Is this really going to work?

So, I enrolled Juliette last night at the new daycare.

I was so pleased just walking in there. Have to keep reminding myself that you PULL the front door. LOL.

It's so home like. I can see Julie growing there, and that's what I was looking for.

There are going to be 12 kids in her class, and two teachers. She has to pack her blankie and pillow up after naptime everyday, which is cute. She's very into helping with chores around the house, so this is right up her alley. They eat lunch in a lunchroom, so that will be cute for her. Thursday, the meal is country fried steak, mashed potatoes, peas and peaches ... I don't even eat like that for lunch!

The daycare is on 6 acres, and they have a farm there. They have five cows, a bunch of rabbits, a couple of goats, some pigs ... and the kids get to go down there and actually meet and greet with the animals. They go down about once a week at her age group. This is great, Julie is such an animal lover.

On the budget front, I wasn't expecting to pay the $50 registration fee ... but it's normally $75 and they're running a special, so I'll take that any day. Also, daycare is $130 a week, which is ten dollars less per week than her current daycare. That's awesome. The fourth week is half off, which will be put towards good use on my end.

All in all, I'm thrilled. I dropped her off at her current daycare and she started crying immediately. It hurts my heart to leave her, so I'm thrilled that she's starting her daycare on Monday.

We went for her shots this morning. She was overdue, but my insurance for work just kicked in. She was such a trooper! She had to get FIVE, and didn't even cry for the first two. The doctor said "She might be prissy, but she's tough!" This was after our discussion about Julie's "icky sticky" and wiping her hands and mouth after each bite. He says it's just a phase, that worst case scenario, she'll just have good personal hygeine. LOL. The things mother's worry about. She's still above average for height, but below for weight. She's catching up though, she's only a pound below normal. I was told to not worry if she stops gaining, as her growth is about to come to almost a standstill. The only hard part is trying to determine what size she'll be next summer, she's not even all the way in 18 months at 20 months yet. I'm thinking she'll still be in 2T next summer ... sigh.

To do list:

1. New windshield wipers. Bad. This has to be done this weekend, since they were literally falling apart during the rain storm I had to drive through on the way to work.
2. Oil change. This can probably wait about a week or two, but I would like to get it done as soon as possible. I have had the car for a long while, and haven’t had the oil changed yet. I’m sure it’s do. I’d like to get it done by the end of next week.
3. Pay car insuance. $323.
4. Pay car payment $220
5. Pay hospital bill.
6. Pay bill for doctor at hospital.
7. Pay bill for doctor’s office.
8. Pay bill for after hours clinic.
9. Make list of all bill’s due, and when.
10. Finish budget folder.
11. Fill out paperwork for daycare.
12. Take paper for Julie’s daycare to notary.
13. Clean out car.
14. Vacuum car.
15. Clean Julie’s car seat.
16. Take at least one box of Julie’s clothes down to the consignment shop.
17. Make list for things for Christmas.
18. Pay storage shed.

I think that’s enough to keep me busy for the rest of the week. I really should add “find my cell phone” to that list, but considering I have no idea where on Earth I left it … I don’t want to think about it right now.

I need to also put in my calendar two weeks from now to call about Julie’s flu shot.

Ok, so I wasn't sure it would ever happen, but yesterday was my first official no spend day since starting this lovely little challenge. WOOT! I'm pretty proud of myself, and hope to be able to hit nine more by the end of this month.

I didn't think hitting 10 would be that hard, until I realized how often I have to acutally spend money. It's rather annoying.

I went yesterday to drop my daughter off at daycare, and I was honestly so disgusted at the teacher that I didn't feel comfortable leaving her there. It was the worst feeling ... so I came to work and started looking at daycares.

I found one with ONE opening that I am in LOVE with. I checked it out yesterday, and it is pretty much exactly what I am looking for. They are going to help me with potty training, after her last center told me they don't start till at least two. I don't know why when she was peepeeing on the potty at home ... but whatever.

I am going today to put the $50 down to hold the spot, tomorrow we have a doctor's appointment ... thank goodness are insurance finally kicked in! That'll be nice, to get her caught up on her shots.

I think I am going to talk to the new daycare to see if she can start on Monday. I really don't think I can handle anymore "surprises" from her current daycare.

