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Shared Jan 15, 2015 comment

We Made It to South Africa!!!

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Before the flight

After 18 hours on a plane, we made it to South Africa this afternoon!!!! This was my first time to be on another continent, so it was quite surreal.

The flight went far better than I could have imagined. The first few hours we chatted, ate the yummy dinner they served on the plane, and I read a short book.

I was starting to feel really tired, so I decided to go ahead and try to sleep. Well, after tossing and turning for awhile and struggling to find a comfortable position, I then started feeling sick to my stomach.

“Oh, great! We’re only a few hours into the flight and I’m already feeling pretty miserable!” I thought.

I decided to ask Lisa-Jo for some Dramamine since she had gone out and bought extra just in case any of us needed some. Let me just say: I’m so, so grateful she did.

I’ve never taken Dramamine before, but within 30 minutes of taking it, I was in love with the stuff! Not only did they end up calming my queasy stomach, but they also put me into a deep sleep. And I slept soundly for 7-8 hours total!!

I woke up feeling refreshed and rested — which was a huge blessing! I spent the rest of the flight watching a movie and getting caught up on my She Reads Truth study of John. Then it was breakfast time on the plane and then we landed!

While I was initially really dreading the 18-hour flight, it turned out going by quite quickly! Thank you so much for your prayers that I could sleep on the flight — God definitely answered them. And I also have become a firm believer in bringing Dramamine on long flights. 🙂

After the flight — with some of Lisa-Jo’s family

We’ve only been here a few hours and I’m already head over heels in love with the people, the climate, the food, and the hospitality! The weather is amazing — it was a little rainy and overcast but just so refreshing.

Lisa-Jo’s family is just so, so dear. They’ve already bent over backwards to host us.

We had dinner with them tonight and then sat around the table and talked for a long time while Lisa-Jo’s dad brought out different kinds of fruits, cut them up, and passed them around for us to eat.

I’ve tried two new-to-me foods so far: Beef Biltong and Lychee. Plus, we had some of the best fresh peaches and mango I’ve ever had!

Tomorrow, we’re headed out to meet a lot of the locals and see some of the different ministries here that Lisa-Jo’s parents are involved in. I feel so grateful to have this opportunity and am excited for what the next few days will hold.

Thank you for praying for us, sending such encouraging notes, emails, texts, and comments, and for being our cheerleaders on this adventure. We appreciate you all so much!

Shared Jan 15, 2015 comment

How Amazon Subscribe & Save Helped Me Take Charge of My Budget

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 15, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Alison of Experimental Wifery

Call me naïve, but in almost six years of running a household for my family, I have never come in under budget for household goods.

It’s a conundrum. A good budgeter doesn’t spend money she doesn’t have… right? But laundry detergent and Band-Aids are staples, the things I need to keep my home clean and family life running smoothly. How can I not buy them when I need them?

I chock my problem up to optimism. After all, who wants to admit that their family of four — one of whom isn’t even potty trained — really goes through more than ten rolls of toilet paper a month?

I knew that I needed to find a way to keep track of what I actually needed each month (and how much that actually cost) if I wanted to get control of my budget.

I’ve known about Amazon Subscribe & Save for a while now, but it is only in the last few months that I’ve used it to take charge of my spending on staple household goods. Believe it or not, I’m spending less than 75% of what I used to spend on these items each month!

Here’s how:

1. No More Budget Surprises

Before I started using Subscribe & Save, I consistently under-budgeted for staples like diapers, toothpaste, and hand soap.

Now I know exactly how much I pay for those things every month so I can easily budget for them in advance. For bigger purchases, like our once-every-three-months case of toilet paper, I can break the amount down into monthly installments that I set aside for later.

2. No More Blind Eyes to How Much We Actually Use

When I pick up a refill on dishwasher soap here and a box of diaper wipes there, it’s easy to lose track of how much I’m actually buying.

By buying most of household staples in advance and in bulk, I have to face the reality that our daughter really does go through about 150 diapers a month! Because I see the cold-hard facts, I have to budget pragmatically instead of optimistically.

3. No More Big-Box Runs

Every woman knows that it is almost impossible to walk into a Target to buy one thing without coming out with a full shopping cart. By making my normal big-box purchases online, I keep myself out of budget-busting temptation.

4. No More Wasted Gas

Even though gas is surprisingly inexpensive these days, last-minute trips to the store really add up. The pre-scheduled deliveries from Amazon save me from unplanned shopping trips.

