Living on a Budget

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    The week packed full to the point of over flowing on most days.  I was trying to mainly just keep my head above water most days this week.  Thankfully I was able to find some deals early in the week and was able to stock up on some items for upcoming Holiday celebrations.  Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.

    Groceries from Ingles

    Ingles Groceries:

    • $32.88 at Ingles for 1 bag Laura Lynn Bread, 3 bags Laura Lynn Shredded Cheese, 4 blocks Laura Lynn Sharp Cheddar, 1 box Go Gurt Yogurt Tubes (8 count), 1 bag Laura Lynn Splenda Sweetener, 1 can Canola Cooking Spray, 1 bag Laura Lynn Mini Marshmallows, 4 boxes Blue Bonnet Margarine, 2 bags Idahoan Bake Potatoes, 1 can Heavy Whip Cream, 2 containers Planters Creamy Peanut Butter, 2 boxes Laura Lynn Cream Cheese, 1 bag Celery, 1 can Laura Lynn Pumpkin, 1 bag All Purpose Flour, 1 bag Dixie Granulated Sugar, 1 box Powdered Sugar, 1 box Brown Sugar, 1 box Pilsbury Funfetti Cake Mix, 1 container Cool Whip, 2 cans Rotel Diced Tomatoes with Chili Peppers, 1 bag Red Delicious Apples, and 1 Yellow Sweet Onion. (Everything I bought this week at Ingles was on sale, marked down, or on clearance including the diary and produce!  I used several coupons to help bring down the total on this shopping trip and it was still a little higher than I like it to be, but with all the Holiday Celebrations we needed to stock up on some items.)
    Groceries from Walgreens

    Walgreens Groceries:

    • $3.93 at Wlagreens for 2 packs Austin Peanut Butter Crackers (8 count), 1 pack Austin Cheddar Cheese Crackers (8 count), 1 jar Lindsey Green Olives, 2 gallons Milk, 1 can Wasabi Almonds, 1 can Butter Toffee Peanuts, and 1 can Peanuts. (I used a $3 off 10 coupon since it was a new location, a couple Register Rewards, and coupons to help pay for these items).

    This week I spent $36.81 on groceries.  Even though I only a little under on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on several items.  The items at the new Walgreens new us were pretty good it was worth it to stock up the pantry at those prices.  I hope that next week is better week and we can come under budget!

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • Recipe: Beef Enchiladas

    It has been a long time since I have made enchiladas, but a few weeks ago I picked up some Corn Tortillas on clearance for $0.50 and as I was looking for a good recipe to use them with when enchiladas came to mind.  In the past I have used regular flour tortillas to make enchiladas so this was a new one for me.  The recipe I am sharing is adapted from Rockin Robin’s Cooking Mexican Recipes.  I didn’t make the sauce from scratch as they suggested (mine came from cans we already had in the pantry).  I added extra hamburger to our recipe and I used a mix of cheeses (mozzarella, cheddar, and swiss) because much to my surprise our shredded cheese was running low.  The recipe turned out delicious!  I made half for us to eat for dinner and froze the other half for a busy day later in the month or to share with someone.   The girls had two helpings and LOVED the enchiladas! Brina was a huge help in putting them together, thankful for my little kitchen helper.

    Beef Enchilada Recipe:

    • 2 pounds Ground Hamburger
    • 1/4 cup chopped Sweet Onion
    • 2 cans Enchilada Sauce
    • 12 Corn Tortillas
    • 12 oz shredded Cheddar, Mozzarella, Swiss Cheese (you can use a combination or just one type)

    1.  Cook your ground hamburger with chopped onions and seasonings of your choice (I cooked our hamburger in the crockpot during the day while we were at work and school. I did add the onions with a touch of taste seasoning and garlic to the ground hamburger.)  Once your hamburger is cooked drain the oil and set aside.

    2.  Put the cans of Enchilada Sauce in a sauce pan and set on simmer so it is warm (make sure the pan you chose is large enough to put a corn tortilla in it with the sauce.)

