We cancelled the cable. We are doing some serious axing to the budget.
Is axing a word? I sometimes say things that aren't technically words. Like grumping. I use it as a verb all the time.
Cable. I'm back. It's gone saving us $15 a month. We also lowered our internet package saving another $15 a month. Boom!
Then this morning Jon and the kids took our dog for a walk and passed by a garage sale. *Sigh* I love garage sales. He found a brand new in the box HD Antennae for $20 which he got for $10.
I love this man.
So now we have 30 crystal clear channels to multiple rooms for a third of one month's savings. It can be done!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Patience Is A Virtue
I am not a very patient person. In Bible College, I'd always say how patience is not one of my virtues. Really. It isn't/wasn't. But something happened when I had kids. My patience began to grow.
Thank You Jesus. I'm sure my kids are thanking Him too.
I admit when I painted our bathroom last year, and the kids' bathroom a few months ago, and our living room and then broke my toe, that it would leave me for a time. I'm soooo ready to get going with running a marathon or half marathon. But I've learned that if I want something done right, I have to take the time to do it right. Or let it heal right.
In the same respect, if I want something that I can't afford, I need to take time to wait. What is it Dave Ramsey always says...One definition of maturity is the ability to delay pleasure.
There's a trench coat that I've wanted For.Ev.Er. from The Limited. It's so super cute, but $150. So yeah, that wasn't happening. I mean, if I had $150 for a trench, great! But I didn't. So I was at The Limited last week searching (without much luck) for a shirt for Easter. I came across the trench I wanted that was less than half the original price. Still too expensive for my budget. BUT!!! They were taking an extra 40% off every purchase!
I totally bought that coat.
And the best part, I actually had the budget money to buy it! Makes a person feel great.
That's how I buy the kids' clothes, if not from a garage sale. I'll wait until department stores have a major sale, and then usually I have a percentage off coupon to couple with it. They may not have this second's style (because it changes about 4 times during each season!), but they're okay with that. For now, hehe.
Thank You Jesus. I'm sure my kids are thanking Him too.
I admit when I painted our bathroom last year, and the kids' bathroom a few months ago, and our living room and then broke my toe, that it would leave me for a time. I'm soooo ready to get going with running a marathon or half marathon. But I've learned that if I want something done right, I have to take the time to do it right. Or let it heal right.
In the same respect, if I want something that I can't afford, I need to take time to wait. What is it Dave Ramsey always says...One definition of maturity is the ability to delay pleasure.
There's a trench coat that I've wanted For.Ev.Er. from The Limited. It's so super cute, but $150. So yeah, that wasn't happening. I mean, if I had $150 for a trench, great! But I didn't. So I was at The Limited last week searching (without much luck) for a shirt for Easter. I came across the trench I wanted that was less than half the original price. Still too expensive for my budget. BUT!!! They were taking an extra 40% off every purchase!
I totally bought that coat.
And the best part, I actually had the budget money to buy it! Makes a person feel great.
That's how I buy the kids' clothes, if not from a garage sale. I'll wait until department stores have a major sale, and then usually I have a percentage off coupon to couple with it. They may not have this second's style (because it changes about 4 times during each season!), but they're okay with that. For now, hehe.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
A Perfect Present
I have a niece (who is not my niece by blood but may as well be since I've adopted her as such) who's birthday is next month. She was playing at our house and was in love with Konnor's mini doodle pro. I decided that's what she needs for her birthday!
I was perusing the aisles of Target (Super that is) and was excited to see the Easter candy was 50% off, and non bagged candy was 75% off. Sweet!!!
The best part, it was the last Easter mini doodle pad. BONUS.
So for $1.24 I bought the sweetest little girl a most perfect present.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
I was perusing the aisles of Target (Super that is) and was excited to see the Easter candy was 50% off, and non bagged candy was 75% off. Sweet!!!
The best part, it was the last Easter mini doodle pad. BONUS.
So for $1.24 I bought the sweetest little girl a most perfect present.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Save Money Without Coupons
I have a lot of friends that don't use coupons. I myself don't use coupons a whole lot, but I do use them if I can to stretch my dollars. It is still possible to save money!
*First* Be aware of what you're paying. Sometimes Sam's can seem like a terrific bargain until you realize you're paying $.45 a roll for toilet paper when you could buy it on sale for $.25 a roll. Know what you like, and what you've paid for it.
