Ok I am almost done...

Last post was our new "working" tips this is the "Thinking" side to our game:

The mentality of saving money -

1. How can I live without "it"
2. How can I get "it" cheaper
3. How can I make "it" last longer
4. What am I saving for - you have to have a goal - or the little things (that cost money) become your joy. Our goals - so you don't think I am crazy about cloth diapers and just generally losing my mind:)

• Pay off our last credit card and never touch it again
• I want to be able to continue stay home with the kids
• We don't have an emergency fund - unless you count the available balance on said credit card - that can't be a good thing!
• MORE VACATIONS AND TRIPS BACK TO VIRGINIA - again without use of said credit card.

Come up with your own and you'll be waiting for the flyers to come in the mail on Wednesday too.

ok I'm done.

Favorite money savers thus far...

Price book - I thought I already had this concept in the bag - but boy was I wrong. I figured I kept track of what I spend on regular purchases - but I actually just "ballparked" and was missing the boat. Since I became a born again tightwad I put a notebook in my purse and wrote everything down. It is amazing the variations in grocery prices - can you imagine any other product changing price 50-300% weekly - well besides gas. Discoveries so far: Bulk is not always cheaper, coupons are not always the best, and stores change prices on you all the time! - Don't assume anything price wise. Just by writing prices down my eyes have been totally opened. This has by far saved us the most money - That combined with flyers...

Flyers - I have been using these for a while, but now that I have been doing the price book - I KNOW when something is the cheapest I have seen in a long time and I can stock up with confidence.
P.S. Store brands still rule!!!

Cooking from scratch - I am new to this but so far I am liking it. I am making bread, "refrigerator dough" e.g. a universal dough that makes just about any roll that I previously bought from the dough boy. quiche, apple crisp, apple pie (yes with homemade pie crust), brownies, soup, white sauce, cheese sauce... the list goes on.

Laundry - reusing towels, hanging some things to dry, and the new biggie - we are on day five of cloth diapers for Maiya - yes I know you are cringing - but they are much better than I would have ever thought. This is the brand we bought slightly used off ebay - and really like - http://www.kushies.com/Cataloque/diapers/diapers_ultra.html
I wish I could go back in time and use them on Benjamin and Ella. We are still using disposable for out & about and night - but that means only one or two a day. And no its not gross - I am doing a dry pail (with lid), washing every other day - first rinse in cold water then wash in hot. The other reason besides saving money (like you need another reason) was I hear cloth diapers aid potty training - I'll keep you posted on that - that will be a while.
I am so excited to think of grocery shopping without $20 of diapers on the list :) - and I can use them again when number four rolls along.

Thrift stores - I have always done this - I think the only new clothes the kids wear are gifts. But my new strategy is to keep a "need sheet" in my price book - the sizes that I need exactly and shoes sizes - and notes about what I need besides kid clothes - so I don't get "distracted" on stuff we don't need.

Thermostat - We own sweaters for a reason - its set at 68 - and will be at 80 come this summer:) We "heart" our fireplace even more.

The only dissident so far is Meg - she wants "real" cereal. But like Ella said "I hope its on sale - or I can't get it"

"Frugality without creativity is deprivation"

Amy Dacyczyn

Overheard conversation

Benjamin: "I ate a poisonous mushroom once."
TJ: "Did you die?"
Me: "What are you talking about Benjamin - no you haven't"
Benjamin: "It was a long time ago ... in the future"
Me: "Oh yeah, where did you get it?"
Benjamin: "TJ gave it to me"
TJ - "I wasn't even born in that century ... hmmm... well maybe I was 1 year old"

Remember to picture their faces absolutely serious - there is no line between reality and fiction in their world.

LOL

Oh Tony I am sorry I should have warned you about friendly bets with my Mom.

Great Game --

Go SAINTS

so sorry Tony ;)

Missing a time I never even knew...

So I recently read that almost all mammals sleep 10 hours a day. That is except for humans. Well we used to - until the invention of the light bulb - now we average 6. People wonder what is wrong with our society, could it be lack of sleep? This information and my new tightwadding skills which lean heavily on cooking from scratch got me to thinking about the "old days". Are the conveniences of modern living actually convenient? I will bullet my thoughts since I have the tendency to bounce around from one idea to the next.

• Children - Land: I wish I could send my kids outside without feeling like I have to hover over them. I offer the backyard frequently but it doesn't hold the interest like the front yard. Moms are made to feel guilty either way - kids shouldn't' sit plopped in front of the TV and they can't be unsupervised outside. ARRRGGGHHH
  
• Chores - not that I want more work - so maybe this should be under the children category. Sometimes I feel like I make up jobs for the kids to do to teach responsibility. I can't imagine this being necessary on a farm - Everyone has something to do on a farm - or you don't eat - now that is what I call motivation. There were no self-help books in the 1800's people were too busy.
  
