Becoming a Money Saving Mom

As a Money Saving Mom reader, I was delighted to be selected to review Crystal Paine's new book, The Money Saving Mom's Budget, on audiobook.



The first thing I loved is that the book is read aloud by Crystal herself. I think this allows the listener to get a better glimpse of Crystal's personality. Honestly, its what I have seen of Crystal's personality on her blog that drew me to this book in the first place. The 'budget' theme of the book wasn't a huge pull for me because the hubs and I have figured out our budget pretty well. That being said, I didn't doubt that Crystal would have some great advice that I could still apply in my own life and home.

Crystal covers topics like constructing a budget spreadsheet, beginning couponing, menu planning, simplistic living, organizing, and executing a successful yard sale. While she doesn't dive super deep into each of these topics, I feel like she provided sufficient information to spark my motivation and pursue some of these money-saving options on my own.  And I feel like that was truly Crystal's intent in writing this book - to help readers identify some of the day to day ways they can save money, in addition to following a budget.

I was excited to find that some of Crystal's money-saving tips were things our family is already putting into practice; but listening to her book also inspired me to tackle a few more arenas, like making our own homemade bread, constructing a time budget for myself (for the first time in 10 years I just bought a day planner), and making a habit of regularly purging each room of our house to minimize clutter.

I particularly love Crystal's attitude toward simple living and being content. This is a theme that resonates throughout her entire book. If you have clutter in your house that you aren't using, give it to someone who can use it. Check out movies and books from your local library instead of buying them. If you find yourself stressing at 4pm each day what you're going to make for dinner, plan ahead! Set aside time each week to plan your menu and buy the necessary groceries. These are just a few of the simple tips Crystal highlights.

I think everyone can glean something from this book.

If you have never visited Crystal's blog, you can check it out HERE.

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Are you looking for ways to be more frugal in your day to day life?

Here are some actions our family has taken to cut unnecessary costs:

1. We ditched our DirecTV subscription a few months ago when our contract expired. We get only a few basic channels now, but can watch most of our favorite shows online. Not only is this saving us cash but we also have the TV on less. This does mean that the hubs misses a few of his favorite sports aired primarily on the 'luxury' channels, but we make do. For instance, he paid $4 to watch March Madness online.

2. We haven't had a cell phone plan for years. We ditched our individual cell phones and overpriced plan back in 2007 and replaced them with a single pay-as-you-go phone. We pay about $26 every 2-3 months to recharge it and try to only use it for emergencies or on trips. We use our landline through Vonage for the majority of our calls.

3. We monitor our thermostat. The hubs has our programmable thermostat set to drop a few degrees during the day while we're at work; it heats up again around the time we get home. He also has it set to drop a few degrees at night. Those few degrees can add up to a big difference on your utility bill.

4. I make my own liquid laundry detergent. In the last six months we have spent a mere $10 on the necessary ingredients to make liquid detergent. Each batch makes two gallons of detergent. I anticipate that $10 worth of ingredients will produce 8-10 gallons of detergent before I need to restock. (This isn't for everyone - I have a friend who tried it recently but her sensitive skin didn't like the detergent. For us, however, it has been a fun and easy way to save a few bucks.)

5. We cut the boys' hair at home. To be fair, Justin has pointed out this savings for a few years now, and I admit that it wasn't until a few months ago it finally occurred to me we were saving at least $20 each month by doing home haircuts. Thats over a quarter tank of gas in savings each month!

6. We menu plan and take our lunch to work. We usually plan a monthly menu and do one primary shopping trip, with a small trip two weeks later to replenish our perishables like dairy products and produce. Since both Justin and I work full-time, it relieves a lot of stress knowing ahead of time what we're eating and when. I have found that we eat much healthier when we menu plan; not only do we have vegetables planned with each meal, but if dinner is already in the crockpot at home we are less apt to go out to eat or pick up a pizza. Then we take the leftovers for lunch.

Put these all together and they add up to some great savings! 

What fun ways have you found to save some cash?

Linking up here:

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Augh! It feels like I am only posting Ten on Tuesdays anymore.

I have got to come up with some new material.

{2}

Our family is jumping onto the 'make your own bread' bandwagon. We have had a bread machine our entire marriage (thanks, Momma B!) but rarely use it. After listening to Money Saving Mom's new book this month, and discovering that my older sister makes her own bread as well, I was feeling inspired. So we made this beauty:

It was unbelievably delicious, and I can tell you exactly what went into the loaf - a big plus in this day and age, wouldn't you agree?

This inspired Justin to make his own sourdough starter for some sourdough bread, his loaf of choice. I'm trying not to give him a hard time for using up the rest of our yeast in the process.

