Dining Out..

I now work for a popular fast food option, one of the healthier ones :)  The bad part??  I am constantly getting (at least) lunch at work.  I spend all day in the restaurants and feel really weird about bringing a bag lunch to work.  I mean, what would you think if you walked into McDonalds (not where I work) and saw someone in a Mickey D's shirt eating a pbj??  I consult and am not an actual "worker" but still.  It's obvious that I work for the chain and that I'm just chilling in the corner at my computer NOT eating restaurant food.  Would you do it??  I can't really go sit in my car and eat because I have to spend my alloted time in each location.
So far this month I have spent $95.12 on food.  That is so not acceptable and not JUST for financial reasons.  With my brother getting married in September I would like to lose a few pounds.. well alot of pounds but I'm being realistic.  I don't get anything too "bad" for me, but still.  It's only half way through the month.  GROWL..
Ok so what would you do??  Would you continue eating restaurant food or would you sit in the corner with a bologna and cheese??
Have a good nite ;)

Starting Over

I haven't been on in forever.  What happened?? I thought I was Miss Smarty Pants and I could handle my finances and life and single motherhood without an outlet.  I was very wrong.  I haven't made any major additions to my debt or to my lifestyle.  I have moved into a new condo (still renting) and bought a new car (I'm paying about $55 a month more than my last), but nothing that is over the top.  DS' father hasn't paid support on time since December of 2010.  I have been in and out of court and he has been in and out of jail over it.  I have another date in March - yay. 
My brother got engaged and is getting married in Hawaii in September.  Thousands of dollars for me to spend on someone else's wedding!  My aunt works for a luxury travel company so we will be staying in one of their villas (for cheap).  There are a lot of little expenses for this trip that have added up.  I've written it all up and I think I'm close to $3000.  UGH!!
In other news, I need $1700 worth of dental work done, and that includes the insurance.  I have almost no time to come up with all this money.  So fun! 
Anyway, I will be doing my best to pop in constantly.  I need to get back in the game.  I have been reading everyone's blogs and keeping up but not commenting.  Let's see if I can actually do this!!
Hope you all have a great night!

What a Weekend..

I saw this adorable pic online today and it made me giggle.. thought I'd share.
I had a pretty decent weekend. I did a lot of purging in the apartment. I figure if I want to get DS and I into a larger place in the next year, it's a good idea to get rid of things that I dont use/want/need. I managed to get rid of quite a few garbage bags full of stuff!

I had family in town so I had dinner and dessert out with them on Saturday evening. It was great to see them even if it was just a short visit. I did spend a bit since we all ended up at Target - but I only got the 2 items that I wanted when we went in. Not great, but not bad either.

Had a nice Father's Day dinner with the fam last night too. I didn't cook at all this weekend!! Woo-hoo for me! DS went up to spend the week with my sister in the Pocono's so it should be a very frugal week. I will live out of the pantry and will only need to grab toilet paper and milk on the way home today.

Hope you all had a great weekend. I'm still gathering the financials since I really want to post what's new in my world.

xoxo-nklsmom

Blogging

I read about 20 blogs each night when I get in bed. I settle DS and arrange the covers just so and relax with my phone. I don't have a laptop (other than for work) so I have them all keyed into my phone. I don't know why it's so nice and easy for me to read and comment on so many blogs but I can't write on my own.

Things have been interesting in my neck of the woods.

DS' Dad and I have been to court a number of times for lack of CS payments. We went in for a modification and I was granted more money per month - doesn't mean he's paying it tho. I have received less than $850 so far THIS YEAR. It's been tough and tight.

I took out a loan from my employer and so I've been receiving less in my paychecks. This will be paid off completely in August. September should be a good month for me.

My boss has decided to add a quarterly bonus so I have the opportunity to make extra money in either Aug or Sept as well.

With so many things going on in my life I feel like my work is slacking and that can't continue. I have finally noticed that this is happening and so I have to take responsibility for fixing it.

I would like to move my blog since I think people I don't want reading/knowing about it are lurking. I dont know how to do that while maintaining my readers.. any ideas or hints??