• Food before high fructose corn syrup - enough said. (No posts about dieting please - I am well aware of what to avoid - but if you pay attention that stuff is everywhere)
  
• I imagine the world a little dirtier back in the day - and weird as it may seem I view that as a positive. People worked a lot outside, had animals, at the very least heated their home with a furnace and or woodstove. e.g. more dirt. I am a little tired of the germ-a-phobe moms - you know exactly the kind I mean too. I am the only one here I know who has a dog, a cat, burns real wood in my fireplace, let my kids play in the dirt, and is a full supporter of the five second rule.
  
• Are allergies a new thing? Probably not and full apologies ahead of time to those with legitimate ones. I am tired of the myriad of weird allergies. Nursery here is bizarre with the things kids can't have. I mean has anyone ever really needed an epi-pen for an animal cracker? I know things like nuts are serious - but it seems like some moms forget that kids just get sick a lot. Their kids barf once and they can no longer have what they happened to have for dinner. Then you got one mom making three different dinners because one kid can't "handle" gluten and one is allergic to eggs, or food coloring, or citrus or water or air sorry I could go on...
  

There are some things I wouldn't want to give up: air conditioning, washing machines, indoor plumbing, and modern hospitals. Benjamin's ginormous cranium would have killed one or both of us during childbirth.

Rough Day

Strike one: Benjamin came home yesterday with his feelings hurt. His little buddy TJ wouldn't sit with him on the bus because he has a "new" friend. Then the kid that did sit with him got up and sat with someone halfway through the trip. He was so sad. I felt so bad - It wasn't something I could kiss and make better.
Strike two: There was a not so stellar report card in his backpack.
Strike three: I went to play something on my CD player and discovered it was not working. With a little investigating I found out Benjamin was using his hands to skip to the next CD and not the button. I was so mad - because I had told him not to do that twice. He of course got in trouble and through his tears says. "I have had a really rough day mom" Amen to that little man.
Maiya lightened the air with a little artwork:

Happy New Year

I know, I know I have not been blogging. I have been enjoying Kyle being home, and all of us have been enjoying all of our Christmas gifts. The trampoline only took 8 hours to complete. (note sarcastic tone in "only")

Kyle goes to work tomorrow, Benjamin goes back to school next week. I will try to get back to blogging then. Oh I am also totally immersed in my new book from my mom - The tightwad gazette. I am in the midst of complete conversion to whole new ways to save money. I HIGHLY recommend the book to everyone - its awesome. Speaking of which I only have one chapter left - I'll be back...

Gift given to Meg tonight (she collects all things Nativity) - It is original artwork by her friend Ashley Flores. I thought it was so neat I had to blog it.

Wizard of Oz Bobbleheads

The coolest gift(s) ever!! Kyle and my mom got these for me and Kyle and Meg sent me on a scavenger hunt all over the house searching for them all. I love them!! And the best part is I have the whole set!

Before

After
The kids are in euphoria - Maiya's eyes began to glaze over and she went down for a nap an hour early. The trampoline came in two boxes - one is for the safety enclosure. The first thing out of Benjamin's mouth "Wow he got us two trampolines!!"
Thanks for all of the gifts Nana and Grandma!

Merry Christmas!!

We miss you all.

We hope you and yours have an awesome time celebrating the birth of our Savior tomorrow.

Nutcracker

Aunt Meg, Aunt Beth and Ella went to see Nutcracker. I opted out and Benjamin and I went to the arcade. Daddy got Maiya duty! But I think he enjoyed the peace for a little. We are in full Christmas mode - We had our turkey dinner yesterday and have stayed up late two nights playing cards and board games. Aunt Beth leaves Christmas day so we are doing some celebrating a little early. The kids are dying to open gifts but that we are saving!!

Rudolph Day

LOL

We "heart" our fireplace!

I can watch a fire in the fireplace (and the Christmas tree for that matter) as if it were the TV. The kids have caught on to this and seem to enjoy it as much as me.

Just trying out sound on the video, let me know how it works.

the kids

the kids playing ring-a-round the rosie for the blog

Trying something new!

I am so excited I can add video to the blog. The last post was my first attempt. I know its old - I was just practicing. Let me know if any of you have trouble viewing it. I'll try one with sound next! YEAHHHH

Mother's day

Benjamin's video card

Pictures are working again - finally!!!

Party Girls

The girls making suncatchers

The house is decorated

My First Thanksgiving spread! It was yummy!!