Yesterday was a NSD!! YEA!! Had to stop this morning and get bagels to keep at work so that I have breakfast and don't have excuse to stop and get something.

On a more personal note, I have been very tired lately and not able to get up off the couch for much of anything. I went to doctor a couple of weeks ago and we changed around some of my medication and I am feeling much better! I am keeping the house cleaned and even working on other projects! I am so glad! Last night I cleaned most of the "piano room". It has turned into our junk collector and I had had it! So it is not cleaned, just need to dust the piano. It is so nice to come home to a clean house again!!

A while ago I posted about the gnats that had taken over my sink. I tried everything that was suggested and nothing worked! But I bought this thing at Ace Hardware that has gotten rid of them! It is like a fly strip, but it is in a hard plastic case so it doesn't look as bad. I think it is called pest away or something like that. It is a miracle worker!

Today will be a NSD! I don't need anything so that is good. I got stuff for dinner all week, so everything is planned!

I sent DH to the grocery store last night as the store I normally shop out was out of my laundry soap. He had a list of 4 things...laundry soap, dryer sheets, hamburger buns, and milk. He ended up spending $50. He got some fresh fruit and other things that will be good. And he got 2 gallons of milk instead of one. Hopefully we will drink it all before it goes bad!

I got some OT on my check for Friday, so I am closer to meeting my budget. When I borrowed money from my mom last week, she asked when I was going to be straightened out. I told her July since it was a three payday month! I can't wait! I hope to have everything caught up by then. It will be close, but I think I can do it.

This has been a very good weekend, budget wise. We went to the dirt track races last night. We shouldn't have gone financially, but I promised my dd that we would go last night. I spent no more than I had planned so that was good. I am learning to resist all of the souvenirs and things that they put out hoping you will buy them!

Haven't done much today. I did my laundry yesterday so I don't have any to do today, except for towels. I swear our towels are disappearing! I just washed some on Friday! Will have to put more towels into the future budget.

I am so proud of me! I went to the grocery store and only spent $68!!! That is awesome! I don't have alot of money to get by until next Friday(had to borrow from dad) but we were desperately low on food! I got enough meats for meals for the week, a meal in a box, and a few other salad things. Mix in some frozen vegetables and french fries and call it done! I am extremely proud of myself, especially since I was hungry when I went! I didn't cave for what we didn't absolutely need, which is unheard of!!

Yea! I made it to the weekend! I put $10 more gas in my car this morning...just enough to get me to work and back! Can't wait for payday next week! I think I am going to have to borrow some money from my mom until Friday. UGGGHHH!!! At least I am in a position to be able to pay her back, used to not do that. I would "borrow" money with no ability to repay. That at least feels good.

Those of you who follow my blogs know of the struggles I have had with DH's finances. He is in the same boat as me this week...completely broke! He acts as if I should be giving him money to get to work...I don't have it either!!! He really isn't making enough to cover his gas and expenses to get to work, so I don't know why he continues to work there. I told him about a store opening that was taking applications, but he didn't apply. I think he likes the drama. But...he came home the other day and asked how I would feel about him going into business for himself. Seems that there is a business for sale on the lake for $12k. It really is a good deal for all the equipment and stuff but neither he nor I have 12K. He asked last night how hard it would be to get a small business loan. Given both of our credit, I would say impossible. Plus I just don't think he has the business sense to work for himself. That sounds terrible...but given his financial struggles, I just don't think he could handle it. Plus he would insist on having his brother(leech) work from him which would not be good. Anyway, I just think it is best that he can't get the money to do it.

Yesterday, I had been thinking about going to pizza hut for dinner. I know that I don't have the money for it...but was going to go anyway and then worry about covering the check later.(This is part of my problem!) I had already made up my mind and was going to go! But I didn't! I went home instead and made a salad! I was very proud of myself. I know that this is the decision I should have made and I shouldn't be proud of doing the right thing, but it is hard for me to resist.

Put $10 worth of gas in my car yesterday and today. Just enough to get me through until tomorrow. Man, I hate being like this. Good news is that according to the budget I have laid out, I will be out of this mess by the end of July...since July is a 3 paycheck month. I can't wait!

