North Georgia Gal's Financial Awakening

13 years ago today, right about now, I was giving birth to my sweet DD. hard to believe time has gone by so fast!

I thought I was going to have to purchase a cake, but my mom called me last night and wants to take us all out to lunch for DD birthday and she is going to go by INgles and get a small cake. So not only do I not have to buy a cake, I get a free lunch too!

I answered my boss's email today. I let him know that I didn't think it was possible to get the invoice out last week and why. HOpefully he won't take offense to me standing up for myself a little bit. This has come easier to me the older I get. I used to never stand up for myself. My self esteem was very low. But it is getting better. Still have self esteem issues(which come from being 70 pounds overweight) but I tend to stand up for myself more. So that is a start. But I have an awesome job with an awesome boss(most of the time) and I really don't want to do anything to screw it up. I guess I feel that by stating the facts as to why the invoice didn't go out I am making excuses. I know I shouldn't feel that way, but I do. SO hopefully he doesn't see it as making excuses.

I have tallied up how much I spent this weekend...I knew it was alot, but $197? I only alot $150 spending money for every two weeks. I went over that by $50 in one weekend!

Dominoes - 26
Dollar General- 36
Family Dollar- 14
Food Lion - 32
Gas Station - 16
Pet Store - 43
Sweet Treats - 5
movies - 25

The food lion was for the "picnic" at my house. It was my contribution to the meal. THe family dollare was to get air freshners for the house which were empty. The pet store was for the flea treatments for the cats(very important now that the exterminator has come). The Dollare General could have been avoided...it was mainly for towels. I am trying to build up our supply of towels. Mainly what we have small bath towels that won't even wrap around DD! So I am trying to buy larger towels whenever I go to the Dollar General. They are only $3.50 for a normal sized bath towel. I bought 4 plus some handtowels for the kitchen and bathroom. Dominos could have definately been avoided. The movies were a chance for me and DD to spend some time together...also she was feeling down in the dumps because her friends weren't answering her texts about coming over.

So what do I do? Do I change the amount that I alot for spending money? Or do I just try to do better? I don't think it is unreasonable for us to be able to go to the movies once in a while or spend money at the grocery store. But until I get these credit cards paid off, there is little wiggle room. And now I will plan for the flea treatments once a month. Fortunately I still have $200 in my gas alotment for the two weeks. I don't think I will need that much because I didn't have to drive the carpool yesterday. But accounting for $200 more in gas, I am $50 over what I need for the next two weeks. That doesn't include if I spend anything between now and then! And I need to get my daughter a birthday cake for her birthday tomorrow. UGGG!! It never ends!

Well...it is officially a holiday today but I find myself at the office. I got an email from my boss late Friday night about changing my schedule. I had asked if I could work 12-8 on Tuesdays for a while. Although he approved this, his response was a shock. he is concerned with the number of dr appointments, flea treatment, school activities that I have had lately. He feels that I am not living up to the productivity level that I have in the past. Case in point was an invoice that he was hoping to get out before the holidays. I don't think it was possible to get it out prior to the holiday. I lost one complete day last week to computer issues. But anyway, since his email hit me hard, I decided to come to work today to get caught up a little. There was several things from last week that I didn't get done. Plus our refrigerator at work died so I am having another one delivered today. But bottom line...my job is not as secure as I thought, even just last week. I have not responded to his email yet, as I want to think about it before firing off an angry/hurt email.

We had a lunch at my house yesterday for my father's birthday and my DD birthday. I cooked on the grill. It was the first time in probably 5 years that I have hosted something at my house. It was fun. My DD got her birthday present(a trampoline) even though it isn't technically her birthday until Wednesday. And my DS and his friends got it set up. She was jumping on it in no time! I spent $30 at the grocery store getting last minute stuff for the meal. I haven't entered them yet into my check book, but I am sure that means that I am out of spending money. I alot $150 each pay period and the last two pay periods(since I have been doing that), it just hasn't been enough. It includes groceries and any money that is spent. Might have to rethink it and see if I can make it higher.

Today is my payday. I spend all week looking forward to payday because I am making progress on my debts with each payday, but since I have everything set up through my bill pay, there is nothing for me to actually do. Kind of a let down. LOL

One more payment to Chadwicks in two weeks and it will be paid off! I am so excited! The next item to be paid off is my property tax. There is a medical bill that is less than property taxes, but I am paying $50 a month to it with no interest and I feel that it is important to get the property taxes paid so I am skipping the medical bill for now.

I have had a horrible day at work today. Computer problems are running rampant! It is now 5:00 and I don't see me getting home anytime soon. I have to load a program on one computer and then drive to my boss's house to install it on his computer. He is leaving tomorrow to go out of town and insists that this be done before he leaves. I understand the importance of it being done, but really? I have been working on computer issues all day. I was on the phone for 2 hours with tech support, who royally pissed me off! I kept asking to be transferred to the escalation department and he flat out refused. I asked to speak to a supervisor, he refused that as well. He said that he spoke to the supervisor who wanted him to check these other things. I finally told him thanks for wasting two hours of my time but I think I am going to hang up now.

