Overtime!

Got a call to work at a different store yesterday. So I jumped on that -- 4 hours of OT. I am really tired today and am working at my store Sat. and Sun. but it was so worth it. They already asked me to work July 4th weekend. Another girl wants to give me her hours next Sunday. So I am going to take her up on that. The closer I can get to 40 hours the quicker I can pay off the dentist. Nope State's insurance will not help with medical bills if you have insurance. Sucks but that is the way they are.

Okay off to work but I wanted to check in.

Paid bills

Okay this morning I have been running around like a crazy person. Ran to the bank to cash a check and put money in my account. Stopped at the Dentist and paid another $25.00 towards that bill. Will pay my cell bill later since I can do that right from my phone. Bought more bus tickets and saved $1.00 since I received two coupons in the mail for 1.00 off.

Payments from Associated Content hit my paypal card today. I am going to let that build and when I get $20.00 on that put that towards the dentist bill. Every little bit helps in that area.

Also in the mail came my new food stamp card. I have $29.00 on there. They put May and June's on the card at once. So then starting July I will get the $16.00 a month. Also we have some food clearanced at work, so I can pick that up tomorrow (my discount is 25% tomorrow) so I am waiting since that is an extra 10% off.

Have not had any hits on my Craiglist items but not giving up. I am sure they will sell sooner or later. Of course at this rate it is going to be later.

Still tracking my spending.

Food: 6.28
Bus tickets 15.50
Dentist bill 25.00

So far today.

Have a good one and hang in there.

I almost killed the neighbor

Last night my friend drops me off after work. About 1/2 block from my house we see this guy walking with yellow hair. I mean sunshine yellow. It was late about 11 PM and I said to her who the heck is that.

So I get in the door (we live upstairs) check to make sure the new neighbors did not leave our outside light on. I am about to walk up the stairs and I hear the door behind me. The man with the yellow hair is trying to open the door. I start screaming no get the (bleep) out of here. My mom comes to the door upstairs yelling for me. The man opens the door (he has a key) and tells me he lives here. I almost beat the hell out of him with my umbrella. The new people moved in downstairs. Now it is suppose to be one man and his mother. But there is the third person there too. Of course I told him I was sorry and that he scared the hell out of me. He was really nice about it. Although he has no clue on how close he was to getting beat with an umbrella.

Now common sense would have been for the new people to ring our bell and introduce themselves. The apartment below us has been empty for two years so we are not use to people being down there. Also he saw me go up the walk, he should have called to me or waited till I was all the way upstairs before scaring me to death.

So I hope you had a good laugh over this. Lord knows we did.

My new article is up.

Here are my newest articles. I am sure I may here some feedback on one. Please remember that I write them it does not mean that I am experiencing what the article is written about. I write about topics that come to mind.

I hope you take a moment to read it.

Thanks

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1762560/walgreens_ends_easysaver_catalog_plenty.html?cat=46

http://webmail.associatedcontent.com/c.html?rtr=on&s=mgs,5zp7,faq,ftfu,6e0e,995b,etyk&ac_url=www.associatedcontent.com/article/1762440/dont_date_a_married_man.html

Tuesday is article day

I guess today is article day. I just submitted three more articles to Associated Content for review. Now I realize that all my articles will not get paid upfront, but if people read them I also get paid for that too. It is not much but it adds up to a couple of bucks every quarter.

There is so much I can write about that I am going to start keeping a list of items to write about and jot out an article whenever I can. I figure it is easy money, and I can use all the extra's I can get right now.

I also checked my points balance on my checkcard. Right now I have enough to get a $10.00 giftcard from Target, CVS or Starbucks. I am going to keep saving those points so that when I can add some money to it. I can go shopping. I am in need of some new undergarments but for now I will have to hold off with what I have.

I hope everyone is doing well.

I made $8.05 WOO HOO!

Okay now it is not a lot of money but I made $8.05 for the two articles that I wrote for Associated Content. I will get the money in the next few days on my paypal card. Once they are published I will put them on my sidebar if you care to read them.


I have also gotten a few hits on the bags I have up for sale. I would love to sell those this week too. I want to get the dentist paid off ASAP. I will be getting downstairs in the basement in the next few days to get more stuff ready to sell.

This past weekend I have tracked all my spending. Today and tomorrow are NO spend days. I walked home from work yesterday. It is not a bad walk at all. Plus my good friend called while I was walking so that made it even more enjoyable.

My next day off is Monday so I will be working every night. This week is get the resume back in working order and start the job hunt.

