Started my X-mas shopping this week. I usually do most of it on Black Friday, but this year we will be in Vegas, so I decided to start now.

My sis is done. I got her an Elvis pen, an Elvis keychain (that is covered in blue velvet!) and an Elvis bottlecap opener. All 3 of them have buttons you can press to hear Elvis say different things. They all match. It's a full set. She'll die for them. She's obsessed.

Also got a book for The Boy. Will get him some more, but it is a start.

Christmas Spendings Total: $36.15

Back in the middle of September, I ordered a birthday gift for my BF online. I never arrived. It was on back order (though they never told me that). Fast Forward 2 and a half months and it is STILL back ordered. Grr... Finally, yesterday, I asked for a refund. I will try and find the gift someplace else for Christmas (gave BF something else for is b-day when that gift hadn't arrived in time). So, today, finally, I had a refund in my paypal account. $37.70! Yay! Transferred it to my checking account and as soon as it gets there, it will go to the CC as a small payment towards the big monthly one.

I just need a place to keep track of money I either have recieved or are waiting to receive for freelancing, tarot, or random things. Just trying to keep myself organized.

Tarot:
$200 10/27



Misc.
Phone Rebate: $50

Well, looks like I may be getting 2 week freeance editing job. That would be awesome! Would take me up til the week before Vegas. Keep your fingers crossed!

And, I have an interview on Wednesday for a temp position. It's between 20-35 hours per week, at $15 an hour. I'm not sure fow how long they would need me. Wish me luck there, too!

Thing is, the more I think about it, the more I would just love to do freelance work from home full time. I don't know if it is possible right now. But at least it helps with bills til I find somethineg FT.

Think I might join the gym today. It is $10 a month, and Mums offered to pay for me until I get a FT job again. How awesome is she?? I am getting close to my first mini weight loss goal of 10 lbs before Turkey Day. 3 weeks and 2.2 pounds left!

And on a random side note, yesterday was a no spend day, plus I sold two books on half.com and listed some ebay stuff. Go me!

Hey all. As many of you know, I constantly have issues with my car tires. Had all 4 slashed a few years ago. One needed replacing last summer. About 2 weeks ago 3 needed replacing, etc. Well, the one tire that I didn't replace a few weeks ago (ironically,the tire that was replace last summer) has been going flat. I've been fillin it with air every other day or so until I got some money to fix it. So I went to my guy yesterday. Turns out there is a HUGE nail in it. Son of a tire!! *sigh* But at least it didn't need replacing. So, my guy fixed it in 10 minutes, for $12. Not bad!

In other news, the tarot reading went great! Afer 2 hours, the host asked me to stay for another hour. Of course! I ened up reading for 3 hours, and at the end of the night, the host gave me a check for $200! (# hours of reading plus a tip b/c everyone was saying how awesome I was!) Sweet!

I just need to decide what to do with the money now. I was originally thinking Vegas, but then I am thinking maybe I should put some of the bills. My first unemployment check won't be in for another week, so...

Decisions, decisions.

Yay! I'm so excited! Tonight I will be working at a Halloween Party doing tarot readings! The woman having the party actually called a friend of mine for the job, but she was already booked. She asked my friend if she knew anyone as good as her (my friend) and she said yes: Me! So I called the hostess and she booked me! Yay!

It's for 2 hours, from 8-10pm. I'll be doing short 10 minute readings. One bonus is I get to dress up in my gypsey wear. Plus, there will be about 30 people at the party. Since the woman hired me for only 2 hours, that is only 12 readings. I'm bringing my business cards, so with any luck, some other people will want to book private readings with me! The hostess is so nice; she's paying me so her guests can get reading for free as part of the party. How cool is that!

And how cool is this: when I told her my fee for parties is $60 an hour, she said "OK!" wihtout hesitation! So tonight, after 2 hours of "work", I will be $120 richer! Wish I could read full-time as my "real" job! Ha!

Had to pick up a few items today at CVS. We did fantastic!! Here's what we got:

2 packs AA batteries
2 bottle Irish Spirng Body Wash
1 pack Thermacare heat wraps

Total spendings: $13 and change
Total savings: $12.49!!!

