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

    July is my sixth month tracking my Creative Cash.  What is 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  As it comes in the money is placed into our savings account and withdrawn at the end of the month so it can be split.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.

    To be honest July was not a great month, our family was extremely active in many other areas.  I have only been home one weekend the past couple of months so it has been difficult squeezing in the extra activities to generate the creative cash.  I am thankful that we have had the opportunity to travel together as a family and create many great new memories, however, the creative cash has been effected by it.  I anticipate August being another busy month but hopefully once the girls get back in school life will once again return our new “normal” and I can come closer to meeting this goal.  Thankfully I was able to save some extra cash even though I did not reach my my goal of $100.  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:

    • $18.98 – Other miscellaneous amounts earned  (rebates, returns, cash back,  extra money, etc…) that was added to my stash for the month.  Most of the cash this month was from rebate checks I received from prior purchases.

    It was a harder month to set the extra aside because it was very busy and I was not able to participate in as many extra creative cash activities.  The good news is despite the crazy schedule I was able to get a few dollars of creative cash.   July’s “Creative Cash” total was $18.98 which means $9.49 extra that goes towards our current goal (paying down debt) and $9.49 goes towards charity.  I didn’t hit my $100 goal this month.  It has been really busy with school being out and traveling with the family.  I am happy that I was able to something this month and every little bit 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 August 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 July.  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

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our Barnes & Noble Gift Card Winner!!!

    My husband, Jake, drew the name out of a cup for me.

    CONGRATULATIONS to Carrie Loring

    for winning a

    $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information.

    Enjoy Your New Book!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway!!!

    Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.

  • Fresh & Healthy: Community Supported Agriculture (Week 10 & 11)

    It is our tenth and eleventh week receiving fresh produce from our CSA!  Our family purchased a half of share and will be receiving fresh produce, local honey, eggs and more for 20 weeks.   This week we picked up a full share instead of our usual half share because we were out of town last week.   Jake picked up the fresh veggies this week, thanks babe!  It was nice to get our basket again this week after being away for a little bit.

    Week 10 & 11 of Fresh Goodies from our CSA!

    Fresh produce from our local farm!

    Items in our Basket this Week:

    •  1 bag Red Okra
    • 1 bag Green Okra
    • 1 bag Beans
    • 3 Cucumbers
    • 5 Tomatoes
    • 1 container Cherry Tomatoes
    • 4 Green Peppers
    • 6 Eggplants
    • 2 Green Squash
    • Dozen Fresh Eggs

    I am looking forward to eating these goodies this week!  Thanks everyone for the delicious Recipes!!!

    To find out how you can be a part of a local CSA check out this post – Fresh & Healthy:  Community Supported Farms

  • Book: “No More Dreaded Mondays” by Dan Miller

    I recently finished the book “No More Dreaded Mondays” by Dan Miller.  It was an enjoyable book to read and motivating as well.  “No More Dreaded Mondays” is a book about putting passion back into your work.  Do you look forward to the weekends and dread Monday mornings?  This may be a great book for you to read.

    The author does accept that each person is unique, however, when you personally discover your passion in life you will no longer have those dreaded Mondays because you are excited about what you are doing.  Dan Miller discusses many variations of work including the traditional employee – employer, self employed, and more.  The book makes you really think about what type of work is a good fit for you.

    Each chapter has “Revolutionary Insights,” “Pot-Shots,” and “Quotes” sprinkled throughout it to bring home the principal he is trying to teach.  At the end of the chapter the author gives several bullet points, questions, phrases, and information to recapture what was covered in the chapter.  The book has a good mix of information and practical applications.  Miller wants you to consider an interruption in status-quo (unemployment, career change, etc…) as a positive opportunity not a disaster.

    Miller challenges his readers to get creative, think outside the box, and follow their passion.   “No More Dreaded Monday’s” is practical and inspirational that is beneficial for anyone.  If you are you are unemployed, considering a career change, or a student ready to get out on your own I highly recommend you check out this book.  Throughout the book Dan Miller encourages the readers to break away from the traditional thinking and be revolutionaries.

    Two of my favorite  quotes he had in the book were:

    “You have a calling which exists only for you and which only you can fulfill.” – Dr. Naomi Stephan

    “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – George Bernard Shaw

    Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from the publisher through the Waterhouse Multnomah.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

  • Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    We were on the road only a couple days during this week!  I went over last week so I was trying to keep it within reason this week.  It was a tough week to stay under budget because Jake’s birthday was on Tuesday and I am making a couple meals for people in our church who need them.  Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.

    Groceries from Ingles

    Ingles  Groceries:

    • $18.79 at Ingles for 1 bag Ingles Wavy Chips, 1 Laura Lynn Bread (1 1/2 pound for $0.98), 1 container Stonyfield Strawberry Yogurt (on clearance and great for smoothies), 1 container Daisy Cottage Cheese (on clearance), 1 container Biltmore Onion Dip (on clearance), 1 bag Philsbury Caramel Brownies (on clearance), 1 container Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip (on clearance), Sirloin Tip, 1 large bag of Banana’s (on clearance), and 1 three pound bag of Yellow Apples (on clearance). The most expensive part was the meat, it was the only item not on sale or clearance but I picked it up for a special dinner.
    Groceries from Dollar Tree and Aldi's

    Dollar Tree  Groceries:

    • $0.50 at Dollar Tree for 2 boxes of Honey Oat Rings Cereal on clearance for $0.50 each

    Aldi’s Groceries:

    • $9.02 at Aldi’s for 2 packages of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, 4 cans of Cream of Mushroom, 1 bag of Fresh Spinach and 1 bag of Santa Fe Style Tortilla Strips (on clearance).
    Groceries from CVS and BiLo

    BiLo Groceries:

    • $10.98 at BiLo for 2 large cans of Green Beans and 1 five pound bag of Tater Bites.

