I had a busy week.  My coupon knowledge is advancing.  I am not only price matching at walmart, i am also starting to do the coupons, Catalina's, and price match all together thing.  The other day I found a great deal at Albertsons.  I bought over a hundred dollars worth of groceries for 80 dollars and got two movie tickets plus 10$ for popcorn and pop.  I used the adds, plus I used manufacturer coupons, and together they kicked out a bonus from the Catalina machine.  I belong to several coupon websites where I download many coupons that can be used on top of the store deals.  I also belong to sites like the Coupon Lady, where they not only find coupons but give advice.  Coupons and deals are my thing, and I never buy name brand unless it is cheaper.  Believe it or not, with a little work name brand usually wins.  I research and find tons of deals.  Another place I get my deals is at groupon, and Zbest.  I just scored my mom 500 dollars worth of spa treatment for only 100$ off of groupon.  It feels so good when I find other people deals on what they want.  Since the beginning of this competition, I also make my food from scratch, and my cleaners from scratch.  I have the best recipes for taking out stains, and making caked on oven food effortless to remove.  I pay no more than $3 every three months on making cleaners with basic house hold items.  I know none of this has ever been explained on tv, but I can still blog about the ways I save.  I have found that being a stay at home mom, I have become crafty when it comes to saving.  I’m sure tons of people all over find ways as well, but living on one income and paying out over $380 in child support makes it even more imperative to become thrifty.  Other than being an almost professional coupon and add-matcher lady (lol), and a proficient cleaner maker, I have also become a thrifty money pinching mom.  I am the embarrassing mom that saves anything free or extra.  We just had a party at Raptor Reef and I made sure that they gave us all the gift bags, even if it was for an adult.  I have six extra gift bags that I now can give away at my next Birthday Party.  I re-used decorations, and made the cake from scratch.  I also made sure to save and salvage any extra material like bags, and paper.  I am set for a long time.  Another example… like my competitor (Wendy), we have also been working on our car. Although both of our cars may as well be lemons, we still have saved tons by changing our own brakes, and fixing other things ourselves.  Saving money is not something I just do, it is a job.   Saving is time consuming but worth the financial savings.  I think though, where it matters most is when we don’t buy unless we need.  I am so proud that we have learned to live without, and I think that is the lesson I really want to gain.

Throwing food in the trash is very frustrating.  To me, it really is throwing money away.  Last weekend I cleaned the fridge and tossed out some leftovers, wilted celery and broccoli that had seen better days.  How can I keep this from happening in the future?  I decided to search the web for answers.  There are so many ideas are out there!  One interesting option was to keep track of when leftovers enter the fridge using a calendar.  Once the food is eaten, it’s crossed off the calendar.  I read about a woman who keeps veggie scraps and peels (including sprouted onions and wilted celery) in a bag in her freezer.  She uses these bagged veggies to make her own vegetable broth.  One individual decided to cook less food – since all of it obviously wasn’t being eaten.  We do keep a calendar in the kitchen, but I just can’t see us following thru with a plan that involves listing foods, etc.  I’m leaning towards taking more leftovers for lunches and perhaps instituting a “Leftover Night” one night a week, if it’s needed.  I think I may try keeping bits of veggies in a freezer bag.  Making my own vegetable broth sounds right up my alley!

I’ve reached an interesting point in my financial life; I’m coasting and finally relaxing a bit.  My money does its own thing now and I don’t have to worry as much.  I know how much money is in my checking account at all times.  That concept wasn’t even on my radar 5 months ago!  Dinner is planned for the week and everything I need is on hand.  No quick stops for fast food or a pizza.  Now, instead of stressing when bills arrive, I log onto my bank website and set up the payment using bill pay.  Tension isn’t a daily issue now.  Even the boys have commented on it.  I’m happier, which means my kids are too.  I can’t say this is a surprise, but it is certainly pleasant! 

I’m getting ready for a fun filled weekend.  My younger sisters are coming to town to visit.  We’ve planned a few things, including going out for one evening.  It’s going to be a challenge to stay on budget, I’m sure.  They’ve agreed to help cover the costs of things, which will help quite a bit.  I’ll let you know next week how things turned out.

Holiday Spending

It’s that time of year again, the stress and headache of another holiday season is upon us. Does it really have to be this way? Only if you allow it! So how do we avoid the holiday hype? I know it’s almost impossible, every time you turn on the TV, read a newspaper or pick up a magazine; they’re all promoting ways to spend your money.

Set some boundaries this year and get prepared. Start the holidays with a game plan. If you’re a spender, think about how to avoid overspending. Why get yourself into debt? Is it really worth it? We know it’s almost impossible not to spend any money, but be realistic and find ways to spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank.

’ve been reading several holiday articles on ways to save money with some smart spending tips. Most have a top 10 list, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite seven.

1. Make a budget: Look at what you spent last year, has your financial situation improved or worsened? Be honest with yourself, what can you afford? One thing to remember, your budget should also include the cost for food, holiday decorations, gift wrapping materials and if you’re mailing gifts include the postage, this can get pretty costly.