How did we do it? Well, I had $1 coupon off the thermacare wraps, $1 coupon off the irish spring, plus $6.50 in Extra Care Bucks, and the batteries were buy one get one free ($3.99!)

Ahhh, it's good to know that even though I am on the dole, we can smell pretty and have batteries for the tv remote control! LOL

This sucks. Not only does t suck haing no income, it's been less than a week and I am already BORED!!!

Ok, done with that. Called Unemployment and set that up. Looks like I will be getting around $278 a week. Not too bad. I brought home $1,500 a month before, and it looks like bein on the dole will give me about $1,100 a month. $400 less. Where to cut that $400 from?

Well, I won't be using as much gas in my car. Even or job interviews and such, I won't be driving as much in a week as I did commuting to work and back before. That's nice.

Also, no extras. None. No books, magazines, clothes, movies, CDs, eating out, etc. That should save a bit.

Mums has offered to pay my WW membership for me b/c she doesn't want me to give up on it b/c of the cost. So that is $40 a month there. How awesome is Mums??? She also said if I want to help her with yard work (mowing lawn, raking leaves, etc) she'll pay me for it, but I feel bad taking extra money from her for that. She's 61, Dad is 60, I'm the child that lives closest, I SHOULD be doing that stuff for her - for free!!

I have a good amount of things I can put on ebay. I just wish there was more of a gaurantee the things would sell. I hate paying listing fees for items that don't sell. And lately it seems like the things that do sell, are selling for very little money, like $5-$10. Anyone else notice that?

I am looking and applying not just for regular jobs, but for freelance work as well. And this week I need to call a temp agency and regiser with them. I've ones them before, and they aren't too bad. That's how I found my next-to-last FT job, actually.

And finally, I have free time to finish my book. Been working on it almost 3 years; time to get that puppy finished and published! (I hope!!!)

So, things are moving slowly, but at least they are moving forwards, right?

I haven't been blogging this month b/c things have been kinda crappy.

I'm going through one of my depression phases, so I really just have no interest in anything and just don't care about anything right now.

I lost my job. Panic. Lots and lots of panic.

Family member passed away (great aunt) and although I was not close to her, makes methink of the family members I am close to passing away.

Thought money was tight before? HA! Now it's 2 adults with NO income trying to get by. Will apply for unemployment today, as well as assistance from the state in terms of utility breaks, food stamps, whatever I can get. Already looking for something new, but damn, it's depressing.

Trying to look on the bright side here: more time to finish my book, can do more freelance work, and I have a couple of tarot reading parties lined up. There is a bright side, right???

Old Vegas Total: 578.18
Freelance Money: $40.00
-------------------------
New Vegas Total: $618.18

Half.com DD today! It’s not a gigantic amount, but every bit towards Vegas helps! I only have 5-6 weeks til I leave and I am nowhere NEAR what I need for the trip!

Old Vegas Amount: $553.55
Half.com DD: $24.63
---------------------------
New Vegas amount: $578.18

Only $1,421.82 left…*groan*

I am trying to decide what to do with the $180 I am getting for this freelance project. I am thinking $80 onto the CC to pay for the signup fee. Then, does the other $100 go to the CC as well, or to Vegas? I still need about $800 to pay off the rest of the airfare, hotel, and car rental for that trip. And it is coming FAST! As much as I want to put it onto the CC (and believe me, I do want to!) I am thining Vegas is more urgent right now. Advice???

I walked back to get the car. YAY ME!!!

Cost $75 at the mechanic to fix everything. Was happy with that until e told me the shaing in the car was from bubbled tires and 3 of my 4 tires needed to be repalced. Ugh. Said it was dangerous to drive on the freeway with them. I have a 45 minute commute to work on the freeway twice a day. Double ugh. So, since I had the day off, I headed over to TirePro.

Got the 3 cheapest (safe) tires I could, flirted like mad with the guy, and he gave me a $5 discount off each tire. LOL Hey, I'm big, but I'm hot!

