Good news and bad news of the day:

BAD NEWS: I have to drive back to the old house in rush hour tomorrow (an hour each way) to meet with our minister for the wedding and go to my car dealership for an oil change.
GOOD NEWS: My oil change and tire rotation will be FREE! (I completely forgot that I had those covered under insurance until 2010! So if I get an oil change every 4 months which is what I plan to do, I will save around $120 per year!)

BAD NEWS: I went from 50,131 HBC Reward Points (Zellers) to 131 in a mere 10 seconds.
GOOD NEWS: I traded them for 25 Air Miles since I redeem those for groceries and groceries are more important than items at Zellers. I now have enough for a $20 grocery gift card (well, I will once these points are applied to my card, which can take a few weeks unfortunetely)!

Okay, I seriously thought there was more bad news but I guess not - which is great! Since I’m in a bragging mood (I’m not, really, but I am excited and no one is awake to share my news with) here are all the great things that happened today (aside from the 2 above):

- My mom and Erica agreed to have a yard sale with me in June. Yay money and getting rid of clutter!
- I am all out of vitamins on Friday and starting that day, they are on SALE for cheap at a store nearby.
- I made soup for dinner tonight and have enough to have it for dinner again tomorrow!
- My mom told me I received a check at her house (no idea why it showed up there) for $60! Don’t you love surprise checks?
- My mom is also paying me on Saturday for the bedroom set and desk I sold her. Whoo hoo, more money for my debt!
- I was told that tomorrow I can go pick up my check from my old landlord for the rent money they took out of my account and shouldn’t have. $905 for debt there as well!
- While talking to the landlord, he told me at the end of the month I will receive another check from them for interest. This should be around $25-$50 I think which is more money for my debt!
- Erica is coming to visit on Friday!!!!!! I am so excited. I miss her tons!
- I have to take a rug that I bought back to Wal-Mart on Friday so there is $40 that will be applied to my Visa, meaning $40 less in Visa debt!
- I am hoping to open a new bank account with a new bank on Friday. They have ZERO fees which will save me $25 a month and $300 a year by switching!
- I remembered I have a gift card for a home improvement store from when I returned some patio stones not too long ago. I plan on buying some CFL lightbulbs so that I will save money on my hydro bill!
- I have a lady who is interested in my cupcakes for her wedding. She wants to sample them first, so I’m hoping she likes them. I will get excited after that but I just wanted to share the news that she was interested!
- I have another lady (my mom referred her to me - thanks, mom!) who is interested in cupcakes for her daughter’s birthday and her mother’s birthday (1-4 dozen or so each time). YAY!

Today was an awesome, awesome, fantastic day. I’m going to go to bed now, so nothing can happen to ruin it. Goodnight! I hope you all had a great day as well!

Posted: May 15th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

Today has been a fantastic day so far! I did receive a bill in the mail which is always a downer, but it’s my last bill for the hydro at the old place. It’s not very high either, so I am paying that off shortly. In the mail I got a bunch more fantastic coupons, a diaper sample that I am giving to my cousin’s wife for her daughter, my new visa card with lower interest rate and my new drivers licence!

Earlier this afternoon a lady came over and gave me the deposit for the 500 cupcakes she is ordering next weekend. I am so excited! This means she actually wants to order them (I honestly thought it was a cruel joke.. that’s alot of cupcakes!). That money is going in the pot for Maggie’s surgery. Speaking of which.. I had found this vet right near our house and they told me the bill for her spay would be “around $400″. I called today to get the exact figure and it was almost $500! So I did the same thing I do with car insurance and other things - I shopped around! I found another place that is close by and they are only charging $375 total! I was so happy! So I deducted that $25 from the $400 in my GOALS section on the right side of my blog. I also deducted the cupcake order deposit of $162.50, $30 from 2 items I sold through classifieds, and a $25 check that I wasn’t expecting (and it doesn’t have to go towards regular monthly bills). That brings the total owing down to $157.50! That makes me so excited! I have 2 1/2 weeks to make that money if I want to meet my goal of having it paid by June 1st. I KNOW I will make that goal, because on the 25th, I will be getting the other half of the money for the cupcake order which is more than enough to cover the rest of that bill AND I have a bunch of stuff that I am selling in the next few days. That money will go towards the next bill - my visa!

