It's a party day at our house. Actually, the party is at an pizza arcade. We are celebrating my daughter's 13th birthday which is next week. I'm taking the girls and a couple friends for the lunch buffet for $5.99 per person. I will need to buy game cards, too. I have a $10 gift certificate to apply to transaction. It should be a fun time!

I'm still waiting to sell my one item on craigslist. My buyer didn't show last night, but said I could sell to someone else. I have emailed the next person on the list. I hope to sell it soon!! I had plenty of interest.

I requested a $16 cash out from a survey site yesterday. I was pleased to find out that they will be able to deposit the money into my paypal account! For some reason, it still takes two weeks before it hits my account. It took me over a year to meet the minimum of $10, so I think I'm done with them. American Consumer Opinion Poll, if you want to know.

I typed an entry and lost it. Here's the condensed version:

1) Pinecone survey payment $3.00. Paid by Paypal. Love how quick it is.
2) Shopped for shoes. Bought nothing. Now two no spend days in a row.
3) As part of my spring cleaning: cleaned my washer with bleach and washed out garbage can.
4) Not motivated to do ebay right now. Have lots of items. Deciding on date with neighbors for garage sale. Need snow to melt and warmer temperatures.

I wasn't really looking for them. I was at Target anyway! I bought only things we use and would normally buy, even though a few other items were tempting.

Here's what I got:

4 pack Edge shaving cream $4.24*3 = $12.72
30 ct Swiss Miss hot chocolate $1.88
2 pk Market Pantry apple juice $1.48*2 = $2.96
2 pk Soft scrub $2.48
Total spent = $20.04

Target had a section soon after the first of the year where you could buy in bulk, like Sam's Club and Costco. These deals were in those sections and were primarily marked down 50%.

Prior to my purchases I returned two items equal to $40.45!! Now to convince my husband to lug 12 containers of shaving cream overseas....

I have eaten out in restaurants twice this month. Once with a friend and once with my husband. I ate out with hubby today. He arrived back home yesterday!! I only get him for another day. Then he has training in another state.

Today we went to TGI Friday's with a coupon. I will just say he picked a more expensive meal. However, with the coupon my meal was "free" and as was my water.

We then went shopping!! He needed a new backpack. The one he traveled with was starting to tear...and not at the seams. Ugh. And he needed a new toiletry bag, toiletries and shower shoes. I'm glad I set aside some cash for these things.

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I signed up for paypal payments for my Pincone surveys. Those are quick! I took a survey on Saturday and was just paid today. I'm glad I made the switch.

I had an offer to join JC Penney rewards in my email inbox this week. I would get a $10 coupon good towards any purchase. I signed up and we went shopping today.

My oldest daughter needed a new dressy shirt for her band concert. Found one originally priced at $36, which was 40% off. After the coupon was deducted and tax was added, I paid $10.59.

It was a quick shopping trip. She looked, picked one out, tried it on, we paid and we were on our way back home. I love those types of trips!!

Went to the dealer for an oil change on our Honda Odyssey. They have changed owners and no longer price match competitors. Darn!

Turns out I need a couple filters, tire rotation and alignment. I let them change the filters. They were pretty gross! I don't think I want to comment on how much they were. I only wonder, if I could have picked them up cheaper elsewhere and changed them myself. The van is still new, so lot of the parts, are not available elsewhere. We had it happen with the rear windshield wiper blade. I will look into it, so I'm better prepared next time!

I will definitely get the rotation and tire alignment, but probably next month. I need to get through winter and stop running into pot holes first! This will cost just under $250. Ugh! Apparently well worth it to extend the life of our expensive tires. The van is on its first set, makes me wonder how much the tires are!

Our auto insurance increased six months ago and now has decreased. We will save about $5/month or $30 for six months. It gets confusing when they make changes to premiums even though we did not make any changes ourselves.

When the policy renewal came, it was mentioned that we could sign up for accident forgiveness for less than $1/month. Turns out for us, it is $0.24 per month or $2.88 per year. I decided to sign up. The benefits outway the costs!

