I have misplaced my ATM/Debit card. Most people would think this was a bad thing. I however do not.

I went to the bank yesterday to report it lost and to order a new one. No one has used the card since I last used it last Sunday. This is excellent news. If someone has found it they aren't attempted to get at my cash.

I am guessing the card is lost somewhere in my house or car although my attempts at locating it have failed.

It will take about 10 days for the new card to come. It may take a little longer since we have the holiday coming up.

I use my debit card for EVERYTHING. From gas to coffee in the morning. From groceries to mindless, needless spending. Not having my card hopefully means no more mindless spending. I have $50 to last me for spending until my new card comes. I have to be very careful what I spend my money on since I won't have access to anymore.

The lady at the bank told me to take a few checks with me when I go shopping and I can pay that way. Stores still take checks?! I can't remember the last time I wrote a check. I don't think I would have a clue how to pay by check!

This might be the push I need to face my New Years resolutions and my goals for the first quarter of 2009.

I guess something good can come from something bad

I am considering purchasing some budget software.

The Mint thing didn't work out for me. As much as I like the idea of it all being on line it was reliable at all. My transactions wouldn't download and half the time my accounts couldn't connect. Not worth the aggravation.

So, I am going to do some homework and look into YNAB and Quicken. My home computer came with a version of Quicken which is like 7 years old now.

Anyone have any suggestions or opinions as to which they like better? What should I avoid? Anything?

Thanks!

Well, I am feeling the stress of the holidays. I can't really blame it on anything but my amazing ability to procrastinate. Not that I am proud of this talent at all but somewhat like my finances I know what I should be doing but am having a hard time doing it.

I have called in sick to work today. I do feel under the weather. Yesterday something hit me after lunch and I had the chills all afternoon. I am taking the day to recover and get some of the things I need to do done so I can stop worrying about it.

This is my to do list for the day:

*wrap all the presents including a couple of birthday presents

*bake at least 3 types of cookies

*order Christmas cards from Sam's

*pick up Christmas cards

*at least 2 loads of laundry

*take our comforter to the laundry mat to wash since it is to big to fit in my machine

*go to the post office to ship the rest of my sister's Christmas present and buy stamps

*figure out if I've forgotten a gift for anyone

I think if I get this all accomplished I will be in a good place.

I am excited to start my first quarter goals for 2009. I am ready for the challenge and even convinced my sister to come up with some concrete financial goals. Hopefully we will be able to motivate each other and hold each other accountable.

I am going to go now before I get too comfortable at the computer and have the day is gone.

Have a great day everyone!

I am so broke!!!! I think it is a combination of getting paid on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving vs the Friday after and Christmas shopping. I do have about $90 to last me until Friday. It seems like enough but it makes me nervous.

I have to get gas for my car-I think that is the only outstanding expense I have until Friday. Thanks to the lower gas prices it should onlu cost about $45 to fill my auto.

Tomorrow is our Hospital Holiday Lunch so I'll get free lunch! It's not great but it is tradition. I do have some lunch meat left for the rest of the week so I am thinking I need about $7 for coffee until Friday.

I have to get Emma off to play rehearsal in about 20 minutes. We have to leave there early to make it to choir practice. We have decided to sing in the Family Choir at our church this Christmas Eve. My husband has played his guitar during Mass for several years and this year I am joining in. I'll be the first to admit I don't have a great singing voice but hey, isn't it the effort you put forth that counts?

I don't have any plans for tomorrow or Thursday evenings so I am hoping to get either some Christmas baking, wrapping, or cards done. It is going to be a busy weekend coming up-I am not sure I'll have any time then.

I am tired just thinking about it all...

Since this is really the first year I am trying to scale down on Christmas presents for the kids I am worried I don't have enough.

How many presents does Santa usually bring to your houses?

Between the presents from Santa, presents from us, and stocking stuffers I have 10 things for Aidan and 12 things for Emma.

And the crazy thing is I think that isn't enough! I am going to try my hardest not to buy anything else for Emma. I think she is all set and whatever else she could have wanted can wait until April when she turns 9. Aidan is lucky with a January birthday he doesn't have to wait as long.

How the heck do I change my thinking and realize that it is enough? Plus there will be presents from my sister under the tree so it's not like the family room is going to be bare. And on Christmas Eve we get together with my husband's family and the kids get about 4-5 presents each from them.

Enough, enough, enough!

I am so looking forward to the weekend. We really don't have a lot of plans so if I am able to stay motivated I will be able to get some things accomplished around the house.

What I really need to do is look at the Christmas presents I have for the kids and see what else, if anything, I need to get. I would like it if they had an equal number of packages to open. Unfortunately everything Emma wants costs at least double what Aidan wants. Hopefully I can finish my list and start wrapping so I don't get overwhelmed.

The house really needs to be cleaned and the mountain of laundry in the basement needs to be addressed. I am running out of clothes to wear to work. The kitchen floor has something on it that is annoying me to no end so I must wash it. The dog likes to sleep on our bed so needless to say the comforter needs to go to the laundry mat. Then I think I will have to put a blanket on top of the comforter so she doesn't get it dirty again.

DH is playing his guitar at a Christmas thing on Sunday so I will take the kids after church and we will watch and listen.

I am nervous about not having enough money for the rest of the presents needed. I have really scaled back this year but it's tough. I haven't started baking or the Christmas cards yet so I should try to squeeze those in as well.

I should also do some general baking and cooking-use up what we have. The kids are complaining that there aren't any snacks in the house.

My MO in the past has been to do nothing when I get totally overwhelmed but I am going to try and not let that happen this weekend.

After the kids go to bed tonight I am going to give myself a facial, deep condition my hair, and take a nice long, hot bath (and try not to worry about using too much hot water). I think that is the perfect way to get me motivated for my chores this weekend.

Who said weekends are for resting?!