I appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions from my last post about not being able to cut back on using the old credit cards.

I have since created a better budget, right down to the last penny for the month of September. I am going to try my best to stick to it. I gave myself some funds for the unexpected which is really what gets me every month.

I do have an emergency fund. I have 2 savings account-one at my credit union which is a joint account with DH. We usually use this money for home improvements so I try not to touch it. The other account I have is with FNBO and is an online account. It typically takes 3 days for the funds to transfer so it isn't very liquid when things come up. This is good in the sense that I can't get to it easily and bad in that I can't get to it easily!

I am excited for the school season to begin. With DD playing soccer and being involved in a play with the ARC of Monroe we are going to be busy shuttling her around. I have created a monthly dinner menu for the family with the hopes that on Sunday and Thursday (the day I work 6am-2:30) I will be able to cook ahead and prepare so if I am not home by dinner time the next night DH just have to throw whatever we are having in the oven. I am hoping that this will cut down on the amount of processed food that we eat in turn lowering our grocery bill and perhaps even my waist! I have 4 empty spots on the calendar so this weekend I have to come up with the last 4 recipes and then plan my shopping. I am hoping to be able to go to Sam's Club at the beginning to the month to get all the meat. Then I will only have to hit the grocery store once a week for produce and milk. Oh, and I going to try to squeeze in some baking so the kids have dessert that isn't store bought most nights. It's a pretty ambitious plan but I think I will be able to do it. The key I guess is just being organized (which isn't a strong quality for me).

I found $.08 in the vending machine today at work and took it I hardly ever find money so I was pretty happy. Oh, and I made $32.00 at the consignment store for last season. I went out last night to drop some more stuff off and collect. They only took 3 items this time so I will have to go back soon. I seem to have better luck reselling the kids clothes and yesterday I brought my clothes.

Anyways, I feeling pretty positive right now and am eager to get on with my budget

I have been around long enough to know that in order to get out of debt you need to
a) pay off existing debt and
b) prevent any new debt from occuring

I seem to be struggling with B. It seems as though as I try to throw everything I have to my debt I wind up not being able to afford things that come up during the month. Then I have to get out the old credit card again.

How do I prevent this from happening?! I am eager to pay off my debt and not incur new debt.

Does anyone have any ideas to prevent new debt that worked well for them? I have cut up all but 1 card that I use for emergencies but that doesn't even do it for me. I know if I go into a store like Old Navy or Gap they can pull my account up just like that so I don't even need the card.

I think I am my own worst nightmare.

Here at the medical center where I work the Red Cross does blood drives all the time. It seems like they are here every other week recruiting people to donate. They are here today and are offering a free movie ticket, free tshirt, and a chance to win a $500 gift card to some store. Right about now I am wishing I wasn't so squimish about giving blood. Unfortunately I tend to faint when I have to have blood drawn and that has kept me away from donating. Anyone out there a regular blood donater? I guess if I got someone really experienced it wouldn't be so bad but I tend to hold my breathe and think about how much I can feel the needle in my vein...crazy I know. But think about all the free movies I could see while helping out people who need blood.

DH needed me to write him a check for $300 out of our savings account this morning. He is a school counselor and only works about 5 days during the summer. Towards the end of the summer if he doesn't budget correctly he runs out of money.

I also have to pay for my daughter's travel soccer team fees. Anyone have kids that play a travel sport? I believe for the year we owe $350. DH and I talked about it being a big expense but DD is kinda shy and we thought this would be a good way to help her come out of her shell and form some more friendships.

I cleaned out my closet and gathered up some stuff that I don't wear anymore to take to the consignment store I always go to. When I am there I will be able to pick up my check from last season. I am anxious to see how much it is for as I had quite a few items that were excepted. I am going to try to do that this week sometime.

I also have to get my car inspected and the oil changed this week. I am over on both and with my luck I will get a ticket for the expired inspection, don't need that!

****Old Navy is having a sale on jeans this Saturday. $7 for all kids jeans and $12 for adult jeans****************

Yesterday I took DD out for some school shopping. Although I don't really enjoy back to school shopping it was nice to spend the day with her alone and just chat and shop. We were out for about 4 hours and got a lot accomplished as well as spent some money.

