No, I wasn't Sleeping - True Life

My Final Farewell

2009-06-21T17:18:00.002-04:00

Thank you for visiting. This will be the final post for No, I wasn't sleeping. If you have enjoyed reading, you may also enjoy my new blog http://teachingmoneytokids.blogspot.com/

I have had fun with this site, but I am updated and consolidating and focusing my time and energy.

Thanks
Staci @ No, I wasn't sleeping

SMART goals for the week

2009-04-28T21:48:00.002-04:00

I have started following Donna Partow's Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be: A 90-day guide to living the Proverbs 31 Life. This is actually the start of the second week, but we were still gone last week, so I am going to try to do some catch up. I want to share with you my process in this journey.

These are my SMART goals for the 90 days. Smart stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reward, and Target.

Goal #1
Specific - Wake by 7:20 AM every morning
Measurable - by clock, and maybe a sticker on my calendar
Achievable - yes, now that we are going to be in the same time zone for a while
Reward - Pizza on Wednesdays (we play games and have friends over Wednesday nights)
Target - Claim reward only if I can do this for 7 days in a row

Goal #2
S - Push ups / or walk 20 min. every day
M - by clock or counting
A - yes, on rainy days I have a back up
R - I have to wait until I am finished before I can use the computer
T - I can claim this reward daily, but I also want to be able to achieve 6 weeks to 100 push ups

Goal #3
S - Go to bed before 11pm every night
M - by clock and maybe I should do stickers for this, too
A - Yes, but it will take the most self control
R - The whole family gets to go out for a treat
T - I have to do this 10 days in a row in order to claim this reward

Goal #4
S - I want to weigh less than 130 lbs
M - Check the scale, and also the waist band
A - Yes, 9 pounds is a reasonable amount to lose within time frame, and I have been there before
R - Massage ( I have a gift certificate that I have been waiting to use)
T - By the end of the 90 day challenge

I think these are good goals for me. I like that they can support each other, and that the rewards happen at different times. Although I did set these goals last week, I have only been able to keep up with the computer use one. But I am going to blame this on traveling.

Wish me luck, or better yet, pray for me to give me better self control.

What goals have you set for yourself?

Goals for the week

2009-04-12T19:36:00.003-04:00

Okay, I need some new goals for this week. I didn't have any from last week, and I just barely survived the week before. So I am ready for some new ones.

1. Say no to Soda
2. Declutter the Guest room Closet
3. Sell Something on EBay
4. Eat from the Pantry

Here's why:
#1 My family likes to go out to eat, and they ALWAYS seem to have Mr. Pibb, which is a total weakness for me. But I must say no. I need to drink more water. I don't need all those calories.

#2 Decluttering the closet is not going to be easy for two reasons: its not my closet, and it is not my stuff. But my brother's future in-laws will be staying in this room come August, and we need to get this house in shape, and we might as well start in a space that would be useful to me.

#3 This also has a dual purpose: I have free listings on eBay again this week that I want to take advantage of, and I know that some of the clutter in the closet is stuff my mom has stored there with the intention of selling "when she gets the time."

#4 Last week I cleaned the pantry. Totally and completely cleaned the pantry, and we could eat from its shelves for two months and still not be hungry.

Jelly Beans Don't Count

2009-04-12T18:49:00.002-04:00

We had been doing so good eating beans every day. Until we went on vacation. Now, we are lucky to get them every other day. But I am still trying. Part of the issue has been eating out so much. Restaurants just don't serve many beans!
Although one great thing about California is that you can eat at a different Mexican restaurant every day of the week. But I like to eat more than just refried beans every day.
On the way home (to my folk's) we stopped by the Jelly Belly Factory. A must visit for anyone in the area (although there really isn't much else in the area, so I am not sure why you'd be there). The Jelly Belly Factory does a free tour with samples at the end. It is very well done. You can try all the different flavors of Jelly Bellies and of course purchase as much as you want. They sell Belly Flops for the frugal minded.
But alas, for eating beans, I am afraid that Jelly Beans don't count. Too Bad...

Confessions of a High School Reunion

2009-04-09T17:11:00.002-04:00

So this weekend was my high school reunion. I hadn't been back for ten years. I know some people really stress over their reunions, but I wasn't too concerned. I didn't buy a new outfit, or get my nails done. But I will admit that I let my mom highlight my hair.

I have always loved the color of my hair, but honestly it was getting dark. I was starting to miss the shiny blonde that I grew up with. I swear it's the Midwest water.

Apparently it wasn't enough. I think everyone thought that I had changed more than anybody. I guess 30 pounds and wavy red hair can do that.

I've got a pair-a-troopers, no, make that three

2009-04-05T02:15:00.002-04:00

Well we survived the trip. Although at one point we had a ginky (pacifier) two rows back on the air plane. Not sure how that happened. I had much pity from my fellow travels, but everything went quite smoothly. I want to share some tips, in case you are every tempted to do do the unthinkable, and fly alone with multiple children.

Look pitiful People were so nice to us, they offered spots in line and wanted to carry bags or kids or whatever. It was much easier than I thought, but I also know that I was living many people's personal nightmares. It has been a long road, but I have discovered come to the conclusion that when people say "Boy, you must have your hands full" what they really mean is "I personally could never do that." I used to think they meant, "she looks like she is going to lose it."

Accept Help This is a pride area here. I usually want people to actually think that I have it all together, but sometimes I let people help me, just so that they feel better. Besides, it is good practice for me to accept help. It reminds me that I really can't do it all on my own, and that's okay.

Have a Routine Which sounds funny, if you don't travel much, but if you practice before hand, and have the kids know what to expect things go smoothly. So taking shoes off at security seems normal to them, and they know that they don't get a seat belt snack, until their seat belt is actually on.

Have Treats This can be really simple stuff, too. Like for my kids, getting french fries from the airport McDonalds was a big treat, because we rarely do it. And being able to pull out some novel when the kids get restless is much easier than constantly saying "stop kicking that seat."

Have a walk You don't have to stay in your seat the whole time you are in the airplane. Get up, go to the bathroom, have a parade down the aisle. Other passengers would rather see a smiling kid wandering around than hearing a bored kid that is crying or complaining.

Have Waiting Games This can be something simple like I spy, or Simon says, but there is always a possibility that you may be waiting in a long long, for a long time. This is an area that I am always amazed at how good of a witness it can be to people waiting around us. often adults can get cranky and impatient, and it really helps them keep their perspective when a two year old can wait more patiently that they can.

Have a Prayer I know that I could not have done this alone. I am so thankful that I had peace and protection while we were traveling.

Do you have any traveling tricks that you use with kids?

Good News, and Bad News

2009-03-30T22:33:00.001-04:00

The good news is I found my glasses -which have been missing since the drive home from Thanksgiving.
The bad news is the snow blower found them first...and maybe the lawnmower.

New Goals for the Week

2009-03-30T11:12:00.004-04:00

Okay, new week, new goals.

