So I paid off the attorney bill and the Lowes CC.

But, I had to add to my Chase Visa CC for a new CPU unit. Mine died again for the third time in two months. And, of course, there was a sale on a CPU unit this week, before I get my income tax return next week. Go figure.

Working on snowballing the previous paid off credit cards, debts and loans to the next in line.

I am three months in to my "Two years until debt free plan" and so far I have

Paid off/for:
Two of my kids schooling
Triad International
POH Doctor bill
Property Taxes (the rest of the summer and all of the winter)
Got income taxes done
Attorney bill
Lowes Credit Card
Baseball registration
Purchased 1/4 cow/beef
Paid our State taxes

All regular bills and other debts have been paid and I have added money back to my EF and Freedom Acct. Talk about Gazelle Intensity. Yee Haw.

So here are my January totals

*1/4 Organic Beef $228.00
Processing fee for Beef $56.52
*Gas Usage $235.02
*Groceries and all household items (other than 1/4 cow) $397.11
*Eating Out $106.71

All bills were paid and paid off Triad Vacation and POH Doctor bill.


February Totals

Gas Usage $188.56
Groceries and all household items $453.89
Eating Out $117.56

All bills were paid and paid off Comcast and paid for Baseball registration, getting taxes done and Property taxes ($871.39)

Now I am working on March

Got another check for $25.00 in the mail for turning in my Visa Points. Adding that to the challenge.

Prev. Balance $1038.96
Check $25.00
New Balance $1063.96

Adding three small checks to the challenge
Pinecone $3.00, Jury Duty $16.50 and Ipod Shuffle sale $10.00, totalling $29.50.

Prev. Total $1,009.46
Adding Checks $29.50
New Total $1038.96

http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/

Pretty interesting reading.

Well, I don't get to blog as much. I have been pretty busy here at my home. Like I have stated before, I have been restoring a 1930's cottage in a great area of Michigan.

I have completely re-painted my kitchen, which was no easy task, due to my large free-standing antique kitchen cupboards and China Cabinet, but all was moved out of the way, so that I could paint every wall. The color is kind of like melted vanilla and butter pecan ice cream mixed together. It is a great color, but makes me hungry for ice cream. I hope I don't gain weight just standing in that kitchen.

Now, I am on to my living room and foyer. I recently built a brand new large foyer that opens up into my living room. We did get that insulated and wired this past weekend and I am working on re-painting the livingroom while the drywall is being hung in the foyer. We haven't opened the wall between the foyer and the livingroom yet, so I am not getting any construction dust.

Also, I had to drain my accounts to pay my mortgage. I used my mortgage money at the beginning of the month to pay up all of my property taxes to the tune of $875.00. I am on the "Gazelle Intensity" that Dave Ramsey talks about. Yeah, I have skipped a couple of Dave's steps, but it is working for me to do it my way. But, hey all of my bills are paid, I am working on my house. My kids school is paid and it only gets cheaper from here on out, with spring coming and my bills getting cheaper with each warming month and my debt is getting paid off.

I am filing my income taxes next Wednesday. My husband will get his portion and my portion will be used to put new tires on my car and pay down my debt.

Then, when the government check gets here, $300 will go to my husband and the rest is mine to pay down debt. I can't wait to see where my debt is at in June. I am thinking I will have made a big dent in it by then. It is pretty exciting.

Well, enough from me, I need to get moving on painting the livingroom ceiling, which is now cathedraled and I am not one for heights. Yikes.

I wrote a little while back in regards to what happened to my Upromise Account. Well, because I really don't use it enough to have any funds add up in it, I closed it.

Well, I received my check in the mail from that account in the amount of $37.56.

I am going to add that to my $20 Challenge.

Prev. Balance $971.90
Upromise Check $37.56
New Balance $1,009.46

I see a lot of people have been talking about vacationing, saving money for vacations, taking vacations, not wanting to spend money on vacations, etc.

Well, here is a story of Bob and Mel Blanchard who visited an island in the Caribbean, only to find that they wanted to live there.

http://www.ereader.com/product/detail/4336?book=A_Trip_to_the_Beach:_Living_on_Island_Time_in_the_Caribbean

and;

http://www.livewhatyoulove.com/

I have both of these books; and they are truly inspirational for how I want to live my life and how to work my money so that I am living my life.

Take some time to read them. They are simple easy reading, but perfect for this time of year and can probably be found at the library. I bought both of them, because I enjoy them that much.

and in bed all weekend long. He got up and went to work today, so I have stripped the bedding and have been washing and bleaching everything.

I will need to go to the laundry mat in a little while to wash my comforter, cause it won't fit in my washing machine. That will cost me about $6.00

We had a SuperBowl Party to go to last night, which I went to by myself. I had fun. My whole family was there. It is always good to see them.

I was just realizing that there are about 3 different areas where I am getting great bonus points and free stuff.

Mypoints.com. I have been using these points acquired for gas cards. These points add up fairly quickly. I normally just do the e-mail click throughs.

Mary Kay Visa Card earns points. Right now I more than enough points to get either $25.00 cash; or should I get it in a $25.00 gas card. Hmmmm.

And Visa Extras Points. This is from my debit card, which I use for putting gas in my car. But, I am thinking if I call in my bills and pay with the debit card, instead of doing it off my account, it would rack up points real quickly. Right now I have enough points for a $5.00 Panera Bread card. They don't offer cash back like the others do, but they do offer a gas card. But Panera Bread would be a way to offer myself a treat.