Being the perfect wife is a never ending process that will not happen magically after you say “I do.” Forget the fairytale, marriage is hard work. It takes determination, sacrifice, and a willingness to grow. Becoming the perfect wife will require that you start each day with the willingness to work on being the perfect wife and ending each day on the exact same note. The real kicker is that it’s not about him. Being the perfect wife is all about you.
Here are a few steps to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Grandma was right. If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all. Nagging (or reminding over and over and over) will not get your husband to change. So if what you have to say is not good, positive, or uplifting then let it go.
2. Do it yourself. If the garbage really needs to go out and he hasn’t done it, then do it yourself. But if you can wait then wait. Make sure you thank him when he does do it.
3. Stick to a plan. Make a list of things that YOU have to do and work out a time to do it in. Some people even call this a schedule! Don’t kick yourself if you don’t make it through your list; just roll it over to the next day. And always allow yourself flexibility. There are those days when the unexpected will happen and you just have to go with the flow.
4. Find out what your husband expects of you. I had my husband make me a list of what he wanted or needed me to do (have a family dinner, keep the clutter picked up, etc.). What he expected and I expected were completely different. We were able to come to some compromise and it’s made my life much easier.
5. Clean your sink before you go to bed. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel getting up in the morning if there isn’t a sink full of mess waiting for you.
6. Romance your husband. Send him love notes in his lunch (make his lunch for him). Pack the kids off to Grandma’s and surprise your husband with a quiet evening for two. Remind him that he is important to you.
7. Don’t bad mouth your husband to anyone. Take time every day to write one positive thing about your husband and use this in your conversations as well. The more you focus on the positives the less you will notice the negatives.
Becoming the perfect wife will not happen over night, no matter how many tips you find and use. There will be setbacks, slowdowns, and even slips that will make you think that it’s not possible. The truth is, the journey is really the goal. The more you work on being the best wife you can be, the more you will be building a marriage that will last.
November 3rd, 2007
The little things can add up quickly. You’ve seen it happen when you forget to write down all of your debit charges and you balance your check book at the end of the month. The balance drops way too fast. The great thing is that little savings here and there can add up just as quick.
1. Turn down the heat one or two degrees – especially at night. Even better, get a thermostat that will set itself according to the time. That way, it will turn itself up before you wake and will stay off while you’re out at work.
2. Keep the lights off. We are stuck in daylights savings time (at least for a few more hours) so we should take advantage of its benefits. There are few rooms in my house that benefit from the electric lights in the morning. Leaving them off saves a little more on my electric bill.
3. Wash and dry full loads of laundry. The smaller loads take the same amount of energy. Combine loads so that the machines are full.
4. Hang your laundry out to dry. It will keep the house cooler and will save the cost of drying in the machine. Plus, the clothes will have that “sun fresh” smell when you bring them in.
5. Get movies from the library instead of the video store. No only do they usually have a great, family-friendly selection, but they will often get in the movies that you request (at no charge to you).
6. Run a sink full of hot water for washing dishes while you are cooking and eating. This way you can leave the dishes to soak briefly (while the water cools a little) and you won’t have to run the dishwasher.
7. Don’t buy it because it’s on sale – unless you had already planned to buy it before. I save coupons on “treat” items (like frozen pizzas, quick fix snacks, etc) until they go on sale. Double the coupons and I almost can get the products for free.
Saving is only part of the process to securing your finances. You have to look for creative ways to manage your money. A quick surf of the internet and I was able to find some great (and not so great) sites with financial advice for the family.
· If you don’t know where to start, then this is the site for you. It’s a quick and easy guide to get you on your way.
· Here is a site that helps you see the bigger financial picture. 26 Family Budgets Strategies Revealed covers more than the money.
· Saving money on food is a great way to balance your budget.
· Not only is this Frugalforlife a great financial website the idea of 25 ways to save money has expanded all over the internet.
· Here are some tips from the Queenbee to get your family finances headed in the right direction.
· Here are some great ideas to divide up your spending so that you don’t feel deprived.
· If you don’t have enough tips, here are 36 more ways to save you money.
· Birthdays don’t have to be expensive to be great. Use some of these tips to make a successful party on a budget.
· Real Life has some great budgeting tips and also links to resources to help you in your goals.
· It’s easy as one, two, three. Getting started with a budget does not have to be difficult.
When you save a little, you can save a lot. With some creative ideas, you can be on your way to financial freedom. What are you favorite tips (or sites) that help with your budget or finding creative ways to save?
November 3rd, 2007
