We don't have a really large family. So we tend to celebrate all that we can. We usually have at least one birthday a month, but a couple of months contain two. July is one of them. I sent off one birthday gift and went to join the rest of the family for a birthday celebration last week. The second day I was there, the gals of the family had a planned girls' day out. Since DIL is going to be a new mom soon, we decided this would be a good time to have one. Last year, I gave her some money and we went shopping for clothes. I made one mistake. I forgot to find out whether the poor thing liked to shop. She doesn't really. She went along out of politeness, but I finally realized she wasn't having much fun. So this time I was smarter and asked what she would like to do. She picked pedicures. Now, this would be an adventure for me because I had never had one. We invited DD to go also, and we had a long, pampered afternoon. I paid for the pedicures since they are on limited budgets, and I was the one that suggested the day out. Over the course of the few days, we took turns picking places to eat out and had fun together. I was sorry that Hubby had to miss because of work. I didn't begrudge any of the money because that is what you should save to do. Fun things with people you love without worrying about it. I finally get it. So this week is all about cutting back and replenishing the fun money. For just those times when all have a moment to spend together. And my long, boney feet actually look kinda cute for once.....

I've been complaining to the household in general about the amount of junk mail I've been getting lately. And of all the wasted paper (poor trees) that goes into it. I have shredded and shredded. Yesterday, when I was almost using up yet another roll of paper towels, I had one of those moments of clarity. I was wasting paper. True, I buy the paper towels on sale, but I go through them like crazy. Especially in the kitchen. So, I went out to the store yesterday and bought a new batch of inexpensive kitchen dish cloths and found an extra unused sponge in the kitchen. It has been awkward to stop myself from reaching for a paper towel or two. It is such a habit. And I had always used the good, heavy duty kind. They are a bit more expensive. I am going to try to calculate, using my paper column in my budget, how much I save in paper towels over the next few months. I already wash a load of hand towels and dish towels each week, so the new cloths won't add to the water expenses. If nothing else, I'll save some trees. Now, I wonder what else I complain about that is somewhat within my control....

The news has announced that the electric company had a plan okayed to add about $4 per month to each electric bill for the next fifteen years. This is to recoup about 300 million spent on hurricane repairs. Since they managed to get most of this whole area up and running in about three weeks, I totally agree with it. I knew they must have spent a fortune. On trips home, we'd see convoys of electric guys traveling from place to place. These guys were from all over. They had a tough and probably a miserable job in all the heat. For days on end. One of Hubby's old plants had lost 10,000 poles alone. So I decided not to worry about it. Until I got to thinking of whether I should just absorb it or try to do something about it. I think I can eliminate $4 worth of electricity a month. Then, I wanted to do more than that. Not just break even, but challenge myself to do more. Maybe $10 a month total in the utilities. I have electric, gas, and water. The gas in this house is only the heating system and water heater. And, realistically, I have to remember we are in the heat of the summertime here. The electric will probably not go down easily. So, I recalled several threads for frugal utilities and decided to start implementing them.

1. Shorter showers. If I am really tense from my disorders, I often take a longer shower to relax. I can take a shorter shower and take a quarter of a pill and get the same results. Start using a timer to see just how long I take. That will save on water. I usually have extra pills from my prescription so I don't see any problems there.

2. Unplugging items. I thought I had made progress there, but when I went around the house, I found many things still plugged in. So I unplugged all but the living room tv/vcr/dvd thing because I hate reprogramming that thing and the computer and the cordless phone. I just unplugged the dryer while not in use since I was standing by the washer loading it and realized I could unplug the laundry stuff. Sheesh. Then, I unplugged the microwave. I did leave the lamps in the bedroom because I am not gynmastically able to reach that plug every day.

3. Lights off. I thought I was doing well here until I walked into the bedroom and saw the bathroom light still on. I need to concentrate!

4. Unplug the deep freeze. I finally got it done. I cleaned out the small freezer in the fridge and restocked from the remaining deep freeze items. Yay!

I think that coordination with all the utilities will be the deciding thing. I don't think the air conditioning is going to go down until, say October, so I am going to try to do a multi approach method. All to save $10 a month. I suppose a lot of it is psychological. I want to save more money.....

