Spending money

One thing I guess I have known all along is that you do have to spend money sometimes for important things that you really should not blow off!

Like the dentist. I can't tell you the last time I had my teeth cleaned and even if I did, who would really want to know! So I had my teeth cleaned today. I also had x rays done which again has been awhile. So there goes about $400.00. But I need about $2000.00 more dollars worth of work done. The big expense is a crown for the root canal that I had done about 5 years ago. I just could not afford it after the root canal and I was in major credit card debit of around $14,000.00 ( I am happy to say I don't have the credit card debt at this point kind of, read on!).

So I had to put the $400.00 on my credit card along with another $400.00 of a bill I found out my insurance does not cover for allergy testing. I also found out I have another bill of around $500.00 on the way, again for the second part of the allergy testing. As far as the dentist, maintenance is very important and I plan on going to get my teeth cleaned regularly from now on. I am going to have to slowly work on getting cavities done, one wisdom tooth pulled and of course the big crown! Yikes! What I really want is my teeth whitened so people will say I have a pretty smile :)!


But for now I have to settle for this I guess. At least I am taking some action.


I think I have been so involved in my legal battles, I have just put everything off thinking things would be finished soon etc. I can't wait for that anymore. I have to move on with my life the best I can. I just hope I have some money left after all the legal business is done with!

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Earn Money & Home projects

Well now that things are slowing down I am going to have to find a way to earn some money! (yes me and the rest of the world!)
I am going to keep organizing though and if I don't find extra work, I am going to use this time to keep organizing and cleaning.

When I make some progress with that, and the weather gets a bit nicer where I can open up windows etc. I am going to possibly do some painting inside the house. Only on parts that I know are worth doing right now. Parts of the house need wall and ceiling work, but I can't do that till I get electricity and plumbing done!

With that I should make an announcement: (ha ha)

If anyone reading this works for HGTV, OPRAH, Home Improvement shows, This OLD house, Nate Berkus or Carter Oosterhouse (Nate and Carter are both hot by the way!)

My house would be a great show for you! It was built in 1926 and was once part of a wealthy man's (there is some history to this man who owned it) summer home estate. All the other buildings are still here. I live in the gatehouse. It is a decorators dream!




I would like my house to be decorated like Pottery Barn or IKEA. I have simple tastes and want it to be cozy. I also like a bit of Shabby Chic.

Ho hum well I guess it is back to reality!

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Saving money at Walmart

Doesn't it seem like a good gage of how the economy is doing when Walmart is doing better than most retailers?



Really, how can you resist when you know that you can get something at Walmart for so much less? I know I save money when I go grocery shopping there, compared to my regular grocery store.

I heard an interview today that said even Target was not doing as good as Walmart. I think that says a lot right there. I mean most people think of Target as getting some pretty good deals. Now I would not say that I love Walmart, but if I can save some money, than I guess that's where I am going shopping!

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Another Project and Cleaning again

WORK
Yesterday I finished another freelance project and dropped it off at the office. Things are really slowing down though. I do have some money owed to me from previous projects and I can only get a small amount at a time every payday (which is this week). It is probably just as well, at least I'll have a paycheck coming in for the quiet times. It is not a lot of money but I'll take it!


ORGANIZING
I have not been as successful with the cleaning and organizing. I am once again overwhelmed! I know I just need to start small and just do it! I seem to find an excuse one way or another to get out of the house, whether it is going grocery shopping, or Walmart, Target or one of those. I am a time waster! I am living in a fantasy world! I know these things about myself. I have big plans to do things and then when I start to do it I get bored or something. Then the perfectionist neat freak side of me gets mad at the procrastinator side of me and I give up! It really is just a matter of making decisions for me and I am avoiding it that's all. It is sooooo much easier to put things off to another day sometimes! The great thing is I know this and it really does give me a start to identify why I act this way.



Spring is on its way, and I am not going to want to be inside on those gorgeous days cleaning YUCK!

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Saving money

How do you store your loose coins? Do you have a piggy bank? Many people use the trick of just saving all their change every month. The only money you spend is paper money and the rest goes into a jar, or piggy bank, whatever you decide to use. Of course some banks now offer this with their debit cards. I have even heard of people who write checks (does anyone do this anymore?!) rounding up their check and just making it an even number.


If you really want to get fashionable you can go to www.banksbanksbanks.com and buy almost any kind of bank. Of course it is going to cost you some change!

Or if you are into crafts you can make one your self with an old bleach bottle!





I think anyone of these is a great idea. It is such a small way to save money and you don't notice it at all!

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Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve today announced that the recession had cut many of Americans' net worth by about 20 percent, as the value of homes, stock portfolios and businesses have plummeted! Wow I am so glad they told us that! As if we didn't know already!

I was looking on Zillow.com and it said my house had dropped about $9,000.00 in the last 30 days! I know that is not a figure I can totally rely on, but still nobody wants to see their assets losing value!


I am not an expert but I think the housing market has a year or two to go before it stabilizes. At that point I think the housing is going to go back to what the house is truly worth. The prices have been over inflated for many years, but even still I would not have expected this happen.

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Mocha drinks

If you want to save some money and like Mocha drinks, try this! I have tried this and it is just as good if not better (IMO) than most of the hot drinks out there. It is sweeter than McDonald's, I think and not bitter at all. There are 5 individual packets for about $2.99 at Walmart, a bit more money at the grocery store. If you live in the cold, you are going to want to get your favorite blanket and a watch a good movie and stay in! And think of the money saved!

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Lottery Ticket

Hmm, Where did I put that winning lottery ticket? I wish! I need big work done on my house and I wish I had the money to get some of this done! The money I do have is tied up legally and not available to me and I don't know when it is going to be available. I would love for my house to look like Pottery Barn or IKEA.

I just love the look, it is so inviting and comfortable!


The great thing about IKEA is they have a lot of things that look like Pottery Barn but they are less expensive.

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