I finally got my car fixed ...

to the tune of $812. OUCH

PLUS, $75 to get the darn piece of junk towed.

UGH.

Needless to say, I didn't have all of that money in an emergency fund, but I am very lucky to have parents who had money I could borrow. My mom said something along the lines of "It seems silly to put this much in repairs for such a crappy car."

I couldn't agree more.

However, I now have a car again. No more borrowing cars, or having to get rides. YAY! I am going to be updating my side bar with all of my debts and such ... and really really working on paying them down. I think I am going to be changing my $20 Challenge a bit, to be able to save up for school. That is something I am still considering ... of course.

Sigh ... I think next month is going to be better. At least I hope so ... I need some good news!

So, I know I want to go back to college. I just don't know if I can afford it. At least not this year. My goal was to start classes in August ... but ... I also want to get out of debt.

Would you:

Go to at least one class (around $300 out of pocket) just to at least get started on the degree? (It's a community school, and I wouldn't get a loan for this money, just pay it out of pocket wiht money saved over the summer.

Or ...

Go back full time to school this August, and put the debt repayment plan on hold? Possibly meaning taking out a private loan if I can't get my current loans straight with the DOE?

Or ... Go to school full time in Jan, and spend the next 6+ months on a rapid debt repayment plan ... Paying off the loans from the last (failed) attempt at school ($3000), the car (1000), the credit cards (3000), and possibly the personal loan from my parents (5000). I'd also like to aim to get about $2000 saved during this time.

So, what would you do? There is the possibilty of going to take one class this August, and still being able to tackle the debt and do some massive savings as well. I think I am just scared of getting in over my head. And also terrified of not doing well in college this time around ... but I think that's normal.

I've been in a rut lately, where I know I want to go back to school (fingers crossed for August!) ... but I didn't know what I wanted to do.

Finally, I have figured it out!

I will be going to the local community college starting in August (as long as I can save up $500 or so for books this summer) ... to get my AA. After that, I will transfer to one of the local schools (though I am not sure, there might be a relocation in sight for a different Florida school) for my BS.

I am going to go into a career as a Child Life Specialist, with a concentration in Pediatric Oncology.

I don't know if I have mentioned her before, but last summer I met a three year old named Peyton who is fighting a very brave fight against Leukemia. Needless to say, this little girl touched my soul. From the moment I met her, I knew I wanted to do SOMETHING to help children with cancer ... I just didn't know what.

Pretty much, what my job will be ... I will be there to help the kids and the entire family. You're in the hospital working with these kids, something to me that's so extremely important.

I was talking to Peyton's mom about it ... and she told me I would be amazing at this. I got pretty excited getting the "thumbs up" from a cancer mom. I'm pretty sure she has some insight in this.

So ... I can't wait to start school. I haven't been this thrilled with a course in my life ... probably since finding out I was gonna be a momma.

So, if you all that pray could say a quick one for my friend Peyton ... she's such an inspiration ... and I'll always be thankful for meeting this little girl.

Warning: This is going to be a sarcastic ride!

So ... I've found an amazing way to save LOTS of money. I mean, just oodles!

While you're driving home from picking your daughter up school ...let your brakes give out. Completely. Oh yeah, it's a thrilling experience. Luckily, we were on my parents street when I lost them ... and I don't know how far away, but it wasn't "life threatening" ... though I almost took out their trash can.

Let me say though ... I'm saving boatloads of money! I've been carless for about 4 days now ... and other than the cost of parts I am going out to buy tomorrow ... I haven't been able to spend any money lately. YAY! There's no way to "run to Wal-mart for a couple of things" that I just "have to have!" Darn.

I'm also on the same tank of gas from two Fridays ago ... and with half a tank left in it. Of course, that doesn't hurt that I am now living at my parents, maybe a mile or two down the road from work. Yeah ... it doesn't get any easier than this.

My friend and his brother and law were going to work on my car tomorrow ... but his dad was put in the hospital this morning for a possible heart attack. We are all very worried, since the man keeps saying things like "If something happens to me ..." or "You all know you have to take care of your mother ..." Of course, we're all hoping he's just worried, worried about being in the hospital, worried b/c he could be sick ... you know, not that the doctors have told him something and he doesn't want to tell the family. His wife had a stroke last year ... and he's obviously very worried about her. These people aren't "old" by any means ... but it's shocking when you see the mortality of your friend's parents up front.

Needless to say ... I am ready for this week to be over!

Oh, and the new Bank of America ATM's SUCK for deposits. UGH!

Ok ... for the first time in a really long time, I was able to get my tank all the way down to pretty much empty. I was coasting in on fumes (probably not that extreme) ... but you get the point.

It took $45 to fill up my tank.

OUCH!

