Confession of a Budget Blower

When you deal with depression, many other issues come into play. For me a major one is money. I have to watch myself (and sometimes so do others) for financial infidelity. Or in layman's terms "feelgood" spending. You know where you buy things you just don't need to fill that hole inside.

Now I am lucky that I do not do this in large ways. Like buying big ticket items. But I can still lie about what I spend by just not telling. And being that I am the budget maker and bill payer then that is not always the best thing.

Well, I have a lil help now. "Mind Over Money:Overcoming the Money Disorders that Threaten Our Financial Health" has been written by a father and son team of financial psychologist. They have put down in easy to understand terms just what we do to hurt ourselves. The dangers and pitfalls that are in a disorder when dealing with money. And they also help in how to overcome those issues. What I really like is that this does not tell me how to manage my money. Instead it helps me learn about my relationship with money. How I use it or abuse it to fulfill other needs. And in turning that around I am releasing some of the mounting stress I feel. Of course, that helps my depression lift too! So it is a win win situation for me.

They also host a website named Your Mental Wealth. And there you can take a free money disorders test. Yes, we have test for all sort of disorders floating around. But this one may just help you get back up in the saddle in your pocket book. And with times as hard as they are for so many right now, who can not use a lil help. They would like to offer you a special code to take the money disorder test. The coupon code is "CRAZEDMIND" where you can take the test for free without owning the book.

Staying Green All Year Long

How Green is your home? How about the habits your teaching your children? Or the effect we all have on those around us. Of course we want to preserve the Earth but sometimes we are not sure just what to do. Or are aware of home much lil things help.

Well here is a great everyday hint. The Green Year provides 365 simple and inexpensive eco-friendly ideas for each day of the year. Organized by date, the green living tips suggest small changes and environmentally friendly ideas that make a big green impact. The Green Year is more than a calendar. It offers practical, affordable and engaging activities that help make going green a blessing rather than a burden. Jodi Helmer, the author, is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about eco-friendly topics. She is the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers and a professional speaker who offers workshops on green issues.

For today the daily hint is to check you pilot lights. Letting us remember that gas appliances have pilot lights that need to be working efficiently. You will save energy and money by making sure the pilot light is not clogged up. And tomorrows hint is one I practice all year long. By keeping my freezer filled with fresh vegetables purchased during season I save money. The other news is that when your freezer is full it runs more efficiently.

In addition to these easy green suggestions, readers will find:

• The reasons for each activity—what makes it good for the environment and the reader?
• A quick how-to for any activity that requires it.
• Room for readers to write in their own creative alternatives.

Now the great news is that I have 5 copies of The Green Year to share with you. If you would like to win a copy then please share on of your green ideas here on my comments. (This is mandatory to enter.) You can also have extra entries too. Additional entries can all be done with a separate comment for each for following, having my button, twittering, links on face book, sending others to the giveaway (they have to credit you) and blogging about this great giveaway. Make sure that I can contact you some how in order to let you know if your the winner.

Clicking for Cash?

I was working out at Curves last week when I was asked How to Make Money Blogging. Well I

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know you can make a little money with a blog. But not enough in my opinion to support an individual or family. But of course every lil bit helps too! Especially in this economy.

Blogging for Money almost sounds like a game show doesn't it. But there are many of us who do make a little. What I see most is reviews. Now from what I have seen, reviews do not garner you any money. But you can get product for yourself. It is very hard to review an item if you do not have the item on hand. Correct. For example last week we had a wonderful meal over at Nessa's house. And part of the dinner was to see how we liked the main course. She had used a new oil to cook in. Did we like it? Why? Would she use it again? This was for a review. Now what is the value of a bottle of cooking oil? Yes, it helps to have every lil bit that we do not have to purchase ourselves. But in the big picture it is not all that much either.

So the best I see is that with our blogs we can do Revenue Sharing. Yes we may bring in a lil money to help with a bill or two. But we can also use the products that we would normally buy to review too. Is this income. Yes. And would you use different ways to supplement yours?

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College=$$

Well College Girl made a mad dash through the house at lunch time. She needed some $$ and I

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had to cash a check that was left here for her. I am glad she is only 45 minutes away. So it is not a long drive for these type of trips. But, if, well. . .it would be nice if I could have just put the $$ onto a Prepaid Visa and she could use the card in her purse. It would make it easier.
I am looking into the program we wish to use for this account. I do know that I can reload the card at Taylor's where Dear Hubby works.
So how do you handle this type of situation. Do you mail money to your CG? Or do they have a debit card to your account? Have you created a credit card for them and would you prefer if it is prepaid? I know we do not need any unexpected expenses. And just the gas to drive home and get money is just that much more to add to the $$. What have you found works for you?

Letting My Fingers Save Me Money

Well it is time to pay my auto insurance. And I am really happy with who I have. But I received a letter in the mail telling me it was time for me to renew. I was baffled as I felt it was not that long ago that I changed companies. Well, it is not time to renew at all. Just another company trying to get me to change over is all.

