Another day - another .....

 I wanted to be more active with this blog, but at the same time, I am not sure exactly how to go about doing so. If you have stumbled across my blog and care to hang with me while I try this out, I am ever so grateful. I hope the focus and effort will improve as I write more and grow with my  blog. 

This week, I took on a photography job. I was more than happy to do so. I love photography and capturing moments. I worked for a photography studio for about 5 minutes but I prefer action or un-staged photography to be my favorite. This was a senior photo shoot of shorts which involved a drum set and a plane. It was rather unique and I was more than happy to lend my time, camera, and small talent to the event free of charge. The mom graciously paid me $200. I am still in shock. 

I think I covered how we are in position to live comfortably had I not been so quick to give into whims or travel previously without paying off credit card debt when I created it. Instead of having roughly $1500 each month to enjoy life, save for trips, have a good Christmas, etc - we are paying off debt the slow way, while also paying off student loans, the IRS, and trying to renovate our home (this house needs a LOT of TLC)...oh and medical bills too. My husband works a second/third job doing security for the local arena, security for football games, and working a mixer board for a sound company at events they have. The mixer board funds, I do not see a penny, but he has of recent be using those funds for buying tools for the house projects and purchasing materials for said projects. The security jobs, those funds either go to the household expenses, credit cards, or renovations. I have my full time job and this past fall worked as a registrar for our local soccer club. The funds from the registrar work were put toward catching up some past due bills and spending a little too much on back to school and eating dinners at nicer restaurants. Since that time, I have been more diligent as stated in my previous post with eating dinner at home. 

This past weekend however, my son wanted friends over. I had intended to make a quick trip to the grocery store and pick up items for the boys to make homemade pizza (flour, yeast, sauce, toppings, and so on) as well as items for breakfast the following morning. Due to the various times of arrival and being hungry and limited on time, I skipped the grocery store and we ordered pizza from Papa Johns - using their specials - and I ordered too much - spending $60 on pizza. Then for breakfast the next morning because I skipped the store run Friday night, I opted for donuts and kolaches and 7Brew coffee - totaling another $40 or so. Well past my budget - I mean, I had intended to spend maybe $125 on groceries for the week, and still never made it to the store because my head hurt so bad. Saturday, we had left over pizza from Friday night for dinner (no real lunch), and Sunday we had a frozen pizza. Monday night I made a form of quick and easy goulash - I used frozen premade meatballs from Sam's which I had in the freezer, half of a large jar of Ragu sauce from Sam's and elbow macaroni - adding to it some mozzarella cheese. It wasn't bad, and left enough for left overs. 

Tonight after picking my son up from swim practice, I had to go by the store. We are out of bread, milk, and eggs. I also picked up a few other items for my lunches at home and to make tacos. Unfortunately, I haven't been feeling great since Saturday morning - no energy, lots of sleeping (typical after my Botox shots for my migraines for some reason) also my migraines have been off the charts. I spent $54 at Kroger and because I didn't want to come home and cook because I was exhausted and my kitchen was a disaster, we went through McDonald's and spent $26, so I spent another $80 today. 

I am happy about the $200 but afraid to use it just yet. I want to be sure she is happy with what I gave her before spending the money because I worry I may need to reimburse her. I have never charged someone for my own work. 

I did use part of the funds she gave me the day of taking the photos, I have used $70. I was short on having funds for the house payment so I withdrew $100 from savings and used the $70 from the shoot and was able to make my house payment. I need to remember to make my house payment on the 1st instead of waiting so late to save on interest. The closer to beginning of the month, the less extra days of accumulated interest, right? I've also discovered if I can pay an extra $33.25 per month on my house payment it will save $19,XXX in interest and almost 2 years of payments. 

Once I know for sure the mom is satisfied with her photos, I am going to pay off my small credit card, and pay a small amount on a card I need to use in December for a swim meet. Paying off the $90 card will mean I can add that payment sooner to the next smallest card with a $218 balance. Again, most resources will tell you to not cancel the cards you pay off because it looks good having the extra available credit, but I don't think $300 will make that much difference. I fear it will be a slow journey to start but once we get rolling it should start going pretty quick and the debt will start to  be less of a burden to carry. 

I am contemplating sushi for dinner tomorrow evening since it has been a few months since we've had that treat - store bought, not restaurant, and then we will have tacos Thursday evening. 
Also, this week, my husband will be working at least (2) evenings/events, maybe (3). I am hoping for (3), but good with (2). We both enjoyed a relaxing weekend this past weekend, so it will be good to have a little extra cash before the holidays.