My DH came home from working in Tennessee last night. He drove in the driveway about 12:30. He is still sleeping this morning after his 12 hour drive home yesterday.
He's been gone two months. He is an insurance adjuster and goes out after big storms.
We were happy he got to work. Happy he is home for awhile. He started doing this work about 6 years ago. He is very good at it with his background in construction and building material sales.
I always hate to see him go but I know he is going to help people. After a storm people need their hoems fixed as soon as possible. They are always glad to see him coming.
He's also a Christian man that lives his faith so he is honest and fair to the people he goes to see.
He has even been known to pray with them.
He makes good money when he's gone.
He refilled our coffers on this trip.
I'm off to the church to decorate for Vacation Bible School.

December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day. My parents married just after Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941. They will be married 69 years on December 21st.
They are an amazing couple.
They learned to be frugal through growing up on farms and living through the depression.
They have never been rich but they have lived comfortably and had nice homes and cars.
My dad took early retirement at 62 and my mother never worked outside the home.
They are both now 88. They have really enjoyed their retirment years. I hope my husband and I can do as well.
Tom Brokow wrote a book about their time called "The Greatest Generation."
They have seen amazing changes in their lives. From riding in horse drawn wagons to the space age.
My mother was the "boy" in her family of five girls. She would drive the team and plow for her daddy.
They moved to California from Texas just after they married and Dad got a job in an aircraft factory.
They had their first child in California a year later.

They have lived a long time and lived well. Sure hope they make it to their 70th wedding anniversary next year.


I bought 3 - twelve packs of diet coke at CVS today for $7 after the Extra bucks reward. That's just $2.33 per 12-pack.
Also found a quarter today while I was filling up with gas. Yippee!
New found money total = $3.49

It has been a couple of weeks since I blogged so I have some updating to do.

DD Wedding:
Yes! She got married Oct. 23. It was great! They went to the courthouse and a very nice female Hispanic judge did their ceremony. She did a greas job by the way. It was just my DD and her DH and their six-month-old baby; me and my DH and our six-year-old DGS.
We all dressed up. The pictures turned out great. Then we all went to a nice steakhouse for dinner. We picked up the tab.
Then on Saturday evening they had their wedding reception in a friend's backyard. It was very simple with only a few family and relatives. I think we had 40 people there.
My DH and I ended up spending about $2000 for the whole thing. His brother and his family came a long distance and we took them out to eat and paid for their hotel rooms.
My DD and her DH really loved it and they were VERY appreciative, so it made it all worthwhile.

I have found another $.55 in change since I last blogged. Including 4 dimes, a nickel, and the rest in pennies. I love dimes.
Old total: $2.09
New total: $2.64

Finally had a no-spend day yesterday. My DGS begged for Taco Bell before we went home, but I stood firm, and said, "No, we have been spending too much money and we have good food at home."
So, I made it through all day without spending.

Also, we went to our first cub scout meeting yesterday. It was good. I decided I wasn't going to mind going to the meetings with him and in fact I look forward to it. Don't know if I will go camping all weekend or not, but that's okay. We weren't really doing anything together and this is going to be a great opportunity to do some good things together. We have 8 in our troop.

I found $.15 today.
Old found money total = $1.68
new total = $1.83

Well, our DD and her SO are making it legal on Oct. 23. They already have a very sweet and precious 5-month-old baby boy. They have been wanting to get married for awhile, but not finding the right time. Yes, I know the right time would have been before she got pregnant, but that didn't happen, so now they are going for it. They said they wanted to do it in October because this is their favorite month.
My DH and I talked it over and decided on what we thought we could afford to chip in for their small ceremony and reception (party).
Our DD is 30 and already has the baby and living on her own with SO, so we don't feel obligated to go all out for a wedding and they don't have much money right now since our DD is staying home with their baby. But we are very excited and happy that they are finally getting married. She is our only daughter and we have waited a long time for this day. So, even though we have a lot of debt right now, we are giving them $1200 to help them with expenses and as a wedding gift.
They are going to the JP and then having a recption/party at a friend's house afterward.


Spending--
muffin this morning = $2.26
pizza last night = $10.80
grocery story = $19.45
Dr. Haynes = $24.00
Found = $.03
New found money total = $1.51

