Payday is today and I will get my 2 checks from my side jobs tomorrow. I spent part of the morning paying my bills online, including getting the last of dh's medical paid off (from his little surgery in September - I paid half last month and the balance of $412 this month). I transferred $100 to savings, so now have $122.08 in reserve. Not a lot, but better than the $1.76 I'd had in there for months and months.
Work has been crazy busy this week, with training classes most of Monday and Tuesday to learn our new computer system - so it's not leaving me much time to get normal work done. So, I haven't had time to figure out where all my money went for November. At first I wasn't going to track it for December, with Christmas and all the spending and chaos, but I decided since I'm on a good roll with entering my expenditures in my spreadsheet every day, I didn't want to lose my momentum (it doesn't take much for me to get off track). Plus, I added a page to my spreadsheet where I am going to track Christmas present spending - complete with a "remaining balance" total showing how much is left to spend out of my initial budget of $600. I did include in my budgeting for December a $500 bonus from work - but it's still marked as "potential", since it's not a certainty - I'm just hoping, since that's what they did last year. If not, it will bring my budget down a lot and not give me very much wiggle room, but at least I'll still have the $122 in reserve if absolutely needed. I probably won't know until close to mid December if I am getting this bonus. Last year we got it around the 10th of December. I can't imagine the owners giving themselves and the managers such big bonus's last month and not giving the rest of us a small Christmas bonus, but who knows? They might consider the fact that they are finally doing our performance reviews next week our "bonus". Haha.
Update** I just found out that we are all getting a $1500 bonus!!! Woohooooo!! (and that's net, after taxes are taken out). I do payroll, but usually my boss tries to keep it from me and send the bonus info directly to our payroll company, so that I am surprised, too, but she just sent me an email that said "you get to know the surprise early".
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
3 more days
until I get paid and I am happy to report I will have $128 left over. While I've obviously spent way more than what I budgeted at the beginning of the month, at least for the first time in several months I have made it without being down to nothing left and stressing about it. A small step in the right direction. On Wednesday I will add up what I have been writing down in a spreadsheet all month to see where it all went. Hopefully that will give me some insight on where all my money is going. I think food and eating take out is a lot more than I think it is, especially since we don't do much else to spend money on. My plan it to take this $128 left over and move it into savings to try and start building my emergency fund.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Something to be Thankful For
About this time last year I found my half-sister online via internet searches and ultimately Facebook. I really didn't know much about her. She was 2 1/2 years younger than myself and her mother's marriage to our dad lasted about as long as my mother's marriage to him. I got to meet her, I think, 3 times in my life. The first time when I was 11 (both times while visiting our grandparents during the summer), then the following summer and then again at our grandmother's funeral, when I was 18. After the 2nd time I met her, her mother had remarried and moved to Central Canada, where her new husband was from. My half sister has 2 older sisters, one being my age and one 2 years older. The one my age and I got to be friends and we kept in touch via letters until we were about 17. I kept in touch with my father somewhat throughout my early adult years and only knew that my half sister had married in her early 20's and I thought he had said she moved to Eastern Canada. But I never felt the urge to get in touch with her, maybe because the relationship with my father was always strained due to his alcoholism, with me eventually terminating our relationship almost 20 years ago.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I kept thinking about her, wondering what she was like and what her life was like. I tried to do an online search though google, but I didn't know her married last name. Nothing came of my search, but it was still in the back of my mind for that year. After I had been on Facebook for about 6 months, I began to wonder if I could find her online that way, especially since so many women include their maiden name in their listed name. One name match came up on my search that was from Eastern Canada. I sent her a message asking if her father was the same and she replied back no, sorry. I then tried searching her sister's names on Facebook and just missed finding her middle sister (the one I used to correspond with) because she was listed by her full first name, not the shortened version we always had used. Then for some reason I decided to try googling both her sister's names. I found her middle sister on a website where she had listed her job resume and it included a picture! I was pretty sure it was her. I read her schooling background on the resume and it listed her hometown high school name. Suddenly, the small town name clicked with me as the address I used to write her letters to. She had an address and phone number listed but I was still too scared to get a hold of her to ask about my half sister. I tried searching on Facebook again, this time with the town name and found this middle sister, who as luck would have it, listed her 2 sisters as "Family". Suddenly, I had my half-sisters last name! I sent her a Facebook message, verifying we had the same father, and that I was looking to re-connect with her. She replied back that it was her and that she had been looking for me too! Turns out she didn't live in Eastern Canada, but was still in the same small town in Central Canada where she grew up.