Finance company called for DH again last night. Said that he needed to call before it went any further legally...I am thinking how much further could it go??? You already turned it in to the sheriff as if he was hiding the car(NOT!!) So I am thinking that they didn't indeed turn it into the sheriff. That would be good!

That same collection agency that I have been dealing with called me yesterday about a different account. I told them that I had made a payment with a note telling them how I intended to make payments...she said no on authorized that. I said I know, but that is all I can do. She verified the last 4 of my social and said thank you. As if that is going to scare me! Put it on my credit report....still doesn't mean that I have any more money to give you!

All in all, I am feeling pretty upbeat given the daily cirmcumstances right now. I see a light at the end of the tunnel if I can just get there!!!

Nothing to update today. I stopped and got dinner last night for DD and her friend. We didn't have anything to eat here. Really need to go to the grocery store. I ate a salad when we got home.

I only havea bout $15 to last until next Friday! YIKES! I can make it though. Just have to resist the temptation to eat out, like last night. I knew what I had in the bank, but yet I still got them food. I just am not disciplined enough yet. We are supposed to go to the dirt track races this weekend...DH will have to pay, because I don't have it! I know, we shouldn't go, but I think that it is important to do things with the kids. I grew up not really remembering doing anything with my parents and I don't want that for them. We have been planning this for a few weeks. But if he doesn't have it, than we will have to cancel. Just hope it doesn't come to that!

DH and DD were "arguing"(playing) back and forth over something that DD wouldn't share. DH said "well, see what happens the next time you want popcorn." DD said, "you don't buy it anyway, mom does". She didn't mean it to mean, she was simply stating a fact that I do the grocery shopping. she has no idea the struggles that he is going through right now. But I cringed when she said it. DH didn't comment on it and didn't act like it bothered him. Hopefully he knew she didn't mean anything by it.

DH didn't work yesterday so he cleaned the kitchen, cleaned the back porch, picked up the yard and was basically very productive around the house. That was very nice. Still need to pick up the living room and vacuum...it is amazing to me how it gets to messy so quick! I did get the bathroom totally scrubbed this weekend, including the closet that is in there. Felt very good and productive!

I plan on getting alot done this weekend.

1. Clean bathroom
2. Mop kitchen(after picking up DH and DD mess!)
3. Vacuum
4. Clean car seats
5. wash sheets

Okay so it doesn't sound like alot, but it does seem like alot!

Yesterday was a NSD, sort of. The only money that was spent was paying bills. I paid my dad back the $250 that he loaned me earlier in the week. Paid the cell phone bill, paid the car insurance, and the phone bill. Paid alot of high expenses this week. Looking forward to July...a 3 payday month. Will be able to get stuff caught up a little bit.

It finally happened. DH has had a financial meltdown. He has two cars that he hasn't been able to make payments on in months. (he has made very poor financial decisions in the past and this is the worst of it!) They called this morning and said that they have turned it over to the sheriff's office because he has been hiding them from repossession. Neither one of them run and one has been sitting in our driveway since last summer! The other is at his mom's house. But to say that he has been hiding them is crazy! He has told them to come get them! Stay tuned for further details.

He told me this morning that I am acting like I don't love him. I think it is because I won't/can't bail him out of his financial mess. He won't give me specifics. He said that he has asked me several times to help him file for bankruptcy, but I haven't. I remember us talking about it, but that was it. Plus I have tried to help him with stuff in the past and he doesn't do what I tell him needs to be done. He is sticking his head in the sand and hoping that things go away! It doesn't work that way! I don't know how to support him...I try to tell him what he needs to do, but it is up to him to do it!

Yes we are married, but I am not putting my(or my kids) financial future on the line by taking out loans or anything, not that i would qualify for them anyway! If he truly loved me,, he would understand that. There are so many things he could do but he doesn't. He is spending more getting back and forth from work than his making. he says it beats sitting at home. I have suggested things to him, but he will do what he wants to do.

