miclason's Personal Finance Blog

Well, I'm still looking into opportunities for extra income...today, I answered an ad in the paper offering positions for freelance English teachers...it said you could apply for M-F to teach from 6-7pm, so I did...the only thing is, it said Native English Speakers, but, I'm hoping they overlook that, given my level of English proficiency and, also, given that I DO have experience teaching English...will see what happens....

Well, I've been working on my excel file to see what is the fastest that I can be debt free - without consolidating loans, because right now my credit score is just awful! The soonest is March 2008...not bad, but, not too good, either...however, this is a plan that I can actually live with - I'll have to find an alternate source of income, and I need about $250 extra a month, but, still, it's much better than the ~$750 that I'm using right now!!...true, I know there are many factors that I haven't taken into account - like inflation rate or the probability that the school I choose for Ale will raise their monthly fees - but, at least it's a plan and a plan means something to shoot for... Another thing is that I have kept my Xmas bonus and vacation bonus at the same rate as it is today, and I know those increase every year, according to seniority (also, thinking about things if I stay here, with the same salary...)...so, I guess that evens out the math a bit... The important thing is, I feel I can do this now, I don't feel overwhelmed anymore...Hopefully, that old feeling won't be back!
Thanks to all for your cheers and for sharing my happiness with me!

Yesterday, I called one of the cc companies that I hadn't paid in the longest time...As far as I knew, when I stopped paying I owed them ~$700, so I figured that if we added the interest, it was going to be about $1,200...I was mentally prepared for this....so, I called and asked the rep that answered to give me my balance...she told me it had been a long time since my last payment (didn't specify dates) and asked me if I wanted to pay in full or just make a partial payment...I told her I needed to know how much I owed them before deciding that...she checked her records and told me I owed the company $672.96....I'm like: what? are you sure? I thought I owed you $700...so, she said she would check to see if any fees would be added, and if she could call me back in 15 min...she did, and said there WOULD be additional costs, bringing my total to $678.99....
Isn't that great??? It's about 60% of what I had budgeted!!...which means I have ~$500 to apply towards ANOTHER cc!!!....I believe in miracles!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord!

We signed....I saw the cheque! I held it in my hands!! I signed it so we could deposit it...(it's from another bank! )...it should clear by Friday!!! ....I'm already doing my numbers and, if everything goes right, I will go around town on Saturday afternoon, bringing accounts up to date, and even cancelling 1 credit card! (the one with the highest interest rate!!)...

Of course, by Monday, I'll be "poor" again, but, just think....I won't owe ~$16K anymore!! ("only" about ~$11K!)

I'll be able to breathe that much more easily!!

Tonight, we'll open a bottle of wine at home!!

Tomorrow, I'm back to work figuring out how to make some more $$$ to pay off those debts!!

before they hatch...since we are supposed to sign the apt sale today at 10:00 am (will it happen?? I'll let you know!)...I took out my excel file and have been looking at the current debt level/APR's/overdue debt/overdrawn accts, etc, to try to calculate how to make the most "damage" - the latest "plan" I had for this money is at least 3 months old!....I think I can bring everything up to date and still pay in full the cc with the highest interest rate!!...yipee-yay!... I have also distributed the farm money for the next 4 months so that the cc's with the highest interest rates...
also, I discovered (or, rather, remembered! - how easy it is to forget when you prefer not to remember!!)that I cannot take into account the farm payment for January (the last one!) because I have been living off my account's authorized overdraft...(OUCH, I know!), so I would have to leave that $$ in there....because my salary does NOT cover the overdraft!! If I don't leave that money there, come March I would not have access to my salary!!....

So, it has been a good exercise...we'll see if this thing actually goes through!!...I'll keep you all posted on that, and also on the progress with debt repayment!! -woo-hoo!!

