Paying Down the Mortgage

2012-02-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

Frugal Friday

I am on a frugal fast so I ran to Costco to pick up brown sugar, FiberOne cereal for toddler, preserves to put in homemade yogurt, and milk. Now I am on a cooking frenzy to make applesauce, french toast, and brownies for my kids' dessert for date night. The applesauce will be used for oil in baked goods since I am running low. Strategic planning is keeping my frugality in check this month.

That being said I had to give you the recipe to the most awesome muffins.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 2/3 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. sugar

1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon

1 tsp. cloves

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

Sift dry ingredients. Add the following:

2 large eggs

1. c. sweet potato ( I used the leftovers from when the kids' wouldn't eat their sweet potato one night. It had a cinnamon sugar mixture added with butter)

1/2 c. coconut oil

Mix well. You may need to add a little water at this stage to make them more like muffin batter.

Mix in 1 c. chocolate chips.

Oh, my. These were delicious and I would have to say pretty healthy. They made approximately 15 muffins.

Bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes.

I am trying to eliminate waste in our house so we are pretty much using only what we have. I am having to add things to make a menu plan but overall this month I have easily spent under a hundred dollars for six people. I know its only the 9th but this is much lower than it should be since we ate out of our stockpile last month. The fridge and freezer look mighty empty but I have meal ideas for what we have on hand. Check by Monday to see what we will be eating with my leftover of a stockpile.

2012-02-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Tip

Lowering the Cost Of Children's Clothes

1. Calculate exactly how many clothes your children actually need. I have two boys the exact same size. My husband's instinct was to buy 10 pairs of pants and 10 shirts for the boys. WHOA! Slow down. There are six people in my family so I will probably have to wash on Wednesday just to stay on top of the laundry. My two boys have six pairs of pants and six shirts for school. We use T-shirts and $6 track pants for the weekend. Between the two of them, they have three pairs of jeans. This works for us.

2. A bargain is no bargain if you didn't need it. In the past I have gotten in consignment sales and gone crazy. I would buy things thinking it is so cheap and a namebrand. I-Must-Have-It! For the time being, I will not be going to consignment sales. The items I have bought in the past at a bargain have either been the wrong color so it doesn't match anything we own or too big/too small for the recipient. For my little girl, I have chosen to allow her to choose things from the fabric store and make very simple designs off the internet. It just eliminates arguments in the morning. More work for me but less hassle in the end. The skirt I have been making takes exactly fifteen minutes to sew. Pair it with a white shirt and I am good to go.

3. Mend or repair clothing. My boys are notoriously rough on their school pants. Recently, one of them came home with huge stains in the lower leg of the pants. I tried everything I knew to get the stains out. Before sewing my little girl's skirts, I would have thrown them away. One day this week I will cut them off and hem. I actually need more uniform shorts in that size so my boys will have one more pair to work with this spring.

4. Think outside of the box. If you are at the thrift store or consignment sale and see something that has a good shape, see if you can transform it. Either my adding some dazzle or simplifying the piece, you could have a beautiful piece. Many times old smocked dresses have ruffles that date it but by removing the ruffle, the item is transformed. Put those creative skills to good use.

I have used these ideas and have seen my clothing budget go down considerably. Try and see if you have the same results. Sewing is not hard; you just have to be willing to gain a new skill.

2012-02-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

We are still in frugal mode here. Here is our menu for this week once again a day late.

Monday
B: Oatmeal
S: Salad/ Crackers/ Granola Bars

Tuesday
B: Eggs w/ Toast
S: Spaghetti w/ meatballs/ Bread/ Green Beans

Wednesday
B: Leftover Pancakes/ French Toast
S: Waffles

Thursday
B: Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Muffins
S: Salisbury Steak/ Mocked Mashed Potatoes/ Carrots

Friday
B: French Toast
S: Pizza

Saturday
B: Breakfast Cookies
S: Okra /Ranch Potatoes/ Broccoli

Sunday
B: Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
S: Steak/ Chicken Nuggets/ French Fries

This is linked to Organization Junkie Menu Monday. Thanks for reading.

2012-02-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

Frugal Fast

Due to some surprising twists and turns, this month I am going on a frugal fast. I am hoping that by the end of the month I will have gained some great frugal lessons. I will not be spending any money that is not absolutely needed. Here is how I hope to achieve this.

1.) Stop, look and ponder. Do I really need this or is it impulse buy? I will be including my beloved sodas in this. I am a little addicted to a bit of caffeine each day so I am anxious about how this will be done.

2.) Stay home. It is hard to spend money at home. I hope to avoid the daily deal sites and my beloved sites that post great buys. Hope to see ya soon! ;-)

3.) Grocery Budget is $200.00. Let's all laugh hysterically at my optimism. There are six of us. I feel I might be overshooting this since my freezers are not bulging with great meat buys. I hope to put together some meals that include meat as flavoring but not the star of the meal. Let's hope I am successful. Oh, I also found a deal on chicken breast for .89 a pound so I plan to get 10 pounds. Anyone have great chicken recipes?

4.) Putting Limits on Kids' Activities - I am going to stay focused on the prize and really work on this one. This is one area I struggle with when it comes to the kids. I don't take them to the movies every weekend or McDonalds every day. My second oldest really wants to play baseball and that fee would be paid at the end of February. I would really, really, really have a hard time saying no to that.

I am glad that February is a short month, but I fear that I will be carrying this challenge on to March. I will update each week in the grocery and gas department for February so that you can see how I am doing. I will also love your guys' input in how I can make my dollars stretch. One way I have found is looking at what I have around the house and seeing if it can be used in a different way. For example, I have a couple of huge containers of dehydrated apple slices. I am in need of some baking oil. If I take the apples and make applesauce, I should be able to use the applesauce in place of oil in baking. Hopefully, creative thinking will take me far in this challenge.

Just so you know, this month I will not have a grand total of what I have saved. This fast is due to the fact that we are struggling like many small business owners and for this month, I am living off of savings. I didn't want to disappoint anyone at the end.

2012-01-31T19:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, you caught me. I am a day late and also a dollar short. Such is the way of life. I will be trying to make do for a little longer without a huge grocery bill. Here lies the challenge. Let's see if I can do it.

Monday

B: Oatmeal

L: Sandwiches/ Chips/ Cake

S: Beef Tips/ Rice/ Green Beans

Tuesday

B: Pancakes

L: Sandwich/ Yogurt/ Peanut Butter Cookies

S: Taco Salad

Wednesday

B: Cinnamon Toast/ eggs

L: Deer Sausage/ Cheese/ Crackers

S: Pork Chops/ Cabbage/ Sweet Potatoes

Thursday

B: Pancakes

L: Bean Burritos/ Tortilla Chips/ Brownies

S: Cajun Black Beans and Rice

Friday

B: Breakfast Cookies

L: Peanut Butter & Jelly/ Chips/ Fruit

S: Leftover Beef Tips and Rice/ Carrots

Saturday

B: Muffins

L: Grilled Cheese/ Chips

S: Spaghetti w/ French Bread/ Green Beans

Sunday

B: French Toast

L: Peanut Butter w/ Jelly Sandwiches/ Chips

S: Eggs/ Sausage/ Grits

I will be linking this up at Monday Menus at Organized Junkie. Come and join the gals to see this week's meals.

