Money, Money, Money, Money....MON-EY!

We have been very busy around here! We are doing everything we can to save money and pay down our debt! We want to move into Tanque Verde Manor, debt free! Here are a few ways that we have been saving money:

1. No cable. Does it suck? Yes. As bad as I thought? No. My dad bought us this super cool antenna which gives us all the local channels and PBS. I can still watch Good Morning America, the kids watch Curious George and we can still watch Wipeout and Extreme Makeover, Weight Loss. We have Netflix which is okay. We stream it through our Blueray player. I am sure we will be spending lots of time at my parent's house come football season! 

Direct TV bundle in old house= $160.00mo.  
TV bill in current house= $8.00/mo.

2. No phone. Yep- got rid of the home phone. It was bundled in our old house and here we were paying $20- and never used it. Just made sense. Hasta la vista baby!

Savings of $20/ mo

3. Thermostat. We keep the thermostat set t 78 degrees during the day. Yes, it's a little warm, but it's worth it to pay less! We only turn it down to 75 at night!

4. We quit buying juice. We were going through a lot of juice and we never gave the kids a full glass of it! Really, it was flavored water, but still- lots of juice. Instead, I saw on one of my awesome Shaklee team member's blog (Erin @ Healthy Branscom's) that she was using Shaklee's Performance instead. I thought that was such a great idea that I totally copied it! The kids love it and so does Eric and Daylen!

5. We are selling our stuff! Right now we are paying for a storage unit and it's $75 a month! It pains me to pay that bill each month. Eric and I are doing the War On Debt right now and Dani Johnson totally inspired us to get rid of our junk! We sold our big, huge, spacious king bed (mattress and frame), we are selling our 70 inch TV (that one hurts a bit- Brian Urlacher's booty was lovely on that screen) , we are selling our desk, bar stools, and any other BIG thing in the storage unit. The plan is one more month and all the rest of the boxes will just be reorganized in the garage! Not only will we make money by selling our stuff, but we will not have the storage unit rental fee each month. Yahoo!

Savings of $75.00/month

6. We are clearing out our pantry, fridge and freezers. Again, Dani Johnson encouraged us to eat what we have try not to go to the store until it's all gone. I thought this was crazy, but when I actually looked around, we have a TON of food just being wasted! We have gone to the store for milk, produce, bread, and cereal, but not much else! We have not bought any type of meat in over a month! And I still have shrimp, a bag of chicken, a huge pork tenderloin, and fish in the freezer. Our plan is to empty the big freezer and then sell it! It uses electricity and we don't need it!

7. Getting mega organized! Being organized is essential in saving money! Knowing where everything is makes it easier to see what you need. Plus, doing something like menu planning forces you to spend less. 

8. Only buying what we need and only doing it when it's on sale!!  

9. We only use Shaklee cleaning products. It's no surprise that I would put that one, right? The cleaning products (such as the Basic H) are super concentrated so they go a long way! Plus, Basic H is used for so many things that we don't need to spend money on individual products. I can use Basic H to clean my floors, wash my car, get out stains, on my windows, to dust my house, as an all-purpose cleaner...just to name a few. So yeah, WAY less money then buying Pine Sol, Armor all, Oxy Clean, Windex, Pledge, Method, etc. Just sayin'.

10. We have learned to "live without". I know that may sound bad, but it's really not. We just buy what we need.... I don't NEED another pair of sweat pants, the kids don't NEED another toy, we don't NEED to go out to dinner.... we are learning to simplify. 

And ya know what??? Simple is good. 

If you are interested in Dani Johnson's War On Debt program, please click on THIS link! You won't be sorry!

{PS...If you live in Tucson, I will be holding a War on Debt class- FOR FREE...email me if you would like to come. It's Saturday, August 18th at 1:00 pm. }

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BRING it on...part 1

I apparently shot myself in the foot yesterday when I boasted the fact that I was so ready for June cuz June started with a bang. First came the all-I-wanna-do-is-lie-down-with-a-pillow-over-my-eyes migraine which resulted in an early bedtime. Then, the kids came in my room this morning, early, and got in bed with me. Totally cool with this when they sleep next to me, get all cuddly and even snore. Brody did that this morning, but Delaney was not so cooperative. She was trying as hard as she could to wake us up. She was playing with her Polly Pockets...using my lady parts as mountains, then using my mouth as a cave. So annoying. So I woke up pretty irritated. Now to switch my mind to the book I am reading (One Thousand Gifts) and be thankful that they are well enough to annoy the crap out of me and that even though this house is so little it makes me wanna scream, it's still a house and we can afford it and we have money to pay rent. And......exhale.

