My son and I had a long talk yesterday on the way to pick up my DD. He told me that I am starting to remind him of my sister. It came as a total shock that he would say that, but I can see it too. My sister has some severe emotional problems, but if you ask her she is fine. She should be featured on that hoarding show. She has a very nice condo that is completely full of boxes from when she moved in. There is simply a path from the front door to her bedroom, where she spends all of her time. Since the boxes have been there for about 4 years, they gave gathered mail and other things that don't belong. It is a total mess. She is also quite overwieght, which is why she is on oxygen all the time. Her body can't support her weight. When my son said this, I did see some similiarities that I had overlooked. I have gained 50 pounds over the last few months to become the heaviest I have ever been. I was alreay overweight to begin with. This is something that has bothered me all along. There are boxes in my bedroom that I haven't unpacked from our move back in April. The house isn't getting cleaned like it should. On the weekends, I just sit around and watch tv. If I could stay in bed all day, I would.

Since my son pointed these items out to me yesterday, I have decided to change back to the person I used to be. I am going toget the boxes in my room unpacked and get it cleaned up. I walked on the treadmill last night for 15 minutes. Will slowly build that up to more. We actually ate dinner last night as a family, the first time in a long time that I have cooked instead of getting fast food. My son offered to walk around downtown with me once a week and to help me with dinners. The thing about dinners is that we are rarely home in time to make a good dinner. But I am going to try.

I don't want to end up like my sister. She never leaves her house that you can barely walk through. I am going to try to change.

I started out the day with $1235 in my checking account and now it is down to $121.86. Kind of depressing. In actually there is $500 in there, but I have already deducted the amounts budgeted for gas and spending money. By deducting the amounts, it keeps me from overspending because my brain thinks there is less money in the account.

My mom said that she would probably be able to help me next month with my shortfalls in the budget. That would be a relief. I would love to cash in a week of my vacation, but it just isn't a good time at work to do that.

I have made a decision about dept repayment. I am going to throw at least $100 per paycheck at debt. That is $200 per month(except for July which has 3 paydays). I know that is not alot, compared to what some of you throw toward debt, but it is all I can spare right now. I also decided that once Chadwicks is paid off(2 more payments...yippee!!), I will start paying toward the property taxes. The taxes seem to get forgotten so I entered them into my quicken so I can remember them. Making my first payment to them in July. I really can't wait to pay off this debt. Wish I had been this serious about it long ago.

I am obsessed with my budget. I know that could not necessarily be a bad thing, but in my case I think it is. I stare at my budget/check register for long periods of time during the day when I am supposed to be working. But when I get this obsessed with the budget is when I seem to do the best with sticking to it. Just wish I wasn't as obsessed with it. Need to get some work done!

My sister delivered the treadmill to me yesterday. Now we just gotta get it in the house. It is a NordicTrack commercial treadmill so it is very heavy! My teenage son and his friends have been assigned the task of getting it in the house.

The war on fleas continues. We have never had any problem with fleas before but this year has been horrible! I did 3 bombs in the house but I don't think they worked very well. And the frontline I put on the cats doesn't seem to be working either. I am almost at my wits end!

I can't wait until Payday on Friday. I am running on fumes this week, literally. I need gas and I am not sure how I am going to get it. I will have to transfer money out of my savings account(which has a whoping balance of $36) in order to get gas to last until Friday. But I should be able to put it back on Friday. My budget for this pay period looks good. The Budget for my next pay period...not so good. I am short about $400. I would like to cash in some of my vacation, but my company isn't in a position to allow that right now. So as it gets closer, I will figure something out. I always do.

I am making an extra payment to the chadwicks card this payday of $109. I know it is an odd amount, but it is the snowball amount. This will be the third payment this month. 2 more payments after this one and it will be paid off! I can't wait! Then I will move on to the next credit card. I definately think it was a smart idea to pay off the ones that have been closed...therefore I can't charge them back up,, like I was with the open visa card. I would make extra payments and then have to use the card for gas or something. This way, I have to figure something else out, and I always do.

