Today I spent about 6 hours in an excel training. Who knew there was THAT much to learn about excel. But apparently there is a lot to do with that program and I have some ideas of how to apply it to my financial fitness. I've been looking at various templates on the microsoft office website for a budget but I realize I need to create one that truly fits my needs. Now that I know some of the ins and outs of excel I plan to do just that...

Saving log - $0 tip box
Spending log - $1.25 coffee + $6 lunch (for 2 days) + $3 carrots, apple + $5 bubblebath, deodorant

Back to the finances. A little financial tidbit to get off my chest. Again with the I-bonds, and I noticed a number of articles contained cutting comments about how its a good thing that savings bonds are becoming unappealing because taxpayers are paying the interest.

Perhaps. That opinion still burns me up, though, because it implies that I'm unpatriotic and a leech because I've taken out an I-bond or two (or about 30). Such a turnaround from the opinions of the past - imagine that being said during WWII.

Humph. Is it my fault that I had the savings to invest in the first place? I mean, if I wasn't there to buy the dang US savings bond, the taxpayer would have to fund that 50-5,000$ in addition to the interest. There. That's much better! Perhaps I should fund someone else's government should I wish to do so. T-bills are indirectly funded by taxpayers too, not to mention the funds that the Federal Reserve uses to provide liquidity to financial markets.

Do we, as a society, really think so little of savers?

from urgent translations....just finished the 2nd one! ...time to go to bed!

We're having chicken schnitzels (from butcher) and veg or salad.. whatever I can find in my fridge..

Title in reference to my baby steps. I want to stomp stomp stomp like Dumbo on a fermented berry rampage through my financial plan.

I had some moments at the library -- for an academic exercise, because I can't afford to buy stocks and seriously, late November, after August and September's predicted volatility, might be a better time, I researched some large-capitalization blue chip stocks through my discount brokerage and through Value Line. Here's what looks good right now, if you're buying:

Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT)
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)
Burlington Northern (NYSE:BNI)
Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL)

I've been going through the budget repeatedly and I have noticed two things:
1. I spend too much at hair salons.
2. My spouse and I don't earn enough money. Some ex-Marine can get a job earning $8K after taxes, but I with ten years' IT experience net half that...

Liz Pulliam Weston argues that saving for retirement is a higher priority than building up 3-6 months' savings, and advises that a HELOC used only as an emergency fund would do while the retirement is being padded. This gives me some breathing room. I'd rather chop down the actual money in my E-Fund to pay for the bathroom, and shove more at the Roth so I can restart my 401(k) at 15% without forcing us to live on Top Ramen and Kraft Dinner (Kraft Macaroni and Cheese), than use the HELOC for planned expenses. One's a definite, one's a maybe. Rule in favour of the maybe.

My sister in law and new baby nephew didn't make it here this morning as he is sick.

But still had a visit from my mum, and my adult niece stayed over last night so she hitched a ride home with my mum as she is boarding there while going to University.

Finally now have the place to myself for a couple of hours, so am going to get a bit of a rest and do some knitting after ive done a few jobs on the computer.

This weekend I went to my mom and stepdad's. Saturday night I made quinoa for supper - neither one of them had ever had it before. My mom liked it plain, my stepdad experimented with numerous concoctions -- including melted chocolate and raisins. (He and I both share a love of chocolate.)

While I was working through my laundry, we played Uno. We played a total of 9 hands, and in the end, all of us had won 3 hands. At that point we agreed it was a good stopping point.

The plan was for me to make breakfast on Sunday as my Mom's day gift. I was going to make aebleskivers. (pancake balls). I had brought everything I needed (or I thought I had!) While in the middle of emtpying the dryer, I realized that I had forgotten one very important item -- the aebleskiver pan!! ARghh!

So my mom ended up putting soybeans on to soak so we could make soybean/oatmeal waffles instead.

I gave her a raincheck on the abelskiver's.

She was just happy that I spent the night with them.
-----

I've been on the fence for the past week deciding if I should go back to the doctor or not with regards to my congestion/cough. I really didn't want to go and be told I just needed to give it more time - and then be out the copay.

