A few updates....

We always have so much going on....


The washing machine - G-man took things apart, cleaned it....for the moment it seems to be better.  We also found out that the part that seems to be going is only $72 (vs. $125).  Let's hope that it doesn't come to that!  Luckily, we have a laundrymat around the corner, so if the washer does go out...we can at least get the clothes washed (and brought home to dry).

Camp - as of today....Camp for the kids is fully funded!!!!  Since it in an ING acct, we can't withdraw the money for a week....but it is so nice knowing that we saved up for a planned expense, and we can now enroll them both for 7 weeks of fun.  I am glad that I changed my savings strategy and put all my efforts into this one goal.  Moving on to saving for the kids' birthday parties, then finishing our Christmas fund.....then back to Camp again!  The cycle of the year....

Vacation - In an attempt at reclaiming some "family" time....we are taking a mini vacation this weekend.  The kids are off for Good Friday, but we are taking them out of school a few hours early on Thursday.  We will be going to Sesame Place!!!  This Friday is "Autism Day" and admission to the park is FREE, with a $25 parking fee.  But c'mon....$25 is nothing for a family of 4 to get into a theme park.  We found a hotel for less than $100 a night (with breakfast included and an indoor pool!!).  The kids are super excited!!!  And we need a few days to just focus on our family.  G-man had overtime in this week's paycheck, which will cover the cost of our weekend.

Refi Money - We are just about at the point where we are ready to pull the trigger and actually USE the money for debt now.  I am a little torn....of the $2,000 we will use for debt (the remainder is replenishing our emergency fund), the original plan was $1,000 to CC1, and $1,000 to the car.  BUT....G-man gets paid 3 times in May....if we take half of his extra check, and the full $2,000....the car is paid off!!!!!  That will free up $350 a month to apply to other debt (CC1 has the highest interest rate). 

If we stick to the original plan, the car will be paid off  in July.  (This is using half of his 3rd paycheck, plus $1000, plus regular payments....MAYBE we can swing a June payoff if we can throw a few snowflakes that way).

and last but not least....

Mysti/G-man - We are trying to work things out.  It is slow going.  Trust is a hard thing to earn back.  But he has been much more engaged with me and the kids.  He is back living at home, and we are both in individual counseling, as well as couples counseling.  It has now been just over 2 months since this disaster started, and we are no where close to being "over it."  But we are hopeful that learning to communicate with each other, learning to work through resentments and anger from our marriage, and rediscovering why we got married in the first place will all lead to a stronger marriage.  Wish us luck!!!

Dating on a Budget

G-man has been trying to get back in my good graces.  And honestly, he has been working hard this week.  But we will see if the momentum continues.  We have been here before....things are fine, even good, for a few weeks, and then we are back to same ole same ole.

Fridays are typically our "errand" day.  We are both off of work.  Kids are at school (or camp, now).  So we can bee-bop around.  Tomorrow's schedule includes dropping his car off for an oil change (woo hoo!  Have a gift card, plus 10% coupon, PLUS, a $13 cash rebate!).  After that....I figured we would do our weekly grocery shopping, and I need to get a gift for a baby shower.

He wants to go to the movies (a super duper RARE event in our house).  Again, in an effort to woo me, he found a local theater that has the new Twilight movie (yeah, I am a tween....a 35 year old tween) at 10am.  But even the matinee price would be $15 for the two of us.  No drink or snack.  Just $15 for the honor of watching the movie.....and that is at the cruddy theater!

I told him that while the idea was nice, it really is too much money.  And reiterated that getting out of debt is sacrifice.  I need to keep pounding that idea into his head!!!  Date night does not have to be expensive.  And it doesn't have to satisfy anyone except us.

I am fine with spending the day doing errands.  And waiting a few months for the movie to go to the redbox and we can rent it for a buck.

At what point will he learn all of this???  Didn't we just have an $80 disaster date night dinner, just a week ago????