I have been trying to figure out how to handle my money received from the sale of my property. I have decided to open up another interest bearing checking called the "Freedom Account". This account will have direct deposit from my Regular Checking account of a certain amount of money every month.

This Freedom Account will be used to pay those bills that come in every three months, 6 months and yearly. The categories I have chosen are:

1. Garbage pickup and Sewer bill
2. Auto and homeowner's insurance
3. Property taxes
4. Auto and Home Maintenance
5. Christmas and birthdays
6. Dentist and Doctor checkups

I have taken how much each one of those categories cost me every year and divided them by 12 to give me how much to have directed deposited into that account each month. So when the bill comes due, the money is there to pay for those expenditures, instead of using a credit card or depleting my Savings Account.

I will then keep a ledger book and seperate how much money goes into each account every month which will total my direct deposit every month.

Yes, it is hard to get that account ahead of the game, because some of those bills will come due before the money is actually completely in that category. That is why I am starting it off with my money from sold property. I have decided which ones will come due first, so that the correct amount of money will be available for that category when the bill comes.

I am looking forward to this "Freedom Account". It will take the stress and guess work out of how will I pay for that. Even though we know the bill is coming, it is always a surprise when you get it. I am going to be prepared.

My ING account is up another $300, bringing my total to $1092.15.

My savings account is at $501.25

Two of my kids competed in the Odyssey of the Mind Regionals this past weekend. My son's team placed second and my daughters's team placed first. Both teams are now headed to State competition next month. Had to reserve a room for the weekend, cause it is four hours away. www.odysseyofthemind.com

I am doing real well with decreasing my debt and adding to my savings and ING accounts.

My washing machine seized up on Sunday. Bought a new one today and paid cash for it. It gets delivered tomorrow.

So, I am completely on track with all my goals since writing a new spending plan in January.

Yes, I am really not a winter girl. I do enjoy Spring, Summer and Fall far more better. I need to find a hobby that I enjoy for the Winter months.

We are coming out of our cold spell. It is going to be in the high 40's today. That will melt more snow to make way for getting on to building the deck so that I can put in a water garden feature with some Coi fish and purchase a hot tub.

I have also started saving my coffee grounds and egg shells for my gardens. I noticed as I walked past one of my gardens yesterday that my flowers have made there way through the ground and are hoping for warmer days themselves.

I used the last of the Bosenberry jam that I had canned on my biscuit this morning. Yummy. We are now officially out of Strawberry and Bosenberry. I still have a jar of Grape jelly, Apple jelly and Apple butter. Oh, and one store-bought jar of Strawberry preserves. I really do like our home-canned jams and jellies best. Looking forward to canning some more this year.

Well, here I am looking at the beautiful sunshine melting the snow and longing for the days when I can get outside and get some projects done. Heppy Spring.