Next week we find out Taylor's placement plan for next year. In Marlton where we live, it is still 1/2 day kindergarten. Her teacher and the CST have recommended she be in 1/2 day "normal" and 1/2 day "special" so a full day total. I agree that this is a good idea, for many reasons, but I am VERY nervous about it. I'm nervous for random reasons like "What if she poops during normal kindergarten and won't wipe herself and calls out from the bathroom that she pooped?" No really - I laid awake the other night thinking about that. She has a real resistance to wiping herself - for whatever reason. I told her we are going to work on it over the summer and she said, "You can work on it." Hmm.
Anyway, I am anxious for more serious reasons, too. Is it too long of a day? Will the "normal" kids realize she's different? Will she be teased? Will she miss me and be sad?
And...what on earth am I going to do. My identity is being a mom now. I volunteer many hours being the MOPS coordinator and doing things like making and delivering meals, and now couponing...all of this relates to my "work" as a SAHM. I work just one morning a week in our church's nursery, and that is mommy-ish too. For 8 years come August, I have not worn business attire, I have not been accountable to a boss, I have not filled out reports, made business phone calls, commuted.
For as long as I can remember, the vision I had for myself of being a mom included staying at home. Of course I had totally romanticized it, but all the same, this was what I wanted. And I wouldn't change it for anything. Nobody else saw any of my kids "firsts" and I am too jealous of a person to have been ok with that. I was here for every sickness, every hurt feeling, every happy playdate day, everything. The good, the bad and the ugly. When Bailey was diagnosed with CF, I felt in my heart God would honor my desire to stay home and make a way for us financially. This feeling magnified after Taylor was born and it was obvious she could not have handled daycare. I am thankful to say that He has, and not just for our needs but many wants too. Sometimes I have wondered if I should have worked - not for the money (although at times I pined for it!) but if the girls and I had a bad day, if I lost my temper, if I didn't appreciate the time with them like I should have, let them watch one too many shows. There were days I wondered if they would have done better, learned more, at a daycare. But I know that's not true, our time at home together has been blessed.
But now that both the girls will probably be in school for 7 hrs a day, I am feeling an itch to do something more than all things mommy. I don't know what, I don't know how. I do know that it must fit in with some responsibilities I want to maintain with MOPS and HOPE, and of course being there for my girls. But as the days go by and I think about what God may be preparing me for, I keep thinking HOW am I going to do it? HOW DO WORKING MOMS DO IT?! Really! How do they maintain the home, keep everything paid, clean, food on the table, lunches in the bookbags, running kids to drs, activities, not to mention take care of their husbands and themselves, and still keep their sanity? Most jobs have some take-home work. How do you do that at night, while also throwing in a few loads of laundry, dinner, cleaning up dinner, homework, bath and bedtime - and also have time to actually talk to your kids? This is scaring me!! I don't want to be a half-ass mom, wife, employee. Because I am the kind of person that can't have too much going on. Many people seem to be able to do it all, and they are still smiling!! But I fear I will be miserable. Financially, I could still stay home - but Kevin doesn't want to stay in sales forever, and I don't think it's quite fair for me to live out my dreams, like staying at home, while he pays for them. Does that make sense? He doesn't think of it like that, but I know at some point he'd appreciate the freedom in having a job he's more comfortable with, than has to have. And really, I'm feeling an itch. But no job will be worth the expense of my family, so I am so hopeful there is something perfect out there. Part-time maybe, no summers. No holidays. An understanding boss when I have to call out sick bc Bailey or Taylor need me. Is there such a job?
I am praying to have eyes to see the direction God wants for me and my family. I have a few ideas, but basically I have no clue. In the meantime, I want to "ready" myself and my house as much as possible before taking on a job...like closet cleaning, picture albums, garage clean-out. We'll see what happens!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tummy Tuesday
This has nothing to do with anything, but I'm watching 'A River Runs Through It' right now, and oh this movie kills me! A young Brad Pitt, the bond of their family and although they adored him, they couldn't save him. Paul's addictions were stronger than the family's love for him...he left them time and again to drink and gamble, and it was to his demise.
This also has nothing to do with anything, but I love how Norman's love interest Jessie says his name, "Norman." Do you think that was one of the reasons he fell in love with her? I don't like the name, but there is just something about the way she says it, really!
