I am definitely ready for this month to be over. Ready for a clean start.... at least for the month.


Today is payday. I paid all of the due bills. I also bought a cell phone today. I paid 0.01 for it. The contract isn't a huge deal because we don't plan on changing companies and we can still downgrade plans if we need to. I set aside $20 to save for my husband's birthday, $20 for Christmas. I sent my nephew $20 for his birthday (which I planned for). And I should have $10 to move to savings. Its not much, but at least its something. Hopefully next week I can apply my pay difference toward CC #3. It is so close to being gone. An extra $30 a week will be nice. Especially if I do like I said and pretend its not there. (Put it towards debt.)


I also called Dish Network yesterday. My bill seems so high, but my husband only watches one channel and I can't lower my package anymore or I lose that channel. So I managed to get a $10/ month discount. At least its something?

My life feels anything but normal. I kind of feel like I'm just floating through the days....does that make sense? I don't have the thoughts and interests that I had a few weeks ago. I'm sure it will get better. I went to a benefit for my husband's friend on Sunday. They are trying to raise as much money as possible for his daughter who is in her late teens. Unfortunately, I think I caught some sort of stomach bug while I was there. So I missed work yesterday because I was too sick at my stomach to even leave my bedroom. But today is better. And the benefit raised some good money.


I won't know how much my new pay rate will be until tomorrow. I am anxious to see. And I don't see myself spending any money in the next few days. So that should be good. Honestly I don't feel like doing much.

My life feels anything but normal. I kind of feel like I'm just floating through the days....does that make sense? I went to a benefit for my husband's friend on Sunday. They are trying to raise as much money as possible for his daughter who is in her late teens. Unfortunately, I think I caught some sort of stomach bug while I was there. So I missed work yesterday because I was too sick at my stomach to even leave my bedroom. But today is better. And the benefit raised some good money.


I won't know how much my new pay rate will be until tomorrow. I am anxious to see. And I don't see myself spending any money in the next few days. So that should be good. Honestly I don't feel like doing much.

I am so ready for the weekend. More than anything...I need a getaway. But that will probably have to wait.


Good news is...I got a review and a raise. I think it will be about $30 a week. My plan is to just act like I didn't get one at all. At least for now. I did manage to pay bills today and balance my checkbook. I know I need to buy laundry supplies... hopefully I can find some coupons. I allowed myself $15 cash for the week, but that may have to be used for the laundry stuff. I am just glad everything balanced out after all the spending I have done. Zero is better than negative.

Well, I'm here. Back at work - normal days. Tomorrow would have been my brother's 26th birthday, so I am trying to figure out how to deal with that. I am having a hard time concentrating, but I know it will get better. I did manage to balance my checkbook. And I looked at my budget...and how out of whack it is. But I know it will get better too. I have overspent by about $180, between eating out and gas and everything else. I think I have rearranged enough so it will balance out on Friday. I won't be able to save anything this week, but getting through the week is an accomplishment in itself.


Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. The support is wonderful.


I will continue to take it one day at a time.

I am dealing with the loss of my brother and my husband's best friend. One was 25 and the other was 34. Devastating losses that are preventing me from staying focused. I did manage to pay my credit cards...late...but yesterday I got the companies to waive the late fees. I am just overwhelmed right now. Hopefully my finances can coast for a little while so I can get my composure.

I have an Ebates check coming! $18 that I can send to CC#3. Plus $25 more that I was going to send. I am going to look everywhere I can to find some more money I can send. If I could find $30 more, I could get it under $100! But my budget for this week is pretty tight. Actually its at zero remaining. But I can check my jars and see if there is any surplus in there.

My sister moved away about 8 years ago. Things have really not been the same for them since. Here, they had a nice home, they both had good jobs, 2 kids and family around to help them. Now, they are 12 hours away. They rented for about 6 of those years. My sister had another baby when they first moved, so she was not working and did not work the majority of the time. My BIL was promised a large bonus for moving, but he didn't get everything in writing so they screwed him over a little bit. But even with that said, he makes pretty good money. My sister started working PT at a retail store a couple of years ago to help out. But they were still able to provide for the kids and take vacations, so I thought they were good. Well my sister started working FT last year. But the job was just a 1 year contract so they released her. Now she has no job. But instead of them rearranging their budget and cutting expenses, they are just sinking. I am worried. I'm worried that the boys won't have what they need. And we are several states away so its hard to help except send money. I don't want to intrude on them. They aren't asking for help. But I have a feeling they will be in a deep credit hole before all is said and done.

Anyone ever worked on oDesk? Or know good or bad things about it? Seems like a possibility to make some extra money without the commitment of a regular part time job...

I'm off on Friday, so I am hoping to use that day to take care of some things. Both dogs need their nails trimmed - so that is first on the list (Cash set aside). And I will need to go to the grocery store. Hopefully between the rest of the day Friday and all day Saturday I can clean the house and get some paperwork done. I am really thinking about getting a Neat Desk....maybe that would help with the business paperwork?


Payday is tomorrow - so here is my budget

Gas - 60
Groceries - 80
Cell Phones - 177 (Really need to lower this!!)
Insurance on Truck - 49
Dining Out - 20
Cash for Wallet - 10
Savings - 25
Rx - 60
Loan - 50
Pet - 10
Christmas Sav - 20
Hold for next week - 30
_________________________

Leaves me $11

I have got to save every way I can this month. So let's go August!!!