Tim and I have "fallen off the wagon", so to speak, the wagon of simple living and frugality. With our former debt being taken care of by the bankruptcy plan (which also takes care of current payments for items such as the house and Tim's truck) and the hefty paychecks Tim brings home (even after the bankruptcy payments, health and life insurance payments are taken out) it's been all too easy to feel comfortable enough to slip right back into our spendthrift ways.  Now, don't freak out on me.  We aren't doing anything on credit so we aren't racking up new debt.  We're simply going through money like a hot knife through butter.  The bills are getting paid, but nothing is being saved and there isn't anything there when something pops up.

    I've been the voice that has tried to insert a little reason here and there.  Mostly when I felt guilty about some outpouring of money on my part or when I felt something someone else did was a huge waste and/or mistake.  Tim (and the kids) viewed me as the great cosmic party pooper.  The kids probably still view me that way, but vacation was a wake up call for Tim.  We blew through money like it grew on trees.  Each of the kids brought a friend along and it was made clear from the beginning that we would supply the house and the groceries.  The cost of boating, fishing, dining out and any amusements was to be cover by the friends.  Nice idea, but Tim is generous...to a fault.  He often paid for everything despite my warnings about needing to watch our spending. A single trip to the movies for 6 people cost close to $100.  Now, we are back at home and his pay following vacation was small because it contained his vacation pay, a straight 40-hour week.  He always works a good bit of overtime and we are used to that.  So, now we are scrimping.  The bills are being paid, albeit a bit late for a few of them, but there isn't an extra penny to be found.  Gas prices are at $2.99/gal. It costs about $70 to fill up Tim's work truck and he needs about 3 fill ups a week!  Matt missed a paycheck because of vacation and needed us to buy him groceries.  It's still summer and Megan wants to do things with her friends.  I'd like to get out of the house to do things once in a while, but right now there just isn't anything extra.  Tim is amazed and with a look of shock plastered on his face, asks me why there isn't any money when he works so much overtime?  Well...years of experience have taught me not to say "I told you so", but I have been building on his new awareness to try and get us back to a less spendthrift lifestyle.  Right now, with no extra money, it's pretty easy, but I hope to continue building on it and make it a habit again.  I've started to read a book that I picked up at a used book sale at the library last month that's inspiring.  It's "Simple Living-One Couple's Search for a Better Life" by Frank Levering and Wanda Urbanska.

    We obviously aren't eating out and I haven't bought much in the way of groceries this month, so I've had to get creative in my cooking again.  When the money's there it is just too easy to do what's easy.  Fortunately, our freezers and cupboards are well stocked and the garden is producing in abundance so there have been plenty of green beans, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, peppers, beets and the like.  Mom and John also have a bumper crop of blueberries at their place on the ridge.  Megan and I went up Friday night after the rains when it was nice and cool and picked two big buckets full.  We'll go again sometime this week to pick again.  Their pear trees look to be ready in a couple of weeks and there will be more than one family, or probably even two, will be able to use.

    I started selling Avon after we got home from vacation.  I've only done one campaign so far and am part way into the second.  I had a few sales the first time and I have some sales already for this time.  Avon has changed a lot since my mom sold it when I was a teenager.  They give you an awful lot of training materials and try to help you succeed.  I've been reading through it as well as a lot of the success stories.  There is a lot of opportunity with Avon.  I hope to claim some of it.

    Here are a couple of recipes I've tried out lately.  Everyone really liked them...except for Megan who is still sensitive to the chemicals in commercially raised chicken.

 

HONEY-GARLIC CHICKEN WINGS

• 3 lbs. chicken wings, cleaned and halved
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tablespoons oil
• 2 Tablespoons catsup
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  In a mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.  Place chicken in a 4-quart slow cooker and pour sauce over.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.  Makes 8 to 12 servings.

 

TERIYAKI CHICKEN

• 2-3 lbs. skinless chicken pieces
• 20-oz. can chunk pineapple
• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• Dash of ground ginger

Place chicken in slow cooker.  Pour remaining ingredients over chicken.  Cover.  Cook on low 6-8 hours or High 4-6 hours.