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Shared Apr 24, 2012 comment

Today’s 30-minute Freezer Cooking session

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Since I decided to switch my plans and make homemade pizza for dinner tonight, I figured if I was already going to be in the kitchen making pizza, I might as well make a few extra things.

So, I browned two pounds of ground beef and then mixed up the pizza dough.

While the pizza dough was resting for five minutes, I set aside some of the cooked ground beef for the pizza and added some taco seasoning, beans, and a can of tomatoes to the rest of it.

This made two dinners’ worth of taco meat for the freezer — perfect for Haystacks!

I also threw the ingredients for my sister’s Easy Whole Wheat Bread in the bread machine and let the dough mix up while I put together the pizza and baked it. I stuck the bread in a loaf pan to rise during dinner and baked it after dinner.

So, for just a little bit of extra time in the kitchen, I was able to make dinner and plus put two dinners’ worth of taco meat plus a loaf homemade bread in the freezer.

It wasn’t anything spectacular, but by using the little minutes here and there to work ahead like this, it really helps you to be able to pull together homemade dinners in no time later on in the week or month.

Use your minutes well and you’ll soon find you have more margin, more peace, and more sanity in your life!

Shared Apr 24, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #17 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We had another good day today. This new routine is going so well — and I even got up later than usual this morning! Yay!

Silas and Kaitlynn tackled the bathroom with me this morning during our morning chore time. They are responsible for cleaning the toilet and sink every day, so I just helped make sure it was done really thoroughly today.

Silas’ attention to detail cracks me up.

He would not leave the bathroom until ever square centimeter of the toilet had been scrubbed.

After our morning homeschooling was done, we had a “picnic” lunch inside and I read Amelia Bedelia stories aloud while the children ate.

Of course, they had to get a silly faces picture, too! 🙂

Later on in the day, I tackled the kitchen cupboards. After looking through them, I rearranged a few things, but decided that it was mainly the pantry that needed cleaning and re-organizing, as the others were in good shape as I’ve cleaned all of them in the last two months.

It wasn’t all that bad, except the snack bin which was in desperate need of help! {Pictured above is what the bottom of the bin looked like! Yikes!}

Much better!

After cleaning out the pantry, I did an impromptu 30-minute freezer cooking session while making homemade pizza for dinner (I know, I know, homemade pizza totally wasn’t on the menu this week. But I decided it sounded better than meatballs for dinner tonight and Jesse agreed. So I just went with it!)

More on the impromptu cooking session in a bit. For now, here’s my pile of 7 items I got rid of today. Actually, there are only six items shown, but I threw out a few things from the pantry that were expired, so I’m counting those, too.

How did you do on Assignment #17? 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 24, 2012 comment

How can we save money without feeling like we’re broke all the time?

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

My husband and I recently got amazing jobs after not working for months and now our income is something we have only ever dreamed of earning. We’ve scraped by these past months and now with this extra money we want to spend, spend, spend.

How can we save money and not feel like we are still broke all the time? I guess I am not sure how to budget spending money since I’m not even sure what percentage should go where after our main bills are taken out. We are newbies at saving and really need help. -Samantha

Congratulations on your new jobs and higher income! How exciting!

Here’s some advice I would have for you:

1. Sit Down Together and Set Goals

Before you even think of setting up a budget, I encourage you to sit down as a couple and talk about your goals. Where do you want to be financially in a year from now? What about five years from now?

Do you have debt that needs to be paid off? If so, this should be one of your top priorities when you set goals. Do you have an emergency fund of 3-6 months’ worth of expenses in place? If not, this should be your second goal.

In addition, talk about what things you need to save to pay cash for: Is your car on its last leg? Are you setting aside money for retirement? Is there something fun you’d like to do as a couple in the not-too-distant future (go on a trip, purchase something, etc.)?

Discuss all of these things and make a prioritized goal list denoting your top three goals to work toward right now. These goals will give you purpose for implementing money-saving tactics and they will also give you momentum to make wise choices financially.

2. Break Your Goals Down Into Bite-sized Pieces

After you’ve determined your goals, you need to take those big goals and break them down into manageable pieces. I recommend that you set yearly goals and then break those down into monthly goals. Then, take those monthly goals and break those down into weekly goals.

For instance, if you want to save $2500 this year, you’ll need to save a little over $208 per month. That means, you’ll need to save $52 per week — or around $10.50 each weekday.

When you break your goals down into these small pieces, they become much less daunting and much more manageable. Plus, you have a very concrete number to work toward instead of a huge, seemingly overwhelming goal.

