I have a dream...

 

I don't know about you, but I am definitely a dreamer. I love dreaming about the future- kids, our own house, a new car, traveling to new places, a puppy, etc.

 

Then, reality sets in. Bills come in, cars breakdown, and the school loan is still there. Bummer. Guess the dreams have to go to the back burner...NOT TRUE! You know what the great thing is about a dream? Reality can't squash it! I can still keep dreaming. I have to work on the contentment part when the dream can't come true right away, but I can still dream.

 

As Christmas nears, I become more of a dreamer. Dreaming about the day when we will have our own home with little ones running around the house with shrieks of joy as Christmas approaches! Ahhh, can't wait!

 

I have had this idea for a while and due to a lovely winter cold, I have had a few days off from work to do things for FUN (that never happens!) So, I finally did it. I made a dream board. As a frugal wife and career woman with hopes to be a stay at home mom one day, some of these dreams may be a little far fetched (like the 4 story house with a boat) but I can dream, can't I??

 

It gets hard living on a budget. It gets hard being patient for things you have been working so hard for. It gets hard working day in and day out only to see the check get whisked away to Sallie Mae. This little board makes all of that a little easier!

 My dream of being a mommy some day!! Look at all of those sweet babies!!

 

 

My dream of my own home some day! HAS to have a front porch!

 

 

 

My dream of traveling!! Australia, Hawaii, and Alaska are on the must-see list right now!!

 

 

 

So there you have it- my dream board. I love looking at this as I sit and coupon knowing that someday all of this frugal living will be worth it!

 

Okay, maybe not the boat...and horse...and barn...but I am going to dream it anyway!

 

 

The Genius of Generosity

 

"When people are generous, it produces emotional happiness. That's why people (unless they are stressed) are in a much better mood during Christmas. They are focused on giving to others."- Chip Ingram "The Genius of Generosity."

I absolutely LOVE Christmas! Growing up as a little girl, Christmas was a very important holiday in our home; it still is today. In my home, Christmas was about giving, not getting. We spent many a Christmas making cookies for neighbors, having gift exchanges with friends, and making gifts for Grandma and Grandpa! My parents made sure we knew that the true spirit of Christmas was the spirit of giving. That's the reason we celebrate Christmas, right? Because Jesus came and gave His life for us!

However, the little seeds of greed and materialism always seem to creep in. While shopping for someone else, I will see something that I want and think, "Boy, I hope someone gets that for me." Or worse yet, I will think, "I'll get so and so something that's a little less expensive so I can get that for myself." I am sure I am the only one that has ever thought that!!

 

 

Though those thoughts will creep in, I do enjoy giving gifts...a lot! There is this sense of joy that comes over you when you see someone open something from you and they get super excited! Makes me want to do it over and over again!

 

As one of six kids, we usually got a few presents from our parents and each of us kids would get each other a gift. We always loved shopping for one another...the Dollar Store loved it too! Like I said, my parents instilled in us the importance of giving to others, even to our siblings!

 

 

I am sure many of you have a picture like this- Christmas threw up!!! Wrapping paper everywhere, twist ties from the new toys removed from boxes, candy wrappers, and plastic wrap from that new DVD strewn throughout the living room! That's a lot of generosity!

Looking back at these photos brings back such wonderful memories- the tears, the clapping, the shrieks of joy, the gasps, and the "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you" as presents of hoped for things are opened! Makes me want to give and give and GIVE!

As we go into this holiday season, remember that true joy comes from the act of giving...not getting! The budget may be tight, the gifts may be small, but your heart of generosity can be as big as you make it! True happiness is not found in being a greedy getter; it is found in being a generous giver!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

Growing up in Seattle, WA, you would think I would be used to this white stuff people up north call snow...I am not. 2 years in CA, 11 years in GA,  and 4 years of college in SC made me a wimp when it comes to cold weather!

We just had our first snow of the year last week- BEFORE THANKSGIVING!! Oh boy, I am not sure I am ready for this! Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful! It just piles up, stays too long, and causes all sorts of driving troubles! But, welcome Mr. Snow, please enjoy your stay this winter!

As I thought about snow- snowmen, snowball fights, shoveling snow- I began thinking about our own DEBT snowball. No, I did not cleverly coin this term, but it fits well into this time of year! The debt snowball is actually used by many financial gurus and you know what's crazy?? It actually works!!

