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Archive for August, 2010

Payday

August 27th, 2010 at 04:27 pm

Today is payday and as fast as it appeared in my account, it disappeared just as quickly. I am glad it is payday, cause I was down to my last $10. I didn't get to make an extra payment to the tax commissioner this payday, but have two scheduled for next payday.

I should be getting my financial aid refund around the 7th so I will be able to get things back on track instead of just treading water.

I blew my diet this morning. I tend to get frustrated when I don't see any results. I am logging everything I eat, am drinking more water and yet I don't see the scale moving at all. It is frustrating for me. But tomorrow(and the rest of the day), I am getting back on the diet. Hopefully I will see some changes happening.

Big Changes Ahead

August 25th, 2010 at 05:42 pm

I have posted regularly in a while but I have been around reading blogs. But I have a lot of things happening right now. I started my college courses, I am taking three this semester, which alone is going to be difficult for me since I also work full time and am a single mom. But I am also going to begin homeschooling my DD. There has been an incident at school that has been blown way out of proportion...she tried to walk home. Yep that is it. That is all she did and she even told a teacher she was doing it. And for that she has to go before a tribunal to see if she can continue at school. She also has to go before a juvenile court judge to face charges of being unruly. Now I agree that she needed to be disciplined so she wouldn't do it again, but having a tribunal? Having to go to court? And all of this was done by the principle. There is no requirement that these steps be taken. It was soley up to the principle. It just infuriates me! What would happen if she really was a trouble maker? Or did do something else so menial? Now she is in their sights. So therefore, I will be unenrolling her next week and begin homeschool. I am sure that I am going to have many late nights trying to keep up with everything that I have to do. But she is smart kid so I don't anticipate it being to difficult to homeschool her.

Anyway, financially, I am holding on by a string until I get my financial aid money. Should come in around Sept 4th. Then I should be fine.

Just an Update

August 18th, 2010 at 08:42 pm

Sorry I haven't posted lately...There isn't much going on right now, financially or otherwise. I am still sticking to my diet through SparkPeople. I lost 1.5 pounds last week and am track to do the same this week. It is slow going, but no one said it would be easy. I am doing step aerobics on the wii and really enjoying it!

Financially, I have my gas money for next week set aside. I only have $50 extra this next week for groceries or anything. Thankfully we don't need that much. I bought most stuff last week. I am just trying to hold it together until I get paid again next Friday. I hate living paycheck to paycheck. I will probably get a large refund from my financial aid sometime in September. I am not depending on it though. This is the time of the year when I start dreaming of my tax refund! I did submit the form to get the advanced earned income credit so that will add some money to my paycheck. Not sure how much yet.

Books

August 13th, 2010 at 03:49 pm

My financial aid hasn't been processed yet so I had to come up with the money to purchase my books. I will get it back in the form of a refund. I have to admit, I never thought I would be able to come up with $378 without borrowing from my parents, but I made it happen. Between the various savings accounts and such, I was able to come up with enough to cover the books. That felt real good.

Today is payday. It is already spent! Isn't it sad how money goes so fast?

Sallie Mae

August 12th, 2010 at 04:13 pm

Well, my tactic of sticking my head in the ground hasn't worked well for me. I have been ignoring this loan for over a year. Yes I did try to sign up for income based repayment, but they claim they never received it(I sent it twice). I should have followed up on it but didn't. Now it is at the do or default date. I have to make a payment of $1434.81 in order to keep it from going to default, which would really suck. So...I had to suck itup and ask my mom to put it on her credit card. I have to pay the payments each month and she now gets all the extra payments I have been making on other debts.

Ihave put in applications at Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Food Lion, and Ingles, hoping that someone is hiring a part time helper. Keep your fingers crossed that someone will call me shortly to offer me a part time job!

NSD For Me!

August 12th, 2010 at 02:40 pm

Yesterday was a NSD for me! The first in a while. My boss asked me to take a co-worker out to lunch so I got a free lunch! THe scale still showed a one pound loss this morning. I was concerned since we ate lunch out yesterday. Tomorrow is my official weigh in day...hopefully it will still show a loss.

Went to INgles this morning and stocked up on bagels and cream cheese for work. Shouldn't have to go back for a while.

Almost an NSD

August 11th, 2010 at 01:54 pm

Yesterday was almost a NSD. I had to stop and get my daughter some dinner. But that was the only money I spent.