That's really not all that bad though, and now I know what to base my gas budget on. I don't think I have to add any to it quite yet ... right now I budget $40 a week, and that is usually more than enough, but I know in the near future I am going to have to up it to $45.

I won't complain though .. my mom's tank takes about $70 to fill, and that lasts her about a week. Luckily, she's a teacher, and summer vacation is nearing ... none too soon, I might add. For the first time the entire time my mom has worked for this school system (10 years) they are offering "hard ship" moves for teachers. Letting teachers move to schools closer to their homes, even in the middle of the year. My mom only has one year left where she wants to stay at her current school, but after that, she is going to start thinking about moving to a closer school. She told me she passes seven elementary schools on the way to work, but my sister is about to enter the 5th grade and my mom wants to keep her at the same school for the whole time. Admirable point, but an expensive one in this day and age.

BTW, my goal last week was to wait until Wednesday to get gas, and I was able to (somehow) squeak by until today ... that's pretty awesome in my book!

So, technically not related to my budget at all ... but my brother is back in California after his tour in Iraq. YAY! This is really spectacular news.

He'll be in Florida with us in May for three weeks. My mom is thrilled, though agonizing over what to get him for Christmas ... but all that matters is he is home safe and sound.

Now to get Juliette to react positively to him ... she's been extremely anti-boy for the past couple of months now, and I don't want her to be negative to Will. I think it will crush him.

Sometimes it's hard for me to stay focused on my initial goal ... to get out of debt. It's easy to get in a mindframe of "Hey, I want to save up money to buy a nicer car." How easily one forgets that said mindset is the exact same way someone got in this place to begin with.

I've been really stressed about the move lately, mainly b/c my roomies are complete slobs and haven't done a THING to clean up ... but hey .. I shouldn't be surprised. However, they are moving SATURDAY! so lots of cleaning onmy end will take place once all of their junk is out of my way. I have to keep reminding myself of Saturday, or I might go crazy. Seriously.

Speaking of the move, I have almost al of our things sorted through, almost all of the laundry is done ... now I just have to actually put things in boxes. YAY! I feel accomplished.

Another thing I have to keep in perspective is tips. Lately, I have been bummed about the money, b/c it's just honestly not what it used to be. However, not only do I have to remember that the economy is down (way down in some aspects) but that I'm honestly not working as crazy ass of a schedule as I have in the past. I used to work 8am-4pm on Sundays and walk out with $130 ... lately I've been pulling 9am-2pm, and making $100. While the numbers aren't the same ...that's still GREAT money. It's just easy to get discouraged when I look at last years number and see the difference. I could go back to te crazy hours ... but I don't know if I want to.

On a good note ... I only used 3/4 of a tank this week. AWESOME! And techinically, that was over an eight day period ... so that's really really good in my book. I put $30 in my tank today, and I am going to try to stretch it for the next week and a half. I don't want to fill up until NEXT Wednesday. Fingers crossed!

I got a call from my friend Margaret tonight "Amanda, will you come watch Odin for a little bit so we can go see the new baby?" Margaret's sister-in-law delivered a very healthy 9lb 4oz little boy today ... so of course I didn't mind.

Until they were gone for four hours.

I love my friends, but at least warn me that you're going to be gone to nearly 9pm so I can feed my daughter something before we come over. I picked Juliette up straight from school so they could head over there.

So Julie had three(ish) bowls of Kix cereal (momma helped). They had "Handy Manny" on them, so she was all about this cereal. And three pieces of cheese. YUCK! Whatever, she's so small for her age, I think she needs the extra calories. I had to run to walmart for a couple of things after watching him, and she did pretty well, since it was nearly 10pm. I never like being "that parent" with the screaming kid in the store past their bedtime ... but after having the "talk" with her (Juliette, stop it or we go to the bathroom for a spanking sort of talk) she was pretty well behaved.

Except for in the bathroom (but we were there for a potty break, not corporal puishment ... yay!) when she decided to start talking back AND talking under her breath. Who replaced my sweet toddler with a teenager?!?!! We've been using soap when she spits at me, talks back or lies ... these are pretty big deals in my book ... but obviously you can't use soap on a toddler 80 times in a day. It starts to loose the effect. I can now pick up the soap bottle, and she's changing her tune ... I didn't believe my mom when she told me that your children have to fear you. So, in the bathroom ... I get as close to on her level as I can ... and threaten with tabasco.

Just so we're clear ... I don't like a lot of pepper on my food. If I did have to follow through and use tabasco, I'd have to go out and buy a bottle of it. By the time I actually got to the store and back ... I'm pretty sure she would have completely forgotten her offense. Needless to say, I'm blowing smoke up her butt, and praying she doesn't realize it. I'm pretty sure that she's never even seen tabasco ... let alone knows that it's spicy ... but I really need to nip the talking back/spitting thing in the bud .. as in yesterday. Let me tell you, I've never seen a child snap back into place so quick in all my days. It was like instant *wham!* momma's serious, and I think she might kill me sort of straightening up. LOL. Sweet, the threat is still enough.