New $20 challenge total = $22.51

Okay, so my DH and I are raising our DGS 6-year-old. My DH works out of town for months at a time. Currently, he has not been home since he left at the end of June. So, I am almost totally responsible for our DGS.
I work 40 hours a week, take care of DGS, our home, our dog, our cat, and our one-acre lot of yard to mow and attend to.
I had been excited to get DGS into scouts when he was old enough. So, when he brought home the flier from school about joining he was excited about it.
We went to the meeting last night and here is where I start doubting if we can do this.
They expect the parents or parent or guardian or whoever to attend all the meetings with the scout and go on weekend long camping trips in the cold and sell a whole bunch of popcorn.
I can probably go to the meetings and I don't mind selling popcorn, but I am not going to be camping all weekend. I just can't do that and work full time and take care of everything else. And I'm pretty sure my husband won't be willing to do it even when he is home.
So, even though I did pay DGS's $19.75 fee last night to get him signed up, I'm thinking about telling DGS that we are not going to do that and we will just have to find other activities that won't be so time consuming.
I am the kind of person who really needs my down time and some me-time. I am not getting enough as it is, so I don't think this would help.
They really made me kind of mad, because they say on the flier that the boys will get this cool rocket thing for coming to the meeting, but they wouldn't give you one unless you signed up.
Don't get me wrong, I think scouting is great. I think my DGS would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it. But I just don't think I'm up to it.
And that really makes me kind of sad and bummed out about it. If I didn't have to work full time, I think I could do it. But not the way things are now.

I found $.60 the past two days on the ground.
Yay!
New found money total= $1.48

$20 challenge-
previous total = $21.88
new total = $22.48

My DH is a catastrophic insurance adjuster. He has been working in Pennsylvania for the past 3 months, working claims for Allstate.
He makes really good money doing this job, but, there have been long spells where there was no work for him.
He has been doing this job since 2005 and I have learned to save our money for when he is not working. It makes budgeting very difficult. Part of our credit card debt was from the last time he spent not working.
I handle all of the finances for our family. He never looks at or pays a bill. He has no idea what we owe and what kind of savings we have. He just trusts me to do all of that.
My husband has always been a very hard worker. We owned a small lumber yard and construction business for many years. We finally went broke doing that in the 90s because the economy was so bad where we lived. But, he always worked 6 days a week and many times he roofed houses because he could make a lot of money doing it.
He went to work for the state for a few years and that steady income was so nice. Always knew what we would have to work with for the month. But, he got to where he didn't like his boss and co-workers so he wanted to do this adjuster thing.
He tried to get a job last time he was home, but didn't even get any interviews. In this economy I guess it is good he has the job he does have now.
But, it is hard with him being gone so much.
We miss him and like I said, financially it is not very reassuring to not ever know how much money you are going to have to work with.

Always before, I would start paying off the CCs by the thousands because his pay is so good.
But, this time, I have decided to just pay $1000 per month extra toward the debt. That way we will have plenty in our checking and saving account to tide us over until the next time he works.
He has been gone about 3 months this time, and I think he will be home soon.
So, maybe he can be home a couple of months for a break and then go somewhere and work for another 3 or 4 months.
We shall see.....

Spending today...
$4.64 = salad for lunch
$6.10 = Walgreens, lotion and cough medicine
$1.00 = car wash to vacuum out car

I was treated to some very nice meals on Valentine's Day via my work. I am on a search committee to hire a new worker and we get to "wine and dine" them. So it was out for a nice lunch and an even nicer dinner. Chocolate cream brulee for dessert. It was so rich I couldn't finish it.

Meanwhile, I have been searching the ground for change when I am out and about and I can report I have found $.16 in the past week.
Old FOTG total = $.27 + .16 = $.43, new FOTG total.


I have not been doing much toward couponing lately, but I haven't been spending much money either.
My husband has gone to grocery shop as I write this. And it is pouring down rain, so I am glad I am here typing and dry.
Thank God for sweet husbands.
Late winter is such a trying time. Cold, snow, ice, wind and rain. Cloudy days on end. It's like Mother Nature is having birthing pains to get us into Spring.
I will put up the groceries when my husband comes home and we will find us a snack and try to find something good to watch on TV tonight.

Last night we went out to see "There will be blood." It is up for Best Picture. Daniel Day Lewis was really good in it. But it was so dark and theatrical I can't really say I enjoyed.

I'm so sorry for those affected by the Northern Illinois school shootings. It is such a waste!!! Those poor people didn't do anything wrong. Stupid!

I, like many of you, have a dog. Her name is Abby. She is a mix of Austrailian Sheperd and some other good breeds. She is the sweetest thing. She weighs about 50 pounds, and she is tri-color, with golden eyes. She follows me wherever I go in the house. And since I have been here at the computer so long, she is sleeping on the floor beside me.
She is a great companion.