Amanda

I always deposit my tips after the weekend, all except $20. I think it's better to keep the $20 out, as a just in case. Guess what, I spend it all and normally by Wednesday. I'll need to buy lunch, b/c I don't feel like making it. Well .. this week, I decided to just go ahead and deposit it. I still have my check card, so if there is a just in case ... but I'm hoping that it makes me actually not spend the money. Here's to this week's expierment.

So, today at work I spent $3 on lunch. It was worth it, I split lunch with a guy at work. He makes the best chicken ... mmmm. I work at Cracker Barrel Sat and Sundays, and my favorite thing on the menu is the homestyle chicken. I haven't had it in weeks because it's so horrible for you. Matt today asked if I would split some with him, mmmm.

Yesterday I borrowed $10 from my mom to put some gas in my car, since she neded me to drive my sister to her soccer game. I paid her back, and then put an additional $20 in my tank tongiht. What I can't understand is how come gas dropped .20 cents, but I'm still paying the same amount to fill my tank every week. I need to better track my driving .. and try to cut back somehow.

I bought Julie a pair of shoes and some socks tonight. I also bought some groceries, and the total came to $17.00.

I went shopping for my parent's groceries tonight as well. My mom has this weird thing happening to her leg where she's now in a cast. Don't ask me what it is, I honestly don't know ... just know that the muscles are seperating from the bone. I do the shopping to help out, plus to make sure there is something for me to eat here in the house.

So, all in all .. not a bad day. I put $7 in my new savings account. It's not much, but I need to start saving for Christmas and Julie's birthday. I can't believe that it's only 4 months till Christmas! And then, Juliette's birthday is a week later. ACK!!! I honestly don't know what I am going to do ... I can't even think about the holidays yet.

I made $115 tonght at work. Woot!

Of course, it's all going into my checking account, and actually I owe my mom $10 and my boss $5 for lunch on Friday. PLUS, I have to put gas in my car, so that'll be another $30 taken out. AAARRRGGGHHHH.

So, in reality, I'll be depositing $70. Plus, I'm cashing in my change, plus my $17 dollar check. Not a lot, but not too bad.

I'm not serving tomorrow .. which isn't cool. I have to be a serving assistance, which means I'll only make around $50. BLAH. Sunday's are the best days. Oh well, that check is going to go straight into my saving account anyways. I'll be ok.

I keep telling myself that Thursday is payday, and that it'll all be ok. But, I don't want to be in that state, waiting and hoping for a payday.

Amanda

So, this week I didn't do entirely well. But, I have started getting on track. I'm down to nickles and dimes in my account, and terrified something is going to go through before I work this weekend and make some money.

I'm hoping this weekend is busy, so that I actually make money. And somehow I'm supposed to make it out to the soccer fields tomorrow and back on barely any gas. I haven't figured out how that is going to happen yet.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just weren't sure you were doing the right thing. I wanted to quit my job today b/c my manager literally told me I had to pick the job over my daughter. I've never been so furious in my life.

My daughter is more important than anything in my entire life. Money will never change that. But, I have serious doubts leaving her at her cruddy daycare and going to a job that my boss doesn't seem to care about her.

It just honestly, wasn't a good week.

I just keep having to tell myself that next week is going to be better.

Goals for next week:
Sat - Gas *$40*. Julie needs some more pj's, and some shorts, though I am not sure if I am going to buy them this week or next. I am going to try to do my grocery shopping tonight after work. Clean out car, it really needs to be vacuumed. I need to head over to JoAnne's for some velcro to fix Juliette's careseat if I can't find the velcro I bought a couple of months ago.

Sun - Grocery shopping for my parents after work. Bank trip. Deposit the money so I don't spend it. Sunday I'm also going to start my $20 challenge.

Mon - Finish organizing bills. Go through the rest of Julie's clothes, plan trip to consignment shop for hopefully later in the week.

Tues and Wed, no plans to spend any money at all!

Thursday - Pick up cake for baby shower at work ... I also have to pick up a gift.

Friday - No spend day.

I'd like to keep up with this. I'm off to create a sheet to keep track of my bills.

Amanda

Wow! Let me first say that the words of encouragement were wonderful. Secondly, let me apologize, I literally fell asleep last night while writing that blog. I don't know what happened to me, I woke up and I hadn't finished my post.