I can't believe it!! The real estate agent called day before last to say the buyer (yes, the same one from last OCTOBER) had finally received the loan from the bank....Obviously, I was ...but, today he brought me a copy of the bank letter of approval... :O (I need a fainting smiley!)... ex-hubby is not in the country, so we would have to wait until MOnday to sign the papers/get the money, but, still... I'm like
I won't believe it until I have the money in my account...Of course, I will see $0.00 of it, as it will all go towards debts....well, no, I'm lying, I told my (2) friends that I would take them out for sushi if this ever happened, so, let's be honest about it and say I'll probably blow about $50 in celebration...but, still...add this to my parents farm money and to my vacation and Xmas bonus money and, I might actually be able to bring my debts to a level where I'll be able to manage it next year (without the farm money)... ::yipeee::

I'll let you know once this becomes a reality (IF it does!)

Once again, T H A N K Y O U , G O D!!!!

My income tax return finally came through!...originally, I was going to use it to bring my rent up to date with the landlady...as it turns out, I decided to give her only half of it and put the other half towards cc...plus $30 that I "have" because I got $30 in vouchers for the supermarket, so the cash that I had for the supermarket goes to the cc...slow and steady... I paid $200 to the cc today...a drop in the ocean considering the level of debt, but, a whole river compared to the $45 that I was going to pay originally!!...

I was so desperate last week, I even put my car up for sale...a guy who's a mechanic was interested in buying it for his daughters (must be pulling his hair out right now, because he refused to pay the $800 I was asking for - yes, I was THAT desperate....he wanted to give me only $700 - NO, I was NOT THAT desperate!)...so I said no, and gave him my phone #, in case he re-considered...I didn't even ask for his!...but, upon hearing about the gas prices yesterday, I decided I'm much better off keeping it (I know I can "make" my week with about $10- even at the new prices)...so, today he calls and says he's willing to give me the $800...but, I've re-considered!...guy must be kicking himself!...the thing is, there ARE problems with the car, but, for me it would be about $500 to fix it, for him, it would be about $200 to fix it, as he only pays for spare parts, and gets them at a discount!... Lessons learned: #1 consider all options, lesson #2: don't let opportunity pass you by! lol!

The real estate agent we had been working with called...claims the buyer finally got the loan from the bank and wants to finalize the sale...hmmmm...I'm wary...good thing is, ex-hubby is out of town, so we CAN'T sign...and, we have a couple of people who came to see the apartment, that said they'd be giving us an offer this week, so...

For all these things, I want to thank God. I see His hand in all of this...

Payday is finally here!! ....I get to pay some debts, and, luckily, I have $30 in coupons for the supermarket - which I need to get from the coupon-issuer and, that means I have $30 more to pay to the cc!! woo-hoo!

No news on the apartment, but, I'm hopeful!!

I was thinking about selling my car, but, seeing how gas prices are rising, I don't think that would be such a great idea (I know it sounds silly, but, given the mileage I get, I'm better off keeping it!!...)

We cleaned up the storage room and "found" our Tiffany lamps (authentic)...Dad put them away in 2001 after the earthquakes, he was afraid they might fall and get smashed...I'm researching before selling mine!! - which I have always loved, even as a child but, let's be honest: 1. I need the money and 2. I don't have a dining room grand enough to show it off (it has a fruit motive)...we'll see...

We changed real estate agents...we've had 5 people come and look at the apt since Monday, and one of them will probably give us an offer on Monday and the other one on Thursday... They have looked at several options, so it's not 100% sure they will present an offer, but, still, I consider this progress!

I checked Hacienda's website today and my income tax return has been approved and is pending deposit into my account!! woo-hoo!!...it's $249, which will go to my landlady (I still owe her $440, - the $249= $191!!)...I'll be "on time" with her by the end of the year and can start Jan '06 "clean" with her!! woo-hoo!

I have been working on several ideas to make additional money...I have offered my translation services to my friends (they know I work, so they know that delivery times won't be the same as if I were working on it full time!)...I am knitting baby boots to sell as part of the $20 challenge...

Aside from that, and for money to be put to "regular" use (aka paying debts!), I'm working with my cousin to sell toys and we have also brought all my parents stuff out of storage to see what we are going to keep and what can be sold...(also, some things were broken, so we had to throw them away!)