Although July is a 3-paycheck month, I am not going to see much relief. I have my budget planned through July and although the Chadwicks card will be paid off, there isn't much wiggle room. I am hoping that my sisters will be able to help with some of the cheerleading costs. We are doing a fundraiser the 26th of June that will go toward the expenses. I just hope we make alot of money! We have had alot of donations so hopefully any money we make will go straight to our accounts.

I made an additional credit card payment today to my Chadwicks card. The balance on it is $321. I will make another $100 payment June 18 and pay another $200 next month. It will be paid off by the end of June. I am so excited. I am attempting to pay an additional $200 each month toward my credit card debt. It hasn't been easy to squeeze it in. When I am adjusting my budget(which I always seem to be doing) I don't sacrifice the debt payment. I make adjustments to other areas. I am proud that I have been able to do that. It will be the first credit card I have paid off.

In other news, I have semi-quit smoking. I am leaving my cigarettes at work so the only time I have access to them in during the day. I only smoked 3 cigarettes yesterday. Eventually I hope to quit all together.

Just a quick note to let you know I am still around. I am still doing well with my budget. I was paying extra on a credit card that was still open and then ended up charging it up again. Instead I put the extra $200 to a different card that I can't use and it will be paid off by the end of July! I can't wait! I have also managed to pay for my daughters cheerleading. So things are looking up. I measure my success in the ability to fill my car up instead of just getting $20 to last a couple of days. I haven't had to do that in a while! Have had a full tank everytime I go. I also have been able to pay for everything I buy using my debit card, instead of writing a check and hoping it doesn't clear until payday. I am feeling great about my situation right now. I will try to post more often. I have missed the updates from a few regular posters!

Our trip to Nashville ended up being will under budget. I had budgeted $300 for the trip, including gas, eating and hotel. The trip came in at $250! It required less gas than I thought and we didn't eat out much.

I might have to dip into the savings account for contacts. One fell out of my eye this morning and I have no idea where!

Ex-husband is taking advantage of the tax credits and purchasing a new home. He is going to file an amended return which means I will have a credit of about 5K coming to me(the amount he is in arrears)! That would be awesome! I could completely pay off my credit cards and still build my emergency fund!I probably won't see the credit until at least June, but it is something to look forward to.

I have posted in a while, but I am still here! Alot has been happening with the move and all. We are getting settled in the new house, but it doesn't feel like home yet. I am sure it will get there!

My budget has been really good lately. I have managed to save $300 in my emergency fund and $180 in the kids savings accounts. Hopefully things will continue and I won't have to use any of that money. I am getting a fence though for the dogs and might have to dip into the savings account for a little of it.

Heading to Nashville tonight for a cheer competition tomorrow. Budgeted for it, plus my sisters contributed to the cause with $100 each! That was how much I budgeted so basically it isn't costing me anything to take this trip!! I have enough in my fundraising account to pay for the hotel.

Still working on my credit cards...made an extra payment today. I have minor set backs on them, but I always make an extra payment when I do. I am paying off everything I charge on them and then some.

I have made a slight change to my budget. I have been working on one credit card to pay off. Problem is when I get it low, I use it again(not discplined enough). So what I am going to do is focus my efforts on the other cards first, since I can't use them(closed by bank) every bit I pay them will stay paid. Therefore, I still plan to pay one off by the end of April, it will just be a different one. Make Sense? It seems like a good idea for me so that I am actually making progess.

Potential disaster averted again...cheer gym again...My mom sends a check each month for the tuition, but apparently the gym owner doesn't check the mail all that often. So they hadn't received the check so they charged my debit(which we are required to have on file). In order to cover this, I have to take an advance on the credit card(see above lol). While it feels good to be able to cover this without asking my parents for help, I wish I didn't have to take it from a credit card.

