Budget Update #3

We've been working on getting our budget together for a little while now using Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, and I think we've finally got it! We started using cash envelopes, and stuck with it for three months like the book suggested. After that, we decided we were good at it and went to using an app for the envelopes so that we could go back to earning rewards on our credit card. Not the best choice! So, we went back to cash.

Labeling Plastic Food Containers

This may be something that everyone else knew about, and I just happened to discover it on my own. But for those of you who haven't been lucky enough to discover it on your own, I want to share a simple trick with you!

Overwhelmed with the Budget!

Jackson's birthday party is coming up this weekend, so I've been really busy planning that, on top of starting back full time at work for the school year. I can't wait to share details of his Cowboy party; I'm really excited about it!

It's been awhile since I've posted about out budget. There's a reason for that! We were doing pretty well with the budget in the aspect that we at least weren't overspending. We previously paid off any debt with the exception of our mortgages (our house and a rental that we couldn't sell). We were getting pretty comfortable with our cash envelopes and tracking our money. Then we decided we could go back to the credit card that earns us money with our spending. Big mistake! Don't do it!!

Menu Planner Template Update

We are all on Spring Break at the same time, so it is even more chaotic than usual.  I am getting Ryan to help out with projects that have been piling up, so I will have more wonderful things to share with you.  I am currently waiting on paint to dry for one of those projects.

In the meantime, I spruced up my meal planning template to help myself get a little more excited about planning out our menus each week.  As tedious as it can be, I have learned that it really does help save money and my sanity.  Since we are on our budget, it helps save on the amount we use for food.

Weekly or Monthly Menus

The menu gets clipped to my refrigerator with any recipes from magazine tear-outs attached to the back.  If the recipe comes from a cookbook, I make sure to list the title and page number with the meal.

Visit the wonderful hosts of the Link Parties where my posts might be found: 
The Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun, Jane's Adventures in Dinner, Project: Inspire, Melting Moments, The Artsy Girl Connection, Confessions of an ADD Housewife, The NY Melrose Family, Someday Crafts, The Dedicated House, Adorned From Above, Organize and Decorate Everything, Six Sisters' Stuff, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Heatherly Loves, Kayla Creations, Debbiedoo's, A Stroll Thru Life , The Thrifty Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Stone Gable, Mom on Timeout, Dear Creatives, Or So She Says

Budget Update

We are still continuing with our {budget} inspired by {Dave Ramsey}.  It's been over a month now!  I have to admit, my eyes have definitely been opened to some of our not so good spending habits from the past!  Ryan and I are very optimistic about this working well and look forward to having all of the kinks worked out.

I will share some of the things I have realized for our family as we have embarked upon this journey.  Hopefully, you will find some helpful information or inspiration for your family.

A very recent example of a money struggle I had was just last Thursday.  My son had a day off from school for parent/teacher conferences, so I took off work to be with him.  I used the opportunity to make a doctor's appointment and get some glasses fixed that I had been putting off.

The first challenge was finding something to do for the 45 minutes between his conference and my appointment.  Everything costs money!  We dropped Brady off at daycare and went to the Dollar Tree nearby.  I used a few dollars to buy some Valentine decorations.  It turned into a very good lesson for Jackson, because he knew we had $4 to spend.  He really wanted a bag of chocolates (and so did I!), so we picked out the things we "needed" and calculated how much we had left.  We had enough to buy his candy, because we were reasonable with our other purchases.  The Dollar Tree is a weakness of mine, so this was a huge challenge!

The next money challenge was waiting the hour for my glasses to be fixed.  It was around lunchtime, so I had two choices.  We could drive 25 minutes each way to our house to eat food we already have (paying for the gas and waste of time), or we could eat at a restaurant near the place and have a fun "date" with my son.  I had $10 in my food envelope, so I debated this issue for a little bit.  Eating out won over, and it was worth it to give Jackson a special treat out with his Mama.

I am also going to try a different strategy this month with our money envelopes.  Instead of taking the total amount out of our bank account that we decide on for our budget, I am going to split the total in half and take it out twice a month.  That way, we aren't spending all of our money up front and then running out of cash to pay for the essentials, like milk, at the end of the month.  I'm curious to see if this helps.

Please share any tips your family has discovered to organize and save money.

The Budget Challenge

If you saw {this post} the other day, you know our family has started a new budgeting program.  It officially went into effect on the 15th when we received a paycheck.  I created spreadsheets based off of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace and calculated everything out.  My mom also has a book by Suse Orman, but I haven't read that one to compare.  If you want to start a budget, I recommend picking one system and just going with it.  If it works, great.  If it doesn't, move on and try something else until you find what you like.  Make sure you give the programs a try, though, before you give up.  It might take a little while to see the benefits.

