In an attempt to get this body into pre-baby shape I attended 2 fitness classes at my gym last night. Buts and Guts followed by Arms and Abs. Let's leave it at the fact that I can barely walk down stairs because my thigh muscles are shaking constantly and my arms are so sore I can barely type this! It was a challenging hour but I am very proud of myself for making it through the whole 60 minutes without giving up (by the time we were on our 40th situp/crunch I was thinking of walking out). They offer the class tomorrow night as well and I am thinking of punishing myself some more and going again. Tonight I am going to a Total Body Conditioning class-hopefully that will help me stretch out some of my sore muscles!

I am a little bummed that I haven't had a no spender in almost a week. I am hoping tomorrow will be one if I can get my act together tonight and get prepared.

DS celebrated his 3rd birthday yesterday. We had a nice low key celebration at home. We sent him to daycare with donut holes for him and his friends and the family party will be Saturday. I am thinking of just ordering pizza and wings so I can socialize with family and not spend all my time in the kitchen. May cost more but sometimes spending time with family is the better deal.

Paid off my first credit card this week!!! The balance was only $131 but I paid it in full as the first debt in my snowball debt repayment plan. It felt so good to send that payment in

I have to return library books tonight before going to the gym and I want to return a few things I bought that I found I don't need. I purchased white pepper for a recipe last week not knowing I could subsitute black pepper. So that is going back-prior to last week I didn't even know they made white pepper! I also have an extra salad dressing to return and a set of stamps I purchased at Michaels for DD chore chart. We are just using simple check marks when she completes a chore. So, I think I am looking at about $10 to add to my debt.

Off to make some Bruschetta Chicken with rice and veggie for dinner.

Absolutely, positively wonderful! As you know my husband and I have kept our finances separate since we got married. He pays the mortgage and daycare, I pay the utilities and food. It is an arrangement that has worked for us. When we get our tax refunds we usually put them in a joint savings account we opened to stash our wedding money. This is our emergency fund/home improvement fund. We discuss which project to do every year and it is usually funded out of this account knowing in April of the following year it will be replenished. And we never allow the account to drop below $5000.

Well, with the tax refund we will get this year, hubby suggested that I take the whole thing to apply towards my debt. Now he doesn't know exactly how much debt I have as he hasn't really come right out and asked. He came into our marriage with no debt and the ability to pay his credit card in full every month. Yes, I am so jealous and have chalked it up to the fact that he makes twice as much as I do. So, with the expected $2-3000 refund that will put a huge dent into my debt. He also suggested that we take the rebate money the government is giving us and apply that to the debt as well!!! After that I may be just about credit card debt free! It's so exciting I can't wrap my brain around it!

Now, I do feel guilty since I am the one who racked up this debt and he is allowing me to use our money to pay it off. When I am debt free I am so going to pay him back. I think this is a huge gift he is giving me

In other good news I am expecting a $10 check for completing surveys on line. I am going to pick up a Sunday paper today and scan it for deals. I don't think I have to do a major grocery shopping since we still have a lot of left overs from last week.

In not so good news I reviewed my income vs outflow for the month of December. ($424.80) in the hole. Good Gosh, that is horrible! The only thing I can do is review it weekly, daily, whatever it takes to prevent myself from doing that this month and in the future.

When I do manage to get this debt paid off it will be the first time in 18 years that I didn't carry a credit card balance. Yikes!

Tomorrow is payday which is especially exciting this time around because I am getting paid for my unused sick time from last year. We only get 40 hours of sick time a year and I managed to reserve 16 hours. Not bad considering I have 2 children who bring home various germs and illnesses each year. That should be a nice added bonus to help offset my heating bill this month.

I am also expecting some money from my medical reimbursement plan. I think I have about $250 there. I am going to use some of that to pay the dentist for DD check up and xrays and then apply the rest towards my debt reduction plan.

Unfortunately my budget doesn't leave a lot of room for additional debt reduction this pay period. I am going to scrimp in every category that I can. I think I can get by under my food budget. I have been introducing 3 new recipes to my family a week for the past 2 weeks and they aren't going over so well. I am about ready to give up and go back to grilled cheese and hot dogs!

DS turns 3 next week and is really coming along with potty training. I will be glad when he is completely out of pull-ups/diapers. Haven't decided on the menu for the family party yet. I will probably make his cake myself and pick up some ice cream. I am thankful that he is not at the age when you feel obliged to have a "friends" party!

Tonight I am going to sit down with my bank statement and review the month of December. I wasn't being as budget conscience then so it should be a real eye opener. I am hoping to track my monthly expenses as well as daily/weekly. I am thinking if I am more aware of my money and where it is going I will be less likely to waste it.

Not much else going on here. I have managed to make it to the gym 3 times a week in the last 8 week a total of 6 weeks! There were 2 weeks when I was only able to go twice. Not too bad! I was afraid when I joined that I wouldn't use it and it would be a waste. So far I am proving myself wrong!

