Money Saving Mom®

Classic View

Grid View

Shared May 23, 2015 comment

If Our To-DO List Was a To-BE List

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 23, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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.

photo source

Shared May 23, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $59 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on May 23, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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)

Shared May 22, 2015 comment

The Real Reason For My Clutter

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 22, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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.

photo source

Shared May 22, 2015 comment

Brigette’s $72 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Brigette on May 22, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

Shared May 21, 2015 comment

5 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Toy Clutter

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 21, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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?

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Click here to sign up!

Shared May 21, 2015 comment

How to Keep Your Flower Beds Weed-Free (for free!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 21, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Passionate Penny Pincher shows you How to Keep Your Flower Beds Weed-Free (for free!). Have any of you done this before?

Shared May 20, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s Target Shopping Trip: 6 items for $2.97 out of pocket

Published: by Gretchen on May 20, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Target Shopping Trip

Transaction #1

3 Playtext Sport Liners – $3.99 each (Buy 3, Get $5 Target gift card)

Used 3 $3/1 printable

Total after coupons: $2.97, Received $5 Target gift card

Transaction #2

1 Palmolive Dish Soap – $2.49
Used $0.50/1 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert
And used $1/1 Target mobile coupon (text OFFERS to 827438)
And used 10% off Cartwheel coupon

2 Suave Kid’s 2 in 1 – $1.92 each
Used $1.50/2 coupon from the 5/17 SmartSource insert

Used $5 Target gift card from transaction #1

Total after coupons and gift card: $0.00

Total for both transactions: $2.97

Shared May 20, 2015 comment

We Paid Cash: Training for My Coaching Career

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 20, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We paid cash! A testimony from Sue who blogs at SueSundstrom.com

About 2 years ago, while I was working full time, my husband and I decided to put aside a regular portion of my salary toward a savings fund. Although it was tempting to spend the money, we knew it was a responsible and right thing to do to make sure we had a good sized ‘emergency fund’ in place.

So a few months into 2013, we set aside £1,000 (about $1,560) every month into this savings fund. By the end of the year, we’d done it! We had £10,000 in the fund.

In 2014, after finishing my work contract, I found myself thinking about something I’d wanted to do for years – to become a coach, as I have a passion for helping people. I found a very comprehensive course, which involved a fairly large investment of both money and time, but would enable me to become a qualified transformational coach.

If it weren’t for the savings that we had built up, I would not have been able to take that course, and probably wouldn’t be a coach today!

We paid cash for the course and I started it in August 2014, completing it end of January this year.

We achieved our goal by doing a number of things:

– We set a specific goal to have £10,000 (about $15,600) in our emergency fund by the end of the year, and tracking our progress kept me motivated.

– We set up a direct debit so transferred the money straight into a separate savings account as soon as my salary had been paid. This was crucial – if the money was left in our current account, we would have found something to spend it on!

– I did weekly meal planning and bought only the groceries we needed for that week. It reduced the habit of buying things just because they caught my attention – that would result in spending more than I intended. I would buy only the items on the grocery list created for the week’s meals. Also I often ordered groceries online, and this reduced impulse buying.

– During that year I read very few magazines, kept no catalogues in my home and barely ever went window shopping. Magazines have many adverts and images in them that cause us to ‘aspire’ to get more. Same with catalogues. Window shopping makes you aware of all the items on offer and makes you want things you don’t need! I am a person who gets drawn by ‘shiny’, new things, so curbing those distractions by not feeding myself with them via magazines and catalogues really helped me stay on track.

– I read blogs and books on personal finance which inspired me to keep saving rather than spending. Goals help me to keep going when the initial excitement of something wears off and the going gets tough.

It felt so good at the end of that year to know that we’d achieved our goal!

Sue Sundstrom is a coach for women who want more out of life. She is on a mission to help women achieve their goals and live a life of significance, all whilst enjoying a sense of adventure and fun! She can be found blogging on parenting, family fun, productivity and goal setting at SueSundstrom.com.

Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.

Shared May 19, 2015 comment

9 Ways Busy Moms Can Find Time for Quiet in Their Day

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, awhile back, I wrote a post on Why Moms Need a Time Out. Some of you loved the post, but others of you said something like, “I want to love this post, but I just don’t think it’s possible for me to find quiet in my day.”