For this past year we have stayed it regular contact via email, chat and telephone. We are quite a bit alike in a lot of ways and both enjoy many of the same things. In fact, she named one of her daughter's the same name I named mine! We are hoping to get a chance to meet in person next spring by each driving halfway to meet up.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago and I kept thinking about her, wondering what she was like and what her life was like. I tried to do an online search though google, but I didn't know her married last name. Nothing came of my search, but it was still in the back of my mind for that year. After I had been on Facebook for about 6 months, I began to wonder if I could find her online that way, especially since so many women include their maiden name in their listed name. One name match came up on my search that was from Eastern Canada. I sent her a message asking if her father was the same and she replied back no, sorry. I then tried searching her sister's names on Facebook and just missed finding her middle sister (the one I used to correspond with) because she was listed by her full first name, not the shortened version we always had used. Then for some reason I decided to try googling both her sister's names. I found her middle sister on a website where she had listed her job resume and it included a picture! I was pretty sure it was her. I read her schooling background on the resume and it listed her hometown high school name. Suddenly, the small town name clicked with me as the address I used to write her letters to. She had an address and phone number listed but I was still too scared to get a hold of her to ask about my half sister. I tried searching on Facebook again, this time with the town name and found this middle sister, who as luck would have it, listed her 2 sisters as "Family". Suddenly, I had my half-sisters last name! I sent her a Facebook message, verifying we had the same father, and that I was looking to re-connect with her. She replied back that it was her and that she had been looking for me too! Turns out she didn't live in Eastern Canada, but was still in the same small town in Central Canada where she grew up.
For this past year we have stayed it regular contact via email, chat and telephone. We are quite a bit alike in a lot of ways and both enjoy many of the same things. In fact, she named one of her daughter's the same name I named mine! We are hoping to get a chance to meet in person next spring by each driving halfway to meet up.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Funny As
My son spent a couple of months down in Australia last year, staying with a family, enjoying the sights and culture....he came home with a lilt in his voice and some funny words and sayings ;-). One of them is "funny as" and his girlfriend is always laughing and saying "funny as WHAT??!!"
So, my "funny as" story involves my grocery shopping trip at Walmart on Saturday morning. I had 3 items I wanted to price match and I had my ads with me. Usually I do my price match items last, but one of my items was Pepsi and the cashier came around the checkstand to scan the boxes, so I told her I had the Pepsi and 2 other items to price match. She grabbed the ad out of my hand before I could show her what page(s) my items were on. Then tries to tell me she can't price match the turkey. I said it's the same exact brand in the Alberton's ad and I am spending more than $50. So she flips on her light to call for a manager. Then I have her give me back the ad so I can show her the Safeway store coupon for the Crescent rolls, for which I also had manufacturer coupons and she tells me I can't use both coupons. Again, I said why not? I would be able to at Safeway, it's just their store price on the store coupon and I've always used both at Walmart before. The manager comes over and says I'm correct about both items. The checker seems annoyed that she had to figure out how to price match 3 items.
Fast forward to this evening. I had to go back to Walmart to pick up some items for my daughter and I get in line....in front of me, waiting in line, is the same checker I had on Saturday....and she has Albertson's and Safeway ads in her cart so she can price match!! I just started laughing to myself. I so wanted to comment to her "I hope your price matching goes easier than mine did". Funny as!
So, my "funny as" story involves my grocery shopping trip at Walmart on Saturday morning. I had 3 items I wanted to price match and I had my ads with me. Usually I do my price match items last, but one of my items was Pepsi and the cashier came around the checkstand to scan the boxes, so I told her I had the Pepsi and 2 other items to price match. She grabbed the ad out of my hand before I could show her what page(s) my items were on. Then tries to tell me she can't price match the turkey. I said it's the same exact brand in the Alberton's ad and I am spending more than $50. So she flips on her light to call for a manager. Then I have her give me back the ad so I can show her the Safeway store coupon for the Crescent rolls, for which I also had manufacturer coupons and she tells me I can't use both coupons. Again, I said why not? I would be able to at Safeway, it's just their store price on the store coupon and I've always used both at Walmart before. The manager comes over and says I'm correct about both items. The checker seems annoyed that she had to figure out how to price match 3 items.
Fast forward to this evening. I had to go back to Walmart to pick up some items for my daughter and I get in line....in front of me, waiting in line, is the same checker I had on Saturday....and she has Albertson's and Safeway ads in her cart so she can price match!! I just started laughing to myself. I so wanted to comment to her "I hope your price matching goes easier than mine did". Funny as!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday this and that
I can't seem to get motivated today. I worked from home today and got my grocery list completed last night. Dd and I took off a little before 3pm but she wanted to stop at the Starbucks in Target first to get two of the buy one get one free Starbucks holiday drinks (with one of her birthday gift cards). By the time we dillydallied around Target I was loosing my energy for grocery shopping. Then Dh called and reminded me the car Ds has been driving tabs expire today. So we went back home, got the paperwork and then went to the DOL to get the tabs ($70 - I have in my budget-just forgot it was due today). The licensing office is just a mile or so away and no big line so that was quick, but by then it was after 4pm and I didn't want to deal with Walmart lines and extra people that late in the afternoon and then still have to make dinner after I got home, so we will go in the morning.
Dinner was using up stuff in the freezer and pantry, so that was good. Tyson honey bbq chicken wings, rice-a-roni and applesauce. I had 2 free lunches at work this week, always a good thing :-)
I got 3 very small checks totaling $20.32 that I wasn't expecting so I put them in my savings account. One was a check for $16.28 from a class action lawsuit against EbayMotors that I didn't know I was part of, but hey, I will take the money!
Dd just took off to go watch a play at one of the high schools in our district - she will get credit with one of her classes. She needs to do a couple of "community" type events as part of getting this class to count as dual high school/college credit.