We pay for our auto insurance every six months, but save for it each pay day in our escrow account. Right now I put $78 away each payday towards auto insurance and other non monthly bills. You can see our details on Escrow Account page on my sidebar. I'm not going to adjust the savings because of this auto premium change. It just means there will be a little extra available should any other items increase.

How often do you pay for auto insurance? Monthly? Semiannually?

I've been in need of a winter coat for awhile. In became quite dire, last weekend when my zipper decided to start ripping away from the coat.

Yesterday, I hit the jackpot at Kohl's. Most of their coats are now on clearance, ranging from 60% to 80% off. I picked up a Columbia 3 in 1 coat. The original tag reads $220. It was 80% off yesterday. I had an additional 15% off purchase coupon. With tax, I paid $39.64 for this great coat. You have no idea how excited I am!

It is a little amusing to me that I did get this coat. I tried it on before Christmas when it was on a regular sale of 40% off. At the time, I couldn't justify the expense to myself. On Monday, I was at Kohl's and this same coat was only 30% off. I skipped this one, but looked at others and didn't buy because the sizes were wrong in the others. This led me to another Kohl's on Friday to find the size I wanted in this other coat. The second choice coat was not marked down nearly as much as the one I ended up buying. It just seems to have worked out! I love it when that happens.

I wore it yesterday while I shoveled the driveway. It was very warm. Yipee!

Our garage door opener decided to stop working on Thursday. It would hum like the motor was running or stuck, but the door or the chain wouldn't move. My husband thought it needed a tension adjustment. Nope. Our guess is that a part was stripped out and was no longer connecting to the motor.

It really was not the best time to replace this item. Not monetarily, but just time wise. My husband's time at home is becoming more and more limited. I thought this is not something that has to be replaced. It is a convenience item. I'm strong and healthy enough to lift a garage door up and down. No big deal.

My husband thought otherwise. He spent his Thursday evening buying a new garage door opener and installing it. Only took 2.5 hours. We bought the same brand and type and only replaced the main component and the rail. All other wiring remained intact.

Cost: $148

It is nice to have it working, of course. The decision was so quick, I just hope it was the right one. Maybe the stripped part could have been replaced cheaper. But how easily to find the part? How easy to replace? We won't ever know...because we made a quick decision. Lucky for us, the decision isn't going to break the bank.

Does this happen to you? Do you make quick decisions? Do you wonder if they are more costly?

I just finished building our new computer, a laptop, through Dell.com. I am really pleased with the price. Before shipping and taxes the computer is $494. Last month when I built the same computer it was over $600!

Thanks, Mrs. for the coupon code. It definitely saved me money.

The computer will be my primary computer soon when my husband travels with our current laptop overseas. I'm looking forward to Windows 7. Vista is making me crazy!!

I spent the day sewing a tote bag for my neice that will turn 6 later this month. It turned out great! The fabric was $2 on clearance at Hobby Lobby. I only needed to use thread and interfacing that I already had. It will have to be mailed. Six year olds like gifts in the mail, right?

I also made a fabric pouch that measures about 6 inches x 5 inches. I will give it as a gift as well.

I've been thinking of quite a few things I could make to give as gifts this year. Here's an initial idea list: pajama pants, pillow case, napkins, coasters, placemats, throw size quilt. I even have instructions to make a purse and a stuffed turtle! It is exciting to think about all the possibilities.

My oldest daughter made some coasters yesterday. She is really getting the hang of sewing. She's about to learn how to sew a zipper in her sewing class at school. I just taught myself today!!

I just need to keep the cost of fabric low by watching sales and picking through clearance fabric.

Do you know how to sew? What kinds of things do you make?

The bill for gas and electric arrived today to the tune of $234. Yikes!

We will make our regular $105 payment and the remainder is paid from the $300 credit we have. Nice! Unfortunately, our payment is going to go up starting next month to $119. I won't complain, it is still very reasonable.