And all these ramblings may be why my own husband doesn't even read this blog!! :)
Okay so at weigh-in at WW on Sat I lost .4. That's less than 2 sticks of butter, people. BUT at least it was a loss considering I had 2 sick kids last week and my fridge seemed to use a magnaphone to call my name. Especially at night. Especially while I was watching my shows at night. In my nightie, under my blankie. Are you picturing the love affair I have with snacking at night? Except I'm not as into snacks and sweets as I am into real food, so my "snack" really is sometimes like another dinner. Oh that sounds terrible to admit but true!! There are so many days I do so "good" during the day and then blow it at night!! I know, I know, once again, anyone who's not a chunky probably just doesn't understand me just not opening my mouth!!! But I can't really explain it - when I want something, I WANT something and it's just very strong. Even if it's just fruit - I want it. It's amazing to me that in some areas of my life, I consider myself pretty strong. I can "take it." But in this area I am very weak.
So that's my update.
This also has nothing to do with anything, but I love how Norman's love interest Jessie says his name, "Norman." Do you think that was one of the reasons he fell in love with her? I don't like the name, but there is just something about the way she says it, really!
And all these ramblings may be why my own husband doesn't even read this blog!! :)
Okay so at weigh-in at WW on Sat I lost .4. That's less than 2 sticks of butter, people. BUT at least it was a loss considering I had 2 sick kids last week and my fridge seemed to use a magnaphone to call my name. Especially at night. Especially while I was watching my shows at night. In my nightie, under my blankie. Are you picturing the love affair I have with snacking at night? Except I'm not as into snacks and sweets as I am into real food, so my "snack" really is sometimes like another dinner. Oh that sounds terrible to admit but true!! There are so many days I do so "good" during the day and then blow it at night!! I know, I know, once again, anyone who's not a chunky probably just doesn't understand me just not opening my mouth!!! But I can't really explain it - when I want something, I WANT something and it's just very strong. Even if it's just fruit - I want it. It's amazing to me that in some areas of my life, I consider myself pretty strong. I can "take it." But in this area I am very weak.
So that's my update.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mommy Monday - so what?
So today I took the girls to the Y to swim for 2 hours and it was great. The girls had a fabulous time, no tears, fun exercise, bonding. Going swimming is my favorite way to spend time with them because they love it, I love it, it makes us all feel good - and then tired and hungry which I like too...doesn't food taste better and the couch feel softer after a great swim?! - AND I can not leave. What do I mean? Well, when we are at home and I am spending intentional time with the girls, like laying on the floor with them with their Barbies, or playing a game...I almost always get distracted, or bored, after a while and leave them to their own devices. I justify it in my head, thinking "they have each other, that's why I had 2 girls..." but really, I flake out. But with swimming, there's no phone, no laptop, no chores, nothing. Just my girls with their pink Speedo goggles and huge smiles, and me with my pruny fingers and proud mama-heart. They are wonderful swimmers, they get along great, and the water acts like some kind of nutralizer for Taylor, so she acts very "normal" in the pool. Mostly. It's just all around a check-plus, as Kev would say.
While we were swimming and I was feeling proud, I was realizing that this is something I do well with, and for, my girls. But then I immediately started thinking about the things I don't do well, things I really drop the ball on...like teaching Bailey how to tie her shoes or ride a two-wheeler. I KNOW! The girl is 7 and doesn't know how to do those things, bc I haven't taught her. But so what?! She will learn, and is it really that bad that she doesn't know how yet? I spend so much time berating myself for what I DON'T do...don't a lot of mothers? Why do we do that to ourselves? I don't remember how old I was when I learned to ride a bike, but I know how...and I do remember my mom teaching me how she makes her infamous apple pie.
And to me that's more important...but that may just be me, I am chunky for a reason you know.
While we were swimming and I was feeling proud, I was realizing that this is something I do well with, and for, my girls. But then I immediately started thinking about the things I don't do well, things I really drop the ball on...like teaching Bailey how to tie her shoes or ride a two-wheeler. I KNOW! The girl is 7 and doesn't know how to do those things, bc I haven't taught her. But so what?! She will learn, and is it really that bad that she doesn't know how yet? I spend so much time berating myself for what I DON'T do...don't a lot of mothers? Why do we do that to ourselves? I don't remember how old I was when I learned to ride a bike, but I know how...and I do remember my mom teaching me how she makes her infamous apple pie.