One way to make a great snowball is to make a small snowball and just start rolling it. As you roll it, it gathers more and more snow becoming bigger and bigger. And, if you were to roll that small snowball down a big hill of snow, it would collect snow and gain speed as it continued collecting snow! The debt snowball works the same way!

List your debts by amount of debt smallest to largest (don't worry about the interest rate right now). Start off by working to pay off the smallest debt first. Once that first debt is gone, you now have a little bit more to put towards principal and will then pay off the second debt a little bit faster. Then, that debt will be gone, you will have more to put towards principal and so forth.

Doesn't make sense? Okay, let's break it down. You have a $6000 car loan, a $500 credit card bill, and $10,000 in student debt. Your minimum payment for the car is $300 a month, the credit card $25 a month, and the student debt $175 a month. Your initial reaction might be to pay off the student loans with a higher interest rate first, but look at how big that loan is? You would spend months on it and get nowhere fast, then get discouraged and eventually, give up.

 However, let's see what happens when we start with the smallest one first- the credit card. You pay your minimum payments totaling $500. You find at the end of the month you have $500 left over- pay it on the credit card. Now, the credit card bill is gone and you have an extra $25 a month that was going to the minimum payment on the credit card. Next, the car loan. Pay your monthly payment of $475 (student debt and car loan) and put an extra payment of $525 towards the car. You should get the car paid off in about 7 1/2 months instead of the next 1 1/2 years!! In less than a year, you now only have your student debt and an extra $325 plus the $500 you started with to pay on the principal. So, you pay the minimum payment of $175 and put $825 toward the principal! With that extra $825 now built into your debt snowball, you are traveling fast toward being debt free! Once you are paying on the principal of the student debt, the minimum payment goes away (as long as the $10,000 is one loan) and you now have $1000 to put towards principal each month! You see where I am headed??? In 10 months, that student debt can be gone!! In 1 and 1/2 years, you could be debt free and the owner of your car instead of the years and years that it would have taken you if you had just made minimum payments!!

This scenario can change slightly based on interest rates and the way your loans are split, but the method always works! It SUBTRACTS years off your debt repayment and ADDS years to what you can save for your future! Remember, this is simple math!

When Dave and I were married, we had a total of $60,000.00 worth of debt- one car loan and 10 students loans. We began working on our debt snowball the first month we were married and now, 14 months later, we only have 3 student loans left to go!!

As much as I complain about the snow, it is beautiful. The world turns into a winter wonderland and for a brief moment in time, life slows down just a little bit. Children laugh and play, adults enjoy time with their kids, and all the flaws of the earth are covered by this beautiful white blanket called snow. Snow is an amazing reminder of the greatest debt repayment ever made- the death of Christ on the cross to pay for my sins so that I could be washed white as snow. So, let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

This time of year always reminds me of the first time I watched the real "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Jim Carrey.

It was November 29th, 2001, and I was home with my 5 younger siblings. My parents had gone out for their anniversary dinner and left me in charge of the younger 5- ages 11 to 1 years old. They left us pizza and a movie- what could go wrong!
They left for a relaxing dinner away from 6 children while we ate yummy pizza! As I cleared up dinner and sent the kids into the living room to get the movie set-up, I decided to make some popcorn. The popcorn was done, "Ding!" And we all settled in to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

About halfway into the movie as the 1 year old was running around the house in her diaper, the fire alarm went off. I panicked. I grabbed the 1 year old, a handful of diapers, the house phone, and told all the kids to "RUN!! GET OUTSIDE!!" We raced out the front door, the 3 year old now in tears and the 1 year old still in just a diaper...remember what month it is??? I called 911.
I told them "The house is on fire! Come quick!" Then, I called my parents. "Did you see any fire?" "No." "Did you smell any smoke?" "No." "Why did you call the fire department?" "Because the fire alarm went off!!" After a moment of silence and a long sigh, my dad sweetly said to my mom, "Get the food to go. The kids are standing out in the cold and the fire truck is on its way."

The fire truck arrives...with all the bells and whistles. At this point, our neighbor is at the house and the younger ones are staying warm in the back of his car. The firemen search the house high and low- no fire. They take down my information- "Yes, these are all my siblings. No, we weren't being stupid. We were just watching a movie!" And then tell me, "Have a goodnight!" And with that, I burst into tears!! How stressful for a 13 year old!!

