Family Finances

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    It was my fourth full week of doing my new cash budget system – Groceries $40 for 4. This week I was able to get quite a few items with my $40 budget thanks to clearance items and coupons! Although it has been a learning process the last few weeks this one went pretty well. It is always a learning and growing progress for our family. We are continuing to utilize the food we already have in our pantry and freezer. Below are my grocery shopping adventures for the week!

    RiteAid Groceries

    Grcoeries from RiteAid:

    • $2.16 at RiteAid for Cake Mix (25 cents), Hamburger Dinner (25 cents), Onion Spices, Ground Cinnamon, 2 Tomato Juices (25 cents each), Individual peanut packs, Combos, and two free Easter Candies.  Plus I used an UP Reward towards the purchase.
    FREE Mushrooms at Walgreens!

    Groceries from Walgreens:

    • $0.00 (FREE) at Walgreens for 4 cans of Geisha Mushrooms (used the Walgreens Coupon Insert and Register Reward to pay for the mushrooms! Can’t beat free!
    Groceries from Bi-Lo

    Groceries from Bi-Lo:

    • $36.52 at Bi-Lo for 4 gallons of milk (froze 2 gallons), 1 pack of Cheese Crackers,  2 Slow Cooker Packs, 2 Applesauce Packs, 1 Loaf of Bread, 1 box of Uncle Bens Rice (on closeout), 4 bags of Individually Wrapped Chocolate Covered Raisins (on clearance for 75 cents each), 1 bag of Chickpeas, 2 packs of Pasta, 2 packs of Cheese Sauce Mix, 1 jar Raspberry BBQ Sauce (on closeout), 4 bags shredded cheese, 2 bags sliced cheese, 1 package of fresh Chicken (99 cents / pound).  I used several store and manufacturer’s coupons plus I had a coupon from Bi-Lo for $5 off the entire purchase which helped bring the amount down below $40.

    It was our fourth week of the challenge – Groceries $40 for 4 and we spent $38.68 thankfully we did better this week .  I was able to stock up on some great dairy items this week – Milk (even froze 2 gallons), Cheese (which freezes well too), Chicken (enough for 2 to 3 meals for our family) and snacks for after school!  I am still trying to work out all the details of how to make the budget most effective for our family and I think some weeks have been easier than others.  I used some coupons, bought clearance items, and utilized weekly ad discounts to help save us a little extra on our grocery budget.  I hope to do better next week!  We’ll see how I do!

    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.

  • Family Recipe: Cheesy Spaghetti Bake

    My cousin Jordan gave me this recipe several years ago and I love it.  I still use it when I want to do something a little different with spaghetti.  I like that it is easy yet delicious!  There are several variations to this recipe that I use to mix it up a little bit too.

    Cheesy Spaghetti Bake:

    • 2 lb ground Hamburger
    • 32 oz Spaghetti Sauce
    • 12 to 14 oz Spaghetti Noodles
    • 1/2 cup Milk
    • 1/2 cup Onions
    • 1 1/2 cup Velveeta Cheese

    Brown the beef and onion in a skillet and drain.  Stir in spaghetti sauce and simmer 10 minutes.  Break spaghetti noodles into quarters and cook according to directions; drain.  Add spaghetti noodles to the sauce mixture.  Dice up and melt Velveeta cheese and milk together in a saucepan on low heat.  Stir frequently until melted.  Spread 1/2 of the spaghetti mixture in to a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.  Top with 3/4 cheese sauce, then the remainder of the spaghetti mixture.  Drip remaining 1/4 cup of melted cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

    Variation 1: Sometime I will layer the spaghetti noodles on the bottom of the pan and slightly up the sides then add the sauce and meat on top followed by the cheese mixture.

    Variation 2: Layer the spaghetti noodles on the bottom, then a thin layer of cheese, followed by the meat & sauce mixture and sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top

    Variation 3: Cook in 2 pie dishes so I can share with others, for example, if someone just had a baby or surgery and I am bringing them a meal I will cook one for our family and one to give away.