This large bill covered 36 days where the average temperature was 18. Of course, today it was negative 8 degrees when I woke up. Tomorrow our area will get to 20 degrees above zero. It's going to feel like a heat wave!!

I've always used budget billing for energy costs. Even though I could budget for the year based on prior years, I think the energy company seems to have a better grasp on future energy costs than I would have.

Do you use budget billing? If you don't, why?

My husband and coworkers are traveling today in the midwest. Unfortuately, travel is not advised! Ugh. Please say a prayer for their safe journey.

The trip is 3.5 hours long in good weather and is expected to take over 8 hours.

My girls have a snow day from school. They are using their time to open new driving cups on Mario Kart. They just discovered this, so are thrilled.

Our furnace is working over time. I am very thankful it is working well. Tomorrow's high will be negative 3 degrees. The wind chill will make it VERY cold. We have a large credit right now with the power company, so it will be nice to have when the next bill arrives.

I'm making peanut butter cookies (with chocolate chips) to celebrate my daughter's half birthday. I'm thrilled to have all the ingredients in the house! She will be thrilled that I thought of her.

I wish I could say that makes it a no spend day, but I ventured out in negative temperatures to get my hair cut! I'm crazy.

If it is crazy cold where you are, you might check the air in your tires. My van alerted me yesterday, that mine were low on air. Stay warm!

I have nearly $1100 set aside that I was trying to decide what to do with. I now know what it is being used for.

I sent my husband to get the oil changed in the car yesterday. Turns out a major repair was needed to the tune of $975! When they lifted the car (2002 Ford Taurus) up the strut on the back left of the vehicle broke stabbing the tire at the same time. Guess what? We HAD to get new struts on the back and a new tire.

We already had a similar thing happen to the front end about a year ago. This is VERY common on these cars. It won't happen again since these are manufactured different than the original. Thank goodness! I'm so thankful we were not driving it at the time.

This car repair will set us back at least another two weeks on the home equity loan. At this point, I might just save up the money I need and then pay it off rather than little bits at a time. With my husband's overseas travel getting closer there are bound to be unplanned expenses. What I mean is my husband hasn't thought ahead to what those are and/or hasn't thought to tell me. Ugh!

My stress level has gone through the roof in the last 24 hours because of this car repair on top of other things going on. Crazy, really. I should be grateful we have the cash right now to pay it off without dipping into the emergency fund. I'm just disappointed with the set back. I will get through this!

Our financial picture of 2009 wraps up like this:

Retirement contributions: $14,147.00
Retirement accounts increased: $33,219.29
Retirement accounts exceeded $100K

Total debt decreased: $17,011.21
Nearly $10K paid on HEL!!

Our net worth increased by approximately $50,230.50, which does not include any increase or decrease in our home's value.

We paid cash for a trip to Disney World and our daughter's braces. Yipee!!

I went roller skating with the girls today. And I actually fell down once! The palms of my hands hurt. We were able to skate and rent skates for $4.50 per person and skated for nearly three hours.

The rest of the day will consist of organizing. The basement has become a bit of a catchall recently. I'm going to set some clear piles for donation, ebay and garage sales. The donation pile will end up at Goodwill tomorrow! I'm also going to take down a few of the holiday decorations. The tree will stay up until Friday.

Enjoy your last few days of the year!

Yep, the day after Christmas and we are going shopping. We want to hit Old Navy for an exchange. The store also has jeans on sale, which my daughter's both need. Might as well get a good deal on them!

We will spend the rest of our day prepping for travel. The snow has finally stopped. Our area really didn't get too much, but our destination did. We just need to make sure the roads are clear and safe. Our time away will be less than originally planned, too. So be it.

Less than one week of 2009. I want to make a list of things to accomplish before year end. How about you?

Right now, all I'm really thinking about finances is: try not to spend anymore money until payday! We will get paid on December 30th because of the holidays.

December is a spendy month. It's not just the gifts, but the food, the gas for traveling and batteries!