And to me that's more important...but that may just be me, I am chunky for a reason you know.
Sales Saturday - how to save without coupons
Ok so everyone knows how much I love couponing. It has freed up money for us to use in other areas, or save for fun stuff. This year I am using the money we're saving for a few vacations, but next year I hope to use it for a few home improvements. It's a wonderful way to relatively-painlessly shave money off your grocery/necessities/entertainment/dining-out bills.
That being said, I may not always be a couponer. I have fallen in love with it, but I can see myself falling out of love pretty quickly. It does take some time each week to cut and organize coupons, and if I get a full-time job at some point, I don't know if I'll be able to maintain this level of couponing. It is something you can do a little or a lot of. I consider my level medium, so to speak, and I do think I will continue for a long while. As the years go on though, I may make time for it, but maybe I won't. Thankfully, I have learned a few ways to save money without having to hardcore coupon.
*Shop the circulars - by far the best non-couponing savings tool. There are still great sales even without coupons. For instance, I have learned that many of ShopRite's sales of "Buy $20 worth of (whatever)...Get a Catalina worth $10 off your next visit' go by the SHELF price, not the sale price. So for example, a few months ago, they had a health-and-beauty deal of buy $20, save $10 on ShopRite brand products. Their fem hygiene pads were priced at $1 each - already a great price. But the SHELF price was something like $2.50. I bought 8 - reaching the $20, but I only really spent $8 bc that was the SALE price. Then I got back $10 in Catalina money (it looks like a coupon that prints out with your receipt) to use on my next order. So I actually MADE $2 buying pads! That's a for instance, but you get the idea? The best way to know if a sale is working on shelf or sale price to get a catalina is to check out my fave site "Living Rich with Coupons" bc she does the work for you and tells you what's on sale and how to do the deals.
*Speaking of LRWC site, before I shop I always check her site bc she lists everything on sale, and if there's an online coupon available for it (ie - say "Ragu" pasta sauce is on sale and the Ragu website offers a .50 coupon, she'll link you right to their site so you can print it off). So even without cutting insert coupons that come in the paper, I could still take a few minutes to at least save a few dollars with coupons that are available online immediately.
*Stock up on sales. Chicken breasts are a rare $1.79/lb? Buy a lot. Freeze in Ziploc freezer bags, and freeze the way you want to use it. Like when chicken is on sale, I buy as much as my store (they might say "Limit 1 pkg per family") or budget allows, then I cut it into strips, nuggets, etc. If the store does have a limit but I want more, I'll make another trip that week and use my mom's phone number instead of mine at checkout. I give her some too, and I don't feel badly about that - I make meals often for others too. Also, some stores have coupons right in the circular, making the sale better.
*Use cash. Now, this is not a tip I even use. For shame!! But I do believe in it. If you know your family can only afford $50/wk in groceries, you'll figure out a way to do it. Farmers markets for your produce for $25 let's say, and then $25 for the rest...you'll get creative. This is where your stockpile comes in great, that you can do a little at a time. You can fill in your families meals with cheap pasta, potatoes that you bought when they were .99/ 5 lb bag, etc.
*Now taking that $50 budget for example, where do toiletries fit in? This would be hard to do without couponing. Using coupons means you can get name brand toiletries for pennies on the dollar from drugstores, Target, Walmart, etc. BUT you can still save, just not as much. Drugstores offer toiletries often with sales like "Buy $10 worth, save $5 on your next order." Say it's John Frieda shampoo/conditioner and it's priced at $5 each. You buy 2, spending $10 but getting $5 back, so $2.50 each after sale. More than Suave but a better product. Now, this is a brand that has $3 or $2 off coupons often, making it then cheap or free...and sometimes they're available online. Again, worth check the LRWC site to see the deal. And also again, this takes looking in the circulars - you don't buy John Freida when you "need" it - you only buy on sale so you HAVE it already when you DO need it.
*After couponing for over a year now - and nothing like you what you see on tv, just saving some money - I have realized that the easiest thing to save on is in fact toiletries/necessities. You can amass a great stockpile in a short amount of time, and then you can live off of it without messing with coupons for a long while.
*Some sales are seasonal and that's the time to stock up. Like BBQ sauce - it'd be nice to have it in your pantry for a winter craving of shredded pork in the crockpot - but summer brings the best sales for that and things like salad dressing.