This morning all waffling was set aside when I woke up and heard the lovely rattle in my chest. NOT.

I was able to get an appointment with my regular doctor's co-worker and was diagnoised with bronchitis. So then received the "miracle shot" and a prescripton for $35 antibiotics, along with a different kind of allergy medicine, and something for my cough.

Only 11 days till I get on that plane to San Francisco! I HAVE TO BE WELL!!!

I received a $3 check today from Pinecone for a survey that I completed the middle of last week. Now I know firsthand just how efficient they are with their payments!!

On a roll at the mo.... made it though the weekend without spending anything.... & I always find it easier to have a NSD on a working day as there is less time/opportunity to spend.

I know I will have to pay to have my car serviced on Thursday so I'm gonna try hard to keep Tuesday and Wednesday NSD as well...

If I do, that'll be a record - 5 NSD in a row !! :-)

Yay! I figured out how to set up an electronic payment for our last UK credit card, and we checked the balance for last month's payment as well. All told, we've paid US$1,449, which sails us nicely past our May goal! It's nice to get it done before going away on our trip.

The May goal was to pay off $4100 of debt, and we paid off $4,305! Our biggest month so far, and probably our biggest for awhile.

It also means we have $56,114 to go on the Big-Picture Goal.

Time to set our June goal, which won't be anywhere near as aggressive!

I met with my ex on Sunday, Mother's Day, to sign an agreement for the house settlement. He said he would settle on the 22nd and then the funds would be released 3 days later. I have one day after the funds are released to move out. The apartment I am going to move into is taking shape, but I don't think it will be ready in/on time. I have a place to store my things but it is a pain to move twice. After signing the agreement, I went to RiteAid for the FAR item. While there I saw some empty cardboard boxes and asked the manager if I could have them. She very kindly said "Yes." I went home and packed them up. I dropped them off at my brother's. Its good to recyle and also not have to pay for boxes. It rained 6.32 inches in 24 hours in my city. So no free boxes today, maybe tomorrow as it dries up.

On my way to mom's for dinner, I stopped at CVS with a plan. I purchased $30.90 worth of items:

(2) Glade Airspray .97ea
(3) Colgate TP 2.99 ea
(1) Schick Int. Rzr 9.99
(1) Blood Sugar Mtr 10
= 30.90

Coupons
Manuf 17.97
Ecb 7.58
5/25 5.00
= .85 oop + 22 ECB earned

I am finally getting the hang of the system. Yeah!

Dinner was really nice! We also celebrated my mom, brother and nephews' birthdays.

I've been showing the teacher I work with the deals I've been getting and in some cases I will give her my extra coupon's to make the deal for herself. She is loving it. She got $20 worth of razors for .02+tax. Lord, I will miss her when she moves.

Today I filled my tank. The price for gas was 3.62 a gallon. It was very "cheap"---so to speak out in the country near my kids school....away from offices, malls and stores. Not a huge savings...but enough to make it worth my while.

Went on a 2nd grade field trip today. It was down right miserable. A nature hike but it rained badly....so we were stuck inside. It went ok. I was very sad to see so many of my dd's classmates really acting BADLY and having bad manners. I don't get it. Just rude and not nice. We had dilly bars at Dairy Queen half the kids spent the time smearing ice cream all over their faces...gross. I just found that I had zero patience for that silly behavior.

All in all I had a rough day.....my girls were really acting up and I felt myself getting really bothered by it all. Usually I don't stress out but today I got very irk'd.

I am trying to not spend too much money on food this week. Not easy.....but I am trying. My son leaves for Dallas for a week on Friday. I will be alone all weekend. I think I need the space.

We are going to have a garage sale but not while the kids are gone....my girls want to run the "store" so we will do it when they are home. They have way too much fun hosting garage sales. The kids are collecting items. I feel a tiny bit overwhelemed in the "STUFF" department.
So that will be nice to unload a bit come June. I am going to sell some antique country pcs. of furniture. They are nice but have no use to us anymore. I am still unloading stuff that reminds me of my former married self. Cleansing time! In my daily life I find I need very little to make me happy. Simple...simple...simple.