Ds got his very first paycheck today. But for this week he only got like 20 hours. The issue with the other guy hired at the same time doesn't really seem to be the issue this week - there just wasn't that much to do and one day Ds did take the drive (he got paid for it) up to the north end area to work at an office to help out because the other guy is working slower, I guess. He got some good feedback on his work so far from his supervisor today.
Not sure what my weekend plans are other than getting the grocery and Thanksgiving food shopping done. Right now I'm not feeling like doing much of anything....come to think of it I was super tired last night - fell asleep on my bed (dh was napping on the couch) from 6:30 - 8pm., then got up to watch some shows and went to bed at 10pm. I don't feel sick, but not sure why I'm just not having much energy. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better and I'll get something accomplished!
Dinner was using up stuff in the freezer and pantry, so that was good. Tyson honey bbq chicken wings, rice-a-roni and applesauce. I had 2 free lunches at work this week, always a good thing :-)
I got 3 very small checks totaling $20.32 that I wasn't expecting so I put them in my savings account. One was a check for $16.28 from a class action lawsuit against EbayMotors that I didn't know I was part of, but hey, I will take the money!
Dd just took off to go watch a play at one of the high schools in our district - she will get credit with one of her classes. She needs to do a couple of "community" type events as part of getting this class to count as dual high school/college credit.
Ds got his very first paycheck today. But for this week he only got like 20 hours. The issue with the other guy hired at the same time doesn't really seem to be the issue this week - there just wasn't that much to do and one day Ds did take the drive (he got paid for it) up to the north end area to work at an office to help out because the other guy is working slower, I guess. He got some good feedback on his work so far from his supervisor today.
Not sure what my weekend plans are other than getting the grocery and Thanksgiving food shopping done. Right now I'm not feeling like doing much of anything....come to think of it I was super tired last night - fell asleep on my bed (dh was napping on the couch) from 6:30 - 8pm., then got up to watch some shows and went to bed at 10pm. I don't feel sick, but not sure why I'm just not having much energy. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better and I'll get something accomplished!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Some potential good news
Just got an email from one of our company owners - stating that they are going to do performance reviews for all the employees by the end of this year...and apologizing that regular reviews have been spotty at best the past several years. While I absolutely love where I work, the performance review "system" has been pretty much my only dislike. Our employee manual states there will be one done each year.
Well, let's see....I have been employed with this company for over 6 years now. My first year anniversary review time came along and my boss (different person than I have now for a boss) sent me the forms for my portion of the self evaluation. I filled them right out and about 6 months later I finally got my review and salary increase......this boss knew he was leaving so he got my increase in just before he left, but still 6 months after my anniversary date. Then I got my current boss (who I LOVE as a boss) and a couple of months after my 3 year anniversary I had to ask her about a review and she sent me the forms for my part.....nothing happened, I think I had to ask her again, and near the end of that year she just told me she put in my raise, but I never got the review! (a nice raise it was, too). It's been spotty like that the whole time. I got another raise the first of 2009 and then nothing for 2 years...(economy went to hell, and they dropped our bonus program, so I didn't push it) but I am not going to go more than 2 years, without at least asking for a raise! I got one last January, so have just been wondering to myself if I should ask this coming January or go another year......
Since I do the payroll I have access to everyone's salary and when they last got a raise. I took a look and saw that most people have gone 2 years now without a raise, so I probably should wait. But on the other hand the 3 owners just a few weeks ago took $50,000 bonus's each and gave the department manager's $10,000 bonus's. That's what prompted me to see if anyone has been getting raises and realizing it's been 2 years for most folks. That was a day when I really didn't want to be privy to what the head guys make and get for bonus's....while I don't begrudge them their salaries and bonus's at all, I sure felt they needed to also take a look at their employees and lack of increased salaries for quite some time. If they can afford those bonus's they sure can afford some cost of living raises. So, I was relieved today to find out they have done that. And hopefully I'll be looking at another raise come January!
Well, let's see....I have been employed with this company for over 6 years now. My first year anniversary review time came along and my boss (different person than I have now for a boss) sent me the forms for my portion of the self evaluation. I filled them right out and about 6 months later I finally got my review and salary increase......this boss knew he was leaving so he got my increase in just before he left, but still 6 months after my anniversary date. Then I got my current boss (who I LOVE as a boss) and a couple of months after my 3 year anniversary I had to ask her about a review and she sent me the forms for my part.....nothing happened, I think I had to ask her again, and near the end of that year she just told me she put in my raise, but I never got the review! (a nice raise it was, too). It's been spotty like that the whole time. I got another raise the first of 2009 and then nothing for 2 years...(economy went to hell, and they dropped our bonus program, so I didn't push it) but I am not going to go more than 2 years, without at least asking for a raise! I got one last January, so have just been wondering to myself if I should ask this coming January or go another year......
Since I do the payroll I have access to everyone's salary and when they last got a raise. I took a look and saw that most people have gone 2 years now without a raise, so I probably should wait. But on the other hand the 3 owners just a few weeks ago took $50,000 bonus's each and gave the department manager's $10,000 bonus's. That's what prompted me to see if anyone has been getting raises and realizing it's been 2 years for most folks. That was a day when I really didn't want to be privy to what the head guys make and get for bonus's....while I don't begrudge them their salaries and bonus's at all, I sure felt they needed to also take a look at their employees and lack of increased salaries for quite some time. If they can afford those bonus's they sure can afford some cost of living raises. So, I was relieved today to find out they have done that. And hopefully I'll be looking at another raise come January!
