Confessions Of A Non Saver

OK here's the scoop. As of yesterday I still have a job. I heard through the rumor mill that more employees may  be let go today. I gave one of my co-workers my cell phone number. I told her to call me if anything happens in our department today. I took a vacation day so I could you know, relax. That's how it started out anyway. I now have a list of chores and errands that must be done today, because I am working at the DSJ all weekend long. I have to pick up two W2 forms, finish Melissa's taxes, grocery shop, get my haircut, pick up a present and ice cream and soda for my nephew's first birthday party tonight at seven. Yet here I sit, at the computer in my pj's and bathrobe. I digress.

Did I ever mention the strain of raising children on one income? I'm sure many of you face these challenges also. I get no financial help from anyone. NO ONE. Which means that every time I get a little money socked away, you can guarantee there will be some emergency or something with the kids that HAS to be taken care of. Which means I have no savings. Not only do I not have any savings, now I could lose my job.

Providing I actually am lucky enough to keep my job, saving money will be my number one goal for this year. The fear of losing your job will light a fire under your a$$ like nothing else will. I should be prepared. I have always heard that you should have enough money saved to pay three months of your bills in the event of an emergency or illness, or GETTING LAID OFF FROM YOUR JOB!!!! I always felt this was important, but I have never gotten around to it. I have no one to blame but myself. When I was getting pretty large tax refunds, I should have saved that money. But no, it's gone. I have used it to pay off  bills in the past, but never really saved any of it.

As God as my witless, I WILL begin saving money. Provided we don't end up living in a cardboard box under a bridge. Now that I have the DSJ, there is no reason for me NOT to start putting a little money away. Shame on me for not taking care of this sooner. I am expecting quite a decrease in my tax refund this year. Melissa turned seventeen last year, so I lose the thousand dollar tax credit for her. Also, I didn't pay in much tuition because I only took two college classes last year. I am losing money there. I also increased my income because of the second job. All of these factors will contribute to a substantial decrease in my refund. Barring any emergency, whatever money I get back, WILL BE PUT INTO SAVINGS. 

As much fun as it is to sit here and make declarations, chores and errands call. I'll keep you posted.

Fear Has Replaced The Fury

Times are hard in this country. Everyone knows that. Some of us know it and hear about it, but we don’t actually have to live it. For the moment, I’m one of those people. I am fortunate to have not one, but two jobs. I offer my view of the economic crisis, recession, or whatever you want to call it.




Yesterday I was a quivering mass of fury. Today I am humble, busy, quiet, and willing to do whatever ridiculous task may be required of me. As I entered the building this morning, I couldn’t help but notice how quiet it seemed. Shrugging it off I headed to the break room to put my breakfast and lunch away. As I was settling in for the day, one of my co-workers came over and gave me the news. Two members of the office staff have been let go. One was the manufacturing vice president. The other was the head of our maintenance department.

I felt sick to my stomach. How awful. One of them had been with the company for SIXTEEN years! He is gone, just like that. Can you imagine having to go home and tell your family you lost your job? Obviously seniority was not a factor in the decision-making. I am scared. I won’t just sit around and wait for this to happen to me. I am already strategizing on how the bills will get paid should I find myself out on the street. It’s scary, but I could very well be next. It seems no one is immune from the mess our country is in. If the VP of manufacturing can lose his job, so can I

Great Balls Of Fury

I have found that the only way for me to successfully keep up with my blog, is to pre-write them. It makes things so much simpler. Most of the time, I type them on a Microsoft Word document from work and paste it. Then I schedule it to post for a future date and/or time. The events that are about to be shared with you, occurred today which is Monday. My two readers will not see this until Wednesday, when I will be much calmer.


MEN: I discuss PMS, so if that creeps you out, get lost. I’m not in the mood to be nice. (Can’t you tell?)

I used to be known for having a short fuse. My ability to snap is only surpassed by my two older brothers, both of whom are pretty temperamental. (Sorry guys, it’s the truth) As the years have passed it seems I have mellowed somewhat. Yet I still find myself barely able to control my temper during certain times of the month. It began about four or five months ago. I am using the Mirena, which so far has been great. It reduced my moodiness considerably. Until recently that is. The last few months I find myself feeling more and more moody, but only at my “special” time of the month. (That sentence makes me giggle to myself)

This morning I turned into a quivering mass of fury over something that was basically not a big deal. Yet I ranted and raved like it was the biggest thing since the sinking of the Titantic. I was barely able to keep myself from spewing forth evil from these lips like you have never heard. At least not on my blog. The PMS coursing through my veins like venom from a King Cobra.