    Variation 4: Add Mushrooms and other veggies to the Spaghetti bake (you can put them in as a separate layer or mix them in with the meat and sauce mixture).

    Photo by Norwichnuts

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (March Update)

    Last month I began a monthly challenge called Creative Cash.  Creative Cash is finding ways to come up with extra cash to share with others as well as work on our current goal.  I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day, however, I feel that it is important to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself to make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to be accountable with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    March was a great month and I was able to  go over my goal of $100 (although not quite as good as my February Creative Cash since I didn’t have a bunch of coupons saved up).  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $85.92 – Items sold on Ebay:   The majority of items sold were coupons (I did sell a small office supply that I received free after rebate for about $8 of the amount sold).  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, in your stockpile, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.
    • $30.00 – Items sold on Craigslist: I sold lawn care items/tools that we were no longer using.  We had really good luck on Craigslist again this month, it can be hit and miss on Craigslist depending on the week and what people are looking for on the site.
    • $6.40 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (a rebate, return, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.

    March’s “Creative Cash” total was $122.32 which means $61.16 extra that goes towards our current goal, paying down debt and $61.16 goes towards charity.  It was exciting to go above the $100 goal again and to know it helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in April so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in March.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  Do you know of another way to earn creative cash?   I would love to hear your idea!

    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.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Farms

    The past few weeks I have been reading about ways to eat healthier and along the way I discovered CSA’s (which stands for Community Supported Farms).  Although I have heard a little about them a couple times this was the first time I seriously considered joining one.  As I was researching more about the local farmers and various programs I decided to contact a couple in our area and find out more information.  It was interesting because some farms I never heard a word back from and others I have had several emails back and forth.  After much thought and research we decided as a family to try a CSA program this year and see how it goes.  I am VERY excited to participate and learn even more.  The girls are thrilled they get to go spend some time on a local farm and eat fresh veggies.  I am still growing some veggies in our garden at home, but I am really looking forward to getting fresh local produce from an area farm.

    What is a CSA? It stands for Community Supported Agriculture and has been around for about 20 years.  CSA allows consumers to buy local, seasonal and fresh produce directly from the farmer.  The farmer gives “shares” to the public (ie box, bag, or basket of vegetables, fruit, eggs, and a variety of other farm products).  Consumers prepays for shares or a partial shares for that years crops.  The consumers then receive a box of seasonal produce weekly throughout the season (usually around 20 weeks for the summer and 10 weeks for the winter season in our area).

    Why is it beneficial?

    • Fresh locally grown produce for your family
    • An adventure in trying new produce and recipes
    • The seasonal produce you receive will be fresh and ripe
    • The opportunity to visit the farm where you produce is grown
    • Fresh and healthy produce for your family to enjoy
    • Organic farming (if this is important to you please confirm with the farm you chose before committing, each farm is different)
    • Educational for the kids to see the produce being grown
    • Direct connection with a local farmer
    • More variety of produce on the menu and at the family table
    • Farmers can market and sell their crops before production
    • Increases the cash flow for the farm during planting season
    • Some farms include eggs, bread, meat, cheese, flowers, local honey, and more.
    • Most farms allow you the opportunity to pick what size of share you want (Whole Share, Half Share, Quarter Share, etc…)
    • Many farms have multiple drop off locations and times as well.
    • And more great benefits!

    The benefits really are mutual between the farmer and the consumer.  I hope to share more of the benefits of being involved in a CSA as we have the opportunity to experience more.  Right now our farm has several items planted and we are just waiting for them to grow so we can enjoy the delicious food!  One of the reasons we made the decision to join a CSA is we looked over a budget and realized that some weeks we were spending more than half of our grocery money on fruits and vegetables since we are trying to eat healthier.  When we spread the cost of a CSA over a season we would actually be saving money as a family.  This is our first year so we haven’t discovered exactly how everything works but we hope to share our experience with you!

    Are there any risks? It wouldn’t be fair to share the benefits without warning you of the risks as well.