Chicken breast is a great example. Most generally, it is around $1.98-2.29 per pound. Wal Mart's Good Value bags of 2.5 pounds are $6 (here) which equates to $2.40 per pound. Yikes! On sale, at Reasor's, it goes down to $1.58 per pound. When it goes on sale, I moved around my budget and meals so that I can afford about 10 pounds of chicken- which is a $4 savings minimum. Then I like to freeze each breast in it's own baggie, or foil. It's much easier to thaw, and I don't feel like I have to make chicken every night for a week because I have to thaw an entire 5 pound package.
*Second* Utilize the price matching. Wal Mart will price match right at the register (have the ad with you and ready as they scan the item) making it super easy. I've never had problems with it. Target's price matching is a bit less friendly. You have to pay, then take your receipt and ad to Customer Service where they refund the difference. A little more work and when you have kids in tow it's not appealing for saving a dollar. $2 on the other hand, well that's an Americano!
*Third* Shop around if you can. Walgreens, Wal Mart and Reasors are all on my way to and from dropping Isabella off at school so I'm not using gas by going somewhere I don't need to. Aldi is not on my way, but is right next to Super Target. If Aldi has great produce prices, I will make the 10 minute trip and stop by Target if they something I need. Especially because we eat A LOT of fruit and vegetables.
Groceries can get out of control. Especially with costs on the rise. But with a little planning and purposeful buying, you can work your money.
*First* Be aware of what you're paying. Sometimes Sam's can seem like a terrific bargain until you realize you're paying $.45 a roll for toilet paper when you could buy it on sale for $.25 a roll. Know what you like, and what you've paid for it.
Chicken breast is a great example. Most generally, it is around $1.98-2.29 per pound. Wal Mart's Good Value bags of 2.5 pounds are $6 (here) which equates to $2.40 per pound. Yikes! On sale, at Reasor's, it goes down to $1.58 per pound. When it goes on sale, I moved around my budget and meals so that I can afford about 10 pounds of chicken- which is a $4 savings minimum. Then I like to freeze each breast in it's own baggie, or foil. It's much easier to thaw, and I don't feel like I have to make chicken every night for a week because I have to thaw an entire 5 pound package.
*Second* Utilize the price matching. Wal Mart will price match right at the register (have the ad with you and ready as they scan the item) making it super easy. I've never had problems with it. Target's price matching is a bit less friendly. You have to pay, then take your receipt and ad to Customer Service where they refund the difference. A little more work and when you have kids in tow it's not appealing for saving a dollar. $2 on the other hand, well that's an Americano!
*Third* Shop around if you can. Walgreens, Wal Mart and Reasors are all on my way to and from dropping Isabella off at school so I'm not using gas by going somewhere I don't need to. Aldi is not on my way, but is right next to Super Target. If Aldi has great produce prices, I will make the 10 minute trip and stop by Target if they something I need. Especially because we eat A LOT of fruit and vegetables.
Groceries can get out of control. Especially with costs on the rise. But with a little planning and purposeful buying, you can work your money.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Dressing Up Leftovers
Not because I don't have any, I just didn't feel like it today. Which is rare.
It was so good I had it again for lunch. I made the corn relish for the first time with dried beans. Normally I crack a can, but...rising prices make me skip the cans. It was really easy and totally replicate worthy.
Get a small saucepan. Pour in the beans (I did about 1/4 cup dried) and pick out any rocks or yucky stuff. Rinse and drain. Add water to 1/4 inch under the rim. Sprinkle in 1tsp. salt and boil away for about an hour. You may need to add more water. They need to be tender to the touch but not mushy.
Boil 2/3 cup apple cider vinegar and 2/3 cup sugar until the sugar dissolves. Drain the beans. Open & drain 1 can of corn. Add to the vinegar and let set in the refrigerator until it cools. It's even better the next day.
I first tried corn relish at Tin Star, a restaurant here in Tulsa, and my mother in law found something similar in my Betty Crocker cookbook. We've added tomatoes, red bell pepper, onions and green pepper at different times. All were good!
Make it your own! For less than $1(if your corn is less than $.40 a can), it's a great salad topper, or party dip with tortilla chips.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Monday, April 25, 2011
Monday, Monday
The Mamas & The Papas are in my head with their song right now.
'Every other day (every other day) Every other day...'
It's in your head too, now, isn't it?
It's the day after Easter! Hit up those stores for candy and next year's baskets and activities!
My children have far too much candy. What in the world do we do with it all?! We actually still have some candy from halloween in Isabella's bag. So we have a plethora here.
One of my good friends had a great idea. Freeze some for summer! Around here, we have a movie theater that does free movies 3 mornings a week. The concessions are not free of course, but we take our own candy. If we go with our friend, we'll buy the large combo and fill the kids' cups and bowls and get a free refill.
