Q and A Debt

This month I'm trying to track my spending.  And boy am I surprised how fast it goes! We have spent more than usual on eating. I need to start planning dinners again. It didn't help that our oven had burned out. I picked up the part yesterday and we are up and running again :)  We have various expenses this month and I'm hoping to make some extra money to help out with that. Trying to figure out what to get/make Mr. Man for Valentine's Day!  I also have a mountain of clutter/papers at my desk that need taming, a book report, two trips and who knows what else that is coming up.  Oh gosh, my head hurts just thinking about it :D   But I'm glad I'm feeling better enough to do all these things! I'll leave you with a fun parting pic...the other day I asked Kiddo2 to bring me a cup of water because I wasn't feeling well.  This is what I got :) Kiddo2 said the straws were put together so I wouldn't have to sit up to drink. Kidd...

This year, Mr. Man and I are being very optimistic. Our thinking has always been to reduce debt. We are now seeing progress where the numbers are concerned.  I have upped my student loan payments (which up until now has not been included in our total debt), we will soon eliminate another credit card payment and my focus on additional income is so much better. I have been really trying to create a personal balance in my life and I've seen that translate into our financial lives. So simple yet took this long to finally "get it". I'm considering adding an additional page with daily spending. A little more accountability never hurts. On a totally unrelated note, this cold weather has been awesome!  Yesterday, Dad invited me to lunch and we stopped in at a little Mexican place. The "caldo" or soup was heavenly. Today, I will be working on listing on Ebay.  I have a mountain of medical debt that needs to be chipped away at so hopefully I'll make a few s...

Last day of winter break...letting the kiddos sleep in. It's cold today, at least for these parts it is.  Currently 36F.  I know our temps are nothing compared to what some of ya'll are dealing with right now.  Hope everyone stays warm.  Mr. Man had a bout of food poisoning this weekend and he was feeling awful. My sister took Dad on a weekend trip to the casino. I was able to have a lazy Sunday versus going to work at the fleamarket with Dad. Was a nice change of pace.  Currently, I have a pot of 15 bean soup on the stove so we can take Dad some lunch.  I also made some cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast...I'm in rare form :D  I wish it would be this chilly more often so I could stay home and cook more. I'll be working on my debt totals this evening as well as listing a bit.  Happy Monday!

Relaxing Sunday....reading my favorite blogs. Also joining all the Sunday night fun hosted by  Carla  ! Reading: Bridget Jones' Diary - LOVE the movie and Mr. Man gave me the book for   Christmas :) Listening to: The wind blowing - cold front came through, currently 46F Watching: Two and a half Men (slim pickings when you don't have cable) Cooking/Baking: Made breakfast and that's about it :D Happy you accomplished this week: Made arrangements to up payments for a school loan Looking forward to next week: Organizing! Thankful for today: Being able to stay home with my family Bonus Question: Does anyone watch Downton Abbey? Love it and so happy the new season has started!

  We are winding down the year and well, I'm glad I survived! This year has been a flurry of doctor visits, surgeries and hospital stays.  I want 2014 to be a much healthier year! Aside from that our finances hovered around the same spot from beginning to end.  We really worked on using cash and I'm proud of the progress we made.  Although I did not post as much as I would have liked, I did try to make the most of my time with my family.  So that's a big plus in my book.  For the coming year, I would like to eat healthier, save more, spend more time with my family and travel more.  I'm not sure on very specific goals.  I'm not the best at sticking to them as my mind tends to wander :D   I wish each one of you happiness, health and a world of success in 2014...CHEERS!

So this week will involve lots of cleaning and lots of cooking! This is the first Thanksgiving without my Mom :(  She told us all what to bring and what to do when it came to Thanksgiving and doing it all without her this year is a little scary for me and my sister. All my siblings will be bringing sides and desserts. In preparation for the influx of family, the kiddos and I will be helping Dad clean his house for the next couple of days. Keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, I made a pie! I'm a thrower together of food and not a great baker. So when Kiddo2 informed me that I needed to make a blackberry pie for their pie tasting party, I was a little freaked out.  All the other kids had signed up for the "normal" pies and I wasn't going to get off easy by sending a store bought pie. I was bummed but for my kiddos I will do anything :) So, I made it on Friday.  It smelled yummy but I have no idea how it tasted. So I'm going to have to make another so we can sample...

So if you haven't figured it out by now...I go through phases.  Currently, given my physical state of health, I'm in a homebody phase. I have been cooking way more than I have in a long while.  Today, I made breakfast for Dad and I. Then, I decided to whip something up for a late lunch.  Made a Chicken and Broccoli bake and homemade banana bread (dad brought some ripe bananas). I'm starting to scare myself. I mean...I made hot freakin chocolate yesterday.  I'm morphing into some other person and I'm liking it. LOL!! It has been doing wonders for our budget which coincidentally I have been watching like a hawk.  I'm writing every transaction and reducing it from our bottom line.  Aside from cooking, I went ahead and printed out my Christmas Lists.  Yes...lists.  I have a family list and a teacher/friend list. I'm keeping gifts small but thoughtful.  I'm scouring Pinterest for inspiration and ideas.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the holidays....