Sunday, January 8, 2012

Menu Plan Monday

$84,158 is what credit karma has that I owe, but that's lagging, as I paid off my car loan and and the credit card balances I charged for Xmas (and paid off as soon as the bill came in), are showing as not paid off.
$10,250 ish is what is still owed in CC debt.
Pay off goal is June 1st.
Menu plan Monday:
Monday: Tacos
Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday: BLTs
Thursday:Hamburgers, french fries, apple bake
Friday: Just me, so easy.
Saturday:Food shopping

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Debt, not just Credit Cards.

$12500 is roughly what I owe in CC debt.
I am getting semi -discouraged, because I am throwing a good amount of money at my overall debt, and when I see my CC debt stagnant or even increase, makes me want to dive into cheesecake.
No bueno.
I am keeping the focus on CC debt, but hoping that seeing the big number go down will help fight off debt fatigue.
After Rainman slammed the already rickety exterior front door, the want to replace went to the damn thing won't open need to be replaced.
As the back exterior door was one good Rainman slam from falling off, ordered through the Home Depot, and after the usual Home Depot incompetence, three weeks later I have new doors :)
I raided the ING house improvement fund (deleted it pretty much), and am waiting for the payment to post to my Discover.
I also hope to pay off the balance on my car loan this Friday, which will make me smile.
Working on Christmas presents.
Forrest is largely done, mostly DVDS (he had a long list), maybe a new DVD player and a DVD or two that hasn't been released yet.
Rainman is next, I've only got him one VHS tape only (he always wants older vids that never made it to DVD), and I need to pick him up mostly inexpensive toys and art supplies.
I need to pin down the other two, Bathboy will most likely want XBox games, and game related gifts, while my daughter has just got her permit and may want money for her car fund.
I know this is a common lament, but Xmas comes way too fast every year.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Menu Plan Monday

Yes, using this as a virtual to-do list.
Monday:Steak, Seasoned Fries, Spinach
Tuesday: Steak Fajitas, Halloween Cake
Wednesday: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Spinach
Thursday:Spaghetti, Meatballs, Red Sauce
Friday: Chicken for the Lazy, roasted Veggies
Saturday: Chicken Fajitas
Yes, I am in a rut, but balancing the finicky auties with the need for sameness and the more sophisticated palates of the neuro-typicals leads to enough battles as it is.
Plus, I really need to eat out of this freezer.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement is a joke.

$12,364. is my debt.
Got to love when you get a call from the Department of Revenue about back child support and even they are shocked at how much is owed.
Another six months has passed without even a penny in support paid, two court appearances with the Judge doing absolutely nothing, and another $5000 or so added to back support owed.
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue does not take child support enforcement seriously.
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division overall has been useless in collecting unpaid child support for my children.
As of 9/23/11, not including unpaid medicals, anything we were supposed to go half on, the money he owes to the other family deadbeat dad has a son with that he doesn't see either, or the years of back support that I gave up on, the total child support enforcement order $27,219.
The child support enforcement rep I spoke with on Friday actually had a heart, and explained that with the back load of cases, they can't even get a court date for me until a year or 18 months.
She suggested I file on my own.
Great, file on my own to appear in court against a family law attorney?
Um, no.
It's disgusting.
What did happen, after years of him not paying, there does seem to be a consequence, that went into effect Friday.
His driver's license was suspended.
Most likely, he will appeal, and the child support enforcement judge will reinstate it, but please send positive thoughts that she will at least make him pay something before she does.

Monday, September 19, 2011

This is taking forever............

$12737.
I just keep focusing on the fact that by this time next year, all my credit card debt should be gone.
As well as my car loan.
Then I can kill Sallie Mae and her two ugly sisters.
Then I can get a bigger house.
Then my life can begin ;)
Yes, it's a pity party sort of day.
Trying to get my thoughts for the week together, and this is my virtual menu plan to do list.
Monday: Cheesy Chicken Casserole/Fattening, good, and I need to use up shredded cheese.
Tuesday: Spaghetti &Meatballs
Wednesday: Chicken for the lazy, roasted veggies.
Thursday: Rice, leftover chicken, broccoli
Friday: Leftovers (just me, most likely)
Saturday: Beef &Broccoli stir fry
I really need to get some other kinds of meat, but I have a deep freezer bursting with chicken, so chicken it often is.
Salads served with the above, as well as Rainman's special foods.
I also need to make blueberry muffins, apple bakes, and some cinnamon raisin bread for snacks.
Oh man, the diet for Mommy will be fun this week.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Surfing Credit Card Debt

$13214.10
New D-day October 1, 2012.
I did a balance transfer, and put my high rate Discover balance to a 0% Citi transfer offer with a 5% fee, for 18 months.
It should help me pay it off faster, but Mint doesn't like it.
I also had a very expensive start of the school year, spending more than I wanted, and as my income took a dip due to less work, I put a most of it on a credit card, so with that and the balance transfer fee, not a good debt pay off month.
I am focusing on my cc debt, and I know it's a marathon not a race, but my car loan feels like it's going down by leaps and bounds, although my student loan debt seems to be dragging along.
Just got to keep swimming.
Menu plan for the week:
Sunday: Leftover take out pizza from lunch (ex pays for this as I take the twins back early)
Monday: English Muffin Pizzas
Tuesday: Crockpot Chicken, potatoes, onions, etc (trying to get rid of some root vegetables).
Wednesday: Cheesey Chicken Casserole (eating from the freezer)
Thursday: Spaghetti meatballs red sauce.
Friday: most likely just me, something easy like salad.
Saturday: Digiorno pizza from the freezer, salad.
Looks not so healthy, but on the side is always veggies, salad, etc.
And I have a lot of stuff that will soon go bad if I don't use it up.

With the weather getting colder, I will be filling in with snacks such as blueberry muffins, baked apples, and there are so many inexpensive bread recipes that I really want to try.
And I may even get really ambitious and start taking pictures ;)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Keep on chugging...........

$13,365.
D-Free Day Sept. 1, 2012
Seems like I throw a lot at it, but it's just slowly going down.
I started a sub account at ING for house stuff.
Going to try to direct money into this account for house repairs.
It sounds goofy, but the best way for me to save is to earmark money into an account with a purpose, to not touch the money at all until it's time to buy.
Along with paying off cc debt (my number one goal, although student loans are up there), like any house, mine needs work.
I also plan on selling in maybe two years, closer to three, and I need to really amp up the curb appeal.
By November 1st, I need to replace four doors, two exterior and two entry.
Rainman keeps slamming them, and the front entry door has a full glass panel that is one slam away from shattering.
The others have born his stimming and kicks, and the exterior entry door is essentially duct taped in one section.
My goal is to divert $1500 by November 1st for the four doors plus installation, which I think I should be able to manage.
My design options are limited, as the doors are all odd sizes, which is a blessing in that I don;t really have a luxury door option.
Ten weeks, give or take, that I need to put $150 per week in the pot.
With my cc repayment, it's going to be even tighter than usual, but putting it out there for accountability.
MJ