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Archive for June, 2011

Went to the Grocery Store at lunch

June 30th, 2011 at 07:44 pm

I had to pick up more bagels to keep here at work. I was completely of them. I also got a box of Stouffers french bread pizzas. I just love them. Is it considered eating out even though I got it at the grocery store?

I then broke down and got a dr pepper from Burger King. it is a dollar more than at Mcdonald's but it is so much better than McDonalds Dr Pepper is. Funny how you can tell the difference in different peoples fountain drinks. I am sure it has to do with the amount of carbonation vs syrup. Whatever...burger king wins hands down. Tomorrow I will be back on the McDonald's sodas.

Thinking about dinner tonight...since I failed to take something out of the freezer. A co-worker had tomato soup for lunch and now I am kind of craving it. So I think we will have grilled cheese and tomato soup. Problem solved.

Day 3 of not eating out

June 30th, 2011 at 02:22 pm

Today is day three of my not eating out challenge. I am out of bagels at work so I will have to go to the grocery store to replenish my supply. I still have some frozen lunches in the freezer so I am good until payday tomorrow. Went to Burger King last night to get my daughter a $1 slushie. She enjoys them and they are the same as a soda from McDonalds. We then went home and made pancakes for dinner. I was craving them so it worked out well. I forgot again to take anything out for dinner so I am not sure what we will do. But there is plenty of stuff there to eat so we should be fine.

I applied for a part time position last night. Unfortunately it probably is a day time position and I can't take it. That is the problem with most part time jobs for my qualifications. Most are day jobs. I already have a day job...I need a night job. But hopefully they will be able to be flexible.

Tomorrow is pay day. I have already gotten everything set up already. It is bummer that I won't be able to pay anything extra on the mortgage. Hopefully the renter will get her stuff together and will be able to pay me something in the next week or so. But I am not holding my breath.

Day 2 of not eating out

June 29th, 2011 at 05:17 pm

Today is the second day of not eating out. We did eat Taco Bell last night but my daughter paid for it. I told her I didn't have the money but she was craving it. I would have been happy with the grilled cheese.

We will have to go to the grocery store tonight to get eggs so I can make pancakes for dinner. I am kind of craving them. DD has tumble tonight but not until 7:30. That should give me plenty of time to get some pancakes cooked up.

Day 1 of not eating out challenge(again)

June 28th, 2011 at 07:01 pm

It feels like deja vu. I seems I posted something like this last week on Tuesday. Huh...must just be my imagination. Today is the first day of my challenge again. I have had two $1 cokes from McDonalds, but I came back and heated up one of my frozen meals for lunch. Now if I can just make it through dinner. I forgot to take anything out so I guess it will be grilled cheese. I have been planning on making them for the last few nights but I have found something else to cook(with the exception of the last two nights when I have strayed).

This afternoon is going so slowly. I can't wait for this week to be over. I have a 3 day weekend! Can't wait!

Going into Starvation Mode

June 27th, 2011 at 07:21 pm

Since I can't depend on the renter to come up with rent I have reworked my entire budget. Nothing to detrimental, I just have to take some things that I usually make extra payments on and just take them down to the minimum. That sucks. So instead of having my credit cards paid off in six months it will be longer. I really hope she works something out. I hate having to be mean but I am not going to be able to support someone else either.

New Computer for Me

June 27th, 2011 at 03:05 pm

Relax...I am not buying a new computer. That would be really stupid right now. Rather my boss bought me a new laptop. I love getting a new computer but I hate getting it all set up!

More Bad News

June 26th, 2011 at 11:21 pm

My renter called and asked if she could meet with me at her mom's house, which is right down the street from my house. I went and she told me that her husband left her. She said that she doesn't know what she is going to do. She doesn't want to move but she isn't sure she how she is going to do it on her own. They only had one car and he took it. She has got two little girls. She is already behind $305 for June rent and I have very little faith that July will be paid on time. I will give her a month to see if she can get it straightened out but I can't continue to not receive any rent. I looked over my budget and was able to make adjustments to make sure everything got paid.(read put off some payments). I am lucky that I have been paying ahead on the mortgage so only a portion of it is due. I just hate that I can't pay the amount I have been paying.

Gave in to Temptation

June 26th, 2011 at 08:50 pm

I gave in today and went to get a BLT combo from Arby's. I know I shouldn't have but haha on me...it made me sick. I suppose that is what I get. I just didn't feel like making something. Oh well. Lesson learned.

Resisted Temptation to Eat Out

June 25th, 2011 at 11:36 pm

I took my daughter to Blairsville this morning to meet her ride to the races. She asked me as I was just waking up if we could stop at McDonalds or if she needed to eat something here. I told her we would stop then thought better of it and told her to eat something here. She didn't even complain! Then after I dropped her off I came straight home and ate a bowl of cereal. Then for dinner/lunch I made a pb&j sandwich and chips. So today is another day of not eating out.