1. Survive

2. Wake up at 7:30 am

3. Go to be by 10:30 pm

#1 sounds like a lot to me right now. We are preparing to travel to California for 25 days on Wednesday. By we, I mean, 3 kids and me. Hubby will be flying out on the 18th, so that he can travel home with us. The trip will last ALL day, through four airports, and three airplanes. I am crazy. I know everything will work out fine, but we just need to survive through Wednesday.

#2 is my plan to help with #1. The only way I will be able to do everything that needs to be done may require getting out of bed BEFORE my kids wake up.

#3 is my goal that will help me accomplish #1 & #2. Right now, I think eating beans all week sounds a lot easier.

So how did I do last week?

1. Eat beans every day - We did great! Well, we had to do the mental shift that peas were really beans, and that helped us. The only sad thing is that now they aren't vegetables, so we will have to work on vegetables. Here's some ways we did it: Chili and Baked potatoes, Layered Taco Bake (with leftover chili & black beans), Leftover taco Bake, Spaghetti and Peas, Potato and Pea Curry, Lentil curry; and hot dogs with baked beans.

We had a good variety of beans, and we even had it with rice many nights, so that was a protein bonus.

2. Wake 15 minutes before the kids - Not working, which is why I have a set wake up time (7:30) as a goal instead of just an abstract idea. I found myself laying in bed wondering how late the kids might sleep in each day.

3. Declutter for 15 min. A bag a day- I did pretty good, but it is good my Hubby got in on the action. It keeps me motivated.

4. Post something for sale on EBay- did it. It ends today, so far I have four watchers and zero bidders. If it doesn't sell, I am just going to put it in my give away pile. Because it is not a high dollar item and usually not worth my time.

Looking forward to a new and potentially disastrous week

Earth Hour March 28

2009-03-27T09:15:00.003-04:00

Mark your calendar! Saturday is Earth Hour. For our time zone it starts at 8:30 EST and last for 60 minutes. They have a goal of one billion people switching off their lights this year. You could be part of this movement.

Participation is simple: turn off your lights for one hour. That is all it takes to be a part of this initiate by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). However many people are taking it a bit further. Some plan to not use any electricity during that time, and others are planning on not using any lights for the full 24 hours.

The start time for us hits right after the sun goes down, but after the kids go to bed. So we will need to use alternative light sources, or wouldn't it be great if we just went to bed early?

Here are some ideas for other ways to be lights or electricity free for one hour:

Use Flashlights Now this does speak to the letter of the law, but ultimately you are just delaying the energy use to a later time when you recharge the batteries. But a flashlight compared to a house full of lights, would go a long way to making a statement.

Burn Candles The much more romantic option, candles are also a cheaper light source. Just keep them safely out of reach of kids, pets, or fabrics.

Watch the Stars Hoping for a clear night, this would be a great chance to check out the night sky. Do some research ahead of time to see what constellations might be in view in your area.

Go for a walk If your city is not participating, you could take advantage of their street lights, or take a flashlight. Many times you will be surprised at how your eyes adjust to the darkness, and you may find that you don't need a light source. However, always keep safety first.

Have a bonfire The spring nights are a perfect temperature to be outside snuggled in front of a cozy fire. Our 100 year old house has a fireplace on the front porch, and this would be the ideal time to use it. (We are not sure of what its original purpose was. It's depth does not seem practical for cooking, and it does not have the pot hooks that were traditional for fireplace cooking.)

Play Games Hide and go Seek are perfect for in the dark, and we have always loved playing Sardines. (Sardines is a backwards hide and seek - one person hides while everyone counts. Then each person has to find "the hider." When found, "the finder" joins the "hider" in the hiding place. As each person finds the hiding spot they all have to join in until the are packed in like Sardines.)

Are you planning on Participating in Earth hour? What are you going to do with your darkness?

Saving Money Biggest Loser Style

2009-03-24T16:54:00.005-04:00

Rejoice with me for I have lost what was found. Yes, you read that right. My son just turned 11 months, and I just lost the last of his (or my) pregnancy weight. There is still the weight to lose from those years of trying to get pregnant, but that is a different story and a different celebration. Here are some easy ways to lose weight and find some extra money:

1. Drink Water - instead of juice or soda or even extra snacks, try sipping some water to stave off the munchies.
2. Eat Oatmeal for Breakfast - have a filling breakfast early in the morning, to get your metabolism revving. This is also good for your cholesterol.
3. Walk/bike as much as you can - this will burn more calories and less gas
4. Eat those Beans & Rice - replacing meats (even veggie meats) with beans and rice as a complete protein will signifcantly reduce your fats and they are so much cheaper on the grocery budget. After just a couple days, your body gets used to the beans and will thank you later for the extra fiber.
5. An Apple A Day - will keep more than the doctor away. Munching on fruits or vegetables for between meal snacks not only saves you from vending machine prices, but also extra calories.
6. Go Dancing instead of the Movies - Or choosing any activity that gets you moving will save you money (and reduce extra calories) over the cost of a ticket, popcorn, drink and snack.
7. Breastfeed - I know this is not fair to all those without this choice, but I must be honest that it's really probably the #1 reason why I have lost any weight at all, and it is so much cheaper than formula. We are coming to the end of my 1 year goal, so I am trying to incorporate these other habits, to keep the weight off.

What tricks do you use to keep your weight in balance. Share them with us.

Selling on Ebay

2009-03-23T22:19:00.004-04:00

Well I listed something for sale on eBay, which was one of my goals for this week. It was not a high dollar item, but I had a special deal that I could list anything for free, and it was about to expire. So I listed the only thing that I had pictures ready. Normally I might not even sell this (a strapless bra) on eBay, because it is often not worth the cost of listing. But since it was free, I figured it was worth the shot. I will still have to pay the Final Value Fee, but that will only be a few cents, I think.

If you have not yet sold anything on eBay, but want to, here are some things to consider before you jump in:

1. Is it worth your time?

This is a big one, because it takes time. There are many steps to selling, that can make the whole process cumbersome:

A. Preparing your item for sale - washing, gathering, etc.

B. Taking good pictures - pictures are super important

C. Downloading pictures onto computer

D. Researching potential value of your item (really you should do this first)

E. Describing your item -check it over completely for ANY possible flaws

F. Listing Your item - decide starting value, shipping, payment options

G. Packing - over pack items especially breakables

H. Check messages often - good communication is crucial in keeping positive feedback

I. Shipping

Each of these steps may take only a few minutes, but all added up, you may decide that it is not worth your time. I personally don't like to list items that I don't think will sell for less than $10. I only have so many free moments in the day, that it seems a shame to spend them all on eBay.

However, if I have several lower dollar items that are similar, I can do many of the steps at the same time- taking pictures, down loading, researching, describing, etc. eBay makes it simple for you to use one listing as a template to sell other things, so this can make it a snap if you plan to sell many of the same things.

2. Is it worth the money?

Similar to the time issue, you need to be aware of the costs involved in selling on eBay:

A. Listing fees- eBay charges a basic fee for listing, plus more for any extras

B. Final Value Fee - eBay also charges a small percentage of what your item sells for after the auction closes.

C. Paypal - by far the easiest way to receive money, there is often a charge to the seller from paypal

D. Packaging Costs- If you have to buy boxes or packing materials you should subtract that from your profit to get a true feel for the costs

E. Shipping costs- Yes, the buyer pays for this but you still have to get it there, and many buyers may decide that it costs more to ship something than the item is worth.

