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Shared Apr 20, 2012 comment

7 Must-Read Books for Work-At-Home Moms (or those who want to be!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 20, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m speaking at the Midwest Homeschool Conference on Saturday about Becoming a Work-At-Home Mom Without Losing Your Sanity. In the handout, I made a list of seven of my favorite business books and I thought some of you who couldn’t make it to the conference might enjoy seeing this list, too.

Now, mind you, three of these don’t even have much to do with business. Instead, they are about time management. However, I’ve found that it’s near impossible to successfully work from home if you’re not a good manager of your time. So I think books on time management are vitally important to read if you work from home or are considering working from home.

Here’s my list of seven must-read books:

1. Quitter by Jon Acuff In his witty style, Jon shares a wealth of advice for getting from where you are to where you want to go.

2. The Other 8 Hours by Robert Paglierini This book has page after page of helpful advice and suggestions for how to earn income outside of your day job. If you feel like you don’t have time to start something on the side because your plate is already quite full, this book will especially be helpful.

3. EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey This book is packed with tried-and-tried information, practical application, and fantastic inspiration. As a small business owner with a few employees and sub-contractors, I’ve gleaned so much from this book.

4. Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating by Brian Tracy This book has many practical ideas for prioritizing your time and life so that you make the most of your days.

5. How to Have a 48-Hour Day by Don Aslett This book is filled with lots of practical advice and inspiration for making the most of each day.

6. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam Laura helps you rethink your “I don’t have enough time” excuses and shows you how you just may have quite a bit more time than you realized!

7. Tell Your Time (ebook) by Amy Lynn Andrews This ebook offers step-by-step help for setting up a time budget — a concept that has revolutionized my time management!

If you are a work-at-home mom, I’d love to hear what books you’d add to my list!

Shared Apr 19, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #14 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 19, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you missed this morning’s assignment, you can check it out here.

We got up at 3:15 a.m. in order to make our early connecting flight to Cincinnati this morning. It’s been a long day, but a good day.

We got into Cincinnati in the early afternoon, set up our booth, and then spent the evening manning the booth — and meeting many of my wonderful readers. You all mean the world to me and it was so great to get to meet so many of you in person. I look forward to getting to spend more time with you tomorrow!

The convention hall here is amazingly huge compared to our homeschool convention in Kansas!

Our simple booth {I’m not a big fan of the yellow, but we didn’t have any choice regarding that! If you’re wondering what’s on the table other than my books, those are freebie bags we put together with some fun freebies to hand out. Because it just wouldn’t seem like a MoneySavingMom.com booth without freebies! :)}

Earlier this week, I did today’s assignment. Here’s the junk drawer before I cleaned it out. {And in case you’re wondering why it looks so clean, it’s because I recently cleaned it out! Otherwise, it might be a sorry sight!}

And the utensil drawer. I’m not too happy with the after result — it still seems cluttered to me. Anyone have suggestions on how to make it more organized?

And my pile of 7+ items to get rid of: from the junk drawer and the utensil drawer. Some to throw out, some to stick in the garage sale boxes.

How did you do on Assignment #14? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

Shared Apr 19, 2012 comment

We Paid Cash: Washer and Dryer

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 19, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Taylor from Stain Removal 101

I’m a work-at-home-Mom of three, so needless to say, I am on very friendly terms with our washing machine! In addition, as part of my home business, I test and review a lot of various laundry supplies and laundry detergents with that very same machine, at Stain Removal 101, so you could say my washing machine and I are a team.

That’s why I was very sad when my “team member” bit the dust during the middle of one of my stain removal product tests. Normally, I’m all for fixing broken appliances instead of just replacing them; however, it didn’t make sense financially to do that this time.

We briefly considered purchasing a lower-end model new appliance, but even the new washing machines without many bells and whistles were quite expensive. In our situation, it made more sense to buy a used washing machine that didn’t have an inflated showroom value anymore.

