Survival Saturday

Important Papers!!!

Do you know where your (insert document name here) is? Would you know in an emergency (fire, flood, evacuation)?

So here is were I post a wonderful post about survival all from my own thoughts. LOL!! That is so not going to happen this week. Again I will be sending you off on a blog trip. Ready Set Plan has a great post about documents you NEED to read.

Go Here

Crystal just spells it out in simple,direct, and easy enough for busy moms to do fashion.

Also if you really want to get into this like nobodies business or want more in depth advice check out Trent over at the Simple Dollar. I read this post a while ago and thought it was of great worth but to scary for me. He is a fantastic writer.

Be sure to look around Trent's blog as well as Crystal's they both offer so much valuable information.

Thrifty Thursday

Think Thrifty

Thrift Stores that is!

My friend Daphne is the queen of second hand store shopping. Goodwill is like her second home. She can find the most awesome finds. Not only the cutest dresses for her girls but every thing from hoodies to dressers. She also knows how to rock it on Craig's list. I often (think at least weekly) find myself ogling her finds.

How does she do it? I ask her this all the time. She goes often. She knows when the racks will be stocked. She is friendly with the workers. She asks questions. She also has their return policy down pat.

Recently Elizabeth and I needed some jeans. So off to Goodwill we went. I got both of us killer dark washed jeans that looked brand new and fit perfectly for $3.99 a pair. NOT BAD!! Not to mention they were name brand not walmart brand.

Parade Magazine (Sunday paper) had a article the Secrets of Secondhand Shopping. A good quick read to get the inside scoop.

Whatever Wednesday

This blog is about Provident Living, and as you know there is more to PL than food storage and money. So Wednesdays are kind of like mental health days for me. I can brag about my newest PL conquest or vent about my struggles.

This week my struggles are longer than my conquests! Sad but true. I strive, eternally, to figure out and stick with a budget. This is the largest thorn in my side. We don't just throw money around but I am weak and have a hard time saying no to picking up dinner, or throwing the budget out the window for sales. GRRR!! One day it will all click but for now I continue the struggle. Any advice? Seriously people I could use it.

As far as conquest........I finally got the laundry folded and the kitchen counters clean. OH PL conquest........sadly nothing to report this week. Boo-Hoo!!

Tasty Tuesday

School Lunches Part 2:

Convenience food are easy but costly.

Take fruit cups. You know those presealed little cups of fruit chunks. On average the are $2.50 for a 4 pack. Well make your own and save come cash. Plus my kids can never open those store bought ones with out a mess. LOL!! The American Homemaker did a great post about making her own fruit cups here.



I put mine in cups just like this. Mine are green though.





Make your own lunchables. My kids LOVE to stack their own mini sandwiches. I cut my meat into little circles using an old spice jar top. Mini cookie cutters would be fun too.


What are some of your frugal but tasty lunch ideas?

Money Monday

Credit Card Emergencies

We all claim our credit cards are just for emergencies. Yeah right! Dinner out is not an emergency. Awesome pair of boots...nope not an emergency. Ummm must have toy for the kiddos? Still not an emergency.

Emergency

e⋅mer⋅gen⋅cy 
 –noun 1.a sudden, urgent, usually unexpected occurrence or occasion requiring immediate action.
2.a state, esp. of need for help or relief, created by some unexpected event: a weather emergency; a financial emergency.

No were in there does it say a sale a Macy's. LOL!!

Emergency to me means blood and gore, massive flooding, or stranded on the side of the road.

Consider having an emergency fund in place so you do not even have to consider your credit cards.

Money Monday

Just a quick suggestion

Go get your wallet or purse right now. Hurry up...go get it....got it? Okay now open it up and take out all your credit cards. Done? Now get that "spare one" you hide in the back out. Done? Double check......Okay now close up your wallet or purse. Take a deep breath...STOP do NOT put any of those cards back in there. Yes that does mean the one for Sears too.

Carrying around a credit card makes it a whole lot harder to keep your spending in check. If you don't have the money don't spend it. Credit cards themselves are not evil but the should be used with cation and planning.

Get a small safe box to store them in or hey put them on ice (as in freeze them). Many credit cards offer nice sounding little perks. Often these perks do not compensate for that cards fees and interest rate. BE CAREFUL!!!

Survival Saturday

Blog Spotlight

Ready Set Plan

You want to be prepared. You want the simple easy way to get there. You like a site with out too much fluff. You know one a mom can read while handing out crackers, nursing a baby and chatting on the phone (yes ALL at once....you know you do it.....I am NOT the only one.... right?) Here is a super, wonderful blog for you!!!

Crystal (AKA the girl with a plan) over at readysetplan is just the gal we have been waiting for! Go check her out! And leave a comment. They make a girl feel so very good!

Food storage Friday

The Sweet Stuff

Candy for some is a vital part of food storage. it is suggested we put gum and hard candy in our 72 hour kits. Sweets are a comfort food. Here in the next month or so store shelves will be buckling under the weight of sweet treats and candy coated chocolates. Keep you eye out for sales and clearance on your favorite treats and add then to your food storage.

Cake, brownie and cookie mixes are also great to have on hand. Nothing makes my hubby feel better than a brownie! For us this is a quick date night treat as well. I usually combine my coupons with sales to get mixes from $.50 to $.75 a box. Sometimes even better.

Popcorn is also another treat that is a must have in our house. We love movie nights for one, and I can eat popcorn for snack every night and be a very happy woman. Popcorn is also good for upset tummies. My kids totally prefer it over saltines. Air popped, microwaved, or even those nifty jiffy popper ones, it doesn't matter pop corn is a must!