Thrifty Tip

2012-01-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Tip

With four little ones, I have a ton of laundry to do. When I looked at my grocery receipts recently, I realized that I was going through several things of Shout each month. I decided to see if I could find an inexpensive solution.

This recipe was the winner. I have been using it for several months and have found it to be as effective as Shout.

1 part rubbing alcohol to 2 parts water

Put in spray bottle and spritz.

Folks, it is really that simple. I like to keep my kids' clothes looking nice so that I can resale them so I really attempt to get out each and every stain. This stuff has worked like a miracle and totally eliminated another item from my shopping list.

Now, some folks might say that you still had to buy something to make it. Yes, I did. This item typically retails for $1.00 as compared to $3.00 (avg. for Shout). I will be able to use my 16 oz. bottle of rubbing alcohol at least 4x in my spray bottle so I am getting 4 versions of Shout for $1.00. I am not a mathematical genius but I do believe that is a significant savings.

2012-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Book Review

The Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine

One of my goals this year was to finish one fiction and one non-fiction book each month. Yea! I have already finished my first. I recently read The Money Saving Mom's Budget, and I must say I did enjoy it. To be clear, I gained the most from the first two chapters. The first two chapters address what you need to do to really gain momentum and keep it going.

The first chapter has you establish three of your most prized financial goals. Make it as wild and zany as possible. After that, you should establish a time frame with realistic sums that you can expect to save each month. Break it down monthly to weekly and even daily if you want to be truly daring. Look at your current budget and see how you can manage to save that amount of money. If it doesn't look possible, then adjust your time frame to meet your goals.

The second chapter is about putting first things first. Establish order in your house and then tackle any financial chaos. Crystal basically says that making a plan to organize your house and keeping it organized will assure that you will not be late on bills or lose rebates or misplace coupons. I recently did this to my desk area in our home. What a difference it has made? Bills are dealt with on a daily basis because I need my desk space to be clear at night. This organizational spree has overtaken the house and now beds are made daily, meals are planned, dishes are done, and laundry is sorted, washed, and put away. This chapter is not an entirely new concept but in a book that one would presume to be about financial matters the chapter was unexpected.

The other chapters dealt with groceries, date nights, and going credit-card free. If you have ever visited her blog, you know that these are topics that are dealt with daily on her site. I am a frequent visitor so none of this was entirely new. I was pleasantly surprised though by the last chapter titled "Embrace Today". This chapter is about contentment for what you do have and where you are today. How many of us get caught up in our financial goals and lose sight of what is right in front of us? I have four lovely children who are happy and loving. I have a husband who loves me and whom I love. We are warm in the cold winters and cool in the summers in our home. Yes, the home is not paid for but we are able to make the payments while still eating. In this economic climate, that is quite the statement to make and we are truly blessed.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. Just on a side note, Crystal is also donating the proceeds of her book to charity. This is one book you can feel great about buying.

Menu Monday

2012-01-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ Juice

Supper: Chili w/ Fritos and Cheese

Breakfast: Biscuits w/ Cheese/ Fruit

Supper: Sausage, Green Peppers and Onion/ Brown Rice/ Green Beans

Breakfast: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Supper: Fried Potatoes/ Cabbage/ Corn for kiddos/ Brussel Sprouts for Me

Breakfast: Eggs w/ Toast

Supper: Chicken and Rice Casserole w/ Salad and Rolls

Breakfast: Toast w/ Peanut Butter and Honey

Supper: Pancakes for Kiddos/ Hubbie and I enjoy Popcorn and Raisinets at Movie

Breakfast: Breakfast Cookies from Heavenly Homemakers

Lunch: Eat- Out after Pinewood Derby

Supper: Deer Steak/ Mashed Potatoes/ Carrots

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: PB & Jelly Sandwiches/ Chips

Supper: Eggs/ Grits/ Deer Sausage

I will be attempting some recipes this week such as: new bread recipe, new pear muffins, new cheese and rice casserole, and new breakfast cookies. I am a little overwhelmed but excited to try some new things. I will give updates this week as it progresses.

This has been submitted a http://orgjunkie.com/2012/01/menu-plan-monday-jan-2312-menu-planning-with-picky-eaters.html.

2012-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Thursday

Sometimes in life we need a real kick in the pants. We need to step out of our comfort zone. By doing this, we grow as individuals and are able to enrich others' lives. Lofty statement for sure.

Unfortunately, this isn't easy.

How does this relate to being thrifty? Lately, I have been doing activities that normally I would have paid someone to do. For instance, my little girl began to have an aversion to getting dressed. I tried taking her to the store to buy clothes and that ended in disaster. My mom suggested the fabric store, and she instantly loved picking out fabrics. I happened to find a tutorial on the internet for a simple three seams skirt, and my mornings have become much easier. Sewing is not in my skill set. I do not know anyone who sews and by the time I pay for the material, I do not want to add to price of the garment. I am making sewing a priority and trying to stretch myself and learn.

My boys had broken a spindle on my staircase of my home. Now my home is from 1932, and my chances of finding a replacement are small and none. My husband nailed it back in but that was it. It was ugly! One day I took some wood putty and applied it. I then let spindle dry and tried to shape it by sanding it until it looked like the others. Guess what? It did. I applied paint and voila, a spindle is born. Honestly, I would have bought one if I could, but boy, I sure did feel good when I could fix it myself.

I would challenge you to see what new skills you can pick up this week. Step out of that comfort zone and see what you can accomplish. I bet you will surprise yourself.

Just a note. If you can see on my small counter, I have yet to have any followers. If you enjoy what you are reading, how about following me to see what other frugal skills I pick up. Thanks so much.

2012-01-18T09:41:00.000-08:00

Works for Me Wednesday

When I decided to stay home with my kids, I assumed that the day would be filled with lots of learning activities, fun crafts, and minimal housework. Right? After all, how much could my two year old do to the house? Four kids later I will tell you there is a lot that kids can do to a house.

This weekend I rested and rested and oh, rested some more. Today, I looked around and realized that I can never do this again. I like to do a little each day so I am not overwhelmed. This is what I do to make my life manageable.

1.) Plan for housework - For me, I begin my day with an allotment of time to chores that for me have to be done everyday. I like my bed to be made, dishwasher unloaded and loaded, and meals planned. I also see to it that the kids pick up their toys. If this is done, I feel like I can manage the day.

2.) Plan for a one-time activity each day - This is an activity that should only occur once in your schedule. For instance, yesterday I sewed a skirt for my little girl. Today, I will go through old VHS tapes in the attic and donate to the thrift store. By doing this, I get to see something accomplished each and every day. Let's face it- beds will be undone at night, dishes will be dirtied before the end of the day, and tomorrow is another day to feed the crew. Do this one step and it will make you feel much better about your day.

3.) Schedule maintenance chores for the week into a calendar - Plan to clean bathrooms or mop floors. Plan when to do laundry. Plan, plan, and plan. Make this an appointment to keep unless an emergency arises. A television show is not an emergency.

4.) Enlist help - Little ones can help and should help. Kids thrive when they know you need them. Give them age appropriate chores and challenge them to help. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what they can do.

5.) Enjoy today- Sometimes, I can get so caught up in what I have on my to-do list I forget about me. Moms need down time too. You can only run so much until you collapse. Take a break and enjoy the quietness of nap time. Set a timer and read for thirty minutes. Run a warm bath and relax. Do what makes you happy and you will be a better mom and wife.