*And perhaps all of this just boils down to being intentional about how and where you spend your money. Knowing what you need, knowing where it's cheapest to buy it, saving some for later, and even just plain old going without.
Please ask me a question if you have one - and if I don't know, I'll try and find out!
That being said, I may not always be a couponer. I have fallen in love with it, but I can see myself falling out of love pretty quickly. It does take some time each week to cut and organize coupons, and if I get a full-time job at some point, I don't know if I'll be able to maintain this level of couponing. It is something you can do a little or a lot of. I consider my level medium, so to speak, and I do think I will continue for a long while. As the years go on though, I may make time for it, but maybe I won't. Thankfully, I have learned a few ways to save money without having to hardcore coupon.
*Shop the circulars - by far the best non-couponing savings tool. There are still great sales even without coupons. For instance, I have learned that many of ShopRite's sales of "Buy $20 worth of (whatever)...Get a Catalina worth $10 off your next visit' go by the SHELF price, not the sale price. So for example, a few months ago, they had a health-and-beauty deal of buy $20, save $10 on ShopRite brand products. Their fem hygiene pads were priced at $1 each - already a great price. But the SHELF price was something like $2.50. I bought 8 - reaching the $20, but I only really spent $8 bc that was the SALE price. Then I got back $10 in Catalina money (it looks like a coupon that prints out with your receipt) to use on my next order. So I actually MADE $2 buying pads! That's a for instance, but you get the idea? The best way to know if a sale is working on shelf or sale price to get a catalina is to check out my fave site "Living Rich with Coupons" bc she does the work for you and tells you what's on sale and how to do the deals.
*Speaking of LRWC site, before I shop I always check her site bc she lists everything on sale, and if there's an online coupon available for it (ie - say "Ragu" pasta sauce is on sale and the Ragu website offers a .50 coupon, she'll link you right to their site so you can print it off). So even without cutting insert coupons that come in the paper, I could still take a few minutes to at least save a few dollars with coupons that are available online immediately.
*Stock up on sales. Chicken breasts are a rare $1.79/lb? Buy a lot. Freeze in Ziploc freezer bags, and freeze the way you want to use it. Like when chicken is on sale, I buy as much as my store (they might say "Limit 1 pkg per family") or budget allows, then I cut it into strips, nuggets, etc. If the store does have a limit but I want more, I'll make another trip that week and use my mom's phone number instead of mine at checkout. I give her some too, and I don't feel badly about that - I make meals often for others too. Also, some stores have coupons right in the circular, making the sale better.
*Use cash. Now, this is not a tip I even use. For shame!! But I do believe in it. If you know your family can only afford $50/wk in groceries, you'll figure out a way to do it. Farmers markets for your produce for $25 let's say, and then $25 for the rest...you'll get creative. This is where your stockpile comes in great, that you can do a little at a time. You can fill in your families meals with cheap pasta, potatoes that you bought when they were .99/ 5 lb bag, etc.
*Now taking that $50 budget for example, where do toiletries fit in? This would be hard to do without couponing. Using coupons means you can get name brand toiletries for pennies on the dollar from drugstores, Target, Walmart, etc. BUT you can still save, just not as much. Drugstores offer toiletries often with sales like "Buy $10 worth, save $5 on your next order." Say it's John Frieda shampoo/conditioner and it's priced at $5 each. You buy 2, spending $10 but getting $5 back, so $2.50 each after sale. More than Suave but a better product. Now, this is a brand that has $3 or $2 off coupons often, making it then cheap or free...and sometimes they're available online. Again, worth check the LRWC site to see the deal. And also again, this takes looking in the circulars - you don't buy John Freida when you "need" it - you only buy on sale so you HAVE it already when you DO need it.
*After couponing for over a year now - and nothing like you what you see on tv, just saving some money - I have realized that the easiest thing to save on is in fact toiletries/necessities. You can amass a great stockpile in a short amount of time, and then you can live off of it without messing with coupons for a long while.
*Some sales are seasonal and that's the time to stock up. Like BBQ sauce - it'd be nice to have it in your pantry for a winter craving of shredded pork in the crockpot - but summer brings the best sales for that and things like salad dressing.
*And perhaps all of this just boils down to being intentional about how and where you spend your money. Knowing what you need, knowing where it's cheapest to buy it, saving some for later, and even just plain old going without.
