Money Mondays.

Learning to Manage Money....it takes time. At first I didn't think I had time to spend clipping coupons, looking online for coupons, going to different stores, working on a budget, meal planning, making my own cleaning products, etc. I have really been trying to learn more about grocery shopping (I hope to share all that I am learning on another post)...and I can already see that it is paying off. One of the things I am learning is I can't afford....not to take the time for all this. I look at it like this, if I save $20 at the grocery store, and it takes me let's say two hours to meal plan, look for coupons, and find the good deals....then I made $10 an hour at home while spending time with Mason. (I know it isn't great money, but better than $0!!) I just want to encourage you to take the time...you might be surprised how much time you find...If you have a doctor's appointment, work on your budget while waiting. At every traffic light, think of a meal you would like to make.

Take time to learn how to manage your money, so the money doesn't begin to manage you!

oats.

I found this idea at a local playgroup. I had bought oats instead of instant oatmeal for a recipe, and I didn't know what I was I going to use the oats for. When I saw this, I thought this would work out great since I have a whole container of oats in the pantry. I didn't use a lot of oats that today because it was suppose to rain. Not only is it fun for the little ones, the oats give them a different texture to feel.

Money Mondays...."but it was on sale"

I've been there looking at the sales rack thinking 'it is only two dollars...that is a really good deal.' However, this can also be a problem. I have to keep reminding myself just because it is on sale doesn't mean I should buy it. I was looking through the newspaper ads on Sunday. It is easy to fall in the trap of buying stuff just because it is on sale. Yes, you are saving money....but at the same time you maybe wasting money. I was looking at coupons for a certain cleaning product that I never buy....I don't really like the product. There was a coupon for $2 off...I started to reconsider the product. Chances are I would buy the product, use the coupon, try the product, then leave it sitting in my cleaning closet until I eventually threw it away. So yes, I saved $2...but wasted money at the same time. I am finding this out in other areas of shopping....especially kid's stuff. Mason has plenty of summer clothes....honestly, way more than he needs. However, it is hard to pass up an entire new outfit for a couple bucks....or a really cool toy I find on Craigslist. It's like having 10 dollars and walking down the dollar aisle...sure you can buy more stuff, but the question is do you need that stuff?

just think about.

Money Mondays.

I am going to start Money Mondays. It will cover anything that

has to do with money! So keep checking back :)

the WANT.

I started this blog a week or so ago. I did a post on Need vs. Want. Having Mason has really made me rethink. I don't want to set the wrong example, make him believe that it is all about STUFF. I realized it’s really not about having the stuff or actually wanting the stuff we have. It’s about wanting the stuff because others have it. I started this journey….and the next few days I realized how many emails I had received for retail sales…one ad actually read “the summer must haves.” Then Mother’s Day ads were sad….tell mom you love her with this diamond necklace. How about just spending time with your mom? How about just actually thanking your mom with words, that would probably mean more to her. Then after noticing all the ads…I signed on Facebook. Sally has this. Bob has that. Johnny went here.
I WANTED IT! Did I need it? Did I actually want it? No.

I’m trying to change the mentality my family has….make our wants sound more like this…I want to hear Mason laugh more. I want to teach Mason. I want to take care of my husband. I want to give more. I want to help out more. I want to hear those little feet walking to me. I want to cook dinner. I want people to know how much they mean to me. I want to take more pictures. I want pray more. I want to focus on what really matters.

See I realize all those new clothes I buy (yes, I love the feeling of ripping the tag off right before I put it on! AHH!) will be out of style next season or I might spill something on it that will not come out (yes, Heath I know I can make a mess) then I would just want to buy more…the cycle would not stop, I would never be satisfied….some one would always have something newer and better. I read this comment today “Once we stop comparing ourselves to others it is amazing how we become truly satisfied with what we have.”

grocery shopping pt 1

I am LEARNING but I am still not very smart in this area. I would have to say this is one of my weakest areas. I want to retire one day, and I feel like I could retire at least five years earlier with all the money I waste at the grocery store. I am beginning to plan out my meals. I found that if I just made a list of stuff we need without having actual meals thought of, I was buying way more than needed and it was a lot easier to get off track. -One of the major problems I have is too many servings. If it says two servings, then Heath and I can get four servings. So I fix dinner, we eat. We eat leftovers for lunch, and I still have more. I want to learn more about freezing food. So as soon as I fix a meal, I can freeze half of it. (Which would be a plus because I wouldn't have to cook as much!)
-Another problem I have is still trying to "learn" the grocery stores in my area...figuring out what to buy where and when.
-Another problem is fruit. Heath and I eat soooo much fruit. I don't think you would believe me if I took a picture of all the fruit (maybe I will try to) and then tell you how many days that would last. I watch for the best deals on fruit...but I still think we spend more on fruit than meat!
-Coupons....that is such a love/hate relationship. Yes, I use coupons....but a lot of the coupons are buy three get one free. That is great if you use all the food, but the chances are we won't before it goes bad.