Plus, buying a used machine also meant that we had enough emergency savings available to pay for it with cash, without dipping too far into those reserves. Yes, we could have purchased a new washing machine with cash too, but I knew how long it would take to replace all that money from the fund if we dipped down so low.

We weren’t comfortable having such a low fund since emergencies are unpredictable — and this ended up being a wise decision, since we also got some wind damage to our roof and needed to use some emergency funds to pay our deductible.

If we’d bought a new machine we would have eaten up too much money at once.

We chose a used machine that was six years old and cost only $250. That was about how much the repair of the old machine might have cost us, and we got a machine 10 years newer!

So far, this machine works great and I hope it will last us as long as our old one did. If I can even get five or ten years out of it, instead of the 13 my previous used model gave us, I’ll have gotten a great bargain. Plus, we’ve still got money in our emergency fund for any curve balls life might throw at us!

Taylor Flanery is former lawyer turned writer, who blogs about all things domestic while working at home with her three kids and husband. You can find her at Household Management 101, Stain Removal 101, and Home Storage Solutions 101.

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

Shared Apr 19, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #14

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 19, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Day 14 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Set the timer for 15 minutes and clean the mirrors and glass doors in your house.

::Clean out your utensil drawer(s) (those with serving spoons, ladles, spatulas, etc.) in the kitchen and your junk drawer(s). Take everything out, throw out the trash, get rid of extra clutter, wipe out the drawers, and re-organize the contents as you put them back in.

::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.

Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.

At around 9 p.m. EST tonight, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too. Here’s to our productivity today!

Shared Apr 18, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #13 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 18, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you missed this morning’s assignment, you can see it here.

We had a good day today and I am so thankful to have gotten almost all of the trip preparations done so that I can go to bed early tonight. (As much as I try to plan ahead, I usually seem to be scrambling and throwing things into a suitcase at midnight before I’m supposed to leave on an early flight the next morning!)

The tops of the cupboards didn’t look to dirty…

…but looks were deceiving. Ick! There was a sticky film that required I scrub and rinse each area three times to get it completely cleaned.

The top of the refrigerator wasn’t too bad.

But the rubber seal was nasty! So glad I got up there and cleaned it today. It just feels good to know all that dirt is gone.

My 7 things I got rid of today. We’ve recently gotten a few new mugs as gifts, so I pared down our mug collection and got rid of a few that we’ve had since we got married.

How did you do on Assignment #13? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Apr 18, 2012 comment

My husband’s Target shopping trip today

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 18, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

So, my husband generously offered to go to Target today on his way to a court appearance and pick up some tank tops and Starbucks coffee for me. Can’t you just picture an attorney all decked out his suit looking through the ladies’ clothing to pick out tank tops for his wife — and then using coupons at the register to boot?

Yes, I love that guy! 🙂 Here’s what he got:

Bought 4 bags of Starbucks coffee at $7.99 each
Used 2 $5/2 Starbucks Ground or Whole Bean Coffee Target printable coupon
Stacked with 4 $1/1 Starbucks Coffee printable manufacturer’s coupon
$4.50 per bag after coupons

Bought 2 Merona Ruffled Tank Tops at $6 each
Used 2 $3/1 Merona coupons
$3 each after coupon

See more deals at Target this week here.

Shared Apr 18, 2012 comment

Reader Tip: Buying from the bulk bins could have saved me over 70%!

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 18, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Caren from The Prudent Pantry emailed the following tip:

While making pancake mix recently, I ran out of flax seed and purchased the prepackaged flax for $2.79. When I made a trip to a health food store later in the week, I realized how hasty I had been and how much it had cost me.

I had paid $2.79 for a 7-ounce package of organic flax seed. However, at the health food store, the organic flax seed is sold in bulk for $1.89 per pound. At $2.79 for a 7-ounces, that prepackaged flax seed cost $6.38 per pound.