I am also coming out of my funk at full speed. Getting a perm tomorrow...my hair is so flat and lifeless. Cheer competition tomorrow as well. Started my diet today. WIll start working out once we get moved into the new house. Going to try to get the rest of the house packed up this weekend too. Big Plans..Big Plans...

I think I am coming out of my down episode. This one was rough. I gained a bunch of weight and was really down on myself. Once we get moved(next week already!!) I plan to start working out and eating healty again. I cleaned out the fridge last night in preparation for the move. It is extremely empty! Packing is still going slow, but hope to make a huge dent in it this weekend. I don't have to have everything packed, but it would be nice. The movers are only moving the large furniture pieces and we will move the boxes over the weekend. trying coordinate everything that needs to be done at the house if never ending!

My budget looks good for the next couple of pay periods. If all goes as planned(which it never does!) I should have another credit card paid off by the end of April. It feels really good to have money in the bank and not have to worry about possible NSF's. Everthing is paid on time and not late. Feels even better.

Made it to payday with 7.14 left in my checking account! That was close!

2 weeks until we move. I still have so much packing to do! I need to spend tomorrow doing nothing but packing, but we will see. My parents are taking me out to dinner tonight to celebrate getting the money for the house. The closing is March 11. I can't wait. It is going to be a brand new start for me! Gonna start dieting and living again.

The Bad News: I set up a bill payment through my online bill pay for cheer for $95. I found out I only owed $20 but not in time to stop the payment. The cheer gym was supposed to hold the check for me to pick up and I would pay the difference. They depostited it. I didn't have enough in my checking account to cover it. That's the bad news.

The Good News: I had just enough in my savings account to cover it. I did an online transfer and disaster was averted. So while I drained my savings account(bad news) I didn't have to go running to my parents to help me cover the check. That's the good news.

It seems that whenever I have money sitting in my checking account, I try to find a place for it. I either pay extra on my credit cards or move it to savings. Doesn't sound bad, right? Except for more often than not, I end up needing that money for something. I can't just let it sit in my account. It is just burning a hole in my computer for it to be there. I need to learn how to let money sit in my checking account. I am so not used to having any money in my checking account that it feels wierd to let money sit in there.

One of the Cheer competitions got cancelled and since I had already paid the fee, it will be refunded. Now I have and extra $75 that I don't need to pay. I paid $50 toward credit card(bal 280) and put $25 in savings. I now have closse to $100 in savings. Hope I will be able to keep this up for months to come.

I can't wait to pay off my credit cards! I am so close on one of them. As of the 12th, one will only have $230 on it. I have paid a total of $290 toward that card this month. I just can't wait to get it gone! Then start snowballing the other cards.

Packing is still going slow. Haven't done much more...but I will get there.

I just about have one of my credit cards paid off. When I went to check the balance, I realized that they have raised my limit. I guess they are afraid that if I pay it off, I won't be using it! Or perhaps they are hoping that I will use it. Either way, I hope to not have to use it again!

Packing is slow going...really need to get busy because we close in less than three weeks. It is like I am miserable here and don't want to be here but I can't make myself take the steps to not be here. Make sense to anyone else other than my screwed up mind?

I have just about got the living room packed up. I have one full box for goodwill. Just have to get the pictures off the wall and the LR will be done. We are set to close on March 12 so I have a little over a month to get everything packed up. They are coming tomorrow to give me an estimate on moving the larger items. HOpefully it won't be too much.

Just looking at my budget and it looks like I am going to be a couple hundred short by the end of the month. I am sure it will work out, it always does. It seems that the more I stick to the budget and pay attention, the more things seem to work out in the long run. Not always sure how it happens, but it does.

Well, I have started packing, but now I just need to continue. I didn't pack anything last night...but my daughter packed up a lot of her room. We took my parents by the house last night and let them look around the inside. They are impressed with the house. I am excited and can't wait to get moved in.

In financial news...my budget it looking good until the end of february. There are some expenses coming up but I think I have them covered. I filed my taxes and am waiting on my refund. I already received my state refund, just waiting on the Federal.

