Q and A Debt

Where to go from here? Life, money and everything in between

2026-04-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

So here we are in April 2026. Can someone stop the crazy train that is off the rails! Lol! I have to laugh because crying is not an option. While I'm thankful for our health and ability to pay bills, the phrase "Times be lean" has been said quite a bit recently. Everything is EXPENSIVE. Volunteering at the food bank distribution at a local church has at times broke my heart. More and more people are coming to our distribution days to pick up food to help make ends meet. More and more elderly and young families are showing up to get help. People should not be going hungry. I pray that things will get better. So financially what are we looking at? Here's a few examples: Gas is $3.58 per gallon The cheapest Ground beef is $7.34 per lb Mangoes are $2.63 each A 6 pack of paper towels runs $8.50-$14 The other day we were in Walmart After all these years we are reverting back to our thrifty ways. We are eating at home more. Consolidating car trips and trying to eliminate extra spending. Its not easy but I know its possible. I'd love to hear how y'all are stretching your money in these times! For now, I have to go and get workin'. Talk to y'all soon!

When life slows down, the world goes crazy!

2025-08-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

So its been over 8 months since my last post. Life is thankfully slowing down a little but it seems the world is topsy turvy. Nationally our country seems to be in crisis. As for the regular people, we want the nonsense to end. We just want to go about our lives. We are tired of being tired. I pray that the politicians in office use their voice for the good of the people. And although some will not, I have to believe there are more good than bad people in this world. All we can do is continue being good people, spread kindness and show that together we are strong. Love our neighbors as God loves us. It should be simple, right? It is, I continually see people continue to live their lives in face of adversity and that gives me the will to speak my truth but also enjoy life as well. Hopefully I can update sooner than later. Have a great week everyone!

It has been a while and oh how life has changed...

2025-01-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

In the blink of an eye, here we are. It has been about 4 years since my last post and life has been a crazy wild ride. 2021 was truckin' along and I was starting to get use to my new normal. Kiddo 1 was preparing for their final semester of college. We took a family vacation to Washington D.C. in the summer of 2021. It was full of lots of sightseeing, museums and food! It was a great time. Then August came and Kiddo1's health changed. Very quickly and without a lot of warning came doctor visits, MRIs and ultimately a seizure that severely affected their ability to walk. Multiple Sclerosis was the diagnosis after getting a second opinion just to be absolutely certain. TONS of physical therapy later they are able to walk. Life is not the same. Injections three times a week and pills are now necessary and routine. Kiddo1 went back to complete their final semester of university and graduated Summa Cum Laude. The happiness we felt was overwhelming. How can life be so sad and tragic and then be so beautiful with all its flaws. I don't understand it but am immensely grateful to God, my family and friends. Kiddo 2 is entering the latter half of their junior year at University. The growth they have shown fills our hearts. As for me, I am still plugging away at Ebay and last year discovered the Whatnot app. Also I have a booth at a local resale shop. Mr. Man is still working to try to hold it all together. I'm dreaming of the day he can be retire. He deserves it. I hope to begin posting more regularly. Hope you all have a great week!

Life, Dad update and America 2021

2021-01-07T08:47:00.002-08:00

So it has been 10 months since the pandemic changed how we live. It feels like much, much longer.

Kiddo1 and Kiddo2 are learning from home. It has been a challenge but they have adapted. Mr. Man has had to make changes at his job. His work is pretty stressful and the changes due to the pandemic have only added to his and his coworkers' stress levels. As for myself, change has been difficult on many fronts.

Caring for Dad in this third year was the biggest challenge. It was 7 of us, my five brothers coming from different cities to care for him on a weekly basis, my sister (who had recently returned to teaching) and me. We managed as best we could and did it as safely as possible. Unfortunately, a couple of months ago, Dad passed away. It had nothing to do with the virus and simply the effects of his stroke and dementia that slowly took him. He died peacefully at home.

So now, I'm having to readjust to living. I am trying to stay busy with life and yet still feel the pull of my once daily routine of caring for Dad. It has been a hard transition, one that I am trying to get used to. I've been leaning on the support of my brothers and sister who helped care for Dad. We unknowingly formed a bond because of our shared experience with Dad.

