But there's no rest for the weary!

It's been a couple of rough weeks at work - some transitions/power struggles (at least that's how I see them) has been causing everyone a lot of undue stress. Normally everyone's very happy there, but there have been a lot of angry people lately. But, the issue (or individual I should say) has been taken care of. Things are starting to come back to normal, but not without everyone putting in extra hours to get what needs to be done taken care of. That's the bad part about being salaried...no overtime. So I'll be working to do my part in the catch-up.

However, DH has been making a few extra bucks with working overtime. Unfortunately, he also got spendy. When he took the job and we found out his wages, I told him we'd be able to put money in the bank. Well...for whatever reason, he seems to think that he can be a little freer with his spending. Not on anything substantial - $20-$30 here or there. I sat down with him Thursday and tallied how much he spent in one day. $130. He had no idea. He also needs to have gas in his tank for work (he gets reimbursed for his mileage, but not til the end of the month). I told him there was no money for him to have for gas until the next payday - his reply "but I need it." I told him I understood that he needed gas for work, but if there's no money, there's no money.

He also has this concept of "well, I put in a lot of hours last week" so that should justify him being able to spend some extra money today. I ask him "did you get paid for that yet?" I think he's so accustomed to using credit that he still hasn't grasped the whole "cash only" deal we agreed to.

I'm just venting somewhat. He's a good husband and he's a good friend. I think shopping/spending makes him feel better, just like it does for so many others. I just need to make him feel that way about saving. I feel I have a long road ahead of me to retrain his brain! I will be creating a graph of debts decreasing and savings increasing so he can have a visual. Any other thoughts on how to make him think saving is cool?

I have a number of errands to run today - I just made my list and I need to get going! Orders to deliver, lawn to mow, go to the bank, finish some sewing projects...oh, and some cleaning. I did do the brunt of the housework last night. DH was coming home late from work, so I took advantage of the "me" time and mopped a few floors and did a good scrub of the living room and bathroom. Took care of the laundry as well.

I've been getting up and walking with a friend every morning before work. We start at 5:00. DH has been getting up around the same time, so I've been getting up at 4:45 and packing him a lunch** before I go for my walk. We don't walk on the weekends, and I must have been tired, because after I got up this morning with DH, I crawled back into bed...I managed to fall back asleep and there I was until 8:20. It wasn't solid sleep for that extra 3 hours - I did have a cat or two pouncing on me, but I sure do feel rested now!

We received our auto insurance policy last week - I had DH make changes since we have both cars paid off and we don't need the extra covereage we had for the business. It went from $2600 last year to $1840 this year! I'm trying to get the savings built up so I can
pay it all at once; right now we're doing monthly installments. With DH now working (and getting overtime) I hope to have the EF built up quickly and our remaining debts paid off.


**I know you're saying "packing him a lunch? Why doesn't he do it?" Well, he just doesn't. He's not at all a morning person, and won't eat a sandwich made the night before because it's "soggy." If I don't pack him a lunch he doesn't eat - or worse - he purchses food out. He appreciates it, and I know he's eating something during the day. All you moms with really picky eaters at home, this is what the adult version is like.

I've been so busy, but I realized I needed to post: DH got a job! It's a bit more physical than he had anticipated, but he's been at it for 2 weeks and is feeling good about things. YEAH!!!

We bought him some new safety shoes today, and selected frames for some new eyeglasses. He has his eye appointment on Wednesday, but I won't be able to come with him, so we decided to go out and select the frames together. They're holding them for him, so he doesn't have to worry about getting something that doesn't look good. I never realized how difficult it is to choose eyeglasses! While at the mall, we stopped and got a gelato. Then went home in time to shut the windows because a storm was on its way. Rained pretty hard for about an hour, and now the sun's peeking out again.

We needed to pull some cash out of the slowly growing efund to pay bills...but with another income, we should have no problem building it back up again.

The garden is planted and beginning to grow. Today's rain will certainly help. The lawn needs mowing, but I'll tackle that tomorrow.