Jamerrill has a very helpful article up on How to Stick to a Cash-Based Grocery Budget.
If you missed it, be sure to also read my post on 6 Ways We’re Keeping Our Grocery Budget Low Without Using Coupons.
2hr Cleaning Checklist
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Shared May 26, 2015
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A Day In My Life: School, corn dogs (!), YouTube videos, & I found the missing tweezers!
A Day In My Life: School, corn dogs (!), YouTube videos, & I found the missing tweezers!
This morning began, like most mornings do, with me creeping downstairs to light my ePantry candle and enjoy some quiet before the rest of the family gets up. I cherish this morning quiet — even if some mornings it only lasts for 15 minutes or so before someone else wakes up. 🙂
Once the kids were all up around and dressed, we ate breakfast (cereal and oatmeal) and then started in our Morning School Time. We always start with Bible Reading and Scripture memory — we’re reading some from Genesis and Luke and memorizing Psalms 8 right now.
The kids brought their LEGOs to the table today to build while I read to them. I’m a big fan of letting kids work on something with their hands while I read aloud to them. Honestly, I think kids listen better when their hands are busy.
So I always encourage them to draw, play with LEGOs, create, or play with play-doh while I read. I think we get through twice as much reading with 500% better attention by doing this.
We’re reading from a few different read alouds for Sonlight right now + we talked about using adverbs in creative writing and listened to some poetry today.
I had discovered these Adult Coloring Pages earlier this morning and had to print some off because I wanted to use them and I thought the girls might enjoy them, too. Kaitlynn scooped them up and had fun working on them while listening to me read.
After we were finished with our Morning School, the kids worked on their chores, I did a little clean-up, we ate lunch, and then got ready to head to my chiropractor appointment.
{I’ve become such a big believer in chiropractors over the past few years and have seen such improvement in my overall health by going to them. Best of all, they are very inexpensive and so worth the investment for the health benefits I’ve experienced!}
While the girls finished their independent school with Jesse, Silas came with me to the chiropractor.
It started raining BUCKETS while we were in my appointment. I hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella so we got drenched on the way out to the car.
And then, of course, as soon as we got in the car, it all but stopped raining. When we made it safely to the car, Silas exclaimed, “We just conquered the second biggest storm in history.” Not sure what the first biggest storm was — maybe Noah’s flood?!
On the way home, we stopped by Sonic to buy 3 of their corn dogs that were just $0.50 today.
The kids were just a wee bit excited about the corn dogs. It cracked me up that such a simple, inexpensive thing could bring so much fun into their day.
They told me that they needed to make crazy faces in this photo because “that’s what most kids would do if someone were taking picture of them with corn dogs.”
{I promise Kaitlynn was not sticking the corn dog up her nose… it only looks like that in the picture!!}
After the corn dog excitement, the kids settled in to make LEGO videos. They have hopes of someday having their own YouTube channel and have been practicing filming themselves making various LEGO tutorials and learning how to use the video software.
It’s hilarious to listen in from the other room — especially when Silas says things like, “Be sure to follow me on Instagram, comment on my blog, and like my Facebook Page.” All without being prompted.
Today, he told me that he’s going to “Send his YouTube followers to MoneySavingMom.com, so I need to be prepared for some extra comments.”
While the kids were working on making “YouTube videos”, I worked on cleaning out the kid’s bathroom cupboards and drawers. I hadn’t tackled these in a long time and they were certainly in need of some help!
I ended up with a bag of things to get rid of (mostly trash/items needing to be tossed) and some items that needed to be put back where they belonged.
I was especially excited to find the missing half of my favorite brush (the handle came off awhile back and I hung onto it hoping that actual brush part would eventually show up!), another brush that had disappeared, and the tweezers that I’d practically turned the house upside-down to find not too long ago! Yay!!
I finished up some blogging work, we had leftovers for dinner, we cleaned up the kitchen together, the kids got ready for bed and went to bed, and then I finished typing this up while Kathrynne stayed up a little later because she was giving me the most amazing head massage (that girl knows how to get her mama to say “yes” to letting her stay up a little later!) 🙂
My evening routine is done, so now I’m off to hang out with Jesse and maybe get in a little reading before heading to bed around 10:30 p.m…
How was YOUR day today? Tell us about it in the comments!
The Ten-Item Wardrobe
You need to go watch this short Tedx Talk on the 10-Item Wardrobe. It’s really inspiring and motivating — and just might challenge you to re-think your wardrobe and how many clothes you own.
As you probably well know, I’m a big fan of the minimalist wardrobe. Not only does it simplify my life, it requires less space, it makes packing for travel so simple, and it also saves money since you are shopping much less often, only owning things you love, and wearing the same things over and over again.