5. More Fun Time with My Children

No, time with my children isn’t really a money-saving advantage. But that time is priceless. Shopping with a toddler is stressful for everyone — at least in our family.

Because I shop online, we get to spend our time together doing things we both want to do!

This are just a few of the many reasons I love using Amazon Subscribe & Save to… SAVE! If you’re a Subscribe & Save user, I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.

Alison blogs about learning to be a better woman and wife at Experimental Wifery. She’s a wife, mommy, and high school English teacher. She signs for her Amazon.com packages near Washington, DC.

Shared Jan 14, 2015 comment

The Big Day Is Finally Here (and we’d love your prayers!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s the big day! In just a few hours, I’ll be boarding a plane for an 18-hour flight to South Africa.

I’m going with Lisa-Jo and her 9-year-old son, Jackson (both who were born in South Africa), and my friend and business manager, Joy.

The past two weeks, I experienced quite a few moments where I felt anxious — anxious over the unknowns, anxious over how I would survive such a long flight, anxious over stepping outside my comfort zone, anxious over flying internationally without my husband, anxious about jet lag, anxious about cultural differences.

Overwhelmed By the What Ifs

I had a few nights where I struggled to sleep because I pictured myself cooped up on an airplane for 18 hours and I started to consider all the what ifs.

What if I start feeling claustrophobic just a few hours into the flight?

What if I can’t sleep at all on the flight and arrive in South Africa an exhausted, irritable mess?

What if the airplane has mechanical failure?

What if I get terribly sick from something I eat or drink in South Africa?

What if…? What if…? What if…?

Some people people crave adventure and adrenaline rush; I prefer familiarity and sameness. I have irrational fears involving meeting new people, being in new situations, and not having a set plan in place. What ifs and unknowns can make me stressed and anxious. Enough to feel like I might hyperventilate.

So I’ve had many moments where I’ve wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for this trip. But I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that I’m supposed to go on this trip. And I really feel like it’s going to impact my life in big ways for years to come.

From Fear To Excitement

Also, in the last few days, I’ve felt such a peace about the whole trip. In fact, I’ve started to get really excited about it.

I’m excited about the opportunity to experience a new culture, learn about the struggles South Africans face, see the hope they have, hear about their victories, and get a better grasp on their needs and how we can come alongside and partner with them.

I’m also really thrilled to get to update you in person about the community center, veggie garden, playground, and laundry center many of you helped build in Maubane!

Thank You So Much For Being Our Cheerleaders

So many of you have mentioned that you are praying for me and I just want to tell you thank you so much. I truly feel your prayers. I feel such peace and calmness and excitement about this trip — and I know that that is every bit a result of your prayers and the grace of God.

I have to tell you, I woke up this morning to an outpouring of texts and emails and tweets and Instagram messages from you all with words of encouragement. With so many needs and to-do’s, the fact that you all would care enough to take time to pray and share words of encouragement is a very humbling thing for me.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for praying and cheering for us in this. We feel so loved and supported.

Meet Our 4-Person Team

We wanted to introduce you to our little team and share some specific prayer requests for those of you who want to be praying for us. Here are some of the specific prayer requests from each of the four members of our team who will be spending 18 hours together in row 58 seats D, E, F, & G:

Lisa-Jo

Been doing this trip between continents for two decades now
Will be staying at her parents’ house
Her brother and sister-in-law in South Africa are expecting their first baby the same week

You can follow her here on Instagram this week.

Lisa-Jo’s Prayer Requests:

That I would be a generous host, conscious of the needs of my fellow travelers and quick to encourage them.
That even though we have so few days in country it would be enough time for South Africa to burrow deep into the hearts of our team
For safety and for courage and for hope in the midst of what others might see as poverty and despair. That we would find the joy and be faithful tellers of those stories for each of you.
For special times of bonding with my first born, my South African son, Jackson
For peace and health and hopefully managing just fine without us for my husband Peter and precious Micah and Zoe.

Jackson

Been doing this trip since he was born
On his second passport
Seasoned traveler who is most excited about watching movies for 18 hours straight.

(this is him hugging Lisa-Jo’s little brother good-bye last time they were home –a year ago).

Jackson’s Prayer Requests:

That we would be safe on the long flight.
That I have lots of time to catch up with my big brother, Karabo.
That me and my mom have fun.
That my brother and little sister are OK without me.

