Okay, obviously even with my sprucing up around here,(by the way, I finished the bathroom today! Everyone but me hates the color, oh well!) I have been watching too much TV. After my HGTV rant, I move onto Oprah.
As my favorite tightwad guru Amy Dacyczyn once said "I wanted to raise my fist and say It's not true, it can be done!" And unlike Contrary1 who felt warm fuzzies from the show, I felt angry. They had the guy that did the "Supersize Me" movie and his girlfriend go live on (or close to) minimum wage for ONE MONTH. They could not use their money or credit cards and even moved to Ohio for their experiment. ONE MONTH. Yes, they were broke, but I think rather whiney and it was only for ONE MONTH, so where do they get off saying "Oh we understand what you are going through", or "Oh it was so hard". Puhleeeze! Shes a chef, he's a filmmaker and they live in New York, cut me a break. Not only this though, they had a husband and wife and their 4 children that live off his $9.00 per hour job. She quit her job when their one child was diagnosed with autism. They barely make it paycheck to paycheck and are always afraid the end is near. Yes this is very scary, but what are they doing about it? THAT is my question! She said their groceries are $250 per week. What are they eating????? Way better than me even though I feed only a family of 5 and not a family of 6. Holy cow, I wish I could spend $250 a week! Why does'nt she take in some day care, or typing or something? Work in the evenings after hubby comes home?
I'm sorry, we raised 3 kids on 30,000 per year (actually under) for quite a few years before my husband got another job. I stayed at home and took care of the kids and worked lots of odd jobs to help out. It can be done!
They did have one woman on who broke her wrist so she could'nt work (don't know what her previous job was) and lost her job, therefore her home and had to live in a shelter. I felt bad for her, she did dig her way back out, but again she is living paycheck to paycheck. Could'nt she get a second job to put into savings or buy a car? Even for a little while for security? Instead she lives everyday terrified something will happen again.
I DO agree Health Insurance is killing many families!!! We have lived through that too! We just started regular insurance through my husbands company in February. For years we had to have individual health insurance and my husband had had a heart attack before. Guess what? Cha-ching!
Yes, they need to raise minimum wage, and find an affordable way for people to have health insurance, but the doom and gloom of Oprah??? Once again, pure sensationalism, not journalism.

Oh, forgot to confess, temp got up to almost 90 today and I caved in and turned on the AC. I hated to do it and I called DH first to approve. He backed me up. Only did it because it looks like were heading straight into summer. Tomorrow is supposed to be a record hi. Missouri is funny like this. Spring lasted a whole week! Gee!
I've still been working like a busy bee to get the house ready for the First Communion. Got the cutie knick knacks up in the kitchen and bought 6 new chairs (25.00 each at Garden Ridge on sale.) for the old table (I just painted it, I'll paint just about anything!) Just waiting on the curtains. Hoping to paint the bathroom tomorrow. Will definately need the AC for that!

Just had to rant a little bit. I have always loved the neat and frugal decorating shows on HGTV, but I am becoming digusted enough to quit watching. The new shows, "I Want That", "I Want That BATHROOMS" AND "I Want That KITCHENS". Get REAL people! Talk about blatant consumerism! Okay, maybe someone might like to watch a show about new gizmos and doo dads, but it does nothing to those trying to save money and live life a little more frugally. The should rename it "Hey, Look What you Can't Afford" or "For the Insanely Spendcrazy Cagillionaire".
Anyway, thank you for letting my get that off my chest!

I've been knocked out too with a nasty head cold/flu. The great kind where you have to keep the Kleenex stuck in your nose. I think my husband found that very attractive (not). Good thing we've been married a long time!
Despite being sick, I have foraged ahead on getting things done around the house before the big First Communion. The mailbox was done and now I have emptied the kitchen of its old decor and painted it. Ordered the curtains as opposed to making them (of course on sale!)Plus I have been trying to clean little odd stuff here and there. Still have to decorate the kitchen (everything is in the basement in boxes) and paint the bathroom and put in the new decor. Between this and scouts and jobs and etc, I hope I can get it all done.
Today was a no spend day! Hope for many more! The freezer is loaded!

Our local Joannes fabric store has lost its lease. Boy did I score. I got fabric to make our new kitchen curtains, easter basket goodies, thread, mailbox decoration kit, etc. etc. all at 30-60%! I have been looking for curtains forever, so I am excited to have finally decided on something.
Waiting to hear from ThriftyRay! Hope all went well with her mom!

Okay, I guess with springing ahead an hour, it's almost too late for April Fools. I guess it is true, we have our health, our home and our family! Thats a win in my book!
(Hope Jeff and Nate sold for millions!! Tee hee!)

I mentioned that dear grandmother passed away - did I mention she did'nt sign her will? This woman had planned what to wear, where she would be laid out, and where she would be buried - but she did'nt sign her will. Mind you she lived very simply and did'nt have much anyhow, but now it will be tied up in probate for who knows how long! Nor did she put her home and some of her accounts in both her and one of her childrens names.
Advice to all - love your families! Make and SIGN your will! And make a living will too with your wishes clearly stated. Name a guardian for your kids. Have an excutor listed. Don't put this off! Your loved ones NEED you to do this, especially if you have small kids. And if you can at least get a small life insurance policy to cover funeral expenses, well it would'nt hurt. Some times even banks offer a small policy with your account. Check into it.
And don't forget, just because your single, does'nt mean your invincible, let your wishes be known and in writing.
Enough of my ramblings - back to regular programming!

No, we did'nt rob a bank. DH's grandmas passed away so we have been in Kentucky for a couple of days. Beautiful state. Nice service, good to see the relatives, but loonnnggg drive (6 hours). The kids were good, made Nana proud.
Little ones started back to school today! Yeah! Got some catch up cleaning done. Need to go "Mominate" (like "terminator") their rooms, where I clean up and OUT everything when they are not there to see it. They are warned they are going to be Mominated and they better tell me if something absolutely MUST stay, otherwise, all is fair game. They actually like this when I do it, because they do not have to clean their rooms for a few days!
Ready for April! I am taking all your friendly advises and starting a budget with some envelopes to control groceries and eating out. Stay tuned for progress.....