When it rains, it pours...literally

I knew I had been too positive :-)

We redid our bathroom in February of 2008. We did it ourselves and with my father's help. Tonight a chunk of the wall caved in a bit. We opened up some baseboard and there is black mold behind it so obviously we have a leak in there somewhere. The leak itself is probably easy to fix. It is the damage getting TO it and repairing it after that will take time and cost $.

Thank god for the husband's windfall. He can pick up the tab on this and perhaps hire someone to get it fixed fast and properly. I am still paying off all the renos from before.

I just hope it's confined to relatively small area.

man!! my pretty new bathroom :(

This just reinforces that I need to do EVERTHING I can to get my Mastercard paid off, pay off my Bank of Mom loan and put every spare penny I can down on my consolidated loan. While I am not trying to jinx myself, my washer and dryer are 14 years old...my van is slowly breaking down...and our primary TV is 18 years old this June.

*insert dramatic, ominous music here*

A week of Jars

Yesterday began week 2 of the pay schedule so it was time to switch out the jars from Week 1 to Week 2 and see how things went.

I have to admit I was laughing my head off as there was SO much money left, however......Week 1 in no way reflects a regular week in my world.

• I am on holidays from work
• The boys are not at school
• The boys were not running about from one activity to another
• It's been -40 out so driving was minimal
• We've eaten meals at my mom's or my sister's several times
• It's the first week of a new plan = honeymoon!

So was there money left? oh yes. I used some of my gas money, most of my grocery money and a teeny bit of the dining out money. Nothing was touched in household or in my personal spending.

The true reflection of my success with the jars will come about at the end of January when I have gone a full month. I generally tend to lose steam towards the end of the month and attention to details and categories becomes blurred.

I went once for grocery shopping and forgot to get the money out of the jars. I laughed so hard. When I went again later, I was unsure whether to take the whole amount so I'd have enough, or just part etc. It certainly makes me look more at what I am buying.

I have not yet decided if I will keep some of each money with me in my wallet or if it is safe for me to leave things at home. I have $20 from last month tucked into my wallet as a Just in case for true emergencies.

It will be interesting to see how all this pans out when I am back in the swing of things with work and activities.

Putting things in perspective

Twice in the past week I have put on my blacks and headed off to funerals. Both for parents of my current/former students. One was a father, one a mother. Both under 50. Both deaths were unexpected and leave the kids behind in a far far different world than the one we were in when school got out before Christmas.

No matter how swirly my marriage is...no matter how much of a mess I've made of my finances, my physical shape and my mental shape, I can't match what they are going through.

It certainly makes me appreciate the reason why I am trying to improve my finances, health and body... to be a better mother for my boys. It reminds me even more to make sure, during this coming year, I actively work to spend quality time with my boys.

Food for thought. calorie and fat free.

Where the debt stands

As of January 1st, 2009

Mortgage - $43 957.91
My Consolidated Loan - $12 945.62
His VISA - Paid in Full thanks to windfall
His Truck Payment - Paid in full thanks to windfall
Bank of Mom - $700.00
My Mastercard - $850.00

Total Debt $58, 453.53

A snowy New Year's Day here

We had a lovely little blizzard fly through here last night dumping a lot of snow, so soon I shall have to bundle up and get out and shovel my little heart out. It will be a good bonding time with the boys.

I have a lot of hopes and dreams for 2009, but I'm at the age where I realize that if I want the dreams to come true, 'moi' needs to get off her butt and get at them.

I just wanted to thank all of you, whose blogs provided me with education, inspiration and companionship since last summer.

~~jolie~~