Have a good evening everyone.

Hmmm. So I just wanted to plan the rest of the month out:

Owing/Outgoing this month:
Car Rego: $523.00
CC1: $524.60
CC2: $316.25
Savings: $270.00
Loan Payments: $111.00
Rent: $380.01

Total: $2124.86

Available/Earning this month:
Everyday: $184.40
Bill Account: $282.07
EF: $83.34
Job 1: $525.00
Job 2: $946.50
Other: $90.00

Total: $2111.31

Deficit: $13.55

=O

Anyway I sort of expected that. And yes OBVIOUSLY I have not put in the money I need to actually LIVE on (ie. petrol, food etc). And all of this is because of two large expenses:
my dentist bill and the overdue dvd fees.
which have been put on CC1. ($524.60) the reason i put them on CC1 is because they have very reasonable interest and although I do INTEND to try very hard to pay it back in due time, i am ok with paying a little interest on this one. only because the dentist is something I wanted to get out of the way, even though I couldn't really afford it. it's not exactly a Plasma television, so I am ok with it.

I have been a huge fan of Dottie Rambo before I even decided to become a Christian author. She is my legend- I remember the night that I was watching her on tv, and I felt like giving up, as my first Christian novel wasn't edited, and I had gotten bad reviews on Amazon- I told God that He could get someone else to do my job- someone more talented. When I heard Dottie that night- and seen her lift her hands up, eyes gleaming toward heaven, it was clear- it was God whom I was serving, and since he chose me to be a Christian author, then He would qualify me. I've had my hards times since then, but always start singing- and left my eyes toward Him.....several years later, and now I am a celebrity and will go on my own tour bus next month, I have to credit Dottie for encouraging me that moment- God truly used her is so many ways- ways people would never realize- for 12 satanic girls got saved because I didn't pull the bookthat night ( I had got my publisher's number out when I clicked TBN on)- so I have to ask, maybe the typos were a divine intervention. I can't wait to walk with her along the streets of gold.

That is the price for premium at the corner store. I just can't believe it!! I played bridge all afternoon so I spent no money except for groceries this morning.

Lately, I've been feeling prompted to blog about tithing 10% even though an individual may have a lot of credit card debt, auto loan, school loan, and home loan. I am a firm believer (contrary to Suze Orman) that a person should continue to give 10% to the church even though you may have a lot of debt. A lot can be determined by the character of a person while they are in debt to determine how they will act once they get out of debt. I know a lot of people may disagree with me on this, but I can account for myself how continuing to tithe while in debt has had great rewards for my wife and I. The Lord has blessed us many times over for our faithfulness in giving in the hard times and now we are trusted with a lot more. Now we are again tested in the good times if we will be faithful with what we have and continue to give. Since getting married I've really experience the joy of giving sacrificially and it definitely has been a learned trait that I got from my wife. Thanks honey!

I just wanted to get other people's take on tithing regardless of large amounts of debt and hear about any success stories or failures. All comments are welcome.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe to my e-mail updates

Check out my blog at Frugal Retirement

Because I only fill my car up every two weeks, I rarely notice the increase in gas prices. However, yesterday I filled it up and it took $60 in gas where just two months ago I remember it taking $40 in gas.

Thankfully, I rarely drive that far and quitting the "office" job means even less driving. Plus, my husband is taking the bus and train to work on a regular basis, so that's helping as well.

I just can't imagine paying that much for gas every week, which would be the case if I were working full time somewhere other than my home office....

Well, hubby received his first state unemployment payment since becoming "a man of leisure". State of Texas sends debit cards, not checks, and weekly amounts are direct deposited onto it each week. So that is helpful. I am still waiting on my stimulus payment, which I thought would be direct deposited last Friday but, alas, no sign of it. I have a $440 check coming from my part time job, so all in all, we are surviving. He sent out 6 more resumes today and hopefully will get some interviews from those.
In a related note, we thought we were going to have to take DD out of gymnastics until hubby found a new job (fees for classes are $135 per month for 4 hours a week). But, her coach, who has a 6 week old baby, traded me class fees for babysitting two days a week. So DD was able to continue with classes and helps me babysit the baby. A side benefit is that she is learning to "work" to get the things she wants. A good lesson I think.
I feel optimistic that things will be looking up for us soon.

