Staying Focused
It’s been hard lately. I have been working the second job delivering pizza and that has given us the extra income to pay some overdue bills. We are all caught up now and we have extra cash to use towards our plasectomy and other debts. Which is great and all, but unfortunately I have to say though that I am getting the itch. The itch to go out and blow it. I can look around our house and see things I would love to purchase. New bathroom sink, new couch, a recliner, new laptop, new computer, grass seed for our back yard, stones to lay in the entrance to the backyard to prevent more mud tracked through the house, and the list goes on and on.
How do I fight it? I look back and see how much ground we have made. We have come so far in such a short amount of time. Sacrifices have been made, possessions sold, and simpler living has come our way. Forget about blow money, we blow it before we get it based on our budget. Our budget has seriously taken a backseat as of late, pretty much non-existent since starting this second job. Our bills are being paid, but anything left over does not get allotted to where it needs to be. Something always seems to come up that wasn’t planned for or goes over the budgeted allotment.
I had to replace the fluorescent lights in our kitchen recently and they are the not the inexpensive 4ft shop lights or the small bulbs that are in your standard lamp. These are the U-shaped bulbs that cost $12.99 a piece. I replaced one and all was well for a few days, then it began to flicker and would not turn on. I removed the housing and noticed the bulb that I had not replaced was dark around the ends and decided to replace it. $25 spent, not accounted for in a budget. A vet visit, eating out, a run to the store for X,Y,Z. Ugh
The month is still young and it is time to get back on track. Back to the plasectomy and a budgeted life.



May 7th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Dont give up! You’re doing great! There’s bound to be setbacks but you’ll be so much happier without the ball and chain (debt). At least I think you’ll be, I still have my ball and chain also!
But dont give up! You’re an inspiration!
Maria’s last blog post..Added benefits
May 8th, 2009 at 10:07 am
This seems to always happen to us too. It is so easy to relax a little and let those old habits come back. Also, there will always be expenses that were not in the budget. Just try to think about all the sacrifices that you have made to get this far. Hopefully, it will help you to stay on track because you would not want to lose ground after all your hard work.
May 8th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
have you considered UPS or FedEx as a package handler?
I’m 60 and seriously considered accepting a job as a handler with FedEx at $12 hr. 20 hrs. per week until my brother said: “Are you crazy or do you just want a heart attack?”
But seriously, it might help your plasectomy.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am
If you live anywhere near St. Louis, I scored some free grass seed lately. I think I still have 2 or 3 unopened bags.
Also, stepping stones can be made out of Quickcrete. It’s cheap, like $8 per bag. Then get creative building your own molds! If you got kids, they can put their handprints in the molds.
This kind of stuff doesn’t have to be a budget ender!!