Financial

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    There is so much to be thankful for in my life.  These last couple of months have been challenging for me, but my family and friends have been a huge source of encouragement with their help and prayers.  I continue to heal, but seem to be making progress slowly in the right direction which is great.

    I was able to do more activities this week as well as celebrate another birthday.  Praying that this new year is full of great fun!  There are still items I was not able to complete on my ever growing list, but at least I am moving forward.

    With this week being Thanksgiving it will be a little different for me.  I will plan on spending more quality time with my family.  It will be week of celebrating various events with my extended family, including Thanksgiving and my brother’s wedding, so I am very excited!

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids – we played Sorry together on my birthday
    8. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items – other activities took priority this week
    9. Dr. Appointments for Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took me 2 days, but getting it done!
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later) – we had appointments / activities during the days AND every night after school this week so I was not able to get it done this week
    4. Clean House (Focus – Bathrooms) – got started….
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room) – going to have to put this one on hold for a week
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away) – it was a rainy weekend and needed my hubby’s help on this one
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Dog & Goat Food Bin)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – got some progress made, but need to do more soon
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – it was a wild week with extra activities that took priority
    4. Work completed for clients – got a good bit done, but need to put in some more time

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – didn’t have a free breakfast / lunch this week
    2. Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes – gathering items

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Earn some Creative Cash – working on it
    5. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids (The kids have been really enjoying this series.  It was Brina’s turn to pick out the book and she choose this one for me to read to them!)
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events
    4. Spend time Monday – Tuesday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Watch a movie with the Kids
    9. Listen to an Audiobook with the Kids
    10. Thanksgiving Holiday – So Many Reasons to be Thankful
    11. Celebrating Josh & Megan’s Wedding & Activities

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Clean House (Basic Speed Clean before the Holiday Activities)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork

    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.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    It was a little better this week.  Still healing, but continue to have pain, numbness, and my stomach hasn’t reset itself yet.  Had another doctors appointment and hoping to have a better report soon.  I was able to get up and move around more this week, but still haven’t been able to get to all of the items on my lists.  At least some progress is being made.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids – still reading to the girls (we had a week of heavy homework)
    2. Plan one special activity with the family – had another family event come up on the calendar on that day
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips – waiting on approval from my doctors
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
    9. Dr. Appointments for Kids – had an ENT appointment for one of the girls and picked out new glasses for both

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – my stomach hasn’t been happy with drinking water this week so this one has been a challenge
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took me 3 partial days to get it done
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
    4. Clean out & Organize Refrigerator & Freezer
    5. Clean House (Focus – Basement Floors) – my amazing husband helped get this accomplished for me (thanks, Babe!)
    6. Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room) – didn’t get it done
    7. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away) – still needs done
    8. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Goat Food Bin) – still needs done

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention – making some headway
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – didn’t have a lot of extra curricular activities this week
    2. Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes – making preparations

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – paid an little extra this week
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Earn some Creative Cash – working on it
    5. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – the girls helped me at the grocery store this week and we had to go by more than one store because of the items that we needed this week

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Wonder’s Promise by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
    9. Dr. Appointments for Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
    4. Clean House (Focus – Bathrooms)
    5. Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room)
    6. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away)
    7. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Dog & Goat Food Bin)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Earn some Creative Cash
    5. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    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.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week was busy week full of many extra appointments that were added into the schedule, some of them last minute, like doctor’s appointments.  The hot water heater decided to pick this week to stop working too.  Thankfully, it stopped on an evening when Jake was home, not traveling for work.  Jake and my brother Lee were able to get a new one back up and working in one evening!

    I was finally able to get an MRI and figure out specifically what is going on to cause all the pain and numbness.  It has been over three weeks since I have been able to sleep in my own bed, the recliner has been the only comfortable spot to sleep lately!  The doctors have found out that I have a severely herniated disc in my neck which is also clamping down on nerves causing the shooting pains down my neck, back, arm, and causing numbness in my fingers.  The doctors are going to try and do a steroid shot directly into that specific disc this week and if that does not work than they want to do surgery.  Praying that the shot will work because the surgery is much more evasive and permanent.  Surgery would require a hospital stay not to mention recovery and effects on my future with mobility, movement, and other issues (obviously not my first choice).

