New habit... better world

Okay... so why am I showing you a picture of the trash that lurks under my sink?

Well its really a matter of a little bit of pride in finally figuring out a new system.  Before I thought I was very clever,  I used an old small waste can  so I can use grocery store bags.  That way the trash is stowed away neatly and I never have to buy trash bags.  We take the trash out daily, but that works too because then there is no smell at all.  The white bucket on the right is my newest addition, that I am especially proud of... in a weird sort-of way.


All because of this this flier I received from the city.  We can now compost in our yard waste can...  Now according to the list almost any kitchen waste can go in the yard waste can (except proteins, rice, pasta, metal like the staples in teabags, etc. check your list for details or call your local public works and ask about composting in your yard waste)  Rather than these things going down the garbage disposal or into the landfill, it will be made into soil!  How cool is that.  Well at first I didn't have the compost can, and I would haphazardly pick a few things off the top, but after my garage organizing fiasco I found a short bucket to use.  And since I am not so consistent with keeping up with my own compost pile, I can at least contribute a little.  Plus I do believe a few times a year you can get a free load of it.

Now the best part is, we hardly use our trash can anymore and can sometimes go a week without taking it to the curb.  However my little yard waste can is getting regular excercise.  Which means we are finally giving back to mother back, which I believe make me about even with my gas guzzling classic car.

Recycled planter

One of my favorite finds recently is a giant asparagus fern at target on clearance for $3..  it was root bound really bad and I needed a giant pot.  And as it turns out, giant pots are expensive.  I started poking around the garage and the side yard, and found a perfect solution.

Last year we took out the diving board because it was cracked, and since we didn't really care about having one or not my husband took it out,  that is where my other free find, my "bistro set"  is now living.

which is good place because it also covers the small bolt holes and prevents the kids from running full circles around the pool.   


We hadn't gotten around to throwing it out yet so when I saw the base sitting there I knew it was perfect.  The holes were already in the bottom, so drainage wouldn't be a problem.  


I just filled it with potting soil and inserted plant.  So the total cost is $3 plant, $5 potting soil, and $0 for the planter box...  it is dark so I will finish up in tomorrow sometime.  I was just so excited that I had to share now.

And now a word from our "weird files"

Ok so, I like Barbie.  Always have, Always will.  I thought it was a travesty when they gave her a reduction, and changed her face.  But no worries I will be fine.  Now whenever you go to any toy store or department store, you see tons of options of Barbie and Barbie tribute dolls, Hannah, High School Musical,  I Love Lucy (one of my favs), holiday Barbie, beach Barbie, wheel chair Barbie, Veterinarian Barbie, and many many more.

Recently on a trip to Walmart I found the funniest one to date, probably ever...  Barbie Birds, you know from Alfred Hitchcock movie, where everyone was mauled by birds!  It was a movie anniversary tribute doll.  I went into laughing histerics right there in the store.  There was Barbie stuck in a box with a bunch of crows pecking at her.  You have to wonder a little bit what were they thinking!  I bet it is slightly concerning for kids, I mean if birds can attack Barbie, who has everything, and can do anything, then what chance does the rest of us have.

My other thought is how exactly is she keep that calm face, and carry that great purse; and why isn't she running, and why is her hair still in-tack!  Not only does she have a great stylist but, she almost looks as if she is strolling to her corvette, on her way to Barbie Macy's to go shopping, and flicking at them as if they were harmless flies.

The only thought that comes to mind is... Barbie is one tough broad!  I mean think about it, she is being held captive in a box, being attacked by killer birds, and she doesn't look fazed one bit.  Another reason why I want to be Barbie!

Insurance

This whole insurance thing scares so me... how do you know what to get. And life insurance is just really insane, because of my disabilities, and other factors, it is high. Right now it is too high while we are paying off bills so I am trying to find alternatives.

I was looking at Mortgage insurance but it is kindof a rip off, because the monthly fee never goes down but the value of the policy goes down. But maybe it would be okay for the short term. I hate to waste money, but I am afraid to go on any further and be not covered. So today I am going to call in to the Dave Ramsey radio show and get his opinion on this. I will update this this afternoon....

Marriage and money? oi!

So we are working on Marriage and money. This topic is quite touchy some say it is the number one reason for divorce, which is very scary considering a future with the person you love is hinged on a checkbook. I don't think so... instead I wonder if it is the lack of communication or a plan concerning finances, and a secure future. How far can we go in a boat without a navigation system, or at least a compass.

