I had said in an earlier post that all sales from etsy and ebay would go towards saving for a new computer. Well, as great as that sounded....I realized yesterday after paying some bills that the computer just fell to the bottom of the list again. Still have a ways to go to pay off some bills before we can focus on extras. Booo! But better to get my head back on straight and focus on the bils. I thought I was, but must have miscalculated something somewhere. I am not worried, everything works out. :-) That is the great thing about budgeting...doesn't hurt to go back and recheck and reorganize. It helps to do that once in a while to not lose focus.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
New Baby is Keeping Me Busy...
Hello All!
My apologies for not checking more lately. Having a new addition around the house has proven to take up most of my time. When I am not tending to the kids (four year old and baby), I am working on my etsy shop and making items for it. I have also returned to selling on Ebay recently. I am doing all of this to help pay down our medical bills and if nothing else...helping us out day to day and supporting my hobby. :-)
I am proud of my 11 week maternity leave as well as my 5 week summer vacation. I am truly blessed to be able to stay home that long with the baby and my soon to be five year old (next week is his birthday).
My current financial goal, besides paying down the bills, is to save up enough money to buy a new computer! All sales from ebay and etsy will go towards saving for a new computer. This way, no charge cards are used to get it and no money coming from our regular living and bills will go towards it. If I don't make enough money to cover the computer...well, we don't need it then! :-)
Have a terrific rest of July! I hope to check in again sooner than later! :-)
Final note: So excited my son will be going with me to work for the next six years...he starts Kindergarten this school year and I am a teacher in Elementary school..so that is K-5th. So excited...also a money saver by not having to concern myself with before and after school care. I also get to keep the awesome lady that kept him for my baby (daughter). Everything is going to plan and falling into place. Life is good!
My apologies for not checking more lately. Having a new addition around the house has proven to take up most of my time. When I am not tending to the kids (four year old and baby), I am working on my etsy shop and making items for it. I have also returned to selling on Ebay recently. I am doing all of this to help pay down our medical bills and if nothing else...helping us out day to day and supporting my hobby. :-)
I am proud of my 11 week maternity leave as well as my 5 week summer vacation. I am truly blessed to be able to stay home that long with the baby and my soon to be five year old (next week is his birthday).
My current financial goal, besides paying down the bills, is to save up enough money to buy a new computer! All sales from ebay and etsy will go towards saving for a new computer. This way, no charge cards are used to get it and no money coming from our regular living and bills will go towards it. If I don't make enough money to cover the computer...well, we don't need it then! :-)
Have a terrific rest of July! I hope to check in again sooner than later! :-)
Final note: So excited my son will be going with me to work for the next six years...he starts Kindergarten this school year and I am a teacher in Elementary school..so that is K-5th. So excited...also a money saver by not having to concern myself with before and after school care. I also get to keep the awesome lady that kept him for my baby (daughter). Everything is going to plan and falling into place. Life is good!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day!
For Father's Day, we (kids, {son 4 and daughter 3mths} and I) got my husband the "World Cup Package" (my made up title for his gifts)! :-)
The gift included:
A Brazil Soccer Shirt
Gift Card to a Sporting Goods store
and
Upgraded to High Definition Dish Network to watch the World Cup!
If you haven't figured it out from his gift...he LOVES soccer and Brazil is his fav team. :-)
The only thing this "package" lacks is a new TV. Uhhh..couldn't afford that this year...but pretty proud of what we got this year.
I had my son to write his name and draw a heart on the box that had his shirt in and and give it to Daddy and say "Happy Father's Day Daddy!" :-) It was sweet! Daddy was surprised and loves his gifts. He is a tough one to buy for and surprise...so it was a great.
For Father's Day, we (kids, {son 4 and daughter 3mths} and I) got my husband the "World Cup Package" (my made up title for his gifts)! :-)
The gift included:
A Brazil Soccer Shirt
Gift Card to a Sporting Goods store
and
Upgraded to High Definition Dish Network to watch the World Cup!
If you haven't figured it out from his gift...he LOVES soccer and Brazil is his fav team. :-)
The only thing this "package" lacks is a new TV. Uhhh..couldn't afford that this year...but pretty proud of what we got this year.
I had my son to write his name and draw a heart on the box that had his shirt in and and give it to Daddy and say "Happy Father's Day Daddy!" :-) It was sweet! Daddy was surprised and loves his gifts. He is a tough one to buy for and surprise...so it was a great.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Coupons and Baby
Since my baby is now on Formula (first month...went natural)...you know that stuff is expensive. I used Facebook to my advantage by putting my status update to ask anyone for Formula (our brand we like) coupons. I had one person hand me a $6.00 off coupon at work and another mailed me a coupon and I had one. I plan to use all three on cases of formula at BJ's where it is the best deal for us. I sent one of the ladies back a diaper and wipes coupon.
