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Archive for April, 2013

day 8- dragging- Utility Win

April 30th, 2013 at 06:33 pm

I worked last night and came back in on my off day. AT 5AM! I received 5 1/2 extra hours should have 30 hrs this week.) I am grateful and tired. I plan a little nap and then I have to get on with lawn work. Finish one load of hand laundry, work on cleaning out the car and get some sleep for a busy day Wednesday.

I wasted money today as I bought 2 sodas and a biscuit. I bought a tea and some cookies for dinner last night. I need to work on the discipline a little more.

Good News: The light bill came in at $120 ( has been $200.) My goal is to get the next bill in at under $100.

I have had trouble turning ALL the lights out whether at home or when away. A little over 2 years ago, I walked into my home to find a burglar. I walloped him with a hammer and he came back while I was (2 blocks away )at the police department filling out the report. He ripped the door frame out. He also returned a few months later after I had burglar bar door installed. It has only been this year that I could sleep in a dark room.

SOOO, I am making strides in that area. I am learning to sleep in a dark house. I am learning to turn out ALL lights when I leave. I am learning to use a flashlight when I enter the house. I am seriously considering getting several solar lights that can charge during the day and be used at night ( dollar tree)

Day7- Decent Windfalls

April 29th, 2013 at 04:36 pm

With the trip 2 weeks away, I received a windfall of $100. I was told to buy some new clothes for the trip. I am trying hard to round up some good clothes and use the $100 for other expenses. I could use it to buy more sellable merchandise on the trip and double or ( prayer) triple the money for bills.

One of my customers came in Saturday night and purchased 19 ballons to be filled and picked up the next day for her grandchild's birthday party on Sunday. She mentioned she "throws" the Sunday paper for extra money. I asked if she had extra coupon inserts. She said she would check. Sunday Morning sh brought me 3 full papers. There were three coupn inserts in each and I found some bargains.

The best part was a new job to apply for in my field. It was advertised in the free to me paper. SCORE!

Rain Saturday and Sunday kaboshed mowing. I also traded one of my Weekdays for a Sunday morning shift. I knew it was going to rain Sunday and My other weekday could hopefully be spent mowing. I was asked if I would be willing to work The same day I traded if the reginional director approved more hours in prep for inventory. Of course I said YES. Hey, mowing the grass doesn't pay the bills. I can always play catch up during my off time.

Day 5- budgeting

April 26th, 2013 at 08:16 pm

Published a few hours early

Here goes on the budget:


Mortg- $225 (planned worst case scenario at purchase)
Lights $200 ( can't figure out why- no heat or A/C)
Water $65
Phone $150 ( looking for a cheaper plan- need wifi for job search)
Fuel- $150 ( I usually use one tank a week + mowing)
Auto Insurance- $50
groceries $25 ( well stocked pantry- exp throught 2015)

Total of $750 bare bones and no Murphy's laws banging me. Takehome from MW job runs about $500. I have $3366 in the bank and I know that will not last forever. I scrape for any extras. Which is good. I am at the point where I am going to have to bite the bullet and give up wifi. There are no wifi hotspots where I live. The nearest library is SMALL and has odd hours. Steeling my self for that bullet.

The food budget is low because I aggressively sought out bargains with extended experation dates before the job loss. I think I did very well there.

1/4 of zone 4 is mowed. Headed out to finish.

Day 4- baby steps

April 26th, 2013 at 06:46 pm

I slept late ( 11 am). I am sick and when I got off work last night I found out my sister took my dad to the ER so I joined them. After he was released, we grabbed a bite at Arby's and went home. Turns out he was having dizzy spells becausehe needs to slowly stand up and not do chores that have him bending over and rising up quickly. They are sending him to a neuro just in case.

So I am up and had a breakfast of herbed cheese chunks and an orange Shasta. Last can fom a 4 pack treat from the Dollar Tree.

Today will be focused on cleaning out the car and mowing the yard. I will be filling out the online applications probably after dark today.

I received my new schedule last night. Next week I am scheduled for 25.5 hrs. Hopefully, I will able to bump that up to 30-35 depending on who calls in or them needing someone to stay late. Could be pretty good week. I need it with the trip coming up ( not working for a whole week), car insurance $275 in July, car tag in July, $100, that vibration in the car $??, and need an oil change soon ( egads, $40.) I am planning on earning all of that in outside "fundraising." I am trying to use as little of my banked funds as possible.