The poor mailperson. I saw him slog by a little while ago, all bundled up trying to stay as dry as possible. It has rained another three to six inches of rain this morning, depending on where you are located. I went out to retrieve the mail and I've spread it out to dry. I don't think anything outside is dry today. The noon news said that 100,000 homes have been damaged or flooded in the last couple of weeks. Sobering thought. We've been really lucky here. Lots of water, but we have drainage and pumps in place. I guess that is one of the good things about living in a hurricane zone. My backyard is resembling a small pond. A baby bird has taken up refuge outside a bedroom window on the ledge. The kitty has been stalking it for two days. I guess the birdie can't figure out what is worse. The scary creature on the inside or the deluge outside. Poor thing. Its sad peeps are getting to me. It looks wet and miserable. My thoughts and prayers go out to those people who are wet and miserable and have lost their belongings and homes. This weather has been really something.

On the financial side, I decided that I definitely can do without a trip to the store today. Just doesn't seem worth it to get out. I had some papers to return to the bank, but they can wait until next week. We are in the process of getting the paperwork together to move old company's retirement stuff to new company. Now that they've been sold, it seems like we need to get onto that more urgently. Another thing we might be able to finish next week. I really need to start priming some walls around here, but to tell the truth, it is such a gloomy day that I just want to read and putter. And stay dry....

I know, I know, I should be doing more in the paying down debt department. But, it's been a long time since I've watched savings grow. So I tend to water it more. Today, I went to renew a CD that was coming due. I added some interest that accummulated in another account and renewed for a longer period with higher rates of return. Then, I took the larger emergency fund and turned it into a different type of account. It will earn more interest this way and be compounded monthly instead of quarterly. It wasn't making anything at all, but I liked the liquidity of it. Still haven't graduated to the higher yield accounts that others have, but it's progress in my slow pace. And I'm not sure I'll ever get to where I use an online bank instead of a brick and mortar one. I'm taking baby steps on all of this.

I really, really need to get a better plan of action with the debt repayment. I did talk to another bank where our truck payment resides. They weren't applying any extra on the payment to the principal. Today, I went inside and asked the procedure for this particular bank to get the extra applied where I need it. My actions seems to lag a few months behind knowledge. I knew I needed to do this for awhile. Just never did it.

My problem with credit card repayment is that I charge only two things on the credit cards. But one of those things is DD's tuition payments. That way, I know that my checks didn't wander off into the stratosphere and she get dropped from class. That has been a concern of mine since a package to the same area was lost for a couple of months and another check to a city nearby wandered off for two weeks. I know most items arrive in a timely manner, but I don't want to take the chance on the tuition. So, while I am making progress on some cards, the tuition costs nullify the final total. I need to build something into my budget that can build enough to pay those tuition bills off at once. Then, I will see the bottom line dropping faster.

It is a dream of mine to see those debt totals disappearing. I need to refocus and figure out what will work the best for us on that score. But I can't help it. I have a need to watch something grow. No matter how small it is. So I guess I'll keep watering....

Gotta love Winnie the Pooh. Even after all these years, those videos stay stuck in my head.

It is raining again on an off and on schedule. We don't have all the flooding those other poor people in this state have experienced, but we are in for another week of rain. The great thing is that I went out with the dogs during a break in it and expected it to be really warm and sticky. But it was actually quite cool for this time of year. I can live with that. Also helps the air conditioning to run a whole lot less. That should save some money. As well as staying home because you don't care to slosh all over town.

We went to see the kids this weekend for our little 4th of July. They have a lot on their plates this week and us going to them worked out much better. We enjoyed getting out of town for the day and we didn't spend much other than gasoline. DD and boyfriend cooked steaks and we all ate together. Hubby is getting ready to work a plant maintenance shutdown, so it was a good way to relax before then. And on Wednesday I will just sit in the backyard and watch the fireworks go off overhead with the neighborhood kids doing their thing. No one has ever enforced the no fireworks ordnance here. We like to be around just in case. One year a firework ran up the street and under our car. But with the rain this year, things are nice and wet. And I get a free show.

I broke down and bought some fancy coffee beans at a shop. I don't drink it that much and I had to really think about it. But I made some today and it is nice to feel decadent on a rainy day....

I didn't realize that my jewelry and I have the same checkup months. Not until yesterday. I went to the doctor for my meds checkup and realized that I needed to take a couple of pieces of jewelry for checking and cleaning this month under the warranty for the gems. Since they are both in the next town and since I have been trying to save money on gas, I decided to do everything in one trip that I could. So off to the doc for me and the jewelry.

The doc was running a bit behind, so I filled up my car with gas, got a snack, browsed a used bookstore, and returned to the doctor. I thought I did pretty well. Most everything, including the co-pay, was in the budget. Then, off to the jewelry store which didn't cost anything. I passed up all the other shopping I could have done in that area except I did browse another bookstore. Unfortunately, I didn't get out of there empty handed. Rats. Oh well, my meds are doing great. And so is the jewelry. Now, the jewelry and I can go another six months until the next checkup.....