Please ask me a question if you have one - and if I don't know, I'll try and find out!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
on spring break
Well it's been several days since I last wrote. Tatie was sick and now Bailey was sick, so I just haven't sat down to think of blog posts all week.
And even now, with having the time right now while Kevin is out and I catch up on DVR'd shows, I just can't think of anything to say. I'm pretty tired I guess. Last night Bailey had a very high fever and long story short (long story including a 911 call, a visit from a cop, 2am run to CVS and making her noodles - which she didn't eat) I am sleep deprived. The whole week I haven't slept well, it takes me back to my baby days. Thankfully, my girls are great sleepers so normally, I get a good 7-8 hrs a night of uninterrupted sleep...so to have a handful of 4-5 hr nights is not good for me.
But I'll tell you what is good for me. This weather. It's my favorite - not too hot, not too cold. Breezy. Sunny. Fabulous.
Tomorrow, Friday, I am really hoping Bailey is almost to normal and we can enjoy the day. I love taking the girls to parks and watching them play together. I will say, this week they were really good sisters to each other. When one is sick, the other one - usually, for at least a while - feels badly and is nicer. They call each other "honey" and "sweetie" and give up some of their lovies or prized Barbies to borrow. This kind of sister-love has a shelf life, but I take what I can get.
What I am watching right now is Jamie Oliver's 'Food Revolution' and I really like it. But I have a question - why can't some more parents or kids just make their lunches? Kids don't have to buy the lunches right? Now, that is a very broad kind of comment - a lot of low income families rely on meal plans at schools to give their kids lunch. I get that, totally. But a lot of OTHER families who pay for lunch, if the school serves crap can't they make their lunch instead? I think it takes 3 minutes, no kidding. I understand that my kids are still young enough they eat what I tell them (unless that's veggies, to which they say hell no - not really but you get what I mean), it's not like they have free reign yet with their own wallet in high school to make their own choices. Bailey wants to fit in - and I understand that too - and so on Fridays, pizza day, I let her buy lunch and milk. I figure that's a happy medium of control :)
Next up on the DVR is Mike and Molly, I love the actress in that. She has a really good laugh. Don't you love people who have a really good laugh?
Until tomorrow, with Sales Saturday.
And even now, with having the time right now while Kevin is out and I catch up on DVR'd shows, I just can't think of anything to say. I'm pretty tired I guess. Last night Bailey had a very high fever and long story short (long story including a 911 call, a visit from a cop, 2am run to CVS and making her noodles - which she didn't eat) I am sleep deprived. The whole week I haven't slept well, it takes me back to my baby days. Thankfully, my girls are great sleepers so normally, I get a good 7-8 hrs a night of uninterrupted sleep...so to have a handful of 4-5 hr nights is not good for me.
But I'll tell you what is good for me. This weather. It's my favorite - not too hot, not too cold. Breezy. Sunny. Fabulous.
Tomorrow, Friday, I am really hoping Bailey is almost to normal and we can enjoy the day. I love taking the girls to parks and watching them play together. I will say, this week they were really good sisters to each other. When one is sick, the other one - usually, for at least a while - feels badly and is nicer. They call each other "honey" and "sweetie" and give up some of their lovies or prized Barbies to borrow. This kind of sister-love has a shelf life, but I take what I can get.
What I am watching right now is Jamie Oliver's 'Food Revolution' and I really like it. But I have a question - why can't some more parents or kids just make their lunches? Kids don't have to buy the lunches right? Now, that is a very broad kind of comment - a lot of low income families rely on meal plans at schools to give their kids lunch. I get that, totally. But a lot of OTHER families who pay for lunch, if the school serves crap can't they make their lunch instead? I think it takes 3 minutes, no kidding. I understand that my kids are still young enough they eat what I tell them (unless that's veggies, to which they say hell no - not really but you get what I mean), it's not like they have free reign yet with their own wallet in high school to make their own choices. Bailey wants to fit in - and I understand that too - and so on Fridays, pizza day, I let her buy lunch and milk. I figure that's a happy medium of control :)
Next up on the DVR is Mike and Molly, I love the actress in that. She has a really good laugh. Don't you love people who have a really good laugh?