    • Shared Risk – you are investing in a crop prior to the farmer raising it so there is a possibility that they could have drought, flood, hailstorm, or insect issues during the season, however, most farms plant a variety of crops so you’ll most likely just get more of another produce, but there is no “guarantees”  At the same time they could have a bountiful production year!
    • The farm will probably not raise every produce your family eats (ie. if your family likes mushrooms but the farm doesn’t grow mushrooms you’ll still have to purchase those items in the store)
    • Most farms are family run so if there is something unexpected in the family it could affect you as well.
    • Some of the produce may be “unique” or unlike the items you buy in the grocery store.  If you like trying new items this is a benefit but if you only like 5 different kinds of veggies or are really picky it may not be the best fit for you
    • When you get different types of produce you’ll have the opportunity to try out new recipes, this could be a huge benefit for some people but if you are not comfortable cooking or trying new recipes make sure to consider that as well.

    If you are interested in joining or learning more about a CSA in your areas you can learn more about it at Local Harvest and click on the CSA tab.  Under the map on the right side of the page you can enter your zip code and find local farms in your area.  Another wonderful feature that was beneficial for us in deciding which farm to consider was the reviews on the local farms participating.  It is always good to know that other customers have been satisfied before spending your money.

    We are excited about the local farm we picked to join.  If you are in Upstate, South Carolina area and are wanting to do this as well let me know which farm you chose in a comment below or send me an email and we may be able to coordinate pick up from week to week to save each other a little extra on gas.  Have you ever been part of a CSA program?  What did you like / dislike about the program?

    Photo by Nick Saltmarsh

  • Heart Reflections: Road Blocks

    A tree across the road on my way to the girls school!

    As I was zipping along on the way to the girls school recently I came to a quick halt!  There laying across the entire road was a huge tree.  Thankfully I noticed it in time to stop.  My first thought was this is strange…..glad I wasn’t driving by when it decided to fall since we take that road every day for school.  My next thought was…….did someone cut it down but there literally was no one in sight and the tree roots were uprooted.  The dilemma was I had to deliver goodies to the girls class in a matter of minutes, however, I had a road block.  How was I going to get to their school (my options):

    • Move it out of the road (I didn’t have a chainsaw or strength to do it by myself)
    • There were no driveways behind me so I would have to back up the windy road about 1/2 mile, plus risk someone else coming down the road and us crashing
    • Turn around in the road with narrow shoulders and risk someone coming around the bend and hitting me.
    • Go around it (It had rained the day before and the tree covered the whole road, which doesn’t have a shoulder either)

    What did I do? Surveyed the probability of going around the tree since the ditch wasn’t too deep or wet in that spot and braved it.  I made it through, thankfully, otherwise Jake would have gotten another “help” call from me!   The car on the other side of the tree had the same dilemma as I did but they decided to back up and turn around instead.  I made it almost to the end of the road when I noticed a cop car heading the direction towards the tree I rolled down my window and waved to get his attention but he just flew on by me without hesitation.  I figured he would realize why I was waving in matter of minutes.  When I arrived at school I was able to let them know and they immediately called the bus barn to have them redirect the bus routes so they could get the kids home.

    This event happened a couple weeks ago but has stuck in my head for several reasons.  We often face road blocks in life.  Even though the situation may catch you off guard or seem impossible to get past we all have to make a decision about what we are going to do about the various road blocks that appear.  Are there areas in your life with road blocks?  Here are some areas I have had road blocks pop up in my life (thankfully they haven’t come at once but sometimes I have to work on multiple ones at the same time):

    • Health
    • Financial
    • Family
    • Work
    • Spiritual
    • And More

    I think the reason why this road block has stuck in my mind is I have come to the realization that there are several areas in my life and heart that I need to change.  Taking time to change any area of my life takes time, energy and consistency.  I want God to work in my life from the inside out.  If I have walls put up around my heart how am I going to be an effective testimony for Him?  If I don’t take the time to spend with Him how is He going to work in my life and in the lives of those people I touch.  The choices I make today have a ripple effect on the people around me (family, friend, acquaintances, etc…)  One other area that has come to my attention is my health.  Growing up I didn’t have a routine exercise schedule because I got plenty on the farm and I never had to go on any diets but recently with my energy dropping I realized that I need to eat better and move more.  The lack of energy is blocking me from doing more of the things I enjoy in my life.  Another area I have been working on is making our family budget a priority. Thankfully my husband has always been very supportive because it really works better if both spouses are on board with it.

