Wanted: a new best friend, apply within

Wanted:
A new best friend to talk to, hang out with, be silly with, share things with, etc.

Qualifications / Job Description:
1. Must be able to go places with me, such as the mall, movies, skating, etc.
2. Must have your own money, as I will not "loan" you any & I don't need a charity case.
3. Must be willing to do crafts, color, & scrapbook.
4. Must keep all my secrets.
5. Must have a positive attitude.
6. Must not be a drama queen.
7. Must not be chemical dependent.
8. Must care more about people than things.
9. Must be willing to share your clothes with me.
10. Must have my back 100% of the time.
11. Must be able to talk on the phone for hours at a time.
12. Must love cats.
13. Must have more pounds to lose than I do.
14. Must not be competitive.
15. Must watch Teen Mom 2 and be ready to discuss.

Only serious applicants need apply.

Valentine's day: Just another day.

When you're on a budget, trying to save money & pay off debt, spending money on chocolates I don't need, a stuffed animal I will stuff in the closet or roses that will die, is just not necessary!!! I warned my husband.... DO NOT get me anything for Valentines day. I don't need any unwanted calories. I don't need a card unless there's lots of money inside (and we know that can't happen). I would rather save our money!!! I asked him, "don't you love me everyday?" His reply, of course I do. Okay well that's all I need. I don't need you to declare your love for me on a certain commercialized day by spending money we don't have!

Valentines day is just another day....

A wing and a prayer...

Against my better judgement (and Dave Ramsey's advice), I cleaned out my savings account at Christmas time ...not that a few hundred dollars is much savings anyway, because heaven forbid the furnace go out or one of our vehicles break down (Eddie would fix it though so I'm good, right? ...wrong.) What if something much worse happened like one of us losing our job? Or an unexpected medical problem/expense? ..a few hundred dollars wouldn't do much!

Sooo... We have been tacking our debt & just paying our regular household bills, buying groceries, gas, etc. so far this year...LIVING ON A WING & A PRAYER... Until we can get our tax refund & put back that $1000 for an emergency fund. But with that tax check we were planning to pay off a certain loan that holds a lien against my husbands motorcycle that he hasn't ridden in going on 2 years... We figure if we can pay that off, we can sell the bike for a few thousand & then pay off more debt! Then there's my braces. I still owe a few hundred on them, so I need to pay that off because now it's my daughters turn to get braces!! We hoped our tax refund check would cover everything but I wasn't holding my breath. I just hoped & prayed.

God is good!! Our check will cover the loan, the balance on my braces & fund our emergency account!!!!! It is just enough! I feel that God is looking out for us & God def works in mysterious ways. We have made it through with practically $0 to our names at most given times & we survived. I've put it in Gods hands & I know everything will be ok.

Pushing through...one dollar at a time.

Before getting on a "budget"/ if I can even call it that YET... We would spend freely, buy pretty much what we wanted, when we wanted...THEN paid the bills. Somehow it always worked out. Yes, sometimes something was a little late but never more than 30 days to effect the credit. Things fell into place, I guess u could say. I don't know how, but they did.

Now... It seems like the more I watch every penny being spent, the less money we have. The more I try to save, the more I realize how much money we don't have. I wonder what changed. Why are we feeling so broke all of a sudden? What if I hadn't started keeping tabs & cutting back when I did? This is just a prime example that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, God doesn't put more on us than we can handle, everything happens for a reason, & it only gets worse before it gets better.

I know with perseverance, determination, & that "Gazelle" approach to our $23K in debt, we will be in a better financial state . It just takes time! It takes commitment. It takes thinking outside the box, generating extra income, doing without the wants & only supplying the needs.
...living like no one else, so later we can LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE!!

Tomorrow I have an interview for a second job. It's contract work, working 5 months out of the year, in one month intervals, weekends Sat & Sun, first shift. It will be tough working 7 days a week for a whole month! That's approximately 30 days straight with no day off. I'm going to be tired, but I will make an extra $500 for the month to throw at my smallest debt. It will be worth it in the end!!!!

C's up, C's down!

Everywhere you look there are ladies carrying purses/handbags decorated in perfect backwards & frontwards, upside down & right-side up C's! What is with this epidemic? Why is Coach so popular? & most importantly, HOW IN THE HELL CAN PPL AFFORD THEM??? Two hundred seventy eight dollars for a New Legacy Signature Courtenay Hobo, or a Madison Op Art Sateen Isabelle for $298!!!
(These are two that I like-/ feel free to message me for an address to send one to, thanks) :P

As frugal as I am... and as materialistic as I AM NOT, I must admit, I WANT THE DAMN PURSE!
Is it necessary? No. Is it worth the money? No. Would I use it the rest of my life? No. Could I pay my electric bill instead? Yes!! SMH!

My question is.... Are 99% of women carrying a knock-off or are they really that frivolous when it comes to money??? ...I just can't see myself paying that much for a damn purse!

...What would Suze Orman say??
I must have 8 months' emergency fund, a Roth IRA & a healthy Stock Growth Money Mutual Fund, a 401K in which I contribute up to employer match, and zero consumable debt!

...can I buy the purse???
DENIED!!!

My semi-spa day

Inspired by a post seen earlier...

I was having a lazy Saturday, filled with back to back Roseanne episodes, naps & cuddling with my kitty cat, Smokey... so I decided to treat myself to a long, hot bubble bath by candlelight...relax in the tub & read a book. It was so soothing & refreshing! I gave myself a facial & tended to my month-old toenail polish! I also now have the smoothest legs ever! (I loooovveee Coochy by Pure Romance!)

Note to self:
I must do this more often!!

My doormat does not say "Welcome!"

For some reason I always allow myself to be treated like a doormat. I get stepped on & kicked when I'm down & my "Welcome" sign invites this type of treatment every chance one gets. I am kind-hearted, helpful, caring & giving. I'm a great listener & a loyal friend. I bend over backwards & go out of my way to help others & I do it from the kindness of my heart. I just don't know why there aren't more people in this world who behave the same way.

My new doormat shall read:
"Wrong address. Nobody here by that name."

I don't want to hear from people who only call when they want something...a ride, money, to borrow something, etc. I don't care to listen to you blabber on for an hour about your drama filled insignificant life, when you don't listen to my current struggles, goals or dreams. No, I won't attend your "Pure Romance party" as you didn't attend mine, and I really don't care to hear about how healthy you've been eating, when I have already told you I have an eating disorder. It's inconsiderate & hurtful. Hence, kick me when I'm down.