Pennies on the Sidewalk

When I first came on here 2+ years ago, I had a good job and good pay. I was really good at saving money and was really paying down my debt (car loan, 3 CCs).

Even with all the money problems the last year or so, I have had that same mind set. I think it is time to change that.

I know I need to get rid of my debt especially the big ATTCC. But I need to stop beating myself up cuz I don't have extra for debt, when I am having trouble making rent.

When I get things together and get back on a good money track, I'll worry about paying down the debt. Right now, I just need to focus on making it by day to day.

Hi everyone. Well, as many of you know, I have numbness and tingling in my left foot and right foot and leg, plus a tight band sensation down my right leg and foot from my MS. It is making it hard to balance and walk, and is really uncomfortable.

At my neuro's request I had an MRI done, and it showed active and new MS lesions. So today I started IV steroids. I went today and will go every day this week, for a total of 5 days, 1,000 mg PER DAY. When I was on oral steroid the beginning of Oct I was taking 60 mg per day, now I'm at 1,000 per day.

Turnes out this current problem is part of the mini-attack I had with my eyes in the beginning of Oct. The steroids I had then just quieted it for a bit, but now it is back with a vengence.

I know this is a financial blog, and this post does have a financial point (I promise!). My insurance company covers the IV treatments at the cancer center, but I still have a co-pay. $15 each day I am there. So, there is $75 out of pocket this week. Plus the $2.99 for the oral steroids I picked up at the pharmacy on Sunday and I am now being told I don't have to take cuz I am on the IV treatment. Ans then, there is the fact that the cancer center where I am getting treatment is an hour away, so I have 2 hrs of freeway driving each day this week...A good chunk of money goes to filling up the gas tank at least twice this week, if not 3 times. Great way to start the new month! Grrrr...

I think I might apply for disability. My MS is getting worse and I am having trouble getting to or even being able to work.

I'm having another attack; this time my right leg and some double vision again. I need a cane to walk whenever I leave the house. I walked around the mall with Mums today for about an hour, and was so tired and wiped out I came home and slept for 2 hours.

I haven't been able to work for the last month (with temp services). I am trying to do more work from home with my freelance editing, but I haven't been able to get any new clients. I still do the tarot readings once a week, but last week I brought home $11. Not enough to live on.

I had a new MRI on Thursday. It shows new and active lesions, which means my MS is progressing. The meds I am on is supposed to stop that, but either I haven't been on them long enough (started Feb 1st) or they aren't working for me. So, the change that soemthing will happen in the near future is raised.

Next week I have to have 5 IV steroid treatments. Each one will last about 2 hours, and I will have one a day. Hopefully this will clear up my legs issue. But there is no way I can work next week, either.

So, I am thinking of applying for disability. My Dr is not a fan of it, and I'm not sure if he will support my decision, so we will see what happens. I hate the idea of it, but if I can't work, what else can I do?

I am also applying for food stamps. Looks like we will get aroun $200 a month. Thanks to all I have learned here, we can work with that.

Well, it's Novemebr. Only two months of 2008 left. And I am nowhere near my 2008 goals. *sigh*

Right now my 2008 goal for the rest of the year is just to make it to 2009. Money is tight and I am sick again, so I have not been able to work. I've been out of work for the last month. I've been able to do my readings, but nothing else.

Bills are piling up, and it looks like everyone is getting homemade gifts for the holidays.

Ahh well, maybe if I just don't spend this month, I can do it. I do have an $1100 check due to me this week, so that will help a lot.

(Trying to stay positive)...

Finally turned on the heat today.

I recently added a few bucks to each of my 3 savings account, just to balance them at an even amount. No real reason why, just wanted some nice even numbers.

Old Couch Fund Balance: $186.27
Tally Up: $3.73
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New Couch Fund Balance: $190.00

Old House Fund Balance: $100.96
Tally Up: $4.04
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New House Fund Balance: $105.00

Old EF Balance: $33.80
Tally Up: 2.20
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New EF Balance: $36.00

I got a $3 deposit in my Paypal account from a Pinecone survey this week. I added that (plus a random 11 cents) onto my LBCC. Why 11 cents? The balance was at $863.11 do I figured I'd round it to a nice and even $860.

Still struggling with the ATT CC. I am over the credit limit from interest AGAIN this month. *sigh* I just don't see it ever ending at this rate.

LOL I really do. I love the look on their faces when I tell them that not only am I psychic, but that I work a real job and get paid to be a Psychic.

The last 2 days I worked at the tarot store were great. I was really connecting with my clients, and was getting a lot of clear messages from my spirit guides. At one point, I was even able to name the drink a client's alcoholic BF favored and his sister's name; and this was the first time I had ever met this client. Yay me!

Anyways, over the last 2 days I made about $160. Pretty nice since it is in cash and I get it at the end of the shift. This is great, since now I can start taking advantage of some early sales I've found and get some holiday shopping done early this year.

