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Money

Money can be an annoying (or depressing) subject depending on how you look at it- but I haven't talked about it yet. It is an unavoidable subject. Survival in the modern world = money.

When you're having a baby- you can't help thinking about money, because it is so important. Even though there aren't many big items necessary to buy for baby- there a lot of smaller things. Luckily, Josiah and I are bothering with a nursery. Baby will be rooming with Mommy and Daddy. That is one less burden, to me. The other big item: car seat, is taken care of as well.

That just leaves building up a diaper stash. (cloth diapers)
I am hoping to gather up enough cloth diapers in newborn size and the next size up. This should cover baby up to 15 pounds, (hopefully 5 months.) The cloth diaper swap board on Babycenter (BBC) has been very helpful. Here, mamas sell their used diapers. Since cloth is made to be durable, it's a great alternative to buying all new diapers. What is most difficult (frustrating) about trying to buy diapers from the swap board is that I see the best deals when we don't have the money available.

The only day I can earnestly shop for diapers is on payday. But even then, the money can be spoken for already. Of course, this is part of life. I am able to counter this some by making my own money here and there. I do so with surveys. Toluna is a great site, although it is a very gradual process to earn $20 (the minimum amount you can get transferred to Paypal or a check.) My college (Kaplan University) also sends me surveys or practice tests occasionally. Just recently I completed a practice test for them in exchange for $20. I am should be receiving the gift code by the end of December.

I am really looking forward to my baby shower this Saturday. I know it isn't about the gifts. But once I have received the gifts from the shower, I will be able to make a list of the remaining essential items for baby. Then we will be able to wrap up shopping for baby, (for now) and focus on our next financial goals.

There is a used Honda in our yard that is nearly ready to be ours.
We first need to replace the master cylinder. Then there are payments to be made upon the car. Then after some cleaning this Honda will be all set to be our family's first car. (Hopefully nothing else major needs done.) (Then Papa gets his Saturn back. We are so grateful for him letting us use the Saturn for so long. It has been a good car.) We really want to have this car ready before baby is ready.

Our next major goal is moving.
Our plans on this are unsure- as circumstances change often. Originally, we were hoping to move to Missouri, Josiah's home state. The appeal of Missouri is the cost of housing (as well as the overall lower cost of living compared to FL.) We were hoping to be able to find a house there, and maybe even make a couple of payments on it before moving. Then we would have a house to go to when we moved. Then all that would need taken care of is Josiah finding a job. The problems with this plan of course have to do with money. I know I said it is cheaper in Missouri, though moving that far can be expensive. First there is the gas to drive over 800 miles- but that isn't the major cost; it is moving our things all the way there. (It wouldn't be a problem if we only had a car load of things. But Josiah alone, has more furniture (and books) than that. (My parents know firsthand, as they are helping us store some of it.) So maybe we will stay in Crestview. But even then, you can't avoid wondering about money. The average rent in this town starts at $500, and many homes within that range are. . .less than desirable. (Not to mention I have a picky hubby who refuses to live in an apartment.) Hopefully, with connections we'll get into a decent place. We have considered section 8 (low income housing) though it just so happens that the waiting list is incredibly long. (They aren't even accepting applications until January 2011.) -Not sure if I have covered it all at this point but I have to help with supper right now- We are still working on this issue right now, so at this point I still retain a healthy amount of optimism.