I LOVE Free...

The Freeloader's Toolbelt: 50 Tools to Help You Get Anything Free Online Free Geekery

Car repairs, blech...

Two little weeks after paying off my car, I am facing repairs. It is as if the money gods looked down upon me and said "Hey, she thinks things are going ok. Let's send a Murphy at her." A Murphy is of course a variant on the whole Murphy's Law thing. Things are going ok, guess it's time for a roadblock. Fingers crossed that it's under $500.

Paid off my car... Woo!

Paid off my car today, woo woo woo woo woo! (That was totally a paid off car song, please set to music.) I am now the total owner of a very used 2001 Ford Escape in need of a new window retinting and some upholstery work. Yay me.

I like this personal finance blog...

Great budget calculator and a really nice debt repayment feature.

JosephSangl.com

Bills bills bills...

I had a flash of realization tonight. I paid my bills-everything except the water bill that hasn't arrived yet-and I still have money left over. Not a lot, but there is money remaining. At Christmastime. I'm going to be able to handle this house. I'm going to be ok. It feels so damn good. I have been so scared and nervous but I'm going to be ok. Yay me!

Homeownership, fear and cookies...

It is such a weird thing-this being a home owner. I worry about things now that I never thought of before. What's that noise? Is this a leak? If I walk on the grass, will it come back in the spring? And worry about things that I don't normally worry about-money, bills, how much electricity I'm using. It's been cold-how high will that power bill be?

I really don't feel the pride of ownership that I expected. Where is that? Aren't I supposed to be bursting my proverbial buttons or something? Instead of pride, I mostly feel fear. I hate fear.

I guess I should focus on some things that I love instead... Things that make me happy or at least kill a little time now and then. I love the cheesy scene in "10 Things I Hate About You" where Heath Ledger sings. I love cookies. Mmmmm...cookies. I love looking at Craig's List personals to see if I know anyone. (I do hate it when I stumble on penis pics, but that is a whole other story).

Now I need to try to balance my demon-possessed checkbook. Maybe after that, I can try to unpack some more of my house. (Something I think I fear at least a little and certainly hate very very much.) Wish me luck world.