Okay. You know me to well. I am looking ahead financially, too! I'm looking forward to making our next big dent in the home equity loan and updating our final numbers for 2009. The stock market seems to want to go up the last couple days and I want to include any gains!!

On a tax note: I think I will total up the value of our thrift store donations today and enter it into the tax program.

It turns out you can sign up at Kohls.com with your email address to receive a $5 coupon. The coupon is valid on a minimum purchase of $5. It does take several days before it shows up in your email. I think I'm going to buy some socks with mine!!

I took a survey with American Consumer Opinion tonight. At the end, it reminded me that my account would be credited with the $4 in a few days. I checked my account afterwards, and I have $4 in my account already for a survey I took in February!! I will cash out my account, with $8, once my most recent survey posts. It is fun to find money you didn't realize you had.

We will be buying a new computer in the near future. Specifically, a laptop.

We have one now that my husband will take with him during deployment. That will leave me needing a new one. And yes, it is a need.

A computer, with email, and the ability to send and receive videos is essential to our emotional well being during deployment.

Right now, we have a pretty good idea of what we want to buy. The current price is very good at $449, through Monday. I'd rather wait until after the holidays to take on this additional expense. However, I wonder if the price will go up considerably if we wait. Or will the price drop after the holidays. Does anyone know?

We could even wait a couple months. I just want the best price.

This year my out of pocket costs for gift wrapping were near zero! Technically, I bought many of the items in the past, so they cost me something at some point.

I wrapped most items in wrapping paper, which I already owned. I save bows from previous years, if they still look good, and reuse them. This year was no different. I also seemed to have a stash of gift tags. I've decided for future years not to buy gift tags, but use red or green card stock to make a small folded card(the size of a business card) to tape on the gift.

I also wrapped many gifts in gift bags! I skip the tissue paper in most cases and close the top of the bag with tape to keep out little hands and eyes! The gift bags get used over and over, too. I have an abundance of these this year and will give my mom a stack so she doesn't go out and buy new ones.

The only thing I bought for gift wrapping was tape...on sale of course. This is a good item to buy with Walgreen's register rewards if you don't know what to purchase.

How do you keep your gift wrapping costs down?

Not literally. We have two checking accounts. I put any extra money into the second account and call it our slush fund.

Our spending has topped the amount we had in our first checking account for this pay period. As a result, we had to take some funds from the slush fund. A whopping $13.82!! Not bad.

The truth is I don't like stepping into the slush. It's more uncomfortable to me than the real thing. Luckily, tomorrow is payday and our first account will be flush full of cash again.

OMG! I just added up the number of people we are giving gifts to this year. 30. I think I'm in shock! I had no idea it was that many.

I've included our immediate family, extended family, teachers, a coworker and friends. The list is pretty typical of most years.

Luckily, I've been getting some very good deals this year. For example, I bought three items from Old Navy today and paid only $2.47 out my own pocket! Nice.

Right now, there really isn't a way to trim down the list, unless I knock out the teachers and friends. The biggest part of the list is extended family. I have 10 neices and nephews, age 21 to 6 mos old. I can get away with less than $10 for the youngest ones and spend around $15 for the older ones. In fact, many are getting just that: $15 cash.

How many people do you buy for at the holidays?

We haven't headed out yet, but we have plans to spend this weekend. Gas for the vehicles and snowblower, groceries, Christmas gifts and stamps, boots and snow gloves for both girls. The snow starts tomorrow ending with a bang on Tuesday!

I think we are going to see a movie tomorrow, too. Our time with DH is going to be more and more limited in 2010, so we want to get out and do a few outings together.

I'm waiting for a check from my mother in law. She wants me to buy the gifts for the girls. No problem. Just get me the money! The amount seems to vary from year to year making it a little difficult to plan.

I think we are going to see a movie tomorrow, too. Our time with DH is going to be more and more limited in 2010, so we want to get out and do a few outings together.