The biggest adjustment we're having to make is the use of the envelope system.  I went to the ATM yesterday and withdrew the amount we designated for groceries.  I then proceeded to Costco to pick up some staples we were lacking and had the lowest bill EVER in the history of our trips to Costco.  It was $11 and some change.  We typically can't get out of there without forking over $100 or more!  If you belong to Costco, BJ's, or Sam's Club, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about!  Forking over that cash, though, and knowing that once I spent it all, we weren't replacing it made me fight the urge to look around.

We're still in the process of figuring out exactly where all of our money goes, so we'll be making a lot of adjustments to the amounts for each category.  It already feels so gratifying to have our money designated and know what we have left over each month to put into other categories.  I will keep you posted!

House Ideas Binder

This weekend, I added a House Ideas binder to the Family and Coupon binders. Being on a budget limits what you are able to do as far as decorating goes. Keeping a binder full of potential ideas allows you to hunt for bargains and put together rooms as you find what you want. Not only do I look for ideas on pinterest, I also look for ideas in magazines. The problem was, my collection looked like this...

I created a section for each area of our house. My goal at this point was just to get my clippings organized and out of a big pile. Each section is a different color paper, and I simply wrote the name of the room on the top of the first page. I can also add notes on the pages.

Some sections are more detailed than others, depending on our plans. For example, our kitchen is pretty much complete, so I don't have a big section for it. For our bedroom, I have colors and fabrics already in the room included in that section.

Eventually, I want to record measurements for each area. I might not include everything that I put into this binder, but it allows me to keep track of what I've found and liked.  
In the end, I had a few clippings that didn't fit in any of my rooms. I made a section in the back for "Tips and Other." That is home for those ideas. Sometimes, magazines will offer information on how to measure for things. For example, I have drapery measurement guidelines, how to hang a picture easily, etc. Keeping track of them in this section makes them so much easier to find!

This book also becomes very important during yard sale season. It is always so much better when you can find what you want for a fraction of the price! You can reference your binder to see if something is appropriate for an area of your house.  
The measurements will also let me know quickly if something will fit. I make sure to carry a tape measure in my purse so that I always have the option to measure furniture or other items. Right now, I measure what I find and call my husband to measure the space at our house, which isn't always successful if I can't get him or he's not at home. Having the measurements on hand will eliminate that need. That prevents purchases not working or being really happy that you know it's going to be perfect.
Go pull out all of the magazine clippings you've been saving... Happy planning!

Visit {HERE} to see the link parties where you will most likely find me.  Thanks to all of the wonderful hosts!

Or check them out from the links here: The Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun, Jane's Adventures in Dinner, Project: Inspire, Melting Moments, The Artsy Girl Connection, Confessions of an ADD Housewife, The NY Melrose Family, Someday Crafts, The Dedicated House, Adorned From Above, Organize and Decorate Everything, Six Sisters' Stuff, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Heatherly Loves, Kayla Creations, Debbiedoo's, A Stroll Thru Life , The Thrifty Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Stone Gable, Here Comes the Sun, Mom on Timeout, Dear Creatives, Or So She Says

Budget Schmudget

We have been up to our heads in budgeting this week!

Ryan decided to borrow the book Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey from someone at work.  (Notice I said borrow, which is a great way to save money!  The public library is an additional option to friends.)  We both read through it pretty quickly, and I dove right in to the worksheets he included for figuring everything out.

Whoa!  My eyes are crossed from all of the numbers I have been looking at.  But it really feels good that when our next paychecks come in, we know exactly where every penny is going.

We are even going as far as trying the envelope system.  For those of you who haven't heard of it, you take the amount you budgeted for each category (like groceries or entertainment) and put it in an envelope.  Once it's gone, it's gone!  I found this {template} online to make our own envelopes.

I'll keep you posted on how all of this goes!

Family Binder: Entertainment

Here's another addition to the Family Binder!  I've had piles of brochures around our office area that we got from our Visitors' Center when we first moved here.  They have been driving me crazy, so I had to come up with a solution.

What to Do With The Christmas Cards?

After Christmas every year, I take down the Christmas cards and look at the beautiful pictures of all of our family and friends.  Then I wonder what I should do with them and feel guilty when they end up in the trash.  No more guilt this year!

I searched {Pinterest} for ideas, and created a mix of my own.  I wanted to keep it short and simple, so I used a chicken ring to collect all of the cards on.  I don't know what the technical term is for them, but they are the rings that open and latch back together.  They are usually found in the office supply section.  Each card got a hole punch in the corner, and then I threaded them on the ring.  I made a card out of scrap card stock to add the year.  

I took it a little further and included many cards throughout the year.  Birth and wedding announcements and special cards from birthdays and holidays seemed to be a great addition to the Christmas cards.