F. Insurance costs- The buyer usually pays for this, too, but if something goes wrong during shipping, they will look to you to solve the problem. Many times this may require you refund the money which equals a loss of item plus a loss in listing fee.

3. Is it worth the energy?

You may have the perfect item but things still might not go as you plan. Consider these ideas before you invest the energy:

A. What if it doesn't sell? - Are you ready to re list, and invest the listing fee again?

B. What if it sells for less than I was hoping?

C. Do I have enough positive feedback to be a trustworthy seller?

D. Can I afford to refund the money back if something unfortunate happens during shipping?

E. Do I have the patience to deal with many emails from potential buyers?

Selling on eBay can be a great way to make extra money. Many people have work at home jobs based on eBay selling. I strongly recommend anyone who is considering selling on eBay to at least buy something first. That way you can be familiar with the process. You will know from your experience what to do to make buyers more confident in the sale, and hopefully comeback for more!

Have you had a positive selling experience? What tips would you add?

Nutrition 101-What not to Eat

2009-03-23T16:04:00.003-04:00

So we have just come out of the winter of sickness and my kids seem to health problems that I had never heard of before. I know they are rather minor compared to what other moms deal with, but I still haven't accepted them as something we have to deal with.
I'm talking about Eczema, Asthma, and ear infections.

A pediatrician has told us that asthma has been on the rise all over the world, along with childhood obesity. About 3 out of 5 friends that we know have eczema, and I had never even heard of it before my kid had it.

There hardly seems to be any options except drugs, but that can be so hard on the system. Really, who wants their kids inhaling steroids every day for breathing treatments, or smearing hydro cortisone cream on baby's soft skin, or taking antibiotic after antibiotic to keep those ears clear.

To top it off, we seem to get food advice from everyone. It is worse than when I was pregnant. Much worse, because now I worry that maybe it was something that I have done, or didn't do that has caused this.

Maybe it is environmental, and if we moved like my mom wants, then we would get better.
Maybe I didn't take the right prenatal vitamins and it is a deficiency from the beginning.
Maybe I married someone who has sickness in their genes.
Maybe its because we used plastic containers for food.
Maybe its from eating to much sugar or fats or not enough vegetables
Maybe we live too close to electric wires.
Maybe....

The list goes on and on. Here is the current list of foods that we have been advised to avoid:
Peanuts and Peanut butter
milk
dairy
soy
corn
anything with High fructose corn syrup
or corn starch
potatoes
wheat
barley
rye
anything with excitoxins (I have no idea what this means)
veggie meats
spray oil
honey
lemon juice-bottled
sauerkraut (not a big deal for us)
canned tomatoes
coconut milk

Am I a bad mother because I look at this list and laugh? Can they truly be serious? What on earth would we eat? We are already vegetarian, how much more restrictive of a diet are we supposed to do?

I am still trying to work my mind around all of these ideas.

Have you cut foods out for health reasons? What have you cut, and what were the effects?

Goals for the Week

2009-03-22T21:37:00.003-04:00

Welcome ultimate blog partiers. To learn more about ubp'09 click the button on the right.

Rather than have a New Years resolution that I won't keep, I am making goals for just this week!

1. Eat beans every day
2. Wake 15 minutes before the kids
3. Declutter for 15 min. A bag a day
4. Post something for sale on Ebay

Here's why:

1. I recently read that beans can reduce cholesterol, and my husband could use all the help he can get. It runs in his family. Also, I have been bogged done by some nutritional don'ts lately, and I feel empowered to add healthy things, rather than try to cut out some favorites right now.

2. Imagine what I could get done. Oh, for the will power to actually get out of bed before someone is calling for me. I could be dressed, or I could be showered, or I could be reading or eating. The possibilities are endless.

3. I have joined the 40 day challenge - 40 bags in 40 days to coincide with lent. It does not matter how much stuff I get rid of, there is always more and more stuff. Luckily my husband has gotten into the spirit this time, and we may actually see the floor of our basement by the time this is over.

4. I have boxes of stuff that I want to sell on Ebay that have just been sitting there. Maybe if I just sell one thing, it might motivate me to sell, sell, sell. Although just giving away stuff has really been fun.

One Week of Wellness

2009-03-22T10:58:00.003-04:00

Spring could not have come at a better time. This has been a bad winter for us. We have not had a complete week of clear health for everybody, since October. Until, that is, this last week.

Our biggest trouble has been recurring ear infections. Over and over. Which I guess is the definition of recurring. The sad thing is that I had no idea that they had an ear infection the first couple times. No pulling at the ears, no complaining. Just a thick runny nose that would not go away.

So we started an on-again, off-again relationship with antibiotics. Two days after we would finish a series, the nose would start running again, and the infection would be back. There had to be another way. But there are not many options for ear infections. We tried the waiting it out, and waiting and waiting which made me worry about all the side effects of not being able to hear. We tried the antibiotics, but those worked as well as waiting it out. We wanted to avoid tubes in the ear, so there seemed to be only one other option.

Chiropractic care.

When I mention that we took our two year old to a chiropractor, I get such funny reactions. Most of them revolving around the idea that I really must be crazy. I don't know why chiropractors have gotten such a bad rap, because I have only heard good things from people who actually go.

We went on a Friday morning, and right away the Doctor was able to feel where he was out of alignment in his neck. The muscles were all tight there, too, trying to overcompensate for the pulling. In less than a minute he was able to realign, and massage the muscle a bit to provide relief. And he said that we should see results almost immediately.

We have not seen a runny nose since. We went back Monday and again on Friday to make sure things had not returned. My sons neck muscles had relaxed, and his ears were not infected.

We are definitely going to try this again next time. I am hoping that there will not be a next time, but only one kid got the chiropractic care, and I have two more kids, which equals four more ears that may need help.

We did have to pay $25 out of pocket for each visit, which we may get reimbursed at 50% from work. But I think considering the potential cost of the doctor's appointment plus the pharmacy cost of $15 for the antibiotics that I didn't think would work, I figure we got a good deal.

We are however going to have to adjust our budget this year to cover the additional cost of medical expenses that we have already incurred. We have already burned through the money we carried over from 2008. Some of that was for treatment in '08 that was not paid until '09. We also had some of that reimbursed, so I will have to do some figuring to know how much we are over in our budget.

Welcome Ultimate Blog Partiers

2009-03-19T22:15:00.005-04:00

If you are new to this site, I want to welcome you.
This site is about more than just money.
This site is about more than just life.

This site is about making a life they way you want it. Forging through the trials, and making those decisions that affect our tomorrows.

This site is about Living on Purpose.

Join me as I share my experience and our experiment of deciding that more is not always better. In fact, I think we can do it on less.

I wasn't just lucky, I wasn't naive, and no, I wasn't sleeping! This is our life. This is how we do it.