Ale woke me up at 7 am to give me a note that stated she didn't want to wake me up, so she'd be downstairs playing....and to please look for her once I was awake so she could give me my presents
I went down at about 7:30...Remember that conversation about not BUYING presents? like the little mice in Cinderella, she went about looking for discarded stuff she could recycle. She got my niece to give her an old bead (BIG BEAD) from a broken bracelet and she turned it into a necklace!...she also used bits of construction paper to make me 3 different cards! ...oh, and she has taken to going around saying I'm her "favorite parent"!

She also told me she had wanted to bring me breakfast in bed, but that we were out of cereal and she doesn't know how to use the stove! :P

****
on a funny/ kind of sad note, my sister's ex stroke again and left HIS daughter stranded downtown, where she takes an advanced math course on Saturdays, so Niece and Nephew went to get her and she had lunch at OUR house...how can he expose her to what could be a potentially hostile environment?? -- perhaps he was counting on us being civilized enough to 1)let the siblings go get her and 2)be nice to her and ask her to lunch!...we've seen this girl (she's 15) probably 4 times in her entire life. I think she's nice; sis is rather indifferent towards her (let's not forget this poor kid is "living proof" that her ex was cheating on her!- plus, the kid is very introverted, and sis is extroverted...), but, in the spirit of it all not being the girl's fault, sis tries to be nice and make her feel welcome (both times she's been to our house, anyway!)...this guy is really something!

So this is what has happened since the last entry:

1. Refinance My Mortgage from 6.75% 30yr fixed to 5.5% 15yr fixed. Cost me $700 in fees. But will save me close to $80,000 in the long run. My payment went up $150, but I can afford that.

2. Bought a new car with almost $4000 down. As of today I have $10,400 on the loan with a monthly payment of a little over $300.

3. Got my new car rear-ended. $1800 in damage. Got my car fixed, looks brand new again. Cost me a whole lot of time and $50.

4. Bought a bike for $325. Will save me about $1 everytime I ride my bike to work. It will take me a few trips to earn it back.

There's a program at work whereby your boss can nominate you for a cash award. The nomination is then reviewed by a committee...well, my bosses nominated me and I got it! ...I still don't know how much it is, but, hey, any (legally obtained) unexpected income is welcome in my house!!

So, awhile back I declared that we would use all extra funds to pay down our home equity loan. I have yet to send in any extra funds. I have over $3k that I could send in. Why the hesitation?

I'm not sure. I do know that we have spent the better part of a year waiting for my husband's raise and promotion, which he did get. The plan had been to get a new to us, Honda or Toyota van. We have spent a year looking at ads, watching prices, wishing and wanting and waiting.

Now the cash is there for a down payment. The cash flow is there for a monthly payment. There is even $800-900 extra per month...even with a car payment.

Is the decision really either or? Can we buy a newer van and work on the home equity? Would we feel too squeezed to do both at the same time. Would it be better to focus on one rather than the other? I'm really indecisive.

Haven't really let my husband know that I'm hesitating. He's pretty busy and stressed with work. So for now, the plan hasn't changed. We don't even have time to go new car shopping...not even for at least another 6 weeks!

The van and car we have just feel like they are both on their last legs. If we trade in the one with the best value, we would still need to put in money on the other one. The lowest value one gets the better gas mileage and my husband drives it to work.

We could probably pay off the home equity in about 6 or 7 months...just in time for tax time next year and cold weather van shopping.

I'm feeling impatient, hesitant and stuck all at the same time. I want it all and I want it now. I don't want to wait, I don't want to have MORE debt added to the home equity debt.

I just had to blog about this...I don't know if there is an easy answer.

Additional Note: We have an EF, the $3K is extra.

Oddly enough, even though I was still too sick to go to church (partly because I just didn't want to share the germs) I had a wonderful mothers day.