As we're washing our hands, a woman leans over and says "I used vinegar on my kid's when they talked back or spit." Instant light bulb over my head, since I do always have vinegar in the house. I love the crazy mom advice that I get from strangers in bathrooms too ... it's really pretty creepy the way people will open up to you in a public place like that. It's kinda like "Been there, done that ...here's how I survived!"

Oh, and the expenses from the new baby came after we left walmart and Julie saw the Sonic across the way "Momma, can we eat there ... I'm really really hungry." (You can reread the beginning to realize why I thought ths was a pretty hilarious statement.) But, since I had starved my child that evening ... I let her go to Sonic's for a cheeseburger and a milkshake ... she drank like three sips and ate a bite of her cheeseburger and was out like a light.

I love my child ... but I'm glad I got the stubborn one first! Before children I wanted 5 kids! What was I thinking?!?!

This week, I was about $10 in cash too short for daycare. I really didn't want to "dip" into my checking account money or anything in savings ... I like to pay for daycare in cash that I put into envelopes. It doesn't make a lot of sense typing that out ... but the system works for me.

I decided to go cash in some change that I had laying around, keep the $10 in cash I needed and deposit the rest as a sort of "bonus".

Imagine my surprise when I was cleaning out my aprons from work and came across $80 in cash! LOL. Last week was pretty hectic going back and forth between my parents and my place (they were out of town) so somehow I threw an apron in the back of my car and didn't grab out the cash to put the money away. This is so NOT like me at all ... I'm very anal about my money, and deposit it as soon as I make it so I don't spend it.

OOPS!

So, instead, I made a nice addition to the challenge ... $50 in change (YAY!) and a $60 paycheck. So, $110 total ... the $70 went into the envelopes like it should have ... sometime last week.

$20 challange - $253.00
newest addition +110.00
-----------------------
$363.00

BTW, I am starting my $20 challenge again ... I haven't added any money to it since Jan ... how easily I get off track with things is a bit frightening.

So ... I've been trying to clean the entire townhouse, pack and well, you know ... do the normal things I usually do. My roomies haven't put in any sort of hint of effort ... and that's fine ... whatever. I really need/want my deposit back, so I guess I'll have to do all of the work. Which is why I am terrified about living with friends again ... but my friends are going to own the house, and I've told them if they act like this I will move in a heartbeat (I've been promised about a million times that nothing like this will happen, fingers crossed!)

So, my quick cleaning tip. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are pretty freaking needed if you have a dear little toddler who sometimes let's her paint splash on the walls. I put a dab of hand soap on the eraser ... and *poof* like magic, it was gone. I thought I was going to have to repaint her entire little area ... b/c she gets a little carried away. Nope, it's all gone! YAY! She's also got expo marker on the front door tonight (she was holding it in her hand ang trying to close it after me.) I panicked, tried a couple of different things and then tried the eraser ... Wow, it worked. Right off, barely any scrubbing involved.

Needless to say, I'm sold. It's also worked really well with "Kaboom" at getting our kitchen tile clean ... triple yay! The grout was getting a little, icky, and no amount of mopping was getting it back (what's up with that!) ... eraser and kaboom ... it's almost perfecty white again.

I never in a million years thought I would be this excited about cleaning products ... sigh.

Sigh.

Two nights ago, Juliette was sitting in my lap and we were watching tv. On the show, two little friends were fighting, but they made up and hugged. Aww! Until my daughter decided that it would be the best time to hug me ... and smacked me so hard she broke my nose. LOL ... ouch! And this is the second time she's broken my nose, one time it was as a tiny little thing ... maybe right at a year when she head butted me ... on accident again.

The swelling is going down ... and the pain isn't as bad ... but ouch! The thought of them rebreaking my nose sounds pretty ... well, not in the work ... so I'm just dealing with it. I didn't do anything about it the first time (no reason to according to the doctor) and now my nose is just starting to get some "character."

And can I just say that I remember the pain from Julie breaking my nose so much more than the pain from her birth. What's up with that?!?!

Last week was a windfall of unpleasant news. Luckily, things are quickly turning around.

1. And this makes me the happiest! My brother wrote to me on myspace that he'll be home in May. We thought he was coming home from Iraq in April, but maybe he means he'll be in Florida in May? Who knows ... just great news, b/c we don't really hear from him all that much.

2. Julie's dad called me today to tell me he's going to give me $220 on his next paycheck. I REALLY have my fingers crossed that this actually happens, but he's the one who brought it up, so maybe, just maybe, he means this.