The bad thing is, my car is heating up -again!...Now, I've decided not to invest $0.01 more in that...(I just spent $350 in May!!)...I'll carry 3 gallons of water around to cool/refill the radiator and that is it!... A frien of my cousin's, who is a mechanic, said some time ago that he might be interested in buying it for his daughters...so they learn how to drive...well, if he buys it, I'll sell it!...

There is an option to buy a used car (more debt, I know! I'm not happy about it!) ...but, honestly, public transport here is NOT an option...way too dangerous!...especially since I often leave the office after dark...

Well, we'll see what happens!

OK, so I've been going over my numbers again and, while I WILL be in a tight financial situation, it is not going to be as awful as I thought...Yes, the sale of the apt will only take care of about a1/4 of the total debt, but, the $750 a month for the next 5 months will take care of another big chunk, add to that my Xmas bonus and vacation $$ + my income tax return (if it ever arrives!) and I'll have the debt down to about 1/2 of its present size...now, if you take into account that the current debt is made up of several small (yeah, right!) debts, and that, obviously, some of those will be paid in full with the sale money and the Xmas bonus, well....I think I might just make it...it won't be easy, and it won't be pretty, but, I KNOW I can make it...Now, if I can get myself from panicking, maybe I can keep myself from drowning (financially!)....

This past week I de-cluttered my home, re-painted my bedroom (my niece had it painted purple, and had added some graffitti!) in a very light sky-blue...it looks cleaner, lighter, and even larger!!...I also identified 34 books that might be put up for sale...and DD identified a lot of toys that SHE wants to sell...also threw away some toys that were just too broken to even consider giving away or selling ... I also took the time to put my accounts in order and, this is where/when the panick set in...I'm barely making payments NOW, and, come February, my parent's money from the sale of the farm will be gone... we are talking about $750/month!! AND, the debt will NOT be gone by then...I desperately need some additional STABLE income (don't get me wrong, I'll take occasional income, too, such as translations, selling toys and school supplies with my cousin, etc, but, I definetely need something stable, too!!) If the apartment ever sells, that will be a great help, but, still, what I'd get wouldn't even cut the debt in half...I'm really, really worried now!! - and, trying to generate ideas as fast as I can, which I guess is good...now, if only I would go a step further and implemented those ideas!! ((sigh))

this week, I get 4 days off due national holidays...I have planned to take DD to the fair (total cost should be about $10) one day, and, have to take her to see the Fantastic 4 (her "prize" for last week for not sucking her thumbs all week...should be able to do that in the morning, so it should be about $6 for both of us)....Other than that, I have planned to stay home and de-clutter...some clothes will go to charity and, will see if there are any books that I might be willing to part with to take to the next flea market...DD needs to take a good look at her toys and see what SHE wants to take to the flea market... I want to finish painting my room (I have the paint, I need to borrow a ladder!)...and, have planned to do crafts and painting sessions with DD...all with materials we already have at the house...
Oh, and, tomorrow, I have to take a (new) real estate agent to the apt...apparently, she has someone that is just "dying" for an apartment for herself (the apt is ideal for 1 or, even for a couple without children...) Please, include the sale of my apt in your prayers!!

Sis is doing better, but still has to stay at home for 2 more weeks...It is always more expensive when one person stays in all day...(since she can't go out yet, she's either reading, watching TV or eating...and the fan is on 24/7... the heat is unbearable!!...this is so unusual at this time of the year, I'm afraid we'll have another earthquake!)

I'm planning on going home early tonight....perhaps even leave at 5??

The apt is up for sale again...sent a group e-mail to all my friends to let them know so they can forward it to their friends, in case anyone is interested...

I have a 3-day holiday next week...I have decided a great part of that time will be spent at home, de-cluttering and organizing...I have already told DD...I already have an action plan!...

So much to do this week...we have another training (creating and giving new trainings for other dept's of the company is one of our major KPI's) starting tomorrow...guess who's in charge of the logistics! (although, technically, there is someone in charge of logistics, I do the actual grunt work!-yuck!)...and I'm fighting IT over delivery of the PC's I need!!

