Paid payments on another couple credit cards.

Prev. Total $9,756.27
Paid $221.66
Balance Owing $9,534.61

All the regular bills
Winter Taxes $883.76
Driver's Training for DD $239.00
College Bound DS1 $230.00
Brigham Young Class for DD $105.00'
Basketball for DS2 $105.00

Almost $1550.00 extras this month.

Yikes

Went to the bank today with my ds (21) and added money to his loan for college. Of course, his other loan wasn't paid this month and his checking was in the red $70, so I ended up paying $230 to bring his accounts up to date before we could even get the loan.

He is so bad with his money. The lady at the bank said "You can take out $5,000 each time". I said "oh no we can't" cause my ds has spendy fingers.

So we added another $1700 to his existing loan.

The thing is, we are trying to get Federal funding for him to go to college, but you have to use your parents income, which then he doesn't qualify for any money, so we are trying to get him declared "independent" so he can qualify on his own. Isn't that a crock. He is 21, lives on his own, but the Federal Gov. doesn't consider him "independent" until he is 25, even though they would wisk him off to war at 18. And, try to get some medical information on your own children after they turn 18. Every other law states we are not responsible for a child after they turn 18, until you try to get money for education. Go figure.

So yesterday, I completely went through my desk and file cabinet. I put my DD (14) on the shredder for all discarded paperwork. Now it is nice and organized.

Went for an evening ride with my DH. We seen a lot of deer and rabbits. The hot air balloons were in the air and I showed him where an old peach orchard was.

After I told him about all our estra expenditures coming up and going to the bank with DS1, we had a talk about really watching our money and being very frugal and wise. He is not involved in all the above. He goes to work, comes home, showers and eats dinner and on Friday, he pays me rent, sometimes. He usually gives me $200/$300 a week, but I have only gotten $300 altogether for August, so far. His work has been slow which makes it tight for me.

I make a fair amount of money, but I just spend it wisely. I have automatic deducations taken from my checking each month for my retirement and emergencies and then I live off the rest.

I cook every day, use coupons, rebates, go without and work an extra part-time job to make ends meet. I do not want my children to go without and their education is very important to them and me.

In the end, the Lord provides for our needs and all is good.

I mean really, when I look back over the years on some of the large money purchases that I have made, I have to question myself. (Hmmm), why did I do that?

Here is what I mean.

I paid around $530 for an at-home course to be a Interior Decorator and have never used it. I am Certified, but have no incling to do it professionally. I am also a Certified Legal Assistant, which I didn't pay for, and when I worked in an office, I made great money.

Bought a Vacation Package with intentions on taking my two youngest children to some great places. I paid $3,500 for it. But, our whole lives have changed around and I really see me not using it at all. I am going to sell it and hopefully make some of my money back.

Online Christian Book Store for $580. Although this is a great opportunity to sit at home and make a lot of money, I have no time to sit at home, advertise it, work it, set up specials, books of the month club, etc. So I am going to sell this also. Hopefully someone with a little more time and less children than me can make it work.

I own property on the East Side of Michigan (Lake Huron) when I really need a piece of property on the West Side of Michigan (Lake Michigan). This is where all our friends are and where we actually vacation. Although, real estate does go up each year and, if I can sell it, will make my money back.

These are just few things off the top of my head. Does anyone else do this or have done this? I am really going to be asking myself some questions in the future before I purchase something.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Admitting my mistakes helps me take control of them.

Made a $400 payment to a credit card, lowering my debt.

Sold around $200 in jewelry that I just never wear, which allowed me to put the jewelry I kept in a smaller jewelry box and sell the large jewelry armoire for $25.00.

Completely went through all of my rooms and closets and I am completely organized. Sold a lot of stuff at a garage sale and took some to the Salvation Army.

Also, completely cleaned out the shed. Now it is totally organized.

The feeling of getting debt under control and everything else organized is awesome.

Was reimbursed my attorney costs $1000.

Made $210.00 at a yard sale. Hopefully Friday will be just as lucrative.

Beach Money was $144.07 bringing my total money made at my little part-time summer job to $995.96.

Added $1853.00 to my Debt area. This was for work done and to be done at the Dentist.

Waiting on my $300 brake refund; and
$47.00 check from a credit card reimbursement.

I have been putting off finishing my teeth to make my smile great. So today, while at the Dentist getting my broken tooth fixed, I applied for their 0% credit card, so I can get all of my teeth fixed.

