This week is dragging. What is it about four day weeks? They get my hopes up only to dash them again. I think its the return to full time. I have to get up earlier to get out of the house earlier and then I come home later, especially if I am running errands. All for the sake of money.

I have to make a correction to my last post. I've been out of it a bit. I wrote that I've been having several no spend days. In reality, I've gone back to getting a $4.00 coffee in the morning on my way into work. So, I've been spending, just not aware of it. I have noticed that I feel really awful and am tired a lot more lately. I think I will have to go back to water again as I am probably not fully hydrated. But I have been diligent about bringing my lunch and snacks. I havent carried cash in weeks and the vending machines dont take plastic; so I couldnt get snackies if I were on my last leg.

Our employer does give us the option of charging food purchases to our accounts ($75 per pay period) via our ID cards. I used to max mine out within the first two weeks of the month and then spend about $100 beyond that (usually cash advances from the cc). But I gave up coffee and now the $75 lasts nearly the entire month. This is then taken out of our paycheck, so I'm still feeling the hit there; something I am striving to change. I'm an emotional eater and turn to caffeine when I feel the work blahs setting in. This is usually determined within minutes of the alarm going off in the morning.

Last night I read one of the Beardstown Ladies' s books on setting up your nest egg. It gives general explanations of investment options and has a couple of tables about how much you need to set aside for retirement. The combination of the two actually motivated me enough to take further action. Today I cancelled my automatic withdrawl for Savings Bonds from my paycheck and will cash in the two that I have to this point. I dont believe there is a penalty...will check that out. Once cashed out, the dinero goes to the cc's. Much better rate of return - earning 3?percent while paying 9.15 is very bad math.

Still debating about closing the Discover. Will do some searching for better intro rate. Disc was offering 9.4 as a teaser - oh pulease!! Once I find something better than 9.15 (current MBNA rate) I will make another transfer from MBNA to this better rate and that will assist in the decision to close the Disc. I didnt want to be hasty in closing the Disc just in case they could match a stellar intro rate. But that is not looking promising.

This weekend is looking like it will be quiet; we have no plans at this point. DH is leaving tonight to go help his mother and may be gone for a couple of days. Tonight I'm going to get some Italian carry out, grab a book and spend the night reading on the couch. No interruptions!!! No demands on my time!!! Such an exciting person I've become. I counter this with 1) with the exception of the cost of dinner (a guilty pleasure) spending will be minimal; I will probably have leftovers for lunch tomorrow and 2) I'm learning more about investing and the early retirement that I keep blathering on about. It will become a reality...I may go on and on for the next 10, 15, 20 years, but bear with me. One day I will retire...I hope sooner rather than later.