So, I have a few "year-end" items I want to take care of. I need to get everything downloaded into Microsoft Money so I can get it catagorized. Also, the last week of the year I usually purge the file cabinet and get things in order so tax time will not be near-scary. I need to come up with my specific goals for 2008, which will generally focus on the big ones-savings, debt reduction, and budgeting--all of which I didn't get near as much accomplished this year as I had hoped.

All in all, I am excited about the prospect of the New Year.

We had a really nice Christmas but, as usual, once it is all over, I am ready to move on. I always look forward to the New Year--always the optimist that we can start over, change bad habits, set new goals and actually stay on track. I am considering what goals I want to set for the New Year. It will take some thought.

So, today is payday. Hubby's check was already direct deposited and my 1/2 mortgage payment has been deducted. (I pay every other Friday which creates one extra payment per year toward principal.) I will get my check deposited today then I have a dividend check that should arrive today. I might possibly get a Christmas bonus check also (I got $500 last year, but it depends on how well the company has done this year--hopefully I will get one but I am not going to totally count on it.)

We have several gifts left to buy--we just have not had the time. We are more than half done and have done well with the Christmas budget. We never over-spend on our 2 kids and my hubby and I do not buy for each other. His parents are deceased and he is an only child, and my family draws names (so we will have 2 people to buy for). The only other gifts we buy are for the neice and nephews. We usually do pretty well on the budget at Christmas because there is not a ton on our list. We should be able to knock this out tomorrow.

I have to sit down and figure bills tonight and then make my grocery list--the Christmas Meal with my family is at my house this year. We are doing a brunch--everyone brings a dish and we will do the main dishes. Should be fun. I want to try to get a gingerbread house kit for the kids to do as an activity, but I will need to see what I can get on sale.

I am new to this site but not new to this delimma. I try so hard to live within budget and try to save but after 18 years of living on my own (married for 11 of it) I have nothing to show for it. I am tired of feeling like we are always struggling to make ends meet. My hubby and I make decent money--not a lot but we are not poor. And we never have anything left over. And I know that has to come to expenses. So, starting today we are going to be looking at where every last dime is spent. I have tried (unsuccessfully) over the years to track this but something has to change. I need to visibly see where it is all going. I have the checking and savings accounts set up in Microsoft money and now I just need to start tracking. and, I need to come up with ideas to make the money last longer. The budget belt is about to be tightened--as far as it will go.