North Georgia Gal's Financial Awakening

I put six items on ebay Sunday...of course I knew I was already going to be taking a loss on these items. But no one even bid on these until today! No watchers even. There are usually watchers. I realized today(right before the auction started ending) that I had mis-spelled the maker of the baskets! So if people searched for the right name, they wouldn't have found mine! I am so frustrated! I got less than $10 for all 6 items! UGGGGHHHHH!!

In other news..I have to have a CT guided biopsy done on Tuesday. The CT on monday apparently showed that I have a "thickening" of muscles, which is probably just scar tissue, but the dr wants to be sure before he goes into the depths of my stomach. So we will be driving the 2 hours(one way) again on Tuesday. I am glad that I went to this doctor though because I doubt that the doctors up here would have investigated as thoroughly as he is.

I am very thankful for the health insurance that I have. My company offers a top of the line policy for relatively peanuts. I only have a $200 deductible and so far all of the CT scans I have had done have been covered 100%...no meeting deductible or anything! YEA!!! During my research I also found out that in-patient mental care is covered at 100% following the $200 ded. I might have to use those benefits after having dealt with this inconvenient health crisis!

I went Monday to the surgeon. He wasn't sure that the hernia is what is causing my pain. So he ordered a CT scan. Fortunately I was able to be worked in so I didn't have to drive the 2 hours one way again this week! But it made for a long day. The contrast they made me drink was nasty! I should hear something from the doctor today.

I spent quite a bit of money on Monday. The doctor was $40. The gas was $23. And dinner was $25(bought my best friend dinner because she gave up her day to go with me to the doctor).

Tuesday was better. Only spent $2 for hair ties and $8 for shipping an ebay item.

I have 6 items listed on ebay. I listed them at no reserve. I have only gotten 3 bids...for the .99 starting bids. It appears that I will be selling a basket that I paid upwards of $40 for for .99 unless there are some more bids in the next 6 hours. It is a very frustrating lesson learned. My only saving grace is that the money spent on these baskets was spent years ago when I wasn't in the financial crisis I am in now. Like purchasing the baskets is not a recent bad decision. Does that make any sense?

I haven't left the house today...and don't plan to since my husband has my car. I have spent no money today!

I posted some more of the "collectibles" on ebay. I might make another $100 or so. I think I got the shipping straight this time...lets hope anyway. Still have more to post, but the batteries in the camera died and I can't find anymore in the house that will make the camera work!

I was just looking at my financial picture. Things are looking pretty good. I still have to come up with some money by the end of the month, but I think I should be able to between listing these things on ebay and what my husband should give me. Ordinarily, this time of the year, I am just trying to hang on until I can do my taxes. I have always done the rapid refund becuase I REALLY needed the money. This is the first year in a really long time that I am not counting the days until I can do my taxes. I think I might actually do them on turbotax myself. I am just so excited!

I also have money in my savings account and my kids savings accounts. Sure it isn't much. But this is the first time in almost a year that the money put into those accounts have stayed more than 2 weeks! This is progress for me.

Took down the Christmas decorations today. I am home alone so I was able to get alot done. But I think I may have done too much as now my stomach is killing me! When DH gets home, he will have to clean the living room and daughter will have to dust piano. Go to the surgeon tomorrow. Not looking forward to that drive but can't wait to get this taken care of! Seems I can't get half of what I want to do done before I start to hurt.

Goody's is going out of business...I am sure that you have probably heard about it.We live in a town that doesn't have many shopping opportunities. Goody's is it. We turned into the Ingles shopping center(because I needed some things at Ingles) and there was a person standing on the corner with a 30-60% off sign. I told my husband that I probably ought to go see if there are any good deals. We were waiting for someone to cross the street in front of the ingles and I just got out of the car! I went into Ingles to get what we needed and came back out! My husband said "I was going to take you to Goody's". I decided in that split second that I didn't need to go to Goodys. I wouldn't have thought about going there if I hadn't seen the sign. I didn't need anything and I am definately am not at the point in my budget to be able to stock pile or buy just simply because things are a good deal. So this is a good victory for the new me!

I went to Home Depot yesterday to pick up some tools for the fence. THey have marked down their Christmas trees to $50! I was thrilled. Right after Christmas, this tree was $89. It was originally $130. so I was thrilled. However, when I inquired, the only one left was the actual one on display. It comes apart into 3 pieces, but I couldn't see me struggling with it. I guess that I have really started to get the hang of this money thing...because it wouldn't have been that hard, but I made up reasons why I shouldn't purchase the tree. It is getting easier each day to avoid purchases or to make up reasons why i don't want to go through the hassle.

