Financial Update

This should be easy, lol... STILL BROKE!

Actually, I intend for this to be more than just that. I am realizing very quickly that I am probably going to have to find a job that is not somewhere I plan on staying, but just something that I can have to get by until a career job opens up for me. The Papa Murphy's in Woodland is hiring and has open interviews tomorrow between noon - 2. Guess where I'm going tomorrow. I'm not THRILLED about it, but I know its easy work, its not fast food, and I might be able to get away with not working too many evenings if I can manage to swing a day prep job. Plus the fact that I was an assistant manager at Papa Murphys waaaay back when... I would hope this would be an easy job to get. I guess we'll see!

Right now I have to figure out what i've got available as far as funding goes.. against what I've got coming up to pay. Always a challenge when the total going out is more than whats coming in.

I currently have to pay:
$200 to Verizon
$120 as a deposit on my electric bill
$325 car payment

and I still need to order Ashlyn's Daisy Scout vest.


I keep thinking of things in my head too that I want to purchase... I am going to motivate myself by starting to read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover as soon as I finish the book I'm currently reading.

I have a US Bank account that I opened to get the promotional free $50 (which I used to get an Old Navy giftcard and some much needed clothes for myself a while back) I think I'm going to try to use that savings account to try and save a $500 emergency fund and the checking account as a "goal savings". If I don't feel like I have as easy of access to the account, its much more likely to be successful in savings.

The things I want to save for are:
Emergency Fund ($500)
Bed/Mattress (either Craigslist or Ikea)
Dresser (Craigslist or Ikea)
Ipod
Trip to Florida (including Airfare, rental car, hotel(?) and extra money)
Verizon wireless termination fees

A rainy Friday morning...

Oh how I would have loved to not have any children this morning (lol)! If I could have stayed in bed and slept listening to the rain this morning I would be a much happier momma already today! But.. since this is completely NOT the case, I suppose I'll try to make the best of my day regardless...
I've got a pretty long list of things I hope to accomplish today, unfortunately not included on said list is "be lazy" or "take a nap". So... on with the list!

• Get Ashlyn to school (on time!)
• Clean living room
• Clean off chair in LR
  
• Vacuum living room
• Clean kitchen counters
• Sweep kitchen
• Clean off/organize kitchen table
• Take out garbage/diaper garbage
• Pick up my room
• Vacuum my room
• Pick up/clean Ashlyn's room
• Vacuum Ashlyn's room
• Get laundry together & load in car
• Get Dannon food together & load in car
• Put highchair/pack'n'play in car
• Write thank you for interviews & mail
• Complete YMCA application
• Turn in YMCA application
• Call about child watch to work out today
• Order Ashlyn's Daisy uniform
• Contact Verizon about disconnect fees

Man... I'm now realizing thats a lot that I want to get done! Well.. I'm going to finish this cup of coffee and hopefully get Baby D down for a nap before I turn on some tunes and get started with my list

Interview #2

This morning was off to another early start... so tough to do on those days when its all nice & warm and cozy in bed!! Thanks to my bestest friend EVER I was able to go to my 9am interview in Portland. She came over this morning to get Ashlyn to school and take Baby D to her house afterwards, I filled up my travel mug with home brewed coffee (limited myself to Starbucks before yesterday's interview) and hit the road. It only took 40-45 minutes to get there, but parking was a PITA! I think the interview went alright, it was a lot of the standard type questions "what is your definition of Teamwork and give us an example of blah, blah, blah.." but I was honest and answered to the best of my ability.
I'm definitely more excited about the interview yesterday, and totally leaning towards a part time position. I guess i'm just afraid of the burnout and stress of working full time with a possible hour or more commute each way when you factor in traffic for going to and from work at a normal time.

I'm tired after the past few days, and still more appointments coming! Ash went to the dentist this afternoon for a cleaning and check, i've got a tentatively schedule dentist appointment for Thursday late morning, and tomorrow I've got a counseling appointment. I'm a little apprehensive about that. I've done some counseling before, but I just know that there is going to be pain and tears involved for sure this time around. There is a lot to work through but I think I'm doing a pretty good job these days at focusing on what I need to do to get on my feet and be healthy.

Because my online to do list worked so well last week... I'm trying it again for tomorrow & Thursday!! Gotta find that motivation anywhere and anyway I can some days!!

Interviews!