I am looking over my snowball debt repayment plan and feeling slightly overwhelmed. I have $500 in my budget for this and I hate to say it but 7 credit cards to pay off. Enter overwhelming feeling. In the first month I will have 1 of them paid off with the 2nd done in the 2nd month and the 3rd in the 3rd month. I can see how wonderful it will be to be down to 4 cards but it seems so daunting trying to get there.

I am planning on 3 No Spend Days this week, just like last week. I think after this week I am going to make one of my weekend days a No Spender. I seem to spend a lot both days of the weekend so that is going to be a new challenge.

DS is turning 3 next week and we will be having family over to celebrate. DH already picked up his gift so I will be in charge of feeding the crew. I am not sure what I am going to make this year. Last year I made pulled pork for sandwhiches and that was a huge hit so if I can't find something else I will fall back on that.

Spent $98 at the grocery store last night which put me over budget since I had gone to the store the week before. On the plus side I do have 3 new tasty recipes to try out on my family this week and I am still eating left over soup from last week.

Anyways, guess I just had to put my feelings out there. It's good to acknowledge these feelings, perhaps I will remember how I feel right now next time I pull out a credit card.

So, this weekend I met my sister and one of her friends in Buffalo for some shopping and dinner. Her friend is a very savvy shopper and was telling me about the great deals at JCPennys this time of year. I wasn't really planning on buying anything but thought I would look around. Boy, there were deals that I couldn't pass up!!
For example:

Nike Reversible Winter Coat for DS: originally $80 purchased for $11.98

Pink velour pants for DD:
originally $24.99 purchased for $5.99

Hoodie for DD:
originally $19.99 purchased for $2.98

For myself:
Dress pants for work
originally $36 purchased for $10.79

Dressy jeans that can be worn to work
originally $36 purchased for $8.99

Nike Fleece Hoodie
origianlly $48 purchased for $14.39

I bought even more but won't bore you with the details. I suggest that if you are in need of anything for the winter season RUN to your nearest JCPenny! I also received survey invites in which I will get a coupon for 15% off my next purchase.

So, I knew my night in Buffalo was going to be expensive but I had no idea what deals I would find!

This friends, is precisly why I love shopping!

Yikes! I thought we were doing so well keeping the heat down. Yesterday I received our bill and it proved that we aren't doing such a good job. It is slightly under $400 for the month! I think someone has been pushing the heat up when I am not home! I sat down with the family yesterday and showed them the bill and asked that they help. Put on a sweater, grab a blanket, turn off the light, anything! I don't know how well received it was but I think they are going to get sick of me harping on them to turn things off.

I was home with my son yesterday so I went through the house and unplugged everything that we weren't using. Hubby was slightly annoyed when nothing worked when he tried to turn in on I am not sure how much electricity things use when they are just plugged in and not on but at this point every little thing will help.

I am thinking of taking showers at the gym after my workouts. I usually go home all sweaty and shower there but if I have access to free hot water I am thinking I should take advantage of it! And the showers are private so it wouldn't be like a community shower. Perhaps I will try that next week. I love really hot water when I shower so that might help.

So, I am super proud of myself for controlling my spending this week. I had 3 NSD and 1 day I spent $3.38 and yesterday I spent about $20. I went to the grocery store for milk and danish since my friend and her daughter were coming over. I also had to buy some marshmallows and toothpicks for a project I am making with my religious education class on Sunday. I will be able to get reimbursed for that portion.

I am meeting my sister in Buffalo today. She is spending the weekend with a friend there so I offered to drive over and have dinner with them. It is about an hour drive from where I live. I am going to budget $30 for dinner and in case we do something after. Should be a fun night!

Anyways, I am off to the gym. I was remeasured last week and didn't make the progress I had hoped I would. Slightly discouraging but I am not ready to give up. I think I just have to tweak my diet now. Argh!

I've done it! Monday and Tuesday of this week I did not spend a dime!! I am so proud of myself. About 1 month ago I would have thought it was impossible to not spend money everyday. How would I get my coffee? What would I snack on throughout the day? Well, with a little organization I have been able to prepare both my coffee and lunches everyday. Go me!!

I treated myself yesterday to coffee and a muffin from Dunkin Donuts. For now I am going to allow myself one treat a week. Typically it will be on Wednesdays since that is the day I work from 6am-2:30pm. I stop before going to work as motivation to get out of bed at 4:30am. I don't think I am ready to give that up anytime too soon. It was $3.38 so not an extravagant treat by any means but it sure made me happy!

Today will be my 3rd No Spender this week. I brought everything I need from home to work and have no plans on stopping anywhere on my way home.

Tomorrow I have the day off and may be getting together with a friend and her 1 year old daughter. Not sure what we are doing but am sure it will cost money. I am prepared for that.

So, I think I am joing Koppur's challenge to try for 10 No Spenders this month. Although it is the middle of the month so for January I'll just do my best and start officially next month.