I have to take my ebay items to ship today. Made about $100. I spent over $500 on the items 10 years ago, told that hey would appreciate in value. I was niave and spent money foolishly. They are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. I have tried to sell them before and they never hit the reserve I was asking. This time I didn't set a reserve. It is worth it to me to have them out of the house and have a little extra money to help keep me on budget the next few weeks.

I spent $10.98 at Home Depot for the fence supplies. $15 in gas.

After the initial shock of the diagnoses yesterday I calmed down and began thinking rationally. I called and made an appointment with a surgeon for Monday that has operated on me before and my father before. I also checked my insurance. I should only have to pay $100 copay for the surgery, since it is outpatient. I talked to my sister(my medical go to person) and have a reasonable plan, as long as the doctor can work with my schedule. If I have the surgery on Wed or Thur, I should be able to at least work from home part time by Monday. This will cut down on the time off needed. I hate to use my days for this! Still nervous, given the past history, but at least I have done all I can to prevent the mistakes of last time.

I made $100 on the items I sold on Ebay. i straightened out the shipping fiascos and sent everyone corrected invoices. Will mail all items tomorrow.

I had to get gas this morning because my lovely DH didn't put gas in the car on the way home last night. Did I mention that I am ready to kill someone? Anyone will do. Just about togo crazy!

The truck for my son is awesome! DH will go this evening and put a deposit until the rest of the money comes. MS(son) is thrilled! Still talking about other truck, but at least he as different one to drive!

Today has not been a good day, spending or otherwise. I had a doctors appointment today. Been having this phantom pain in my stomach on and off for a year or so, but that has been constant for the last two weeks. Turns out I have a hernia. I have to see a surgeon next week, who may or may not suggest surgery. However it isn't that simple. The hospital in this area almost killed me about 8 years ago, different surgeon, same hospital. So instead of going to the doctor I was referred to that uses that hospital, I have to find another doctor that I can get into quickly. FUN!

I listed some baskets on ebay a few days ago. They are ending today. I have sold things on ebay before and had no issues. This time however, I screwed up the shipping. I have gotten no less than 15 emails today asking me to confirm the shipping(some of them not so nice!). I have answered each one and posted it on the listing, but apparently, no one reads the questions!! So I am irritated. I have never had this problem before and I am not sure what I did to screw up the shipping.

I stopped to get bagels and cream cheese and coke to keep at work, 9.08 I had a doctors appointment, $20 copay. My son had to go to the Chiropractor, $35. Prescriptions, $20.

I think I am going to go to bed before I end up hurting someone. I have been pretty irritable the last couple of days and a day like today didn't help!

We have found a truck for my son. I think it is really good deal. It is a 1972 Chevrolet that is in pretty good shape. He would be able to pay cash for it with the money that his grandparents have loaned him(he would have to make a minimal payment to them each month). It is not final yet...my husband has to call to find out the details of the truck.

I am so glad that he decided on a different truck. My husband has a Ford truck(that he had when we married) that needs a transmission and has numerous other "little" problems. My son was set on fixing that truck and driving it. I have done my best to talk him out of it. I am not sure, but I think the wiring may be bad...just not the type of truck I want my son driving around for his first car(for safety) So he finally listened(not to me, but someone else of course) and agreed to purhase a different vehicle.

I just received the water bill for my work address. Enclosed in the envelope was a letter stating that the handling of past due amounts had been changed. Altough these changes don't affect us(I have the bill direct drafted each month), I thought the condition seemed a little unjust.

The bill is due on the 20th of the month. Afer that there will be a fee of 10% added to the bill. If it isn't paid by the 28th, it will be disconnected, without further notice, no exceptions. If disconnected, there will be a $25 disconnection fee added to the account. Before the account will be turned back there, the account balance plus a $50 reconnection fee must be paid. If it is after hours, there will be a $100 reconnection fee. This just seems a little brutal to me.

If someone doesn't have the money to pay their water bill, how are they going to come up with the additional fees required? I would think that in this day and time, when the unemployment rate is so high, that a local utility would work with people a little bit more. I am not talking about the homes that are months and months behind and don't communicate with the utilities at all. I am talking about the one that are doing the best they can, call to communicate what is going on and keeps promised pay dates. It is no wonder that people are becoming more desperate!

I am so thankful that I am learning to not have to put myself in that situation anymore!

Well, I broke down and ordered a new remote control for the bedroom tv. It has been missing for almost 2 weeks now and I am going slight crazy! (with dish network the tv is useless without that remote!) I found a used one for $20 less than what Dish was wanting for it! It should be here tomorrow.