Well, just reporting in that I feel my interview this morning for the PT billing position at Advanced GI in Vancouver went pretty well.. she said I would be "likely" to hear from her in the next week or two. They are hoping to start their new employee on or after November 6th when they are in their new location. I think its very promising, I would have the opportunity to really be in control of the whole clinic's billing (ah, kind of intimidating too!) and a lot of chances to learn new skills. Plus, its PT so I would be working M, T & W from 8am-5pm, still giving me a lot of time with the kids and free weekends. Just on the fly I'm thinking that I'd see about the before school program for Ash and drop her off early, then take Dannon up to Amber's for the day and have Ashlyn ride the bus home to Amber's from school on those days.
I'm happy with how the interview went and even happier to say that on my way home from that interview I got a call from the Legacy Employment services to set up an interview for tomorrow for their account follow-up specialist! I'm going to have to jump back on their website and read the job description again. I'm pretty sure that one is a full time position, but hey... I'll take what I can get! I'm just happy right now to have these chances to interview, so much better than a denial email or no response at all!!

Today I Could...

So along the lines of the other day's "Today I Will" today's is "Today I Could" because due to certain occurrences already this morning a big part of me would like to stay in my jammies, cry and go back to sleep. So today (and any day really) I can choose to do that and give in to those feelings or I can choose to do something other than that. So what if so far all I've done other than that has been getting Thing 1 to school, Thing 2 fed his breakfast and a pot of coffee made? I'm up and I'm not in tears. Some days I think you've just got to start with the basics!

So.. with the assistance of Google... here are my inspirational quotes for today regarding choices:

• You've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice. ~Steven D. Woodhull

• Life is the sum of all your choices. ~Albert Camus
  
  
• Using the power of decision gives you the capacity to get past any excuse to change any and every part of your life in an instant. ~Anthony Robbi

• The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live. ~Flora Whittemore

• We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice. ~John C Maxwell

So instead of going back to bed and letting sadness & disapointment and all of the other negative feelings consume me I'm going to try and tackle a few things on my to do list. I'm going to connect with my friends on FB. And I'm gonna pull myself together to get through another day.

Research Panel

Hey... just wanted to pass this along to anyone interested... Pinecone Research Panel. They're legit, they pay, what more can I say? (Hmm, if only I could continue with the rhyming too!)
http://www.pineconeresearch.com/signup/RR570DS1.asp

Anyway.. check it out if you're interested. I've only been involved in one panel so far, but it only took about 10 minutes online filling out a questionnaire thing about a potential new product and then a week or so later I got a $3 check in the mail. Not much, but I know it will add up! I'm thinking about using the "income" from that and a grocery rebate I participated in to buy my ticket to Dave Ramsey... hows that for being budget minded?! :)

Wednesday Report

I've been able to get some good things accomplished today, now I'm hoping that some REALLY great things come from it!

This morning I went to drop off my resume at Advanced Gasteroenterology in Vancouver. They're looking for a part time medical biller, and I'm very hopeful to get an interview! Thankfully my BFF (seriously makes me feel like i'm in Jr High to use that label) came with me to watch baby D while I took care of that task and she knew her way around the hospital campus. Its a very nice facility, but I probably would have wandered around for a bit before I found where I needed to go! After dropping that off we went to Joanns and then Goodwill. I bought something at each store, but paid with cash and was actually pretty satisfied with my choices and felt that I reigned myself in a little more than I normally would have. Being "AWARE" of the money going out maakes it a little easier to focus on limiting purchases.

After school I accompanied Ashlyn to the first Girl Scout meeting at the school. I think it will be a good activity for her to be involved in, was only $12 for the year and its not a huge time commitment, at least not at this level. So now shes a Daisy Scout! I'm going to try and find how to apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of the vest, handbook & troop dues otherwise I'm sure it will be something either set of her grandparents would be more than willing to cover :)

So now I'm starting to think about dinner options. Its always so much easier to have a meal plan prepared, or at least options for the week. My goal tonight is to NOT have cereal for dinner!

Oh, and I finished watching the last episode of Hells Kitchen... and can I just say I'm disappointed?!

I think this works!

Whether or not anyone actually chooses to read or follow this blog, I think it actually works to have a list, or a goal, make it public and then follow through.

I'm a list maker. Anyone who knows me remotely well could probably tell you that. But here's the thing... even though I can write myself a million little lists and get satisfaction from crossing each thing off as its completed, writing them down for myself doesn't seem to be quite as motivating. I guess we'll see if I can keep up with this level of blogging and following through and staying motivated. Thats where you come into play :)

Its always easier to complete a task or be excited about something when you first start. Its down the road a ways that its easier to start to slack off or ignore what you set out to do. For me, this is all about not allowing myself to lose ground like that. No where to go but up from here, remember!?

Anyway, so reporting in on my day... I have harvested a few crops in Farmville, but I've also crossed off almost everything I set for myself to do today plus a few extras that are on that pesky list i've got written down on paper. The chicken nuggets are in the crock pot and smelling pretty yummy, I'm going to attempt using an external hard drive to back up my pictures from my memory card & my computer tonight and I've had a conversation with Cliff without us screaming at each other (although I'm still HIGHLY irritated that he's having such a hard time paying any child support, but can afford to go on a vacation and a Social Distortion concert, grr!!)