And I want you moms to know this: I hear you. The last thing I wanted to do with that post was to burden or discourage you. Instead, I’d hoped to inspire you to make filling up yourself more of a priority so that you could be more energized to pour into your families.

Because here’s the thing: if we just give and give and give and give and we never take time to replenish our supply, we’re going to end up completely drained and exhausted.

One of my favorite times of each day is in the quiet morning hour before the house is awake. I spend time in God’s Word, I write in my Blessings Journal, and I often read a chapter or two from the current devotional/spiritually encouraging book I’m reading. This is my fuel and foundation for the day.

However, one of the reasons I’m able to get up before my family wakes up is because I’m not waking up multiple times in the night with babies and toddlers. I’m in a season of life where my three kids still go to bed fairly early and they (for the most part) sleep through the night.

A few years ago when I only had babies and toddlers, I was pretty much always behind on sleep and it wasn’t wise or healthy for me to wake up an hour before everyone else got up — because I needed every minute of sleep I could get.

So I get it that there are seasons of life when quiet is hard to come by and sleep is a premium. And I wanted to write a post for moms who are in this kind of season to give you some practical ideas and suggestions on how you can find time to refuel your soul — even when life is very, very full.

1. Make it a Priority.

It has well been said, “If something’s important to you, you’ll make it happen. If it’s not, you’ll make an excuse.”

We moms are really good and taking care of everyone else long before we’d ever consider investing in ourselves. I wholeheartedly believe that motherhood is supposed to be a selfless act, but not to the point of breakdown and burnout.

The first step in actually finding time to have quiet in your day is to understand why it’s a priority and how it can make a difference for you and your family. Once you get this, then you can guilt-lessly commit to finding a way to make it happen — even if it’s just five minutes every other day.

2. Keep it Simple

This is important to understand. Making time for quiet doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to find an hour-ling block of time in your day. If you wait for an open hour block, you’ll probably be waiting a very long time.

Instead, find ways to just soak up the little bits of quiet you have in the season you’re in. Pray while you’re cooking or nursing or changing diapers, listen to the Bible and uplifting music on your phone throughout the day, listen to podcasts while you’re cleaning, turn on music during your commute… sneak in moments here and there to refresh and encourage your heart!

“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”

3. Streamline Your Life.

Take inventory of your current time usage. Are you wasting pockets of time watching TV, surfing Facebook, blog-hopping for no purpose, or volunteering for things that are just draining you?

Are you cramming your day full of things you don’t really enjoy just because you feel obligated or because you think staying busy will make you more fulfilled?

What are you spending time on that you don’t love right now? What’s taking a lot of your energy and effort and not bringing you any fulfillment? Is there a way you could eliminate, streamline, or delegate any of that to make more room for quiet?

4. Get Up a Little Earlier or Stay Up a Little Later.

Okay, so I hesitate to put this one on this list, but hear me out: Maybe you could get up 5-10 minutes before your family does so you could have just a tiny bit of time for quiet before the three-ring circus of the day begins?

Or maybe you could stay up 15-30 minutes after everyone goes to bed and invest some intentional time into doing something that fills you up? {Just promise not to get sidetracked onto something and then stay up way past your bedtime and end up completely dragging the next day! I’d recommend setting a timer and maybe telling your spouse or your friend in order to help you stay accountable and focused.}

If you’re not getting enough sleep at all, please go to bed early and stay in bed as long as possible. But if you feel like you might be able to spare 5-15 minutes of sleep without a problem, experiment with getting up early for a few weeks and then experiment with staying up late for a few weeks to see which end of the spectrum fuels you more and which allows you the best quiet.

5. Swap Babysitting With a Friend.

Perhaps you have another mom friend who’d love some kid-free quiet once a week. Ask her about the possibility of swapping babysitting once a week — where she’d watch your kids for an hour or two so you could have some quiet and then you’d watch her kids so that she could have some quiet.

This means a little bit more work while you’re babysitting, but it might be worth it for the quiet it buys you — free of charge.

6. Institute a Household Quiet Time.

If your kids are old enough to be in a pack-n-play or their room, you could institute an afternoon quiet time for everyone that lasts 30 minutes to an hour.

This will look differently for different families. It might mean that everyone takes a nap or rest time. It could mean that the kids watch a DVD for 30 minutes. It could mean that the kids get to play quietly in their rooms with a special basket of toys or a Busy Bag.

