Updates Abound!

It's been a few days since I updated my blog. I've been busy playing catch up. Of course, I still haven't planted annuals. I think the few hanging baskets and my lilies are going to be all the floral around my patio this summer.


Here's my Weekly Menu:

This week, I've decided to try a bunch of different recipes from Aldi Menu Planning. That was the store I was going to do most of my shopping - so I thought I would try it out.

Monday: Stuffed Peppers
Tuesday: Tilapia
Wednesday: Sausage Casserole
Thursday: Pork Chops with Apple Mustard Glaze
Friday: 4th of July picnic
Saturday: Cheesy Eggplant Casserole
Sunday: Hubby's on his own aka Leftovers

A Raise and new Supplemental Income

DH had his review today and they graced him with a nice raise! He is now officially making $1 more per hour than me. With that ... and the amount of overtime he has been offered is a great deal for us! Maybe we can finally move this mountain.... oh and I can get a car quicker!!

I found something that I like to do online now. The company is called Cha Cha.

What is Cha Cha:

"ChaCha is a web search engine that’s available online and by mobile phone with information whenever an InfoSeeker needs it…anytime, anywhere. ChaCha harnesses the power of the Internet and provide answers when an InfoSeeker needs them most."

You get paid .20 for every search you complete and you can work as many or as few hours as you want! I got accepted last week and have made $52.60 already! I think this will be a nice way to get a little extra income.

How does it work?

The InfoSeeker texts Cha Cha and it pops up on my Firefox driven dashboard. I search for the answer, validate it and send it! Viola! .2o cents in my account.

I can have 20 people total join my team - so if you are SERIOUS about making some money online please leave your email address in my comment box and I will send you information about Cha Cha. I'm sorry that I have to be a little harsh, but I only get 20 people for my team and I want to fill it with motivated people who are interested in putting the time in to make some money!

Don't forget to visits these sites:

These blogs/message boards sure get a work out! I get grocery tips and strategies from them and I eat them up!! I recommend them highly!

Money Saving Mom

More than Enough

The Centsible Sawyer *new to my blogroll*

HotCouponWorld

Monthly Budget for July

Credit Cards
Well, technically they are both held with Citibank now. My transfer fee was $99.00, but I will make up for that with my 0% in no time.

Groceries
5 shopping trips this month. Had to allot for that. My stockpile has been incredible, but I still have to look for dinner items and just things we run out of.

Property Taxes & the Water Bill
Both due this month, so I actually will not be adding these things into sinking funds -- they will be paid this month.

Vet Bills
{{knock on wood}} there is plenty in the sinking funds envelope for the kitties this month.

Rearranging the "Blow" Categories
Back to where we were a month ago. There is a MISC fund for Misc Walmart needs (cat litter, water softener salt, misc yard maintenance needs, etc) Hate to say I was right to have them both separated -- but I was!

Hair
All three of us hitting up the sinking fund for hair cuts this month!

Gifts
DH's birthday is next month and Christmas is not that far off ... I'm a little worried. I don't have a whole lot saved up for that yet!

Gas Prices
I've had to add so much extra for the Gasoline costs. Hopefully I have a handle on what we need now.




Screen shot courtesy of my YNAB Software

It's the End of the Training Season ... mini update

Training Season is Over:
Cueing in REM's Tune "It's the end of the world as I know it"...... "AND I FEEL FINE!"

The last group took their server tests today! Double edged sword though. Yes, training is over and I can breathe - however, the overtime has ceased! So the real sweet paycheck I get on Thursday will be the best I will see for the rest of the year. Ahhh well. Make the best of what you are given.

New Cell Phones:



I don't know why I get so stressed out about buying things sometimes, but this phone thing was driving me batty. This is the third carrier we've tried in hopes of getting better reception in this black hole of a town we live in. Did you know that you don't have to buy phones directly from the carrier? I was pricing around and found that is probably the LAST place to buy phones! The Sprint deals were the worst of the places I looked: Best Buy, Walmart & Radio Shack were okay, but I wound up buying my phones from Let's Talk..... oh wait a minute! Scratch that... THEY WERE FREE! I got my phones FAST and had no problems. I just have to remember that I have to call THEM to make changes to the plan rather than calling Sprint directly. I might actually make $100 on the deal too because two of the phones had Sprint rebates on them as well! More money to the snowball -- that plus the money I had set aside to BUY PHONES!

Weekly Meals

Weekly Meals - back to having a plan

Thanks to HotCouponWorld, More than Enough & Money Saving Mom - my stockpile has grown enormously! In fact, this week the only things on my grocery list were:

15 boxes of pasta (.16 a piece)
American cheese slices
milk
apples
yogurt
french onion dip (for my sausage casserole dinner)
4 cans of spag sauce
2 cans of diced tomatoes

That's all I needed.... that's all I bought! Suweeeet! (of course, if I forget yeast one more time at the grocery store - I'm going to freak out!!)