As far as life here in the United States, it has been a very strange time. The world is changing and you can feel the resistance of a certain segment of America. Why? I personally don't understand. It seems the majority of people I've come in contact with look forward to a more united country. However, I think certain people don't like the idea of national change disturbing their personal comfort. Maybe I'm wrong. Regardless, the ugly side of it culminated in the breaking in of the Capitol yesterday. It was disgraceful, violent and shameful. America is fairly young compared to most of the world and the traditions we do have are respected across the board. Yesterday, we all watched in disbelief. How can anyone proclaim to love our country in one moment and completely disrespect it in the next. Peaceful protest is always welcome but what was on display yesterday for us and all the world to see was absolutely not what the United States of America is about.

So what happens next, who knows? 2021 is only 6 days in and all the hope we had when 2020 finally ended is already beginning to chip away. I pray it does get better for us all. It has to.

The Ups and Downs of 2020

2020-08-09T19:30:00.002-07:00

2020 is definitely taking us on a rollercoaster of emotions. COVID19 had us all in a state of anxiety. Then the killing of George Floyd occurred. Watching the video was heartbreaking and incredibly hard to see. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in the United States. This has brought out both the best in people and the worst. Many say at least we know where everyone stands. The United States has a lot of work to do but I believe we are up to the task. We pray that as a nation we can come together and make change possible so that there is peace and equality for all.

So how has all this shaped our lives financially. We refinanced our home for a lower interest rate. It seems like life can change in a moment lately and we wanted to make sure we are saving wherever we can. Mr. Man sold his vehicle. It was 2 years old so the dealership bought it back for what we owed. He then bought a work truck in cash. So no third car payment. Our total debt numbers are now about $138,000 including our home. Debt freedom seems almost attainable.

I have been working on Ebay quite a bit. My monthly income has increased about 25% and I'm exploring a new revenue stream.

Aside from that life is the same. Caring for Dad, staying home and trying to keep the family motivated.

I hope everyone is healthy and safe. Enjoy today because tomorrow is never promised.

Life during a Stay at Home Order

2020-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Pic from our visit to NYC Dec 2019

Our city issued a stay at home order March 25, 2020. The kids have been not going to any public places since March 13, 2020. School will be closed till May. That may be extended but all we can do is wait and see. Some of you many know that I help care for my Dad in his home. He will be 91 years old tomorrow. To say he amazes me is an understatement. His will to live is strong despite being unable to walk or talk. He has dementia so some days he is very present and some days its a struggle. But through it all, he has given all eight of his grown children strength to persevere despite what life throws at us. I have reduced my hours caring for Dad since my kiddos are home. Kiddo2 requires help with schoolwork and some days have been challenging. I have a little more time to work on Ebay which has been a big help since I can list a few things to help buy Dad's essential needs.

Daily Life has been a big adjustment. I'm still trying to cope with the separation from Dad. He took up such a huge part of my day. That has now been replaced with cooking breakfast for my kiddos (loving this!), working on school work the majority of the day, cleaning my house (happy to breathe a little life into my home) and being present for my family. I find myself a bit guarded because I know once this is over, life will go back to "normal" for me. It was important to step back because Kiddo1 is asthmatic and going out daily would not be wise.

Mr. Man's place of business is deemed essential, so while we are thankful we still have an income coming in, every day is stressful. We have no idea how long he will continue to work. His paycheck will also be reflecting the slowdown in his workload. Our daily interaction has changed as well, He leaves his shoes outside and goes straight to the shower. I do the same once I get home from Dad's house. I wear a face mask when I am around people outside of home. The constant handwashing, cleaning and sanitizing can wear us out but we know it is necessary.

Mr. Man's brother lives near New York City and he is currently recovering from what he believes is COVID19. The symptoms were fever, extreme fatigue/body aches and extreme shortness of breath. He does not smoke, rarely drinks and leads a very healthy lifestyle. He said the symptoms came without warning and all at once. He said walking just 10 feet was a struggle. Once he was able to videoconference with a doctor a couple of days later he no longer had a fever so he was told not to go to the hospital. He said although he feels a bit better he still cannot resume normal activities without getting fatigued. He currently has self quarantined himself in a room as to minimize contact with his pregnant wife and two small children. We are thankful that his situation is not any worse. As so many are suffering with this virus.

