Ratatouille and the class party...

We had so much fun last night at the movie. We got to the theater about 1 1/2 hours early to make sure we could get tickets and then decent seats. Since it was a sneak preview, there were a bunch of local radio station personalities there giving away posters and t-shirts. I got a kid size t-shirt but unfortunately it is pink. The boys don't really think it's all that cool.

The movie itself was cute. It was super funny in some parts and look-at-the-clock-every-five-seconds in some parts. We waited through all the credits for the usual Disney/Pixar 'outtakes' but there weren't any. Bummer. It was amazing animation and the characters were great. Watching all those rats in the kitchen was a bit sickening...blech. But overall it was a really good kid's movie. The kids loved it and have been asking me if we can buy it. I've been warning them that it will have to wait til after December but I wouldn't mind adding that one to the ol' library.

The class party yesterday was okay...pretty boring actually but my boy said he had fun so whatever. I did the autograph books that they decorated with foam stickers and then they all signed each other's books. Then they ate donut holes and watched the rest of the movie they started before I got there...Aladdin. See what I mean?? Boring. Oh well...what do you do? It's the end of the year...the kids just want to be out of school!

Tonight we get a free family night!! My good friend is in the local TV biz and hooked us up with some passes for a Ratatouille preview tonight....for the whole family! I'm so excited that the kids will get to see this movie before it's even out! On our current plan, they might have been able to watch it once it came out on DVD. So - fun for them! I'm just excited to take the kids to a movie...it's been a while since we've done that. Good times....

Today I've got the oldest kid's class party. It's the end of the school year and the party is today and I haven't done a thing for it. I'm thinking we'll make autograph books and have a treat. Boring? Possibly. Easy and cheap? Yes. And that's the way I do things these days.

Here's an article from MSN Money. I like the percentages of what we should be saving for retirement. We have a lot of work ahead of us as far as saving for retirement goes and this was a helpful article.

Rewards....

Friday night we finally went out on our reward date. It was FUN!! We went to Ruby River Steakhouse where I learned that I should just stick with what I love there. I tried something new (Filet Mignon) and they mixed up how our steaks were cooked so mine was a bit too red for my liking. Anyway - I asked (SO POLITELY!!) if they could cook it for just a tiny bit longer. I was super nice and so I hope I didn't ingest some disgusting floor or spit germs! Anyway - I should have just traded steaks with DH - he says mine wasn't nearly as good after they cooked it a bit more. Anyway - just a note in my 'eating out' notebook - order the usual and don't send the food back. But whatever.

After dinner ~ which really was lovely and fun and delightful~ we went to see Evan Almighty. It was good, mindless entertainment for a couple of hours in a cool theater. It was pretty funny, pretty silly and very sweet.

Overall, I give two enthusiastic thumbs-up for the whole evening. We've worked so hard for that reward and it was even sweeter knowing just how hard we have worked and how much we've sacrificed. It's been a long 5 months but I still can't believe how much we've been able to pay off now that we are so intent and focused. I'm proud of us. (pat on my back...would give DH a pat too, but he's hard at work!)

Mom watched the kids so we didn't have to pay for a babysitter - woo hoo! I did make dinner and took the whole thing over to her house, so she did get a free dinner out of it. Wow - she should just be so grateful. Aren't I a good daughter for letting her watch my kids and then on top of that...I bring her dinner?!? I'm amazing. (HA!!) It was incredibly nice of her to watch the kids and I really am grateful that she does that for us once in a while. She's a good mom/grandma.

The weekend was LAZY...so nice and much needed! I did get some laundry done, the grocery shopping, church, date, etc. Other than that....lazy.

I've made up for some of that this morning though....up at 5:45am, treadmill for an hour, laundry, got the kids ready and walked to school, worked on the garden a bit and did a little weeding. Now I'm ready for a nap!

I'm still waiting for JC Penney to put the money back in my account from a return I made on Friday. It irritates me that I buy something and the money is immediately gone from my account. I return it and it takes 2 days to put the money back in. What a rip off. Oh well...what do you do?

WOO HOO!!!

Today we were able to pay another $2,060 to the Visa!! WOO HOO!! That brings our balance below that milestone of the balance we'd had FOREVER. I can't even remember it being below $6,400. Of course, it had to be below that amount at one time....I just don't remember it because it was so long ago. It's like weighing 75 lbs. I know I had to weigh that at one time in my life...I just don't remember when I went past that mark. Too long ago. Anyway - I paid part of the Visa payment, then after we got everything finalized, DH made the rest of the payment. So we both got to share in the joy of paying down more money. It ROCKED!

