Sigh. I don't know what is going on with me, but I keep falling off the wagon. AND, I am really getting tired of it. I'm also exhausted from working so much, and don't know when I would be able to get a second job, but it would be great to have the extra income in my hands.

So, for the next two months, I am going to tighten my belt, BIG TIME! If I am still struggling, I am going to start looking for a second job.

I really plan on writing down all I spend. Really. I need to see the big picture.

Yesterday I made $82, but after going out for a going away party after work and splurging for doughnuts this morning, I only have $55 left. UGH! Then tonight, I made $97. So, I am going to deposit that into the bank account. It is hard, b/c so much of my money goes towards daycare, but her daycare is so amazing, I feel like it is worth it.

I also have a $67 portion of my electric bill to pay this week, ugh. I can't believe how expensive our electric bill is. We do everything to keep it low, including having the therm set at 78 degrees most of the time ... but it was still $200 this month. $200!!!! UGH!

I need to pay $150 to my friend for her furniture I am buying from her, I need to pay my storage shed, car payment and rent. AAAHHH!!!

I am giving myself a $25 allowance for the week, for things like fastfood when I am being lazy *which I shouldn't get anywyas* or when I forget to pick something up at the grocery store that I need. Anything left over is going to go into my savings account.

Also, right now, anything and everything I make is going to go into my checking account. Having all this cash is KILLING me! I spend and spend, b/c I have the cash there to do it. Not good! Hence the allowance. Since the atm is on my way to Julie's school, each day after work, depositing the money won't be a hard thing for me to do.

After this month, or should I say when October starts, I am going to deposit $50 a day into the account. Usually I make a lot more than that, but $50 is the number I have worked my budget out to. After that $50, I have an envelope system set up for everything "extra". If I make $80 one day, $30 will go into the envelope. I have all of my bills divded by week, and in order of "importance". When the money is in there, and the envelope is full, it will be sealed and marked off the list. Yes, I made a list of EVERYTHING! I also really inflated most of my bills, like saying $100 for electric. If our electric bill is every $300, I'll have a heart attack. However, I know next year I'll be on my own, so I might as well start budgeting now for a bigger electric bill.

Also, something that I have done is gradually increased my rent over the next couple of months. That way, by the time I am ready to move into my own apartment, I will be paying the rent already. Rent for the townhouse is $365, and rent for the apartment will be $690 ... For October, I have my rent as $400, the "extra" money is going to be put into my internet savings account, so it can grow.

I feel like I am trying to trick myself into saving, and maybe I am. But, maybe this is how I have to do it.

I'm exhausted and have to be at work really early tomorrow ... so I don't even know if this makes sense.