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It’s D-O-N-E!!!!!
So, today was a pretty monumental day.
Yes, it was Cyber Monday. But that’s not why it was monumental for me.
It was a BIG day for me because it was the day my manuscript for my next book was due to my publisher.
It was supposed to be due months ago, but my publisher kept pushing the date back because they weren’t ready on their end. And frankly, while I was letting ideas simmer and percolate all the first half of this year, I was in the middle of moving and traveling and adjusting to a new life here in TN and I just wasn’t ready to think about sitting down to write another book.
Well, and truth be told, I was struggling to narrow down my focus. I had a lot of big picture ideas for book concepts, but nothing concrete.
So I kept thinking, listening, praying, waiting, and pondering.
And then one day in June, I was chatting with my friend and manager, Joy, and the book idea became very clear. It was the perfect melding of my passion and experience and it was a topic I knew I would love writing about.
Right about this time, my publisher was also ready to nail down a date for the manuscript to be in to them. And my wonderful ghost editor was ready to begin working on it, too.
So, after a few weeks of back and forth and discussion and looking at everyone’s calendars, we finalized the date of December 1, 2014 — with a release date of November 2015.
By this time, it was the end of July. Which meant I had exactly 4 months to flesh this book concept out, research for it, and start writing.
It seemed a little overwhelming, but I also felt so strongly that this was what I was supposed to do… it was one of my life missions.
So AJ (my ghost editor) and I started brainstorming the outline. By August 15, we had a strong outline in place and I was ready to begin researching and writing.
I started writing the book the same week that we started back to homeschooling. Brilliant, I tell you. Just brilliant.
After two weeks of trying to juggle homeschooling and writing, it just wasn’t working. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and spent. Yet I still had weeks and weeks of writing left.
Since I didn’t want to go against everything I wrote about in Say Goodbye to Survival Mode, I knew something needed to change.
I went to Jesse to ask for his advice. I had a long list of possible options and alternatives for how we could make this work.
He listened to me and then he said, “Why don’t I take over the homeschooling?”
This wasn’t even an option I’d considered. I asked him quite a few questions to make sure he really and truly wanted to take on this big commitment and I realized that he was 100% all in with this idea.
He’d already been pretty involved in the homeschooling, so he had a good understand of what he was getting himself into. And he took the ball and ran with it.
For the past 3 months, he has owned the homeschooling responsibilities… and while I always knew he had the heart of a teacher, I’ve seen a brand-new side of him come alive in this. It’s been fun to watch — and the kids have loved having him so involved in their daily learning and projects.
I was still struggling to find enough time to write during the day, though. In between life and other business/blog responsibilities and priorities, there just didn’t seem to be big blocks of time to devote to research and writing.
So I decided to get a little radical. First, I tried getting up really early to write. For some reason, that just didn’t work as well this time around. I seemed distracted in the mornings with all the other pressing priorities and couldn’t seem to focus at the level I needed to in order to really hone in on the research and writing for my book.
After trying a few different options — like writing mid-day, writing in the afternoon, and writing in the evenings — I finally landed upon a solution that ended up sounding crazy but working well.
I’d go to bed fairly early and then set my alarm for midnight and write from midnight to 4 a.m. and then go back to bed and sleep in until 8 or 9 a.m.
I told you it was crazy. But because of our current family situation, I had the flexibility to pull it off. And it WORKED.
I discovered I could get in the zone in the middle of the night. It was completely quiet and completely distraction free. And it was perfectly suited for my need-to-have-big-blocks-of-quiet-in-order-to-write style.
I wouldn’t recommend it for others because it did take a toll on me physically after awhile, but I loved the subject manner and book project so much that I decided it was worth the short-term sacrifice.
That said, you can probably guess why I’m a little thrilled that the manuscript was D-O-N-E today and turned into the publisher!!
I celebrated by cleaning my house (I had seriously neglected some areas while writing), watching a movie with my husband, and have plans to sleep all through the night tonight and every night from here on out. 🙂
Writing this book was a labor of love. I poured myself into every word in the manuscript and it was such a joy to write!
It also sparked some fires inside of me for new topics I want to speak and write more regularly about. I realized I have made a lot of mistakes when it comes to earning income and running a business and writing this book reminded me of how passionate I am about helping other moms find creative ways to increase their income.
And most of all, the book-writing process reminded me of how blessed I am to have such a supportive family. I don’t sign a book contract without the complete blessing and encouragement of my family. Because writing a book is a LOT of work. And it will mean sacrifices on everyone’s part.
This time around, everyone in the family really pitched in — from helping with cooking and laundry and cleaning to free me up to write more, to praying with me and encouraging me during the process, to being a sounding board for me as I grappled with topics and perspectives.