Another thing that I’ve noticed is that I think it makes me more relaxed and able to just focus on people in a situation versus worrying about my clothes since I’m wearing something I love, look good in, and (usually) have worn many times before.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the video. Did you agree with the idea? Did you think it was crazy? Did it make you think of your wardrobe in a different light?
A peek into our Summer Schedule
So, I skipped doing a Cleaning Project and Daily Plan yesterday because it was Memorial Day.
While we did our usual homeschooling and daily cleaning chores, we got done early so we could enjoy a fun outing to a movie with free tickets we’d been given from friends and then to hit up Wendy’s for a free Frosty. We’re all about Frugal Fun here. 🙂
Some of you have asked for more details about our summer schedule. So I thought I’d share a peek into what it looks like. Do remember that it changes a bit each day depending upon what’s going on that day, but the bones of the schedule usually stay the same.
Need some ideas for how to get started creating a daily routine? I encourage you to start very simply — with just a few things. Read my post on 5 Things You Should Do Every Single Day for a great starting point.
A Peek At Our Summer Schedule:
- Me up/quick morning routine — I try to do this Morning Routine here.
- Blogging/business work — usually for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Kid’s up — baths/dressed
- Breakfast — I usually start in with our Bible and memory work while they finish eating breakfast.
- Morning homeschool time — we’re doing Sonlight Core D so our together time usually takes around 1.5 hours.
- Reading time — we all sit on the couches in the living room and read our own books quietly for 20 minutes or so.
- Morning chores — This consists of: Rooms clean, beds made, trashes emptied, house picked up, bathrooms quick-cleaned, floors swept, and laundry started.
- Kid’s work on independent work while I work on laundry + extra cleaning projects (Today’s project: declutter 2 rooms)
- Me — quick run/shower, if I didn’t get it in before the kids got up.
- Lunch/Latin
- Jesse take over with the kids’ school/activities/dinner prep while I spend the afternoon on blogging & business work — our kids have activities almost every afternoon (swimming/figuring-skating, etc. and Jesse’s in charge of those).
- Dinner/family time — 6:30ish
- Quick house pick-up/finish laundry — I try to do this Evening Routine here. — 7:15ish
- Kids to bed — 7:30 to 8 p.m. — the girls usually read/listen to audiobooks for awhile before going to sleep.
- Time with Jesse/read
- To bed by 10:30 p.m.
Later today, I’ll share a post about how our day went and give you an update (with pictures) on how our day went and my progress on decluttering to give you a real-life peek into a day in our life.
If you have a routine that you follow at your house, I’d love to hear more about what that looks like. If you’ve blogged about it, I’d love to have you leave a comment with your link.
3 Things I Learned After a Year of Being Debt Free
If you’ve set a goal to become debt free, this is a must-read post on how to manage money once you hit your goal!
Guest post by Lydia of Frugal, Debt Free Life
For many years, I felt like being debt free was the impossible dream. And then it happened. In February 2014, my husband and I were able to declare ourselves a debt-free family.
We had trampled down a mound of credit card bills and gotten out from under an avalanche of student loans.
In the year since we became debt free I have learned so much. Here are three lessons:
1. Budgeting doesn’t stop just because the debt is gone.
For so long, it felt like we were walking around with a backpack full of bricks. Once the debt was gone, we were able to take off that backpack and breathe for the first time in years.
But it didn’t take long to realize that savings and frugal living don’t stop once you pay off that debt. If you’re not careful and you don’t live with intention, you will fall back into the older patterns that got you in debt in the first place.
2. You still need to set goals.
For months and months, our number one goal was to get out of debt. Once we achieved that, we needed a new goal.
Without a purpose to work toward, you will stagnate. Without a purpose, it is difficult to stay motivated or even want to budget to begin with.
Our new goal became to purchase a home. When that goal was achieved, our new goal became to pay off that house early.
3. You are allowed to splurge responsibly.
Because we had been in debt-paying mode for so long, it became difficult to switch that mode off and allow ourselves to have some fun.
When the opportunity arose to take our children to see a life-sized Thomas the Train in a town a few hours from us, we balked. After years of holding onto every dollar so tight, it felt like too much money to spend. But we looked at our budget, saw we had the extra money to go, and decided to treat our family to a rare outing.
It’s okay to have fun and spend money responsibly and that’s not something to feel guilty about.
There are few feelings greater than being debt free. That feeling is an excellent motivator, why not let it carry you into other parts of your financial life?
Lydia Senn is a wife and blogger. She lives on a growing homestead with her bearded husband and two energetic boys. She loves Jesus and coffee.
10 Goals For This Week (+ some random thoughts on motherhood)
So, I didn’t get everything crossed off my goals list for last week, but I did make some good headway on goals — and that’s always encouraging!
