Baby Steps

Baby Step 1a: Get current with all of the bills.
Well, Joe pays the bills, so I am usually (happily!) in the dark about these things. I used to be the bill payer, and he used to be blissfully ignorant. Time for us both to take part and take blame! It isn't fair for one person to handle all of the financial stress, and it leads to anger and dissappointment. Better if we're both in the trenches together. *sigh* After the kiddies don their nightcaps we will make a date with Microsoft Money tonight and get a budget written, and payments allotted. :(

Baby Step 1b: Build an Emergency Fund of $1K
Yikes! We have never been good at keeping a savings. So when we have tried to manage our debt, we have been pulled back under when ever something goes wrong. Katie suddenly needed glasses. Our microwave went out (barely a year old, Maytag!) followed by our range (2yrs old, Maytag!). The driveway needed to be sealed (blacktop) and the deck is in desperate need of refinishing, we sorely need a fence so we can actually use the backyard, and let the dog out to play, the french doors have needed replacing since we moved in, there are puddles in the kitchen every time it rains and the doorjamb is rotting. We had to pay to repair the garage door, and it took us a year to do that! The basement needs things done (seal the sump pit and ventilate the radon) before we can even begin to dream of remodeling it, which would be awful nice since we have 5 kids, in a 3 bedroom, 1 bath ranch. The window wells will need to be enlarged, the windows replaced with larger ones for fire safety escapes. And our electric box needs to be replaced very soon. In terms of more "luxury" expenditures, our couch is too ratty for us to be comfortable asking anyone over (yes, it really is that bad!) and our bed leaves us still tired and very achey the next morning. I have a memory card for my camera from our trip this summer, which is "corrupt" and its going to cost quite a bit to try and recover anything from it (the photos of my kids and I with my dad are on there!!! I haven't seen my dad since I was 3 :( ) And then my best lens was smashed soon after. The computer monitor is starting to go out, too. We have a laptop, but the monitor isn't calibrated and I can't afford a calibrator, so I am unable to use the laptop for any of my graphics work. Ugh!

That about covers all my laments, I believe :) We are all pretty much healthy for the moment (YEAH!!) And Joe and I are both bringing in income, so I really can't complain. The kids are wonderful- they entertain us and are quite personable. I am really starting to enjoy Anna's little stories and songs, and Jakers is such a sweet little cuddly-bug. The older girls can be ever so helpful, Breann helps out around the house, Emmy is terrific with the little ones and Katie is good with detailed jobs, like organizing.

So to meet some of our goals as well as stop using the credit cards and building up our emergency fund, I am going to start selling off anything that I can but the kids! I figure this will help twofold; we will have less "stuff" to take care of, freeing up time and space. And we will hopefully make a little bit of money to use toward the aforementioned needs and our first Baby Steps. Cheers!