Early Start, Early Blogging

So this morning, James decided to wake up with daddy. He was up and rearing to go at five o'clock this morning! And now, he's conked out in his pack'n'play while I sit here bored out of my mind and unable to go back to sleep. So instead, I'm watching Charmed, when I should be doing something productive like homework or figuring out how I can get paid for sitting on my butt at home all day. So if anyone is reading this and knows how to do that? Hit me up!

The last few days have been crazy. I left my job a few weeks ago so I could stay at home with James and work on homework. But now? That's driving me crazy. I love spending every second I have with James, but at the same time, getting a few hours away here and there helps keep me sane.

It drives me nuts how the expectations of women have managed to change, but haven't at the same time. We're still expected to take care of the children, clean the house, have dinner on the table at six, but on TOP of that, we're also supposed to bring in some income? Sorry guys, but you can't have both! And to be quite honest, I don't feel as productive just being a mommy than if I had a job as well.

The average income in order to support a family of 3 (or four, not quite sure) is over fifty thousand dollars a year! Jesse has a pretty good job, and makes well above minimum wage. He still doesn't make THAT kind of money.

And as a young couple, we've already rung up a fair amount of debts. We have...
1. Student loans.
2. A car loan.
3. Wedding rings.
4. A traffic ticket (Not going into this one)
5. And all of our monthly expenses including rent, utilities, groceries, etc.

That's a lot of debt! Over twenty thousand dollars in debt and counting! I still have two more years of college left and that's definitely where my student loans are going to get expensive.

Luckily though. We only owe two hundred dollars more on the wedding rings (Woot!) and the traffic ticket shouldn't take too long either. After that, we have three years to pay off the car (hopefully less) and our biggest debt after that will be Student Loans.

Hopefully, we start becoming a little bit more financially stable SOON. Its hard to feel unstable, and financial issues are one of the leading stressors in a relationship, and even a cause of divorce.

I love Jesse =] soooo much. But I'd be lying if I said that the financial issues don't bother me. Would I divorce him for it? No! It's not Completely his fault for our debts! Most of the debt is actually mine! Though I'm still blaming that traffic ticket on the other driver...

Anyway, finances are tough, and stressful, and can really get someone down if they aren't resolved as quickly as you'd like them to be.

I think the best approach is to tackle one thing at a time. Write down your debts, how much you owe on each. Then write down the minimum payments for each. ALWAYS PAY YOUR MINIMUM BALANCE. But maybe on one of the things on your list? Try to put down a little bit more until its paid off! There are a ton of helpful sites and blogs that are far more informed about finances. Find those, read them, live by them!

And now, here's a picture of my sleeeeeeepy baby. Love you buddy =]

Also! Please feel free to follow me and my adventures at www.amazingjames.blogspot.com

Thanks!