Crystal

First time flying longer than a 5-hour trip
Her 3 kids and husband will spend the week doing historical trips in DC while she’s away
Nervous but excited to get another stamp in her passport!

You can follow me here on Instagram this week.

My Prayer Requests:

A calm spirit during both flights and the ability to sleep on both flights so that I can arrive in South Africa and then back home to my family feeling rested, cheerful, and energetic instead of exhausted and drained.
An open heart to whatever God wants to teach me through this trip — that my heart would never be the same as a result of this trip.
That I would be a blessing and an encouragement to each person I am with on the trip.

Joy

Fly by the seat of her pants extrovert
Helps Crystal manage her blog and business
Mom to 4 kiddos
Bringing her Go-Pro camera with her so we can document the trip for you all!

You can follow her here on Instagram this week.

Joy’s Prayer Requests:

Pray for my husband and four kiddos at home. Eight nights is a long time for mama to be gone and Africa is a long way away.
Pray for my mind to settle and for any anxiousness to be gone, so that I can focus on this experience and soak up every bit of it without being distracted.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to be unleashed to do a mighty mighty work through this team and in my own heart. God is up to something and it’s a HUGE blessing to get to be a small part of it.

And now I’m off to wash my hair, double-check all my luggage to make sure I have everything on my list, and head to the airport!

Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in sunny and hot South Africa! I can hardly believe it!

Shared Jan 14, 2015 comment

What Your Craving For Change Might Really Mean

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 14, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Ashley of Lies About Parenting

Do you ever get one of those thoughts that just won’t go away? Like a kid with a loud new toy, the thought pops up, over and over again. Totally exhausting, and completely irritating.

Here’s one I’ve been having: I should chop all my hair off. Right now.

It’s become an obsession, over the last week. Lob or bob? Layered or blunt? Dark or light? My Pinterest peeps must be sick of me, and the dizzying variety of new hairstyle pins I’ve added to my board.

That’s why Crystal’s recent post about making fewer decisions, came at the perfect time. It reminded me why change — disguised as decisions, variety, and choice — is not always a good thing.

The last time a big urge like this came over me, I chopped off over a foot and a half of length, well into pixie crop territory. About that time, I was diagnosed with severe depression, which taught me something important about how my need for change relates to my mental health status.

When the craving for change surfaces, it’s usually because there’s something else going on. Something I can’t control. Work, home, or life has thrown too much at me, and giving myself a choice is like giving myself control.

So, when I find myself obsessing (especially about hair) it’s time to put down the scissors and take a deep breath. Obsessive thoughts about change are a warning sign, flashing, “Slow down. Now.”

Okay, okay. I hear you!

As stress levels rise, our need to control something (anything!) increases, too. Control manifests itself as choice. So, the more choice we have, the happier we should be, right?

Umm…no. Sorry.

The next time you find yourself obsessing over a change, big or small, stop and ask, “Why?”

The real reason might surprise you.

Ashley Trexler 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 Jan 12, 2015 comment

Why I’m Not Setting Any Goals This Week (& Why I Might be MIA for the Next Week)

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 12, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, after anticipating it few many, many weeks…

After spending the last few weeks researching online what I should bring (oh yes, I totally Googled “best pillows for international flights” and “best sleeping pills for long flights” and “does South African Airlines have wi-fi?” — yes, I totally did. And quite a few other such crazy searches!)…

After making some purchases — like some summer clothes (I resorted to buying them from Amazon since most local stores didn’t have clothes for hot summer days!) and special outlet adapters…

After making a detailed packing list — a lot of it based upon your experienced advice and Lisa-Jo’s years of experience (see her post here with great tips on International Travel With Kids — she’s a pro!)…

After a few weeks of collecting a pile of stuff that I thought I’d want to bring…

It was finally time to pack for my trip to South Africa last night!

Packing for long trips is always a tug-o-war between my inner Boy Scout packing tendencies (you know, the “always be prepared” motto) and my minimalist personality.

I was excited that I managed to get everything into a backpack and my carry-on luggage with some room to spare!

On the one hand, it doesn’t look like much for a 7-day international trip. On the other hand, I feel like I “over-packed” and prepared for multiple possibilities. I brought a few extra outfits, I brought extra medicine, I brought extra snacks, I brought multiples of things like tissue packs and hand sanitizer.

