I budgeted $200 for the rafting and dinner at papa's pizza(kind of like a ci ci's pizza). It was $92 at the rafting place, which is quite cheap. My BF husband is a river guide and he didn't charge us for taking the kind down the river. We just had to pay for the insurance and use of the raft. So we saved there plus only four kids showed up. Then we went to Papa's pizza and it was $50.89. So all told, I came in $50 under budget for the birthday party. That is awesome! My DD had an awesome time on the rapids and swears she is doing the harder rapids next year. I am quite proud of the fact that I was able to pay cash for her birthday celebration and I have so much left to give me a little bit of a cushion until I get paid next Friday.

I was so tempted last night to get Arby's for dinner in spite of the fact that I had the roast ready to eat. I had to make two trips out last night that took me directly by Arby's. But I didn't do it. I came home and heated up the roast and added some green beans.

today is the rafting trip for my daughter. We have to leave here in about 45 minutes. She is very excited about it. Afterward I am taking them to Papa's Pizza. I have enough saved up for all of this so it isn't coming out of my budget money.

Yep that is right. Today is day 11 since I have had any fast food that I paid for. I have had two free meals in that time period. We went out to dinner last night for DD's birthday but my son paid. I paid for desserts since he was already looking at a $60 bill. I don't consider that breaking my challenge as it isn't fast food and it wasn't for a meal. It was for a treat.

Dinner for tonight is already cooked as I put a roast in the crock pot yesterday forgetting that we were going out for dinner. Just need to add some vegetables and some rolls and it is done.

The weekend is always the hardest for me to resist eating out. We should have plenty of food to prevent it, just takes time to cook.

DD is going rafting tomorrow for her birthday. So far she has 4 people going. She should have fun. I hope that the 4 people show up. She has a problem with people cancelling at the last minute. I feel so bad for her sometimes. She hasn't found that one true friend that she can always count on yet. I didn't find that friend until I was in my thirties. I hope it doesn't take her that long. Anyway, I already have the money saved for the trip and I should actually have some extra.

Today is day 10 of not eating out. I am so proud of myself! Of course I have actually eaten out, but I didn't pay for it. That is the best kind. DS is taking us out to dinner tonight for DD's birthday. So another free meal. I mean hey, if they want to spend their money I am more than happy to oblige!

We decided to do a vegetable type meal for dinner last night. We had Broccolli and cheese, stuffing, and green bean casserole. I heated up a chicken breast for my son and put some rolls in the oven. All in all a pretty decent meal. I remember to take a roast out of the freezer last night and I put it in the crock pot this morning. It will be good for dinner. If I have any cornbread mix I will make some cornbread to go with it.

My child support payment hits today so I will make my mortgage payment this afternoon. Running low on funds in the checking account but I have about $35 cash that will need to last until the next pay day. I think I will make it fine.

I can't believe how long I have gone without eating out. It is really quite impressive for me. We did go to Mexican last night but my DD paid. She was craving it and I told her she had to pay if we went. The money was burning a hole in her pocket. Maybe now she is done for a while.

I forgot to take anything out for dinner so we will probably have a meal in a box...you know the complete meals they sell. All you have to do is mix all the ingredients together. I should get in the habit of taking something out for dinner the night before. Definately something to work on.

I sent a text message to the cell phone number I had and she called me back. Apparently she got the phone in the seperation. Anyway she is talking with this committee that helps people with their past due rent. She said all I needed to do was fill out some paperwork confirming that she is behind on her rent and they would send me a check. I doubt it is that simple, but we shall see. The form is supposed to be faxed to me shortly. Keep your fingers crossed.

The air conditioning in my car has decided to quit working. It is brutally hot and I have no air conditioning. that is just perfect. I am hoping that it just needs to be charged. That is less than $100, although I am not sure when I will have $100 to get it fixed.

Today is day 8 of not eating out. I stopped for my dr pepper at McDonalds but then came straight to work. Planning on going to the grocery store at lunch to get stouffers pizzas for the week. Already have bagels here so that will give me some variety.

I have been going over my budget and I have a sick feeling in my stomach. I am not sure how I am going to make it through the next 2 months. I left a message on what I think is the renter's home phone number. I don't know if I should call/text the phone that I know is in the husband's possession since according to her he isn't living there...or at least wasn't living there. I hate being a bill collector. It is the worst part of my job and to have to do it in my personal life really sucks. I know she is going through a rough time, but so am I. Granted not as rough, but I have worked hard to get to the point where I don't have it so rough. Now that is in jeopardy. What do you think...call/text the husband? They both signed the lease. Plus she told me that the dishwasher and air has quit working. I had enough money out of their deposit to replace the dishwasher but I had to use it to survive this week. So now I don't know how I will get either one of them fixed.


My daughter's birthday is Thursday and the only thing she wants is a rafting trip. Fortuntely I know a river guide who can get us cheap tickets for her and her friends. I already have the money for that saved so it should be no problem. I probably even have some extra but until I know how much I don't want to touch it. I know given the circumstances, I shouldn't be spending the money, but I don't want the renters bad situation to affect my dd's birthday. She asked for this last year and she wasn't big enough to go. I have been saving the money ever since she asked for it so I would be ready this year.

So that is the update that is my life. I just wish I could get rid of this sick feeling in my stomach.