So what keeps us sane? Staying informed but not watching the news every waking moment. Enjoying our time together. We feel life has changed and we are now living day to day. Our pets have been happy to have a full house! LOL! The term "live your best life" has never meant more than in these times. I take inspiration and comfort from the beautiful acts of kindness being played out worldwide. I truly believe it is as my mother said "There are far more good people in this world than bad".

I hope all who may read this are well and continue to do well.

Life changes due to the Corona Virus pandemic

2020-03-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

So it has been quite a while since my last post. Between caring for Dad and my homelife there is not much room for much else. Friday was my last day of caretaking for the foreseeable future since Kiddo1 and Kiddo2 are not at home and starting school online due to the Corona virus pandemic. Dad is doing as well as can be expected. My siblings will continue caring for him. Adjusting to life in these times has not been easy. Store shelves are empty, friends and family are losing their jobs and the healthcare system here is beginning to show signs of strain. Everyone is tired, scared and full of anxiety. It is hard to be optimistic but everyone is trying. It is just scary times when you cannot find toilet tissue, milk, eggs or bread. Store lines are long and at times tempers may flare. People are trying to stay sane but with each day it gets a bit more difficult. We are all coping as best as can be expected. Aside from that I will take this time to help Kiddo2 with navigating school work. I also will be listing more on Ebay to help with my Dad's expenses. It is not easy but I will continue to try to look forward and help in some way. I hope everyone reading this is doing well and that this world crisis passes soon. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

Well its now AUGUST!

2019-08-11T21:48:00.001-07:00

Way, way, WAY back in May, I said I was going to post about my weight loss journey. HA! Jokes on me! I have not posted diddly squat! I'm sorry for whomever (I'm assuming someone reads my blog besides me...lol) was mildly curious if I was going to every follow-up on that post. Soooo.....

Where am I at? I've lost a whopping 3 pounds. Frankly, I haven't exactly done a whole lot to help in the weight department. But hey, any loss is better than a gain.

So, what am I going to do? I've slowly veered over to cooking at home again. I'm not a great cook at ALL but I figure it has to be better for us than burgers and pizza every night. Ironically, my kids are not overweight and have way better eating habits than me. Tomorrow I'll resume walking on the treadmill. Not exactly high intensity cardio but crap...I'm moving. My biggest obstacle to healthy living is Dad's house. Its a minefield of ice cream, cookies and pastries. I don't buy the stuff but some days I have no problem eating it. I've gotten better so I'll just keep chugging water to avoid the sugary temptations.

One area of life that I have been succeeding at is my Ebay business. I have put a lot of work into listing new items weekly in my store. It requires me to steal a few minutes here and there and try to piece it all together as professionally as I can on my phone while at Dad's. My sales are slowly on the rise and it helps so much. Now that Dad is in need of round the clock care, we have had to employ a caregiver service. It costs a pretty penny but it has allowed us to reclaim some of our sanity. The only way to afford it is for us to take up the cost of Dad's food, personal care, doctor visits and home maintenance. How expensive can it be for a home bound 90 year old. More than you would think! Thankfully, I can contribute some because of my Ebay income.

So as you can see I'm still a mess but that's okay. I'm a happy mess at the moment.

Hope Everyone has a Happy Monday!

It’s been 1 yr and 7 months....

2019-05-23T09:09:00.001-07:00

Wow...how quickly time passes. It’s been about 1 year and 7 months since my last post. Let’s see..Dad is no longer in the hospital. He got out in November of 2017. He made another appearance in March of 2018. And has been home ever since not counting a day or two hospital stay. He is completely dependent on my sister and I. We rotate shifts caring for him. My brothers come and help on the weekends. It has not been easy caring for him and trying to take care of our families. We wish it would be easier but this is what God has given us and we are trying to handle it as best we can.

It seems all my time has been swallowed up by Dad. I am in a much better place when it comes to caring for him. Obviously, my absence from here was due to my struggles to take care of it all. I can say now it’s still difficult but we’re managing. Dad requires 24 hour supervision and total care so free time is nonexistent.

Thankfully, Mr. Man and the kiddos are doing good. I’m trying to hang in there and not get too down because it is very easy to fall into a hole of despair when caring for someone who is in their last years, months or days. It’s unpredictable.

