So I have alluded to being sick. Part of it was the nasty 2 week-ish bug going around everyone I know. Part is first trimester super morning sickness. I am almost 3 months along now and FINALLY starting to feel better!

So many things will be changing for us. We have plenty of medical expenses to plan for. I want to beef up the Efund. We need to do some repairs to the spare bedroom/windows prior to turning it into a nursery and we have to revamp the budget. Should be a fun ride!

We are incredibly excited. I am happy that we are probably getting some hand-me-downs from my sister. My niece just turned 1 and will be almost 2 when our baby gets here.

We told the folks by printing out tickets that look like Ticketmaster tickets with the baby info and giving them to our family members telling them we won a bunch of tickets to an event. It was super cute and free. I found a template online & my hubs printed them at work. My mom loves that she can keep the ticket as a keepsake!

I am reading blogs/articles for suggestions as what to do to prepare for the baby. So far, some suggestions have been the following. Please feel free to add yours!

-Meal plan for freezer meals to make a month before the dude date
-stock up on deals for household items/groceries to help skip last minute store runs for things like toilet paper
-stock up on deals on baby wipes & diapers

I have been sick for most of the new year. Sleeping a lot, unable to do anything but bed rest kind of sick. Its been a challenging few weeks.

My husband, the sweetheart, had to take over grocery shopping and all chores as well as waiting on me. As a result, things are very disorganized and not very clean. I leave messes when I am living on the couch. Clutter everywhere!

This weekend, I finally started perking up and I am hoping to (slowly) get back on track. I was able to do some laundry over the weekend and that was first on my To Do List today.

-Work full day
-clear personal emails
-update budget/checkbook
-update savings logs
-track medical expenses - wait for bills to come in
-update Christmas/Birthdays list & budget
-Fold and put away all laundry
-Fill reusable water bottles from brita to keep for grab & go from Fridge (helps when feeling ill)
-dinner at home
-run dishwasher
-clean off kitchen counters
-go to bed early

2014 is the first year that my husband & are filing as married. It was interesting doing the taxes. However, they are DONE and we are getting a refund. A 100% of the refund (not a big amount) is going to debt. Woot.

I am already planning how I can lower our taxes for next year :P

Thursday 1-1: Barnes & Noble: $54.39
Friday 1-2: No spend
Saturday 1-3: $10 food
Sunday 1-4: No Spend

No too shabby. I will only be tracking spending for myself and the household. My spouse's spending (fun money, etc) is not accounted for.

2015 goals include:

Pay off CC TY $1087.11
Pay off CC FR $5762.60
Pay off CC BA $9257.35
Pay off Car Loan $1595.93
Cash only gifs - Birthday & Christmas
Earn at least $500 in alternative income
Utilize HSA and spouse HSA

2015 yields many changes that I am not ready to discuss yet (all good, just tentative) and I don't want to go into too much detail of goals knowing that they may change.

Still - 2015 is going to be a good and smart year as well!

2014 was a banner year for me. Although I ended the year sick, I call it a winner.

I had alternative income in the amount of $1332.22. This income comes from Bing Rewards, Coke Rewards, Inbox Dollars, Ebates, Superbowl winnings, checking account bonuses and credit card rewards.

In 2014, I cash-flowed a wedding, honeymoon (approx 7k total), plumbing repairs ($5375.90) and a basement water damage repair ($6350).

I also paid $10,835.69 in Credit card debt.

Effectively cashflowing & paying off $29,561.59 in one single year. That doesn't even include my husband's debt pay-down as we both are working to clear the debt we brought into the marriage (and should complete in 2015).

Lots of things going on this weekend.

Friday - I worked 6:45am to 5:15pm. My hubby brought take out home (frugal take-out) and I wasn't feeling well, so went to bed at 8pm. Woke up at 7 the next day.

We did a car switch for an oil change on my husband's car. I did some watching of dvrd tv shows, balanced the checkbook & cleared out my personal emails.

