I am wondering as we get closer to Christmas, less than 90 days away, what to do about gifts. I already bought a Christmas present for my husband ($135 clearance) and he will get that once he gets home in late January. He mentioned another item which I will either try to get him for Valentines Day or our anniversary. It should be about $30 I expect; I am just not sure where to look for it.

I always go crazy spending easily $200 per person and that is including the step children. Well this year I got NO response what so ever from the Birthday gifts I mailed so I have decided that they will not miss receiving a Christmas package. If they say anything then my husband can send them a LATE Christmas Check once he gets home. Of course it will be my money, since he will then be underemployed again etc but it will be signed from him so it will be like he got it done when he was able to.

I am trying to come up with a list for our Son, I do not want him to have any more legos since we went through a point when he would start building a set, not finish it and leave it on the floor and not put them away even when I asked. So I have a huge bag of legos hidden away that I picked up and he will get them when he grows up and starts taking better care of his toys.

He has shown an interest in a Camera and I am hoping to get him one on Black Friday for cheap. Last Year I was able to snag a Kodak 10megapixal 4.5 inch screen camera for his stepsister for $35.00 at CVS after ECB rebates and Overage from there Black Friday Deals. I would LOVE to be able to pull a deal similar this year; but since looking the closest I have seen is an off brand for $49.00. I will be watching the clearance section until black Friday and looking for a deal on that day also. I found him a cheap $19.00 one but it did not take SD cards and it did not have an autofocus, with I have learned are much needed. The $19 camera would lose all the photos when the batteries went dead or the battery latch was opened. So that got returned.

I plan to get him one game for his Leapster 2. Not sure which one yet but I have plenty of time and I am sure he will change his mind twelve times before then. We bought him a leapster2 last Christmas even though he had a vSmile (which I will be trying to sell here shortly to reduce his vast toy collection and increase debt payoff money). He is on this wanting a Nintendo DS kick but he is not going to be getting one. I will get him a new game for his Leapster2 but I will not spend $200 to get him a Nintendo DS and all the small add on and games. He needs to show me he will take better care of his toys first.

I find it so hard to wait until the last minute to find out what he will be asking Santa for but that may actually be the cheapest way to go. I could get him the camera and Leapster2 game and I already have a Free DVD, a Small Lego Bianicle set for his stocking. I am going to buy some Fruit Snacks or snack packs to fill out the rest of the stocking which will be set aside for use in his Cold Lunches. Then getting him two items from Santa, one as a present and one for his stocking.

Last year I started shopping early like I always do and when it came time to wrap presents I was amazed at how much I had hidden away for DS and DH. This year I will keep it super small and easy. This year I just have to remember not to buy anything early (before Black Friday) unless it is a super deal on a clearance camera.

Wash Laundry- Done
Dry Laundry-Done

Clean Livingroom by Front entry - Done
* this meant taking the boxes that were moved from the office when we were putting the floor down back to the office, I had been slowly going through the boxes of paperwork and tossing/shreding and condensing!! So happy to have it down to three boxes! Because the office is over run with items I need to track so I can donate these three boxes had to be placed in the back area of the family room where I have the ceiling sheetrook and insolation.

Clean front hall closet-done
Mopped livingroom - done
Fixed curtain rod bracket in livingroom - done

replace burnt out light in kitchen - done
Clean Kitchen - done
Unload dishwasher - done
Load dishwasher - done

Mow Grass -done
Fill low spot by green utilite poles with dirt - done
Use up remainder of open grass seed bag on bare spot in backyard - done

Not Done!!!
Clean Garage
Fold Laundry (8-10 loads)
Clean off Kitchen Table
Clean Master bedroom
Clean living room by exterior wall
Deposit rebate checks


*I really dont want to do anything with this day off I just want to sit and relax and read a book today. (no-school so had to take day off since son is only enrolled in an afterschool program) So I am thinking putting it on my blog may help me keep going!

After reading another bloggers post on the issues she is having due to her husband having ADHD. I am wondering...