Graduating Debt Free Part II: Choosing a School

2009-03-12T11:23:00.002-04:00

There are so many things to consider when choosing a good college. It's not just about finding a good mate nowadays! If your goal is to graduate debt free, you may have to keep some things in mind that other, less frugally minded people may not consider. Here are the top 5 things to look at when choosing a school that will graduate you debt free:

Job, job, job I don't care how cheap the school is, if you can't get a job, it is still too expensive. Some career paths require the big name diploma, while others would not even think to ask. Know this before you waste your time.

Transportation Costs There is a great school in Australia, where you can graduate with an undergraduate degree for just a couple thousand dollars. And its in Australia! The trouble is, it costs a fortune to get to Australia.
Try to look at all the angles when it comes to transportation costs. Is there public transportation, so you could save on a car + insurance? Would you be able to carpool? Maybe living on Campus would save you the most money.
Be realistic, if you go to a cheaper school, but have to commute every day or weekend, you may be eating up some of the savings.

Where to live Living at home may save you lots of money, if you choose a local school. Look in to the real costs of off campus housing. Utilities, car, insurance, gas, rent, and furnishings may make living in the dorm more attractive.
If the school you are looking at is too far from home, or has crazy rental prices, you may be better off somewhere else. Also read the fine print in any scholarships or loans that you get. Some have a stipulation that you live on campus. This is usually true for scholarships awarded by the school.

Consider an online degree Everybody is doing it. And you can save SOOOO much money. There used to be a stigma against people who didn't graduate from a real school, but that is so pre-dot com bubble burst. Of course, on line classes are not as much fun, but we are talking about debt free, not fun.

Show Me the Money Now if you have been doing your work before hand, you are a desirable student and therefore have many schools courting you to attend their schools. Colleges are feeling the pinch in this economy, too, and they are willing to negotiate with the the best of them. Now, just prove that you are one of the best of them.
Things many colleges can be flexible with:
Registration Fees
Scholarship Matching
Cafeteria accounts
Book Store accounts
Accepting Pre-college credits
Compare all of these numbers with the different schools. If you have a first choice school, that is more expensive than your second choice school , you could send them a price comparison, and see if they are able to make you a deal.

The price for most things is negotiable. You just have to be willing to ask.

How did you decide which school to attend?

How to Graduate Debt Free Part 1: Getting the Money

2009-03-05T17:23:00.005-05:00

If you are in School, have kids that are, or are looking to go back to school, here are some ideas to help you cut some serious money off your school bill. Some ideas may conflict, or are situation dependent, but I am sure there is something here that will work for every one.

1. Don't Go! I know this is supposed to be about graduating without debt, but the best way to not have debt, is to not go in the first place. Not all jobs require a diploma, check out whether this is an investment that is worth its return.

2. Choose Major Wisely This reason is two fold. 1. make sure you have chosen a major that will end up in a usable degree, and 2. many scholarships are awarded based on your choice of major.

3. Get Good Grades. Scholarships are handed out to students with high GPAs, it also opens up your options for which schools you can get into. Many people don't know that you can negotiate tuition at many schools, but this is only possible if you have the grades to back up your position. There are in house scholarships that financial counselors are allowed to award if you can prove that you are a worthwhile student. This is also true if you end up having to take out a loan. Lending agents are more willing to negotiate terms with a high GPA (read lower risk) student.

4. Be involved. See get good grades. These reasons all apply here, too. So even if you were not blessed with the brains, colleges are still looking for students that will have a positive effect on their campus, and exhibit leadership skills. This goes for banks, too. Prove that you have potential and your position is much improved.

5. Go for the Scholarships. Every one says this, but not everyone does it. Thousands of scholarships go unclaimed every year, equalling millions of dollars. Some of the scholarships out there are very specific in their requirements, so who knows even though many apply, you may be the only one who qualifies. Look into qualifications early. There may be some easy things that you can do, or join to make yourself more attractive to committees.

6. Consider Corporate Sponsors Many big name stores have a certain amount of money set aside for helping the community, supporting schools, or scholarships. Sometimes you have to be an employee, but often you just have to submit an application.

7. Send Out those Graduation Announcements People love to give money for a graduation presents. So spread the word to every long lost relative you can find. Now just don't go spending that money on a last chance backpacking trip and Europe, and you are one step closer to graduating debt free.

8. Add it to your Christmas List This doesn't work for everyone, but if you tell family and friends that you have a goal of graduating debt free, they might be more inclined to give you money, instead of that desk calendar that they had their eye on.

9. Choose your College Carefully Many people want the Ivy League education but few people need it. Consider your career goals, and decide how prestigious of a school you REALLY need.

10. Apply for Financial Aid Early. Financial aid comes in many forms and from many sources. Sometimes it is free money, money with a lower interest rate, or deferred payments. Apply for everything that you qualify for. You don't have to take it, but it's good to see your options. Even if you have the cash, it may be wise to use a small loan that you take out your freshman year that has deferred interest instead. Put your cash into an interest earning account, and use it after you graduate to pay off that loan when it becomes due.

Stay tuned for more next time on choosing the right college, and ways to make college cheaper.

How have you sourced your college education?

Rich People Will Always Have Cooler Stuff

2009-03-03T15:05:00.004-05:00

Its the whole point of Being Rich!

This is why socialism or communism will never work. There will always be someone out there who is willing to work harder, longer or smarter, so that they can have the cool stuff. I don't care if you are trading in Dollars, Yen, or sea shells. Someone is going to be luckier and find more food, or be more desperate and cut a better deal.

Imagine the good ol' days. You know, when everyone lived in caves. That is where it all started. We were all equal then. No trust funds, no stock options passed down from daddy. It was Hunt and Gather, each man for himself.

But you know how it goes: one cave man gets bigger than the others, another develops a taste for moose instead of rabbit, and another can run faster than anyone. This develops into needs, and skills that may determine the future of our earth.

The bigger caveman requires more food, so he looks to the man who is faster and they make a trade. The man who likes moose, may be able to catch rabbit, but he needs help to catch a moose. The faster caveman can get whatever he wants, because he can trade for it. But one of these cavemen is going to start having cooler stuff. He might start trading for pretty rocks instead of food. He is going to have a bigger collection of animal skins to wear.

And that is how capitalism works.

We work for what we get because we get what we work for. But this is also why national health care, public schools, social security and every other government program is not going to work. Because even though the other guy may be richer, everyone else still wants the cool stuff.

And there will always be cooler stuff. You have seen the gold leaf bathrooms, the pimped out jets, and the personal islands. Are these "needs"? It is a statement. I can have it and you can't.

But then someone invented government. And together they came up with a Mission Statement: That's Not Fair! If you ever hear anyone making this statement run, run far far away. Of course its not fair. It will never be fair.

Was it fair that one caveman could run faster, or another was bigger? No, or Yes.

Public Schools are great, but they don't score as high as private schools, so we need to make our schools better. We have social security, but when it is time to retire, are we going to be able to buy the condo in Florida on the golf course? We have health care, and we even have access to amazing advances in technology. But there are new and even more expensive treatments, and we want those, too.

We all want the Cool Stuff.