I’m also so grateful to get to work with such an amazing ghost editor. AJ Gregory has truly been a Godsend to me. She put hours and hours into the book each week, editing my content, helping me research, compiling and editing stories I sent to her, encouraging me to dig deeper, asking hard questions to help me think through how I wanted to write each section well, and helping me develop a very strong and solid structure to the manuscript.
In addition, I am so very, very much to you all and your patience with me the last few months. While I’m still the one finding and vetting all the deals posted here, running the MSM Facebook Page, interacting in the comments, and writing as many blog posts as I can, there are so many, many more content pieces I want to write that didn’t get written these last three months while I was devoting so much time to book-writing.
I still have all the book edits ahead and it’s a long road still until we finally have a published book I can hold in my hands, but I’ve gotten the hardest work out of the way now that the manuscript draft is done and turned into my publisher.
And it feels so good.
So tonight, I’m celebrating that — by the grace of God and with a LOT of help from my family and others — I accomplished one of my biggest projects of the year: to write a solid 60K word manuscript that I am really excited about and invested so much into.
I’m thrilled to have it done, but I’m most excited about the impact I believe it is going to have in family’s lives around the globe. And that, my friends, is worth missing a little sleep for!
Shared Nov 29, 2014
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How to Take Professional Christmas Pictures Without Hiring a Professional
How to Take Professional Christmas Pictures Without Hiring a Professional
Guest post from Kyle of Shultz Photo School
It’s the end of November already and the holidays are here! The excitement is building, and so is your to-do list. One of the things on the list: Christmas Cards!
Don’t just use any ole snapshot this year. Here are a few tips to get a pro-quality pic for cards or gifts, but without the pro quality cost.
Step 1: Light it well.
Set up shop just inside your front door OR just inside an open garage door. Place your subject inside the door a mere 1-2 feet. You’ll be left with soft, even front light. It’s easy to work with and very forgiving.
One warning: do NOT take the pic in direct sunlight. Shoot at a time of day to where your kiddo is in the shade of the doorway. This will keep the light soft and even.
Step 2: Cover up any distractions with a backdrop.
To save loads of money, find a bed sheet, or better yet, your favorite blanket or quilt. Textures and colors can work great — don’t be afraid of them! This year, I used a quilt I bought for my wife last Christmas.
Drape the quilt or sheet over a shower curtain rod, a paint roller extension pole, or even a long broom handle. Use clamps or some duct tape to keep it from sliding off.
Get it all situated and hoist it up in the air. It should be light enough to make a great volunteer project for the hubby (just have him hold it up). Or simply prop it up between two high backed bar stools, etc. I cheated by using my backdrop stand, but I’ve boot-legged it many times.
Place the backdrop just a few feet behind where the subject. This way it’ll still get some light on it. The further back you place it, the less bright it will be. Here’s a sneak peek of my setup inside my front door:
Step 3: Add a bench, a chair, or just stand… and snap away.
The garage is a great place for the whole family as it’s wider. I just found a bench from inside and brought it out for the kids to sit on:
Simple enough. Here are a few results:
Kyle Shultz teaches parents about photography at Shultz Photo School. He says all 3 of his kids look like his beautiful wife. If you’re interested in more helpful photography ideas, be sure to register for the FREE $17 DIY Studio mini-course over at Shultz Photo School.
Choosing to Be Thankful, Even When Life is Hard
Today is a day when we celebrate our blessings and reflect on all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. It’s a good thing to stop and express our gratitude — we all have much to be thankful for.
However, some of you are probably really struggling this Thanksgiving. Maybe your husband recently left you, or your child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or you are battling an addiction, or your finances feel like they are in shambles and you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole because of unemployment and ever-mounting bills.
Life is hard and messy sometimes — and just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean that the pain and burdens are lifted. If this Thanksgiving finds you in a difficult place in life, may I encourage you to read my post on Hope for Women Magazine on Choosing to Be Thankful Even When Life is Hard?
Here’s a snippet:
My husband was rummaging through old financial statements not too long ago, and we were aghast to read some of the numbers. During the first year he was in law school, there were six months when we made less than $900 — and some months it was as low as $650.
I recall that season of our lives fairly vividly, but seeing those numbers on paper again after a number of years was a shock to our systems. I’m still not sure how we made it on so little!
During those years, we lived in a little basement apartment that only had four windows on one side. I could plug the vacuum cleaner into one outlet and vacuum the entire apartment without ever switching outlets…Click on over to read the full post.
Our struggles during the lean law school years pale in comparison to many of the struggles you are facing. But I hope that the words I shared might encourage some of you.
Don’t lose heart. Don’t lose hope.
Choose gratitude today — even when it feels impossible. It might not change any of your circumstances, but I promise that it will transform your attitude and lift your spirits.
A Heartfelt Word of Thanks to Each of You
By the way, can I just say thank you to each of you for everything you mean to me and how you bless me on a daily basis?
