The Odd, Tangled and Organized Life

 My savings account is growing. Slowly but surely. I'm up to $333.68, thanks in part to selling a few things and my large DoorDash earnings.  Tonight I did DoorDash again and made over $55. Hoping for another stellar week this week, even though I won't be working on Wednesday or Thursday. Wednesday I have therapy and Thursday I have the dentist.  Had a couple nibbles on items I'm selling. Hopefully they will sell and then I'll have more money. I do have a deposit from Mercari coming this week, but I've already figured that into the savings account. And I should have an eBay deposit this week, if the item arrives on time.  I have 41 items for sale on eBay. I was hoping to get some more tonight, but it is almost 10. I need my sleep.  I did have a thought today. I'd like to start a spreadsheet for myself that has all the things I buy on a regular basis - cleaning supplies, cat food, even food, and find the best deal. For example - my Kirby supplies. I purchased som...

 It is Friday night and my idea of fun is paying bills. Yep! Some good news this week. I made my goal of $1600 for the car maintenance. And scheduled the appointment. My baby goes in for a tune up on Wednesday. So my savings goal is back down to $182.34. That's okay. Because I am getting $18 from Mercari. I sold a couple things. And I'm getting a healthy chunk of money from DoorDash. I have been working DoorDash all week. The weather has been nice and I've been able to get out and put some hours in and some miles on my car. I am laser focused on getting that balance up to $1000. So, if for the next few week, I'm working every day and doing 2 shifts on Saturday and Sunday, so be it.  I'm going to be doing DoorDash as long as the sun holds out. But, I stop when it gets dark. Right now I'm stopping at about 7:30. There's still some light out. But soon the days will be getting shorter and I'm not going to have that sunlight. So I'll need to cut down on m...

 I have a paid off 2012 Subaru Impreza. I love my car. Sheila (my car) has gotten me out of snowbanks and through blizzards, sometimes swimming through snow up to the bottom of the door. Love Subarus. Well, with this new approach to my spending, and not borrowing anything, I'm not going to get a loan for a new car. Instead, I will save for a newer car. Not brand new (unless I can buy it outright), but I still want all the bells and whistles. And it will be a Subaru. You kinda need all-wheel drive in Minnesnowta.  So, I made this decision and I'm looking at the oil change that I need to do in September. The dealership also listed that a transmission fluid flush is recommended and a water pump and timing belt replacement. Called the dealership and got a price quote for everything. $1600! That's more than the emergency fund will have. Currently I have $592 in the emergency fund. I took out $300 from the SmartyPig fund where I was putting half my DoorDash income.  Add in $713...

 I don't claim to know everything. In fact, I'm learning. Always. Knowledge is power. Don't ever forget that. I'm learning the Dave Ramsey method. I'm not saying it will always work for everyone. I'm not a financial expert. I'm not a CPA. I'm not an attorney. None of what I post is meant to be professional advice - merely my opinion. That being said. I will tell you what has worked for me in the past. Or what is working for me now. Or what I am trying that seems to make sense.  I'm tired of borrowing from banks with a high interest rate. I don't have the best credit, so high interest rates seem to be the only thing that is available to me. Plus, that is how the banks make money. They don't make money when you borrow from them - they make money when you pay the interest on your loans or credit cards.  That is what the emergency savings account is for. For emergencies that I can borrow against. And I'm paying myself back - not some corporat...

 Hi everyone! It has been a little while since I posted. Sometimes I get wrapped up in my projects that I forget.  So, things have changed. New blog name - I'm not giving up on going debt free. Still working as hard as ever. Saving every penny I can. I finally bought Dave Ramsey's book and it arrived today! I'm so excited to start reading it and really buckling down and moving my life forward.  One of the first steps I'm taking is to really take a look at my finances and my monthly budget. It's never a fun thing to do, trust me. And I've found a couple places where I can trim. First - no more manicures and pedicures. At least until I can get the debt paid off. Yes, I realize that may take a year or more, but I am confident. One thing I have learned from Dave Ramsey is to "Live like no one today so you can live like no one tomorrow." Basically, don't live like everyone else and their extravagant spending. Don't live above your means until you ha...

New month. Time to start fresh on the whole debt countdown. Well, not completely fresh, but I need to hunker down and really start working hard. Which means, I need to do a no spend August. No spending outside the budget. No spending on frivolous things.  So, here are the rules: - Spend only what is budgeted. I have a spreadsheet I use for my accounting.  - I have budgeted for my nail appointments, so I will keep those. But that is only for manicures. Not pedicures. - Reduce spending on groceries. I have plenty of food in my house, so I need to eat that and go through my pantry and freezers. No eating out. Like I said, I have plenty of food. - No spending on the business unless I run out of something. I just bought a bunch of bubble wrap and mailers, so until I am down to 1, no spending. Until I fill up the shelves in my spare room, no buying shelves. No yarn, no spending at thrift stores or garage sales. I have plenty of things to list and sell. Not going to run out any time ...