Buying flax seeds from the bulk bins would have saved me over 70 percent. Not all savings are that spectacular, but they are savings none the less.

If your regular grocery store does not have a bulk section, check out the smaller specialty or health food stores in your area. My grocery store does not have a bulk section, but it is worth it for me to visit a local health food store occasionally to purchase items in bulk.

The bins are also great for items you just want to try, or for when you only need a small amount of an ingredient for a recipe. This is especially true of spices. You may only need a small amount of a particular spice for a new recipe you want to try. There’s no need to pay for an entire jar if you just need a teaspoon. -Caren

For more frugal encouragement and ideas from Caren, stop by The Prudent Pantry.

Shared Apr 18, 2012 comment

Ask the Readers: Quick, cheap, and healthful sack lunch ideas?

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 18, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s question is from Vicki:

I commute to my college and need some ideas easy, cheap, and healthful ideas for me to bring for sack lunches. I don’t have access to a fridge/freezer or microwave. Also I’m getting bored of PB&J and lunch meat wraps. Any suggestions? -Vicki

Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

Shared Apr 18, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #13

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 18, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We’re leaving early tomorrow for Cincinnati so today will be a busy day of last-minute preparations. However, don’t feel like that means you get off the hook. 🙂

I actually worked ahead a little bit and have done most of the next few days’ assignments already so that I can continue posting this challenge when I’m gone. Yes, you all can thank me right now for making you work while I’m on “vacation”.

(I’m not sure that I’m ready to call speaking in front of thousands of people a “vacation”, but getting to meet many of you all in Cincinnati will make it worth dealing with my stage fright! And honestly, I’m learning that the more I just face my fears, jump out and do this stuff that used to scare me to death, the more I’m actually enjoying it — which is something I never dreamed I’d say about public speaking!).

At any rate, I’m hoping for a productive, focused, and calm day. And an early bedtime. 🙂

Day 13 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Set the timer for 15 minutes and do a quick-clean of your bathroom. Need specific directions? Read this article on How to Clean Your Bathroom in 15 Minutes.

::Clean the top of your kitchen cupboards (if there is space between them and the ceiling) and the top of your refrigerator. If you have clutter on the top of your refrigerator, go through it and see if you can get rid of it or find a new home for it. Wipe down the outside of your kitchen cupboard doors.

::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.

Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.

At around 9 p.m. EST tonight, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too. Here’s to our productivity today!

Shared Apr 17, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #12 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 17, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you missed this morning’s assignment, you can check it out here.

So, do you all want to know the truth? I haven’t cleaned my oven since we moved to this house. I’ve wiped up a few spills, but haven’t given it a serious scrubbing since we moved in almost two years ago (wow, has it really been that long?!).

Some of you are probably reeling from shock just thinking of how horrific that is that I wouldn’t clean my oven on a weekly basis.

And maybe others of you are breathing a big sigh of relief that you’re not the only one? 🙂

At any rate, I got out the baking soda and started scrubbing this morning.

Honestly, it wasn’t that bad at all.

But I did find some burned on gunk on the racks that was very persistent. I finally gave up on getting it completely off (anyone have suggestions for how to miraculously take stubborn stuff off oven racks?!).

I also discovered this at the bottom of the oven. It appeared to be some kind of hard plastic. I’m not sure what it is or how long it’s been in there but you would think that if it were plastic, it would have smelled like plastic every time I used my oven recently, right? So I have no idea, but I’m glad to have it out of there.

I also cleaned out the drawer underneath the oven while I was at it. It was in dire need of cleaning as it seems to be one giant crumb catcher!

And finally, I tackled the stovetop and the microwave, neither of which were too bad since I do clean those on a regular basis.

My pile of 7+ things to get rid of today — mostly well, well used foil pans I found stashed in the drawer under the stove and decided were well past their prime.

How did you do on Assignment #12? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

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

Click here to download!

