So it's been a week since I posted. It's been a very hard one. Unfortunately, I think next week will be harder.
The budget is very very tight, such that there was no real room for error or unexpected stuff. So, of course there was unexpected stuff. I had completely forgotten about the $3.00/month donation my husband gives to his favorite website which comes out of the bank account. The money was not there to cover it, so that donation cost us $28 after the overdraft fee. It was a sickening feeling. It's one thing to have to use the overdraft to cover the electric bill and just deal with the $25 fee, but to have to pay it for something less than 5 bucks... OUCH.
I still have not been able to come up with the money for my 11 yr old's 2nd payment for her field trip to Space Camp. She didn't get to go to it last year because it was cancelled or something, so she really wants to go this year. I'm going to have to write a letter to the school asking if there is an after-school work program she can do to help earn the money for it, and then in Jan. when I have money again, pay off the rest. I don't see any other choice.
The worst part is that with these unexpected overdraft fees and the fact that my check will not be as much as I originally expected due to the pay period being cut off right before I was able to make up the day I took off... I'm going to have like $17 for groceries to last from Tuesday til Friday. I wish I could hold off on doing my cash advance renewals, even just not having to pay one of them til Friday would give me an extra $30. There is one that might oblige me. I'll have to see. I don't want to call the property manager and ask them to re-do the payment schedule I agreed to. I need to prove it to them and to myself that we can pay this debt off in the time I agreed to.
So, this coming Friday night at 11pm, my hubby's last check before Christmas gets deposited. I sure wish they gave bonuses, but it's not happening. So, we *should* have about $250 to get all 4 girls Santa gifts as well as gifts from us, plus I need to get a gift for my co-worker I had signed up to do a gift exchange for (before I knew things would be this tight). And the hardest part will be the 5 white elephant gifts I have to get for the gift exchange at my sister's place where my family will be getting together. Hubby has to work, but I'm taking the girls. I want it to be a relaxing joyful time with family but I'll spend the whole morning shopping for non-crappy gifts for like no money and wrapping them and then drive an hour to her coffee shop. I guess I can do it. Maybe I'll even feel Christmasy with the whole rushing thing...
I am really thankful that my youngest was chosen to be on the angel tree this year. She is the one that would least understand why she didn't get a lot of "stuff" this year. So, hopefully she'll get one of the toys she had asked for (which I wrote on the questionaire) and some clothes she needs. For the middle ones, I think a book with cash in them will be good, and the oldest just wants a starter for her car hehe. I still have no clue what Santa will be bringing them. I've not even been shopping online. It feels pointless.
I *should* have a $100 grocery budget for the week of Christmas, and with Save a Lot and making cheap meals, I can stretch it and still have a nice big ham dinner for Christmas. The really rough part is that neither of us gets paid again until the weekend of the 1st. I guess due to the holiday we'd actually get paid on the 30th or 31st. My hubby might not get paid til the 4th. But anyway, that's a week after Christmas. So we'll have two weeks to get through with hubby's paycheck next weekend. Normally, it's no problem, but when a HUGE chunk is taken out for the house payment and then Christmas, it really doesn't leave much room.
Well, I just kind of wanted to whine and complain a little because it is so rough. Oh it could be a LOT worse. If we didn't have the money to pay the house payment, then things would be much much much bleaker than they are, so I am SO thankful to my LORD for bestowing such a blessing on us. I know we will weather this storm. It just may be the longest month I've ever lived through! Haha!
The budget is very very tight, such that there was no real room for error or unexpected stuff. So, of course there was unexpected stuff. I had completely forgotten about the $3.00/month donation my husband gives to his favorite website which comes out of the bank account. The money was not there to cover it, so that donation cost us $28 after the overdraft fee. It was a sickening feeling. It's one thing to have to use the overdraft to cover the electric bill and just deal with the $25 fee, but to have to pay it for something less than 5 bucks... OUCH.
I still have not been able to come up with the money for my 11 yr old's 2nd payment for her field trip to Space Camp. She didn't get to go to it last year because it was cancelled or something, so she really wants to go this year. I'm going to have to write a letter to the school asking if there is an after-school work program she can do to help earn the money for it, and then in Jan. when I have money again, pay off the rest. I don't see any other choice.
The worst part is that with these unexpected overdraft fees and the fact that my check will not be as much as I originally expected due to the pay period being cut off right before I was able to make up the day I took off... I'm going to have like $17 for groceries to last from Tuesday til Friday. I wish I could hold off on doing my cash advance renewals, even just not having to pay one of them til Friday would give me an extra $30. There is one that might oblige me. I'll have to see. I don't want to call the property manager and ask them to re-do the payment schedule I agreed to. I need to prove it to them and to myself that we can pay this debt off in the time I agreed to.
So, this coming Friday night at 11pm, my hubby's last check before Christmas gets deposited. I sure wish they gave bonuses, but it's not happening. So, we *should* have about $250 to get all 4 girls Santa gifts as well as gifts from us, plus I need to get a gift for my co-worker I had signed up to do a gift exchange for (before I knew things would be this tight). And the hardest part will be the 5 white elephant gifts I have to get for the gift exchange at my sister's place where my family will be getting together. Hubby has to work, but I'm taking the girls. I want it to be a relaxing joyful time with family but I'll spend the whole morning shopping for non-crappy gifts for like no money and wrapping them and then drive an hour to her coffee shop. I guess I can do it. Maybe I'll even feel Christmasy with the whole rushing thing...
I am really thankful that my youngest was chosen to be on the angel tree this year. She is the one that would least understand why she didn't get a lot of "stuff" this year. So, hopefully she'll get one of the toys she had asked for (which I wrote on the questionaire) and some clothes she needs. For the middle ones, I think a book with cash in them will be good, and the oldest just wants a starter for her car hehe. I still have no clue what Santa will be bringing them. I've not even been shopping online. It feels pointless.
I *should* have a $100 grocery budget for the week of Christmas, and with Save a Lot and making cheap meals, I can stretch it and still have a nice big ham dinner for Christmas. The really rough part is that neither of us gets paid again until the weekend of the 1st. I guess due to the holiday we'd actually get paid on the 30th or 31st. My hubby might not get paid til the 4th. But anyway, that's a week after Christmas. So we'll have two weeks to get through with hubby's paycheck next weekend. Normally, it's no problem, but when a HUGE chunk is taken out for the house payment and then Christmas, it really doesn't leave much room.
Well, I just kind of wanted to whine and complain a little because it is so rough. Oh it could be a LOT worse. If we didn't have the money to pay the house payment, then things would be much much much bleaker than they are, so I am SO thankful to my LORD for bestowing such a blessing on us. I know we will weather this storm. It just may be the longest month I've ever lived through! Haha!
well, it's like you say - it could be a lot worse. I think we all have to just grit our teeth and put our shoulders to the mill during these difficult times. Best wishes for next week...
ReplyDeleteI'm still praying for you Patty
ReplyDeleteWe've been where you are and I know how difficult it is
Philippians 4:19 (New International Version)
19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Thanks ladies! It's been one of the longest and hardest weeks and definitely the longest month I can remember. I am trying to remember to count my blessings though and not let the bad stuff get me down. I appreciate the prayers!!
ReplyDelete