I think my biggest win of the week was that I got good sleep almost every night last week, we had a great first week of our new homeschool schedule, and I got all caught back up on the laundry again!
I took the picture above while I was in the middle of working on getting caught up on the laundry. Yes, I may have been just a wee bit behind on it. 🙂
Kaitlynn and I had a nail-painting date yesterday. I think all of my kids (and Jesse) have the love language of quality time. Which has been good (and a learning process) for me — a girl who is much more inclined to do rather than to just be.
I’ve been trying to be more intentional about regular one-on-one time with each of my kids each week as I’ve discovered this is something that fills up their tanks like almost nothing else.
This child. I can’t get enough of him. This morning he woke up early to snuggle with me while I finished some blogging work.
While we were snuggling, he told me all about how much he loved me, how much he loved spending time with me, and how he would never get married so he could live with me for the rest of his life and help me.
A little while later, he said, “You know, in 7 years, I’m going to be a teenager!” I did not need that reminder this morning. And yet, it was good to remember just how quickly they are growing up and how important it is to cherish the everyday moments. Because they are fleeting.
Here’s my goals update:
Last week’s goals:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Start our new homeschool routine/curriculum.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Get caught back up on the laundry.Personal Goals
4. Exercise at least 3 times.5. Finish reading at least one book.
6. Listen to at least two inspiring audios/podcasts while working/driving.7. Go to bed by 10:30 p.m. every night.
Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals
8. Have a coffee date with a new friend.Business Goals
9. Record a short video for a project.
10. Get all details finalized for the Make Over Your Mornings Course Launch.
This week’s goals:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Spend the day with Kaitlynn at Ice Skating Camp.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Go through and declutter at least two rooms in our house.
Personal Goals
4. Exercise at least 3 times.
5. Finish reading at least one book.
6. Listen to at least two inspiring audios/podcasts while working/driving.
7. Go to bed by 10:30 p.m. every night.
Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals
8. Dinner with a friend from out-of-town who will be in TN this weekend.
Business Goals
9. Record a short video for a project.
10. Get the sales page finished for the Make Over Your Mornings Course.
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Shared May 25, 2015
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Freedom Isn’t Free: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Military Families!
Freedom Isn’t Free: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Military Families!
As we celebrate Memorial Day today, I am humbly grateful to the many men and women who have risked and given so much for the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
Thank you — from the bottom of my heart — to the many military families who are readers here. We so appreciate the sacrifices you make on a daily basis to protect and defend our freedoms. We don’t say it enough, but thank you!
5 Things I’m Loving This Week {new feature!}
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know I’ve recently been sharing a picture almost every day with a “5 Things You Should Know About This Picture” caption.
So many, many of you have told me how much you love me sharing this real-life, behind-the-scenes, every day stuff, that it sparked an idea for a new Saturday series called “5 Things I’m Loving This Week”.
This series — which I plan to post on Saturday nights — will be random things I’ve been digging the past week. It could be a link to an article I loved, a recipe I loved, a book I loved, something we’re doing as a family that I loved… or any other thing or idea or something that I’ve been loving that week.
I’m going to try this idea out for a few weeks to see how it goes! It may or may not be something that I continue long-term. We’ll just see!
1. Berries — I’m on a berry kick right now and have been eating a big bowl of berries every night before bed as a late-night snack. So yummy! I may also have a wee bit of whipped cream with the berries, too. Ahem.
2. Sonlight Homeschool Curriculum — Y’all. My kids have never been more excited about starting a new homeschool curriculum. Never. And we’re headed into our sixth official year of homeschooling.
We are completely and totally eating up Core D (Intro to American History)… we love the read alouds, the history, the geography, the Bible, and even the creative writing.
Kathrynne has already begged if we can please continue doing this curriculum every year until she graduates. We’ll see if the momentum continues, but I have to say that I am just soaking it up and enjoying it right along with them.
3. New Schedule — In addition to a new homeschool curriculum (we school year-round, so our 2015-2016 year started this past week), we also have a new daily schedule (or probably more of a “routine” since it’s not rigid.)
One of my big goals for this new school year was to find a way to work quite a bit fewer hours each week and to be completely offline for more hours in the middle of the day. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to work, but I’m finding — so far — that being much more compartmentalized and turning off all electronics for chunks of the day actually means that I’m a lot more productive and relaxed in all spheres of life.
I’m really hoping this continues because this past week was one of the best weeks I’ve had in a very, very long time!
4. Podcasts — I dabbled in podcasts for the past year or so, but didn’t really fall head-over-heels in love with them until this past month. I’m not sure why, but I now see why people love them so much.
I’ve found a handful of shows that I really love and a few times during the day when I’m finding it so fun to turn on a podcast and listen while driving, while folding laundry, while working in the kitchen, and while straightening the house.