Anyway, I am venting. I am at my wits end. He is giving up. He said that maybe spending some time in jail would be good...let the taxes he has paid support him for a while. This goes against everything I believe in. I wasn't raised this way. I love my husband, but I just don't know how much longer I can stick in there! Other than our financial issues, we are a perfect match!

I am working from home today. It is a yucky rainy day and I just didn't feel like getting out!

I once again gave into temptation yesterday and got dinner. No one was home and I was craving pizza hut. I have got to learn to not give in to my urges for fast food. My son is taking my car today so not only will he put gas in it, but I also have a NSD! COOL!

Daughter is coming home tomorrow. She is homesick and ready to come home! She doesn't like to stray real far. Hopefully DH will come home today. Haven't seen him since Monday morning. Getting kind of lonely here.

As I stepped out of the shower this morning, the power went off. As I am on a well, this was perfect timing! I was very pleased that the forces of the local EMC had the decency to wait for a power failure until all soap and shampoo was rinsed off! LOL

I stopped and bought breakfast this morning...shame on me. I am out of cream cheese at the office for my bagel and gave in to temptation to get something quick instead of going to the store to get cream cheese! Bad Me!

My son and I went over his checking account yesterday. He forgot that I told him that some transactions don't always show up right away so you can't go by the balance in the account. He had two pay at the pump authorizations so I had to transfer $15 into his account to cover it. Turns out that there was only one charge and he was on top of how much was in his account. I can transfer the $15 back into my account now.

Still no progress on the upcoming expenses, but I am sure something will happen.

Looking at my budget for the next couple of months...things are not looking so good. By July 10, I need to come up with $1000! I have moved some stuff around and gotten that number down to $678. But that is still 3 pay days away(including this week) so I am sure things will work out somehow...While I enjoy having a plan, I don't want to panic too soon...

I had some stuff listed on ebay, but it never sold so I took it to goodwill. I have some items on half.com, but haven't heard anything out of them. I do have an opportunity for some OT this month, so that will help some...gets me a lot closer.

But...not panicking!

Hubby woke up in a FOUL mood this morning...not sure why. But he barely spoke to me before he left. I might hear from him today and I might not.

He did give me $75 before he left so I deposited that into my account. That will help toward the shortage on Friday, since we have an insurance payment due that we weren't planning on.

Went to the grocery store yesterday and got just the items we were out of. Spent about $47...which is good for me. I usually overspend. But we needed cat food, dog food, laundry soap, etc. All of the expensive things.

Dropped daughter off today to go to Panama. She saved her money for spending and ended up with $61!! Go girl! I took $40 out to give to her "hosts" but of course she wouldn't take it. In the end, she took $20 and said that dd doesn't eat much. LOL. They are good people and I am glad my daughter is friends with them!

But that means that I can put $20 back into the account. That is good because I only had $20 to last until next Friday. My parents(dad) loaned me the money that I will be short on Monday. Will pay them back on Friday. Thanks Dad for getting me through the hump!

DH is still at work and might not come home again tonight which means that I will be here alone. Tempted to start the budget for July...but don't think that I could focus on it like I should.

DH stayed close to work last night so I didn't get a chance to talk to him, but we won't have any kids this weekend so it will be the perfect opportunity.

My daughter is going to Panama City in the AM with a friend. The good news is that she has saved enough money for spending money that I don't have to give her any! YEA!!!

Son put most of his check into the bank this week. He is off to a good start saving money. He has grand plans and the sooner he realized how hard it is to make things happen, the better.

Asked my parents to help me with my shortfall next week. I haven't heard back from them. It is only a short term loan and I would get it back to them on Friday. Lately when I have had to borrow money(which I hate), I have paid them back when I said I would, and that feels really good because for a long time, I wouldn't pay them back and they never asked for it.

Well off to work..hoping to get some OT in this weekend to help with this month!

I have said before that my husband thinks I have money somewhere. Well, this morning, he is breaking into his money jar to get money for gas. He then comes back to the bedroom and says

DH: "unlike you,, when I say I am broke, I am broke. I don't have a card that I can still use to buy things."

Me: "if I don't have money in the bank to cover the card, than I can't use it"/

DH: "You and (son) have been using the card like crazy this week".