    It is getting old not sleeping well, taking medicines that me feel foggy and not myself, the pain is at times very intense and has limited me in a lot of areas, and numbness in my fingers can eventually lead to permanent damage if we don’t get that fixed as well.  It hurts getting older!  I am ready to be back to my normal self soon.  Praying that they can fix it with the simple solution and without surgery.  There are some areas I did okay with this week on my goals and others not so well.  Either way I plan on proceeding forward with all my goals, activities, and tasks as much as possible!

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Pick another book to read to the kids – I picked out Double Fudge by Judy Blume to read to the girls
    2. Jake finish reading Last of the Mohicans to the kids
    3. Plan one special activity with the family
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    5. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    6. Attend After School Activities
    7. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    8. Ride Bikes with the kids – I was not able to ride bikes this week due to my neck, back, and arm issues
    9. Go for a Walk with the Kids – we did not go on walks this week because I was limited in extra moving around on top of my normal activities
    10. Play a Game with the Kids – played Halloween Bingo
    11. Attend School Board Meeting – Jake attended for me because I was not able to go due to health issues
    12. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items – was not able to get to this one
    13. Plan Family Halloween Dinner & Celebration – enjoyed a relaxing Halloween evening and weekend with my family
    14. Orthodontic Appointment for Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Exercise at least 5 times this week – doctor did not want me doing any additional exercises at this time
    4. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – I got it done, but it took more than one day due to me moving slower and needing help carrying items
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
    4. Clean out & Organize Refrigerator & Freezer – didn’t get it done
    5. Clean House (Focus – Basement Floors) – didn’t get the basement floors clean, but I did a more “deep” clean of the laundry room due to hot water heater dying on us this week!
    6. Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room) – was not able to get this done
    7. Put Spring/Summer Clothes in the Attic – need help to get these in the attic so was unable to finish it
    8. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away) – thanks to my brother letting us borrow his mower Jake was able to get the yard mowed, but we still need to get the pool put away
    9. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Goat Food Bin & Make Homemade Treats with the kids for Skipper) – we made homemade treats for the dog, but still need to refill the goat food bin

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails – still have some that need my attention and a response
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes – got started on it

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Make an extra payment on Outstanding Debt – we were able to make an extra payment this week which helps us inch forward in the right direction!
    5. Earn some Creative Cash – I wasn’t able to get any extra creative cash completed this week
    6. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – I did go grocery shopping for the first time in THREE weeks, but I did go to more than one store and I went a little over our budget

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read the book Double Fudge by Judy Blume to read to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Play a Game with the Kids
    8. Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
    9. ENT and Eye Appointments for Kids

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Go to my  Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
    4. Clean out & Organize Refrigerator & Freezer
    5. Clean House (Focus – Basement Floors)
    6. Organize Chaos (Focus – Storage Room)
    7. Put Spring/Summer Clothes in the Attic
    8. Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool taken down and put away)
    9. Pet Care (Focus – Refill Goat Food Bin)

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
    3. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    4. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Prep for our Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child boxes

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
    3. Pay Bills & File Paperwork
    4. Make an extra payment on Outstanding Debt
    5. Earn some Creative Cash
    6. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    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.

  • Free Audio Book: “The Attributes Of God V1: A Journey Into The Father’s Heart” by A. W. Tozer

    For the month of November Christian Audio is offering a free download of an audio book.  This month the audio book is The Attributes of God V1: A Journey Into The Father’s Heart by A. W. Tozer and narrated by Michael Kramer.

    In this first volume on the nature and attributes of God, Tozer defines God’s infinitude, immensity, goodness, justice, mercy, grace, omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection. This classic is sure to deepen your understanding and comprehension of God. (information from Christian Audio)

    If you have been wanting to a book to listen to throughout the day or while driving this is a great opportunity to get a book for free when you download it from Christian Audio in November.   Make sure to submit your order by November 30,  2014  to get your free audio book.  Thanks Christian Audio!

