Wednesday January 29...at least I think it is...

Well I'm not liking the look of this blog...even without pictures it's boring and soooo many words all crammed together. Maybe one of these days I'll figure it out (or get the energy to figure it out...) I've had 3 Financial Peace University classes now - I like the group I'm with - small - 9 of us total - and pretty varied. A set of twins who just graduated...the couple leading it who are probably close to my age maybe a tad younger - she teaches pilates and other exercise stuff and not sure what he does...another couple about our ages- she's a nurse and not sure what he does but he hunts and stocks their freezer with game and both are on their 2nd marriage...another younger couple with a baby and 2 or 3 yr old son and they've done the course before but like me they need to get remotivated before they get in over their heads again. And me - single, childless, and needing to get a grip before I get in over my head too! Fun group and I'm glad I'm taking it with them. The house is paid off. I also went on Dave Ramsey's website and found a financial coach and signed up for their services. I'm not gonna lie- it's NOT cheap and yes I wonder if I did the right thing but I want a budget and to see what they can do for me with motivation. I went with the one in training because she's cheaper and I took the main guy's advice to go with her..he's higher because he's a CPA, etc etc etc but I don't think my financial situation calls for that level of knowledge. My big 'bootcamp' is still about 3 weeks off - the 18th of Feb. Really hoping it goes super well. I have to go cash / debit card only with them - no credit cards. I spent last night at work in my free time changing over autodrafts to either the checking account or the debit (only if they didn't have ACH draft available). I had already created new savings accounts the beginning of the year with capitalone360 (used to be ING so hopefully I'll be ok with the new management....) I also looked up some free atms in my area so I can do the envelope (cash) system for food and eating out and pocket money and probably entertainment as well....not sure yet about that because I'm hoping I won't always use all that money and it can go into a sink fund for when I want something later. The savings accounts I have with capitalone360 are the original 'orange' savings (from ING's logo) and I'm not sure yet what to use it for - maybe the general purpose 'blow' money that's left over or that I choose to add for later travel or other purchses. I did a reverse savings plan I found on someone' blog - where each week you save $52 then $51 the 2nd week until you save $1 the last week of December..I decided to make up for the partial weeks by adding a $53 payment. I also opened one to save for the kid savings plan or the smaller plan - Jan I save $12 each week then $11 each week in Feb until Dec with $1 per week. I titled this one for my friend's kid thinking I'd use it for his Christmas but thinking I should probably scale down on the Christmas and may do it for that and his Feb birthday or split it between him and his older cousin I also buy for - maybe $200 and $100 - again not sure..sigh...I also opened sink funds for my HOA monthly dues, Long term care insurance, and property taxes. I'm thinking maybe another for Giving Tree at church this coming November and Operation Christmas Child that starts around October/early November - I spent some money in those last year and they were rewarding - esp the local one at my church - but I want to budget for those this year instead of getting caught up in the emotions of the season. I also did a rough budget and will do the allocated budget probably tonight or tomorrow since I'll be busy this weekend. A friend of mine is coming in tomorrow evening and staying until Mon evening. She wants to stay here but my place is honestly a total disaster - not just messy but filthy. yes I'm lazy but I also let things get way out of hand and never caught back up. It's not as bad as it was but still needs improvement. Maybe I'll work on that tonight.... anways we're sewing with another friend - the one she's probably staying with - and I'll come back to check on Sasha(my dog). I have stuff planned on Sunday so hope she's not ticked but it's stuff I want to do and already had tickets or plans for and she knew about. We'll have 2 full days of sewing (quilting) and 2 most of the days so it should be great! :-) I'm trying yet another new recipe though can't say I followed it since I had to sub for a bunch of the stuff but I think the basic formula was followed - sort of LOL! I didn't have enough bread slices - thought I had 3 or 4 hamburger buns but only had 2 (and calls for 6 slices of bread cubed) so I added a couple slices of that Ezekiel whole grain bread(big difference in soaking up the stuff lemme tell you!) didn't have ham so used jimmy dean turkey sausage crumbles and instead of 1 1/2 cups cheddar I used 1 cup cheddar jack and 1/2 - 1 cup mozarrella. I also added in some bell pepper and onion I had left in the freezer that was in the way. just hoping it's good and I don't waste 6 eggs and cheese trying to save the milk and avoid wasting the 2 hamburger buns...I also skipped letting it sit in the fridge overnight- I'm hungry! hoping enough soaked in that it will be ok. well off to wash my hair while I wait for this to finish cooking...hard to wait!