I was worried about Melissa ruining the family name a few days ago. If you knew what was going on in my head today, it would denigrate my family name beyond repair. Even now I can still feel the fury simmering inside me like stew in a crock pot. (Doesn’t that sound good by the way?)

I HAVE to get a grip on myself. Truly. A temper fit like that could cost me my job. It’s a tough job market out there. The only thing that makes any sense to me, is that as times goes on, the hormones being released into my body are depleting, thus my true nature is revealed. Well, at least my true nature during that “special” time.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Did I tell you about the impending disaster? Of course not, I can barely remember my own name. The department store where I work gives employee discounts. They also give discounts to charge card holders. So, what that means is that I can use my employee discount and combine it with the other discounts. For example, we have scratch off days. Scratch off days are where if you come into the store and use your charge card, you get to scratch off a sticker for an additional 15, 20, or 30 percent off. Plus I get to use my employee discount. This means I could save as much as 45 percent. 45 PERCENT. Can you believe that?

I could really save a good deal of money on clothing my children. Or maybe a new purse for me. Or maybe a new pair of shoes for me. Or maybe a really cute pair of earrings.

I think I'm going to be in serious trouble. Pray for me........please.

I forgot to mention that I actually hit some of the clearance sales after Christmas. One of the things the girls gripe about is the fact that we never decorate the outside of our house for Christmas. I never have money to spend on outside decorations. I would rather spend the money on the kids. This year I went to a couple of different stores and I racked up. At Wal-Mart I got:

4 boxes of icicle lights(for the outside of the house)
2 boxes of changeable lights for the tree
4 Christmas place mats
1 Christmas table runner
gift boxes
wrapping paper
red and gold ornaments for the tree
a new tree topper
window clings

Guess how much it was? TWENTY THREE dollars!!!!! OH YEAH, OH YEAH. We will have outside lights next year. Now if I can only figure out how to put them up.............

Disrespect Via Text

Let's explore the world of the exclamation point , shall we? In this new age of texting, I think puncuation is very important. Especially when one is texting one's teenage daughter. I had to work last night and Melissa had gone to hang out with some friends. As the time for me leave drew near I sent her a text, which read:

My text: u know i have to work 2nite right?

Melissa: yes mom at 6!

What does this exclamation point say to you? To me, it says ATTITUDE. How dare she exclamation point me! Who does she think she is anyway? I think the text she sent me should included a nice smiley face at the end. Let's see how that looks:

My text: u know I have to work 2nite right?

The hypothetical Melissa text: yes mom at 6 :)

See, that looks much better.

Later I sent her this text:

My text: no exclamation points EVER!!!!

You too should ban your children from giving you the exclamation point. I mean what comes after that? Them giving you the finger.......


 

Was I Always This Wimpy?

Today my daughter made one more step in crossing the threshold into being a "big" girl. It brought tears to my eyes which I had blink away, otherwise be humiliated in a public place. Keri and I set off to Wal Mart this afternoon in search of food for our empty cupboards. Keri had her cell phone so I gave her permission to look around a bit. I did instruct her to scream, hit, bite, or punch anyone who might try to steal her away.

I told her I would be up and down the food isles. A few minutes later she called me to tell me that ear piercing is FREE with the purchase of a pair of earrings. It's something we have talked about but never gotten around to. Maybe deep down I didn't want her to get her ears pierced. I stopped mid grocery shopping to go over to the jewelry counter and see how serious she was. She was pretty serious, and scared out of her mind. She was so afraid her hands were shaking. I told her if she really wanted to get her ears pierced that I would let her.

I swear the kid just about passed out from fear. As the very nice Wal Mart employee neared her head with that gun, she shrank away in fear. This lady was not about to be thwarted. She smoothly and quickly poked a hole in each one of my daughter's ears. I could feel that this was a big moment in her ten year old life. I could feel that this was a big moment in my 33 year old life. What's next I ask you? Puberty, pimples and boys are right around the corner. Do I HAVE to go through this yet again? I finally feel like Melissa is in the clear and past the hating me stage. I think we have a pretty close mother-daughter relationship. Now Keri will begin slipping away from me for a few years.

Sure it might not happen today, but it will happen. What's fair about your kids growing up? Nothing much I tell you. You nurture and love them for all those years. Then one day you are just expected to cut those apron strings and release them into the world, having little or no say in the choices they make. I know they will both still be my daughters, but my control over their lives will be gone. They will be free to make their own stupid choices, when clearly I will still know what's best for them. Ear piercing is just the beginning, I can feel it. Where is a nice big bottle of liquor when you need it?

Called Out By The Lunch Lady

Another sign I am frazzled: The lunch lady suggested to Keri that she needs a free lunch application. Why? Because I never seem to remember to send a check.........