tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-255569702009-11-21T06:54:20.162-06:00Letting go of the past with a fresh outlook on the future.Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.comBlogger2967125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-59289445443428660702009-11-20T06:23:00.002-06:002009-11-20T06:29:37.066-06:00

When I first registered for college, I went online to the college book store and made a list of all the books I would need. I was just floored that the cost was $773.75 without tax or shipping. How can colleges do this to folks? I know, I read the information about how a portion of all book store sales go to fund scholarships, but I didn't receive a scholarship and I need to pay for my books.

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-54879478182932672742009-11-16T07:27:00.003-06:002009-11-16T07:50:18.457-06:00

Put in some effort and things happen! Where to begin?? I worked at the rental this past weekend and I am about ready to re-let. Now I just need to find a new spectacular tenant. I have an ad on craigslist, sign in the yard and an ad in our local paper. I still do a crappy job as a landlord, but I am spectacular with clean up, repairs and upgrades. The place looks and smells amazing. :-) I

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-89889814833892906492009-11-12T07:31:00.003-06:002009-11-12T07:38:22.772-06:00

After Kohl's disappointed me this week, I started looking for other options for my carpet cleaner. I had already checked out the other options at Kohl's and I do have a 20% off discount currently, but I just wasn't feeling like giving them my money after that major disappointment. It is just me. I will get over it, but I am not ready yet. Tuesday evening I began researching prices on my Hoover

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-5144586572691701082009-11-12T07:17:00.002-06:002009-11-12T07:28:36.027-06:00

Every day I jump on the Internet and search prices for the college textbooks I need. I am completely amazed by the range of prices and how they fluctuate every day. I guess when it comes to textbooks, that you have to have, they have got you where they want you. So far I have ordered 3 books out of the 7 I need by the start. All three were NEW, or at least that is how they are advertised (

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-63211398732985185162009-11-11T15:17:00.002-06:002009-11-11T15:27:37.392-06:00

It is time that we face reality. Life leads us in directions that we can not foresee. Things change. Emotions Change. Nothing is guaranteed. People can do things that we can never forgive or live with.Everytime I hear someone bring up the pre-nuptial agreement, I hear them gasp in disgust and say something like - "isn't that just admitting that your marriage will fail?" To me this is an immature

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-21637596032454143352009-11-11T05:28:00.002-06:002009-11-11T05:28:00.489-06:00

Seeing on paper that you are running a negative every month on your budget is depressing and heart wrenching. Especially when you can't cover your flexible costs - that is something that is felt IMMEDIATELY. Trust me, you are not alone. Many people are on this path for lack of a plan. You are already ahead of those following the poverty circuit, because you opened your eyes and mind to the

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-24887073910083539352009-11-10T18:01:00.002-06:002009-11-10T18:06:33.653-06:00

Yummy! Remember I told you that Pssst sent me 2 meals to try for FREE! Well tonight I made the Romano's Macaroni Grill Chicken Piccata with Angel hair Pasta (man that is a mouth full). It was incredibly easy. I purchased boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders, on sale this week at Target. YIPPEE! Made the entire meal as the box states and it was delicious. This box will be entering my

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-63947092471902980702009-11-10T11:16:00.003-06:002009-11-10T11:25:04.407-06:00

I finally made it to Kohl's this past weekend. As was explained by the CSR, I ordered some tiny skinny jeans for my son. About had a stroke to find out they were $36. Why are fat jeans cheaper? Thankfully, I had my Kohl's cash to help curb the bite and a 15% off coupon.I also needed to pick up a new carpet cleaner. A while back my 15 year model decided it couldn't work anymore and with 2

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-60557397656015455332009-11-10T05:35:00.000-06:002009-11-10T05:35:00.557-06:00

Most would have placed this step prior to #5. I am not most people. I call this step Flexible Expenses and it is the one we have the most control over every second, minute, hour and day. This is where we spend money repeatedly through the month. There isn't a bill that comes in and says 'pay me on the 5Th'. Instead we continue to throw money out at these things repeatedly through the month.

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-86866425412185269572009-11-09T10:14:00.002-06:002009-11-09T10:17:41.319-06:00

Tell me why they have not put all textbooks on Kindle? How amazing would that be to have everything you need always with just the weight of the Kindle in your bag? I completely understand that textbooks could not be the $9.99 bargain of other books.......or could they? Yet, imagine the success of this business. Instead of $775 for my books I could pay as little as $70, plus the cost of the

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-32937217958544035702009-11-09T06:33:00.002-06:002009-11-09T06:48:05.011-06:00

It is about that time again. The time when we need to renew our Sam's Club membership. We have had this membership for ....OMGosh 18 years. Time flies. The cost is not huge, but it seems kind of wasteful for us to keep this affiliation. How we came to this decision:We no longer go every month for store supplies, since we sold the business.Our household size is shrinking and we need far less in

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-76680483956057649582009-11-09T05:12:00.002-06:002009-11-09T05:27:46.028-06:00

Isn't it easier to take small steps then to be flustered with a do it all now idea? This is the step where you bring it all together and see where you are at. For some it is a positive experience and for others it is not so great. I prefer ledger paper or an Excel spreadsheet, even Lotus is helpful, what ever your tool you must have a minimum of paper, pen/pencil and a calculator.At the top of

