Do you have to spend money to make money? No!

I have heard this age old expression more times then I can count. I am currently in a budget crisis.....ok I lied...the crisis part ended last week but I was in denial about it until a few days ago so that doesn't count. Here is the thing though...just because I am no longer hunting for pennies under the couch this doesn't mean that I should go on a spending rampage. I will admit that in the past I have had a bit of a shopping problem. As in I left at 9 in the morning and didn't come home till 9 at night with bags and bags of things. It was so bad that when I was packing to move I found things I didn't even remember buying brand new in their bags, tags still firmly attached. Since I am well aware that I have a large problem with self control I haven't even gone near anything other than a grocery store in fear that just seeing items I can purchase will send me into palpitations. Now I am armed with a plan......I am ready.....I can do no wrong...nothing can stop me. Budget here I come. This will be my first experience with a real budget, it used to be that my budget was just acknowledging how much I had left in my checking account and not getting an overdraft. The only issue with this plan is that some of the things I want to do(like a garden) are semi-permanent and I am in a non permanent house with the crazies. These are my plans.

I will start a garden, this will be free for the most part......$20 investment max. Our friends are moving to the next city over and the have given me free reign to transplant and salvage whatever I can out of their established garden. Hopefully this will cut down on our grocery bill since fresh produce is so expensive. We may have to go with out having all of our favorites but it will teach me to be creative with what we have.

I will not buy unless it is on sale (excluding things like milk and basics that almost never go on sale) I am a coupon cutting queen and I am going to pay closer attention so I can take advantage of all the sales and the manufactures discount with the store discount. I have been told you can actually make money doing this what with rebates and in store cash and what not.

Take better advantage of generic items. I am already pretty good at this. I have tried just about everything out there in generic and name brand. There are a few where the generic is honestly not even close to edible/usable....a few where it's not preferable but it will do the job.....and ones where if I didn't see the box I honestly wouldn't know the difference. I will start a store by product list on this in case anyone is interested.

These last things to be honest will not mean much until we move out of our current residence and into one of our own but it's still a goal.

I have said before that I am a trash picker. It's the thrill of the hunt, the high you get when you find that incredible item and all you have to do is find a way to get it home and it's yours free and clear! I am not ashamed of this, to be perfectly honest I would be more ashamed of paying retail for all the things I have found. Just last weekend I found a set of gorgeous wicker swivel bar stools that basically just need to be cleaned and freshly painted. Those things would have been over a $100 each at a home decor store if not more! I'm not saying I could furnish my whole house(although that could be a future goal depending on how this goes) out of free or close to free items but I can probably do a good part. If you can get a quality item used for less then you would pay for a poorer quality item new......why not?

Be energy efficient. I have done the research and have concluded this.....you can cut about 60% off of the average utility bill if you just do a few things. First put all of your normal appliances on a power bar, at the end of the night turn the whole power bar off not just hitting the off switch on the tv... ect. You would not believe how much power those things use when they don't even appear to be on! Break down and get the energy saving 5 year warranty light bulbs. They use less power and you don't have to purchase as many in the long run. They do cost a bit more up front but it's still less then you would spend on the electric and all those other bulbs. This last one I'm not to sure on...I need to do some more research. But from what I can tell if you sign up for the alternative time plan with your electric company and try to do all your energy sucking things during the off time you can cut off quite a bit.

Ok that's enough rambling for now............any hints or suggestions? Feel free to comment away!

It's not a whine it's stating the facts!

