And, but of course, Hec on the fic.

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Jess, that's too much. I love the little bigot being offended because you wouldn't take a bribe, too. You've really accomplished a lot with your move. You deserve a snack.

My cable company is my next target. We spend $116 a month, but that include internet.

Our bill was $149 (phone, internet, and cable). Then we had a charge for Starz/Encore on there. I think I accepted one of those free-for-six-months specials and forgot to cancel it when the 6 months was up. That was another $14 and change. Then with all the taxes, fees, etc., the final monthly bill was $199. Short term, we'll be paying $129 (and we made her say that was including taxes and fees, a gajillion times over) and long term, it'll be $149/mo including taxes and fees (also said a gajillion times over). The kids can't watch Noggin and a few other channels they like, in the den. That's the main difference for us, and I think we now have unlimited long distance (not that we need it, but it was part of the phone bundle). We told them. They whinged. We said, "Too bad, it's 50 bucks, and you watch too much TV, anyhow. Read a book."

However, in our area, you can't get a DVR with cable. However, I think can with a dish. So, I'm considering changing it around to see if I can either get the DVR capability or save on the bill.

Does this mean a TiVo DVR won't work for you, or just that you can't get it through your cable company?

I desperately need to do this too. If you find anything that works, let me know. I'm thinking of starting to track my cash spending in Microsoft Money, 'cause really, I need to see where that money is going.

You seem to me to be disciplined enough, that that may work well for you. Scott and I both really resent logging our ATM withdrawals (or would if we did), so we're trying for a system with less tracking, but that gives a better immediate picture.

We have a savings account attached to our checking/ATM account, and can use the ATM to withdraw from it, but they are two separate balances. What we have in or take out of one does not affect the balance of the other. I have no idea if all banks do this.

When I was single, I'd put the money needed each month for bills and service fees in the checking/ATM side of the account, and keep my spending money in the savings side. The debits were immediate, and non-confusing, because I wasn't also waiting for checks to clear from the balance of the savings side, and I didn't have to record or track my ATM withdrawals. Now, all I had for bills back then were car ins., student loan, and car loan, so it was always a set amount I transferred over each pay period.

It will be a little more complicated now, because electricity, oil, etc. vary from month to month, and we have quarterly bills like the water & sewer bill, and unexpected home expenses, but we still can still get a decent idea of what we need to put in there each month.

We just have to do it. When we get our tax refund, the money is all supposed to get put aside, because we need a new roof. However, depending on how much we get, we may have some extra we can add to the checking account, just to give us some slack, until we get used to the new system, and to being careful again.

I'm loosing my disability supplement come July, and that's gonna be a big kick in the pants ($800 a month kind of kick in the pants).

I know you told me about this on the phone once, but what happened? Is it a change in state or federal regulations, or a matter of time allotted for your particular disability, or what? I don't understand how eligibility runs out, if you're still living with your disability.

Fortunately, I've paid off my car

Good for you! Isn't that a great feeling, and such a relief?

I'll have to do something for health insurance at that point (because that ends at the same time), but I'll probably go on a state-funded insurance program with a very low monthly premium, based on my income), so that'll save me a big chunk. It'll be ok, but boy am I gonna have to count (continued...)

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( continues...) the pennies.

This is so hard, but if anyone can do it, you can.

One thing I would like us to do is pay me. But we have to stabilize everything, first. I would like us to pay me something like $50.00/week. I figure if we can auto transfer it to a separate account--one we can't access via the ATM (so like a passbook savings account, or something that requires thought and work before the money is in our hot little hands), it'll be a nice way to sock away some money. I'm sure it'll get tapped into, but not without thought. And if/when Scott gets a raise, or his holiday bonus, I'm going suggest we put a percentage of it in that account.

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Oh my word, I am long winded today. I'm really sorry. I had way too much coffee.

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I just got a pretty firm date on when I'll be moving! Grandma E plans to move the last weekend in April (April 30 & May 1st) so I'll be movng right after that. Probably moving small stuff in through the week and then do the big stuff that next weekend.

This is so exciting! There are several things I need to find out -- like does Grandma have screens for the windows some place. It will be so nice to have a place where I can at least open the front and back door and have fresh air.

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That's wonderful, askye. How great to have your own place, and a place that's already familiar.

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I need to really crack down and do a better job budgeting. Especially with the groceries.

I'm not getting cable or cable modem and I'm switching to DSL. I don't have any extra features on my phone so it's pretty cheap and phone + DSL + Netflix is cheaper than cable + cable modem + phone + netflix.

As long as I can get CBS and ABC I'll be happy.

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t it really is! And it has a yard that's partly fenced. The unfenced area is perfect for a hammock which I've added to things I need. Mom lives a couple blocks away and gets out of work before I do and she's joked that if I get a hammock I'll come home to find her taking a nap there.

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Oooh, hammock. I love hammocks. I'd better put that on the list of things to look for in the next move.

Multiple people on one budget is hard. DH and I were most successful at budgeting when we were cash only - we kept all our money in a cash box and tracked every penny because that was the only way we could be sure of having enough for rent and whatnot. We're looser now, but we know we can go back to that (probably not keeping a box of cash, but being that careful) if we must.

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This is hugely unfair. I did my part of the deal and cleaned the bathroom, then when I went for the Sims, it wasn't in its case. Which means it is somewhere in my room. Which means I have to clean it in order to play.

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