My parents finally arrived home. Tears were wiped. Hugs were given. Thanks was given to the neighbor. And my parents finished their anniversary night snuggled on the couch with their 6 kids, eating cold pizza, and watching the rest of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Yes, this story will always make me laugh. However, there is a Grinch that wants to steal Christmas from you and his real name is... the credit card!! And that story isn't so funny!

How often does the count down till Christmas make you cringe?? 6 months out- you've got a plan to save. 3 months out- that plan isn't doing so hot and you are starting to panic. 2 weeks out- put it on the credit card. We will figure out how to pay for it later. Sound familiar??

The holidays are stressful enough with parties, family, Aunt Susie, and all the gifts you have to buy. The last stressor you want to add is a credit card bill as long as Santa's naughty list (and I hear that keeps getting longer!)

 

The best way to avoid the evil Grinch of Christmas is to start saving on December 26th! Begin putting away money every month that is just for Christmas presents. That way, when December rolls around, you can freely give gifts without acting like the ol' Grinch himself!

Dave and I have a coin jar that we fill up over the year. This is our "Christmas" jar. Every penny that goes into this jar will be cashed in for Christmas at the end of the year. This year, our jar brought in $200 worth of Christmas gifts! Not too bad for a year of loose change!

Don't let the Grinch of the credit card companies steal your joy this Christmas season. The true meaning of Christmas isn't in the presents but in the act of giving in love. Don't be carried away by the commercials and newest gadgets. Time on the couch, eating cold pizza with your loved ones may be the best present they get this year!!

Oh, and the fire alarm?? It was set off by a spider and its cobweb waving in front of the sensor. Go figure!!

It's not about the money, money, MONEY!

 

How many of you have heard the statement, "Money can't buy happiness"? And how many of you believe that statement is true?

 

Right now, my husband and I are hosting a Bible study in our home about financial freedom. On one of the first video sessions, the teacher stated that most people think that if they could have just a little bit more money, then everything would be okay. When asked how much was a little bit more, no matter how much the people made, each person interviewed said that about 10% more than what they made would be sufficient. Quite interesting, don't ya think??

 

As Dave and I have been working to get out of debt there have definitely been times that I have thought, "Just a little bit more money would be so nice right now!" However, even with more money, I would still have to use the dreaded "d" word...DISCIPLINE. More money without discipline would still have me stuck in the other dreaded "d" word- DEBT! Money without discipline often times leads to debt. And that is someplace I don't want to be!

 

However, finding ways to make more money while being disciplined with that extra income will bring about a great "d" word....DECREASE! Discipline with extra income can help cause a decrease in your debt and put you on the path to becoming a frugal millionaire!

 

As a full time Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse, I don't have time to pick up another job. However, I have found ways to make a little extra income in my spare time that are quick, easy, and actually a little fun! I have included the hyperlinks to each website so that you too can get on the path to a little extra income!

 

 

One of my favorite websites (and it is also an app) is Checkout51. This app posts new items every Thursday that they will give you money for buying. And all you have to do is upload your receipt with proof that you bought that item during that week! For example, this week if I buy a pumpkin for carving, a gallon of milk, and bananas and upload my receipt to their website, they will credit my account with $1.00. Once your account hits $20, they will send you a check in the mail! I haven't received a check yet, but I should hit my $20 by the end of the year!

Another site that I have recently started using is SavingStar. Here, you register your reward cards for different stores- like CVS, Walgreens, Shoprite, etc. Then, they have a list of about 50 items with a reward amount attached to them that change periodically. You go through and activate the items you think or know you are going to purchase. Once you purchase that item at the store and swipe your rewards card, the information is transferred to your account on SavingStar and the money for that item is added to your account. For example, I chose Ziploc bags, cereal, and Progresso soup because I had coupons for these items, they were on sale at Shoprite and I knew I was going to buy them. If I purchased the Ziploc bags, the website gave me $1; the cereal, $0.75; and the soup, $1.00. Once I purchased the items at Shoprite and swiped my rewards card, two days later I had $2.75 in my SavingStar account. When you hit $5, they will either deposit the money into your checking account or give you Amazon.com credit! I am more than half way there!!

There are other apps that I have heard of and not used like Ibotta, the CartWheel app for Target, and the Walmart Savings Catcher. Each of these sites and apps have different ways of saving you money and are definitely worth looking into!

