The Best Gifts in Life …
Relationships: Friends Like You
- A friend is someone who listens without judging you right or wrong, good or bad, and gently helps you define your thoughts to regain perspective.
- When you’re feeling bad about yourself, a friend is there to remind you of all those positive qualities you may have forgotten.
- When you share with a friend, decision-making becomes easier and problems seem less critical.
- A friend gives you the priceless gift of time; time to share, to try out new ideas and rethink old ones. No matter how often you’re together, you discover dimensions of yourself through the bonds and the mirror of friendship.
- A friend loves you for who you are, not what you do. Feeling so accepted, you are able to set higher goals, try harder, and achieve more.
- Through close friendship, you learn the fine art of giving. You expand, become more selfless, feel more deeply, and help more effectively. See the happiness you bring to another person gives you a greater sense of well-being and increases your capacity to love.
- Wherever you go in life, whatever stage or place you reach, a friend who has entered your soul is always with you, gently guiding, faithfully following, and ever walking beside you.
– Sandra Sturtz Hauss
Developing the deeper friendships take time energy and commitment. The first and ultimate relationship we should focus on is with our heavenly father followed by our relationship to our spouse and then trickles down to our kids, extended family members, friends, and others in our lives.
Sometimes our friends are close enough to our hearts that they are like family. We feel comfortable around them. We share laughter as well as dig deeper into the fears and struggles of life. They are the people you know pray and encourage you no matter what that day brings. Make sure you are continuing to be the kind of friend who allows your friends to celebrate and grow!
Heart Reflections: First Fruits
Our family has gone through a lot of hills and valleys over the past few years together. Jake and I started out our marriage in debt from school bills. It took the first few years of both of us working to pay off our school debts. After paying off our school loans we began saving to start our own business.
We started our own business and ran it for several years. As life would have it we started dipping into that savings we had set aside and before long we realized that we had to make a decision whether or not to stay in business for ourselves or not. We along with several friends and family fervently prayed for wisdom to make the right decision.
Would the business turn around in a year or should we seek employment elsewhere? After several months of praying and giving it over to God Jake was approached by a contact who wanted him to apply to a couple positions available in the area. We prayed about it and decided to see what would happen since obviously we hadn’t spoken to this person in years and this may be God saying “trust me”. Jake went in for 3 interviews that week by Monday the following week he had offers for all three positions. One of the offers was in Greenville and the other 2 were in nearby cities.
Before even accepting the position my husband came to me. We had been praying for wisdom for so long and when God handpicked a position for him when we were not expecting it he felt like we should give the “first fruits” of this job to God. He gave us this position and we want to honor Him for all he has done for us. God had answered our prayers and we wanted to give back to him.
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. – Proverbs 3:9-10
Even when the budget was really tight especially during this time we always had enough to cover expenses. After praying about it we decided that the first month’s pay check would be given to God. From that time on any increases or bonuses Jake received from his work we have donated the first portion to God. After receiving a bonus or increase we would set aside the money and pray about where God would want us to give the money. After about a month we would talk again discuss what and who God laid on our hearts. It is amazing to see how much clear God makes that decision. Once the decision is made we give the money to the organization or people God had laid on our hearts as a check, cash, or if it is an organization where we can give it online we do it that way.
I am thankful for my husband who seeks God’s wisdom, is thoughtful, and giving to others. There are times when we could really use that extra money from a bonus or increase to pay for items our family needs (pay a medical bill, debt, or for something we need, etc…), however, we always make it a point to give the first fruits to others first. Ultimately, it is God who gives us the money it is an honor to share what we have with others.
Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (October Update)
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.
Halloween Candy Buy Back Programs
Happy Halloween! Halloween is a wonderful time to create memories with your family. At least in our area there are a lot of Fall Festivals, pumpkin carving, hayrides, dressing up and candy…..sometimes too much candy. Every wonder if you’ll be able to eat, share, or giveaway all the candy before the next Halloween hits?
Dentists all over the country are participating in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program. They buy the kids Halloween candy then donate it to the groups that send it to those in Military Service.
- Example: Holly Tree Pediatric Dentistry in our area (1334 South Hwy 14, Simpsonville, SC 29681 / Phone: 864-297-5585) is Buying Back Halloween Candy and giving the kids $1 per pound ($5 max per child) and a Treat bag. All the candy will be donated to our Troops Overseas.
If it is something you interested in participating in you can read more about on the FAQ page and search for locations near you!
Photo by Rochelle
Living on a Budget: Creative Cash (September Update)
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.
There Is No Happiness…
Bouquet of Fresh Flowers
Bouquet of flowers from my girls
My girls know how to warm my heart. Last week we spent some time with extended family in Vermont. Jake’s grandpa has a green thumb and when we first moved into our house he brought down some of his iris bulbs from his garden. Every year the girls pick some of PopPop’s flowers and bring them inside to make a fresh bouquet for a counter top. Here is a picture of one of the bouquets they brought to me a few months ago. Thankful for my girls and their little tokens of their appreciation that brightened my day. Grateful for Grandpa for sharing his beautiful flowers so we can enjoy them every year.
No One Has Ever Become…
Teaching Our Children: How to Wrap Gifts
Letting the kids wrap their own gifts
As I sit in the middle of the floor with little scraps of Christmas wrapping paper around me I have to smile….. The girls LOVE going to the store to pick out the perfect gift(s) for each person. They also really like to wrap the gifts! While they have a tendency to make a mess, use more wrapping paper, put on too much tape, and take a long time wrapping they have a blast doing it. Although, I have noticed that every year they get a little better and more efficient.
Each girl starts the gift wrapping activity by picking out their own roll of wrapping paper to use for their gifts. They use that roll of wrapping paper on all the gifts they have to wrap until there are no more gifts to do or the wrapping paper is gone. They do the entire wrapping process on their own from cutting the paper to taping and even labeling the gift.
While we still have the occasional – “Mom, I didn’t cut the wrapping paper big enough” overall they are getting better at the whole process. At times, I’ve even had problems not cutting the paper big enough! Typically, we spend an evening or two (depending on the amount of time we have) doing a “wrapping party” while listening to Christmas music. As they wrap their gifts I will tackle some that I need to do as well. Everyone has fun and we get a lot accomplished at the same time.
I love that they take the extra time to not only wrap the gifts but label, add little notes, or draw pictures on the outside of the gifts. They started doing this on their own last Christmas. It was so cute reading their notes and talking about their drawings as we opened the gifts. They were so proud of the gift and the wrapping which they did from start to finish. Here are some of the sweet drawings and notes we found under our tree last year:
Silly notes written on the gifts…..made me smile
Brina even picked out turtle food at the store for the turtles and wrapped it for them.
Karlie drew a planet, specifically Saturn, on this gift
I Love You note on the gift
Brina drew little “heart” people on the outside of this Christmas gift.
Picture of the sweet sisters on the gift
While the gift wrap my not win a decorative prize the girls are proud of their work and are excited to share. They are learning many lessons during this too (hand-eye coordination, measuring, sharing, giving, etc….). Pretty soon I will have to start delegating more gift wrapping tasks to them! 🙂