Thank you for your kind words, your encouragement, and your constructive criticism. Thank you for reading here, commenting, and emailing.
As those who know me well can attest to, my years of blogging have been a journey of growth, learning, and stretching for me. It’s not always been easy and I’ve made oh-so-many mistakes along the way, but God has taught me much through it and changed me from the inside out as a result of blogging.
It’s brought me from a place of insecurity, legalism, and being a people-pleaser to a place where I feel whole, free, and truly happy in who God has made me to be and what He has called me to. And you’ve been a part of that journey with me.
Whether you’ve read here for years or just weeks, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for reading here and being apart of the Money Saving Mom® Community. Words cannot express how much you mean to me and how much I’ve learned and grown as a direct result of each of you. I love each of you and am eternally grateful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Our $9 Thanksgiving Meal
Guest post by Asheritah of One Thing Alone
Your Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to break the bank to be delicious.
This year, to help us reach our monthly financial goals, I decided to keep our Thanksgiving meal simple. I asked each of our family members which traditional Thanksgiving food is most important to them, and then strategized ways to make everyone (and our budget) happy.
Obviously, I haven’t yet prepared the meal, but here’s what we’ll be having:
- Turkey breast: $3.49
- Peas: $0.89
- Corn: $0.49
- Mac & Cheese: $0.49
- Sweet potatoes: $0.07
- Stuffing: $0.69
- Corn muffins: $0.47
- Pumpkin pie (homemade): $1
- Butter: $0.80
- Eggs: $0.50
- Milk: $0.20
TOTAL: $9.09
In all, the meal will cost us less than $10 for 3 adults and 1 child. I’d say that’s a win!
Here’s how you can do it, too:
1. Simplify the meal.
Ask your family members what’s one item they each really want, and feel free to let go or downsize those foods that are never a big hit anyway.
My husband wanted stuffing. I wanted corn muffins. Our daughter wanted mac & cheese, and my father-in-law wanted something sweet. I felt like we HAD to have turkey, but we’re not really a fan of the big bird, so the little turkey breast tenderloin fit the bill without hitting our wallet.
We also simplified the sides. Since we’re loading up on carbs, I added some veggies to make our meal healthier but opted out of the typical casseroles.
2. Shop sales at discount stores.
I bought most of my ingredients at Aldi, but I also scored cheap produce at a local discount store that offers incredible deals (like two 10-pound bags of sweet potatoes for $1.69).
I also try to shop sales whenever I can, especially if they’re cutting already-low prices. I bought the turkey tenderloin when it was on sale a few weeks ago and stuck it in the freezer for the future. I also got the butter on sale awhile back and keep a stash in the freezer. By buying sales in bulk year-round, I can stock up and save on staple pantry items.
3. Cook what you can from scratch.
Most pumpkin pies cost around $5 in grocery stores. By making it at home, I’ll be saving 80%. I’m using a small pie pumpkin a friend gifted me for fall décor, a $0.65 can of evaporated milk, and a homemade crust that will cost a fraction of what ready-made crusts cost in-store.
Cooking from scratch means I can afford more variety because I’m paying less for raw ingredients.
At the end of the day, it’s not the Thanksgiving meal that matters but rather a thankful heart. Whether you have a table overflowing with the richest foods or a simple meal shared with those you love, the important thing is to come together with gratefulness and express our appreciation for each other.
How to you keep your Thanksgiving celebrations frugal and fun!
Asheritah is a writer, speaker, and blogger at One Thing Alone. She helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus through devotionals, videos, and Scripture art. She’s also the author of “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional.”
Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip
Walgreens
I had a whole trip planned out but when I got to Walgreens I discovered that several items I was going to purchase as part of my plan were sold out. I had to re-work my original plan and ended up spending more than I hoped. At least I have $6 Register Rewards leftover to spend on Black Friday!
Transaction #1
1 Urgent Headache Relief to Go – $1 (Buy 1, Get $1 Register Rewards)
1 Reach Toothbrushes (3 pk) – $3 (Buy 1, Get $3 Register Rewards)
Used $0.50/1 coupon from the 8/17 SmartSource insert1 Scope Mouthwash – $3 (Buy 1, Get $2 Register Rewards)
Used $1/1 coupon from the 11/23 SmartSource insertTotal with tax ($0.50) after coupons: $6, Received $6 Register Rewards
Transaction #2
1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste – $3.49 (Buy 1, Get $2.50 Register Rewards)
Used $0.50/1 coupon from the 11/23 SmartSource insert1 Relief OTC Antacid – $3 (Buy 1, Get $3 Register Rewards)
2 Russell Stover Candies – $0.29 each (filler items)
Used $6 Register Rewards from Transaction #1
Total with tax ($0.51): $1.08, Received $5.50 Register Rewards
Transaction #3
1 Therapeutic Scalp Treatment – $6 (Buy 1, Get $6 Register Rewards)
1 Russell Stover Candy – $0.29 (filler item)
Used $5.50 Register Rewards from Transaction #2
Total with tax ($0.45): $1.24, Received $6 Register Rewards
Total for all transactions before coupons and Register Rewards: $29.59
Total for all transactions with tax after coupons and Register Rewards: $8.32, plus $6 Register Rewards leftover
Shared Nov 24, 2014
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Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: $67 worth of products for $12 out of pocket!!
Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: $67 worth of products for $12 out of pocket!!
CVS Shopping Trip
Transaction #1
2 Robitussin Medi-Soothers – $1.49 (Buy 1, Get $1.49 ECBs)
Used $1/1 coupon from the 11/2 RedPlum insert1 Peanut M&M’s – $0.79 (Buy 1, Get $0.79 ECBs)
1 Kraft Mac & Cheese – $0.99 (Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECBs)
1 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate – $0.79 (Buy 1, Get $0.79 ECBs)
1 Green Giant canned Green Beans – $0.99 (Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECBs)
1 Colgate Toothpaste – $2.99
Used $2.99/1 CVS coupon from in-store machine
And used $0.75/1 printable1 Sour Patch Kids Candy – $1.50 (Buy 1, Get $1.50 ECBs)
Used $4 ECBs from previous shopping trip
Total with tax ($0.90): $2.69, Received $6.55 ECBs
Transaction #2
1 CVS Pantiliners – $0.99 (Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECBs)
1 Chex Mix – $1.99 (Buy 1, Get $1 ECBs)
1 Kraft Velveta Mac & Cheese Cup – $0.99 (I thought I was supposed to get $0.99 ECBs on this but they didn’t print since I’d already purchased the Kraft Mac & Cheese in Transaction #1.)
1 Total Home Laundry Detergent – $1.79 (Buy 1, Get $1.79 ECBs)
1 CVS Ultra-Soft Cleansing Wipes – $0.99 (Buy 1, Get $0.99 ECBs)
Used $5.05 ECBs from Transaction #1
Total with tax ($0.55): $0.76, Received $4.77 ECBs
Transaction #3
1 Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese – $3.99 (Buy 1, Get $3 ECBs)
1 5 Cobalt Gum – $1 (Buy1, Get $1 ECBs)
1 Starbucks Double Shot Espresso – $1.50 (Buy 1, Get $1.50 ECBs)
1 Vitamin Water – $1.50 (Buy 1, Get $1.50 ECBS)
1 Listerine Mouthwash – $2.99 (Buy 1, Get $2 ECBs)
Used $1/1 printableUsed $6.27 ECBs from Transactions #1 & #2
Total with tax ($0.89): $4.60, Received $9 ECBs
Transaction #4
1 Arm & Hammer Spin Toothbrush – $5.99 (Buy 1, Get $3 ECBs)
Used $2/1 printable1 Benefiber – $10.89 (Buy 1, Get $5 ECBs)
Used $5/1 coupon from the 11/16 SmartSource insert1 Snickers Bar – $0.79 (Again, I thought I was going to receive $0.79 ECBs as my cashier told me I would, but I didn’t.)
Used $9 ECBs from Transaction #3
Total with tax ($1.44): $4.11, Received $8 ECBs
Total for all transactions before coupons and ECBs: $67.85
Total for all transactions with tax after coupons and ECBS: $12.16, plus $8 ECBs leftover (Like paying $4.16!)
Shared Nov 22, 2014
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Earmuff Headphones + Glove Set for $19.95 shipped (this weekend only)!
Earmuff Headphones + Glove Set for $19.95 shipped (this weekend only)!
Cents of Style is offering an exclusive deal through Monday for my readers only. Get a pair of Earmuff Headphones + a set of gloves for just $19.95 when you use coupon code MSM4.
These knit sweater wired earmuffs with speakers (headphones) have fur detailing and come in four different colors. Plus, you’ll get a pair of black touch gloves.
You can play music, listen to a podcast, or talk on the phone while wearing the earmuffs! They work on your smart phone or other MP3 Device.
This offer is valid through Monday only. Use coupon code MSM4 to get this set for $19.95 shipped.
Tips for Allergy-Friendly Baking on a Budget
Guest post from Becky of Milo & Oats
Living with diet restrictions can be a huge budget-buster. From food allergies to celiac disease, there are a variety of health needs that might leave you searching for an economical way to bake for your loved ones.
Here are some tips that will have you baking up delicious treats without breaking the bank!
Make your own flour blend.
Do you eat gluten-free? Do you have a loved one with a wheat allergy?
If you’ve had experience baking gluten-free, you know it requires multiple flours for baking success. However, commercial pre-made blends can be expensive! It’s much more cost-effective to make your own.