I will have a few yardsales, Make a little at the Flea Market see what else I can come up with between now and then.


update: Zone 1- ROW completed
Zone 2- front yard- completed except weedeating
Zone 3- Side yard started

The whole time I am mowing, I am making mental list of other outside chores and repairs need completed.

Day 3- Found One Excuse

April 25th, 2013 at 10:24 pm

Tomorrow is my off day. I plan to finish the yard. It will be stop and go all day as I am too out of shape to finish it all at once. I also plan to wash work uniforms and clean off the carport ( very messy.) For those who do not know ( that would be all of you), I wash my clothes by hand because I don't own a washer and the local laundry mat is nasty right down to the machines. Ok, the place is pretty clean but the water going into the machines looks like it has been filtered with a window screen for big crap and then refed into the washers. ewwwe. I do plan in the future to haul some of my laundry to my sister's house but sh is funny and it takes a fair bit of gas to just hop on over there.

Saturday I don't work until 4pm, so I plan to work on cleaning out the car and start detailing it myself. I am determined to dig out of my messy habits. starting outside and working my way in.


At least I know why I have felt like crap for the last week and I half. Sinus infection. It tends to sneek up on me and I have been lazy as of late so I missed the clues. My teeth hurt because of the pressure ( I hope.)

I almost missed my volunteer banquet today but plodded on because I know how few volunteers there are and how hard our leader works. She would have been disappointed. We had a BIG lunch and I am quite full. I wasted gas coming home and sleeping until time to get up, blog and get ready for MW work time. I felt I should work on the yard but the rest won out. I did save a little as my plan was to shop the thrift store if the sitting assignment did not work out, It fell through so I slept.

Day 2-

April 24th, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Today is busy. I have Volunteer hours this morning, a 5 hour shift at my MW job ( remember to bring home hot dog buns as I have some hotdogs in fridge that need using up) and then chores at home.

I was terribly naughty last night. I ordered a pizza when I had perfectly good food. I was craving something tasty and filling. I just caved. NO MORE! I have to "act my wage."

A plus was that I was able to purchase some damges at work this week. 3 boxes poptarts, 1 bag really good cereal, box of Nekkos and a box of cheese crackers. Not good food but stretchy food and all for $1.64. Sad how exciting that is to me.

Today, I will work on mowing the yard. I discovered yesterday that I am woefully out of shape and only had the stamina to complete the right of way. This evening after work, my goal is to at least complete the front yard and possibly the side yard before dark.

Seeing as how Thursday is filled by AM volunteering, Volunteer banquet/luncheon and a 5 hour MW shift. I don't think I will be able to squeeze in mowing. I should be able to finish Friday as I am off. I don't work again until Saturday evening.

I should have 35 hrs and If I am lucky I can sqeeze in few more hours. 40 hr weeks are unheard of now due to Obama Care. I am looking at a second MW job at a local clothing outlet after vacation. ( clarification:My father is sooo excited to have me finally go with the family, that he is covering all expenses except any purchases I make at the 4 days of yardsales.

FYI, I have a push mower. I also have a very full pantry, a cluttered house, more home repairs than I shake a stick at and a tremendous load on my shoulders financially that I cannot share at this time.

Day One- 2.0

April 24th, 2013 at 12:17 am

I am back and determined to make a go of it. SInce you last heard from me, there have been changes. I left one position in search of a more livable workplace. Out of the pan into the fire! I left that job over a year ago and am now struggling to live off a part time minimum wage job while searching for a new professional position.

Today's task: Mowing the yard. I am not sure if the mower will start this year, but here goes!


Update: The mower was low on oil. I added oil and new gas. YEAH!!! It started. I was so worried that I would have another repair bill. I am praying it holds out until I get a new job.

Ionly mowed the rightof way but it is a start. I have Volunteer duties the next two days including two shifts at my MW job. Since I worked 3 extra shifts this week ( 2 in one day) I should have 34-35 hours. This is ALOT of hoursat thi place of employment.

I will be taking my first vacation in 8 years next month. I am only going because my father is losing his ability to drive and I have not visited these relatives since 1994. Mostly to keep my dad from killing himself and my sisters with his driving while towing a trailer. There is potential to turn this into a money making trip as we will be hitting a city wide yardsale over the course of 4 days while visiting. The prices there are dirt cheap and I can sell many items when I return home.