Meals at Home

June 25th, 2011 at 02:23 am

Tonight was the 4th night in a row that I ate dinner at home. I heated up some tomato sauce, added some pasta, made some garlic bread and called it done. It was yummy. My daughter ordered chinese but paid for it with her own money. She will be gone all day tomorrow so she won't be here to tempt me into eating out.

Today is Day 4 of Not Eating Out

June 24th, 2011 at 03:17 pm

I have done well so far. I only got one fountain drink from Mcdonalds yesterday. Now if I can make it through the weekend...the weekend is always the hardest because it is just easier to grab something. I know that is reverse of the way it should be...seeing as I am home and have the time to make something. But who ever said that I am normal?!

I have a charge for homeowners insurance that comes out of my checking account automatically around the first of the month. A couple of times it has come out before the first. Since I don't have enough to cover it, my mom said she would help me cover it until the first and then I can pay them back. This is the first time in several months that I have had to borrow any money from them. And I don't feel too bad because it isn't like I don't have the money to pay it, it is just a scheduling error.

The renters have informed me that the air conditioning is no longer working. they are supposed to be getting some estimates. I am hoping that the duct work has fallen. That is a pretty easy fix. My worst fear is that the unit will need to be replaced. In that case I don't know what I will do. Probably buy them a bigger window unit that will work for the whole house. But come winter, I will need to get something else worked out. I have a plan though. I can finance the unit through the power company. I would just need to get the power switched over to my name. I have never taken it out of they EX DH's name after the divorce 7 years ago. I just have never had $300 for the deposit.

Well I am off to make my bagel with cream cheese. Hope everyone has a happy Friday!

Day 3 of not eating out

June 23rd, 2011 at 03:37 pm

Today is the third day of not eating out. I am doing well as I don't even have any cravings. I am not particularly thrilled with bagels for breakfast, but I can't think of anything else that appeals to me. As long as I don't give in and go get something quick.

We had leftover tuna noodle casserole last night. It was a little dry, but not too bad. I forgot to take something out of the freezer for dinner tonight so we will probably have grilled cheese and french fries. It has been so long since I have made dinner that I am kind of enjoying it. I actually have been keeping the sink empty of dishes but loading/unloading the dishwasher. That alone is a huge improvement for me.

Well, I had better get to work. Hope you have a great day!

Day 2 of No Eating Out

June 22nd, 2011 at 02:42 pm

Day 1 went well. I purchased to $1.00 sodas from Mcdonald's. And even though I was starving by the time I left work, I didn't get anything else. I went home and cooked dinner. It was the first time in a long time that I have actually cooked dinner. It was good and we have left overs for tonight(unless the teenage boys find it). Day 2 has started well. If I can resist breakfast out than I am usually pretty good. Breakfast is my weakest moment.

Renters gave me $298 last night. I put $203 of it toward the power bill and the rest to my son. They still owe $302 for June rent. This is owed to my son because he gave me the money to pay the mortgage. Hopefully they will get caught up real soon.

No Eating Out Challenge

June 21st, 2011 at 03:07 pm

I have decided to challenge myself on my eating out problem. I went to the store last night and got bagels and cream cheese to keep at work for breakfast. And stocked up on frozen meals for lunch. I put them in the freezer at work so I don't have to remember to bring them from home in the mornings. I am allowing my self a large dr pepper from Mcdonalds every morning for $1. I know I should just buy a 12 pack to keep at the office, but it just doesn't taste the same as a fountain drink.

I went to Food Lion for work yesterday and found that they have their bottled water on sale. So I bought 2 cases for home. Also purchased the aformentioned bagels and lunches. I also filled up my gas tank for $3.59/gal. That is the cheapest I have seen around here.

I have $25 left in my grocery fund for the next week and a half and $13 left in my gas fund until Friday. I feel good about where I am at.

I sent my mom a list of where my money goes on payday. We were talking and she thought that I just spent money where I shouldn't. I tried to explain to her that even before I get a chance to spend money I am in the negative with just the items that need to be paid on that payday. She understands now that I simply don't make enough money. I have put in applications at a couple different places, but nothing pans out. I know that Food Lion has hired people since I put my application in, but they haven't called me.

Well, I am off to make my bagel with cream cheese. Have a great day!

PayDay

June 17th, 2011 at 02:44 pm


I have decided to post my paycheck each week and what is being paid. A couple of notes though…there is $100 in the account that I don’t count. So although it says there is a negative balance, that is not accurate. Airfare…sister purchased ticket I am paying her half of ticket price. Transfer to rent account is replacing money I borrowed from the renters damage deposit. Groceries and gas are estimates. Car payment is only $350 but I am trying to pay $400 each time. Transfer to Son is rent paid by the renters that needs to be paid back to him since he loaned me the money to pay the mortgage.

