Til Debt Do Us Part

I have recently found a t.v. show that helps me to keep on track with my budget and my financial goal (becoming debt free). That show: Til Debt Do Us Part - a show that my DVR records for me while I am away at work. It seems to be based in Europe, Canada and the northeast. A life planner, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, goes to a couple's residence, takes a look around, checks out their debt and the issues that have led them to it, and gives them a month to learn how to live new lives with three weeks consisting of two financial challenges and one relationship challenge, all the while reducing their debt. If, at the end of a month Gail is happy with the family's progress and they successfuly utilize a budget and take positive steps toward minimizing their debts, Gail gives them a check for no more than $5,000.00, and usually a weekend package away, to help with the relationship.

I enjoy it. Usually there is a spender: someone who is blissfully ignorant and digs the family deeper and deeper in debt. Then there is the person who feels that the whole world rests on their shoulders, however is not able to confront the other about their behavior. Gail helps to bring the two together and usually helps them to get on a game plan using canning jars to help visualize the budget (similar to Dave's Envelope System), and a budget binder, where the couple has to write down their spending to bring accountability to the relationship.

Almost every day I sit here on my couch and watch the show, all the while re-considering my budget and trying to get new ideas about how I can improve my plan and somehow get to my goal faster. It helps me to stay focused, letting me see directly how debt effects families and relationships, reminding me of why I want to become debt free. I see the sadness in the families, the tears the couples shed are real and sometimes heart-broken. While my relationship is no way near being on solid, unshakable ground, I would like to think that we are much stronger than those featured in the show. We have definitely had our problems, and I have recently learned that I coped with our issues by spending money I did not have. Thankfully, through my readings and studying my behavior and feelings, I have realized this. And DH and I have started back, together, on the journey of our life. I do not want to end up like the couples on the show, nearing the end of our marriage and in a horrible spiral out of control.

It's funny, if you think about it. How watching a simple t.v. show can make a difference in your life, such as this one has made in mine. DH even sits and watches it with me, when he's home. And we sit there and watch it, together. Sometimes I catch him stealing glances at me, especially when one of the show's subjects has admitted their sadness is caused by an unrealized behavior of the other. We were doing the same thing, and we have finally realized our wrong-doing, and vocalized it.

We know now what we were doing caused the other pain, and we try hard now to make sure that if even for a fleeting second, we make the other know that we are still there, and we love eachother. A simple grab of the hand, a tight hug, a note on the bathroom mirror or favorite cookies picked up on the way home. Something simple. Even staying up late with eachother to drink tea and laugh about something the kids did earlier that day.

Money is supposed to be the number one cause of divorce. Money issues come from a lack of communication. Lack of communication comes from being insecure - afraid of how the other person would react. But, we must learn to take that fear and have faith in our spouse that they will consider the problem, the pain, and be strong to help pull to you both out of the hole that can lead to debt, and to divorce.

Wow. Not exactly where I planned on going with telling you about one of my favorite shows...but insightful into myself.

Another One Bites the Dust!

Woohoo! I paid off another credit card today!!

My disability payment finally cleared this morning, and I went right onto my bill pay, checked the credit card balance, and paid that thing off! I have really tried since the first of the year to re-evaluate my budget and financial goals. These past few months I tightened my belt a little more and really thought about where every dollar went. While it is hard to reign myself in, I know that life will be so much better when I don't have to worry about my debts. So, four more to go! I know that these next ones will be a lot harder and take a little longer to pay off, however, I have a bigger "snowball" to put towards them. I also need to start putting money away for the summer - DD wants to go to an art class and then of course we have daycare for two - an extra $500 a month. Will have to wait and see...

The Cupcake Challenge

Don't know if you remember, but last month I wrote about how my mom is keeping my interest in crafting by doing monthly craft challenges. The first month, January, we challenged eachother to the Origami Box. This month, we challenged eachother to a cupcake theme. Here are the results:


This one is my mom's. She did three circle cards and sent them in an altered CD tin. Very cute.

This one is mine. I made four cards, all using a stamp set from Hero Arts. I also altered a large paper clip...I hope she enjoys it.

Next month, March, we are doing a flower challenge, and my mom has invited a friend of hers to participate. I am excited to share my projects and get some new ideas. Welcome Bonnie!

Commission Day

Today was the first day that DD and DS got paid their commissions. Fortunately for me, I included it in my budget so I did not go broke. DD collected $3.90 for the week (she had a potential of $5.00.) DS got paid $.40 - he claims that doing his "jobs" cause his bones to break. He had a potential of $3.00.

I don't give them a lot of tasks to complete; making their beds everyday, putting their laundry (dirty and clean) in the appropriate places, cleaning their rooms and keeping them clean, DD has to feed the dogs and she has to clean the hall bathroom once a week. Not bad. Plus, they get "bonuses" for doing anything extra: vaccuuming, dusting, sweeping, helping eachother study...DD tested DS on his Kindergarten Sheet, he's improving daily.