What a great day!

Posted: May 14th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 3

Alright, so I have some good news and some bad news. Let’s start with the bad news to get it out of the way - our freezer is on the fritz. This morning I walked into the kitchen to get a drink and stepped in a puddle of liquid. I immediately thought one of the dogs thought it would be fun to start peeing in the house again, but when I cleaned it up, it wasn’t yellow and didn’t stink of urine. So I assumed it was just water that had somehow spilled, so I ignored it. A few hours later I go into the kitchen to make myself some lunch and that water is back again! I bend down to clean it up and notice water trickling down the side of the fridge. I open it up.. it’s fine. I open up the freezer… it’s fine.. no, wait a minute.. what is that brown liquid? Oh no, it’s under the box of chocolate ice cream! I pick up the box and it is MUSH. I cry. I pick up the other boxes (I had about 5 boxes AND  box of fudge bars) - all mush. I cry more. Luckily all of the ice cream was free and the fudge bars were cheap, but still - I wanted that ice cream! I was so sad/mad. I told Richard about it when he emailed me from work and he said it was possible the freezer was left open a crack. I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the case, but am not positive. I’m going to give it a few hours and then when he gets home he can check it. This is one of those times that I’m glad we are renting. If it’s broken, the landlord has to fix it - we don’t have to pay anything!

 Alright, on to the good news! This is very good news so prepare yourself. Okay, are you ready? Today, I had an order placed for 500 CUPCAKES. Yes, five HUNDRED. I went from 1 dozen to 500 in a week. I can’t believe it! Apparently, this is for a surprise birthday at a church and I have to deliver them on May 25th. The order is really simple (half chocolate, half vanilla - both with buttercream frosting) which will make it so much easier. My normal price is $1 per cupcake but I always make deals for orders over 100 (not that I’ve ever had any before, though!) so I told her I could do them for $325 including delivery (the place is about 10 minutes from my house so that’s no big deal), which is a really good price. I’m sure she shopped around and knows that most places charge at least $2-$3 PER cupcake. I’m thinking my profit will be around $200 after supplies, but I’m going to try to make it more than that somehow. That money will really help me pay for my debt #1 - Maggie’s surgery!

There was other good news for today as well, but to be honest, I somehow forgot! I’m sure I’ll remember and post about it later though. I just wanted to make sure I shared this good news (and the bad news, what a bummer.. I am still upset)!

Alright, I am off to check the mail. I’m crossing my fingers for coupons and checks instead of bills!

Posted: May 13th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

Well, I was hesitant, but I went through my finances today and changed some things. I removed a few items from my monthly expenses that I thought were necessary but weren’t and also trimmed down my necessary expenses (food, phone, etc.). With my current income, I can now pay all of my monthly bills instead of being short $800 every month. In order to do that, I had to stop doing one thing that I tell everyone else to do and that is I will not be “paying myself first” for awhile. Instead, I have a GOALS list (you can see it over on the right of this page.. that’s right, you get to see how much I suck with money. Enjoy!). How will I make that extra money for the items on my list? Easy - I can sell things, do more cupcake orders by advertising more (a lady emailed me today about 500 cupcakes, I almost fainted) and other things like that. My list is in terms of importance, which is going by the dates that certain bills must be paid in full (wedding dress, maggie’s vet visit coming up, etc.). I did so much work on the computer today that I’m surprised it’s still even working! I may need a laptop rental soon!

I added my list to the site for 2 reasons.

1. To motivate myself.
2. To motivate others.

I honestly think it will help me to have it there. I get so excited when I see the numbers go down! Anyway, that’s all for me today. I’m happy to have this sorted out so that I am NO LONGER IN THE HOLE EVERY MONTH! I just have to go in to the bank tomorrow to change a few things on my accounts and then it’s done. Until then, I will be in bed sleeping. Goodnight!

Posted: May 13th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

Today was spent frantically cleaning the house and getting dinner ready for my folks (and sister). I was scrubbing the walls with my free Mr. Clean Erasers, vaccuming, wiping down furniture and tables, windex-ing (not that that is a word or anything…) windows and mirrors and spraying my beloved Febreze everywhere.