Lesson from this..don't be afraid to let others know what coupons you need. Hey, form a small group on Facebook for coupon exchanges...how cool is that? We all need coupons from time to time and when you need them, half the time, they are not there. This is a great way to get them when you do need them...ask for them!
Lesson from this..don't be afraid to let others know what coupons you need. Hey, form a small group on Facebook for coupon exchanges...how cool is that? We all need coupons from time to time and when you need them, half the time, they are not there. This is a great way to get them when you do need them...ask for them!
Medical Bills Update
Just wanted to check in and say the "Snowflaking" is going well on all those medical bills. I have consolidated three smaller ones together so I can pay more at once on them. Also, anytime we have "extra" money, I put it on one of the large bills. I have it down to two large bills which is great...there were three large bills and three smaller ones as well. One of the large bills are now gone. I am getting ready to knock it down to one large bill as at the end of the year, I get a small bonus and I will use that to pay off another larger bill and it will leave me with the largest. So excited that I have been able to do this so quickly.
I will focus on that large bill paying as much as I can and pay the minimum amounts on some of our other non-medical bills and then focus on them after this is paid off. What a relief to lessen some of this debt.
In other news...my daughter is now 3 months old and doing great. She is a cutie! Currently weighing in at 12lbs 3ozs. All smiles and a few laughs here and there. The laughs usually go to daddy and that is okay. :-)
Speaking of daddy...Father's Day is this Sunday! I splurged this year and got him a nice Soccer shirt and gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods. I had my son to sign the box and draw pictures on it and let him present it to him. Yeah...I was too excited that we gave it to him yesterday...not waiting til Sunday. :-) He loved it all!
Happy Father's Day Dads!
I will focus on that large bill paying as much as I can and pay the minimum amounts on some of our other non-medical bills and then focus on them after this is paid off. What a relief to lessen some of this debt.
In other news...my daughter is now 3 months old and doing great. She is a cutie! Currently weighing in at 12lbs 3ozs. All smiles and a few laughs here and there. The laughs usually go to daddy and that is okay. :-)
Speaking of daddy...Father's Day is this Sunday! I splurged this year and got him a nice Soccer shirt and gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods. I had my son to sign the box and draw pictures on it and let him present it to him. Yeah...I was too excited that we gave it to him yesterday...not waiting til Sunday. :-) He loved it all!
Happy Father's Day Dads!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Going to "Snowflake" the Medical and Hospital Bills
We have 6 different medical and hospital bills. I am having to get "creative" with paying these off. I hate debt and thought how are we going to do this. Paying a little bit on each....adds up to a lot per month AND nothing is getting paid off. Luckily one can be a bit more flexible with medical bills than most that like to threaten you or charge high interest fees and late fees and so forth. So here is what I am going to do, in order to get out of this medical/hospital bill mountain.
I decided to grab the three smallest amounts and pay them off...with our regular money and with a credit union very low interest credit card (this is to consolidate and pay more towards the amount of all three.)
With the three remaining large amounts...going to pay $100 per month on each of them and the third will be paid off when I get my end of year supplement (teacher) in June (I still sent $50 to show them I am paying and wrote a note I would be paying off next month). That leaves me with two medical bills instead of 6!!! to focus on! Which will allow me to pay MORE than a small amount each because I only have to think of those two. Now, are you wondering about the charged ones? Well...that is a bill we ALREADY pay with a very low balance because I have set amount I already pay and will pay extra and often each week if need to be to get rid of that one (not much concerned about that one anymore).
It feels great to know I can eliminate this debt fairly quickly. Anytime I get extra cash (from sales on ebay or etsy)..this will go towards one of the two large bills.
Sounds like a simple end solution but it took a lot of playing with numbers and careful consideration as to what to do with those three small bills (considering I decided to put it on the card). It is the best solution because otherwise, nothing was getting paid off. Stressful each month sitting down to so many envelopes...all wanting money!
Taking a deep breath and going to get this week started! :-)
Have a good one!
I decided to grab the three smallest amounts and pay them off...with our regular money and with a credit union very low interest credit card (this is to consolidate and pay more towards the amount of all three.)
With the three remaining large amounts...going to pay $100 per month on each of them and the third will be paid off when I get my end of year supplement (teacher) in June (I still sent $50 to show them I am paying and wrote a note I would be paying off next month). That leaves me with two medical bills instead of 6!!! to focus on! Which will allow me to pay MORE than a small amount each because I only have to think of those two. Now, are you wondering about the charged ones? Well...that is a bill we ALREADY pay with a very low balance because I have set amount I already pay and will pay extra and often each week if need to be to get rid of that one (not much concerned about that one anymore).
It feels great to know I can eliminate this debt fairly quickly. Anytime I get extra cash (from sales on ebay or etsy)..this will go towards one of the two large bills.