My favorite donut is the Dunkin Donuts buttermilk....or is it the coconut....At any rate, there is a Dunkin Donuts in a neighboring town that we occasionally stop at to get a donut for a treat. Goes back to our early married days when that was what we could afford for a trip out. This Dunkin Donuts has been taken over by the cutest, funniest little lady. We have some wonderful Vietnamese friends, so I was not surprised when I met this little Vietnamese lady that she would be funny and charming. Not only that, she is a great saleslady. She teases and laughs with you until you leave with a dozen. Since she's been there, we've never gotten out of there with less. No matter what we have planned before we stop. And she is very generous. She throws in extras so when you get home, you find out you have fifteen or so. It's always a treat to find out what kind are the surprise donuts. We can't eat all these at once. I finally figured out to freeze them. I individually wrap them in wax paper and tuck them into his and hers freezer bags--we don't like the same kinds. And we gradually eat them up. So she does us a favor. We get to have a treat more often and save gas from going to get them. I ate the last of my donuts yesterday. We've got to make a trip to that town this afternoon. Maybe we'll visit the donut lady.....

I blow out lightbulbs by the roomful. I can literally go from room to room blowing out bulbs as I go. I even blew one out in my MIL's house that had never had to be replaced. One theory suggested is that I am sorta electrifying. I did stop watches as a kid. (Yes, I was a wild-haired tomboy, but didn't look THAT bad.) My parents had to search for an anti-magnetic watch so I could actually use one. Any others would stop within minutes of me putting it on. Now, I don't know if that means anything, but it sure made life interesting.

Yesterday, I bowed to the wisdom of the forums and bought some of those new lightbulbs. Those energy saving things. I bought two on sale and used them to replace the blown bathroom one and its companion. I bought natural sunlight ones and so far, they are pretty cool. I figure with my blow out rate, it won't take me long to replace the house lights with these kinds. I can't wait to see how much I save in electricity over the year and the cost of the mucho light bulbs we buy. I just haven't figured out what I'm going to do with my stockpile of regular lightbulbs. Oh well, at the rate I go, I'll probably use them up before I get enough of the energy savers. I just hope that I'm not too dangerous for these new bulbs.....

helping another set of kids move is where I've been hanging out lately. A month ago, we helped DD move, this time DS and DIL were moving. In addition, they were slightly downsizing, so they had to go through their stuff and make a ton of decisions. They did really well. I supplied some suggestions, another pair of hands and sweat. The periodic rain drove them crazy, but I loved that it cooled it down. Fortunately, they have some friends helping with the furniture and DD helped a lot the first couple of days carrying, papering kitchen cabinets, and washing up stuff. I boxed and cleaned and whatever was needed. I tend to do well with the boxing up part. I had some extra gas expense getting there, but not that much while there. I stayed in one place a lot. We did have a lot of eating out expenses, but we had a chance to get away, talk, relax, and laugh. It was good therapy for the kids. The whole moving thing was getting to them by the end. I talked to Hubby about the expenses. He agreed that since our budget has been challenged twice with moving trips and since our vacation (supposed to have been this past week anyway) had been canceled even before this came up, we would use our vacation money to pay for the food bills. I stayed with DD because a friend was staying with DS so my expenses were mainly food. The workout was as good as a gym's and I got to eat and hang out with the kids. They each gave me some cool things that I brought home to use. Also, DD made me a terrific apple pie. DS got me some CDs of music one of the groups he played with recorded this spring that I can't wait to listen to. I don't know why I put them in the trunk and didn't listen to it on the way home. Sheesh. DD paid for me a meal and a book. DS and DIL bought me a meal. We spent some good times together in the first move, also. Getting food, going to a school concert, getting desserts. A bit of shopping. So both moves add up to a mini vacation for me.

Hubby badly twisted his knee while I was gone so he's been laid up trying to get well. He missed coming with the truck and helping this time. He also missed hanging with the kids for Father's Day. We'll try to make it up for him. He also had to leave the housework for me. Oh well. And I have to mow the yard for him this evening. Sigh....my vacation is over....

