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.

I knew living with roommates wasn't going to easy, and I can safely say I will no longer be friends with this person after I move out. That's sad to say, but it's true.

First, lately they have been giving me a majority of the money for the bills that I pay. They were short $10 for rent and $4 for cable. Both of these bills came out of my account on the same day, luckily I budget my bills to have "extra" or I would have been really short. I asked three times for the money from rent and just had to ask my roommate for the second time for the $4 for cable. I know, it's "only" $4, but if I hadn't had enough money in the account, we all know that my bank would have charged an overdraft fee. I put my foot down and told her that I will not be accepting partial payments from her or her boyfriend. He also tried to say that he didn't order any movies this month, but they were on the bill. I refuse to pay for these and they want me to fight it with the cable company. No, the cable company even says it was ordered on their box, they will pay.

ARRRGGHH!

Also, her boyfriend has been eating my food. I don't make a lot of money. I shop once a month, other than for milk and fruit, and I shop with coupons and sales. My daughter is almost three, if you have never had the fun of having a three year old, they can be ... picky. Her boyfriend ate all of the ravioli and spaghetti o's that I had bought for my daughter. These are "treats" for her, b/c most of our food is cooked homemade. This really angers me ... but ... I only have until Feb, and then I am moving in with a different set of friends. This is something I am up in the air about b/c of my not so good roommates, but Margaret and I had a long talk today about what we expected of our roommates. Plus, they have a child, so they know what to expect with a child in the house.

So, my mom was right ... again. Don't live with people ... unless you don't mind them shortening you money and eating all of your food.

I am nearly done with Christmas for Juliette. I am very happy that I came in WAY under budget. I thought I would spend $300 for both Christmas and birthday and right now I am at $150 for Christmas. This includes a new bike with matching helmet, a play kitchen, a play washing machine, play food to go in the kitchen, about five VHS tapes, pots and pans for the kitchen, an apron, new crayons, markers and construction paper. Seriously, it's a REALLY GOOD Christmas for her. Most everything were things I stumbled on, I was planning on spending $110 on a play kitchen, but my mom found a really nice *made in America* plastic kitchen for $20. So, I was able to get the laundry center *also plastic and made in America* for $20. That's a savings of $70! I'm not really worried about the made in America thing as much as I am happy about the fact that it's not made in China. When my mom told me she found these things, I asked her where it was made right away. Since I "saved" that money, I spent it on the new bike with matching helmet. She has seriously been asking for both of these things, so I know it's something she is really really going to enjoy. Much more than the baby sister she keeps asking me for! I also found a bunch of toy food for the kitchen in the Target dollar spot.

My sister is getting a refurbished ipod that I bought for myself and then didn't want. I bought it last Spring, so it's really no money out of my pocket. It was "blow" money at the time that I didn't think through. I am also giving her a bunch of books I have from when I was her age. She is reading "Moby Dick" right now, she is just like me. I was reading "The Old Man and the Sea" when I was her age. Some of the books are in amazing condition, but they aren't selling for anything on half.com, so I know it will make her day.

My mom and dad, grandparents, and my cousins are the only people I haven't bought for yet. And honestly, I don't know what to get them. My parents are going on a cruise in March, so I might be able to not buy there presents until then. Is that horrible? I am looking for really god awful cruise shirts for them. Matching. My dad has this disgusting shirt (it's covered in huge marlins, and he doesn't fish) he wears whenever he invites me out for dinner ... so I figured buying him and my mom a shirt would make there day. My grandparents and cousin could be satisfied with a $25 giftcard, though I would like to get my cousin daughter something. She'll be two, so the possibilities are endless.

I finally qualify for health insurance through my job. The open enrollment period is this month. I was thrilled, until I saw how much it is going to cost.

Right now, my daughter is on state paid health insurance. I pay $15/month. I don't have health insurance.

The new plan will be $75/week for her and I. OMFG, are you kidding me?!?!? For me alone, it's $21/week. My mom used to work in insurance, so I will have her help me pick out what plan I should get and what all it will really mean, but I honestly feel like a horrible person b/c I canNOT afford to add my daughter to the plan.

As it stands right now, I have half my paycheck deducted into my 401k. My paychecks are usually $40/wk (remember I'm a server). This money would be automatically deducted for insuance, so I would still owe them $35/week. At an extra $140/month, I just can't afford that right now. I'm barely squeaking by as it is.

I just ... ARGH! I am so frustrated. Honestly, everytime I think I am getting things together ... something new comes up. I'm really getting tired of this "game".

Sigh.

Over the past couple of months, with everything that has come up, I've managed to wipe out my savings.

So, of course, my brakes aren't working right on my car now.

This is the scariest place I have ever been in financially. EVER.

So, after a good scared cry, I looked at my budget. Looked at what I could trim, and what I couldn't. Asked my mom if she would be willing to watch Julie a few nights per week so I can look for a part time job. Maybe just something to get me through the holidays. Maybe something a little more permanent *but, hopefully no more than 6 months* I don't have a problem working, infact, since my daughter has been born, I have consistently worked two jobs, w/o much complaining. I don't WANT to work 7 dyas a week, but I will if I have to.

