blah blah blah

all the kids are home and bedlam reigns. I mean ALL the kids are home.......I can't even think with all the noise. I need ink for my printer so I can print out the prom pictures from the other evening. I think they turned out pretty good. now I just need to print them to get them put into an album to take to work to show off. Plus I need to go ahead and put them on CD so I don't have to worry about them if something happens to the computer.

I've also been reading my brother's blog, Finding our Solid Ground. It's on blogspot also. It's about his and his wife's journey to be debt-free. I am beginning to think I need to listen to the cd's he has by Dave Ramsey---if it gave them some ideas how to accomplish this, maybe it will help us. I've already started cutting out unnecessary trips and purchases--with gas prices so astronomical, that only makes good sense anyway. I am gathering stuff around the house for a huge yard sale----even if we don't make big bucks, any extra will help, and is better than storing the junk we no longer use/wear. Which will help with organization. Which will help with knowing what we actually need, instead of guessing, which will help eliminate unneeded purchases---you see where this is going.......

We need to do something, as robbing peter to pay paul is really ticking peter off anymore, and I would rather just get set up to where things are paid on time, eliminating late charges and extra interest. Where dr bills don't strike immediate fear of how to pay to Rx's, etc. Where I do not have to worry about where the money for the kid's yearbook is coming from, much less shoes, clothes, etc.

I think Mike is right---the biggest thing is having the right mindset. If I get determined to accomplish debt-free, then it will happen. It will be difficult to start with, but we have already informed the kids that eating out so much is ending-----three weeks and not really any complaints. We are cooking more--which I don't think has really increased our grocery bills----and we are not double-dipping-----buying groceries then turning around and eating out just for convenience. My hobby of quilting is on a self-imposed hiatus from buying material, etc. that I do not really need. And I have started taking my lunch to work a couple of days a week---the rest of the time I generally grab a Lays stacker and work on it. Less time spent eating big greasy meals from the fast food giants eats less of a dent in my wallet, as well as in my oversized waistline. a couple of bucks a day beats 6-10 a day. My indulgence is the occasional $5 sub from Subway, sans chips and drink, which I can get cheaper at my store anyway. Ron tends not to eat out, or eat much of anything until dinner so if he occasionally eats at BK I'm not going to fuss too much.

What brought this on full force? Ron's truck repair a couple of weeks ago, coupled with the very real fact that our vehicles are not getting any younger and will probalby need replacing inthe next couple of years, if not sooner. We cannot afford another payment going out of here right now, and it is going to end up happening regardless of whether or not we are ready for it. There is no question of going down to only one vehicle---with our work hours and the stuff the kids are in---not greatly time consuming , but nevertheless.......two vehicles is mandatory. New probably won't happen, just new to us.........

Not to mention one child hopefully entering college this fall---although she has dragged her feet at every turn on getting her papers in, and has probably passed every deadline to turn the stuff
in......chris will be a junior in HS next year, with Kate, and Ben rapidly following. All with goals that make college a necessity.

Well, Ronnie just pulled in, so by e for now.....