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

    Creative Cash - Living on a Budget

    October was a super busy month with me being gone for part of the month and out of commission with neck and back issues for several weeks.   Thankful for my husband who pitched extra hours to take care of the kids while I was out helping my family in Kansas and out of commission health wise.  It is nice to be back home and with Jake and the girls once again.   Now that October is behind us it is time to give you an update on my Creative Cash and our special highlight.

    What is Creative Cash?  My definition of Creative Cash means finding a variety of ways to make extra cash each month to put towards my family’s current financial goal as well as having a little extra to share with others.

    Why do it?  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 not only important to save money for my family by using coupons and buying items on sale, but to earn a little money to help with the family finances and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of work is what I call “Creative Cash” and it is made by finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  As I continue to challenge myself to make my life more simplified as well as find ways to bless others I have made it my goal to remain accountable for the Creative Cash I bring in month to month.  My family has faced many obstacles over the years, however, we are blessed and have a multitude of reasons to be grateful.

    How it Works: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire calendar month through various endeavors.  As Creative Cash arrives the money, gift cards, and other extras are entered into my Creative Cash worksheet. The cash, gift cards, and other items are stored in a specific Creative Cash folder or marked in the account as Creative Cash.  At the end of the month the money will be split with part of it going towards the current financial goal my family is working on and the other part will be donated to  someone or a group of people such as a charity.  It is important for me to find ways to be a blessing to people outside of our immediate family.  In order to keep me accountable I will be reporting my monthly total and who I will be sharing the Creative Cash with that month.  If it is a specific family or cause I may or may not be able to give all the details due to the amount of privacy they may want, but I promise share any details I can.

    Monthly Goal:  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra Creative Cash a month to help with my family goals as well as share with others.

    Despite being gone and not feeling well the month October was still a wonderful month.  I was able to accumulate more than anticipated during the time I was at home!  I will share with you the ways I did it so if you are looking for ways to make a little extra creative cash for your family hopefully it will be an inspiration in getting your creative juices flowing:

    • $100.00 –  20|20 Research for doing a Panel Discussion
    • $24.32 – Credit Card Bonus Rewards (if you are looking to earn interest both on your savings and checking accounts as well as rewards I recommend checking out  Capital One 360)
    • $5.00 – Amazon Gift Card earned through Swagbucks
    • $5.00 – Survey Cash
    • $15.00 – Walmart Gift Card from SheSpeaks

    October Creative Cash Total:  $149.32

    Our October Creative Cash Highlight:  Our Creative Cash Highlight this month will be Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child!

    Every year during this time we try to set aside money and special items to put together some Operation Christmas Child boxes.  The boxes need to be ready by  mid-November so October is the perfect month to focus on this ministry.  Our whole family looks forward to doing this every year.  We feel that it is important to share what we have been given with others and Operation Christmas Child is a great ministry.  The kids get really excited about picking out special treats and goodies to go into their boxes.   We pray specifically for the kids who will be receiving our boxes.  We want to make sure that our boxes are filled with items that are perfect for each child and a blessing to those that receive them.  There is so much joy in giving and sharing with others.  In October I was able to earn extra creative cash along with some gift cards that will come in very handy when purchasing items for Operation Christmas Child.   Your family can get involved too, check out the Samaritan’s Purse website for more information about Operation Christmas Child!

    Current Family Goal: We are currently working to stay within our written budget and pay down debt!  We recently had to purchase a new microwave and refrigerator.  Plus, we had some additional expenses and emergencies that have caused us to have a little extra debt that we would like to get paid off!

    • $24.32 Credit Card Bonus was applied towards a debt on a credit card.
    • Any remaining money that is not going to our Creative Cash Highlight that’s listed above will be applied towards paying down additional debt!

    It was exciting to go past the $100 goal!!!  I know this will help us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way!  A hundred dollars extra a month may not seem like a lot to some people, but every little bit helps!  If I find that I am going over my goal every month (which would be awesome) I will make an adjustment.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash next month so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another  great month of sharing.  Each month I will do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically this month.  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 my family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to me.  I hope that I 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!  Feel free to comment on how you earned creative cash this month or post a picture or link to what you did!