One thing that we’ve done sometimes is to have a Reading Time, where everyone reads quietly in the same room. This allows me to get some reading done and soak up a little bit of quiet, too.

7. Leave the Kids With Dad.

When our girls were little and Jesse was working really long hours and we had no family or babysitters nearby, I knew I needed to get out of the house by myself for at least an hour or two every week. So Jesse decided that Saturday mornings were Mom’s Mornings Out.

I’d go to Panera down the street and enjoy a bagel and a cup of tea and just read, plan my week, and get some blogging done. This one or two-hour block of time made all the difference in the world for me — and it gave Jesse some focused time with the girls in the middle of a very busy work schedule.

8. Hire a Sitter or Mother’s Helper.

This option might not be financially feasible, but I still wanted to mention it. Consider if there’s wiggle room in your budget to have a sitter or mother’s helper come over for an hour or two ever week.

Oftentimes, a young teen girl will only charge around $10-$12 per hour (or even less!) and paying her to help out so you can run to the store, work on an organizing project, or even take a shower, can feel almost life-changing and every bit worth the extra expense.

9. Get Creative.

There are so many other outside the box ideas to consider such as:

Putting your kids in a double stroller and going for a walk (it might not be completely quiet, but it could be a refreshing change of pace).
Taking your kids to the park and watching them play while you sit on a swing or park bench.
Reading aloud with your kids while they play with LEGOs or Play-doh (again, not completely quiet, but it’s still quieting to my soul to read aloud).
Popping in a DVD for 20 minutes while you sit in the other room and read and savor a cup of coffee.

Remember, even 5 or 15 minutes can make a big difference. Don’t keep living life barely surviving. Take time to nourish and feed your soul and refresh your spirit and body.

What ideas do YOU have for making time for quiet even when life is really full? I’d love to hear!

Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? Be sure to grab a copy of my brand-new online course, Make Over Your Mornings.

This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.

If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you. Find out more about it here.

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Click here to download!

Shared May 19, 2015 comment

“I wanted to quit, but I didn’t give up.”

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Yesterday, I mentioned that the same day Jesse and I ran the Tough Mudder Race, our girls also ran the Mini Mudder with Jesse’s younger brother, Jon.

Let me tell you, this kid’s race was no joke! It was a mile long and filled with many different obstacles…

It was pretty grueling and I’m so proud of them for not quitting and making it to the finish line. Kaitlynn told us at the end, “I really wanted to give up, but I didn’t let myself quit.”

Their faces show the fulfillment the experienced at the end for sticking it out, persevering, and not giving up.

Shared May 19, 2015 comment

20 Snack Ideas for Less Than $0.25 Each

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Frugally Blonde has a great list of 20 Snack Ideas that cost less than $0.25 each. What are YOUR favorite low-cost snacks?

Shared May 19, 2015 comment

$70 Weekly Dinner Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 19, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jessica from Life as Mom has another $70 Weekly Dinner Menu Plan on her blog. Check it out here if you need some inspiration.

Shared May 18, 2015 comment

My Very First Tough Mudder Experience (& how I shocked myself by loving it!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 18, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Yesterday, I did something way outside my usual comfort zone. And I completely surprised myself by loving it…

What was it, you ask? Well, I ran in and finished my very first Tough Mudder race.

Yup. I did.

For those of you who haven’t heard of the Tough Mudder race, here’s how they describe it on their site:

Now here’s the thing you should know: I didn’t really know much about the race and only signed up two weeks ago on a whim.

Jesse had been signed up for it and anticipating it for months. He and his brother, Stephen, were planning to run it together and his parents were coming into town to cheer them on.

He and I have always wanted to run a race together, but we’ve never been able to work out childcare to make it happen. As I was thinking about the race two weeks ago, I realized that since his parents would be here, our childcare issues would be solved. And I knew Jesse would love, love, love for me to run the race with him

So I got rather spontaneous and out-of-the-blue asked him if he thought I could run the race. He gave me a rather shocked expression, but said he thought I could. So I blew him away by saying, “Well, I was thinking of signing up for it and running it with you.”

I wish you could have seen his face. HE WAS ECSTATIC and he literally immediately got online and signed me up (maybe he wanted to do it before I changed my mind?!)

I didn’t have much time to train except to mentally prepare for it to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I decided to approach it like childbirth and I figured that if I had naturally birthed three kids without any pain killers taking one contraction at a time, this would be how I would approach this race, too.

