North Georgia Gal's Financial Awakening

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.

I went to the grocery store last week...bought $220 worth of groceries for $108. The freezer if full of roasts, chicken, pork chops. That is not the problem. I have had the opportunity to make dinner. Time is not the problem. The problem is that instead of waiting until we get home and cooking, I have been constantly eating out!!! I know I need to stop. But it is so much easier to pull through a drive through. I know it isn't healthy(either for us or for the budget) but I am weak and it is something I need to overcome. Any suggestions...that really work??? If I were to leave my debit card and check book at home, what options would I have for something that I need to get. If I plan ahead, than I will know I need them, but my concern is for the something I either forgot we needed or didn't know we needed. I would imagine that a few times of forgetting, having to drive home, and then go back out again(we are 10 miles from town) would be enough to make me plan ahead. That might be the way to go. I will have to consider that.

Ideas?? Suggestions???

I know I have been gone a while, but I wanted to give an update. I have so much going on! It is crazy this time of the year.

I am excited about January. If I stick to the budget I have, it will be the last month that I have to have my parents help financially. I hope it works out and there aren't too many surprises.

DH and I are still seperated. I actually served him with divorce papers and went and had them signed. But then he begged me not to file them yet...to not give up on what we have. And since then he has been a different person...until last night. He couldn't get ahold of me while my daughter was looking for me. It was no big deal, but he almost reverted back to his old self. That is why I haven't asked him to move back in.

I think I have Christmas covered. I just hope that I can get the phone my daughter wants in time. Keep your fingers crossed.

I am definately in an "up" mood today. The gym where my daughter goes to cheerleading sent out an email today about one of the families that is in need. They aren't going to have a Christmas. The gym was asking for donations so they could have a Christmas. I immediately started working on my budget and am able to contribute $79 for the competition fees that are due at the end of the month. The girls said it was okay that they wouldn't have Christemas as long as they got to cheer. I feel really good about being able to do that. I am going to talk to my DD to see about contributing half out of her allowance.

COuponing is still going good. I bought $220 of groceries for $108. That was great! I have my list for this week and it is nice to be able to choose the stuff I need because we are pretty well stocked up on other stuff.

I went to Food Lion and Ingles last night. I got $200 worth of food for $100! I feel great about this trip. Got stuff we actually eat! I have to go back Friday for the 3 day sale at Food Lion. They have Bacon for .99!!!

My budget is looking good until January. I have it planned...and we allknow what happens to plans! Anyway, I hope to stick close to it. We shall see.

All my utilities were paid on time this month! YEA!! That is a big relief. No if I can stay on top of this and get some money saved I would feel even better!

Well, financially things are looking okay until the end of December, including Christmas presents. Lets just hope it works out that way!

I got the divorce papers signed but DH begged me not to file them yet. He isn't ready to throw everything away. It may have been a wake up call for him because he is totally different now. I was telling him divorce but until he saw the papers, I don't think it hit him. I still don't want him to move back in for a while. I am enjoying being by myself. And it hasn't been long enough to know if he has changed for good or not.

Yesterday was my birthday. My sweet daughter cleaned their bathroom. I had it on my list of things to do(Longterm) and I was going to do it yesterday. She wouldn't let me. She did it. Even to my sort of clean, using a butter knife where the cabinets meet the floor and stuff. It looks great! She is so good to me!

DS had his wisdom teeth taken out Friday. He is still in pain. But itwas very entertaining getting him home while the laughing gas was still in his system!

I haven't been in a blogging mood lately, but I am still around. With the help of my DH, I overdrew my account last week. There was $250 in NSF fees plus the $100 he had spent. I got the bank to refund all but one of the fees and disabled his access to the account. But I had to take a cash advance on the CC that I had made so much progress on just to get back in the positive! Very frustrating, but I am glad that I had a way to solve the situation. It is not the best idea, but at least it eased some of my stress.

All household bills are on time now. My parents are helping me keep it that way. Hopefully, I won't need their help after the first of the year.

I screwed myself on taxes this year. I worked so much OT that I kicked myself into the next tax bracket and will only get a minimal amount of the EIC. Bummer. I was looking forward to a huge refund, but will barely get one at all. At least I don't have to pay!

DH signed the papers yesterday but then he begged me not to file for a while. He is really heartbroken and doesn't want to throw everything away. I don't like being in that position. Counseling didn't work. But maybe the fact that he actually saw the papers may wake him up. Who knows.

I haven't been doing my coupons, but I haven't been shopping at all either. So I need to do some shopping tomorrow.

I just haven't been much in a blogging mood lately. DH and I went to counseling and it didn't seem to do much good. We are seperated, but he wants to act like we aren't. He wants to come home and I don't want him to.

Anyway, financially, I have gotten one of my credit cards down to half of the original balance. I have made $100 payments the last two months. Hopefully I will be able to make quick work of that after the first of the year. Then snowball the rest of them.

All of the utilities are paid on time. No danger of any disconnections. Feels good, but there is still this worry with Christmas coming up.