My husband took all three kids to church. And recieved several compliments from folk who didn't know us on how wonderful a father he was. I take certain pride in knowing I have such an amazing husband .

They made me cards to bring home, and the day before at the store my husband bought me ice cream.

Plus he offered to go pick up dinner, a huge bonus while I am still recovering.

And I was healthy enough to sleep! I sleep while they were at church, I slept after they got home, I slept in the evening and every time I woke up I was able to go back to sleep!

I actually woke up this morning for no other reason than the sun was shining and I wasn't tired enough to sleep...Though I do plan on a nap now .

Another one bites the dust! My wire transfer hit the UK account, so I paid off a small credit card balance. Ordinarily I'd wait for the satisfaction (and certainty) of seeing it post to the account, but I was never able to figure out how to check this one online, and I don't want to wait a month for the paper statement to reach me. So I declare this bill paid off!

$190 to principal.
$2,856 down, $1,244 to go on my May goal.
$57,563 to go on my Big-Picture Goal.

Am ready, willing and able to pay off about US$1290 on another UK credit card, but I need to verify some info before I can set up the payment. The exchange rate was very nice; I got slightly more than 1 British pound per $2! There was a time when I'd only get 90-some pence per $2, so I'm very happy.

Well, weekends have previously meant over- and frivolous spending - I am tracking diligently and here is the breakdown:

$35 oil change ($15 air filter was not included in my $23 budgeting, but it needed to be replaced)
$30 gas
$10 rental property repair (2nd go around at leaky toilet repair)
$10 misc (more coupons to spend at Michaels and Joannes - got tissue paper for wrapping Mother's Day gifts for grandmas - and a Hannah Montana iron on decal and a solid color T shirt for one of my daughters)
$30 donation to church
$20 groceries (for our Sunday breakfast, this included paper)

TOTAL $135 - All of this was budgeted for with the exception of the $10 rental repairs and $10 misc.

All in all, I'm pleased that I'm staying on track - plus I am realizing that I will need "x" amout of money for school shopping in August - so I'm going to resort to the envelope method - I'm acquiring some discipline and enjoying the freedom that it brings.

I found another electricity drain today.

Since we moved here in 2001 our electric bills have been insanely low. So have our gas bills, as this is an energy star home.

Anyway, well, this is what we thought. Until last spring when they came out and worked on our meter and our bills about doubled. I guess we were undercharged all these years? Said our mete was broken. (Don't ask me how they knew). Bummer. They are still quite low for the size of our house. But we certainly weren't doing as good as we thought we were!

So I have gone from kind of eh, how could we save more energy (we don't need to), to, well, let's try to save more energy.

I noticed a new one I hadn't today. The baby monitors!

We will keep using them for a while. But I think LM is getting to an age where we can try to remember to turn it off when he is not sleeping in his room. we have just been lazy and have been leaving it on 24/7.

He turns 3 in July and we will probably remove the gate from his room and give him free roam. Particularly as we expect he will be moving to going diaper-less by then. If he is free to get up and roam, I don't think we need the monitors. We have never used them at night. We just use them for when we our downstairs and they are sleeping upstairs. Though sometimes it is nice as they get older and play upstairs on their own now, to hear what is going on. Though when the screaming ensues, you can probably hear it anyway.

Dh might use them once in a while after that - he often watches movies while they nap - in his theater room. so he still uses the monitors a lot so he can watch a loud movie in here, but know if anything is going on in the rest of the house.

For now we will be nice and use them so we can hear when LM wants out of his room in the morning. He isn't particularly loud and sometimes you can't hear them calling for us from the upstairs, without the monitor.

---------------------------------------

On the flip side, we are barely into May and they are calling for some 100-degree+ weather this week. The ironic thing is today is WINDY. A little stormy. But Thursday will be 103? Ugh.

I think our A/C will get a workout this week.

Reminds me, we were visiting the fam this week, in San JOSE. My FIL told me that that their house used to get into the 90s about 4 days a year, but these days it is more like 20 days a year. I don't know if it is global warming or what. But people out of the region are always shocked we don't have A/C. I always think, "we don't need a/c." Think mostly 60-80 degree weather year round. Throw in the very occasional cooler or hotter day.