It’s also inspiring me to start seriously considering the idea of producing my own podcast sometime down the road. We’ll see! 
5. Tough Mudder photos — So I know I’ve talked about this quite a bit, but the official race pictures were released this week and it was SO fun to look through them and relive the highs and lows of the race. Plus, get to see our reactions as we did different things — like come up out of a huge tub of icy water we had just plunged into or trying to climb up out of a mud pit.
The picture above was taken right after we’d gone through the Electroshock Therapy and were almost to the finish line. You can tell we are exhausted but oh-so-happy!
What about you? What 5 things are YOU loving this week?
The Top 7 Most Popular Posts This Week
The Real Reason for My Clutter
5 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Toy Clutter
Get An 8×10 Photo Canvas for $14.99 Shipped!
7 Kid-Friendly Freezer Meals in 85 Minutes
9 Ways Busy Moms Can Find Time for Quiet in Their Day
2015 Military & Memorial Day Freebies & Discounts
My First Tough Mudder Experience (& how I surprised myself by loving it!)
Shared May 23, 2015
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Weekend Giveaway: Thirty-One Gifts Utility Tote and Insert (4 Winners)
Weekend Giveaway: Thirty-One Gifts Utility Tote and Insert (4 Winners)
You all are going to be happy because I’ve got another Thirty-One Gifts giveaway for you today! The last few giveaways I’ve done from Thirty-One Gifts have been some of my most popular giveaways ever, so I’m excited to bring you yet another one, this time courtesy of Kirstin Tracy.
What Is Thirty-One Gifts?
If you’re not familiar with Thirty-One Gifts, they are a company that offers durable and adorable bags and totes in a variety of styles and kinds. They can all be personalized, too.
Kirstin sent me some of the Personalized Utility Totes with an insert and I love it! There are so many different uses for them! You can use them for storage, for holding library books, for taking on a trip, for organizing supplies… the possibilities are endless.
We put ours in the back of our car to use for carrying groceries, organizing supplies for trips, or when we need to tote supplies to church or other events. I can already tell it is going to come in so handy!
Want to Keep in the Loop About Specials or Get a Free Catalog?
Be sure to join Kirstin’s Facebook Group to find out about monthly products specials and more from Thirty-One Gifts.
Plus, you’ll want to fill out Kirstin’s 2-question survey in order to join her monthly newsletter or receive a catalog. You’ll also be signed up for a separate $50 gift card giveaway!
Also, if you are interested, fill out this form to find out more information about hosting your own online party or joining Kirstin’s team so you can earn money selling Thirty-One products.
Thirty-One Gifts offers fun monthly specials. During the month of May, for every $35 you spend, you can get either Large Utility Tote for only $10 or the insert for $15 (the insert is an exclusive product just being sold in May)! Or, if you spend $70, you can get both specials. Find out more about the May Customer Special here.
Get 10% Off Any Order!
In addition, Kirstin is offering 10% off any orders from MoneySavingMom.com readers. This offer is only valid through Monday only.
Here’s how to place an order and qualify for 10% off:
::Go to Kirstin’s Thirty-One Gifts site.
::Click on Place an Order and then click on the MSM Giveaway Event.
::Place your order and get 10% off!
::Please note: Kirstin will have to manually deduct the 10% off after the online event is closed so you won’t see the 10% discount until after she manually submits the orders.
Would you like to win both a Large Utility Tote + an insert from Thirty-One Gifts? To enter to win, just click on the graphic below and type in your name and email address. Four winners will be chosen and posted next week.
This giveaway ends Monday, May 25, at 11:59 pm, CST.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
If Our To-DO List Was a To-BE List
Guest post from Lisa of True and Faithful
I have a confession. I’m not an organized, work down the list kind of gal.
I’m the second-born child and I’m pretty sure my older sister got every Type-A gene in our family. The hand-me-downs from her boys are spotless, birthday cards arrive early and she has Christmas presents bought and wrapped by Thanksgiving. (Best of all, she never makes her Type-B sister feel bad!)
While I’m learning routines to organize my time and house, my to-do lists and I still struggle on many days. As I added to my to-do list today, I thought, you know what I really want? I want to make a to-BE list.
What if my days were governed by a to-BE list rather than a to-DO list? I began to imagine what that list would look like.
To BE present.
One of the things I like least about a busy schedule is that it keeps me from savoring moments with my kids. I say “hurry” too often and brush past the day’s simple treasures with my children.
I want to soak in Annalise’s expressions as she shows me the insect she found outside. I want to pause my agenda and listen to my college girl’s heart when she calls. I want to forever imprint the scene of boys playing basketball barefoot on the driveway.
To BE content.
Oh how this would change my days. To be satisfied, not striving. To be content in this house with its quirks and flaws and in this season right now.