I hope these tips help someone. I know that I often get overwhelmed by kids' activities and social responsibilities that housework seems unmanageable. I have used the tips above and found that life didn't seem so out of control. Good luck and happy cleaning!

Preventing Frugal Burnout

2012-01-13T11:45:00.001-08:00

Preventing Frugal Burnout

I felt that this post was needed based on how I feel today. I have shopped bargain groceries this week, sat home to avoid putting gasoline in the car, sewed a skirt for my little girl and have given my little boy a haircut. I have cooked every meal and cleaned up every dish. Ladies and gentlemen, I am tired.

In the midst of this chaos, my husband has spotted an excellent deal on a rental property, I was told my son needed about $2500.00 in dental work at the end of this year, and I put $750.00 in my business to meet payroll. This at the same time I am desperately saving for a much needed vacation. How do you keep from screaming?

1.) Goals - Keep in mind your goal. What is it you would like to accomplish? For me, a short term goal is the trip. For the rest of today, I will continue to think about the memories that will be created there. Hopefully, this will motivate me to get my items ready for the consignment sales starting soon.

2.) Check Progress - I spent the morning going over my finances for the month. The little things I am doing are making a significant difference in what we are saving. We are gaining traction and I project that next month will be even better. Progress made!

3.) Keep the End in Sight - For long term goals, it is harder to stay motivated. Create a chart to keep you on track. If it is paying down debt, pay a little something each time you save with one of your frugal endeavors. Put this on the chart. For me, I am working on paying down the mortgage. I keep a chart that tells me exactly how adding any additional principal lowers the total. I LOVE IT! It really keeps me motivated.

4.) Indulge Yourself - Tonight, I will go to the movies with my husband with our Costco discount tickets. We will splurge and have popcorn and soda as we watch the movie. I will feel truly pampered by the time I leave. We do this each week that Grandfather sits with the kids. Is it an additional expense? It sure is. In my book, it is definitely worth the added expense. Our mortgage is large so if I waited until I had it paid off to do things I enjoy, I would have missed out on the best part of my life.

Remember- don't get discouraged. The end is in sight. Just keep plugging away and eventually you will be singing the happy dance when the debt is paid.

2012-01-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

2012 Reading Goals

If you were with me at the beginning of the year, you noticed that I listed that I wanted to read two books a month. I think I can do more, but I want to keep my resolutions doable. I wanted to give you an update on the two books I have chosen.

Nonfiction title - Money Saving Mom's Budget by Crystal Paine. I am in the middle of this book after receiving it yesterday. For someone who has read many finance books, I am finding that it really has some new ideas, especially in the area of goal and time management. To truly reach your goals in life, you must have a clear idea of where you are heading. This book can get you there. I will post a book review when I am done.

Fiction Title - Matched by Ally Condie. I haven't received this book from my friend who has suggested it yet, but I am excited based on her opinion. This book's topic seems to be similar to Hunger Games, which I loved. I will certainly let you guys know if it's a good read or not.

Wiwi Title

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2012-01-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Thrifty Thursday

This year my husband and I hosted our extended family for the holidays. We had a great time, ate a little too much, and definitely gained a few pounds. I spent a large amount of time in the kitchen and definitely loaded the dishwasher more times than I can count. Luckily, I had caught a sale ages ago on dishwashing detergent and was able to make it through December without buying any more detergent. I decided I would keep my eyes on the sales and restock as soon as Christmas was over.

Somewhere I had miscalculated the amount of detergent I had. I ran out as I was loading the dishwashing one night. I could only fill the reservior about 1/2 full of powdered detergent. Not sure if the dishes would still come clean, I decided to add another 1/2 of baking soda. I turned the machine on and let it work its magic.

The next day I noticed that my dishes appeared cleaner. I believe the baking soda actually enhanced the generic powdered detergent. I believe that this is really going to help me in the kitchen and also help me financially. Now my detergent will last twice as long. With this knowledge, I will not be scouring the ads for sales. I will buy my Dollar Tree detergent and add my baking soda for much cleaner dishes. To me, this is another way I will be able to save for those things that mean more to me than namebrand cleaning supplies.

Now I feel I must add a disclaimer. If you have a high-end model dishwasher, please follow manufacturer's instructions. I unfortunately do not. If my dishwashwer bit the dust tomorrow, my husband and I would probably do a happy dance to the home improvement store. We hate the rack area and the general set-up on the inside. It also has a broken handle. We keep it because ultimately a dishwasher is supposed to work and it does. ;-)

2012-01-10T11:43:00.000-08:00

It's that time again. I am coming to look forward to Tuesdays because it is a time I can reflect on what I have to be grateful for.

Let me begin by starting off with my day so far. I have been to the dentist where I was informed that my child will need to see an orthodontist soon. We have that appointment on Thursday. But wait, the nurse looks at me and says no need to be concerned but we saw some abnormalities in your child's x-rays so at some time he will need cosmetic work done.

As any mom would do, I wanted to scream. WHAT !?! I am trying to be patient Lord but I am not sure what I am supposed to do. I looked at my son. He begins to tell me he is not concerned at all because he knows I have everything under control. Do I?

Thankfully, I do not have everything under control, but my Heavenly Father does. He knows my son's needs. He knows my needs. I can do my part by taking care of appointments and helping my child take care of his teeth, but I will need to take the larger concerns to the Lord. Through his grace and mercy, the Lord will help us through this. He has blessed us with the ability to make our monthly financial obligations and I am sure that we will find the means to pay for these additional expenses. After several moments of reflection and calming breaths, I have come to realize a peace that was much needed after today.

Financial Check-Up

2012-01-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

Many of us began the new year with many great resolutions. Lose weight, run a 5 K, spend time with family. When developing these resolutions, we look at things we would like to do. These are the things we get excited about and can visualize ourselves doing them. This is great! New year = New Me.

At the beginning of each new year, each of us should stop and consider what things in our financial lives need work. Look at the following and see what areas you might need to focus on in your own finances.

1.) Check your rates - Do you have the lowest interest rates on your house and car? Would it be worthwhile to refinance these items to get a lower rate? Right now, we have the opportunity to take advantage of some historically low interest rates. Do not procrastinate. Set the ball rolling to take advantage of these offers now.

2.) Savings - Are you earning the best rate you can? I currently have a money market where I earn less than 1% on my money. I could move this to a credit union and make 2.25%. Why am I putting this off? We are self-employed; it would mean my husband would need to make his paycheck a direct deposit. Probably not difficult, but it would mean one more thing on his to-do list so I am not pushing it. Should I?

3.) Check credit card rates- Could you have a lower rate? Credit card companies are still competing for our dollars. Granted, they may not be working as hard as they have done in the past,but it is still worth your time and effort to see if you can lower the interest rate.

4.) Update your will - Check to make sure that your wishes are understood in case something happens. We never know when our time has come.

5.) Taxes - Start preparing now for tax season. Whether you do them yourself or take them to a tax preparation service, get the paperwork together now so that you do not forget any deductions.

I loathe these chores. Last week, I got the ball rolling on refinancing our house. This week I will attempt to talk with my husband about the credit union. What actions will you take this week to get your financial house in order? If I can do this, I know you can. Feel free to hold me accountable in the comment section.

2012-01-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

Menu Plan Monday

I am so excited because on Sunday Night we decided that we are going to take a magical trip with our kiddos. Unfortunately, I have just a few months to come up with the funds for this trip. My menu plan will be just the basics because I am hoping to save some money from the grocery budget.