I also prepared the salads, just by chopping up the lettuce and grating some cheese (parmesan and feta.. but I didn’t grate the feta). I also rubbed butter, salt and parsley on the corn on the cobs and wrapped them in tinfoil, and then prepared the roasted potatoes. Finally, I made my mom’s cake! It was a butter pecan cake which is her favourite topped with french vanilla frosing and chocolate shavings.

Once they showed up, I gave them a tour of the house (except my dad since he’s already been here a few times) and my mom kept saying it was so big. Richard made the corn and chicken drumsticks on the BBQ while I made the roasted potatoes in the oven (our BBQ is too small). Everyone ate and was happy, it was a good meal! I love barbequing. My mom loved her cake too. I also told her I was looking at vegas hotels and found a cheap one so we should go. Then, I told her I was kidding and she slapped me. True story.

It was a fun day and now I am ready for bed. Goodnight! I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Posted: May 12th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

Oh, I forgot to mention.. after we were done at the house, we went out for Mother’s Day dinner with Richard’s family. We went to a really classy and expensive restaraunt (they always go to places like this) and I felt so out of place. It was filled with a bunch of “I’m gonna stick my nose up at you because you aren’t as rich as me” people which made me pretty uncomfortable… especially because I saw a bunch of them talking about me and pointing me out to the people at their table. Maybe it was my too-tight cupcake t-shirt or the half sleeve tattoo on my arm, but they sure as hell didn’t like me being in “their space”. Whatever. The food was good and Richard’s dad treated us which was nice! I had a chicken penne pasta with so much cheese, I’m pretty sure I’m going to need a colon cleanse soon. Mmm delicious!

Now it’s off to bed because I have about 32829 things I have to do tomorrow before my family comes over for our Mother’s Day dinner!

Posted: May 11th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Today was pretty crazy. We went back to the old place to paint but before that I met Melissa at the bridal shop and had my first fitting. It looks great! It still needs to be altered a bit more, so I’ll be going back again next month. I’m sure it will be fine next time.

So we painted the old house (my dad helped alot) and got it 90% done. We have one room left… we would have done it today, but I have a bed in there that has to be taken apart (my mom is taking it). So next weekend is our big cleanup job. Finish painting that last room, wiping things down, and vaccuuming. We also have to figure out what we are going to do with the JUNK in the garage and basement. Some stuff we can put into a garbage bag, but most of it is too big. I’m hoping we don’t have to take it to the dump because we’d have to pay for that. I’m going to do some research.

After all that work, I could really use a vacation! Maybe Sea Pines rentals. Yeah right, I wish!

Posted: May 11th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Today was a bad day. I’m not going to get into it, but let’s just say I’m poor and I need to make more money. The end!

Anyway, tomorrow is grocery day. I also am going to make cupcakes for Richard’s mom because we will be seeing her Saturday for Mother’s Day. I will also be making cupcakes for ANOTHER ORDER to be delivered on Saturday. Yes, that’s right, I received another order! That’s 2 in 2 weeks. I know, I know, it’s really not that spectacular.. especially considering that both orders were only for a dozen cupcakes. However, it is still extra money AND I am getting my company’s name out there. I also received an email from a lady that works with my mom inquiring about my cupcakes for her daughter’s 1st birthday party. Yipee! Let’s hope that’s another order right there and I will be happy.

After I deliver those cupcakes on Saturday we are heading to the old house to paint. I am so not looking forward to that at all but it needs to be done and I cannot avoid it. Luckily we only have to prime it but still.. I have to buy primer. Maybe I will go find that money on the money tree in my backyard. Yeah… is that stuff cheap? I’ve never had to buy primer before. I hope I’m not looking at an expensive bill or I will cry. Like, “fall down on the floor and bawl my eyes out” cry. Maybe if the damn place we were living at before hadn’t taken my money out of my account, I wouldn’t have had to transfer my emergency fund money to cover my current expenses, I could just use that money. But no. I still have to wait on their stupid asses to mail me a check. Yes, mail it. Why? They could have easily just put it directly back into my bank account. I am going to call them tomorrow to bitch. I can’t think about it right now or I will throw something.