My weekend started off good...went to see COuples Retreat...hilarious by the way. But then DH and I stayed up talking until 3 am. Then we talked more on Saturday. I don't feel anything was resolved. We spoke again last night...still no resolution. He refuses to see things my way and while I understand his feelings, I don't think they are justified. He suggested getting counseling. I am going to look for a pastor that will counsel us. But I am not sure that it will work. He has such different ideas about marriage.

On the financial front, everything still looks good and strong. Even have money in the budget for Christmas. We will see how everything plays out though.

I am feeling so much better...it is just amazing. I didn't realize what a weight I had on my shoulders. I actually put make up on this morning and perfume! I am feeling so good about myself right now it is amazing. I am going to get my nails done today...I know I shouldn't but I need to do something for myself.

One thing that has come back with the old me is the eating out. I have got to put a stop to that. I have the groceries. Need to get back in the habit of eating at home. Need to reaquaint myself with the crock pot!

Other than that, the finances look good. Going to start planning for Christmas here shortly.

Almost forgot....got 8 bottles of shampoo/conditioner(Herbal Essence) for .26 yesterday at Rite Aid! I love that store!

Well, I just made Octobers house payment, with $25 extra going to principle. It is the first late one in a while. But now it is caught up and Novembers is already worked into the budget. I just looked at the budget and things are looking pretty good...with the money my parents are giving me and if Icontinue to get overtime. I should have everything paid off sooner than expected. After the first of the year, I should be able to put everything they give me toward debt. That will take no time at all to pay off the cards! I can't wait.

I got my bedroom cleaned up Sunday and finished it yesterday. It was such a wreck. I just had given up. But it is like this gloom cloud has been lifted and I am back...trying to make a nice home for me and the kids. All the laundry is done and folded, with the exception of a load of towels that needs to be folded. It is the first time in a long time that we haven't had to go on a hunt for clean towels! Now I can start on the bathroom. It won't take long, just a bunch of junk to be picked up. I did the kitchen on Sunday as well. But it usually stayed pretty clean.

Anyway, things are looking up. Like I said, the gloom and doom cloud that was over the house has been lifted. THings are lighter and more enjoyable now.

I told my parents last night. They weren't shocked. My mom's concern that she doesn't want me to have to burn a fire in the fireplace. Do we have enough oil?

This morning I got an email from her. Her and my father had discussed the situation. They would each like to give me $200 a month for 6 months to help out. I tried to reject it for a while, but then I gave in. Because although everything is paid and current, there is no room for extras or surprises...like school pictures or lunches, etc. So the first $400 is to pay of my property taxes from last year and the rest is for the rest of the month. WHile this is relief, I am kind of disappointed that I am no longer independent.

Told the kids last night about DH moving out. They took it well. So well in fact that DH left in tears because he felt that no one was going to miss him. That they acted like they could care less if he was there or not. BOth of the kids have been through this before, so they tend to keep their guard up and not show their emotions. It was hard to not try to fix it for him. To make him feel better.

Good news is that I have two credit cards that will be paid off within the next 2-3 months. The Cap One has about 3 more payments and the Orchard card will be at $241 as of the 15th of this month. I have made $100 payments on it last month and this month. Can't wait to get this stuff paid off!

I haven't been blogging too much. So much has been going on. DH moved out yesterday morning. Although it was what I wanted, it still was not easy. Now the doubt sets in...did I do the right thing...although I know I did. Financially, I will be better off. Last week alone, he used almost $100 of my money for gas. Not sure where his money went and he couldn't tell me. He felt like I was acting like this because I make more money than him. But I used to make what he made and I was able to keep my household running as a single mom. Anyway...today is my first day as a single mom again.

I realized that the people I have in my life are very good to me. My boss has been the most encouraging to me. I knew he was a great guy, but it has just been proven again. I told him everything that was going on, with my diagnosis and dh. He was very encouraging. I also asked him on Friday to consider giving me a long term loan to get out of the deficit that was coming up. I said I don't need an answer right now, but he said, I have thought about it and my answer is yes. No hesitation. He gave me a big hug...not a fake one, but a hold on tight one. I am really blessed. I haven't told my family yet that Chris moved out. I know they will be supportive, but my parents are from that "death til you part" generation no matter what. So they will be disappointed, but they will still support me.

With the loan from work, I was able to get everything caught up, even the cell phone bill. So everything is current. I am making progress on my credit cards, although not as much as I would like. We have groceries so we are fine.

I haven't told the kids yet, they are at their dad's this weekend. DD will have the hardest time. She was really close to him. So that will be another hard day.

But I am starting to get the house cleaned up and get back to myself and the way we used to live. Have a lot to do, but will do it one step at a time.

I haven't been in a blogging mood lately, so I took some time off from blogging. There is nothing really new in my finances. I am still looking at a pretty large deficit at the end of the month. I am sure it will all work out. But then there is Christmas...Still don't know how I am going to take care of that! WIll be very slim, that is for sure!

The week-long conference that I planned for my employer started yesterday. So far it is going smoothly. I didn't get home until 10:30 last night! UGHH!!

