So yesterday afternoon, I sat down with my two youngest to go over the budget and spending plan. It took me a half an hour to go through all of it.

We talked about the expenses that keep the house going, the vehicles running, their cell phones talking and my current debt. We also went over my savings plan like my automatic debits from my checking to my EF and ING account. We talked about the big bills that come in once to a few times a year, insurances, taxes, Club dues, etc. We went over what uses gas, what uses electricity and what uses both and how turning off lights and taking shorter showers was very helpful.

I keep very good records, so I totalled each category for the past year to show them how much each area costs us for a total year. Very fascinating.

Then, when my husband got home, I went over it again with him during dinner. We keep seperate money, and he needed to know just how much was being paid out and how much was coming in. He was mostly shocked by how much we pay the cable company for the T.V. and computer hookup. He was also very impressed by how I write everything down to keep track and now knows that that is how we get the finer things in life, by having a spending plan.

My goal is to have the $9,996.47 debt paid off by November 2007, have my living room drywall finished, the back entryway re-done and a deck on the house. Then I am going to purchase me a new hot tub set up.

I also went over entertainment for my two youngest, so they didn't feel deprived. We made a list of "Free, Fun and Cheap Stuff to Do". That way they are totally involved and now know the goals for the year 2007. They are very excited and know how much they can spend and that when I say "No", it is usually for a good reason.

Then my oldest child stopped by returning my Jeep he had borrowed for work, cause his was having some work done on his. I said, Jon, lets go over the budget and spending plan, and my two youngest said, "it will take a half an hour". Anyways, I briefed him on it as he let me know, on his way out the door with his girlfriend, that "my Jeep was on E". I said "I hope I can make it to the gas station, or your name won't be Jonathan".

Well, to summarize, my totals are all updated to the right in my blog. I feel a sense of control and my budget and spending plan will be posted to the refrigerator to keep everyone in line.

As I have been implementing my new savings and spending plan for 2007, I have updated my 2006 savings and spending totals to the right in my blog.

I didn't charge anything on any credit cards for the holiday season. It was a cash Christmas and Birthdays.

I spent $140.00 less on Christmas gifts this year (probably because I had less people to buy for), but it gives me an idea as to how much to put away each month for next year.

I have seperated my Debt area (to the right in my blog) as to the debt I would like paid off by the beginning of November 2007 and the two remaining debts, which are my son's college loan and my Jeep payment, which will be ongoing payments. So I owe less than $10,000 on the debt I want paid off by November.

In order to pay off that debt, I am going to work my summer job again this year, get my property sold and put that towards the debt; and also sell off some of my vacation weeks to put towards that debt, along with making the payments on them. Maybe I can get them paid off before November, but November is my goal, because that is when all the interest comes due on some of those loans; and I don't want to pay the interest.

I am calling around today to get some other quotes on my homeowner's and vehicle insurances. Hopefully, I can get a cheaper price on those.

Will do more cooking and baking at home along with making my vegetable garden bigger this coming year. I would like to can more jams/jelly, tomato sauce and grow more herbs for drying and making tea.

Also need to finish some projects around my cottage. Drywall the living room ceiling, put on a deck and a lot of painting.

More to come in the following days.

Now that Christmas and birthdays are over, I am sitting down with my children to go over the budget. One of my goals/resolutions is to be mostly debt free by the beginning of November 2007. The first five items listed under my Debt column should be paid off by then.

So, everybody pretty much got what they wanted, but then there wasn't a lot that anyone wanted. My children are very practical and don't ask for a lot of hyped up stuff. It was actually hard to shop this year.

I only got one gift certificate and some really nice presents. A $30.00 gift certificate to Alexander's Car Wash (I love this. I can't wait to get my car cleaned inside and out).

My returns:

K-mart - no receipt so I got a gift card for $12.27. Spent it on necessities.

Meijer - w/receipt. Got $16.97 back.

World Market - no receipt. Got a $9.97 gift card.

Kohl's - w/receipt. Got $79.50 back.

Totalling $118.71.

I also got a raise of $94.00 more a month or $1,128.00 a year.

I am going to list my new budget campaign real soon. Exciting.

My savings account has been taking a beating. I have vowed not to put any of the expenses through the holiday season on any credit card. So far, so good, but my savings account was being depleted.