    CVS Groceries:

    • $8.02 at CVS for 4 – 12 packs of Mountain Dew (they were on sale for $2.50 each and I found peelies on the packages for $1.00 off 2)

    This week I spent $47.31 on groceries.  Even though I was over my budgeted amount for the week  I was able to stock up on several items on clearance and stay at least somewhat close to the budget.  I REALLY hope to have a better week for my next update, it doesn’t sit well with me going over the budgeted amount two weeks in a row.  I am happy to stock up but need thumped on the head for going over the budget again this week.  We were out of town for a part of this grocery week so it was a little different from our usual events.

    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: Roasted Potatoes

    We had the privilege of spending some time with Jake’s grandparents recently.  One of the recipes Grandma made while we were in Vermont was Roasted Potatoes and it was delicious!  You probably have the most if not all the ingredients already in your kitchen for this easy recipe.  If you are looking for a way to use up some of those fresh garden potatoes you should try out this recipe.

     

    Roasted Potatoes:

    • 1 pound small Potatoes (prefer red potatoes but any kind will work)
    • 1/2 cup Butter (melted)
    • 1 cup grated Cheese (Parmesan Cheese is what Grandma used when she made it)

    Wash the potatoes and slice in half.  Melt the butter and spread in the 9 x 13 baking dish.  Sprinkle grated cheese over the melted butter.  Put the potatoes open side down in the dish.  Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 to 375 degrees.

     Photo by Sing A Melodie

  • Family Celebrations: Our Anniversary!

    Happy Anniversary to my Handsome Man!

    It is amazing to think we are celebrating 11 years of marriage today.  I am thankful for the many wonderful memories we have shared.  God has blessed our marriage and family.  I am grateful for an awesome husband who loves me and takes care of me.  He is my best friend and such a blessing in my life!

    Thank You Jake for everything!!!

    I look forward to spending many many more years with you!

    I LOVE YOU so very much!

    Happy Anniversary Handsome!!!!

    Photo by Sarah Ackerman

  • Twice as Fun: A Visit From The Tooth Fairy

    Brina had a visit from the tooth fairy!

    Brina recently lost her first baby tooth which was another exciting day for the whole family.  It marked a new stage in her life which means my baby is growing up!  Although our girls know the “tooth fairy” really doesn’t exist it is fun to celebrate a new milestone in the lives of our kids.

    Brina has been waiting for her first tooth to come out since Karlie’s came out several months ago.   That is one hard part about having two at the same age, they are excited for each other but are ready for their turn too.  Each of us is made uniquely so we let Brina know she will have a chance to celebrate too when her big teeth come through.  I told her teeth will come in when it is perfect for her.  Those who know me realize that I have been dreading this stage of Motherhood because I just don’t like wiggly teeth.  I have to say it is amazing how much you can actually handle once you are going through it with your child.

    Here are more  pictures from Brina’s First Tooth Fairy Celebration:

    Tooth Fairy visited Brina after she lost her first baby tooth and gave her $1!

    We put $1 Dollar in a butterfly Ziploc bag for Brina losing her first tooth!  She was super excited to see cash under her pillow the next morning.  Brina had forgotten about the tooth fairy and was trying to figure out why she had a present under her pillow, it didn’t take long.  She was ready for us to read her the new book that morning!

    A Special Note from the Tooth Fairy
    The front side of her present had a note from the Tooth Fairy that said – “Congratulations Brina on getting your 1st big girl tooth!  Love, Tooth Fairy”   She thought it was super cute with the heart and note!

    A Note from the Tooth Fairy to Brina!

    On the back side of her gift there was another note from the Tooth Fairy – “Brina, Congratulations on losing your 1st baby tooth!  You are growing up to be a beautiful girl! Love, The Tooth Fairy”  Brina was super excited to get her special notes and gifts for losing her first tooth.  We did not get to keep Brina’s first tooth because we are not sure where it went, we think it either got thrown away with her apple, swallowed, down the sink when she was brushing her teeth or in the bath tub.  We have a time span of when it was lost but not sure exactly where it disappeared.

    It was a lot of fun celebrating the loss of Brina’s first baby tooth.  Brina knows that there is no such thing as “The Tooth Fairy” even though we call it the Tooth Fairy.  She was thrilled to get something special either way even if Mom and Dad are the Tooth Fairy.  As parents we feel like it is okay to celebrate the monumental moments with your kids, however, we chose let them know if something that we celebrate such as the “Tooth Fairy” is really imaginary.  We don’t want our kids growing up thinking we lied to them about something that isn’t even real.  Every family has to make a decision about what is best for their family.

    Please share with us your ideas on what you do to celebrate your children losing their teeth and what the “Tooth Fairy” brings for special goodies!

    Twice as Fun is a series on raising Twins and all the joy that comes with it.  We have been richly blessed to have twin daughters in our lives and want to share with you our thoughts, challenges, wisdom and love for raising multiples.  Our girls have different interests and hobbies but they both know how to add excitement to our lives and make us chuckle.