If you are interested in giving homemade bread a try, here are a few links to help get you started:

Homemade Bread for Beginners

Create a Great Loaf in 5 Minutes a Day

{3}

I went to The Hunger Games with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and nana-in-law on Saturday. It has been a long time since I've seen a movie that did the book some justice.

It has also been a long time since I've watched a movie a mere five rows from the screen.

Totally worth it though.

{4}

The date for the official 3rd birthday party has been set.

Bring on the party planning!

{5}

And bring on the concrete while we're at it.

We're working on getting our concrete patio poured before the party.

Yahoooooo!

{6}

This weekend we made our Easter garden...times two since we plan to bless someone by giving one away closer to Easter.

No sooner did we drop the grass seed on it than we realized our only spray bottle was broken. Doh! We have sinced picked up a replacement at the $1 store, but our grass seed went without proper watering for the first 48 hours.

Here's hoping we used super resilient grass seed.

{7}

If our kiddo looks a little drugged in the photo above,
thats because he is.

Not only was he running a bit of a temperature tonight, but he crashed and burned on the asphalt during a sprinting lesson with mommy and really gauged his knee. If you look closely you can see the giant band-aid on his right leg.

{8}
Parenting Milestone #244:

Sanitizing and bandaging your kiddo's bleeding boo-boo while he sobs crocodile tears, screams "Don't touch it, Mommy!" between his crying hiccups, and flails his body to keep you away.



{9}
I ♥ my Kindle Fire, and I am totally hooked on Words With Friends.
My username is jojo8082 if you want to play me.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

A gorgeous Sunday.
We have been swamped with rain lately, so every little ray of sunshine deserves a celebration.


 

Hello, Spring!

Yesterday evening we had a brief hiatus from the rain.

Happiness is:

a little boy getting dirty.

 



Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Spring is here,

and the yard sale season has begun!

My first purchase of 2012:

{2}

Thanks for the encouragement on my 10k last weekend.

The last two miles were a little rough but I managed to stay under a 9 minute mile pace.

Then I went straight home and took a nap.

{3}
Anyone have a grocery shopping app they recommend?
I'm looking at Mighty Grocery right now, but I am open to suggestions.

{4}
I have granny smith apples with a touch of cinnamon dehydrating as I type this.
The aroma is heavenly.



{5}

We Justin got a new saw.

And yes, I am itchin' to get my hot little hands on it.

Apparently I'm not the only one.

Don't worry, we didn't really let Kendry operate it; we just thought it made a cute picture.

{6}

My Weekend Creativity:

a jewelry organizer!

This was my first time working with chicken wire. I followed fellow bloggers' advice and used leather gloves while snipping it down to size and stapling it into my frame. This precaution paid off - I came away with only one scratch.

This organizer was made entirely with supplies I had on hand:

old wooden frame

chicken wire

spray paint

metal hooks


Do you have any fun projects in the works?



{7}
Ain't this the truth!


Facebook



{8}
Somehow I got signed up for a subscription to SKI magazine.

The last time I went skiing was in 2002.



{9}
My baby turns 3 in less than 2 months.






{10}
This Week's Blessing:
Renewing my membership at the gym.
Gosh I have missed lifting weights.

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Our cutie-patootie on the drive to Quincy this weekend.

I hear these 80's style sunglasses are making a comeback.

{2}
I growled like a bear at said cutie-patootie from my hiding place the other night during a family game of hide and seek. It freaked him out a bit and triggered some tears.

Mommy Fail.




{3}
While I'm not a big stuffed animal lover, I would totally buy the nearly lifesize stuffed moose at Costco if I had somewhere to put it.




{4}
Kendry is adapting fine to the time change. I, on the other hand, am not.

My body keeps trying to wake me up at 4am.

{5}

Phooey on CBS for eliminating online episodes of Person of Interest!

And don't even get me started on NBC ending the Parenthood season in February.

Honestly, we don't watch that much TV, or at least we don't now that we ditched DirecTV.

Just tryin' to keep the budget real.

{6}

Our adopted neighborhood stray cat has ditched us for greener pastures...literally.

A stray bunny has begun visiting in her stead.

{7}

This Week's Blessing:

A fun extended weekend with the family in Q-town and a surprise 30th birthday party for my sister-in-law. As expected, Kendry was smitten with the birthday cake as soon as he spotted it at the party. He insisted that he sit right next to it, and then proceeded to eat a larger piece of cake than even I could stomach.