3. Create a Written Budget

Once you have your goals in place, it’s time to set up your budget. If you’ve never had a budget before, my book, The Money Saving Mom®’s Budget, outlines how to set up a grocery budget, then a barebones budget, and then a full-fledged budget. I included spreadsheets and step-by-step help to walk you through how to do it. This process is especially beneficial for people who are brand-new to budgeting and completely stressed out over how to pull it off successfully.

If you’re ready to jump in with two feet, Dave Ramsey offers a free online budgeting tool that walks you through setting up your budget and includes suggested percentages to include for each category. Remember to budget for your financial goals before budgeting for fun stuff and extras. Short-term sacrifices will always pay off in the long run!

4. Plan for Strategic Splurging

Once you’ve set up your budget and covered all your necessary bases and your financial goals, now comes the fun part: budgeting for strategic splurging! A lot of people have this idea that a budget is a straight jacket that removes all of the excitement and spontaneity from your life and instead relegates you to a miserable existence.

I heartily disagree. A budget actually gives you freedom!

When you make your money work for you, you have more to work with. In turn, this means you can budget for fun and splurging — and you can enjoy it more because you know that going out to dinner or that occasional coffee at Starbucks is something you planned for, not something that’s going to wreck your finances or keep you from being able to pay your electric bill.

Life is meant to be savored — and a budget can be a tool to help you enjoy life a lot more, without the guilt!

What advice do the rest of you have for Samantha and her husband? I’d love to hear!

photo credit

Shared Apr 24, 2012 comment

Do It Yourself: Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Coconut Cups

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Smashed Peas and Carrots shows you how to make homemade gluten and dairy free chocolate coconut cups.

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 24, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #17

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Day 17 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 out and reorganized your kitchen cupboards and pantry.

::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 9 p.m. ET 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!

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

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Shared Apr 23, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #16 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We had a good day today. I slept for 12 hours last night (I guess I was a bit exhausted after our busy weekend!) and woke up feeling very refreshed this morning.

I had re-arranged our daily routine some, so we started that new routine today and it went incredibly well. Silas was especially excited to start his preschool lessons with me (he’s been talking about getting to start “pwe-schuul” for months!)

After homeschooling was finished, I was able to get the house picked up and most all of the unpacking done. And then it was time to tackle the vents.

When I pulled up the first vent in the kitchen and saw all of the dirt, I knew I was in for a nice little cleaning challenge.

Let’s just say, I saw a whole lot more dirt and ick than I had bargained for.

But after washing the vents in the sink and scrubbing around the vent openings with a Mr. Clean Eraser, I felt much better.

The project as a whole took me about 45 minutes. I gave up on trying to vacuum every little nook and cranny and just got the vents cleaned and the worst offenders vacuumed out.

My pile of 7+ things to get rid of: a very old Swiffer that I got free and should have discarded a long time ago, some books, and a shoe that has somehow lost its mate (I kept hoping the other shoe would turn up in all the cleaning, but so far, it’s been a lost cause!).

How did you do on Assignment #16? 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 23, 2012 comment

This week’s menu (& my plans to get back to regular freezer cooking sessions!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Chewy Granola Bars — these are SO good, especially for being so healthful!

One of the women stopped at our booth at the conference this past weekend and asked me to please bring back my freezer cooking session posts and non-gluten-free recipes.

Truth be told, I’ve been freezer cooking rather haphazardly the past few weeks and I really want to get back to being more intentional and organized with this — especially since our freezer is rather bare right now. So thanks to the motivation of this woman at the conference, I’m bringing back the freezer cooking session posts after putting them on the back burner for a while. Expect to see one later this week, hopefully. 🙂

Breakfasts

Cereal
Strawberry Pineapple Smoothies
Creamy Rice with toppings
Scrambled eggs, fruit salad
Healthy Homemade Poptarts, hard-boiled eggs, fruit
Carrot juice, Oatmeal
Breakfast with friends at couples’ campout (I’m thinking of bringing this Honey Bun Cake.)

Lunches

Leftovers
PB&J, carrot sticks, apples, granola bars
Snack-y lunch
Chips, refried beans, veggies, fruit
Hard-boiled eggs, toast, fruit
Salmon, veggies, fruit, corn chips
Leftovers

Snacks

Fruit/veggies
Chewy Granola Bars
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Healthy Homemade Poptarts

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Dinners

Macaroni & Cheese
Dinner out at Chili’s with Kid’s Eat Free coupon
Barbecued Meatballs, sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli, fruit salad, Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Parmesan Chicken, steamed veggies, fruit salad, Blueberry Biscuits
Steak, au gratin potatoes, fruit salad, steamed veggies
Dinner at couples’ campout (I’m bringing fruit salad.)
Dinner with extended family

Freezer Cooking/Make Ahead Projects

Chewy Granola Bars
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Healthy Homemade Poptarts
Meatloaf
Honey Bun Cake

What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.

