I know I haven't blogged in a few days...but wanted to post a quick note.

DH is in the hospital. He went Tuesday night. They kept him. He left the local hospital last night and went to a different one. I told him not to go to the one he originally went to, but he didn't listen. It doesn't have a good reputation, which my family has experienced first hand several times. But that turned into a huge fiasco. Anyway, he is settled now at the other hospital and hopefully they will find out what is wrong with him.

I don't have much financial to report. Tomorrow is payday and everything has already been allotted. I will be making my second mortgage payment of the month! That means that it will be officially caught up! YEA!!! I am so excited about that! Then I can work on getting the other things caught up.

I woke up early this morning and got the house cleaned! It was done by 11:00. No I didn't completley dust or get to the kids bathroom...but that can be done tomorrow. The main part of the house looks pretty good.

They came and picked up the rabbit this morning! One down. Going to go to the lake this afternoon and hang out. DH is going to camp...I will be coming home. Definately not a camper! Plus someone has to take care of the animals!

It looks like I am going to have to transfer some out of savings to get through the rest of the week. Bummer. But at least I have it!

I listed the rabbit on craigs list today. My daughter doesn't take care of it and I don't want to! Selling the cage and all! Hopefully it will be gone by Sunday. I also listed an old tv for free...I have asked several times for it to be put in my car. It is too heavy for me to lift. Just want it gone!!!

Yesterday was almost a NSD. Spent $4 at the gas station for dr pepper and newspaper.

Filled up my gas tank today. Should las through the weekend. Don't have any plans to go anywhere so hopefully will last even longer! DD and I have hair appointments tonight.

I think I am going to start saving to have someone clean the house every couple of months. I don't mean spotless, just come in..dust, and cleanthe bathrooms. These are the tasks that I jsut can't seem to get to. Every other month would be an improvement over now!

DH and I had a real long talk last night. I don't know that anything was resolved but at least things are out there. We will see what happens now. Our anniversary is a week from Tuesday.

I am trying to make today a nsd. The problem I have is that when I have the extra money in savings, I end up buying things that I need, but have done without.,..like the ace bandage I bought yesterday...or the special shampoo for my DD...or the fly traps for the kitchen. I am trying very hard to not spend any money today.

DH isn;t working today. Apparenlty they don't have any work. He is broke again. Not sure why. He only drove to work three days this week(one he was sent home!!). But I am resisting the urge to give him gas money. I have it, but don't want him to know I have it. Then he relies on it and acts like I am supposed to give it to him.

On other news...I haven't had a cigrette since Monday. I am not what I would consider "addicted" to the cigarette, but rather the act of smoking. I quit with both of my pregancies and I don't smoke at home...only at work. So at best, I smoke about 3-4 cigarettes a day. But I have been cutting back, not really wanting them. So when I ran out, I didn't buy anymore. I will probably breakdown and buy a pack, but at least I am making progress!

Well...we have a definite on 7(have collected the money from 5) and a maybe on a couple more. A few told us to come back on Thursday or Friday. Hoping to get a bunch more before Monday!

Took the girls out to lunch today. I have really been eating out alot lately...but our schedule has been so hectic! It will come down now and we can get back to normal! Last week, DD had cheer from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM everyday! She took a lunch, but I got her something for dinner. But since that is over...we should be okay now.

Trying to get some work done while DD is at tumbling. At least it is only until 6:00 tonight! Then she will go to church. I am exhausted just thinking about all she has done this week!

Over the weekend, I tried a breakfast bowl. I didn't really think I was going to like it, but I really did! They are a little on the expensive side (2/$5). Okay alot on the expensive side, for one meal. But I bought 4 of them this morning to keep in my freezer at work. I will alternate them with the bagels that I keep here. Even at $2.50, it is still less than if I went to McDonalds or Burger King.

We are doing a fund raiser for my daughters cheerleading this week. We are trying to find 300 businesses to donate $20 each. Each girl is responsible for at least 10 businesses. We have a definite yes from 4 so far. And a maybe from 3. Will spend tomorrow driving her around to different places. Wish us luck! The more businesses we get, the less I have to pay for uniforms!!!

I also filled up my car today. $34. Glad gas prices are starting to come back down again. It should last me until Friday now.

