Focus Group
I got a screener call from the focus group last night. I hate it that they always tell you the amount and THEN do the screener. I’m always disappointed when I don’t qualify, which is what happened last week. This time, though, I qualified. It pays $100 for about 2 hours – which you just can’t beat. And, they provide a light meal. Last time, it was a tray of deli sandwiches, and chips and cookies. It doesn’t meet until the 28th of this month, though, so I’m not adding it to my challenge money yet.

Dining Out
We got really lax about this toward the end of last year, and we’re going to try to do better in 2008. So, my DH and I came to an agreement about reducing our dining expenses. In our household, we have the ‘House’ account, which pays for all bills and household expenses.. Then, we each have about $200 per month that comes from outside sources. His is a second assignment from his job, and mine is a PT gig that I have. This money serves as our allowances to spend anyway we want to, or to save for something that we want personally. This allowance is also used for lunches out (on our own), haircuts, etc. In the past, all dinners out have been paid for by the ‘House’, but that’s all about to change.  Our new plan is that the ‘House’ will provide one meal out per week, usually on Friday or Saturday night. Any additional meals out will have to paid for using our own money, depending on whose idea it is to go out. Those nights that I don’t feel like cooking or I’m “too busy” will have to come out of my own money. Likewise for DH when he’s not in the mood for spaghetti again. So far this is working out great. I cooked every night last week except for Friday night, and that was our date night anyway. This week, I’ve cooked Sunday and Monday nights, and I have meals planned for tonight & tomorrow. We’re leaving Thursday evening to go out of town, so there will be more eating out, but we’ve already planned for that.

I’ve decided to start my blog again in 2008. I kept up with this site all throughout 2007, but kind of lost the motivation to write anything myself. I did okay financially last year, but I really need to buckle down on a few things this year, and I hope keeping track of my progress (and setbacks) on this site will help.

So far, I’ve contributed $46.11 to my $20 challenge. Each time I make an addition; I transfer or deposit the money to my savings account. I’m using this money to pay off some debt, and I now have a plan to accomplish this (I hope). I know me…. I’ve always had problems with making small payments on bills or debts. I want to see the debt gone, and I’ve had the tendency in the past to wait until I could pay the amount off in full. It just doesn’t make sense to keep doing it that way, so I’m trying to get past my issues with this. I’ve decided that every month on the 10th, 20th, and 30th, I will take my challenge money balance and make a payment on whatever debt I am working on at that time until it is paid off in full. Then, I will move on to the next debt.

My first payment was this past Thursday, and I decided to round up to nearest $5, so this time…. I paid $50 towards Debt #1. Only $63 more to go until it is paid in full.

My goal is to have each on of the payments equal at least $50, or at least average out to $50. The first six debts on my list all have fairly small balances, and the total for all six is less that $1500.00, so using the extra $150 per month gives me a payoff date of October 2008. I’m giving myself an accelerated goal of June though, and I think I can do it!! I’ll just have to come up with some things to sell on ebay or craigslist to come up with an extra $100 per month. Or maybe I could just trim off some other budget items a little. We’ll see….