Is it just me? I can't read the comments from my last entry. I know the comments were down this morning. For some reason only the comments from my last entry aren't showing up. The ones from my other entries are still there.

?????

for forgetting my lunch at home today!! I was in such a rush to get out the door this morning that I forget to get my lunch out of the frig. I work in an elementary school, so I can buy a decent lunch for less than $3, but I can make a lunch from home cheaper than that. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't dwell on it for long. There's nothing I can do about it.

Luckily, it should be a no spend day. Since I had to spend over $61 yesterday I'm grateful that my money is staying in my pocket today

Tired and grumpy today. I haven't spent any money so far, though. But, that will change after work. DD#1 needs new art supplies for art class at school. Of course, since she's in 7th grade Crayola won't due anymore!LOL So, we'll go to the art supply store. I've never been in there before but can't imagine it will be too cheap. Also, DS, DD#1 and myself are getting hair cuts this evening. Everything is budgeted for though

I got a lot of housework done today. All my laundry washed, dried, folded, and put away. Bathroom scrubbed(including the shower which is my MOST dreaded chore). I also got the kitchen and bathroom floors swept and mopped. All before noon!

I pretty much had a no spend day. I actually did spend $1 on two 7-Ups. Not for me though. My aunt lives across the street from me and has the flu something terrible. So, I stopped and picked her up a couple of 7-Ups. Other than that, nothing spent. All meals were eaten at home.

I watched my beloved KC Chiefs get the crap kicked out of them today Too bad, but kinda expected. BUT, DH's friend stopped by and brought him a case of Bud Light as a consolation gift!LOL Free beer! It was almost worth the loss!LOL

To a new year.

I'm just going to pat myself on the back a little!LOL I have several goals that started at the first of the year. I have really kept up with them so far!
Goal #1
Keep spending as low a possible. For instance, today at noon we are having a budget meeting at church. We are supposed to bring a sack lunch with us. Now, how many people do you think will bring a sack lunch from home, and how many do you think will stop at a fast food joint? My guess is that most will stop and buy fast food. Not me! I'm bringing my sack lunch from home. Sure, a fast food lunch would "only" cost me $4, but that's $4 completely wasted with nothing to show for it!
Goal #2
Keep up on my house work. I have really kept up on my house even after returning to work this week. I even dug out my old Flylady charts and I intend to start implimenting them on a daily basis.
Goal #3
My weight. I've done fairly well on this. Oh there's been a few times this week that I've eaten more than I should, but not too much. But, I'm not really dieting as much as just cutting back. So, I consider it a sucessful week.

All in all I think I've done very well. I have to say that a lot of the credit goes to you guys here that are blogging away, working on the same budgeting issues that I am. You guy's have kept me very motivated!! Thanks everyone!

Well, it's been another no spend day for me! Yippee! I did have to go have some tests ran at the hospital, but I didn't have to pay for those today. Hopefully my insurance will over the majority of it.

Supper is super cheap tonight. My sister made a large pan of lasagna last night and her family won't eat leftovers...guess who's family WILL? That's right, mine! It'll actually be buffet style tonight because not only do I have the lasgna leftovers but, I also have leftover homemade pizza and leftover BBQ pulled pork. We really have enough for two nights of leftovers

Frugal things I've done today:
#1 Packed lunches for myself, and both girls.
#2 Drank water all day after morning coffee.
#3 Had leftover pancakes for breakfast this morning(made double batch yesterday morning).

I'm headed back to work this morning. It should be a laid back day since the kids won't be there until tomorrow.

I was just thinking last night that this has been one of the best, most relaxed Christmas break's we've ever had! Of course, this is the first year I've been back to work and got a break along with the kids! In the past Christmas break has been more of a job than a break for me since I had the kids all home.
The reason it's been such a relaxing break? I haven't hardly left the house!LOL I spent virtually NO MONEY whatsoever. I'm getting a great start on a new year and new budget! WOOHOO!

Also, it should be a no spender day here. I don't even have to pay for lunch! Our priciple is providing lunch for the staff today

Have a great frugal day everyone!

...because I have to go back to work tomorrow! I've been putting it off because, well, I just love having it up! I don't want to have to deal with it after returning to work, though. So, it's coming down this afternoon.

It sound be a no spend day here. I will have to leave this evening to go to a funeral visitation(very sad...35 year old family friend just dropped dead), but I shouldn't have to spend any money.

Lunch Menu: Sandwiches and chips(still from Christmas)
Supper Menu: Homemade Pizza and salad

Not a whole lot going on around here today. We went to church this morning and on the way home we got a call from the rest home that they were sending my mentally retarded aunt to the ER. So, that's where Mom and I have been most of the day. We found out she had a severe bladder infection, which is good I guess? At least there wasn't anything worse wrong with her.

Tonight we're just going over to Mom's for a small get-together. Since we spent all afternoon in the hospital we don't even have any goodies made We'll probably just end up ordering pizza or something.

Money spent so far today:
Tithing(budgeted for)
Lunch in hospital cafeteria $5.00

If we order pizza I'll pay for part of that too. I won't let Mom pay for it all herself.

Best news of the day:
KC CHIEFS WON!!! WOO HOO!!
I got to watch the game in the hospital watching room...Yee ha!

If there's one thing you've got know about me its that I'm a die hard football fan!LOL

This is why we don't eat out often. A total waste of money!

I had planned on cooking chicken on the grill last night, but my sister, my niece, and nephew stopped by yesterday afternoon and stayed until dinner time. I was planning on cooking chicken leg/thigh quarters that take a long time to cook on the grill. By the time they left it was too late to make these since it takes a good 45 minutes or more to ensure they are cooked through. So, I suggested "more Christmas leftovers"(with a big forced smile on my face)?? I got a whole round of disgusted "no's" from my lovely family. Hubby suggested going out to eat. It'd be a treat since we hadn't gone out for a long time. Mexican food DID sound good, so I caved.