Oh, well....gotta go! ((sigh))

It makes me mad to see people waste things...it makes me even madder to see people wasting in the name of frugality...just what do I mean?...somebody at the office decided to recycle paper into the printer...and put it in wrong...so now, I printed a huge document and not one page is usable, because it printed on top of the pre-printed side of the recycled paper!!...whoever tried to put this paper into the printer should have tested that s/he had put it in right...Now I have wasted energy and toner because of this well-intended person...(plus, we generally recycle by using the blank side of the paper to take notes or make drawings of slides, etc...AND, putting the printed paper in the copier dirties the print drum and then THAT needs to be replaced!!...talk about being uninformed!!!)

The bank did not authorize the loan to our buyer...the apt is back on the market! ((sigh)) ...I am praying that we get a new buyer soon, and that we get a better price for it... In the meantime, I'm fielding calls from creditors once again...((sigh)) ...DD is going to "preparatoria" in the fall, which is more expensive than Kindergarten (without being as expensive as a "real" school)...I am in serious need of cash...
my sister's health insurance has said that they will NOT cover the amount needed for her colon operation...the company has agreed to lend her the $1,600 at no interest but, they will discount $150/month from her salary!!...she could use the SSI hospital again, but, honestly, they have the best machines, but the most overworked doctors and nureses...it's not a place you want to go to have someone operate on you (they have a history of taking out the wrong kidney, amputating the wrong leg, leaving sponges and gauze inside of you and the like!)...going there for MRI's and CAT Scans is one thing, letting them open you up is a whole other one!!
We'll see what happens in the end!

Well,
my sister decided to go to the private practice of the Chief of Neurology of the Social Security Institute...it cost her $30, but was really, really worth it! He took the time to explain all the exams, he put her back on treatment (which the chief epidemiologist at the SSI had discontinued!) and gave her referrals to the SSI for more tests...He will continue to see her at the SSI but, now she feels confident enough to call him any time she feels something's weird! (after all, now she's HIS patient)...so, things with her are going well...
Her ex decided he's not taking my niece with him to the US after all (she's got the papers, but he "hadn't realized what a hassle it would be to enroll her in school"...duh! did he think he was going to show up with her, say "here she is" and they'd assign her a desk in 10th grade??) But, he will only pay for her tuition here, not for her living expenses, so money will be a little tighter...
The apartment deal still hasn't gone through. We highly suspect the bank doesn't trust our buyer to be able to repay the loan....Fine! just say: "NO" and let's move on! We have given them (Bank and buyer) until the 15th...if we haven't received our money by then, the apt goes back on the market on the 16th! - my b-day, incidentally! ((sigh)) we'll see what happens!
Work has been crazy, all of last week I arrived home between 9:00 and 10:00pm! (and, remember I don't get paid overtime!)...so, my goal for this week is to leave here before 6:30 (I've been leaving at 6:15) no matter what! (the workload HAS decreased, I did finish updating a presentation and updating some manuals, and also inputting the data from the trainings' feedback forms! so that has left me again with only my "normal" administrative duties!)
I have called a friend of mine in the US and will try to go into business with her...we have done this before, while we were both living here, and I think I have a good idea that could be profitable for us both...we'll see...
Am having trouble again paying debts, mainly because I got 2 cc's to the point where they weren't in default anymore, and this awoke a 3rd cc that had been idle in their collections efforts for about 3 months, thereby giving me a respite...((sigh)) I'm fielding calls again...
This month, I have to renew my car registration card ($30) and my US visa ($115)...I think I will renew the visa after August vacation....
The car....well, I went through a whole week of carrying a gallon of water around and re-filling the radiator twice a day....and then, just like that, one day it didn't heat up anymore! - which is really good news, it just annoys me that I don't know what happened!
DD is still in therapy, now we are working on her sucking her middle and ring fingers...I think this will be the last month....She goes on vacation in 2 weeks and I'm thinking of NOT putting her back in therapy after her summer break...that's a savings of $60/month!