Total cost for the tires was $364. Ouch. Put it on the CC. Double Ouch.

BUT, was able to make a $400 payment in the cc to cover that cost yesterday.

My car, once again, is having issues. It's making wierd noises and vibrations. So I took it to the mechanic this morning. He is about a 45 minute walk from my house. While I was there, I called Enterprise to rent a car for the day so I could get home and then have a way to go back and pick it up.

BUT, I decided instead to save the $40 it would have cost for the rental and WALK HOME!!!

45 minutes, not too bad! I am so proud of myself!! You have to realize, I am an almost 350 pound woman; walking home before NEVER would have happened! But since I rejoined WW and am looking for ways to save money, I decided what the hell? Mine as well go for it!

And when I have to pick it up? I'm gonna go walk there again!

And my fee for signing up with the freelance website is paid for! I bid on and was chosen for a freelance job! Yay! It's copyediting and proofing a 90 page book, and I'll be getting oayd about $180. YAY! Should be done with it by Sunday!

CVS (Shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, body wash): $19.00
Elance fee: $69.00
New business cards: $6.00
------------------------------------------
TOTAL: $94.00 :P

Trying to make today (10/02) a no spender.

Bills: $1.00
Quarters: $5.25
Nickels: $1.55
Dimes: $4.00
Pennies: $1.39
-------------------
TOTAL: $13.19

Been slow going with the CITB lately. Mums donated a handfull of change the other day (Thanks Mums!) but other than that no much has been going in. we haven't been using cash so we aren't getting change back. We need to do that more (but not spend more...)

I just renewed my yearly membership to an online freelance place. It's a great place. I can go in and bid on projects, or not bid on any if time right now is tight. I half-heartedly did it last year and earned $300. This year I am planning on going for jobs much more aggressively. My membership had run out last month, but I decided to go for it. If nothing else, I will do enough with them to recoup my yearly fee of $69.

I mean, ya gotta spend money to make money...right?

ha!

Saved $1 at the grocery store w/a coupon Saturday and $1 at CVS w/a coupon tonight. And bonus, I got about $5 in usable coupons from CVS today, including one for $3.50 off ANYTHING. I think I am going to combine that with a $1 off coupon I have for a package of those disposable heat pads. I had a pulled muscle in my shoulder that has been killing me, and I LOVE those things, but I refuse to spend $8 for a 3 pack. However, $3.50 for a 3 pack is doable.

Old Vegas Total: $549.56
September Interest: $1.99
Coupon Savings: $2.00
--------------------------------
New Vegas Total: $553.55


Old EF Total: $81.67
September Interest: $0.21
------------------------
New EF Total: $81.88

That is my new motto re: paying down debt right now. EVERY PENNY HELPS!!! If I say this to myself enough times, will it come true???

Old ATT CC Balance: $3,605.02
Payment 9/14: $50.00
Payment 9/28: $150.00
Payment 10/01: $20.00
------------------------------
New ATT CC Balance: $3,385.02

Damn it feels good to see those numbers go down!!! Now, let's keep them going down, and not up!

It's the beginning of a new month (and my FAVE month!) Time to see what can be done to get into a good money flow for the rest of the year.

I've been putting stuff on ebay this weekend. Small thing, starting prices usually under $5. Even if they sell for the starting price, it's one less piece of clutter in the house and anpther buck or two towards bills and/or the challenge. Sold a few books on half.com as well, so that is nice.

Working OT will help some, if I can work OT and not exhaust myself. Sometimes I just don't have the energy to stay late, even if it is only an hour. My understanding is things will be fairly busy for the next coupl of months, so OT will be available, if we can do it. Yay for time and a half!

I'm going to start poking around again for some freelance work. I like doing it and it's extra money. I'm just not a fan of the whole selling my services thing.

And we're back to spending no money. No fun things, no books, cds, movies, etc. No eating out! That's the killer for us. But I am back on WW and we don't have the money to eat out right now.

Here's hoping BF finds a job in lucky October!!!