Wednesday, is next year going to cost as much?

     In reviewing the calendar for last year, I started to realize just how much money we spent on non essentials.  Now I am not saying these were not worth while expenses, just that they will not occur or I hope they will not occur again this year.  We all have emergencies that we cannot avoid and we will all continue to have these.  But I just had a whopping amount of money go out of my budget that I wish I could have applied to debt.

January:     Christmas bills because I was bad in 2010.  I will not have that
                  problem this year. $2,412.00
                  Help daughter with school $500.00
February:   New grandbaby, cost of travel, gifts, time off work, subs, $1500.00
                  Purchase loops for daughter for school $600.00
March:       travel with the family to see grand baby blessed $700.00
April:         Mom has major heart attack, travel, time, work lost, $1500.00
May:         Graduation expenses and testing for daughter's license $3000.00
                 Purchase a new (used car) $2500.00 down payment
June:         Youngest graduates, party, gifts, pictures etc. $1000.00

July:         Vacation $700.00
                Purchase new (used car) for youngest daughter $2500.00 down
                payment
                Mom comes to visit and gets very sick, supplies $500.00
August:     Get daughter ready for school (College)  set up apartment and
                move her.  $2000.00
                 Daughters new (used car) needs a clutch $750.00
Sept:        Trip to sisters $1000.00 (I did not want to go and I will not go again this
                year.
October:   Mom has another attack (I did not go)
November:  Hubby has a medical emergency $700.00
                   New tires for truck $903.00

December: Bed room flooding has to be fixed, $2400.00

     Add these up folks and it is over $24,000.00.  See how hard it is to get out of debt?  Now some of these things are certainly not necessary expenses.  I did not have to go when the grandson was born.  But I did.  We did not need to take a vacation or go on the girls trip but we did.  My mother has had a bad health year, but is this going to get better? Probably not.  I do see several expenses that will not likely reoccur this year.  We will not need to put down payments on cars.  We will not need to set up a college apartment, the truck tires will last for at least 4 years.  Hopefully we will not have as many medical problems, but who knows?  The bedroom flood was an accident, but we all have those, right?

      This is why I started blogging.  I work so hard and I feel like I tread water!  But it is easy to see why when you list the things that go on here financially.  I can say that I have two daughters that are in very good careers and are on their own now.  Such a relief.  We have the other set up ready to stay for the long haul.  (Our oldest stayed in the same apartment all the way through Law School, 7 years)  it was pretty ratty when she was done.  We will expect the youngest to do this also if we feel it is a good situation. The medical emergencies we just can't avoid that is life.

     But here is to a new year without major expenses with cars and kids!  That is my one big goal!
Even if we can keep this list down by 1/2 it will be better.  But I think that this year will be the year I finally break out!  Because it is getting easier and I am getting tougher.

     Out My Window:  It rained here hard all day yesterday so it is much warmer!  But that means it is really snowing some where else.

     I have to do a mass mailing today for the studio with some tweaks on the schedule. I hate the time it takes, but that is life.  Also have sewing that has to be done and a bride coming over for a fitting.  I need to fill the truck with boxes from all the Christmas crap around here and take a run to the dump.  Also Judy has inspired me to clean out my closet and linen closet.  I think I need to start taking down Christmas.

     Have a great and productive day!

Kim