Unbelievable! my car is heating up again!!...I refuse to take it back to the same workshop, so I guess I'll have to find a new one...problem is, God only knows how much they will charge...honest, if I'm going to start spending ~$200/month on repairs, I'm better off putting that money into an account and buying a new (used) car!....(needless to say, the ORIGINAL destination for that money was debt repayment!)...
the apartment still hasn't sold, no info on my income tax return - can't talk to a human being at the Ministry of Hacienda, and all the site and the voice mail say is: input, pending review...I filed those taxes on March 29th! you'd think I would have an answer by now! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
It is all soooo frustrating!!

I am still waiting for the apartment to sell....and for my income-tax return...SO, in view of that, I have decided NOT to wait until Sept to take out a loan from the co-op, but re-finance the one I have right now (which I only have one more installment to pay, on June 15th, for $27), and ask for a new loan ($500)...with this, I will be able to bring 3 accts up to date (and, the total minimum payment on all 3 would be left at $250!)...barring any other "unexpected" expenses (car repairs, illness, etc), I should be able to bring other 2 accts up to date, and to start making payments on yet another again...not the best financial situation, but slightly better than being late with ALL...total minimum payment for those 2 would be about $200...I'm slowly getting to the point where I will be able to make ALL miminum payments each month...not the best, but certainly better...(yes, this has become my mantra! even the smallest step forward is progress!!)...Once the apartment sells...well, that will be another story...depending on how much is left (after paying for small repairs to the apt and for the Real Estate broker's fee, and other such things, including a loan from my ex!), then I will 1st bring EVERYTHING up to date and then, see what can be paid off with what is left over and will just CLOSE the accounts!! never, ever, ever again will I be in such a financial hole! I have promised myself this!!...I have made "happy numbers" as my cousin calls it (meaning you are optimistic and use the best possible scenario) and I could be free of debt as soon as end of 2007...Of course, "unhappy numbers" carry those debts well over 2009....so, to give myself hope, I will continue to think happy numbers and aim for 2007!!
I know I have probably posted about this before, probably even using the same numbers and same sing-song, so forgive me, but I hope this time is for real!

By the way: someone posted a message to me reminding me of airline safety: Put on your oxygen mask on first, else you won't be able to help others...I just want to say THANK YOU...it was an epiphany!!...you made me see 400% more clearly!! THANKS!!...I'm following your advice! Instead of using that $$ for my sis, I'll use it for myself, to improve my financial situation...if she needs help down the road, I will be in better position to supply it...in the eantime, since I'm doing the grocery shopping, I'm tightening our belts (I spent ~$40 this week - her money, it was supposed to be her turn to shop- instead of the ~$75 that she had budgeted!!...true, our pantry is not as stocked as we are used to, but it isn't empty by any standards!...we have what wee need, no surplus!!)

Wish me luck!

They asked me if I knew someone that might come to work for a short period (6 to 8 weeks), part-time only, and I suggested my cousin...they didn't even consider anybody else! (which is kind of lucky, because, she's 44 and weighs about 200 lb, and, people here in ES don't like to hire women over 40, especially if they don't look like models!) I think what they liked the most is that she speaks English, so our Project manager won't have to struggle or get someone to be with her whenever they discuss things...also, she will be handling documents both in Spanish and English, so that means the English part of the job does not have to be delegated to me or to the other admin, so we are saving resources....woo-hoo! I'm happy for her! - finally some good news for our family!
With what she'll be making, she can pay for her house and her car loan without problem,and, since she has the afternoons free, she can still go out and sell clothes and all the other stuff she sells. She'll probably have to be a lot more time efficient, but, she could end up making pretty good money these months, which would greatly release the financial strain on her! She starts on Monday...

