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Saturday, January 26, 2008

Budgeting

Lordy this budgeting is hard. This paycheck was just one that since I was just starting I had a lot of bills due in.
Payday after taxes 762.60
Electric payment -66.40
cable payment -91.00
target payment -55.00
Foodlion -86.26 but I used 20 out of that for gas, 15 for kerosene. groceries were only 36.26
library -5.00 bought some mags and a couple how to books
eat out -15.00
gas for daughter -20.00
walgreens -11.00
-------
412.94 to last so far but I know the phone payment is still coming out, still need cat food and litter, gas and more kero and student loan payment of 190.00 for the next 2 weeks.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

I got my pictures from the Winkflash deal I posted. They turned out beautifully. I love the digital camera and the freedom of being able to upload pics anywhere I choose but nothing beats being able to hold a picture and show it to your friends. I took the 3 pics of my myself, my daughters with my granddaughter and framed them in a special frame. I am so glad its Thursday. I am so tired of having no money. I have been to the point of counting out change this week. I am changing all of that now though. I am going to start doing a much better job of saving. I am really worried about the economy and my job. We havne't been shipping as many cigarettes as in previous months and that makes me worry. I have no savings whatsover if I were to lose my job and goodness knows I am always behind on all my bills.

Here is an acticle I got in my email today. I really like and believe that feng shui works but for whatever reason I always quit following the practices. I think this weekend I will try to redo the house to fix a few things. I get the free newsletter but I don't pay for the articles. I have a lot of books and see no need for that.

Why You Need Empty Space for Good Feng Shui
You can't grow where you can't go


In today's shopaholic society, we have tendency to hang on to too much stuff. Our homes and offices are jammed with equipment, clothing, papers, and all those bargains we haul home from the mall. The problem, though, everyone says, is the clutter. Actually, the real problem is not the stuff, it's the lack of space. When we don't have space, there's nowhere to grow and no room for anything new. Instead, we experience more stuffing and filling versus positive, beneficial growth.
Recently, I was consulting on a large commercial project. The architect recommended that the client leave some empty space for future expansion. I told the architect that was a brilliant idea. Too often no one plans for growth and expansion and then have to worry about where to grow and where to go. Instead, what happens is a too-small space gets rearranged and more crammed with time.

I've recently lost some weight. My clothes no longer fit. As I stood in the closet looking at my old clothes, my thought was that I wanted a closet full of beautiful new clothes that fit my new size. That's when it occurred to me that I couldn't have what I wanted until I got rid of what I didn't want. So, I took a hard look at all my old, now-baggy clothes and began pulling them out to throw away or give to charity. My closet now had space -- space to grow and get what I wanted instead of being filled to capacity with what I didn't want.

Soon after, I stumbled on a huge sale at a pricey boutique with bargain basement prices on some fabulous clothes. I bought almost $1000 worth of great clothes that had been slashed to $9.99 and $14.99 and $19.99. So, at those prices, I was able to fill my closet with gorgeous clothes -- and matching accessories. I was in heaven. Now, I go in my closet and can't wait to get dressed, knowing I have so much to choose from. So, now, let's put these ideas to work for you.

1. Want more business opportunities? Clear off the front of your desk. Keep the area in front of your desk open and clear. Are you committing a feng shui sin and facing the wall at your desk? Turn it around and put your desk in an executive position so that you are not facing an obstacle or block. A wall in front of you stunts your growth.

2. Do you want more wealth? Clear out the mess and clutter by the front door. Sweep the sidewalks and clear out the southeast corner of your living room and the garden too. Keep your wallet orderly. Be respectful of your money and don't just wad it up and ram it in your purse or wallet. I bought a new roomy red business wallet, and wow, what a difference! The money is rolling in. In fact, why don't just buy a new wallet? It's a good habit for every New Year. My wealthy great aunt always had a red wallet. Hmmm.... maybe she was on to something. I also write my checks and do my accounts with a red pen. Forget what your accountant says. Funny, but my bank always takes my checks regardless of what color ink they're written in!

3. Is there something you don't want, like bills, for instance? Keep your bills in one SMALL place. We have a very small basket for incoming bills to be paid. That's because I want to keep the bills small. Limit the number of credit cards you use to just a few key ones. More credit cards means more bills in the mail. I only keep three -- a department store, a general purpose, and one just for gas.

4. Do you feel pressured and stressed? Clear our your closets and drawers and be ruthless. Those hidden messes create pressure and stress. Get rid of "obligation" articles and furniture. Stuff you feel guilty about getting rid of creates an environment of guilt -- who can grow in that? And watch those "collectibles." Really, do you need 242 ceramic clowns?

