now the budget

I am thinking of ordering some budgeting software online to help keep track of our spending. We definetly have more going out than coming in each month and I am REALLY sick of paying all this interest on credit cards, loans and lines of credit. Christmas time always brings this out in me.

Hubby & I had a big talk last night about money. I pay all the bills and keep track of everything but frankly I suck at it and he thinks he does too so he won't do it. I really don't want to live paycheck to paycheck. We are not living extravagently by any means but the day to day spending on things like take-out, coffee, smokes and booze (for him), magazines, movies and trips to the variety store, really add up.

We need to work out a plan to pay off our debt and start creating some savings. Maybe I should create a debt blog??

My New Years resolution

My resolution this year is to get my home and my finances organized. That small sentence requires some big work but it is time for me to get my act together. I think this will result in a lot less stress in the long term if I am able to accomplish this goal.

I just won this on an ebay auction.



It hold regular size 8 1/2 x 11 paper which is what I was looking for. This way I can type my lists and update them then just print and hole punch and not have to re-write things all the time. Now I will be able to keep lists of the things I near to clear out of my head. I am thinking of starting with:

• grocery list
• meal planner
• daily spending
• budget including a list of creditors & how much we owe :(
• Info sheet for each kid (babysitter info, health info, schedule of activities)
• phone/address/email list
• weekly planner
• passwords & codes to remember (there are so freakin many these days)
• Birthday & Anniversary list
• master to - do list (I'll print an extra for hubby!!)

One thing at a time but that is what I am wanting to keep in there. I have sent my payment and I'm really looking forward to getting started. I am trying to get hubby on board and paying more attention to these types of things, we'll see how that goes.

kids clothes

The day before Christmas Eve my parents kept my kids for a sleepover. I used my time well. I clean out their closets and dressers. They have sooo many clothes!! I find myself leaving a laundry basket of clean things in each of their rooms and working from that because they just don't all fit in the drawers.

Many items didn't fit so they were weeded out of course. I also got rid of anything they just don't like. My daughter is so picky about the comfort of her clothes so I got rid of anything scratchy, too tight or just plain annoying to her.

Two full green garbage bags of clothes are out of their rooms. Drew still had 15 bibs in one drawer, lots of infant socks and a bunch of onesies. Why of why did I still have these things, he is TWO for goodness sake.

The number of single socks was just frightening but now they are gone!!

Myah is even doing a great job of picking out her clothes in the morning now that she can find things and only they clothes she likes are left.

I am definitely back in the organizing mood.

plastic & wrapping and boxes, oh my

Well christmas has come and gone and so the stuff in my house has increased ten-fold. We have a very generous family and my children got sooooo many things!!! I am disturbed by the amount of packaging every toys comes in these days. I spentso much time, cutting tape and plastic, untwisting little metal ties and prying things apart so my kids could eventually play with their new toys!!

A specials thanks to the makers of LiteBrite Flash Art because it slide right out of the box with batteries pre-installed ready to play!! This was by far the most played with toy this year. Drew has really enjoyed seeing what else will spin on it. like a slipper, cars and a small soccer ball, much to his delight, lol.

We threw out bags of garbage and have tons to recycle but I am feeling a lot better about cleaning out the old toys now that they have many new things to enjoy. I have decided that they can have as many toys as fit on out large toy shelf and in the toy box. If it get full something has to go.

Each of the kids did get and "organizational" gift from me. A toy hammock for their rooms to put all those stuff animals in. Again they can only keep what fits. We will give all the extra stuff to out local women's shelter so they can see that they are going to a good place.

I'm still working on it

Well it has been a long time since I posted but I am working away at getting my place in order. I am hosting Christmas for my family so that gives me some incentive to get things done.

I haven't been great at taking pictures but we ended up painting most of the rooms in the house and totally renovating the bathroom. Now theres a way to clean things up!!

We have thrown out tons of things and gotten rid of everything baby since our youngest is now two. I even have hubby busy cleaning out the garage.

I will get back to posting. I still have lots of clutter, I wonder if I always will. I'm working on it and thats all I can ask of myself.