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