{8}

Speaking of the birthday party, I whipped up another cute banner for the occasion:

{9}

I ♥ moneysavingmom.com

{10}
I haven't run anything longer than 4.5 miles since October, but I'm gonna buck up and run a 10k in the St. Patrick's Day Run this weekend.
Wish me luck!

This Wasn't In the Brochure

Life is a daring adventure, or nothing.

~Helen Keller~

As previously mentioned, I attended a women's retreat about an hour away this last weekend. There was a beautiful hotel, a toasty hot tub, a nice exercise room, an introductory Zumba class, a late night bunco game, wonderful worship, a group of amazing women, and a message from that Lord so fitting I swear it was fashioned just for me.

Suffice to say, with fresh emotions from the anniversary of our failed IVF cycle last week I was a tad more fragile than I realized. As soon as the speaker, Jan Brauer, introduced her topic, This Wasn't in the Brochure, I knew without a doubt God's perfect timing was behind this entire weekend. Jan dove right into a study of Jonah and compared that with the surprises in our own lives - both the good and the bad. She had me in tears three different times during the Friday message alone.

If you're not familiar with the story of Jonah, here's a quick recap: Jonah was a prophet. God asked Jonah to go to the city of Ninevah to inform the citizens of their wicked ways and tell them to repent. Jonah basically said 'Nope' and ran the other direction...literally. He boarded a ship on the Mediterranean; once it set sail the ship got caught in a terrible storm. Jonah finally told the panicky crew to throw him overboard and the storm would subside. Jonah knew that God had brought the storm because of his disobedience. Sure enough, they threw him over and the storm ceased. But Jonah didn't die in the sea; rather, God sent a whale to swallow him. Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days - where he obviously had a lot of time to lament over his actions - and then the whale spit him up onto dry land. God asked Jonah once again to go to Ninevah and this time Jonah obeyed. Much to Jonah's surprise, the wicked city of Ninevah heeded Jonah's warning and repented.

Thats usually where the story stops. Happy ending, right? Jonah obeyed, Ninevah repents, all is well. Except there is more. After Ninevah repents God decides to spare the city and, believe it or not, Jonah gets mad at God. He tells God: "You see? This is exactly why I didn't want to come preach to Ninevah, God. I knew you would have compassion on them." Then Jonah marches himself outside the city and plops down to pout. God causes a vine to grow and shade Jonah at his pouting site and Jonah appreciates it. He is in the desert, after all. But overnight God sends a worm to eat the vine and it withers and dies. Then the scorching sun and a horrible wind beat on Jonah; without the vine he is no longer protected from the elements. God asks him, "Are you angry about the vine?" Jonah tells him he is and then says, "I am so angry it would be better for me to just die."  A little overdramatic, don't you think?  God then points out to Jonah that he is upset over a vine that grew and died overnight. How then can Jonah criticize God for having compassion for the people of Ninevah?



I could go on and on about what God revealed to me through Jan's message this weekend, but let me see if I can simplify it a bit and capture my main takeaways for you:

1. We will all be hit with surprises. Life is never going to be like the Disneyland brochure: smiling faces, well-behaved children, the perfect figured woman, rides that keep you laughing and don't frighten you.

2. A pattern of peaks and valleys throughout your life is normal.

3. Perspective matters. When you're in the dark belly of the whale you can't see where God is taking you. Jonah probably thought he was still in the middle of the ocean and then -whop!- he is spit up unto dry land.
 
4. At some point you have to accept what has happened in your life - say "it is what it is" and trust God to take you through it.

5. Keep your momentum - keep praising, singing and thanking Him as you trust His direction in your life.

6. Learn from Jonah. He was so busy pouting he completely missed the amazing compassion God had for the people of Ninevah. Have you ever stopped to consider what miracles you may have missed while you were busy feeling sorry for yourself?  Ouch! This realization hit me hard. Sometimes my flesh tells me I have a right to sulk about our infertility. Its not fair. {Visualize me stomping my foot, if you will; I may be 31 but I still pout on occasion.}  But God is always working. If I'm too busy hanging my head in defeat I might miss what He wants me to see or, better yet, what He wants to include me in.



I leave you with this quote:

"We can't have adventure, miracles, faith and a deep knowledge of Jesus while holding on to comfort, security, control and success."  

~"Just Courage" by Haugen~

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Don't forget about Daylight Savings this weekend!

{2}

I tried Zumba for the first time this week.
My 29 year old hips were complaining a bit afterwards but otherwise it was awesome, and fun!

{3}
Fifty points to you if you noticed that I totally just lied about my age.

I'm really 30.



{4}

Actual words out of the hubs' mouth while he made dinner on Sunday:

"Well, thats how Ree does it."

Oh really?

So you and Pioneer Woman are on a first name basis now?