Monday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon Toast w/ Apple Juice
Lunch: Sandwich/ chips/ leftover birthday cake
Supper: Party - ROLL TIDE!!!

Tuesday
Breakfast: Pancakes w/ milk
Lunch: PB&J/ orange slices
Supper: Twice Baked Potatoes/ Carrots w/ onion dip

Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal w/ milk
Lunch: Cinnamon Roll-Up/ Grapes/ Popcorn
Supper: Rotisserie Chicken/ Mocked Mashed Potatoes (cauliflower- kiddos will never know)/ green beans/ Roll

Thursday
Breakfast: French Toast
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich/ chips/ granola bars (homemade- check back for recipe)
Supper: Meatballs w/ spaghetti/ salad/ roll

Friday
Breakfast: Blueberry Cheese Bread
Lunch: Eat at School
Supper: Pizza/ Ants on a log

Saturday
Breakfast: Muffins
Lunch: Eat-Out
Supper: Black-eyes peas/ okra/ chicken dressing/ leftover cake

Sunday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Grilled Cheese / Chips
Supper: Bacon/ Waffles

Saving Money The Unorthodox Way

2012-01-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

We all hear the same things when trying to save money at the grocery store. Check sales, use coupons, menu plan, and never go hungry. If you are always searching for new ways to save money like I am, occasionally you need to rethink your plan so that the savings can be even greater.

Lately, I have began to think outside the box. I did not grow up in a family that makes their own cleaning products, health remedies, or lotions/soaps. We did use coupons and shop drugstore sales. Recently, I have begun to question which method is better. Yes, you can get some things free in drugstore sales but is it worth my sanity struggling into the store with four kids in tow and risk my coupon or deal won't work.

This is my compromise. I work out a cost comparison to the store bought item with a coupon and the items needed to make the item. A lot of times I already have on hand the items needed to make the product so why would I waste the gas, time, and my sanity to run to the store to pick the item up. The best example would be household cleaner. I ran out of my Lysol kitchen cleaner so I googled and this is the recipe that was the winner.

1 c. vinegar
2 c. water
30 drops of tea tree oil

Done. I did not have to go anywhere to purchase the items. I already had them on hand.

I needed Pledge. I took a spray bottle and put 1/4 c. Murphy's oil and water. Spray and wipe.

I needed face moisturizer. Read here what I did.

This has been a life saver. No more waiting until after naps to run to the store just to dust my house. My mom thinks I have gone insane. Just buy the product with a coupon. Why would anyone make their own yogurt, cleaners, or bread. You should have seen her face when I told her I loved my new face moisturizer. She was adamant she would buy me some Mary Kay tomorrow. I had to laugh. If she only knew the price break down of my moisturizer versus the Mary Kay version, she would be shocked. The next time you feel the need to run to the store to capitalize on the newest deal, stop and consider the time, effort, and gas to get this deal. Is it worth it?

Thrifty Thursday

2012-01-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

My kitchen overfloweth. Is that even a word? My mom's freezer was too full to receive a deer my dad had managed to shoot, and I became the happy recipient of some of their freezer's contents. How exciting!

I love it when things like this happen. Instead of throwing away the food, I will make a menu plan and save my grocery money to pay down the mortgage. We might have some interesting menu selections just due to the randomness of it all but that is what makes life interesting. I will try to post my menu next Monday so that you can see what we will be having with our varied selections.

On another note, my fridge is also overflowing. I am in a food co-op where I pay $38.00 and I get a laudry basket full of fruits and vegetables. At first, I wasn't sure if we would eat all of the choices. I decided I would try it and see if I could challenge myself to step out of the box and eat things I hadn't tried before. I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't always been successful in preparing a couple of the items but through the co-op, I have found that we are eating better. Three out of my four kids now choose fruit for a snack. I personally find this wonderful.

If you have the opportunity to do this in your community, I would strongly encourage you to do so. It has been a wonderful addition to our diet.

Works for Me

2012-01-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

I am going to share a secret with you. I recently ran out of face cream. I have incredibly dry skin and I do not go anywhere without skin cream. I started looking through a catalog and the prices for the items I needed would run $76.00. When I shared this with my husband, his response was that he doesn't wear skin cream, do you really need it?

After forgiving him for his ignorance on this matter, I decided to see if I could find a more inexpensive option. I lucked up on this recipe and I love it. It makes a huge amount for a total of $4.15. Can you believe it? It made so much I put a Tbsp in an old skin care container and the leftovers in a huge Tupperware bowl.

1 jar of Vaseline
1 Bottle of Cocoa Butter Baby Lotion
1 Jar of Vitamin E

Put in a huge bowl and use a hand held mixer to mix. For $4.15, I can slather this on every hour of the day. Let me tell you though; this stuff is powerful. I have gone 24 hours without reapplying. Folks, this is a miracle. I usually have to apply moisturizer at least three times a day.

I bought my items at Dollar General, and I just bought the store brand. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Gratituesday - My First

2012-01-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

I have been a regular follower over at Heavenly Homemakers for quite some time. I love the recipes but especially the upbeat attitude of Laura and more recently, her husband Matt. I am so excited to share for the first time there. After all, we all have so much to be thankful for.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

My husband and I have always wanted to buy the duplex next door to us. One, the owner does not keep the property up, and it has been inhabited by the homeless before (thankfully before we bought this house). No one in our neighborhood could remember the last time someone lived there. Recently, the house went into foreclosure and was given to a local realtor. I called and called and could not get any answers. Finally after getting the realtor on the phone, he told me that it had been given to a charity since the house itself was in bad need of repair.

One day we received a call out of the blue and basically a representative of the charity wanted to know how much we were willing to pay. Today, we got the property for an extremely low price. We feel so blessed. This will greatly increase the amount of land we have with our house. We are looking forward to a trampoline in the backyard and a garden has already been planned. This will be our little homestead in the middle of the big city. God is good!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

The 10%, 10%, 10% and 70% Plan

2012-01-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

This year I want to try something radical with my budget. I want to make my money work for me and my family. We have some lofty goals as you can tell by the crazy name for my blog. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ignore smaller needs for my loftier goals. This fact has me looking for a better plan.

In the past, I would try to put 10% in savings and give 10% to charity. If I needed something, I could scrimp on other areas of the budget to accommodate the need or withdraw it from our Emergency Fund. The problem with this is that everything becomes an emergency quick and the Emergency Fund gets depleted quickly. Perhaps I need to dictate some money towards short term goals such as braces. Hence, my new plan is hatched.

My new plan

10% - Charity/ Tithing - Non-negotiable. This amount is actually a little higher because we also give to an organization that provides funds for people in need.
10% Emergency Fund
10% Short Term goals (braces and vacations)
70% This is what I intend for my family to live on.

The things I will need to cut in order for this to happen.
1. Groceries - I'm currently making simple cleaning products for our home. I will be using up what is in the freezer.
2. Gas - I will conserve as much as possible. I will try to do my shopping every two weeks and combine trips.
3. Clothing - I will try to make simple outfits for my daughter and check clearance racks for my boys' school needs. For people wondering about this statement, my daughter will not wear most items, but she loves to pick out fabric. I do not sew. This has become a problem. I am hoping to work on my sewing skills this next year.
4. Kids' Activities - This is an area that I do overspend on. I am hoping that I can look at their suggestions and pick those activities that reach the children's goals for themselves. On a personal note, I would like it to be close to home. I am driving too far for the activities.
5. Eating Out - Cut this as much as possible. We really do not eat out much. The problem is that when we have visitors from out of town we tend to go out instead of cooking.

