November budget...

I created a list with our November budget. Not done completly but I am almost there. I have few more things to add and I will be done! I can't wait for November to be over so I can finally sit down and compare our spendings vs. our budget list!

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween :)

New Golas for November...

November here you come!!

I'm not complaining. In fact I'm very excited about November. I'm even more excited about our budget. I wonder, at the end of November, how'll we do with our budget?!

I'm not sure if I explaind our Financial situation at all. My husband has a business that brings in about 10K every month. In order for me to find a day job, I would have to find a nanny for our baby and hubby would have to hire someone to help him with his business, to replace my position. I actually help him, and that is how we can save more money. It's been going good so far. We don't have problems or complaints.

In November, we spoke about getting couple more new clients, and as of yesterday, I think he got them. We'll find out Monday. But we are sure that one is clear, but the other one, I'm about 85% sure they will go with us (because we offer better rates and service)! If they decide today to go with us, that would mean that hubby wouldn't have to get a PT job which would make me and our baby very happy. We then would spend more time together!

Another thing I'm worried about is 'Groceries' ... I hope we can stick to our budget of $600 including the two of us and our baby! I just hope we'll do well...

I'll be posting our budget list later on! I just hope it'll work out for us and November...

Come on Mr. November, be nice to us plssss!

My Husband is the best!

But I really mean 'the Best'...

This morning I was so exhausted and tired when he was leaving for work. I said 'bye' to him, and tried to get back to sleep but for some unexplainable reason I couldn't fall asleep. So, I got up and while I was brushing my teeth I was thinking what I could eat with my coffee... Honestly, I was craving something sweet... Half an hour later, by the time I was done and ready to enjoy my coffee, someone walked into my house. I looked and there he was..My hubby! Do you guys have any idea why he came back home one hour after he left for work??? Of course you wouldn't guess that he came and brought me some doughnuts. He knows I love them when they are warm, fresh and smelling good in the morning. With my first coffee of the day, that sure is the best treatment you can get :)

Thank you Baby for these wonderful donuts and for thinking of me! I love you!

Isn't he the best?

Halloween & Thanksgiving ...

Don't you just love fall and halloween?
All these beautiful bright colors? Red, orange, yellow?

This is my favorite season. I'm not saying that Christmas season is not beautiful, it sure is, but Fall is just something else..It always was my favorite! Every year I enjoy walking in parks, especially during the month of september, october and november... This year I didn't do much of decoration, I mean not at all, for Halloween. First, I didn't have time to go shopping, and second, I didn't feel like spending that extra money, that we are trying to send toward our debts.

I only have two little pumpkins on my balcony and hubby with his niece might do some decoration, but nothing much or special.

Last year we had a beautifully decorated our place and everyone was impressed. We didn't care much about our debts back then, but now, I do care and I don't care who's gonna say what. I just first follow our financial plan, and then see what I can or can't do!

Thanksgiving- will be a great one. I am going to visit my family for this Thanksgiving. My baby and I are staying there for eight days. Hubby has to stay home and work. He didn't feel like going there anyway...Every time I go to visit them I used to spend so much money, but this time, I have a budget. Hubby gave me $300 for a ticket (me and the baby) and said that I can have $100 budget for spending (coffee and catching up with old friends)... So I've done some good, but I really mean GOOD, research about flight tickets, and found one for $256, and honestly I almost got it. But something was telling me not to. So I've waited two more days, did some more research, and guess what??? I found a ticket for $139 - roundtrip, me and my baby! Unbelievable, I know! But I honestly found a ticket for this amount. Airtran had a wonderful special :)... I will have a $61 budget, and that's it! Instead of spending $400 I will be spending $200 including our ticket. Total savings $200. Not bad, not at all :)

Cutting off things for savings...

This will be a big and hopefully a great month for us.

We have a budget.
We can't spend extra money.
We will spend less on food, and I think that $600 for two adults and a baby is more than enough.
We will start paying our debts down.
We will have extra income (DH PT job).
We will have a cheap and good month.

I will also get to go to see my family. Hubby just got me and our baby a flight ticket... Nice huh?:)

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We will do the following to be able to save and be on track:

- Cut off the Cable ($59.00 a month) and get Netflix for $10 a month. Total savings $49.00
- Cut off my eye brow treatments ($40 a month) and start doing it myself like before. Total savings $40.00
- Find a cheaper apartment ($1424/ two bedroom a month) and get something up to $1000 a month. Total savings $424.00
- Cut down the Internet & Phone bill ($160.00 a month - total). Cancel the service with the current company, and get the service with a new company with a better deal of $75.00 a month for both Internet & phone. Total savings of $85.00 a month.
- Sell our car ($474 a month payment) and get something up to 4-5K cash. Total savings a month $474.
- Make the policy changes with our Car Insurance company and reduce the amount. By replacing our current car with something cheaper, the monthly insurance premium of $170.00 will go down to $100.00 max. Total savings of $70.00
- Cellphone plans will be reduced from $120.00 a month (Family plan) to $90.00 a month (family plan) max. Total savings of $30.00
- Groceries for two adults and a baby will go down from $1000 a month to $600.00.I started making a weekley menu so I know what I need to cook and buy for the whole week. Total savings of $400.00 a month.
- Entertainment amount of $200 per month will be cut down to $20.00 a month (movies or coffee) until we pay off everything. Total savings of $180.00 a month.
- Utility bill of $250 a month (average) will be cut down to $200 (winter is coming and we have a baby). Total savings per month $50.00