Day 2. I knew today I would have to spend some money. Tomorrow is a potluck at work .... I think this one is the fourth in about two months. I've done every possible "cheap" things for potluck; chips, macaroni salad, sodas ... yeah. I had to spend money this time. I went for lasagna, but I honestly didn't feel like making one from scratch. So, Stouffer's got about $11 from me. I also had to buy some diapers. Jeesh! I can't wait until Juliette is out of diapers!!!!!

For a long while, I was buying cases of Pampers. The pampers are great ... they are thin and she doesn't leak - they are $18.88 a case at walmart for 92 diapers. The white cloud diapers are $14.92 for 92, though they are a lot thicker. This kind of works out better for us since she's such a tiny girl her clothes fall off. Right now, we're going through about 6-7 diapers a day, well during the week. I hate to say this, but I think her daycare teacher is either using too many diapers or she's stealing them. Seriously. At home, she goes through about 4-5. Maybe I don't change her enough .. but I have serious doubts about the teacher. Anyways, I bought the diapers ... and we have wipes to last till about the end of the month.

Is it bad that since I have only been taking 7 diapers a day to her daycare, that she went from using 7 a day *plus going through some mysteriously* that she is only changed 4 times a day. I didn't think this would be that hard, taking my child to daycare.

I was also bad and bought myself a shirt, but in my defense I have about five outfits for work. There are five days in a work week, and one of them is a casual day. I'm sure you all can do the math on this, I wear a lot of the same clothes! It's ... bothersome.

I'm working right now on getting Julie's clothes together to take them to the consignment shop. There is a girl at work who's pregnant and due in December who is interested in the highchair, travel system and excersaucer. I'm so exicited! I'm going to take pictures of them this week and take them to work ... hopefully she'll buy them. If not, my mom is planning on having a yard sale near the end of this month, maybe I can get rid of them then.

My best thing of the day ... everyone at work ordered sushi. I almost caved. But, I held out .. and my manager *who always eats with her eyes* ended up having an entire roll extra ... mmmmmmmmm, sushi. And even better, free sushi!

So, no ... today wasn't great. I know that sometimes I have to spend money, but there is this evil place called "Walmart" perhaps you have heard of it. They have everything you could ever possibly want but not need, under the same roof. I literally have an impossible time going in there and not spending $50. Tonight, I spent $45.02. I've learned that it's cheaper and easier to go to CVS for milk, it's $2.99 a gal over there. We go through about a gal of milk a week. At walmart, it's $3.29, plus ... I'll spend an additional $47 on junk. Everytime.

The part that is honestly going to be the hardest for me is actually sticking to a budget. Working out the kinks, the fact that I owe quite a bit of money to a number of people ... it's going to take time. If it means staying out of stores ... that's what it means.

When I was staying home with Julie *I was working nights while my mom watched her* we'd go to the store for fun. Yes, fun. I didn't want to stay in the house all day, so I'd head over to Target to walk around, spend some time. Yeah ... spend about $45, then grab some starbucks. Ack. It's a really good thing I had to get a day job.

Now, even though I'm paying an arm and a leg for day *$140 a week* I'm not spending all the money in the store. So, maybe it's a good thing.

Another goal for September, either decide if I can deal with keeping Julie in the daycare for the next four months *The program I want to get her in doesn't accept until they're two* or switch her now. If I switch her, do I go home daycare or to another facility (that honestly sounds like a horrid word).

Off till next time. Thanks for reading.

Amanda

I really need this to work. To be able to get out of debt, to see the light.

A back story.

My daughter is what some people would call an "accident", but I kindly refer to her as a "SUPRISE!" I didn't want kids until I was thirty, and wellllll ... I'm 22. She came a little early, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

Her father left when she was five months old. I've never seemed a dime from him, and every day I struggle wondering if it will be worth it in the long one. I haven't come to ao decision about it.

Right now, we're living with my parents, which I hate. I've inherited their awful money sense, and I can't stand it anymore. And the sad part is ... I can't get out of debt while living here. I don't understand how this is possible.

My goals for the rest of September are to be able to get all of my bills and debts in ONE location. To be better organzied in this process. To have at least 10 no spend days. I also hope that last week was the last overdraft fee I'll ever pay.

Can I do it?! I honestly hope so.