So as you can imagine self care has been a challenge. Fast forward to yesterday. Went to see my cardiologist who kept telling me I am too young to be worrying about heart problems. After examining me and administering a stress test, he said all looked good. BUT....yep there’s always a catch...he wants to see me in 6 months. And the first thing he will look at is my weight! So I have got 180 days to get myself together. All these years I’ve known what I need to do but kept putting it off. During my Blogger break, I went on a nutritional program. It wasn’t for me. I tried but after a year I realized it wasn’t sustainable. So now, I have 180 days to get on track and improve my health. So I figured I’d try to post and keep myself accountable.

My first week has been about getting into better habits. Habits that I had previously but fell to the wayside once I became super stressed with caring for Dad. So its been a bit easier day by day. Resisting temptation of fast food 2-3 times a day to save time has been the hardest. My time at home is minimal so rather than being stuck in the kitchen for hours cooking and cleaning, I would go through the drive thru. Like I said before, I'm very aware of what I need to work on. LOL!

Hopefully in a week I will check in and ramble on some more! I hope each one of you has a great weekend :)

Selling Our Car to Pay Debt!

2017-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Mr. Man and I paid off my car. We were so excited to own my car free and clear. Shortly afterwards, we purchased a car for Kiddo#1. It was an excellent buy, reliable and held its value pretty well. Fast forward to this past week, Mr. Man and I had been throwing the idea around that Kiddo #1 still was not 100% ready to drive on their own. My car literally was sitting in the driveway collecting cobwebs and was going to require some work soon. I pitched Mr. Man the idea of selling my car to pay off debt. He was hesitant at first but thankfully came around. Yesterday, we sold my car directly to the dealership. With what we made we paid one card completely and another about 99% off. It feels great to be rid of those payments. I see the light at the end of our debt tunnel. Its still quite long but there is a tiny little light shining on the other end!

Money Spent and Closing the Antique Booth

2017-07-18T19:44:00.002-07:00

Money made today: $18
Money spent today: $31

Another day of more spending money than making money. Hoping sales pick up soon. Money spent today was breakfast with Dad and a trip to the pharmacy.

I went by the antique booth today and decided to give my move out notice. Although I enjoy going, its just not profitable enough to continue spending my time there. I decided its time to move on to hopefully bigger and better things. I'm relieved actually.

I didn't list much today but I did declutter some. I have a small pile left in our bedroom that I have to go through which I'm excited about. I can't remember the last time my home felt like a house and not a thrift store. LOL!

I hope to list 5 items tomorrow and possibly sell some clothes for cash locally.

Have a great evening!

Money Spent and life update

2017-07-17T14:11:00.004-07:00

Money made today - $0
Money spent today- $125

I decided to start noting my money made and spent on each blog. I'm interested to see what is actually coming in versus going out. As you can see, I'm in the red for the day.We are in the process of preparing for a summer trip so I'm trying to keep spending LOW. Today's spending consisted of $115 for my doctor copay and a balance that was due from my last visit after insurance. The remaining $10 was for fresh flowers for my mom's gravesite. I try to take some at least once a month. She loved growing and receiving fresh flowers when she was alive. It was one of those things she hoped we would do for her when she passed.

Ebay was a bit slow at the beginning of the summer but sales have begun to pick up this month.

We took a trip at the beginning of summer and paid it completely with cash! Woohoo for us. For this next trip to see my inlaws, I'm trying really hard to budget with cash. Keeping fingers crossed!

Things at the antique booth are okay. I'm able to make my rent and then some but I'm considering closing up shop because its just not producing enough for me. I think my time would be better spent branching out on different social media platforms.

I'm off to continue listing before I make dinner. Hope everyone has a great evening!

Side Hustles, Decluttering and Grocery Delivery

2017-06-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Good Morning! I've been up since 630 am trying to find items to take to a cash for clothes place that opened up recently. Its a Mom and Pop place. A friend had mentioned it a few weeks ago and then again yesterday. She stopped by and received about 40 dollars for 11 items of clothing. That may not seem like a lot but for clothes that was going to give away that is not bad. I had a stack of clothing that was not really Ebay worthy yet I knew it still had some value. So, I took it on over and left 10 minutes later with $60. I decluttered and made $$. Today, I'm headed over with some items and we will see how it goes.

I will also continue to declutter as well as file and shred mountains of old paperwork. I so despise doing it but I need to clear this stuff that really holds me back at times. Clean house = more productive me!

