So - I finally opened a Savings Account for each of the kids. I am very excited about that. And since I was so excited - I went ahead and opened a Hawaii Trip (2014) Savings Account (for our 20th wedding anniv) and a Disneyland Trip (2010) Savings Account.

I will admit - when I just typed 2010 - I had to laugh. Seems like sooo far in the future. Perhaps we will all wear shiny, silver clothes... and ride in small, modular space ships. Who knows!?!

but let me tell you... I am MUCH happier with June than I was with May. It wasn't easy, and it wasn't perfect - but we are on our way. I cannot wait to update my totals!

I checked on my Rebate Check - and it will be deposited on Friday, the 13th!!
I am so very excited. $2100.00
Some to the IRAs, some to Debt, some to our Vacation (scheduled July 21) and also some for Family Pics @ Sears (my family of 5, and then the 7 cousins).

To help save $45 - I am going to cut (shave? buzz?) my husband's, DS1 and DS2's hair this week!
Oh my - kinda scared, but how hard can it be? I have the color-coded clippers, and I will start out longer, and just keep going over it.
I will prolly start DS1 first, if I mess up, we can use a 3 all over... He wears a hat most of the time anyway. And it IS summer! lol... Hair is too hot to have!

Wow - the things I'll do to save money!

No joke. I know everyone is feeling the pain at the pump... but come on...!

When I left for work yesterday, the gas stations in my area were $4.03/ a gallon. When I drove back home, they were $4.15. In less than 12 hours, the price was up for plain jane gas - by 12 cents.

Grrrr.

In other news, I am revved and ready to shop Wal-Mart tonight for groceries... I am going to try out their "Price Matching". I have $140 for Costco, and $140 for groceries (for the next two weeks) - but I only want to spend $70 of it now, and $70 next Friday. I know I can do it!! I like a good challenge! It was really slow at work yesterday, so I spent time creating (and laminating!!) weekly meal plans!

And - I also made a contribution to both Traditional and Roth (you know! My IRAs!) yesterday.

I spent $40 @ Target yesterday for my nephew's birthday present - he is 5! We are heading out to his party in a few hours. After the party, we are doing our Costco shopping, and filling up our gas tanks! /sigh

Anyway, I think it will be a great weekend!

Okay... first.
I have to admit that not long ago - when I heard the saying "Pay Yourself First", I sincerely thought they were talking about entertainment, dinners out, and groceries. I did not know they meant "savings" and retirement". DUH!

Second, something annoys me. I have an employee who just (just!) went through bankruptcy, who worked in the mortgage business for abt 5 years, making a TON! of money. So, anway, now they are house poor, and daycare poor - and bankrupt. And yet, everyday, she shows up to work with a St*rbucks Latte Mocho-Loco Ice'd Capi'tan (or whatever it is). And while she's sipping away on that green straw, she complains about how poor she is.


Third, I OPENED AN IRA ACCOUNT TONIGHT!!!! OH MY! I am so excited. I work for a Bank who is big on IRAs, MMDAs and CDs... and we only do IRA CDs and minimum to open is 2500... so really, I didn't realize how easy it would be to open at another institution and that I could add to it as much or as little (within IRS guidelines) as I wanted. So, I am starting off slow... but I am excited none-the-less!!
Next, 3 Savings accounts - one for each kid. I WILL NOT allow them to make the same mistakes we did!

Well, off to get the kids to bed. Just wanted to share.

I have been telling myself for a while now - that I don't do Lattes. And that there is no Latte Factor in my life.
Can you believe that?
So - then why did I spend $12 at the gas station this morning on two waters, an iced tea, a Banana Nut Muffin, and $5 in cash back?
Duh! That's my Latte.



Also - I got a package in the mail yesterday - from ShareBuilder (never heard of them - but I guess it has to do with investments).
In the package was a $30 coupon for my first investment buy (I don't think that's the correct lingo, but oh well)... in addition - there was a book!
The Automatic Millionaire - by David Bach!!! A free copy!! I just got done reading Start Late - Finish Rich, and loved it.
I have no idea why I was sent this "gift" - but I am really REALLY having a good time dealing with personal finances.
Perhaps it's a sign! To keep on trucking... I will get there!
Hey, a gal can dream!

That's how much it cost to fill up my Honda Odyssey. No joke, in less than 48 hours - the price went up 18 cents. I am so very angry about this. And on the news, and in articles, all you hear is "walk more, take the bus more"... perhaps in other parts of the country, that might be possible. But, I live in a city outside of Phoenix... Our transit system sucks, I work 30 miles from home,I have kids to get to summer school and daycare and it's 115* during the summer.
We have been so good about cutting the fat out of our budget... but that was to save money and pay debt. All I have been able to do is keep up with the gas prices.
Oh, and the electric? $97 last month... $237.00 this month (and we are being careful).
My dad said "they" are predicting $7/gallon for gas by the end of the year. It's unreal.
I am at 100% (debt to income)... with no real EF. If one of us loses our job, or something else comes up - we would get behind faster than a blink of an eye. And mind you - while we have made A LOT OF MISTAKES, we have also worked very hard to fix things. We are working twice as hard - than if we would have learned about finances and would have done it right from the start.
I am just not sure what to do...