Is DHs problem his ADHD, or is it his PTSD or is it both? DH always had a problem with White Lies, promising he would do stuff then never doing it, and needing to spend money. But since he was dignosed with PTSD the inability to see the results of his actions has been a major issue with me.

Do you think it is the PTSD or is it the combination of the two that is making it so bad. I just am so at the end of my rope and this is just another light bulb moment that might explain alot.

I have been thinking lately of talking with a counseler because every day I am noticing I am less and less able to cope with the stressers in my life.

Prior to DH leaving for out of state work, I would ask him to do things around the house since he was home and I was working full time. He could never get to it because he was too busy making time to play xbox 360 and on the computer. My husband wanted me to send him something as he burned through the $1200 blow money that I gave him to last the year in 32 days. I have finally gotten around to doing it because I have been busy taking care of our home and the housework, working full time and being a full time care giver to our son who is extremely needy lately. I think he asked like weekly for a month; I so wanted to tell him "Hay hows it feel to ask and ask for someone to do something and they dont do it because they are BUSY!" Of course my busy and his busy are also two major different things.

Of course I have not said it, but I am wondering if it would be healthier to just come out and say it so that he knows I am not going to tolerate that when he comes home from work.

I am going over my baby steps and realize before I start paying down the mortgage in step 6 I need to set up a few budget items.

I am currently not really on a budget, I just spend as little as I can and push all the extra to the debts; but I do need to save up for DHs first semester back at school (June 2010). We need to have $500. He prepays $500 then if his grades are good enough his employer repays him and pays off the remainder of the tuition which was sort of in a hold type status, then we use the refund to prepay the next semester and the cycle continues until he has a semester break.

I also know when DH gets back from this job he has BIG spending plans. I am thinking of setting aside $1000. I know this will upset him as too low but I am tired of having debt over my head and I am the primary bread winner because he is underemployed and only works full time once every three years or so; and then during that time I am left to work fulltime plus take care of all the household stuff. Not that I dont do all the household stuff when he is home because he is too busy playing XBOX 360. His school day is 1.5 hours three days a week so please do not feel I expect too much by wanting him to bring in more than 20 hr per week income also.

When he gets back he wants to go on three big vacations like two week each vacations to California, Oregon, and Alaska. He also wants to buy two flat high def big screen TVs and a theater system. How much is reasonable as this could easily add up to $10,000+

We have no debt but the special taxes which a portion of is paid yearly as part of our escrow account on our mortgage (interest amount added each month to the balance is $150.00) and of course the mortgage. The sad thing about the specials is it is one of those things that if you only pay what is paid by the escrow it will take like 10 years to make a dent. We are also trying to finish our basement which could be hired out at this point for maybe 5K or we could do it ourselves and spend maybe $500 more in supplies.

How much would you set aside for vacations and big screen tvs?

I finally broke down and bought the GPS I have wanted to buy for a while; it was going to have it be a reward for my job contract being extended back in JUNE of this year; so I have been holding back.

I found out I was going to go on a work trip so I did a little online research and found a great deal at Wal-Mart.com. I took a printout to Staples and had them price match it. I got a $245 staples retail; $179 on sale that week for $145 (Wal-Mart price). I then bought a carry case for it and the total after tax and all was $178.00. I saved $10.40 in shipping because to get it before my trip I would not have been able to do the FREE ship to store and still get it before I left for the trip.

Well I found out today my trip is being canceled. I am happy as this will save me money on my daycare and out of pocket cash. I want the GPS and it is an awesome deal, I just know myself and wonder if I will end up returning it before the end of the week now that my trip is not happening.
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I was stressing this morning of all the things I wanted to get done before the trip and now since I will not be going I can relax. I cancelled all three of my coupon trains for the next two weeks and now that I know my trip has been canceled I do not plan to change the cancel I will just let myself have a little break. It will be good for my mind.