    3.  Preheat a deep fryer to 350 degrees or put about 1/2 inch of oil in a frying pan and heat.  Once the oil is hot submerge one corn tortilla in the oil for 10 to 30 seconds until it starts to bubble. (Make sure to take it out once it starts bubbling because it could get too hard and you will not be able to roll your enchilada).

    4.  Remove the corn tortilla from the oil let it drip for a few seconds then put it into the enchilada sauce, flip it over to coat both sides.  Add the hamburger in the middle of the corn tortilla and roll.  Put it immediately into the baking dish.  Continue until all enchiladas are done.

    5.  Cover the rolled enchiladas with remaining sauce and cover with shredded cheese.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.

    Enchilada's covered in cheese

    Our family enjoys cheese!  Brina had fun helping “spread” the cheese over the enchilada’s!

    One batch of enchiladas for dinner the other went into the freezer for a busy day later this month or to share with someone else.

    I enjoy being able to stock the deep freezer with some good meals whenever possible.  If I have the items necessary I will often make a double batch or split the recipe for dinner by making half for dinner and freezing the other half for a busy day in the future.  Our church makes meals for families with newborns or when family members are in the hospital or have surgery.  It helps having a few extra homemade meals in the freezer available to share with those around us.

  • Amazon.com: 4-for-3 Book Promotion includes Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station Books

    Amazon is running a 4-for-3 Promotion!  This is a great sale to stock up on some items for your family or purchase a few gifts for the Holidays!   Buy Three Books, Get the Fourth Free on any four eligible books under $10 in our 4-for-3 Books Store and we’ll give you the lowest-price book free at checkout. Stock up and save on the titles you love.

    Amazon has the Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station Books are included in their 4-for-3 Promotion!  When you buy four different books, you only pay for the price of three.  They have a lot of books included in this deal so not all of them need to be the Imagination Station books.  If you do buy 4 Imagination Station books the total will be $14.97 (or $3.74 each).  Shipping is free with an Amazon Mom account or when you spend $25 on qualified items.   To bring your total down even more use your Swagbucks Amazon Gift Cards to get gifts for the kids on your list for the upcoming Holidays!

    Our family loves reading.  Anyone that has been to our house knows we enjoy books from the kids on up.  One of the girls favorite activities is to have Dad or Mom read them a story.  A lot of times during the day we will read picture or smaller books and at night we read from a chapter book.  These books are great and it gives us an opportunity to get a couple for Christmas at a great price especially once you apply those Swagbuck Amazon Gift Cards if you haven’t already done so you can sign up today and start earning, for more information on how to get started go to Swagbucks: Earning a Little Extra!

    Thanks Money Saving Mom!

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of November 16 – 22, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  You can start stocking up on some great deals for upcoming Holiday cooking.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Sugardale Bone In Hank Potion Ham – $1.19 per lb

    Chuck Wagon or Old Farm Bacon (16 oz) – $1.78

    Farmington Pork Sausage (16 oz) – $1.99

    Fresh Whole Chicken – $0.79 per lb

    Portside Cooked Shrimp (60 to 70 count) – $3.99

    Matlaw’s Shrimp Ring with Cocktail Sauce (10 oz) – $4.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Home Churned Butter Quarters (16 oz) – $1.99

    Buyers Best Shoestring French Fries (12 oz) – $0.79

    Imperial Spread (45 oz) – $2.50

    Coburn Farms Cream Cheese – $1.00

    Cool Whip (8 oz) – $1.00

    Totino’s Pizza (9 to 10 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from insert 9/11 General Mills (Expires 12/3/11)
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from insert 10/2 General Mills (Expires 12/24/11)
    Use $1.00/4 coupon from pamphlet Kroger’s My Magazine Giving Hope a Hand (Expires 12/4/11)
    Use $0.60/3 coupon from insert 10/2 General Mills (Expires 12/24/11)
    As low as $0.75 each after coupon

    Resers Salads (16 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/1 printable coupon from Coupon Web
    Use $0.75/1 coupon found on a tearpad in some stores (Expires 12/30/11)
    As low as FREE each after coupon

    Mrs Smith’s Pumpkin, Apple or Cherry Pies (27 oz) – $2.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from pamphlet Target booklet (Expires 12/30/11)
    $2.49 each after coupon