There are many gluten-free flour blend recipes out there. A quick Google or Pinterest search should get you started in finding recipes with which to experiment. Once you have a recipe in hand, you’ll need to actually purchase the appropriate flours!
The natural foods section of your local grocery store will likely carry a variety of gluten-free flours. However, this is usually not the most cost-effective. My favorite to place to purchase gluten-free flours at a great price is Azure Standard. I buy rice, milo (sorghum) and teff flour, as well as potato and tapioca starch. If you don’t have a local Azure drop, Vitacost may be a good option.
Use everyday ingredients.
Ingredient substitutes can be shockingly expensive. We have an egg allergy in our family, so previously I have used egg replacer powder. Then, I realized there are many other ways to replace eggs. Flaxseed, banana, or applesauce work well as an egg replacement.
These are all ingredients I tend to have on hand, anyway. Not to mention, they are healthier than using a synthetic replacement!
Buy in bulk.
We love our Costco. I have found savings on ingredients that would otherwise be considerably more expensive — coconut oil and flax seed make the list.
We also buy the Kirkland brand chocolate chips. Did you know that they don’t contain dairy?? They have been one of my greatest Costco discoveries. Way less expensive than buying those little bags of specialty chocolate chips!
We are not Sam’s Club members but I’m sure they have some allergy-friendly deals worth discovering, too.
Focus on foods you can eat.
This one is so important, but probably took the longest for me to discover. Focus on all of the delicious, safe foods that you can eat!
Baking with allergies can be discouraging because there are so many ingredients to alter, or replace entirely! By concentrating on recipes that require less replacement, your baking success will be greatly increased. Your results will actually get eaten, not thrown out…again.
Apple crisp naturally requires no eggs and a smaller amount of flour. A big bowl of berries with some lightly sweetened coconut whipped cream is a treat! Cut yourself some slack and relish eating those wallet-friendly, in-season foods.
These are just a few tips we use — I’d love to know what you would add to my list!
Becky is a wife and homeschool mom to five incredible kids. She loves chocolate, books, and baking allergy-friendly treats for her family. Becky is the blogger behind Milo & Oats and loves chatting about everything from parenting to curriculum hoarding to what’s for dinner.
Brigette’s $57 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! We are just planning a simple get-together with friends as all of our family live too far away. I’d love to hear what’s on your Thanksgiving menu, or any good deals on groceries you were able to get this week thanks to holiday sales!
Aldi
3 1-lb packages Ground Turkey (@$1.89/each) – $5.67
1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $1.99, plus receive $0.50 back from Snap By Groupon – $1.49 after rebate
1 2-lb bag Lemons – $2.29
1 Pineapple – $1.19
3 dozen Eggs (@$1.39/each) – $4.17, plus receive $0.50 back from Checkout 51 – $3.67/3 after rebate
2 3-lb bags Sweet Potatoes (@$1.17 each) – $2.34
1 jar Minced Onion – $0.99
1 jar Baking Powder – $0.99
1 bunch Bananas (2.53lbs @$0.44/lb) – $1.11, plus receive $0.25 back from Checkout51 – $0.86 after rebate
1 package Rice Cakes – $1.29
1 12-oz package fresh Cranberries – $1.19, plus receive $0.25 back from Snap by Groupon – $0.94 after rebate
1 20-oz canister Raisins – $2.89
1 3-ct package Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 16-oz container Eggs Whites – $1.99
1 3-lb bag Fuji Apples – $3.29
1 3-head package Garlic – $0.79
1 8-oz bag Dates – $1.89
Total after Rebates: $33.39
Harris Teeter
2 8-oz packages Mushrooms, reduced (@$0.69/each) – $1.38
1 3-ct bag Avocados, reduced – $1.00
1 16-ct package Tide Pods – $4.99, used $2/1 Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Downy Unstoppables, Bounce Bursts or Gain Fireworks, exp. 12/31/14 (RP 11/16/14), plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.99 after coupons
after coupons 2 pouches Pioneer Gravy Mix (B1G1) – $1.29/2, used $0.65/2 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons
2 1-lb boxes Domino Powdered Sugar – $2.00, used $0.50/2 Domino Brown or Confectioners Sugar, exp. 1/3/15 (RP 11/02/14 R) (doubled) – $1.00/2 after coupons
2 8-oz sticks Crisco Baking Sticks – $2.00, used 2 $0.35/1 Crisco Shortening, Spray, or Olive Oil, exp. 12/31/14 (RP 11/02/14 R) (doubled) – $0.60/2 after coupons
2 75-oz jugs Extra Laundry Detergent (B1G1) – $3.99, used 2 $1 off Xtra Liquid or Sure Shot Paks Laundry Detergent, exp. 12/20/14 (SS 11/09/14) – $1.99/2 after coupons
2 5-lb bags Gold Medal Flour – $1.54 (they substituted this brand for me since they were out of the store brand which was advertised)
Total after all Sales, Taxes, and Coupons – $9.73
Walmart
(My husband price-matched a couple of things for me since he was already making a trip for some non-grocery items.)