DD has already cleaned her room - good luck maintaining. She cleaned the bathroom, too. I am quite impressed with her. Now, if I can just get DS to do something...

YouData.com

I know times are tough for many people right now. I consider myself blessed that I have been able to maintain employment. DH has been teetering on the edge of employment and being laid off...pretty scary since even though I work full-time, my income is chump change.

I work hard on the side, and I'm working on getting some side jobs and I'm doing a lot of little things on the internet to get in some extra cash. Right now, every single penny counts.

So, this is why I must tell you about YouData.com. There are no referral bonuses, you simply get paid for checking out websites that the site directs you to. And, you get paid fairly well. I don't know very much about it, other than that they pay Friday afternoons to your PayPal account. Since I was home for part of this week, I decided to try my luck. I registered my cell phone number and my e-mail, completed the questionaire, and clicked away. And...

Business Contact Information
Amount received: $4.29 USD
Fee: $0.00 USD
Total: $4.29 USD
Date: Feb. 20, 2009
Time: 23:53:12 PST
Status: Completed
Subject:
YouData, Inc. has just sent you $4.29 USD with PayPal

I already got paid!

Check it out!

Wipies!

Wal-Mart is offering a free sample pack of Huggies Gentle Care wipies - go here.

$2.00 Gift Card to Subway (CA residents only!)

Well, obviously I'm putting my new friend to good use...Subway is giving away $2.00 gift cards! Go here and register! Hope you get one!

Got a New Laptop and Have Been Updating!

I just got my new laptop - I ordered it last week while it was on sale through Office Max. Since it was such a good deal, I had to get a rain check. It came in yesterday...so DH picked it up while I was having another procedure. I have it all loaded up now, still need to get a program for my iPod, but that can wait. Thought I would post pictures of some of the cards that I have been working on.

This one was done for Christmas with the hostess stamp set that I just had to have...Window Dressing.


This one was done for the New Year (duh...). The background stamp is from Stampendous! and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Holidays & Wishes...another set that I had to have.

Here are a few birthday cards that I've made for co-workers and friends. I need to get my stash back up, hopefully now that I have a camera and a laptop, I will be more willing to craft and share. I used a my Cuttlebog embossing folders, my Cricut, and my nestabilities.


This is a card I made for my mom's husband, my step-dad. I've had this stamp set from Stampendous for a few months, just never had the inspiration to use it until I found the Shadow Box Card Tutorial, which was a little confusing but a lot of fun. I laugh now that I look at the picture, can you see that I took this picture at work? My keyboard, headphones, and date stamp are hiding in the background! Well, at least I got to look at something fun that day!










Also, since my Stampin' Up group is ending this month and I am really working on my debt, I've kind of lost interest, maybe crafting steam. In an attempt to keep my creative juices flowing, my mom and I have been doing monthly challenges. Last month, I challenged her to the Origami Box from Splitcoaststampers - you can go here for the instructions. You can see my box in the two top pictures. Of course, after receiving my mom's box is the obvious winner...I love the way she puts things together. I think if I would have taken more time to really think about the task, I could have done better. And of course, she shared some goodies with me, some foil confetti and brads. This month, her challenge to me was cupcakes.

I think I'm going to go and try to find some supplies to use to make mine the winner, she already sent me hers, won't post until I get mine out to her.

I'm glad I'm back, hopefully all has been well with you, you are prospering with the use of your coupons, and are making progress in life, love, and your wallets.

InBox Dollars Pays!

So, it took almost two months to come in, but I finally got my check from Inbox Dollars for $27.07! I was so excited to see it come in because two months is almost long enough to forget about it! But, it finally came!

DH is still not so interested, he saw the check and said "oooh...$27.00...big spender!!" Yeah, you know what? $27.00 is a lot now that I know how to make my money work for me. It went straight into my checking which I went home and transferred to my current "snow ball" project...now I have just $799.11 remaining on this CC and it will be knocked out!!! So excited!

While I've Been Away

Don't think that my laptop and camera being stolen have kept me too down. It's just a lot harder to get online and post my thoughts...especially with DD's computer...which is TEN YEARS OLD. Can't even install my software for the El Cheapo Camera. Horrible. We will be submitting our "package" of boxes and books and receipts to the insurance this coming week and hopefully will get something back to buy our life back into normal. It's a little difficult to not go and grab a credit card and just go buy new stuff, especially with the prices of things plummeting all around us. But, I'm sticking to my "Dave Says..." phrases and am trying to save up enough cash for what is important. And yes, I'm trying to figure out how to designate which things that were stolen as important. We will just have to wait and see.

I was going to try to post some of the cards that I made but apparently DD's computer is not ready for that. SAD FACE!!! I will definitely have to get something fixed in the computer area...