BUT my parents broke down and got A/C a couple of years ago. Their electric bills are insane (probably because A/C is rare and they charge like crazy for that excess electricity usage). But my mom doesn't do well in the heat.

We actually had A/C in or condo, but it sucked. Though it was nice on the really hot days since we were stuck in an upper unit. IT certainly wouldn't have cut it in Sacramento weather.

Anyway, though the weather is so much more brutal up here, I generally find it more pleasant, if I stay inside, since every home has A/C. I mean here, every home has to. So now when we catch a hot day in San Jose - it is brutal. I don't remember the last day I had to suffer inside a house over 80 degrees. Up here anyway. Reminds me, if we go to SJ for any weekends in the summer we'll have to stay with my parents in their chilled oasis.

Well, I am glad I mentioned to my boss Friday that I didn't think the A/C in my office was working. I would have mentioned it sooner if I knew it was going to be a 100-degree week. Yikes!

Well, this weekend was a little spendy. Yesterday for mother's day me and the sibs went to lunch with mom and grandma. Me and big bro paid for the meal-- though my $14 was puny compared to the rest of it! Then me, mom, and grandma went paint shopping and house shopping. Mom signed a lease on an apt, so she'll start moving in next month. While we were at bed, bath, and beyond, I found a bathroom carrier thing that I bought for my stuff in the tiny little bathroom I've got now. None of my stuff has a place :/

Saturday night was pretty crappy at work. I got there at 5:00pm. I didn't have one table for 3 hours, and ended up being one of the last people cut. Just kind of worked out like that. I didn't complain really, which was good because the girl that was complaining got sent home (thus why I was cut after her), and the owner and the manager were not too impressed with her attitude. I did what I could to help and keep busy. The worst part about it though was that I only made $43 for the whole shift, which was 7 hours long :/ I guess you win some, you lose some. It just wasn't busy at the restaurant. I'm counting on this week to be better.

Total made at work this week: $157.72. This is something that I can survive on, but I'm still counting on it getting better.

As far as spending, I'm only over budget on my "Misc" category-- mostly due to my bike and the 2 repairs. I also put the restaurant cost on mother's day and the bathroom carrier in this category. So I'm $50 over budget in that category. But I haven't spent a dime in my grocery or "bus" category. BF went grocery shopping the other day without me. I'm going to ask if he wants a few bucks, but odds are he wont accept any money from me.

I sold another book on amazon yesterday. I made $10.15 on it. That will get split between my challenge money and CC. Which reminds me, I have to pay off what I put on my CC for my most recent bike repair ($7.43). That's not going to count toward my CC payments for the month, because I really didn't want to use it.

Did laundry yesterday at mom's. And cooked dinner for the family. All no-cost. Love it

So This week's goal evaluation:
[x] Keep track of all $ spent.
[x] Stay under budget (I am overall under budget still).
[x] Dont touch savings.
[ ] Dont use CC (though I'm going to pay it off this week).
[ ] Save $75 (not yet).
[ ] Pay off $150 on CC (not yet).
[ ] 3 NSD/week (I only had 1 this week).
[ ] 12 NSD in May (still only at 1).

So I've got work today at 10:30am. I'll ride my bike there, so I wont have to worry about parking meters, or gas for that matter (not that it's really all that much, but I'm looking forward to riding my bike).

When I get home I need to start filing my FAFSA. I should have had it in a while ago... I also need to print off an application for a summer loan, and go switch one of my classes. Finally, I need to price my books. Class starts next week! Eek! It's gonna get busy!

In other news, Mom is giving me her sewing machine. Very cool. I need to go get it, and take a look through the crocheting box.

Well, time to get this day started! Hope everyone has a good one!

to announce that the Sangl Family "Economic Stimulus Payment" from the IRS has arrived in our bank account. I am thrilled, excited, and, yes, PUMPED to see it show up the bank. You see, I just could not wait to receive this money! I needed this money. I was desperate for this money. I needed it to do my part to stimulate the economy.