Growing up in the country, our biggest indoor problem would be field mice that wandered inside. After moving to one of the more tropical parts of the country (I guess it is technically subtropical?), I encountered a whole new creature. The palmetto bug--a huge roach that lives outdoors, can run like the dickens, and flies. I remember eons ago seeing a movie with a best friend that was about killer roaches and never thought I'd see one that size in real life. Those thing are creepy. They come into the house every so often and drive you crazy. They skitter about and you can hear them at night. I've been watching tv and had one bonk me on the head as it flew by. They defy you to catch them. And if you happen to actually catch one and try to kill it, you have to beat it to death with sickening crunches. They are armored or something.

Last night, DD's kitty woke me up while stealthily creeping along my head. I could hear her make that chittering noise that she uses when she is stalking something. I thought it might be a geckoish thingy that gets in every once in a while, but then I froze. Did I have one of those roaches by my head? I know people don't really believe me, but I got bit one night by one of those things on the hand. I woke up in time to fling it off and it left a little hole in my thumb. Before I could react this time, the kitty pounced and ran off. Thinking she must have won, I went back to sleep. This morning I found the bug lying on its back dead as a doornail. It's not the first she's caught. She catches maybe one a month. I hardly ever see a live one anymore. I'm grateful to her. Sure, she attacks my leg or arm occasionally and sheds all over my dark stuff. But she gives us cuddles, purrs, laughter, and she kills big bugs. Don't have to pay extra for extermination. Gotta love her!

The truck work was a bigger bite than anticipated. It needed brake work, shocks, and alignment. To the tune of 825 dollars. At least we found out that the tires are good for another 10,000 miles so we won't be needing the tire fund yet. That's good, because we used it plus the remains of the auto maintenance fund to pay for the other work. Before hanging around here and learning to save up in these categories, a big bite like this one would have been a lot harder to handle.

We're going to try to use this weekend to get rid of stuff. I've been stashing stuff in the garage for removal and Hubby just went nuts through his closet and cleaned it out this morning. So we've got a bunch to get rid of this afternoon. We do need to spend some money getting a couple of things for hurricane season that we have used up. Propane and tarps come to mind right now. Sometimes you have to spend money just in case.

One little rain cloud dumped a bunch of rain on our little lawn this morning. Now, it is too wet to mow and really steamy. I think we'll hold off loading the truck until the bed dries and the air is breathable again. At least, they tell me in this climate you don't get as many wrinkles....

I just threw away another random screw I found in the kitchen. Don't have a clue as to where it originated. The OCD in me wants to keep it indefinitely, just in case. I've already kept it for weeks and still have no idea. I have so many of these encounters with screws and nails. I find them everywhere. Wish they were coins. THEN, I'd find a use for them. I also have a ziploc bag of keys. I have a bunch that I've gone through and labeled, but I also have a bagful of random keys that I have no indication of what they unlock. No matter how many screws, nails, and keys I get rid of, they seem to be replaced by others. And they all remain anonymous. I wonder how many times I've moved these things around. Hubby has an organized thingy with all kinds of screws and nails in it. I really don't have to keep up with these things. I think it is just an indication of the mindset of keeping everything you might be able to use. But the more I let go of things, the less I seem to buy. An interesting dynamic. So, I'll let go of these random bits of things and hope that it translates into money....

from what I hear about Hubby's truck brakes. So, today we will be taking the truck in for a brake job. Don't know for sure what all is going on with them, so we'll just have to see. But both Hubby and DD (Hubby helped her finish moving) say that the truck is screeching. Hubby is getting with the program real well because he asked to use the truck tire money for the brakes for now. I have a fund for auto repairs/maintenance, but he knows I have been wanting to get my problem window fixed before hurricane season gets really underway. You can't evacuate so slowly with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning running. The last time it was over 110 in the car with the windows rolled down. You don't generate much air at 2 mph. But without it, I would die in there. So I need that pronto. Been waiting for all the kid stuff to be settled as much as possible, then my car goes into the shop.

DD has asked when I am going to start her budget money. Starting time is June 1. I've been making a list of her bills and adding in those extras you need as a college student. Then I'll divide it up into biweekly deposits. Might even set it up as an automatic payment. Then off she goes! She is so ready for this.

I broke down and used some of the clothing budget. My belt was breaking in two and my everyday watch was falling apart. Bought each for less than 15 dollars though. I don't need anything expensive for everyday wear. I am too rough on things as it is.

Trying to get this #&%@ shredder apart again. This might be the last straw....