Hopefully, by 2 this afternoon, I can get to taking pictures and listing at least 5 items on Ebay. I need to generate some much needed income. Today, my goal is at least $50 in sales. I'm trying to supplement our food budget because our kiddos are out of school and eating everything in sight. I'm seriously trying to avoid going to get fast food since it never satisfies their hunger. As long as I have fruit, veggies and sandwich fixings, they are good.

I've recently discovered the joys of home delivery for my groceries! I had tried the order online and pickup at the grocery store / Walmart. That was fine but this is even better. The service is Instacart and after two deliveries I am HOOKED! I ordered online, scheduled same day delivery and voila! groceries are at my doorstep. The delivery lady is super nice and the best part is the service is for a year. I do try to tip well since I'm saving a ton by not impulse buying a ton of junk! You can click here to get $10 off your first order and save a ton of time too!

Homemade burgers are what's for dinner tonight. Instead of fries we are doing sliced cucumbers. For dessert we are going to have fruit.

Off to reclaim my home from the clutter monster! Hoping each one of you has a super day!

Busy Paying off Debt!

2017-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

For the past year, I have been paying off debt. Am I debt free yet? Not yet but my debt payoff plan is gaining momentum and we are putting larger chunks of money towards our debt repayment. We have paid off three credit cards which I am so happy about. By December of 2018, we hope to be free of all credit card debt. I also expect to pay off a loan as well. I see the light at the end of the tunnel but I know there is still a ways to go before we are 100% debt free.

It has not been easy and requires willpower that we sometimes do not have. Do we still go out to eat a bit too much. YES. Do we still buy a lottery ticket in hopes of winning big, YES. However, we also have recognized our triggers. Before, my husband and I enabled each other. Now we try to talk each other off a financial ledge. We are financially growing up.

Paying off 3 credit cards has enabled us to plan for a family vacation as well as a family reunion. Could we pay off debt quicker by staying at home? Absolutely, but we realize we have to take a break sometimes and have some fun. We are paying for our vacation and Mr. Man's family reunion with cash. We refuse to put anything on credit. Its counterproductive. We know how it will play out if we do. We will put it off, keep charging and then eventually max out the card. NOT what we want to do.

We also have a plan and a budget. We have adjusted our budget for our trips. Grocery, gas and entertainment budget have been halved to account for our vacation spending. We also will be purchasing tickets online before our trip so that the only spending we will do is for food and gas.

I hope in the coming months, you all will see more items on our debt page disappear. I also hope to get back to reading some of my favorite budget blogs as well as finding new ones.

I'm off to list more items on Ebay, hope you all have a happy rest of the week!

Working on my TO DO list!

2016-06-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

Good Morning All! I must have started about 10 posts over the past few months and each time I would start over because I thought they weren't good enough. So I promised myself that Today I'd post no matter what!

Summer has begun and I have been working away at my TO DO List!

The majority of my Ebay Inventory is now neatly put away in bins on racks in the garage. YAY!

The fireplace is done and our living room is painted. Yippee!

Mr. Man and I have started an emergency fund...all these years and we kept failing at it. We have worked our savings into our budget and I hope we keep the momentum going!

I've been decluttering like a mad woman. I tend to hold on to too much stuff. I'm learning to let go of the unnecessary. This has been the hardest for me!

I am meal planning to reduce food waste. Eating out is my crutch! I'm trying to find simple and healthy meals that can both use what we have on hand and don't result in tons of food waste.

I have put myself on a buying freeze for Ebay! I have so much stock at the moment that I need to work through it before I can think of going on any big buying trips. I am allowing myself to buy only if its a rare or high end piece.

I'm dedicating time to ME. I have made small goals to work on my mind and body. For the next fourteen days, I challenged myself to get on the treadmill at least once a day. I am also being mindful of what I eat, while still giving myself room for a yummy dessert occasionally.

Here's my meal plan for this week:

Monday - Baked chicken breast, string beans and brown rice

Tuesday - Enchiladas with fresh pinto beans

Wednesday - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Thursday - LEFTOVER DAY

Friday - Bean and Cheese Tostadas and Spanish rice

Saturday - Mr. Man is BBQing

Sunday - Cheese Tortellini with Red Sauce and Salad

Monday - Hot Dogs

Be Grateful, Be Kind and Be Happy!

