asrai's Journal

It's warm out today. Got the fan running. the poor goldfish.

Let's see what have I been up to since I disappeared.

Working, going to school, running the household. The usual.

We paid off the car early this year (a little over a year early) with our Ralph bucks (Alberta had such a surplus they gave every person living in AB on Sept 31, 2005 some monies).

We purchased a mobile home on rented land last may. It is on a 5 year pay off. We got it just before housing just exploded here, not that it wasn't booming before. but the people had 2 kids, one on the way in a tiny trailer and wanted out so we got it for $10,000. We put $1500 down.

I'll write some more later right now I have to go and do more homework. I've got 5 courses left until i get my special needs educational assistant diploma.

I haven't been hanging around this site in ages. It's showing in our current spending. This has got to stop because we want to do some major work around this place this summer and my boyfriend plans on starting classes this fall (one class at a time). And I have 5 left.

I haven't posted in over a year. So hi to all the new people and everyone who may remember me. I'll try to be around. I'm in so many places at once these days that I may just keep up the blog and not read much of the message boards. I do miss it but ... between everything on my plate I can't have it all.

We have no money again.

Our power bill is $30 more than normal becuase the car was plugged in so much last month. Ugh.
And my student loan is due March 1. Then I'll apply for interest relief again so we can pay off the car loan as quickly as possible.

Filed my taxes today. We used cutetax.ca or whatever the address is. Found it on the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Website. Since we made under $30,000 we didn't pay a thing. That was nice. Should get a good return and then we'll give that way so DH can go back to school in the summer. Whee. (He owes dorm fees so we can't get a transcript).

I should get and do some homework. And finish housework. DD fell asleep on the couch during quiet time so I'm gonna let her sleep until 4 PM and then have a snack and maybe get outside.

Need to remind myself to write about playschool as well. Going to do that on Friday. YAY!!

I have about ten books on hold at the library. I have to go cancel some and add them to the future reads list. Which is getting longer the longer I am online. Gonna try to stay up to see DH for a bit. Last night I didn't and he came to bed. I think maybe he felt guility for doing osmething he should not have. Oh well. I trust that things will be okay. I can't obess any more, it's too draining. I have too many other things to do, and obesessing is just wasting time in my opinion. Okay I'm off to read some more. Haave a good night.

I got new undies for V-Day. DH got a tooth pulled. It was really hurting (he should have told me a few months ago and it could have gotten filled at that time :PPP)

Our power bill went waaaaay up due to plugging the car in.

I got taken out the other night by a friend for a pedicure. That was NIIIIICE. We are going to have her, her hubby and their kids in for supper sometime. We met at a parenting group. She's so nice. We sat up til midnight chatting (she stuck around because DD came home from Gram's and threw up ... all over Gram).

It's nice to have a friend again. Even if she's craaazy. J/k. She's really nice. and her oldest daughter and my dd are sooo much alike. I hope they get along. Hers is in school and didn't come to the group.

Trying to get DD to eat peanut butter. Dora eats in the book we have so I thought maybe she'd try it. No chance. I'll keep trying for a few days.

Anyway, I have to do some more housework and check on the bread.

Mel

Freecycle was on CBC Marketplace a week ago and then two days later I was in the paper about freecycle here.

We've had 148 new members in a week, to the hour. HEHE. Probably make 150 by tomorrow.

It's been pretty crazy.

People just WANT WANT WANT. I think we've had at least 5 computers wanted (not mentioning the person who wants them for charity). We've had a request for a trampoline (not ripped anywhere) and an electric guitar. :P I'm a little annoyed with the outrageous people. Sure if someone OFFERS. But rarely do people give big ticket items away. Of course, this is what they portrayed on Marketplace :P :P :P

Given away there's been a pool table, stove and dishwasher and a leather coat.

It's been hopping so I haven't had time for much else while on line. That and I finally finished my second assignment. Have to wait for my letter of consent before I can send it in tho.

Write about valentine's day soon.

Looking into playschool for DD for the fall. Anyone heard of Montessori? I looked it up online and it looked a little different. I don't think we'll go there. But almost everything else is across town. But I think we figured it out. Will have to drop her off, then come home for a while, then when it's time for DH to go to work he'll drop me off at the school. I'll hang out until DD's done and then we'll take the bus home. If we can't get a bunch of debt paid off and get our second car to this province by then.