The bank accepted our offer with minor changes. We will be closing early next month!!! I am so excited but I dread packing up the house. I feel very overwhelmed at the prospect of getting everything ready to pack. I have lived in this house for 10 years. There is so much junk accumulated that I want to get rid of. I just need to start with one room at a time but can't seem to even start!

We finally were able to get a pre-approval letter to fax an offer on the house, which is still available! We went through several different lenders until we finally found one that would work with my parents(who have an excellent credit rating btw). Since it was their second home and within 20 miles of their first home we ran into obstacles every where! But the offer has been faxed. Now we wait!

Alot has happened over the last week. Once I decided to put my house on the market, things have really snowballed! I asked my parents if they would be willing to co-sign on a house with me if I wasn't able to qualify for anything. I am miseerable where I am at and it is probably a great factor of my depression. My mom called me and told me that they would like to buy the house I am looking at for me!!! They will make the payments until my house sells. I am going to try to rent my house out until it sells. I am still in shock! THings are moving right along. THey talked to the mortgage broker yesterday and we will have the prequal letter tomorrow so we can make an offer. It is a foreclosure that is half the price it is appraised for. HOpefully everything will just go right through. I am excited but the task of packing up the house is overwhelming me. Just have to get busy and do it!

I received my $100 rebate yesterday. Thank goodness...I can deposit that into my account now and make it until next Friday. I have been a ble to leave the $39 that is in savings in savings...plus the $70 that is in the kids savings has stayed in their savings.

Figured my taxes. Unfortunately, due to the amount of OT I worked, I don't qualify for very much of the EIC. That's okay, I spent the money when I needed it. I just always liked getting that big check at the end of the year. Maybe next year. My refund is going to my son this year. Long Story...he purchased a truck; couldn't get truck started on a regular basis due to old fashioned choke; soon to be ex "bought" truck from him but has made only one payment. THis was handled poorly so I am paying off the truck. Doubt I will ever see any of the money from soon to be ex dh. But hopefully DS will find something that he wants to drive for $1200. And this time we will do it right...

I paid an extra $75 on one of my credit cards today. If all goes as planned, it will be paid off by end of March. I have $240 budgeted for it in February. But will just have to wait and see if I am actually able to do that.

I have a lot to do before I can put the house on the market, so I will be busy for a while...once the boxes arrive. Plan to list some stuff on craigs list to get rid of it. Going to pack up other stuff to go to goodwill. Plan to get rid of alot of stuff.

Excited about the budget for the end of this month and next month. If all goes well, I should be in a pretty good position.

I have decided to put the house on the market. I was really sure and confident yesterday. Today I am scared. What if I sell the house and can't get financed for another one? What if I sell the house and can't find a place to live where our four-legged family members are welcome? What if I sell and I end up paying more to live somewhere else? All these what ifs creeped into my head last night. There are a bunch of credits that I can use toward another house, and my credit score has come up almost 50 points since June. I am almost out of the "poor" category and into the "fair" category.

But I am so unhappy where I am at. I don't like living so far out of town. I don't need all the land. It just collects junk...which my soon to be ex left for me to deal with!

I have alot of work ahead of me. Have to get the house cleaned up and the yard. The yard is going to be the hardest. I have wanted to move for a long time. Just wish it wasn't such a scary thing for me to do.

I went in to make my mortgage payment today for December's payment. I was going to make two payments this month to catch it up. But when I went in, I only have one payment due, the January payment. I had the loan officer look at it and double check. There was no Decedmber payment made, but he is not showing that it is due either. So I only have to make one payment this month, which I made during the grace period. So the mortgage is on time again. HUH!!!

The other thing is that the bank wanted to do an appraisal for an updated figure. It came in at 95K. That is awesome considering I only owe $72k. Of course if/when I get the yard cleaned up, it will probably appraise for more. I am on cloud nine today!

My oven isn't working. It doesn't want to come on. The repair man is coming tomorrow.