Back to the READY part. We are big believers in Dave Ramsey (and are learning all about Dani Johnson) but we've never really followed through. Til now. We now have our budget in place, as scary as that is. We need to be super serious (said in the Kate Winslet voice in Titanic -ya know when she's all naked and stuff getting her picture drawn) if we want to Tanque Verde Manor (just tryin out the name) to happen. That means no more trips to Target that are not carefully planned, that means no more grande, no water chai's from Starbucks that are unplanned. Basically, it means planning the crap out of everything. I don't know why that's so freaky- I LOVE to plan. So we did.

First up.... the finance binder, dun, dun, dun. This binder (original idea found here) holds the key to our future. In it, we have a pocket for the bills that need to be paid,a calendar so we can see what's due when, our budget, our checklist (I just put a check in the column with the month so I remember it's been paid, so weird that I can never remember that), the bills that have been paid, then the "debt" section. We are planning on adding the debt snowball from Dave Ramsey to this one, but I was spent at this point.

THE binder

To be paid side, along with a cute pencil and calculator

The "DUE" calendar- I like to cross them off as they get paid.

Our checklist.... from www.iheartorganizing.blogspot.com

Page 1 of 3 of our budget. Again from Jen at Iheartorganizing

In addition to the budget, the envelope system has made its debut again in our house. We have specific envelopes for different categories in our budget that we will only use cash for. Once the cash is gone, it's gone. Our categories are: Groceries, Costco, Dining out (although we have cut this considerably), Gifts, Hair, Clothing (again very small), and Blow (exactly what it sounds like-unless you're a crack addict, then not that.) So that's it. We take money out, put the receipt in and budget.
The next part is putting it all into Mint.com. We have it set-up, but have not utilized like we should, so that's the next step. It's free for crying out loud, there's zero reasons we should not use it.
One of our biggest money suckers is groceries. So I sat down and figured out our menu for June. I really love knowing that I have it all planned. It makes me feel better. Of course if I check the weekly specials and see something perishables that is fabulous (ie artichokes) then of course I have the power to switch it. Eric, on the other hand, is not. He erased the dates and made the magnets crocked, ugh, so it's just better that he leaves it alone.

Our June menu...we have a couple blank dates because of my mom's birthday and father's day, not sure what we are doing yet (btw...I got this whole thing from The Homes I Have Made)

The envelope wallet... so official

That's part one of the "Bring it June". I have more, but right now, I am going to make a Cinch shake and get ready for my day with 2 four year olds, a three year old and a one year old.

And I will leave you with some not so fantastic shots of my kids at the one and only splash pad in Tucson- mind blowing.

Don't forget to check out the awesomeness of Shaklee!!

What Do You Mean By Save?

First of all, Happy 2010 to everyone! We started the year off by tearing down Christmas crap decorations and then ended the day at the park with all the cousins while they drove their awesome new HUGE power wheels. My mom was nice enough to make dinner for us and what better way to end the start of the New Year than with Mexican food? I am supposed to be trying to think more positively this year so I am not going to think about the fact that the year started with my camera breaking (8 months old thank you very much-awesome) but I am going to focus on what Eric and I are going to be doing differently this year to help our 'money situation'. So here is a list of things that WE are going to be doing:

• Starting yesterday, we are going to be tracking what we spend everyday for a month. The spread sheet that we have is broken down into a bunch of different categories that range from utilities to fast food or sodas. This way we can see what we aren't remembering when we sit down and try to figure out where the money went.
• We will be transferring account information onto a budgeting website called The Mint. It will track our spending when we are finished with the spread sheet and show us whether we are on budget or not.
• We will start a budget. This one is the hardest for us-not because we can't stick to it, but because Dave Ramsey says that you need to be current on all your bills first, we are not quite there yet ;)
• We will be getting rid of the movie channels. First of all, they suck. Second, they suck!
• We will be tranferring our bank accounts to USAA. No more stupid bank fees from B of A
• We will be menu planning on a regular basis. This used to save us so much money and I am not entirely sure why we got away from it.
• I will get back into the Grocery Game.
• I will be working from home at night and starting an at home business sometime soon. I will also get back into studying to do medical transcription from home.
• I will be getting rid of the newspapers-every day but Sunday.
• We will try to only run the dishwasher at night.
• I will try to stay on top of the laundry (once I am caught up) and ya know only wash a load once instead of like 3 because it sat for so long.

