My name is Mark

**mek42** · 08-16-2011, 10:36 PM

And I recently backslid a little and neglected my spending plan.

However, I am now happy to say that the GeekMoBudget and Statement of Cash Flows by Pay Period is now back up on Google Docs and I'm feeling good about things. I do one column for budget planning and another column for actual expensditures (well, each column is actually two columns, one for numbers and one for what the expense is). Also, in only two of my pay periods I refilled our BEF with a little help from wifey. Serendipitously or providentially, I got out of my funk and reinstituted the GeekMoBudget right before two larger than usual pay periods.

Now back to step two, especially the one that just called my wife to inform her that she has a responsibility to pay her bills after she sent in a payment after realizing her (in her words here, I swear!) preggo-brain dropped the ball and forgot to make the payment on time.

Also, in the vein of accountability, I may be without any pay or at least without timely income for a month around the New Year. I get paid every two weeks. Our mortgage totals to about $800 (rounded up fairly significantly now that PMI should be gone). There will be pay periods for Sep, Oct, Nov and one in Dec, so I need to be putting aside at least $100* / pay period (at two pay periods per month) toward the holiday mortgage payment, right?

Thanks!

*this needs to be closer to $125 to also account for $200 for my HSBC credit card payment and cable bill for that time period.

**Ceashels** · 08-16-2011, 11:13 PM

I've seen friends suffer through preggo-brain... nasty stuff that is.

Glad to see you back on the nerd wagon

.

**kitkat0649** · 08-17-2011, 03:02 AM

After being pregnant the past two years straight I can totally attest to preggo brain being a valid excuse!It's a real medical condition I swear, the baby takes all your brain cells!

**mek42** · 08-17-2011, 11:10 AM

She was really cranky about the call. Especially about how rude the caller was. This was the first time she'd ever been late with this card and had already sent in a late payment. The card is a retail card associated with a specific store and my wife has decided to stop buying anything from the store again.

It is a clothing store and she estimates that she's spent a few hundred dollars there in cash equivalent purchases since we started the baby steps. I guess the economy really is getting better if companies are willing to lose business by employing rude contractors. :LOL:

**mamamia** · 08-17-2011, 12:13 PM

The hug I just sent is for support of your wife's "preggo brain"! (it's been quite a few years since i am able to truthfully use that excuse, and refuse to call my memory losses "senior moments" just yet...

)

My sending the WTG though is for the two of you's! You, for getting back on the wagon.

No doubt, you'll stay there too! And your wife, for not taking the stores baloney for a ONE lousy late payment after being a faithful customer! LOVE her stand-up attitude! They did the same thing to my hubby, threatening to close the acct after 8 yrs of perfect credit with them. Man, did he curse like the sailor he used to be...lol! Unfortunately though, it kicked him back. Even though it seemed like the girl talking on the phone could barely speak/understand English, aparrently she knew ALL the choice words he used, and not only did he get hit with the max late charge, his interest rate escalated to 27%!

He was so, so mad to be threatened that way, and who could blame him? However, If need be, I try to do the "talking" now!

Theresa

btw...congrats on your baby. keep us posted, okay? we love baby stories, and if a baby coming doesn't keep you in that wagon seat, nothing will, agree? lol!