Our Most Popular Posts of 2014

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Oooooh, I’m so excited.  2015 is going to be a great year.  My first blog post ever was published August 28th, 2008 and since then I haven’t been a serious blogger. Google Analytics who?  SEO, Schmess-E-O, A Plan?    All of that’s going to change.  Instead of asking myself, “What do I want to write about?”  2015 is going to be about, “How can I best serve you.”

I’ll be paying close attention to what you want and need.  Listening to your comments and interacting with you.  Here’s what I’ve learned from our 10 most popular posts of 2014:

1.  Slow Cooked Biscuits and Gravy –I wrote this post from my attic kitchen. I normally don’t cook with canned soup and refrigerator biscuits but after so many months trying to feed a family of 8 without a kitchen, I was desperate.  This post has ugly pictures but is by FAR the most viewed post on my blog. What I’ve learned…You guys are desperate too.  You need fast easy recipes that will fill your family up without breaking the budget.  A few convenience items are a welcome relief from making everything from scratch.  And thank you for not shaming us for needing it.

2.  Blueberry Coconut Muffin in a Mug  This post was created for a recipe contest with the Blueberry Council.  I didn’t win, but this recipe still gets the 2nd most traffic of anything on my blog.  What I learned:  You want to be healthy too.  Make it fast and yummy, please.

3.  Menus #3 most popular is finding out about our menus.  My take-away:  You are struggling with meal prep and fitting it into your busy every day.  You wonder what to fix that everyone will eat and still be healthy and within budget.  You are not alone.

4.  First Steps  #4 most popular is our step by step instructions for how to shrink your budget.  My take-away?  You want real, practical, easy things to do to help your family financially. (Look how tiny those kids are!)

5.  Doll Quilt As you Go Tutorial  I blame Stacy for making this post popular :).  What it tells me about you?  You’re talented and brave enough to try a sewing project now and again.  The rest of you think, “I should take my machine out of the box sometime.”

6.  $400 a Month to Feed 8 Desperate times call for desperate measures.  Last fall we had a catastrophe….a whole stream of them, that made reducing our food budget to $400 a month necessary. We kept it there for 7 months then raised it back to $500.  My takeaway:  You want more success stories.  Show us real families that are reaching their goals and how they did it.  And some step by steps on how to eat for $50 per person per month (If we ever have to) would be perfect.

7.  Plywood Countertops  Along with reducing our food budget, our stream of woes also ate up our life savings.  We kissed granite countertops goodbye in our new kitchen and slapped some plywood countertops in place.  My takeaway:  It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful (thanks, Nester for that.)  My takeaway:  You are interested in super low budget (a step above dumpster diving) ways to improve your home, even if it’s a temporary fix. And if we could test it out for you and make sure it doesn’t permanently wreck your space, that’d be even better.

8.  Weight-Loss — Holly Rigsby (aka Fit Yummy Mummy) has changed my life.  Her sensible eating plan and 15 minute workouts allow me to loose fat and maintain a healthy weight even though I’ve been pregnant and given birth 6 times.  My takeaway:  Most mamas struggle with weight and low body image.  What I want you to know:  Your beauty and worth as a person is not dependent on your size.  Just ask your youngest child.

9.  Homemade Eggrolls — These are delicious and the filling can be eaten alone (without the shell or frying) for a fabulous weight reducing meal.  As far as why this post is in my top 10?  I’m stumped.  Why do you like it so much?

10.  Faux Leather Floors

These floors are seriously gorgeous, are cheap and easy to install (over plywood — don’t you dare cover up hardwood floors with these.) And hold up well (but not over vinyl–I’m warning you about this–not over vinyl.)  They are easiest to install in small spaces–my dining room took me exactly forever to install. My takeaway — see #7.

What would YOU like to see more of in 2015?

 

French Pastry Giveaway

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On our New Year’s celebration tomorrow, I’m using Looka pastries on our buffet.  They are high quality, yummy treats made with real food ingredients and readily available in the Freezer section at Wal-mart.  Affordable, stress-free perfection. We’ll have other things too–like homemade Kombucha (I’ll show you how to make this later.  I can’t even stand soda now… this stuff has spoiled me forever) shrimp rings (from Aldi,) Veggie tray, Queso blanco and whatever our guests are bringing.

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Caramel and Chocolate Loaflooka_cups2_n

Mousse Cupslooka_macarons2_n

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Tiramisu

One lucky reader is getting a set of yummy Looka treats sent to their house.  Get your easy entry below!