I HATE IT!!! I'm sooooo mad at everybody at the moment...they think I'm a machine or something, they give me so much to do, and they don't mind if I say NO, they just give it to me anyway and pout and go talk to my boss about it!!...and, at home, with my sister unable to help, I'm practically the weekend maid!! I HATE IT!!!...on top of everything, there's never enough money...
To my normal workload, add the fact that my hard-drive "died" and had to be replaced...they managed to save most of it...except my .pst folders in OUtlook...where I happened to have a LOT of critical information!!...aaaaargh!!...lost forever, is what they tell me!!...so, now I have to scrape and ask for info that I used to have right at my fingertips!
I'm going nuts, I'm really, honestly, truly going nuts here!... I need a break...some kind of break...As it turns out, my level of satisfaction with my life, on a scale 5-10, with 5 being "sucks" and 10 being "perfect", it looks like this:

Family : 6 (DD "boosts" the score! so you can imagine!) With my sister sick, I'm chauffer, messenger, administrator, cook, maid and even provide moral support (who's giving ME moral support??)
Spiritual: 6 - have not had a prayer meeting/attended my praying workshop in ages!!
Work: -3....right now, I like my job, I just hate everyone around me!!
Physical: 6 - I'm not exercising, I'm not eating too well, I'm always tired...I try to get 3 meals a day, though, and remind myself to breathe often!
Financial: - do I REALLY need to score it?? or can you guess? -4 Creditors keep calling and things seem to be looking down, rather than up, lately!

Ever wonder why I never speak of a significant other?? Well, I don't have one and, at the moment, it seems like I will never have one...why? 1.I'm always working, so unless they start hiring some grown-ups, there's no chance (believe me, the age difference and mind-set difference is abysmal!)...plus, it'd have to be someone that likes children...2. I look like sh*t at the moment..yes, I always look tired, my hair is a mess (no time/energy/money to actually do something about it) ...and, no, I can't go out...it's too expensive for me right now....even if I go to "free" events, I have to pay childcare after 9:00pm, so...

The scores might change tomorrow, but, today, I hate my life!!

when it rains, it pours...how does that saying go?...the latest news is that my sister has been diagnosed with neurocystercircosis (sp??)...basically, an illness that is endemic in our countries which you can get from eating pork or from eating raw veggies that have not been hygienically (sp?) handled...the eggs of a parasite enter your body and make their way to your stomach (cysstercircosis) and, if untreated, will make their way to your brain (hence the neuro....)....they have caught it at an early stage (so we ARE lucky, after all!) ...they are affecting her motor skills...((shudder)) she's lost fine motor skills on her whole right side...so they are giving her medicine to kill off those things and are doing a series of CAT-scans...luckily, all that is covered under the Social Security medical thing...plus, they have the best equipment anyway...but, it means she has to go on disability for 30 days..and, that means that the company she works for is not obliged to pay her salary (by law), and that she will have to collect it from the social security....now, there would be no problem with this, except, the SS does NOT recognize any salaries above $690/month....so, eventhough she makes more than that, she's only entitled to $690 from the SS (minus income tax and pension fund discounts!!)...she'll get ~$400 max!!
...I already told her she'll have to pick the most important expenses vs the most urgent ones, and, pay the important ones...(my niece's school, my nephew's re-hab center fees, food..)...even if that means calls from creditors!!
In the meantime, I'm in charge of the house/children (not paying for it, but overseeing it as the sole adult in our "clan"!)....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!

Well, we had a pretty good scare with Hurricane Adrian....thank God it lost strength right before it hit the coast and turned into a tropical storm...typically, we get our hurricanes coming in from the Atlantic, and touching ground in Honduras or other countries, where they get spent and then we get mostly heavy rains...which still manage to cause a lot of damage...this time, Adrian was coming straight at us from the Pacific!!...
Things got really crazy, with everyone trying to stock up in case we couldn't go out for days!!... we pretty much had everything in stock, but I bought some more water and several bags of cereal (which we will use in a couple of weeks anyway!)...I gave some water and cereal to the maid, and some powdered milk, too...I KNOW she didn't have the time to go out and buy stuff, and, I don't imagine she had spare money to buy these things, either...thankfully, nothing bad happened to her or her family!! ...13,000 people were evacuated, mostly in the coastal area...we are still on the alert, because heavy rains in Honduras might flood their rivers (which flow into our rivers) ...