    What will you do about the road blocks in your life? Will you allow yourself to discover ways to eat healthier and exercise?  Will you get together with your spouse and work out a budget?  Will you allow God to reveal your true heart so you can serve Him better? There are many areas in our lives that need cultivated.  Every person is different.  Examine your life and the areas you need to step up and go to bat for.  Every day we have the opportunity to make choices in each area of our lives.  Some days I do better than others while other days I seem to encounter one road block after another.  The important part is that you pick yourself back up, dust off, refocus, and remember that you can get past this little bump in the road.

    How will you react to a friends warning? Sometimes it takes another person tapping you on the shoulder you to get your attention.  You could be the like the cop in the story above that just flew on by and ignored me as I tried to wave him down to warn him about the danger ahead. OR You could be like the secretary at the girls school who immediately called the bus barn to alert them of the road block in their routes so they can correct their route before hitting a road block.  It is important to have close family and friends in your life that are kind enough to speak graciously with you if they see an area in your life where you are struggling.  Those same people can also provide a lot of accountability, prayer, and encouragement as you journey through that road block.

    It is amazing how much that tree across the road captivated my attention!  Even though it was an inconvenience at the time I am thankful for a very visual representation of a road block because it has stuck in my mind.  Take the time this week to identify and start removing the road blocks in your life so you can focus more on those areas that really are important to you.

    “Heart Reflections” is a series of thoughts and encouragement that come directly from my heart.  Life has a way of throwing us extra challenges and when our focus is pulled away from what is truly important we tend to feel the pressure of stress in our lives.  This series is created to remind us that we are part of something so much bigger than ourselves.  We don’t have to face the pressure of life on our own.  We can trust that our prayers are being heard.  He alone knows what’s best for us and gives us the appropriate strength to get through each day as it is set before us.

  • Book: “The Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley

    As I was thinking about the various books I have read over the past few years “The Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley came to mind.  In this book Stanley explains the research he did on how America’s wealthy got there.  You don’t need to make a substantial amount to be smart with your money.  Living a flashy and fancy lifestyle isn’t what it takes to be wise with your finances.  I found it fascinating learning more regarding the millionaire “mindset” and the questions he asked in his research.

    Our family has been trying to stick to our budget and be more responsible with the blessings we have been given.  We are by no means millionaires but we feel it is important to always continue to learn and grow.  My husband and I listened to the audiobook version of this book together.  If you are trying to wrap your mind around finances this is fun book to read or listen to as you work through the process as a family.  I encourage you to communicate and pray as a family as you go on this journey together.  When we were first married it became very clear that Jake and I had different patterns and views on finances.  Taking the time to listen or read these types of books together helps encourage and strengthen your relationship while providing a positive outlook on finances.  What works for one family may not be doable for the next family, however, we all have been giving many blessings in life.  We still continue to make mistakes, pick ourselves back up, and learn from the lessons God continues to teach us.  We want to purposely chose to be wise with what we have been given so we have more opportunities to share with those around us.