Busy with Dad, Side Hustles and Ebay!

2016-02-11T06:49:00.003-08:00

So grateful to be too busy...to me that means that I still have purpose somewhere in this crazy life! Dad has had a few ER visits but thankfully he's doing okay so that is a big plus.

Side hustle wise, I've turned it up a notch. I have been signing up for surveys for cash online. Made $125 last month on an online focus group I qualified for. I also have done a few mystery shops. Received a check for $36 for a SUPER easy pizza shop.

I also rented a very small booth space in an antique mall. Its about the width of a small bookcase and about 7 feet tall lengthwise. But I was elated to get the space. I have been inquiring every few months for about 2 years. So I was so happy to get my foot in the door. I have been taking items that are not quite right for Ebay but I believe still have value and I don't want to take them to Dad's fleamarket booth (He's overflowing with stuff right now). Its $40 per month and I already have made my booth fee in sales so I'm excited.

On Ebay, I have been listing and listing. I really am trying hard to reclaim my house and I refuse to stow away things in a storage room to be forgotten. So I am listing every chance I get. Sales have been good and I'm trying to increase my Ebay store inventory. I have plenty of stock to list so I'm scaling back on buying because frankly its ridiculous. In the past few months I did have one monster sale (for me that is) of over $2500. It helped out at just the right time.

I'm hoping to catch up on all my favorite blogs this weekend.

Oooh....one last thing....my Ebay tip for today....be on the lookout for high end perfume bottles. The possibility of finding them is very good considering everyone at one time or another will either buy or receive a nice quality perfume. If the bottle reads Made in France the chance it will sell is greater. They can bring in a pretty penny :)

Happy 2016!

2016-01-01T21:08:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone. Hoping that 2016 brings only great things to each and every one of you :) I finally have pried myself away from day to day life! I have not posted in AGES! Fireplace is 95% done. Floors are 100% done. Mr. Man has to do some finishing touches around house and paint changes above fireplace.

Here are some before and after shots:

Fireplace Demo!

New Fireplace Installed

Drywall installed

New Tile in Place

Fireplace almost done

Still have to wipe down fireplace and add edging to it but just glad to have my house back for the most part.

Gotta get back to listing on Ebay but hope to check in more often with more remodeling pics!

Trying to REMODEL on a budget!

2015-10-23T08:59:00.002-07:00

I feel like I've been away far too long! Things have been hectic for Mr. Man and I. We are currently remodeling our home. We had decided to sell it a few months ago and we were house hunting. Everything was on go but then came the realization that all the homes on the market did not meet our needs. We wanted a larger room for Kiddo2 but everything was actually the same size or smaller. And lets not get into how Kiddo1's room was bigger than anything we saw. We came to the conclusion that we would have to try to make it work where we are. Now, our dilemma was....How do we remodel our existing home without breaking the bank. It would be crazy to put a ridiculous amount of money into a house whose value will never go beyond a certain point. We priced roofers, chimney guys, floor people and general contractors. It was kind of a hit or miss kind of thing because people basically charge whatever they want. Mr. Man asked coworkers for recommendations and I asked my family. What we saved was amazing! Roofer guy price difference $1300! Flooring installer difference $1650! Our decisions were not made hastily. We shopped around and had several quotes. We wanted to be sure the people we hired were knowledgeable and dependable. Yesterday was the first day of remodeling! Chimney brick/wall was removed. I'm excited for the changes to come :)

Budget ideas, tips and advice with teens?

2015-09-03T06:20:00.003-07:00

(pic from cuculinary.com)

I love reading blogs, watching Youtube videos and scouring Pinterest for budget ideas but I never seem to find anything that really relates to me. I love all the helpful hints but if I'm to be honest, not a whole lot is very realistic in my world. I'm not a single parent, empty nester, homeschooler or Mom of preschoolers which seems to be the majority of information I find. I try to piece together what works best for our family but sometimes it would be nice to see a family who has two ravenous teens who eat their weight in food a week! LOL! To be honest, our food budget alone is totally on the opposite spectrum of a family with a baby and a two year old. Let's not mention clothing, school expenses, doctor visits (did I mention Austim is in the mix as well), spending time with friends and impending graduation/college costs. It's a whole lotta cash flying out the door. Teens will not be entertained with peekaboo or toilet roll crafts (okay maybe some of the times!). I can hear my own frustration here! I guess my post is sounding like a rant but there's a sea of Moms who are in the same boat...I'm just not really sure where they are?