3. My bestfriends are married and have a son together. Well, with the help of his familly, they are buying a house. I was talking about renting an apartment, and they asked me to move in with them. It's a 4bd/3ba house, so Julie and I will have our own space. It's got a HUGE fenced in backyard, and a patio ... everything Margaret and I were talking about "wanting". They offered to let me just pay utilities and just save up as much money as I could. I told them it was something I could very much do for a couple of months, and then I would have a lot of money saved to move into a nice(er) apartment than the low-income one I was looking at.

Well, Patrick *one of my closest friends, I've known him since I was 16* said "Why don't you stay with us for a year or two? Then you could save up enough money for a downpayment on your own house and everything would be easier for all of us."

SOOO, I think this is what I am going to do. We had a very serious discussion that if at anytime any of us are about to murder the others, instead of loosing the friendship, Julie and I will move. We all seriously doubt this will happen, but after the year I have had with my roomies, I don't want to loose anymore friends. Julie and I are at their house nearly three nights a week for dinner anyways, which I know isn't the same ... but I think it will save us all on gas to just live together. LOL.


So ... fingers crossed that everything good actually works out! There's a lot of bad on this end as well, so triple fingers crossed that everything works out on that end as well.

I don't know what else to call him anymore. Scum bag is a pretty accurate term. Sperm donor is pretty mean, but the truth for the most part.

Back in Feb. I met this amazing guy who I began seeing. Amazing guy is well, more than a few years older than me, but we have lots in common. I was complaining to him one night about Juliette's father, how I wanted to go into his job and make a scene. Well, how I honestly wanted to castrate him, but that seemed to be going a bit too far. Jeremy looked at me and said "Why don't you?" I was assuming he was talking about going into his workplace and talking to him, not the later. I realized at that moment I was dragging my feet, being scared of the unknown ... which isn't fair to either my daughter or I.

So, we went to his place of work for dinner one night. I was positvely shaking, so nervous I could barely eat. He came over and said "Hey ... I wish you guys would have told me you were coming." I swear, he actually said that. I looked at him and said ... "Weeeellll, considering I don't have your phone number or address, that's a little hard." He apologized, got my new number and promised to call me.

And he actually did.

Over the course of the next month or so, we've talked a couple of times, but he hasn't offered to come and see her. He's talked to her a couple of times on the phone, but ... even though we live about five minutes apart, hasn't taken it further than that yet. Juliette, once she saw him at the pizza place, hasn't asked to see her daddy anymore. She was getting to the point where she was crying for him, which broke my freakin heart.

During one of the phone calls, James offered to pay me $110 a paycheck to help with her. He's supposed to start after his first paycheck in April ... so, maybe this week sometime? We're currently waiting for a court date on child support, so this is pretty awesome news in my mind. I know not to count my chickens and all, but I am really hoping he's "seen the light" and wants to help out. He has never given any money for her, and when he was around at the beginning, his contributions were a case or two of diapers and some formula. I'll be so freakin thrilled if he actually starts helping.

So, a tiny update ... maybe we'll have lots more to update on by the end of the year. Fingers crossed!

My darling daughter is really a ball full of energy. I love her to pieces, but I can some stories that would make anyone question if they really ever wanted to have children.

Last night, she decided to try to jump off the couch. I was cooking dinner, and after repeated "No's!" I watched her fly through the air ... and right onto the laundry basket. CRACK!

She got up and came running into the kitchen.

"Momma, I think I broke your basket."
"Julie, I know you broke my basket, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm good. I wanna try that again!"

Sigh ... maybe there's hope for her in clown college or something.

But, I am proud to say that I went to Target for a new landry basket and walked out with ONLY a new laundry basket. I really think that's a first for me. I didn't even stop at the Starbucks. LOL.

A coworker of mine has one of her daughters enrolled in the local headstart program, and I was practically begging her for some infomation on it. Julie's father has offered to help me pay part of the daycare cost, even though we don't have a court ordered child support enforcement in place, but he wants to pay me around $220 a month and daycare is $540. While his money will help me BIG time ... with the move and everything, I am still looking to be a bit short.

Most of you know I am a server, and I am really honestly, pretty scared about what's going to happen with my line of work if the economy starts tripping. If things are already getting tight over here, I don't think I can make the belt any tighter.

Well, I got a call from my coworker tonight. She has the application and everything I need to turn in. AND, if I get the application in by April 10th, I will be put on the waiting list for the June enrollment. Supposedly from what she was telling me, the program runs 5 days a week at a local elementary school from 7:30am-5:30 pm. It is closed Christmas break, Spring break, and according to my coworker for only 2 weeks out of the summer. It's a free program, which would help soooo much! I also already have an agreement with my friend that she will watch Juliette during the off weeks for $75. I can handle $75 a week!

So, keeping my fingers crossed that I actually am considered to make a low enough wage for this bit of government aid. So far, I've pretty much been laughed at when I apply for anything. I don't make a lot, but I guess I make more than most?!?! I don't know. I also hope that Julie's father actually starts sending me some money every month. Hey, she's only three ... I mean, better late than never, right?