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Caution: Slippery Ahead

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Caution Slippery Ahead

When do you feel like spending money?  What are your triggers?  I can tell you exactly what mine are:

1.  Reading cute blogs with DIY projects.  I spend money on the supplies which I may or may not actually use.

2.  Seeing the new thing my friend just got. I want one too…

2.  Social shopping.  I’m more apt to spend money when I’m with other people who are spending.  I’m at my worst when I’m shopping with my best friend….my husband.  We’ll buy stuff together that we wouldn’t dream of buying alone.

3.  Feeling sorry for myself. Stupid thoughts like, “Everyone else has ___ but I don’t.”  Or worse, I’m not providing well for my kids unless I get them____.

4. Feeling empathetic for a fund raiser or new biz.

5.  Overwhelm/Chaos — I’m tempted about things like deli pizza, fast food, paper plates, and purchased gifts when I’m too busy and overwhelmed to make the things myself.  Also, if I’m disorganized I tend to buy the wrong thing/food when I’m at the store.

6.  Surprises:  last minute birthday party, bake sale, school treat day…

So for every one of these and the few more I might think of, I need a plan of action.  What will I do?  How will I cope?

1.   Pin the projects for later…or limit my reading this month.  I’m going to need the extra time to list all my stuff on Craigslist.

2.  Thou Shalt Not Covet. Practice being happy for her and being happy for me for the great progress I am making this month.  Plus, I can always put the item in my amazon wish list.

3.  Practice gratitude.  It’s hard to feel sorry for myself when I realize how blessed I am.

4.  Not this month.  “I really want to help you, but I can’t do it for 4 weeks.  Can I order then?  No?  Please ask me next time, I just can’t this month.”

5.  Have some items on hand for fast to fix meals that will keep us out of fast food joints and delis.  Taco night, simple spaghetti, and Mackerel Patties are on standby for crazy night.

6.  Last minute things will be dealt with from stash…at least for the next 31 days.

Print your worksheet here: Spending Freeze Caution Slippery Ahead

Guidelines and Rules

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We’re still on vacation and by “we” I mean you and me.  The actual spending freeze will start on January 1st :). Until then, take a few minutes and think about what you want your rules to be.  Here are some guidelines that I think are a good idea.

Spending Freeze Guidelines

In addition to the things above set up some basic rules for yourself below.

Spending Freeze My Rules GIF

This month is my daughter’s 15th birthday.  I have set aside cash for her gifts so I will write that in the “Things I May Spend On” section. Also, I have an important baby shower coming up this month that I’ve set aside cash for.  The things that I may NOT spend on include organizers at IKEA (sigh), clothes, and misc. craft supplies (unless they involve the baby shower or birthday situation.)  I need to give this some more thought to think of what things are likely to pop up in January.

To download PDFs of these two files click here: Spending Freeze Guidelines and Rules.

Your Goals

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I’m super excited about all the “I’m in” comments from yesterday. Thank you!  It’s such a good feeling to not be alone.

When I have a goal that requires a big sacrifice (say a fitness challenge with Fit Yummy Mummy), I do better when I think about it awhile before the sacrifice begins.  It gives me time to wrap my mind around what I’m agreeing to do, what it will change in my daily life, and for how long.  With enough time to think about it, my whole being commits to the process.  I will DO this!  It’s not a whim that I’ll forget about in a couple of days, it’s going to happen.

It’s important to note that this Spending Freeze is for the month of January only.  What I’m asking you to do would be miserable to sustain for a lifetime.  We did it for 6 months one time (to win the trip to the Bahamas with Dave Ramsey) and while it was hard, it was doable.  1 month is even more doable.   It’s long enough to get momentum, but short enough to ask you to do some crazy stuff to reach your goals. If you hate it, it was over.  It can be that thing you talk about….”Remember that time we listened to that crazy blogger and….” On the other hand, if you decide it isn’t all that bad, you can extend it to further reach your goals.

Why the freeze?  I don’t know about you, but our income covers our expenses and not much more.  We could stop music lessons, sports and school expenses and make more traction, but I’m hoping to create traction without my kids missing out on opportunities.  (On the other hand, if we had a real emergency, like a sudden job loss–the music lessons and sports would instantly be on the chopping block.)  By sacrificing some of the “stuff” that we consider part of our basic needs, I can make traction.  Here are some things we could temporarily do without:  computer paper, ink, shoes/clothes, printed photos, certain foods, movies, restaurants, cosmetics, toilet paper, or paper towels.