In another one of my slumps...seems like I can't get away from them this year.

Money is beyond tight. This whole working sporadically thing needs to stop. I am picking up more shifts at the tarot store, but some days there are just no customers. And since I get paid per reading, if there are no customers, there is no money. Next week I am back to temping (I hope). Hopefully they will have something for me quickly. And I am doing freelance work, but the 20 hours a week is actually more like 2!! Not helpful.

We are behind on bills, over our budget (budget? DO we even have one of those anymore??), wanting to spend and caving in, and raising our CC debt.

Some days we do good, others not so. I'd like to think I've learened something in the last 2 years here, but the truth is that I am barely past where I was then. I need more discipline.

Worked at the tarot store last night. It was a good night; came home with $63 for 5 hrs of work. I am working there 6 hours tomorrow, 4 hours Wed and another 5 hours next Sunday. I am taking all the money I make this week and putting it aside for Holiday shopping. I'd like to stay completely away from using credit this year.

I can't believe how fast the Holidays are coming!!

Small addition to the Couch Fund...

Old Couch Fund Balance: $179.16
10% paycheck: $7.11
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New Couch Fund Balance: $186.27

Yes, The Boy has gotten a job!!

For those who don't know, he has been out of work for almost 2 years!!

He is now working at the tarot store that I work at (on different nights). YAY!!!!!!!!!!

So I fully intended to bgin posting daily this month, but I got struck down with an MS attack. It started with an outbreak of shingles (joy) and that in turn caused the MS attack. I've had shaky eyes and then double vision. Very bad, esp. when I am looking at a computer all day trying to edit.

My neuro put me on my 2nd dose of steroids in the past month. Hopefully they will work this time and things will clear up soon.

Sold another book on galf.com. This one was for $60, so after fees and shipping, I ended up with about $55. Yay! New couch, here we come!

Old Couch Fund Balance: $123.45
Half.com DD: $55.71
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New Couch Fund Balance: $179.16

Happy October everyone!! It's my FAVORITE month!!!

Some small additions to my $20 Challenge:

Old Couch Fund Balance: $92.24
September Interest: $0.05
10% Paycheck: $31.16
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New Couch Fund Balance: $123.45

Old House Fund Balance: $490.68
Withdrawl for bills: $-290.68
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Updated House Fund Balance: $200.00
September Interest: $0.96
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New House Fund Balance: $200.96


And I sold a book for $60 on half.com today, but I will wait to add that in until I get the direct deposit from them in the middle of the month.

Just got a half.com direct deposit into my account this afternoon. What a nice surprise! I didn't think I'd get it for another week or so. More to the Challenge.

Old Couch Fund Balance: $69.53
Half.com DD: $22.71
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New Couch Fund Balance: $92.24

What a great money day!

Made a sale on Ebay this week. Yay! It was enough to cover a want I bought, and to still put a chunk into savings.

Old Couch Fund Balance: $24.53
Ebay Sale: $45.00
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New Couch Fund Balance: $69.63

I finally got a temp job! Yay!

Right now I am on an assignment where I am just doing data entry. It's not bad, I get to wear jeans (yay!), listen to my IPOD (wa-hoo!) and after taxes I bring home about $10 an hour. It looks like this assignment will be about 2 weeks, but it could go as long as 6.

Not bad at all!

I am still working on that couch fund, and am still adding 10% of my income to the Challenge. I had to take $300 from the House Fund for bills but I can build it back up again later. No rush while I am unemployed to buy a house anyways. LOL

Old Couch Fund Balance: $7.53
Temp Job 10%: $17.00
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New Couch Fund Balance: $24.63

When I finished college, I thought I would never get a job in the field I wanted - publishing or editing. It seemed that without experience I couldn't get a job, and I couldn't get experience without a job. You all know the vishous cycle I am talking about.

So, I went back to school to get my Masters. Then I ended up landing a job in publishing. And from there, you all know my work issues.

I always figured I'd have a career; since I went to college, I'd get one in the field my degree is in. And I've been struggling and pushing for that for the last several years.

Recently, I have realized that with having MS and dealing with everything that comes with that, I just want a job where I have little responsibility, and I can forget about when I am not working. I don't want a career; I just want a job.

I talked this over with some people (Mums, boyfriend, therapist) and I realized that I don't like the corporate world, it is too stressful, and I don't want to be a part of it.

Stress makes MS symptoms worse and can lead to a full-blown attack; I need as little stress in my life as possible.

And so, I decided yesterday that I am giving up on the career quest and instead will find a job with good pay and benefits, but that doesn't haunt me at night and on weekends.

The weight lifted off me was tremendous and I feel AMAZINGLY good!! This is by far the best decision for me right now. Maybe one day I will want the career again, but it isn't right for me at this time in my life.

Look at me being all grown-up and responsible!!!