To some, this budget might seem unreasonable. I think it could work for us. We do not have any consumer debt; we just have a business loan and home loan. Trust me; this will be a challenge for me. I am hoping that by setting my goals high I might come close to reaching them.

Signing off for tonight. I am going to put numbers to my percentages and I will give you an update next month.

New Year Resolutions

2012-01-01T19:25:00.000-08:00

This year is my year to utilize this blog more. I started it so I could keep track of recipes and possibly meet new people who share some of the same interests I do. I will be focusing on certain areas this year and I hope that by posting here I can be held accountable for successes and failures. Here we go!

Time Management

1. Utilize my calendar more and document tasks

Health

1. Continue weight watchers online
2. Run at least 15 miles a week
3. Get my teeth cleaned and checked by a dentist (a strange one) but I haven't been to one since my little girl was born almost 5 years ago
4. Eat 5 fruits and veggies a day

Family

1. Read the scriptures with the children each day
2. Read classics with the children each day
3. Slow down and relax with them more - play board games, draw and color with them, play basketball with the older ones.
Does anyone feel that household chores take up most of the day so that by the time you can sit down you are so exhausted the last thing you want to do is play? I would like my children to remember me as a mom that plays with them. This is the year I hope to correct this.
4. Let my husband know how much I appreciate what he does for us daily.

Financial

1. Refinance my mortgage
2. Try and make at least an extra $150 to pay towards mortgage
3. Save for braces and boost our savings
4. Do 10%, 10%, 10%, and 70% plan. More to come later
5. Stick with a budget

Personal
1. Read scriptures daily (15 minutes)
2. Read 2 books a month
3. Learn one new homemaking skill a month - More to come later

This list looks daunting. I hope by posting here anyone stopping by can let me know when I am veering off track. I am looking forward to creating memories this year. Let's do this together.

Monday Menu

2010-03-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

After watching Food Revolution on Friday, I feel more inspired to eat healthy. I am trying to keep some perspective and not go overboard, but I really feel that Jaime Oliver is right. We are what we eat. On that note, this week's menu will focus on different fruit and veggies.

Monday
B: Cereal and milk
L: Leftover Pulled Pork and salad
S: Sausage Gumbo w/ carrots, celery, onions, bellpepper and lots of tomatoes/ rice/ broccoli
Dessert : Brownies

Tuesday
B: Banana Bread
L: Leftover Sausage Gumbo w/ side of sauteed zuchinni
S: Pork Chops/ Mashed Potatoes/ carrots

Wednesday
B: Pancakes w/ syrup
L: Sandwich/ chips/ fruit
S: Chili w/ crackers

Thursday
B: Banana Bread
L: Salad w/ CrackersAzsxdcd
S: Spaghetti w/ Wheat Pasta/ Zuchinni

Friday
B: Pancakes
L: Easter Brunch
S: Easter Dinner

Saturday
B: Muffins
L: Leftovers
S: Chicken Dumplings / Carrots

Frugal Fridays

2010-03-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

After reading LifeasMom's post for Frugal Friday, I could empathize with her. I shared some of the same experiences as far as yard sales go when I was young. Sinking deep into the seat, I wished with all my heart that I wouldn't see any of my classmates at the yard sale. I never took into account that if I saw them there or if they were having it, it meant they were in the same boat as my family.

If you have ever read my blog, you know my goal is to pay down my mortgage so I have been on the frugal path for a very long time. In our marriage we have seen times of abundance and time when we have not had abundance, but somehow we have always managed without using credit that was carried over month to month. Now that I am older, I do not view hand-me-downs the same. I love them, and so do my children. Now I understand that their current attitude about used clothes probably will not last as they get older but that is okay. I believe in living in the moment so when their attitude changes perhaps I will shop sales more, but this is how my family deals with hand-me-downs now.

We shop our attic. We talk about their wonderful cousins who selected the clothing we are wearing today. We talk about how they are our heroes and how lucky we are that they give us their clothes. I take all hand-me-downs and anything I think we can use, we do. I try to pass on what we can't use. I shop consignment sales on the discount days and our local Junior League sale. We get wonderful bargains. Most importantly, when they get dressed in the morning, I tell them "Cousin Reagan has the best taste. She dresses like a princess and so do you." My little girl thinks it is a treat. I believe a lot about life is about your attitude towards it. My children view hand-me-downs as a treat because I treat it like it is the greatest thing in the world. This world is what you make of it. I will get off my soap box now. Remember with kids- presentation is everything.

* This post is linked to Frugal Friday.

Netflix Bargains

2010-03-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

Since I have been homebound, I have had to find activities the kids can do inside the house so that I can supervise them while propping my leg up. We have gardening supplies, playdough, baking, coloring sheets, and many toys to play with at the house, but at the end of the day the house is a wreck. I am limited in what I can do and picking up the amount of toys that four children can drag out in a day is tiring with a normal leg. Netflix has been my saving grace.

Before my husband left for his business trip, we downloaded some kid movies to our Netflix Streaming Disc. Each night after dinner, we play a game in which we clean the house as fast as we can. When we finish, the older boys pick a movie they can watch until bedtime. This gets my house clean and I can rest with my leg up for a good hour. Right now, the monthly Netflix fee of $7.99, I believe, is the best deal working for me.

Making "Green" Dollars

2010-03-17T18:18:00.000-07:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I decided to submit a post to Heavenly Homemaker's blog. Many people have hobbies that they can make work for them with just a little initiative.

When I quit my job, I was a happy stay-at-home mom. I tried to stay active by walking around the block and exercising at home. When my oldest was about two years old, he was saying only a handful of words so my pediatrician suggested I put him in a Mother's day out program. I decided instead to join a gym that had a nursery. I also made a commitment to attend once a day five days a week. I would stay for one hour and after a short time, I noticed that his speech had improved. When I became a regular at the gym, I was asked to teach a couple of classes. This became a win-win situation. Our gym membership was lowered by $45.00, and I made about $150.00 every two weeks. I have now worked there for a little over four years. All of my children love it and consider it a second home. I do not work there very often now, but I am thankful for the time we have had there. I still go to exercise about 40 minutes and my little girl gets a preschool education for the cost of a gym membership. My kids are truly loved and cared about there.

My second son goes to a preschool that costs $200.00 a month. I could lower this cost by substituting or even teaching there some time. This is probably something I will look at when my daughter goes to school. Look at the activities you would like your children participate in and see if you can lower the cost. By increasing or developing your talents, you should be able to bring in money or lower the outflow in your household. These are my "green" tips for St. Patrick's Day.

Wonderful Wednesday, Part 2

2010-03-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

For the rest of the day, I will be on the couch. If you read the previous post, you know we spent the day at the park yesterday and my ankle is swollen today. I will probably add some more books to my half.com inventory so that will help me make money. I also will make pretzels if I fill up to rolling them out. We will see. If I am able to do the pretzels, I will take a picture. These are wonderful. I use the same recipe as Heavenly Homemakers. Delicious and easy. A great combination.

Works for Me Wednesday

2010-03-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we spent the day at the park. Spring picture packets had come to the house from the schools, and I felt I could do as well. Broken ankle and all, we took to the park. Here are the results.