Wrap your mind around what we are about to do, and while you’re wrapping….Let’s set some goals.  What would you like to accomplish this year? Then highlight the ones you can specifically do this month.

Spending Freeze Goals

If you need ideas, start with Dave’s baby steps:

1.  $1,000 mini emergency fund

2.  Debt Snowball

3. 3-6 months of expenses in savings

4. Invest 15% of household income in retirement

5. Fund College for Kids

6. Pay of Home Early

7.  Invest and Give

We are on baby step 5b…which is saving for a special project.  Our bedroom has been torn up for 3 years.. exposed studs, insulation, & pipes, 45 year old carpet, dim lighting, a bathtub sized hole in the floor….you get the picture.  We are saving to fix it as inexpensively as possible while still getting a good finished project.

When you are writing down your goals, be specific with dollar amounts.  This is private. No one but you and your husband needs to see it, so be detailed.

While you are being specific break it down.  Our bathroom project is huge — moving walls and plumbing lines huge.  If I simply saved up for the entire project it would take us 4 constant years of spending freezes to get there. I can’t think like that.  I don’t have the strength to keep momentum that long.

If I break the project down into smaller parts, my sacrifice center understands that.  I can save up to move the door.  And then to build the wall.  Once the wall is up, I can paint the bedroom side of the suite and live in a finished room.

Download your worksheet here:  Spending Freeze My Goals

 

It’s Getting Ready to FReeeeeZE!

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Spending Freeze 2015b

Christmas just ended and I hope you have time to rest before your daily routine starts again.  I wanted to pop in and ask you to wrap your mind around something.  Just think about it.  Don’t DO anything yet:

January should be your gazelle intense, super focused, financial progress making month.  There’s no better month to get intense.  After all the December holiday shopping, you are probably shopped out. Your New Year goals are fresh in your mind.  You have a clean start!  And the weather is going to make staying home and away from the stores an attractive prospect.

I’m hosting a Spending Freeze this month, and it’s more fun with friends!  Who’s with me?  Just leave a comment saying:  “I’m in” and I’ll be back later with the super easy, common sense guide to our Spending Freeze.

Subscribe here to get your daily lesson in your inbox. (It’s free)

Until then, here’s a printable Spending Freeze Cover for your notebook.  You’ll be using this notebook to track your amazing progress and keep you motivated. You can use a 3 ring binder with a clear cover, or whatever you have around.  Tape it to the front of a 3 prong brad folder, a file folder, or even a spiral notebook.  Whatever you have. Let’s start the challenge off right by not running out to buy a notebook.

If you prefer to follow the challenge on your laptop, here’s a Power Point File for you instead.

Are you in?

Like and Share, Invite your Friends.

It’s a Good Time to Wrap Up…

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…all the presents you’ve collected so far.  I tend to get overhwelmed with the growing pile.  We limited it to 2 gifts for each of our kids.  But a lot of kids x 2 = a lot of gifts. Plus I shopped for 8 of my 14 nieces and nephews (I love the rest too, but we draw names to reduce the burden), 3 white elephant exchanges, great-grandma’s, teacher gifts…

Photo on 12-15-14 at 9.51 AM #3

 Awkward Wrapping Selfie–

That floor to ceiling curtain behind me is made of $5 sheets thumbtacked to the ceiling, to hide studs, pipes and insulation while we save up for phase 2 of our master bedroom remodel.

Sometimes I forget what I bought, even though I write it down.  And I get this feeling that I didn’t buy enough and am tempted to over buy.  So as I wrap, I change the color of the gift in my Christmas Plan.  Blue is purchased and wrapped; Green is here but not wrapped yet; Red is ordered but hasn’t arrived yet; Orange is still needing to be stitched up; yellow is going in the stocking; black is still just an idea that I probably won’t act on–but might get to put in the stocking.

Christmas planning sheet

This is about the time I start to feel totally inadequate.  Here are the things I tell myself:

1.  Kids do not compare prices on gifts to see who you spent more on, but they do notice if one brother opens 3 gifts, and they opened 2.  So group things together if needed to make the number of packages the same.