    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, wear clothes we find at garage sales, etc…however, if our family is taken care of and has love in our hearts for others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week I was able to some items crossed off my list, but not as many as I hoped due to a painful pinched nerve.  This week will be a little different because I will not be spending the week with my immediate family.  I know I will miss them terribly, but I hope to be able to help out extended family and be a blessing to the people I will be spending time with this week.  Hopefully I will be able to keep up with everyone and get a lot accomplished throughout the week.  You will notice my weekly goals will be altered a little too since I will not be available to help with the normal activities around my immediate family.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read A Horse Called Wonder by Joanna Campbell (Book #1 of the Thoroughbred Series) to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Ride Bikes with the kids – it didn’t get done with my pinched nerve
    8. Go for a Walk with the Kids – a couple of days it was all I could do to get through the day
    9. Attend School Board Meeting
    10. Give Jake a haircut
    11. Make Toffee per girls requests
    12. Cook up Ground Hamburger and Freeze for future meals
    13. Make and freeze Spinach Cubes for Smoothies

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – I did not do a good job of drinking my water while traveling this past weekend
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Exercise at least 5 times this week – it didn’t happen
    4. Pedicure – my toenails could use a fresh coat of polish

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Freezer Meals Prepped for future meal
    4. Clean out & Organize Refrigerator / Freezer – had to let this one go with a the stuff going on this week
    5. Clean House including all 3 bathrooms, dusting, floors, and bedrooms – only basic cleaning was done
    6. Put Fall/Winter Clothes in Closets and dressers and put Spring/Summer Clothes in the Attic – put away in closets but the still haven’t gotten the clothes back in the attic
    7. Refill kids vitamin container
    8. Refill Baggie Drawer and Lunch Box Container
    9. Pool taken down and put away – pools drained, but not put away

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt (new microwave, refrigerator, and other debt) – working on it
    3. Pay October Bills
    4. Recent Receipts Basket Cleaned Out, Organized, & Receipts Filed
    5. File Paperwork
    6. Earn some Creative Cash
    7. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget – didn’t even make it to the grocery store with my pinched nerve

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Mail at least one note to Jake and the girls
    2. Speak to my husband and kids at least once a day
    3. Send at least one Text, Picture, Instant Message, or Email a day to let them know I am thinking about them
    4. Have Hangout chat with the entire family at least once this week
    5. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    6. Spend time with extended family

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Exercise at least 5 times this week

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. Keep up with my laundry
    2. Update Evernote with any home / yard / pets activities for Jake and the girls

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt (microwave and refrigerator)

    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.

  • FREE Kellogg’s Family Rewards Codes

    Here are some October Free Kellogg’s Family Rewards Codes you can add to your account!  All these free codes are one-time-use codes per account.  You can also earn points by entering codes from most Kellogg’s brand boxes.  With your points you can earn gift cards, games, books, magazine subscriptions, toys, coupons, sweepstakes entries, donate to a school or charity, and many more great rewards.  Sometimes you can get free rewards from their email newsletters and facebook page too.

    The codes listed below are worth anywhere from 20 to 100 points each which should help you rack up some points on your account and get you closer to earning your next reward!  Enter the following Free Kellogg’s Family Rewards Codes:

    • FREEPOINTSFRENZY  (100 points)
    • UGOTTALOVEABONUS  (100 points)
    • WEHEARTSURPRISES  (100 points)
    • 3CHEERS4BONUSPTS  (100 points)
    • HOORAYFORFREEPTS  (100 points)
    • KFRSHARETHANKS20  (100 points)
    • Like their Facebook page  (100 points – you should immediately receive a code at the top of the page after clicking the like button)
    • ELVESLOVEBONUSES  (50 points)
    • BACKTOSCHOOL2014  (50 points)
    • NUTRITIONINABOWL  (50 points)
    • EARNSWEETREWARDS  (50 points)
    • CEREALANDMILKABC  (50 points)
    • EARNGREATREWARDS  (20 points)
    • MAGICOFBREAKFAST  (20 points)
    • GETFUELFORSCHOOL  (20 points)
    • SPIDEYEXCITEMENT  (20 points)
    • HOWITWORKS20PNTS  (20 points)

    Please comment and let me know if any of the above Free Kellogg’s Family Rewards Codes have expired or if you find new ones so I can update the list!  Thanks!  The only time you may lose any points is if you allow your account to go inactive for 90 consecutive days.  Sign up today and start earning rewards now!

