Christmas Saving

I saw on facebook that one of my acquaintances has completed her Christmas shopping!?! What the what? Christmas shopping already? It still feels like summer in my neck of the woods. I can't even begin to think of Christmas right now.

But then it hit me... Christmas is only 4 months away. And while I am not ready to think about shopping, wrapping, decorating, and cookie baking, I do need to think about putting extra money away to afford all of those lovely presents and fun extras that creep up during the holiday season.

We like to keep out Christmas shopping budget at $500. And I always think its wise to save an extra $200 for the miscellaneous extras that happen during holiday time. Example #1: in 2006 when we blew a tire right after thanksgiving or Example #2: Christmas Eve 2007 when our sink stopped working and we were forced to call a Plumber and pay extra due to the holiday.

So that means the Martin's will be saving $700 in 3 months and 1 week.

With two paychecks for each of us a month that works out to $60 a paycheck.

We agreed to write ourselves a check each pay period for $60 and place it into a separate savings account. This way we will be credit debit free this holiday season and we won't have to dip into savings.

I feel like with this post we are already in the holiday spirit!

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4/15: Highway Robbery!

This year Mr. R and I had to pay Uncle Sam.

I am not happy.

I may not miss Bush, but I do miss his tax cuts!

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3/23: The grocery game...

I read A LOT of blogs and the new things going around besides Lands' End Canvas and fabulous Justin's nut butter (I know the name makes it sound dirty) is the grocery game.

In the effort to save money in 2010, Mr. R and I have been all ears to anything that will net us a few more clams each month. I signed up for the grocery game, I downloaded my coupons, I shopped at the stores I was supposed to and bought my items in bulk. But I have to admit, I don't think it is worth it. I looked at our statements and while I did save a dollar or two here and there, I didn't see any real savings in our monthly spending budget.

I really like the idea of the grocery game, but I have to admit I am lazy and I really only like to shop at four places, Publix, Target, Costco, and Wal-Mart are enough for me. Having to go to Walgreens, CVS, and Winn-Dixie on top of my other stores just felt like too much and made shopping more of a chore than it already is.

So fellow bloggers, I am giving up on the grocery game and I am going back to my tried and true method for savings. I am a coupon lady! I love the sunday paper with all of its adds and I love taking out my little scissors and finding discounts.

If you happen to be behind me in line in the next few weeks I make no apology for my massive collection of coupons and the savings that I am banking! In fact, I saved $19.03 just this week.

It was a bad week for cars

If you read my post from Monday you already know our little Cabrio has been out of commission due intense rain, low lying exit ramps, and a giant puddle on county road 207. It stalled out in the middle of the road, got a tow home to our driveway which was also underwater, and has been starting up just fine since Tuesday. Still, I wasn't all that comfortable driving it to and from work in the land of puddles.

This wasn't a problem (since Mr. R works from home) and the Scion has been uneventfully ferrying me to and from work for the past three days until.... WE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT ON THE WAY TO WALMART!

I know what you are thinking, serves you right for shopping at the evils of corporate America. And maybe so, but you can't beat their prices. $82.00 later we have a new tire, perfect tire alignment, and finally two cars back in working condition.

Let's hope this three day weekend is as automobile uneventful as possible.

Blessing in disguise?

Every night before I collapse of exhaustion I pray. Usually I pray for forgiveness, patience, and wisdom. Last night I prayed for understanding. I found out yesterday that I did not get hired for my typical summer job. It's fantastic summer money and in fact last summer it paid the down payment on our home. The letter I got telling me about my non-employable status rambled on about the economy, school budget, and lack of money to hire back summer teachers. I was so angry at first. Angry becuase I expected the job to be mine and also angry becuase I was greedily counting the money I planned to be making this summer.

I have no idea why I will not be working Marine Science camp this summer, but I can take solace in the fact that God in HIS infinite wisdom has decied a new plan for this June. I talked to Mr. Republican last night and he thinks I have been working too hard with no breaks for too long and that a summer of may do me some good.

I can't imagine how I will be spendigng this summer...part-time job? take new classes at the gym? reading fantastic books that I have been eyeing at the library? logging sunny hours pool side or volunteering at the hospital and red cross?

I am kind of nervous about having so much time all to myself. I can't imagine I will be bored, after all I could always work on the house! I am looking forward to naps, sleeping in, and more time with the hubs.