In other news, I think there is a bagel thief on the loose in my neighborhood! I went to get a bagel out of the freezer this morning to take to work and I can't find them! There should be 6 cheese bagels left somewhere and they are no where to be found!!! So although I thought I had planned for the day, I had to go through a drive through for something to eat today. Bummer. But now I know not to depend on a bagel for tomorrow morning!

Remote - 6.99
Lunch - 7.00
Gas - 21.00

I think I have a problem. I am addicted to studying my bank account in Quicken. I have my budget for the next two months in there and I find myself constantly looking at it and tweaking the budget for things I remember. It is almost concerning to me. I could spend hours looking at the budget just making sure that I have thought of everything(which of course I haven't). I find myself doing this when my budget is in order and there is light at the end of the tunnel. When I blow the budget and feel that there is no hope, I barely even look at the budget. But for some reason, when I have it all worked out and am comfortable with it, I spend alot of time making sure that everything is ok. Not sure why I do this. But if I do this, I tend to know where I stand more readily and am not willing to vary. I guess this works for me.

My son turns 16 next month. I called today to find out what that will do to our premiums. Once the initial shock wore off, I came up with some different options that doesn't make the increase too bad. My son is going to be paying the insurance, but he needs a number he can handle!

So...if I reduce the coverage on my vehicle which is paid off to liability only, but raise the rate of liability coverage(due to a young driver), there is only a $40 increase per month. This is probably the best option. However, I lose my roadside assistance and comprehensive. I haven't reduced the coverage simply because I was worried about something happening to the car. If the car was totaled and it was my fault, than I would need the money that the insurance would pay under full coverage to replace the vehicle. Make sense?

I just spent an hour on the phone with the insuance agency going over all the different options. I don't know if I absorbed it all. My head is swimming trying to figure it all out!

I have spent this morning updating my pages. The credit card balance page and the monthly goal tracking page are both up to date with the most current balances and information. Things are looking good. I am glad that I have updated the information. It will help me be able to look back at the payments and see the progress made.

Today is a NSD, second one in a row! My friend and her children are coming over for dinner - DH made broccolli and cheese soup. YUM! DOn't intend on leaving the house.

I resisted the call of the donuts this morning! I really wanted donuts. And when I went to pick up my daughter, I thought I might stop and get some. But I resisted!!! I came home instead and got a bowl of cereal!

Today was a NSD. Yea!

I re-configured the budget yesterday. It looks like I will be back on track by the end of January. But, I have cut it close the next two weeks. So any extra spending will definately throw it off whack again. Wish me luck!!

It has been a while since my son has had all of his friends over. Last night he had 4 friends over. They got here around 10:00(and had eaten at McDonalds on the way). I woke up this morning and the basket that was full of an assortment of chips was empty! The bread was gone. The milk is low. Soda is gone. It looks like a thief came and only took the food! So I ventured out to the grocery store this morning.

Spent $88 at the grocery store. Not bad for me. I didn't do the binge shopping and only got the items that I knew we needed.

My Daughter is having her friends over tonight. Always interesting when there are a bunch of 11 year old girls in the house!

Hope everyone has a great NEW YEARS EVE!

Getting up was really hard this morning, but I managed to do it. I am back at work, already dreaming of Thursday, which is another holiday and trying to figure out how I can stretch it. Might try to take either Wednesday or Friday off too.

I also have looked at my budget! YIKES! I picked probably the worst time of the year to start living by a budget. But I can do this. I have to make some massive changes(I thought it would be okay, but looking again, I realized that it is worse than I thought). So I am essentially starting over again. I am not sure how I got this far out of whack. I paid attention to everything I bought. I closely stuck to my Christmas budget. I must have mis calculated something. Not whining, just saying,not things can get out of control even whenyou are paying attention! But I am back on track now!

I have a new saving goal.(I will update sidebar later) My sister gave us a trip to florida for Christmas. 6 nights. She paid for the hotel and the rental car. We have to come up with the rest of the money(food, gas, tickets to parks). I have 4 one day tickets to disney left from the last time we went about 6 years ago. So that will help. We are making a plan this time. We are figuring out which parks we really want to visit and working around that. We won't be spending money for tickets to parks that we don't care about seeing.

We have lost the remote to the bedroom tv. Ordinarily that wouldn't be that big of deal because we could actually get up and change the channel. But since we have the new complex dish network where two tvs run off of one receiver, the tv is basically useless. There is no way to even get the information screen off of the tv!! So I spent the day catching up on the mound of laundry to make sure that it wasn't in there. It is possible that my daughter packed in her bag(due to a strange set of events) but I won't know for sure until tomorrow when she gets home.

