So I added CC2 to my "Pay Bills" section in my bank account. Now, every time I get a check from my Beach job, I can deposit that check into that account and pay that CC on-line without waiting for the bill.

I am still from the old school and I usually pay my debts with a check once I receive the bill every month. Thought I would give the on-line thing a try. If it works out good, I am going to add my other bills to my bank account for payment, which will eventually eliminate the use of so many stamps and check writing.

Woa Hoa, welcome to the 21st Century. What took me so long. I know your all laughing.

So I said to my oldest child - the Musician. "Hey, I would like to get your younger brother a drum set for Christmas". Boy, was he on that like you know what.

So, he calls today to say, I found a drum set, I need money. Oh crap, cause the money I have was supposed to go towards debt, yet I need to buy Christmas gifts also. And, if I start now, it will definately be a cash Christmas.

So, I went to the Bank and got him the money. Guess I am starting my Christmas shopping early; and I will still have the money for my debt in a couple more days when I get paid from the Beach job.

This was the show I watched last night. It was a great show and got me a little more motivated with some great ideas. There were four people on the show talking about retirement. David Bach, Barbara Cocoran, Phil Town and Laural Langemeier. They all had a different story as to how they became Millionaires and steps to retiring. Pretty interesting. The next show is set to air on CNBC for June 17 at 9:00 p.m. about becoming Debt Free.

I have two extremely tall Elm trees, probably 40 feet or higher. Well, they both budded this year, the leaves opened and now it looks like fall around here. The tops of the trees are completely dead. They have both died from Elm Disease.

Now, I have to take them down. They are ten feet from my home and used to keep my home shaded in the summer, but I can run the risk of them falling on my home.

Just one catch, one of my trees has been used for my telephone pole forever. My house is just a little to far from the pole to connect without the line being to close to the ground. We do have a solution and the trees must go.

I am now going to put a garage in that area. I have been wanting a garage, just unsure where to put it until now.

My brothers are going to take them down and one of my brothers is using the wood to heat his home this winter.

For May, I have spent:

$446.40 on groceries
$204.13 on eating out
$216.26 on gas; and

Totaling $866.79/month or $216.69/week on just these three areas alone. These are some of the areas I am going to try to tweak.

It is hard, cause my kids are in sports and other functions which causes us to be on the road traveling, but I think I could lessen these areas through the summer. So June, July and August, we will see how far I can cut back without feeling deprived and sending me into a state of depression.

And, don't you know, I need to go to the grocery store and fill up my gas tank. I am going to see how well I can use coupons and plan some meals and see how little I can actualy drive. Maybe we can walk.

I find that I use a little bit of everyone's advise when working my budget and spending plan. For Instance.

I watch my "Latte Factor" that David Bach has mentioned in his book. That "Latte Factor" can really add up.

I have a "Freedom Account" which is my General Savings Account that Mary Hunt talks about. It is used for property taxes, Christmas, birthdays and other categories that I have talked about in the past.

Robery Kysowski (sp?) keeps me motivated with taking risks.

And, Dave Ramsey, spells it out in Layman's terms which is what I mostly follow, when it comes to debt repayment and paying down my mortgage.

The one thing I did add that I think is necessary is writing down every aspect of my life. My dreams and goals, income, expenses, things I owned that were/are draining me of my time and money and either found a way to acheive them, eliminate them, downsize them or sell them to reduce my stress and add happiness and contentment to my life, while adding the principals above that worked for me.

I think you have to take away from each book or teaching way what works best for you. I like my plan and I am excited still 6 months later to be getting to my goals and dreams.

It has been five months since starting my Total Money Makeover.

I had listed all my debts, real estate that I owned and other items that either deplete my money, time or exhaust me. I wrote everything down and said "what can I do without" and "how can I lower my overall expenses". I went through each category and either eliminated it, reduced it or sold it.

I have sold off a piece of vacant real estate that was costing me more in upkeep than it was appreciating, lowered my homeowner's and vehicle insurances $700 less per year, eliminated some cell phone plans and went to pay-as-you-go phones and have added to my rapid debt reduction and have paid off two debts so far.

For May, I have spent:
$446.40 on groceries
$204.13 on eating out
$216.26 on gas; and

Have started my two summer jobs, which I will use the money to rapidly reduce my debt over the next three months. I can't wait to see where my debt is at on September 1st.