Unfortunately, if everyone had it, it wouldn't be cool anymore. Owning a car used to be only for the rich, but now anyone can have one and expects to have one.

It almost makes you dream of the glory days, when we were all living in caves. but then you might want my cave because it is closer to the creek. Or I might want your cave because it has more space. So we could trade. I will give you my cave if you give me yours, but I also want those extra furs to go with it...

January Budget Report

2009-02-25T16:57:00.010-05:00

This is just the categories that had actual spending. Any category that had a spending of zero is not included in this report.

..........................Actual ........Budget .....Difference .....Notes
Salary ............2,08.64 ...2, 205.21 ...-196.57 ...pay day every 2 wks
Auto Fuel .......146.53 ........130.00... -16.53... uh oh
Auto Reg. .........63.18 ........110.00 ...46.82 ...gets averaged
cash .................50.00 ........50.00 ...0.00
entertainment...... 5.50 ........90.00 ...84.50 ...using up xmas gift cards
Christmas ..........44.48 .........25.00 ...-19.48 ...clearance xmas lights
groceries ...........116.50 ......350.00 ...233.50 ...Grandma likes to buy
Home repair ......38.93 ..........50.00 ...11.07 ...?
Disability .............3.00 ...........1.00... -2.00 ...averaged

Medical .........1,369.07 ........100.00 ...-1269.07 ...wipes out carry over, but will get some of it reimbursed

Donations ...........70.00.......... 70.00 ...0.00

Tithe/offering..... 58.41 ........330.00 ...271.59 ...will need to bring this back up

Electricity ...........65.20 ..........73.00 ...7.80 ...saving up for AC

Gas..................... 122.25 ..........70.00... -52.25 ...coldest days of the year

Telephone ...........37.12 ..........60.00... 22.88 ...?

Water softener... 136.00 .........18.00... 118.00 ...last years bill, oops

Savings & Hobby .2,010.00 ....456.67 ...-1553.33... just txfrs, not spending

I am curious to know how this compares to your spending. Do you have any categories that are less than ours?

1. We Actually Have a Budget

2009-02-24T15:40:00.003-05:00

And yes, we look at it and compare our spending.

Having a budget doesn't really matter if you never look at it, its not adjusted regularly, or it doesn't match your lifestyle. Here are some basic ways to make budgeting work for you.

Make It Easy. We like to use Quicken software for managing our budget. It is easy to set up, easy to download credit card transactions, and easy to make adjustments. If it is not easy to do, you know you aren't going to stick with it. So start easy, you can always make your budget more complicated later.

Start Right Now. The great thing about a budget is that you can begin immediately. Don't wait for debts to get paid off, the new year, or life to get easier. As you start tracking your spending, you will see patterns. The more information you have, the better.

Make it Flexible. As you notice patterns, it is okay to change your budget. If it doesn't fit your life, you know you won't stick to it.

Review it Regularly. It is good to watch for categories that are out of whack. Sometimes it will have too much money allocated, and sometimes it may not have enough. Know this before it is too late.

Build in a Cushion. Allow for spending to fluctuate each month. Add a small percentage more to each category to allow for any extras. At the end of the year, you can always use that surplus to buy something special or give it away.

Prepare for Long Term Savings Categories. Putting a little bit in a category, like new car, each month will let you afford things before you need them. This way you can track how much you have saved up for an item.

Have some Blow Money. This comes from Dave Ramsey. Everybody needs to have a bit of cash that they can just spend as frivolously as they want. You don't have to track it and you don't have to defend it. You don't even have to spend it.

Miscellaneous Category. This is great for those times when you need something that really doesn't fit into any other category. Like an umbrella. You don't really need an umbrella category, but its not food, or clothes or gas.

Combine Categories. We buy diapers, shampoo, and Dog food at the grocery story. It seems silly for those to have their own category, so we just lump them together in a single grocery category.

Separate Categories. We knew we could cut some money by not eating out, but we wanted to know how much. So we put eating out into the entertainment category instead of a food category. Now we know how much is left for when date night comes along.

Your Budget means Freedom. Whenyou are trying to save money, it is easy to get into a rut of being a tightwad. But having a budget means saying yes to buying what you need and even want, saying no to what you can't afford, and knowing the difference.

Having a budget has meant peace of mind for our family. We have a zero balance budget, which means we write down how much our income is, and subtract all of our expenses until we get to zero. Using a computer program helps us play with the numbers easily so that we can add or subtract here or there to make it work. Because we have a budget, we can prove that it is possible. We know how much we can spend on each thing, and we DON"T HAVE TO WORRY!

Not having to worry about money is the number one thing that makes us feel rich. You don't have to make a lot of money to know that you have enough.

How can a budget help you?

2. Living Debt Free

2009-02-23T10:43:00.002-05:00

I had always wanted to stay at home with my kids when they were born. My hubby and I had been married for 5 years before I got pregnant with our first baby. During those years we were a two income family. My Hubby in all his wisdom put my whole paycheck toward our mortgage. We were able to pay off our house before our baby was born.

We were also lucky enough to graduate from college without school loans. So during the first year after graduation, before the wedding, we were both working and putting money away. So when we found the perfect house, we had a substantial down payment.

We are also naturally fairly cheap, so our expenses are generally pretty low. However, we did manage to spend lots of money before our kids were born: new furniture, remodeling our kitchen, cars, and eating out all the time. We never carried a balance on our credit cards. We must have had good training from our parents or something.

Now that we have three kids, having zero debt is absolutely crucial. We only have one salary coming in. My Hubby has chosen to work for a place that he loves and believes in rather than going for the big money job that he doesn't like. Still, we have managed to make sure that our income is greater than our expenses.

We do use credit cards. We like the money back rewards that they offer. We also like that we can download our purchases into quicken, which makes it easier to budget and track expenses. When we were first married, hubby only used cash, and he always needed more. But we had no idea what he was spending the money on. Saving receipts was not a reliable option. So using credit cards has actually made us more accountable to how we are spending money. But this may not be true for everybody.

We also take advantage of the same as cash offers that different stores offer for making big purchases. We usually have the money in hand, but put it in an interest earning account, until it is due, and then we can pay it off in full.

But paying interest is not one of our budget items. If we had to pay a percentage every month, we would have to have a serious change in our lifestyle to just be able to afford to go into debt. It is so much cheaper to just live debt free.

I know many people think that it may work for us, but it won't work for them, for what ever reason. What they don't understand, is that we have made this a choice in our lives. We decided that we would say no to things that we might want, so that we can get what we need. We stopped eating out. We stopped buying whatever we wanted, because we wanted something better.

It is possible. If a family of five can live off $2,050, I am sure that anyone can do it.

3. Having a Generous Family

2009-02-22T21:07:00.002-05:00

We have been blessed on both sides with parents who have done well. Both sets are working and putting money toward retirement. My parents are small business owners that have just recently added 2 employees for the first time in 30 years. yes, even in this slow economy their business is able to grow. My Hubby's folks were recently transferred to the main office, where their job descriptions and salaries grew.