2.  Christmas isn’t about gifts.  It’s about Jesus.  We can’t buy the perfect gift–that was Jesus.

3.  Focus the celebration on time together as a family.

4.  Nothing has to be perfect.  What makes the day “perfect” for the kids won’t be the same thing that makes it perfect for me.  Freaking out about the things that are ONLY important to me (like a clean house, and way too many DIY projects….) will only make this time of year less perfect for them.

5.  It’s ok not to have a 12 day of Christmas list, an advent calendar, an elf on a shelf, or chocolate fondu.  The best gift we can give our families is a happy Mama who is PRESENT with them. (cough, cough….electronic free..except maybe for a picture or two..or a Hallmark channel movie…maybe.)

Which is one reason I love the Nester’s post here. Although, seriously, her no effort style would take a lot of effort for me to pull off….I love it.  I’m wondering how I can copy the look of her messy kitchen sink. I keep thinking if I look at it long enough I will absorb the mindset and be able to throw stuff on the wall and make it look good too.  There’s some kind of force behind it.  She’s a Jedi I’m sure.

Psst… If you were slightly interested in the natural household and personal products I talked about here, you should put in a request for more information.  I’ll call you and we can chat about it.  The one time membership fee is only $1 through December 22nd.  It’s the perfect time to give it a try.

 

What can I get for $1?

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money 1

I like to shop at Dollar Tree…..a lot.  I know it’s not quality stuff.  I’m not expecting quality…not really, lol.  I am expecting to afford it and to have choices.  There’s something nice about going into a place and knowing I can afford to buy anything I want.

I used to buy my cleaning supplies there too, but about a year ago I found someplace better.  They sell most of their products in concentrated form.  So you buy one bottle and it dilutes into a spray bottle to make 6 bottles of cleaner.  This comes to around $.87 each.   It’s not a HUGE savings over Dollar Tree, I’ll admit.  The main benefit is these products are safer, healthier and work better than what I was using before.

They have over 400 products to choose from which include cleaning, laundry, vitamins, protein powders, sports nutrition, shampoo, first aid, cosmetics.  It’s a lot of stuff.

Women cleaning a window 3

Here are my 7 favorite products:

1.  Laundry stain remover:  This stuff will take chocolate ice cream out of a white dress, dried on, discovered the next day.  (No bleach.)

2.  Laundry detergent:  Super concentrated formulas only use 2 Tbs per load.  When it’s on sale for buy 1 get 1 $1.99 it costs less per load than Arm and Hammer powder and is formulated to not fade or pill your clothes.  Mine has a pump on it that perfectly measures each load.  No mess, no overuse. Love it!  And since it’s concentrated the 96 load bottle is small enough my kids can handle it too.

3.  Tub and Tile Cleaner:  This stuff is amazing!  Spray it on, wait a couple of minutes and wipe or rinse.  If you haven’t cleaned in awhile, this stuff will make it ok.  It works great on mold, soap scum, and toilet ring.

4.  Solvent:  This uses safe ingredients to remove stuff like permanent marker, gum, paint, fingernail polish etc….  It has over 101 uses–including stubborn odor removal.

5.  Sport Drink:  This stuff is perfect for fixing dehydration from sports, working out, hot weather, or adrenal problems.

6.  Disinfectant:  This  kills 99% of bacteria and viruses–without toxic chemicals.  (It’s powered with Thyme oil and Citric Acid.)  It is proven to kill MRSA!!!!!!  It is safe to use on toys that will end up in mouths.  Use it on door knobs, counters, cutting boards, toilet handles, toys, light switches, steering wheels, musical instruments, phones….any place germs might linger

7.  Dishwasher Detergent:  available in gels or soft packs this stuff has sheeting action that leaves your dishes crystal clear without additional rinse agents needed.

So that was just 7 products out of 400. I haven’t even tried everything yet.

P.S.  We just tried their shampoo/conditioner.  Our old stuff was giving Heidi hives.  Her hives cleared up in a couple of days after we made the switch and our hair is a lot more manageable now.  I have thin, fine hair.  Heidi’s is thick, coarse and dry–we use the same formula…go figure.

This company works similar to Costco, except it’s online.  You become a member and then can order at a discount. If you want to pay full price, that’s ok too, and the prices are still pretty reasonable.  Normally discount memberships are $35, but they are only $1 until December 22nd.

If 7 more of my readers decide to give it a try before December 22nd, the company will send me some love.  If you want more details (please don’t make rash decisions without details!)  Click here to put in your request and I’ll call or email you.

 

 

Who is MomCeo?