DH went hunting this afternoon and my cell phone was dead. I had an extremely quiet afternoon! Rented a movie on ppv and took a nap! Perfect!!

I didn't leave the house today so I had a NSD!

We went to Home Depot today so that my DH could spend his gift cards. They were burning a hole in his pocket. He only spent $4 over the gift cards...excellent for him. We then went to Walmart and I spent less that $20 on only the items that was on my list. DH bought me several shirts and sweaters for my Christmas present. I was in desperate need. I have two sweaters that i wear and one is as old as my 11 year old daughter! It was a nice gift.

He also gave me some money toward the household. He has been out of work for a couple of months and just started working last week so I wasn't expecting it. (we keep our finances seperate) This really helps me out with the budget.

Totals for the day:

Gas - $10
Walmart - 19.02

total for the day 29.02

Today was a very good day. My kids were very happy with their presents(as I knew they would be). Spent the afternoon playing monopoly with good friends and family. Had a blast. Kids went to their fathers until at least Saturday. Tomorrow will be a heavy cleaning and laundry day.

Today was a NSD! YEA! My husband took me to dinner at waffle house, but that didn't come out of my money. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as good.

This is not a financial post, but I have to vent.

We always spend Christmas Eve with my family. It is usually a boring time and I can't wait to get home because of the lack of activity. This Christmas Eve was especially memorable. We were there all of about 15 minutes before my brother threw his plate and said he was going home. He stopped long enough to yell at my husband and then his daughter had to take him home(because he lost his license for his, I don't know, 5th? dui). She drove him home yelling at him the whole way.

My dad was hovering really badly tonight. He was driving me crazy. And my sister was getting louder telling him to sit down and let others take care of things, which pissed my father off and he almost exploded. These were just a couple of the highlights of the day.

I lost my keys and spent a good 25 minutes looking for them. finally found them pushed up under the sink in the bathroom. good thing...I was fixing to start walking the 7 miles home in the thunderstorm.

Many of you know of my struggles when I first started here with my bagel in the morning. Well I have moved on to a new addiction. I found croissants in the bakery at the grocery store and I add some ham and swiss cheese and have a sandwich. Breakfast for under $2.50 a day. Gotta love it(especially compared to the $4+ I was spending a day!) Every little bit helps.

I thought I had tweaked my budget well enough to stay on track. But I discovered that I had entered the propane payment in the wrong account. So now I am scrambling to find $180 to cover that payment(I have found $150 so far). And that is just to cover that check. Hoefully I won't need too much gas this week, since starting tomorrow I am off until Monday. That is going to throw off my budget for next month. Bummer. I was hoping to make a dent in the credit cards with the extra pay check, but don't guess that will happen, as I will need it just to get back on track. But it looks like I will be back on track on the 16th. Just have to be vigilante until then.

Today was a pretty good day spending. I had to get gas and I had to get lunch meat to keep at work for my lunches.

Grocery - 6.17
Gas - 22.75

Total Spending - 28.93

My daughter had a violin performance yesterday. My husband and I were both starving afterward and although we were about 9 miles from home, in our previous spending life, we would have driven straight to the Hardee's across the street. However, we stuck it out and went home to eat. I realize that this may seem like the obvious thing for some of you, but not too long ago, I had troubles avoiding eating out for convenience, especially when I am with someone else. This was really a huge thing for me. I have found that my cravings for the fast food have died down too.

I am also having a hard time making the right decision on another issue. My best friend has MS and has not been able to work for quite some time. Her husband has been saving for Christmas and I thought it was all taken care of. She told me last night that although they have the big presents, they don't have any presents under the tree(oogling presents until Christmas is part of the fun for small children). Since I love her kids like my own, I am starting to feel guilty about the amount of money i spent on my children(which was a minimal amount this year). Well, not exactly feel guilty, but more like horrible that I can't help her kids more. My sisters have purchased quite a bit in addition to what I have purchased, so my kids each have more than a few presents under the tree. If my BF had told me earlier, I would have gone right out and purchased at least a couple of things per child to go under the tree. But now I have exhausted my Christmas budget...and if I do buy anything, it will seriously throw my regular budget out of whack, unless I can figure something else out. The old me wouldn't have cared. The new me is fighting a raging battle against the old me. For now the new me is winning.

Why does doing something right for myself also make me feel so bad?

I finished my shopping this weekend! YEAH! I stayed within $50 of my budget as well! Another YEAH! My daughter has to finish up her shopping, and my son has to do his. But they both already have money for that.