The final way I have started making a little extra money is through surveys. My husband has done a few that have paid upwards of $125 for 2-3 hours of his time and a little traveling. I don't have the time for those kind of surveys, so I have started using a website called Inbox Dollars. Their surveys pay anywhere from $0.25 to $1.50 a survey. However, they are quick and easy to do and I can sit and do a few when I have some down time. They payout when your account hits $30 with a check sent to your home or a gift card. So far, after only a month of doing a few surveys here and there, my account is already at $15! Also, as a side note, if you eat out from time to time (i.e. Chick-Fil-A) check the bottom of the receipt for quality surveys. They usually only take a few minutes and you will more than likely receive free food for doing them! Our dinner tonight consisted of free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches thanks to a couple short surveys!

 



These methods aren't going to make you a millionaire overnight, but they can help you make a little extra while still having a fun time doing it. Remember, frugal can be fun! You wouldn't throw a quarter away, right? Uploading that receipt, taking a short survey, or using a coupon are all ways you can save a few pennies, dimes, and quarters that eventually will add up to dollars and decreased debt!

Yes, I do believe that money can't buy happiness, But, a few extra dollars every now and then can make me one happy girl!

A spoonful of sugar!

I hate taking pills.

In fact, I can't even swallow ones that are bigger than an M&M! I believe I inherited it from my father.

Not being able to swallow pills can pose problems for me. Like the time I broke my ankle and had to ask for Lortab in liquid form! I think the poor doctor had to think back to medical school on how to convert miligrams to milliliters!

There are other pills in life I have to swallow and those aren't easy either. Like the bitter pill of discontentment. That's a pill I daily have to try and swallow. Sometimes, I get it down easily. Sometimes, I choke it down with thoughts of the future. And sometimes, I spit it right back up and become a bitter, griping, discontent person who is no fun to be around!

This pill of discontentment likes to show up when I am tired of living on a budget. When other people around me are buying new cars, new clothes, new houses, going on lovely vacations and I am eating leftovers, fixing used cars, and buying clothes from Goodwill, that little pill becomes harder and harder to swallow. Sometimes, I just want instant gratification.

 

 Back in 2012 and 2013, I had the amazing opportunity (twice!) to go to Kenya, Africa on a medical mission trip. Talk about eye-opening!! Not only did I learn new medical terminology and diagnoses, I also learned what the face of poverty looks like. People in Kenya (except for a select few) have literally nothing. And yet, in spite of their poverty, they live with so much joy. It was truly unbelievable to see the smiles of gratitude and feel the hugs of thankfulness as I washed a scraped knee, gave Tylenol to a throbbing headache, and found answers for tearful parents. I had never seen anything like it.

 

Then, I went to an orphanage.

 

These children truly had nothing. They had lost their parents in a civil war. They lived in shelters fit for livestock- no heat, no air, no running water. They slept on paper thin mattresses. They ate 2 meals a day- if they were lucky. And yet, as our van pulled up to their compound, they cheered and smiled and sang songs of thankfulness. It was overwhelming.

So, today as I swallow my pill of discontentment, I remember the faces.

Faces of people who truly have nothing and live like they have everything. And here I am, when I have everything, and will complain like I have nothing.

I have so much to be thankful for. Being on a budget is the biggest thing I have to be thankful for, you know why? Because it means I actually have something...enough of something...to budget its use. I am truly blessed.

A spoonful of sugar...I mean, reality helps the pill of discontentment go down and hopefully stay away!



Trick or Treat!!

 

Fall is one of my favorite times to bake!

However, the budget doesn't always accommodate for all of my baking desires! So, I have come up with one of my staple favorites that is super easy to make and SO delicious to eat!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies (or muffins...or cupcakes!)

What you will need: yields 12 cupcakes/muffins or 24 cookies
1 Box of Spice Cake Mix (got a box of Duncan Hines on sale for $0.99 at Shoprite)
1 can of pumpkin puree (1 can at Aldi is $0.89)

To add a topping, you will need:
Cream Cheese icing (again, at Aldi for $1.29- the amount is good for 24 cupcakes or 48 cookies)
Pumpkin Pie spice to sprinkle on top (already in the cupboard!)

Mix the box of spice cake and the can of pumpkin puree together in a mixing bowl.

Once thoroughly mixed (will look like cake batter) you can either: 1) put into a greased cupcake tin without cupcake liners, 2) use cupcake liners, or 3) make drop cookies on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Let cool and either 1) eat plain (super delicious) or 2) top with cream cheese icing and sprinkle with Pumpkin Pie spice (absolutely amazing!)

I have taken these to Thanksgiving dinner, our church's Fall Fest, and just as an after dinner dessert and everyone LOVES them!