We went through DH's civilian clothes. I want to get rid of the stuff he isn't wearing anymore now, rather than while he is gone or even after he returns. We did find quite a few items to donate from his heavier days over two years ago. I hope we can do a little more decluttering this weekend. The girls rooms need some help, too.

On my desk, I have 4 seperate $10 coupons for Old Navy, a $10 Kohl's coupon and $5 off a Hallmark purchase. I don't have to spend a minimum to use these, so it's like free money!

I also have a $10 off a $30 purchase at Bath & Body Works. I can used this to buy a nice gift for a sister in law, with only about $20 out of my pocket.

I'm using the $10 Kohl's coupon to buy some items for my sister. I will end up getting $30 worth of items for $11, by using the coupon with their sale.

I don't have specific plans for the Old Navy and Hallmark coupons. I will only use them if the right gift can be purchased for someone on my gift list.

I guess the marketing is working a bit on me!! Sorry, DisneySteve. I know this shopping stuff is wearing you out.

I made a big payment to our home equity loan today in the amount of $935. As a result, the loan balance is now $4,236.95!
I think we can get to under $4K by the end of the year.

I told my husband I made a large payment to the loan. He said, "What? A double or triple payment?" Umm...our regular payment is $118. That's almost 8 times the regular payment! Can you tell he doesn't pay to much attention to this stuff?

I bought 20 holiday picture cards online yesterday from Kodak. I never send out picture cards, but I took a really nice picture of our girls while we were at my parents over Thanksgiving. I found a 40% off coupon and with shipping paid $11.78. Pretty good! I now need to buy some stamps.

I'm thinking of buying our new digital camera from Amazon. I realized that I can save the sales tax by purchasing from them. The camera I'm looking at comes with an extra memory card if I buy from Amazon as well. I would save about $24 online. It seems worth it. I just need to run it by my husband.

I did some online Christmas shopping today. I shopped at LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. I received free shipping on all items either with a code or because I met the site's minimum order.

At Barnes and Noble I used a $20 gift card and a coupon code for an additional 15% off one item. I ended up with two books for about $7 out of my pocket.

I will receive a $10 gift card to LL Bean next week in the mail because I spent more than $25. Not sure what I will buy. Maybe nothing.

It feels nice to have some shopping done!

The last few days went quickly and were enjoyable for the most part. My only Black Friday shopping consisted of picking up some lotion and soaps while we were at Whole Foods. This was around noon! So I was not one of the crack of dawn shoppers.

My husband's family has decided to draw names for gifts. We have two names, each with a $25 limit. Last year we did a white elephant exchange and the two years before the limit was $15 each. It's a bit amusing to me, as several family members are unemployed, so you'd think this would be the year for a white elephant repeat, rather than an increase in the gift limit.

Our house has been decorated for Christmas. We had a couple strands of light that are no longer working. We have decided we don't need as many lights outside anyway! Saves us cash from buying more and some energy for less lights being used!

Yesterday's mail brought us a $50 gift card from Qwest for being loyal customers. I also received the $50 restauant.com certificate last week from them as well. Nice!

Today, I'm pretty run down with a cold. Darn. I guess I caught something while traveling. Yes, I'm drinking lots of fluids.

Tomorrow...I'm shopping online! The less time in the stores the better.

Can you believe it? You better not, because I did return it, but I purchased it again. Why? Target was offering a $20 gift card with a purchase of a Wii. I just couldn't pass that cash up. I then turned around and used the $20 to purchase a nunchuck (basically an extra controller, for you non-wii people) for free!!

I have plans to buy the additional items we need for the Wii on Amazon.com. Right now each item is about $5 less than if I purchased them in the stores. I'm watching to see if the prices drop in the next couple days. The odds are they won't, but it is worth waiting a little bit.

Once we make our initial investment, I expect to rent or buy games used. The total value of the items we are purchasing is around $375. This summer the console was $50 more. I would have spent $425. Once all the items are purchased I will have spent $295! That is nearly a 30% savings from this summer. I will have the console, two remotes, two nunchucks, 3 games and two steering wheels. Not bad!