Somehow I ended up with $32 in my purse...still not quite sure where it all came from. But I took $25 and put it in my coin jar at home. That way if I am not able to get home in time for dinner or for some reason end up not coming up until late, the kids have money there that they can order a pizza with.

The scale showed a loss this morning of either 1 or 2 pounds, depending on which step on you believe. I don't care which it is. I am just happy to have a loss! My official weigh in isn't until Friday.

Outlet Malls

August 10th, 2010 at 05:37 pm

My sister who is in town from DC went with me to Calhoun last night and we walked around the outlet mall. I saw several cute shirts that were on clearance, but I didn't budge. I knew that I didn't have money in the budget for them. I did however buy 3 18 hour bras. They were $13 each and I was in desperate need. I was down to one bra that I had to wash every night. That was money well spent. I was very proud of the fact that I didn't purchase anything that wasn't needed. I saw several things that I would like to have, but nothing that I needed, besides the bras.

I did good on my eating yesterday, actually came in below my recommended calorie intake because I didn't eat anything for dinner. I meant to take a zone bar with me to eat, but I forgot it. The scale this morning didn't show anything, but I have until Friday, which is my new weigh in day. Lets hope there is at least a pound gone. Otherwise I might feel frustrated and not keep with it.

BLew it Over the Weekend

August 9th, 2010 at 02:43 pm

Both Financially and Dieting. Financially, I spent too much money a little here and a little there and it all adds up to too much. I haven't entered everything into my check register yet, but I know it will be bad.

I blew my diet yesterday. We had a birthday party for my nephew and I had a piece of cake and ice cream. I also made cookies last night. This was my first weekend on SP and I knew it was going to be hard. I just need to crack down on myself. Next weekend should be easier since there is no party or anything.

It has gotten really easy to not go to BK. This morning I didn't even give it a second thought. Maybe that addiction has been broken. I also managed to keep myself from getting donuts yesterday after church. We failed to eat before we went and were starving when we got out. But after the internal conversations with myself, I managed to not get them and snack on some grapes until lunch was ready. This is a huge accomplishment for me.

GRRRR

August 8th, 2010 at 12:23 am

We went to the drive in last night. Since my car is prone to killing the battery, I searched for a portable radio. I found one at Family Dollar for $25. UGGH. Then when we got to the drive in, they made an announcement that they have portable radios that can be checked out for free!!! DOUBLE UGGGGHHH!!! I will be taking that radio back to Family Dollar!!!!

My daughter has been using the car charger to charge her phone. She swears that she didn't leave the car on, but somehow, the battery was dead this afternoon. Another GRRRR! Thank goodness for roadside assistance. Costs me nothing for them to come jump my car off, which has happened several times.

Today has kind of been a blow it day for my diet. I haven't drank near enough water and I had a bag of m&m's for a snack with a glass of milk. Not totally bad, but it feels like it. Will have to do better tomorrow.

Big No No: Shopping Hungry

August 7th, 2010 at 05:18 pm

I woke up this morning to no milk. My children drank the last of it sometime last night. So I went to the grocery store to get milk. While I didn't do too bad money wise, I definately didn't do too good on the healthy side. I got pillsbury cinnamon rolls and a thing of biscuits. I also got a bag of m&m's. I came home and ate a handfull of m&m's while the cinnamon rolls were cooking. I can still salvage the day diet wise, but it will take some pure dedication!

Food Lion has their dog food BOGO. So I got two bags of dog food, which should last a while since we only have the one dog now(XH took the small dog and she seems to be doing well there). I also got 2 12 packs of Dr Pepper. That should last a while too since I am making a conscience effort to drink more water. The last thing I got was spiral notebooks. I like to keep a few on hand for grocery lists and if the kids need them for school. They were .25 each. I got 12 of them. I was so excited because they were 1.00 at Dollar General. Total Spent $34.

A day of resisting temptations...

August 6th, 2010 at 11:34 pm

First I resisted the strong urge to go to BK this morning. Then I resisted ordering pizza for dinner. And to top it all off, I resisted going to get ice cream, which has been a usual Friday night activity with my DD. I feel real good about today. I hope I can keep this momentum up.

Since I resisted all of these temptations, I have had a NSD so far. But we are probably going to go to the drive in tonight so I will have the ticket purchase. But I would rather spend my money on that than on food that I don't need!