5. Looking for love? Stop hogging the bed and sleep on the correct side (women on the right, men on the left as you are in the bed). Clear out a space in the closet for your new love and have two nightstand tables and matching lamps in anticipation.

Create some open space for what you want to happen in your life and cram the space for what you don't want (like that small bill basket I mentioned earlier). You might be surprised at what a vacuum can attract for you when you have the room to grow.


©Kathryn Weber

Related articles and information
2008 Monthly Flying Star Calendar. A full year of flying star month by month. Tap the auspicious energy and control the negative energy that moves around from month to month. Learn which sectors have prosperity, fame, even fertility energy.

Annual Feng Shui Bundle. Get the full details on how energy will affect your house with the 2008 Annual House Luck Analysis for all eight directions AND you'll also receive the the 2008 Annual Monthly Flying Star Calendar. You'll also recéive a FRÉE Feng Shui Wealth Special Report: Creating Prosperity, Feng Shui Secrets that Generate Income and Stop Financial Drain


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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui ezine. The Red Lotus Letter is a FREE weekly feng shui ezine for people who want more abundance, prosperity, and happiness in their lives with less effort. You'll get insider feng shui secrets to help you create and live the life you want and the prosperity you deserve faster and easier. Logon to www.redlotusletter.com for a free report filled with feng shui wealth secrets.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

so sad


I just heard that Heath Ledger was dead. I am so sad. He was such a wonderful actor and way too young. I don't why but this just seems so so overwhelming. I guess because it has felt like life has been pretty tough lately and this is perhaps one of the straw that broke the camels back moments.

http://omg.yahoo.com/heath-ledger-found-dead-in-nyc-at-age-28/news/5898

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Sunday Savings

Sundays are when most store sales start so I normally look online and find the best deals to do. I have resolved to work harder at saving and stocking up so here goes. My best web site to help with that is Hot Coupon World

Walgreen I am going to get back into the walgreen's easysaver rebate program. Here is my starting item
buy 5 Walgreens Brand Hand Sanitizer for what $7.50 and get the ESR for $10? on the 8oz size. We are always using hand sanitizer and spending 7.50 will get me $10 to invest in next month deals.
Deals This Week 1/20- 1/26
Benefiber $4.99 ( I dont use this but my best friend does and she is always saying how expensive it is so I am going to stock up what I can for her)
Use $3 Easysaver coupon (pg. 23)
$2/1 Benefiber Product (in 1/20 Smartsource insert)
= Free

Aleve is on sale for $2.99 ( my favorite brand of pain reliever.)
Use:
$ 2.00 (1/6 Smartsource)
= $.99 cents!

CVS
new coupons to use
$15/$75 Exp 2/3/08
$4/$20 Exp 2/3/08
$10/$50 Exp 2/3/08
$5/$30 Exp 2/3/08
$3/$15 Exp 2/3/08

CVS has Tide on sale for $4.99 and I will be working on stocking up on that if I can find some of the Breeze monitors in stock. Its on sale for 9.99 with 9.99 in ecb back and CVS has a coupon out that makes the monitor free.


Rite Aid
Free Wrigley's 10 pack of Gum
on sale for $.99 ( I don't chew gum but a woman at work is a fanatic about it so will give to her)
Use $1/1 Wrigleys Coupon ( 1/20 Smartsource insert)
= Free

Free Clean & Condition Cloths 70ct,
on sale for $3.99
use in ad coupon $3.99
=Free

here are a few of the single check rebate items. I want to pick up a couple and just keep reinvesting the rebate each month on whatever is on sale. I will probably get the flu reduce and the light bulbs.
FREE after SCR:Flu Reduce 6.99-6.99 SCR
Diaper Mate 2.49 - 2.49 SCR
GE soft white light bulbs 2.00 -2.00 SCR
Orajel Mouth Rinse 5.99 - 5.99 SCR

Saturday, January 19, 2008

The weekend

I love weekends. Most of the time I barely leave the house. I get so tired of being out during the week that I stay home on the weekend. Yeah I know, I have no life but it works for me. We got our first snow of the season on Thursday. We are expecting another storm today with up to 4 inches. The snow on Thursday didn't last long nor did it cause a lot of problems thankfully.
This is a picture of the snow falling around 6am.
Photobucket


This one is when I fed the cats. I fed them about 6:15 and by the time I left for work at 7:10 my footprints were covered over again.