    Current Free Kellogg's Family Rewards Points

     

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    I am hoping to get through a bunch of the tasks this week!  There is a lot going on around here the next few weeks, but if I remain consistent I will still be able to get a lot accomplish.  Looking forward to getting some items done.

    Last week’s goals

    Family Goals

    1. Read The Adventures of Robinhood by Howard Pyle to the kids – finished reading it and Brina has picked out our next chapter book to read together
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Play a board or card game – we did not get our game in this week due to a lot of other activities that fell on the evenings and weekend
    4. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events
    5. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the girls with Homework
    6. Prep for a big weekend
    7. Ride Bikes with the kids – our week filled up too quickly we didn’t get to riding bikes
    8. Go for a Walk with the Kids – on the nice non-rainy days this past week would went outside and walked while reviewing for their upcoming Science and Social Studies tests at school

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – it was spread out over a couple days due to my husband having last minute work travel
    2. Pay all upcoming bills
    3. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch – had to reschedule due to other conflicts

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car – working on it
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – made another payment this past week
    3. Pay medical bills in full– finished paying off one of the big medical bills that we had been working on in awhile!  WooHoo! 

    My goals for the upcoming week

    Family Goals

    1. Read A Horse Called Wonder by Joanna Campbell (Book #1 of the Thoroughbred Series) to the kids
    2. Plan one special activity with the family
    3. Prepare for Upcoming Fall Events & Trips
    4. Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
    5. Attend After School Activities
    6. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    7. Ride Bikes with the kids
    8. Go for a Walk with the Kids
    9. Attend School Board Meeting
    10. Give Jake a haircut
    11. Make Toffee per girls requests
    12. Cook up Ground Hamburger and Freeze for future meals
    13. Make and freeze Spinach Cubes for Smoothies

    Personal Goals

    1. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    2. Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
    3. Exercise at least 5 times this week
    4. Pedicure – my toenails could use a fresh coat of polish

    Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Freezer Meals Prepped for future meals
    4. Clean out & Organize Refrigerator / Freezer
    5. Clean House including all 3 bathrooms, dusting, floors, and bedrooms
    6. Put Fall/Winter Clothes in Closets and dressers and put Spring/Summer Clothes in the Attic
    7. Refill kids vitamin container
    8. Refill Baggie Drawer and Lunch Box Container
    9. Pool taken down and put away

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Work completed for clients

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Payoff the Car
    2. Payoff Outstanding Debt – we recently had to buy a new microwave and refrigerator
    3. Pay October Bills
    4. Recent Receipts Basket Cleaned Out, Organized, & Receipts Filed
    5. File Paperwork
    6. Earn some Creative Cash
    7. Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget

    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.

  • Living on a Budget: How to Save on Fresh Meat & Produce

    P1290377c

    There are many ways you can save on groceries.  I have had a lot of people ask me for recommendations for ways to save without using coupons or for stores that typically do not allow coupons.  One of the complaints I have heard a number of times is that they find it hard to locate coupons for items that they purchase regularly like fruits, vegetables, bread, milk, and meat.

    I have three easy and simple ways to help you save on groceries and it doesn’t matter where you shop, you can buy organic or not, and you don’t have to find, cut, or bring coupons to the store either!  Are you ready to start saving?!

