2009 . . . Year of Change and Victory

I have to do my budget still. I have been avoiding it. One thing that is hard is that I don't know how much child support I will be getting and without it, I can't make ends meet. Maybe that is where faith should come in? Maybe not. I never know. I am very excited, as I have paid off more than $50,000 in debt in 2008. I want 2009 to be the year I pay off the other $24,000 if possible. I would really love that. However, with me just having one income now, it will be nothing short of a miracle to be able to do that and still pay all my other bills. I have thought about canceling some things, but they all have penalties - cell phone comes with a $200 per line cancellation fee. Cable is a $200 fee. House phone is a $200 fee. My cell phone is where I spend the most unnecessary money. I could probably lower the minutes on the plan and get rid of some of the extras now that the teenager's phone isn't on it. I have a friend who uses one of the lines, but I could end that if I had to or have her pay for the extra minutes, as right now I pay for the minutes and others just pay for the line. The others are my mom and dad though, and they help me with the bills for my house when I am short, so paying $20 for their lines doesn't kill me.

Anywho, I really would like this to be the year I get my spending completely in check, learn to use coupons and shop the best deals, save money, and get myself in that financial peace I have heard so much about!

I will blog throughout the year on how I am doing will this. I keep getting excited as I see the bills whither to next to nothing for the credit cards that are all canceled but still being paid off. One is down to $500 and the other to $300, so those two will be paid of quickly. The other balances are much higher but I am hoping and praying by some miracle I will be able to pay off everything this year and that the divorce judge will be generous and see that my soon-to-be ex-husband should have to pay for half of it since he has half of the possessions and helped build up at least half of the charges.

I will start with little weekly goals:
1. For the upcoming week: No buying lunch at work. Must bring lunch.
2. No more Starbucks except for using my gift certificates.

~Shell