Credit Score

I have tried to take a page from Dave's book and not let a credit score define me.  However, as much I wish I could, it isn't always that simple.  As we prepare to get our house started, we are NOT where dave would want us to be.  However, we are doing our plan to see whats going on.  So with this, we do need a credit score.  It does drive me alittle nutty.  A credit score is "how good you are at borrowing money and paying it back"
Right now we still have 2 more loans.  A credit card and a student loan.  We had our credit run to go thought what our best options for our house loan are.  (I hope to post the differences in a few weeks about FHA vs Conv.)  My hubby was alittle disappointed his credit score was lower then mine and alittle lower then we want for our loan.  So, now we have a goal.  Once we put our 5% down to start building our house, it is our goal to get our credit score alittle better.  The reason for the lower score is we dont have alot of open lines of credit (which I feel is AMAING) however, that is not how the FICO sees it.
We are working to pay back half of our cc so our score will go up.  And in a perfect world.. since I really wish we lived in one.  We are working to get our credit card PAID OFF before we close on our house.  I know this is alittle wishful thinking, but if we can make this happy we will be debt free minus the student loan, and with the extra money from the car loan, and the CC. we could be DEBT FREE before we know it!!
Also since Liam won't be in school this summer we get to save an extra bit of money (forget about daycare.. ;) RIGHT? lol)

Moving up and PAY DAY!

I finally after a LONG time, wishing and hoping and trying to get motivation.... that falls short! HOWEVER last night, before my Thursday night Parenthood episode I did yoga for 20 min.  OMG I have missed yoga.  I am the first to admit I am NOT a flexible person, but I love how yoga makes me feel.  I was in my bedroom with alittle lamp and the TV on, with the heater (it is cold in our basement bedroom).  I set an alarm because I needed some plan ol relax TV after this week at work.. so I did.  But the Yoga was AMAZING.  Because it is more stretching, it is NOT by any way aerobic, but it is something.  I have decided to try to add this to my nightly routine.  Try to get used to getting my body moving. Something is better then noting.. RIGHT?

Well back onto the budget bandwagon.  We have been doing our $2,000 for the last month or so.  So far it is working really well.  The categories are still not as well monitored as I would like.  However I am the one to blame, my shopping has come out! :(Today is payday, so my hubby will be transferring again! :) Im really hoping this next 2 weeks will be a good one, and we can finish our 5% we need for the house.

I have been good about cooking meals at home. We normally have 2 big dinners a week, and the other ones are quick, simple, mac and cheese or soup.  lol

VS

The house is getting exciting.  We should have some prices soon, then I can start sharing house stuff.. Cause as much fun as money is.  We need SOME variety in our lives! :)

TV and Resolutions

 TV: Needless to say.  For my idea on TV.. I HAVE A BIG HUGE F!!!
The only positive that has come from it, is I am aware.  I am -3 hr behind.  My plan tonight is to get on it.  My goal is only 30 min,  but that only puts me 2.5 hr behind and I will catch up.   So, I'm gonna try it for another week, in hopes that by the end of next week.  I will be EVEN!

After my post a few weeks ago about new years reslutions.
I have been thinking about them, and I am slow.... but I have a few that I have thought about.

1. Weight! WELCOME TO STEREOTYPE!! Yes I would like to loose some weight.  I have a few reason, but none of them are very good, other then... Well I want to.  I want to eat MUCH better (currently I live on hot pockets and coffee.. NOT GOOD).  I also want to exercise, at least a little.  I don't... like EVER.  The closest I come to exercise, is cleaning house, and carrying 3-5 loads of laundry up and down 1 flight of stairs weekly. NOT enough for my very sedentary job.  So my wonderful husband is willing to HUMOR me and help me out.  Im not so sure about the exercise side of things... that's between me and my TV.  (you now understand the help of my TV watching exercise regalement!)
2. Budget! Obviously, I need to budget.  I will admit, that I've got alittle nutty over the past 2 weeks.  I swear other then Christmas this is the most Ive spent on myself for a LONG LONG time.   Because of my new possible job, My sweetie took me shopping.  I got 2 dress coats 1 shirt and 2 skirts.  Im so excited.. Now i just need the job.  I also purchased myself a new swimming suit for less then $20, but still... not exactly what I should be doing. --- So hand in had with #1.  By eating at home, I can save money on groceries.  Seriously healthy food is pretty cheap.  I just need to buy it and Eat it! Also one more element to this is my financial peace class!
3. Reading!  I love to read.  Since the beginning of the year I have been reading a bunch of Jon Acuff's books, and am LOVING THEM.  The 3 of my goals is to read 1 book a month. I am also going to try to limit myself to 1 book per month.  That dose not include Books on Tape that I listen to while driving too and from work... But otherwise I'll spend too much time reading and I need to be focused on my Family!

 

So there we have it!  3 goals for the next little while.  I have a MILLION other ones around in my head, but these are the top priority of TODAY!!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

As always our new year resolutions are here again.  It is now almost considered a cliche having resolutions!
According to WCTV:These are the top 10 for 2014!

1. lose weight 
2. get organized 
3. spend less, save more. 
4. enjoy life to the fullest 
5. stay fit and healthy 
6. learn something exciting 
7. quit smoking 
8. help others in their dreams 
9. fall in love 
10. spend more time with family.


I know that for myself as I look over this list, I woulds love to do the majority of these, and I m guessing that many of you feel the same way!

My amazing cousin always has the best new years resolutions

2010

2011

2012


For the life of me I couldn't find my favorite resolution of hers... i'm thinking it must be linked to her birthday or something.  However... It was something along these lines.  "A year from now I will be a year older, I can NOT control the time that passes, however I can change what I do with that time."

