I sent Discover Card an email this morning asking them to lower my interest rate which I doubt they will do. I haven't heard from them yet and am pretty impatient. So, I went ahead a completed 2 balance transfers. One to an existing card at 4.9% and one to a new card with 0% for 6 months and then anywhere from 9-17% after. I figure even if I get stuck with the 17% it beats 26%. Even if Discover does lower the rate I am not using them anymore. Card is being chopped up tonight. I don't think they could match the rates I found today when I did some investigating. I will keep the account open since I have had it forever.

Yesterday I didn't spend anything more than what I spent on my coffee so that was a WBD! Today I am getting my hair done so I will be spending a bit more than I had planned. I thought I could go a little longer before having it done but after fighting with it this morning I realized that if I want to look half decent (and I do) then I have to fork over the cash to have it done.

Anyone have any experiences with The Little Gym? I am thinking of enrolling DS there once a week to work out some of his energy and possibly give Dad some downtime since he is home for the summer. I signed up for some information and a free class to see if it something we would be interested in. Of course their web site didn't have any prices listed.

I also contacted the YMCA today of which we are not members. DD is going to be swimming during gym class next year at school (3rd grade) and she is nervous that she can't do the back stroke. I missed the sign ups for the regular classes and inquired about private swim lessons. $30/30 minutes. Seems kinda steep to me. I am going to look around some more and try to find out when in the school year they are going to be swimming so I can get her into a class or lessions prior. She is such a worrier. Summer isn't even close to being over and she is already worried about it. I hate it when she worries and want to try to make this a pleasant experience for her. I know I hated swimming in school but that was high school. I never had to swim in 3rd grade gym class!

Back from my week of vacation which consisted of the weekend trip to Toronto and then VBS at our church and basketball camp for DD. It was a busy week at home and I am slightly glad to be back at work (sshh don't tell anyone!)

In between camps I managed to go through the basement and collect a large mountain of stuff to sell in a garage sale. Most of it is toys the kids have outgrown and I am fairly confident those will sell. This weekend I am going to start cleaning the items and making sure I have all the little parts.

Yesterday was an awesome day of only spending $2.27 on coffee and a bagel. I am challenging myself to eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day and made it through 3 which is a good start for me.

Looks like today I might manage to only spend $1.35 on coffee seeing as how I brought my lunch (yep, fruit and veggies) and dinner is all set for tonight. 2 Within Budget Days down!!!

We are having some work done at our house. We had brick and concrete steps/landing leading to our front door which was built sometime in the 1950s. It is in serious need of replacement and our contractor started today. I am very excited. We want him to add an overhang over the front door to give us some shade and the new landing will be big enough for at least 2 chairs. We have the money in our savings account to cover it so it's a really good feeling to not have to worry about paying for it

I just noticed that the interest rate on my Discover card has gone through the roof. 26.99% and I haven't been late in over 2 years. I am not sure what that is about but I am going to look into a balance transfer and shut that one down. How would I ever pay that off? It makes me sick thinking about it and I really need to find a way to bring in additional funds to chip away at it. My work is offering overtime which I am going to take advantage of and apply that to my card but it still feels like it won't be enough

DD and I went through the house and cars last night looking for Canadian money in anticipation for our upcoming weekend trip. We dug through the change jar, she dumped 2 piggy banks, I rooted through car ashtrays and DH dresser drawers.

Grand total for me-$45.00. DD ended up with a little under $5 which is good for her to use as spending money.

It feels a little like found money although I know it is from previos trips but it's nice to know that we are $45 ahead of the game!

Tonight I am packing and getting our birth certificates out.

So we are headed to Toronto this weekend with DH's whole family to celebrate Nana and Papa's 40th wedding anniversary. On one hand I am looking forward to going but of course on the other I am not. My 2 sister in laws do not get along at all and I am sure something is going to happen to upset one of them which will in turn ruin the trip. The 2 sisters have never gotten along and DH is fed up with their issues. I just hope and pray we can all get along for their parents sake and enjoy the trip.

We are leaving Friday morning. I booked the rooms on Travelocity and was able to get us a good deal(I think). Friday night the guys are taking the kids to a Yankee-Blue Jays game while the ladies are going to see Dirty Dancing-the musical. My MIL is a former nun so it will be interesting to see what she thinks of all the gyrating bodies on stage...ugh. Has anyone seen this show?

Saturday we are either going to Center Island or Ontario Place, both of which have an amusement park for the kids.

Sunday we are going to the African Lion Safari on our way home.

We hope to get some swimming in at the hotel and perhaps some shopping.

I am going to pack some snacks and juice for the kids to keep in the hotel room and then we will bring them when we go on our outings.

I figure food will be our highest cost oop while we are there. The room is already paid for as are the tickets to the events. Hopefully we can have a big breakfast and early dinner each night and skip lunch. That would be good for our wallets as well as our waists! I think I will suggest that.

My one SIL is so frugal that she doesn't let her kids get their own meal when they eat out. Either the kids (6 and 4) have to share one kiddie meal or they have to eat what Mom and Dad are eating. Does anyone else do that? It seems a little extreme to not let your kids get their own dinner but then again I am new to all this.

Try as I might I can't have a No Spend Day. I enjoy my morning coffee at work too much. And yes, I have tried to make coffee at home in an attempt to cut this out of my budget but I still like good old hospital cafeteria coffee. So, instead of beating myself up about never having a NSD I have created a new acronym...WBD. It stands for Within Budget Day (feel free to use if you like). I figure if I budget myself $10 a week for my morning treat as long as I don't go over that I am within budget. I have placed a cup in my drawer where I am stashing the cash and that is the only place I can take money from when I have or want to buy food while at work. Once it's gone, it's gone. So, Within Budget Day gives me some room to enjoy my coffee and not feel guilty about it. I think I can actually have a ton of WBD. I am going to try to keep track for the month of July.

Unfortunately today will not be one of those days

I was all set for it to be but then we were invited to a spur of the moment birthday parent for our neighbor. We don't usually do gifts for birthdays but since we are going over for pizza, cake, and swimming I figure I should at least bring a card and a couple of scratch off lotto tickets. So, as easy as that my WBD goes out the window.

I am hopeful though...I think I may be on to something here