Well, as has been noted in this journal, I have been after my wife to try and reduce the food expenses. MY wife and I had a terrible argument and finally I was told to shop and cook if I thought I could do it better. I am, starting October 2nd, in charge of menus, food shopping, and cooking. I suppose I have to put up or shut up!

My first act as head honcho in this department will be to cut out all the darn cakes and chips! Big savings there.
I will also cut out the purchase of prepared foods as much as possible. My first goal is to get the spending down from 800+ to 600 a month for a family of four. Many here have said I can do better and I hope to do so. The budget includes toiletries and other sundry items. I intend to use the 200 dollar savings towards my wifes CC bill.

I would greatly appreciate any helpful hints or advice and I certainly will be using the tips already posted.

Wish me luck!

I sealed and patched the driveway. I need to do a little touchup though. Installed a new door bell for the front and back doors. This week I'll be sanding and painting the metal rails on the front steps.(Hopefully). For less than a hundred dollars I have completed some projects around the house. I saved quite a bit by doing the work myself.

Thank God it is friday! There were no large bills this week except the 52.50 to fill the gas tank! I keep repeating the little mantra in my head, "don't spend, don't spend"! There are so many goodies I want to buy but I can't! SIGH!

Free dinner and a show tomorrow. My friend and his GF recieved a certificate for four dinners and tickets to a local theatre. Not a bad week at all.

This is a no spend weekend. I will be staying home and taking a few tapes out of the library. I was bad on Friday I spent 5 dollars on the Mega Lottery. The prize was 250 million. I know I have a better chance of getting struck by lightning while being attacked by sharks but I just had to buy tickets. The weekend is my make amends time.

Wife took her mom and the DD to the mall. AARRRghhhhhhhh! I have the credit cards but I still cringe. No major bills have come in so far. Well back to the grindstone. No extra work this weekend.

Well the extra work paid off. I have put the bulk of it in the emergency fund. I sent the first payment in on my DW's credit card debt. I now have a six month emergency fund and all of my cards paid off. I hope my health holds out as I am getting very tired. I have set the payments for 24 months. I'll put extra on it when I get more extra work!

I built the emergency fund for my peace of mind. Now when something comes up my budget won't be screwed up.

I know everyone says pay off all your debt first but I get sick if no money is saved.

Payments of 712.00 for 24 months + whatever extra I can get my hands on. That wil pay off DW's CC debt.

I am going to treat myself when everything is paid off. I'll save for it though!

I still have my checkbook balanced and there have been no late payments. I spent 115 for my mothers birthday. I did not spend a cent on myself. My sister bought me a 5 dollars worth of lottery tickets. With the way my luck runs I wish she had just given me the darn 5 dollars.

I really am sick of not being able to buy what I want. Damn credit card debt. It is just so frustrating to watch money I could be earning interest on going to the CC company! I shall, however, keep pushing forward. I should be where I need to be in about 22 months if all goes according to plan. I hope I get there!

Well there was the expense of school supplies. Who knew that a graphing calculator would be so much. My wife went shopping and the school supplies and some clothes came to 175.00 dollars. My daughter needs new glasses and that will cost me. I don't know how much yet.

I just bought driveway sealer and will be doing the job myself. I used the less expensive sealer last time and it did not hold up. The cost for the sealer, crack filler, spreader, and de-greaser came to about 70 dollars. Some fella did our driveway a couple of years ago for 125.00. I was not home when the DW made the deal. What a rip off though. The stuff put down was so thin! Geez!

My sister dropped off a ton of left overs from a party she had. We froze a goodly amount and left some out for the week. I think we have 4 or 5 days worth of dinners. Leftovers are found money as far as I am concerned! I am not proud.

I really have spent no money on myself since the last entry. I am trying to have as many no-spend days as possible. One of my other sisters gave me a bunch of free rental coupons for Blockbuster. I am hoping to supplement our viewing choices which come from the library.

Well I keep keeping on!

I thought I had problems until I watched the Katrina victims in New Orleans and along the Gulf coast. I see now that what I have are really concerns. Losing everything and possibly loved ones is a problem.

I have a new perspective about my situation. In any case I now physically possess my DW's credit cards. I shall, with a little help from her, pay them off. I am physically exhausted as well as mentally by efforts to remedy my situation. The total damage was far more than I had first suspected. I told DW to spend only cash for things from now on. If we need to charge something, God forbid, it will be on my card.

We are discussing things a bit more after the initial arguments, Whew! The arguments got pretty intense! I filled up the car before the price changed. We are cutting down on any unnecessary trips.

Hopefully, my wife will learn to curtail spending when she physically must pay with actual money. We shall be sending a donation for the Katrina victims to the Salvation Army. (1-800-SAL-ARMY).

I may have concerns but I truly don't have problems. I have a new perspective!