    1. Snap by Groupon – I learned about this way of savings on groceries from my friend Ashley at Reflecting on the Simple Things in Life  just this week and have already saved over $3.00 in two grocery store trips.  The money saved was for staple items that we needed in our house like milk, bread, fruit, and vegetables!!!  How it works – Go to the Snap website and sign up or you can download the Snap app for your iPhone or Android device.  You can either look through their current offers or go to the store and check their website or app when you are there or when you get home.  I typically get what I need and then check to see if there are any additional savings for anything I purchased.  Once you have purchased your items “snap” a picture of your receipt, pick the items with savings on the website, and you get cash put into your account. You will get an email immediately confirming that your receipt is being processed and in about 48 hours you get another email confirming that the money is in your account.   After you get at least $20 in your account you get a check!  Based on my experience this week it will not take long to get enough money in the account to get your check.  Even though I have just started using Snap by Groupon it is very similar to a program I have been using for awhile now that works really well which I will share with you next!
    2. Checkout 51 – is one I have been using for awhile now.  I have continued to purchase my normal groceries at all the stores I like to shop at and having been earning extra savings along the way.  It really doesn’t take long at all to accumulate your $20 and the extra money back on items I am already purchasing is always nice!  Right now I have am about halfway to getting my next check.  I noticed that some of the items for both Checkout51 and Snap by Groupon are the same so I get extra money back from both sites on the same item which is makes it even better.  How it works – Go to the Checkout 51 website and sign up or you can download the Checkout 51 app for your iPhone or Android device.  Look at the current offers either before or after you go to the store.  Upload your receipt using Checkout 51’s website or app, select the items you purchased, and you will get money added to your account.  You will first receive an email stating they are processing your receipt and usually within a few minutes to hours the money you earned is credited to your account.  Once your balance reaches $20 you cash out and get a check.  The Checkout 51 deals run from 12:00 am Thursday (in each timezone) until the next Wednesday at 11:59 pm.  This is an easy way to get extra money back on your groceries for items you already purchase no matter what store you go to and you don’t need to have any coupons with you, plus based on my experience it adds up pretty quickly.
    3. Shop the Clearance Racks for meat,produce, dairy, and other items –  When I am in the store I always walk the outer aisle to check out the fresh produce, dairy, meat and more.  A lot of times the stores will mark down perfectly good food that is near expiration date.  Most of the time if you use it within the next few days or freeze the items they are fine.  Make sure you look over the items and if they appear to be in good condition go ahead and try it!

    Example of how I saved using these three methods on my most recent grocery trip to Aldi’s:

    • 2 pomegranates – $0.49 each
    • 1 Muller Greek Yogurt + Blackberry and Raspberry – $0.49 (was marked down on clearance)
    • 1 Acorn Squash – $1.29
    • 1 Loaf of Bread – $0.89 (Received $1.00 back from Snap by Groupon which is more than the price of the bread)
    • 1 pound Sweet Mini Peppers – $2.29
    • 8 Roma Tomatoes – $1.49 total (Received $0.25 back from Checkout 51)
    • 2.43 pounds All Natural Ground Beef Sirloin (90% Lean) – $7.15 (was $11.15 and marked down $4.00 on clearance)
    • 2.09 pounds Bananas – $0.92 (Received $0.25 back from Checkout 51)
    • 2 pounds Carrots – $0.79 (Received $0.25 back from Checkout 51)
    • 3 pounds Gala Apples – $1.98 (Received $0.50 back from Snap by Groupon)
    • 2 pounds Bartlett Pears – $1.58
    • 2 pounds Gold Russet Pears – $1.58
    • 2 pounds Red Grapes – $1.98

    On this shopping trip I spent $23.64 at Aldi’s and saved an additional $7.25 on this specific shopping trip on items already on my shopping list between Snap by Groupon, shopping for items on clearance, and Checkout 51.

    P1290388cHealthy & Easy Way to Wash Produce!

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

    Creative Cash - Living on a Budget

    It’s been awhile since I have shared the Creative Cash report with everyone, but I made it happen this month!  Honestly, I have not been as consistent these last couple months in finding creative ways to earn a little extra cash.  It’s been busy, but that really isn’t a good excuse.  It was brought to my attention recently that when I make a point to share this information with you it:

    • Helps keep me accountable
    • Gives me extra motivation to be creative
    • Keeps me on track
    • Reminds me of the goals we are trying to accomplish as a family
    • Refreshes my memory on the importance of sharing with others

    When you have the ability to share a piece of what you earn with others not only are you blessing their lives it makes your life richer and fuller too!  I have made a few adjustments regarding my Creative Cash goals, but otherwise it is pretty similar to the report that I have shared with you in the past.