Wow, this manifesting thing is weird. I had a person on my mind a couple of days ago because I knew she had been going through a really, really tough time. I hadn't seen nor talked to her in a couple of months. I was gone or catching up so much that the thoughts of her were while I was in the car. Two days later while picking up some meds we needed, I ran into a store I haven't been in for a long while to get some good grocery deals. I rounded the corner as she walked in the door! We got caught up and I left shaking my head. If I can bring someone into my life by just thinking about them, this money thing isn't so far fetched!

Spent some on groceries to stock up on good deals. We still have 60 in the grocery fund, but I don't think it will hold out til June 14. I've been trying to eat up all the stuff in the deep freeze since hurricane season is around the corner. Some of the things I got this week are to start stocking up for that. I have a little in the budget designated for that, but I might need to increase it for a short while. Been using the drugstore deals to stock up on paper products for the season. I need to take some time and really assess how much we have and what we still need to get. I do know we need to get the extra propane for the grill so we'll have something to cook on. Just in case. I bought some extra medical supplies also. Used a buy one, get one deal for those.

DD and her boyfriend are coming to get the tv stand on which resides the monster tv. The stand is pretty low profile and will fit in her house I think. It's going to take all of us to get that tv off of it. This might turn into a keystone kops event. Oh to be a fly on the wall.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

as Popeye used to say. I went to my appointment with the insurance ladies yesterday. I missed a deadline to retain windstorm coverage with them by three weeks. I didn't move my auto insurance and consolidate in time. Actually, I didn't even know about the deadline until it was too late. It's like losing by one point. I would rather lose by 5 and I would have rather missed the deadline by 3 months. Oh well. I did get the state's coverage. It cost me almost 1000. So an adjustment in the ole budget is going to be made. I have to start saving for next year's payment. Thank goodness that's being taken care of with the hurricane season lurking. Going to be putting the deductibles away for safe keeping.

Went to the dentist today for cleaning, but no cost. Going to the therapy/life coach appointment this afternoon. Will be a co-pay, but that's in the budget. I did stop and do a no-no. I bought a coke and a snack. Tomorrow, I get my haircut...also in the budget. Next week is my meds appointment...in the budget. Hopefully, that's it for a bit.

I have to pay DD's tuition for summer session either today or tomorrow. Hubby wants me to put more on the debt payments, but with big whopper of payments going out to things this month, I've been holding out on him. Just don't tell, okay?

Brought some books back from DD's apartment cleanout to read so that might help keep me out of the bookstores. And I have a lot of house repairs to go. Dragged the old carpet out to the street for this week's pickup so I have room in the garage to start on the next project. Need to do some wallpaper removal and painting. Steady as she goes folks.....

I have returned home! I spent the week at DD's helping her move to her house. We had some laughs and some long days. We spent a lot of time going through every nook and cranny of her apartment to throw out or give away all we could so that we wouldn't have to move everything she didn't want. In the end, we didn't have that many truckloads to move. Mission accomplished!

DD is eager to start her own budgeting. I was going to set it up for the 15th of this month, but the moving got in the way. I'd like to get her started a bit before summer sessions start. I will have to get on the ball here.

I haven't tallied the food/gas expenses since I got back. Since Hubby was sick the whole week, I mowed the yard and did the laundry yesterday. This week is filled with appointments moved so that I could be out of town. We also had boarded the dogs since Hubby was sick. But the vet gave us a break on some of it. So I have a few expenses to chart.

Hubby is supposed to get his gas expense check soon. I will add it to the tire fund.

I have a lot of blog reading to catch up on! Hope everyone had a good week!

A few months ago, I was at the store looking at appliances. I need a new cooktop and can't decide if I am just going to take out the cabinet and buy the whole stove or just a cooktop. Meandering amonst the various appliances, I can't believe they have stoves with microwave drawers. I totally love the idea of the freezer on the bottom of the fridge. But the thing that was amazing to me was the refrigerators with the tvs in the doors! I know people with tvs in their cars....DD's boyfriend's mom bought one with a DVD player in the car and heated seats. She spent most of the first night sitting in the car watching the tv. We got a huge laugh out of that. But I never thought they'd put one in the appliances!

Another thing I can't get used to is the size of the tvs. Those skinny things are wonderful looking...and some are so big! Years ago, one of the company gifts we got one Christmas was a very large tv that we have out on the large enclosed porch. It is the only room that will really accommodate it. It isn't flat and really, really heavy. And so big, it couldn't come in the front door. It was delivered by several people, hauled over the fence, brought into the french doors, and Hubby and I almost hurt ourselves getting it placed on the big stand. We mostly used it to watch movies. It was an awesome movie tv. So large. And hooked up to the sound system. But now, everyone is gone, it doesn't play tv channels well, and DD wants the stand. So, we are trying to figure out how to get the thing OUT of the house. We can't lift it. We'd have to have a crew to get it over the fence. The only thing I can think of is to use a sledgehammer on it. And take it out in pieces. I don't think I'd want to give it away because I'd be afraid someone would get hurt moving it. This thing is huge, awkward, heavy, and with no place to hold on to it. I had a wild thought last night of putting a mattress on the floor and shoving it off onto it, then giving DD the stand. Then I would have to figure out how to move it from there.