Here's my Weekly Menu:

Monday: Tater Tot Casserole (my favorite E-Mealz recipe)
Tuesday: Spaghetti Bake
Wednesday: Brats & Perogies
Thursday: Sausage Casserole
Friday: Tilapia (haven't decided which recipe to try)
Saturday: Homemade Sausage Pizza
Sunday: Hubby's on his own

New Week, More Overtime and an Update

I'm sorry if I'm a little foggy headed this morning
I worked until almost 2 am this morning and it's now 7am and I have to get ready to go back to work. I played good Samaritan yesterday and helped out a co-worker with restaurant inventory. (the weekly count EVERYTHING in the kitchen) So I officially put in overtime again last week. I'm really tired and it's going to be a long day.

To the basement ya'all ....
Friday and Sunday both I had to evacuate the whole restaurant (staff and guests) to the basement because of a tornado warning. We've had tornado warnings before - but this is the first time I've retreated to the basement. The control you have when the entire place is hanging on your every word. Amazing that I didn't choke on my words. I was never good at public speaking - or crowd control. LOL . We weathered the storm. Some broken trees - but we did okay.

New Phones... finally
I get to order new phones with a new phone plan TOMORROW! We've been waiting for over a month for our contract to end so we wouldn't have to pay the penalty to leave. The reception in my neck of the woods is ridiculous. I'm hoping the new plan and new phones will bring better luck. Cross your fingers for me.

Am I really getting that old?
I went to a concert this week. Bret Michaels (Rock of Love) & Great White played in Waukesha at The Taste of Summer. This should not be confused with the Mega event .... Summerfest which plays in Milwaukee. Without getting into a review of the show (which I enjoyed) let me just tell you about the people we saw. Granted, I'm closing in on forty years old myself, but am I THAT old? I saw some women there that just made me giggle. And some that really made me mad!

Top Ten of "You really shouldn't wear THAT!"

1. Mullets both male and female went out of style a long time ago. Cut it off!

2. Spandex shirts and pants are only good on those with a smaller frame and even then it's questionable.

3. Spiked heels don't work so well at an outdoor venue after a rain. AKA Stuck in Mud.

4. There is an age cut off to being the bleach blonde rock and roll groupie....and honey...you're there!

5. You can put on a cowboy hat ... but you still don't look like Bret Michaels.

6. This isn't a Justin Timerlake concert. The 4 XL Tshirts that looks like you painted in the car on the way to the show that says Bret Michaels "Rock's Your World" just doesn't cut it.

7. Aqua Net ... nuff said.

8. Signs. Much like the T-shirt that says "Bret, You rock my world" a sign won't win you any accolades, however it may make the person standing behind you pretty peeved.

9. That skirt is too short! I mean TOO SHORT!

10. (and my favorite) When going to a concert of an 80's originated band, you are not required to act the part, dress the part or have your ten year old daughter ALSO dressing the part! Big hair, black make up, short skirt, boots and colored hair extensions look ridiculous on you ..... and they look especially ridiculous on your little girl!

Another Good Shopping Week
I love knowing the sales almost a week in advance! It allows me time to gather coupons and make the most of it!

Freebies this week included 7 Chex Mix, 1 toothbrush, 2 envelopes of taco seasoning, 2 Chex Mix plus 4 things from the 10 for $10 and get the eleventh free. I did that 4 times.
If my Meijers doubled coupons I would have done outstanding, but as it stands I saved $120 and spent only $74.

Back to Menu Planning
Of course I've been cooking -- but I haven't been really planning my meals out like I was doing for awhile there. Look for me to be posting weekly menu's again soon. It really helped and saved time when I had a plan. Go figure! LOL

I Can't Swim, but I can Surf!

Not giving up my money that easily!

My Bank of America 0% teaser rate ended and the remaining balance now incurs a respectable 9.24%. It's not the greatest in the world, but it certainly rocks the pants off 20% or whatever some people are dealing with. This balance is currently the one on the chopping block because of the higher interest rate. (going against the DR grain) I got my first bill with the higher rate and my interest incurred was $92.!! I said to myself (and probably out loud) "Oh hell no! I don't think so!!" I found a low fee transfer for 0% until January 09 which is a month before my proposed payoff date for that card. It's through Citibank - but I've had good service and treatment from Citibank in the past so I'm comfortable with surfing the balance. $92.00 in interest charges! Are you kidding me!!??! Bahh! Not going to happen! Never again!