1 Turkey (20.76lbs – price-matched Food Lion @ $0.47/lb) – $9.76 (Turkey prices were cheaper here last year, but as it is the week before Thanksgiving – I am not holding out much hope for them to drop any further! What are turkey prices like in your area of the country?), plus receive $1.00 back from Snap by Groupon – $8.76
2 5-lb bags Flour (@$0.77/each – price-matched Harris Teeter) – $1.54
Total after Rebate: $10.30
CVS
(I couldn’t pass up this peanut butter deal with holiday baking just around the corner!)
5 jars of Skippy Peanut Butter (@$2.00 each) – $10.00, used 2 $0.55/1 printable, plus 2 $0.55/1 printable, plus $1.00/1 insert coupon – $6.80, plus receive $3 ECB back
Total after Coupons and ECB: $3.80/5 ($0.76 each)
Weekly Total for all Groceries: $57.22
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Omelettes, Oatmeal and Fruit, Smoothies and Toast, Cereal, Cinnamon Rolls (Saturday)
Lunches
Baked Sweet Potatoes/Bananas; Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar; Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheese; Peanut Butter Rice Cakes/Apples; Leftovers x 2; Fried Egg Sandwiches/Oranges/Carrots
Dinners
Taco Salad, Green Beans
Friend’s House for Dinner – I am bringing Upside Down Praline Apple Pie for dessert
Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins
Date Night (Super excited about this!! A sweet friend offered to watch our children just because, and I can’t wait to spend some quality time with my busy husband!)
Thanksgiving Menu: Turkey and Gravy, Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Crescent Rolls, Green Beans with Almond and Thyme, Our Favorite Sweet Potato Casserole, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie
Leftovers
Turkey Gravy over Brown Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Leftover Muffins or Crescent Rolls
Snacks
Fudge Babies (I will use pecans instead of walnuts), Popcorn, Homemade Oatmeal Cookies (my husband’s specialty!), Fruit
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Dear Frugal Gal Who is Married to a Spender Husband…
Dear Frugal Gal Who is Married to a Spender Husband,
Oh, how I get you. Because, you see, I am you!
When my husband and I got married, I totally had no clue that people could truly find fulfillment in spending money. Yup, it was a recipe for complete success and harmony in our marriage. Ahem.
I knew he liked to buy brand names. I knew he liked nice things. But I figured that I could help him see how it was so much better to shop at thrift stores and get bargains.
So I went into marriage all prepared to fix my husband. Because, in my incredibly humble opinion (not!), that boy needed a lot of fixing.
I was going to help him understand how we could save so much money if he would just come over to my frugal side. I was going take those extravagant blinders off his eyes and help him see the frugal light.
It shouldn’t take much work, I was sure. Yes, you could say I was a wee bit naive. 😉
Then we got married. And I set to work fixing him.
For the first few years, we were so poor that there wasn’t any money to spend on anything but necessities. So I really thought all my “sermons” and words of wisdom had cured his “extravagant” appetite.
A few years into our marriage, with law school behind us and a blog that was quickly growing, our income began steadily increasing and my fantasy ideas of how I had fixed my husband were all shattered by reality.
The reality was this: I had married a guy who liked to spend money.
I was aghast! I loved this man, but how on earth could he find fulfillment from spending money?!? My frugal self just couldn’t fathom it!
I had tried fixing and that didn’t work. So then I tried criticizing. And, as you can imagine, that was a complete flop.
I was stubborn and frustrated. However, I loved this man. I really did. And I didn’t want to live life feeling constant tension over money.
So, I humbled myself and started asking questions trying to determine what Jesse’s heart really was. And little bit by little bit, I realized that he wasn’t trying to be extravagant or ruthless; he just enjoyed spending money. It was the way he was wired.
Just like I was wired to enjoy saving money (and he had trouble understanding my frugal nature!), he was wired to enjoy spending money. There was nothing wrong with him. He just had a different personality than me.
I have slowly come to really appreciate him for how different he is than me. Without him in our family, I’d probably be a miser. He’s helped me realize that there is more to life than always doing everything possible to get everything at the rock bottom price.
He’s also helped me to realize that breathing room in our budget can allow us to enjoy some memory-making experiences — like taking the kids out for a special outing or enjoying a date night together at a fun restaurant. Without him in our family, we’d probably have a lot less fun at our house.
I’ve also learned that sometimes, it truly does pay to spend more for a nicer brand. Yes, really. Not always, but sometimes. 🙂
And, most importantly, he’s helped me learn the joy that comes from generosity. I love watching how much he loves to give and how he is always going out of his way to give to others. Seeing his heart for giving inspires me to live with arms even more outstretched.
