TGIF!

I'm always so happy when Friday finally rolls around! It was especially welcome this week because things have been busy at work and I'm ready for the weekend off. I'm also ready for warmer weather too. We've had chilly weather and sleet today. I'm not a cold weather person and it seems to sap my energy.

I don't have big plans for the weekend. I'm going to finish my storyboard and also take a look at other markets for some writing projects I have languishing in my computer. That is my goal for this weekend.

Plus I am going to tackle my TBR pile. My goal is to get a book read each week. I have enough to last out the year!!

Also I'm working on financial goals. My present one is to cut back on eating out lunch. I came home for lunch every day this week except for one. I usually have to eat out on the days I do errands during lunch.

I think now is a good time to be frugal and anyone who has suggestions for living on less, please share! I may try to do a post each week in regard to money. Suzy Orman says that money is the major taboo subject among people. You know, people will talk about their health or their sex lives but they don't talk about their money situation.

Last year, my moving expenses took its toll on my finances and it does seem like it is always something to replace or repair. I am fortunate right now to work at a place where I don't have to dress up so I don't have to spend a lot on clothes. And at this time, I don't need any clothes.

Eating in is one of the main ways I can cut back on expenses. I have already eliminated my land line and I only have a cell phone now, which costs me about $55 a month and covers all the telephone use that I need. I haven't missed my land line at all. I was paying about $39 a month for it and I only had Caller ID as an extra, which cost about $10 a month. After I had it disconnected, I began to get offers where I could have the land line and several extras, caller ID, call waiting, etc for $20 a month!

I do have cable Internet and because I use it a lot, I plan to keep it. However, I only have basic TV, 2-13 channels for $10 a month. I don't watch a lot of regular TV. I prefer movies so I went with Net Flix for $17 a month. The selection is great and I always have something to watch. So I basically spend around $28 a month on TV.

My big priority is to pay off credit card debt. So far this month I've paid off all my Christmas purchases. I only have two cards that have balances I can't pay off at one time. One I could almost pay off if I didn't have to pay property taxes this week.

If I do get one of those tax refunds the government is promising, I don't plan to spend it like they want. Although I will probably have something that needs repair, like my car. If I don't have any urgent repairs, I'm going to put it in savings.
What are you going to do with yours?