Since this is my first time to be on an airplane for longer than 5 hours (our flight is 18-hours straight!), I kind of want to be over-prepared because I’m not sure how it will be for me to be cooped up in a plane for that long! 🙂

{And yes, all those of you who regularly go on international flights can get a good chuckle over how green I am about all of this!}

Our secret to traveling often with younger kids is to teach them how to pack themselves in an organized fashion. My kids all have their own system — some more detailed than others — and they have it down to almost a science.

They packed for the 10-day trip to DC in less than an hour last night! All we had to do was double check their work and pack ourselves.

When I had 3 kids under 6 I could have never imagined the day that my kids would be doing all of their own packing — and doing a great job of it. Moms of littles: your hard work and all that time you spend teaching and training your kids does pay off!!

{We left around noon today for DC and have been driving ever since. We’re almost there! We plan to visit a few sites tomorrow and then I’ll fly out of DC to South Africa on Wednesday. Jesse is staying in DC with the kids while I’m gone and they’re planning go to the museums and visit as many surrounding states and historic sites as they can while I’m gone. They are so stoked about it!}

Last Week’s Goals Update

Since I’m flying to South Africa on Wednesday and won’t be back in the states until next Tuesday (the 20th), I’m not going to set my usual list of goals for this week or next week. My goals, instead, are to soak in everything from the trip, learn all I can learn from those we’ll be with in South Africa, and let the lessons impact me and sink in deep.

Here’s an update on how I did on last week’s goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Start our Morning Time routine. Read aloud for at least 20 minutes every day.~~

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

~~3. Help the kids write thank you notes for Christmas gifts.~~

~~4. Write notes to the children we sponsor through Compassion.~~

Personal Goals

~~5. Exercise at least 4 times (I’m trying out these BeFit in 30 workouts this week.)~~

~~6. Finish at least two books.~~

7. Knit a Cosy Posy Ear Warmer. (I worked on this for at least an hour, but was having trouble getting the seed stitch to look consistent. I know, I know, it’s such a simple stitch, but I’m also such a beginner level knitter and not a naturally crafty person so this kind of stuff requires a lot more effort and concentration for me. However, it’s really a good way to stretch myself in a different creative direction and I find it so invigorating when I actually am able to finish a project and be proud of it! I found some YouTube videos on how to do the seed stitch and found those to be helpful so I’m going to try again and am hoping that I can have a finished project to show you in the next few weeks!)

~~8. Clean out our bathroom closet.~~

~~9. Try a new DIY project & recipe: Fixing Our Hardwood Floor Scratches & Trim Healthy Mama Chocolate Cupcakes.~~

Business Goals

~~10. Finish writing 3 articles for Mandi’s Live course.~~

What You Can Expect While I’m Gone

I’ve been told that we will have limited access to internet while we’re in South Africa. I’ve pre-scheduled some great guest posts to run here and I’m hoping to be able to share at least a few great deals every day plus write a few blog posts while I’m gone sharing pictures and telling you about what I’m experiencing.

However, I’m expecting that I’ll be offline much of the time. So if things are a little quiet here on the blog for the next week and a half, you’ll know why.

I know we’re only just beginning the new year, but we’re going to take a two-week hiatus from all of our 2015 weekly features. I promise we will pick those back up again starting January 26, 2015.

I will be posting pictures on Instagram when I’m able to get a wi-fi connection during the day, so if you’re not following me on Instagram yet, you can click here to do so. That will be the best way to keep up-to-date with the South Africa trip. In addition, follow Joy and Lisa-Jo who will both be traveling with me.

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Wondering how to raise a baby on a budget? It's easier than you think! Check out this helpful list of 20 ways to save -- even with growing babies in the house!

Shared Jan 12, 2015 comment

20 Ways to Raise a Baby on a Budget

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 12, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post by Sarah of Saving Money Never Goes Out of Style

When most parents find out they are expecting, they are so excited; but after that, comes the panic.

You wonder how you will be able to afford a baby, with all that he or she needs, and not go bankrupt doing so. The good news is that you can rest easy.

As a now-single SAHM, it’s important for me to raise my kids on a budget. Thankfully, there are many ways to achieve this. Here are 20 ideas:

20 Ways to Raise a Baby on a Budget

1. Breastfeed if you can. Formula is extremely expensive, and while there are programs out there to help you pay for it and coupons galore, breastfeeding is the cheapest option for most people.

2. Borrow a breast-pump. If you choose to breast feed, the pump can often cost more than you can afford. Look for programs in your area that allow you to borrow them.