It is a very wierd feeling I am having this week. Usually I am floating checks by the end of the two weeks. But this week, I actually have about 200 in savings! I am not worred about bouncing a check at all! Although I keep checking my accounts to make sure everything is okay, I just don't have to worry how I am going to cover gas or anything this week. I don't quite know how to deal with this! I could pay some more stuff, but I like having that money in the savings account as a buffer! Feels really good.

Well, yesterday was my "adopted" daughters birthday. She turned 16. There was a cabin rented and about 6 teenagers there. I was nominated as a chaperone! Didn't get much sleep, but I am back at work!

Spent $20 to get gas yesterday. DH took the car to winder and back. Was supposed to get an oil change, but didn't so I will have to get that done today.

I took the money out of my medical savings and paid off a $50 balance on a medical bill. I hate to take money out of savings, but that is what the medical savings is for, right?

I also reduced the payment that I was going tomake on one of my credit cards to right above the minimum and put the rest toward another medical bill, which is paid off. I know that wasn't the smartest move, typically. But this place was threatening to send the account to the lawyer for further collection activities, even though I was making monthly payments. I wasn't making payments high enough for them.

So that is two medical bills that I paid off this week. Wow! I rearranged my accounts in quicken to keep track of the 0 balances as well. It looks so good!!! I am very proud of the progess I have made!

I took the time today to update my sidebar. I actually have about $400 in savings!!! WOW!!! Now if I just don't do something stupid again, like buy a car!

I started looking at my budget for the month. It has been a very expensive month. Cheerleading alone has been unbelievable!!! But I look at it and think "if I didn't have this" or "this hadn't been due" I would be in really great shape. What I am learning is that there will always be something. The key is to plan for the somethings!

I only have one main savings account(other than the kids) but I have it broken down in my quicken to different accounts acounts...for household, for auto, etc. That helps me to not know exactly how much is in there and makes me feel better about saving. It works for me! I also have a cheerleading account that I haven't listed yet. I will start putting money in it next month to help cover some of the competition expenses.

But things are really looking up right now. I am just so excited!

I checked my bank account this morning and there was $300 in there. I just checked again and there is $700 in there. When I look at it, there is a child support payment pending of $421! I wasn't expecting this payment! It is an involuntaryy payment(meaning it came from his tax refund) so they usually hold those a while. I just found that it was even there on Monday! OMG!! THat is going to make this week so much easier!!! Things are really looking up for me!!!

I went to the grocery store last night to get Ham for my daughters lunch today. $184 later I walked out of there! I went ahead and did our grocery shopping for the two weeks. I got very little junk and my freezer is starting to fill up again, which is a good thing! I go in cycles where I am addicted to going to the grocery store. I think it stems from the fact that so often I can't go and we are scraping to find things to eat. And lately, I have been cooking at home everynight and feeling good about it. We now have choices for dinner and breakfast.

Anyone else feel like that?

I sent out an update yesterday about the cheerleading costs for DD. My sister has already almost paid for the uniform but there is still going to be about $500 due this month between camps and music and extra classes. My mom immediately gave me $130 now and will give me another $150 at the end of the month. My sister than gave me another $300 to cover expenses. Plus I have $150 in the fundraising account. So her cheerleading is paid for. That is a relief for me. Now there is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to stick to the budget and get the mortgage caught up! I am so excited!

Plus my mom said that they could help with my sons car, which is in the shop. So that is a relief too. But we will have do something before winter since he doesn't have any heat.

I have been keeping track of how much I should have been saving from gas under budget, prescriptions under budget, etc. Not only will I be able to get the mortgage c aught up, but I will be able to pay myself back for those things! Of course, something will probably happen betweennow and then, but for now, I am on cloud 9!

I am making good progress this month on my goals. I will be able to make the two house payments...although it will be tight. Once that is paid on time, I will start to get the little things back on time, like the phone bill etc.

Still no resolution on DH situation. We are civil, but not overboard. He still doesn't believe me and I am still mad about it. I am not going to just let it go this time. I amd done with that.

Nothing to eventful this weekend. Had to have son's car towed since one of the circle thingys won't turn, which means that the serpentine belt won't turn. UGGGHHH!!!!