My son is having a severe asthma attack. He went to the doctor yesterday and got some steroids. I have an appointment on Friday to have his allergies to dogs and cats tested. We have gone overboard on the animals and I am hoping that he is allergic to at least dogs!(isn't that horrible!) I would like to find the dogs that we have(3) a good home. I wouldn't do anything else, even if they had to stay outside all the time. We have 3 cats and 3 dogs...time for something to give. And I have figured out that I am definately a cat person!

Well, that is about all I have to report. I haven't done any shopping in a while. I plan on getting at least tide this week, it is on sale and I have several $1 off coupons. Not sure what else I will be getting.

I went to Rite Aid and got $56 worth of stuff for $7...and they will also send me a check for the rebates for $6. So really, it was $1. YEA!!! I also went to CVS and got 3 bottles of dove soap for $11. It was not as good of a deal at rite aid, but still worth doing.

The budget looks depressing for the next couple of weeks. But hopefully things will work out. They always seem to.

However, I did make it out of the house today! But I am feeling financially and emotionally drained. Financially because I see a huge deficit coming on the 6th of November. Not quite sure how I am going to deal with that yet. Emotionally because my DH is still there! We had an argument on Saturday and I told him that I wanted him to leave. But he continued to argue and nothing was resolved. I told him that I was not going to continue to be called a liar and made to feel like I am doing something wrong, when I am not. When I went to get tires, and had to get brakes too, he asked how much they charged me for the brakes. I told him and he said "that is why you should want me to go to the tire store with you. It is my job as your husband to make sure you don't get screwed. I could have done them at home for $20." To which I responded, how long have I been telling you that I needed brakes? Goes back to not being able to depend on you.

Anyway...It will work itself out I am sure. I think I am just going to have to get forceful and tell him that I can't do it anymore. He looked at me last night and told me that he needed some ankle guards...as if I am supposed to get them for him. I financially can't support him. It would be different if all of his money went into the pot to be drawn from, but none of his money goes into the pot. So frustrating.

Done ranting...thanks for reading.

When I was getting the tires this morning, they told me that the brake pads were just about to the rotors. I knew the brakes were bad, but had been putting them off as well. So I went ahead and had the front and back brakes done. I fortunately have the money to cover them, but will make the next payday harder. Oh well... at least we are in a safe vehicle now. All I need is an oil change and everything will be up to date on it.

I made an extra $75 payment to my credit card today. I know some of you will say that I should have used that toward the tires, but I have not been able to make extra payments on this card for months...and I had planned on the extra payment anyway. I am not doing something frivilous(like getting my nails done which I would love to do) so i feel like my parents wouldn't mind. That makes a total of $100 paid to that credit card this month. It has a credit limit of $500 and the balance after the $100 is $331. I haven't used this card in forever and just making the minimums is getting me nowhere!!! I didn't even activate the new card when it arrived.

I have $255 left of my paycheck for the next two weeks after I pay everything. I need to get some groceries, but given my new shopping habits, I won't spend much. I have already deducted for gas so I should be in good shape.

Well...I couldn't find any tires. My mom called me last night and told me that they would buy me the 4 tires. I am not happy about it. Then I found out today that they had to pay my sisters power bill because it had been cut off. Long story, but she is a hypocondriac nurse...the worst combination possible. She is on disablity right now because she had carpral tunnel surgery. But she has never managed her money well. She also asked my parents to put hearing aids on their credit card a few years ago, which she never paid for and I don't think she uses. We are probably goiong to have to move her real soon as she is probably going to lose her condo(the third house she has been foreclosed on). So once I found out they had to pay her power bill, I told my mom that I was going to wait on the tires. That I just have to believe that things are going to be okay. She pulled the mom/grandma card again. She said that I don't have a choice. They are getting them because I tote their "favorite spoiled granddaughter" around. I feel really bad about taking the money for the tires. But I am not sure what else to do. I am really nervous on the ones I have and it would bring some peace of mind.

In other news...I think DH may be moving out. He has threatened it several times over the last few months. But this time I think I finally have the courage to tell him that he needs to. He rarely contributes financially and he expects me to take care of his debts with no additional income. I can't depend on him to do things that need to be done. And I am tired of being told I am a liar. He constantly tries to make feel like I am doing something wrong because I don't tell him every stop during the day. For instance...Saturday morning, DD had to be in a parade. We had to be there at 9:30. at 7:45 my ex husband sent me a text asking if I could meet him in the next town to pick up the banners for the float. I knew nothing about the banners, had no idea he was even doing the banners. The cheer coach had been talking to him directly. So we met him and still managed to make it to the parade. But because I forgot to tell him that we went to meet him, I am hiding things. And I am lying about knowing that ex was doing the banners...He said that he asked me several times to see what I would say. I honestly forgot that I went to meet him. When we were there, we got donuts at Kroger. Since we don't have a kroger, I wouldn't have left the donut boxes on the counter if I was trying to hide that I went! I feel like I am a child who is supposed to report my every movement. He has a real problem with plans changing. he doesn't adapt well. Anyone with kids knows that plans constantly change!!!

Anyway...sorry to rant. Just feeling kind of blue still.