'Tis the Season
It's getting to be that time for Christmas present shopping. While I love Christmas, the decorations, the music, the tv specials, the food (especially the cookies!), etc., the spending money part is not one of my favorite things. I'm too cheap and then I feel a little guilty that I didn't spend enough. The past few years the number of people we have to purchase for has reduced (long story, but for our own mental health we had to cut ties with Dh's family) so it has been easier on the budget and my guilt. I just have the 4 of us to buy for, my mom, grandma, uncle, Ds's girlfriend and 3 nieces. I have several step siblings, but for quite a few years now we have just done a fun gift exchange game at our family holiday get-together party, so only one $20 gift to buy, instead of one gift for each person.
I try to stick to about $150 for each of my kids and $100 on Dh (and he the same for me). Some years Dh and I decide to buy something for the both of us -a piece of furniture or something (this year I am thinking a new recliner -as ours is seeing it's last days). Dh likes those years better because then he doesn't have to shop for me, LOL. For my mom, grandma and uncle we usually do $30-40 each and for my nieces I usually only do about $15 each and probably $40 on Ds's girlfriend. (those are the one's I always feel guilty on...I guess because my step siblings are all quite more well off than we are (even though the gift exchange game or drawing names was their ideas).
I'm terrible when I go to make the purchases - I keep thinking I might find a better deal elsewhere and then I keep putting it off until it's getting almost too late! I always want to find the very best deal and I drive myself crazy. It has been easier the past 5 years or so with so many online stores now and ways to compare prices. I have done quite a bit of online shopping the past few years, which saves my sanity because I detest being in crowded stores. I can only stand about an hour of actual in-store Christmas shopping at a time before I am no longer enjoying any aspect of it.
I remember when we were first married and our first Christmas I felt the need to keep up with all the gifts Dh's mom gave out and the money she spent (which she could NOT afford - several thousand dollars a year on credit cards). Dh had just got laid off his job and I only worked part time while going to school. So, I put the gifts on a credit cards....come the next Christmas I still owed some on those cards! I said never again....if all's we can afford is a $5 gift for everyone then that is what they get....and some years that's all they got. In over 20 years I have never charged Christmas presents again. Some years I just had to make some of the gifts.
The past several years I have managed to stay pretty close to about $600-$700 per year, nothing extravagant. For a few years, before my dad passed away, he and my mom were "gifting" each of us kids a check for $500 each Christmas and one year was $1000. That sure was nice! and basically covered most of what I had just spent for gifts. But, I totally understand my mom feeling the need to watch over her money carefully, now that she's on her own, and she already does so much for me and my family. Last year my employer gave us a $500 Christmas bonus (after taxes taken out) so I am hoping this will happen again this year.
Do you have a holiday budget and how do you stick to it?
I try to stick to about $150 for each of my kids and $100 on Dh (and he the same for me). Some years Dh and I decide to buy something for the both of us -a piece of furniture or something (this year I am thinking a new recliner -as ours is seeing it's last days). Dh likes those years better because then he doesn't have to shop for me, LOL. For my mom, grandma and uncle we usually do $30-40 each and for my nieces I usually only do about $15 each and probably $40 on Ds's girlfriend. (those are the one's I always feel guilty on...I guess because my step siblings are all quite more well off than we are (even though the gift exchange game or drawing names was their ideas).
I'm terrible when I go to make the purchases - I keep thinking I might find a better deal elsewhere and then I keep putting it off until it's getting almost too late! I always want to find the very best deal and I drive myself crazy. It has been easier the past 5 years or so with so many online stores now and ways to compare prices. I have done quite a bit of online shopping the past few years, which saves my sanity because I detest being in crowded stores. I can only stand about an hour of actual in-store Christmas shopping at a time before I am no longer enjoying any aspect of it.
I remember when we were first married and our first Christmas I felt the need to keep up with all the gifts Dh's mom gave out and the money she spent (which she could NOT afford - several thousand dollars a year on credit cards). Dh had just got laid off his job and I only worked part time while going to school. So, I put the gifts on a credit cards....come the next Christmas I still owed some on those cards! I said never again....if all's we can afford is a $5 gift for everyone then that is what they get....and some years that's all they got. In over 20 years I have never charged Christmas presents again. Some years I just had to make some of the gifts.
The past several years I have managed to stay pretty close to about $600-$700 per year, nothing extravagant. For a few years, before my dad passed away, he and my mom were "gifting" each of us kids a check for $500 each Christmas and one year was $1000. That sure was nice! and basically covered most of what I had just spent for gifts. But, I totally understand my mom feeling the need to watch over her money carefully, now that she's on her own, and she already does so much for me and my family. Last year my employer gave us a $500 Christmas bonus (after taxes taken out) so I am hoping this will happen again this year.
Do you have a holiday budget and how do you stick to it?
Monday, November 14, 2011
And there she goes.........