This morning, though, I'm having a spending hangover!LOL That really was too much money to spend on one meal. Do you know how many groceries I could've bought with that money?? I could've put it towards my cc debt!

Oh well, nothing I can do about it now. I guess I'd just have to be extra thrifty(if that's possible!) for the next few weeks to help make up for it...

Wal-Mart ripping people off???!!!

First of all, let me just say that I'm not a big Wal-Mart fan. Personally, I'd like to never shop there again. But, that is very unrealistic where I live. There is no other place to shop for some things. We don't have a Target or K-mart. We do have a Dollar General that I shop at as much as possible, but they don't carry everything I need. Anyway, I had to go to Wal-Mart today. I had gifts that I needed to return and I needed a couple other things. The first item on my list was a new kitchen garbage can. Ours has started ripping down the sides. Considering the fact that I bought this trash can right before we got married 17 1/2 years ago and have been using it ever since, I think it's served it's purpose and it's time to get a new one. Okay, I stood there for probably 10 minutes looking at all of the trash cans and comparing prices. I finally decided on a "no frills" model that the price on the shelf was marked at $5.00, which I thought was a good price(my old trash can still has the green Wal-Mart sticker inside from before Wal-Mart went computerized...it was $4.97 17 1/2 years ago). I got all of my items then went up to the register to check out. I've started watching VERY carefully because it seems that every time I buy something there anymore I'm always overcharged. Of course, I usually don't realized it until later since I'm too busy SACKING MY OWN ITEMS! Well, I've decided that now I'm going to take my own sweet time sacking and putting my items into my grocery cart so I can watch everything that is scanned. Sure enough, today as I watching my items being scanned through the trash can scanned at $10.97! I told the guy to take if off. I wasn't paying that when the shelf had clearly marked the trash can at $5.00. What I'm wondering is, how many people just "assume" the price being scanned in is the acurate price? How many people are so busy sacking their own groceries that they don't even have time to notice the price being scanned in? How many people might notice later on after they've left the store but think it's too much of a bother to contact the store about the mistake?? IMO, I think Wal-Mart is "making"(stealing really) a bunch of money by making customers sack their own stuff!

Sorry about the rant. This is one of those things that really ticks me off! It's happened to me so much in the past year that I can't think it's just a mistake or accidental.

Getting off of my soapbox now....

I don't actually plan on even leaving the house today, but I'll be spending plenty of money! Today I'll get all of the end of the year bills paid for our business. Not fun, but must be done! At least we have money in our account TO pay the bills. A lot of people don't after Christmas.

I've started a new catagory "Frugal things I've done today". I do countless numbers of thrifty and frugal thing almost daily without even giving it much thought. I've decided to focus on my habits more closely so I can really see how much money I save my family on a daily basis by doing small little gestures that don't really take up much, if any, extra time. I think lots of people think that being frugal means a lot of extra time and work that they just don't think they have. It's really not any extra time, IMO. It's changing small habits.

How about some of you blogger's? What little frugal habits do you do daily to save money?

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas. We've already had two celebrations and we'll be starting celebration #3 in about an hour. Gosh, I really love Christmas, but I'm ready for it to be over with for another year!LOL I'm ready for things to settle back down AND get back on track with my budget. Actually, I have a Christmas budget that I didn't go over on, but I'm ready to stop spending sooooo much money! Starting tomorrow I'm getting back to keep spending as low as possible and starting back on my menus. I think our menu has been the thing that has suffered the most over this holiday season. It's been a bit costly and I'm ready to get that spending brought back down to a more normal level. Plus, I HAVE to try to lose some weight! I'm going to keep meals simple and institute more whole grains and fruits and veggies. DD#1 needs to lose some weight also. I think the best thing I can do for her is try to be a good example. She's decided not to eat meat anymore(rolling my eyes), so she'll be more open to whole grains and veggies. Mainly, I need to keep as many sweets out of the house as possible. I'm not tempted by them but she is.

So, after Christmas goals:
#1 Keep spending as low as possible.
#2 Make weekly menus and CARRY THROUGH!
#3 Less "junky" food...more "good" food.

All three goals are realistic. Mainly it's just organizational skills on my part that I need to incorperate.

Ahhhhh. Time to relax for a while. I have the house completely cleaned...well, as clean as I ever get it. I have all of the presents wrapped. Some are under the tree and some are hiding out in the camper until tomorrow night I have all of the food purchased and sitting in the frid/cupboards. Now, I can just sit back and ENJOY! It doesn't seem like Mom's get to enjoy Christmas that much because we're always working to make it great for everyone else. What should I do the rest of the afternoon/evening? Should I bake a couple batches of cookies? Or, should I sit down and read one of the 5 Christmas books I brought home from the library? Hmmmmmm...

Hey! It was great to see all of the comments posted on my first entry! Thanks for making me feel so welcome

Today should be a "no-spender" for me. I need to stay home all day and get my house in tip top order. We have church tomorrow morning, and then all of my family will be at my house tomorrow night, so I won't have much time to do much housework tomorrow. I also still need to wrap a few gifts this afternoon. I'll have to sneak because they are Santa gifts. My DD is 8 years old and in the 2nd grade so I have a feeling this is about the last year she will truly believe in Santa Kinda, sad...

Oh! We got an unexpected gift yesterday! I gentleman that my DH does work for gave us a $40 gift card to Appleby's! This will be a HUGE treat for us! We rarely go out to eat, and when we do, it's some place Pizza Hut where the kids can eat free on Family Night.

Well, guess I'd better go get started. Those floors won't mop themselves!