On the car front, my coworker is going to look at it for me on Sunday. Then, another coworker's husband is pretty high up in the discount autoparts world, so I am going to give him a call to see how much everything is for my car, with his discount of course. Sometimes, I feel fortunate for all my stupidity. At least I have people who are willing to help when they can.

Then, after everything is said and done, I am going to start busting my rump to get my finances in place. To me, a good mother is someone who sets an example for her child ... and I am not leading by example right now. In fact, I would be pretty ashamed if my daughter could comprehend our financial state at all.

First, let me start off by saying, I love Florida.

Seriously.

So, today was my day off from work this week. I had Monday off as well, but I've had a bit of a cold, so I didn't get as much done as I wanted. Today, I had a plan.

I cooked, I cleaned, I vacuumed. I decided to wait until tonight to do my laundry. We keep our air at around 77 degrees, and our bill is still outrageous, so I figure if I have to run the dryer, might as well do it tonight.

Then, the reason I love Florida happens. A thunderstorm straight from Hades. Oi! Luckily, I had made a very delicious dinner earlier in the evening, b/c I hate cooking wondering if I am going to loose power. We eat, we get ready for bed, and we watch a bit of tv ... hoping it doesn't get struck by lighting ... and my daughter starts begging for her bath. A schedule is great for a two year old, until you have to break her routine. She didn't understand she couldn't have a bath during a thunderstorm.

Sometime between 8 and 9, we loose power. I woke up at 10pm in complete and utter pitch black creepy darkness. Creepy darkness. My roommates walk in ... they had been stuck at the gate with about five other cars and the guys had to get out of the cars in the pouring rain and break the gate to get in. Reason to not live in a gated community, yes. The house in HOT, I'm all sweaty, Julie's all sweaty ... so I light a candle in the dark and gather clothes and head to my mom's.

Luckily I don't give her a heart attack when I show up on her doorstep at 10:30 without a phone call. Reason number 65 as to why I need a cellphone ... cordless phones don't work w/o power. My clothes are in her washer ... and she keeps her thermostat at like 74 degrees, so I'm freezing instead of frying at my house.

Of course, my plan for tonight was to prep dinner for tomorrow and Friday ...... which obviously didn't happen. I also didn't pack my leftovers for lunch like I had planned, and my dinner was DELICIOUS! I went all crazy and followed a recipe I didn't know if we'd like. My parents always order take out or pick up fast food, and I am trying to be better about cooking at home, but I don't know how to make a lot of things. I can make some pretty basic things, but I seriously am trying to learn some new things. Anyways, the recipe was for a whole chicken, which is pretty cheap. I got it out of kraftfoods magazine actually, this month's addition. Anyways, you take cream cheese, rosemary and pepper and mix it all together and put it under the skin of the chicken. Then you put italian dressing on top. It baked while I went and picked Julie up from school ... and OMG, it was amazing. I am weird about food, so the idea of cream cheese and chicken seemed weird, but it was awesome. I am taking the chicken leftover and making chicken noodle soup tomorrow, since Julie and I have been a little under the weather. I was really proud of my dinner, and laughed at myself b/c I wanted to take a picture to proove I had made something like that. It looked AMAZING.

I'm hoping we've gotten power back, but when we called the power company, they told us they had no idea how long it would be out ... they were thinking closer to a day. Who knows ... I'll find out tomorrow when I go home.

However, I think it's time to buy our hurricane supplies. We don't have a flashlight or candles, or a weather radio. I think I should hit up Goodwill and see if they have a corded phone, or even walmart and have it plugged in the garage at least. We've never had a real hurricane pack, with blankets and food and such ... and I don't know if I need it now. It was just scary to be in the dark and not have a light anywhere.

I was trying to go the whole week without spending money on anything other than gas and bills. However, I needed pullups ... and I had two coupons that expired today. Somehow, I managed to spend $90 at walmart. OUCH! $33 of it was in pullups, which will last us ... around two months, I think. I know Julie still has some at school, she has about a month supply at my mom's ... so now she's got some here plus a ton for the next month or so. Here's to hoping that she get potty trained soon!

The only "grocery" thing we bought was skittles ... and that's for potty training. She gets one skittle when she pees in the potty and two when she does number 2. Number two is something we're really working on in the potty ... she doesn't like to go, which I'm hoping we can change.

The rest was all pretty much $2 and $3 things. And that my friend is where walmart gets you. You think "Oh, since I'm here, I might as well get ..." I bought wipes, toothpaste for Julie, a new toothbrush for both of us *well, two for me*, hairties for both of us, more soap and detangler for Julie ... see, I bought into the walmart curse. I also had to buy coolant for my car b/c it's been leaning towards the "hot" part of the temp guage, so I am thinking it might be getting low on coolant. I need "Cars for dummies".

I honestly don't know how I spent so much money. I hate that!

So ... and I'm putting it here to keep myself in line ... no more trips to the store. We are STOCKED! On the upside, I bought paper towels, garbage bags and laundry detergent last, and my roomies and I rotate on that. So, even if we do run out ... it's there turn.