To be at peace with the kind of mom I am rather than wishing I was the fun mom, the energetic mom, the crafty mom, or the (imaginary) mom that has it all together.
To BE kind.
How about a day where one of my chief goals is to be kind to every person I deal with? Those in my house, first of all.
To instruct and discipline in kindness looks much different than instructing and disciplining when it affects me and my tasks.
My to-BE list would include being kind to the cashier who mixes up my order and patient with my elderly neighbor’s conversation.
To BE grateful.
How different my days would look through the lens of thankfulness. When picking up books or shoes left out, I want to be thankful for curious and healthy kids rather than irritable at the mess.
Instead of begrudging the scratches on my stovetop, I want to be grateful for a full pantry and working kitchen.
To BE brave.
Some tasks on my to-do list never get done not because of time, but because I’m scared to tackle them. Maybe it’s a hard phone call or financial decision. Or that big, hairy audacious goal that seems overwhelming.
I want courage to do the hard things, to get off go, and to take manageable steps today toward those big goals.
What about you?
What would be on your to-BE list?
Lisa Appelo is a single mom to 7 and recent widow writing about the faithfulness of God and the crazy good lessons she’s learning everyday at True and Faithful.
Gretchen’s $59 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Aldi
The milk from Dillons accidentally got put in this picture. 😉
2 pkg Strawberries – $1.29 each
1 pkg Roma Tomatoes – $1.19
1 loaf Bread – $0.99
2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each
1 Grape Jelly – $1.45
1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99
1 Half & Half – $1.89
1 dozen Eggs – $1.29
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.29
Total with tax ($1.01): $13.66
Dillons
1 gallon Milk – $2.24, used $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $2.04 after rebate (This is pictured in the Aldi picture.)
2 Yoplait Greek Yogurt – Marked down to $0.49 each, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $0.34 each after rebate
1 Knudsen Juice – Marked down to $0.99
1 Santa Cruz Juice – Marked down to $0.59
1 pkg Driscoll’s Raspberries – $2.50
1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $0.99, used $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $0.79 after rebate
1 pkg Blueberries – $2.99
1 pkg Kroger Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – $6.99
1 Green Pepper – $0.89, used $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $0.69 after rebate
3 pkg Gevalia Coffee K-cups (18 ct each) – Marked down to $2.99 each (I was so excited to find a whole shelf of these marked down to only $2.99! I was almost out of coffee so it was perfect timing!)
Total with tax ($2.14): $29.67
Homeland Trip #1
Homeland only doubles 1 like coupon a day so I went two days in a row to take advantage of some of the best deals.
1 Sure Deodorant – $2, used $1/1 coupon from the 5/3 SmartSource insert (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Cocoa Puffs Cereal – $2.50, used $1/1 printable (no longer available) (doubled) – $0.50 after coupon
1 Multigrain Cheerios – $2.50, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $1 after coupon
2 cans Hormel Chili – $1.25 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.25 each after coupon
2 pkg Glad Snack Bags – $1 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 5/3 SmartSource insert (1 doubled) and $1/1 Ibotta rebate – Free plus overage after coupons
1 Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal – $3.05, used $1/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1.05 after coupon
1 Colgate Toothpaste – $1, used $0.50/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 (5 lbs) bag Potatoes – $2
1 pkg Kraft Shredded Cheese – $1.66, used $0.30 Ibotta rebate – $1.36 after rebate
3 Kraft Salad Dressing – $1.48 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.81 each after coupon
1 Sargento Balanced Breaks – $2.50, used $0.75/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1 after coupon
1 Angel Soft Toilet Paper – $1.59, used $0.45/1 coupon from the 5/17 RedPlum insert (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon
Total with tax ($1.65): $11.19
Homeland Trip #2
1 Sure Deodorant – $2, used $1/1 coupon from the 5/3 SmartSource insert (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Multigrain Cheerios – $2.50, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $1 after coupon
1 Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal – $3.05, used $1/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1.05 after coupon
1 Colgate Toothpaste – $1, used $0.50/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Sargento Balanced Breaks – $2.50, used $0.75/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $1 after coupon
1 Carefree Liners – $1, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Super Snack Pack Pudding – $2.89, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – $0.89 after coupon
1 Wheat Thins – $1.67, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free plus overage after coupon
Total with tax ($0.95): $5.13
Total for all grocery stores: $59.65
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches x 3
Toast & Eggs, Fruit x 2
Cereal x 2
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Rice Cake Sandwiches, Fruit, Veggies x 2
Cheese/Crackers/Veggies x 2
Baked Potato Bar
Macaroni & Cheese, Steamed Peas
Leftovers
Dinners
Oven Fried Chicken, Butterhorn Rolls, Tossed Salad
Cereal and Fruit (My husband is out of town this night and I just decided to do a super easy dinner.) 🙂
Hamburger Vegetable Soup, Crackers
Chicken Fajitas, Steamed Corn (from the freezer)
Venison Roast, Potatoes, Green Beans, Tossed Salad
Homemade Pizza, Tossed Salad
Date night (Out to eat)
The Real Reason For My Clutter
Guest post from Ashley of Lies About Parenting
Hi, I’m Mom. Otherwise known as the Finder Of Stuff.