I am on of those people who pretty much over analyze everything. I hate that I do that, but it's pretty hillarious to watch what I do and don't spend money on, where I "hide" it from myself. Things of that nature.

In an effort to keep myself strictly under budget this month, I'm gonna track things here. They won't be the most interesting updates, but damn, I might know how many times I find myself at Starbucks for some coffee (or McDonalds, let me just say I am in love with their caramel iced coffee.)

Income for this month:
April 1st - $0

Money spent:
April 1st - $20 at Target. (This included some new socks and an outfit for Juliette). $135 for daycare for the week.

Dinners made -
April 1st - Tonight will be spinach and mushroom pizza, homemade. Today I also was good and ate both breakfast and lunch at home.

Chalenge money -
April 1st -$0

Sometimes life just throws me for curveballs, and it takes all of me to just steer this boat we are on.

Here's to hoping for a great April. My goals are simple, to keep spending down, to cook more at home, to move (and keep those costs down as well).

Tonight for dinner is a rosemary crusted chicken, with potatoes and squash. YUM!

Also, I have lost 25 pounds so far this year (just from eating out less and drinking less soda) so I need to add that on to the total.

Nope, I'm not pregnant and don't plan on being one for awhile, but I "borrowed" my friend's baby yesterday. He's three months, and they really wanted to be able to have a nice Valentine's Day together, and their baby sitter bailed at the last minutes. I offered to take him ... and wow, it was a lot of fun!

I've always wanted more than one child, and now I can't wait to have another. I wouldn't mind having another one by myself, but of course, I would want to be better off in my financial situation. Obviously.

Anywho, we had an awesome night. My daughter is in LOVE with babies, so I was really curious to see how she would take to having him around. The only time she was jealous was when I was holding him when we stopped for dinner at Moe's ... mmm Moe's ... and she wanted me to hold both of them. She's 30lbs and he's 15lbs ... needless to say, that was heavy.

So ... since I am not in the spot to have another child, at least for the next couple of years ... I offered my services as a free babysitter as often as once a week. I know how stressful it is to have a new baby, and since they are both my best friends in the whole world ... I want to make sure their relationship stays strong. PLUS, if I do decide to become a single mother of two ... well, I'll be able to cash in on free babysitting for a number of years. Tehe .. there is always a method to my madness.

Whew ...

I love Florida. Today we were hit with a monster of a storm (though, not nearly as bad as other storms have been around the country, thank goodness.)

It all started around 4pm today, right around the time I was getting ready to leave work. That's when they made the announcement to the employees ... there was a tornado warning. Normally, these things don't scare me, but when I am not with my child, well, I get worried. So, I decided to leave (my shift was over, I just didn't want to leave b/c of the storm.) My boss comes up and asks me to stay for a minute, to see if the storm settles a little ... but I am still a little worried since my daughter isn't with me ...

Then my manager comes up to us and says "Remember ladies, if something does happen, the safest place in the building is the walk-in cooler." So ... in case you didn't know, if a tornado is coming, run to the walk-in cooler. I filed this under "Crap I don't want to ever have to use."

So, after waiting for about 15 minutes (the rain finally started letting up) I ran for it. I love how people run through the rain. We aren't made of sugar, you aren't going to melt ... but I ran for it as well. Cracks me up. What, am I afraid I am going to get wet!?!? The drive to Julie's school was pretty uneventful, the traffic was actually doing the speed limit (shocking!)

At Julie's school, they have a great rainy day procedure. You park two cars at a time under the cover and they run and get your child for you. I should mention it was lightning pretty bad at this point. After I got Julie buckled into the backseat, we drove home. Again, people were actually doing the speed limit! I was sooo surprised. I am sure this isn't something unique to Florida, but since most of us are pretty used to horrible weather, people seem to drive like insane morons when it's pouring outside.

We get home ... and was 5:30. It took over an hour and a half to leave work, get Julie and get home. It usually takes 45 minutes. WOW. I decided to check the news ... since we loose power in the house usually with the first flicker of lightning.

Our cable is out ... ugh. I called and called ... and it's out around this area a lot. Strange that I have internet, but not complaining. The only thing I really wanted to watch was the news ... since a tornado hit near my g-ma's. I quickly fixed dinner, and made sure we had candles and flashlights.

So far though, we haven't lost power. YAY! I called my mom ... and supposedly the really bad storms are coming around 2am ...so I don't know how much sleep I will get tonight. Flashights/candles are on the bar just incase. I also made sure there was room for us in the closet ... just in case.