I have not even had a chance to check my budget today! That always makes me a little uneasy. But I guess it will be fine. It is what it is.

I have a 14' trampoline in the back of my car for my daughters birthday present. Seeing as how I can't move the goliath, she will probably see it before her birthday. I found it for $149, which was 50% less than the next closest one. My mom is splitting the cost with me. I know DD will be excited.

Tomorrow is payday. Everythiing is already set up except for a payment to my mom for my prescriptions last month. I found that if I order my prescriptions online through my health insurance I can save $150 over three months. But I didn't have the $364 to get them all at once so my mom let me use her credit card. I only owe her half yet as I already paid her the first part.

Okay enough babbling. Hope you had a better day than me!

That is how much money I will have in my account come payday on Friday morning. By the end of the day, I will have $56 in my account(of course my spending allowance and fuel allowance will be in the account, but I deduct that from the balance since it is already accounted for.) I am paying my son back the $400 I owe him from various loans. I am making my $ 100 debt payment to chadwicks. I have the minimum payment on one of the other credit cards due as well as all the first of the month expenses. So I am actually paying alot, just wish I wasn't broke all the time!

On the plus side, after Friday's payment to Chadwicks, I will only have one more payment to them and it will be paid off! I am so excited!

My sister's are each going to contribute to my daughter's cheerleading so that will help with the payment due next month. Plus we are doing a collection drive which will go toward the payment as well.

My budget is set through August and I only run into problems on the 6th of August. I am about $550 short for that pay day. But if my sister's each give me $100 and there is $80 that just stays in the account, I will only be about $270 short. That is easier to come up with. Hopefully there won't be any surprises that come up. I have accounted for $300 for school clothes. I may have to take that out. My mom has bought each of the kids some clothes so it's not like they didn't get anything new. And then we can go shopping later when it is better for me.

I went to my therapist this morning. I really like her. We were working on self esteem today. I need it. But I have been taking a weight lost suplement for almost 2 months now. According to my scale at home, I have lost roughly 15 pounds. My scale is not very accurate though, as I could get on it six times and have six different numbers, but they are all usually around the same numbert. But when I put a 5# bag of flour on it, it was accurate. So anyway, the scale at home shows 15 plus or minus a pound or two. I was curious so I weighed myself at the doctors office this morning. According to that scale, I haven't lost even one pound! How can that be? How can my scale at home be completely 15#'s off? I am so disappointed. I knew my clothes hadn't been fitting any different...well I actually thought my jeans were a little loser, not in the waist but in the thigh and butt area. Apparently not. Now I am not sure what to do...that isn't true. I know what I need to do, I am just not able to force myself to do it. It is a horrible circle...I am so overweight that I feel hopeless which makes me not want to count calories or exercise or anything which in turn makes me feel hopeless. I can't get excited about planning my meals and feeling good about them. No food sounds good or appetizing. I just don't want to eat anything.

Financially, I borrowed $150 from my son's account to get me through until Friday. I will then pay him back when I get paid. Might go see the new Twilight at midnight tonight at the drive in. Haven't decided yet. I know I don't need to spend that money, but I need to do something to lighten my spirits and a trip to the drive in is a lot cheaper than the regular movie theater.

I did it to myself. I had money set aside for gas. However, I went to the grocery store and spent $47. I only had 3 bags of groceries!! I couldn't believe it! I did get three meat items for dinners this week. I have 3/4 tank of gas, but I have to drive to Calhoun on Monday and possibly Tuesday. So the $30 I have left will have to go to gas. I just hope it will be enough. I do have $30 in my savings account and $40 in the kids savings accounts, but I really don't want to have to dig into them.

We did a fundraiser today for cheer. It was a motorcycle poker run. We only had 2 people do it! And they were parents of a cheerleader! We made a whopping $40. Split between 7 people! But last night we had a poker game and we made $360, which comes to about $70 per cheerleader. Every little bit helps. There was a another poker game tonight, but only 4 people had shown up by start time. I have got the $335 payment down to $194. And my sister said she was going to be able to contribute some as well. She will probably contribute $100 so I will need to come up with $94. Alot better than $335.

Thanks to FT I decided to call a place in town that rents tuxedos and takes pictures. They do senior pictures!! They have a package with what we need in it for $150. I am so excited! The good part is that I am not on any timeframe. I can wait until I get the money to have it done.