The other thing is the cost. We aren't sure what the cost will be for playschool here.

I got interviewed for my local freecycle group. The reporter is using my picture and everything. EEK! Another local group contactedd him but then backed up. I really don't like the person running the group. She just rubs me the wrong way.

I'm trying to jump on this shine your sink from flylady. I hate the dishes strewn around the kitchen because everything else gets left out. And then when it's time to make supper it's just overwhelming and i don't feel like it. So I wrote to freecycle asking for rubbermaid bins and if I don't hear anything by mid-week I'm going to buy one. They aren't that much. I only need 5 gallons, that'll be lots.

I also need to re-write my menus. Next month maybe I"ll buy Saving DInner. I liked lots of the recipes, but DD won't eat anything and when it's just me and her I'm tired of cooking things she doens't eat.

I should be sleeping. I have to work at 6 AM tomorrow, tired from working today.

But I"m planning Valentine's Day. Well, we're gonna have it this Friday, since my mom can take DD and we both have it off. I"m so excited. I decided to try to treat our relationship as if we are dating again. It's hard becuase I'm mad at him right now.

In other news, the local paper is interviewing me tomorrow about freecycle here. I'm rather nervous.

DD has regressed in potty training. I don't know if she wants to use the big potty (which is downstairs) or if she just wants to exercise her control in the situation. We'll see how things go. It's hard, being at work for half the day I don't know what he is doing about the situation.

Anyway, I think things are ready. I just have to plan a budget for the night. Want to get some wine and everything y'know. Not expensive wine. We like the cheap, sweet stuff. None of that dry stuff. YICK.

Night everyone.

Went to the library today. Found a yoga tape for me. I started doing yoga as part of a course I am taking at Barnes and Noble University (free, more free becuase I get the books from the library or just don't get the book at all if I can't find it). And it helps my stomach. I was to the point I thought I had IBS and was going to the doctor to probably get on some drugs. But yoga has done it.

Got Big Bear in the Blue House, Potty Time movie from the library. DD goes as long as she doesn't have underwear on. Driving me crazy. We almost bought this movie before Christmas for $10, used.

And we also borrowed Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterHood. A movie DH would never watch. I wanted to get Top Gun but maybe I'll do that next week. All this time i thought our library never had any good videos.

Then we went and played at the park. The yoga is also helping my depression. So is the warm weather.

Got our Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit (120 twice a year). That was a nice bonus. It went right to the savings account. DH got paid and I have to go send that all to rent anyway.

And I sent my first assignment to my instructor. Very nervous. But I think it's okay. And I'm working on my second assignment. Well it's supper time so I guess I better go find something to eat.

I did mean 50 cents. SHISH. I'm losing it. blame it on the kid.

How is that we've spent more money on groceries this month then most of the previous months and I need to buy food agian. Carrots and fruit this time. It always works out this way.

Of course, DH has been shopping iwth me and he's very tired of eating the same thing over and over and over and over. SO he's been buying conveince food that i don't know how to make (like ginger beef and sweet and sour pork and popcorn shrimp). OH well.

He's home so I'm off. TO bed soon. At least I have one more day off!!

SItting here listening to Dave Ramsey. WHere the winner is awarded for who payed off the most debt/saved the most money in proportion to their income in a 6 month period.

My teacher called. The first time in 3 courses that one has called so that was exciting for me. She told me to email my stuff in so it gets there quicker. That'll save me money as well. It costs $50 +7% GST to mail a letter within Canada.

We finally got to go out today. It was mid-week but of course DD was very sick (she was napping!!) so we didn't get out. But today we went out on the tricycle. She can nearly peddle all by herself.

Talked to my sister in law for a long time. She always has good kid/husband advice for me.

DD wants to play uptoten.com so I guess i'm done. NEed to do dishes anyway.

Thanks for the advice.

I was in a really bad mood. He's really a great guy and I write lots of bad stuff here, but mostly it's passing.

Anyway thanks for the comments and advice and I"ll be more positive next time.

My DH wants to be broke forever.

He agrees to spending money($40 for him and $20 for me) and then spends twice as much (so far the month is not over yet). He needs to show me that he's in control and not me. And it's kind of tiring.