URGGHHHH!!! Yes, son used the card twice, but each time, I transferred the money from his checking account to mine. He was waiting for his own debit card to arrive. And yes, I may have bought a few things last night at the GROCERY STORE, but come the first, I will be even shorter!(no pun intended since I am only 4'7" tall! LOL). I hate having to find money for my own spending, much less for someone elses!

It just irks me that he expects me to give him money! He works...granted last weeks check was a day short, but he still made money and to be completely broke by Wednesday? I think he needs better money management skills...I am not just going to hand money over to him! Plus his brother(read leech) rides with him to work everyday and I doubt that leech is giving him any money! So why should I?

Please understand...if he wasn't working and being a house husband, I have no trouble supporting him. But when he is working and can't manage his money, I feel like I would be doing him no favors by handing over money to him(if I even had it!)

URGGGG....so I am frustrated this morning. I sent DH a text telling him that son used card and I transferred money and since he has started working, I haven't given him any money. Haven't heard back for DH yet. Don't expect that I will. He is supposed to camp close to work this evening, so he won't be home. I plan on taking daughter to a movie...sure that will go over well with him! I told daughter last weekend that I would take her tonight. Oh well.


ADDITION: Last night I made him dinner...nothing great, just some hamburger helper. I knew he probably hadn't eaten all day. But I didn't eat. I don't eat hamburger and I really wasn't hungry. He kept asking me what I ate today. I didn't eat out yesterday. But he kept asking me, like I was lying to him! I ate a frozen meal that I have in the freezer at work and a bagel that I have in the fridge at work! But he was so sure that I had spent money, but yet I won't give him any! Double URGGGGG!!!!

It looks like I am going to be short come the 10th of the month...think I have already blogged about that. But I have it down to only about $100 short. That is good. Just wish it would hurry and work itself out! That also means that I have to transfer the money from the savings...again! I hate having to do that! Will I ever be able to just leave it again??? It is just frustrating!

Oh...almost forgot. When I got my sears bill, there was a late charge of $29 on it. I called them because I knew my payment cleared my bank well before my due date. Turns out that I was $1.27 short of the minimum payment, so I was charged the late fee. However, I asked her to waive it for me and she did!! Yea!! A little bit of good news!

Well, the long weekend was nice. I got alot done yesterday. The Dr put me back on Ambien and I can tell a difference in my energy level during the day! But I hate the fact that I am impossible to wake up while I am on it!

I am looking at my budget and am not quite sure how I am going to make it through the middle of June. I am about $400 short for the June 10th payment. This doesn't include what I have in savings, but I hate to have to transfer it! DH isn't working today and was off yesterday so I don't know what kind of help he is going to be. I am going to have to move some stuff around. But I am sure it will all work out!

I was thinking this morning about how my life used to be...when my power was cut off even though I had made a payment that day. When the home phone was shut off regularly. Yes that was a long time ago(about 10 years), but I am glad I am no longer like that! Even though it wasn't that bad before I started this journey, it was still pretty bad. I was thinking how I never worried about the phone or power when I was growing up because my parents took care of things...they were older and more financially responsible. Nothing was EVER cut off while growing up. I am closer to achieving that now. I don't think that my kids worry about the phoone being turned off or the power. And they shouldn't. Just make me think about how life used to be and why I let it be that way!

My daughter had her violin recital yesterday...WAYYYYYY too long! 2 1/2 hours of sitting in the same spot!(except for when I got up to accompany her on the piano!) But that pretty much killed the day yesterday. Today I am trying to get the laundry caught up. I had to buy a fruit tray and a vegetable tray for the reception.

Holding my breath until the first of the month. Might have to pay the credit cards a few days late, which I hate because I am charged fees, but I don't have the money until the 4th and most of the cards are due on the 1st! UGHHH!!! But we shall see. Will do some more planning this week.

My prescriptions came in $20 under budget, so I transferred that money to a medical savings account. Slowly but surely getting the savings built back up.