The beautiful thing is, Jesse has also learned a lot about me and has come to appreciate my frugal nature — even if he doesn’t always understand it. He thanks me often for how I help our family save money and stick with a budget.
As my attitude changed, it’s made him a lot more open to making compromises for the health of our family’s finances. He’s learned to look for great deals on things he needs to purchase, he’s waited to buy items he wants until we could afford them in our budget, and he’s talked himself out of many purchases because he knew that it wasn’t a wise use of our money.
We still have moments when there is tension or disagreements when it comes to money, but I’ve learned 4 strategies that have helped bring a lot more harmony to me as a saver who is married to a spender:
1) Nagging Doesn’t Work
If you want to ruin your relationship, start trying to nag and drag your spouse along with your latest and greatest ideas. It’s a recipe for disaster — and discord.
2) It Has To Be an Us Thing, Not a Me Thing
There is no “I” in team. If you want to successfully get on the same page, it has to be a game plan you come up with together.
Don’t expect your spouse to jump on board with you. Instead, ask your spouse if you can sit down together and talk about where you both are financially and where you both want to go together.
3) Compromise Is Key
When you sit down to discuss your finances, come with an open mind. Don’t have everything all mapped out and badger your spouse into signing off on your plan.
Share your concerns in a gentle manner and then listen to your spouse’s thoughts and concerns. If they see that you genuinely want to work with them and want to hear their heart on the matter, they are going to be much more apt to join you in the journey. But they will likely resist from the get-go if you don’t seem to care about their desires and or have any willingness to compromise.
4) Give Grace — And Some Breathing Room!
Because of our different personalities and natures, we’ve found a beautiful compromise in an agreed-upon Blow Category in our budget. We each get an allotted amount of money that we can spend on whatever we’d like, whenever we’d like. This set-up has worked well for us and prevented many unnecessary arguments over money.
When we both accept our differences, agree to compromise, set goals for our family together, and give each other grace, we have so much more unity. And this unity propels us to both be working together to wisely steward our money — instead of constantly fighting and bickering over stuff that really isn’t going to matter too much in 25 years from now.
These four strategies won’t completely remove any money fights or misunderstandings, but I truly believe that they will help improve your communication and oneness in your marriage. And when there’s more communication and oneness in finances, it usually will have a trickle down effect and improve many other areas of marriage.
So hang in there! Start taking baby steps forward and hopefully your effort to better understand and get on the same page with your husband will result in some of the same rewarding results that it has for us in our marriage!
Don’t give up! I’m cheering for you…
Crystal
P.S. For more suggestions, check out my post on How Can We Improve Communication About Finances In Marriage?
Gretchen’s $44 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Dillons1 pkg Kroger Tortillas – $1.79
1 Quilted Northern (4 double rolls) Toilet Paper – $3.59, used $0.75/1 e-coupon – $2.84 after coupon
1 Kroger Ice Cream – $1.99, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $1.59 after coupon
1 Hamburger Buns – Marked down to $0.49
1 Dillons Eggs (dozen) – $1.69
1 can Kroger Black Beans – $0.69
4 Dannon Yogurts – 3 of these were marked down to $0.29 and 1 was $0.50
1 gallon Dillons Milk – $3.09 (Received $0.25 back from Ibotta)
1 Kroger Italian Dressing – $1.50
1 Avocado – $0.99
1 pkg Chicken Drumsticks – Marked down to $2.71
1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99
1 Sweet Potato – $0.70
1 Broccoli Crown – $0.67
1 Onion – $0.58
2 Green Peppers – $0.79 each
1 Hillshire Farms All Natural Turkey Breast Sandwich Meat – $3.49, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Jimmy Dean Sausage – $2.99
1 Cucumber – $0.79
1 can Kroger Corn – $0.50
Total with tax ($2.28): $31.05
Homeland
1 pkg Farmland Bacon – $3.99, used $1/1 printable (doubled; no longer available) – $1.99 after coupon
1 pkg Ritz Crackers – $1.67, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.67 after coupon
1 Chinet Napkins – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
4 Betty Crocker Cake Mix – $1 each, used 2 $0.75/2 printable (first one doubled) – $0.43 each after coupons (Buy 4, Get Best Choice Butter for $0.99)
Best Choice Butter – $0.99
5 Jello Instant Pudding Mix – $0.79 (Buy 5, Get $2 off instantly), used 2 $0.55/2 printable (first one doubled) – $0.06 each after coupons and savings
2 C&H Brown Sugar/Powdered Sugar – $1.79 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.79 each after coupon
2 Halls Cough Drops $1.25 each, used $1/2 coupon from the 11/2 SmartSource insert – $0.25 each after coupon
1.60 lbs Navel Oranges @ $0.99/lb – $1.58
1 pkg Ocean Spray Cranberries – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