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Sandi Sullivan

You’ve been seeing the MomCEO button on my side bar for years. There’s a little bit of mystery with that button, so let me tell you more about the woman behind MomCEO.

 

Sandi Sullivan had a successful career as an account manager for an International software company. When she considered having children, she realized her long hours, travel and high stress environment would make being a mother difficult.  She had seen how the corporate life wasn’t balanced for her associates with families, so decided to research work from home options.  Since Sandi was not financially prepared to walk away from her six figure income, she narrowed her search to a business she could transition into part time.  It took 3 years to find the right business, but it has paid off well, eventually allowing her to work completely from home.

Knowing that there must be more professional women like herself who felt the same way, in 2006 Sandi founded MomCeo, a marketing company that represents a U.S. manufacturer.

She has gathered a team of 30+ Reps who work on average 15 – 25 hours a week.  They can choose to work exclusively with MomCeo or alongside their current careers until they can make the transition fully.  The results have been Incredible and the stories of lives transformed are amazing.

Sandi says, “It’s a business without borders or territories. We schedule our work around our families and our financial goals. With no quotas or limits on our earning potential, we can experience a work-life balance that can’t be found anywhere else.”

Sandi lives in Tampa Bay, but many of her team members live and work along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Texas, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Kansas, Ohio and even Canada. Her team is comprised of women from all walks of life, education levels and work styles. Self-discipline and a strong desire to succeed are key to anyone interested in joining them.

MomCeo has set a goal to double their business in 2015 and is expanding its marketing team.  If a work from home income sounds attractive to you, Sandi would love to talk with you about the possibilities of joining their team.

Sandi Sullivan 2

To set an appointment to talk, simply fill out a “request for more info” form at www.momceo.com.

All requests are confidential.  You are encouraged to leave both your email address and a best number where you can be reached personally.  Your contact information will not be used for any other purpose than to provide you with the details of the business and to be considered for the MomCeoTeam.

P.S.  I resisted joining up with MomCeo for years simply because I already have a lot of businesses and not a lot of free time.  Then I tried the products and fell in LOVE.  I’ve been using them for awhile.  A few weeks ago Sandi showed me what I could have been making in income if I had signed up as her team member instead….gulp.  I signed up and would love you to have the same opportunity.  Sandi has an amazing business mind and her family success is a tribute to that.  I’m glad I’m on her team.

A Drop in the Bucket

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A Drop in the Bucket

Right after we got out of debt, my husband received word that they were transferring us to Indianapolis, Indiana and renting us an apartment so he could open a new department in that branch.  It would be for about a year and then they would transfer us back. It sounded like a fun adventure.

We gave notice on the house we were renting and our landlord quickly found a new renter to move in as soon as we were gone.  I set aside the bare necessities for living (one set of dishes, one pot, one set of towels etc.) and packed the rest up into a storage unit. Not too long after, my husband’s work changed their mind. The move wasn’t going to work out after all.  And just like that we were homeless.

to farm 037The West view from their porch

Even though we had 3 babies, my in-laws invited us to come and stay with them until we could figure something out.  Their house was a charming 1920’s bungalow with only one bathroom featuring a cute cast iron tub. For cleaning up after coming in from the fields, there was an open shower in the basement.

Yellow Bucket

The plumbing in the house was old (and plumbed backwards so the left handle was cold water and the right hot ) The bathtub faucet dripped.  My mother-in-law put a bucket under the faucet and then used the water to water her plants, or to get a head start on the bathtub filling when it was time.  It just dripped once every second or so, but if we didn’t watch the bucket it would overflow in just a few hours. She couldn’t keep the bathtub stopped up all the time to catch the drips or by the end of the day we’d have a tub full of cold water and not enough room to add hot water to warm it up.

Gray bucket

When I look at our finances I catch myself saying stuff like, “And that’s not even a drop in the bucket.”  Meaning, we could save a few dollars here or there, but it won’t make a difference.  That’s wrong.  A few cents or dollars here and there if found CONSISTENTLY and at increasing frequency will fill a bucket in no time.

Leave a comment and give us some ideas. Where can you find a drop for your bucket?

P.S.  Keep in mind that if it costs more than you save by driving too far to get a special deal…that’s not saving anything.  If you cancel a membership or subscription that is saving you money than it costs you (like a Costco membership or a Grocery Shrink Plus subcription #shamelessplug ….. then that’s going backwards too.)  Take some time and look at the numbers so you can make your decisions with wisdom.