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.

Hi All

It has been a little while since I updated. A lot of things have changed since the last time I was on.

1. I got a new job at work. It is basically a lateral move but it is doing projects. So instead of doing the same thing all the time I will be changing focus every couple of weeks. Avoiding burnout

2. DD started school. That is the expensive part. Since we are in High School now you don't get the supply lists in advance. Thankfully everything but 1 item was in the tub of school supplies.

3. Making a little progress of getting rid of items in my house. I am either freecycling or selling them depending on their condition. It is working out pretty good. Slow process but still better than nothing.

4. DH and I sat down and talked about money and goals. We will probably move in about 4 years. Have a few things to update in the house before then. Starting the savings funds for those items. Hopefully we can get two things off the list this year. Also we will need a newer car soon. Have to start saving for that as well. Which means that the belt will need to be tightened a little more.

Well June has been a very busy month in our household. Trying to go on our little enjoyment weeknd, vehicles being renewed, school fees for the kid and just everything else it has been busy. Did manage to put a few dollars in the bank.
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Our annual canoe trip with friends was a little weird this year. Not as many went and then the water was up so it was a faster, shorter float. But well worth the time being away from kids, work and responsibility.

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Now that I have been looking ahead to July it seems that will be just as busy. Trying to squeeze in b-day parties, cookouts, and extra work time. Just need to put on my big girl panties and suck it up.

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 we have been doing great in the dwallyfam household. We have been saving like mad people. Even DH is really on board with this (which is kinda scary). We have made savings goal for this month and well still have a couple of paychecks to go.

I have been freecycling a lot of stuff and getting a few things in return as well.

Well February was a weird month. We did meet our savings goal. It was a more expensive month as we all had to go to the Dr. for various repiratory ills. Meds alone got to us. At least we are feeling better.

This month with the tax refunds and my bonus we are expected to pay off the 2nd mortgage. YEAH. So that is #1 off the goals list for the year.

Working on a few other goals so we should be in good shape (at least for now) on the list. Hopefully will get to whittle that away soon.

Well since we have all been sick we decided not to do a whole lot this weekend. I have gone grocery shopping and personal shopping. Went to the stock up store and shouldn't have to do a whole lot for awhile.

Did take DD to the Dr. today as she was have a super runny nose and watery eyes. The combination of meds she was taking was supposed to dry her up not make her more runny. Well Dr. determined that she was allergic to the combination. Told us to discontinue everything new but her allergy med. He did give us some new meds to counterbalance the reaction and get her better. Yeah more $$ have to spend but hopefully she will feel better soon.

Other than that we will be spending the weekend holed up at home doing not much

Well DH is on the mend. But he wanted some chicken noodle soup. Guess who didn't have any in the house. Since we have been having bad weather all day I went to the Panera that is a block from work and picked up some chicken noodle soup for all of us. Wasn't a bad price for not having to cook at all.

Also got our arena football season tickets in the mail. This might be a splurge but we felt that this is some quality time as a family. These tickets are cheaper than regular football and we did pay cash for them.

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 hello everyone. It has been awhile since I have been here. Just trying to keep up with everything with DH working nights and me days. It has been crazy.

On the good side, we are debt free except the house. We have started putting $ back into the savings account so that we can build up our emergency fund.

Righ now I am working on our financial goals for next year and we hope to just live on my salary and save DH's. That would give us a big savings boost.