They are GONE! Well, they will be soon – the kids are going to “grandma camp” which is where *I* had to go every summer . . .

Last summer I had color-coded excel spreadsheets noting the type of camp, times of operation, deposit amounts and deadlines . . . this summer, we’ve streamlined.

And so I can work – and I’m excited that I have more work that a personal can reasonably do – and I’m in the tough position of trying to negotiate – not what I need to survive – but what my time & work are WORTH. Wow, I’ve hit the BIG TIME.

The two spaces that my house does not possess are a place for the cat box and an office. But after reading an article where a fancy designer said a person could make one’s formal dining area multi-task as an office, I tried it. Wow – now I have a fancy office for a big-time girl – at almost ZERO cost.

I mentioned that I listed a few things on Craigslist, but in preparation for my new tenants’ things that need garage space, I shifted the items that did not sell from Craigslist to Freecycle. I had an old wooden chest of drawers that I’d listed for $15 and actually had two people TURN DOWN (hellllooo? $15?) So I decided that was a sign for me to STOP shopping for an accessory table/shelf at Target for my big-time-girl office & grab some satin black spray paint for a little re-purpose decorating. It is a virtual HGTV/From –Trash-to-Treasure episode at my house!

I bought an edger off of Craigslist (see, it can be a two-edged sword, that Craigslist) from an entrepreneurial 12 year old who had “upgraded” his edger to a more powerful gas one & fitted it with a new blade for $8 and now I can feel good about foregoing lawn service & not worry about being kicked out of my neighborhood (or given a ticket) – yes, they really do that here.

My cats are surly about the generic cat food they are furnished (they even used to get cans in the days B.C. – Before the Challenge), but as my friend keeps reminding me: They’re JUST CATS. I am asking Mr. Google to tell me about pest control with Borax so I can feel good about foregoing pest control services. And my thermostat is set on a balmy 84 as we head into the lean days of summer.

But I may be teaching a second class in the fall – and if I play my cards right, I’ll get a few more engineering projects in hand.

Sold some stuff from the garage . . .

I sold some kayaks on Craigslist last year -- and I sold my sewing machine to my mom -- and I just sold the first thing left over from my garage sale -- So I'm going to pursue this Craigslist thing with some gusto & see how it pans out. I need (want) an Adobe bundle of Software (CS4 in case anyone has a pirated copy I can have/borrow -- specifically, I'm interested in InDesign) -- and it usually costs $1,300 -- but I found it for $550. MUST. HAVE. IT. Maybe I can sell enough stuff on Craigslist to take the pinch off? This is what my coaches should worry about -- expanding my buisiness with some EXPENSE -- thus far, I've spent NOTHING (and gained little in the process) -- and they sholdn't worry much, I lack ALL entrepreneureal instinct -- but I do love software. Mmmmmm.

Anyone need an engineering manual written/edited/pimped out? I am working on a grant for a county dump -- ahem -- Solid Waste Facility -- right now -- woo woo!

I have some big things in the pipeline -- which is great, because I can use all the help I can get.

I have not had tenants in 2 months -- but I think I have occupants starting July 1 -- yipee. Now to paint . . .

I got a timer installed on my hot water heater -- it runs for 2 hours a day (rather than 24).

I got a rain barrel to catch stormwater -- to water my lawn (instead of using the hose -- because you pay for the drinking-quality water that comes out AND you pay a very expensive wastewater charge on what you use).

I think I have a lead on a "new" (used, and really quite old) car that is getting its transmission buffed up so I can sell the Cooper (the idea here is some profit to stash back -- savings to buy a future Cooper).

And the big one: I think I have a private lender for my mortgage -- at an awesome rate (I'm at almost 8%, but no one will give me a better bank-loan because I can't produce 2 years' worth of W-2s) that would free up hundreds of dollars per month -- that I could use to pay down the principal -- or buy food, depending.

The kids are headed to my mom's for the summer -- so the prospect of camp expenses will be in abeyance for a while.

And I've recently figured out that if you have full-time work, it is MUCH harder to break away for those shopping jags to Target -- and if you do get there, you are likely too tired to find any joy in it.

Scary, scary, scary stuff.

Friday I found out that the entire cancer-causing lesion was entirely removed from my undercarriage -- it was aggressive, but slow-moving & so we'll hope that in 2 months there will be no re-occurance & no need for anything other than a watchful eye.  What would I do if the nurse / Zumba goddess, Ginger, and the Dr. HIMSELF didn't spot me samples of the drugs I'd like to become reliant upon?

But last week I went to urgent care because my old 4-time-per-year sinus infections taught me what is and is not an emergency:  I had both a sinus infection & an ear infection & I haven't been that sick since I had pneumonia 13 years ago.  And thank God for Penicillin (and that I'm not allergic to it, and that it comes in GENERIC so my co-pay isn't $50).  

And also this week a study announced that of all bankruptcies, 60% were brought on my medical bills -- and of those 60% SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT had health insurance, good jobs and homes -- that is before a major medical illness.