3. Make your own wipes. Baby wipes can add up and making your own just takes a few minutes.

4. Use cloth diapers. The initial investment may seem steep, but the savings will add up very quickly. {For some creative ways to save money on cloth diapers, check out this post on How to Cloth Diaper for Practically Free.}

5. Make your own baby food. It’s better for baby, anyway, and it’s so simple.

6. Trade babysitting time. Instead of pay for a sitter, trade babysitting time with other parents.

7. Buy used clothing. Babies grow so fast in the first year or two that it makes more sense to do so. Also, skip shoes. They don’t need them until they walk, anyway!

8. Keep baby in a bassinet with you the first few months. This will give you time to save for setting up a nursery!

9. Create your nursery with a budget in mind. Don’t spend too much on building your own nursery. You can find many things gently used in this area as well.

10. Ask for freebies. Companies love to give new parents freebies. Just do a quick hunt online and don’t forget to also ask your child’s pediatrician for some, too.

11. Buy items that convert. There are many things (from beds to car seats) that convert as the child grows. They may seem costly at first, but they save you money down the road when it comes time to replace things.

12. Use coupons. Diapers, formula, wipes, and even baby furniture can be bought with coupons, Just sign up on the manufacturer’s websites and they will usually flood you with them.

13. Keep your baby’s products simple. Babies have sensitive skin, it’s true. However, you don’t need to spend all your money on special baby products when you can use simple, natural things like coconut oil, Aloe Vera, unscented lotions, and so on.

14. Have a friend be your photographer. Many new parents spend so much money on baby pictures and newborn photos. You can take some lovely ones right at home with just a little practice and some good lighting. If you do go pro, sign up for newsletters to places like Sears and JcPenney’s as they have a lot of promotions that cost as little as $10 in and out the door.

15. Make your own baby-wearing wrap. This can often be done even if you don’t know how to sew. Baby wraps can by costly, but making your own doesn’t have to be.

16. Change your mind. The culture we have here is very consumer driven. One of the biggest targets is new moms and dads. Be aware of this and you may find that you spend less.

17. If you need new, shop at discount stores. Places like Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, or Tuesday Morning offer an entire section that is devoted to department store baby products. These items are 20-60% off the prices at other stores.

18. Skip bibs. Instead buy shirts that are too big for your child. They can be washed easier and they grow into them for messy toddler play later.

19. Borrow things you don’t need for long. If the item is something you only need for a couple of months, such as a baby bath, neck rest for the car seat or Moses basket, see if you know anyone you can borrow it from.

20. Get creative. Sometimes, we can avoid buying something if we get creative. Just think of things you have around the house and see if they will double for what you need them for. {Note from Crystal: Here is my list of the only 6 things I think you truly need for your baby.}

Raising a baby does not have to put you into dire straits. With a little creative thinking, you can save a lot of money!

What ideas would you add to this list? Do you agree with everything on this list?

Sarah is a stay-at-home mom of two wonderful children with a mission to prove that you don’t have to have a lot of money to live a quality life. Sarah loves encouraging others through her blog: Saving Money Never Goes Out of Style.

Shared Jan 12, 2015 comment

How to Save Time, Money, and Space on Kid’s Clothing

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 12, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Andrea Dekker has a great post up on How to Save Time, Money, and Space on Kid’s Clothing.

If you need some ideas for cutting costs and cutting down on the amount of kid’s clothing you have at your house, head on over here to read it.

What ideas would you add to her list?

Shared Jan 10, 2015 comment

A Peek Into Our Week: A new homeschooling routine, fort-building, celebrating our 12th anniversary, and She Reads Truth

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 10, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

After a few weeks of Christmas break, traveling, and sickness, we were back to homeschooling and a regular schedule this week. And I was shocked at how well the week went.

Usually, easing back into a routine after a few weeks off is hard. But this week everything felt so smooth and calm.

I really attribute it to the grace of God, giving the kids a clear picture of how our tweaked schedule was going to look, getting them excited about how we had changed things up a little bit, writing out a to-do list for each child every day (they loved this and were highly motivated by it), and instituting Morning Time as part of our homeschooling schedule.

They loved Morning Time so much that they asked if we could please do it on Saturday, too! I am so grateful for this excitement and new life breathed into our homeschooling and am hoping this momentum continues!

I am loving the She Reads Truth John study this month. Jesse surprised me with the Yearly Membership to She Reads Truth as my Christmas gift and I can’t tell you how thrilled I was!