At 12:30, we went to a local burger joint for my niece's 1st Birthday Party. Lots of friends and family. My one sister in law brought her son, who is the same age as my nephew and my mother-in-law came too. So nice to see merging of the families!

Saturday night, we watched a Netflix movie (In a World) and again I went to bed early. We did take out again - off a gift card.

Sunday, I worked 5 hours of OT (for a total of 23 hours OT this week). Then went to a locally owned pet shop, which had its once a year 30% off sale. I was able to get several bags of cat food at 30% off! So, $71.97 worth of cat food cost $50.37 out of pocket.

I also stopped at the dollar store for a few staples & spend $19.

Later on, my hubs went to the store for me (he had gone out to watch the football game with friends).

I am working to get back into packing food for work - so tonight, I prepped potato rounds and yogurt for breakfast, tuna fish for a sandwich and tomato salad for lunch, popcorn for snack;

Busy weekend. Bigger week coming up!

I put my alternative income into my holiday/gift fund normally. Sometimes I put it into other categories.

I like to keep an eye at where I am at. Currently, I have a lot of cash back and ebates rewards coming my way in January!

TD Rewards $20.53
D1 Rewards $12.20
D2 Rewards $27.25
AZ Rewards $14.09
Inbox Dollars $21.96
Ebates $25.02

Mypoints 1751 points
Recyclebank Points 435
MyCokeRewards Points 858

In November, I paid $230 to the car loan (New Balance: $1825.93) and $2567.97 to the credit cards. This amount does not include any recent charge & payoff immediately activity since I am using a card for 5% cashback right now.

I paid:

$886.97 to payoff CC-CD
$1527 to CC-CTY
Min $59 to CC-FR
Min $95 to CC-BOA

Woohoo! `

It's been a while since I have bought clothes for myself and I took this opportunity (Cyber Monday) to buy some clothes for myself.

At Kohl's, I found some bras BOGO and used a 20% off coupon code.

$49.50
-$9.90 coupon code
= $39.60

I will also get 5% cashback from Discover and 10% Cashback from Ebates cashback.

I hit JC Penneys for 2 work short sleeved shirts, 2 work long sleeved shirts & a holiday sweater.

$49.95
-10.00 20% off coupon code
=$39.95

I will get 5% Discover Cashback and 15% Ebates cashback)

Later in the day, I went back to Kohl's for some work clothes.

4 Work sweaters
$50.38
-10.08 coupon code
= $40.30

I will get 5% cashback from Discover and 10% Cashback from Ebates ($4.03). I also used a $25 Kohls gift card for $20 out of pocket. The 5% cashback will be on the $15.30 that was charged on the Discover.

All balances will be paid off as soon as they hit the credit card. I am happy with my deals! No more clothing needs for quite a while.

Lots of Alternative income in 2014 so far! I funded most of my Christmas this way & am using the rest towards supplementing various savings accounts.

TOTAL: 1061.61

Credit Card Rewards: $420.89
Checking Account Rewards: $350
Prizes: $93
Escrow Reimbursement $61.44
Ebates: $52.81
BING $45
Inbox Dollars: $32.47
Price Matching $6

Previous Credit Card & Car Loan Debt Totals:

6/1/14: $27,663.81
8/10/14: $23,424.90
9/19/14: $22,596.90
11/15/14: $18,626.56

10-23 Prev Total of Retirement Funds: $69,428.71
10-23 Prev Total PLUS SPOUSE 401k $101,828.71

11-18 New Total of Retirement Funds: $74,018.38
11-18 New Total PLUS SPOUSE 401k $106,418.38

More Work Freebies:
-3 sodas
-1 bottle water
-1 cookie

This week, my husband redid the drywall in our living room ceiling and lets just say the WHOLE DOWNSTAIRS was covered in a half in layer of dust.