Thanks all! :)
xoxo-nklsmom

Help Expense

I have decided to track my funds this month. I have been tracking the last few months using my bank account and just separating it all on paper later on. This month I found Help Expense on the android market. Its free and ridiculously easy! You make your own categories and just put the dollar amount in and you're done. It's breaks everything down in charts/graphs/text. I absolutely love it.
This will help keep me more honest as well. I tend to "forget" to track when I use cash and let it all slide. I think I'm going to be surprised by how much I really spend a month.
I'm beginning to look forward to tax time! I had to borrow from my pt employer and have been signing my checks over to return the money. It's causing me to feel really strapped. Once I have my return things will be back to normal financially and I'll feel better all around.
xoxox-nklsmom

Boy it's been a while!

It seems I can't win on the job front. I was let go from Yellow Brick due to a new FTC ruling that came down effecting debt settlement companies. Though I was extremely sad to leave, I left on a positive note and still love everyone there. I was out of work until early September when I got an amazing opportunity with a popular franchised company. I am so happy here and can only pray that this one will last. On the day I started an old boss of mine called and asked if I could pick up some work for him so I'm now doing double duty. When my son is with his dad I work 20 hours for him on the weekend. So I'm officially working 160 hours a month. Though I am ridiculously tired most of the time, I can't complain about the compensation.
DS "found out" about Santa and so this year we've had to make some Xmas adjustments. He realized I pay for the gifts and refused to make a Christmas list because "we just don't have that kind of money!" I don't know how he knows what we do or don't have. I have raised him with a healthy respect for money (so much so that he has around $40 saved and refuses to use it.. I'm so happy I'm raising a saver)but never discussed our financial picture with him. It's not his business. I sat him down and explained that Xmas is a time for wishing and you just have to see if someone can make them come true. So now I have a list.. $500 worth to be exact. This year, and this year only, I want him to have everything on his list under the tree. I can make that happen and I couldn't be happier about it. I will not be putting myself in debt to do it and will still be able to save. I will not let him see this as a "rule" but as a special exception since it's the first holiday where he "knows." He was SO not ready to know the truth and mourned like he lost a loved one. I can't wait to see his face Xmas morning!!
I will be doing more posting now that things have calmed down..
and one of these days I'll update the finances so I can get some advice.
Missed you all!!!
xoxo-nklsmom

Back To School

I have budgeted $100.00 for back to school supplies. I am praying that this will also include new shoes, but I will deal with clothes later. I read on Sams Secrets that Staples was having a huge sale on supplies and I headed over last night. DS was so excited he wanted to buy the place out. I explained that we were trying to stick to our budget so we'll buy as things go on sale. We did pretty good.

Highlighters $2.00

Scissors $.99

Eraser tops $2.00

Pencils (2) $1.98

Dry Erase Markers $4.49 (because it was the brand his grandma has lol)

Pencil Box $.99

Gluestix $.99

We spent a grand total of $14.27 and we still have a bunch left on the list. Of course the items that are left are some of the things that drive me crazy! Antibacterial wipes, tissues, ziploc bags, $4.50 for a magazine subscription, headphones.. I don't remember ever having to buy most of the 'extras' for my classroom. Tissues were a given but the other cleaning supplies? Never. And I live in a community that can well afford to stock the classrooms with supplies. I know I shouldn't complain because the school is amazing and DS gets one of the best educations in the country - but hello! I'm a single mom who doesn't make a million. It's rough to have to purchase so many things that I know are not directly related to my sons learning. Yet another year I'll suck it up and get 'er done :) Will report in again soon!

xoxo-nklsmom

the cost of cash!

Last months numbers were pretty darn amazing if I do say so myself.
I was monitoring my financial picture based on my bank statements.
Here we go:

Tolls $19.00/$28.00
Gas $140.00 / $140.00
Groceries $140.00 / $52.01
Meds $39.00 / $17.60
Travel $200.00 / $214.78

Then there was the cash:
Budgeted $50.00 for extras - spent ?? $733.76

This month I'm keeping track of receipts and writing everything down. I'm not being compulsive because I read an article the other day that said when people write down everything they buy, they actually spend more than they normally would. So far my spending is way down for this month. I have a more lax budget because I'll be on vacation from July 22- July 31 in California and Oregon. Can't wait..