Today has been been day 7 of not eating out. I went to my parents house for lunch so there was no temptation there. I told my son to take the car to work so I have no ability to go get something. If I get hungry I will have to do something here.

My DD cleaned the entire kitchen last night, including the microwave. It was bad. She has been really good lately...not that she is ever real bad. Just normal teenage stuff.

I hate to go back to work tomorrow. I really need a vacation I think.

I even resisted temptation to order a pizza for dinner. Instead I finally made the Grilled Cheese I had been threatening for the last week. Put some tater tots on and made some tomato soup for DS and dinner was done. Nice and easy. I finally got most of the dishes done. We were 2 loads behind with the disposer not working. Could have done them by hand but we only had one side of the sink working and it just seemed to much work for me. But they are all getting done now. Just dinner plates are in the sink for the next load.

Going to my parents house for a lunch tomorrow. I have to bring baked beans. I think I got enough...it will just have to do. The 4th of July is my dad's birthday. We always celebrate his birthday and my DD's birthday on the same day, since hers is on the 7th of July. it will be a good time.

Today has been a very lazy day...that is once we got back from picking up my DD's turtle. She has paid for every bit of it herself. Probably about $100. I give it about a month before she is tired of it. Then I am not sure what we will do with the turtle.

My son came in this morning carrying a box. I heard something clawing in it. He apparently adopted a ferret earlier in the week and has been taking care of it. He took it to get it's shots this morning. I told him it was fine. It wasn't anything that I would end up taking care of and it is downstairs so if it stinks, it is his problem. At least it isn't a puppy like he has been wanting.

The guy came and removed the garbage disposal. It didn't take him too long to get it removed. But the smell from the food that had been trapped in it was horrible!! Stunk most of the day. Thank goodness it is gone now. I even ran the dishwasher and it didn't back up into the sink. It will seem wierd to have use of both sides of the sink again. I will run the dishwasher again tomorrow to get the dishes all caught up.

Today was almost a NSD. The only money I spent was $1.07 for a dr pepper at McDonalds. Guess lazy day means no spending. Still have two more weekend days to get through. Hope my will power can survive.

I left work early today. I was the only one there and it was quite boring so I took the afternoon off thinking I would come home and take a nap. Ya right. I went to my parents house to pick up DD. Went to the pet store to see if she needed anything else for the fish she bought today. From there we went to the bank where I made a deposit into my mom's account and made copies of items in the safe deposit box. Then we went to the high school to drop of DD enrollment packet. Then we went to a different bank to get direct deposit information for DS and took it to him at work. Just when I thought I get to relax I remembered that I needed an oil change. Went from there to check the po box and then back to the bank to cash a check DD got for her birthday. From there back to the pet store for a 20 gallon aquarium(told her she could get a turtle but it has to stay outside). Came home for a few minutes then had to take DD to my parents to finish cutting the grass. I had a nice visit with my parents while she cut the grass. Finally got home after 7. But DD made dinner because of all the running around I did today, most of it for her. She is such a good daughter! Oh and at some point I filled up the gas tank. Whew...I am tired just writing all that I accomplished today. That just means that I will have less to do tomorrow.

I finally had to call a handy man about my disposal situation. The disposal has quit working and that side of the sink had been draining very slowly and the dishwasher has been backing up into the sink. Well I noticed this morning that there was still water in the sink, not much, but enough to be a problem. That means I can't run the dishwasher because when it backs up into the sink it won't drain. And it is starting to smell. So I got the name of a handy man from the local Ace hardware and he is supposed to come tomorrow some time. I can't wait since the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes and the sink is starting to overflow with dishes that won't fit in the dishwasher. I hate that I have to spend the money but at least I have some money in the savings account to pay for it. I was tempted to put the oil change on the credit card but in the end I decided that I would just pay for it and take money from savings for the disposal repair.

Today is Day 4. I was tempted this morning since I got paid this morning. I tried to justify it but in the end I didn't do it. I got my usual dr pepper at McDonalds and came on to work. Heading into the weekend though...that is my most dangerous time. At least my daughter will be home. It is easier to say no when she asks me to eat out. As long as it isn't my idea. That is the danger zone.

Did our Bi-weekly grocery shopping last night. Spent $125. I budgeted $150. So the rest will sit in my account and cover what things might come up in the next two weeks, milk and other stuff. I feel like we got a lot of groceries for the money. I bought two big bags of cat food since it was on sale. So I won't have to buy that next time I go to the store in two weeks. I also got 3 cases of water on sale for $2.99 each. Our family goes through the bottled water. I try to keep at least a few on hand.

Oh...almost forgot today is pay day. Everything is all set up so the only thing I have to do is put money into my mom's account. I picked up my prescriptions last night...$122.50. Ouch. That is only for a one month supply. Wish my drugs were available in the generic form. I have listed my pay and expenses below. I hope to make up the shortage by having EX Dh give me the money he owes me.

Income: 980
Child Support 339
Total Income 1319

Gas for two week 250
Groceries 150
kids health ins 56
auto insurance 147
homeowners ins 66
curve 44
tumbling 55
chirporactor 35
oil change 50
loan from MIL 100
mortgage 348
sears 30
checks 22
loan from mom 69
total expenses 1422.

total short 103

I hope you have a great holiday weekend!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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!

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 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!

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.

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.