Anyway....DH and I are finally going on our big date with the nice dinner. We're also going to a movie....yup...too exciting. But hey...it's been SO long since we've gone to a movie together - with out the kids - that this is a BIG deal! I can't wait. I don't think either of us really cares what we see....it's just the 'getting out' and being together that really matters. Awwww....

So - we most likely won't make the self-imposed November deadline, but it will definitely be before the year is through. I can't wait!

DH was kind and generous and awesome enough to give me another $200 bucks for clothes. So, today I went shopping and it was FABULOUS. I loved it. My 5-yr old was an awesome shopping partner. Okay....he did hide in the racks a bit too much, but other than that, he was the BEST. He told me that the shirts I got looked cute and that I looked cute....what an ego boost. Even if it was from a five year old! He's a sweetie!

I'm thinking that we planned a little bit better this time for our budget. We padded some envelopes a bit thicker than we did last time....specifically the gasoline envelope. It's getting WAY too expensive, but that's a topic for another day! I'm ready for upcoming birthdays, teacher gifts, family obligations, etc. I hope I haven't forgotten anything this time. I just get so excited to get rid of that stupid credit card debt! I hate it!

At Everybody Loves Your Money there is a couple of interesting videos to watch. I've not heard of the movie "Maxed Out" but it looks pretty interesting. But I do have one question from the trailer....is it George Bush's fault then that I used my credit card? No matter....enjoy the trailer.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. I love ya. Tomorrow....

Tomorrow we should be able to pay off enough debt to take us below $7,000. It will be SO nice. Right now, our balance is the same as it was one year ago. After tomorrow, our balance will be about where it's been (excluding last year) for the last....well...too many years. It will be nice to get below that mark as well. Each thousand is another step up and out of this hole and I can't wait to be out of it!!

Yesterday I was feeling like we are in this debt prison. I'm always talking and thinking like...."When I get outta here, I'm gonna do __________", "When we get out of this, let's buy ________", "When we finish, let's __________". Okay - so I've never been in prison and maybe 'they' only say that kind of thing in the movies. But no matter.....I can't wait to get outta the debt clink!

The list seems to grow longer and longer. Water softener, yard, closet organizers, paint, furniture, fence, trees, deck, clothes, vacations....on and on it goes. It will take a lot of focus to just do one thing at a time and wait to do it until we have the money saved. But....I don't foresee it being too difficult to NOT use the credit card. I don't EVER want to do this again!!

Happy Father's Day....yesterday...

Yesterday was a lovely Father's Day...at least for me. DH might have a different story, but I'm pretty sure he feels the same way. We had our parents and the couple next door over for some yummy dutch oven breakfast and "Breadsert". The dutch oven was to die for, as usual. DH makes a mean Mountain Man hash! Nice and cheesy and yummy and bacony. Mmmm....it's so good we are going to have the rest for dinner tonight! And the "breadsert"? Well...let's just say it's dessert for breakfast. It's basically french toast with brown sugar & butter topping baked on. Yum. Anyway...we got to see our dads and then we got to spend the rest of the day at home being LAZY. It was beautiful. I don't feel guilty for not doing anything all afternoon. We both worked our butts off in the morning getting ready for our guests.

Someone at breakfast asked us if we had sworn off our Walmart boycott because we had mentioned it a couple of times. It really made for an awkward moment for more than one reason. First - what a poser! I swear off Walmart for the good of the country and here I am 1 1/2 years later shopping there somewhat frequently - ONLY because we are trying to cut back wherever we can! Second - we had to get in to WHY we are posers and so I felt like I was at confession with my parents and neighbors. AWKWARD! Ummmm....we shop occasionally at Walmart because we are re-directing our financial ship and this is helping us accomplish that goal?!?!? Ugh. Then my mom pops in with the "sinking financial ship" comment. WHAT?!? I've NEVER said we are sinking! She thinks that because I want to do things on the cheap that we are financially destitute. I've told her before that we are choosing to do things this way so we can get rid of our debt. I really don't want anyone feeling sorry for me because of my small grocery budget. Or because we are being so careful in how we spend our money. I try to make it clear that there is a bigger goal in mind and still the judgements come.