My bank account is low but it is NOT NEGATIVE! I know I will be fine this coming week with bringing food and walking to work. I am so challenging myself to make this work. I do love a good challenge.

This weekend:
I got a free 12 pack from Stepmom
Leftovers from our BBQ!
A candy bar from a friends mom.

Life is good!

Friday Mumblings

This morning's appointment went as good as possible I guess. Please keep praying for my son he really needs it as do I. Thank you again!

I got an answer about the food stamp. I am getting $16.00 a month. So I am happy that I am getting something. I only get $13.00 for May but hey May is almost over. Now I have to wait for the new card to show up in the mail. My hours have been cut so when I get those other 2 paychecks. I may turn those in...we will see if my hours go back up to 35 or more. Right now I have lost about 12 hours a paycheck which is huge at this point. Now at least I can get meat with the food stamps which is the expensive part.

Did end up not buying the drink mix at work. I did end up getting the TP that was on sale. My mom will pay for 1/2 so I only spent 3.00. My stepmom stopped to get the soda that was on sale. She is giving me the free pack that was on the coupon and she bought me a soda too.

Friday Spending:

Coffee; $3.64
Burger $1.99
Smokes and soda $5.34
LAST LOAN PAYMENT $110.40

YEAH ME -- a bill paid off.

I only have $50.00 till payday ...but I will make it. YEAH ME! I am so proud of myself for really trying to get this down pat...and every week it will be easier to do. Cause I will have my other weeks to fall back on.

Bad news is I had to leave so early to catch the bus that I did not pack a lunch. But I think I have soup in my locker. So I can eat that and then eat when I get off work. Also have no water bottle and dumb me did not save the soda bottle for water. So I will have to get a bottle at work. I will find the cheapest. I did get the burger cause I was starving and did not plan well and the coffee was -- Well after my breakdown and crying moment this morning. I just did it. I have no regrets since I used cash that was in my purse and I don't do it often. Even before I went on this plan on really watching my spending.

Now next week I really plan on getting out to my storage and finding everything that I can sell. I know that there are a few things that really need to go. So off they are going.

I am hanging in there and feeling okay. Just a stressful day and I have to get to work yet to. I am glad I am working part of the holiday as I get paid for working and then I get 6 hours of regular pay for the holiday.

Enjoy your holiday weekend

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend. Thank you to all who have and will serve our country in the future.

I am going to plant flowers at my Step-mom and put flowers on my Dad's grave. BBQ is also in the works.

I will be tracking my spending all through the weekend. I will give you a grand update on Tuesday.

Please say a prayer for my son as he has a big issue to deal with tomorrow.

HUGS TO ALL!

Stay frugal...you are all keeping me strong.

Thursday May, 21 Spendin

Walked to the laundry mat to wash a load of clothes:

1.75 to wash
.75 to dry.
3.00 TP at work

Did take the bus home cause they were heavy and I needed to hurry so I could get here and to work on time.

Tonight at work a few dollars will be spend on drink mix.

Brought my lunch and ate at home this morning. So no money spent. I left my purse at home and just grabbed my wristlet. So I only have a few dollars in cash on me. Also no debit card. Makes spending a lot harder this way.

Wednesday May 20th Spending

Okay I have spent a lot today but most are bills and I have to pay those:

Wants:
4.30 - smokes at Walgreens
1.06 - Burger at Mcdonalds

Bills:
97.00 Storage
100.00 Rent
16.50 transportation

Misc:
49 cents Greenpepper
3.49 fax in papers for foodstamps

Do not plan on spending at work. Have food and drinks with me.

2 week challenge

I have been reading a lot of different blogs and threads on one of my favorite websites www.frugal-families.com and I really became inspired to work on my issues. So last night on break I made up a 2 week plan.

Here is what I will be doing in the next two weeks:

1. Buy bus tickets (DONE) walk whenever possible to save tickets. 10 tickets cost 16.50. You can use one ticket per trip and get a transfer good for about an hour. So it is possible to make trips and use only ticket.

Today I used one ticket to get to OfficeMax to fax my papers. I then used the transfer I got to get to the bank. From the bank I walked to the dentist office (which is closed till May 28th) and then on to the library (where I am now). From here I can walk to work. I may have to use a ticket to get home but I usually get a ride. Now if I had chosen to I could have used a second ticket to get to the dentist office and the transfer would have gotten me to the library.

2. Do not eat out. Pack all meals for work or eat at home. Today I did break this one. I stopped at Mcdonalds. And bought a double burger for $1.06. I had packed yogurt and had a water bottle so that was my lunch. I do have spaghetti that I made this morning for my dinner.

