Penny Pinching Mom

Digital Cameras

I love having a digital camera. The one I have now leaves a bit to be desired, but it gets the job done. I think I’ll be replacing it after I get a laptop, though.

I wouldn’t mind having something like the Canon Powershot 10 megapixel camera. That would make some great pictures. And it looks pretty too.

I don’t know whether I’ll go with that or a Kodak, since I already have a Kodak printer dock. But I’ve got plenty of time to think about it.

For Sale

I’ve put a ton of stuff in the paper for sale over the past week, but haven’t received a single call about it. I’ve decided that when it comes time to renew the ads, I’m going to go down on the price a little. I’m going to continue until either the stuff sells or I reach bottom dollar.

Anybody need an antique French Army pistol? A mid-eighties model T-Bird? A racing ATV? Or perhaps some oceanfront Arizona real estate? I’ll cut you a deal on them.

Just kidding about the real estate. If you’re interested in the other things, drop me a comment.

Steel Buildings

When we get back on our feet again, I’m hoping that we can buy a house, or at least some land. It would be great to have a nice house and a couple of acres to call our own.

If that ever happens, I’m thinking about building myself a separate office. When I’m home alone it’s not too hard to get work done. When Pumpkin is here, I have an occasional interruption, but she’s good for a kid. But when Hubby is here, it’s nearly impossible to get anything done.

I could get one of those small steel buildings for that purpose. A lot of businesses and churches are using them because they are so cost-efficient and easy to assemble. It’s something to think about, even if it won’t happen for a while.

I Love the Mailwoman!

I got a nice little surprise in the mail yesterday. Our local phone cooperative sent out refunds on capital credits, and I received a check. It wasn’t enough to cure all of my financial ills or anything, but at least it will help a little. With the week I’ve had, I can definitely use it.

I’ve had no writing assignments to speak of this week, just my daily post to Web TV Hub and my paid blogging assignments. Not that they’re chopped liver or anything- they pay well for the amount of work involved. But they take up about an hour of my time per day, tops, and an hour a day doesn’t pay the bills. It would be nice if it did, but I’m not privileged enough to make that kind of money per hour.

I’ve applied for several writing jobs, but so far nothing. All I can do is scrape together a yard sale (yes, I’m actually going through with it this time) and hope that by some stroke of luck the mailwoman will be nice to me again today.

A Bright, Sunshiny Day

The weather has taken a turn for the better lately here in the mountains. We haven’t gotten nearly as much rain as we need to catch up after the summer drought, but at least we did get a little. And the past few days have been absolutely gorgeous.

My mood has been pretty bleak, but when I look outside I can’t help but feel kind of lucky. I don’t need to think about buying Tampa real estate to have beautiful weather in the fall this year. I may be singing a different tune in a few weeks, though. Mountain weather is strange like that.

Searching

I’ve spent a few hours on the computer so far today. So far I have gotten two things accomplished: I’ve spent a good hour and a half if not more waiting on this slow piece of crap to quit hanging up and do something, and I’ve managed to find some writing job leads and apply for them.

My main regular writing gig has gotten obnoxiously slow. They told me that I would be getting more work, but instead I’m getting loads of work in spurts and then nothing for a while. So I’m looking for small projects that I can do to make extra money, and more ongoing work.

I hope something works out. I can’t bear the thoughts of going back to work. By all accounts my old job is there if I need it, but I do not want to go back. As much as I liked some of the people there, there was never enough help. And call me crazy, but I don’t like doing the work of three people for the pay of one.

I Wish

Normally I don’t care if I get anything for Christmas or not. But this year there are lots of things I could really use. I probably won’t get any of them, but here are the things I need:

• A laptop- Bet you saw that coming a mile away
• New cookware- My old pots and pans have definitely seen their better days. I’ve had to toss several of them. A nice set of Berndes cookware would be awesome.
• A new stove- My oven has seen its better days as well. I have to flip anything I put in it over halfway through unless I want it burnt.
• A new clutch for my truck- My clutch is getting mighty weak. It might last until Christmas if I’m lucky.

I guess those are my biggest needs. I have plenty of wants, but I’m old enough that my wants won’t hurt me.

Entertainment

I’ve been trying desperately to keep a few bucks put aside so that we could all go to the movies when Mr. Bean’s Holiday comes to town. The local theater only has two screens, and it takes them a while to get some movies. But I thought for sure it would be here by this week.

Well, I just called the theater and it’s still not there. They’re just now getting Hairspray. I wouldn’t mind going to see that, but Pumpkin has had her heart set on Mr. Bean. Given our finances, I guess I’ll pass on Hairspray.

If the stage version were coming around here, I would consider getting High School Musical tickets. I doubt there would be anything I could afford, but I know Pumpkin would love it. But since I don’t live even remotely close to a major metropolitan area, I don’t have to worry about it.

More Negativity

I hate to feel like I’m being negative all the time. But there is very little positive about our finances right now.

I’m behind on the bills again, and Pumpkin’s birthday is almost here. We’re going to try to get her a bike, but we’ll be lucky if we can. And if we do, that will probably be all we can get her. I hate being broke.

I’m cutting back everywhere I can find an opportunity to do so. It looks like I’ll have to get my cell phone cut off. I don’t use it much, but I hate not having one. We live in a very rural area, and if I were to get a flat tire or something out in the middle of nowhere I would be scared half to death. It wouldn’t be so bad if I were alone, but if Pumpkin was with me I would likely go into hysterics if I couldn’t call for help quickly without having to go knocking on some stranger’s door.

If things don’t start looking up pretty soon, I guess I’m going to have to go back to work outside the home. If I do that and keep writing when I’m not working elsewhere, maybe we won’t have to struggle so much. Constant 18 hour work days are tough, but they’re beginning to look better and better compared to what we’re going through now.

Another Summer Gone By…

… and no vacation for us. Pumpkin and I went to Grandfather Mountain over the weekend with a school group, but I hardly call that a vacation. We only stayed for about 3 hours, and the time we were there it was so foggy, windy, and chilly that we didn’t get to do or see much. We didn’t even get to go on the swinging bridge.

Hopefully next summer will be better than the past two. Maybe we can finally look at Orlando vacations or consider going to Carowinds. At the very least, I’m going to take Pumpkin to Tweetsie Railroad if I have to sell the furniture to do it.