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-84369632865482995532009-11-08T15:49:00.002-06:002009-11-08T15:55:31.811-06:00

I have been checking online to find the best deals for my college textbooks. I have found a couple I can rent.....YIPPEE! One, because it is the area I am focusing in, I need to buy brand spanking new. And the rest I will grab used if I can, new if I have no choice. Buying all the books new at the college book store is the most expensive totaling $773.75 without tax. OUCH!!!!!! Leaving me no

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-68767691329269986922009-11-08T07:51:00.002-06:002009-11-08T07:51:00.614-06:00

Most assume that this is the easiest part of the budget. In more and more cases this is becoming less and less true. Of course I am speaking of Income. It used to be people had a set paycheck to base income off of. Few have this and many have this with side income streams. Self-employed are using a floating income stream. No matter how complex, you can not begin to grow wealth without opening

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-67088207246295840732009-11-07T12:50:00.002-06:002009-11-07T12:50:00.238-06:00

This step is a little trickier, it requires that you have a good memory and reach back into the dark places of your mind for those bills that only show up once, twice or four times a year. You know the ones I'm talking about. Why does the water company only send a bill quarterly? Why not monthly like every other utility? Things you are testing your brain on to remember:water billcar insurancehome

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-54908823907871686682009-11-06T12:39:00.000-06:002009-11-06T12:39:00.107-06:00

Look at last month. Grab your check register or turn on the computer to look at your accounting software and if those items are not available, look at you online banking or your bank statement. Then find a nice clean place, like your desk or the kitchen table. Gather supplies like a notebook and a pen and park your rear end for a few minutes.It is the moment of truth for many of us, how much and

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-44348971336583231232009-11-06T07:43:00.002-06:002009-11-06T07:50:14.354-06:00

I signed up on the Betty Crocker website and last week they sent me a box of Garlic Instant Potatoes. Again, I much prefer fresh potatoes, but there are days when the time is just not there to peel, slice and boil. Last night was one of those nights. It wasn't the healthiest of meals, but it was tasty. I fried pork chops, made the Betty Crocker Garlic Potatoes and microwaved the Green Giants

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-35102861181491640232009-11-05T18:21:00.002-06:002009-11-05T18:33:37.236-06:00

I think that all the guru's are missing the first step to becoming financially stable and then financially wealthy. I believe they are missing the fear factor. The fear factor plays a roll long before the dollars ever get a chance to perform. Making over coming fear our first step to success. I don't know about you but when I get afraid or anxious I freeze. I get caught in a kind of made in my

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-3186474833092058542009-11-05T12:07:00.001-06:002009-11-05T12:09:39.872-06:00

Pinecone Research continues to grow. They are looking for new members right now. If you have always wanted to be a member at Pinecone, which still is the best payer of all survey companies, now is your chance. Here is the link they emailed me for all who are interested!

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-76455076456623742392009-11-05T09:43:00.002-06:002009-11-05T09:52:02.132-06:00

After work yesterday DH and I headed to the movies. We do not go to a lot of movies in the theater because it is so much more pricier the RED BOX and not nearly as comfortable. Discover Card sent me an email saying if we went out locally, used our card, they would give us a $5 bonus - so it was a bit of incentive. That and there is still a draw to theater popcorn and feeling the movie with other

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-45599805239118966222009-11-05T07:18:00.002-06:002009-11-05T07:40:16.716-06:00

I have tried a couple new items recently and thought I would share my thoughts, in case anyone is curious. Yoplait Delights - I have a sweet tooth like no ones business and I was not jumping for joy from these. I guess when you break it all down, I would much rather have a No Sugar Jello Pudding. We tried the Raspberry one and that may have something to do with my impression. I love

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-58228464237660658722009-11-04T07:22:00.002-06:002009-11-04T07:33:19.568-06:00

Well yesterday at the college was easy. I was not the only adult over 25 coming to be educated, which was nice. I listened to the entire presentation, which I pretty much already knew....having done this so many times with children, and found myself ready to register and go before all the other young people. In fact, the second person after me was another adult. :-) Kind of fun beating the youth

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-12968088960709336682009-11-03T12:24:00.003-06:002009-11-03T12:26:10.674-06:00

Today is the day I go in to register for my new college career. I am both exhilarated and terrified at the same time, for no apparent reason. :-) I guess you could say - today is the first day of the rest of my life.Hope everyone is having an awesome and less terrifying day!

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-51047629937484216302009-11-02T12:56:00.002-06:002009-11-02T13:06:30.737-06:00

I was extremely happy last year when we received $550 in cash back from our credit cards and we paid ZERO dollars in interest. :-)This year we are doing even better. We have surpassed the entire last year balance and have not even begun Christmas shopping. This is both good and bad. Good we are getting cash back, bad we are spending like savages. I continue to put as many bills as possible on the

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25556970.post-52380712870149009422009-11-02T12:04:00.002-06:002009-11-02T12:12:24.238-06:00

I have thirty dollars in Kohl's Cash and I figured I would use those dollars to purchase my son a pair of jeans online. I despise buying clothes online, because of prior issues I have had returning items. Namely with Amazon and Target, why do they intermingle and you do not clearly know who you are buying from? If the order is perfect, not an issue, but when something comes wrong and you can't

Dedicatedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13253101883627114010noreply@blogger.com0