Now we can flip through each year to see how our friends and families have grown and changed.  I also made sure to include our Christmas card at the very end so that we can compare them from year to year.

What do you do with your holiday cards?

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year!  I look forward to sharing more of our projects and strategies for saving with you.

Visit {HERE} to see the link parties where you will most likely find me.  Thanks to all of the wonderful hosts!

Or check them out from the links here: The Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun, Jane's Adventures in Dinner, Project: Inspire, Melting Moments, The Artsy Girl Connection, Confessions of an ADD Housewife, The NY Melrose Family, Someday Crafts, The Dedicated House, Adorned From Above, Organize and Decorate Everything, Six Sisters' Stuff, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Heatherly Loves, Kayla Creations, Debbiedoo's, A Stroll Thru Life , The Thrifty Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Stone Gable, Here Comes the Sun, Mom on Timeout

Sending Packages the Easy Way

For Christmas, I had to send packages to my brother and brother-in-law's families.  Our post office is not the most convenient to get to, and now that I'm back working, I really don't have a convenient time to go.

I already knew you could print out shipping labels online, so I did a little more investigating.  You can actually set up a pick-up for your mail carrier!  I went to the USPS website, and there is a tab for setting it up.  You pick the day and the place they will collect the packages.  I chose the front door, but they had multiple choices and a place for any notes you need to leave them.  I left the boxes out, and they were gone when I got home from work!  We were a little skeptical and wondered if someone else decided to pick them up, but we got a confirmation e-mail from the post office the next day saying that they picked up the boxes.

I also did a little comparing between the flat rate boxes and using your own.  For my brother's presents, it was better to send it in my own package, because I couldn't fit one box into the small flat rate box.  If I could have, it was the same price.  My brother-in-law's package was going to be about the same either way.  You have to weigh the packages in order to print out shipping labels for non-flat rate boxes.  I used our food scale to do this.

This little discovery definitely made my holiday season a little easier!

Utilizing Wait Time at the Doctor's Office

The other afternoon, I had a doctor's appointment.  I typically make sure to bring a magazine or book to pass the waiting time, but this time, I really came prepared.  I brought my Christmas cards to address!  It worked really well, because I was able to throw my Family Binder in a bag along with the envelopes.  This turned a task that I typically procrastinate into something that made the time seem to go by more quickly.

This is something you could use for any of those small, tedious activities.  When I was teaching, I would bring papers to grade.  Usually, when I come prepared for the wait time, I get called back immediately!

Ahhh! Thanksgiving is Next Week!

Somehow, I didn't realize that Thanksgiving was so close.  We will be traveling to see my grandparents, which is a six hour drive with two boys, two dogs, and a husband.  We made this same trip over the summer, and I found some great ways to entertain the boys.  Go here for some helpful hints if you are traveling for the holidays.  You can also find some tips on packing here.

Organizing My Closet

I'm finally back!  I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I have started a new job.  I still intend to update my blog but had to take the time to adjust to our new normal around the house.  Being organized has eased the transition back to work.

Through all of this, I have also taken on the task of switching my closet over to my fall/winter wardrobe.  It has become necessary because I have to make sure I am presentable everyday!

Our current house has nice, big closets, which makes the task a little less daunting.  In our old house, I had bins for my clothes that went into storage during the off seasons.  I have also found that the Alabama climate makes switching clothes over a little tricky, because it stays warmer or gets cold and then a warm spell hits.  Therefore, I keep more of my summer wardrobe out than I did while living in Virginia.

Okay, on to the actual organization!

Keeping Track of Household Manuals

This week has been a big change in our household. I am back to work!  I was lucky enough to start a job at The Riley Center, which is a behavioral and educational center for children with autism. I will be a therapist who gets to work with the children in the classroom. I am so excited to get back in the classroom and work with children again! I am especially looking forward to the chance to help children work through challenges that aren't commonly faced by others.

With this comes the true need for organization. I was able to come up with a lot of strategies for our family while at home, but now we will be putting them to the test. I'm sure we will be making adjustments so everything will continue to work smoothly. One of my struggles has been conquering paperwork.

I have tried quite a few strategies to organize all of those pesky booklets that go with all of the gadgets that accumulate in the house. I would have probably just recycled them in one of my crazy purges, but my perfectionist side is afraid I will end up needing some information from one of the booklets one day. I also make sure to keep receipts and warranty information, which we have needed here and there in the past.

After all of the booklets and paperwork followed us from Virginia and tripled overnight, I finally came up with a way that works for us to organize them! Just because it works for me, doesn't mean it will work for you, but if I can give just one person the inspiration to finally take control of the crazy booklet pile, I will be happy.