We could never find anything, because clutter was a way of life. If there was an empty spot in my house, we found a way to fill it.
I had enough cleaning supplies to run the hospital’s sanitation program. Not-quite-right beauty products piled under every bathroom sink. Closets vomiting clothes, shoes, and bags. My garage was piled high with stuff, the kitchen full of outdated spices, and there was an endless cycle of always-dirty laundry.
My partner is a we-might-need-it-one-day kind of person, and I’m a this-is-old-and-special kind of girl. Our clutter just got worse with the birth of our daughter.
Sunday afternoons were often spent in the garage (or closet) sorting, stacking, and trying to create some order. Pinterest, Real Simple, and Martha Stewart never had a solution to my problem of having too much stuff.
I bought so many storage systems, that I’m still waiting for my thank-you note from The Container Store stockholders.
I found myself organizing my organizing. Like a teenager who can’t decide between two identical pairs of jeans, I was stuck, sorting through options that were not going to change.
Sick and tired of the last-minute hunts that made me feel resentful towards my family, disappointed in myself, and unhappy with my home, I read a book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo, that solved my clutter problem with one simple explanation.
Guilt is why I have clutter.
Why was I keeping things I didn’t love, use, or need? The answer was guilt, whether from the expense, a gift, or a poorly executed plan (Pilates reformer, anyone?).
Guilt was making me stockpile my possessions.
Clothes that never fit cost money, gifts from loved ones were supposed to be special, and family heirlooms were meant to be cherished.
I took a deep breath, and just let go.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 90% of my closet is gone, and I’m left with what I love (and wore most of the time, anyway). A handful of favorite books remain, surplus furniture is out, and holiday decorations got to stay only if they made me smile.
Decluttering worked this time, and my partner is now working through the decluttering, and de-guilting, process.
A surprising benefit is we clean less, because there’s less to clean.
By focusing on decluttering my belongings, I now breath happy, dust-free air. Try it. Just let it go, and you won’t be disappointed.
Ashley loves honest talk about parenting and life choices. She blogs about the good, the bad, and the funny at Lies About Parenting. She is known for debunking popular parenting advice that just doesn’t work, and is a passionate believer that clean homes create clean minds. She’ll consider herself a parenting success if she can, somehow, manage to raise kind and compassionate kids.
Brigette’s $72 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Aldi
2 3-lb bags Pink Lady Apples – $5.98
2 4-ct pkgs Corn on the Cob – $2.98
1 head Cauliflower – $1.99
2 3-ct pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.98
1 Seedless Watermelon – $3.99
1 32-oz pkg Spaghetti – $1.59
1 4-ct pkg Tomatoes – $1.79
2 1-lb pkgs Ground Turkey – $3.78
1 large bag Kale – $1.99
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.89
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.89
1 2-lb bag Vidalia Onions – $0.99
2 Cucumbers – $0.78, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout 51 – $0.53 after rebate
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.19
2 24-oz cartons Cottage Cheese – $4.58
1 jar Salsa – $1.89
2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98
Total: $43.26
Farmer’s Mart
1 huge box Oranges, reduced (my 6-yr old informed me there were 75 oranges, to be exact ;)) – $5.00
1 Cabbage ($0.29/lb) – $1.47
Total: $5.47
Harris Teeter
1 box Tetley Tea – $1.59, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.09 after coupon
2 24-ct pkgs Hefty Plates (B1G) – $2.99, used $1/2 printable – $1.99/2 after coupon
1 pkg Hefty Easy Grip Cups – $1.74, used $0.50/1 Hefty Ultimate Easy Grip Cups, exp. 6/30/15 (RP 03/22/15 R) (doubled), plus receive $1.00 back from Ibotta – $0.26MM after coupon and rebate
1 pkg Chicken Leg Quarters (6.03lbs @ $0.59/lb) – $3.56
5 bottles of assorted Ken’s Salad Dressing (B2G3) – $5.58, used 2 $1/2 Ken’s Dressings, exp. 6/30/15 (SS 05/03/15 R) – $3.38/5 after coupons
1 large bottle French’s Mustard – $1.44, used $0.75/1 French’s Ketchup, exp. 8/31/15 (SS 05/10/15)(doubled) – FREE after coupons
1 jar Peter Pan Peanut Butter (B1G1) – $1.27, plus receive back $0.30 from Ibotta – $0.97 after coupon and rebate
2 pkgs Sargento Cheese Slices – $5.00, used $0.65/2 Sargento Natural Cheese Slices, exp. 6/28/15 (SS 05/17/15) (doubled) – $3.30/2 after coupons
2 18-ct cartons Eggs – $3.54