I know they say money doesn't buy happiness and I do get that. I know that I am blessed in so many ways, but money does buy peace of mind in some ways. Eric and I pray that this year will be better money wise, and we are going to live by the motto-"Don't wonder where your money went, TELL it where to go."


P.S. Hopefully I will figure out to get the pictures off my camera- I hate not having pictures!

The Coupon Fairy Paid Me a Visit.

This is Delaney, happy as a clam, in the space ship cart at the Commissary. If we don't get this cart (it is the only one) we are in for a LONG shopping trip.

I was at Target yesterday for my weekly (ok twice weekly) trip to get formula and was feeling so sad. I felt so broke. There are SO many cute things right now and we just don't have the money to buy random things. The Christmas decorations are adorable! I especially love the ones that look like old fashioned sweaters with red and gray. Oh well.... maybe next year right? I looked up and down the aisles dreaming of the day that I will be able to buy things that I want and not immediately regret it or return it. As I made my way down the ever expensive diaper aisle, I found myself sighing, again. Man diapers are expensive. I am planning on potty training Delaney next week so that will help when we are through but Brody can pee like a champ! That boy wets his diaper constantly and then it flaming mad until it is changed. I usually have coupons for everything, but lately I have been lazy... I haven't been cutting them. Don't really know why, maybe it's the fact that I hate spending money. So back at the diapers. I am staring at the many different prices trying to figure out which one is cheaper between Pampers and Huggies. This week, it was Pampers. I then walk over to the Easy Ups for Delaney and pick up a pack of those. Almost $3o for 3 packs that will last Brody a few days and Delaney a week or so. Crap. Oh well, they need them. No ifs, ands, or buts. I put them in my cart and notice a lady looking my goods up and down (the stuff in the cart, not me:). At first, I am slightly annoyed, but then she asked me how many packs of Pampers I had. I told her 2- she handed me 2 coupons for $1.50 off! Then she asked if I had Easy Ups, I said yes, she gave me ANOTHER coupon for those! She said she doesn't use Pampers, but always cuts out the coupons just in case she sees someone who needs them! I was seriously stunned. It was the sweetest gesture. I suddenly came out of my pity party and thanked her and immediately wanted to adopt this idea.

I am a coupon junkie. I love coupons and I get a high over how much I can save. Eric is all about coupons now too. My sister-in-law, Cortney, taught me her system for saving on groceries. A lesson that I will forever be grateful for. My current system for grocery shopping is because of her. Thank you Cortney!

I use the website called The Grocery Game. On Sundays, she posts the new list for the different grocery stores. I subscribe to Fry's and Safeway. I get the Sunday papers (The Arizona Daily Star and The Arizona Republic). If I had more money, I would get 2 or 3 of both. Then, I go on the website and go through the list for the stores. I decide what I need and then go to my coupon box. The beauty of The Grocery Game is it tells you what is on sale, what coupon to use and the day you can find it in. I go through the coupons, clip what I need and then I am off to the store to save major money. Before Brody was born, my totals we over $200, but I never paid more than $80! The coolest part is, I would end up getting a ton of FREE stuff! I haven't had to buy a toothbrush in a year... I have that many FREE ones!

My coupon box is just a small file box I got for like $8 at Target

Inside, each month is separated by a file folder.
I also have a Sharpie, scissors and extra clips.

I just bundle all the coupons for that Sunday, clip them together,
and write the date on the top.

Then FILE IT!!

I also save coupons that I get n the mail. I have 2 coupon accordion files that I use. I put the big coupons such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, The Picture People, individual store booklets, etc. in the big one and then I put cut coupons in the little one. I make sure that they are in my car at all times.... every once in awhile I go through and throw away all the expired ones and reorganize a bit.

My little one... I have a small pair of scissors, a pen, a calculator
and paper clips in it as well.

Both of the money saving gadgets.

I have been slacking on coupons. Not any more. I will start again!!! But this time, I will cut out more of the ones that I DON'T use and put them in the file. I know how expensive things are and when money is tight, even a dollar saved can help!

I will return the good deed that lady did for me. I guess it's kind of a pay it forward with coupons! So if you see me out and you need a coupon, ask me! I may have one.