The first thing I did was separate all of the instructional booklets, warranty information, and receipts into piles according to the room where the product is located. Then, I used clear plastic page covers to hold each pile. I found a place in each room to hold the plastic cover. Now, everything is within easy reach! Here are a few examples of the places I stashed my piles.

In the kitchen, I store them in a drawer under my place mats. There were so many for the kitchen that I didn't try to fit them into a clear page protector.

In the living room, they are stored in a drawer of the entertainment center.  You can also see that we put other loose ends here.

The pantry is the closest storage spot for our thermostat and security system manuals. I have storage drawers that I slid the manuals above. 

Please share any strategies you have for organizing household manuals.

Visit HERE to see the link parties where you will find me.  Thanks to all of the wonderful hosts!
Or check them out from the links here: The Prudent Pantry, Here Comes the Sun, Jane's Adventures in Dinner, Project: Inspire, Melting Moments, The Artsy Girl Connection, Confessions of an ADD Housewife, The NY Melrose Family, Someday Crafts, The Dedicated House, Adorned From Above, Organize and Decorate Everything, Six Sisters' Stuff, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Heatherly Loves, Kayla Creations, Debbiedoo's, A Stroll Thru Life , The Thrifty Home, Beyond the Picket Fence, Stone Gable, Here Comes the Sun

Family Staples Price Organizer

One of the things I learned from Moneywise Shopper's couponing class is to keep track of the prices you pay for your staples.  This way you know that you are getting a good deal.  I'm not going to lie, this is something with which I struggle.  I don't know why I can't conquer this, especially when I have a great template for completing it.

Pallet Shelves & Boys' Reading Nook

before

The boys have a little nook in their bedroom that I want to use as a reading area.  We bought a Pottery Barn chair for the boys at a yard sale for $5, which is already in the nook.  I also added some signs that I found from the same yard sale.

My First GIVEAWAY to Cover Up Ugly Phone Jacks

I've been working on our {office area} over the summer.  At our old house, we got rid of our phone land line because we had our cell phones.  This seems to be a rising trend.  When we moved, we never got a land line.  The problem is, you've got those ugly phone jacks to cover.  Brian was nice enough to send me his new product, the {Telephrame}, to try out.

I quickly discovered that in our new house, they must have come up with flat phone jacks!  Ryan helped me figure out how to attach it, because I knew it would still be useful.  He just unscrewed the top screw, and we hung the frame off of that.  In the old house, it would have worked perfectly on our big, bulky phone jack.  Directions are provided on how to hang it.  Whether you have a flat or bulky jack, this product allows you to make use of the space.

The nice thing about the {Telephrame} is that there are three options for using it.  It can be a frame for a photo, a dry-erase board, or a cork board.  Right now, I'm using it as a dry-erase board, but I like that I can change to the other options at any time.  With the dry erase board comes a marker to use.  Even better than that, Brian was smart enough to add a magnet to the marker.  Now we can't lose it!  I can also cut paper to fit in the frame and change the background at any time.

The best part is that Brian sent me two sets, so I get to giveaway one of the Telephrames!
To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment telling where you would most like to cover up your ugly phone jack.
For bonus entries, make sure you follow my blog via {Facebook}, {Google+}, and/or {RSS feed} and like Telephrame on {Facebook}.
The giveaway is now closed.

 

Calendar Board with Wine Corks

In our {Office Nook}, I included our family calendar.  I happened to come across a Pottery Barn refill calendar at a {yard sale} for $2.  I love how their system looks, but I'm not willing to spend the money for it.  So, I improvised.

I made a frame for the top of it using wine corks.  This little detail gave it just enough to anchor and tie it in with our wine theme around the room.

There was a cardboard piece that came on the back of the calendar insert.  I hot glued the wine corks across the top of that.  I knew I wanted to be able to remove the calendar to fill it in, so I added velcro pieces to the cardboard as well. 

I then attached the backing to the wall with Command picture hangers (I'm really loving those things!).

If you let them set properly by following the directions on the package, if the cardboard pulls away from the wall, you can just push it back on and hear it "click" into place.
You will also notice that we draw a line down the middle of the days to split the calendar into two weeks instead of one. That was my husband's idea; he's learning!  When I'm really ambitious, I use colored pencils to code each person's events.
I use the bottom checklist area to {plan out our meals}.  The top checklists are also very helpful to jot down quick reminders.  There is also a {dry erase board} located next to the calendar for additional notes.

You might find me linked with The Dedicated House, Adorned From Above, Organize and Decorate Everything, Six Sisters' Stuff, I Heart Nap Time, Positively Splendid, Heatherly Loves, Kayla Creations, Debbiedoo's, A Stroll Thru Life , The Thrifty Home, Beyond the Picket Fence