 



A new favorite in our home this fall are roasted pumpkin seeds!

After carving our pumpkin, my sweet husband rinsed all of the pumpkin seeds and laid them out to dry overnight.

The next day (after about 12 hours of drying), he placed them on a cookie sheet, sprinkled them with salt, and baked them at 350 degrees for 25 minutes- flipping them every 10 minutes.

 And, voila, homemade roasted pumpkin seeds that are absolutely delicious!

What are some of your favorite Fall treats...or tricks?!

Frugal Millionaire Moments for the Fall

I love Fall.

I especially love Fall up north! (I never thought I would say that!)

Fall is a wonderful time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of creation- the changing colors, the chilly mornings and evenings, bonfires- mmmm, yes, I do love Fall!

With Fall, also comes some great frugal moments! Here are a few of our frugal moments in the month of October!

As I have said before, Dave and I love to garden! Back in August, Dave planted another garden for the Fall. Even though we have had our share of pesky squirrels that ruined our radishes, we have had a wonderful harvest of tomatoes, peppers, and soon, our snap peas! Yum!

One of my coworkers is very frugally-minded as well! She picks up left-over bagels from a Jewish bakery in Philadelphia every Saturday and Sunday night and brings them into work! And it is not just one or two! She usually brings in huge trash bags full of bagels that were just made that day! I will pack away 6-10 bagels, bring them home and freeze them! Wonderful for breakfast or snacks!

In order to save money on dates, my sweet husband and I will take walks! Taking walks in the Fall are especially fun! We talk about life, the future, the homes we pass (which ones we like and don't like), and comment about little critters, like squirrels, bunnies, and birds, that we happen to see on our walks! Quality time is so important!

And last but not least, my weekly couponing! Had a few great deals at Shoprite this week. Spent $12 and saved $47! I also got a great deal on vitamins this week at CVS- spent $13 and saved $30! Fall is a great time to stock up on canned goods and baking supplies! They are usually on sale, they won't go bad, and you will always find a use for them!

What are some ways you like to save money during the Fall season?

911- We have an emergency!!

 

I am totally ignorant when it comes to electronics.

 

 

I am not very smart when it comes to cars either.

 

I am the person who can pick up the remote and all of a sudden the TV won't work. I am the person who logs onto the computer and it freezes. I am the person who picks up her husband's smartphone and an app won't work. I am THAT person! My poor husband....

 

HE (my husband) is very tech and car savvy- which I am extremely grateful for! Without his help, I would still be sitting waiting for my computer to start!

 

The other day, I was extremely thankful for his knowledge of cars.

 

I was headed into work for the night and got in the car just like I have done hundreds of times. I started the car, put my seat belt on, and put the car in reverse. That's when the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree! All of a sudden, all these icons and green and yellow lights started flashing!! "Uh oh!" I thought, "How am I ever going to get to work now?" In a complete panic, I called my husband from my cellphone (while sitting in the driveway), "Honey, you have GOT to come out! Something is wrong with the car. I don't know if I am going to be able to drive it to work!" While I am in a complete panic, he meanders out to the car, opens the door, takes it for a spin and says, "It should be fine. Just be careful stopping quickly 'cause your ohusdfhusdhufsdjsdfkjhdfskjh isn't working. I will take it to the mechanic in the morning." And with that, I thanked my sweet husband, got back into the car and drove off to work. Then, the next morning came...

 

Dave took the car to the mechanic. But before that, he warned me that he thought the repair could be upwards of $800.00! OUCH!! My frugal millionaire heart about had a heart attack! That was a lot of money! But, we needed the car fixed. And, so, I prayed. I prayed it would be under $200. Not sure why, but $200 it was.

 

Dave arrived home with the car and I woke up to prepare for another nightshift at the hospital. Still half asleep, I asked, "How much were the repairs?" "$129.00," he said. WAHOO!! The problem wasn't as big as we thought and all that had to be replaced was the battery! I was beyond thankful!

 

 

 

But, you know what? It would have been okay if it was $800. You know why? 'Cause we have an emergency fund. A key step, and actually the first step, in Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps to getting out of debt is to have an emergency fund. You never know when those hard times are going to come or when your car will light up like a Christmas tree! So when they do, you need to be prepared.

 

Having $1000 in an emergency fund should be a priority before getting rid of the debt. If you don't have the emergency fund and an emergency arises, you will just be putting yourself into more debt. Remember, debt is a bad 4 letter word and this frugal millionaire ain't sayin' that anymore!