Making money and spending money

2015-08-30T20:02:00.001-07:00

Summer has ended...the kiddos are back in school...and I've been trying to ramp up my listings on Ebay. Summer sales were rather dismal but I didn't give up.....I listed and listed and listed....I kept hearing other sellers say to stock your store and prepare for sales to ramp up in September. Thankfully August was a huge month for me. I sold about 35 items and made a little over $800! I was very proud of myself. The money came in very handy for school clothes and supply shopping. I'm going to try to keep the momentum going and hopefully save enough in September to pay off one of our credit cards which has a balance of $433. I've been listing everything under the sun. No item too big or too small. To my surprise, clothes have been a big seller. One item that always surprises me is old glasses and sunglasses. They are always guaranteed to sell so its worth digging around to see if they are worth anything. I will be updating my debt totals tonight so I'm hoping to get back under 150,000 but I'm not sure. Hope y'all have a great week!

Getting back on the Ebay horse....

2015-06-22T08:56:00.004-07:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! It's Monday so its a "blah" kind of morning to start but trying to turn it around and make it a YAY kind of day! I'm trying to get back on the Ebay horse as my listings have been dwinding a bit so I really need to ramp up my listing and make some $$$. I have lots of inventory so I'm going to scale back on Dad visits since my sister is off for the summer and pass the torch to her for a while. I find that a bit difficult but letting go for a bit is good for my sanity. LOL!

Summer is expensive because we try to keep on the go and naturally our food costs go up with 3 instead of 1 (sometimes 2 if I'm counting Dad) at home during the day. Add to that, electric/water costs go up and there you have it...summer money is needed. I'm also considering sending Kiddo2 to Math Camp next week. I wish I was the parent who is on top of things and had this all lined up already but I'm not. I should be...but I am not. I'm going to talk to Kiddo2 and get their thoughts on it.

Something new that I will do with every post is give a tip on Ebaying. Do I consider myself an expert...no... but after 13 years of Ebaying, I do believe I know a thing or two...lol! I'll start with one item to keep an eye out for....camping lanterns. Just about everyone has one in their garage or has a parent/grandparent who has one in theirs so its an easily accessible item. Some vintage lanterns can bring in hundreds of dollars while the ultra rare types bring in thousands of dollars. If you have one, a quick search of Ebay completed items will help gauge what your item is worth.

Y'all have a great day :)

Some days.....

2015-06-12T10:32:00.002-07:00

So its been FOREVER since I posted! Frankly, I didn't know what to write. School is over for the kiddos and summer has begun. We took a trip to Las Vegas for a family wedding. It was FUN but so tiring.

The trip cost us a pretty penny. We did use a bit of credit but paid a big chunk of it the day after we arrived back home. We tried to be pretty cost aware whenever we did anything. We ate breakfast off the strip which saved us a ton of money. We did a lot of free things like visit the Las Vegas sign, take a scenic drive to take pictures near the mountains and watched a few free shows at/around the casinos. The kids LOVED visiting Circus Circus. Yes, its dated, chaotic and WAY smoky but once they saw the arcade...they were in heaven. The circus acts every twenty minutes were so fun to watch too. We also really enjoyed our trip to the Wynn casino. It is absolutely beautiful. Kiddo2 wanted to visit because they had seen it in the Paul Blart 2 movie. LOL! I was so glad we went because the surroundings were lush, gorgeous and just plain amazing. I would gladly save my pennies to stay there! We stayed at the MGM Resort and Casino. It was very nice with lots to see and do. We had dinner at the FIAMMA Italian restaurant and it was excellent! The kids loved the Lazy River at the pool. And we all were amazed by the KA by Cirque du Soleil show. It felt like a real vacation!

So now we are back at home...its been hard readjusting back to reality but all good things must come to an end. Although we had a family friend visit our cat every other day, he was still not happy. He decided to poop on our leather couch. To say I was thoroughly disgusted is an understatement. Then, a day after we got home he did it again. I'm currently washing, scrubbing and spraying every surface possible to get the stink out. If not, we are going to need a new couch. That is not helpful to our budget. Also our garage door broke the day before we left so I need to call the repairman. I'm hoping the cost is minimal on that. But I can't complain, life can always be worse and so I have to be thankful for our blessings as much as I may want to scream in frustration, I have to tell myself that things can be replaced/fixed!