3. Take clothes to wash and bring home to dry.

4. Try not to food shop till answer about foodstamps. I did spend 49 cents on a green pepper this morning when I got my bus tickets. I went home and made up spaghetti that will last at least till Saturday for my main meal.

5. No OVERDRAFTS! Yes I did fall into that trap again. So NO MORE!

6. Limit soda - 1 or 2 a day DRINK WATER! I have a bottle that I have been using for the last few days. I fill at work and use those Wyler's powder mixes. You get 8 for 1.00 and I use one for 2 bottles of water. Really helps me not to have so much soda. Which is not good for your teeth and also is $$$.

7. Write more articles for AC

8. Keep working on quitting smoking

9. Use my blog to keep me on track

10. List more items on Craigslist.

FREE! HOT DOGS from OSCAR MAYER!

Offer available May 20, 2009, 9 a.m. − 11:59 p.m. EDT, while supplies last. Limit one coupon per household, address or email address. P.O. Box addresses will not be accepted. Open to U.S. Residents, 18 or older. Allow 4 − 6 weeks for delivery.
*As compared to the leading beef franks of Ball Park® and Hebrew National® brands.

http://kraft.promotions.com/ombeeffranks/front.do

They are mailed so mine is on its way! Yeah free food.

spending for Tuesday May 19

I am going to use this blog to keep track. Of course I will have to back track and post on Monday's for the weekend.

So for today:

$4.29 smokes

I know I am slowing down and I am working on it.

I plan to spend $1.10 at work. But that is all for day.

Actually spent at work:
.84 chips
.90 drink mix (8 packets in a box)

Total: 1.74

Report back tomorrow on any extra spending.

Frugal things done:
1. Packed lunch and 2 Coke Zeros for work
2. Have water bag in purse.
3. Walking from library to work.
4. Submitted a few articles to AC for payment. I hope I get an upfront payment and not just the pay per views. I think the more I post here and really work on getting back on track the more ideas come to me about writing.

Budget in a nutshell

Here is what I have come up with so far:

Income: $1000.00 a month. This is after taxes, insurance, and stock is paid. (Now this is based on 32 hours a week)

Rent: $200.00
Cell: $70.00
Storage: $100.00
Dentist: $50.00
Other medical bills: $100
Transportation: $66 (now I can lower this to $60.00 if I buy a monthly pass or even lower if I buy tickets and walk more)


Total: $586.00 a month

Other expense:
Money to son: $50.00
Food: Going to try and do $60.00 a month. This would be addition to the $40 I believe I am getting in foodstamps.


That should leave me 300.00 for other things. So the only way I can see if this works is to start writing down everything that is being earned and spent.

I have changed my checks to paper checks for at least the next month.

The Day before Payday

I want to say the day before payday and it is quiet as a mouse. Really I have been quiet in the spending department. I have only today to get through before my checking account has a balance again. LOL

However, I do have 3.00 plus change on my child support card. I don't get much a month and some months I get nothing but that little bit can buy some food or a drink at work if needed. Today I have food and drinks at work waiting for me. I dropped them off this morning on my way to the library.

I have 1.00 and some change left in my wallet. So I am not 100% broke. In fact I might have a total of $5.00 before payday.

Tomorrow morning I will be going to the doctor for a follow up. I hope this is the last time I need to see her for a LONG LONG time. Gives me some time to start paying the $700.00 bill from all the tests and everything I had to have done.

After the doctor visit:
1. Stop at the dentist and pay something on the bill.
2. Stop at the library and pay my storage
3. Pay my cell bill
4. Pay my mom
5. Fax papers to Social Service for the food stamps. So those should be coming in soon. I hope I get them for May too.

Then I will be off to work. I was taking a vacation day on Saturday but someone needed off so I am taking those hours and saving the vacation day for some other time.

I now have sick days at work to. I actually have 8 of them. 6 new ones and 2 that are banked from when I worked full time before and did not use them. I do not planning on using them but it is nice to know they are there if I need them. Wish I would have had one when I had the flu a few weeks ago.

I did go for about 2.5 mile walk again today. Yesterday I walked from my house to the library and then part way home till the rain came. Nice to know that I did save some money by walking and it is good for my waist line too.

Going home to ready and budget!

I found some books on finance at the library. So I am going home to read those and work on a budget. I will report back in the next few days of how I am doing and what my plan is. Now to make a few phone calls and set up some appointments.

Will have to spend 2.00 to get home. Looks like rain any moment and I am not walking an hour in the rain.

