Budgets and dog piss...Hooray!

We rent an apartment and want to buy a home soon...really soon.  We have a funny way of showing it though.  We almost had one kid out of the house and then we had another.  Crazy!  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  We also live on one income at the moment... and it's not a hefty one.  We also do not save ANY money!  Last week I got a small bonus from work and instead of putting it in the bank, I spent it on mostly Christmas gifts. 

Then this Sunday I became obsessed with saving money.  You know, the day after all my money was gone.  I made a very detailed budget in Excel and have been pretty anal about it.  I have created a worksheet that itemizes every penny that we spend each day of the week.  I am mortifed...and it is only Tuesday.  From Sunday  to Tuesday, we (or should I say "I") have spent so much money.  Some of the items were essential, like the last minute run to the grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner last night.  But why am I doing that?  Why didn't I just get the damn chicken at BJ's when I was there on Saturday and I would've gotten much more for my money? 

I put no money into the 401k that my job matches 75% on.  Why?  Because I didn't think I could afford to do so....but seriously, how can I afford NOT to.  That's free money!  And c'mon!  Am I really going to miss the $70 bucks or so that I am putting into it?  Apparently I spend 4x that in 2 days on (insert dumb item here). 

What else do we do that is dumb?  Oh, we are totally squandering the talents that both of us were "blessed" with.  We need to capitalize on these talents.  It's time for me to wake up and smell the dog piss.  Everyone else cannot paint, everyone else can not quilt, knit and cook/bake like I do.  And it's time to put a price on my "stuff" and get it out there and sell it!  No more BS.  Time to make and save some damn dinero. 

One of the last luxuries that I splurged on was a micro plush electric blanket for our bed.  I had a coupon for $15.00 off...that I left at home, but I still bought it.  Brought it home, but it on the bed and we LOVED it!!  Night #2, hubby is in the shower and I turn the dials to Preheat and proceed to clear off the bed so we can get in.  The lights were off but the tv was on and I saw the light from the tv glowing off of what I thought was hubby's cell phone or iPod.  I go to grab it...and discover that this is no electronic gadgetry but a puddle of warm dog piss!  UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!  On my bed!  On my brand new micro plush electric blanket!!  So now I have to strip the entire bed, thankfully it didn't seep all the way to the mattress. 

Sunday was hopefully our last trip to the laundromat.  The motor died in our washer and the part was delivered Saturday and is now waiting for the repair person to come out this Thursday.  So I take the month's worth of laundry over and wash and dry it all...including my dog pissy micro plush electric blanket.  $50.00 later we all have clean laundry.  Yay. 

Of course I can't wait to put my electric blankey back on the bed!!  I missed it so much the night before.  We enjoy it Sunday night, it was fabulous!!  Then last night hubby is getting the bed ready and hey, what do ya know?  Damn dog pissed on the bed AGAIN!!! 

Is this a sign that I shouldn't have bought the blanket and instead saved that money??  Like a literal and physical metaphor for "your pissing your life away"!?  Is my dog trying to tell me something more than the obvious by doing this???  I don't know if I should beat her or thank her?!  (disclosure: for the record, I would never hit an animal, I treat my dogs like my children...sometimes better.) 

It's time to wake up and smell the dog piss, Mama No Time!!  It's time to make more money and save save save!!  Hubby is starting a photography business beginning of next year so that will hopefully do well and we can save all of his earnings.  Then we will be able to buy our own home!  No more smelling the cigarettes from the neighbors or hearing their door slamming.  Our own place!!!  Makes me smile just thinking about it!