So I have managed 1 No Spend Day so far this week and it looks like today is going to turn out as one as well. That is assuming I can make it home without spending any money! I don't have plans to stop anywhere after work so I should be good. Tomorrow I will be able to officially claim it to be 2 NSD!

Being organized is key for me. I know it is only Tuesday but so far this week I have brough my lunch to work with me. I have also been making my coffee at home and drinking a cup there and then bringing a travel mug of it with me into work. Reheating it in the microwave isn't as bad as I thought it would be and it is saving me from going to the coffee cart and dropping $4 a day. I am also squeezing time in for breakfast so I am not starving when I get to work.

I know these things seem trival but I am pumped that I have been able to do it both days this week. I said I wanted to have 3 No Spend Days this week and it looks like that is going to be very possible That makes me very happy.

Well I just calculated how long it will take me to get out of debt assuming I don't incur more. With the amount I figure I can put towards debt and the amount of debt I have I am looking at being paid off by 2/10. That seems a long way off but it is also a date that seems attainable. I am excited to get started. I am paying them off in order of lowest balance to highest so I can see my progress faster. I am going to dump the rest of my credit cards in the freezer when I get home. Hopefully that will prevent the new debt. I am hoping to use part of our tax refund this year towards the debt so that will shorten the time it will take to do this. I have not included my student loan in this payment plan. This is just dumb credit card debt that I have managed to rack up through the years.

I am going to prepare some dinners tonight for the week. We are going to be having:
*Chicken Scampi over pasta
*Ham and Potato Soup
*Chicken Nachos
I am hoping to freeze some of the soup for lunch this week. I am also planning on making monkey bread since I am always craving something sweet in the morning. I am going to program my coffee maker for the time I wake up to get my coffee started and hopefully prevent me from buying any at work. I should really get a thermos to bring some coffee in with me. I'll have to see if I can find an inexpensive one.

My goal for this week is to have 3 no spend days. This is a lofty goal indeed for me but I am determined. I just paid all my bills for this payperiod and am on my way to the grocery store. Car is all gassed up so I think it may be possible to have 3 no spenders. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Ugh and I can feel the downward spiral kicking in. I am trying so hard to be aware of my mistakes but sometimes the urge to buy something is so great that I can't stop myself. Probably a true sign of someone with a problem.

The weekend was busy and I spent a lot of money. Not a ton but I know I went over budget in many of my categories. I haven't even looked yet or balanced my checkbook because I know how disappointed I am going to be.

Went to Walmart for a picture frame for a gift and $97 later I was done. Bought somemore work out clothes which I don't really need but figure if I look cute it will help me stay motivated to go to the gym. Took the kids to get their pictures taken and took my inlaws out to dinner. They left for 4 months in Florida on Monday so we took them out to say goodbye.

I also went out to dinner and dancing with a friend of mine. We only get to go out once every 2 months or so but the fact that I haven't been spending any money on going out lately it felt as though I was being very extravagant. $25 for dinner and then $2 covercharge at club, $4 for a beer. Add that to the $97 plus a trip Sunday morning to Dunkin Donuts and I am close to $135. Yikes!

I did have a great time out dancing though! I am counting that as my exercise for that day as we were out there moving for a few hours. I love 80's music!!!!

Anyways, I am not sure of the damage I did over the weekend but will figure that out later tonight.

I am scared because I have to go to the mall after work to get my nephew a birthday present and I am afraid my spending mood is going to continue. I am not sure I am strong enough to not buy anything today.

I'll admit it, I don't use coupons. If I could figure out a way to make it worth my time and effort I would. So, far I haven't had much luck. I am hoping someone here will shed some light on the subject for me.

I use to get the Sunday paper delivered to the house so I would have the store ads and coupons. I would then look through the ads and see what was on sale and try to match the coupons. I gave up when I discovered that:

a) my grocery store seems to only put their brand on sale

b) I would wind up with a lot of coupons in no order and never be able to find the one I wanted before it expired

c) looking at all those ads made me buy stuff that I didn't really need just because it was on sale

d) stuff on sale wasn't what I had a coupon for

I ended up cancelling my subscription to the paper.

So, before I even think about doing this again I think I need some help. Do all stores accept coupons? Like Target and Walmart? Rite Aid and CVS? How do people go about getting extra coupons? Can you ask at the store for any extra Sunday paper inserts? And if so, who do you ask? How do I find coupons for things I actually buy and need, not just for dishwashing soap or deodorant?

I read how people save tons on groceries and I marvel at each story wondering if I might ever be able to do that too.

Please, send any tricks, tips and ideas my way!

I have been thinking about buying lots of meat when it is on sale and freezing it. Simple idea that I know many of you do already.

Here's my deal-I have a standard side by side fridge/freezer and there is very limited room. I can't really freeze alot of stuff.

So my question is, is it worth it to buy a stand alone freezer? Would the cost of buying additional meat on sale cover the cost of a freezer and the electricity it takes to run it?

What do you guys think?