What are ways you save money at the grocery store? HELP!

finances at the moment.

I know for this journey I have to open up and share…that is probably the hardest part for me. I don’t really discuss a lot of this stuff with people. I don’t know why. So here I go….


Heath and I have the same views when it comes to money. Let me clear that up, we have the same overall views...sometimes he wants to buy a new tree stand and I want to buy something for the house. We have read the Dave Ramsey books. We have read many other financial books. We both believe that debt free is the best way. I read this quote yesterday "I don’t know if this helps you at all but financial freedom is just that, freedom!" Pretty much sums it up. I think about how many people are going to bed at night with the worry of how they are going to pay the lamps off (that are on a credit card) that they purchased 4 years ago.

We are not better than anyone else. We are not trying to come off as that. We have chosen to live differently. We have chosen to watch our expenses so money automatically goes into our IRAs/Mason's college fund/401k plans/life insurance/stock every month. When Heath and I were married he had two small debts (my ring and a doctor's bill from just two months before we were married) besides his truck. On the other hand, I had almost 10k in the bank with me just owing a little bit on my car…which my parents paid off. The majority of my money came from school money. I was fortunate to receive scholarships and I would put the extra money back every semester. Heath had his money (a couple G's as Heath would say) working in an IRA, I just had my money sitting in a bank account drawing very little interest.

Heath is very smart when it comes to finances. Our first year of marriage, we were very fortunate to have a great set up with his company. We paid off the two small debts. We completed funded an emergency fund. We probably wasted some money. We bought a few pieces of furniture and other items for the house. Heath started my IRA. He already had an IRA. (Heath will probably do a post on the importance of retirement very soon, so I will not get into that right now) I was approved for life insurance. Heath was later approved. I have to say that we do have a credit card. Heath purchases so much stuff for work (then he is fully reimbursed) but it is easier then tying up our money. We have Mason a small savings account started. We do have his college fund started. We just have the truck left to pay off. This will be our last car payment, we do not like having a car payments!! One reason I love my scion...because it is paid off! :)

Now it seems like we have everything pretty well set up. I am happy with our set up, but I think it could be better. I think that we don't always know where are money is going. The debit card is easy to swipe for $20 here, $10 there. I feel like the grocery store is taking part of my savings sometimes!ha Our mindset is probably our biggest problem right now. We are trying to live like no one else, so one day we can live like no one else (I love this quote, you will probably read it a 100 times!)...but sometimes it is discouraging. We know our money is going into retirement, but it does get aggravating when we listen to other people talk about buying, spending, and doing...and we are trying to figure out if we have extra money to go out to eat or not! Do not get me wrong, we do not sit at home and stare at the walls because we are too tight. I know what Heath makes a year. I know what little I bring in. I know what we are trying to make do with our money. and I can't help but wonder....HOW DO PEOPLE DO IT?!?!?!

I am so glad people have already shared some stories! It is exciting and encouraging to read! KEEP SHARING. Share creative ways that have helped you cut back or just share your story. Or if you are swimming in debt, I want to encourage you...it is not to late to change your ways, do not give up!

Need vs. Want

This is the ongoing battle. Today we use the word "need" for things we really don't need. We want a lot of stuff. We feel that we have to have everything. One goal I have is realizing what we can actually live without. Dave Ramsey has a quote "Live like no one else, so one day you can live like no one else!" Today, we have the mentality to get everything NOW. My husband and I were married two years ago today. (YAY!) As a newly married couple, there is the pressure to have everything that our parents have worked many years for. Most of the people our age already have better houses than my parents...you ask them how they are paying for it...and they really don't know. I don't want to live in the stress of how am I going to pay for the TV, cars, chairs, video games, trips, etc. that are maxing out all the credit cards possible. I don't think it is suppose to be that way. I don't think God wanted it to be that way. "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7 Money is considered to be the top stressor in America. I don't want to add more stress to just everyday life...so I'm trying to change the mindset my family has. Rethink what is important. Get back to the basics. Think about our financial plans for the future. Learn what I can live without. Spend more time with my child instead of just buying him toys. Enjoy Easy Living.