I don't want to be in control I want us to be in agreement and it's hard when he keeps breaking the agreement!!

He told me last night someday (in the next two years) he's going to come home with a 27" TV. I suggest we start saving for it at $25/month we could have it in a year. But he refuses. He claims there'll be no other spending money (despite the fact that he's spent $40 extra this month alone, actually $60 if you count the "advance" he took at the end of last month, but who's counting? Not me. LOL).

Fine if he wants to stay as his crappy job and never see me then fine he can do that. I want to get out of debt and go back to school full time and get a decent job that I like. Not one where I'm unfulfilled and work my ass off for a company that doesn't really care that much about me. That's not really true, my bosses have been really great to me when it comes to working with my schedule.

I'm just really bitchy and sad tonight. I wish I could make him understand better why I want to do the things I do with money.

Day off today and DD is sick so I'm thinking of skipping my parenting group. I really don't want to, it's the second to last week. But she is really not good and needs rest and cuddles. She's with the babies so the ladies are busy with them most of the time.

DH did spend that money and then another $20. GRR. We agreed to a certain amount of spending money each month and he refuses to stick to it. We have the money I just wish he would stick to the budget. I don't want to get into another argument with him about this. I just want to strangle him until he gets it! LOL just kidding.

I have yet to eat some breakfast yet so I guess I should do that and get dressed.

Can't figure out why my car payment has not gone out of the account yet. It was supposed to have gone out around midnight last night, but it's still there.

Also trying to figure out what the extra $17 payment that occured today. I think DH bought something at work, he wanted tylonol, but that can't be $20. I just have these control issues these days, especially when it comes to DH and money. Oh well, it'll be okay when the $700 payment is reversed. I should have called today. I'll call tomorow.

DD is pulling on me right now so I'll finish this later. All about shopping and stuff.

I don't have to go to work.

And at some point last night I got paid.

So today has to go better. Except that it's currently -34.

I have to make bread today. And probably will make some cookies as we don't have any. Not sure what else. I work Sunday, which is usually my baking day.

Alright it's almost Poko time so I need to wake up DD.

Hey this is entry #100.

I paid the phone bill which was just under $74. I typed 7 and then went to check the actual amount. THen typed in 74. Except that it was 774 and I never looked. DH was not happy with me. *MUTTERS*

*BANGS HEAD ON WALL*

It'll be back in the next 3 weeks.

We saved some money on power last night. And gas. The power went out at 11 PM until 2 Am. IT was -42 C with the windchill(-37 without). And then I was an hour late for work. Since I wasn't waiting around for the power to come back on.

And ... I"m having a bad day. My vaccum died last night. Shorted out somewhere we'll get it fixed when it warms up. Until them my mom is lending me hers (2 year olds are MESSY eaters). I cannot find my proof of purchase. But i'm hoping the warranty date on the back of the vaccum is enough. Cross your fingers.

Second verse same as first can't get better can only get worse. I'm a pessimist today.

Back up to 30 hours again. Someone got fired and another girl's father died so she's gone for an indetermined amount of time. I miss her, she is the best employee in the company. I hope she's okay.

Dh is cooking supper. We're drinking the coolers left from my dad's visit this weekend.

My dad brought a mates bed for our daughter. He also brought a 6-drawer dresser. Also a game for me and a blender for all of us and a toy for DD. Phew! Spoiled? Then he tried to give me money!! Too much money.

My course also came so I better get to work on that. I have from now until April 22 to finish it. There is a lot of work. All about writing service plans (goals) for people with disabilities. I have to call my aunt later to see if she'll answer some questions for my first paper. Her 4 year old has autism.

Going to drink some more. LOL

I get paid tonight jsut after midnight.

Either DH is busy at work he's mad at me. He seemed mad when he was getting ready and leaving for work. I dunno.

I had a epiphany. Not going to write it here it's rather personal.

There is a blizzard warning going on here. It's been snowing and blowing all day. Otherwise it's been warm here. -11 C. Much nicer than -23, but then you factor in the windchill and it's not any warmer.

I was only supposed to work 24 hours this week but a guy got fired, so I get an extra shift. 30 hours +6 hours of stat pay. YAY. This will be my biggest pay check so far, in 6.5 months of working.