I feel that is the best explanation of  where we all are and where we want to be.
I have never been big on resolutions, never really made them or kept them... none the less, I LOVE lists!!

I made a fun Google doc, and refer to it constantly (YES I LOVE GOOGLE DOCS)
I made a list for each of the following categories,
Education/Work
Physical
Family
Financial
Home
Travel
Self

Under each of these I made 3-5 goals.  I have looked at it maybe 3 times over the last year however out of my total of 33 goals.
Here is how I did.
16--Done
8--Nope
9: Changed or working on.

So over the next few days I will build myself some goals.  There are many things in our year to come, and I hope to share them with you all along the way!

Budget...????

We started our $2,000 budget a few weeks back, but I am the FIRST to admit, we did NOT follow our bduget like I wanted to for christmas.

Thank You to ALL who sent me money for my Graduation, Because of that we were able to NOT go into ANY DEBT! however, that doesn't mean we did what we should.  So we are working on that now.

I already know how much we spend when it comes to monthly expenses

Groceries	400
Dining Out	400
Gas	350
Shady	50
Medical	50
Gifts	100
Clothes	50
House	50
Dates	50
Spending	300

However when I look at this total of $1800 it is ALOT!!!!!!!!

I am now onto baby steps, so that is my current GOAL!

Some of these we KNOW we cant fix them, (because of necessary expenditures) ie GAS
But otherwise we are on a mission to drop this.

I have been looking at ideas online, however I cant figure out what exactly will work best for us.

Now it is time to face the fire and GET IN CONTROL and lower that amount!

The last minute itch!

Christmas is less then a week away!

We are getting excited and anxious but we are all shopped and wrapped.  We are looking forward to seeing our children faces light up when Santa comes to town!

Now is when the hard part comes.  Hubby and I went by walmart a few days ago... and OMH we got sucked in.  And I am the first to admit it.  We had a few friend gifts to get and some stocking staffers (toiletries). I had to hold back alot of self restrain from stopping myself from buying the whole store.

I have now sworn off all stores expect for a trip to the grocery store with a LIST!

But BEWARE, there are ALOT of christmas traps out ther... and even WORSE... TONS OF SHOPPERS!!!!

Not sure why, but I am quite proud that according to Dallas News 

"The data underscores how aggressive discounting has been both a blessing and a curse for retailers. Since the recession, the only way to get Americans into stores has been to flash huge discount signs in front of their faces.

But the discounting has had unintended consequences. Shoppers become immune to the deals, so retailers must offer bigger discounts to keep them coming into stores. That erodes retailers' sales since shoppers aren't buying things for regular price. It also eats away at retailers' profit margins.

Still, analysts say retailers have created a cycle of constant discounting that they'll have to continue in order to attract U.S. shoppers, many of who are still dealing with stagnant wages and rising costs for things like health care."

But BEWARE, there are ALOT of christmas traps out ther... and even WORSE... TONS OF SHOPPERS!!!!
 Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but it is VERY smart for your relationships and families if you tell santa where your money will go, rather then wonder where it went.  Along with buyers remorse on Christmas Day!

 

Anniversary!

I normally don't talk MUCH about family stuff... However TODAY is a day that it is needed!!!!

I just have to BRAG to everyone because I have the MOST AMAZING WONDERFUL SWEET ROMANTIC LOVABLE (and a million other words) HUSBAND!!!

Today we celebrate our 8th annaversary.  And are looking forward to a night with no kids and going to see a movie!!!

WELCOME TO ROMANCE on a BUDGET!

BLACK FRIDAY HYPE!

If you have been shopping on black Friday, or for that matter, Watched the NEWS just after thanksgiving, you know the *WAHOO* that comes with it.  I will admit, I have shopped on black Friday MANY times, however this year is NOT one of them.

You can look at my post from yesterday, and it is easy to see that I have NOT be in support of our local stores this year.   Don't get me wrong, I love to support the local economy, however at christmas, I feel it is better to be smart and buy online, rather then "boosting" the economy with debt that I will have to take care of later.
Chris and I have gotten our fair share of "deals" on black Friday.  The year we had Liam, we got a big 50 in TV and a PS3 both for great prices, however, I feel that if we would have just watched what we wanted we could have gotten the exact same items for the same price, without having to wait in line and "FIGHTING" for our items.

Beyond that... When you are shopping the SALE can suck you in.

I honestly hate to admit it, but I have been this lady.So excited for sale, that I have more items then I can carry.  And I don't feel that I am aline, but I get BUYERS REMORSE Big time!! Even worse after a black Friday sale.  Last year we went out shopping, and since the line at our wonderful WAL MART was massive I had time to look at what I had planned to buy and ended up with a few movies and a $10 coffee pot (that was the only thing I wanted last year). I was proud of myself, however thie year, I did the (in my opinion) right thing

.

I however didnt shy away COMPLETELY.  I had almost all of my gifts sitting in my amazon shopping cart, and I pulled up the site a few times between thanksgiving and cyber Monday, and made a few purchases FROM what I already had in my cart.  I did NOT add any items over those days, I just tried to get a deal if I could.  And honestly most of the "deals" at the stores were still more then the cost online. 

This is how I keep to my budget what tools do you use.  


For the record, I try to support local companies when I can, even more when it comes to items that you cant find in stores.  However I don't however really shop at big box stores for items I can get on amazon.  You don't have to like me because of it :( sorry guys! I am just Honest!