So today, I spent the day mixed between vegging and cleaning. Every single item downstairs needs to be wiped down. I cannot even exaggerate that statement LOL

In the kitchen, I -

-Deep cleaned the kink
-wiped off the top of the fridge
-wiped off every bottle/glassware on top of the fridge
-cleaned counters
-hand washed dish drain rack
-wiped off cabinets
-cleaned off & wipe down kitchen table and chairs
-wiped/cleaned items on windowsill
-wiped down microwave
-cleaned kitchen floor

Living Room
-cleared off sofa table and wipe down every photo frame/item on it
-wipe down items in baskets on 2nd shelf of sofa table
-wiped hanging mirror and artwork
-removed all items from bookcase and wipe down each book and photo and replaced them
-fixed back of bookcase (using staple gun)
-Replaced wall art with finished framed poster used as Wedding Guestbook
-wiped down ceiling fan
-removed all items from entertainment center, wiped them down and organized them.
-wiped coffee table & all items on it
-wiped off 1 end table & all of its items

Misc
-took out recycling and trash
-cleared personal email
-did bing, mypoints, etc
-updated blog (now)
-purchased desk for nephew. Used $10 gift card from Recyclebank and gift/Christmas account for the rest
-made payments from payday - $875 to credit card!
-made dinner at home
-watched Catching Fire with hubs on Netflix
-fixed kitchen chairs

Breaking now and will finish cleaning off/wiping the rest of the house tomorrow!

-wipe off 2nd of end tables
-shake off blankets
-shake off couch cushions & pillows
-pick up living room
-wipe down stool
-clean rest of living room
-vacuum living room & stairs
-wipe off stair rails
-vacuum upstairs hall

Quick update:

Lots of freebies at work lately - 3 cans of soda, a cookie, 2 waters and some peanuts. Nice!

Last week, my CC#2 was Paid off! (in addition to CC#1)
Leaving:
CC#3 - $3297.16
CC#4 - $5879.60
CC#5 - 9447.35
CAR - $2055.93

My paycheck on Fri will put $847 to CC# 3, $230 to car.

New Remaining Balances
CC#3 - $4207.16
CC#4 - $5879.60
CC#5 - 9447.35
CAR - $1825.93

My ING/Slush Funds include:

ING
Christmas - $764.73
New Home - $5818.95
EF $67.26, $3000 (2nd acct)
Sewer/HOA/AAA $170.35
Insurance $90.64
Vet $20.46
Medical $20.86
Auto $0.04

Woohoo! The Payoff of a card just hit. Balance shows as $0!

No new debt in months (last 'new' debt is basement drainage repairs). I am utilizing one card due to 5% cashback on groceries, gas, restaurants and utilities. So I am using that card for normal purchases & paying off immediately. I already charged (and paid back) $500, so I will be getting a $100 bonus. And I still get 5% cashback for 5 more months.

Friday night, we had friends over for a Double Date in. I made sloppy joe and sides and mini apple pies for dessert. We watched a Netflix movie and played Cards Against Humanity. It was nice & relaxing.

Saturday, I got up and ran some errands and went to the store. Then I worked some overtime and was lazy the rest of the day.

Today, I went to the Winterthur Museum with a friend. It's a $20 admission, but includes a Downton Abbey Costumes exhibit (which is what we were going for). We also took a 20 minute tram ride around the gardens on the estate and a 45 minute guided tour through the house (once owned by a DuPont).

We had a wonderful time and had lunch at the museum. A bit pricey, but I was happy to have a full meal and not just a hot dog or hamburger.

Here are a few pics of the exhibit, the coi pond and the house.

In the last 2 years, my husband & I moved in together. I got a new job. We got married. We replaced all the water pipes in the house (5k+), did air conditioning repairs, other plumbing repairs, cash-flowed a wedding, paid cash for a honeymoon, paid for wedding bands, and paid for a super expensive water remediation in the basement ($6.5k). Money has flowed out to the tune of $21k+.

We both came into the marriage with some debt. However, in the past 18 months, we have paid down that debt AND paid off the 21k through cash-flowing and my over time.

In 2014 alone, as of last paycheck, I have worked 196.5 hours of OT. With this week's OT, I will surpass 200! That is 5 - 40 hour work weeks!