Since I have decided to give up my need to whine I thought I would also start the diet I have been meaning to start since I got here. In addition to these new exciting changes I now have to be up and motivated at 7am so that I can fix my dear boyfriends lunch before he leaves for work in the morning. This does not make for a happy girl. In the best of circumstances (like when there are blueberry turnovers and hot fresh chicory coffee with real cream and cane sugar waiting for me at the table on antique pink and gold Spode bone china, none of which I can eat on the new diet) I am withdrawn on good days and down right ornery on bad days. I need at least one cup of coffee and half an hour by myself in order to turn into the happy cheerful girl I usually try to be. However I am almost positive the dear boy's parents wait with their ears to the door so they can corner me in the kitchen and tell me about their latest pity party. Their newest complaint is that I am not being understanding of all their daily pains. One of the side effects of this new no whining thing is I have a hard time listening to someone else do it for a prolonged period of time. I am more of the fix it or hush attitude. The step-mother has also taken to pulling all the rugs off of the floor as a hint she would like it washed. Her son has taken to leaving spoiling cups of coffee and cemented bowls of breakfast cereal in his room until I start doing dishes and then he conveniently starts cleaning out his room leaving me with the unhappy task of scrubbing the 32 going on 10 year olds dirty dishes. I'm told my eyes have started to glaze over with alarming frequency....I am also getting daily "stress headaches" so that I can hide in my room with a good book and not have to be depressed by all the make believe malady's these people get.

Nobody has been mysteriously harmed yet so I figure I'm doing pretty good. If I make it the whole month of August with out losing it completely I think I'm going to give in and get the antique piggy cookie jar off of Ebay. Since I can't eat cookies I'm a little afraid this could lead to more aggravation then it's worth but I might not be able to help myself. I think I am going to have to start cooking some inventive low-everything that makes me fat meals and I will post photos and recipes of them as I come up with them. If anyone has some good ideas please let me know.

I hope all is going well with everyone else and you all are having a great summer!

It has been more than forever!

I am back for good I am happy to say! Just an up date I am still in Fort Myers FL trying to make it big. Or at least just make it somewhere. I have a job and a roof over my head so I am not going to complain.......to much....at least right now. How is everybody? I haven't had much of a chance to do my interneting lately but that is about to change. I have been reading quite a lot lately and there is a book I would like to bring to your attention. It is called Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach. If you (like myself) have been having those woe is me moments lately this book will really put things in perspective. Granted it was written in 1995 when things were not quite as bad as they are now but it is still very relevant for today. Basically it is about a page and a half for every day of the year. They each deal with different things on just about any topic. I read mine in the morning with my coffee before I start my day. A few of the topics that she brings up through the book(because I'm a sneak and I can't wait till the August chapter so I read ahead) are compromise, compassion, confidence, compliments,confrontation, and complaining. I never realized how much of my day starts with the letter C.(Just bringing us grown up people back to the sesame street days). I personally live with one heck of a complainer. They complain as if it is their life's blood, and maybe it is but I have realized a change in myself from being around them and its not a good one. I am starting to do it myself.

Since I have moved down here a number of really unpleasant things have happened. I have had every valuable thing I brought down here stolen(for those kindred hearts of mine who will understand this......the rat bastard took my Louie. My precious vintage Louie Vuittion that took me months to find....that I had to have repaired and lovingly mended so I could continue to carry it like the wonderful lady that owned it before me) the fiend took my diamond solitaire earrings that I got at 90% discount after an hour of arguing with the manager about the validity of my coupon as it applied to the going out of business sale. I'm not usually that woman who throws the fit in public but by God I had a valid coupon and it was the only way I was ever going to be able to afford those earrings. I didn't come down here with much...and to have the best of what I brought down here taken from me more than likely by someone I know was just simply too much. I used to take the old lady on long long walks and I was usually crying by the time I got done. Being away from my home and not even having the comforts that I brought with me just made every day a little less glowing. One of the vehicles I brought down here is no longer running with a huge repair tag on it at that. Then to top it off the people I live with are just crazy...literally off of their rockers and out of their minds. I would tell you the stories but you wouldn't believe me. Needless to say I was going batty. Just plain batty. Then I started reading this book. I am not going to say it is life changing but it is day changing. I don't know how much stress everyone who might read this is under. I consider myself pretty blessed and I know there are times I don't even want to open my eyes in the morning because I'm afraid the day ahead could be worse then the one before it but now I have figured out the trick. You have to take pleasure and happiness where you can find it. It sounds much simpler then it is. You have to do some searching and some thinking but it's possible. Get up and remember to be a little thankful for what you do have. Enjoy the sunshine and your pet if you have one. I'm not saying that nothing bad is going to happen and that all the stress will melt away but people we have to do something to cope and live happy. So that's my new goal....to Live Happy. No more complaining.....compliment everyone you can.....look for a little bit of gold in everything.