We will probably someday need to replace the last tv. By then, only thin, flat tvs will be available. It will be nice to have something that low profile and easy to move. I don't see us getting a really large one again. But we'll need to pay off the debt before then. Maybe that will be something to aim for. I think, though, that I won't be getting a two for one appliance. My tv will just be a tv....well, perhaps with a dvd player inside.....

I'm taking a break from pulling up the living room carpet. Old carpet sure is nasty. And my blade is getting dull again. I forgot to ask where Hubby stored the extra blades, so I'll have to wait on that til he gets home. Hopefully, we can salvage the floor underneath so we won't have to spend money on that floor. We'll see. After this, I have only one more room of carpet to pull up. DEstruction is way easier for me than CONstruction! And cheaper so far....

DD got her house, but they are going to have to pay double rent for a month. Her other lease isn't up til July. Oh well, at least she got it and will be able to take the time between this semester and the summer session to move. It is a good time for her to go through her stuff. And she already has utilities and stuff there so we will just be paying for the cost of transferring them to a new address. Glad to have a minifund for that. I'm sending good thoughts her way for her finals. I know she is stressed.

Hubby is still on the road some for work, and I need to bug him about the gas reimbursements. With the cost of gas, it is going to be a bite in the ole budget if we don't get the money.

Been getting quite warm here already. Don't really want to see the utility bill this month. I have a fund started for insulating the attic better and sealing the house up more. This thing leaks like a sieve. After reading about the awesome utility bills in the blogs, I decided to attack that this year. I'm tired of wasting energy. Especially, since I'm not even comfortable half the time!

Oh well, back to the floors. Got to scrub up some nasty gunk. I've got this picture in my head of Cinderella....

came in the mail this weekend. Thanks, Homebody, for sending good vibes this way for unexpected checks! This one was a refund from our escrow. We'd been paying in too much since I changed the homeowner's insurance. They review once a year, so I didn't know if they could change it and just left it as it was. Now, not only did we get a refund, but the payment will go down this year. At first, we thought we'd apply the extras to the mortgage, but our mortgage is one of the least of our debts. And with a low interest rate. So a review of circumstances was in order. I finally decided to apply part of the funds to the fence--especially since Hubby had to warn the kiddoes behind us to stop climbing again. We just don't want someone getting hurt. So I suppose we'll try to get our yard closed off by the summer and they are all out of school. Just safer for them and the dogs can roam freely again. Then the rest will be applied to a new category. Hubby's truck needs tires. He's going to be doing a bit of traveling back and forth between cities here to various plants and needs to be safe. Those truck tires cost a pretty penny, so we'll go toward that. Now that check is settled, someone send me another check.....

is what filled yesterday. I got a call from DS that their ultrasound showed the grandbaby healthy and sweet. Later last night, DD sent me some pictures of the ultrasound pictures. (She went, too!) It's amazing what they look like now compared to a little more than twenty years ago when I had one! You can really see the baby! How cool!

DD called and she has gotten the little house that she was hoping to rent. I was SO happy for her. Brand new so that her allergies won't be acting up with old wood and old carpets. She will also have a roomie so that expenses actually will be going down. So not only will she be budgeting on her own, the bills will be going down in a month or so. I was very glad to have the mini fund set up so I could go ahead and give her the deposit money without any squeeze on the budgets. I SO appreciate what I've learned here!

We've decided to set apart a fund for house repairs. Going to take some of our bigger fund and set it aside to draw from. That way, we won't be getting regularly into the emergency funds for household stuff. I have a household fund, but I've only used it for plumbing, etc., and would really need to space out repairs to let it build up between each one. This way, I'll take the money we set aside each month for household maintenance and return it to the big fund to replace the money we are setting aside. Same thing, but having that bigger amount lets us go ahead with more projects, but sets a limit on the repairs so we don't go crazy and do too much this year. Can't afford to rebuild the house all at once. I have a feeling this is a multiyear project!