Craigs List

These pallets are getting sold on Craigs List along with some beer glasses we found in the garage that we forgot about. Even though it does not bring in a large amount of money it helps with food for the cats or something. These beer glasses are also getting sold. They are really old heavy bar glasses. I hope to get rid of them by the end of the week.

I also relisted 2 of my bags that have not sold yet. Hope those go soon.

Walgreens deal

I had a register rewards for $5.00. So I used it yesterday with the sale items at Walgreens. I walked from my store to another store that is closer to my house. That saved me $2.00 in bus fare.

I got for 1.30 out of my wallet:
1 12 pack of Coke Zero -- on sale 3/10.92 (I had 1.00 off coupon)
1 pack of shredded cheese - Walgreens coupon 2 for $3
2 packs of OM hotdogs -- buy 1 get 1 free.

So it only cost me 1.30 for all that.

YEAH LOVE GOOD DEALS! Now cashing in my coke points for more 1.00 off coupons.

Yes I am broke, but I feel really good!

It is possible to be broke and feel good. I am living proof. I know I have mentioned the man that I was seeing. Well I found out something that made our relationship die instantly. And I am not missing him at all. I have my moments of anger and what should I have done differently. But missing him I don't. I realized today it is because I have not felt like myself in the last year. I felt that I had to do things his way or it would cause an issue. I noticed more than once I was making excuses for his behavior and always saying Sorry when I did not have to. Come on can anyone really answer the phone every time someone calls?

So I made a list of things I needed to do while at the library. Posting to my blog was one of those. And I am slowly getting some things I should have gotten done awhile ago.

I saved myself 2.00 by walking to the library. It took me about 50 min. I did stop at work since it is along the way to grab an allergy pill from my locker and use the restroom. But it was a beautiful day out, had my water and my mp3 player. So it was great. Now I plan to walk home an save another 2.00.

I may only have 10.00 to my name till payday (Wed) but I really feel good. I ate at home before I left and grabbed my waterbottle and granola bar for the road. Good thing that I like to carry big bags so everything fits in it.

Packed my lunch

Really working hard to make sure that I eat at home and do not go out.

This morning I made an omelet using my gp and onion I bought the other day. Add a little swiss cheese and it was the perfect breakfast. It does not look so perfect but it works for me.

I have to work tonight so I made sure to pack some food for me to have at work. Last night I used 1/2 pound of hamburger, more of that GP and Onion and I made sloppy joes. Here it all packed up for my lunch/dinner today. The pringles are not part of my lunch. They just happened to be in the way. Also note the FREE lunch bag from COKE!

Making extra money

Since I really need to have some extra cash, I have been trying to figure out ways that I can make some cash inbetween working 35 to 40 hours a week.

So I have put a few ads out on craigslist. Don't worry I will be screen people and leaving addresses with a friend so I don't end up on the cover of People. Besides if I am going on the cover of people it will be for something so fun...I won't be able to contain myself. Some of my ideas were household help (cooking, cleaning for a party, addressing invites ) dog walker or petting sitting and child care. So let's see if something happens from there.

I am also going to start writing more for Associated Content. I did make some money in the past with them. So now it is time to kick it up a notch and write at least two or three articles a week. Even if I don't get paid outright, I do get some money every time someone views my work. It will also help me to improve my writing.

I started cleaning out the basement. I will be selling off some of my stuff. Same with items in my storage. Other items will be boxed up for my son when he is ready to move into his own apartment. If I move at the end of the summer I will not be taking most of my stuff with me. If I stay then I will need a full time job before I can move, and a lot of the stuff will go because I will be downsizing to a smaller place. So either way it needs to go. So this week I will be doing a lot of declutter.

I am taking pictures of different things I want to remember to talk about so those will be coming soon.

Cooking for One!

I made up my mind that I am going to work really hard at cooking again. Not eating so much frozen processed foods nor eating out. So I started on Friday! Yeah me! I went over to the little butcher/grocery store near my house.

It really is an Old-Fashioned Meat Market. How many places do you go into and place your order and the actually say "Thanks for stopping today". They wrap all your meat in butcher paper and mark it. I even asked how to make the rib eyes wrapped in bacon on the grill and he gave me pointers. It is a small store and so cute with the homemade dog bones etc. I just love it. Once I got my meat (which was all boxed for me too) I grabbed a green pepper and an onion and headed home. I wanted to make spaghetti before work. So for 23.14 I got all that meat, a diet coke, onion and green pepper.

So I took 1/2 the hamburger, cut up some gp and onion and cooked that up to add to the sauce and noodles. I ate a bit before I left for work, took some to work. Now today (Saturday) I have some for work and there is still some leftover for Sunday's lunch at work.