Here at last oh here at last

First let me say that I am not really sure how my Internet is connected. I plugged in the computer and I had Internet with out hooking it up. So I'm pretty sure it's not mine unless it's free these days. Either way thank you and I'm sorry to the owner! Next let me say that from Fort Wayne Indiana to Fort Myers FL is a really really really long drive. As in 23 hours. With a 9lb wiener dog having palpitations and panic attacks all the way here. Did I mention she is not a car dog? The Crystals burger did however distract her for a little bit. I would love to post the 5 trillion million billion pictures I have, however this borrowed Internet says no. I will post them all when I have my own personal Internet. I have now been here for...umm....about four weeks I think. It's easy to loose track down here because it's basically always vacation time. Since I have lived here I have gone to the beach exactly two times, both were at night. While that may seem like a disappointment to some it doesn't bother me to much because I found a job the first week I got here and it's at a yacht club. I literally can dip my toes in the ocean everyday during my lunch break. Not to shabby right? The old lady(ok...old dog...you know Kelsey bells) made it here safely and she now has Molly.....a shar pei, pit, everything else out there, mixed breed to play with and boss around everyday. So far so good.....but now for the bad. My cell phone company found out I am in Florida and they sent me a notice saying the will no longer be able to provide me service. So no cell phone for a bit, on the up side it was over $200 to get it shut off before I left because I still had a year and ten months left on my contract.......but if they decide to shut it off.....it's free to me! There is also this little thing called "porting" which means I get to keep my number. YEA!!! I guess that isn't all bad. I can safely say that the move was..as Martha would say a "good thing". I am officially back to regular posts now folks. Have a great day and I will talk to you all tomorrow!

Last one for a while.......

So tonight is the much delayed night. At around 3am(so morning actually I guess)we will be leaving for Florida by way of Tennessee for the night. I have family there and they have kindly agreed to house myself, the beau, and my 10lbs of wiener dog Kelsey for the night. There was even talk of dinner and dessert being made!

This is my Kelsey-Koodles. Or Peanut, it just depends on the mood. She is 14 years old and we got her from a Dachshund Rescue a few years ago. She is also a spoiled rotten ankle bitter. But we are working on that. I'm thinking she would look cute dressed up as a Florida Gator for Halloween being that she's already a bit elongated and we are about to be Florida Folks. So I just wanted to say a little non-permanent goodbye to those that have already been so kind and listened to me ramble. I have only been at this for a few weeks but I love it and I will miss reading what everybody has to say. Darsden especially! I'm told I will have working internet about two weeks after I get there and I will be takeing pictures all the way down and after I get there so my next post should be a doosey and a half. Thank you all again! Wish me good luck. I hope everyone has a great next few weeks!

I am a mess.....my house is a mess......my life has become a series of piles. I am at the point where everything just ends up in a pile. Really, I am not exaggerating. Ok maybe a bit because really the only things that are ending in piles are my clothes. But still it's one pile after another.

This was my first pile. It started off very reasonably as just what came out of the dryer. All of it was nicely folded. I was going to put it all away but then I was thinking that since I am just going to pack it up I should just leave it out. That was a very bad idea.

Then I ran out of room and had to start stacking stuff on the telephone bench in the foyer. Just to add a bit of fun I was looking for my duffel. That's it there under everything and what do you know it had gotten stuffed in a closet somewhere and was still full of everything I took down to Alabama last month. Good to know that I wasn't loosing my mind thinking I had lost all that stuff. To bad it's about to become hidden until I find out I accidentally packed it in a big suitcase because it was in a pile of laundry. I have started to pack but just when I get ready to close it up I HAVE to have something that is on the bottom of the bag. Then I have to dig through it to find it. This has the added benefit of destroying my neatly packed clothes because when I discover I need the item it's always when I have .2 seconds to find it and be on my way.

