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Archive for July, 2010

How to get tough with kids

July 20th, 2010 at 05:21 pm

Any advice?? Dealing with DD3, who is about to turn 13. She is a SSPENDER!! Give her $10 and she will immediately run to the store and buy $10 in candy!! She begs constantly for fast food. I have no problem saying no, but it is a CONSTANT thing! DD1 is cheap and frugal, DD2 has expensive tastes, but generally uses her own money by saving it and spending for what she wants. DD3 is a train wreck and I am afraid she is on a bad track. I try to be firm about putting some of her money in savings, and she has about $80 in her savings and does not ask to touch or spend it. Out of sight out of mind works with her. I feel bad that she is generally the one that is left at home with dad every day and does not have any friends that live around us. She is bored.
Sooo, besides trying to teach her to cook (so that she feels more enabled to feed herself, lessening the I want fast food pleas) any other suggestions? She is short on patience, she needs some kind of "baby step" program and some kind of mission or project for the rest of the summer.

Did pretty good this weekend. Stayed at home Saturday and Sunday and cooked dinner both nights! Lasagna and chicken kebobs and rice. Gave at church, but I put that in "regular bills" and not "spending".

7/17
QT gas 30.00
Dierbergs $54.60

7/18
Laundermat 4.75 (dog got sick on comforter!)

7/19 No spender!!

Today should be a no spender too!

Getting ready to ship another kid off!

July 17th, 2010 at 03:06 am

Well, we just got DD1 back from Germany and DD3 back from my sisters farm, and now we send DD2 off on a mission trip. Man, it is expensive doing charity work! We spent lots on Off, suntan lotion, and other goodies to try to keep her cool. She will be working on an elderly ladies home, clearing the property and sprucing it up. Supposedly it is covered by weeds and bushes. That mixed with 100 temps and bugs is going to be icky!! They also have "Guardian Angels", like secret santas and we had to buy something to give everyday.

Once this trip is over, we can concentrate on back to school. Luckily, since my kids are older, we do not have to buy many.

7/12
McDonalds 23.46 (Took bbsitting kids)
7/13
Dierbergs 21.72 Groceries
7/14
Target 182.83 Trip/home goods
Walgreens 19.12 more trip
Walgreens 30.00 perscriptions
7/15
Arbys 12.87 pay day lunch treat
JINB 4.07 for DD3 (says she will pay me back >( We'll see.

DD1 back home from Germany!

July 11th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

She was tired!! She had a great time and didn't want to come home! Wink So glad she had this experience. She said she did drink when she was over there, but I told her that was okay to do. She did it responsibly, and she didn't like it! Smile Her souvenirs were simple and nice. Going over to my moms tonight for a little welcome home dinner. Glad I don't have to cook!

Worked both days this weekend at the real estate company. SIL that is living with us is out of town and I am taking care of the 12 cats in the basement. One is diabetic and needs shots twice a day, four others have various medical issues that they must be medicated for. Will have to get up 45 mins. early each day to medicate them before work. She watched our pets for us when we were out of town.

Spending:
7/09
Shop n Save: 29.48 (Getting $20 cash back)
Bunko: $5
Church raffle: $10
7/10
Walgreens: 24.26 (Again, getting $20 cash back)
QT: Lunch/lotto tickets: $18.00
QT: Gas 58.95
Parking garage: 2.50
7/11:
QT: Lunch: $10

Spending for 7/8

July 9th, 2010 at 03:35 am

Michaels: $12.33 bday gift
Hobby Lobby: $12.68
Petco: $36.03
Shop n Save: $24.00 DD1 prescription

Sharing more debt.....

July 8th, 2010 at 04:02 pm

So next up to share is my JCPenny credit card. This is only in my name and I use it for clothes for the family. Of course, first I try hand me downs and garage sales, but it is hard to find the right jeans to fit my DD2 and 3. I am in the rewards club, so I get an occasional free $10 reward. (Based on what I spend).
The total on this card is $1200. It has an astronomical interest rate of around 19.99%. I try to pay around $75 per month and do not anticipate having to use it again for another couple of months.

Spending for 7/7
Chuck E Cheese for bbsitting kids $17.40
Doctor co pay $25.00

Debt....

July 7th, 2010 at 03:30 am

That we owe. I thought I would list our debt so you could see what we are paying, whether you want to follow along or say "Wow! She has way more debt than me!" Because of the extensive list, I am breaking it down into categories.

Today I will share our most recent debt, medical bills! Our insurance is 80/20, so with the recent surgery, we have lots!!

Hospital 1: $1458.20 (This one is in limbo as I have requested financial assistance. When I last talked to the lady, she said they are working on Aprils request. I turned mine in the beginning of June, so this one is sitting on the back burner.)

Hospital 2: Current $550.00 Made payment arrangements of $50 per month.

Doctor 1: 227.12. Will pay $50 a month til complete.

Doctor 2: $120.00 currently. Will pay $50 per month.

Hospital for surgeon: $170.00. Paying $50 a month.

Orthodontist: 1034.29, paying $67.50 per month.

Total medical debt: $3509.61 Monthly: $267.50

Feel really nickel/dimed by this, but once some of these get paid off, it will really free up some cash!! I think DD2 will have one more doctor bill coming in.

Spending today 7/6:
Dierbergs: $49.28
Saved $4.75 in coupons! Smile

Back to business!! And Aldi info..

July 5th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

So for the first few months of the year, I reported what I spent and then set some goals.
Now that the surgery is over and life is back to normal, I am back in business!! So I will start counting as of today 7/5!

Went to Aldi to try to save some money! Just thought you might be interested in some random prices:

Hamburger buns: .79
12 pk of double roll tp: 4.69
Whole grain white bread: 1.29
Tomato juice: 1.29
16 oz shredded cheddar: 2.99
iceberg lettuce: .99
Sour cream: .99
32oz ketchup: .99
Pretzel sticks: 1.29
Olive oil 16.9 oz extra virgin: 3.29
Skim milk: 2.35
Vegtable oil: 1.89

How about the cost in your area?

After I finished at Aldi, I went to Walmart. The egg prices were comparable, but I was able to get an 18 count instead of a 12 count. I like that I can use coupons at Walmart too! Saved $5.10 in coupons. I had to buy some big dollar items like dog food, cat litter, a toilet scrubber and some new dish towels.


Aldi: $73.09
Walmart: 109.41