Archive for September, 2007
The day has finally come. Our budget and our paycheck finally balance. That means that there is no more panic at the end of the month as I try to figure out what to make with a package of dried pasta and canned northern beans (soup – always a soup 
).
For several years, I have been cutting the grocery amount down to almost nothing trying to find a way to squeeze one more week out or the paycheck. I combined all of our trips into one day so that I could save money on gas. I kept the heat down in the winter and the air up in the summer. Every penny that could be pinched had to be.
This year, the raise that he got takes us to the break even point. Now the budget and the income are exact matches. The greatest part of this is that I have also been building a writing career that is bringing in extra income. This means that the “want” items that we put on our budget (like vacation, gift fund, and short term savings) can finally be obtained.
Don’t get me wrong. We always stayed on budget before. Some months it was because I managed to cut expenses. Some months it was because I was able to bring in just enough extra to tide us over. We did what ever we had to do to make the budget work.
With the new income – from the raise and from my own career – we are on a path to a freedom we have never experienced before. The training that we have from the years of tight budgets will keep us from going crazy. I’m probably still going to squeeze a penny until it cries “Uncle!”
Budgeting is not about the money as it is about the best use of the money. We always want to use all that we have for the best of everyone around.
September 28th, 2007
My family is a blessing – even though there are days when I wonder why I don’t run away. This morning, my oldest jumped out of the bed before the sun was even up. He made his bed, fed his animals, and then started cleaning and organizing the front porch. It was such a sweet and touching time – and what I choose to focus on now that all the boys are up and the oldest one is purposely torturing his younger siblings.
It’s like that most times when we deal with people we love. They have touches of sheer brilliance amid totally aggravation. The key to survival and to sanity is to focus on the good things they do and say. Those are the intentional things. The bad, negative, annoying things are just part of life and living and aren’t what they set out to do. We don’t try to hurt the people we love (well, maybe brothers, but they usually deserve it) – it’s just that some days we succeed.
I have to keep reminding myself that little boys can not always be perfect – even if they always seem to be perfect for strangers. They are full of energy, excitement, and challenge. Instead of getting upset when they turn on me, I need to take full advantage of the good times.
Tomorrow morning, if my son gets up the same way, I’m going to see if he’ll clean the deck – it’s needed it .
September 28th, 2007
My children are helping out this morning and even showing their two year old brother how to do some of the chores. I would like to take all the credit and say it’s the amazing upbringing that I have been giving them these last ten years. The truth is, yesterday I was wondering who they were and why they wouldn’t listen to me.
To really keep me on my toes, my children behave in particularly good ways when I’m not present. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have had teachers tell me what a delight they are to have in class (especially when they are in SEPARATE classes).
Maybe their attitudes this morning has more to do with my attitude this morning than I realize. I haven’t yelled or ordered or threatened once (granted it’s only 40 minutes into the morning). The key could be as simple as having a positive, uplifting attitude in order to beget a positive, uplifting attitude.
Maybe they are listening to me because I am listening to them and taking time to do the things that are important to them (like looking at a moth on the porch).
My kids aren’t really all that different from me. I respond better when people are nice. It makes it easier to do what I need to do when I know people will appreciate it and help me along the way. Now, if I could just remember to treat others the way I want to be treated then the day should go just fine.
September 27th, 2007
My husband got a raise this month. After taxes and added dental insurance, it is barely a blip on the pay stub. It is a raise, though. And I am determined that we will use it in the best way possible.
1. We are going to save over the next year. Each month, I am going to “pay” or savings account. My goal is to have $2000 by the end of the year but some of that will have to come from sources other than this massive “cost of living” raise.
2. We are going to pay off our equity loan. I got careless with a new baby on the way and talked my husband into getting an equity loan to put on an addition. I just couldn’t bare the thought of putting the crib up in our bathroom (about the only space available). Now I can’t bare the thought of having that extra payment each month. A little extra on the principle each month will have it paid off in just a couple of years.
3. We are going to set aside for vacations and trips. Although I can get us to the other side of nowhere on almost nothing, it would be nice to not have to squeeze so hard. We may not be flying to Europe, but we can go camping in Yellowstone (as long as gas prices don’t go up too much more ).
This is a team effort. If my family doesn’t help out then I know it won’t get done. There will always be a reason not to save. We just have to make some reasons why saving is more important than the other things.
September 27th, 2007
A founding member of the church, who faithfully attended services for thirty years and could always be counted on to volunteer, got sick. The church rallied by her side – the pastor visited, the secretary sent flowers, and the congregation sent notes and cards and prepared meals for the family. It was a good thing.