I realized yesterday looking at my budget that my expenses are far outweighing what I make. I don't know when or how that happened. I used to have money for the grocery store and entertainment. I guess that since I have become so intent on paying off my debt that I am overextending myself. But wait, that is only $100 per pay period. Come august, I am $700 short of my budget. I don't think that just the $100 debt payment per paycheck caused that. That only accounts for $300 of it. When I moved the only bill that I added was a water bill for $70 a month. Don't think that caused it. It could be the cheer payments, but I am doing the fundraising thing and haven't had to make a full payment yet! I guess all of these things added together could have caused it, but I am not willing to compromise. I have to find a way to make more money. I hope the applications I filed yesterday yields a call soon! I am desperate to stop having to take money from my parents.

My daughter went to the county fair Wed and Thur night. She wanted to go again tonight. She made money babysitting yesterday. But my mom told her that going three times is just non sense and she needed to give me money toward her cheer. DD decided not to go to the fair and to give me the money she would have spent to go toward her cheer. She has now pur $35 toward her cheer payment. $15 more to go until she gets to the $50 I told her she would have to come up.

I submitted applications to the two grocery stores that are in my area. Hopefully they will be hiring and I can start making some extra money. I plan on throwing most of the extra money to my credit card debt. I also filled out an application for Dollar General and I will drop it off on the way home tonight. I am excited. The thought of having that extra money each month is just making me giddy! I just hope they don't look at my resume and think I am over qualified. I am over qualified for what I am applying for, but for a second job, it is fine. I might even go to the home depot site and apply for there. Wish me luck that someone is hiring right now!

We received the proofs for my son's senior pictures. I had no idea they would be so expensive! The package we need is $379!! Unbelievable! I about when into shock when I saw that. I think my heart quit beating for a minute. I definately didn't plan on that for my budget. They fortunately have a payment plan where you can break it up into 3 payments, which will make it a little bit easier to swallow.

The exterminator came this morning to give me an estimate on getting rid of the fleas. $139. That includes the initial treatment plus a follow up 10 days later to get the eggs that hatched. That price is alot better than I though it would be. But I still didn't have that worked into my budget either. So I have had to make some changes to the budget.

Due to the changes, I am thinking about cashing in my vacation time. I need it to make ends meet next Friday. It would be an extra $650, which is almost exactly how much I am short. The second job idea is looking better and better. I think my parents are going to help me out some next month as well. They are already taking my DD to the dermatoligist(?) to get a wart removed. We have tried the over the counter stuff and it just came back. It is a wierd wart in that it is shaped like a mushroom and keeps getting caught on her clothes. So I don't know how much they will have left to help me. But I refuse to stress about it. That just leads to anxiety and I already have enough of that.

My sister gave me her treadmill. It a commercial treadmill that weighs like 300#. It took 4 teenage boys and taking it apart to get it in the house. It is currently parked in the living room where I think it is going to stay. I have walked on it every day since we got it. I built up to 30 minutes last night. It would be easier if I could see the tv, but unfortunately I can't see over the console! I might end up moving the tv so I can see it. Then I might want to walk longer. I am not walking very fast, but I have to build up my tolerance. At least I am walking. It was a mile yesterday.

We have poker run this weekend to benefit my dd cheerleading. I hope we make lots of money! I could sure use it toward the payment that is due on the 15th of July. Right now it is $335 due. I don't know if my sisters will be able to contribute or not. That is almost exactly how much I am short for the 20th of July. I have already told dd she has to contribute to it this month.

I have spent $46.24 already this morning and it is only 10:00!! I filled up my gas tank for $41 and I got breakfast for 5.24. I have allotted for both in my budget. I set aside $250 every pay period(every other week) for gas and $150 for misc spending. I am almost to the end of my $150 and it is only 3 days into the two weeks. I went to the grocery store, which killed my spending money. I will make it though.

I have walked on the treadmill for the last two days. My plan was to watch tv while I walked, but unfortunately, the treadmill is a commercial treadmill with a huge console that my short self can't see over!! So I can listen to the tv, but I can't watch it! LOL! I am up to 20 minutes now. I took hamburger meat out for dinner to make manwich with. I will go home and make it then come back to ellijay to pick the kids up at 9:00. It is about a 25 minute drive, but there really isn't anything to do until 9! I am trying to change my schedule to work 12:30 - 8:30 on Tuesdays. That would really help alot!

I am thinking about getting a 2nd job at a grocery store or something. I am available Wed - Sun. It would be used strictly for debt payment. I could knock out my credit cards within 3 months! My only concern is that I plan on taking some college course in the fall and I am not sure how much time I would have. But I would rather be busy than like I am now, with too much time spent on the couch.

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.

Today was a NSD. It helps when you don't leave the house! I was thinking about going to get something to eat, but decided to eat Chili Cheese Fries instead. Thought I might not have enough cheese, but I did! I am so glad, I didn't have to get dressed and go to the store! I was also tempted to go get an ice cream, but I resisted that temptation as well.

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.