Little Man

Little Cutie Putie

My Pookie Bear

My Little Princess

By taking my own pictures and developing, I saved at least a hundred dollars so I will call yesterday a Super Saving Day. I did spend $2.93 in shipping and handling. Not a bad day at all.

Crazy Monday

2010-03-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I will be resting again. So far, I have cooked double batches of pancakes and I made french toast from a loaf of bread. I am hoping that by having ready made breakfasts I will resist the lure of easy cereal breakfasts. I am on my own this week since hubby is out of town due to work. My mom is down from Birmingham to help me as far as driving goes.

I would love to post a menu for this week, but I will be the very grateful recipient of meals being delivered due to my broken foot. I really have some of the best friends ever. Even though I can get up to make meals, they insisted and so I am going to enjoy the break.

Have a great day!

Pumpkin Chocolate Muffins

2010-03-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Today I whipped up this muffins for snack and dessert. Delicious, if I do say so myself.

1 2/3 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. granulated sugar
1 heaping tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 c. plain pumpkin
1 stick butter, melted
1 c. chocolate chips

Add dry ingredients and mix. Add eggs, pumpkin, and butter and mix well. Add chocolate chips and stir. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. These freeze very well.

I use pumpkin that I froze after Halloween. I froze it especially for these muffins so each bag contains a cup of pumpkin.

To freeze pumpkin, simply cut into fourths and place in oven at 200 degrees until you can pierce it with a fork. Once done, take out and let it cool. Scoop out pumpkin and throw away the rinds. I put the pumpkin in my Kitchenaid mixer and add a little water. Measure in 1 cup servings and place in sandwich bags. I have used these successfully in muffins and pumpkin rolls.

My goal last year was to eliminate as little waste as possible, and by doing this, I was able to use the pumpkins that normally would have been thrown out. I actually didn't use all my pumpkins and now as often as we have these muffins I wished I had frozen all of the pumpkins I had. Live and learn.

Great News

2010-03-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

Super Excited. My second son made it into our local magnet school. It is the same one our oldest son goes to. When the economy went south, magnet school applications soared. People took their children out of private schools and tried to get them into the magnet schools here in Montgomery. We were extremely worried. I asked the secretary how many applications they received last year, 900. Can you believe it? Nine hundred applications for eighty spots. Incredible.

For those of you who are not from here, our local schools are hit and miss. The school we are zoned for is a definite miss. The last time I checked it was failing and had one assault and two weapons found at an elementary school. Needless to say, we were not going to send any of our children to there. We decided if they did not get in I would homeschool. I am so excited though that he will be able to attend with his older brother.

Super Savings Saturday

2010-03-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Today, my sweet husband had to take me and our four kids to run errands today. The first stop was Academy Sports. This particular trip we needed to get the boys a bat so that they could practice baseball. As usual, we did not stick to our list. We ended up buying a bat, baseball bag, iron skillet (Wedding gift), and a pair of sunglasses. I had a giftcard for $13.00 so ended up paying $60.00. Next time, I will have to get their baseball pants.

On to Walmart! There I bought groceries I couldn't get at Costco. I had several free coupon products and ended up saving $11.00 in coupons. I did not veer from the list here. I also bought seeds and soil to start a small garden. We will see how that goes. My husband reminded me to not spend so much on seeds since they probably will not produce. Money spent- $54.XX.

Costco was our next stop. Once again, we kept to the list. I managed a $5.00 coupon for diapers. I have never tried these before so I sure hope they work. I could have probably worked a better deal elsewhere, but the truth is I can't really run around chasing deals. My husband can be pretty patient but trying to run from store to store is not his cup of tea. Total spent $123. XX

With this broken ankle, deal shopping is probably going to be at a standstill for awhile. Making Money is where I will be focusing my time and energy. We will see how well that goes with one foot.

Hope you guys are having a great Saturday!

Frugal Fridays

2010-03-12T12:24:00.000-08:00

When I look at the Frugal Friday links, it makes me feel good to be part of this online community where frugality is celebrated and appreciated. After reading Heavenly Homemaker's Frugal Friday, I realized that I needed to be more aware of how I present my own frugality. I feel there is a difference in being frugal and being cheap. Frugal living, to me, means I am careful of my money so that it allows me the resources to be able to help those in need. I do this each month to a significant degree so I am satisfied that my priorities are in line.

On to my Frugal Friday tip! I am on the Weight Watchers maintenance plan. Each night I fix a meal that is allowed on the plan. I make a note to go ahead and weigh out my portion for the next day's lunch. If it is a meal that my kids particularly enjoy, I also go ahead and make them a portion to reheat for their next day's lunch. I microwave it in the morning as hot as I can get it and then put the portion in a thermos. Nothing is wasted. My preschooler and toddler gets any small leftovers with a fruit added to round out the meal. I am never at a loss as to what we are having the next day.

By having a plan and sticking with it, I save a ton of money. I am never tempted by the drive thru because I know 1.) it is unhealthy and 2.) expensive with four kids. The kids know I will not stop for a drive thru on the spur of the moment whim. Every meal we eat out has been planned, and the kids are told prior to going to the restaurant. This is a habit so the kids rarely ask to go to McDonalds, Burger King, or Chick-Fil-A. This works for us.

*This tip is linked to Frugal Fridays www.lifeasmom.com

Making Money

2010-03-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

I picked up my checks from the consignment sales and deposited $77.00 and some cents. YEAH! Maybe it will help with the medical bills due to the broken ankle. My husband and I sold some chairs for a total of a $100.00 and I sold some books for $15.00. I know that is not a great sum but some is better than none.

Today I will
-submit for some rebates
- eat leftovers for lunch and have dinner in the crockpot
- do some work for my daycare
- did school with son and need to do a little more this afternoon

Activity is light due to ankle and I'm in a lot of pain today. I think I have done a little too much on it. Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Gratitude

2010-03-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

As I sit here with a broken ankle propped up, I feel very grateful. Here are just a few things that I feel very blessed to have.

- great friends who are willing to take and pick up my children from their schools since I can't drive
- a great online community that makes me feel less weird in the everyday world (i.e. cooking with whole grains, not eating processed foods, frugal living, etc.
- the ability to pay for care I need for the broken ankle
- medicine to aleviate the pain
- natural remedies for allergy relief
- a wonderful husband who forces his stubborn wife to go to the doctor for her sprained (?) ankle
- four wonderful kids who allow me each day to smother them with hugs and kisses
- my brillant husband who fixed our furnace for drumroll please :-) $16.00

Really, could life get any better?

The Little Things

2010-03-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

Lately, we have started to view the economy differently. Because of this, we have had to reassess our own view of finances. I talked about this earlier when I started to write again. As I go through my day, I think about the little things that I do that cost money. Can I change those things? I feel that I can as long as I stay aware. What are the little things that I am doing?

1.) Not throwing away leftovers. By being clever, I can usually find something to do with leftovers.
2.) Turning off lights when I leave the room
3.) Turning down the thermostat - Do I really need to be able to sit in my underwear in the middle of winter?
4.) Using what is in the freezer - It might have a weird taste, but I'm not vomiting. That's a good sign. Seriously, I am not going to the extreme. Look through the freezer and see what lovely creation is in the back.
5.) Monitoring my soda intake - Notice I didn't say give up totally. I'm not crazy!
6.) Using my time at home wisely - cooking from scratch and using food storage
7.) Ebaying extra stuff
8.) Watching the pennies, turn into nickels, then to dimes, on to quarters, and miracle upon miracle many dollars

I feel that by concentrating on the little things I will be able to accomplish my goals. I am very excited about the future and feel that by continuing to do these things I will be able to reach my ultimate goal.What are the little things you are doing? Share and teach me.