We’re also going to have to remove all the actual JUNK from the house. Who knows where that’s gonna go, as I don’t have the money to pay for a truck right now. There isn’t much stuff, but there are things like rugs, a cat tree, hoses, lamps and some other odds and ends. I’m going to look at just taking it to the dump myself. I’m sure that would be cheaper.

Sunday my family is coming over for mother’s day and we are going to have our first BBQ of the season! I’m so excited!

Okay, I’m going to bed. By the way, does anyone else want “Smurf” to win Hell’s Kitchen? Right now, he’s my favourite.

Posted: May 9th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 5

First let me start off this post by saying SCREW YOU, MOTHER NATURE! I am so sick of this crap weather.

Okay, now on to the good stuff. Today’s deals cost me $7.46 - here they are:

- 1 container Cat Litter @ $5.99 - $5.00 Petsmart coupon = .99 (saved including coupon = $7.00)
- 4 tins Cat food @ .99 each = $3.96 - 4 FREE coupons = FREE! (saved = $3.96)
- 4 Mr. Clean Wipes @ $1.77 each = $7.08 - 4/$1.00 coupons = $3.08 (saved including coupons = $8.88)
- 1 Gillette Fusion Razor @ $6.97 - $5.00 coupon = $1.97 (saved including coupon = $12.02)
- 4 Cottonelle Wipes @ .98 each = $3.92 - 4/$1.00 coupons = +.08 (saved = $4.00)
- 2 Aveeno Lotions @ $3.67 each = $7.34 - 2/$3.00 coupons = $1.34 (saved = $6.00)

Total saved today was $41.86! Whoohoo! Today Giant Tiger’s new flyer came out (I thought it was Monday, but it’s Wednesday apparently) and there was nothing good at all. I am pretty dissapointed! Well, actually they have some kind of household cleaner that has a MIB so I am going to pick up 2 of those when I go to the store near my old place on Saturday (they have Busy Bones there for $1.97 and I have 3 $3.00 coupons for them!).

I also picked up more curtains today because I needed them, but the one pair I got are too short! I matched the photo up with the other ones I bought and it was the exact same except shorter. Grrr, now I have to go back there AGAIN! I’m not doing it today though, I’ll wait until tomorrow.

Posted: May 7th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 1

Even though my Aunt Flo should be stopping by to visit me any time now, I am determinded to make today successful. I have about 50 things I need to do today. I’ll make a short list:

- Call Quaker + complain about oatmeal (hopefully get coupons)
- Call Ruffles for the same reason (their creamy dill chips are NASTY!)
- Call old landlord to make sure he got my papers (they took rent out of my bank account this month which should be my free month because I paid first/last when I moved in.. so my bank account was in the negative because of them so I am demanding they pay my bank fees)
- Pick up curtains @ Zellers (I am 2 short… need them for my bedroom)
- Call bridal shop to make appointment for fitting.
- Deposit money into bank account.
- Drop off clothes @ goodwill.
- Make May layout for calendar journal (yes, I know I’m late)
- Take photos of stuff to sell on Kijiji and Ebay (I have lots of costumes, clothes, etc.)

There’s more, but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head.

I’m also going to spend alot of today cleaning/organizing the house. I want it to look presentable on Sunday when my family comes over for mother’s day. We will be busy all day Saturday painting at the old house, so I have today until Friday to get this place looking fantastic! I also need to return some things at WalMart, including a huge rug I decided against using (I’m waiting for Richard to help me with that one, otherwise I’d go there today as well) and while I am there I need to pick up 2 curtains for the small living room. That’s it as far as window treatments go. There were already window blinds on the smaller windows when we moved in that are nice, so we don’t have to replace those which is good! Oh and just a side note: the curtain in our basement looks hilarious. It’s too short so there’s a gap between the floor and the bottom of the curtain. It looks kind of like capris… but on a door. I don’t care. I’m not going to be entertaining in the basement. I just wanted something over the door so people can’t see my stockpile - my little baby!

Posted: May 5th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 3