 

911- we have an...oh wait, crisis averted, we have an emergency fund!!

FLK- Funny Lookin' Kid

Did you know that FLK- Funny Looking Kid- is actually used in the hospital setting??

I am serious.

As a NICU nurse, I see quite a few kids that I would denote as "funny looking." At first glance you are like, "Hmm, something just isn't right here." But after a while, you learn the baby's sweet personality and all of those things that once made them funny looking start to become part of who they are and what you love about them. I love those cute, funny lookin' kids!

People give me that same "Hmmm, something just isn't right here" look when I tell them I am the oldest of six kids. They give me that same look when I tell them that I was homeschooled all the way up until college; that I lived on a farm; that I only dated one guy; that I never lived with my boyfriend/fiancé until we were married; that I married a youth pastor; AND that we are living WAY below our means and working on getting out of debt.

Yep, I am that funny lookin' kid!

The one that clips coupons, gardens, shops for clothes at Goodwill, eats leftovers, doesn't go out to eat very often, hardly ever goes to the mall, and hasn't bought a brand new pair of jeans in 3 years!

But, you know what?? It's okay to be the odd one out. People may think you have lost your mind when you say "no" to things because you are getting out of debt. People may look at you funny when you say you are working to pay off your house or student loans- 'cause who does that anyway? People may call you strange or a little weird. And, frankly, you are! Getting out of debt is not the norm, folks!

Let 'em stare! Let 'em galk! Let 'em call you a funny lookin' kid! 'Cause in the end, you'll be the one laughing!

Frugal Millionaire Moments



 I have started reading other blogs...on being frugal!

And you know what?? It's so much fun! Remember I said being frugal could be fun?! I love reading about how people are saving money in order to fulfill a goal or just because they have to! So many wonderful ideas!

One blog I am now reading is The Prudent Homemaker and boy, does she live frugally! One thing that the author does every week is list all the ways she lived frugally that week. It is so fun to read through the week and see how their large family came up with fun, frugal ways to save money!

I decided that I wanted to do the same thing too! I may not list things every week, but when there are moments of frugality in our home, I will be sure to share them!

So, here it goes for the first week!

On Sunday night, I did my coupon shopping at Shoprite. My absolute favorite thing in the world to do! By combining my coupons with the sales, I spent $24 and saved $53.22 on everything from pasta noodles, pasta sauce, frosting and eggs to shampoo, vitamins, and trashbags.

On Monday, I went to the local library and got a library card! I rented a few movies and a magazine! Much cheaper than going to the movies or even renting from Redbox 'cause the library is FREE. Plus, you can rent books and magazines too!

I had been given some whey from a friend who made homemade yogurt! I absolutely love all the nutrients that whey has to offer and love using it in bread! So, Tuesday, I made two loaves of homemade bread with whey...and it was delicious!

On Saturday, I clipped hydrangeas from my yard and placed them in a vase in our living room! Growing our own flowers and produce saves us money and allows us to have beautiful blooms in the home for free!

My sweet husband is an incredible finder of deals and did a Starbucks survey to receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. He combined his gift card with a deal going on at Starbucks- buy one espresso drink; get one free- and got two venti espresso drinks (Salted Caramel Mocha and Pumpkin Spice Latte) for FREE! A wonderful treat on my way into work!


What did you do to live like a frugal millionaire this week?

Breakin' It Down!

I have never been much of a dancer...neither has my dad. When it came time to discuss the Father/Daughter dance for my wedding, there was some hesitation...on his part. I was like, "Dad, we HAVE to do the dance! It's tradition." And Dad? He quietly smiled. UNTIL, I learned from my brother (who is an amazing dancer) that they had been practicing together. What?? My dad practicing dancing?? I was super excited! I was going to have my Father/Daughter dance!

While I can't really "break it down" on the dance floor, there is a dance that I am good at breaking down- the dance of a budget. I am no expert on the matter, but my husband and I have been living on a very tight budget now for about a year. And, let me tell you, in the moments of practicing, some toes have definitely been stepped on!

Just like in a dance, there are certain steps that must be taken to make the dance of a budget work. I am going to lay out a few of them for you as you learn the rhythm of life on a budget!

 

First step- Keep track of spending!
 If you don't know how much you are spending, you won't know how much to budget for. Make a chart with different categories- Auto, Entertainment, Personal Care, Home maintenance, Food, Clothing,  etc. Then, take one month and keep track of how much you spend in each category. Don't worry about the amount! Just get an idea of how much you are spending. I think you will be surprised!