A new member of the church, who attended on and off the last year and gave when she could, got sick. The associated pastor called to check on her and the church secretary sent her flowers. It was a good thing.
The problem is that the church didn’t treat its members equally – so in reality it was a bad thing. I spoke to a lady recently who was staying in the hospital. She said people were stopping by – some of which had never really spoken to her during church. She finally asked what was up and one of them admitted that there was another member in the hospital as well. She felt like an after thought.
Because the church is made up of people and because “birds of a feather flock together,” it is easy for us to fall into groups that we spend our time with at church. Maybe it’s the people our same age or maybe we have similar interests. Maybe you hold similar positions in the church or have been attending for the same amount of time. It’s still no excuse.
1 Corinthians 12:25 “That there should be no schism (division) in the body; but that the members should have the same care (have no difference between) one for another.”
Do you attend a church that truly treats the members all the same? What is the trick to getting the church body to this place of unity? Personally, the answer still eludes me. It’s close, but still seems far away. I will keep pushing, praying, and studying until it all becomes clear, but some days it still seems like an impossible task.
September 26th, 2007
Birthdays are great fun around our house. It’s also a time that can be easy to spend uncontrollably. The children deserve it – after all. The truth is that the children could care less. They just want to get together, eat some cake, and have a good time.
Because the budgets have been tight in the past, I have learned some big money saving tips for birthday parties. Some take time instead, but all are great ways to get more for your money when it comes to a child’s birthday.
1. NO MORE GOODY BAGS. This isn’t a tip as much as it should be a law. I hate taking my kids to birthday parties where they come home with tiny toys (that their baby brother can just fit into his mouth) and noise makers!
2. Make the cake yourself. The truth is that many bakeries used packaged mixes these days. You can get fancy with the decorations, or just stick to chocolate.
3. Limit the guest list. For the best party (and to maintain some kind of control) limited the guest list to the birthday boy’s age plus one (with an 11 birthday coming up, the invitations will be 12). This is ESPECIALLY valuable to parent’s of small children. Having 30 toddlers rampaging through your house is enough to scare even a veteran.
4. Let the kids create their own favors. If it’s a princess party, let them decorate a crown. Are you having an animal party? Then let the kids decorate or make animal masks. Not only will it give them something to remember the party (and still not clutter up the car on the way home) but it will take up some of the time!
5. Let the kids have fun. Don’t try to fill the day with stuff and activities. Let them run and play and use their imaginations. Give them a treasure map and they are likely to even forget about the cake.
6. Have the party at home. Renting a facility can cost a bundle. You don’t need a huge home to host a great party. Our first birthday party in our home was a pirate party. The weather was horrible, so the kids had to “hunt” inside. The house was ONLY 1100 square feet (and six rooms, including bathrooms). Following the clues from space to space was still thrilling for them. Kids don’t notice how big, or how small a house is – they just tend to notice the warmth .
Birthdays at our house usually run under $100 (and that often includes a gift for the birthday boy). We make the event a family affair (with the whole family planning, preparing, and – YES – even cleaning up). Time, creativity, and a sense of humor will carry you across the finish line.
This blog is being featured at http://carnivalofpersonalfinance.com/. Please swing by for a visit.
September 26th, 2007
This is one of those days when I don’t seem to be able to get my mind in gear. Sleep was fine – and I got plenty of it. The house wasn’t trashed when I got up, so I didn’t start the day behind. The weather is even nice.
I would like to blame the days – they are getting shorter you know (probably caused by global warming), but the truth is I run into this situation every now and then. It’s particularly familiar when things have been running smoothly and right on track. Then comes the day when I just can’t get going, so I don’t. Things fall behind, projects are overdue, and my muse feels neglected.
Today is not a day that I can stay in a rut. I have to get it together because I have company coming in just a few hours. Before then, I need to straighten the house (the regularly scheduled maintenance activities) and finish my work. There isn’t time to sit around psyching myself up so that I don’t sit around. Maybe that is the key – always have something planned that involves other people and then I don’t have an excuse for NOT doing.
And the wheel just keeps on spinning. . .
September 25th, 2007
Budget saving ideas usually involve some organization. My husband will be the first to raise his hand and tell you I was not born organized (or orderly – nearly drove him batty for the first 14 years of our marriage). Since food is the place we seem to spend the most of our money, I’m trying to make a menu that will be easy, flexible, and make shopping less expensive (it’s always cheaper to shop for just what you need, especially if you KNOW what you need).