Kind of a bittersweet morning….Dd took off all on her own to drive herself to school this morning for the first time. While part of me was jumping for joy not to have to make the daily trip to her school and back each morning (4 miles each way takes 25-30 minutes – it’s a zoo getting in and out of that school) another part of me just watched my little girl grow up and start to live her own life….and what a life I’m sure she will have! She is SO smart and SO beautiful and so focused and goal oriented. You can’t meet her and not know she is destined to succeed. 3.9 GPA with AP classes and plans to enter the program next year where she will be attending community college at the same time as high school, with the goal of graduating high school with an AA degree at the same time. She wants a part time job and is starting to look, now that she is 16. I’m not rushing her on the job thing…school takes a lot of her time, as well as tennis from March through beginning of June each year. They grow up so fast!
Stocking stuffer deal
With Dd's birthday party yesterday afternoon I really only had time to get one deal. I had $9 in RiteAid rewards, so I hopped in the car and did a quick trip the 1 mile to RiteAid. 17 stocking stuffers for Dd!! Wet 'n Wild cosmetics were on sale 40% off. I picked 17 items of the .99 price - various eye liner colors and various nail polish colors, which all rang up at the sale price of .59 each.
Total: $10.03 (plus tax)
- $9 UP rewards applied
= $1.03 out of my pocket and then another $3 UP reward printed out for spending $10 on Wet n Wild cosmetics.
I like those kind of stocking stuffer deals :-)
Total: $10.03 (plus tax)
- $9 UP rewards applied
= $1.03 out of my pocket and then another $3 UP reward printed out for spending $10 on Wet n Wild cosmetics.
I like those kind of stocking stuffer deals :-)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Fall electricity bill
Woohoo! Just got my electricity bill and it's $60 lower than I budgeted for. I budgeted $250. I checked our usage this month compared to this month last year and it's a little higher, so no change, apparently from having our house caulked better for the painting we had done, so that is disappointing. It's more just a matter of I'm trying to budget expenses a little higher than I have in the past, because I always seem to budget too low (especially for electricity/heat). So, I guess while not a true savings, it still feels like I've saved $60 :-).
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Keeping the spending to a minimum
So far I've managed 5 days of very little spending:
Monday $11.00
Tuesday $0
Wednesday $12.42
Thursday $20.32
I won't get by that easy on the weekend as I have to grocery shop. I have my list made up, along with menu plan for the week. It doesn't seem like a very long list but more than likely I'll end up buying way more than is on it....sigh....I added it up and I should be able to get out of there for $100 or so, including the ice cream and fixin's for Dd's party. Part of my problem is I take Dd with me grocery shopping - mostly for her company, but it's also nice to have someone to lift the heavy stuff, like cases of water or soda (my back is messed up from an accident about 5 years ago) and she always finds things to buy that weren't on my list or she says "dad says he needs X"...I don't know why he tells her what he is out of and not me! It's weird LOL! Next thing you know it's another $20 or $30 bucks over what I planned.
Monday $11.00
Tuesday $0
Wednesday $12.42
Thursday $20.32
I won't get by that easy on the weekend as I have to grocery shop. I have my list made up, along with menu plan for the week. It doesn't seem like a very long list but more than likely I'll end up buying way more than is on it....sigh....I added it up and I should be able to get out of there for $100 or so, including the ice cream and fixin's for Dd's party. Part of my problem is I take Dd with me grocery shopping - mostly for her company, but it's also nice to have someone to lift the heavy stuff, like cases of water or soda (my back is messed up from an accident about 5 years ago) and she always finds things to buy that weren't on my list or she says "dad says he needs X"...I don't know why he tells her what he is out of and not me! It's weird LOL! Next thing you know it's another $20 or $30 bucks over what I planned.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday ramblings
It's been a pretty slow week around here, not much going on at all. It's kind of the calm before the storm at work. We are winding down representing the one big manufacturer and getting ready to soon start representing the new manufacturer - and then I'm sure work life will go into crazy mode for a couple of months while we learn a new system, etc.
Ds worked 3 hours on Monday, but got almost a full 8 hours yesterday and took off again at 6:30 this morning to start at 7am. It will be interesting to see what pans out as far as his hours and workload. He and another guy were hired at the same time. Ds was given the "south end" area and the other guy the "north end" area. We live in the South End. The other guy lives right in the middle but apparently wanted or thought he was getting the south area. I guess he was going to quit as he didn't want to drive the 24 miles each way (at the most) to work his area. So, for today they tell Ds that this other guy is going to work with him. Which I'm sure, if this continues would cut Ds's hours. There is no way Ds will do the north end for $12 bucks an hour and a 45 mile drive each way (in awful traffic). Even with the south end area he potentially has a 24 mile commute if he has to go to the farthest office in his area. Guess we'll have to see how it works out. Otherwise he is really liking the work and looking forward to getting his first paycheck a week from this Friday.
Dh is frustrating me with his medications and diet. Seems to be having more muscle pain (probably due to the cholesterol meds) and asked me to send a message to his doctor about it, but then of course he doesn't want to follow the doctor's advice! He does this constantly and is just wasting the doctor's time (and my time!) He's still eating quite a bit calorie wise, just really trying to cut down on things that have a lot of cholesterol...but he is ALWAYS starving and driving us all crazy. And I'm tired of having to feel like I'm his mother.