Positive of the day:
I can resist unhealthy choices to the benefit of my health and budget.

2 Days in a Row!!!

August 6th, 2010 at 02:54 pm

For the last two mornings, I have really wanted to stop at BK and get cini minis. I even tried to rationalize it this morning by saying that I have been good the last threes days and then that Friday can be my splurge day. I was even willing to "borrow" money from my gas fund to pay for them. It was almost kind of comical, this discussion I was having with myself. But in the end...I didn't go! I came straight into work and made my bagel w/ cream cheese. I stepped on the scale this morning and I have lost 1/10 of a pound. That may not seem like alot, but for only have been doing this for 3 days and since I am shooting 1-2 pounds per week, that is great! I admit I was a little disappointed it wasn't more, but I can look at it and be happy. It didn't cause me to crash my diet.

I made it through the week with 30 gas money left. That will become my spending money for the week. I filled up last night for $54. If this week is like last week, I should end up with quite a bit left. I had an extra fill up due to DS taking my car to Atlanta.

Ordered my books

August 5th, 2010 at 04:23 pm

My financial aid finally went through. I am eligible for the pell grant. I was going to order the books and use my mom's credit card, but I was able to use the financial aid at the online bookstore! They cost a little bit more, but now I don't add to the money I owe my mom. I am so excited. Classes Start August 16. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing. I am taking 3 courses, something I have never attempted before. Wish me luck!

Almost forgot my positive!

I am a nurturing caring mother who puts the happiness of her children above her own.

Internal Struggle

August 5th, 2010 at 02:41 pm

I really wanted to stop for Cini Minis this morning. I had to keep asking myself why I am choosing to stay overweight. That did it. I was able to beat the craving and come straight to work. I am eating my bagel w/ cream cheese now. Today is day 3 of my new diet and all goes well so far.

Yesterday was kind of a spendy day. I went to ingles in the morning to get items for work. They have their bottled water on sale so I got to cases of it. I ended up spending about $20 there. When I went to make lunch I realised I didn't have any grape jelly so I had to go back to the grocery store. Went ahead and got more cream cheese since it is running low.

School started today for my kids. I had to get school supplies last night. Spent about $8 but that isn't finished yet. They will come home tonight to tell me what other things they need. Joy.

I have decided...

August 4th, 2010 at 02:31 pm

To not be fat anymore. I had a very powerful session with my therapist and discovered that every time I binge eat I am making a choice to continue to be overweight. I came out of the meeting with a new found resolve to lose weight. I started drinking water like I should yesterday. I went to the store last night and stocked up on healthy foods. I walked on the treadmill last night for 10 minutes. Hope to build that up. I joined a site called SparkPeople. I have used it before and it is a great weight loss tool. Best of all it is free!

I had $100 to spend at the grocery store and came in just under that at $98.60. However, I had to go to the store this morning to get things to keep at work for breakfast and lunch. Spent $28 this morning. Will have to rework the budget...again.

Forgot to post my positive for the day:

I am strong enough to stick to this diet and lose the weight I need to lose.

Spendy Day Already

August 3rd, 2010 at 05:37 pm

I have already spent $41.07 and it is only noon! I had a dr appointment and the copay was $40. Then I stopped at McDonalds and got a large drink for $1.07. I plan to go to the grocery store tonight so my spending for the day isn't done.

Positive Thought for the Day:

I consistently go out of my way to help my friends whenever they need help.

Budget Fine Tuning

August 2nd, 2010 at 05:29 pm

I just reworked my budget for the next few weeks. I gave myself more money each week for necessities and spending money. I hope it all works out like it is planned...

Taking a tip from Tar Walker and posting something positive about myself or my situation each day. Today's positive:

I am able to create and live within a budget for the benefit of myself and my family.

This and That...

August 2nd, 2010 at 03:37 pm

I leant my car to my son and his friends to go to a concert in Atlanta yesterday. It has a full tank of gas when they left. When I got in the car this morning it was sitting in empty! So I had to get gas on the way to work this morning. $51. This kind of depleted my gas allowance, so DS is going to have to give me some money toward the gas they used.

Even without a car yesterday, I managed to find a way to spend money. We ordered a pizza for dinner. DD had one of her friends over and there really wasn't much to cook in the house. Mother Hubbards Cabinets are bare!!