This morning I was bugging out thinking it was Thursday and thinking of all the things I needed to do tonight for Friday and this weekend. I am so happy I don’t have to go; I just am not handling everything in my lap very well at this time.
-----------------------------------------Now I realized I burned all my ECBs from CVS for nothing. By burned I mean I spent them on something I did not really need that did not produce ECBs so I have no ECBs left for CVS. I bought some of DSs medication to pack for the sitter during the trip (incase she needed it). I also bought a clearance backpack for DS for next year $3.99 regular price $14.99, a lunch box with coupons in it for $1.99 regular price $7.99 and a two pack of water bottles on clearance for $1.69. I also bought DS a Spiderman car made out of knex. It was something totally cool and worth the $7.99. The items I bought were a great price and I will need them in the future and truthfully CVS deals have not been that great lately that I an kind of glad to be done shopping CVS for a while, no need to figure out how to spend my ECBs without wasting them so they don’t expire.
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For now I am going to be grocery shopping, and paying off my specials and figuring out Christmas and that is it. What a weight off my shoulders. No more trying to save money by looking for deals, I am just going to create some NO SPEND time except for grocery items and paying off my specials early. For Christmas I already have two items for DSs stocking, one is part of a subscription I bought from Lego Masters they send small legos and a magazine every two months. I am saving the toy for the stocking and the magazine DS gets when it comes. I also got a FREE fisher price DVD sample so that is going in there also. Last year for Christmas I bought my stepdaughter a camera from CVS it was Kodak and a great deal after ECBs extra, I figure my actual cost for it was about $39. I am hoping to be able to get a deal like that for DS. He wants a camera, he does not need a great one but I do want one that is digital and uses an SD card. That is my Black Friday goal (But DS will be with me…Humm I may need to figure out a solution to that hiccup). I also need to figure out what I want to get him, I had a list but I don’t want to get him toys as I am tried of him not listening to me when I say no toys in the living room and pick them up. So I have been very slowly taking any I have to pick up and not giving them back to him. Until he can take care of them nicely and listen I don’t want to buy him any toys (but mainly no legos).

What do you do when the stress of life beats you in the back off the head until you want to cry?

this is the link to the pictures of the before and after shots of my summer spent putting down dirt and grass seed.

http://couponaddict.savingadvice.com/2009/08/21/landscaping-pictures-and-total-_53088/


now that it has been a month I wanted to show you the finished pictures. By finished I mean good enough for now, I had to get two sprinkler heads replaced so there is a area that is not growing and two spots where I need to put down more seed. But here is my pretty sight today after I mowed the grass.



And one mid project one incase you did not want to go back.

I got the new statement from the city on how they applied my payment from the paycheck from the 15th.

They did not do it according to largest interest rate first. That way it would have knocked out about 3 lines and the largest rate.

Well my statement shows they knocked out 5 and part of a sixth. They went in pay off balance smallest to largest order.

Oh well this will get me motivated to be done with this. They included a note that payments made before the 15th of October will be reflected in this years tax statement amount. So I want to knock out the highest interest $421.73 remaining then work on the next largest. I will make sure now that I have three accounts only that I note the code # on the check and write seperate checks. I will also have to call and get the exact amount of the highest interest rate one after I get back from my trip as these balances are only until the 30th of September.

The good news is I should be able to knock out another sizable chuck before the 30th and since my overall balance will be down, come the first of the year my house payment should go down because my escrow amount will not need to be as big.

Also I priced checked some GPS, walmart online has one for super good deal, and it can be shipped to the store for FREE, the down side is if I do that I risk not getting it before my trip. I printed out the price and am taking it to staples as they have some in stock and told me they would match... I have my fingers crossed, if they will not I will pay the extra $11 shipping for 2-3 day delivery.

Well I am going out of town for work. Right before i get my next pay check.

I will be leaving at oh dark thirty in the morning to catch the red eye. This means DH will be with my (second favorite daycare provider) for 24 hours a day for 8 days at $2 per hour which is $384 (which actually is not much more than the $100 I had planned for my extra shifts of work that weekend). *** Wait when he is not in school so I will need to refactor that! $281.00 plus or minus

I will be getting a rental vehicle (on my employer) but since I HATE not knowing where I am going and it TOTALLY stresses me out; I need to break down and buy that GPS that I was going to buy this summer as a reward to myself for working super hard to met my job requirement to get my contract renewed. $200 ish

Then I need cash for food, and taxi to from airport etc. Food will be per diem after the fact and taxi will be refunded by employer.