I got an unexpected $400.00 check in the mail the other day; and because I am pretty much done with shopping all, I deposited the whole thing into my savings account.

Yippee, now if I can figure out how to pay all the major bills, like property taxes, homeowner's and car insurance, that all come due the beginning of the year, I will be totally excited.

I figured, I would check around for a new insurance company to see if I can cut the cost on my homeowner's and vehicle insurance, pay my property taxes and try to get my "up North' property sold and let someone else deal with the bills that go with it.

So my 15 y.o. daughter headed off to the Big Apple today to NYSUM (New York School of Urban Ministry). Wow, I miss her already. She will be gone 6 days doing a ministry mission trip with other members of our church.

She will be handing out blankets to the homeless, Christmas presents to sick children and children in orphanages, reading stories to children and I believe she will be singing Christmas Carols by the big Christmas Tree in Rockefellow Center tonight.

Pray for her safe flight in the friendly skies, her time there and her safe return home to me on Wednesday.

Merry Christmas

I have some major changes coming in 2007, so I am getting a jump on my plans. I had a brief talk with my three children, ages 21 (college), 15 and 12 about my goals and plans, and that they were to be completely involved, if this was going to work.

My goal is to become debt free from the attorney, the four credit cards, get my taxes, homeowner's and jeep insurances paid, purchase Christmas and birthday gifts throughout the year or put a certain amount of money away for those times, garage sale more for items we need, finish my livingroom, siding and deck, etc.

We are writing down each month on a piece of paper (or two), adding the extra expenses (besides my regular bills, debt, savings and ING transfers). Items like the garbage pickup, insurances, taxes, baseball fee, house restoration, vacations, holidays, and any foreseeable money spent, so we can get an idea what is coming in and going out.

My kids, after Christmas, are supposed to list the top one to four things that are of interest to them (playing baseball, paying for college, a certain item they didn't get for Christmas and birthdays, etc.). We will see what money amounts they got for their birthdays and Christmas and then make a decision on how best to spend and save that money for those extra items they want or need and how best to go about getting them.

We have a couple small vacations that are needed to be taken and a Wedding and will figure that into the plan also.

After we get it all down on paper, I will type it up on my blog so you all can see and it will help me stay on track.

My husband hurt himself and needed to fill some prescriptions. Three of them. I had a coupon to get $20.00 Free food for each new prescription x three. The prescriptions cost us $30.00 total and we got $60.00 in free food vouchers. Sweet.

Also, "Pirates of the Carribean" came out today on dvd. Kroger had a special. If you buy the movie for $19.99, which I was going to buy anyway, you get a 12 pack of any Coca Cola Pop product, Toasteds Crackers (any flavor), Orville Redenbacher Popcorn (any flavor) and two large boxes of candy (I chose sweettarts and gummi bears), all for FREE ($10.00 worth of products). Cool.

Thanks Kroger.

We don't share anything. The house was mine to begin with. We have no credit cards or loans together. He is not the father of my children (their dad died), so it should be a quick divorce. Just not sure how much it is going to cost. I am going to talk to an attorney next week.

I am thinking around $500. It is going to be a struggle, cause I have so many other things to pay for, taxes on my home, homeowner's and car insurance, dentist appointments, Christmas, etc., etc., etc.

But, I am not sure I can hold out. He is making our lives miserable right along with his miserable life. He needs to be out of here.

Sorry for the rant. I will try to keep the rest of my posts positive, cause I am actually a positive person, but realistic at the same time.

I have an ING account, but noticed that Emigrant is higher up on the pay scale for interest bearing accounts.

http://www.smartmoney.com/top5/index.cfm?story=20061116

Might have to change my accounts around. I want all the money I can get.

As I have been getting ready for the new year financially with tweeking my finances, I have listed my debt in the column to the right to keep track of balances as I pay them down (or not).

What was so eye opening was adding up the three CC's, Vacation loan, College loan and Jeep loan, I am $23,853.40 in debt.

I had no idea. I mean, they are under control and I can pay them, but WOW, I had no idea they totalled that much.

My goal is to have the three CC's and Vacation loan paid off by November, 2007.

But, come January, half of my Jeep insurance and my homeowner's insurance will be due; and Winter taxes will come in and be due in February, costing somewhere around $1,400 for all combined. Eekkk.