Saving Sunday

2010-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

Today, I successfully made homemade pretzels. Go me! They will be sent to my son's preschool for snack tomorrow. I hope they enjoy them.

On Sundays we do not spend any money. If something is needed, we improvise. Today, I ran out of milk so I mixed up some dry milk. I know my children will not know a difference tomorrow after I add a little homemade chocolate syrup in it.

I did list some items on half.com. I hope more is to come later. Tomorrow, I will grocery shop for our remaining groceries for the week. I plan to cook each night. I told the kids if we plan to take a short vacation over AEA week then we will be eating at home the next two weeks.

I created a menu plan for the next week, and I hope to have some time tomorrow to post it to the blog. I am hoping I can get my housework done this week along with work related issues so that I play on the blog and see what new features I can add. I am super-excited to see what I can do.

I hope you guys have a great day.

Crazy Day

2010-02-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have one of those days when you would rather curl up and go to bed? Today was that day for me. It started with the craziness of taking everyone to school and preschool. Then my carpool buddy cancelled due to sickness so I rearranged the day to pick up my son from preschool. On the way to go across town to the school, someone called from Craigslist about some dining room chairs we have been trying to sale. I had to tell my son that I would be picking him up early so that I could show the chairs at 1:00.

Away we go! With the other two children in tow, I went on to Weight Watchers (still doing well - YEAH!), off to the gym to run 4 very hard miles, and off to Walmart to buy supplies for the weekend. I then went back to the preschool to pick up son so that I could save on gas. Now, if you will, picture what a harried mom of two toddlers looks like after running four miles and managing children who are passed lunchtime and ready for naps. That is how I arrived at the preschool. When I get there, my preschool son erupts into tears because I have come to pick him up just as he is going to the playground. Off to the van we go!

Please let the day end. I rush back to the house, unload groceries, and put children to naps. While taking a quick shower, the lady calls about the chairs. She will be here in five minutes. I meet her at the door, wet hair and all. She might want to buy 12 at $12.50 a piece. This is great news because the next month might be tight moneywise.

She leaves and I move on to kitchen and laundry duty. That goes for about an hour, and then I must wake youngest to feed him the lunch he slept through at 3:00. He refuses to eat until I go to put up food and then he screams so loudly I swear the neighbor can hear. I rush back to the table with the food I have just put away to feed him again. Off to carpool lane!

As I am typing this, I swear I might need a little vacation! I am whipped.

I am going to call this a Saving Day! I used as little electricity as possible.

Frugal Activities As of Late

2010-02-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent the day at home except for a quick run to drop off/ pick up oldest son. I spent the day doing laundry, mopping floors, and baking bread and pretzels. The pretzel recipe was from Heavenly Homemakers. It was good but after the rise time, I realized mine had gone horribly wrong. Rather than throw it out, I shaped it into pretzels anyway. The kids and hubby ate them anyway, but I am hoping to redeem myself later. I think I let it get to hot and it killed the yeast.

Today, I went to Target and returned some little girl panties. I had bought some even though we had plenty so I returned a pack. I then bought a candy thermometer so that I could try the pretzels again. I hope to also try yogurt soon. While I was at Target, I looked for the "free" yogurt posted at Money Saving Mom but was unable to find any. Maybe next time! Hope you have a great day!

Saving Sunday

2010-02-21T17:20:00.001-08:00

Today, I used a recipe out of the All You magazine for banana muffins. The muffins worked out to be .22 apiece, but I wasn't really all that impressed. Next time I will add some free pecans from my pecan trees to add a little crunch. By using this recipe, I was able to use up some free bananas and some food storage items. They were very healthy. Overall, it has been a really lazy day. Hoping you guys are resting as much as I am. Tomorrow, I will be on to another consignment sale. YEAH! This is the last one. It is hard to get all of this together and keep the house and laundry done so I am glad that this is the last one.

On another note, we went to the rummage sale on Friday night. I scored about 6 pairs of sandal for my little girl for $6.00 and a lot of books. My husband is fairly sure that one of the books we purchased A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an original edition. It is in excellent condition. When we looked up the book on the internet we found an edition in worse condition than ours for $2725. Not bad for a $1.00 book. This is all very exciting. I used to teach this book when I taught school, and my husband read my paperback copy. We both loved the book so much we thought it would nice to have a hardback copy. Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed we would have purchased an original edition. I am trying to convince him to sale it to add to our new mortgage total. I don't know that I am going to have much luck.

Check Pick-up Time

2010-02-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

Today, I went to pick up my check from one of the consignment sales I have done. Yeah! $95.05. I consider this a great success since these were clothes given to me for my boys as hand-me-downs. After they received so many shirts and pants, I consigned what we couldn't use. I also cashed some of my checks that I received teaching aerobics. That was about $70.00 worth. For a grand total of $165.05. I am very happy with that.

The rest of the day will be spent going through other clothes for the consignment sales coming up. I am also going on a date with my hubby to our local Junior League Rummage Sale. The cost is $5.00 per person. Usually we spend at least $100.00. This year I hope it is considerably less. I will be looking for cheap shoes for the kids- mostly my daughter. I also hope to find jeans for myself and pants for my hubby. We always go through the books. I also look for items that I might be able to resell on Ebay for a profit. I am so looking forward to my lovely date.

I am guessing today will be a Making Money and Saving Money day if I can find the right deals for the needed items for the kids. Go Me!

Today's Activity: Making Money

2010-02-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

I have been designating days as either Making Money days or Saving Money. Yesterday's activity was saving money. I went and bought bargains with a stack of coupons at Walmart. I will not do that again, but that story is for another day. It really makes my blood pressure rise. Let's just say I ran into a cashier who did not understand the concept of doubling. If it says DO NOT DOUBLE, it means don't double the value of the coupon and not that I can't use two of the same coupons. Do I need to say more?

Here we go for today. I will be getting more items out of the attic to consign at my local children's sale as well as women's sale. I am going to start with the children's sale so I can say I have finished cleaning the attic. Next, I am on to my closet. Wish me luck. I really need it with the ambulance fee that is on my credit card and the snow groceries bought on hubbies card without coupons and without regards to price. I should be at least thankful I didn't have to take out all four kiddies for that expedition to the store.

An Exhausting Day

2010-02-16T19:13:00.000-08:00

Today was a whirlwind. I took two kids to another city for free childcare while I attended the other two kids' delayed Valentine parties at different times in different schools. By the end of today, I was totally spent. The kids had boiled eggs, bacon, and muffins for dinner. I had soup and a sandwich, and dear husband is eating on the road after a long day working. I am trying to muster the energy to do my taxes for the year. Thanks Turbotax! I will also be uploading my free-after-rebate Quicken. All I really want to do is devour a ton of chocolate.

Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. I was up late trying to finish the homemade Valentine cards for today. I think they were pretty cute considering I did it. I took pictures and I will see if I can post the tomorrow.