Sounds like a simple end solution but it took a lot of playing with numbers and careful consideration as to what to do with those three small bills (considering I decided to put it on the card). It is the best solution because otherwise, nothing was getting paid off. Stressful each month sitting down to so many envelopes...all wanting money!
Taking a deep breath and going to get this week started! :-)
Have a good one!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Join my fan page!
I have a fan page for my Etsy Shop on Facebook. I know, I know..who doesn't anymore? :-) But...I do also...if interested...would love to have you on my fan page.
The stuff I sell on Etsy helps with small bills...would be nice if it paid large bills, but being Thrifty like myself and stretching the dollar...I know...every dollar counts and is important. I love the items I make as it is a hobby for me.
Promote Your Page Too
The stuff I sell on Etsy helps with small bills...would be nice if it paid large bills, but being Thrifty like myself and stretching the dollar...I know...every dollar counts and is important. I love the items I make as it is a hobby for me.
Promote Your Page Too
Friday, May 7, 2010
Started receiving all the medical bills associated with the birth of my daughter!
Yep! That is correct...tons of bills from this person and that...along with hospital bill. So blessed to have insurance..would not want to tackle those bills without it. Even WITH insurance...I am curious how we are going to pay off these things in the time frame the doctors and hospital wants them. I have decided to pay them $50 per month Each bill until I figure it out. They are a bunch with a total close to the $3K mark...maybe more..don't want to add them together for fear of causing me to get stressed about it.
I have no solutions at this time, but if I figure something...I will definitely share. Anyone out there with advice of how you handled these bills. It just isn't possible to pay the totals when they want them. Not complaining...just trying to figure it all out. I know we can do it...just have to really sit and think and break out the calculator, pencil and paper!
Happy Friday to All! :-)
Oh yeah...Happy Mother's Day Sunday to all Moms out there!
I have no solutions at this time, but if I figure something...I will definitely share. Anyone out there with advice of how you handled these bills. It just isn't possible to pay the totals when they want them. Not complaining...just trying to figure it all out. I know we can do it...just have to really sit and think and break out the calculator, pencil and paper!
Happy Friday to All! :-)
Oh yeah...Happy Mother's Day Sunday to all Moms out there!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Clinique running an Online Bonus Time! Yay!
Yay! I love Clinique and even more...their bonus time!
Here is what they are doing now:
Spend only $21.50 and create your own 7-piece bonus! That is awesome to get your own choices!
Also if you spend more than $50...you get free standard shipping.
I need to review what I have and what I need and take advantage of this. Believe I am in need of the Moisture Surge (love that stuff). I could use a new eye pencil too! Yippie!
Clinique Bonus Link
Here is what they are doing now:
Spend only $21.50 and create your own 7-piece bonus! That is awesome to get your own choices!
Also if you spend more than $50...you get free standard shipping.
I need to review what I have and what I need and take advantage of this. Believe I am in need of the Moisture Surge (love that stuff). I could use a new eye pencil too! Yippie!
Clinique Bonus Link
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Really want to focus on debt
I do...I really want to focus on debt; however, seems like the debt keeps growing lately with a new baby and everything. At the same time, I feel like now is time to slow down the debt growth and make a serious plan to decrease the debt and eventually pay it off.
Since my husband's layoff a bit over a year ago we are finally becoming stable again. He has been steady with his new job for a year this month! Yay! We are so happy with his new job. He has great hours and doesn't work weekends. It is less pay but you can't put a price on having your hubby at home! Loving it!
With all this said...I started thinking this morning about my college loans and how high they are and the monthly payment we have to make on it. Very high..too embarrassed to say but let me put it this way...it would be a nice car payment each month and we could have a new one with the amount.
I am curious if anyone has any tips on refinancing a college loan? Has anyone done this...can you do this even? I know government runs these loans so they aren't so flexible. I currently have 5.75% on my loan...would love even lower to really pay this thing down and see the potential to have it paid off in my lifetime. :-)
Any responses: Drop them in the Comment Jar!
Have a great day!
Since my husband's layoff a bit over a year ago we are finally becoming stable again. He has been steady with his new job for a year this month! Yay! We are so happy with his new job. He has great hours and doesn't work weekends. It is less pay but you can't put a price on having your hubby at home! Loving it!
With all this said...I started thinking this morning about my college loans and how high they are and the monthly payment we have to make on it. Very high..too embarrassed to say but let me put it this way...it would be a nice car payment each month and we could have a new one with the amount.
I am curious if anyone has any tips on refinancing a college loan? Has anyone done this...can you do this even? I know government runs these loans so they aren't so flexible. I currently have 5.75% on my loan...would love even lower to really pay this thing down and see the potential to have it paid off in my lifetime. :-)
Any responses: Drop them in the Comment Jar!
Have a great day!
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