These studies have challenged me, encouraged me, and inspired me to dig deep into God’s Word. If you are looking for a great Bible study/devotion, definitely check it out. You can get the daily Scripture reading/devotional for free online and just use a notebook to record what you’re learning/studying/praying.

We also started using The Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner this week. I’m divvying up the daily chores amongst myself and the kids and that seems to be working well.

I’m curious to see if this is a good fit for us long-term… we’re committed to try it out for a few months to see how it goes!

I’ve been doing a LOT of reading recently. It’s been so soul-filling for me to get back to making reading a regular part of my every day after a few months of not being so intentional about it. And I’m just loving the variety of books I’m reading.

You can see what I read last week and what I’m reading this week here.

12 years ago today, I married my childhood sweetheart. We were full of big dreams, completely idealistic, and incredibly naive.

We’ve experienced a lot, moved a lot, failed a lot, fought a lot, and grown a lot in these last 12 years. While the years and struggles have made us quite a bit more realistic about life (and maybe a wee bit cynical!), two things haven’t changed: we’re more madly in love than the day we got married and we still want to spend our lives doing all we can to make a difference in this world.

Only God knows what the next 12 years will hold, but we are grateful to be following a God who is always faithful and never changing.

{Thank you, Jesse, for the beautiful anniversary flowers, thank you for 12 amazing (and eventful!) years, and thank you for loving me and believing in me — even on those many days when it’s the last thing I’ve deserved. I love you with all of my heart!}

Today’s frugal fun: Fort-building in the dining room. We don’t have a table in there yet, so I’m happy to see the area be put to good use!

The kids had a blast setting it up with me and then had popcorn and watched a movie in their tent so Jesse and I could enjoy an at-home anniversary date!

How was YOUR week? Anything exciting or interesting happen? Tell us about it in the comments.

Shared Jan 10, 2015 comment

The 6 Most Popular Posts This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 10, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Small House Living: Could You Downsize in House?

How To Get a Free Washer or Refrigerator From Your Utility Company

Trim Healthy Mama Chocolate Cupcakes

Want To Get More Done? Stop Making So Many Decisions.

A Day In My Life

Finally, I announced details of an exciting secret I’ve been keeping for a few months. Read all about it here.

Shared Jan 10, 2015 comment

DIY Experiment: A quick fix for scratched hardwood floors

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 10, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

When I saw this post on an Easy Fix for Scratched Hardwood Floors, I knew I had to try it. Our floors in our rental are very scratched up and I’ve been on a mission ever since we moved to figure out ways to improve how they look.

I bought some of the Howard Restor-A-Finish on Amazon with my Swagbucks credit and was excited to try it out this week.

I chose a spot that was pretty bad but also in a fairly inconspicuous place. See above for the scratches before I tried Restor-a-Finish on them.

And here is how they look after using Restor-a-Finish on them. I can’t tell that much of a difference up close, but I think it looks somewhat better from a distance.

I think this would work even better on wood with darker finish. I also would recommend starting out pouring on less of the Restor-a-Finish to make sure you’re happy with the results in a small area before you dump a bunch on a larger area. 🙂

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve scratched hardwood floors? Did you try an do-it-yourself projects this week? If so, how did they turn out for you?

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Shared Jan 9, 2015 comment

I’d love to meet you in Mississippi on February 6, 2015!

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 9, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Our team is so excited to be putting on a special one-night Say Goodbye to Survival Mode event on February 6, 2015, in Purvis, Mississippi!

This evening will be encouraging, inspirational, and actionable. I’ll be sharing from my heart and giving you practical steps to take to:

Stop living life feeling stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed
Determine your most important priorities & find time to invest in what really matters
Break free from the lie that whispers “I’m not good enough”
Move past loneliness and build authentic friendships with other women

If you could use a boost to begin 2015 on the right track, you won’t want to miss this special one-night event!

Find out more information about this event and purchase tickets here. We have a special group rate for those who’d like to invite a group of women to come.

P.S. Want to have us bring this one-night Say Goodbye to Survival Mode event to your church or women’s group in 2015? We’d love to chat with you about that! Just fill out this form here and we’ll be in touch with more information on dates we have available and how we can serve your church or women’s group.

Shared Jan 9, 2015 comment

How We Paid Cash for a Rental House

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 9, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Jackie

We are determined to pay cash for everything — even big ticket items. So while my husband and I were getting completely out of debt, I set another long-term goal: to pay cash for a rental house once we were debt-free.

