The day that we’ve been dreading (and ignoring – as if that would help) has finally come. We no longer have deployment/full-time military (read: FREE) health insurance. Sure, it wasn’t the BEST stuff in the world. Actually, it sucked. Steven and I neglected going to our baffoon doctors because they were idiots…but Elle had a good doctor (that was actually covered). And, that’s what really mattered. But, it has ended. And now…we are insurance-less.

Of course…we can get insurance now through military OR through his work. Assuming we could afford it. If I have to go on a frozen chicken (we cook it first, but that’s the cheapest meat) diet again, I swear, I’m going after his boss with a stick. I’m tired of cheap Zatarain’s rice dinners. I’m tired of eating half of what I did eat. And, now…yes. I’m going to bitch. Why does everything have to cost so much? And, why can’t his stupid job do what they said they would MONTHS ago? You know…the PAY INCREASE? He was hired to do one job. When they increase responsibilities (he now does jobs that they were going to hire 2 other people for), they promised to increase his pay. But, when?

Whatever. Bite me.

A family member of ours grooms dogs. I’d noticed that Glory …our little Yorkie needed a haircut. Badly. She looked the part of a scroungy homeless dumpster dog. Except…she was clean and didn’t smell. And, didn’t have worms, fleas, or matted hair. Fine, tear that metaphor apart why don’t you?! Fine. She was scraggly. So, I nonchalantly asked how much she’d charge to give a dog LIKE MINE a cut. 30 dollars. I tried to hide my gasp. I do appreciate the art of dog hair cutting. I really do. But, no way in heck would I pay more for my dog to get her hair cut than I would my own. And, I’ve been given the “B” (is for budget) word, so no haircut for me. So, we got home and guess what I did? I cut Glory’s hair. Steven made her sit still (she will turn in circles and lay down). She was really good. In 30 minutes, she was a brand new dog (it’s a saying, people!). So, 30 minutes for 30 dollars? Hmm…Maybe I should become a dog groomer. Nah – It really wasn’t much fun.

Now, If only I could see the BACK of my head better, I might try to give myself a new cut. I guess I could do a trim….hmm. But I won’t.

I’ve been trying to find handy-dandy ways of cutting our bills and saving money. So, there. We saved 30 bucks on a doggy haircut.

We’re also canceling Steven’s internet for his PHONE. Which was shooting our bill up to a little over/around $100. We use cell phones and not regular phones, but still! So now…we are down to a much more manageable $65 (which is way cheaper than home phones in this area).

Next, we’re turning Dish Network off …again. Oh well. In a couple of months, there won’t be JACK on. Already, there isn’t much and we basically only watch movies that we get through Netflix or borrow. So, we won’t miss it.

And then…the electric bill. Can you believe our 1600 -ish sq foot home used $300 worth of electricity last month? I couldn’t. So, I called. I told them what was up in my 5 minute shpill and …they transferred me. Annoying. So, now that I was at the right person…I told them. They gave me a number. *sigh* I called it, told them what was going on – and by now my story was now 7 minutes. I’d forgotten some important details the first time. She transferred me. By the time I got to the person I needed to talk to, all I said was “I’m calling because our electric bill is really high. I have a story for you, but I just want to make sure you are who I needed to talk to before I start. I’ve been transferred 4 times.” She laughed and then helped me out. Said she’d send someone out to check the meter and then send me a checklist of things to watch for, things that could be running the electricity up.

So, I guess this means we will be walking around bundled up until our weather decides to settle down and play nice and give us some warm sunshiney days…weeks…years. Until then, break out the flannel. I can think of way more fun ways to spend money than on electricity for extra heat.

Hubby has mentioned getting a 2nd job. But, quite frankly, we don’t see him enough as it is. So…then there is the possibility that *I* could get a job. But, the price of daycare ALONE would kill me. Not like anything much job-wise is up right now anyways in this area.

I got it. I need a sugardaddy. You can apply here. Hell. I’ll take sugarmamas too. Oh, and if you were on my Thursday 13 list, consider yourself immediately “hired”…or um…whatever you’d call it. All 13 of you.

(Sorry Steven, you mentioned job. You never mentioned specifics.)

Hmmm…I think I might ration MY food out, so I can afford some new shoes. And yes. My priorities ARE straight.

Welcome back!