2 pks Al Fresco Chicken Sausages (B1G1) – $5.69, used 2 $2.00/1 coupons (emailed to me from signing up here) – $1.69/2 after coupons
1 gallon Milk – $2.99, plus receive $0.30 back from Ibotta – $2.69 after rebate
1 32-oz bag Frozen Broccoli – $2.00
Total after coupons, rebates, and tax – $23.25
CVS
2 boxes Special K Cereal – $5.00, used $1/2 printable, plus receive back $2 ECB – $2.00/2 after coupon and ECB’s
2 Glade Scented Candles – $5.50, used 2 $1/1 Glade Product, exp. 6/14/15 (SS 05/03/15), plus receive back $2 ECB, $0.50 from SavingStar, and $2.00 from Checkout 51 – $1.00MM after coupons and rebates
Used $1.99 in previous ECB’s
Total after rebates and tax:$3.19, plus receive back $4ECB’s
Weekly Total: $70.98
(This total does not include my CVS shopping trip. Since I only shop there every few weeks, spend very little out-of-pocket as I am mostly rolling ECB’s, and buy mostly non-food items like make-up and diapers, I don’t include them in my grocery posts. This week’s trip did include cereal, though, which is why I am posting it. :))
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal with Strawberries (from the freezer) x 2
Cereal x 2
Eggs and Toast x 2
Brown Sugar Twists, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Oranges (Company Breakfast)
Lunches
Baked Sweet Potatoes, Salmon (canned), Veggies with Dip
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Watermelon, Cucumber Slices x 2
Stir-Fried Veggies, Hard Boiled Eggs, Oranges x 2
Leftovers x 2
Dinner
Hamburgers and Chicken Sausages on the Grill, Cheesy Hashbrown Potatoes, Watermelon, Corn on the Cob, Raw Veggie Plate with Ranch Dip (Company Dinner)
Chicken Gravy over Brown Rice, Watermelon, Cauliflower Nuggets
Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Steamed Broccoli, Homemade French Bread (Company Dinner)
Date Night (really excited for a night out with my husband as it has been WAY too long!)
Taco Salad, Oranges, Green Rice Casserole
Leftovers x 2
Snacks
Orange Dream Smoothies, Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars, Oranges, Popcorn
5 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Toy Clutter
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post sharing 5 Reasons I’m Glad We Don’t Have Many Toys. So many of you commented and said you’d love to cut down on toys but you don’t know where to start or how it’s really feasible when you constantly have friends and relatives giving you new toys.
If you’re feeling like you wish you could have fewer toys, but you just don’t know how to pull that off — especially thanks to generous grandparents! — here are some suggestions:
1. Set Boundaries
I’m a big believer in having a home for everything in your home. Meaning, everything has a place for it to reside — be a drawer, a cupboard, a basket, a tub, or a box. Not only does this help your house stay cleaner and more organized, it also allows you to place limits on what you have.
For instance, when we lived in a little basement apartment, we had almost zero room for toys, but I designated one of the end tables that had a cupboard door on it as the place where we kept Kathrynne’s toys. If it didn’t fit in there, we couldn’t keep it — otherwise we’d be stepping on or over it all day long!
Nowadays, we have a tub for LEGOs, a barrel in the garage for outdoor toys (balls, bats, etc.), a shelf in a closet where we keep games, and a few baskets in the kid’s closet for misc. toys (walkie-talkies, stuffed animals, etc.)
Need help getting started designating a place for your toys? Check out Five Steps for a Pared Down Playroom.
If you have more than one child, you could consider having assigned areas for each individual child’s toys and then a place for toys that everyone shares. You might consider having a tub or shelf labeled with each child’s name. Our rule at our house is that when the shelf or tub is full, you can’t get any new toys until you get rid of some that you already have.
Since my kids are really, really into LEGOs, we’ve had to put some measures in place to help them not take over a room or area of our house. The kids know they are expected to have them all picked up once per day when they clean up their room (where the LEGOs usually are).
If they bring the LEGOs into other parts of the house and don’t pick them up when they are done or if they leave them lying out in their room after they’ve been told to pick them up, the LEGOs are put up for 4-6 weeks — which is a pretty huge punishment for our LEGO-lovers. It’s happened a few times and it’s been enough to convince them to be very responsible in keeping them put away when they aren’t in use.
2. Only Keep What You Love
We love quality, versatile toys in our home: things like LEGOs, art supplies, craft supplies, outdoor toys, and educational toys. We try to have toys that encourage creativity rather than solely entertain.