Not only did I need medical treatment, but I couldn't work last week -- I could only lie sadly in bed & mew.  Fortunately, my project just gets pressed back -- I didn't have to cancel class ar beg a boss's forgiveness . . . but still.  I am profoundly FREAKED OUT by how really very close I could be to losing everything -- and I won't have health insurance much longer . . . a crisis indeed.

Wow, this is an activity for a lifetime -- not just for this year, isn't it?

I was just thinking that it is far faster and more pleasant to consume 200 calories than it is to work them off.  And the same thing about spending $200 -- far easier (and more fun) to BUY than to SAVE -- this discipline thing is counter-intuitive to me, and so when I fall off the wagon, I dilly-daly before hopping back on.

So I've been spending on things that I would NEVER have done in my "financial prison" phase -- but then, we still have no TV, I'm working toward selling my beloved "race car" for something that would leave me cash in the bank in exchange for the Cooper.  And I want to find a Sugar Daddy (or Mama) who is making .5% in their Money Market account who would rather make 5.5% on my mortgage . . . I barter for yard help, I am about to install my rain barrel (to save $$ on watering the yard) -- but I'm trying to think big rather than sweat the small stuff -- because in a book I was skimming: _The Millionaire Mind_ (or something) the author said that people who have money THINK about money differently -- and so they behave differently.  If all the wealth in the word went away today (ooooh, the eerie familiarity of that idea!) then people with money would make it back -- and people who don't think about money properly won't.  

So as The Ultimate Cheapskate said in a book we were given at the outset of this challenge:  It's the big stuff that "pays" to attend to -- it's not the "latte factor" -- so I'll have my figurative "lattes" (but I don't drink my calories, so make that Target binges ;)  

Sprinting like a Gazelle can be exhausting. Dave Ramsey encourages "gazelle like intensity" when it comes to meeting financial goals, but being a gazelle can be exhausting!

I needed a break -- I finished a grant application in 4 days -- and I am on a "networking" trip which I hope will net me steady, paid work when I return. But Oh, I needed a trip -- away from town -- away from kids' schedules -- away from pets, chores -- and away from noting every dime I spend. I know, I know, I should be diligent even away -- but then it would seem less like a min-vacation -- and I desperately need a vacation :)

More when I return (and I *am* being good/frugal/careful with the funds -- btu I *did* forget a few bills before I left :(

Progress, not perfection -- obviously.

She's my SHOPPER -- where does she get THAT from??

I am mad for two reasons:

1) Because I went to SGI a couple of weekends ago and bought a nice new dolphin ring for $4.99 – and I used my money, but a couple weeks after, when I went to St. Augustine for our end-of-year field trip, we went to one shop in the oldest town and saw the exact same ring for $2.99. I think I should have waited to get the one in st. Augustine.

2) And the other thing that I’m a bit mad about is that Justyce is having a sale. If you have a coupon you can use it for the summer sale. My mom took me there last night to check on the price of shoes. And for my birthday, I got a $35 check from my great aunt & uncle so I wasnted to use this money to get the shoes because I thought you didn’t have to use a coupon (because in the ad it said 50% off) but the person at the desk explained that it LOOKS like a 50% off coupon, but it really says you can get UP TO 50% off. And so there was a lot of confusion, and I mom told me to wait to get the shoes until I could go there with my neighbor (who has the coupon) and we have a planned trip to shop for summer clothes (with a budget). But I really wanted the shoes NOW!

Mom's comment: ooooh. That's a tough one. Delayed gratification. My mom will tell you that's a skill I never actually mastered.

I got him to type this AND practice his clarinet.  Maybe I *can* get something right once in a while!

Mom's prompt was:  "Explain why/how you conned your mom out of $50 in combined spend & save money for a VIDEO GAME (which is against your mother's principles)."  Go.

"The reason I spent most of my allowance on a game was because I heard from lots of people that it was a very good game and I had been saving for it for a while.  I had read up about it and (I’m sad to say this) but I became obsessed.  So what I did was I decided to go out with my dad and just get it.  It was a bit of a worry for me because I was worried I might get it for a bad price and accidentally spend too much of my savings on the game but I found it at a cheap and affordable price.  Though next time I might not take money out of my savings account… All in all I thought it was a good decision for me to make (for the most part)."

Mom's remark:  Too bad there was no buyer's remorse . . .

Mixed feelings, frankly.  I'll likely be more upset when I don't have any money coming in for rent :(

I just lost a HUGE chunk of my income -- and at a time when I have no steady work.  I'm breathing -- I have a couple of leads -- but I can't deal with it until I come back from a week long work-related hiatus the last week in May.

Anyone need a 200 sq. foot studio in Southwood?

I am going to do something that's the opposite of spending (to repent for recent "indiscretions").

Are you seated?

I'm selling the Cooper -- and one of my two remaining Kayaks.

My heart is broken -- but I feel like one of those families on that show "Clean House" (which used to be the only thing I could find to watch when we had 700 channels) when they pry the fuzzy painting of the Last Supper from the contestant's arms while they sob -- but in the end, they always get a leather seating group or something.  And I can repeat over & over "it's just stuff . . . it's just stuff . . ."