Cash Flow sure does change things.

I'm loving January 08' so far, financially anyway. Not only have I been able to prepare all but 1 dinner at home for the past nine days - patting myself on the back o7' was terrible, we are almost to the full position in our savings account for 08' annual bills. SWEET!

Every new year, I try to accumulate more and more in savings, to try and curb the use of our line of credit. Each year, we do get closer. This year is close enough to feel the fire. And let me tell you, it is warm here.

Our annual bills, for personal items (i.e. life insurances, auto insurance, home owners insurance, HOA dues and property taxes for home and undeveloped land) = $7684.16

We are currently at 80% of this with $6175.99 in savings for these expenses.

How did we accomplish this in 10 days, WITHOUT A PAYCHECK??? That's right, I haven't issued January's monthly payroll checks yet. We don't need it yet and thought I would leave it in the company to ride for a bit, while we are feeling cash flow high.

• $104.99 - came from balance carry forward.
• $500.00 - gift from my grandpa for Christmas
• $100.00 - gifts from grandpa, that I kept hidden in case of emergency in 2007 but didn't need.
• $212.00 - reimbursement DD2 - paid her car insurance in December.
• $189.20 - caught an over charge on hospital fees in 07' just rec'd refund.
• $10.00 - from secret screen I did in Dec. for big corp - takes about 30 seconds every week.
• $5.00 - from Your2Cents surveys
• $4233.15 - net bonus for 2nd 1/2 of 07'
• $821.65 - saved from commercial prop renters receipts so far- have more reserving for now.

I would like to think that the $1508.17 I am short will be a piece a cake to accumulate by the June Property Tax Due Date. Of course, in the real world I have 2 more college bills to pay before then. Not to mention HOA Dues by end of February.

Although, we are in a better position then 2007, we are not free of the LOC yet. I suspect we may scoot by without using it until June. Which would be fabulous. Although, September would be even better. Heck, why stop there - I can't wait to shut that puppy down.

Making the residential rental profitable would also help tremendously to rid us of the LOC. Is this a pipe dream for me???

Don't get me wrong, I am grateful we have had it to manage our terrible financial position and get us through the financial squeezes. I just would like to rely on cash more and my home less. :-)

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe 2008 will be a zooming forward year for us.

---All due to selling the store on contract and receiving more rent. Yea! Less work in 08'