So $500 or so of what would of been going to my debt snowball to pay down my specials (city taxes) will be spent and the GPS will be charged to the credit card I have not used since July?? and paid when I get back from the trip.

Now the other set back, I have been dieting and exercising; I must get to 155 or less pounds by the 1st of December, I am currently at 165 pounds so totally possible. What concerns me is what may or may not be available to eat. I am hoping that I will be able to have breakfast (cereal and milk) and the hotel, than Subway or similar for lunch and dinner. A fridge/freezer in my room would be awesome if they have a public microwave as I would do frozen healthy choice meals. (I have learned to take my coupons along to these sort of things).

It will all depend on what my hours of work will be and what is available. If I have to work at 5am and the breakfast is not served until 7am, etc.. THE Worest thing would be to have to eat on site and have FRIED JUNK as the only option with no way of knowing what the calorie count is.

Wish me luck, You may be thinking if I have to charge a GPS ($200ish) my budget is too tight, I would like you to know that is how it works for me, if I really push myself then it works out if I slack and give myself huge cushions then somehow it gets spent, but if it is not there I cant spend it.

Today is payday. I need to mail off one bill and then I will also be mailing the next specials check.

I am going to be able to pay much more than I was thinking, the payoff date is now projected for the 1st of November instead of the 15th.

I also found the reciepts for the office depot rebates so that needs to be mailed.

Love seeing the sidebar progress, step by step.

I have not mailed the checks yet but know how much I will be sending tomorrow so I will update it with tomorrows date.

Yeah!!

I need to get the two rebates in the mail. I have the info for the first one, I just cant find the one for Office Depot.

The office Depot one is worth like $8.

I need to clean off the table so i can find it.

The city got the check I mailed yesterday. They called to find out how to apply it. They first asked if I had one special I wanted paid first, so I asked are there different interest rates. She said there was, so I am glad I thought to ask about the interest rate before saying nope just planning on paying it off.

Step One is done as of this afternoon; and the first payment for step #2 will be in the mail this afternoon.

I called and got the updated balance. I will have to remember to call when I think I am going to be able to pay it in full to get the new balance since interest is accruing.

I saw a pre-copy of my pay deposits so I know how much I can pay now; and again once the money hits on the 15th. I cold really crush this debt if I stay focused! I think I may have underestimated my debt snowball but that is better than failing and then being upset.

Also my Son has been having a case of the gimmes so I have started him a list for Christmas. If he thinks of something he wants he puts it on the list otherwise he has to save for it. Sadly I do not want to spend a bunch of money for Christmas as I want to get moving on the baby steps. We will see as Christmas is about building the 3-6 month expenses in saving. My father usually sends a gift card for Christmas so I might just use the money he sends for me to buy stuff for him so it does not come out of goal money and I usually spend mine on groceries anyways as I am not a collector of material possessions.

I bought DH his present a month ago as he wants a Smoker and it was on clearance for $50 off so that is in the garage. He also mentioned one other item which I will buy for him and that will be it. So Christmas for DH will be cut by about 50%, for me it will be cut by 95% (Santa has to get me stocking stuffers). Though DS wants to go shopping for me, so I might have to get him a giftcard and ask my cousin if she will take him shopping.

** Added, on a side note, DS is in need of a second lunch box. He takes lunch to school about 50% of the times because he cant process dairy proteins. When the food or secondary item are major cheese/dairy I have him take cold lunch. I was thinking I was going to need to go to the store and buy another, once I can get a good clearance price on one.

At his school when lunch is over they put their lunch boxes in a classroom laundry basket/tote and at the end of the day the lunch basket is gotten by one of the students and distributed. Well this is the third time that DS has not had his box returned because of whatever reason the child did not get the tote.

Well DH collects Star Wars and one of the items that he had was a lunch box. So to save money I am using it as a secondary lunch box. It is not a collectable, it is just that it fits DHs theme. DH has alot of Star Wars stuff and well to me it is just junk. to him it is collectables...The problem is they are in no condition to be considered collectable, yes they are still in the box but the edges are not sharp as they have been displayed then packed then unpacked and then covered in contracting dust then packed again. Oh well long ramble but I actually found a use for one of the items that was sitting in a box waiting for whatever.