I had a heart cath performed this morning by my cardiologist, brought on by an abnormal exercise stress test result. Even though I have never had high cholestrol or high blook pressure, I did smoke for over 30 years, so I was a bit concerned about my heart.
Then, my insurance company would not pay for the much less invasive heart CT Scan, because they said everyone who has the CT Scan ends up having to have the heart cath too. They didn't want to pay for both procedures.
My portion of the hospital bill was $998. Luckily, I had money in my Health Flex Account to pay for it.
The results of the test were GREAT! They said my arteries looked perfect and heart function? or something like that was, at 75%! Anything above 55 is considered normal.
So, while I did not like having to go through the procedure and the cost involved, at least I have peace of mind about my "beater."
Not only is my heart good, it is GREAT!
Thank you Jesus.
The heart cath procedure is not bad at all for anyone wanting to know. I had a lot of confidence in my doctor and the hospital, and really I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

I bought my 3-year-old grandson a John Deer hoodie, a sweat shirt with Superman and other super heroes on it, and a plain white long sleeved knit shirt.
I thought he would like all of them, but instead he only liked the sweat shirt with the super heroes.
Of the others he said, "Nannie, I told you I didn't want these, just the superman shirt."
I buy almost all of his clothes at resale shops, and he always looks good!

Anyone have a home treatment for laryngitis. (I know how to spell it 'cause I just looked it up on WebMd).
WebMd said if the laryngitis is with some cold symptoms (mine is) to take Ibuprofen or Aceteminophen and using hot steam from a bath or shower helps. Or a cool mist humidifier.
I am off work for the next three days, so that will help matters, but I have never had it this bad before. It is really frustrating to try to talk.
Anyone have some home treatment they swear by?

I have exciting news! But first let me give you some background.

My son has been going to a technical school for about a year, and he still has a year to go. He gets pretty down about the daily grind of it all.
He has to get up at 5 am and drive an hour, five days a week, to get to his school. Then drive home, or go to work at his fast food job. And sometimes he doesn't get home from his job until very late at night and then do it all again.

My son is raising his 3-year-old son. The mother is not in the picture. They live with us and I help raise my grandson.

When my son first started the school he had to get some student loans, and if my husband or I co-signed for him, he got a lot better interest rate. So I did co-sign with him.

Then I started listening to Dave Ramsey, who you know says "never co-sign for anyone."
Well, I hated to tell my son no about co-signing for him the last time around -- when the school wanted some more money; but I had faith in what Dave Ramsey said, because I really did not want to have that debt on my financial record anyway.

Well, it seems my son has been doing some talking to some of his school friends about their loans, and questioning the financial aid office at his school.

Then this morning they tell him that they overlooked, or made a mistake or something like that. And they failed to offer him a $7000.00 PELL GRANT that he was entitled to.

Whoa Baby! $7000.00 that my son or me will not have to pay back on student loans!!!!! Now that is some good news!!!

So, I get to wondering about this. Did this happen because I did not co-sign for my son, maybe he started paying more attention to these loans he is incurring, and asking the questions he should have asked in the first place. I have let him handle all of the financial aid people. Anyway, I am very proud of my son for finding this error and bringing it to their attention.

Or maybe, as I have talked about before, the rule is true. That when you start taking care of and respecting your money, then more money can unexpectantly come to you.
Now, I absolutely believe in the power of prayer. And I no that God does take care of those who help themselves.
I am very grateful to God for this occurence in our lives at this time.

This made my son feel a lot better about his life and the hard work he has done toward this educational goal with family obligations, and financial hardhsips.
(Not to mention $3.00 per gallon gasoline)

Suze Orman said there is plenty of money in the world, more than you would ever need, but you do have to pay attention, and attract more of it to you.

My husband (the insurance adjuster) ended up in New Hampshire this week. He had never been farther north than Atlanta so this was quite a trip for him.
They had some bad storms in the NorthEast and a lot of adjusters got sent up there.
I hope he makes a lot of money because he sure is a long way from home!

My DH started a new career as an insurance adjuster about 1 1/2 years ago.
He spent a year in Florida working the cleanup insurance claims left over from Hurricane Wilma. He finally got to come home Dec. 8, 2006. Then he enjoyed four months at home doing honey do's, and working on projects in our home and yard that he had been wanting to do.
We were living off of the money he made last year (Although I work too).
He called his company and told them he was ready to be deployed again and they sent him to New Hampshire over the weekend.
We live in Texas so this was a very long trip for him in his pickup.
He went to work the storms that they have had up there in the past few weekds.
He makes excellent money doing this kind of work, but I sure do miss him when he's gone.
I can't quit my job and go with him because we need the health insurance we get through my job.
While he was in south Florida last year I did get to go and be with him several times and it was like a nice vacation for us together in an exotic place we had never visited before.
So maybe I will get to go and visit in the northeast united states too. I have always wanted to go.
So while it is difficult for both of us bding apart, maybe we will get to do some things we had only dreamed of before.
I am the financial planner in the family and DH just trusts me to do it all.
This forum and website have been immensely helpful to me.
I continue to learn a lot and it keeps me committed.

My husband and I have never been good about saving money. We are both in our 50s and we do not have much put back towards retirement. We will have social security and pension from work, but no 401K and a dwindling savings account until he gets back to work.

