Well, we are back from New York! I worked Saturday and Sunday at the real estate office and tomorrow back to the nanny job! Oldest will be off school all week. Not sure what we will do, but hoping to play at the park as something free to do!

New York was cool. Very loud and busy. Just missed MJRube. Was right outside her office! I know she is swamped with the stock market in the current shape it is in!

Here is a picture of DD1 and I in Central Park:


Going to try to keep this a no spend week.

DH got his first check from the new job. Of course in a check, no direct deposit, grrrr...

Updated my debt amounts on the sidebar. Not sure how I will finish paying the bills this month. Seriously out of money!! Juggle I will. May need to borrow the insurance money from mom again, so that amount will go up. Sigh.

Happy Spring everyone!

Soooo, in January I got to go to New York FOR FREE! I booked my daughters girl scout troop with EF tours and not only do I get my trip for free, but I got to go on a training trip so I could see first hand what happens on our tour. It was SO COOL! New York city was AWESOME! My flight, hotel,2 meals and tickets, and transportation were all FREE! I took about $140 and brought home almost $100. All I had to buy was lunches and I did not buy any souvenirs as I decided to wait until I went back with my daughter.

We fund raised long and hard for this trip. It is well deserved for my girls! In the end, we ended up only having to pay $200 for my daughters ticket.

We leave on Sunday for our trip! I am sure this time will be a little more expensive, but I will try not to overdo. I am excited for my daughter to see the city. Two Broadway shows, Mama Mia and Anything Goes.

Sounds more fun than the good news and the bad news!

Good news! DH got a job! Although he is going to keep working at his commission job (although he has still yet make a commission!) he will start working at Home Depot part time. Does not pay much, but it does offer benefits. He did not get the store close to home, but hopefully after a while he can transfer. Gas is too high.
I must admit, he is NOT happy, but I am THRILLED!!

Bad news. Ugh. DD1 did not get the full ride scholarship she interviewed for. They brought in 30 kids and were giving away 5 scholarships. She was number 6. She is very upset and I don't blame her. She is an alternate, so that if anyone chooses not to accept, she will get it, but the lady said it sounded like all would be accepting. Cross your fingers one of them gets a better scholarship to a school they want to go to school to more. An alternate gives you a sense of hope that I don't want to count on.
So, we are busily filling out every scholarship application we can qualify for!!

Had chili in the crock pot for dinner. Not sure what to have tomorrow night.

Woo hoo!

How about that! I am very excited and thanks to everyone who sent well wishes!

Now I need to shake a stick and get back on here.

Since Dh has been "self employed" the last couple of years,we have had to have our taxes done. Our guy charges $175, which I don't think is too bad.

Looks like our "income" will be around 32000, but our medical expenses alone (with premiums) will be around 20000! Hope we get some back!

Still waiting on a K1 from the ex brother in law, and I have to find the interest report from the bank, then we will be ready to call him.

This year more is at stake as I have to apply for FSFHA for DD1 and myself so we can get college money. I can't wait to see what our ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME is. Maybe being poor will pay off in this situation.

Still trying to get DH to get a job that pays money. Hmpf.

I have been reading up on all of you (yes, stalking)! and it is wonderful to see what everyone has been up too! Looks like many of you will be happy to see this year go and many of you accomplished amazing things this year!

I am hoping to be back in the saddle for the New Year with a few attainable goals.

So happy you are all still here keepin the frugal train running!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! :-)

Won't have time to update! Too much to do! Will catch up on Febs totals when I'm coherent again!
Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes!

(Forgot to tell you, they are going to use a ROBOT!! Wonder what he will charge! Reminds of a song from the 80's!)

Right???
We are still up in the air, up side down, up a creek, etc.. etc..
DH has still not taken over paying the bills, I am still robbing Peter to pay Paul and wondering how we do Christmas, tires, front end alignment, car inspection and renewal, personal property tax, and on and on.
Anyway, some had wondered where I went. I am still lurking in the blogs. I am just disgusted with our financial life still. Someday my blog will be spunky and frugal again....

Still a financial mess. When will I grow up and get out of this? Stay tuned.

Still have to post pics of the bathroom upstairs. Haven't forgotten!

Still have to open new checking/savings account at the credit union.

Still have to be firm and make DH pay these stupid bills. He has slowly dumped it back on me!!

Still have to decide about Christmas. Thinking of doing Kmart layaway.

Still......

Two of the abandoned new homes subdivisions I pass on my way to work have sprung new life. Can't wait to see what happens! Especially since the first time homebuyer money will be up soon!

Still need to take pics of the bathroom. Will get to it soon!

DD1 turned 17 today! Wow! She can legally see rated R movies. She is very excited about this!

Back to work is going fine. Learning how to pump the car seat again. Those things are heavy! Mainly, feed the baby, change the baby, rock the baby, rinse, repeat!

Can't wait for my first check this weekend, so I can go open my own savings account at the credit union!

Well, tomorrow I go back to work. (The nanny job). Instead of focusing on how uptight the mom is, I have decided to focus on the kids. When I went to visit on Friday to get the run down on the routine from mom, the three year old ran up and hugged me so tight. She missed me so much! I can't wait to spend time with her again! And the baby was really good.

I am still working weekends at the real estate office too, so I guess I am working two jobs! And in November, my friend is opening up his Christmas Store at the mall and I will be working there too!

Still have a few things left on my "to do" list that I did'nt get to. Will try to squeeze in finishing them up. Mostly getting the girls bathroom finished before our German exchange student gets here in two weeks. I took before picks, so I will post when I am all done! The pics of this bath are in my archives. How quickly the kids can tear up a bathroom, it was only two years ago!

That's it. Just, I'm eating M&M's. I guess, to make it financial, I could say I splurged on some M&M's, but whatever. They are good. I love chocolate!

Boy, we are poorer than dirt, but I love being a SAHM again! I believe that is my true calling in life! The weather has been gorgeous, DH is home during the day, so we get to spend more time together, and I have been getting TONS done around the house!

I have proposed to DH another payment plan that includes borrowing from the 401K and turning all the bills over to him. Still waiting for his answer.

This is insane! Our local Hummer dealer could'nt sell his autos any more. So he has become an ARMS DEALER TOO!! Hummers on one side, automatic rifles on the other. I guess its whatever it takes in this economy, but OMG! Got Glocks??

The friend I baby sit for had her baby today, a little early. A healthy little girl.

I had figured up the bills hoping to get two more checks in August. Am hoping to still be able to do some sitting this week so that I still get my check Friday. Will try to sell some stuff on ebay to make up for some of what I will miss from the one on the 28th.

I had applied at the school district for subbing, I just have to drop off my background check form and a $9 money order for them to send it in. Picked up two cleaning jobs that will help out some.

We have a $75 rebate Mastercard coming. Am hoping to use this for food.

$112 dollars later and 3 medications, it looks like our dog did not have a stroke, but has a bulging disk perhaps? The vet can only guess. She has steriods, antibiotics and pain killers. We could have gone for the $2100 spinal work up, but hey, I will be unemployed soon. So we try the cheap route and hope for the best!!