NOT!

Because Jenn and I save for (1) emergency expenses, (2) KNOWN, upcoming expenses, and (3) our dreams, when we receive "found money" like this it is truly a blessing - not just meeting some immediate, pressing need. What are we going to do with our ESP? We are putting it into savings to fund a dream.

Boring I know.

But perhaps I should tell you how things like this used to go down. We would know that we were going to get a tax refund, so we would buy things and say, "We will pay for it with our tax refund." By the time the tax refund showed up, we had already spent it seven times over. This left us frustrated, angry, and with a pile of debt. Just writing about it makes me mad all over again. I used to be such a horrible manager of my money.

Never again.

If you are wondering what to do with your ESP, check out the "Best Utilize Your Tax Refund" series.

So, as we all know, yesterday was Mother's Day. It was a pretty good day overall. My kids bought me cards, I made dinner and we went to my brother's house to see our newest baby in the family. He is so adorable. He is 2 weeks old.

So, let's get off track for a minute. A couple weeks ago I was having a conversation with my youngest boy (13) about his conversation when he was with his dad driving in a car. It was about my birthday gift which is next Friday.

Anyhow, I asked him what dad was getting me. No secrets here, he just said, well it starts with a G, ends with an S and there is a P in the middle. I was like, what, I don't want a GPS. I would never use a GPS. I actually thought he was kidding, just to humor me and not tell what they were actually talking about.

So I let it go, until Mother's Day, when my husband said, how about opening your Birthday gift from me today (on Mother's Day) while all the kids are here. What, they will all be here next Friday also. Okay, if you want to.

So, I open this present and sure enough, he bought me a GPS. I was totally dumbfounded. I don't want a GPS. To me it is a total waste of time. I don't even talk on my cell phone when driving down the road, now I have a GPS. And, if I do pull over to use it, I have to put on my glasses and figure out how to work the dang thing, just to get somewhere, when I have never had a problem getting anywhere before. What a waste of time and money to me.

It actually upset me and my oldest boy said "Mom let's go to the car". He showed me a little of how it works, but it was so upsetting to me and my son totally understood why.

As we sat there in the car, this is what we discovered:

*It is totally not who I am.
*I am a simple mom. I take really good care of myself for the sake of my family so that they won't have to. (Hopefully)
*Memories mean way more to me. I have lost so many loved ones in the recent years, and since my daughter's diagnosis of cancer 13 years ago, I have become a completely different person.
*It hurt me, because I felt like he just doesn't know my heart and what I stand for.
*Personally, I think they cost way to much and that money could have been better spent.

My oldest son sitting in the car with me realized that it went way deeper than just getting the gift for me.

Here is the kicker. They all asked me what I wanted. Personally, I would rather not have anything but their time. But, they persisted, so I came up with some simple items (a hanging plant, a potted tomato plant, rembrandt toothpaste and a margarita machine - I found one at Tuesday Morning for $50.00 - this was supposed to be the gift my husband was getting me. My kids still haven't given me their gifts, but my husband totally did not listen to me.

Well, I slept on it and found that I am still upset about it this morning. I put it on my gift shelf and I will give it to my husband on his birthday. Apparently, he is the one who wants it. So in my frugal state of mind, Thank You Dear Husband for saving me some money. I now have your gift.

for those who were wondering.
i know it's a lot of money ($142.80). and to anyone else i would say "fight fight fight!!". i know i am being silly in not fighting in the slightest, but i really would rather just pay it and not worry about it right now. what with my grandma just passing away, stepdad sick, stressful work problems and over all feeling slightly depressed, i just want one thing to go away so i don't have to worry about it.

the thing is, i KNEW i owed those fees. i was just avoiding them. and i did know it was over $100. i think this is just one of those (few) times i'm going to admit my mistake and make amends. AND NEVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!

so please understand, i know it's stupid to just go along with it and pay it, but i really cannot be bothered with fighting it. if it was over that amount i probably would, but like i said, i know i owed it.

i don't want smoething like that to bite me in the ass later on when we buy property. all because of an overdue dvd (or four...)