Went to the library, got Spin Doctor By Leslie Carrol, THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER By Dave Ramsey, Kids & Money By Jayne A. Pearl, And Reader's Digest Penny Pinchers Almanac.

I also went to Kohl's today to spend my kohls cash that I received the last time I went shopping. I had $20 that I had to use before the 7th or it was useless. I was hopeing to go in and buy Shoes for me but after looking they did not have what I wanted in my size. So I ended up buying a WII game for my son and a birthday card. I spent $6, which for a birthday card and a WII game is awesome. I am sure there would have been some clothing I could have gotten and put away in the closet for DS to grow into but really could not find anything.

What is the deal with skulls on all the kids clothes this year? I will not allow my kid to wear skulls he has enough death messages with the line of work his parents are in he does not need to be wearing skulls. Sorry off topic.

I also bought a birthday card for a party on Monday this saved me a trip to Wal-Mart and a $50 trip, I spend $50 whenever I go to Wal-Mart these days it seems. I have desided to cut down on the PEZ collection of DH. Yep he is getting to keep the star wars ones but the rest of them are going as gift tags or gift fillers for the kids at Christmas. The Birthday Man on Monday likes Pez so he will be getting a four piece collection. His Family is four members so I figured one for each and I reduced clutter and got something he would enjoy.

My work sent out a notice in April or May of a program they are a part of. It is kind of like netflick but with CD and tapes of books.

Originally back then I was like CD/Tapes bahh I like to read, but since I really want to save some money and learn some of his points and the ins and outs I took action.

I went to the site and requested dave ramsey total money makeover. I have two weeks to listen to it once I get it than return it.

So it looks like I saved myself a trip to the library and soon I will have my dave ramsey questions answered.

Yesterday after wondering if more found money would make its way into my Step #1 I got the mail and in it was my Staples Rebate. I will post it once I actually get it cashed.

I took the time to figure out my new take home pay amounts because I reduced my pre-tax retirement deduction. I have started the Dave Ramsey baby steps, and based on these findings not including any extra money (gifts, tax returns etc.) I will finish step #1 with the paycheck on Sept 15th. I will complete step two on November 15. February 1st is a big day in that it will completed step three, will still be working on step four, will start my automated payments for step five and start making progress on step 6.

I hope I can keep from spending money so all my extra can go to these goals. I have not gotten around to reading a Dave Ramsey book so I am sure I do not know all the twist and turns. I would be making bigger progress if I was not doing the retirement savings and at the level I am now but my husband is 40 and in bad health. We have no retirement savings because he came to our marriage with huge debt. He said he had way less but that is another issue totally.

I would also make more progress on the steps after four if I did not have my retirement savings level higher than the 15% recommended. The reason for this is I value retirement savings above paying off my house early as I feel that as I age we will be selling this house and downsizing to a smaller house. I also place saving for retirement above saving for college as I saved and worked my way through college. I see some people who need to pay for themselves to get to college to understand the value instead of it just being a big party and getting barely passing grades (my husband years ago).

I do want to save money for my son to go to college BUT it will be on my terms! It will be in a 529 account in my name but with him as a beneficiary that way IF he turns college into a big party time without a care to what kind of grades he gets I will pull the financial plug. Worst case I will take a 10% penalty on the money put in the account if I have to cash out the plan but that is better than my son thinking I will support him while he is partying instead of really studying. I feel children can get loans/grants/scholarships for school they will not give you a loan to pay for your retirement so truthfully my son is lucky I am saving for his college before reaching all my goals for myself first.

Today was payday!!

I checked to make sure my check got deposited and all funds were available. I moved the funds to where they need to be and updated my sidebar.

Drum Roll!!

My Emergency Fund is now 1355 and I only have $745 left to go.

I really hope I can find ways to beef this up before next payday. Time to get around to taking those clothes into platos closet!!