I had a no spend day yesterday, so that was good. Just trying to hang on to the rest of my money as hard as possible! I did check my bank account online this morning and got the refund from the appliance store posted, so was happy about that. I have a few more things to buy for Dd's birthday party this weekend, along with a couple more small gifts (some roses and another small gift yet to be determined). I already got her a nice tennis bag and a necklace and the party she is having is part of her "birthday present" budget, since we don't usually do parties. But hey, Sweet 16 - gotta splurge a little :-)
Ds worked 3 hours on Monday, but got almost a full 8 hours yesterday and took off again at 6:30 this morning to start at 7am. It will be interesting to see what pans out as far as his hours and workload. He and another guy were hired at the same time. Ds was given the "south end" area and the other guy the "north end" area. We live in the South End. The other guy lives right in the middle but apparently wanted or thought he was getting the south area. I guess he was going to quit as he didn't want to drive the 24 miles each way (at the most) to work his area. So, for today they tell Ds that this other guy is going to work with him. Which I'm sure, if this continues would cut Ds's hours. There is no way Ds will do the north end for $12 bucks an hour and a 45 mile drive each way (in awful traffic). Even with the south end area he potentially has a 24 mile commute if he has to go to the farthest office in his area. Guess we'll have to see how it works out. Otherwise he is really liking the work and looking forward to getting his first paycheck a week from this Friday.
Dh is frustrating me with his medications and diet. Seems to be having more muscle pain (probably due to the cholesterol meds) and asked me to send a message to his doctor about it, but then of course he doesn't want to follow the doctor's advice! He does this constantly and is just wasting the doctor's time (and my time!) He's still eating quite a bit calorie wise, just really trying to cut down on things that have a lot of cholesterol...but he is ALWAYS starving and driving us all crazy. And I'm tired of having to feel like I'm his mother.
I had a no spend day yesterday, so that was good. Just trying to hang on to the rest of my money as hard as possible! I did check my bank account online this morning and got the refund from the appliance store posted, so was happy about that. I have a few more things to buy for Dd's birthday party this weekend, along with a couple more small gifts (some roses and another small gift yet to be determined). I already got her a nice tennis bag and a necklace and the party she is having is part of her "birthday present" budget, since we don't usually do parties. But hey, Sweet 16 - gotta splurge a little :-)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday coupon/deal shopping
My Sunday coupon/deal shopping didn't start out too well. I stopped at Walmart to pick up the Sunday paper and it is now $2 instead of $1. I only bought one, instead of my usual 2 and then later find out that it only had the Red Plum insert and no Smart Source (which had a $1 off coupon I wanted). GRRRR! So, I really don't think $2 each paper a week is worth it anymore. I think I might have to look more into buying coupons online. I've done it a few times, but $2 for a newspaper each week, for many coupons I don't need or use seems to defeat the purpose. I'll still get my mom's coupons from her paper and I guess just purchase the specific coupons I want online, when I come across a deal I want to take advantage of. I could probably still get the paper for a $1 at the Dollar Tree, but it's about a 6 mile drive - usually in crappy traffic - so kind of dumb to spend $1.60 in gas to save a dollar on a newspaper and use up a half hour of my day.
I was surprised to find the things I wanted at RiteAid still on the shelf! I got 2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste (the larger size) and some Stayfree pads for $9.83 (including tax) and I got back $9 in UP Rewards. I was really happy to get the Colgate deal - free after UP Reward, plus I had (2) .50 off coupons. I had just taken out the last tube out of my "stash" drawer. They are also having a deal on free Keri Lotion, so I think I will use some of my UP rewards towards that and then get back $6 more in UP Rewards....gotta try to keep the rewards rolling into more rewards. That's my goal.
I was surprised to find the things I wanted at RiteAid still on the shelf! I got 2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste (the larger size) and some Stayfree pads for $9.83 (including tax) and I got back $9 in UP Rewards. I was really happy to get the Colgate deal - free after UP Reward, plus I had (2) .50 off coupons. I had just taken out the last tube out of my "stash" drawer. They are also having a deal on free Keri Lotion, so I think I will use some of my UP rewards towards that and then get back $6 more in UP Rewards....gotta try to keep the rewards rolling into more rewards. That's my goal.
Proud Mom
I love my son :-) He really is a good kid. He's smart and getting 4.0 is his classes. Other than a couple of speeding tickets his first year of driving (he was being dumb, then) he has never caused problems. He doesn't smoke, drink or party. He's had the same girlfriend for 2 1/2 years (though they have been friends since 6th grade). We tease them that they are boring....they pretty much either hang out with us or her family or they go to a movie or dinner. But, thank god for boring!
He got 28 hours in his first week on the new job, plus will get paid for about 32 miles of driving between offices. Other than his district boss or the regional boss telling him what needs to be done at what offices, he's pretty much on his own to get the work done. He went in yesterday at 7:30 and got 5 hours in, setting up computers at one office and installing some more RAM in a couple of computers at another office. The only part he doesn't really like is waiting for the boss to give him the next project - he said he feels like he keeps bugging her asking for work. I told him not to feel that way - she is probably just busy doing HER job all day and probably kind of forgets about him, so to just always keep in touch with her via phone or email everyday.