We went to see DS's last performance at school this week. And learned he had received an award! A long enjoyable experience for me is closing. And DD is moving on in life, too. But it looks like after yesterday that new adventures await....!

the feeling I got when I opened the mail. People have mentioned in their blogs about getting unexpected checks in their mail. I read those thinking it would be cool for that to start happening to me. Today, I got a check in the mail as a refund from a medical place from two years ago! Not a big amount, but it's a start. Going to watch for more! It's going into the fence fund. Closer and closer we get....

The next step to getting my DD on the budget bandwagon was this weekend. She had to come home for a bridesmaid dress ordering session, so we sat down and went through what her bills are and what she needs for the rest of her spending. She has already on her own dropped her old phone plan and gotten a new one that is half what the other one was. She is definitely on the right track. We worked out what she would need and set it up for May 15th. I will be giving her half of the monthly money then and half on the end of the month. We are both excited that she is on the next step! I can't wait to start it for her.

Hubby is definitely more on board with things. He is wanting to delve into the savings and pay off more of the debts. Unfortunately, we have several large things coming up and also many house repairs this year. So I'm going to give him the low down on it all this week and let him help me decided how to organize it all. So glad we are both moving in the same direction!

DS is finishing school except for his thesis. I'm going to attend his last jazz concert and cry through the whole thing. He is directing part of the program and I'm so proud of all he's accomplished. And it's been a lot of fun hanging out with him afterward and catching up. I won't be able to do that this time, but that's okay. Because I will be in tears anyway.

This month has been filled with extra expenses. I finally just filled an extra column with them and will sort it out when the 15th arrives. Gasoline has been a big drain this month. But, you know, since most of it has to do with the kids, I don't begrudge it a bit. I am just glad we have it so we can enjoy the moments we have now. Because the kids do grow up on you......

On Sunday, DD called. I knew that she'd been sick all week, but she sounded horrible on Sunday. I packed a quick bag and went to see about her. Hubby ran up with me for the day, then he came home to go to work. While he stayed with her, I ran to the store and got some things that she needed. Then on Monday, DD and I found her a doctor just down the street so that she can go whenever she gets that sick again. I stayed until Tuesday and we just hung around and had a restful time. The steroid shot she had turned her into a Santa elf with round, rosy red cheeks. I called the doc to make sure she was okay. At first, I thought it might be the antibiotics. She is still swollen and pink, but that should clear up.

We talked about something that Hubby and I had decided to try. We are going to give her biweekly "paychecks" for her expenses and let her budget it herself. She pays her own bills, has files for each, and I think she would really like this. She has worked and had her own money before, so this would be like getting paid and having to budget. I can see my way to do this now that I have a budget and know what we usually give her. Also, I told her about this website so that she can read and get creative like the folks here. I can't wait to get started. I need to figure out all the particulars and maybe get it set up when our month starts on May 15.
Then she can get started before summer sessions start.

Next step, Hubby and I are talking about paying off more of the credit cards with our savings. The problem is that we have a lot of big expenses coming due. So we need to sit down and plan. It will be a relief to get more of the debt off our shoulders.....

about eating out. We've been doing much better with our eating out dollars. We plan more and try to be smarter about it. Often, we split meals. I'm still working on Hubby getting water instead of a drink, but he's getting on board with most of it. Yesterday, though, he ate lunch out with a co-worker who paid for the meal. He had Chinese and had leftover rice and an eggroll. He didn't bring it home. I could have used those as a leftover lunch. He promised to do better next time. This week, we broke down after several months and gave in to the pizza craving. We used a coupon and got the pizza for 8.55 total. Hubby's half lasted two meals, mine four. So it only cost us about 1.43 per meal. I am still working on avoiding fast food, but occasionally something just screams your name......

deposit box. We had that debate in the forums. I received my letter saying that my SAFE deposit box was due for its renewal. The rate schedule said that my SAFETY deposit box would stay the same price. I already had on my calendar to transfer my box from the main office of the credit union to the branch office just opened by my house. The last time I was at the main office, it was just two stories of girders and the vault. They had so much hurricane damage that they had to gut the place. They were operating out of small buildings on the site. Since the new branch is a couple of minutes down the street vs. a 15 to 20 minute drive, I decided to go ahead and transfer the box now. I made sure the branch had a box available in the size I needed, and went to the main branch. I had to thread through the construction to get to the lady at the vault. She gave me a slip that read SAFETY deposit box (in print--she didn't write it). I went back to the branch where they set me up with the new hand scanner and showed me how to get myself out of the vault. No more waiting for someone with a second key to let me in. Wow. I asked about the debate....is it SAFE deposit box or SAFETY deposit box. They said that their material calls it a SAFE deposit box. So I guess that is the real name. But, I've called it SAFETY deposit box for so long that I'll have to practice this one.....