I just realized that when I ordered propane yesterday, it had only been 2 weeks since I last had a delivery. I wonder if the stove might have anything to do with it. We have been having some really cold weather, but that is ridiculous.

Budget still on track. Can see light at the end of the tunnel. Capital One will be paid off at the end of this month. Mortgage will be caught up again. Utilities will all be paid. The next couple of months will be the roughest. But I am definately in an up mood lately.

I am still here. Just haven't posted anything in a while. My finances are looking really good, with the help of my parents. Right now, I am in the positive until the middle of February. Then I will have to do some juggling. Once I get through these next couple of months, it should be smooth sailing.

My capital one card will be paid off at the end of this month. I am so excited! Then I plan to snowball the rest of the accounts and in no time at all, they should be paid off. I can't wait! That is over $300 a month that I pay to credit cards!!!

Had to order propane again...just got it about a month ago. But we needed it and once again my parents paid for it. I would be in serious danger if it weren't for them. It makes me feel pretty worthless though.

Had a full workup done on my blood and it came back that I have high cholesterol. Not a big shocker since my eating habits SUCK! She gave me a prescription and I am working on changing my diet. I weigh more know than I have ever weighed in my life. My mom offered to pay the monthly fee to Curves if I give up carbonated beverages. So I am trying. I am down to one a day, and since it had really gotten out of control, one a day is awesome! I am drinking more water. I have made dinner almost every night...but at least we haven't eaten out. I am getting some good use out of my crockpot, especially since the oven is broken...sometimes it comes on...sometimes it doesn't. I can't depend on it so I am working around it!

I still have my addiction to shopping. I guess it is because for so long I couldn't buy any groceries that I feel the need to overstock now. We NEED nothing but yet I keep buying the sale items. Of course I am saving money, but right now I need to not spend it at all!

I filed for divorce a couple of weeks ago. My court date is Feb 4. Still picking up messes that he has left me. The water froze this morning because of the insulation he had removed from under the fake rock, where the well pump is. UGGHHH!!!

Well...that is a not-so-quick update on me. I am alive and well and hanging out.

And it was almost 50% higher than it was last month!!! UGGG! But my parents fronted me the money for it. NOw I am not in danger of running out anytime soon.

Things are looking good for me right now, thanks to my parents.They are going to help me with my first of the month expenses so that I can make it. I am only about $175 short so that is good. Going to be short for the end of January, but I am only looking one pay period ahead at this point.

I am going to file for divorce tomorrow. Things have not changed and I am done living in limbo. The fear that his creditors will come after me will be gone. That is a huge fear for me right now.

After my payment to capital one on Thursday, I will only have one more payment to them! YEA!! I have been paying $109 since February. I can then take that money and put it toward another credit card. At least that is the plan. I might need it to live on though. The freezer is stocked, so I don't need to worry about any groceries.

I see the light...again. THings are looking up. I am excited about the future.

I typed out all my expenses yesterday and sent it to my mom, just to let her know that I am trying. She sent back that they know I am trying and they are proud of me. Proud? I got myself into a situation where I need massive help each month. How can they be proud of that. I know...they are proud that I am working on correcting problems I made in the past. I just don't feel too proud of myself.I let her know my shortfall for the month of January and she said they could cover it to be paid back whenever I can. They are truly amazing. I know they don't have millions in the bank, but they are giving to their children. Even sacrificing themselves. I am just feeling kind of sad today because I have to take money from them.

I have just about finished my Christmas shopping this year. That is a first. I am usually that last minute person because I am waiting on money. But this year, the way my paydays fall, I was able to get most of it done. The only thing I have left is to get some cash for my son to wrap in boxes and a gamestop gift card. Then I will be done. Everything I have so far is wrapped and under the tree. WOW...so this is what that feels like!

I had a budget of $200/child. I spent $181 on DD and will give DS the cash equivalent. I did get him a couple of things, but will give the cash up to the same value. And I feel they will both have a good Christmas. This is the least I have spent in years!!! Budget still looks okay and intact. WIll have to do some tweaking though.