I think its going to be back to the drawing board on the YMCA membership. When I went in there after picking Ash up from school they were not at all helpful. Handed me a bunch of pamphlets, said they didn't have any scholarship forms available and that I would have to show deployment orders to qualify for any military family discount. Oh, and that they only provide child care for walking ages and up. Hmm. Whats it take to get in shape around here?! LOL.

All in all, its been a fairly productive day. Tomorrow I'm going to Vancouver with my BFF so I can *hopefully* apply for a billing job and maybe have some fun too!

Today I Will:

• Pick up & vacuum the living room
• Make a big batch of homemade chicken nuggets in the crock pot (IF the chicken in the fridge is still good!)
• Go to the bank & post office
• Call and check on Tiffanie and baby Bailey
• Help Ash with her homework and read with her before bed
• Schedule dentist appointment for Ash
• Contact YMCA about grant/scholarship program

And maybe my biggest one of all is to realize and acknowledge that these things aren't going to change overnight, that I have a lot of people I can lean on and to keep reminding myself to live "no day but today..." (bonus pts to anyone who knows where I got that!)

Wish me luck!!

Goals: Short & Long Term, Financial, Personal.. Oh My!

These are probably going to end up being listed in no particular order, but I think when it actually comes time to working towards any goal there should probably be an order. Feel free to comment with any input on prioritizing!

• Get a job (preferably a career type job in the medical field)
• Go back to school
• Exercise regularily (walking, workout dvd or join gym depending on cost)
• Cook healthy/complete meals even if its just for Ashlyn and I
• Spend more time during the day being productive than farming on Facebook (lol)
• Look for opportunities to increase income (rebates, ebay/craigslist/consignment)
• Find out how to lower cell phone expenses
• Read with Ashlyn every night
• Work on having patience
• Remove "I Don't Care" from my vocabulary
• Attend a church service 2 or more times per month
• Go to counseling sessions
• Get off TANF program
• Obtain Associates Degree
• Run a 5K
• Avoid falling into emotionally charged phone conversations with no real purpose
• File divorce paperwork and be amicable

Financial/Debt Management Goals:

• Pay off medical/dental bills
• Pay off revolving credit cards (Kohls, HP & Bank of America)
• Pay off student loan (currently in deferred status)
• Pay off car payment
• Set up direct deposit to savings accounts for myself & the kids
• Become efficient at using cash or debit for all purchases
• Have one credit card in good standing for actual emergency purposes
• Find a good system for goal orriented purchases (saving up for bed & new mattress set!)
  

I want to get to a point financially where all I'm paying out are my monthly expenses (rent, insurance, utilities, cell phone, netflix)

I know that I will continue to struggle with these things... there will always be the days that its easier to put on a movie than be an attentive parent, or indulge in a $5 cup of coffee from Starbucks (one of my ultimate weaknesses I'll admit!) or feel too tired or sick or insert excuse here to not make the active choice to be physically healthy. But I really do WANT to be healthy in all aspects of my life.

My first attempt at true blogging...

I intend for this to be my forum to hold myself accountable.. and possibly have my friends, family and online acquaintances help with that accountability aspect as well. I am in awe of many others in the blogging world, primarily all the family focused super couponers, money savers and deal seekers. Right now I feel like my life has gotten out of control, and instead of just continuing to let it take me on a downward spiral I want to take control back.

I hesitate to say that I've reached the bottom, just out of fear that I'll be knocked down another level and I don't want to call any bluff and find myself anywhere lower than where I feel right now. But whether I say it or not... I've reached some all time lows. I'm without a job (like many others, I know) and have just recently had to apply for public assistance (still, like many others, I know..) but I'm ashamed. And I'm broke. But I still want to live a good life. That doesn't have to mean having the best of everything, I'm ok with going without... but I don't want myself or my kids to feel like we're missing out on life.

I have an opportunity to go see Dave Ramsey in Portland in a week or so and I hope to go. I want to be fired up to find a job, pay off debt and really feel like i'm back on track for success and happiness. I have his Total Money Management book too... probably I should read that, lol!

I'm going to break this first blogging session up into a few entries tonight. Next to come (after the kiddos are both in bed) is my goal setting... short & long term. If I can focus on some obtainable goals I know that will help. I'm tired of living in the dumps (emotionally speaking, my apartment really isn't that bad!) I'm tired of feeling worthless. I'm tired of being unhappy. I'm only a month in to being a recipient of TANF and already tired of that as well. I want to use the services available to me in my situation now to IMPROVE our lives. Financially, Emotionally, Spiritually & Physically. I need to give my life an overhaul... wanna come along for the ride?