DH called me Saturday and wanted to know if I wanted to spend the day on the boat. I went and was having a pretty good time. But them it hit me. I can't ignore what happened. I can't just act like nothing happened as I have inthe past. I told him. It wasn't a long conversation, but it was to the point. He still doesn't believe me about the game. It compared it to me finding a box of condoms in his truck. I told him that he has had only had that truck since we were married and that was completely different. There is stuff in that closet that have been in there for 8 years! He still isn't convinced. Things are still tense. I am not just going to roll over on this one. I am done taking that crap. I am being polite, but not making an effort to "kiss and make up". He either trusts me or he doesn't. But there are some different issues. He hasn't done things around the house. When I asked him what was for breakfast this morning(as we joke around all the time about) he just huffed. Said that kitchen is in there. I told him that I make him dinner all the time! Usually when he gets home, dinner is waiting. He just doesn't get it! I am tired of doing everything myself. Instead of doing the dishes today, he moved them out of the way so he could get to the sink! And the trashcan has been sitting on the back porch waiting to be washed out for days! I finally asked him to wash it out. Still hasn't been done!

Anyway, this has been a spend free weekend. I left my purse at work and I don't have anyway to spend any money!

Yep...it happened last night. My son called me that his car wasn't working. Turns out the serpentine belt broke. Easy fix right?? I bought the belt for $24 and took it to him. 2 hours later we still couldn't get the tension released. Long story short, there is now a wrench stuck on the tensioner that doesn't have enough room to pull it off. We had to leave the car there.

After this, with everything else that happened yesterday, I broke down. I was in tears. Funny thing is that when my son sees me cry, he instantly turns into a supportive caring person! I know it is in there somewhere! Any other time, he would have been cursing his car, saying that it sucks, doing a poor me routine. But when he saw me crying, he coompletely changed. I broke down and told him about the problems with DH yesterday. He was like "we were fine for how many years without him? If he moves out, then we will be fine again. I am making money now and I can help out. We don't need him there to be fine." All of this is true. He then said..."why don't you go to your BF house and stay the night." He took me there, then went home to let the dogs out and feed them. Got me some clothes and my medicines. I am just surprised sometimes how mature and caring he can be. He hides it most of the time.

I still am not sure what is going to happen. Thanks to all who have left thoughtful comments. I am not rushing into anything and will wait until he comes home tomorrow to see what happens.

This is not financial related...sort of.

I had to go give DH gas last night since he didn't have enough to make it home. I told him only to get enough to get home, as I don't have money to give him for gas. I can't continue to do that. He is paying to go to work...his gas is costing him more than he is making!

Anyway, this morning, he packed up some clothes and said that he would be back either tomorrow night or Saturday morning. I said ok. Then as he was reaching down to kiss me, he said that gives you more time to play your game. I was half asleep and I said what game? He immediately stood up w/o kissing me and stormed out of the house, slamming the bedroom door and the back door. WTF??? He sent me a text message that says "I hope it was worth it". I don't know what that means. The only thing I can figure is that I didn't give him gas money. But we have talked about this. He is making less than he is spending getting there. I can't continue to give him gas money.

Rewind to about a year ago. I came home and he had moved out. No clue. No warning. Just taken all of his stuff and was gone. I had done something the night before that he thought was taking advantage of him. But He doesn't talk to me. So I don't know if I will come home tonight or tomorrow to a semi-empty house or not. I just don't know what to expect.

But I know I can't continue. I need help. Not just financially.

I so wanted to stop and get pizza hut on the way home today. Then I changed and thought Taco Bell wouldn't be as expensive. But I resisted both! I didn't get either! I came home and ate a grilled cheese and tater tots! Small steps!

Also stopped enabling DH today. He didn't have gas to make it home. We have had this discussion before...why work when it costs you more in gas than you bring home. You are essentially paying to go to work. But he keeps doing it. He sent me a text that he wasn't going to make it home. Long story short...I met him at Ingles and told him to get just enough gas to get home. I don't have money to keep paying for his gas. He got about $5 in gas. Don't know what tomorrow will bring or how he will get to work. But it isn't my problem.

DH took the car to Dahlonega yesterday, so I filled up again...$28. Gas is .10 cheaper at Walmart that in Blue Ridge! Glad I went there!

I also got the crab legs for DD birthday. I guess I am niave, but I didn't know they were so much! $55.07 for the legs. We ate every bit of them and they were delicious! But I never would have spent that money normally! Lesson learned.

Budget is still on track for the next month. Still planning on getting the mortgage caught up. I won't be able to make as large as a payment as I would like to the credit card, but I can start that again next month. The prescription savings are going to make a big difference this month.