Photobucket

Since I got my digital camera, I have't had any actual in your hand photos, I don't have a printer for printing them but I got this offer in my email the other day and so I ordered 50 prints and it cost me only .99 for shipping. I couldn't do the one for the returning customer even when I waited a couple of days but I did get the new customer prints. Now at least I have my favorite 50 in my albums. And I will assume that they offer the returning customer codes at least a couple times a year so I will just start to pay attention.
Winkflash

50 no cost prints for NEW CUSTOMERS
and 50 more prints for RETURNING CUSTOMERS!
99c S&H on each order
codes
new customers code: FP783RN
returning customers code: WF95WF27

I got this in my email this week and it looks easy and interesting. I love all those bath bombs, and sudsing things. Baths are one of my favorite forms of relaxation.

Bath Cookies Recipe
This is an interesting recipe, you first cook a batch of bath cookies then add them to your bath after they’ve cooled (similar concept of a bath bomb).

The batch makes 24 which is enough for about 12 baths (if you use 2 per bath).

My hard copy looks like a photocopy of a newspaper clipping, but I’m not sure which newspaper or who the author is.

Ingredients:

2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 TBS light oil
1 tsp vitamin E oil
2 eggs
5 drops essential oil (your favorite)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix together all ingredients.
Gently roll dough into balls (approx 1″ in diameter, about 1 tsp).
Place dough balls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake bath cookies for 10 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
To Use: Drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve.

Yield: 24 cookies
http://tipnut.com:80/bath-cookies-recipe/

Monday, January 14, 2008

Yet another Monday

Today was very hectic at work. It seemed like I spent half the day solving supply related issues. I heard there was a Hollywood baby boon over the weekend. Christina Aguilar, Courtney Smith, Nicole Richie all had their babies. Lets hope they are all more sane than Brittany Spears. I am so sick of hearing about her. The news today was about the new babies, Brittany and Anna Nicole Smith's baby Danni. Danni has lazy eye and you would have thought this was some earth shattering event as much as the news covered it.

Once the sun went down it felt colder than blue blazes tonight. It is supposed to drop into the upper 20's but the wind is so bitter cold :(. I had to run out real quick to dry a couple loads of clothes, take trash to the dump, get milk and kerosene. We are having potato soup for dinner and needed more milk.

Someone sent me this video at work today and I thought it was amazing. Its odd how enemies in nature can get along and yet humans can't even though our issues don't have anything to do with our survival just our own stupidity and spitefulness.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Sunday

I did the car maintenence for my cars today. I had to add antifreeze to both mine and my daughter's car. I am sure her car has been telling her it was overheating since the radiator was almost dry but she never noticed. I also had to put a new bulb in one of her tail lights. I did about 2 loads of laundry and 4 loads of dishes. One day I swear this place will be cleaned. For dinner I fixed bar b que chicken and scalloped potatoes.

Look at this neat map site I found. You mark all the states you have been too. I would like to visit every state. I have quite a ways to go.



create your own visited states map

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895

I saw this on a blog and read it. I will be honest and tell you I couldn't have passed the 8th grade apparently and I thought I was pretty smart. I always was in advanced classes in school but they didn't teach me anything close to being able to pass this test.

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?



This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.


8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS -1895



Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.

2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.

3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph

4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of "lie,""play," and "run."

5. Define case; Illustrate each case.

6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.

7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.



Arithmetic (Time, 1:25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.

2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?

3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?

4 District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?

5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.

6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.

7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per metre?

8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.

9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?

10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt




U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided

2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.

3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.

4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.

5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.

6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.

7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?

8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.



Orthography (Time, one hour) Do we even know what this is??
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication

2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?

3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals

4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.'

5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.

6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.

7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.

8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.

9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.

10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.




Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?

2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?

3 Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?

4. Describe the mountains of North America

5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.

6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S

7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.

8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?

9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.

10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.



Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it?!



Also shows you how poor our education system has become...

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Happy weekend

The tags on M's car were due to expire Tuesday so yesterday she went to Danbury to pay last year's taxes and then to go get her renewal tags.
We have my cousin S's girls for the weekend. Last night was a madhouse of young girls not wanting to sleep. I am the only one awake at the moment and I am boiling some chicken breast so I can fix chicken and dumplings later today. I am doing laundry and then going to go to the laundromat and the dump. I have a ton of trash that needs hauled off. I have to pay the rent today also. Seems like there is always more have to pays then there is money to pay with.

Monday, January 07, 2008

2008

Well its a new year. My daughter tells me she is moving to California in March. If so then I am sure I will be very upset for quite a whiles but I have been thinking and if she does then I am going to buy a camper and live in it for a while. Just me, wouldn't require much room and I could save up and buy some land and then start to build a place. I would like to make my house as off the grid as I can. I want to start homesteading and you have to start somewhere. .

New season of Medium is on now so I must run and watch it. I have been waiting for ages for it. I love that show.
 
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