2 cans Lindsay Olives – $1 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
2 cans Libby Pumpkin – $1.50 each, used $0.75/2 coupon from the 11/2 SmartSource insert (doubled) – $0.75 each after coupon
2 Kellogg’s Rice Crispies – $2.50 each, used 2 $0.75/1 printable (first one doubled) – $1.37 each after coupons (Buy 2, Get Free Jet Puffed Marshmallows)
1 Jet Puffed Mini Marshmallows – Free
Total before coupons and sales: $67.38
Total with tax ($1.95) after coupons and sales: $13.49
Total for all grocery items: $44.54
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal x 2, Bacon and Eggs, Homemade Granola, Toast & Eggs
Lunches
Turkey Sandwiches x 2, Tossed Salad, Fruit/Yogurt/Veggies, Cheese Quessadillas
Dinners
Italian Chicken Drumsticks, Biscuits, Tossed Salad
Biscuits & Gravy, Homemade Applesauce
Easy Cheesy Tex Mex Skillet, Tossed Salad
Sweet Potato Burrito Bowls, 30 Minute Rolls, Steamed Broccoli
Easy Fajita Chicken Bake, World’s Best Dinner Rolls, Steamed Peas
Baked Spaghetti, Tossed Salad, Sliced Oranges
Baked Creamy Cheesy Chicken Flautas, Homemade Applesauce, Steamed Carrots
Reader Tip: How I Save on Gifts All Year Long
Beka emailed in the following tip:
We’re avid garage sale people — we go nearly every Saturday. Some days we find absolutely nothing, while other days we hit the jackpot!
We have 5 children (who are still young enough that gifts don’t have to come in brand new packaging), so by garage-saling, we are able to stock up on Christmas and birthday gifts during peak garage sale months. This has saved our gift budget a LOT of money!
Thankfully, we live in a suburb in Texas and garage sales are happening 9 months out of the year — however, even if you have a shorter garage sale seasons, this is still an excellent way to save on Christmas and birthday gifts! -Beka
Do It Yourself: 12 Gifts-in-a-Jar Ideas
FreebieFindingMom.com shows you how to make 12 different homemade gifts in a jar.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
You all have BLOWN me away…!
So can I just say something? You all are one downright amazing group of readers!!
I was so excited about the Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal and knew it was a product that has the ability to totally transform your life. However, it’s scary to put a product out there for all the world and encourage other people to buy it — especially because this was our first time to offer physical products in our online store.
But I believe in this product, I know the value it has had in my own life, and I knew that it was something many of you have been asking for. So I wrote the post on Tuesday telling you about it.
And then I clicked publish with a little fear and trepidation wondering if anyone would actually order it.
20 minutes went by and it was pretty much crickets chirping.
I started to second-guess myself and wonder if maybe I had been crazy to put the time and effort into this. But then I remembered: you know what? If I did all of that work just so I could have a product that would make a difference in my personal life as I use it year after year, it was completely worth the effort.
Well, about 5 more minutes went by, and then the orders started trickling in a few at a time. A few more hours went by and they started streaming in. And by that evening, so many orders had come in we started talking about possibly needing to hire extra help to fulfill them all!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing in my excitement and for supporting this project — buying copies not only for yourself, but for your friends and family.
Being the goal-oriented person I am, I set what I thought was a fairly audacious sales goal of how many I had hoped to sell by year-end. I truly didn’t think we would hit it, but I set it anyway.
Well, guess what?!? We hit the year-end sales goal in less than two days!!!
Yes, I told you that you all BLOW ME AWAY!
I am humbly grateful for each of you, for reading here, for sending in encouraging comments and emails, for being such cheerleaders, and for showing up here every day and investing your time and resources to help make this site a success.
I’m not sure what to say other than thank you from the bottom of my heart. You bless me far more than you could ever imagine!
LAST CHANCE TO GET THIS JOURNAL FOR $7.99!!
If you didn’t get a chance to order a Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal, the $2 off coupon code is only good through midnight tonight.
We do not plan to offer it at this low of a price again before Christmas (except for bulk orders). So if you have been thinking of ordering, now’s the time to do it!
Through tonight at midnight, save $2 off the purchase of our brand-new Choose Gratitude Blessings Journals from our store when you use coupon code BLESSING14 at checkout.
That makes it just $7.99 + shipping. You can order as many as you’d like with this discount code.
This would make a great gift idea for friends and family this Christmas season! And don’t forget to purchase one for yourself, as well!
If you’d prefer, the Blessings Journal are also available to purchase off of Amazon. However, the $2 discount code is only good through our online store.
This offer is valid through through midnight tonight only (November 20, 2014).
Go here to order your Choose Gratitude Blessings Journal.