Have alot of cheer expenses the next couple of weeks. Having a donut sale again this weekend. Donuts anyone??? We sold 600 dozen two weeks ago! But it helps alot toward her expenses and they have some really great ideas for fundraisers. Just have to get busy.

Today is my daughters 12th birthday. We got her the Wii Fit. It is pretty cool. I might even use it!

Yesterday was an expensive day. I filled up the gas tank, $39. Got it at Walmart, which was .05 cheaper than anywhere else. I then got the Wii Fit and another game for $117. I had planned this in the budget, so it was not budget wrecking.

Each year, the birthday person gets to decide what they want for dinner. DD wants crab legs!!! We live no where near the ocean! The seafood places around here are only open Thur, Fri and Sat. We found one that the owner happens to be at for the next couple of hours so he will sell us something! Small Town Living! Now I just need to figure out how to cook them!

Financially, I am looking pretty good come the end of the month. I am cutting it close, but will have the mortgage caught back up by month end. That means making 2 mortgage payments this month due to the extra payday. The ot I am getting this month is helping too. DH hasn't been working so I definatly will not get any help the next couple of weeks. Good thing I don't count on it!

Need to get some stuff posted on EBAY but I don't know what to post! There is lots of stuff that we don't use, but I don't think it would sell. I have already taken a bunch of stuff to goodwill. I went through my daughters dresser and got 4 big bags of clothes. Was going to take it to goodwill, but do you think I could see it by the bag on ebay or craigs list? Everything is in good condition because she hardly wears anything once it is bought! I can always try.

I paid off another medical bill on Friday. It feels good to see that zero. I already have that money spent for next month though...isn't if funny how that happens?

I spent $200 at the grocery store. It was $50 more than I had planned, but I didn't get junk so I felt good about it.

My daughters birthday is Tuesday. I have to go get her present tomorrow.

Not much else to report financially or otherwise. Just being very lazy today!

I just switched my prescriptions to the online service my health insurance offers. Right now I pay $30 a month and every other month there is an additional $35. The service will send me a 90 day supply of my monthly medications for $28.84!! That doesn't include the $35 prescription every other month, but if I can get that changed to the generic, I could save money there too! That is huge savings! I am exxcited that I found this avenue to save money!

I didn't do much this weekend and spent even less! We had a donut fundraiser Saturday morning. Sunday I didn't do anything except work! I spent $7.77 at the Grocery store and $19 at CVS for cokes. We ate at home each night. I am actually kind of excited about cooking at home, planning what we will haave(which reminds me...I didn't take anything out for dinner tonight!!!). I have a meal in a box that I can cook...I keep them around for stand by!

Payday is Friday...if I can just hold out until then!

I am in shock about Michael! It is just so unexpected! I remember when Thriller debuted(?). We made a big party out of it! WOW...that was so long ago!

Nothing really new financially. I am trying my best to not spend any money and seem to be doing well. Except for the breakfast yesterday, I haven't eaten out. I have made dinner every night for two weeks, with the exception of one! I even made hamburgers for DH last night and I don't eat them! The kids weren't home. Change in medication has really done me good!

Okay...I stopped at Mcdonalds this morning for breakfast. Here is what happened. I was supposed to take my daughter and her friend to my mom's house. She usually feeds them breakfast. I haven't bought any breakfast food in a while since we aren't there except for the weekends for breakfast. But this morning as we were getting ready to leave, I remembered the my mom had a doctors appointment and I couldn't take the girls there. Since we had nothing for breakfast, I had to get them something on the way. THAT SUCKS!!! I guess the lesson is to always have something quick in the house for breakfast! This puts an end to our no eating our record. That really sucks...

Hubby went to work today(first time this week) only to be told that they still didn't have any work for him! Frustrating! But since he was there, they went ahead and let him do some stuff. UGGGG!!! Not making my life any easier!

I ran out of bagels at work yesterday. I almost stopped and got breakfast this morning because it was easier....but I Didn't! I stopped and refilled my bagel supply. Very proud of myself. The eating at home continues which is approaching a record!

Now, to the hard decisions and advice needed. I have two different family issues going on.

