Today I stopped my private whining and got my act together. I put a small business plan on paper. Since I make reproduction vintage dolls, penny rugs and wall hangings, and do decorative painting on skates for home deco, I decided it was time to listen to what people were saying. "Why don't you sell them??" I have always gifted people on holidays and birthdays and had a great deal of positive remarks, that I have decided to use what free time I have to build a small income I can use to go directly into my $10,000 savings goal. This idea was fueled not only for my great love of so many creative threads I lean torwards but of a picture of a small, cottage-style Gothic home in a magazine. All I could dream of was "Peace". If someday the moment comes when I may want to have a major life change...well... I really think I should cover all my bases.

My plan is to go to a few of the gift shops in my area that already sell goods from other artists locally. I have a great deal of confidence in my work. I'm a Libra and that means a perfectionist! Every single detail of my work has to be the best. I think at least one or two will allow me to display my dolls and penny rugs in their shops. I have talked to one already and he said, "Pattie, bring them in to show me!" These crafts are far better income than my substitute teaching. I am very encouraged and excited.

In the meantime I have hired a retired nurse to watch my grandson so I can sub more or use the time to work on my dolls, which take a lot more time.

I have already cut my food expenses by about $20.00 a week through a lot of the advice in Savings Advisor and Savings Advice. Since I am responsible for this weekly bill it means $20.00 more each week goes into my savings account!

Please tell me what you think. I am open to advice! Pattie

One very good point in my life is a gift from my beloved grandmother who passed a few years ago. Her estate has been settled and I have a trust fund which has a 20 year hold on it.I am able to collect the dividend checks every 3 months which total around $1500.00. Not a lot of money but an extra $500.00 I basically figure into my budget plan each month. $100 of it has to go to a lifetime perscription each month.(Panic Attacks....wonder why, huh?) The local schools usually call about 4 days a week for substituting, and I make a small but irregular income babysitting my new grandson just about every free minute I have.My daughter leaves at 5:00pm at night and usually is not home until 4:00pm in the morning....breakfast with co-workers after work! Then she needs her 8 hours sleep. Now that school has started I can't be there during the day so the babysitting income will mostly go to a girl who comes in.This is actually a small blessing as she will have to learn to pay up each week..not like with dear mom. Another blessing is that "Jack" is just about the best baby one could ask for. He lives by a schedule you can count on (thank you very much) and is just about the happiest baby ever! It's been hard to juggle everyone's demands on my time. I've indulged everyone's whims too much trying to help! My main concerns are income and savings. It will be hard but I need to work, pay my own expenses, and still keep house, cook and help babysit when possible. Needless to say, the house won't be spotless and dinners won't be from scratch every night and darling daughter will have to come home straight from work and be available to take over the care of her her son at a more reasonable time.

I'm going to list my expenses tomorrow according to priority and figure money on a sliding scale to pay the husband figure for "household" expenses ect.. Bought a new bottle of Rapid Release Tylenol today and hid it in my desk. I'm sure I'll need it.

I've been married almost 11 years, second marriage. One thing that has always bothered me is that my husband controls all the purse strings. Frankly, I have absolutely no clue where he banks, just an idea. I don't know what he has for available funds...everything is a well guarded secret for the hubby. Checking, savings, investments, land he owns. ( he is a building contractor, and also builds spec houses on land he buys up) This is a rather unusual relationship and often frustrating for me because if anything ever happened to him I would be in the dark. I decided to create my own security. I can't change his ways...I guess somewhat mistrusting after his first marriage ended! I need to take care of myself! And I am quite capable or at least have convinced myself I am.

My first goal was to go back to work. I went back to substituting for the school system. $70.00 a day...7-2. I see $63.63 for every day I work in my paychecks. Now, the hubby wants me to share bills (but not housework and cooking!) Seems difficult but I'm going to pay according to my income. He definitely makes more so It must be fair. I want to put so much in savings each pay period. My own personal expenses can be played with as I'm pretty frugal!

Another goal is to sell my crafts for the extra income. It's all going to be a challenge but I am ready!