I gave him the Penney's coupon and when his GF came over I told her about it, because I knew she'd remember to use it - she got the coupon too :-). He spent some of his own money, along with what I was giving him and got 2 nice Dockers pants and 2 short sleeved polo shirts. They were smart and split the purchase into 2 transactions so they could use both of the $10 off coupons. Made me a proud mom - my couponing has sunk into them too :-)
He got 28 hours in his first week on the new job, plus will get paid for about 32 miles of driving between offices. Other than his district boss or the regional boss telling him what needs to be done at what offices, he's pretty much on his own to get the work done. He went in yesterday at 7:30 and got 5 hours in, setting up computers at one office and installing some more RAM in a couple of computers at another office. The only part he doesn't really like is waiting for the boss to give him the next project - he said he feels like he keeps bugging her asking for work. I told him not to feel that way - she is probably just busy doing HER job all day and probably kind of forgets about him, so to just always keep in touch with her via phone or email everyday.
I gave him the Penney's coupon and when his GF came over I told her about it, because I knew she'd remember to use it - she got the coupon too :-). He spent some of his own money, along with what I was giving him and got 2 nice Dockers pants and 2 short sleeved polo shirts. They were smart and split the purchase into 2 transactions so they could use both of the $10 off coupons. Made me a proud mom - my couponing has sunk into them too :-)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
I thought Halloween was over
I've already scared myself trying to look at my spreadsheet and see what I'm spending over budget. Remember several posts ago, when I thought I was going to have about $750 extra? Of course I knew there would be some things come up during the month that I under budgeted on and didn't budget for at all.....but so far I've already used up $364 of that....and there's still 3 1/2 weeks left of this month! Yikes. But, I guess that's good I at least know about it (though I buried my head and haven't actually figured out WHAT it went to yet) so I can try to be really careful for the balance of the month. It's not putting me in a very good mood, though :-(
Friday, November 4, 2011
Starting Friday off on a good note
I called the appliance parts store this morning and spoke with a manager, who checked into it and said that the $16.23 price on their website is way too low. He said they will credit my debit card for a price adjustment to honor the price and thanked me for pointing out their website error so they can fix it :-) Now that is what customer service should be!
Got a pork roast and veggies in the crockpot this morning, so I can smell all the goodness all day long as I am working from home (I work from home 2 days a week). After lunch I'll get a loaf of bread going in the bread machine. My mouth is watering just thinking of how good it will smell ~
I came across a new JC Penney coupon for $10 off $25, so Ds can use it when he goes pants shopping. Every little bit helps around here.
Got a pork roast and veggies in the crockpot this morning, so I can smell all the goodness all day long as I am working from home (I work from home 2 days a week). After lunch I'll get a loaf of bread going in the bread machine. My mouth is watering just thinking of how good it will smell ~
I came across a new JC Penney coupon for $10 off $25, so Ds can use it when he goes pants shopping. Every little bit helps around here.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
One of those expected unexpected emergencies
Our washing machine broke this morning. Dh (who does most all our laundry) called me at work and said he thought it was the pump gone bad and gave me the part# off of it. There is an appliance parts store near my work so I looked the part up online and found it - emailed the picture of the part back to Dh to make sure it was what he needed. I thought the website said it was $16.92. When I get to the store to pick it up, it's $62. I don't know why I didn't say something. I just doubted myself that maybe I looked wrong because I was in a hurry. I checked again online when I got home and sure enough it was $16.92. So, not sure if they just have an error on their website or they charged me wrong, so I am going to call them back tomorrow just to double check. I looked at other online parts stores and it ranged from $16 to $32.
Good news is dh fixed it and we are back to washing laundry :-)
Good news is dh fixed it and we are back to washing laundry :-)
Ds and his new job
Though he's only on day 4 so far, he is enjoying it and comes home excited and happy. Today is his first day working on his own, already! He gets to set up some computers at one of their offices about 20 minutes from our home, so not a bad drive for him and he gets to pick his hours, so he was out the door at 7:15. I asked him last night, if there is always someone at the offices that early? and he whips out his brand new master key to all the offices! He is a total whiz with computers so I'm sure he'll not have any problems at all.
He bought 2 long sleeved polo shirts at Kohl's that were $17 each, so not bad. They didn't have any dress pants in his skinny butt size so he and GF are going to Penney's as soon as they can to look there. With Christmas coming up I'll probably get him a couple of short sleeved polo's to add to his wardrobe.
He also put $100 bucks back in his wallet and I'm proud of him for that. His hard drive went bad on his laptop and he needs that everyday for school so he decided to get one of the more expensive SSD hard drives (don't ask, I have no idea what it means) at almost $200. He got it installed but them started finding out that these new SSD drives are still kind of buggy and not exactly what he needs, so he took it back to Best Buy and exchanged it for a basic hard drive comparable to what was originally in his laptop and it was almost $100 cheaper. Good boy!
Dd turns 16 very soon and is already chomping at the bit to get a part time job. Seems so many of the businesses now require the employees to be 18 (I recall Ds having that problem while looking for a job in high school) but knowing her, I'm sure she'll find something.
He bought 2 long sleeved polo shirts at Kohl's that were $17 each, so not bad. They didn't have any dress pants in his skinny butt size so he and GF are going to Penney's as soon as they can to look there. With Christmas coming up I'll probably get him a couple of short sleeved polo's to add to his wardrobe.