Day One: Breakfast – scrambled eggs, English muffins, bacon, bananas
Lunch – hot dogs and French fries
Supper – lasagna, salad, and garlic bread
Day Two: Breakfast – cream of wheat and cinnamon toast
Lunch – grilled sandwiches and tomato soup
Supper – tacos
Day Three: Breakfast – cereal and cheese bagels
Lunch – hamburgers
Supper – Chicken ‘n Dumplins and biscuits with apple sauce
Day Four: Breakfast – pancakes, and fried bananas
Lunch – Cheesy ramen noodles
Supper – Barbequed pork chops, dinner rolls, green beans
Day Five: Breakfast – French toast and bacon
Lunch – Sandwiches and chips
Supper – Beef stew and cornbread
Day Six: Breakfast – sausage, biscuits, and gravy
From here on out – it’s left-overs
My goal is to get three such menus written out – including the recipes – so that I will have my shopping lists already made out for me. I’m getting there. Another thing that I do, to save time, is cook once a month or so (ground beef, roast some chicken, put together casseroles – lasagna – and things like that) that way I have my dinners half way done before I even start AND I have a lot less clean up.
It’s not really a challenge to make money saving changes in you life, but it probably will require some changes. What is one thing that you can start doing to day that will save you some money (be it $1, $10, or even $100)?
September 25th, 2007
Christmas is just around the corner, and it is one of those shopping seasons that seem to put everyone’s budget in a tailspin. It doesn’t have to be that way. With just some patience and a few simple tips, your budget can come out unscathed.
1. Set a budget for your shopping AND STICK WITH IT. Make a list of who you need to buy for (children, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc) and a list of who you would like to do something for (neighbors, coworkers, group members). Now break down the amount you can spend into something for each of the people on your list.
2. Do control your urges when it comes to buying for the kids. We started when our children were all 1. We spent $25 on them, and each year we add $25. Our oldest is 10 now. I’m thinking we are coming close to the cap .
3. Set a limit. Each child gets no more than three wrapped gifts. They get some little things (under $5) in their stockings. But I don’t want them overwhelmed with stuff – besides, where on earth can they put it all?
4. Don’t buy for the world. If you feel you must give some one you barely know some sort of trinket, why don’t you write them a nice note telling them why you appreciate them.
5. Buy things that will be used are appreciated – not just things that can take up space under the tree. My older brother is notorious hard to buy for because the only thing he does is work and hunt. Hunting gear is expensive – and you can only give so many ties. I’ve started looking for interesting food items (like a smoked salmon) that he and his family can enjoy.
6. The amount a gift cost does not determine that amount of your love for that person. It is far better to listen to them through out the year and give them something they will enjoy and use than to waist money on a $100 paperweight that just takes up room.
7. Homemade goodies make great gifts. Spend the day (or two or three) in the kitchen with the kids making cookies, candies, and other treats. Get $1 platters at the dollar store and fill them with the treats. Then take the whole family to go and deliver the treats. You could even sing carols if you wanted.
8. Start shopping now. Waiting until the last minute can cost you a fortune because you don’t have time to find the best price (or often the best present). If you are going to shop online, leave plenty of time to get the presents shipped at the regular cost instead of having to spend extra for rush delivery.
9. Shopping online does not have to be a bad thing. You can find great gifts at incredible prices. Places like eBay and Overstock.com can offer deals that will make your head spin. Just don’t forget to include shipping and handling when you are determining the price.
10. Think outside the box. For those people in my life that hate clutter (and things that make it) and enjoy the outdoors, I look for products that can be used when the weather turns nice again. Last year I found a couple of high end hammocks online for my husband. Every year he had wanted one, and every year they just cost too much for him to justify the purchase. I found them at Overstock for just a few dollars.
By planning ahead, you can save your budget from a crushing blow brought on by the holiday craziness. This holiday season try stay focused on what is really important – spending time with loved ones instead of spending money on stuff.
September 24th, 2007
I love to garden, or should I say that I love having a garden. Growing anything – vegetable, flowers, or shrubs – is hard work. Not only do you have to prepare the soil and then plant what ever you are going to grow, but you have to maintain it.
The other day, I was struggling to pull some weeds. I had let them go a little longer than I should have and the weeds had grown big – with deep roots. “If I had just done this a few weeks ago then it would have taken no time. Now I’ve let them embed themselves in my garden.”
It made me think that bad habits and things we know we shouldn’t do are a lot like the weeds I was trying to pull. The longer they bad is allowed in our lives, the harder it is to get the bad out.
Thought for the Day: Don’t let the weeds in your life choke out the Word.
Matthew 13:7 (KJV) “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up, and choked them.”
Suggested Reading Matthew 13
Lord, teach me how to have a garden of blessings and not a life full of weeds. Help me to be willing to face them while they are small instead of tackling them when they are out of control.
September 22nd, 2007
Previous Posts