The plan was to buy the rental property within a self-directed IRA. (That’s a type of retirement account where you’re allowed to decide what you want to invest in, so long as you stay within the IRS rules.)

Small amounts add up:

I started contributing to my 401k at work. At first I just contributed 3% to see what my check would be like with that amount gone. Once I adjusted to that change, I increased my contribution by 1-2% every few months. I kept that pattern up until eventually I was contributing 30% of my check!

I invested in the options available to me in the 401k, and also got a very small company match. I had in mind that I would be quitting my job at some point in the (then-distant) future to go and work for myself. Once I did, my plan was to roll the 401k money into a self-directed IRA and then buy a rental house within it. The IRA would own the rental property on my behalf.

But before I could do that, the company I worked for was acquired. That meant I could roll the money over to a self-directed IRA earlier than I’d expected. I went ahead and did exactly that. Then I went house shopping!

Finding the house:

I had managed to save up about $80,000 over about 7 years, so I set my rental property budget at $50,000 or less. (I wanted to have extra cash available for repairs and unexpected expenses.)

In order to find a house for that low price, I had to look outside of our area. I found an older home listed at around $40,000 in a small town about 40 miles away. I had my IRA make a full-price cash offer, sight unseen, that was contingent upon inspection. (The property was occupied, and they didn’t want people inspecting who weren’t serious.)

After inspection, I had my IRA withdraw the offer. The house needed a LOT of work. I got a few estimates, and then had my IRA make a new offer at about half the asking price due to the repairs that would be needed. They accepted. Suddenly my IRA owned a rental property, and I’d paid cash for a house.

How it feels to pay cash:

The first time you make a large purchase with cash is amazing! So is every time after that!

Living a debt free life may not be considered “normal”, but it’s awesome — and something I believe everyone can do once they get their finances into shape.

We’re regular people who struggled with debt for years, and we finally beat it. You can too!

Jackie Beck is an entrepreneur and the mom of one college-age son. Her husband is a software tester and avid reader. You can read about how they paid off over $147,000 in debt at TheDebtMyth.com.

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

Shared Jan 9, 2015 comment

10 Things I Learned From Downsizing Our Life

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 9, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I posted about Small House Living earlier this week and introduced you to Lori and her family of six who are currently living in an RV. The comments on that post were quite lively and there were lots of pros and cons shared for both living in a small house and having a larger house.

Lori posted a follow-up post yesterday called 10 Things I Have Learned By Downsizing Our Life. I think you’ll find it very interesting and insightful — at least I know that I did. Head over here to read it.

Shared Jan 8, 2015 comment

How I Saved This Week: Making coffee at home

Published: by Crystal Paine on January 8, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I know it’s simple, but one way we save hundreds of dollars each year is by making coffee at home. You might feel like buying coffee really isn’t costing you much, but here’s what I wrote two years ago:

The Simple Dollar estimates that the cost of a 16-oz. brewed at home cup of coffee will cost you no more than $0.50 to $0.60 each, including the cost of energy, cream, sugar, etc. When I calculated it myself, I was coming up with the same costs for high-quality coffee. If you get a good deal on the coffee beans, your savings is going to be even higher.

So, if you’re typically paying $1.50 per cup of coffee, that’s a savings of around $1 per cup five times per week — or $20 per month or $240 per year. If you typically pay $4 for a fancy cup, you’re saving at least $17.50 per week, $70 per month, or $840 per year! Crazy, eh?

Not only does it save quite a bit of money, I also like coffee brewed at home the best. I can make my cup exactly like I like it. It’s almost like an art form to me!

We don’t really make fancy coffee all that often and we don’t even use sugar in our coffee any more around here, but we do love good cream. So we splurge on half and half every week. It costs us less than two cups of coffee at the coffee shop would cost us and it lasts us all week long — and it makes good coffee so much better!

Some Tried & True Recipe Links:

I was thinking about how much money we save by making coffee at home this week as I found myself brewing a delicious cup and pouring it into my favorite Copco cup before heading out the door.

And not only that, but it saves a lot of time waiting in line, too.