How did I find my current company? Well I was looking for cheap auto insurance quotes. So I went online and was looking for places to get quotes at. I was able to find many quotes online and able to compare the different companies. This way I was able to find the lowest quote for the features I needed to have. It sure did save me a good chunk of money.

I found this quite helpful. And I felt so much better doing the research myself. It was not hard to do, just took a little bit of time to do the searches. So instead of waiting for your company to "drop" rates, start looking around yourself. And don't fall into the traps that can come through the mail. I almost did!

Looking to Invest for My IRA

"Online Trading", "Online Broker", and "Stock Trading"

These are all words that strike fear inside of me.
Why?
Well, I just do not understand what stock trading is really about.

I understand I am buying an investment.
And that I am "betting" on it to be a productive stock.

But how do I know what stock to purchase?
Is the person I am dealing with reliable?
Can I afford to invest?

There is a knowledge center that can help you learn more about stock trading. It will provide you with the information to start your online stock trades. If you are a seasoned investing veteran, or someone trying for the very first time, you can be sure to find something that will expand your understanding of the stock trades.

Looking to the Future

The way DH has to work two jobs so we can just make it. Well it frustrates me! Most of his income goes to pay child support to his other families. And that I understand. But that does not leave anything for him to live on. I mean who do you know that works 40 hours a week and is lucky to bring home $70-$100? So that is why the second job is so necessary.

Well one of the places now has a retirement fund. It does mean we have to lose some income but that is ok to help make sure we may have a little further down the road. So we are in a learning process of how all these investments work. I searched and found Online Broker at a site that does retirement accounts.

You see I do not have an outside job. I am disabled and have to draw on my social security. This started at age 35 so I can not imagine that there will be any thing I can look forward to as I age. Not that we can at this time but hopefully some time I can invest some into a retirement account too. Not that I will ever get to do Stock Trading or Online Trading. But may be that Online Broker will help me set up retirement.

Life is. . . ?

Please take the time to visit
my 50 toy give away and
my mothers etsy shop.

Life is what you make it. And I want to make mine...........


Hummm, Rich? So I can pay the bills?


Pretty so I have a nice house to look at?


Organized so I can find anything at anytime?


Loved so I am always safe in my DH's arms?


Hummmmm? You know I really don't know what I want in my life right now.


Oh no, is this the mid-life crisis? CG is away from home, I have tons of free time, DH always working----oh and let's not start on the hot flashes and confusion.

Clean Sweep

Please take the time to visit
my 50 toy give away and
my mothers etsy shop.

Well life here is still quiet. Not much doing. I keep thinking I need to de-clutter my home. I have even ordered a book from PaperbackSwap.com to help me. I am fighting the urge to just start throwing away tons of stuff. And to take everything off the walls. Sometimes it just feels like the stuff is taking over. If I can get rid of it all then the house will feel clean and right.

None of this makes sense since my home is not dirty. Lived in yes! And there does not matter what I remove it will still just be an old house. I am not sure why everything feels so overwhelming here. I think it is all due to my finances.

I am use to always taking care of all the bills. And having had childcare before to help pay them worked out. I have not had that in 6 months. I am now having to depend on others to have enough money to do it all. It is not working well enough. I really need to make more money and I am unsure as to what to do. This is more than likely why I feel so overwhelmed with "things" and want to purge it all.

Do you feel that way at times? How do you handle stress of bills? What is your "quick" fix when your unsure as what to do?

Time to Pay the Piper

Well today is Pay the Bills day.

I hate this day every month. It is the hardest day for me. Not that I don't won't to pay. But that there is never enough money. I am sure y'all understand.

And with my CG away at school and DH working two jobs to support his kids it just seems that I am here alone struggling with the bills. I have wondered about Debt Cosolidation but don't know what all could be worked down to a smaller fee or amount. And of course your regular bills don't fit there either.

We don't have credit cards and the such. Just the ol fashion gotta pay the mortgage and hope there is money left for a tank of gas type life.

So how do you handle this day? Do you do it? Or does the spouse? Is it with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee? A little each week or all at one time? And are you ready for taxes next?????? Oh no!

Bill Day

There are days and then there are days. Some of them you sail through and end up with a few things done and a feeling that life is good. Then the days you wade through the muck and mire. Where sounds are too loud, time is not stretched and energy has been sapped. My worse one every month is bill day. I have one check a month that I get to try and stretch to cover all the bills. Of course this is impossible. Next I get to lay out the monthly plan of when bills are due and where money is coming from. Of course I am always praying that it will drop from the sky. Bill day takes at least 3 hours without interruptions. Doing it with three 20 month old girls is a task one should not even contemplate. Thankfully about an hour into it my mom took the girls for nap time. Bill day makes me tired, worried and fearful. Here lately it has become harder and harder since I am now down to one permanent family for childcare income. I have cut as many bills as I possible can or so I think. I am actually looking at one more that I could trim if the family is willing to sacrifice. It will save another $15.00 from what we pay and still have a "luxury" item. And I see that in three more months I will have one bill paid off and that money can go to something else. Oh, bill day? Do you have one? How do you budget?