Wowsie! We are already in December! Only 30 days left in 2005. Time goes by so much faster the older I get. Sometimes I wonder if things will ever really change, or if time will just keep speeding past me and it'll be 2036 and I'll be 60 years old wondering where the time went and just what did I do with it.

Well, anyway. Basicaly today I did laundry. My second load of wash were the colored clothes, but I guess I tried to fit too many clothes into the load because there was still a lot of soap scum left on them. So, I ended up seperating the load and doing two more loads. So, in my effort to save money and time, I ended up wasting money and time. Though I did get my two jackets washed that had been needing to be washed for a long time because of it (to make the 2nd load fuller.)

I used Jeffery's link today to sign up for Emmigrant Direct. I'll probably put the $10 bonus in there whenever that comes around. I think its pretty cool that Jeffery and Nate are doing that for us (though it's making them a little money too, but it's all good.)

I made pasta w/spaghetti sauce tonight for supper. There were enough leftovers for three lunches for me for next week.
I figured out that the portion we ate tonight for supper cost about $2.00 - there were enough for 5 servings, so about $.40 a serving. I thought that was a pretty good price for a meal.

I was telling Dad that I had figured out what I would do for Grandma and Aunt Ni's Christmas presents - I'm going to make Grandma a Gift Jar of Sugar-Free Cherry Tea (she likes tea) and I'm going to make Aunt Ni a Gift Jar of Powdered Milk Bath (with added fragrances.) I think he didn't think that either of those ideas were that great. He said that we needed to get them something nice (read $$). I told him that I didn't think it was the $$ that counted, but the thought that counted. He didn't respond - probably becuase he didn't want to argue about it. All I know is that if it wasn't for them coming here, I wouldn't be doing *anything* for them other than an e-card. It's going to cost me more money for electricity, food, water, etc to have them here. Right now I am living by the string of my teeth, not knowing how much I'll have to live on from month to month. Spending money on Christmas gifts for two people who have everything they could want materially just doesn't make sense. Giving them something that can be used, that doesn't take up much room, and shows that I put some thought and time into it, makes a lot more sense.

Monkey is being so sweet. Instead of sitting on the desk in front of my monitor, he's sitting on the armchair beside me while I'm typing. Of course this makes me have to have my arm in an uncomfortable position while I'm typing, but I don't mind.

Well, I didn't get called in for an assignment tomorrow. So, I guess I can just consider this a long weekend. Hopefully next week won't be a long weekend.

Spent some time working on my 'you need a budget" budget. Had a couple questions about it and emailed Jesse - had an answer back in about an hour. Great customer service. The more I'm using it, the more I am really liking it - the program itself, as well as the budget concept of using November's pay in December. For example, I have paid all of my December bills that I have control of the timing and have the bill for - yesterday, and I haven't received a paycheck yet for December. When I do, that money will not be used till January (or at least not until I have January bills.) This is especially useful for me right now since I have no idea how much I will make each month.

Well guys, I've had a number of short (er) entries. Guess I was due for a longerish one.

No spending today (didn't go anywhere, didn't buy anything online)

Keeping It Frugal in Texas,
Laura