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    Groceries from CVS, Walgreens, & RiteAid

    It was my first week of doing my new cash budget system – Groceries $40 for 4.   Although it has been a learning process the week has gone pretty well so far.  Since this my first week am I still testing the water and we continue trying to utilize the food we already have in our pantry and freezer.  Here is my grocery spending for the week:

    • $1.61 at Walgreens for 2 cans of Mandarin Oranges and 1 can of Mushrooms
    • $7.96 at RiteAid for a gallon of Milk, 2 packs of Cheese, 1 container of Sour Cream
    • $3.72 at CVS for a 24 pack of Bottled Water and 2 boxes of Popcorn

     

    Groceries from Ingles and CVS!
    • $1.98 at CVS for another 24 pack of Bottled Water (Jake should be set for a little bit!) & Free Mike-n-Ikes Candy!
    • $10.00 at Ingles for Strawberries, Oranges, Tangerines, Onion, Seafood, and Apples.
    Groceries from Aldi's
    • $14.06 at Aldi’s for Pineapple’s ($0.99 each), Salmon Fillets, 2 Cheese Packages, Cucumber, Bananas, Cheese sticks,  and Celery.

    It was our first week of the challenge – Groceries $40 for 4 and we spent $39.33 so we were very close to going over.  I was disappointed to see RiteAid’s milk spike up this week, but thrilled to get the 24 packs of water for $1.98 as well as some fresh fruit and veggies on sale.  I used some coupons, bought clearance items, and utilized weekly ad discounts to help save us a little extra on our grocery budget.  Since it was my first week I was testing the water and hope to do better next week now that we have replenished our fruit and veggie drawers.  We’ll see how I do!

    I hope 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.  I hope by taking the extra time to watch my grocery spending it will allow us to feed our family, enjoy life, 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.

  • Living on a Budget: Creative Cash

    Although I am working part time, a stay at home Mom, and wear many other hats from day to day it is important that I am finding ways not only to save money for our family by using coupons and buying items on sale but to earn a little money to help with the extra expenses.  The extra amount I bring in on top of the work items is what I call “Creative Cash” which means finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  I have tested this goal over the last couple months as I am challenging myself as I make my life more simplified.   I plan to continue this goal for the remaining months of the year.  Despite the many financial obstacles that we have faced as a family we have been blessed with so much.  We believe it is important to honor God with our finances and give to others.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire month through various endeavors.  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra a month to help with our goals as well as share with others.  At the end of the month the money will be split 50 / 50 with half going towards our current goal we are working on (which at the moment is paying down debt) and the other half going to charity.

    February was a wonderful month and we were able to accumulate more than anticipated.  I want to share with you the ways we did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully we can be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $196.88 – Items sold on Ebay:   The majority of items sold were coupons (only 2 toys were sold and they counted for less than $15 of the total amount made).  I encourage you to look around at some of the coupons you get the mail, newspapers, magazines, or other places and if you will not have the opportunity to use them then consider selling them for a little extra creative cash.  I had been saving up several to sell so February was a good month with Ebay.  You can check Ebay to see what is the best way to sell them and if it is worth your time to do it.   I have sold anything from lots of grocery coupons to baby coupons to store coupons and more.  Hint – Baby Formula checks / coupons sell really well on Ebay especially if you will not be using them.  Also, Bed Bath & Beyond coupons never expire and sell really well in lots plus you can add the Linens n’ Things coupons to the lot or use them in the stores.
    • $21.24 – Recycled Goods:  we took several items to our local recycle location this month.  It was the biggest recycling month we’ve had because we had a broken dishwasher, a couple scrap metal pieces such as heat vent and an old sewing machine, plus several months worth of regular cans (the price was $255.00 / NT) and aluminum cans ($0.66 / LB).  Our trash company doesn’t pick up recycled goods for us so we decided to do it as a family on our own and as an added perk we get a little extra in return.  Especially if you are already recycling try finding a place in your area that takes recycled goods near you.  I went to CRC Scrap Recycling since I was already going to be working in that area.
    • $120.00 – Items sold on Craigslist: we had a few bigger items that we were no longer using that we sold.  We had really great luck on Craigslist this month, it can be hit and miss on Craigslist depending on the week and what people are looking for on the site.
    • $37.89 – Ebates cash – we ordered just a few items online and received this rebate.  If you are already ordering items online you should check out Ebates.  They give you extra cash back on many online purchases and any additional savings on items we are already purchasing is a bonus.
    • $15.38 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (a rebate, return, and extra money) that was added to my stash for the month of February.

