Trying to keep the whole family involved in being frugal and taking care of what we have is sometimes so daunting.

I woke up this morning not being able to type on my keyboard without getting a bunch of other stuff, like a 7 for an O, I mean come on, what happen after I went to bed.

Well, I turned off the computer and restarted it, still the same thing, then I did a System Restore, thinking it got a virus. It wasn't until after I picked up the keyboard, that I realized that someone spilled their water on it. HELLO. I know the culprit.

This same culprit also has worn out his shoes in about two months. He is so hard on shoes, socks and just clothes in general. He is 14, my youngest. He is a sweet child, but he just doesn't get the money thing, or is it just the fact that he is "14".

Other items added to my every growing list.

Youngest son, teeth cleaned, new shoes.

D daughter - *College entrance exam, pick classes and pay for them.
*Rent a car, take driver's test to get her Driver's License, so she can drive herself to college.

My Jeep - I paid it off, but now things are breaking. Passenger side window won't roll down - the inside snapped, transmission is leaking, front brakes/rotor needs tending to.

Transfer money from ING account to pay off recent trip to Emergency room.

Eee Gads.
I need to re-do my budget.

My daughter is a cancer survivor and we were invited to attend the Celebration of Life event given by our Children's Hospital at a very well-attended and busy restaurant with lots of fun stuff to do.

We went and had a great time, but unfortunately ended up very sick and my husband had to take us to the ER. Diagnosis - food poisoning.

Well, the bill came yesterday and our little trip to the ER cost me $2,139. It does state on the bill that if I can pay it off within 21 days, I only have to pay 50% of the bill. Well, that is a savings of over $1000, so, of course, I will, but why don't they just give me a bill for that amount. It's ridiculous.

Quite the expensive Celebration of Life.

Sorry, I haven't been here in awhile. Summers get really busy for me with running a beach club - ya know, its seasonal.

But, there is a lot going on. Lots of things I need to get done, but come with a price.

For Example:
*Get tires rotated and front rotor/brakes fixed so they are not squeaking.
*Clean carpet in bedroom.
*Finish flooring in all bedrooms.
*Finish living room flooring.
*Youngest son needs new shoes, shirts and socks.
*New mattresses and bedding for my bedroom.
*Piano needs tuning
*Need new computer monitor. The one I have now only works once in a while.
*Rent a car so daughter can take driving test to get her actual driver's license.
*Buy cedar shake siding for new addition and get it put on.
*Finish patio outside new addition.
*Need gravel poured in driveway.
*Replace front entry door.
*Get gutters back up.
*Go through youngest son's room, re-arrange and pack out stuff not being used, outgrown clothes and toys, etc.
*Cat needs to see the groomer.

At that is just off the top of my head. Now, that some of it is down on paper, I can get started tomorrow.

Would you take a cash advance from one credit card to pay off another credit card?

I am not sure what I would do, but it seems like an interesting option.

I have been recently getting letters in regards to raising my interest rates on all my credit cards.

I have the option to keep the card open and have the interest rate raised or keep the rate where it is, but have the card closed. Well, I guess you better close the card. Now to get it paid off.

So I decided yesterday to pay off my Jeep loan and don't ya know, it gets better gas mileage.

I contemplated putting that money on a credit card or freeing up another $305.15 per month to put towards the credit cards in future months.

So, bye bye, Jeep loan.

This is what I still owe:

Total CC Debt: $12,430.67

cc1: $5,429.67 - Chase Visa 23.24%
cc2: $4,800.32 - WAMU Visa 15.05%
cc3: $2,200.68 - M.K. Visa 18.24%

I am going to put the extra $300 a month towards the highest interest rate card first and snowball my way on down.