He also put $100 bucks back in his wallet and I'm proud of him for that. His hard drive went bad on his laptop and he needs that everyday for school so he decided to get one of the more expensive SSD hard drives (don't ask, I have no idea what it means) at almost $200. He got it installed but them started finding out that these new SSD drives are still kind of buggy and not exactly what he needs, so he took it back to Best Buy and exchanged it for a basic hard drive comparable to what was originally in his laptop and it was almost $100 cheaper. Good boy!
Dd turns 16 very soon and is already chomping at the bit to get a part time job. Seems so many of the businesses now require the employees to be 18 (I recall Ds having that problem while looking for a job in high school) but knowing her, I'm sure she'll find something.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Hump Day almost over
Well, I can already see that I totally under budget/estimate what I have been spending per month on groceries (this includes food, cleaning supplies, and toiletries). So far I've already spent $227.51! Granted a small bit of that was stocking up on some things, but geez!
Today's expenses included a $20 copay for my chiropractor visit and $15 prescription copay for dh's meds. Dinner was cooked at home tonight - a Bertolli frozen meal dh loves (but pricey at $9.68). I worked from home today, so no gas used driving an hour each way to work. Ds was informed he needs collared polo type shirts for his new job attire (and he needs more pants) so I guess he and GF were stopping at Kohl's on their way to school this afternoon. Hopefully, he picks reasonably priced pieces, since I had said I would help him out by buying a few things. His GF isn't the most frugal of shoppers. I looked at Kohl's online and looks like most of their men's polo shirts are $11.99, so let's hope that's what he was able to get.
Dd was asked to come back over to the junior high (right next door to the high school) and give a talk this afternoon to their newly formed Photography Club. She was like "why didn't they have that club when I was in Jr. High!?". She was photographer for the Varsity Football team in her 9th grade year, as well as many photographs for the yearbook. She has taken outdoor professional type photos of several of her friends and did a really nice job of them.
I picked her up after that meeting and we stopped at the library. Picked up 3 movies I had reserved (#2 and #3 of the Twilight movies and another about a dog, called Hachi) and stocked up on books to read. So, I think I am off to soak in the tub and do some reading.........
Today's expenses included a $20 copay for my chiropractor visit and $15 prescription copay for dh's meds. Dinner was cooked at home tonight - a Bertolli frozen meal dh loves (but pricey at $9.68). I worked from home today, so no gas used driving an hour each way to work. Ds was informed he needs collared polo type shirts for his new job attire (and he needs more pants) so I guess he and GF were stopping at Kohl's on their way to school this afternoon. Hopefully, he picks reasonably priced pieces, since I had said I would help him out by buying a few things. His GF isn't the most frugal of shoppers. I looked at Kohl's online and looks like most of their men's polo shirts are $11.99, so let's hope that's what he was able to get.
Dd was asked to come back over to the junior high (right next door to the high school) and give a talk this afternoon to their newly formed Photography Club. She was like "why didn't they have that club when I was in Jr. High!?". She was photographer for the Varsity Football team in her 9th grade year, as well as many photographs for the yearbook. She has taken outdoor professional type photos of several of her friends and did a really nice job of them.
I picked her up after that meeting and we stopped at the library. Picked up 3 movies I had reserved (#2 and #3 of the Twilight movies and another about a dog, called Hachi) and stocked up on books to read. So, I think I am off to soak in the tub and do some reading.........
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday this and that
I'm doing really good at writing down in an excel spreadsheet what I am spending every day. I've had a couple of purchases not budgeted but am ok with them. One was $15 for some cookie dough from the neighbor boys. Their mom is single with 3 boys, working 2 part time jobs and going to college full time. This was to help fund their school band activites. The other purchase was a stock up on laundry detergent. Usually I pay $10.99 for the box (or higher) and Safeway had it at $8.99 per box, if you bought 2, so we should be good on detergent for a few months. I also called today and changed our pest control visit (ants) from monthly to quarterly. With winter around the corner I hope we don't need it done monthly for awhile. That will save $43 a month and the next treatment won't be until January now.
Ds started his new job yesterday and it looks like he is mostly training (of course) this week. He's gotten 7 hours in each of the past 2 days and will probably get at least 5 or so tomorrow. His boss has just been letting him know each day what they are doing for the next day. He's enjoying it so far and excited to be working. He'll even get a company cell phone that he can also use for personal calls/texts if he wants. He does have to wear nicer clothes, like dress slacks or khaki's so I am going to pick him up a couple of pair this weekend. He only has one black pair that still fits him. I'll get him those and when he starts getting paychecks he can buy more or buy some more shirts if he wants, with his own money.
Ds started his new job yesterday and it looks like he is mostly training (of course) this week. He's gotten 7 hours in each of the past 2 days and will probably get at least 5 or so tomorrow. His boss has just been letting him know each day what they are doing for the next day. He's enjoying it so far and excited to be working. He'll even get a company cell phone that he can also use for personal calls/texts if he wants. He does have to wear nicer clothes, like dress slacks or khaki's so I am going to pick him up a couple of pair this weekend. He only has one black pair that still fits him. I'll get him those and when he starts getting paychecks he can buy more or buy some more shirts if he wants, with his own money.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)