Shared Apr 23, 2012 comment

10 goals for this week

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Last week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

~~1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.~~

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

Personal Goals

3. Finish reading One of Us Must Be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You and The Three R’s.

~~4. Run at least two times.~~

5. Finish listening to The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Start listening to Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

Home Management

~~6. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.~~

Business Goals

~~7. Continue practicing my talks for the Midwest Homeschool Convention.~~

~~8. Attend and speak at the Midwest Homeschool Convention.~~

This week’s goals:

This week’s goals:

Family/Mothering Goals

1. Read five chapters each of Quest for Truth:Taken and Thomas A Edison: Young Inventor aloud to the children.

2. Start one-on-one homeschooling times with each of the children {I’ve been doing this with Kathrynne, but not consistently with Kaitlynn and Silas, so I re-did our daily routine this weekend so that I could start meeting one-one-one with each child every day.}

3. Go on an overnight date with Jesse. {We’re supposed to try camping out — if I don’t chicken out! Ahem. I’m not much of a camper!}

Personal Goals

4. Finish reading The Three R’s. Start another book. {I have a stack that I’m trying to decide from!}

5. Run at least five times.

6. Finish listening to Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality.

7. Write and send two handwritten notes.

Home Management

8. Follow my Spring Cleaning plan & blog about it every weekday.

9. Make Homemade Pop Tarts.

Business Goals

10. Go through my “To Answer” email file (that’s been quite neglected in recent weeks!) and answer all emails.

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!

You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Shared Apr 23, 2012 comment

Reader Testimonial: After 14 months of hard work, we’re debt-free!

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Testimony from Sarah

In December 2010, my husband (Brad) brought up the idea about us looking at our finances, creating a budget, and making some sacrifices so we could pay off our debt. I was a little skeptical as I felt we were already living tight. What more could we do?

He was teaching Financial Peace University classes and I just thought it was his emotional high from that. I wanted some proof that if I committed to this new way of life and gave up my cable it would actually mean something.

Even though we never argued much over money, the stress of debt touched our relationship in ways I never realized. I finally agreed to it, but still was not ready to make any of the major sacrifices Brad was proposing at the time.

The Moment of Realization

However, I had my moment of realization when I was building a humanitarian aid web site. I was entering in items you could purchase, and an option to feed a whole school in Rwanda for one week was $250.00.

Seriously, we could feed an entire school for a week and all it would cost us is one car payment! I felt almost sick to my stomach at our selfishness. We were surrounding ourselves with “things” that we told ourselves we needed or deserved, while that same amount could feed a school of 450 children.

I became mad that we had this debt and wanted to do something about it so that we could be free to give. I told Brad that I was ready to kick this debt… and fast.

Kicking Up Our Momentum

So we started with the budget and were determined to make this work. We had a garage sale and sold everything we could think of in that. We still weren’t satisfied — so we talked about Brad getting another job.

He became a referee and started reffing at our church. Then, an opportunity came along for me to give personal basketball lessons and regularly babysit two of my friend’s children. These were unexpected bonuses and we socked that money away towards debt.

Kissing Our Nice Car (and Car Payment!) Goodbye

At the start of this, Brad asked that I think about selling our car. I immediately rolled my eyes and said “no”. I explained to him that our car was a blessing. I mean, it has an automatic starter, we needed a reliable car, we only have two years left to pay it off… and on and on my excuses went.

We agreed that we would hold off on that. But what Brad didn’t know was I was seriously considering it and praying that God would give us direction. Finally, after a few months, I told myself and God that I was ready to sell the car if Brad brought it up.

Of course he did, and one week later, we kissed our Honda Accord goodbye and began that painful search for a new-to-us used car. After two weeks, we found a perfect car for our family, in our price range, that we purchased with cash.

It’s Official: We’re Debt-Free!

After 14 months of hard work, we paid off $23,000 and we’re celebrating a huge accomplishment: we’re officially debt-free! I actually feel more humbled than excited because I am so thankful for God’s goodness and grace this past year toward our family.

Sarah is a work-from-home wife and mom of a soon to be 3-year-old girl and another little girl due at the end of May. She works for www.hagcm.org a Christian non profit organization which focuses on radio overseas and humanitarian aid primarily in various African countries.

photo source

Shared Apr 23, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Assignment #16

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We survived the Cincinnati conference! It was busy and our days there were packed, but it was wonderful — and it was so good to meet so many of you in person!