One of the topics covered in this lesson was separate checking accounts. I hear about many couples who keep separate accounts, bills, even divvy up household expenses. That concept is something I couldn't see working in our household. I feel like that would also drive separation within the marriage, once you begin to tear a sheet of paper, it is weakened, and soon will begin to further split, maybe into 2 pieces. Now that we budget for entertainment and pocket money, I feel like I get to spend a little more freely, a little more equally (I'm a shopper).

Recently, I also posted our additional paid off debt. I have learned that it is now exciting to not only pay off debt but to close those accounts, checking the mail daily waiting for the letter of closure. I am however resisting the urge to frame them, my child does have friends, and I would like for them to not think that I am completely nuts (or at least know the truth). When I think about our communication style for money, I am happy that they have generally not been screaming matches, and we have been on the same page, however it was the wrong page! We never had financial goals other than, how to spend spend spend, and also finagle being able to run out and buy something that we wanted. With our budget in place I see our path and future, and it does feel secure, even clear.

New concept.... saving for emergencies and purchases! What is up with all this crazy talk!

Saving for emergencies AND purchases! I don't know, that seems foreign somehow. Who plans for emergencies anyhow, isn't that what insurance is for.... oh wait we're not talking about ambulances? You mean put money away so the next time you look at your tires, and determine that they must have made a mistake at the tire shop 8 years ago, and accidently put on racing skids!

I think our idea, and probably most peoples idea of an emergency fund is... pray like mad until something gives, or a loan shark... eh hem I mean loan company comes along and "helps". So here we are at class, and some questions are put forth. What was the last major unexpected financial crisis you face? How would that have gone differently is there was... gasp... money in a savings account?

Well I think the last major one was when I lost my job, our shop, and the car in the same quarter. Well that was quite the zinger, not to say that there was no other crisis, but when I think major that is what appears. So had we discovered Dave Ramsey earlier, and we had a fully funded emergency fund, it wouldn't have been so devastating. You know like being punched in the stomach and just for kicks rip out the carpet from your feet so it was easier to kick you in the ribs cause your flat on your back... oh sorry rambling a little.

Maybe things would have been different altogether, you know saved up cash for the car instead of financing, or at the very least, rather than panic about those events, taken a deep breathe, and thought about the next step, rather than run around like a crazy person.

Now my favorite questions are "dream big ones" you know what would you do if you won the lottery! Well I am a little small town so I am okay with this one: What if you were debt free (except your home) and had $10,000 sitting in the bank just for emergencies? How would your life be different? How would you be different?

Dreams would come true... I would be sitting in my studio downtown, throwing and firing all day beautiful pottery and sculptures, painting on occasion. Selling my art and maybe others too, but at a bargain so that everyone can see it. Then go home wait for my family to come home, cook dinner, and enjoy seeing them, and hanging out. Thinking about this for a moment makes me smile. I get excited, cause in a short time and with these little goals my husband and I have acheived already, I think that this is reality, this can actually happen. This is motivation! This I can do. I would never get a loan again, and in fact when I think about this little dream I start rolling around numbers in my head thinking... how much do I need to put away to make this happen, what can I do to acheive this goal and how long will it work.

This new thought process is funny because when I would think of this before I would think to myself, how can I crunch the numbers for the bank, how can I convince them to loan me the money. This concept of paying cash and saving for things is not extreme thinking anymore, just different thinking. I hear the testimonies on the radio everyday. This is real cause right now it's happening to us, little by little we are progressing from the depths of financial despair to financial freedom.

This is awesome!

Big dose of Financial reality or Financial Peace University lesson 1

Today is lesson one of financial peace university. It was relatively easy to go through, the layout was very nice, easy to use. I had video issues, but learned it was because I had left a ton of stuff on my desktop running in the background.

So far we are off to a good start, the emergency fund is in place. Though we had to dip into it, it is nice knowing that it was there, no panic! We will have to budget tonite and be ready to stay on path.

I had an ah-ha moment today when I was looking at quickbooks... it seems we really eat out alot, now I consider ubakes and as well or anything like that, not fully prepared by me as dining out. it is my weakness.. my solution is to time manage better and to cook better meals, or some that kind of similiar to what we get when we go out. Maybe I will even squeeze in some healthier stuff!

So though tonite will be boring and busy, I look forward to moving through these steps to financial freedom!