    Coburn Farms Aerosol Whipped Cream  – $1.79

    Ginger Evans Ready to Bake Chocolate Chips or Sugar Cookies – $2.29

    Take and Bake Cheese Pizza (33 oz) – $5.49

    Take and Bake Supreme or Pepperoni Pizza (33 to 36 oz) – $5.99

    Wylwood Broccoli Normandy (16 oz) – $1.29

    Morning Delight Buttermilk Biscuits – $0.59

    Wylwood Shredded Hashbrowns (24 oz) – $2.39

    Produce

    Celery – $0.79

    Sweet Potatoes – $0.49 per lb

    Idaho Potato (5 pounds) – $1.89

    Mini Carrots (1 pound) – $1.00

    Household

    Poly Steel Heavy Duty Aluminum (32 sF) – $1.79

    Starware Food Storage (assorted variety) – $1.49

    Wrightware Napkins (250 count) – $1.69

    Ajax Dish Liquid (16 oz) – $0.99

    Luster Facial Tissues (85 count) – $0.79

    Grocery

    Stuffing on the Side – $0.89

    Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk – $0.79

    Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.45

    Kool-Aid Jammers (10 count) – $1.88

    Harvest Select Grape or Cranberry Cocktails (64 oz) – $1.69

    Musselman’s Apple Sauce (46 to 48 oz) – $2.50

    Velveta Cheesy Potatoes – $1.79

    T.G.I. Friday Snacks (5 oz) – $1.00

    Progresso Bread Crumbs (15 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.50/1 coupon from insert 11/13 General Mills (Expires 1/5/12)
    $0.50 each after coupon

    Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (6 count) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 11/13 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    Use $0.50/2 coupon from insert 11/13 Smart Source (Expires 12/31/11)
    As low as $0.66 each after coupon

    Kaskey’s Chicken Broth (14 oz) – $0.69

    Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $1.35

    Ginger Evans Ready to Spread Frosting – $1.49

    Ginger Evans Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix – $0.89

    Tipton Grove Cranberry Sauce – $0.99

    Crisp Cranberry Lemon Lime or Save A Lot Exclusive Soda (2 liter) – $0.79

    Grissom’s Brown and Serve Rolls (12 count) – $1.19

    Theodoro Dollar Rolls (12 oz) – $1.99

    Mantia’s Elbow Macaroni (16 oz) – $0.99

    Rapid Rice on the Side Instant White Rice (28 oz) – $2.79

    Kaskey’s Onion Soup Mix (2 pack) – $0.89

    Westcott Cooking Spray (6 oz) – $1.69

    Ginger Evans Big or Mini Marshmallows (10 oz) – $0.99

    Libby’s Pineapple (20 oz) – $0.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 8/28 Red Plum (Expires 12/30/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 11/13 Red Plum (Expires 3/31/12)
    $0.49 each after coupn

    Portmann’s Seafood Cocktail Sauce (12 oz) – $1.29

    Kurtz Worcestershire Sauce (10 oz) – $0.99

    Nature’s Grain Cinnamon Raisin Swirl (16 oz) – $2.49

    Bakery

    Bakery Fresh Pumpkin Pies – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Pampers Gifts to Grow – 5 Free Points

    You can receive another 5 free points from Pampers with a new Gifts to Grow code!

    This code is different from the previous codes I have given.

    Use Code:  HOLIDAYGIFT2011

    The code didn’t have an expiration date but they usually expire in a few days so be sure to add it to your account soon!

    You can save up the rewards to purchase gifts!

    For more information about the Pampers Gift to Grow Program and how you can start earning Pampers “Gifts to Grow” Rewards for your family go to Pampers Gifts to Grow!

  • Review & Giveaway: Torani Flavored Syrups

    As the weather gets cooler you may enjoy a hot cup of coffee to help jump start you on a crisp morning even more or a cup of hot chocolate by the fire with the family as you relax together on a cold evening.  Of course you may be in an area that is warm and would rather grab a smoothie or an iced coffee.  The secret ingredient behind those amazing coffee shop drinks that you and I enjoy so much in the syrups they use to flavor them.  Torani flavored syrups are made in the USA and are used at restaurants and coffeehouses in more than 40 countries around the world.   The best part is you can get these amazing flavored syrups and make your favorite drinks at home!