Hubby's folks are concerned about education, so they have been setting money aside each year for our kids' college fund. For Xmas we usually put something creative on our list for them to get us. One year it was gymnastic lessons, another year we did a family membership at the YMCA, and other times we have had swimming lessons. I am thinking that in future years we may ask for music lessons, or memberships to museums.

I know some people are put off by being so blunt about gifts, but this is a win-win for both of us. I know that they don't really like to go shopping, but they want to get something for our family that we will actually use.

We can take pictures of the kids doing their special activities and Grandma and Grandpa can brag to all their friends about what great grand kids they have.

It keeps them in touch with what my kids are into. When they call on the phone, they have something to talk about.

The interest in the gift lasts for more than a day. Because lessons or passes last for months, they feel like they are getting their moneys worth.

We don't have to put it in a yard sale a few months later. The interests of kids can shift so quickly. And when you have too many toys, it is hard to keep up with whatever is the favorite of the day. But if you get a gift that you do, then you won't have to figure out what to do with it when it gets old or broken.

My folks on the other hand do like to shop. So it is a bit more tricky to balance the flow of stuff. I know they buy stuff because they love us, but we really don't need so much stuff. I don't want them to feel rejected if we say no to stuff, so here again I tend to share more specific needs.

My folks like to travel, so we will often go with them, and then they can be as extravagant as they want, because they are spending their money making memories with our kids, instead of making clutter.

They also like to take us out to eat. They know that this is an area that we try to keep tabs on in our own budget, so they feel it is special to be able to treat us everyone in a while.

I try to keep them updated on interests and sizes, so that when my mom finds a great sale, she can get whatever she wants, and knows that my kids will probably like it. I have learned to mostly get just winter stuff for my kids because we live where there is a lot of snow and my folks don't so we have a different definition of dressing for the cold.

But it wasn't until after reading Gary Smalley's Book about Love Languages that I became more open to accepting all this generosity. Both sets of parents weren't giving us stuff because they thought we really needed it. They gave it because they loved us. Our family has chosen to live more simply than others, but that doesn't mean that we have to reject the gifts of love from our families.

It is also nice to see that our kids have not become spoiled by all this gift giving either. When grandma and grandpa come, they are ready with arms open for hugs, not presents.

This has also made us very thankful. Both families give us things that we wouldn't normally have gotten for ourselves. So when we use the gifts, we feel special and loved, which is the whole point of gifts to begin with.

Is your family generous? How?

4. We live in a Small House in a Small Town

2009-02-22T14:52:00.005-05:00

We fell in love with our house the moment we saw it. We had only been married for 3 weeks, we had just returned from a moving honeymoon thanks to Budget Rentals and we ready to buy our first home.

The older man who was living alone in this house was moving to an assisted living center. We were young and ambitious and saw the potential in this cute house. We didn't mind that it was 100 years old and had not been updated since 1956. It was close to Hubby's work, and it was the right price.

We didn't notice that it didn't actually have a shower, or a dishwasher, or that the refrigerator was in a different room. It had beautiful woodwork, and a great front porch overlooking a huge yard. It was perfect.

Even though we have easily put $25k+ into this house, we still feel as if we have gotten a great deal. This house has helped us choose a lifestyle that we love.

My Hubby is close to work which has many benefits. He walks/bikes to work which saves gas and commute time. He comes home for lunch, which saves huge money from eating out and time spent waiting. this also gives him time during lunch break to run errands like the post office, or bank.

Our House is close to the town center. We can easily walk to the library, grocery store, or any of the downtown shops. There are 9 playgrounds within an easy walk or bike ride from our house.

Being centrally located is good for our social life, too. Because our house is close to the downtown, whenever we have friends in town, they often stop by just to say hi. I know this may not be a benefit to everyone, but we love spending time with friends, and not having to leave our house to have fun is just another bonus.

Back in my working days, I used to carpool. One major advantage to where we lived was that my carpool picked me up right from my front door. We didn't have to go to a more convenient meeting place.

We don't have room for more stuff. This really helps keep our expenses low. We can't buy more stuff, cause where on earth would we put it?

Despite its age, our house is easy to heat (hard to cool). We have an open floor plan, with two stories, so when we have our wood stove burning, our house gets nice and toasty. And thanks to our new more efficient windows, it stays warmer, too.

But here is the major downside. Our house is getting too small. Our house has a kitchen, living room, office (potentially awkward bedroom), 1 1/2 bathrooms, and two bedrooms. Because of our Chalet style roof, we have major storing in our attic and basement.

Right now we have 3 kids sharing one room. Which, I know, for centuries all around the world people have been squeezing more kids into even smaller places. But aren't we living in the 21st century?

So we should get a bigger house, but will a bigger house have all the benefits that this small house has?

5. We Have the Best Neighbors Ever

2009-02-17T09:50:00.002-05:00

One of the things most overlooked when people are looking at houses, neighbors are even more important than property taxes. I know many people like their nighbors, but I don't think anyone has better neighbors than us. Being friends with our neighbors has allowed us to live even more frugally.

We trust or neighbors, so that if we need to have someone watch our kids in a pinch, we don't have to pay outrageous drop in prices at the day care. We watch their kids sometimes, too, so that we don't feel like we are always taking, taking, taking.

Our Neighbors have every tool imaginable. So when we need to use something, they offer it to us, or we ask. It also makes us more generous, because when we have a tool that for some reason they don't have, we offer it.

We try to trade work. Our neighbor is downright obsessive about keeping the snow off his drive way. The snow can still be falling, and he isout there with his snow blower clearing his driveway. And this winter we have had a lot of snow. When he finishes their driveway, he comes over and does ours. His wife says that he just likes the excuse to use his toys. Either way we are extemely thankful to not have to beout their in the cold. Though it does make us feel guilty. So in the summer, when the days are long adn so is the grass, my husband can get on the rding mower that we have and do both of our lawns in half the time it takes him to do just his with a walking mower.

We can borrow the proverbial cup of sugar. This saves us a trip to the store. Which saves us on gas (though we are close enough to walk), time, and temptation (to buy more than what you need).

We spend time together. See 6. We are easy to Entertain. Because they live next door, we can have "an outing" without actually having to go anywhere. Sometimes we grill, or just watch the kids on the swing set.

We take advice from our neighbors. Our neighbors can recommend the best deals for remodeling, lawn care or tree service.

We watch each others' houses. We live in a fairly safe neighborhood, but still it is nice to know that there is someone keeping an eye on things while we are gone.

Its nice to be able to live next to people that are friendly. It would be much more tempting to move, if we didn't like who lived next door to us.

It also inspires us to try to be nicer neighbors in return.

What do you like about your neighbors?

6. We are Easy to Entertain

2009-02-16T16:31:00.003-05:00

Remember those days when you could give a kid a card board box and they could entertain themselves for hours?

The Joys of cheap entertainment:

We like to play games. See 7. Cheap friends

We like to go to museums. See 8. Go Ahead and Buy the Pass

We like to go to parks, the library, and our local YMCA (the first two are generally free. The YMCA was not necessarily free, but it was our Xmas present from Grandma and Grandpa, so we are determined to at least get their moneys worth)

Yes, we have our favorite shows. We even invite friend over to watch favorites together.

