Good morning everyone.

Been reading the news and everyone is writing that we should be spending money and not saving it since that is the only way out of a recession. Okay, isn't that what got us in this mess in the first place. People overspending to have the first, best or greatest item out there.

I will be spending, but only on the necessary items and then I will be looking for sales. I will not be bullied into buying frivolous stuff just to "boost" the economy. I have generally lived within my means. I have taken out a few loans to improve my home, not pay off a credit card or have plastic surgery. Have also gotten a few loans in my time to buy a vehicle. Also not the type of person that has to have the latest/greatest. Everything has always been paid off early because I don't like being a slave to a lender.

This week has been wonderful. Had $ left over from the last payday, so that went into the rainyday fund. Bills are paid but I will be looking into ways to start cutting all expenses just in case something happens. DD has been put on notice that we will watching the spending.

Gathered up all my information for taxes. Just waiting for it to come in from other sources. Made my tax appt for Valentines Day. What a way to tell myself I love me. Also, was very frugal. Wanting some books and instead of going to the bookstore I went to the local library and checked them out. I now have quite a selection of books coming my way.

I will get paid tomorrow. since it will be busy I decided to go ahead and pay the bills today. Will hold off on mailing them until I see the deposit in my account. Things are looking good. I also sent DHs paycheck to the savings account and have money set aside to take out for spending for the next two weeks.

It feels so good not to have to worry about if there is enough money to pay for everything.

On the frugality side

Thursday
- carpooled with DH
- Did mycoke rewards
- Inbox dollars
- all food from home
- returned library books
- returned some items to Walmart

Friday
- all food from home
- laundry in cold
- picked up some fabric from a freecycler

Saturday
- picked up some more fabric
- got 8 packages of free dinner rolls
- did mypoints
- all electricity off until possible
- tidied house

Kellie

Well I have started to keep track of the ways I am saving money and becoming more green and publishing them. Instead of just keeping them in my calendar

Tuesday

- all food from home
- carpooled with DH
- picked up some mystery shops
- dumpster dived some office supplies from work.

Wednesday
- carpooled with DH
- Almost everything but a small salad was from home for food
- lights out when possible
- laundry washed in cold.

Well it was a good day. Except for my Gift card I did no spending.

On the plus side

1. Did get the tree and decorations down.
2. All food from home
3. no lights/heat on for the daylight hours

Minus side
1. Had to wash DH uniforms in hot.(grease/oil from cars)
2. Had to use dryer for said uniforms

Well with one of my 2008 goals to be more frugal we will be eating from home more often. DH is all behind this just because he doesn't feel we get a lot for the money. So today I went and stocked up at the grocery store.

Spent $140 but did get a lot of things that we use on a regular basis that we are low on. It just feels that I spent way to much. This should last us for about 3-4 months if we do it right. I should only have to buy perishables over the next couple of weeks.

Well hopefully we are doing the $20 challenge next year. I haven't been able to the past couple of years because DH wasn't working and all available money was going to pay off debt.

So how will I be doing this
1. Coupon savings/card savings
2. Exercise - $1
3. declutter something - $1
4. change
5. aluminum cans
6. for every freebie I get - $.25

Kellie

Well I have been doing my journal for a week now. Love the thought of have a record of not only my spending but what I am doing to save and earn more money.

Went a little overboard on Christmas but I thought I would. This is the first Christmas in 3 years that DH has a job so I went overboard but by only $150. Not to bad (could have been worse).

So overall, I have found that I need to tighten up the spending, and dig back into my frugal roots to save more $.

Well one of 2008 goals is to become more frugal. But how does one justify if they have been MORE frugal? Money in the bank and being debt free? More stuff? We are debt free except for the house so that is something also we will be working on.

I have defined it as getting the most bang for my buck. Have I done everything to squeeze the last penny from my dollar?

So I will be journaling my successes and not so succesful frugality (never failure) to see if I am doing just that.