However, my roommmate has come downstairs FOUR times asking if the cable has come back on. She's more annoying than my daughter. LOL.
Me: Did you check your tv?
Roomie: Yeah, nothing. Did you call the cable company?
Me: Nope, not since the last time I called.
Roomie: Oh. Man. I was hoping they would have let us know something by now.
Me: Well, when I called before ... remember, I told you they said a lot of cable was out ... I don't think that's changed much ...
Roomie: Yeah ... I know.

ARRGH. I wish I could sit the roomie infront of "Little Mermaid" that's been keeping Julie pretty occupied.

So ... on to the things I learned toda:
1. Walk-in coolers are reinforced, therefore making them safe during tornados.
2. Roommates can be more annoying than small children if they don't have cable.
3. I have WAY to much stuff in the freezer, so I am hoping we don't loose power for any length of time. Seriously, how many people do I think I shop for?!?!
4. Driving in the rain isn't fun .. but when people do the speed limit ... it's actually a little enjoyable.
5. My windshield wipers make an annoying squeaking noise. Oh, and driving without a/c and with the windows up is HOT.

LOL, needless to say, it's been an enjoyable day. I'm looking forward to tomorrow ... a beautiful day off. Complete with baking cookies to send to the troops and cupcakes for Valentine's Day for Julie and my coworkers. Who says I'm not nice/

So ... I don't have exactly the best car ever. But, I'm learning to love it, and use it to my advantage (as in, if it's running, that's a good thing). With whats coming back in a refund on my taxes, I am paying off the rest of the car and doing some pretty big repairs on the darned thing (new brakes, new tires, oil change (which isn't big, but needed) and who knows what else ...)

So yesterday on the way to Target I go to roll my window up (I live in Florida, and haven't had a/c for almost a year, UGH) ... and nothing. Not a darn thing. Oi! So, this happens sometimes, and I don't want to think anything of it. Run inside Target for the few things I need (and forgot the milk!) and then off to get Julie from school. After getting back home, and playing outside for a little while ... I try the window. Still nothing. Oh crap.

I called my mom, who told me I was pretty much SOL until the morning. So, it was calling for rain and I was just hoping it didn't. Plus, we have racoons the size of dogs living around here, and I was just hoping I didn't wake up to one in my backseat. I didn't have masking tape to do the redneck trick of garbage bagging the window.

Off to my dad's this morning ... and he was able to take the door off without much hassel and put it back on ... and he locked the doors. This is important, since I didn't know the doors LOCKED, ever since my car got broken into LAST Christmas Eve. All in all, took about an hour, and most of it was trying to put the door BACK on. He only stripped one screw, so sometime this week I have to stop and see about getting a new screw.

So yeah, door's fixed ... window is back in the up position (and my dad turned off the motor so I can't be retarded and try to roll it back down ... smart dad) .. so we close the doors ...

With the keys on the front seat.

Are you kidding me!?!?!

It wouldn't have been a huge deal, despite the fact I had an hour until I needed to be to work, and my shoes and everything for work were sitting on the front passenger seat. I think they were mocking me.

I got frustrated and slammed my hands unto the drivers side window, and somehow it magically came down about 1/4". I'm talking about the second window, not the one we just fixed. So, off to find SOMETHING that will be able to work in this tiny crack in the window.

I managed to find a fly swatter ... which after 40 minutes of working ... managed to get the window undone! YAY! I had enough time to get dressed and head off to work, and make it there less than three minutes late. I was about to call into work when my dad managed to get the lock undone. YAY again!

Did I mention that the main reason I went to Target was to get a kitty litter pan? And when I took it out of the car, it was broken? I used a check to pay for everything at Target ... and instead of refunding the money since it was BROKEN, I got a giftcard. I could have waited 7-10 days .. but I took the giftcard and bought a couple of things I had been putting off ... milk, yogurt for Julie, cake mix for Valentine's Day .. nothing crazy.

Of course, I'm really glad I didn't call in. I made $105 today, working 5 hours. $21 an hour .. I can't make anything like that around here without some sort of education ..and that's why I'm scared I'll be a server FOREVER.

There always seems to be a place to spend money, doesn't there?

This month, I am working really hard at staying out of the stores. Really hard. Don't worry, I am still finding plenty of ways to spend money. Seriously, what's up with that?

I am working on cooking out of our pantry/freezer this month. It's been pretty easy going so far, especially since we're at the beginning of the month ... but I am hoping to be able to get through this month and next with limited amounts of money spent at the store. Since we're moving in two months, it would be silly to move food with us .. unless we have to.

We've been having a lot of fun on Julie's bike. This has to be the best Christmas gift of the year. I thought she would be slightly interested in it ... but she is in love with this thing. I can't get her off the bike. I am thrilled that the apartment complex we are moving to has playgrounds and plenty of sidewalks for riding bikes. I am really thrilled with freebies we've been finding.