Until tomorrow, with Sales Saturday.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sales Saturday
So last week I told you how I overspent on my weekly budget - but I did get a lot for what I spent, for many upcoming occasions. This week I wanted to spend about $25 to balance it out a bit. I ended up spending under $20 at ShopRite - would've been $15 but I bought myself a flowering plant for the deck. Cause I wanted to feel better about something and I thought that had more value than the lunch at ChickFilA I contemplated. I bought 8 lbs of Land O Lakes butter - they were $1.50 a lb after sale and coupon. I freeze it and this will last us a long time! We only use butter in our house, not margarine. I also bought a few necessities and other items that were free after coupons. My produce basket is getting low...but I won't replenish it until the end of this coming week bc I'm taking the girls to my moms for a few days. I did buy Kev bananas and he has some apples and grapes, lettuce...that'll do for him. My budget breaker this week though was going to CVS - they had a deal I couldn't pass up and I had no ECB remaining to pay for it so it had to be OOP. I bought 7 Finish dishwasher tabs boxes (20 in a box) for an OOP cost of $17 after coupons, and received $10 back in ECB. So it's really like paying $1 a box, and I was down to my last box, so it was a good price.
This coming week I haven't figured out my list yet, but I do need to get milk, yogurt, lunch meats, bread and perhaps some meat. I think I may need to spend $40 realistically, and I can get all these things from the Marlton farmers market. I can get my milk from RA bc my $14 in UP rewards expires Saturday, and I'm hoping they sell dessert toppings there so I can buy them for the girls Tangled party they're having Saturday with make-your-own sundaes. If not, I'm making my own toppings...for instance melting my own chocolate with some whole milk (which is what my kids still drink per docs orders), pureeing some strawberries to make strawberry sauce...hmmm...it sounds better to make my own anyway! Maybe I'll use the UP rewards to get my mom the Alpha Keri bath oil she loves so much.
Anyone have any good deals they've scored recently?
This coming week I haven't figured out my list yet, but I do need to get milk, yogurt, lunch meats, bread and perhaps some meat. I think I may need to spend $40 realistically, and I can get all these things from the Marlton farmers market. I can get my milk from RA bc my $14 in UP rewards expires Saturday, and I'm hoping they sell dessert toppings there so I can buy them for the girls Tangled party they're having Saturday with make-your-own sundaes. If not, I'm making my own toppings...for instance melting my own chocolate with some whole milk (which is what my kids still drink per docs orders), pureeing some strawberries to make strawberry sauce...hmmm...it sounds better to make my own anyway! Maybe I'll use the UP rewards to get my mom the Alpha Keri bath oil she loves so much.
Anyone have any good deals they've scored recently?
Flash Forward Friday - to do list
Okay so April is more than mid-way done, where did these last 4 months of 2011 go?! I am discouraged about the lack of progress I've made with my January resolutions/to-do list. I think part of the problem is I think way too big. I still have busy days with parenting, cleaning, couponing, MOPS planning, and a million little things...so to do a lot more each day on top of that is unrealistic. But I want to get stuff done, so here's another to-do list.
By the end of the year, I want to...
*MONEY GOALS*
*pay off Kevin's car (6% interest) and our new mattress (0% interest). Both of the loans would be paid off early by 2 yrs, leaving only our mortgage as debt.
*have a zero balance to CHOP. This is less likely of a goal, as we visit quarterly and her fall visit is her "annual" where we rack up the biggest bill and usually don't pay it off until tax return time. But we have new insurance this year so I hope to be pleasantly surprised by how much less we'll owe.
*continue saving hundreds of dollars off of our grocery budget. Want to focus more on our eating-out budget and pare that down. Last night's Houlihans bill of $58 doesn't count. :)
*pay for our vacations. We are going to Lancaster for a long weekend, Wildwood for a week, Williamsburg for a week, Vegas for 5 days, and WV for a long weekend. Kevin won't be going to Wildwood or VA...bless his heart he'll be working for the girls and I to enjoy those things. His parents gifted us the Wildwood week, their friends have a house - but we pay for the groceries (cheap w my couponing!) and boardwalk evenings. We save for that with loose change, we have about $100 so far. They also gifted us the Williamsburg trip, but we pay for gas, food, etc. (I know, we are so fortunate to have generous parents). WV the girls and I will be staying with my cousin so that just means gas and spending money. Vegas we already paid for the room, plane and show tix - we need gambling, food, spending, gas and rental care money. Lancaster we still need to pay for all of it, but we got a good deal. I plan to pay for vacations out of our tax return money, which I put in our savings acct.