    I was thrilled to hear that SheSpeaks teamed up with Torani and they were sending me some Torani Flavored Syrups to try!  I received the Salted Caramel and Peppermint flavored syrups.   They are AMAZING!  I have been having fun trying out a variety of fun recipes both Torani’s Recipes and ones that I have come up with myself.   Torani offers over 120 Regular and Sugar Free Flavored Syrups which are the perfect compliment to your favorite Coffee, Espresso, Hot Chocolate, Lattes, Smoothies, Teas, and many other drinks you enjoy.  I have even used Torani Flavored Syrups in a few recipes while I was baking and they turned out delicious!  Our favorite baked goods were Torani Salted Caramel Syrup in our Banana Bread and Torani Peppermint Syrup in our Brownies!   Torani Flavored Syrups will add an extra special touch to your next party celebration!

    The Salted Caramel and Peppermint Syrups were awesome!

    • Flavored Coffees / Espresso Drinks
    • Italian Sodas
    • Flavored Tea, both hot and cold
    • Flavored Lemonade
    • Flavored Sodas (or Pop as we say in the Midwest!)
    • Cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Flavored Energy Drinks

    Our family tried a variety of delicious recipes with our Torani Flavored Syrups!  The ones from Torani’s recipes are awesome so if your interested in getting started that’s a great resource.  Here are two recipes that I came up with that were raving hits with our family:

    Delicious Holiday Hot Chocolate!

    Rich Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

    • 1/2 cup Mom’s Hot Chocolate Mix
    • 1 cup Milk
    • 1/2 tablespoon Torani Peppermint Flavored Syrup
    • Cool Whip
    • Crushed Mint Candies
    1. Heat the milk to near boiling, add the Hot Chocolate Mix, Torani’s Peppermint Syrup and stir until blended.  You can add more Torani Peppermint syrup if you want a stronger peppermint flavor.
    2. Pour the Rich Peppermint Hot Chocolate into mugs.
    3. Top with cool whip and crushed candies.

    It is a perfect blend of chocolate and peppermint for those cool evenings.  The girls loved having this as a special treat and it was great for a relaxing evening with family and friends!  I look forward to serving it even more as the Holidays approach.

    Delicious “pick-me-up” Smoothie!

    Salted Caramel & Chocolate Coffee Smoothie Recipe

    • 1 cup Milk
    • 1/2 cup Coffee (cooled)
    • 1/2 tablespoon Torani’s Salted Caramel Syrup
    • 1 tablespoon Chocolate Syrup
    • 1/2 cup Ice
    • Coop Whip (optional)
    1. Put the Milk, Coffee, Salted Caramel Syrup, Chocolate Syrup, and ice in the blender and mix until smooth.  You can add more Torani Salted Caramel syrup if you want a stronger caramel flavor.  Pour into a cup, add cool whip, and enjoy!

    This was an awesome recipe for an early morning or mid afternoon pick me up, plus it allows you to use up that extra coffee still left in the coffee pot that no one finished that morning!  Since we live in South Carolina we still have some warmer days so we were able to try a mix of hot and cold recipes with our Torani Peppermint and Salted Caramel syrups.  Salted Caramel syrup was my favorite because it blended well with any hot beverage or cool smoothie.

    A great Christmas or Hostess Gift!

    Not only are Torani Flavored Syrups a wonderful addition to your pantry they are the perfect gift to give family and friends for birthdays, Holidays or any other special occasion.  Torani Flavored Syrups make the perfect hostess gift for all those fun Holiday parties coming up.  I love that that Torani Flavored Syrups are both tasty and practical for my family and to share with others.  Torani gives your drinks that extra authentic coffee house flavor that you can make in your own kitchen so you don’t have to pay full price at your local coffee house.

    SheSpeaksbutton

    As a special treat from SheSpeaks and Torani if you order from the link on the left you can get 10% off your order!