was the diagnosis by Hubby when my almost new shredder quit working. I was bummed, thinking I would have to buy another new one when I couldn't get this one to working. I saw some papers were jammed, unplugged the machine, and tried to clear it. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't clear completely. Seemed okay to me. But Hubby went and got a screwdriver from my toolbox, took apart the motor housing, and found the entire housing completely jammed with little bits of paper. Nary a clear spot in sight. I have never had a shredder do this. I was busy doing something else, so he declared it constipated, removed a ton of paper, and put it all back together. Works like a charm now. So I didn't have to go into my household goods fund and get a shredder. And I won't let the paper get too full in the little container because unlike my other one, this shredder doesn't work well that way. Now, I can shred up the pile that accummulated recently. It would probably be better for me and the shredder if I figured out how to get rid of all this junk mail that comes here.....

I asked Hubby when he came home. Especially since he held it out to me. Oh, goody! I love something in a bag. This time it was fruit. The March of Dimes walk we were supposed to go on Saturday was cancelled due to the weather, and the people-in-charge at Hubby's company didn't want the fruit they had purchased to go to waste. So they let the employees take it home. Hubby brought me a bag of small oranges and bananas. I've been eating on them all weekend. Yum! I LOVE free food. Funny thing is, I've been reading about people getting money after focusing on it. I had spent several days last week saying I wish I had some fresh fruit, but hadn't gotten to the store. Mostly because I was waiting until the 15th when my next month's grocery budget started. Then fruit appeared.....I definitely should start focusing on money...just have to figure out how much.....

tax papers to the IRS! I always feel relief to get those done. I even hand delivered them to the post office to make sure they got on their way. I love our post guys and gals, but they walk a long way around our neighborhood. A nice kiddo delivered an errant piece of mail to us the other day that got misdelivered to his house. Doesn't happen often, but I sure wanted the tax papers in the brick building and on their way. We're getting around 400 back and that will finish off the fence fund. It's exciting that we have a fund almost completely funded--outside of last year's Christmas Club, I haven't had that success yet.

Looks like the budget took a hit on the kids front this month. We saw various combinations of the kids three different times this month. That includes gas, some eating out, etc. It was so worth it, but I find myself not wanting my end of month savings totals to go down very much. I'll have to save in other areas. And that's okay.

Wow, the hardware store was packed with people yesterday. I guess we are all in that period of time here where we can actually do some outside repairs and inside planning before the extreme heat and humidity hits and we melt just breathing. I picked up paint samples and other small things. I used the new self check out. Since those poor people have a ton of checkouts, but only two people working them, it takes forever sometimes. So I need to remember that I can check out those easy small things myself. Got the samples spread out all over the dining table. Making the decisions is the hard part for me. I am really glad I've been putting money into the household maintenance account. It took a big beating with the plumbing, but now I can buy paint supplies with it. Going to be a busy spring......

My little elderly neighbor called me last night. The one who has me and my daughter mixed up. She was upset. Our area has been besieged since the hurricane with unscrupulous people who claim to be contractors, or roofers, or tree people, etc. She got a tree person. He quoted a large price, but she said no. Then they settled on a smaller price, and she designated all she needed done. He agreed, then didn't do but a very little of it and demanded money. She said no because he hadn't done much of anything he agreed on. He cursed at her, called her vile things, and threatened to have an "accident" on her property. He was doing this to a little elderly lady while he stood there with a crew of grown men. She stood up to him. He left without his money. She called the city and the police took a report. Hope they find these guys and run them out of town. They were bullying a little elderly lady. Too bad she didn't call the neighbor on the other side of me. He was home yesterday and would have easily handled those bullies. I sat with her a bit. We got to talking about finances. When her DH passed away in his eighties, she had never paid bills and didn't know anything about their finances. She's had to learn the hard way. And his pension stopped on his death. And she said he left some debts, probably from his final illness. She is rather upbeat about it all. She wanted to know if my insurance had changed the windstorm coverage like hers had. She has to figure out how to come up with a large lump sum at her age. She does have family here that could help, but it made me think. I am very glad that I help do finances and know where everything is. I am very glad we are getting out of debt. I'm very glad we are starting to plan more for retirement. Wow, it sure was a wake up call....
She sent me home with half a cake and a wonderful candle. She's so sweet!