We have a regular babysitter. She is a friend from our church, who not only loves our kids, but wants to watch them for us, for free.) Sometimes we kid swap with other people, so that they can have cheap nights out, too.

We take advantage of FREE POPCORN night at our local movie theater. It is almost as good as the 2 for $5 night on Mondays. (Which we would do, but our sitter is available on Mondays) Cheap theaters are only one benefit of living in a small town. See 4. We live in a small house in a small town.

We also look for matinee or reduced price seating for shows and ballets that we are interested.

Our local college and High Schools also put on quality shows, and we like to support them whenever possible.

Our local sports team also has discount nights to encourage attendance. We keep these marked on our calendars, so we know what is going on.

We read the local small town newspaper. This usually has good information on local events, fairs, festivals and fundraisers.

We subscribe to e-newsletters to our favorite places, so that we can get updates on special events happening in our area.

We include eating out as part of our entertainment budget. Many people put this in the food category, but since we are perfectly capable of cooking our own food, going to a restaurant is for entertainment, and not nutrition.

We plan outings in advance to take advantage of cheap options when going to the city, i.e. train v. parking; packing a lunch v. buying; using coupons, passes or free days; bringing plenty of snacks so you can choose what you want to splurge on.

Our kids are at the age that they enjoy play groups or story times, like the free ones at the library, book stores, local schools or churches.

We have a Hobby night in our weekly schedule for everyone to work on their own personal hobby. I enjoy scrapbooking, my husband likes to draw and build high end audio equipment, my daughter likes to draw, and my two sons like to play with model trains. (okay, really, its Thomas the Tank Engine) This way we can all be doing what we love, sort of together, and see what each other is working on.

What are some cheap ways that you like to entertain your family?

7. Cheap Friends - Worth more than their weight in Gold

2009-02-15T16:05:00.002-05:00

Honestly, nothing saves us more money than having equally cheap friends. Here are my ABC's of great friends:

At home. Staying with kids would be nearly impossible without the network of other friends who are also trying to stay at home. We can still have the social interactions without having the huge commute.

Borrowing. It would seem silly to buy a tool when I know that a friend has a perfectly good one. This is reasonable, because I know that our friends would also borrow from us.

Competition. Or lack of it. It is so nice to have Friends that are not trying to brag about jobs or buys that you can't compete with. When they ask, it is because they are interested, not just looking for ways to compare.

Deals. You know you have a good friend when they call and tell you about a deal that they just saw on something you want or need. Nothing says I love you more than "I saved this coupon for your favorite chips for you."

Entertaining. We love to play games. And even more, we love to play games with friends. The double bonus is that we can spend time together and it costs nearly nothing.

Food. Why is so much social time spent around food? Luckily having cheap friends means that they don't mind eating at home, cooking together, or pitching in for pizza.

Gifts. The joys of cheap friends means no pressure to buy gifts that you can't afford. Practical is so much more...practical.

Help. My husband and other Dads formed a co op group that would trade work once a month on Sundays. Let me tell you that us wives encouraged it as much as possible. A bunch of guys coming over to work on a honey-do list. Sign me up! I will make breakfast, do laundry, you name it.

Ideas. We have gotten so many money saving ideas from our friends. We ask them about cheap people to do windows, or fun places to go with kids. We take their opinions seriously, because we know they share similar values that we do.

Okay, that's all I've got for now. If you have more ideas, I would be happy to add them to my list.

The Best day of my Life

2009-02-15T15:59:00.002-05:00

As I write this I am sitting in my 9 mo. old sons hospital room. I'm having a serious de ja vu moment of last spring being in the same situation w/ our 4 yr old. Except that time she was in Peds ICU on oxygen for 3 days w/ asthma like symptoms. This time we are just in a regular room with only a pulse-ox(?) monitor and we are hoping to go home after just one night.
I woke up this morning trying to decide if this was the worst night of my life. Well, "wake up" is a deceptive term, because there is no sleeping in a hospital.
We got a roommate during the night that had Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. Nurses are coming in all the time checking blood, temps, lungs, the works. She has thrown up several times and they might start a feeding tube, so that she can take her Anti-seizure medication.
The nurses are all really nice here. They come every 4 hours to suction my sons nose. That was his only problem -mucus was blocking his airways. Though he did have pneumonia and an ear infection to clear up. The nurses feel bad that he keeps waking up, when ever they have to come in (like very 15 min.) and they are always asking me if I want more water or juice.
I can't help but over hear the conversation on the other side of the curtain. They have a much tougher question. What should we put in your daughters records? "Do not inti bate/ Do not resuscitate?"Our roommate essentially began with the same diagnosis as my son - a cold with mucus that she couldn't clear, and pre-pneumonia in her lungs. But, because of her condition, she has advanced to a more critical stage. Is it also because of her condition that they even asked the question?
I am trapped here by a boy on my lap that is attached to monitors. I cannot escape this most personal of conversations. Is it more selfish to let her go, or let her fight? The family struggles with this question. Though it is only hypothetical at this point, they want the family to make the decision before it is a life or death moment.
Then they moved her to the ICU side, where they could monitor her more closely. I can only pray for this family, to give them peace with their decision. I also know that any day that doesn't require me to make that choice for my own precious kids, qualifies as the best day of my life.

8. Go Ahead and Buy the Pass

2009-02-06T10:08:00.003-05:00

Buying Membership passes are a win-win for everybody.

There is nothing more fun than cheap entertainment Most memberships can be paid for within three visits. So, the more you go, the more you have saved.

Getting your moneys worth By owning a pass, you may be more likely to go often. Since you have already paid to go, you can drop in for little trips, rather than trying to make a whole exhausting day of it.

Support Your Community Your membership does more than just get you in the door. It also supports the museum /garden/center that is a valuable part of your community.

Many centers do more than just entertain its patrons. They are often resources for schools, scouts, retirees, and more.

Your membership dollars at work When you purchase a membership, you help the center budget for the year. It can count on a certain number of dollars for the year or season, and can invest in new programs based on its guaranteed memberships.

Also, many museums or centers can apply for certain grant monies if they reach a regular level of community memberships.

It will make you smarter Regardless of the size of the museum or center that you go to, the more often you go, the more you will learn. You will find something new each time you go. Besides, what else are you going to do, watch TV?

Make new friends When you go to a museum often, you will discover the joys of making museums friends. Those people that you see almost every time you go.

Save Money Besides the discount on the visit itself, many memberships also include a percentage off gift shop or concession purchases.

Membership has its privileges By joining one museum, you may be joining a reciprocating list of museum/gardens across the country. Your paid pass will get you in for free or at a reduced price to other places when you travel.

Put your money where your heart is By purchasing a pass to an aquarium, zoo, garden, etc. you are telling them that you support their mission. You are becoming a part of the process that may save endangered species, the rain forest, or the arts.

What are your favorite passes to purchase?

9. Only have One Car

2009-02-05T11:09:00.003-05:00

I know this isn't for everybody, but explore different ways that could make it work for you.