Think it's impossible to live on a tiny grocery budget? This post will inspire you otherwise and give you the tips & tricks you need to make it happen!

Shared Apr 17, 2012 comment

Is it possible to survive on a $30 per week grocery budget?

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 17, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I am single and have about $30 per week for groceries which I find hard to do and get a balanced diet. I do go to multiple stores to get the best prices and use coupons the best I can. The thing that bothers me, is when a staple item I use is on sale, I normally don’t have an extra $5 (let alone more) to spend to purchase it. How can I stock-up on sale items when I have such a little bit to get by with anyways? -Renee

Contrary to what many people may tell you, I think you can definitely eat well on $30 per week — and you can find a little wiggle room to buy ahead, too.

My husband and I both lived on a $30 per week grocery budget when we were first married. This included all the ingredients to make 21 meals for both of us each week, plus all household products.

A Can-Do Attitude Is a Must

Don’t let yourself think, “There’s no way I can eat on this small of a budget.” Instead, decide that you’re going to do the best you can with the resources you have.

Make it a game, of sorts, to see how well you can do on a little. By challenging yourself to exercise creativity and think outside the box, you’ll enjoy it a lot more. And when you’re enjoying something, it no longer seems so difficult.

Make Short-Term Sacrifices

In order to be able to scrape together enough money to start buying ahead and building up your stockpile, I’d encourage you to commit to eating really simply for a few weeks. Cut your grocery budget back to $25, and save the extra $5 to invest in those rock-bottom, can’t miss deals — or to purchase almost-free toiletries and household products.

If you’re thinking there’s no way you can eat on $25 per week, here’s a grocery list and menu plan I came up with:

Sample $25 Grocery List and Menu

Prices are approximate and will likely vary a little by area. You may be able to beat these prices with great sales and/or coupons.

Regular Grocery Store, Aldi, or Walmart

1 canister of oatmeal –$2
1 gallon milk — $2.50
1 bag of apples — $3
1 bag of carrots — $1.50
4 bags of frozen vegetables — $4
1 bag of frozen chicken breasts — $7

Dollar Store

1 loaf of bread — $1
1 jar of peanut butter — $1
1 jar of jelly or honey — $1
1 bag of dried beans — $1
1 bag of rice — $1

Breakfasts:

Oatmeal with milk (add in some chopped apples, honey, or peanut butter to change things up a little)

Lunches:

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, carrots

Dinners:

Beans and rice with steamed veggies on the side
Chicken, rice, and carrot soup
Baked chicken breast on a bed of rice, steamed veggies
Rice, chopped chicken, and steamed veggies mixed together and sprinkled with salt
Homemade refried beans, baked chicken, steamed veggies
Chicken and veggie stirfry served over rice
Leftovers

Yes, this isn’t a very exciting menu. But if you’re willing to scrimp for a few weeks and eat very simply, it will free up that extra $5 or so each week to start buying a few extra things that are on a great sale (like a bag of flour, like that incredible deal on strawberries — some to eat now, some to freeze for later, or that fantastic special on beef).

As you invest some of your grocery money in the rock-bottom specials and deals, this helps you to build up more of a stockpile so that, over time, you’ll be able to have more and more variety without increasing your budget.

Want to cut your grocery budget? Go here and sign up (it’s free!) I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.

Shared Apr 17, 2012 comment

I Could Have Saved a Lot of Time and Money on Tax Preparations If I Had Used My Planner

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 17, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Tiffany of Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Do you have a planner? I do.

Actually, I have a pretty incredible planner (that I saw here on MoneySavingMom.com) and I write just about everything in it: meals, birthdays, to-do lists, chores, grocery lists, appointments, things not to forget. That is, unless I forget to write them down.

And in that case, nothing gets written in it, and then my planner isn’t so incredible after all. But I can’t really blame the planner now, can I? 🙂

Today is 2012 Tax Day. I celebrated by getting our taxes done. I know — nothing like waiting until the last moment, right?