So . . . now I am getting the idea from Dave Ramsey, and a lot of reading, this website, books, etc.

We never made a lot of money until the last few years and not a whole lot of money now.
I guess there are others out there in the same boat as us.
There is still time to do something about it though.
When DH goes back to work we will hopefully make up for lost time.
We had a good weekend with DGS birthday party on saturday and a quiet sunday with him playing with his presents. DS is working again now so that at least helps with the finances.
Spend about $130 on Saturday for gifts, cake and decorations. So we didn't spend any on sunday for easter. Hopefully, that made up for it.
DGS had a great birthday.
DH and I are trying to do lots of cooking at home and buying groceries on sale through the ads.
Have not really been keeping up with how much we have spent.

Well, don't know if I'm really starting again, or just catching up, but I haven't been posting on my blog lately, and I want to get back to it.
DH is almost finished with our new fence. It is beautiful! Complete with an arbor, a reatining wall with flower beds, the works. But he sure ended up spending a lot more money than I was expecting. Oh well, he will be going back to work soon. He is an insurance adjuster, He was gone for a year last time and he has got to be home for three whole months without having to go make a living, so he did some things he has wanted to do for a long, long time. He is very creative and artistic and a carpenter, but he never had much time or money to build things the way he wanted to. Now he has had the time and the money, and he has created some beautiful things for us to enjoy in our yard.
He will be working again soon and hopefully making lots of money again, so we shall see.
Meantime. . . on my $20 challenge I will add 75 cents more today since I did not visit the vending machine today at work for M&M's.
old balance: $202.75
plus: $.75 :
new balance: $203.50

I am a little frustrated with trying to save money right now.
I tried to implement the envelope system with our food for one week.
I put $200 in the envelope and DH and I headed to Walmart. We buy all of our groceries there because it is cheaper than the other three grocery stores in town. Up to $1 or more cheaper on items that we buy all the time.
We do buy other things there as well. Diapers for our grandson, paper products, cleaners, persoanl hygiene items, things like that. hink $200 per week will be about right. Our total bill was $166. Then we went to another store and spent $25 more. For a total of $191. So we have $9 left until next Saturday for any other food items.
We have never tried this before and DH is not as gung ho about it as I am. He says he is, but then he bought a huge packagae of rib-eyes. $28 worth. I guess as long as we don't buy spend more than $9 before Saturday on food, then it will be a success.
I am learning here on the SA website and other bloggers that it doesn't have to be perfect.
Just the act of paying attention and trying to save is helpful.
We always spent whatever we wanted to on food. DH never wanted to spend too much money eating out. But buying groceries, he never griped about. But I always noticed that our biggest expenditures every month were at the grocery store.
The envelope method will probably help us not spend so much.
But then there is my son, who seems to be in la la land about money, and we are supporting him and his son, while our son finishes his education.
I will have to educate him about money, but he has so much going on right now with his X and trying to raise a 2-year old . . . that my finances are not the most important topic to him right now.
I gave him $100 cash in an envelope on Saturday and told him that was his money for the next week and to try to make it last. ( He has to drive an hour both ways to his school five days per week.)
I will be interested to know how long it lasts him.
He did get his part time job back this week, so maybe that will help.
DH is doing insurance adjusting and will have to go back to work soon as we are running out of money.
I hate for him to be gone for several months but we have to have an income.
I didn't spend .75 in the candy machine at work today on those M&Ms I was craving, so I will add that to my $20 challenge money. Good for my savings and good for my diet. Hoooorrrayyy!
Spent$3.50 on Sunday newspapers yesterday for the ads and coupons.
Spent $7.56 at the P.O. today for postage and to stock up on stamps.
Otherwise I have been sticking close to home and saving money.

I am continuing with the saving-ways.
Brought my lunch to work today and ate with my friend in the lounge

Went out of town this last weekend to see my parents. It was my dad's 85th birthday. We met my sister and her husband there and had a very nice visit.
I told my dad to keep having birthdays and we would keep coming to help him celebrate!

My sister and I split the cost of an inexpensive DVD player for him and got him some movies.
He loved it!

We are helping my son go to school and help him take care of our grandson. He is not working right now, so that is quite a drain on our finances, but it is so worth it for him to get the education. I am so proud of him. Sometimes he wants to quit so he can work and support his son, but we keep talking him out of it, so he will finish. He likes about another year.
He has to drive about an hour both ways to get to his school, so he is really tired of the driving.
The cost of the gasoline is a big thing,
but, "this too shall pass!"

My husband and I are continuing to save money where ever we can.
I haven't been spending any in the vending machine at work and he has not bought any more magazines. Ha!
I think this is probably where a lot of our money was going. That and eating out.

We have a budget now and we want to implement the envelope system. Or at least try it.

My new savings account is earmarked for new furniture. I am excited about that.