And here’s the thing we’ve discovered: our kids would much rather play with cardboard boxes or build tents with old sheets, folding chairs and couch pillows than have the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos. The few bells-and-whistle toys we’ve had in the last couple of years served to entertain for a short while and then were abandoned for LEGOs, puzzles, and creative play.
We try to go through our house very regularly and get rid of things we no longer love, use, or need. There’s no point in keeping something around if no one likes it or uses it on a regular basis. Is it sitting around untouched for weeks on end? Is it broken? Does it have parts which can’t be replaced? Get rid of it!
If you have toys that are in good condition that you no longer use or love, donate them to a daycare or children’s home, sell them in a garage sale or consignment sale, drop them off at Goodwill, sell them on a Facebook Yard Sale Groups or Craigslist, or even have a Toy Swap Party.
Here’s a creative idea from The Bargain Shopper Lady:
My boys started a “friend toy swap” which is their idea of giving to their friends. Anytime they have a friend over to play, they let their friend choose one toy to take home. I approve all toys before the friend leaves just in case they are trying to give something away, such as “their brother’s favorite toy” or something that they just got and is still pretty new.
This method is great for us! We have friends over often and it really helps with the clutter! My children are also learning that they really enjoy giving toys they don’t play with as often to their friends!
3. Ask For Consumable Gifts
One of the biggest reasons parents have told me that they can’t cut down on toy clutter is because of their well-meaning and generous relatives and grandparents who are constantly gifting various things to their kids.
First off, if this is the case for you, I just want to encourage you to remember that this is a blessing that you have grandparents who want to give to and bless their grandchildren. Not all families have this. So be grateful for it instead of resenting it.
Always remember that the relatives are likely buying things for your children because they love them. In almost every case, they aren’t purposefully seeking to annoy or irritate you.
That said, I encourage you to graciously and lovingly communicate your preferences to your relatives. Perhaps they don’t know you are short on space or really would love it if they spent less money. Maybe they feel obligated for some reason. Whatever it is, come up with a plan to talk about the issues in a calm and loving manner.
However, don’t just go to Grandma and say, “Sorry, we don’t have room for your toys. Please don’t ever buy another toy again.” Give your relatives some options.
Here are some consumable/no-clutter gift ideas you could suggest:
- Bubble bath, crayons, & sidewalk chalk
- A special outing with the grandparents
- Magazine subscriptions
- Subscription to craft kit boxes — like Doodle Crate, Kiwi Crate, and Tinker Crate — our kids got these for Christmas/their birthdays and love, love, loved them!
- Subscriptions to LEGO’s Pley membership — Kathrynne got this for her birthday and has loved it!
- Craft supplies
- Crayons, paper, coloring books, and other craft supplies
- Gift cards for restaurants/treats
- Memberships to Local Attractions
Check out the comments on this post here for many, many more ideas.
You could also ask for clothes, books, educational toys, outdoor toys, LEGOs, gift cards, or even for them to donate money to your child’s college fund!
At the end of the day, though, be sure you don’t deprive the grandparents of getting the joy that comes from giving. Just as you would like to see change on their part, be willing to meet them halfway–or more! It might never be perfect or ideal, by openly communicating in a loving manner and presenting some options and being willing to listen and show appreciation to them, you just might be able to come to a happy medium.
4. Rotate Toy Collections
If you feel like you have too many toys, but you don’t want to part with what you have, consider a rotational toy system. Put away half the toys for a month. After a month, put away the toys you currently have and get out the toys which were put away. You could even do this on a quarterly basis.
This method can help you to see what toys your children really like and use. It also might help encourage more contentment with you already have since your children will probably feel like they are getting “new” toys quite often — when really it’s just the same old toys they’ve always had being presented in a new way!
{See Stephanie’s Day of the Week Tub System here.}
One toy rotation system we’ve used in our home when our kids were little was the Day of the Week Tub System. This idea has so many variations, but the basic gist is to divide most of the toys in your home into seven groups and put them in seven different tubs labeled with the days of the week.
Your children can then play with the appropriate tub each day. It keeps things rotated and fresh, while creating less mess.
5. Don’t Shop for Toys at Garage Sales or Dollar Store
I know, I know! There are so many supposedly “good deals” to be found at garage sales and dollar stores when it comes to kid’s toys. But like I often say, if you don’t need it and it’s just going to be cluttering up your home, it’s not a good deal for you — no matter how inexpensive the price is.
So unless it’s something you really need, it’s consumable, or you’re planning to get rid of it after they play with it for a few weeks, just don’t buy it. Because there’s no point it filling up your house with stuff that you then have to pick up, clean up, care for, organize, and (maybe even) get frustrated by!
What ideas and suggestions would you add to my list? How do YOU cut down on toy clutter at your house?