Dear Budget101 people..*L*

I dont' wanna be a lurker anymore...I really don't.
I'm leaving a post-it on my monitor to come here each day.
My finances are changing AGAIN....I was working 3 hrs of OT each week cleaning offices. I gave it up...got a $1 per hour raise, and still lost money in each check...about $100.00

My mortgage payment increased by $30.00 and thanks to that lovely OT I just mentioned, I do not qualify for Earned Income Credit this year. Phooey.

I had some exta money leftover from Christmas from Dad...so I did a big stock up shopping trip, tomatoes, beans, cereals, crackers etc. That has felt great...and I def. need to tweak my shopping habits because I can never make it quite two weeks comfortably.

THis is my seroius attempt at becoming a regular poster.

Marie in Vermont

MarieVermont

I do not visit often enough..
I'm back...because darnit..I need to make my money go further and the ONLY place I can lower expenses is on groceries.

I have battled weight all my life, but let's face it, beans and rice are cheap....If there is one place I'd like to pay for value..it's food, esp. produce...my current food budget is $150.00 every two weeks.

What's my point?
My 2009 plan.... (I just finished reading Suze Orman's new book) is to squeeze every single PENNY out of my budget POSSIBLE to put towards savings.

MarieVermont

Hey all.
I'm still hanging in there...took the kids to Great Escape last Sunday. Saved $32.00 by buying the tickets online. My dad gave me $40.00 and the kids father gave them each $40. for spending money, and I let them "go nuts" with it because we never have any money to spend. They both actually did VERY well. I tucked away $20.00 of that money from my stepfather for the gas tank. My son and I figured out this morning on the way to the bus stop (at their Dad's house) that we are about 3 gallons short on gas. Might be time to use that $10.00 gift gas card from LAST xmas....

Also, I'll be keeping my kids with me during every weeknight and weekday morning because I was not satisified with the lack of care they were receiving at their Nana's (who was a sub for their father since he works 3rd shift) THis means more gas and mileage for me, and more groceries, even if only in the way of breakfast foods. I'm sure that baking more would take the edge off of breakfast, give them something other than cereal and toast to look fwd to, with the occasional pancake or french toast.

I'm rambling.
Point is, I'm hanging in there.
If you see someone out of gas alongside I-91 in SOuthern Vermont this week, it's probably me..*L*

MarieVermont

I work for a non profit. Huge salaries are just never gonna be part of the game aroune here. THe way I figure it...I've been making it so far....any little extra will just be fantastic.

We are expanding to meet the needs of desperate, soon to be very cold people....I work in Weatherization. I have become supervisor to two part time people. My first exp. with supervision, aside from being a parent.

I never ever gave ANY thought to the fact that there might be financial compensation involved for my added responsibility.....Whooohoo, imagine my surprise when the director mentioned THAT!!!!!

MarieVermont

Sometime earlier in the summer I promised my kids a trip to The Great Escape (Now a Sixx Flags, in lake George New York)
That day is Saturday.
I'm dreading it.
I'm dreading the money I'll have to spend despite coupons...
I'm eating lunch in the parking lot (where it costs $10.00 to park...*sniffle* )

I also made a convenience purchase this weekend which I'm partly kicking myself for, and partly patting myself on the back for. I had just come home from my boyfriends' house which is 80 minutes and 1/4 of a tank of gas away, I did not watn to then drive across the river to New Hampshire to wal-mart to buy paint, a roller cover, an edge brush and a tray liner. So I stopped at Sherwin Williams. The paint I purchased was $39.99 a gallon. My entire purchase was $60.00. The paint went on beautifully...it's the nicest paint I've EVER used in my LIFETIME...and I will buy it again..but next time, I'll budget for it! *L* It looked SO good on the walls, I actually squealed out loud when I stepped back to look at it.

That extra check in October?
Here's the plan.

buy brake parts, self labor
pay off medical bill and water bill (firewood is paid in full! woohoo!)
put away some money for xmas...
buy myself a bday gift. refurbished ipod at overstock for $150.00 I've been waiting over 3years to do this....may change my mind before then, we'll see.
the rest will go in savings.

Toodles!
Marie

MarieVermont