*do one thing to the house. I think that may be some much-needed yard work...like getting a yard. We have dirt, sand, trees and tree stumps. We want grass and some aesthetic trees/bushes added, a few more trees out and stumps removed. If we are fortunate enough to pay off the mattress and car, that will free up room in our budget each month in 2012 to get....NEW FLOORING!!! I'd add an 'amen' here but it seems irreverent. But you get my gist.
*sell items at a garage sale and finally learn how to do Craigslist/Ebay.
*If Taylor does in fact get approved for full-day school (Marlton is 1/2 day kindergarten but her teacher is recommending she attend 1/2 day "normal" kindergarten and then second 1/2 of the day attend special ed kindergarten.) I want to find a part-time job. Nothing crazy, just get my feet wet back in the career-world.
*SELF GOALS*
*Lose weight!! Come on, you knew this was #1. I have lost about 6 lbs from my weight at New Years but ugh, I feel like such a failure. Waiting for divine motivation to kick in. Along these lines, and even more importantly really, I want to be fit. Thankfully, I am "healthy" by way of my bloodwork, but if a murderer was chasing me, I'd have maybe 1 minute left of my life.
*Continue to be more patient with the girls. This is something I've been working on and thankful to say I have done better with.
*Be a nicer wife. More loving, have more of a servant's heart.
*Read the Bible more, pray more, and do so with my girls.
All this to-do-ing is making me tired. That's it for now.
By the end of the year, I want to...
*MONEY GOALS*
*pay off Kevin's car (6% interest) and our new mattress (0% interest). Both of the loans would be paid off early by 2 yrs, leaving only our mortgage as debt.
*have a zero balance to CHOP. This is less likely of a goal, as we visit quarterly and her fall visit is her "annual" where we rack up the biggest bill and usually don't pay it off until tax return time. But we have new insurance this year so I hope to be pleasantly surprised by how much less we'll owe.
*continue saving hundreds of dollars off of our grocery budget. Want to focus more on our eating-out budget and pare that down. Last night's Houlihans bill of $58 doesn't count. :)
*pay for our vacations. We are going to Lancaster for a long weekend, Wildwood for a week, Williamsburg for a week, Vegas for 5 days, and WV for a long weekend. Kevin won't be going to Wildwood or VA...bless his heart he'll be working for the girls and I to enjoy those things. His parents gifted us the Wildwood week, their friends have a house - but we pay for the groceries (cheap w my couponing!) and boardwalk evenings. We save for that with loose change, we have about $100 so far. They also gifted us the Williamsburg trip, but we pay for gas, food, etc. (I know, we are so fortunate to have generous parents). WV the girls and I will be staying with my cousin so that just means gas and spending money. Vegas we already paid for the room, plane and show tix - we need gambling, food, spending, gas and rental care money. Lancaster we still need to pay for all of it, but we got a good deal. I plan to pay for vacations out of our tax return money, which I put in our savings acct.
*do one thing to the house. I think that may be some much-needed yard work...like getting a yard. We have dirt, sand, trees and tree stumps. We want grass and some aesthetic trees/bushes added, a few more trees out and stumps removed. If we are fortunate enough to pay off the mattress and car, that will free up room in our budget each month in 2012 to get....NEW FLOORING!!! I'd add an 'amen' here but it seems irreverent. But you get my gist.
*sell items at a garage sale and finally learn how to do Craigslist/Ebay.
*If Taylor does in fact get approved for full-day school (Marlton is 1/2 day kindergarten but her teacher is recommending she attend 1/2 day "normal" kindergarten and then second 1/2 of the day attend special ed kindergarten.) I want to find a part-time job. Nothing crazy, just get my feet wet back in the career-world.
*SELF GOALS*
*Lose weight!! Come on, you knew this was #1. I have lost about 6 lbs from my weight at New Years but ugh, I feel like such a failure. Waiting for divine motivation to kick in. Along these lines, and even more importantly really, I want to be fit. Thankfully, I am "healthy" by way of my bloodwork, but if a murderer was chasing me, I'd have maybe 1 minute left of my life.
*Continue to be more patient with the girls. This is something I've been working on and thankful to say I have done better with.
*Be a nicer wife. More loving, have more of a servant's heart.
*Read the Bible more, pray more, and do so with my girls.
All this to-do-ing is making me tired. That's it for now.
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