone calls and found out this particular doctor is not in network. Insurance rep. said no problem, all emergency room visits are paid 100% reguardless if in network or not. Yea!!!
So I figure I saved $423.00 in about 15 minutes time! Go me!

Adding $2.00 to the challenge for refund, and $1.00 foe no heat/air bringing my total to $916.00 (Maybe we'll make it to Disney this year after all.)

A few days ago we bought a dining room set off Craigslist. Table, six chairs, and a side buffet table. Both tables have glass tops. On the way home the buffet glass broke. To replace it (1/2" thick with a beveled edge is going to run $328.00!!! I only paid $400.00 for the whole set! (talked him down from $450.00) WOW. Anyway, I believe we will go for 1/4 inch thickness with no bevel for $30.00.

Also today, the trash people called us from the street. Said we owed 70.00 for the quarter, and it's been due since Jan 1. What? I haven't seen a bill. They instructed me to put put the money in a zip lock bag and put it on the trash can and they would get it on their way back up the street. No thanks. We'll just make a run to the dump in the next few days.

DH took DD to the Dr. today. A new script at CVS will net me a $25.00 gift card (with coupon).

Adding $5.00 to the challenge for a rebate I recieved yesterday, and $9.00 for coupon savings. Total is now $913.00

Yesterday my DH and I were trying to make some room in the fridge, and I pulled out our 1/2 gallon ketchup container (we make BBQ sauce out of it also) and realised that there wasn't much left. I opened it up and started scraping the sides and bottom to get the last bit out to put in a smaller container. I told my husband that this was really sad - most people would just throw the container away. (But we have never really been "most people") Anyway, after a short pause he chuckled. I asked him what he was laughing at and he replied "is it sad that you have a paid for SUV?" WOW! Big reality check! He's a good man.

Adding $2.00 for no heat/A.C. and $4.00 for coupon savings, bringing the total to $899.00.

now that we have paid off my car 2 mos. earlier that speculated. It was a five year loan, so actually we paid it off 4 yrs, 2 mos. "early"!!! Gazelle intense.

Now we are working on our 3-6 mos. emergency fund. By my figuring this should be totally funded in Oct 2008, if all goes as planned. Then in Nov we hope to fully fund our Roth IRA's. This then should be funded just in time to file our 2008 taxes. Hopefully.

I just want all this to happen a lot faster than it is, but I know we are doing the best we can.

Sold some valentine cookies today and made $165.00. Not too bad I guess. It's nothing compared to the money I made last year tho, but I really wasn't up to it this year. This added to the challenge brings it to $893.00. Yea!

I got a new to me car last year and was hoping to have it paid off by the end of April, 2008. Well, we are going to be paying the balance off this week. 2 months early! I am elated! Now, by Daves plan, we need to work on 3-6 mos. emergency fund. Hope to have it fully funded by the end of the year. I'm really wondering if that is possible? Hopefully so.

Haven't updated the challenge because I've been down with my leg. See prior post about my stupidity Because of this I haven't gotten out much and have had several NSD's. Haven't really kept track of everything so I'm just going to add $200.00. Challenge now up to $728.00.

I blogged a while back that I had hurt myself but did'nt get into any details.
Well, against my better judgement I got on my kids' trampoline with my daughter for all of 30 whole seconds when I felt my lower back "compact." Little did I know that I would pay dearly for my stupidity.

That evening and the next day my lower back hurt, but then the pain over the next week started traveling down my left leg. I figured It would eventually ease up, buy it has only progressively gotten worse. I can hardly walk at times and the pain is unbearable.

I went to the chiropractor thinking he could help but no. Two days later still a lot of pain. I have a doctors appt this morning. Hopefully something good will come out of it. The pain is almost indescribable. And the muscle spasms...WOW!

Some say it's a pulled muscle, while others say it's a pinched nerve. I don't know because I haven't ever had either.

Wish me luck at the appt.

Adding $58.00 to the challenge for money saved the last few days.

$470.00
$ 58.00
$528.00 new total

I wasn't feelimg well yesterdy so we ordered pizza for dinner. $20.00 gone.
I guess that's not too bad though because it fed all five of us last night, and the kids' lunch today.

Picked up a few things today at WM that we have been needing for quite some time. Spent around $100.00. Blah!

Went to CVS. My total came close to 80.00. Walked out spending under $2.00.

Adding $58.00 to the challenge for coupon savings, $2.00 for no heat/air for the last two days, bringing my challenge total to $470.00

2 NSD's in a row. Wow. I basically did nothing yesterday, as I hurt my back. Let's just say my body is too old to do certain things.

New challenge total $410.00

I had a NSD yesterday. Haven't had one of those for awhile. Since they are few and far between, I'm adding $5.00 to the challenge. Also adding $1.00 for incorporating leftovers. Up to $405.00 now.

Also a big thank you to all who replied to my plea yesterday. I got a lot of great ideas. Hopefully I'll makes lots of moola with these creative sayings. All I make will be applied to the car note. Should be paid off by the end of March.

Anyone familiar with my posts knows I sell cookies and cakes. Well, this year I'm going to do Valentine cookies on a stick again. I make them look like large conversation hearts. The problem is I've misplaced my list of sayings, and thought all the good people here might be able to help me out. (remember they have to be short).

Here are some I already have:
XOXO
2 sweet
luv U
cutie
sweetie
kiss me
be mine
stud muffin
big daddy

The ones directed for men are really popular.

Thanks to everyone who helps.

Over the last few days I have "spent" $140.00 b/t groceries and CVS. (gotta love CVS) With coupons I have saved $75.00. That's not even counting savings from sales. So I guess that's not too bad.

Plan on cleaning the house today. Too much to do and not enough time. (Time management is not my thing).

Also plan on calling about refinancing my mortgage Monday. Maybe even checking into Lending Tree. Anyone else use them?

I had planned to come here this morning and post how much I have saved these last few days, but got to thinking...if I have saved X amt, just how much have I spent OOP? I will figure that out later this evening, as I don't have the time right now.

New challenge total $398.00