I may make M&M sugar cookies. There is a candy cupcake recipe I've been wanting to try too. I could take that to my MOPS Mom's Night Out tonight. The possibilities are endless! What do you do with your leftover candy?
'Every other day (every other day) Every other day...'
It's in your head too, now, isn't it?
It's the day after Easter! Hit up those stores for candy and next year's baskets and activities!
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| By far, my favorite photo from yesterday |
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| My cute kittens |
One of my good friends had a great idea. Freeze some for summer! Around here, we have a movie theater that does free movies 3 mornings a week. The concessions are not free of course, but we take our own candy. If we go with our friend, we'll buy the large combo and fill the kids' cups and bowls and get a free refill.
I may make M&M sugar cookies. There is a candy cupcake recipe I've been wanting to try too. I could take that to my MOPS Mom's Night Out tonight. The possibilities are endless! What do you do with your leftover candy?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Long Weekend Fun
Yesterday was Good Friday. Isabella didn't have school due to a 'Professional Day' for the teachers. I was thanking Jesus for that day off. Last week was SAT's. Around here, that means early bedtime, early waking and everything being in order. The last part is hard for me. I've learned to embrace some of the chaos around here. But the days had to be orderly, so they were. I'm a team player.
We have an Aquarium membership which has been a huge blessing. For $85, two adults and up to 4 kids can visit any time. When Isabella was homeschooling, we went probably once a week. Since we live in Jenks, though, we get the membership for half price. Bonus!!! So due to the day out of school, that's where we went with some friends.
It can be difficult to have kids home from school. They're so used to doing something all the time, which is fine if the weather is great, but that's not a guarantee. I always try to keep a good craft on hand.
The peel and stick foam pieces are amazing! Last year (after Easter sometime) I was at Joann's Fabric Store and ran across an egg peel and stick kit. It had 60 eggs and lots of stickers to decorate them. Regularly $7.99, it was on sale for $1.99. Did I grab it? You betcha!
They worked on those babies for almost an hour.
Isabella was done first, which was not surprising, but once she saw Liana writing on her eggs a whole new idea formed. So she got her eggs and went to work on them again.
Liana is quite methodical in her approach. She didn't want to even start decorating her eggs until she had all of her supplies. Plus a pen. Pen's are not part of the deal with Liana, because I have pen drawings on everything in my house practically. It hasn't quite clicked that we draw on paper.
Konnor also had something distinct in mind. First, he did not want any girl colored stickers. So he traded with Liana for the blues and yellows. For some reason pink eggs were ok. Then he took his eggs and the little 'ribbon' stickers and made train tracks. So boy. So cute. So he made his eggs into train tracks that love to lay right across my keyboard.
Sunday is Easter! That means Monday will begin the slashing of prices on Easter themed products. Candy will go first. But look at the little toys and fillers. Think ahead. Do you have birthday parties coming up? Treat bags for school? If you want to stock up on Easter toys for next year, think of fabric stores like Joann's or Hobby Lobby. Sometimes the best finds are in the least likely of places.
We have an Aquarium membership which has been a huge blessing. For $85, two adults and up to 4 kids can visit any time. When Isabella was homeschooling, we went probably once a week. Since we live in Jenks, though, we get the membership for half price. Bonus!!! So due to the day out of school, that's where we went with some friends.
It can be difficult to have kids home from school. They're so used to doing something all the time, which is fine if the weather is great, but that's not a guarantee. I always try to keep a good craft on hand.
The peel and stick foam pieces are amazing! Last year (after Easter sometime) I was at Joann's Fabric Store and ran across an egg peel and stick kit. It had 60 eggs and lots of stickers to decorate them. Regularly $7.99, it was on sale for $1.99. Did I grab it? You betcha!
They worked on those babies for almost an hour.
Isabella was done first, which was not surprising, but once she saw Liana writing on her eggs a whole new idea formed. So she got her eggs and went to work on them again.
Liana is quite methodical in her approach. She didn't want to even start decorating her eggs until she had all of her supplies. Plus a pen. Pen's are not part of the deal with Liana, because I have pen drawings on everything in my house practically. It hasn't quite clicked that we draw on paper.Konnor also had something distinct in mind. First, he did not want any girl colored stickers. So he traded with Liana for the blues and yellows. For some reason pink eggs were ok. Then he took his eggs and the little 'ribbon' stickers and made train tracks. So boy. So cute. So he made his eggs into train tracks that love to lay right across my keyboard.
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