(Bing)

{5}

Anyone remember my 2009 New Year's resolution to start cooking more?

Ha! Me neither!

Justin is still the chef in our household and I'm okay with that.

I've always been much better at supervising anyway.

I plan the menu.

He cooks.

I clean.

It works!

{6}

I received a summons for jury duty this week - a first for me.

For federal court.

In Spokane. 

Say what?!

Everyone keeps assuring me I won't get picked.

{7}

I bought Kendry a green hat to wear in the St. Patrick's Day run next weekend. Hey, if I've gotta push his 40 lbs while running a 10k, the least he can do is oblige my kooky costume ideas.

{8}
Kendry no longer wears pajamas.
Our two year old now looks like a teenage boy at bedtime, insisting that he wear his basketball shorts and a t-shirt to bed.

Basketball obsession, I tell ya.

{9}

We've been working on table manners with Kendry and recently explained that he needs to try to keep his burps in his mouth.

This week he informed us:
"I need to keep my burps in my bum too."

Please do.

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

The opportunity to attend the women's retreat.

God really touched my heart. I will be sharing some of my takeaways with you tomorrow.

Love and Basketball...and Baseball

Justin and I both grew up competing in various sports.

Even before Kendry was born we were fantasizing about attending his future sporting events.

No pressure, kiddo.

No pressure.

We've been advised by older and wiser parents to be prepared, just in case our kiddo doesn't grow up to be as sports-minded as we are.

I realize Kendry is only two and his likes/dislikes could flip flip tomorrow, but thus far he appears to have inherited our love of sports - basketball in particular.

Our temps neared 60 degrees yesterday so Kendy and I took a walk to the playground, him toting his basketball along.

That kiddo can spot a basketball hoop from a mile away,

and he knows the playground has lots of them.

We started out on the elementary school playground where the hoops are lower.

But that wasn't good enough.

Short rims are for amateurs.

Kendry didn't even glance at the playground equipment or the swings. Nooo, sir. It was basketball or nothing.

He promptly set off for the middle school hoops.

"Hmmm...this is a tad higher than I remember..."

"Enough with the camera, Mom. There are big kids watching."

Our future baller:



This photo makes my heart melt.

There was no chance of him making it in, but he sure tried his best.

After Kendry wore himself out at the middle school hoops, I told him it was time to walk home. He only agreed to start walking once I assured him we would set his own Little Tikes basketball rim higher when we got home.

And we did.

Last night I started to ponder whether a baseball themed 3rd birthday party is the right way to go, or if I should consider switching to a basketball party instead.

I needn't have worried.

This morning Kendry was running around the house with his baseball helmet on, his glove on one hand and his bat in the other, asking me to pitch the ball to him.

After throwing a few stellar pitches (if I do say so myself), I asked Kendry to please go put on his 'basketball' shoes so we could leave for daycare.

{NOTE: Since Kendry has outgrown his old 'running' shoes, we have taken to calling his new shoes his 'basketball' shoes to make them sound cooler. He didn't want to wear them until we gave them a new name. The things you do to appease a toddler.}

So I asked him to put his 'basketball' shoes on.

KENDRY: "Mooooom."

{Insert eye-roll here; he hasn't done it yet but I know its not far off.}

"I'm not a basketball player, I'm a baseball player!"

ME: "Oh, of course you are. Well, what shoes do baseball players wear then?"

KENDRY: "White shoes."

ME: "Great! Go put on your white shoes then, baseball player."

His 'basketball' shoes are white.

Mommy wins again!

525,600 Minutes

"525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?"

A year ago today my blood test came back negative.

Our IVF cycle had failed.

I haven't discussed this much on the blog, but in the wake of this news we decided to pursue a frozen embryo transfer with the one embryo we had frozen from our 2008 IVF cycle. We didn't tell anyone about this cycle - not even our family.

The transfer took place on May 25, 2011.

Another blood test two weeks later.

Another blow of disappointment.

How do I measure 2011?

- Peace -

"My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

~Psalm 73:26~

I do not know why God has us on this path,

but I want to glorify Him every step of the way.

This week I entered an infertility essay contest.

The title of my essay is "Wonderful Infertile Life."

Writing this essay brought so many emotions to the surface for me. Only today did I stop to consider the ironic timing - submitting an essay about our family's success with IVF exactly one year after our failed IVF cycle.

One year.

I don't know if I will win.

It would be nice, of course, but that is not my ultimate goal.

My prayer is that God will bless each person who takes the time to read my essay, and that the peace He has given our family throughout this last year would be undeniably present in my writing.

"A peace that passes understanding is my song..."