My mom took both of the girls (my sister who is 10 and my daughter) to see the Hannah Montana movie this weekend. It's all Julie's talked about. My mom bought her two shirts from walmart and a necklace ... but little girl LOVES Hannah Montana. LOL. Can you believe she spent $15 per ticket?!?! Jeesh!

This past weekend my momma was looking at tickets to see the Jonas Brothers. Two tickets, one for my sister and one for me to take her would have run my mother $88 after all the fees and things. My mom asked me what I would do ... LOL. Well, first I said save it, which she rolled her eyes at ... and then I slightly and not very calmly said "Disney!" For $88 we could get two adult tickets to the Pirate and Princess party. Now, I think $88 is a LOT of money, and I would honestly throw it at my debt ... but this is my mom's money so it's honestly up to her. She is looking into getting a spot for the RV, but it looks like it's out of the plan for Feb anyways since they are booked.

Oh well, what would you do with $88?

UGH.

Today was SUPPOSED to be a $0 spend day. I was pretty excited about it.

Then, when I get in the car, my oil light came on. My friend is fixing my brakes, and doing an oil change next week or so, but I have an oil leak and knew I couldn't make it that long. So, I spent $5 on oil.

$5 blew my $0 day.

Then, driving away from the auto store ... my check engine light came on. UGH! Good thing Matt is looking at the car next weekend ... so he can tell me what else needs to be fixed.

I am hoping and praying that we can get things fixed for cheap. Since my friend is doing the work on it ... I won't have to pay the insane amount to get it fixed at the shop. I am also able to buy the parts from a coworkers husband who owns an auto part store. I think I am going to buy used tires this year, probably with my tax refund. I need two new tires for sure, but I think buying 4 used, should get me through for awhile. I don't want to buy a new car anytime soon ... but I don't want to invest in new tires if the car is going to need a lot of money to keep it running.

I figured after the cost of parts at cost ... and then buying Matt and his wife a $25 giftcard for him working on my car, and probably something for their baby due in May, I'm still coming in a LOT cheaper than taking it to an auto shop, especially since I don't have a "trusted" mechanic. I could just see the blood in their eyes when a single mom who barely knows how to check her oil walks into the shop ... thank goodness I have great friends.

I have been participating in a No Buy Jan ... and haven't been doing really well. I am going to post it here to actually keep track of it better. Maybe it will help me be better with a No Buy Feb.

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $37 (birthday!)
1/3 - $66
1/4 - $0!
1/5 - $30 ( completely unplanned)
1/6 - $0
1/7 - $23
1/8 - 183 - WOW! Putting a total on it hurt. But, this is money for clothes (for me, I actually bought something for myself!), groceries for the month, and toilitries. I don't think it's too bad honestly)
1/9 - $32 My fourth stop at Target for things I had forgotten, (I really need to get better at this list taking thing) and McDs for dinner b/c I wasn't feeling well.
1/10 - $0!
1/11 - $0!
1/12 - $30 for drinks at Applebee's (Completely needed) and $10 in my mom's tank for being so awesome and letting me drive her car
1/13 - $10 at Taco Bell for the fam ...
1/14 - $0!
1/15 - $60 at walmart, including $20 for gas. Some of it was also groceries. $5 at McD's for breakfast
1/16 - $40 at Publix for dinner ingredients b/c nothing sounded good or was defrosted.
1/17 - $0!
1/18 - $40 on disneyshopping. I finally caved, but for things Juliette really needed.
1/19 - $40 out for drinks and food after work. I also got $50 worth of free drinks since our server likes me. I told him I can't come back for at least a month ... I've blown a TON of money out this month.
1/20 - $0!
1/21 - $0
1/22 - $20 take out food for sister's birthday
1/23 - $15 gas. $30 groceries.

I think this will really help me keep better track on what and when I spend my money.

Not much went on this weekend, the best thing there was no spending!

Of course, it was DEAD at work. SIGH. I really hope things start to pick up soon. I don't remember it being this slow last year, but ... it's really honestly hard to remember that long ago.

Supposedly we'll pick up soon ... that's what they always say. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I am just trying to hold out, as long as I make the min. ... I guess I am doing a lot better than most. And, at least I have a job, that's always a perk.

I have to buy pullups, chicken breast and gas tomorrow ... such odd things. Then, I am going to cross my fingers and hold my breath that we get more zero spend days. Those are always my favorites.

And, no, I don't mean on my personal budget.

Working in the food service industry, and talking to people ... it amazes me how they are able to survive. I've been worried for awhile, thinking about a possible job change, b/c when the economy starts to go, food industry is the first hit. Sorry, but if people don't have money to pay their rent, more and likely they aren't going to come out to dinner. And, if they do ... well, they probably aren't going to be as generous as last month when it was crazy holiday spending.

Yesterday was pretty slow ... really slow. We're in the middle of playoff season ... and last nights game was huge. Today, we started off slow, but I ended up making the "usual" for my Sunday shift. Most of my tips were pretty good, but talking to people ... they are really hurting right now.