Total monthly savings: $1802.00

This is someone's Monthly income. That is a lot of money, and I will make sure it's saved. In two months I can pay off a $4000 credit card with this savings alone. Hubby thought that we are cutting off so many things, but then when we sat down and realized where the money is going, we decided to stick to this plan. Baby steps are small but safe and hopefully successfull!

Finance update...

Tonight, and yesterday night, DH and I have been talking about savings and finances a lot. I mean really a lot. We are so into saving and paying off everything so we can finally breath free! Doesn't everyone want that feeling? I DO!

We decided on taking baby steps and start paying small amounts first! He is going to get a night job, part time job, and try to send the PT Job money toward our debt. I would love to get a job too, but I just had a baby, a month ago, and he wants me to stay with our baby for she really needs her mommy! Just the thought of going to work and leaving her alone is braking my heart. I cannot go and look for a job, not for another couple of months. I was actually thinking to make a post on craigslist about baby sitting someone's kid during the day. That would bring few hundred bucks in our pocket and we would help us out a lot.

For me to work we have to find a baby sitter and pay her for staying with our little angel. But that is not all. If I work and pay her at least 150 a week, and I make with my PT job about $200 so what is the point to work???

Another thing is that my DH's mom is not working at all. She is staying with us, and just sitting around or goes out for a walk or just enjoying the day. I understand she is bored and wants to get out of the house. She is not one of these people who would run to find a job and enjoy their life. She doesn't like to work and DH has been taking care of her for years now. If I leave my baby with her, I would have to pay her too, so I wouldn't save any money. For free, she wouldn't do it. If my mom was here she would jump on taking care of my baby without even being asked. But not everyone is alike! Anyway... So far...


Here is where we are standing:

- DH is starting a evening and weekend PT job.
- DH is getting rid off of our car, and getting something cheap, that will be purchased cash!
- We will start paying off our debts!



Wish us luck ;)

School application...

I submitted my school application and now am waiting to be either accepted or not! I hope I will be, so I can start in January. My goal is to finish within 3 and a half years so I can become a teacher then.. Can't wait...

Does anyone know any grant programs to help you pay for school if you want to become a teacher? I heard that there are some programs out there and I have to talk about it with my financial aid advisor... Hopefully I'll be lucky! :)

Shame on me...

for many reasons. I didn't have time to be disciplined about our finances or anything else.



On September 25th, I delivered a beautiful baby girl. And it took us one month to get back on track with our busy life. Days and time pass by so fast that I cannot explain. Feed her, change her diapers, play with her a little bit, cook a meal, make sure she's clean, she burped, make sure she had at least 3-4 wet diapers, make sure the poop color is perfect, make sure she gets her tummy time done...etc etc... Kids are wonderful, but let me tell you they are so much work. The day passes by so fast in a eye wink... You don't have time to sleep because as soon as she makes a little sound you jump and then she gets a stuffy nose, and you are so scared to fall asleep because God forbid something might happen to her. And that is how my days pass.



Hubby and I spoke about our finances to get back on track starting November 1st, as well as with our weight.





I want to get back to my weight before I moved in with my hubby, exactly two years ago, a little bit over two years, and back then I was weighing 145, and gained 30 more by staying home and being a great wife.

He was two and a half years about 280lbs, and me just couple months before I met him, I was 135lbs, and that was such a perfect weight for my 5'6".



My 6 week check-up is on November 6th, and as soon as I get a green light from my OB/GYN I will start a diet, and be strikt about it.



Tomorrow we are starting to work out in our Apartment complex gym. 6 times a week, should show some results.

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Weight- Health:



Today here is where my husband and I are standing ...



Hubby- 340lbs ( muuuuuuuuuuuch more than he should weigh)

Me- 190lbs (muuuuuchhhhh more than I should have. Considering that I just had a baby a month ago, should not be a great excuse but at least I have one :D )



This is where we want to be:



Hubby- 250lbs

Me- 135lbs





Finances:



Our debt has been raising for the past two years, and just about this summer we started taking control of our finances but not too well this past two months. None of us is very disciplined when it comes to finances and spending money, but we are at least trying ...



This is where we are standing:



Finances:



Debt amount: Credit cards & Some collections - $31,090.27
Student loans (my s.loans) - $9500.00
Car: $24000.00
Mortgage: $340,000.00







This is where we want to be:


Debt amount: $0 BIG FAT ZERO!!!

Car: Sell it and get a cheap car, pay cash for it, up to 5K.

Mortgage: Start paying off slowly when done paying C.Cards....

Goal : Pay off our credit cards, collections, and get rid off of our car, by end of December 2009!!!