I don't know....today I feel very discouraged...I seem to be putting a lot of effort into this frugality thing, and into paying debts, and it somehow feels like I make no progress...I still can't get to the point where my accounts are current, so I keep paying hundreds of Dollars and yet the debt diminishes at ridiculously slow rates (like $5 or $10 per card per month)...I know things won't get better until I manage to bring everything up to date, because past-due interest is eating away at anything I pay...I wish I could just tell the collectors to drop dead and rot in hell...but, they are only doing their job...I wish I could tell the cc companies to drop dead and rot in hell but: a) they cannot "drop dead"...they're companies...and b) it IS my own fault!! ....I don't regret it, because none of THIS debt is for sumptuous or luxury items...all this was incurred while trying to give my parents a decent living -not even the lifestyle to which they were accostumed, just decent - so I don't regret it...but it really scares me, because I have seen and suffered what happens when you don't save for the future...and I don't want Ale to have to go through what I went through with my parents...but, the way things are right now (not enough money to even pay debts, let alone for saving for the future!)...that's where we are headed...and it really worries me...ties my stomach up in knots and makes me want to cry....and, every time I seem to be making some progress (next month I will have $50 "more" when I finally pay for a small personal loan here at work), something happens that throws me back into the hole, like my car breaking down TWICE in the same month...or, the latest one: my sis is sick and needs surgery...that'll be about $1,200 which she doesn't have... ....a lot of my friends counsel me to stay out of it, if she doesn't have it, it's HER problem...but, the way we were raised, if someone in your immediate family has a problem, the FAMILY has a problem and everyone should pitch in to help...it is extremely difficult to go against something like this...so, I have discussed it with my sister and, if she can't get the $1,200 as a loan from her company, I will end up re-financing that debt ($500) to help her and she will be the one paying the installments...you'd think this won't affect me, but it does, because I had planned to re-finance the debt in October, when they give you "school loans", because I could get $700 (instead of $500) without a co-signer...which I would have applied towards cc debt...(these loans have a much lower interest rate....although the time to repay is shorter...which means you pay more or less the same...but get out in less time and end up paying less)...I HATE it when things like these happen...Some days, I wish I could just win the lottery or something...

I uploaded my resume at Dell...they are looking for an assistant to the recruiters...they are paying between $1,200 and $1,900/ month....I'm currently making $800/ month....so it WOULD make a difference (not a huge one, though, because income tax varies according to how much you earn, so right now I pay about $200/ month, and at those salaries I'd probably pay between $400-$500 per month)...but, still, at $1,200 I'd get to keep about $800, whereas now I get to keep ~$600....Please send good vibes my way!!....I could ask for a raise here but, they do warn you up front when they hire you not to ask - I know that my boss, personally, thinks this policy to be total crap, and maybe he could do something, but, still, they probably wouldn't let him give me more than 10% (policy is a maximum of 5%) and that would only put me in the next earning bracket for tax purposes, which means my effective raise would be about $20/month! (after taxes)....((sigh))

Why does life have to be so difficult!
Yesterday, we were watching a movie and Ale asked about what had become of a woman who had just had a child, and I said: she left with her husband
- TOGETHER? why'd they leave together??
- er, that's what husbands are for...
- how come you don't have a husband? You DON'T have one, do you?
-Er, no, I don't, you see...
-Oh, I see, I bet it takes money to have a husband!
-well, no. Not necessarily
-Then why don't you have one? what does it take?
-Baby, if I knew, I'd HAVE one!!

