Well, I put my deposit down today on my new mail jeep. I'm still reeling from the sticker shock though...Adverstised at $22,900 for an '07 Jeep Liberty Limited with only 3,200 miles. Since it's only worth $16,000 BEFORE the factory RHD conversion, banks will only loan up to 16K. The dealer loaned me 21K. Interest rates are lower elsewhere, but I just can't get a loan big enough with anyone else. Dealer loan ended up being 9.14% interest. It's also going to cost $1200 to get it from Illinois to North Carolina. PLUS I have to pay taxes when it gets here which will probably be between $1500-2000. Ugh....I'm looking at $442.41 a month. I am ever so thankful for my step increase this month, because that extra $235 bring-home on my paycheck each month is going to make a huge difference. Now I have to scrounge up about $200 from somewhere, but I'm sure it won't be too bad...just cutting back on frivolous spending. Goodbye hair salon, beauty spa, and sales at the mall :*(    It was SO nice not having a car payment the past 2 years, I got really spoiled to it...They are going to try to get it here before I leave for my cruise on Oct. 20th, where I have to hand over a big check for about $3000. I was really looking forward to my vacation in the Bahamas, but now all I'll be able to do is worry about how much I'm spending because of an impending new car payment, aaaggh.

I think I'm going to stop being so lazy about painting those vintage windows and get to selling some of them. Local artists are making a KILLING on these old wooden windows by just painting the glass with some cheesy scene. I have 6 or so windows, and people are paying $200-$1000 each for these things at the tourists shops out here on the beach...wish me luck on that.

It's hard thinking about money with Christmas coming up...money always gets tight around this time, and it takes 3 or so months after Christmas usually to get caught up. I hope tax returns are good to me! This kitchen project over the summer finished up just in time, because I definately wouldn't have the money to do anymore at this point...I guess I'll be joining Richard this summer with working in the river after our regular jobs. I hate oystering :(

When's our next COLA? lol

I need to get to cracking on selling my old jeep too...Going to ask $2000 for it. That's only because it's converted to RHD and I know people around here will really be looking for that for their routes. It's a '98 Jeep Cherokee with 145K miles. Hell, I might take a little less...whatever pays for that $3000 check I have to spit out in a couple weeks. Of course the postal RHD incentive will help pay for that too...what is it, $500 for a used vehicle? I'm borrowing the 3000 from our rental account (we rent 2 properties out to people), but we try not to touch that money, its for emergencies. So I have to pay it back to the account ASAP. It was better than getting another credit card though...

I hate rattling off all my financial troubles, but I am spilling over with stress and just feel so damn overwhelmed...

I had really hoped to have college paid off at this point, but I still owe quite a bit on that too...ugh, I can't wait til it's paid off.

I'll have pics of my jeep when it gets here!