Beg Balance -69.83 -69.83

Work 1080
Child Support 339.42
Total Income 1419.42

Contacts 100
Transfer to 100
rent acct 100
Gas for 2 weeks 250
groceries 150
credit card 100
Telephone&
Internet&TV 176.3
Water 51.08
Cheer Pictures 60
Airline Ticket 20
DD Shoes 60
car payment 400
homeowners insu 66.58
transfer to Son 80
Total Payments 1613.96

Amount short -264.37

As you can see…I have a shortfall for the next two weeks. Ex DH should give me $160. That leaves $104 shortfall. Since there is $100 in the account I don’t count, I am good. Plus I don’t expect to pay the full groceries or gas allowances. It will be very tight but doable. Just need to control my eating out.

Just Catching Up

June 15th, 2011 at 07:40 pm

Just looking over my finances and things are looking pretty decent. I am still not able to put anything into savings, but on payday, there will be $93 in my savings account. I do have the kids savings accounts with a balance of $120(60 each). Friday $20 more will be added to each account. I also have the renters security deposit in a saving account, Should be $250, but I had to borrow some. So right now there is $100 but Friday I am paying back $100. That will make $200 in there.

I called the renters Monday to see if they had any rent money for me. She told me they had $98.05. So I met them and they had $90 in cash and $8.05 in change. I felt so bad for them. I remember when we had our first apartment and we had to count pennies to get the rent. I am so glad that I am not in that position any longer. It used to kill me when people said they had no money, but they had money in savings or other places. When I said I had no money I meant that I really had no money. So glad I am not in that position any longer. I am still not getting everything paid that I need to get paid but I am definately in a different place.

I have got to gain control of my eating out. I have had lunch out every day this week. And we are talking Arby's so it isn't cheap. I has been about $6 every day. Plus $4 for breakfast(which I budget for). I really have got to gain control of this. At the time it is like "it is only $6." But all of the $6 add up to lots of money. And I have items in the freezer at home that I could bring, but I forget to grab them in the mornings.

Well...that is all for now. Thanks for reading!

$2000 toward Principle

June 8th, 2011 at 05:56 pm

I renewed my mortgage last year in May. I just called the bank to clarify where the extra that I am paying is being credited to because it looked like to me that it was just going to toward future payments. However, that isn't the case. Since May of last year I have paid $2000 toward the principle and reduced my payment. So my monthly payment has been reduced. On average each time I make my payment I am paying $200 toward the principle. I am not as good as some of you keeping up with how much principle and interest I pay but I am pretty proud of the fact that I have paid so much toward the principle.

The renter called me last night and told me that they ran into a medical issue and didn't have the rent. I am not capable of being mean so I told them to get it to me as soon as possible, hopefully this weekend. In the meantime, I need to make a mortgage payment. My son got quite a good bit of money for his high school graduation. So I made a deal with him. He loaned me the money to make my house payment and when the renters pay I will pay him back plus the Late fee the renters must pay. So he is making money on the deal. I just hope that this doesn't become a regular occurance. After July, I will be a month ahead on the mortgage so this won't be an issue, if I stick to the budget I have now.

EXDH is putting $150 into my account. This plus the money from my son is allowing me to still pay extra on the mortgage. I just love the fact that so much is going toward the principle each month. It makes being broke all the time worth it. But is also explains why I need a second job! I am paying extra on so many of my bills that I often run into shortfalls. Oh well...it always seems to work out in the end.

June Budget Complete

June 6th, 2011 at 12:30 am

I have completed my budget through June and the beginning of July. Right now I need to come up with about $300. I don't think it will be a problem. EX dh owes me about $311 so hopefully he will pay me. Then things will be looking good. Of course nothing if final until it actually happens. I just need to control my eating out. We have food to eat, but it is just simpler to eat out. I need to stop that and purchase something to have at work to eat for breakfast.

I filled my car up on Friday. I can judge how well my budget is doing based upon my ability to fill my car up and not just get enough to get through. I can't remember the last time I just had to get enough for a couple of days. So obviously I must be doing something right. It feels really good.

Just Checking In

June 1st, 2011 at 05:56 pm

Not much is happening in my financial world. Things all look pretty good. I am short for this payday, but exH should give me some money to help cover it. The renters called me and the have the power money. That is good cause I need to pay it by Friday. They also have most of the rent just waiting in a pay check. So far I have to say that I am impressed with the renters. They haven't been late and are always up front with what is going on. Let's hope they stay that way.