I am going to talk DH into going ot buy some wood. He's so bored he's driving me mad. When he gets really bored he just goes and sleeps for half an hour. I feel like I'm not interesting. :P

ANyway, it's bath time. Just watching the end of jeopardy. I wanna see if the woman wins and remains champ

I finally get use the computer. DD is at my mom's for the night, DH has the night off she has tomorrow off. We get to watch a movie with swearing and killing. We get to eat in the living room and drink pop.

This stuff leaves me with only $10 in grocery money until Friday. But ... the days off coinciding happens once every 3 months. I started using cash for groceries. $60/week. Until I figure out if that's enough for us.

DD is nearly potty trained. As long as she doesn't wear anything she'll go without being asked. If she's wearing something she just pees and then tells me. It's a start.

Haven't been home yet this week so it's a good thing the super fling boogie is 2 weeks. I hope that's right.

Have written a shopping list. going to wal-mart after work (I work at a grocery store but the store is so bloody expensive I can't afford to buy much there. Except dairy products, only Wal-mart is cheaper for milk and yoghurt.)

Waiting to see if DH needs to add anything. I'm taking $60/week out in cash for groceries. Hopefully that'll be enough. At the end of the month I'll adjust it (or mid-month if I"m seriously out).

Well DD is dipping her weeble in the yoghurt. So I think I'd better go pay attention to her.

Reading the journal's here I keep remembering things I need to do.

One was put the bank accounts on the calander. This way DH can see how much money we have and what bills need to be paid when.

We agreed on $40 spending money which he has taken out already. (Big surprise he's just like a little kid).

Next I need to open a second savings account for Christmas for next year. We need to put in about $25/month to pay for next CHristmas.

Going to see if I can do that on-line. Okay that's done now. We have a savings account for our emergency fund, but I want one seperate for christmas. That way DH and I can buy each other something next year. *rolls eyes*

For the first time in 3 years we have money, are saving and paying off debt, etc.

Listening to Dave Ramsey right now and making supper. Which I think is done I'll write more later.

I've been busy and stressed. About lots of things. Not money we actually have money for once.

And I saved some money today. DD pulled the PS2 down (accidnetly I was playing and she fell onto the controller cord and crash it went). And it would no longer open. We were gonna get it fixed after Christmas, and DH was all disppointed.

But I went online and found out how to take it apart. and it works again. Waiting for him to check his email so he can find out. HAHAHA ... I'm the best. I'll make a point of posting here more often. We are done with gov't debt too, yay. Lots of yays and it's 2 days til Christmas

It's strange in Octover we had NO money left after the regular bills and such. November we took a trip, bought gifts and a VCR and we had no money left, in addition to the regular stuff. Go figure? I didn't work as many hours in November, and we (would have) had money left over. I can't figure it out.

I've been slacking off on everything. I'm finished my course and my whole self just took off on a vaction. Except for work which I'm back up to 30 hours, and I got a 23 cent raise. (Very sad isn't it?)

I have to get my butt in gear tonight and do the finaces for November. It isn't going to be nice. But we do have an extra pay check this month (possibly techincally 3 checks in January since they think it might be a day late).

I'll write more later I need to go do my check book balances.

IT's nearing the end of the month. We have no money, of course. We'd have a little if not for our little trip and our new VCR. DH's life is watching movies, so I conceded we could buy one now instead of 2 weeks from now.

We keep saying we'll fix it next month. Next month, next month. DH gets 3 pay checks next month and 2 stat days for sure. Then there's January 1st for a stat day. He hopes to work all 3. Fine by me.

We're getting colds. Got a sore throat today. I blame work, since one of my co-workers has a horrible cough. Wish I had money for some echinacea. If it even really works. Guess I'll go brew some tea and pull the humidifier up from DD"s room.

It's wednesday, that means parenting group day. Hooray!! DD isn't too sure about it, but she'll be okay once she is there.

It seems that the Calliou video we got from my SIL has ruined (both) VCR's. I made the assumption (wrongly) that it was a bug's life or that the VCR was dirty. So I switched to the other VCR, which has a habit of eating tapes (so it's not the best one to use anyway). Neither of them will show a tape now. If I go the menu I can hear the tape, and I can almost see when using the tracking. But, the tracking is what seems to be ruined. I can't manual track the tape and the auto track is dead.