I'm hoping the economy can make a turn around, and soon. It's starting to hurt my budget.

Seriously, so long. You've been a really rough year. I've seen too many deaths this year, and not enough births. You've had my brother over in Iraq for nearly nine months, we'd really like him home please. You've dealt me job losses and gains. You've made my daugther grow up waaaaay to fast. It's time for you to move on.

I like even numbers better any how ...I believe 2008 is going to truely be a better year.

A coworker and I were talking tonight, and she offered to watch Juliette for me for free. Seriously.

I almost passed out. I told her I would watch her four year old at night if she could watch Juliette during the day. She said that would work out fine.

If I didn't have to pay for daycare, I could afford to live on my own. No roommates, just my lovely daughter and I. This would be what I want/need. Living with roommates is hard, add having a child into the mix ...and it's really hard.

She just left her husband, so I know she really needs the emotional support as well. She's a great friend, and we laugh b/c we have a lot in common.

The only fear I have is taking Juliette out of school. She loves her school, and I love that she is so happy there. It makes me happy to know how much she is growing. But, I pay $540 a month to send my daughter to school, and it's honestly too much money for myself alone.

I am thinking that when more money becomes available in the "Title 20" program that I might sign her up for daycare. Title 20 supplements daycare for low income families ... but they don't have anymore funding right now. I'll need to call next week sometime to see when they will be getting funding.

I'd really love to live on my own ... sigh. I think I will be able to do this. I don't know if you all can tell how happy I really am.

HAHAHA ... So I am trying to learn how to cook, a little at a time. Luckily, I know how to do a few things, like boil water and chop veggies. I don't know much more, but one of my goals this past year has been to try a new recipe every other week. It's worked pretty well, and has helped keep us out of the boring rut of the same ol same ol.

Tonight, I wanted broccoli and cheese soup. We've both had a bit of a cold here the past couple of days, the weather is starting to get better, but it was pretty icky. It seemed like a soup night, didn't it people.

Well, apprently not. I got through 95% of the recipe when I messed it up. I had just put the broccoli in, I could taste my broccoli and cheese soup. It looked good. I tried a tiny tast, but it was missing something. I decided to add a bit of garlic salt, and *POP* off comes the lid and in goes the ENTIRE bottle of garlic salt.

So, I calmly put the pot into the sink, waiting for it to cool down. Juliette had been sitting on the counter helping me cook, but I gave her some bubbles before the last "simmer for 15 minutes" part. When I told her to sit down, and handed her a cut up hot turkey dog, sliced green apples and a cheese stick, she was a bit confused. "What happened to the soup, mom?" Umm, momma messed it up "It was my fault mom?" Nope, not your fault. "Ok, I like hot dogs." Glad she's neither a food critic or the fashion police, since I've been making her wear sweats this entire week.

And no, the turkey hot dog wasn't nearly as yummy as the soup woud have been.

Tonight was one of the busiest nights we've had in a LONG time. WOW. My feet and my bones and everything ... hurt. Sigh. I made $150 tonight, which is the most I think I have ever made in a single shift.

And, since I was so tired, I didn't stop at the store for gas. Finally, a $0 day! I need a lot more of these this month, but I don't see it happening. Sometime this week, I have to get a doll or something for Juliette's school. They don't exchage gifts, but each child brings in a toy for the classroom. I think this is a good idea to get new and exciting things for the kids to play with. I also need gas, probably tommorrow .. and I really really need to order Juliette's birthday present. I am leaning towards Princess dresses, but they aren't on sale right now. Sigh.

I have a day off on Wednesday ... I wish it was tomorrow.

My mom is a very loving person. She has complained for years about how Christmas Eve dinner is always done at my grandmother's house. She complains mostly to my father and I ... but she would never take a step up and do anything about it.

My dad is a firefighter, and this year is his turn working Christmas Day. With my brother in Iraq for the second Christmas, my mom has been having a hard time with the holidays. Adding into the fact that my dad won't be home ... well, she was on the verge of loosing it a little.

She came up with the grand scheme of having Christmas Eve dinner at her house, and inviting my grandparents and my cousin over *we're the only ones left in the state*. This is the same grandmother who hasn't spoken to me since I had Juliette ... she's a real doll. At first, she said no, she wouldn't be coming. My mom, who never would have done this in the past put her foot down and said "Fine, see you after Christmas." My grandmother, having her bluff called, back down and agreed to come over.

I just got a frantic call from my mom, who now has to have the house clean and fixed up in 9 days. LOL. My dad's "honey do" list is over a mile long, but she's happy. I'm happy I don't have to drive over to Lakeland and I'm really happy that my mom gets to spend Christmas the way she wants to. But seriously, be careful what you wish for.