Free download of Suze Orman's book

Oprah is giving away a free download of Suze Orman's book on her website! Offer good till Janurary 15th.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

Weeks worth of groceries $30

Since I've put a set amount of money to our grocery budget, I have to pay attention and get to best deal possible. Yesterday we spent $30.47. I had $25 from last week's grocery budget. I'm going to take $5 out of this week's budget leaving $35.

At Safeway we bought:
Corn flakes generic $1.88
Wheat things generic $2.79
Tostitos $1.88
String cheese $5.99
3 pounds apples $1.99
Total $14.53
Saved $9

Grocery outlet:
3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts $4.99
Bag of grapefruit $2.99
Feta $3.39
2 pounds carrots $1.59
2 containers philly cream cheese $1.98
3 containers hummus $1! (Seriously! Because they expired that day. YUM)
Total $15.9
Saved $25


That is $64.47 worth of groceries for $30.47

Budget brings on lifestyle changes.

Our spending is out of control! Dh makes more then ever and instead of saving and investing the extra we're spending it. And i'm sick of it! We started an all cash spending budget. I've resisted for years. Its inconvenient to carry cash, I'm afraid it will get stolen, all I've ever used was a debit card etc. But no matter how many times I would say we only have X amount to spend we always managed to spend more. Normally I just give us X amount for 2 weeks. And because the dollars are not designated to specific areas we over spend. Thats in the past now! We just started this last week and are still working out the kinks but so far its great. I'm going to share our budget which may seem extravagant to some and small to others.

Every week we're budgeting $200 for spending.
$40/ a week for gas ($20 per car)
$40 groceries (think i MAY have to add to this)
$30 pet food ($60 dry food a month/ wet food/ treats/ bones)
$20 fast food.
Total $130

That leaves $70 for anything else. Clothing/ household needs/ toys/ entertainment etc

Typing it out makes my stomach curdle because it doesn't seem like much. But that is the point, we're used to spending money whenever we want. Its not healthy! Bad for the budget, bad for us. I find buying whatever I want whenever very unfulfilling. When we limit money our 'treats' seem way more special and wonderful! Hubby and I each get $40 a paycheck for ourselves. We can spend it, save it, blow it whatever we choose. It really helps us to not feel deprived.

We have a specific fast food budget because we we're buying it all the time. Gross. This is already changing the way we eat. Several times now when we would have grabbed food on the run, we ate at home. When we do eat out its off the dollar menu instead of more expensive 'value' meals.

Since theres less money for movies, entertainment shopping, even thrift store browsing we've been playing with the dogs more. Going to the park to run and play instead of blowing money on stupid things. What a change a 'small' budget brings to an over spending family!

Life has its own plans.

Its been a long time! Some very unexpected expenses have drained our savings account and left us in debt. Once again. Plus our paid for car was crashed into new years eve. It looks like the insurance company might total it for an amount that would be hard to find a comparable car for. Needless to say this is very frustrating for us! 2009 will be a year to buckle down and spend as little as possible to resolve both the car and savings issues.

still no babies!

Thrift store decorations

I love decorating. I'm having so much fun with the nursery. Last night while dh and I were in the thrift store looking for costume items I found a cute little sign that says 'Home is where your story begins' Anna Danielson. I love it! And I love the price tag. .99 cents! I cant decide if it goes in the bathroom or kitchen. Here's my pretty little sign. http://danielsondesigns.com/DisplayFull.aspx?page=0&SKU=XP110&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Frugal? OUT THE WINDOW!

We're having quite the run of bad luck here. Our youngest cat was not acting like himself Tuesday/Wednesday. I took him to the vet Wednesday to get checked out. Xrays and blood tests didn't show anything $270. Took him home, was force feeding per instructions. He got worse. Thursday I took him back in, to be hospitalized. They gave him an Iv and pain meds. Tested him for a horrible, deadly, highly contagious (to other cats) disease. He was negative! YAY! Then he was given a Barium xray series. There were 2 definite blocks in his digestive system. Friday morning he had surgery, part of his intestine had to be removed because the blockage had killed it. We went to see him, he was highly doped up and quite sick of the poor vet tech! Today he gets to come home. We're estimating this bill to be around $1,400. HOLY COW! I'm very thankful we can afford it. Paying to save his life was never a question for hubby or I. Most of the guys on his boat find us crazy, and maybe we are. But that little boy is worth every penny of that. I would spend that much to save any one of our babies. We have been in a position before where we had no way of paying it. (and thankfully the vet was very wrong) That's not a position I want to find ourselves in ever again. I'm thankful this vet is so wonderful. I'm thankful baby cat deviated so severely from his normal behavior to shock us into taking him in right away. Most of all I'm thankful my naughty little kitty will be healthy again. He is so very loved.

I love military insurance.

Disclaimer: My husband sacrifices a LOT for this benefit.

Last night I had an emergency ER visit due to complications from my surgery 2 weeks ago. It was scary! This morning I had an urgent appointment to follow up. I am horribly afraid of invasive procedures, hospitals, needles, IVs, etc. Hysterical afraid. In the past two weeks I've been subjected to a lot. And its very very hard on me to go through everything I've had to do. Its Very hard on Dh to watch me go through it as well. But the good thing is the surgery was free. Medication free. Er visit free. Urgent visit free. And hopefully we've prevented cancer. I need a nap!