    February’s “Creative Cash” total was $391.39 which means $195.69 extra that goes towards our current goal, paying down debt and $195.70 goes towards charity.  It was exciting to surge past the $100 goal and to know it helps us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash in March so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another month where we can get closer to our goal and share with others.  Each month I do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically in February.  I look forward to sharing more of the things that work well for our family as I do them in the upcoming months.

    I will share with you the challenges, successes, and updates as I go through this journey so you can keep me accountable or even go through it with me by participating  and sharing your story. Taking the extra time to find ways to help our family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to us.  I hope that we have been able to encourage you to find ways to come up with some creative cash for your household as well.  Obviously, each situation and family is unique so decide what works for you and go for it!  If you know of another way to earn creative cash I would love to hear it!

    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.

    Photo by StopNLook

  • Life Simplified: No Grocery Shopping (Update)

    We are now well  into week four of my no grocery shopping challenge for the month of January 2011.  It is time for me to give you an update so you can continue to keep me accountable.  Last week was an easy one for us because we were not at home, my husband and I had the privilege of going on a cruise with extended family and the girls were staying with friends. We did take food over with the girls but we didn’t have to buy any essentials or perishable items while we were away.

    Before leaving for vacation we ate the leftovers and most of the perishables in our refrigerator.  This week was the first time this month I had to pick up several perishable items.  Other than a gallon or two of milk a week we have been doing really well.  So far we have purchased 5 gallons of milk for the month of January.  Thankfully all the groceries I purchased this week were marked down except for the gallon of milk I paid $2.99 for at Save A Lot.  Here are the groceries I bought this week at Save A Lot | Rite Aid to restock the perishables in our fridge:

    • Ground Hamburger – $6.39 markdown to $3.18
    • Cube Steaks – $3.14 markdown to $1.59
    • 2 Yogurts – $0.50 markdown to $0.25 each
    • French Onion Dip – $1.29 markdown to $0.64
    • Cottage Cheese (24 oz) – $2.25 markdown to $1.12
    • Flour Tortillas – $0.99 markdown to $0.49

    I spent a total of $7.52 including tax.  By only purchasing the markdown items I was able to save over $8 on the perishable items we needed for our family.  With the exception of the french onion dip everything would meet my criteria of a necessity for our household.  Every home has different perishable items they need to keep in stock; meat and diary fit into that category for us (within reason), although, I have been trying to cut down on the amount I purchase to make sure we really do use the items already in stock.  Fruits and veggies are ones I would consider necessary too (in moderation), however, we are still using up the ones we had from several weeks ago as well as those we froze from the garden this summer.   The french onion dip is one I felt the most “guilty” about buying but since it was $0.64 for a large container and we are going to a Super Bowl party outside our home it technically falls under my criteria of  “for Someone Else outside of my household” (I may be stretching that criteria a little). Even though it was a good bargain and it is for people outside of my home I probably could have made something from scratch with the items already in my pantry.

    I am hoping these will be the last items we have to purchase for the month of January (with an exception to milk) and maybe even into February if I am really lucky.  These groceries should last at least a couple weeks when we put them together with the food we already have in our freezer and pantry!  So far I haven’t done too bad with the challenge.  I have had to pass up on a couple really great deals, but the point is to use the items in stock before buying more.

    I will continue to share with you the challenges, successes and what I had to purchase so you can keep me accountable or even go through the journey with me by participating  and sharing your story.  I would love to extend this goal into February if I can make our pantry stretch!

    Life Simplified is a series on getting rid of the extras in our life while learning how to enjoy what God has given us so we can continue to be a blessing to others.  Our homes can quickly start are bursting with “stuff”  and if you are like us we just have too much.  I am doing a series on ways we are learning to simplifying our food, homes, and lives.  When our hearts, lives, and homes get too cluttered we may start missing out on opportunities to serve and bless the people around us.