Our first stop was to Big Lots which I didn't think had really great deals which was surprising. We purchased:
Backpack $8.00 (great deal)
4 ct highlighter $1.00
24 count pencils $1.00
Box of tissues for her class $1.10
Coupon organizer for me $1.00
2 pack boxer briefs for DS $2.00
Total $15.15

Then off to Hallmark to get a birthday present for my SIL:
Candle $19.98-20% off coupon I received in the mail to use during my bday month.
Total $17.26

Target was next and is always dangerous but I did pretty well sticking to the list:
2 light weight sweaters for DD 6.98 each
1 Camp Rock hat for DD (definately not a need) 6.99
Ziploc baggies for DD classroom 2.79
Target brand disinfectant wipes 1.97
Hairspray for me 3.24
Shampoo and Conditioner 4.39 each
2 pack Glue sticks .22
15 count erasers .97
24 count crayola crayons .22
10 count red pens .50
20 count black pens .69
12 pack crayola color pencils .89
Composition book .50
5 folders at .15 each
Grand total $45.03 of which we could have done without the hat and I may have been able to get the shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray cheaper if I looked for coupons first.

Last stop of the day was to Old Navy and here I did best. They were having a 40% off kids clothing sale as well as 20% off everything you could stuff in a bag:
t-shirt for me 14.50-20%=11.60
t-shirt for me 14.50-20% 11.60
long pants for DD 24.50-40%-20%=11.76
t-shirt for DD 12.50-40%-20%=6.00
sweatjacket for DD 19.50-40%-20%=9.36
Capri pants for DD 14.50-40%-20%=6.96
Shirt for DD 14.50-40%-20%=6.96
Sweater for DD 14.50-40%-20%=6.96
Long pants for DD 24.50-40%-20%=11.76
Grand total $86.28
I saved $70.54 which in my book is OK DD got several things that she really liked and they will all be put to good use. That is all the clothes I am buying for her now unless I find a really good deal.

So, our school shopping event (plus 1 bday gift) cost me $163.72. I don't look forward to the day DS is in school too.

So, today while I have a rare hour alone I am going to pay some bills and review the budget. See if I can make any additional payments anywhere.

Very proud of myself at this moment. I just went down to the bookstore here at the medical center where I work. It happens to be a Barnes and Noble which is a hot spot for me. I went in looking for a new planner. While I was there I stopped to look through the books since I am leaving for my mountain vacation today and always get a lot of reading done in the car and while I am there. I found several titles that I have been wanting to read. I narrowed my potential purchase down to 1 paperback book that cost $14.00. I have the membership card and am pretty sure I would have gotten 10% off. I walked around a bit with book in hand. The more I thought about it I came to the conclusion that I didn't need to purchase the book for several reasons:
a) I already have 3 books from the library packed in my bag
b) Although I had already read and enjoyed one book by this author I don't own that first book so why would I need the second? It's not like I am collecting all this particular author's books
c) I have no more room on my bookshelves at home for another book
d) I tend to only read books once unless it is a favorite
So, I put the book back where I found it and walked out with my planner and a small journal notebook. I am going to journal while on vacation and hope to keep up with it when I return.

So, take that temptation-I actually won this one!

So, I ditched the Discover card. They weren't ready to work with me so I transferred my debt elsewhere. Not a permanent solution but I am glad to not be doing business with them anymore.

Can't believe summer vacation is almost over. It has been a very rainy summer here in Western NY. DD and Hubby go back to school 9/3. DS will start back up in daycare as well. We are going to the mountains for our annual family camping trip tomorrow. We will stay until Wednesday. Just swimming, hiking, reading, good times. A couple of nights there will be 15 of us there-talk about cozy! But it doesn't cost us anything (friends of the family let us borrow their house for the week). Each family is responsible for making dinner one night. All in all it is usually a great time.

When we get back I am taking DD school suplly shopping. We received her list and will probably hit Target. I am not buying any new clothes for her until the weather starts to turn. She has enough nice summer clothes to wear the first few weeks of school.

Hubby is turning 40 this October and I am in the middle of deciding what to do for his special day. He isn't a big party person but I would like to celebrate. I do know I have to start planning whatever it is I am going to do

Well, I turned 37 on Saturday and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been having horrible headaches the last couple of weeks and the nasty vertigo feeling has crept in a couple of times, one being at my birthday get together. We had family over for pizza and cake yesterday and around 7pm while I was just sitting and talking a wave of vertigo hit. It was horrible. I went right to bed because I couldn't stand the feeling. I woke up with it this morning as well but to a lesser degree. I have an appointment with the PA in my doctor's office this afternoon.

I also pulled a muscle in my neck so between the 2 I am not able to move my head. Needless to say I am sure I look like a freak!

Money wise I am doing well. Feeling antsy about trying to pay down the debt. I am glad I have a plan and am actively paying it down but like everyone else I am sure, it's not going down fast enough.

All in all I am happy with where I am at 37. I have a great husband and 2 beautiful children. A job that I enjoy on most days and a wonderful extended family and group of friends. I have a house over my head and the ability to pay my bills every month. What more could a girl ask for?