Today, I'll be working on clearing out more space and clutter. I'm seriously downsizing my Ebay stock because I need to concentrate on a small section of my items. Gathering items to take to Dad. I'm hoping everyone has a great weekend and I look forward to posting more this summer!

Performer at Circus Circus

Scenic drive

The Wynn

Every detail was so beautiful

Amazing outdoor waterfall

Fresh flower creations!

The Mirage volacano eruption

Boxing ring at the MGM

Cirque du Soleil theater at the MGM

We splurged on room service desserts while Mr. Man was a the casino

Trying to hold it all together....

2015-04-14T13:35:00.001-07:00

For the past couple of months, I have started to write a new post only to go back and delete it. I am being pulled in so many different directions that I didn't know what exactly I should write of. Our financial position is not a whole lot different. Mr. Man did get a new vehicle so our debt total did go up some for the time being. Thankfully we are in a good place at the current moment and need to focus on that. I've also been sick, the kiddos have been sick and finally on Easter Sunday, Dad had a minor medical emergency. He's 86 years old and although very active, he's still EIGHTY SIX years old. Now, I'm left to decide what is our plan moving forward. Should we find a bigger home and tell Dad to move in or allow him his independence while dividing time between our home and his. And also why am I the only one seriously considering this option. I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Some days I want to live carefree and just enjoy my kids and husband but life isn't allowing that. Then, guilt creeps in and I feel terrible for just wanting a "normal" life even though I know nothing is ever "normal" for anyone. In the end, I know that I won't be content unless I know Dad is okay and at the moment it seems like I'm the only one who can provide that for him or for that matter WANTS to provide that for him. It's tough, no one tells you these parts of life. It's not always fun but in the end I know its the right thing to do.

How We Save Money...

2015-01-16T05:26:00.001-08:00

I always enjoy reading about how others save money in their daily lives so I thought I'd share the little ways we save....

1. Skip the soda/cookie/chip aisle at the grocery store. I find it amazing how many people load down their carts with cases of soda, chips and cookies. Hey, I love me some junk food but I also know that I cannot have it in the house because it will all be gone within the day! Plus all that money adds up and I'd rather get a few extra fruits and vegetables instead.

2. We do not have cable. Some people may cringe at this thought but we cut the cord about 2-3 years ago. And that was with a teenager and elementary aged kid. The kids watch the shows they like online and we stream movies and tv shows through Netflix and Amazon. Plus Youtube has so many helpful and funny videos. We use an HDTV anntenna on our TV to catch local stations and ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and the CW. We do not miss paying the extra $100 a month at all!

3. We have a budget. Now, sometimes we go over our allotted amounts but it keeps us accountable and helps guide us in order to save money. Our budget lists all fixed bills as well as food, gas, lunch money and other "soft" expenses. If ever we have a tight month we can immediately see where we can trim spending.

4. I coupon. I'm not an extreme crazy couponer (sometimes I wish I was..lol) . I just search and clip coupons on items we use normally. I also use rewards cards and keep a stockpile of items we use daily.

5. The last way we save money is we enjoy the little things! Although I would love to spend a day at the mall every weekend shopping away...I always stop myself and ask " Is that where my time is best spent?" Making memories with my kids and giving them experiences rather than things has played a huge part in getting our finances back on track. They remember days at the park, shows we've seen together and fun trips we've taken over things we have bought for them.

I'm hoping ya'll have a great weekend and as always I look forward to reading how ya'll save :)

Tortillas on a cold day!

2015-01-08T20:11:00.002-08:00

Its been really cold for here in South Texas. The other day, I was too cozy at home to venture out so I made due with what we had here. I made some tortillas. I don't make them very often because Kiddo2 is gluten sensitive but we all did enjoy this rare treat.

I didn't have a griddle to cook them on so I just used a piece of tin foil on the flat ceramic stovetop. Worked like a charm!

I was in the mood for some zucchini so I put some in the oven...

I heated up some refried beans, added shredded mozzarella and the roasted zucchini and well I couldn't wait...

It was so yummy!