  • Loosening My Grip: No More Repairs…..Please! (continued)

    On Tuesday, I began sharing the repair ripple effect around our house these last few months.   In last half of 2010 every time we turned around something was needing fixed from household to physical and more.  God has a way of Loosening Our Grip on things we want to keep within our control.

    The repair domino effect continued:

    • Glasses – it has been over 3 years since Jake and I had our eyes checked and new glasses.  We bit the bullet and went to WalMart got our eyes checked and purchased new glasses.  The neat part was we learned in our 3 1/2 hour visit that the doctor played tennis with a friend of ours from church, it’s a small world.
    • Dental Work – it had been almost 4 years since Jake and I had gone to the dentist.  We have chosen to spend the money on the kids and wait on going ourselves.  Even though our teeth weren’t hurting we both had work that needed to be done which added up very quickly.  We really like our dentist but I had forgotten how much it costs, however, if we didn’t get it repaired it would eventually become painful and more expensive.  Thankfully over the last couple of months of 2010 we were able to get both of us up to date.
    • Dryer – My dryer has been slowly fading over the course of several years. It has been repair many times in the 10 years we have owned it.  I was under the impression that they lasted longer.  In a typical week I only do 4 to 5 loads of laundry so it wasn’t like it was from over use.  The heating aliment was replaced once or twice.  Two years ago the dial stopped working, you couldn’t adjust the heat or length of the dryer.  Thankfully we could still push the button and it would run, however, it NEVER shut off on its own so you would have to stay home and set a timer so you can take them out.  Many loads were too wet or too dry over the course of a couple years.  Over the last year it began taking between 1 to 4 hours to dry a load of clothes.  We finally decided it was time to replace it,
    • Van Repair & Water Pump – the van wasn’t running well early this fall and it was getting to the point where we where worried if it would start and run for us.  Jake didn’t want me stranded somewhere with the kids so we took it in.  There were several things going on and we were able to get it repaired.  A month later the water pump blew and it was in for another shop visit.  The girls asked why the van was going to the doctor so often!
    • Water Line to the House – one day when I came home after work there was no water at our house.  The water company wasn’t doing any repairs  in our area and since it had been cold the last few days they indicated that we had a burst pipe.  We found the location of the leak in the middle of our flower garden.  The previous owner had a garden water faucet hooked up to the old well and when they ran city water they kept that on the line.  Since the faucet was covered up we just assumed it went to the old well which was not the case.  Thankfully we were able to fix this one on our own with the help of my brother the extra water cost more than the pieces to fix the faucet and we only had to go without water a couple times.  We no longer have an extra faucet in the middle of our flower garden it is now buried underground with the other pipes.

    Even though I would never chose for all of these items to happen within a few months God’s timing was truly wonderful.  Jake was able to start feeling a little better after the surgery and he took on a new contract before some of the household items started wearing out.  Looking back over the year I an encouraged to know that I am not alone.  I have an amazing God, wonderful husband, sweet kids and awesome family and friends.    You are not alone either.  Even though 2010 or another year may have been tough on you physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially you are not alone.  It is through the tough times that you can be renewed and strengthened.  Despite the minor inconveniences 2010 has brought into my life I have much to rejoice about and be thankful for in my life.  There are moments that I will treasure forever looking back over this year.  Hopefully in 2011 it will be smooth sailing as far as repairs, however, I do want God to continue guiding me as I look forward to a fun and exciting 2011 jammed packed with memories!

    Loosening My Grip is a series on areas in my life I am learning to let go of slowly. A couple months ago I was studying Jonah and one of the phrases that popped out at me was “Whatever you are holding on to in this life, hold it loosely so it won’t hurt when the Lord has to pry your fingers open to take it away.”  I have found that in some areas God has had to pry my fingers off of whatever I am holding onto one finger at a time.  There are areas in my life that I feel like I need control over and hold onto them tightly.  I have been learning how to let go and hold loosely so God can do His work in my life.