My older sister has always suffered with depression and other illnesses. She is a hypochrondiac who happens to be a nurse, not a real great combination! Anyway, she has been having breathing problems for years but can't get a diagnosis that will allow her to be on disability. But she is hoping to get that when she has some tests done next month, as she is on temporary disability for corporal tunnel surgery right now. When I took her home this weekend, I was horrified by her house. She has always been a pack rat. She will not throw away a news paper article because there is probably a reason she kept it. When you walk in the front door there is a path in the boxes that were never unpacked to her bedroom. The boxes have been piled with junk. She can't even get to the kitchen. on the threshold to the kitchen was pile after pile of dog poop...apprently she doesn't have the energy to take the dog out when she needs to go. She gets out of energy just walking to the car and has to sit down and can barely breath. I am thinking that her living conditions are contributing to her breathing issues. Here is my dilemma...I don't know how to go about an intervention. My parents are in their 70's and 80's and I don't think would be much help...might even think I am rocking the boat...yes my family has never caused waves. I tried when she moved to throw away stuff and she came behind me and dug it out of the trash. If she ends up on disability, she will never leave the house and it will only get worse.

My other issue is my dad. He will be 80 years old next month and is in great shape. Except his memory. He has backed into the garage door several time because he forgot to open it. Right now it is little things. But I called him this morning to ask him what he had planned for today and he said that he had to pick up "...ummm whats his name? Umm...stutter stammer...the fellow who paints." The fellow who paints is my brother. I am really getting worried about him as well.

I just don't know that I can handle both of these situations right now. Neither one will be easy.

Yup...its true. I brought home over $1100 on Friday. And it is gone. I have $12 in the bank. The only consilation is that things are getting paid. Only $21 of that was spent frivolously. I got groceries, paid the power bill, the satelitte bill, the mortgage, $100 toward a credit card,, which was $40 more than the minimum, got gas and monthly prescriptions and paid toward two medical bills. So although I look bad on paper, I am making progess. One of my medical bills will be paid off next Friday. Can't wait to actually see the 0's there.

My prescriptions came in $30 less than I Had budgeted. That would be great if I could actually take that $30 and put it in savings, but I need it for gas.

Once again, I don't know how I am going to make it through the month of July...but somehow it will all work out. I have said that probably each month since I have been blogging and each month, it manages to work out.

I am very excited and proud of myself for making dinner at home all last week, except for Friday. I even whipped something up last night with little preparation or planning. Since I went to the grocery store and bought wisely, I have things to make without having to spend too much time figuring out what I am going to make! I left this morning with a roast in the crock pot since we won't get home early tonight. You guys just don't know how much of an accomplishment that is for me. I haven't cooked regularly in years! I should have had my medicine changed around a long time ago! I am staying up later, getting up better, and actually doing stuff around the house! WOW what a difference!

I made it to pay day! We haven't eaten out at all this week! I am so proud of the fact that I have made dinner every night! I had a crock pot meal ready last night when we got home! Will go to the grocery store tonight probably and get more dinner fixins...

I volunteered yesterday to drive to Atlanta to pick up my sister so she can spend fathers day with my parents. She can't drive right now. But then I remembered that my DS16 doesn't have to be to work until 4:00 so he could drive down there and get her. It was his first trip to Atlanta by himself. I wrote down the directions with landmarks. She only lives about 2 blocks off of the interstate, so it should be a straight shot. My sister lives on the northside, and somehow he ended up WAY south of Atlanta. A trip that should have taken 1 1/2 hours took him 3 hours! It was just too funny!!! I am just cracking up! I guess the city is just too much for that country boy!

Tomorrow is payday. I already have everything set up in my bill pay, so there isn't really anything to do, other than give my dad back his money. I am optimistic about being able to get everything caught up in July. It is a three pay day month, so I don't know why I wouldn't be able to. But it seems that it isn't going to be as easy as it should be! But I think it will happen.

Would like to go see UP this weekend, but don't know that we will make it.

I spent 9.65 at the grocery store and 3.00 for drinks. I forgot to take my daughter water to tumbling so I had to get her something. Important lesson! Take her water or her face looks like a strawberry!

My parents stepped in to by my son a battery for his car. They felt bad because when it was their car they had problems with it, so they felt like it was probably defective. He is getting on my last nerve about this car. He doesn't like it and makes any reason that it isn't going to last much longer. He just seems very ungrateful. I mean he paid for the car, but he had a nice car that he wrecked! Whose fault was that! Anyway, he is driving me crazy! He acts as if he is owed something...just like his father! UGGGHHHH!!!! Will he ever grow out of it????