This motherhood thing just keeps getting more and more difficult!! ((sigh))

Monday- $40 / nanny
Tuesday -
Wednesday-
Thursday-
Friday -
Saturday-
Sunday -

This is a local manufacturer of clothes...they have great things for kids, 100% cotton, durable....mostly t-shirts and knit shorts/pants and pajamas....and they have Disney, Mattel and Sanrio licenses (yay!!) www.stjacks.com/ninos.htm ...twice a year, they have a 50% off sale...of course, the new lines don't get put on sale, only the "old ones" (so, I cannot get the beautiful My Melody things right now, but I will in December....and, right now I can buy anything with The Incredibles!!!) I love it that they have this sale in mid-May, because I always get DD a set of skorts/t-shirt and a pajama, which I then save for her birthday in the end of June...This stuff generally goes for around $14 for a pajama and up to $20 for a set....so I can get both things for about $17 -$20....the other sale is near November, so I buy things for Xmas ....
I will also see if they have a pajama set for me...I haven't bought myself pajamas in 4 years!! I'll update this entry later with what I buy and how much it cost!

****
woo-hoo! I bought a Princess & Pauper night-gown for $6.75, a Violet (Incredibles) glittery t-shirt for $4.00, but, the best was an Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) set of t-shirt and pants for $3.88!!!
I didn't buy anything for myself, though...but, I will try to do it next week (lowest priced one was $7.00 and the most expensive one was $9.58....the ones I want are atound $7.50...)

I'm so happy with myself!!...yesterday night, I checked for any leftovers to take to work today, and what I found wasn't really appetizing...but I was too tired to cook, so I decided I'd make a sandwich in the morning (I HATE day-old sandwiches...they really aren't as "fluffy")...and, today, I really wasn't in the mood for a sandwich, so I thought: oh, I'll just BUY food...but then, I rememberd, I had already bought food once this week....so, I reconsidered and decided to bring that last piece of fried chicken and a bit of rice...I added the last piece of Monterrey Jack cheese to make it more appealing...I am craving fresh things lately, so I will buy an apple or something as dessert... I feel good!

She asked yesterday why I hadn't included a tin of Nesquick for her milk (she likes plain milk, but loves it with Nesquick, either chocolate or strawberry)...so I said I hadn't been able to find it at the store...which is not true, I just forgot I had promised to buy a small one...so I went to the supermarket downstairs today and actually looked for it!...it took me a while to find it, they keep it in the lowest shelf (I'm guessing this is not one of their fastest-moving products here, being a "commercial" district...most people shop for small things, mostly for lunch...) ...Anyway, I found it, and brought my tin to the cashier and, after I paid for it, she gave me another one!! (I had bought a strawberry one, and she gave me a chocolate one! yipeee!!...) so, I saved $1.08 and DD has 2 tins instead of one!!
If it weren't for the stupid car breaking down (again!), this would have been a great week for savings!! ((sigh))

Money is going to be tight next month, too...Sis has to be operated on, and it has to be done this week....it's minor, to be done at the Dr's office, but, still, it will cost $800....and her insurance only covers 70% of it...and she has to pay in full first, and then process a reimbursement, so we need to get the money and then wait about 3 weeks to get it back...she's asked her company for a loan, they would get the insurance money in 3 weeks, and she would pay the rest out of her salary in installments...but they still haven't said anything, so we are trying to work on alternate solutions...

Monday - $2.50 / lunch (I forgot my lunch in my sister's car! ugh! how stupid can one get??)
Tuesday - $60.90 / groceries **
Wednesday- $50.00 / car repair (again! the water pump this time! aaaargh!)
Thursday- $5.00 / gas
Friday- $14.63 / clothes for DD (1 pj, 1 t-shirt & pants set, 1 t-shirt)
Saturday - $2.50 / fruit at the market place- watermelon, papaya and plums
Sunday - $1.50/ goodies at the flea market (went there to sell some things)

**my cousin has found a great meat supplier: the meat is tender and very high quality, and, about $0.70/lb less than the supermarket....these people sell to the hotels and restaurants only, but the owner of the place is a friend of my cousin's family, who heard about the hard times she's going through and decided to help her!...so, he is allowing her to buy the meat at cost, and has also not restricted the amount that she buys, which means she can buy it to re-sell and make a profit.... She also got us Quaker bagged cereals at $0.50 a bag...I saw them on sale at the supermarket and they were $1.83....We help each other out in any way we can...not much of a safety net, being as broke as we are...but...