Either way the cash situation needs to be fixed.. big time!
xoxo-nklsmom

Electric Bills.. I just don't "get" them

I'm on budget billing with Peco. When I lost my job all those months ago I got behind and started budgeting as well as paying a deferred agreement. The issue?? I don't understand electric billing. So, I'm gonna post this stuff and see if any of you have any idea what the heck it means..
PS - I'm sorry I've been MIA. Lots going on around here but little financially. I have been calculating everything and am planning on posting this weekend about June so you'll see what I mean!

Here goes:

Budget Billing
Total Current Charges $88.77 (obvious)
Current Budget Billing Amount $98.00 (another duh)
Current Budget Balance -9.23 (the difference - got this too)
Last months budget balance $58.83
Total Budget amount $49.60 (??)

Here's where I get really confused:
Current Month: Avg Daily Use 18.1/Avg Daily Temp 75
Last Month: Avg Daily Use 14.1/Avg Daily Temp 62
Last Year: Avg Daily Use 11.6/Avg Daily Temp 68

And...
Avg kWh per month 750
Total Annual kWh Use 9011

What the heck does all this mean?? How do you know so you can control your bill?? I despise PECO because I just never have a clue. I have 5 months left on my deferment and then I'm done - easy to figure out. The rest?? Geez.. ugh.

Any hints would be greatly appreciated :-)
xoxo-nklsmom

"Eclipse" can also mean 'small splurge'

I had a bit of a splurge today. I rarely get together with both my baby sisters at once anymore. With the middle one getting married and the youngest just beginning to figure out her life, there's rarely time for sisterly bonding. We spent the weekend together a few weeks ago and aside from the babiest and I hissing at each other once, it was a great time. We rattled on about the wedding and life and dresses. My sisters mother is getting married in October - one month before my sis - and we all gabbed about all things "white and lacy." Anyway, I got online today and ordered 3 tix to the opening night of Eclipse. Darnit, I don't care that I'm 32 and I'm gonna be mobbed by a boatload of insane teenaged nuts.. I will use my "toss-my-hair-back-I'm-awesome-and-older-and-wiser" tone and get in where the gettin' is good. I plan to arrive a million hours early with a book and find the best seat in the house. I will shove my neighbors elbow off the rest and enjoy my movie-going experience with the siblings and love every minute of it.
Tonight I became addicted to yet another tv show. Since I got the cable back I have been doing my best to get involved in as little tv as possible. Life was nicer when I wasn't planning my life around shows. But - I have a few weaknesses. I have found that I love Ghost Whisperer- and I love the fact that it fills my tear quotient for the day each time I watch it. I haven't followed it, I probably haven't seen one new episode - but some channel called 'Ion' has reruns (and I mean like 4 in a row) on a few nights a week and I love it. I have also taken a HUGE liking to Cake Boss. Living in PA, I have decided to trek into Hoboken at some point soon and visit the shop. SO excited. Drop Dead Diva is the best - SO loving it. I caught up on the first season on-demand and I'm hooked. And now my newest obsession. Pretty Little Liars. It's strange that the moms on the show are all the coolest from my hay-day. One from Melrose Place. One from the movie North Shore. One from Charmed. It's hilarious to me that my generation is now "the Mom." When did this happen?? I know I'm a mom and my son is freakin' EIGHT now.. and "3 days from being a third grader!" as he keeps pointing out, but hey.. I'm still young and hip and awesome. Sheez.. ok so the fact that I used the word hip may have aged me a bit, but whose paying attention??
I'm also looking forward to the new Valerie Bertinelli show on TVLand tomorrow night. Sad but true. I'm gaining weight by the day, no boyfriend in sight, so guess what?! I'm gonna enjoy my tv. I have an appt to get blood work done as I think my thyroid meds might need to be adjusted. I've gained a lot in a short period of time and it's not making much sense. I don't eat great, but I dont eat enough to pack on pounds so fast.
Anyway, I can't sleep so I'm gonna get in bed and watch some Reba on DVD and thank God I can work from home tomorrow in my pjs. Just hope my back stops acting up - since Ohio I'm so stiff it's awful.
Good night and happy TV to you all :)
xoxo-nklsmom

ps. Sorry this is so random!