Here are some benefits of being a single car family:

Lower Your Expenses When you figure the purchase price, insurance cost, gas, and up-keep, having a second car can significantly affect the bottom line.

Go Ahead and Buy the Bike Two cars and a motorcycle seemed like a ridiculous mid-life crisis toy. But when we got rid of the second car, the motorcycle was suddenly a practical purchase.

Make Driving More deliberate We have to schedule our lives more carefully, to make sure we don't have conflicting appointments. And one person does the errands all at once, instead of splitting them up.

Learn to Share We have become more generous with offering rides to other people, because we know how nice it is to get a ride with someone else. We try not to be the ones always asking for rides, so we try to pay it forward by giving rides whenever we can.

Stop Trying to Keep up with the Joneses It is okay to say no to things, and not having a car is an excellent excuse to get started. Say no to extra curricular activities, say no to a second car, say no to spending all your time in your car.

Get to know more People You can carpool with complete strangers, or you can ride with Friends. Either way, you are going to get to know them better. Even if you are not much of a talker, you will still discover new things, like, what do they listen to, do they eat in their car, are they clean freaks or short tempered.

Walk You will get to know your community better by walking around in it. You could shop and entertain yourselves locally.

Save the Environment You actually will drive less.

What are your reasons for not giving up your second car?

10. Tithing- Giving it Away

2009-02-04T19:12:00.003-05:00

Technically speaking, tithing is giving 10 percent of earnings.

Whether you believe you were created, or think that you out smarted your past monkey relatives, it is impossible to believe that you could have done it on your own.

Tithing Demonstrates an acceptance of life By only using 90% of what you earn, your are signaling that you are happy with what you have, and therefore do not need to scrounge for every last penny.

Tithing Creates a feeling of thankfulness Giving away a regular percent of your income, makes you appreciate the things that you already have.

Tithing Makes You Generous If you can give away money that you have earned, how much more freely could you give away things that are extra in your life.

Tithing opens Awareness When you are purposefully giving 10% of your income, you are more likely to be mindful of the other 90% of your paycheck.

Tithing makes you Rich If you are willing to voluntarily give up 10% of your income, you have moved from living hand to mouth, to living wealthy. Regardless of what you earn.

Tithing Makes you Feel Better People who give have a more positive outlook in life. A positive outlook will encourage smiling, which is good for your health.

Have you noticed any other benefits of Tithing that you would like to add to this list?

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!

2009-02-03T21:55:00.005-05:00

Making Room In Your Life, So That You Can Have One

Oh, 'Tis the Season to clear out stuff. Is it the New Years Resolutions to get organized, the overwhelming of the post holiday slump, or the cabin fever that gets us in the mood to move stuff out of the house. If you need tips on how to declutter your house, check out Flylady.net.

Here are some great outlets for your unloved, or unused goodies:

1. Return It! If it is still new, take it back to the store. Some stores are even relaxing their return policy so that you can return things without a receipt. And store credit to buy something you really want is better than hanging onto something you don't.

2. Regift it. It's really not that ugly of a word. If you know someone who really would like it, then it is not tacky. It seems silly to spend $20 at a store, when the perfect gift is in your declutter pile.

3. Sell it on Ebay. This takes more time, and you have to decide if it is worth it. Items have to be in good working condition, and valued at more than a couple dollars. You could end up spending more time and money on fees and maintenance than the item is actually worth.

4. Check out Etsy.com This is for antique or handmade items only. Supplies to hand make items also qualify. But listings last longer so the value for your time may be increased.

5. List it on Craigslist This is especially good for large, hard to ship items. It is similar to an online want ad.

6. Consignment Stores A great outlet for kids toys and clothes. Many times they will give you cash on the spot for items that you bring in.

7. Freecycle.org If you just want to get rid of the stuff, people will come to your house and pick it up. The catch is it has to be free, and it is strange people coming to your house, and you have to choose one person out of the many emails to deem worthy of your junk.

8. Goodwill, Salvation Army, NuWay, Etc. Feel good about helping others out with your donated items. You can also claim fair market value on your taxes.

9. Trade your items on Zwaggle or Swaptree Get points for things you give away and then use the points to acquire other items form the site. The big catch is that you have to wait for someone to want your stuff before you can get rid of it.

10. Give it to your extended family There's a good chance that's where most of it came from in the first place

11. Contact your local shelters Women's shelters are often looking for household items or women's clothes. Animal shelters use blankets and towels.

12. Have a yard sale This is usually only worth it if you have a lot of stuff, or you really need the money. trying getting together with friends or neighbors to share the work.

13. Curb it We have had success just putting things out on the curb with a free sign. We have also sold things (cars, table saws, dressers, tomatoes) by placing them in our driveway with a for sale sign. Just be prepared for someone to take it without paying, if you aren't there.

14. Throw it away If it is truly trash, don't try to pawn it off on someone else. recycle what you can, and send the rest on its way!

Spend time each day getting a little bit more room in your house. You will be surprised how much stuff you won't miss.

Do you have other outlets for passing stuff on leave me a comment. Thank you to Jen for compiling this list.

If I Am So Poor, Why Do I Feel So Rich?

2009-02-02T11:56:00.002-05:00

Yeah, it's tax time again!
I know the majority of people don't feel that way (though we almost are in the majority), but we are looking to get some serious money this year.
Notice I did not say "money back." So before you lecture me on having too many withholdings, let me tell you that this is all money that we didn't earn. Well, unless you count being good law abiding citizens that file their taxes on time and have lots of children without making lots of money. In which case, we have earned every penny.
According to http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/09poverty.shtml the United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines we just barely miss the cut off for the poverty level.

And, yet.

I look around at the failing banks, companies, and house mortgages and I feel so rich. How is it possible that economies around the world are falling and we are able to max out our retirement savings? Why are companies begging for a piece of the bailout pie while we are giving nearly 20% of our income?

Here's how:

Living Rich in a Poor Economy

1. We actually have a budget (and yes, we review it and balance our accounts)
2. We live debt free (we payoff all credit cards)
3. We have extremely generous families
4. We live in a small house in a small town
5. We have the best neighbors ever (we share stuff: tools, childcare, etc.)
6. We are easy to entertain. Is it no wonder that many classic American games were invented during the Great Depression?
7. We have cheap friends.
8. We buy museum passes. And we go all the time (did I mention we were easy to entertain?)
9. We only have one car. The only out of home wage earner walks to work ( I mentioned small town already didn't I?)
10. We give Tithe. Something about giving away stuff that makes you feel like you have more than you need.

What makes you rich?

No, I wasn't Sleeping

2009-02-01T12:44:00.000-05:00

The lie I have told the most in my life.
And why do I lie?
Is it to spare your feelings, so you won't feel bad for waking me up?
Is it to hide my guilt for being asleep on the job?

Yes.

I do it for you. And for me.
I lie, and that's how we can become friends.

Unfortuantely, I am not a very good liar. Though I try to practice. Something always gives me away - my voice, or sometimes I can't suppress that smile.

I'll admit, I am too honest to be a very good liar.
Which is how we will stay friends.

Is lying okay?
Who do you lie to the most?