My husband is not as detail oriented as I am and we are adjusting to sharing finances. However, we both have a plan to have our debt paid off by Aug/Sept of 2015. This still leaves us with wiggle room to not drastically change our lifestyle for the moment.

We are frugal in many ways, but enjoy going out and doing things with friends. We buckle down a little more each month (I can reign in better than he), but each month, we are improving!

I just checked my Ebates account and have $25.37 coming my way for this quarter. I only purchase things through Ebates that I am already planning to purchase. This quarter, I had some home improvement projects to help with this rebate... but in 2014 alone, I have already received $61.92. I won't hit $100 for the year (income-wise), but I am excited to get each and every check.

Do any of you guys use Ebates? If so, what do you love about it?

I am going to work on referrals next... so leave a comment if you would like a link!

So far, so good with meal plans! We already switched up tonight's plan. It was supposed to be crockpot apple & pear pork...but we ended up with meatball subs instead. THis was good, because we were able to use up some leftover pasta sauce from the fridge.

Anyway, here's a pic of Sunday's dinner: Creamy Sausage & tomato pasta. It was a hit!

Today, I was all over the place with work stuff, but managed to get a few personal items accomplished as well.

-Worked the first of 4 - 10 hour days this week
-Went to my doctor on my lunch break to change my name & request refills on maintenance meds
-Did Bing Searches
-Entered MyCOkeRewards
-Make dermatologist appointment
-Put name in for a Professional conference. NOt sure that anyone my level will go - but it never hurts!
-Do budget for Friday's payday
-Got some freebies at work - can of soda, bottle of water, and a snack bag of chips. Yay for freebies!

A friend was given a free room at Harrah's Casino in AC and free tickets to a Lady Antebellum concert on the beach/boardwalk. She invited 3 of us girls and we had a Sunday night into Monday Girls trip!

I drove, we avoided tolls, so my main coasts for travel was gas. It was only an hour-ish drive, so it really won't affect my gas budget.

I took $140 cash. We packed food, water, soda & some booze for the room. So maybe $15 out of pocket? I took most from the pantry

We had buy one get one free coupons for the buffet and it cost roughly $20 each....but was the only meal we had that day, really.

My personal costs were $20 for the cab ride to the concert. We took a free shuttle back. After the concert, we hit a different hotel/casino nearer to the boardwalk to avoid the crowds leaving.

We played slots a bit and I lost at the penny ones LOL We ordered free drinks while sitting around and playing. Then I started winning a bit. Again, all cash brought with me and all within budget.

All in all, $140 cash was brought and with my 'winnings' after losing a good portion of that, I came back home with $110 of the $140. Can't beat that! LOL

Today, we hung out at the pool at the hotel and had lunch at a restaurant. Then I headed home by dinner time.

STopped by the grocery store (in budget) and made pasta salad to bring for lunches this week.

I am flexing at work (summer schedule) and am working 4 10 hour days to be able to take today off. It was really a fun and to me - frugal trip. We really did well!

The basement company came in slightly under the estimate of $6383 (at $6350). They dug out the basement window & reinstalled rocks for drainage. They did the promised work in the basement and in addition, since they had to cut back a bush to get to that basement window, they volunteered to take the whole thing out.

That was a big job that I have been meaning to tackle - so I got that service for free!

The drainage/mold removal is complete and the basement already smells 1000% better. We have to keep the cats out of it while the cement dries, so we moved the litter box into the spare bedroom.

In preparation of the work, we moved around stuff being stored in the basement and it is definitely giving the urge to purge and organize.

So tonight, I brought up 3 old deck chairs that are rusted & need to be trashed. My husband will bring the other 3 in the morning to go out with the trash. So that's a step!

$6350 - the cost - went on a 0% credit card and will get some rewards points. I am working crazy OT and it will be paid off soon!

I have been focused on alternate sources of income to make up my Christmas budget in 2014. I utilize:

-Ebates
-Inbox Dollars
-MyPoints
-MyCokerewards
-Recyclebank
-Cashcrate
-ShopatHome
-Swagbucks
-Bing Rewards
-I also utilize credit cards for rewards/bonuses

Please add yours to the list!