Okay...this might sound pretty harsh but really, it's more complicated than I can say. And you really DON'T want me to get into my issues with my mother! You know how it is....love her. She just drives me to want to scratch out my eyeballs sometimes. But then...I'm NEVER annoying. I'm certain of that! HA!

Here's some inspiration for you...

Inspiration: You Can Do It (June 5, 1989)

I've seen the video before and it's amazing. I would never have thought to translate it to personal finance, but it's an interesting inspirational tool. Enjoy and learn something about your own convictions. I know I did!

As for my own personal finance...nothing new and nothing more paid to debt til next week. It will be another cheap meal week as far as groceries are concerned. But on the upside, I won't have to buy diapers for at least two more weeks! That ROCKS!

Article for the Day....

Invest in your own happiness

It's an interesting idea. I personally am looking forward to the day when we can spend our money how we'd like....not paying for purchases made years ago. The first "happiness" thing I'll buy/do after we get out of this hole is a nice weekend trip with my hubby. Just the two of us....no kids allowed. That will be some much needed and wanted time alone. It will be well worth the hard-earned money....

Today's Article...

Here are some legends and tall tales for you to read about. Kind of humorous. I think I'll try the 'use red ink and float the check longer' method. Think it will work? I'm sure it will make a huge difference in my financial picture! 10 financial urban legends

DH reminded me yesterday that there is still no word on the bonus situation for last quarter. I don't really think about it because if I did, I'd drive myself crazy. Will we get a bonus? If so, how much? DH works so hard and deserves a huge bonus - he should get at least $X! But will he? I don't know! And slowly.......I drive myself MAD. I've found it's just much easier to not count on one and be pleasantly surprised if one comes our way. It would certainly make things easier this summer. I'd like to believe that we will be able to pay off our debt by November but I'm just not sure. Hmmm...I hope he gets a HUGE bonus! If he does, it would be nice if he got at least $X. I wonder......!

Oops...there I go again! Anyway....it's back out of my head. Not another thought....

You learn something new.....

Here is an article on MSN money. I've got to start reading a financial article a day again just to keep me motivated....
The Basics
Trapped by debt? Free yourself in 7 steps

Sell the house....?

So, a recent topic of conversation around here has been...."Wouldn't it be cool to sell the house, make a huge profit, buy a smaller home with a large down payment, and get rid of ALL the other debt?" Hmmm...I have to say, I seriously considered it. And.....if the right house (with matching right price) came along, I would certainly have to entertain the idea. In some ways, it would be a lot easier in that we'd make a quick buck. But...then again....moving? Again? Yuck!

For multiple reasons, the debt payment has slowed down a little bit. Well...by about $300 - $400 a month. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again...this sucks! Not having the debt gone - that part is awesome! Just the day to day, struggling, sacrificing....it's hard. Money is so tight even though we've got more of a cushion than we've ever had. (DH is a great provider - thank you babe!) We keep having to adjust the envelope amounts because even though we aren't spending money on non-essentials, life just seems to keep happening. Soccer for the kids, for instance. Laundry, a sensitive reaction to the cheap diapers, Father's Day, birthdays...you get the idea.

I think I've also said this before, but since I'm feeling it even more, I'll repeat myself.....The frustrating part is that I have a consuming desire to be rid of all debt. I don't want it anymore. I don't want new debt. I'm good with changing how we do our finances. I want the debt gone! I just want it gone NOW. And it's not. We have to keep plugging along. This is the endurance part. It's not 'new' anymore and the end is in sight although it's an incredibly long way away. I can barely make out the finish line, but I know it's there. It's so tempting to just say....let's slow down a little bit and allow ourselves a bit more wiggle room. In fact, I think I did say that to DH! But - as usual, he is strong when I am not. He is a good partner to have! We'll have to make some minor adjustments, but other than that...the war on debt rages on!!

Long time no post....

Wow...have I been in a funk! I've been too busy taking care of other things so I've neglected posting. Today I've also been feeling a bit less motivated than I have been about paying off the debt so fast. This is HARD!!

We paid about $2,500 in May and this month it will be about $800. But we are now well below the household average debt and so it's a great step. I'm feeling a bit frustrated with the lack of being able to do things...not me so much....it's more about the kids.

Anyway....more tomorrow. No time to get into it much tonight! Just needing to stay focused and committed to the November/December payoff date!