SO INCONSISTENT!

I vow to do better and yet...months, and I do mean months go by and not a word from me!  Ah well, good intentions!

It's been a long, hot summer and I'm ready for this type of foliage in this picture.  I'm ready for hoodies and leaves turning and not running the a/c constantly.  I am not, however, ready for winter, not at all!  Can we go from Fall straight to Spring?  Come on, no harm no foul???

A brief look at the last several months....Rachel and Adam are married.  It was a lovely day, she was a beautiful bride and it went off pretty much without a hitch.  My daughters and son looked gorgeous...and handsome to whomever each applies.  The newlyweds are settling in nicely and Rachel is preparing to begin her year of student teaching.

I've started a new job, and I love it so much.  I work at an independent living facility for senior citizens.  I did this type of work when I was a teen and young adult and it seems only natural to return to what I know.  My boss is an old friend and fantastic!  I was housekeeping/dietary/cook & general aid.  Now I'm assistant/aid and housekeeping one day a week.  It's a bit of a drive, but the peace of mind overpowers the lowered salary I traded for.  

It has pushed me into more of a budgeting state.  Making more meals from home, using what we have, trying to make every trip into town gas and cost efficient.  Since I work in the big town I try to get any errands done on my way home if I can.  I still shudder to think of putting a budget down on paper.  Why does it give me the heebeejeebies?  Seeing it in black and white probably.  I have to make myself do this tho, have to!  So wish me luck after this is posted that I sit down and make out that budget.  

In this week I've gone through my coupons, pulled out expired ones, taken the ones close to expiration and that I need to purchase anyway and put them at the front of my organizer.  I have two coupon organizers.  One is for my store coupons, food and other store goods.  The other one is for restaurants, Steak N Shake is a good place, fairly inexpensive and they always have good coupons.  I did learn that if I order 2 of the same, example chicken strips and fries, and have 1 coupon for $1 off, they will apply it to both orders.  Also, they have half price drinks, and will add the b1g1f to that deal.  We've learned how to get the max reward for our coupons.

I also use the Walmart Savings Catcher App on my phone.  To date I have approx $14 on my savings catcher card.  I'm trying to let it get to $50 to use toward Christmas shopping.

Hmmm, have been picking up extra little jobs, like doing laundry, running errands for people.  I had been saving that $ up but had a little crisis so had to use that money.  Back to stashing any extra back.  Would love to  have that for Christmas shopping and not have to worry about where it's going to come from!

Apologies for my last few posts months ago.  I was in a dark place.  While things are still not what I'd like them to be I've realized that life is just too stinkin' short to be so maudlin and down.  I have a mighty God, and He is watching over me, no matter what!  He's always been there, always will be.

Once Megan gets home from her boyfriend's house we're going to switch out desks.  She has my dark wooden desk in her room, my old room.  I have the desktop computer on a sleek black table type desk I picked up for $10.  She likes this type of furniture, I like more substantial, old fashioned furniture so, we're going to swap!  I can't wait!  That desk has drawers to stash some things that are just laying here on this desk, driving me nuts!  This black table type has no drawers, no hiding spots.  That just will not do.  The older desk also has a hutch I can add to it, which I'm seriously thinking of doing.  If I don't like it then off it goes.  Will take a pic once I figure it out.

A few weeks ago my cousin came home from Arizona.  He came home with just the clothes in his suitcase. I gave him my table and chairs.  I've had that table since before I left my now ex-husband, the chairs were a bit newer, I had garbage picked them and they were so good and sturdy.  But, the table and chairs are just too big for my dinky kitchen.  I'm now hunting for an inexpensive taller table and 4 chairs, the high ones.  I know if I am patient long enough I will find them, and at my price.  I just felt that my cousin needed to be shown some TLC, he found a house to rent fairly cheaply, he just had to do some work on it, of which he could deduct the cost of materials from his rent.  I know I made the right decision.

Alright, alright, I've put off doing this budget long enough.  Wish me luck!  

TTFN, Blessings!

Lisa