Since I finished my shopping, this weekend was a spendy one. We spent $171 at Walmart. This looks really bad, but when I divided among the people we bought for(that was already budgeted) and the household items we bought, it really isn't that bad, especially since it had all been budgeted for! I went to the grocery store on Saturday and spent $123. I forgot that my children would be out of school and at home the next couple of weeks and they needed simple things to cook for lunch/breakfast. This wasn't planned, but usually I spend about $300 when I overspend at the Grocery store, so this is actually quite an accomplishment!

I had to make some minor adjustments to my budget, but it is still on track. I even managed to get some presents wrapped and under the tree yesterday!

My boss took me and the other girl out to lunch today. It was very nice. He gave us our gift. His wife gave us the nicely wrapped boxes and said "Gary doesn't like gift cards, so consider this gift a really nice gift card. If you don't like/want it you can take it back and get what you want." I thought this was really funny!

but the gift is perfect! They got us each a digital camcorder with the memory card to go with it! I am so excited! I was looking to buy one with my tax return in february, so this actually will save me money! I haven't had one in a long time so I havent been able to record my daughter's cheerleading competitions. This is really perfect!

Have I said that I really love my job and the people I work for/with?

I haven't been good about writing daily spending logs, so I am trying to get back on board. If I bog, than it keeps me on track!
My daughter had her cheerleading Christmas Party last night. There was a sign on the door that the gym would be closed next week...i got excited,until I found out that she would still have practice!!(I don't mind my daughters activities,, but the gym is 30 minutes from our house and I don't get home until 8:45 on those nights). Oh well...we will be there.

She and I went to dinner at my friends restaurant(my standing Thursday night dinner date). I picked up dinner for husband and son as well. It was "kids eat free night" so I didn't do too badly.

Dinner - $26.

Total - $26

Okay...I have been emotionally absent for a couple of days. I have been stressing about making it through the week. But tomorrow if Friday, payday and I managed to make it. But because of my spending sprees that last few days(at the grocery store of all places!) I have managed to throw my budget completely off whack, fixable, but off whack. I think that when I don't blog about my spending that I don't tend to keep it in check. So I am back...going to have to start being a regular again.

The good news is that I just have two more items(headphones) to buy for Christmas and then stocking stuffers for my children. At least that is what I think now...seems people keep popping up that I forgot about.

More good news...my boss told me that I am the best person he has ever had in the position I hold. YEAH!! That is quite a compliment coming from him, not that he is an ogre to work for, but he has high expectations. He is also taking me and the other office girl out to lunch tomorrow...since I handle the finances, I know there is no bonus involved, but perhaps a nice present(he doesnt have cheap taste either!)

Cheerleading is a short practice tonight due to the Christmas party. Another YEAH! Working on bookmarks for daughter to give her teachers. Really worked very well, just more time consuming that I thought they would be.

I had a dream last night that my sister gave me a check for $1100(as well as some other wierd things from childhood). Needless to say, I woke up to reality.

Well, I sucked it up and asked my mom to loan me the money until Friday. I know that isn't that long but it just kills me to have to do it! But it is done. No more worrying about it. Can't say that my mood has increased any...but hopefully it will be on its way up.

No Hits yet about the tables for sale(Other than the first call that didn't want it because I couldn't tell him who made it). Hopefully someone will call me about them this week.

I have registered for pinecone and mysurvey.com. Hopefully that will start producing a little income.

Working from home today. I have to take my kids to Walmart this evening so they can purchase presents for people at school(with thier allowances of course) and since I work near Walmart, which is 30 miles away, I only wanted to drive there once today! I am fortunate to have a job that allows me the flexibility to do that.

Well, I have posted 2 tables and a larger longaberger basket on Craigs list. I have had one call on the table, but he ultimately didn't want it. Just waiting to see if someone else calls before I call my parents. Not sure what else to do. Have only had one call about the motorcycle...think it was a scam response.

On a more upbeat note...Socks is making improvements. His eye is not nearly as swollen and he is able to open it almost all the way. Hopefully he will be okay.

I don't know how I am going to make it through this week. If I don't get some money to put into my account, my checking account will be come overdrawn. In the past, I would simply ask my parents for the money who would gladly give it to me. But since I have "grown up" over the last couple of years, I have started to resent having to do that. We are not talking alot of money, but I needed gas on Friday and didn't realize my account was so low.

I had been doing so well...not eating out and budgeting for things. But today I m discouraged. I usually try to post something positive, some accomplishment. But I can't think of one today. I haven't eaten breakfast out in weeks and I still don't feel like it has made a difference.