I had some quotes, but due to basement water issues (dry basement, but mold is building). Turns out water is in the concrete walls. FUN.

So I have contracted a company for a 1-2 day job of mitigating the water issue ... to the tune of $6,383. UGH.

My husband is salaried, but I have overtime options. So as to not derail our debt repayment, I am going to bust my butt to do that OT to cover the expense.

I also am looking at new breaks, I want to rebuild an EFUND and finish paying off the debt. So YAY overtime!

While I do more OT, the hubs picks up a larger portion of the house duties, which helps!

The long weekend was busy in a lot of ways. I am in a purging/organizing kind of mood. So after work Thursday, I got started on making our bedroom as much of an oasis as possible.

First, I attacked the closet

-I Went through the walk-in, pulled every single thing out of it (not my husbands stuff though) and got rid of the following 36 items:
-3 pairs of sandals
-3 pairs of work heels
-a work suit
-2 work blazers
-3 hoodies
-2 pairs of shorts
-5 long sleeve shirts
-4 tee shirts
-jogging pants
- night shirt
-long sleeved sweater
-3 tank tops
-1 purse
-6 polo shirts

-I photographed and listed each of these items, plus the towels and sheets that we went through and purged after the wedding to go to Goodwill. Towels are going to be donated to the SPCA. (32 items purged)
-full sheet set
-2 pillowcases
-top & fitted sheet set
-duvet cover & 2 pillow covers
-6 bath towels
-3 medium towels
-8 hand towels
-1 wash cloth
-2 bath mats
-1 comforter

-I spent 2 hours scanning & Uploading PILES of documents using free phone app & online storage and prepping them for shredding (TOO MANY documents to count)
-cleared personal email
-did Bing Searches
-entered MyCokeRewards
-made dinner at home
-started purging in spare room. Cleaned up some trash and made a list of my 'gift closet'

I woke up on Friday (the 4th) & pulled 5 more items out for goodwill. Then kept going for a total of another 12 items
-3 sweaters
-1 long sleeve shirt
-1 tank top
-2 pairs slippers
-1 belt
-2 pairs of heals
-1 purse
-1 scarf

The 4th was spent with the hubby. We had lunch at Red Robin with a friend and then dinner with another couple at an inn on the Chesapeake. Seafood, a band and a few drinks, plus a free Fireworks show!

Woke up again on Saturday and pulled more items (this time from the dresser, closet and items on the wardrobe in the bedroom) for Goodwill (35 items):
-12 pairs of socks
-2 dresses
-2 decorative teacups
-jump rope
-4 rings, 2 bracelets, 7 pairs of earrings
-2 necklaces
-2 pairs of sunglasses
-scarf

-Organized all Jewelry
-Organized sock drawer
-Organized underwear drawer
-Organized meds drawer
-Cleared off dresser top (re-homed jewelry into wardrobe)
-Listed 3 items on online sales site

I trashed old/broken flip flops and sandals

Sunday, I took the items to Goodwill (all listed, itemized on a spreadsheet & photographed - which are also saved in the Cloud.

I visited with my family for a bit and then took my parents out to lunch. My Dad has been sick and was craving breakfast out - so we went to a diner. $24 out of pocket for the 3 of us.

Monday, I worked 11.25 hours, hit the grocery store and then just vegged at night. I needed the mental down time after a rough day at work.

Today, Tuesday, I worked 4.15 hours. I am flexing the 2nd half of the day and am getting an estimate on water issues we are having the basement.

During the morning/while I was waiting, I got a few more things done:

-Set up online access for checking to get $200 bonus
-activated cards under married name
-cleared out personal email
-went through mail
-cleared out DVR
-made bed (something we never do)
-checked to make sure bedroom is picked up
-did research on basement issues
-did research on fixing a small leak in the bathroom faucet

Tonight, I am making sloppy joe from scratch for dinner. The Hubs is working until 7, so I get some down/alone time for the rest of my flex day.