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-14T14:55:00.001-08:00

This has been a great day (no money spent day!) My husband wrote me a lovely letter about what he appreciates about me that was really touching. He has also taken the children to Grandpa's so I can rest. I am cooking some steaks (reduced price) for adults, sweet potatoes (Aldi's) and leftover salad for adults. Children are eating popcorn chicken (free at Winn-Dixie Superbowl special), sweet potatoes, and pineapple. I am very excited about continuing the blog and saving every penny I can.

I am hoping to organize tomorrow so that I can earn money as well as save money. Looking forward to writing a post tomorrow about the results. Have a great Valentine's day.

I'm Back!

2010-02-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

What has happened since May 2009. My son was born and life has been a whirlwind. I am now on the frugal train once again and want to use this blog to talk about what I'm doing personally each day to "pay down my mortgage". Join me on this journey. Today's task is going through the attic to find things to sale at my local consignment sale for children's clothes. I have already consigned at two sales so far. Hopefully, they will go well.

Paying Down the Mortage Update:

We are now at 139,900. HOORAY! We bought this house a little over 3 years ago for 188, 000 so I am really excited about how far we have come. My goal is to still contribute as much as possible but with the economy many changes have come to my little household. We have had to contribute personal money to keep my other business afloat, my husband's business has seen a downturn, and medical bills abound! I feel blessed to have the savings to be able to handle these issues, but at the same time frustrated that the mortgage has been put on the back burner. It is time to "sock" it to the mortgage and get out from under the mortgage. This blog will serve as a reminder that what I do each day contributes to the overall picture.

Spending for 5-5

2009-05-06T19:13:00.000-07:00

I walked around Target without spending a dime. How did that happen? I'm still confused. I did finally spend money on the CVS deals. Here we go.

1st Transaction

3 Kellogg's Cereals
3 $1.00 Coupons
Total $8.00, ECB's $5.00

2nd Transaction
5 Cases of Cokes
$5.00 ECB from Cereal Purchase
$1.00 Coupon
Total $15.50, ECB's $10.00

3rd Transaction- Publix

Cheese/Pretzel Snacks for School $11.98
Similac Formula 22.49
Publix Hand Sanitizer .99
10 Jars of Baby Food 3.34

Coupons
Baby Coupon for Similac Formula $3.00
$5 Rite Aid Coupon
$5 Publix Coupon
$5 Manufacturer Check
$1.00 Coupon on Beech-Nut
Free Hand Sanitizer

Total 21.69

Honey at the Farmer's Market $8.00

Mortgage Update

2009-05-03T18:56:00.001-07:00

This month we were able to pay $1081 on the principal of our mortgage. Not as much as I would like but we are going on vacation so all of the money is budgeted for this month. This month my challenge will be to lower all my amounts in the budgeted areas so that I can send the excess in to the mortgage company at the end of the month. Wish me luck!

Oh, I will update my blog for the CVS run tomorrow. Good night!

Spending 5/2

2009-05-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Breakdown of spending for today.

Lunch after CPR class $3.24 McDonalds.
Books-a-Million 4.24 (A book I have really been wanting.) On clearance table at 75%.
Winn-Dixie
4 Del Monte Tomatoes BOGO
Shrimp BOGO
Tilipia BOGO
Pork Chops BOGO
1 lb. ground beef
Chicken Breast Tenders BOGO
$5 off $30 Coupon
Total $34.XX

I love Winn-Dixie for their meat sales, but you have to watch them. They doublecharged me for the chicken and I had to get a credit.

Luggage Carrier $220 (A $180 less than I was expecting :-) Sears
JC Penney Shirt $2.19 (Woo Hoo)
Sams 2 Cans of Formula $40.XX
Publix - Purchases too many to count.
At Publix I hit the sales and used the coupons. I spent $71.XX and saved $50.28. The manager made a joke about having to replace the tape once I was done. Amy D. would estimate my hourly wage for this shopping trip to be about $25.14 an hour. Not bad for a day's work.

Hopefully done with the spending today. I will hit the CVS for the cereal sale on Monday, but after that I should be done with grocery shopping for a while. I go on work/vacation this weekend. Hotel is being paid for by a vendor we work with so I will need to come up with meal money. My kids look forward to this all year so it is worth the money, but it means less to the mortgage this month.

Wrap-Up for the Week

2009-05-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

This week has been frugal in some aspects... Unfrugal in others. I like to think positive so let's
start with the frugal.

- Watched electricity like a hawk. Air conditioning set on 74.
- Collected water from tap to water plants when waiting for it to heat to certain temp
- Tried to not use paper towels and watched other paper uses in house
- Shopped sales for much needed diapers
- Did not go grocery shopping other than much needed diapers
- At CVS, did find deal on Pringles. Less than .25 cent per full size can. Can't beat that?
-Figured budget for next month

Unfrugal
- Had to buy clothes - online because I am a hard fit
- Tennis shoes - I love to run and my feet were hurting from my other ones
- Paid $115 for three children to do gymnastics in June- budgeted but still hurt
- I hope this is my last shopping and spending other than groceries for some time
- Tomorrow we will have to buy a location carrier for our van. With our fourth child, we can no longer carry luggage in our van. Budgeted for but still an unwanted expense.

Glad I could finally join along! Hopefully this will spur me to watch my spending more so I do not have to fess up to so much unfrugal activity.

Itemize Spending for 4-29

2009-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

I went to Walgreens with gift card, coupons, and sale strategy in hand. I bought diapers for 2 for $20.00 with $2 Register Reward. I used gift card (7.70) and 2 $1.50 coupons for a total of $11.01. I have a $2.00 coupon to use at Publix for doing the deal. I will submit the receipts to the Caregivers Marketplace for $.75 for each diaper for a total (drumroll please) $3.75 a piece for Huggies diapers. Not bad at all.

Next stop.... CVS of course. I went for the Zooth toothbrushes and then could not find my BOGO free coupon. Ugh. As I was leaving, I noticed Pringles on clearance. I have going on vacation next week and thought these would be a great snack. Four cans at $.75 and one can at $.50. I had 2 $1.00/2 and $.50/1 coupons. At the end, I ended up with 5 cans of Pringles for $1.30. You can't beat that!

Yesterday I went to Khol's. I needed a baby gift for a shower on Thursday. Combined with the sale and a $10 gift card I received in the mail, I ended up with a very cool baby gift for $4.40. This has been a great two days for bargain hunting. That is the end of my bargain shopping today. Hope to see you soon!

Goals For This Blog

2009-04-28T17:51:00.000-07:00

My goal for this blog is to document my spending down to the penny. As you can tell by the title of the blog, our main goal in the next three years is to pay down the mortgage. I am a stay-at-home mom so I am limited in what I can earn with four children. My goal is to make more money and spend less.

Most people live their lives saying it is unrealistic to expect to own your own house in your 20's, 30's, or 40's. I have even had it said to me that you should always expect to have some type of house payment. I want to prove them wrong. I have four children who could all possibly be in college at the same time. I would like to be able to help them through if they need the help. I would like to adopt from overseas. I would like to have more money for retirement. All of these goals could be possible if I had my house paid for. The experiment begins. Can I do it? I certainly hope so. I am a very goal oriented person so I hope that this blog keeps me accountable for my spending.

Our house is roughly $148,000. This is down from $198,000. This was achieved in less than two and half years. A big portion of this is from the sale of our other home and a $10,000 down payment. I want to take this the distance. My husband is on board. We are currently trying to lower utility bills and grocery bills.

I hope to post each day and document what money was spent that day.