May Monthly Meat Deal - ONLY $20.09
1 lb Hickory Smoked Bacon
2 pcs Pork Ribeye Grillers
3 Homemade Polish
1 Whole or Cut-up Chicken
1 lb Ground Chuck
2 Chicken Patties (pre-cooked)

The Ribeye grillers are going to be used for Mother's Day. I am grilling those for my mom for dinner. I have a box of mashed sweet potatoes and some green beans I will be adding to the meal. I still have plenty of meat to use and will probably go and get another meat deal for May before the end of the month.

Even though cooking for one can be a chore, I am going to really work hard at stopping my eating out. Even if I use the dollar menu that is still $3.0 I am spending every few days. Not to mention the money I spend at work on junk food.

So I am going to keep track in my dayplanner how many times I stop and get food or spend money at work on food.

My Coke Rewards Rocks

I have been saving my coke points and anyone else who will give me theirs for free stuff.

When I came home on Friday from grocery shopping...this is what was waiting for me.

I had 10 coupons for a free 20 oz. bottle of coke products and a coupon for 1.00 off a 12 pack.

I do share the coupons with the people who are kind enough to share their caps with me.

I have also saved enough points for subscriptions to Oprah (for mom), Sports Illustrated (for the kid) and a coke lunch bag (for me). I even got a small cooler bag that will hold an 8 pack of bottles. That bag I use when I go to get meat or frozen foods in the summer.

Nice little gifts for something I am going to do anyways. I will always be a soda drinker but I do wait for it to be on sale.

Food Stamps

Okay I bit the bullet and applied for foodstamps. It says I should be eligible for $16.00 a month in food stamps. Not much but would certainly help. Heck that would almost pay for the meat I want to buy from the butcher each month.

I know I have mentioned the great meat deals the butcher near my house does every month. I have not been participating in it for a long time. But as I get back to the roots of frugality....cooking is a must. So time for me to hit the meat deals again.

May Monthly Meat Deal - ONLY $20.09
1 lb Hickory Smoked Bacon
2 pcs Pork Ribeye Grillers
3 Homemade Polish
1 Whole or Cut-up Chicken
1 lb Ground Chuck
2 Chicken Patties (pre-cooked)

This is perfect for one person. I use to buy this every month sometimes twice a month when I had the kid at home too. I have started looking back at what I was doing and how I made it when I had the $7.00 an hour job or no job and food stamps. How I kept us sheltered, fed and warm. It seems that since he has not been living with me for about 2 years I have been slacking in the frugal ways. So I want to get back to them in full force.

Tomorrow is payday and I am going to be going to the butcher either on Wed. or Thurs. Some of these meat will be perfect for grilling on Mother's Day.

The picture is not my butcher...but I love the Moo&Oink store in IL. They have awesome meats and GREAT catfish.

A few freebies-

MUST DO TODAY!!!

Get two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit!Limited Time Download Coupon download available from 9 a.m. CDT on May 5, 2009, to 9:59 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2009. Coupon is redeemable at participating KFC® locations in the United States from May 5, 2009 to May 19, 2009—excluding Mother's Day, May 10, 2009. Go to UnthinKFC.com and download your coupon!

I can't print it at the library so I hope many of you are able to enjoy!

Wednesday May 6th ONLY:
Order at www.wphoto.com your free 8x10 using the code MOTHER at checkout. You can pick-up your photos on any day (after it is ready), but you must order it on Wednesday. You will enter the code, then see the payment screen (select "Pay In-Store"). Next you will see that the coupon code deducts the $2.99 to make your total in-store pickup order $0.00.

Grand Total of all Medical Bills

Last paycheck I paid off the lawyer where one of the medical bills has been sitting. Lucky for me (or is it) that I make so little that they do not sue me. I will admit when I had a higher paying job I was sued for medical bills and my wages garnished. Granted it was for maybe 2 weeks but still not something I want to go through again.

Today I called where the rest of my medical bills where being held. There was some confusion with the Lawyer's office and Med Health. The person I worked with at the Lawyers helped figure out that I did not owe as much as either of us thought.

So now with the past and present bills. I owe a grand total of......$1846.00. So tomorrow when I get paid. I am going to work on paying these off. No more shopping (really I have not been doing much) no more eating out. And I put the patch on today to quit smoking. My official time was at 12 noon today.

Now off to make an excel sheet with the bill amounts and pay off schedule.

Thank God tomorrow is payday. I am broke and overdrawn. Yes I made a mistake in my checkbook. I am not beating myself up over it since it has been awhile since I did that. I will be more careful next time.