{And for those who are wondering, my workshops went well… and after the first two, I wasn’t really even nervous for the other two! This was a huge victory for me in the public speaking arena. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to face my fears and step out and do things outside my comfort zone. The more I’m doing this, the easier it’s becoming! And I’m really starting to enjoy it, too!}

My apologies that Friday’s assignment never got posted. I had it planned, but our internet was so poor where we were that, by the time, I was able to get working internet, it was too late in the day to bother posting the assignment. So I just decided everyone could have the day off! 🙂

Day 16 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 and make a list of weekly goals. I’ll post my goals along with a link-up around 1 p.m. ET this afternoon.

::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 quickly pick up your house and put things back into order after the weekend.

::Clean your vents. If you have floor vents that can be removed, remove them and wash them in warm soapy water. Vacuum/clean any dirt or grime around the floor vent area and replace the vent. Use a vacuum attachment and/or a wet rag to dust/clean your other vents.

::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 9 p.m. ET 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!

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

Click here to download!

Shared Apr 21, 2012 comment

7 Common Sense Things I Do to Save Money

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 21, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Jenny of One Loved American Girl

For many years, I was not the thrifty woman I am today. In my early college years, I stayed up on trends by staying under a burgeoning credit card bill. When I finally climbed my way out, I vowed never to go back. I am still learning my lesson by using thrifty spending habits to pay off those looming student loans and evidence of my former self.

Some of the easiest ways to save money are so downright common sense I wondered why I didn’t start with them before!

1. Re-purpose.

I love crafts. I have turned an old photo frame into a cute dry erase board. Currently turning an old t-shirt in to some tree wall art for my son’s room and an old tablecloth into a decorative canvas for my bedroom.

2. Reuse.

I have found creative ways to reuse dinners — like making Shepard’s Pie with last nights mashed potatoes and a can of beef stew or potato pancakes. My favorite thing to cook is chicken and I love its variety of uses. There are dozens of ways to re-purpose a roasted chicken breast.

3. Eliminate.

Clear out what you do not use! Since I’ve switched to ebooks, I’ve been selling books we no longer need or use on Amazon.com. Ebay is a great resource for those old baby clothes. Consignment shops, thrift stores, and having a yard sale are other ways to eliminate things that are still usable that you no longer need.

4. Search the internet.

I love couponing blogs and local Facebook groups that keep up with freebies. Often times you can get beauty and household goods freebies that come with a coupon to purchase a really cheap full-sized item.

When my friend (who is admittedly forgetful) came this weekend, I set out some little sample size shampoo, conditioners, and lotions that I receive from a freebie I found online. She thought it was so thoughtful (and did, in fact, forget her shampoo!)

5. Make friends with other thrifty shoppers.

Many groups help share deals they find, swap coupons, and keep each other up on store policies. They have helped me shave even more off of my already slim shopping bills.

6. Limit trips to the store.

This one is a big one for my family. If I ask my husband to bring home milk, he usually brings home milk and a variety of other things. So I make sure I get everything I need in few trips.

7. Stay organized.

I keep up on my pantry and fridge by rotating products that will expire soon. I also keep all my cleaning products in one place instead of under every sink like I did previously.

Another big help for my family is our “community dry erase board”. I put my list of groceries on it and allow my husband to add to it before I go shopping. I also put a list of things we hope to accomplish every day and every month. When I keep track of things — like upcoming birthdays — I never have to run out and buy a last minute present.

These super simple tips have helped me save so much more each month.

What little common sense do you do to help you save more?

Jenny is an Army wife, mother of one, savings enthusiast, attempting to learn cook, active crafter/sewer, and believer. She follows her husband where ever his job may take them and loves the military life. This year she will be attempting to savor every moment before her husband heads to deployment. Visit her blog, One Loved American Girl.

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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!

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

1. Sit Down Together and Set Goals

2. Break Your Goals Down Into Bite-sized Pieces

3. Create a Written Budget

4. Plan for Strategic Splurging

Day 17 Assignment

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

Breakfasts

Lunches

Snacks

Dinners

Freezer Cooking/Make Ahead Projects

The Moment of Realization

Kicking Up Our Momentum

Kissing Our Nice Car (and Car Payment!) Goodbye

It’s Official: We’re Debt-Free!

Day 16 Assignment

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

1. Re-purpose.

2. Reuse.

3. Eliminate.

4. Search the internet.

5. Make friends with other thrifty shoppers.

6. Limit trips to the store.

7. Stay organized.

What little common sense do you do to help you save more?

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

Day 14 Assignment

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