The TV Died....

Right in the middle of watching "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" with the teenager, the TV went black and made a little zap noise.  It's dead.  Even though the title of thist post is about the TV dying, the post is actually about why I'm not freaking out about the TV dying, a really cool feeling actually.  I have to thank Dave Ramsey because without his plan to financial freedom, I would have whipped out a credit card to fix everything this last month, and I'd be worrying how to pay it next month.  Instead, I checked my checkbook and the only thing I have to think about is where to find a good deal on a good TV that I will buy with cash.   

#1 - The TV is 13 years old - it's ancient, right?  It's 25" - tiny compared to today's TV standards.  I bought it in January 1998 when I got my dinky little apartment in Orange County for me and the now teenager.  It was my first major purchase - about $200.  I had ordered it from Penney's and used my charge card.  I don't know how long it actually took me to pay it off or how much I actually ended up paying.  But it was "my" TV - I felt very grown up when I bought it.  I knew it wouldn't last forever; therefore, there is no need to freak out that it died.  Instead, I laughed.

#2 - H is getting a bonus.  So H works A TON, which means he is working A TON of hours that can billed to the company's client, which means that he makes the company a profit and he gets a percentage, albeit a small one, of that profit, which becomes a bonus that pays out over a quarter.  Yep, bonus = extra money for crazy stuff like the TV dying = I am not freaking out.

#3 - We have an emergency fund.  Does a new TV count as an emergency?  Even if H didn't have a bonus, we have an emergency fund, but I am trying to figure out if this counts.  Probably not.  But, considering that we've have some actual emergencies this month, the emergency fund does cover those (see #4 for the list), so there is money for a new TV!  See, no need to freak out here!

#4 - This is the way the past month has been going.  Brakes for the SUV = $384.  H's computer repair = $180.  Heater repair = $184.  Dishwasher repair = $194.  A grand total of $942 in "extra" spending since mid-November.  Really, I am so not surprised that the TV died.  It was inevitable that something major would happen after I've already forked out nearly $1000 to keep things running.  Really, all I can do is keep laughing.  This is funny stuff, right?

Oh did I mention that the Wii is acting up?  I am not dealing with that 'til next year....

Why Thursdays are the best days

I love Thursdays! I know it's not usually a favorite of the days of the week; however, like Friday, Thursday represents an ending of the work week. I still work at my full-time job on Friday, but Thursday is my last day of teaching for the week, so it's a relief when I get home with pizza from Little Caesar's for me and the fam and am able to just relax. Thursday is the only day/night of the week that I don't do anything related to my class (other than check email just in case) - no grading, no prepping, nothing. The kids and I share some pizza for dinner, Spencer and I watch Wow Wow Wubbzy, and after I get her bathed and in bed, Christian and I watch Survivor. My vegetative evening continues with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, if I can make it all the way through! The only problem with Thursdays is that I am so tired from all the late nights during the week that I rarely can finish my shows. And that's why I also love my DVR.

Tomorrow is Thursday - I can't wait!