If you’ve been to a Starbucks any time recently, there’s a good chance you’ve waited in line for a least a few minutes, possibly much longer. Those orders of no-whip-two-pumps-extra-foam-double-cup-extra-hot-sugar-free orders take quite awhile to process. 😉

{Speaking of which, I was at the coffee shop recently and someone ordered some drink with a long string of names and instructions that included a specific temperature for the coffee to be. I was pretty aghast that that was allowed. I kind of just want to try ordering a coffee drink with instructions for it to be some random temperature — like 42.5 degrees or something — just to see what the barista says! 😉

For the record, I’m not at all opposed to buying the occasional cup of coffee, I just like it to be a fun treat, not an every day occurrence. Because once you add up how much it costs over time for “just that one cup of coffee”, it becomes a lot more motivating to learn how to brew your own cup of coffee!

What’s one way that YOU saved this week? I’d love to hear!

Shared Jan 8, 2015 comment

Gretchen’s $45 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on January 8, 2015 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Homeland

Farmland Bacon – $4.69, used $1/1 mailer coupon (doubled) – $2.69 after coupon

2.39 lbs Fuji Apples @ $0.99/lb – $2.34

1 Cucumber – $0.69

2 Hungry Jack Hashbrowns – $1.59 each, used $1/2 coupon from the 10/5 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $0.59 each after coupon

1 Welch’s Fruit Snacks – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon

1 Wishbone Salad Dressing – $1.67, used $0.50/1 mailer coupon (doubled) – $0.67 after coupon

Items a part of the Kellogg’s sale (Buy 4, Save $4 instantly):

3 Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereal – $1.50 each, used $1/2 coupon from the 12/7 RedPlum insert (doubled) and $1/1 printable (doubled) – 1 Free and 2 for $0.50 each after coupons

3 Kellogg’s Special K Crackers – $1.50 each, used $1/3 coupon from the 1/4 RedPlum insert (doubled) – $0.83 each after coupon

2 Kellogg’s Granola Bars – $1.50 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.50 each after coupon

Total before coupons and sales: $54.38

Total with tax ($1.38) after coupons and sales: $12.94

Dillons

3 half gallons Milk – $1 each

1 Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1.25

1 Welch’s Natural Fruit Spread – $2.99

1 Malt O Meal Cereal – $3.49, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – $3.49 after coupon

0.79 lbs Tomatoes @ $1.99/lb – $1.57

1 can Kroger Refried Beans – Marked down to $0.49

1 Kroger Butter – $3.99, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $3.59 after coupon

1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $2.19

1 Kroger Frozen Orange Juice – $1.59

1 Kroger Mouthwash – $1.49, used Free mailer coupon – Free after coupon

1 Kroger Tortillas – $1.79

2.82 lbs Bananas @ $0.59/lb – $1.66

0.51 lbs Broccoli @ $1.89/lb – $0.96

1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99

2 dozen Dillons Large Eggs – $1.25 each

1 Nabisco Belvita Biscuits – $3.49, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 5, Get $5 off instantly):

2 Gillette Shave Gel (pk of 2) – $1.99 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 12/14 RedPlum insert – $0.99 after coupons (Makes them $0.49 each)

1 Nature’s Valley Bread – $1

1 Cascadian Farms Cereal – $1.99, used $0.75/1 printable – $1.24 after coupon

1 Cascade Dishwasher Detergent – $2.99, used $1/1 mailer coupon – $0.99 after coupon

Total after coupons and sales: $32.27

Total for all grocery items: $45.91

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 3 Grapefruit/Oatmeal, Toast & Juice

Lunches

Bacon/Eggs/Grapefruit, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, Leftovers, Apple Slices with Peanut Butter

Dinners

Ground Venison and Noodles, Biscuits, Steamed Peas

French Toast, Eggs, Hashbrowns

Venison Burgers, Homemade French Fries, Tossed Salad

Hamburger Vegetable Soup, Homemade Bread

Bean Burritos, Chips/Salsa, Grapefruit

Salad Bar, Pumpkin Muffins

Out to eat

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

1. No More Budget Surprises

2. No More Blind Eyes to How Much We Actually Use

3. No More Big-Box Runs

4. No More Wasted Gas

5. More Fun Time with My Children

Overwhelmed By the What Ifs

From Fear To Excitement

Thank You So Much For Being Our Cheerleaders

Meet Our 4-Person Team

Lisa-Jo

Jackson

Crystal

Joy

Last Week’s Goals Update

What You Can Expect While I’m Gone

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

20 Ways to Raise a Baby on a Budget

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

Small amounts add up:

Finding the house:

How it feels to pay cash:

Some Tried & True Recipe Links:

Homeland

Dillons

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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