I didn’t spend a lot of time researching the obstacles — I figured that would just scare me more. Instead, I researched what would be best to wear. I found out that good, lightweight shoes, leggings (not shorts — your legs would get really scraped up), rubber gloves with good grip with the ends cut off (so water wouldn’t get lodged inside of them), and a really strong hairband were the most important things.

So I prepped by making sure I had the best outfit for the race, getting good sleep every night for the few nights before, and eating extra carbs the day before, and. It was the best I could do in that short amount of time — and I ended up being so glad that I had done so.

We got up early yesterday morning to drive to a farm that was about an hour and a half away. The whole drive there, I wondered if I had made a big mistake in signing up. I wondered if I’d be able to actually complete the race. I wondered if I’d be the last person to come in. I wondered if I would keel over halfway through.

I second guessed my on-a-whim decision a lot, but I kept reminding myself: You’re committed now. Just go do your best. Pace yourself. Don’t let doubt get in your head. Don’t worry about the few miles ahead of you, just take the next step.

As we stood at the starting line, Stephen, Jesse and I discussed our goals for the race and why we were doing this race. I said, “I’m doing this for my husband because I know that doing this with him means the world to him. My goal is just to finish. I don’t care about my time. I just want to finish.”

We talked about how we’d stay together, work as a team, encourage one another, pace ourselves, and just take one mile and one obstacle at a time. And that’s exactly what we did.

The first mile was uphill almost all the way and it was brutal. I wondered what I had gotten myself into and how on earth I was going to survive 9 more miles plus a bunch of obstacles.

Then we came to the first obstacle — the Mud Mile — where you have to jump into multiple 8-10 foot deep mud pits that are filled with about 2-3 feet of mud at the bottom and then you have to figure out a way to get out.

I stood at the beginning of it and saw all of the people completely covered in mud and thought, “This is INSANE!” But then I jumped in and started slowly working my way through the obstacle — with lots of help from the group. I quickly found it wasn’t all that bad. I got into a rhythm of sliding down the muddy side into the mud pit and then getting help with hoisting myself up to the other side and then doing it again.

It was at this first obstacle that I began to realize what the Tough Mudder is all about. There’s no way you can do this race without the help of your teammates. You just can’t — unless you are superhuman or something. You need a hand (or multiple hands) to help pull you up out of the pits. And you need people around you encouraging you as you do these seemingly impossible tasks.

As I watched everyone in our group — most whom we’d never even talked to before starting the obstacle — work together and encourage one another, I fell in love with the Tough Mudder.

To see people come together, work together, encourage one another, to see big muscular guys needing help just as much as small women like me, to experience the instant camaraderie, to witness how helpful and selfless everyone was, to see how committed everyone was to making sure no one was left behind and that everyone got through the obstacle… it was incredible, inspiring, and infectious.

When I finished this obstacle, I was covered in mud, but I didn’t care because not only had I gotten through the first obstacle, I’d actually had fun doing it!

And right then and there, I realized I just might actually end up liking this whole Tough Mudder thing — instead of being miserable like I thought I’d be.

Over the next 4 hours, we faced 9 more miles of terrain — about half of which was uphill at a pretty steep incline. And we faced lots of obstacles, including the following:

It was hard, but not as bad as I’d expected. Jesse and Stephen stayed with me the whole time and were incredibly encouraging to me — pushing me on and motivating me to keep going even when I was tired.

I did things I never would have thought I was capable of (like the Cry Baby — where you had to crawl through a maze with blinding tear gas, Everest 2.0 — I made it to the top in one try!!, the Arctic Enema which was intense and freezing, and King of the Swingers — where you had to leap off a tall platform, grab a bar, and swing out into a lake of mud).

There were many times when I’d think, “There’s no way I can do that, but I’m just going to go out there and try.” And I did.

I didn’t complete all of the obstacles perfectly, but I gave them my best shot. The only one that I completely bypassed was Funky Monkey — because I have never been able to monkey bars and I had already told myself I got a pass on that one lest I kill my shoulders and have to bow out of the race before it was over with.

But for all the rest of the obstacles, I made myself at least give them my best shot. And, I totally surprised myself when there were only two other obstacles that I couldn’t fully complete.

I jumped into, slid through, walked through, climbed on hands and knees through more mud than I’ve ever seen in my life. You should know that I don’t like mud or being dirty at ALL, but I got over the ick factor quickly and just focused on the task ahead.