Actually, I’m ahead of the game. I got our taxes done on Monday.

No need to remind me, I know I’m cutting it close. But at least I’m not late! (And yes, this is a reminder in case any of you forgot!)

As I was attempting to do them myself last week, I realized that I could have done them so much faster, with so much more information, and so much more accurately (and in turn, not needing to go have them done by someone else) if I had only kept up with my planner!

You see, I do write down a lot of information in my planner, but apparently, there’s a lot of information that I didn’t write down.

If I wrote down every doctor’s appointment for each member of the family, I’d know what doctors I needed to contact to get records of payments made to the office.

If I wrote down the reason why we had an appointment (wisdom teeth extraction — ouch!), I’d know whether or not there was a prescription to go with that appointment.

If there was a prescription, then (in theory) I would have written down how much was spent and where it was spent (since I write down everything we spend).

If I went to the eye doctor, it’s usually because I needed glasses or contacts. How little did insurance pay much did we pay for those again? Did we buy them online instead? What about that fitting fee?

Wait, didn’t my husband go to the eye doctor, too?

Exactly how much contact solution do we go through anyway?

This is just a glimpse into some of the thoughts that were spinning in my head, while seeking comfort in a bag of left-over Easter jelly beans last week.

I had a revelation: my planner was good for more than just properly managing my household day-to-day. Using my planner to its fullest could actually save me money.

Suddenly, I have a renewed interest in my planner and will do my best to do a better job of writing more details down in it to save me time and money come Tax Day 2013.

Tiffany is a full-time mom who teaches part-time and blogs at Don’t Waste the Crumbs, sharing ideas on kids, food, frugality, and making the most out of the small pieces of life.

Shared Apr 17, 2012 comment

Do It Yourself: Edible Finger Paint

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 17, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ItsGravyBaby.com shows you how to make edible finger paint.

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.

Shared Apr 17, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #12

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 17, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Day 12 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}

::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.

::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}

::Set the timer for 15 minutes and vacuum the main living areas of your home.

::Clean your microwave, stove top, and/or oven.

::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.

Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.

At around 9 p.m. EST tonight, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too. Here’s to our productivity today!

Shared Apr 16, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #11 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 16, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Okay, so I have a confession to make: I never made it out of my PJs today, nor did I exercise. I think that sort of means I failed today’s assignment–at least when it comes to the first project on the list.

I had every intention to run and take a shower, but after reading my Bible, making a list of goals for the week, making a to-do list, blogging, homeschooling, having a radio interview, more blogging, and taking care of a bunch of little details in prep for our trip, I finally decided late in the afternoon that it just wasn’t happening today.

The good news? I had a productive day.

I told you that my house was a mess this morning.

Why yes, that’s a box of Annie’s mac & cheese on our bedroom floor. You mean you don’t store those on your bedroom floor?? Ahem. I’m not sure how it got there!

And I certainly wasn’t kidding.

But it’s clean tonight — thanks, in part, to my husband and children pitching in to get it all picked up.

So. much. better!

And I also got the silverware drawer cleaned — though it wasn’t too messy to start with since it had been cleaned out not too long ago. But I found a few things to get rid of and some crumbs to wipe out.

My 7+ items to get rid of — mostly from the silverware and utensil drawer.

Tomorrow, I promise I’ll make getting out of my PJs a priority — especially since I really want to head to Target to buy some Starbucks coffee before our store is cleaned out. 🙂

How did you do on Assignment #11? I’d love to have you share your progress and success with us so we can be inspired. Either post a link to your blog post below or leave a comment with your update.

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

If you are a work-at-home mom, I’d love to hear what books you’d add to my list!

Day 14 Assignment

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

Day 13 Assignment

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

A Can-Do Attitude Is a Must

Make Short-Term Sacrifices

Sample $25 Grocery List and Menu

Day 12 Assignment

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