Second Step- Write down monthly expenses!
 There are those certain items that never change- Rent/Mortgage, Utilities, Phone bill, Cable/Internet, Car payment, Saving, Giving, Student loan payment, Credit card bill, etc. Write down how much you are spending in those categories on a monthly basis. Everything, except for utilities and maybe giving/saving, should be a set amount.

Third Step- Put the First and Second step together!
 Once you have spent a month keeping track of your spending, come up with a set amount that you can spend in each of those categories. For instance, you find after keeping track of spending in food that you spend $400 a month. However, you know you can cut back, so you make your budget $350. Do the same thing with all of your categories.
 Lay all of the columns out on a spreadsheet and total up each column. Then, add all the columns together. That is how much you are planning to budget per month. If this is more than you make, you have a problem. Find ways to cut back in things like Entertainment, Clothing, etc. Your budget should be what you take home. Don't leave discretionary money- put a name to every dollar you make.

Fourth Step- Follow the budget!
 The fourth step is the hardest part. This is where all the months of practice and planning finally play out. In order to follow the dance of the budget, you have to follow the steps. By sticking to your budget, bills will be paid; money will be saved; and you will begin to have peace of mind.

Just like the dance with my dad wasn't perfect, neither is a budget. Go with the flow of the music! Sometimes, things will come up that you will have to accommodate for and that's okay. A budget should be fluid and changing with whatever is going on in your life. But, don't forget step four! Stick to the budget and the results will amaze you!

Saying "NO!"

  Awwww! Taking a minute today to reminisce about our honeymoon last year...such wonderful memories! Today marks one year since we got back from our honeymoon and so many times over have I wished to be back!

It has also been one year since we made a commitment, a choice, a conscious effort to get out of debt. As Dave and I stepped off the boat from our cruise and on to the plane that would take us home, we knew things would be different. No more expensive dinners out. No more exotic vacations. No more shopping sprees. No new vehicles. No home of our own. And the hardest for me, no kids, until we are out of debt. Whew! That's a lot of "no's" and like a two year old, I have had my share of tantrums. Saying "no" to the things in the moment is very hard for me.

We live in a society, in a generation, that is all about immediate satisfaction. When I cannot be immediately satisfied, I get frustrated. When I FEEL like I am not being treated fairly, I have a pity party. But you know what?? Life's not fair and sometimes the answer is simply, "no." When I say "no" in the present, it allows me to say "yes" in the future. Much easier said than done.

A statement that my husband and I repeat over and over again is a famous Dave Ramsey statement that says, "Live like no one else today so that one day you can live and give like no one else." What our parents are now enjoying- homes, new cars, nice vacations- took them thirty years to attain and we think we can attain all those things by the time we are 30!! Patience is a virtue and one I am having to work on daily.

As much as I would like to hop back on a cruise ship and enjoy a week long vacation in the Caribbean, I know that getting out of debt is what I need to say "yes" to right now. Saying "no" is the hardest part of getting out of debt! No to coffee trips to Starbucks when we have our own coffee at home. No to a new coat when I have a perfectly good one at home. No to eating out when we have a fridge full of good food. No to a new car when our cars work perfectly fine. No to buying a house when renting allows us to save money. When I make the conscious, committed choice to say "no" it ultimately means I am saying "yes" to getting out of debt.

One day, I will be back on a cruise ship enjoying sunsets on the Caribbean. But for now, I am enjoying the memories of the past and the promises of the future!

Eating healthy while couponing...on a budget...is this possible?

If you are hungry, this probably is not the best blog to be eating...I mean reading... at this time! See what I mean? Being hungry makes you read things that aren't really there!!

People have asked me multiple times, "How do you eat healthy while couponing? All those coupons are for processed items!"; "There is no way to eat healthy with couponing- you really won't save any money." While it is true that a lot of coupons are for processed foods, there are a lot of coupons for OTHER things i.e. shampoo, toilet paper, batteries, napkins, paper towels, etc. When I coupon, I don't necessarily coupon for food items. I coupon for things I will use and that I can stockpile for later on- like paper towels and toilet paper. When I SAVE money in the categories of household items and personal care items, I have MORE money to put in the food category to buy healthy food.