I just cannot put it off any longer. Not sure what the cost will be, but it will be going in my debt area.

http://www.jumpondeals.com/

For your shopping pleasure.

Yes, this is something we should consider. Three years ago I went to see my Dentist and we put together a plan to completely fix any bad teeth and restore and really bad teeth, which at the time would have cost me close to $4000.

Well, there was this one tooth that had a root canal and really needed to be caped, but because it looked good and I thought I would save myself some money, I didn't get that part finished.

Today, while eating a french fry, that tooth broke and who knows what it is going to cost me tomorrow to restore it.

If only I had stuck with the plan, my teeth would have been completely finished and the bill would probably have been paid, but I procrastinated and put it off, three years later.

Actually, I shouldn't say that I totally procrastinated, just life in general really got in the way of me taking care of myself. I was really busy in taking care of my sick parents, my three children and renovating my home.

I have decided to get all of my teeth finished, starting tomorrow. It is all about me now.

About a month or so ago, I got my brakes fixed with having some rotors replaced. It cost me just a little of $300.

Well, I got in the mail a lawsuit settlement letter in regards to how certain year Jeep were having problems with brakes and rotors and that Chrysler has to pay up.

So, all I had to do was fill out the paperwork and attached a copy of the receipt (which I kept). I mailed it back yesterday and I am going to get reimbursed my $300.00.

That is good news.

This has been a pretty expensive week. I have spent money on the following:

Swiss Colony Occasions Stuff for me and Christmas gifts. $108.36

Getting my oldest son's (21) cell phone turned back on. $221.43

Wood for my daughter's built-in bookcase in her room. $99.69

My youngest son's dentist appointment $493.00 and an air-soft gun that I promised him $45.98

My husband's birthday cake and gift $100.00

School supplies. $43.74

All for a grand total of $1112.19.

Dang, I hope everyone is happy. Now, I really need to concentrate on Christmas gifts. Actually, I am quite far in my Christmas shopping with 4 months to go.

Here is what I want to do for fun during August 2006. So much fun, so little time.

Celebrate Oxford Festival. Just the cost of lunch at their local McDonald's.

Monday Night Concerts on the Porch at the Art Center - Free, just bring chairs, snacks and drinks.

The Michigan Yard Sale Trail. This could really cost me.

Woodward Dream Cruise. Bring chairs, a packed cooler with food and drinks. Cost of gas to get there.

The outdoor Skate Park where my kids skateboard and BMX. Free. Bring chairs and packed cooler for lunch in the park.

Detroit Zoo. We have a recipracol membership to use at many zoos and aquariums throughout the U.S. and the Detroit Zoo has a new Kangaroo Exhibit. Bring Cooler with food and drinks. Cost of gas to get there.

Chicago and the Field Museum to see the King Tut Exhibit - Costly. Then on the Muskegon, Michigan for the Michigan Adventure Water Park - Costly. Cost of Gas, Motels, Tickets and Food. This will be our big "end of summer" vacation.

Romeo Peach Festival for the Parade and visit to friend's house. Cost of a couple dishes to pass and gas to get there.

Both Alexis and Jameson got new back packs and school supplies totalling $43.73. The total is reflected in the Education Expenses under Author Info to the right.

Well, we finally finished the root canal treatment plan today. Because Jameson is 11 and is still growing, we decided not to cap the tooth, but put the post in and a permanent filling until some years down the line due to him not having his wisdom teeth in yet. There was also a small cavity in the tooth in front of the root canal tooth that needed to be fixed.

So instead of today costing me $1300.00, it only cost $493.00. I did put this on my 0% for 15 months credit card. So, this brings my total debt to $8081.84, so I will be paying a total of $539.00 a month to have this debt paid off on my "15 Months to Debt Free Plan".

I transferred two of my debts, my furnace payment and my central air payment. Both of them were 6 months same as cash. One of them has already come due and I had $323.45 added to the bill. I was determined not to let that happen with the other payment, so I found a 0% credit card to transfer to. No interest for 15 months. It did cost me $134.67 added to my 0% credit card for the transfer. I will add this to my Debt area to the right

But, if I pay $308.25 every month on the card, these debts will be paid off with no added interest in 15 months.

This is part of my "15 Month Debt Free Plan" that I feel I am totally in control off.

Beginning Balance $7715.00
Added Interest $138.67 (0% CC Transfer)
Deduct August Payments $260.83
New Debt Balance $7588.84