I don't even know when this pile started. This is my kitchen table by the way. On Tuesday it was clear enough to eat supper on so I'm not really sure what happened. I know that's my umbrella but I'm not really clear on why it's mixed up with my laundry. The kicker about all this is that I don't even feel a bit overwhelmed. I know I should feel that way but I have this feeling that it will all work out perfectly. I think they call that denial. I should be flipping out and stressed and all other things right now but I am just plodding along getting things done bit by bit. However I am so close to just packing up all my clothes except for a warm up suit and just wearing that until Sunday morning. Lawd help me I may be going insane.

Dr. Claywood at Indian Creek in Fort Wayne you should be ashamed of yourself!

I am so angry I could spit right now. ON mister so special Dr. Claywood and his dragon gatekeeper receptionist. I really hope karma comes around and bites them on the tush, or wherever it wants for that matter! So yesterday I made the trek all the way to Indian Creek Veterinary Clinic in the pouring, sheeting rain with my unhappy ferret in his transport box. This was a half an hour trip folks. One way. So I get there and we haul ourselves in out of the rain and go to sign in. Ms. Receptionist asks for all the medical documents I have on him so I hand them over. I also hand her the free checkup coupon. She looks up at me and says we can't accept this because the pet store you got it from closed..they have been closed for over a year now. Let me ask you..since I got my ferret in April of 08 and it's only February of 09 does that mean I got my ferret from a store that was closed and out of business and I just didn't realize it? She also said that if I would have just gotten it three months ago they would still be accepting it....but I thought she said they had been closed for over a year...so how would I have gotten one 3 months ago? I guess she isn't aware of how long a year is. So I say can you check with the Dr. about taking this please, I just drove half an hour and I did tell the girl who took my appointment what coupon I would be using and she did still make me an appointment. So she goes into the back, and I kid you not stands at a counter flipping through a file for a few min IN MY DIRECT VIEW then she comes back and says nope the Dr. said they can't do it. I asked if I could just talk to the Dr. then....nope he's in a room. Here is my big issue.....this is what has me chewing nails...nowhere on the coupon does it say it expires at this date....not even any fine print saying subject to approval or one of those little statements that gives them an out of providing service. It doesn't say anything in any of the paperwork I got. She tells me that it must have just been a new girl that told me they would accept it. I'm sorry since when did it become my responsibility to make sure their employees are properly versed in their policies? I called back a few minuets after I left and asked to speak with a Dr. but he was still "in a room with a really busy day". The same receptionist says that I was really supposed to have my puppy seen 1-3 business days after I got him. First I'm pretty sure that I have a ferret and not a puppy, second once again you should have put it on the coupon then. It is not the customers responsibility to know your policies if they are not anywhere to be found. You can't just decide not to provide a promised service because it's no longer convenient. So now I am ticked and I am out to make a change if there is any way possible I can do this before I leave. First I am complaining to the Better Business Bureau. Then I am calling the local Fort Wayne SPCA...I'm not sure what they can do but I talked to my dogs vet and she said to give them a call. I'm going to write a review on every review site I can find and I'm going to E-mail the vice presided of the company...clinic...whatever. They had his info listed on the BBB website. If anyone has any other places I should keep in mind I would be glad to hear them! Let me also say that I was not trying to be difficult or the crazy scary customer woman today. If they would have told me on the phone that they no longer accept them(yes they did give me some trouble but they still made the appointment)or have just refused to make an appointment, or if I had made a mistake and there was an expiration date or something I would have been kind of ticked but I would have just marked it up to bad business. I promise to post later with something happier and with good pictures. Right now I'm going to go drink my coffee and plot what I'm going to say to the BBB. Something has to be done about the kind of business who choose do this stuff. I think I may have found my new calling. Righter of wrongs.....corrector of evil corporate customer mistreatment! At least until my mad wears off.