Don't Know About Ya'll

I am glad all the festivities are over.  It was a busy two weeks with hubby home.  While we were able to enjoy our time together; we still have lots of HONEY DO'S left on the always full list of things to accomplish. 

Our house phone is still not working properly so, we are debating not calling a repair man and just cancelling the service.  Verizon just keeps raising rates, charging us fees but, never upgrading their services in our area for land lines though they charge us multiple fees.  So, other than a phone for emergencies we can think of no other reason to have a home phone.  I turned off our long distance service over a year ago and have used a phone card with ease since.

American companies with no competition for business have little regard for customers to provide standard services; the companies are able to charge what they want with no fear of losing monies.  We are constantly checking with neighbors to find out what cell phone companies in the area ACTUALLY WORK in the bowl terrain and our home is located at the bottom.

With the vehicles, hubby needs to wait for his state tags so he can register his Honda for access to military bases which will take approximately two weeks.  This creates an issue for him gaining timely entrance in the mornings.  As luck would have it; the farm truck is not able to make a trip right now because something has happened to the gear shift --- it's stuck in 4th gear.




Now my car is a different issue, I have two weeks to go to the court house to transfer the title / registration by Texas law or face consequences.  Then I will have a two weeks wait for a state plate.  When we got home with it (yes, I actually broke the law by driving it home); the insurance agency we use was closed until tomorrow and I am without a viable mode of transportation until the Farm Bureau opens in the a.m.  This caused me to push back the puppies getting neutered in the morning, I can not drive without insurance. 

Also, Texas State requirements have gone up for basic coverage and; if a person gets caught driving without proof of insurance or up to date driver's license; their car gets towed to impound -- no excuses.   WHICH IS A GOOD THING in my opinion. I am just throwing this up to the universe.  Peeps without insurance for Medical and Vehicles are forcing Peeps who chose to follow the law to pay higher rates.  Annoying but true fact of life.

I will miss hubby dearly when he goes back to work; we have been tied at the hip.  Tomorrow marks his job search for work in this area.  We have reworked our budget to build up our savings so, when he does find a job; we have a cushion to fall onto. 

Basically this means, we are cutting our budget to these monthly amounts for a family of five.

Food $300
Elec $300
Spending / Clothes $165
Entertainment $100
Gas $300
Mortgage $700 (we pay an additional $200 on principal)
Computer $60
Dental $60
Medical $40
Loan (shed/tractor) $340
Car Ins $100
Honda $285
Savings $600
Farm $150
Orkin / Trash/ Etc $100

Approximate Take Home: 3600
Approximate Pay Out: 3498

All numbers are approximate but, this shows where we are concentrating.  Paying off loans as quickly as possible, stashing extra into savings, we have a retirement plan as well, and cutting out frivolous expenses like premium cable channels.  Later as time goes by we will be cutting all cable, gardening more, and storing our own foods as we grow them. It just make financial sense because, I saw the signs in late 2006 of the economy's collapse pending and quit selling on eBay.  And, Waa Laa, in 2007-09 the US economy's (global actually -- it was a classic depression but, don't tell anyone I said so) recession.

What I do see for Texas is; the recession has not truly touched here yet.  However, I am thinking we are just around the corner from a mini recession here unless locally the oil fields really do ramp up.  After watching the market price on a barrel of oil; I am wagering with hubby the cost of a gallon of gas will be up near $4+ a gallon again by late summer/fall because OPEC is having great fun with the increase of demand from growing markets.  

Another area of concern I have been watching is the growth in the medical suppliers market and pharmaceutical arena.  With the fight we still have pending over the national health care law; I am just waiting to see how this will affect the American public.  While we have Tricare through my Air Force retirement; adding more bodies from adult dependents will cause congress to raise our monthly premiums as will commerical suppliers so be warned now and prepare.

Any whosits,  I hope all are doing well who pass here.  This week the boys and I will be hitting the books full force.  We plan on really hitting the subjects of  Pre-Algebra, English, Reading, Biology, Astronomy, and Agriculture this next quarter. 

I have plans on pulling out the Bower Incubator for hatching of chicken eggs so, we can raise them for meat.  Yeppers, we are going towards becoming more self-sustaining fare.  I will have to order some turkeys, ducks, geese and other assorted birds to raise for meat.  Hubby brought me a box of 500 Dixie Cups and I will start our garden sproutlings inside the house this week.  My house may not be a Better Homes and Gardens show case but, I will be able to feed a small army come summer so, stop on by when ya'll get a chance. 

I may just have some chicory coffee or mint tea to offer you.