    What is Creative Cash?  My definition of Creative Cash means finding a variety of ways to make extra cash each month to put towards my family’s current financial goal as well as having a little extra to share with others.

    Why do it?  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 not only important to save money for my family by using coupons and buying items on sale, but to earn a little money to help with the family finances and to share with others.  The extra amount I bring in on top of work is what I call “Creative Cash” and it is made by finding ways to make money creatively or with items and talents I have already.  As I continue to challenge myself to make my life more simplified as well as find ways to bless others I have made it my goal to remain accountable for the Creative Cash I bring in month to month.  My family has faced many obstacles over the years, however, we are blessed and have a multitude of reasons to be grateful.

    Explanation: The creative cash will be made throughout the entire calendar month through various endeavors.  As Creative Cash arrives the money, gift cards, and other extras are entered into my Creative Cash worksheet. The cash, gift cards, and other items are stored in a specific Creative Cash folder or marked in the account as Creative Cash.  At the end of the month the money will be split with part of it going towards the current financial goal my family is working on and the other part will be donated to  someone or a group of people such as a charity.  It is important for me to find ways to be a blessing to people outside of our immediate family.

    In the past the donated amount has only gone to charity and was always 50% of whatever Creative Cash was made that month.  After much thought and prayer I decided to change this part of my goal.  I don’t want to limit myself to giving only 50% or only giving it to charity.  There may be some months I feel led to give more than 50% and it may be to a specific cause, purpose,  family, or charity.  In order to keep me accountable I will be reporting my monthly total and who I will be sharing the Creative Cash with that month.  If it is a specific family or cause I may or may not be able to give all the details due to the amount of privacy they may want, but I promise share any details I can.

    Monthly Goal:  It is my goal to make at least $100 extra Creative Cash a month to help with my family goals as well as share with others.

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

    • $50.00 – Credit Card Bonus Rewards (if you are looking to earn interest both on your savings and checking accounts as well as rewards I recommend checking out  Capital One 360)
    • $116.68 – Google Ads payment
    • $50.00 – Writing a review for a company
    • $15.00 – Walmart Gift Card from SheSpeaks for sharing about the Febreze Fall Home Harvest Collection

    September Creative Cash Total:  $231.68

    Current Family Goal: We are currently working to stay within our written budget and pay down debt (yes, exciting I know)!  A couple months ago both our microwave and fridge bit the dust.  Plus, we had some additional expenses and emergencies that have caused us to have a little extra debt that we would like to get paid off!

    • $15 Walmart Gift Card is not cash nor could we pay down debt with it so we used it towards the vehicle maintenance budget.  It was used to purchase oil change supplies for my car which came in handy this month after many miles of driving this summer.   Thankful for a husband who can service the vehicles!
    • $50 credit card bonus was put towards a debt we currently have on our credit card.
    • Any remaining money that is not going to our Creative Cash Blessing Highlight that’s listed below will be applied towards paying down debt!

    September Creative Cash Highlight:  Our extra Creative Cash this month will be going to a very sweet family who is in the process of adopting a beautiful little girl named Annalise.  We have known this family for many years and we are blessed to call these amazing people friends.  As you may already know adoption can be a very long and expensive process.  You can read more about their adoption story or give as they go through this awesome journey!

    It was exciting to surge past the $100 goal!!!  I know this will help us get a little closer to our goals as well as helps others along the way!  A hundred dollars extra a month may not seem like a lot to some people, but every little bit helps!  If I find that I am going over my goal every month (which would be awesome) I will make an adjustment.  I have plan of action on ways to earn creative cash next month so stayed tuned, hopefully, it will be another  great month of sharing.  Each month I will do a variety activities to accomplish this goal, the items above are just the ones I did specifically this month.  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 my family as well as invest in the lives of others is important to me.  I hope that I 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!  Feel free to comment on how you earned creative cash this month or post a picture or link to what you did!

    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, wear clothes we find at garage sales, etc…however, if our family is taken care of and has love in our hearts for others we have more than all the riches in the world.