Got a lot of information about the basement, including an estimate. I am going to be talking to my husband when he gets home. It's going to be costly

When my husband moved in 2 years ago, he brought a flat screen tv for the living room. We moved the flat panel tv I already owned into the spare bedroom.

However, it doesn't really work for his video games, so we battle over 'rights' to the nice downstairs tv. After the wedding & all, we decided we would like to get a new flat panel for the living room and move the current one to the spare room.

Eventually, I would also like to replace the tv in the bedroom with a much smaller one.

So what I suggested to my husband was this: Why don't we take the time to clean out the basement and sell some the items in the basement that are just clutter. We can use that money towards the new TV without detracting from debt repayment and a new house fund.

I look at it like a game. Should be fun!

I have been doing lots of little things to save money. Here's a list of what I accomplished today.

-Worked my full work day
-Earned 100 in a work rewards program. That is halfway to enough points to purchase a Christmas present!
-Downloaded a $2.99 Soduku app for free
-Downloaded a $4 To Do List app for free
-Used Walgreens Balance Rewards card when picking up a prescription, earning 500 points
-Bought lunch (splurge) at Burger King & filled out survey on receipt for a free sandwich with drink purchase
-Called Walgreens about a photo order that was not right. This is the 2nd one that they have send me, so I requested a refund. Will use another online service. $4.98 refunded to my account and without any asking, they offered 25 free 4x6 prints for inconvenience.
-requested free sample of sunscreen
-In desperate needs of pajama pants, I utilized a sale (15% off plus my Old Navy bonus rewards plus free shipping) to get the following for $6.90 out
of pocket
-2 pairs of pajama pants, 2 pairs of flip flops (leather), 2 work appropriate tops, a pair of workout pants and a tank top
-Signed up for a free photo book from MyPublisher
-Requested $32.64 in a credit card rewards check (to go to Christmas fund)
-Did Bing searches and requested $5 Amazon gift card
-Work gave out a free bag of Fritos (snack size) and a full size candy bar

I was paid today & tomorrow will pay bills. I have budgeted $956.70 towards credit card debt this pay period!

Lots of To-Dos

Today, I worked from home and was able to get some things done.

-Called cc about returned payment (due to changed checking accounts and reversed digits). They refunded the $25 returned check fee and $1.19 of intereste (balance is at 0%)

-Changed over my ING direct debits to the new checking account

-revised joint/personal budgets

-upped 401k contribution by 2%

-Set paycheck budget for tomorrow's payday

-did 2 loads of laundry & hung dry 1 of them

-folded laundry & brought in laundry racks from deck

-made breakfast at home and lunch at home

-hit the grocery store at lunch for food for dinner tonight

-cleaned the kitchen

I am working until 6:30 and then have a few more To-Dos

-clear personal email
-go through mail
-go through recipes and create meal plan
-make dinner
-spend time with my husband

Lost my post for the 3rd time...ugh! LOL

Well, 3 weeks ago, I married the love of my life! We are so happy I have been offline for a few months while taking my professional exam and wedding planning.

After the wedding, we spent 8 days in Mexico for the honeymoon. Paid for in cash! My parents generously paid for the bulk of our wedding and we cashed flowed any incidentals!

Our friends and family were incredibly generous and we received many household items as gifts. Both my Husband (HUSBAND!) and I came into the marriage with old/mis-matched/threadbare items that we accumulated in college and from GoodWill.

We were given dishes, new pots/pans, lamps, bed linens and many thoughtful gifts - rugs with our monograms, hand made items, etc. These thoughtful gifts are incredibly sentimental to us already

Out of the items that we replaced, we are selling some older items, donating some and keeping things like some old towels as rags.

Thank you notes were mailed a week after we came back from the Honeymoon. I am BIG on thank you cards!

We came out of this with no additional debt. we have the same financial goals although I am definitely the nerd in the relationship when it comes to details. We definitely balance each other out though. It just means, I will probably take over finances once my name change is complete and we finish combining finances.

I have many things I am working on financially and will be saving those for my next post.

I am SO happy to be back!