One step at a time, one mile at a time, one obstacle at a time, we got through it and had so much fun in the process.

And let me tell you, when we crossed under the finish line and got our finisher headbands, I felt completely exhilarated — WE DID IT!!!

Truthfully, I thought I would probably be miserable the whole race. My goal had just been to go out there and have a good attitude, give it my best shot, hopefully finish, and make a memory with my husband.

Instead, I completely shocked myself by loving almost everything about the race. In fact, I was already talking about signing up for another race before I was even to the finish line of this one! It might sound crazy, but it’s true.

{The girls (and Jesse’s youngest brother, Jon) did a Mini Mudder — I’ll share pictures of that tomorrow. We were SO proud of them!}

This race challenged me as a person and finishing it will give me courage and motivation for years to come to keep putting myself out there, doing hard things, not letting fear of failure hold me back. We are often so much stronger than we believe ourselves to be.

I am sore today. Like Can-Barely-Walk-Up-The-Stairs sore. But it was oh so worth it!

Shared May 18, 2015 comment

10 Goals For This Week + a peek at our new homeschool curriculum/schedule

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 18, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, it was a rather eventful weekend (more on that in a post later today!) and I am crazy sore from it, so I decided to skip my usual Monday morning Cleaning Project post and am just taking it super easy today.

We’re winding down our 2014-2015 school year and getting ready to gear up for our 2015-2016 school year. Since we travel multiple times during the school year and we find it works better to have a steady routine and rhythm going all year long, we usually don’t take much of a summer break.

We do have a more relaxed school schedule in the summer, but we still stick with most of the studies and projects like usual — mostly because we love learning and reading together so we might as well just keep going. 🙂

When this box came in the mail this past weekend was like a homeschool mom’s Christmas!

Jesse and I spent way too long looking at curriculum options and discussing/planning this next year. We had so much fun thinking of what would be best for our kids and what would work best for this season of our lives.

We finally landed on Sonlight Core D for me to teach all three kids together in the mornings and Jesse’s going to teach Math, Language Arts, and Science in the afternoons (we’re using Monarch Online for those subjects). This is our first year to do Sonlight and I am stoked about it!

I’m also completely spoiled because Jesse and I are splitting the homeschooling responsibilities this year. He took over some of the homeschooling this past year and loved it so much that he wanted to continue co-homeschooling.

I love that the kids get to spend so much one-on-one and one-on-three time with him as a result and that he’s so invested in their education. I know that this set-up wouldn’t work for a lot of families and situations, but it is such a great fit for our family right now.

Goals from two weeks ago:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Take Silas on a special one-on-one outing for his birthday.~~

~~2. Write a love note to Jesse.~~

Birthday outing with Silas

~~3. Go through Kathrynne and Silas’ clothes & get rid of what no longer fits them.~~

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.~~

Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals

~~7. Get caught up on thank you note writing.~~

~~8. Finish reading a friend’s manuscript & writing an endorsement for it.~~

Business Goals

~~9. Outline/write 3 substantive blog posts for next week.~~

~~10. Finish tweaking my presentations/slides for the Arlington Homeschool Conference this weekend.~~

At the Arlington Homeschool conference

This 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 (I’d been doing SO good with this — until I went out of town for 5 days! Determined to get back on top of this again!)

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.

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.

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning Checklist

FREE DOWNLOAD: 2-Hour Cleaning Checklist!

To BE present.

To BE content.

To BE kind.

To BE grateful.

To BE brave.

What would be on your to-BE list?

Aldi

Dillons

Homeland Trip #1

Homeland Trip #2

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

Guilt is why I have clutter.

I took a deep breath, and just let go.

Aldi

Farmer’s Mart

Harris Teeter

CVS

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinner

Snacks

1. Set Boundaries

2. Only Keep What You Love

3. Ask For Consumable Gifts

4. Rotate Toy Collections

5. Don’t Shop for Toys at Garage Sales or Dollar Store

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Target Shopping Trip

1. Make it a Priority.

2. Keep it Simple

3. Streamline Your Life.

4. Get Up a Little Earlier or Stay Up a Little Later.

5. Swap Babysitting With a Friend.

6. Institute a Household Quiet Time.

7. Leave the Kids With Dad.

8. Hire a Sitter or Mother’s Helper.

9. Get Creative.

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Footer

Sign up for myHot Deals Newsletter