Wonder how cheap we can get a new VCR. Very unhappy. Won't tell DH about using the second VCR. He thinks it's dead anyway. VERY PISSED OFF asrai right now. DD is just getting into Calliou so I was hoping that things would work out well for us with the tape. Nope it's killed 3 VCR's now, since I'm assuming that it killed SIL's as well. ARGH ARGH ARGH. Damned. Gotta go write DH a note and tell him that the VCR is dead dead dead.

It cost us $80 in gas alone to get to SIL and back. We'll we have nearly a full tank of gas left. Half way between here and there gas is super cheap. Here it is 79.9/liter and there we paid 72.4cents/liter.

Then we bought some food on the way there and back which was I guess $20. And then we exchanged presents which cost another $20. And there were some other incidentals, so about $130 we spent on one weekend that was VERY stressful.

4 kids, 2 room house. 3 smokers. The kids are 7 year old boy, 4 year old with Down's Syndrome girl, and 3 year old girl.

DD is rather shy and quiet. Their kids are CRAZY, nutso. They just want to be in our poor girl's face all the time and she doesn't know what to do. She did play with them, espcially their 7 year old son. The middle girl was always hugging and in her face, she's a very lovey kid, and is well intentioned but DD just can't take it.

my sister in law went shopping twice. Once without the kids, and once with two kids. ARGH. Like 6 hours of shopping with her. I don't mind shopping. But boy oh boy she likes to spend. They went into their overdraft while we are there. (They have no savings, and make a decent income. No debt but they smoke ... and not just cigerettes. At least they go outside for the latter).

It was supposed to DH's and I weekend together. We only get minimal time togheter. So SIL and I went out. And then he went out with his brother in law for 3 hours and i was asleep when he got back. So I was a little rude when the guys got back, 'cause I was pissed I never saw him all evening.

IT was a total of 8 hours driving. DD did REALLY good. The last bit she was getting antsy, not that I blame her.

Okay I hope this makes sense. I gotta make some supper.

In preperation for my test (that and DD's computer obessesion) I haven't been online much. Just reading my email. We're going away for the weekend so I won't be here then. Changing all my yahoo groups to no mail so I'm not clobbered on Sunday eve when we return. Just the freecycle stuff and my financial bootcamp emails will come in.

My test went well tho. Wish I have my results from all 3. :P

Got DD a library card yesterday. Because they don't charge late fees for kids books. Although I keep thinking I'm late on things and they never charge me. I can't argue with it tho.

We've spent $130 on groceries this month so far. And should be under a hundred more. I should start the new list now. The menus have helped tremendously. Next month I should be able to buy chicken breasts again. YUM! We finally have money and are paying off debt. It's exciting. When our debt is paid off we'll have just over $500 in expendable income. Which will be saved for school and then we'll have no money.

Attempt #1 to post was thwarted by DD's desire to play on the computer and then it was time for exercises. I do aerobics everyday that DH works. Added to DD and I going for a walk.

We're doing good this month it should be a decent month despite my pitiful work hours. They keep saying "Things will pick up next week." I'm still waiting for next week a month later. And despite that we are going on a 4 hour car ride (one way).

OTher than that, we haven't spent a lot of money. DH keeps wanting to spend spend spend as usual. And i would like a few things for myself. I'm getting a little resentful.

Writing my 3rd exam this week and the final one next week. Phew. Have a good day. Supper is nearly ready.

Asrai

I've have 28 hours of work this week. Tomorrow is a stat day so double time for most of the day. Hooray for me (it's dependent on the hours you work per week *rolls eyes*).

Anyway, Red Deer freecycle has 100 members. This is the most exciting news for me. We've been open since June 25, and we have 100 members!!! Doing a happy dance right now.

I've finished reading my text book now I just have to write my tests. And print the last assignment off and send it. I should do that now.

Learned about anger managment today in my parenting class. That was interesting might have to post about that later if I have some time. And then went ot my mom's. Went shopping today spent less than I thought we would and should have a juice supply for the rest of the month. Have to enter that information in my spreadsheet. I'm tracking everything to find out where we need to cut down (extra's and add more into the fruit and veggies category) to try to get the balanced diet/balanced budget we need and desire.

ANyway it's nearly nine I just got back from my mom's. And I have to eat snack, get ready for bed, do some housework (OR NOT), and get to bed.

Have a good night.