A few weeks ago, I was at my bank drive-thru cashing my paycheck. I got to thinking what a waste of paper it must be that each week my money is sent through a tube in an envelope that I really don't need. The bank must use hundreds of these envelopes every week and they are basically useless.We just throw it away only to get another one next week.So,I...

sharonb4

Have you ever had one of those days that it just does not matter what you do no one will cooperate? Well just had a weekend full of that. I went on strike at home. Just to fill you in a little-I am the mom-three boys ages 12, 9, and 6. Have an onlder boy (19-but does not live at home) plus a husband and a cat. I spent about three hours cleaning the...

wilbe95

Today my boys and I made kites. We used those plastic store bags from Wal-Mart. I tied some yarn to the handles and we went outside. my six year old just loved the fact that he could fly a kite as high as his 12 year old brother without any help. We got the idea to make these from trying to catch bags that are packed too heavy and break at the car....

wilbe95

Well....
This has been an unusual week money wise....
Here's what has happened.

#1. My net pay is considerably less than normal because I have started to pay back my employer for my oil prebuy...to the tune of $1k. That's only for 200 gallons folks. I pay $.40 per gallon price protection, so if the price goes below the $4.42/gal that i paid initially, I'll get that lower price, and it will NEVER go higher than 4.42.

#2. My car battery died. Back in March I got slammed in a parking lot. (Ins. company concluded that it was MY fault...but whatever...she had no damage, I had $1k worth. MY deductible is $500.00. The following Monday, my brakes went. There went my bodywork money. I still have the insurance check....it's useless to me now. Anyway...my battery was split right down the front...leaking acid everywhere. I'm lucky I think....but I did have to buy a new battery, and I bought the CHEAPEST one at $43.00.

#3. I'm getting serious about systematically fixing up the interior of my home, because I intend to sell it in 3 years time. We're talking paint mostly, but damn...paint is expensive! So when I went into Wal-Mart to buy the battery, I also bought a can of paint for $11.83...knowing that it would be some time before I returned to Wal-Mart.

So here it is, 7 days from payday. I have $91.03 left in my checkbook, (my bank says I have $70.00 something, gotta look into that) will need at LEAST $30.00 more in gas before next Friday morning....and have not paid my electric bill, which just came yesterday. It could be much worse....but damn...*L* It could be better.

SO, Liss, if you're reading, or anyone else for that matter...In October, I have a 3rd paycheck....all of my bills are covered in the first and last check of October....and I've already budgeted my usual $100.00 for gas, from the 3rd one. What is the BEST way for me to use this money???

I have a medical bill, balance of $122.00
I have no money set aside for xmas.
I am going to need rear brakes, but parts only, my bf and i will do the labor ourselves.
Thought about paying the rest of the cars ins. for the year...
Also thought about putting it in savings...to go towards my $1000.00 emergency fund...(I do not trust myself to put it in savings connected to my checkbook, it's TOO easy to use) I was considering giving it to my grandmother to put in her safe, or my parents etc...

I'd better get to work, and start earning that paycheck.*L*
Happy Friday....

MarieVermont

Last week I spent an afternoon every other day on the phone with the Centralized Servicing Center in St. Louis MO, for USDA Rural Development, my mortgage holder....trying to find out the NEW payment amount, since I'd faxed in my new tax bill, lowering my property taxes from $2962.00 to $1495.00 (Homestead Declaration Credit)

I ended up paying the old amount $683.64, and wondered what would happen to the difference once they finally made the adjustment. In one year and 8 months I have NEVER been late on a mort. payment, and I don't intend to start now, so rather than wait for the updated amt, i just paid it.

Anywho, last night, I arrived home, sweltering hot, foggy from the chiropractor...and in NO way ready to cook dinner. I opened the mail, sat down on my nice comfy couch in my nice cool living room, and proceeded to open 3 envelopes from RD. One was a confirmatio nof my phone payment. Cool. One was a redone escrow statement....and the last one was a check for $191.36. This is the amt my mortgage has gone DOWN!!! I was so excited, I started to cry...and immediately called my mom to share the good news, my stepfather was cheering in the background for me, (He tells ppl I'm fantastic, and I've done more than he ever thought possible on very little..both literally and figuratively...*L*) THEN....I hustled the kids in the car and took them to Friendly's. Yeah, I know. I don't care. We go so often with little to nothing "extra or fun" I thought for sure I could spare $30.00 out of 191.36.

Last night I tried to go to bed after an hour or more of knitting and listening to a book on cd...(The 5 hour baby sweater, and The Tenth Circle by Jodie Piccoult) but all i could think about was my big budget notebook, so I got up and spent some time with that instead.

If I get AGGRESSIVE....I could potentially have $700. saved by the end of November? POTENTIALLY< this bears some more fine tuning...but I gave my boss a check today for the rest of the firewood....my water bill will be paid in full by the middle of October, as well as that pesky medical bill, and then I can move forward with my normal budget again without all of that extra crap that stresses me so!!!

I'm so relieved....but I did pass this message along to the little ones this morning. This does NOT mean that we are no longer living frugally....we still will be...just so you know. *L* There just will be a little less worry.

Having said all of that, this beign a horrendous year for fleas, both of my dogs need meds for that, i have to buy paint, and my pride took over last night when I told my ex i would be back to buying my own groceries, and I've budgeted 100 every two weeks....which should MORE than hold us....

MarieVermont