I didn't always coupon this way, though. When I first started, I bought anything that I could save money on- cookies, granola bars, cereal, canned food, candy, etc. However, this did NOTHING good for our personal well-being, so I switched my thought process in couponing. Instead of buying things just because they were on sale, I switched to buying things because we needed them and would use them.

Eating healthy on a budget is difficult. I am not going to lie. However, it is possible. Here are some ways that I have found to save money, live frugally, and still eat healthy.

1) Coupon for items that aren't food related and save in other categories of the budget. With the savings in other categories, use that to buy the healthier options at the grocery store.

2) Only buy the food items that fit into your current eating plan. Don't buy food items just because they are on sale!

3) Grow a garden! Whether you live on 10 acres or have a 10 inch porch, you can garden! There are inside gardens; there are potted gardens; there is square foot gardening; there are places to rent small plots of land to garden. Where there is a will there is a way!

4) Shop at off-brand grocery stores. Our favorite is Aldi. Bananas are usually 29 cents a pound; bags of baby carrots are usually 65-99 cents a bag; eggs are $1.29 a dozen; yogurt is 39 cents a container, etc. Aldi is BY FAR the cheapest place to grocery shop without coupons, on a budget, while still eating healthy food!

5) Be okay with not eating organic. WHAT???? I know. This is crazy talk. I didn't say don't eat HEALTHY, I just said, don't eat organic! If you are on a budget to get out of debt, save for a purchase, or whatever the reason is, there will eventually be an end. When that debt is paid or the item finally purchased, then you can go back to paying big money for better food. I understand that there are people who legitimately cannot eat processed foods, and really, I don't eat much of that. However, for those that are on a strict diet and want to stick to a budget, you will have to find other areas of your life to cut back. Maybe you can add an extra $15 to the weekly food budget and get rid of your monthly cable bill...just a thought. :)

It truly is feasible to live well on a tight budget...and coupon! Just tonight, on a food budget of $50 a week, my husband and I had a delicious dinner of salmon, rice, and cantaloupe. And last night? We had chicken fajitas complete with garden fresh tomatoes, avocado, beans, and salsa! It takes a little planning, but it is totally doable.

Oh, and just in case you wanted to know. The items in the above picture (excluding the toilet paper and paper towels), after coupons, cost me $0.03. That's some frugal living and pretty healthy eating right there!

Frugal Vacations!

This weekend is our first anniversary- I can't believe it! Is it me or does time feel like it is literally flying?!?! This has been one of the best years of my life- paying off debt, living frugally, and all!!

For our first anniversary, I would have loved to have gone to a beach resort somewhere warm- sat on the beach, read a book, stuck my toes in the sand, and been waited on hand and foot. However, the budget told us that wasn't possible this year, so, we came up with an alternative. CAMPING!!

Again, the start up costs for camping can be a little pricey, but once you have the materials to go camping, it is a very cheap vacation. I have been collecting camping items for a while because I absolutely love being outdoors. Here is a breakdown of the approximate cost of the items needed to go camping:
Tent- $60-$100 for a 4-6 person tent depending on the quality
Sleeping bags- $25-$50 depending on the quality
Camp chairs- $15-$30 depending on the quality
Dishes (plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots and pans, tea pot, dish rack)- $60-$80
Lamps/Flashlights- $10-$25
Air Mattress (queen)- $30-$50
Camping stove- $75-$100

Plus, all the other necessities needed and/or wanted. These price breakdowns are just an estimate. But, I don't like to spend lots of money, so here are ways to save money on these items:
-Shop yardsales for dishes, flashlights, even tents!
-Shop Goodwill or Salvation Army for all of the above items!
-When changing out old dishes for new or old pots and pans for new, save the old ones for camping!
-Shop stores going out of business (bought our air mattress and camping sheets for 25% off when Kmart went out of business in our area!)

Once you have your camping items, buy some plastic bins and store all of your camping items in the bins. Makes it easy to transport to the campsite, easy to maintain at the campsite, and efficient to store when you are home!

So, yes, the initial cost is going to be anywhere from $400 to $500 dollars. But once you have these items, you will always have these items. You can easily pack up for a long weekend and all you would need to pay for is food and the campsite cost (which is usually $20-$30 a night). Another bonus? You can camp at places you have always wanted to visit without paying the huge lodging fees. List the places you have always wanted to go, find a campsite near by, and save!!

 

 

We had most of the items before our camping trip, but with the few items we did have to buy, campground fees, and food, our anniversary weekend only cost $120! That's what I call vacationing like a frugal millionaire!