Today is payday. I paid the mortgage, cable, some medical bills, and my mom for a loan made earlier in the week. I also paid for my monthly prescriptions and for my daughters cheer camp. I had $23 left in my fuel budget from the last two weeks so I transferred that to my car maintenance fund. I also had the automatic deposit into the savings account. Hopefully I won't have to touch these...It depends on whether or not DH gives me enough money in the next couple of weeks. I never know what he will give me until he gives it to me. I plan myy budget as if he doesn't give me anything...that way when he does, I am in the clear!

I spent a total of $1.92 yesterday for a coke. I waited until we got home for dinner, even though we ate pretty late. But we didn't spend any money! YEA!!

Found out last night that my DH thinks I am rich. My son, DH, and I were talking about not having any money. We all said that it sucked and he looked at me like you aren't broke. I said what and he just said "uh huh". Oh well. Just because I am able to plan for things now, I am considered to have money. I just hope he still gives me some money to keep my budget on track.

I failed to put dinner in the crock pot today and Violin practice went extremely late! The result? Zaxby's for dinner. UGHH!! I have to get on the ball planning better!

But my daughter learned her lesson! She didn't want to eat out because it was too expensive!(after paying for dinner last night!)

My daughter wanted to stop for Dinner after her LONG violin practice(3 1/2 hours getting ready for recital!). I told her I didn't have the money so we would have to wait until we got home! She volunteered to pay. I probably shouldn't have let her, but I thought it might be a learning lesson for her. Now she doesn't have as much money to take on vacation with her. Hopefully she will learn that spending now just because you have it isn't always the smart thing!

My son's checking account is up and running. I am very excited about being able to teach him this! I think he will do well.

Well, things are looking up again financially. I have looked through the middle of June and everything seems fine. If goes as planned, will even have some money in savings again. I can't wait! I even filled my car up again yesterday!

Went to the grocery store yesterday and CVS. CVS has pepsi products 5 for $13. It rang up wrong and they tried to charge me $27 for 5 twelve packs!! WOW! What a difference a sale makes! Also got some vitamins, bogo free. Did very well at the grocery store. Only spent $76. Didn't get anything we didn't need. Very proud of myself for turning things around again. It just proves that you can always change things, it may just take some time. I could have given up and not tried again. Gone back to living how I was. I didn't want to do that! I liked having money in the savings account, not having to worry if a check was going to bounce because I only showed $15 in the account(and might have forgotten something!) I look forward to getting back to that.

My dad worked with this woman for many years who has no family...never married, no siblings, etc. When she started to suffer from dimentia and other ailments, my parents took the responsibilty of caring for her well being. She was in an assisted living home. She passed away this week. We went today to move her furniture. I wasn't close to her, it just felt very wierd to be dividing up her stuff. And I feel kind of guilty because I was kind of relieved that my parents life will be much simpler now...they were fixing to have to move her to a new home and it wouldn't have been easy with the dimentia.

DH gave me some unexpected money this week so I am in good shape. I have the budget planned for the next month and all looks well. I am very encouraged. Plus my son got his first paycheck this week. We will go open him a checking account on Monday. I am excited about teaching him how to do a budget. No one ever taught me this and I am just now learning it!

Things are looking good still for the short term. Will probably be getting less $$ from DH because of the work situation, but I think it will be okay.

My daughter made the middle school cheerleading team! She is pumped.

I just received a call from a collection agency for the amount that was applied toward my deductible...162.33. When I had this done at the hospital, the hospital didn't forward the correct address to the radiology office. So I never received the bill. Ireceived a call in April about it. I told the agency that I hadn't received the bill. They refused to send me a copy of the bill, stating that I had my explanation of benefits. They wouldn't even tell me how to contact the radiology office. So I tracked them down,, corrected the address and requested a copy of the bill. I tried to set up payment arrangements with them and they refused! They said that the least they could take was $100! I don't have that! So I called the radiology office and they said that there is nothing they can do! I plan on making payment of $20 a month and if they accept them, great, if not, than oh well. I tried. And they had better not put it on my credit report! I am working really hard to get that cleaned up! UGGGHHHH!!! I know collection agency's deal with deadbeats, but I try not to be one of them! And they can look at it and see the circumstances. It just drives me crazy!