I mean, I am really going to have to be creative getting through this month.

My husband's pay is sporadic, so I mostly don't get anything from him, and it has been like that for a long time.

I am on a fixed income myself and today is my last day at my summer job, so only one more check coming in from that.

I have paid all of my bills, added money to my savings and ING accounts, paid for my son's college this semester, paid for the new foyer's foundation, a full tank of gas, a week's worth of groceries and have almost all of the money for my taxes, which are due on September 14th. I will be transferring all of the money from my Savings (Freedom Account) and combining it with my check from my summer job, I wil get those taxes paid on time.

But, that literally leaves me with about $50.00 in my Checking. Now, here is relying on some of my husband's jobs to pay him, so he can pay me.

Of course, next month, I should have no extremely large bills, like taxes, and will be getting an extra $600 from the Ameriquest Settlement. I will use that money for my wood and finish package for my new foyer.

Then I have to concentrate on Christmas and two birthdays in December. Oh, the fun of financial creativity never ends.

I have paid over the last three years for my son's college. He is 22, and he now needs to either get Federal Aid (FASFA) or help figure out a way to pay for his college. I want him to appreciate what he is learning and not take the college education for granted.

So, he did. He saved a couple of his checks from work and then and deposited them so that he could pay for his classes. The only problem is - is that he depsoited the checks on the same day he tried to pay for classes. Well, of course, the checks won't clear until after midnight and sometimes two before the money can be available, so his debit card was denied.

He called me and I could here the frustration in his voice on what to do. I told him to go ahead and use my credit card to pay for the classes and we will settle up later. That way he will not loose out on the classes he wants to take and I can help reduce his stress level.

So, I have added that amount to my Debt Column under CC2 - Chase Visa. My son is worth it; and I can afford to pay my bills. Some day it will all work out in the end and it always has.

My daughter is coming up on her Sixteenth birthday. I would like to do a surprise birthday party for her. The only problem is that her birthday is in December and we live in Michigan. Too snowy and cold.

When my oldest son turn sixteen (his birthday falls in April), we were able to have his outside with a bonfire. I am not sure that is going to work for my daughter.

So, I need some really cool ideas. There will probably be around 30 people, and, shhh, it is a surprise.

Also, my youngest son will be turning 13 in December. But he is easy. He just wants me to take him and his friends to the Skateboard/BMX park. Usually, over the past years, I have pizza for dinner, load all the kids up to take them to the pool at the local high school. It is only $2.00 per kid, then back to our house for opening presents, cake and ice cream. This year, we will just go to the BMX park.

Thanks in advance for the really cool ideas I know this group will come up with for my daughters "Sweet Sixteen".

So I went to the Jeep dealership to check out what was on their used and new lots. Holy Cow, there were a lot of nice Jeeps, but the prices are astronimical. I felt like I should be living in my car and paying a mortgage.

Well, I own a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with around 86,000 miles on it, in really good shape physically and mentally, but thought I would upgrade to maybe a 2006, or if I wait until September, all of the 2007s will be on sale, making way for the new 2008's to be unveiled.

But the cost hindered me. I looked at my husband and said, I think I will run mine through the car wash on the way home. He laughed and we both left.

I am not getting a new Jeep anytime soon.

So, I transferred money from my ING and Savings accounts to pay off CC1. I have deleted it from my debt area and have moved everything up.

Since January, I wrote everything down that I pay for and either called and adjusted the amount, changed providers that offered lower costs or eliminated certain things completely, saving myself over $2000 a year.

Along with putting myself on the Rapid Debt Reduction Plan. I have been able to pay my taxes (they are not included in my mortgage) and pay off one loan and two credit cards - all in 7 1/2 months. Not bad.

Hoping to have the next credit card paid off by December/January at the latest and then on to the next in line.

I have also sold or got out of anything that wasn't a good investment or we have outgrown (i.e., property, motorcycles, furniture, small business, etc.) to relieve myself from undue stress and to help pay off debt.

Feeling pretty good about becoming debt free again.

So, I have updated my totals on my savings and debt areas. After paying all my bills and what I normally pay on the debts each month, here is my plan.

I am going to transfer $1000 from my ING account and $500 from my savings account to pay off CC1 next week before the 12 month interest kicks in and it costs me about $500 more out of my pocket.

Then I am going to use two of my beach checks (I have three left before my summer job is over), babysitting money and the rest of my savings account to pay my summer taxes on Friday, September 14. Hopefully, I will not need to use all of my savings after I total up two beach checks and the babysitting money.

I have enough money in my checking account to cover groceries, gas and other expenses until September's direct deposit.

And, then the other beach check is going to take me, my 15 yo daughter and 12 yo son shopping for some school supplies and my family camping and canoeing on Labor Day weekend.

Sounds like a good plan, lets hope it works the way I planned.

Our fun during the August month. My husband's birthday party this evening at the Club, a friend's anniversary party, a couple festivals, the Woodward Dream Cruise, the Club's corn roast, cookout with family in from the southern states and a family reunion. The rest is all working, swimming and garage saleing. Sounds like fun to me. Looks like I will be doing a lot of cooking and baking. Yee Haw.