Thrifty Thurday

Just a few quick ideas today.


Before you leave to go out be it shopping or to a friends, check your accounts. Know what money is available. Make a goal not to spend more than you need to.

Think before you leave. Grab a snack for the kids, a soda from the fridge, do you have everything you need. Challenge yourself to stop spending money on silly little things that you already have, and to really think before you buy.

Always have a shopping list. Stick too it. Eat before you go grocery shopping.

Got some tricks of your own, or heaven forbid a problem with one of mine, let me know! ;)

WhatEver Wednesday

Goals Update

See my goals

So I have been working out 5 days a week for an hour plus. I have lost a little over four pounds and one inch off my waist. GO ME!!

I filed our taxes last night. We will be paying off our Tahoe in February, paying off Lowe's while it is still interest free, and putting a hefty amount into our emergency fund.

We will also be doing some major food storage shopping as well with tax money.

I have made some progress on my spiritual side but not as much as I would like. So I will try to get more focus on that this coming month.

How are your goals doing? Keep at it! :)

Tasty Tuesday

Let's Spice it UP!

Okay so I was planning on do a spicy post myself, however I found one that is perfect on on of my favorite sites. So it's off to another blog for you today!

Go check out Our Best Bites. Here is their post on Spices.

Also have you checked out your spice cupboard lately? I know that mine needed a clean out, and a massive restock. Remember to date new products when you open them. It is a great way to calculate your years supply of an item. And yes you will want spices!

Sunday

"Luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it"

Denzel Washington

Here is wishing you luck!

Whatever Wednesday

*During the gardening season I use Wednesday to post updates and ideas and as that season is soon approaching I will again be doing this.*

Garden Planning. YES it is this time again.

Jennifer this post is for you!!!

Spring will be here soon. I hope! This rain is driving me crazy!! So in light (hopefully SUNlight) of that we had better get our gardens planned.

But how you ask? Well for that I will direct you to a nice one stop spot for your general gardening information needs. Be sure to check out the gardening links!!

Want more information? Just look to your left on the sidebar. find the Gardening section and go to town.

You can also take a peek at my past gardening post. Lots of good info. and pictures too! Ignore the first post unless you want to make something using white bean flour. LOL!

Tasty Tuesday

Cook Books

If you are like me you collect recipes from every source. Magazines, newspapers, hand written scraps from your friends house, Internet print out, and everywhere else. LOL!

Well here is my solution: Make your own cook book.

First you will need a few things. I had most of these around my house when I made mine.

• A 3-ring binder - 3" would be great and a clear pocket on the front is handy too.



• Page protectors - easy to keep clean!



• Left over craft paper and stickers if you want



• computer paper

I made a cover for mine to match my kitchen color and added a little title.

Then I made dividers labeling the section. Hints and tips, breakfast, breads, soups and salads, main dishes, kids favorites, pasta, cookies, deserts, and cake decorating ideas.

Next start adding you recipes. I have a mix of magazine cut outs ( I LOVE pictures.),

printed out pages,

and hand written. Some of the are on odd ball scraps so I just glue them to a piece of paper first.

A couple of hints here.

If you are printing from a blog: cut and paste to word or whatever program you use. Also include the name of the blog/site you printed from. This makes for easy referencing if you need help or more information about that recipe.

When dealing with hand written recipes, be sure to write who you got the recipe from or what book you copied from.


Also a binder with an inside pocket is nice. Sometimes you want to try a recipe before you add it or you simply don't have time to add it yet.

Are you lucky enough to have a spot to stand this baby up? Make sure to label the spine.

These make great gifts. I made one for my sister one year. It had red and white checked paper and I found some cute little ant stickers. Very Cute!! You can make it so individualized it's insane!!

Remember to think about Christmas, mother's Day, and birthdays. You could even make a smaller Blank Family Recipes Favorites. Make one for each sibling ! Or you could make one for a missionary, collage student, or newly weds.

Sunday

If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts."

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Food Storage Friday

Every Thing Under the Sun

Please take look at this one page blog. Click here NOW!!

Are you still reading this??? Go NOW!!!

Great simple, easy to read and easy to follow blog.

This gal is amazing!

I think I may come up with a prize for those that go read it. So just in case GO READ IT!!!!!! And be sure comment back here if you do!

Now to figure out a prize.........;)

Money Monday

Christmas Cash ( Thank Sharron for putting this in my head.)

I know we just got done with that holiday, however there are less than 365 until it is here agian.  So...we must plan ahead.  A few ideas to help you do so are:

Make a per person budget.  List all those you buy for. Include Giving Trees, church Christmas events and other such carities you participate in.  Divide it out by month or by paycheck and start saving that cash now.

Make a gift wish list.  For example my one and only princess wants an American Girl doll.  Oh joy to my budget.  LOL!!  So we will see, those things are quite spendy, but my kids only get stocking from Santa and one awsome gift from Mom and Dad (this year we got a Wii plus a game per person and one family game).
So knowing this is what Girlie wants I can now keeps my eyes and ears open for any cool deals on these ouch spendy dolls.  Plus I can look at sales, clerance items, internet deals through out the year for all of those on my gift list.

Work towards a goal.  I mean literally work.  My family works at our local fair every year for our house hold that equals Christmas cash and ride money.  What can you do to earn that gift money during the year?

Gift swap. What do you make that you can swap with a friend for something they make?  I have a cousin-in-law who makes beaded jewlery.  Anouther is a scrap book wiz.  I like to make sewing crafts.  We haven't done a swap as of yet but maybe one day we would.  It is an idea.  Think about it.

DIY. Make it a home made Christmas.  Now don't fool yourself this takes planning.  Both time and money.  It can be very rewarding though.  It is also great it you have a great stash of craft supplies, fabric, canning jars and wood.  A great stash of leftovers from other projects can save tons of cash.

Well those are my ideas.  Do you have any you want to share?

Food Storage Friday

Here is a giveaway!  Not from me, sorry.

 

Emergency Essentials is having a great dairy giveaway.

Here is the link to thier preparedness blog. 

Good luck and enjoy.  Be sure to post here if you win!

New Years Resolutions

rowan said...
Tel us if you have any new years resolutions. Go on - try something outrageous
 
Okay well hum (these are not in order of importance)....

1. Lose wieght.  We got a Wii as our Christmas present this year and my game was the Wii fit plus.  LOVE IT!!  I plan to work out an hour a day, 4-5 days a week.  Plus when the weather is nice I plan to walk to pick up the two older kids from school.  My little boys will love it and will get some more exercise.  This is the year I lose the baby wieght!!
2.  Focus more on spiritual things. Prayer, family home evening, scripture reading, and my calling.  I know my life is so much better when I take advatage of these blessings.
3. Kick some MAJOR debt butt !!! We will pay of our Tahoe this year thus freeing up some major cash to throw into savings and onto other debts.  Plus we get paid weekly this gives us 4-5 "extra" paychecks a year.  Onto debt they go!!
4. Visit my Grandma.  This will hamper our debt goal alitlle but it has been 3+ years since I have seen her and we miss her dearly.
5. Get my 3 month supply up to snuff (again), add to my basic year supply, and finally fill my 50 gal water barrel(that we have had 4 years grrr).

Well I am sure there are more to come as the year progresses.  Those are just the ones that come to me right now.