Like the Plague

I've been avoiding this place.
Because :IT'S HARD.

Especially when your partner isn't on board with your goals & you need his support.
I have to update again, soon.

This is doable!

Final Earn More Update...

I totally forgot about my $5 swagbucks amazon card..,

and I sold another book on Half.com- $11.31

My sister gave me another $20 for babysitting, but I gave it back. Just because, you know?

But, I'm still counting it, because I earned it. :)

I aimed high : $600, but didn't come very close. I earned $126.79.

Some dude wants to buy my juicer off of Craigslist but not until next week...grr!!

I'm going to admit that I didn't give this challenge my 'all'. I was distracted by a lot of things going on in real life. But, while I didn't earn a lot of money, I really cleaned out my house! The thing is, I had soo much STUFF I no longer needed, that it became really overwhelming. So, I just bagged it up & donated it. So, all in all -it was a success! I feel less cluttered and more focused.

Must resist temptation..

As soon as I got the credit cards paid off, I received so many lucrative, tempting offers in the mail. Personal invitations to use credit cards, with 'offers I can't refuse':

* No interest/No payments for 12 months
* Earn cash back rewards for every dollar spent
* Get free shipping & return shipping on all LL Bean purchases.
*Earn coupons good towards LL Bean merchandise when you use the LL Bean Mastercard.

We order from LL Bean alot. It's a little pricey in the short run, but in the long run we actually save money buying items from them. Our boys have used the same $30 school backpacks for years as opposed to the $15 backpacks we used to buy, which would break in a few months. LL Bean is not giving me any kickbacks for this post, I'm just saying-the items are durable & will save us money in the long run.

After reading this post over at Dedicated to Financial Freedom, I got to thinking. So, what if I paid for everything (groceries, gas, etc) on the LL Bean MasterCard each month, then paid it in full each month. In the mean time, I'd earn LL Bean gift cards? Would that be horrible? Am I capable of such a thing?

And what if I used the no interest/no payments for 12 months offer @ Home Depot to purchase the new washer/dryer we need anyway?

I should just close these accounts, yes? no?

Never Fails

Seems like every time I get a handle on things, write up a plan & begin to focus and get excited, something comes 'up'.

Our washer & dryer are on their way out. For our family of five, those appliances are necessities,so we're in the market for new ones. We have room on our HELOC to make the purchases.

On the flip side, we've never had to purchase a washer nor dryer in the past. They were both hand-me-downs/inheritances from my grandparents. At one point, we even had an extra. So, we're lucky!

I look to purchase pre-owned when it comes to almost everything (bikes, cars, some furniture,lamps, etc). This time I'm thinking brand new though, mainly because of the new improved energy efficient models.

To Do Today!

Make Curtains (6 panels)
Prepare & can salsa
Dig out the dead plants & flowers in the beds & containers
Dry herbs (Basil, Sage & Rosemary) & freeze Cilantro
Make a few spreadsheets
4 loads of laundry
Visit father in the hospital

Earn More Update #3

Earn More Challenge

Half.com: $12.43
Found on the sidewalk: $2.00
Babysitting: $20.00

Weekly Total $36.43


Monthly Total: $90.58
Monthly Goal : $600!!

$509.43 to go, with only 12 days left. It may seem like a lot to accomplish, but I do my best work under pressure......

Coffee-free- life.

Confession: I'm addicted to CAFFEINE in the form of Coffee.

I never intended it to get this out of hand, but it has become a problem. I drink A LOT of it. At least 20 oz has been my daily intake. Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to pop out of my chest and sometimes I can NOT function until coffee is running through my veins.

Yesterday, I was walking out of the hospital at 9:00 pm, after visiting a relative and found $2.00 on the ground.The first thing that came to mind was " There is a STARBUCKS drive thru on the way home!"

I know there are some people out there who swear that coffee makes life enjoyable for them. I know that I can drink decaf or (gasp) drink coffee in moderation. But,at 32 yrs of age, I've come to realize that I was born without that 'moderation' gene everyone speaks of. The dependency I have on coffee, has made it a burden.

Today, is the first day of the rest of my coffee-free life. I remember a previous life in which coffee did not exist and it was when I was at my physical-best. I want to be there again.