Worked at the tarot store last night. 4 hours and I brought home $51. $40 will be for groceries today and the farmers market tomorrow, the 6 $1 bills I had went into my change jar (that eventually goes to the bank) and $5.00 into my challenge for my 10%.


Old Couch Fund Balance: $2.53
Tarot 10%: $5
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New Couch Fund Balance: $7.63

I sold 3 books on half.com this week. I made $11.44. I am adding $9.32 to my House Fund to total that at $500. The remaining $2.12 is going into a new savings fund.

We desperately need a new couch, so I am starting a savings for that. $2.12 plus the $.51 already in that account.

Old House Fund Balance: $490.68
Half.com: $9.32
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New House Fund Balance: $490.68


Old Couch Fund Balance: $.51
Half.com: $2.12
------------------------------------
New Couch Fund Balance: $2.63

Yay! Had my 2nd No Spender for this week, and this month. Whoo-hoo! Here I go!

Had my first No Spender of September! (HA! that rhymed!) Hope to have a lot more.

Looks like tomorrow at 10am I have an appointment with the temp company to get started on assignments again. Yay! And then at 3pm, I have a real job interview. Wish me luck!

Yesterday we finally got to the Aquarium!! I've been wanting to get there for almost 2 years now. It was pricey, though.

It's $19.95 per person to get in, but we had a pass from our local library so it only cost us $8 each to get in.

It was smaller than I thought it would be, but they had some FAB exhibits. I got to hold some starfish, and we saw a 250 lb turtle (75 years old!) some sharks, and a stingray that was almost 4 feet across!

We did good and avoided the cafe and only browsed the gift shop without spending anything.

We ended up going for an expensive dinner, but we hadn't done anything like that in ages and it was a nice treat. ($45 dinner, including tip). Then home, where we both collapsed from exhaustion, and a little playtime.

I'm not upset at how much we spent. We knew it would be expensive, and had planned for it. It was a FAB time, and something special.

But that means this weekend is VERY low-key!

Yup, it's time for a rant.

Last week I send in my resume for an editor job. It was a freelance contract (which is how I've been employed for the last year oor so) that would last through the end of January.

I got an email from the company telling me they wanted to meet with me and asking if I could come in on either Wed or Thurs of this week. So, I emailed back and said Wed would work best for me (we are going to the aquarium tomorrow!!) and told them that any time in the day would be fine, and I could work around their schedule.

I never heard back from them. I emailed them again yesterday, and nothing.

How the hell am I supposed to come in for an interview when I don't know when???

ARGH!!

I'll call them today, but makes me wonder what the hell kind of company this is!?

We have 2 cats - Solstice, who is a 9 year old black and white part Coon cat, and Wolfie who is a 1 and a half year old gray and white kitty - and they both needed their yearly checkup.

We actually live right across the street from the vet and we got a coupon in the mail from them. It was for a FREE visit for a checkup on any cat or dog. And, it covered up to 2 pets. Yay!

Of course, I called right away, and took the babies in. Happy to report that Solstice is down to 13 lbs from 14. And Wolf (who you may remember weighed barely 3 pounds at 4 months old) is now up to 10 and a half pounds! LOL I think they need diet cat food.

But anyways, Wolf had some crusty stuff in her ears, so they checked it out in the lab and turned out to be just ear wax.

So, for the checkup on 2 cats, and the lab work for Wolf's ears, the total was $45. Yay!

I have been working on cleaning out a bunch of things and selling them online for some extra cash. I have a few things up on ebay (one is at $39 so far, with 7 more days to go!!!) and I listed a ton of books on half.com. Since last night, I have sold 3 books online! Yay for online selling!

I got a $3 deposit in my paypal account today for doing a Pinecone survey. I'll add that to the Challenge.

Also, I am adding $38.80 to the Challenge. I finally got my refund for some medical expenses from a couple of months ago. So, 10% went to the Challenge.

Oh yeah, and my whopping $.94 interest from August.



Old House Fund Balance: $447.94
Interest, pinecone, and med reimbursement: $42.74
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New House Fund Balance: $490.68

Today was a pretty good day. I ran to Michaels to pick up some things for my new arts project. Also stopped by my tarot store. Someone there had a deck of cards that they didn't want anymore, and it happened to be the deck I was interested in buying, so they gave me their old deck! Worked out to an $18 savings. Yay!

Also checked out the farmers market today and I picked up some great local produce cheap. Yummy. Making baked eggplant, zuccini, and summer squash for dinner tonight.

I should have known. I had a great big deposit placed into my $20 Challenge account, and I find out I was overdrawn on my checking account due to my check not clearing when I thought it did. The result?

I paid a lot of bills and kept getting over limit fees. Pardon my language, but FUCK!

Took the money from my $20 Challenge account to cover it all. Ick.

Old House Fund Balance: $592.94
Withdrawl for fees: - $145.00
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New House Fund Balance: $447.94