    • Click on the picture above (it takes you to Torani’s website)
    • Order the Torani Flavored Syrups of your choice
    • At checkout enter the code shespeaks for a 10% discount

     

    Torani Flavored Syrups can be found at many retail locations or online.  Torani Favored Syrups are available at select:

    Torani has many flavor syrups available to choose from.  I am looking forward to trying more soon, trying to decide which one is next (White Chocolate, Eggnog, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry).  You can check out more reviews on the Torani Syrup Flavors to get an idea of what everyone else is enjoying!

    Giveaway

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share a taste of the Torani Flavored Syrups with you I am doing a 48 hour giveaway!

    The winner of this giveaway will receive a FREE Bottle of Torani Flavored Syrup!  I will be sending the winner a coupon for a free bottle of Torani Flavored Syrup so he/she can pick out their favorite flavor to try or use it to buy a gift for a family member for the Holidays!  Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  You can sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing one of your favorite flavored drinks!

    All comments must be made by November 16th at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

    Make sure to follow Torani on Facebook and Twitter using #SSTorani hashtag to learn more about Torani and become eligible for more prizes.  To learn more information about how SheSpeaks works and get involved sign up for free today.

    As a member of the SheSpeaks Blogger Society, I was given samples of this product to write an informed review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I was not paid to write this post.  A special thanks to SheSpeaks and Torani for providing the samples to review and the coupons for the giveaway!

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    I started the week out a little stronger, but still have a lot of areas I need to work on regarding my goals.  Next week I hope to do better.  The good news is I am at least taking small steps in the right direction.

    Here is the update on last weeks goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday – I didn’t quite get everyday this week
    3. Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
    4. Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed) we missed two nights 🙁
    5. Start the process of getting the girls passports
    6. Go on Mother Daughter Date Night I had a blast with Karlie! 🙂
    7. File the last several weeks of coupons in my File Folder and Binder – halfway done

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – more than last week but not there yet
    2. Finish reading  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman
    3. Listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
    4. Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday through Thursday – I made it a one night.

    Home Management Goals

    1. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    2. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    3. Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
    4. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    5. Summer clothes pulled out of the main part of the closet and put away (it’s getting chilly and we are not wearing them as much now)

    Business Goals

    1. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk – hopefully no one will be looking at my desk today (need to tackle this one daily or it gets overwhelming).
    2. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    3. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    4. Research ways to create more residual income – didn’t get there this week
    5. Upcoming events, activities, and posted to my upcoming calendar

    Ministry Goals

    1. Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others. – Made a little over $8
    2. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    3. Alms & Legs Ministry – Email Meeting Notes to the Team
    4. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – Schedules got a little crazy this week, hope to pick back up next week

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Close on our Refinance – Our plan is to go from the 30 year mortgage that we have been paying off to a 10 year mortgage with a lower interest rate. – bank has delayed the closing again and had to extend our rate, maybe next week?!
    3. Pay off remaining debt – almost there…..I see the light….
    4. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – on hold until our debt is paid off completely

    Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have the girls read 1 book to me 5 days this week
    4. Do devotions with the girls every night (sometimes it gets late and we rush to get them into bed)
    5. Get the girls passport pictures taken
    6. Finish filing the last several weeks of coupons in my File Folder and Binder

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Finish reading  The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year by Crystal Paine who has a blog called Money Saving Mom (VERY excited about the opportunity to preview this book by a blogger I have been following for years and thankful to be featured on her blog weekly with the Save A Lot Deals!)
    3. Listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (I am going through this book with my Community Group)
    4. Go to bed by 10:30 or earlier on Monday through Thursday

    Home Management Goals

    1. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    2. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    3. Dinner on the table by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
    4. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    5. File the receipts for the last couple of months and organize the table in the office.

    Business Goals

    1. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
    2. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    3. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    4. Research ways to create more residual income
    5. Review my 2011 Business Goals and start planning ones for 2012

    Ministry Goals

    1. Make at least $25 towards my Creative Cash goal this week so I can give more to others.
    2. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    3. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Close on our Refinance – Our plan is to go from the 30 year mortgage that we have been paying off to a 10 year mortgage with a lower interest rate.
    3. Pay off remaining debt
    4. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results