2. Cut back on your gift list: There is always a hundred different people to buy for; family, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc., the list could go on and on. If you have a tight budget, keep to a small list, exclude the ones you can. I know this can be hard, but the reality of it is most people will appreciate your honesty and may even feel relieved that someone else said what they were thinking. Remember, it’s tight for a lot of people right now, it’s not just you. Other options to suggest might be drawing names, doing a Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange. Set a limit on the dollar amount spent, all these ideas will help cut costs.

3. Use cash/ not credit: Shopping with cash will make you more aware of how you spend. People who use credit cards tend to spend an average of 30% more. If you have to use credit, set a limit, use the card with the lowest interest rate and have a plan to pay it off quickly.

4. Be prepared: Before heading out the door know what you’re shopping for. Make a list and check it twice. Sticking to a list of ideas will help you from overspending.

5. Shop for discounts: Whether on-line or in store, do your research and look for the best bargain. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner.

6. Make your own gifts: Making your own gifts can be very special. Give something homemade like baked good, crafts or consider giving your time. Make your own personalized gift certificate offering services for babysitting, cooking dinner or doing chores or projects around the house.

7. Keep it simple: Substitute expensive get-togethers and elaborate holiday dinner parties with a family or neighborhood potluck. Share the cost by having everyone bring their favorite dish. This should help with the expenses and the stress.
Keep in mind that the holidays are not all about spending, but giving. Spend good quality time with your loved ones and friends. Have a blessed and hopefully less expensive holiday season.

Wow has it really been 5 months already?  It has gone so fast its not even funny.  Well Elk hunting season is over and no elk meat is in the freezer darn it anyway, but deer season is open and going good.  Maybe I can get a deer and put a little meat in the freezer.  So about my bad habits; I am still chewing tobacco which I really wanted to quit before the end of the challenge and my chance is almost over.  My gas station visits have slowed down considerably but still tend to buy a pop or candy when I pick up my chew.  Wow if only I could quit chewing my two bad habits would end completely.  If I didn’t have to get chew I wouldn’t buy the other junk. 
I have got to brag a little bit about my wife Gillian she is doing such an amazing job.  I think in the past month she has spent maybe $2 at a gas station and it was only because our son was hungry when she was running errands awhile back.  She does such an awesome job saving us money on our groceries.  She spends a couple hours a week to save us seriously hundreds of dollars a month. 
If you remember in my last blog I was struggling with the amount of overtime I was working for this challenge, well I have scaled it back to just a straight 40 hours and it sure fells good.  Yea it is nice to see those big healthy paychecks coming in but it is not worth missing out on life.  I will still work a little overtime here and there but not like I was. 

As I take a step back and look at how far we have come in the past 5 months all I can say is wow!! We have paid off a $3,000 credit card paid off almost another and well I cant tell you everything else because that would spoil all the fun of staying tuned to the end.  This has been such a great challenge, but great is not the only word that comes to mind; frustrating, hard, emotional, learning, helpful but must of all rewarding.  I am forever grateful to United Health Services Credit Union and Krem 2 they have truly changed our lives.  I know have the tools to stay focused and on the right track and can someday teach my kids the same thing in hopes that they never made the same mistakes that I made to get us into this situation.  I would also like to thank everyone who has read these blogs and watched on the news and I hope you all have taken at least something away from this experience.

These last couple of weeks have been stressful.  We are scrounging to work overtime and sell things for the contest.  I am also budgeting for a birthday party, and Christmas.  Another hard hit, is we have to move back into our house.  Our renters have decided to buy somewhere else.  This will set us back about $350 a month.  It is a hard hit, and the rental market is different now.  There are so many homes for rent that are newer and bigger for the same price that we need.  We are trying to come up with a strategy for this upcoming life change.  I am so great-full for this competition.  I am a little worried about the future circumstance, but i know in my heart that if we fail this time it will not be because we did not try, or were irresponsible.  I am already working with Heather to continue on my financial fit journey in the future.  Here is something that most people might like to know.  If you belong to certain banks (or maybe all banks), a financial adviser is made available to you as a free service.  The benefits I get are offered by banks.  My recommendation is Heather, and my loyalty will be with her always, but nevertheless, ask your banks.  A financial Adviser can help answer questions, and move people forward in their finances.  The community that is following me and my story is reading my words to relate and find ways to better themselves.  This advantage I have, you can have to! All one has to do is just ask.  I will always utilize this gift, even after this contest.

The holiday season has arrived and with it come numerous invitations to parties and potlucks.  Finding inexpensive but tasty items for these gatherings wasn’t as difficult as I expected it to be.  At work last week we had a Halloween celebration, which included a potluck lunch and a dozen adults in costumes.  My donation to the event was a cream cheese spread that I fixed up to look like a goblin head, complete with facial features and hair.  CJ helped me with the appropriate food coloring to cream cheese ratio (I initially skimped on the food coloring). The cheese spread was so successful, I’m planning to make it again next week when my sisters come to visit.  This time I’ll use the cheese spread to form a doll dress reminiscent of the doll cakes my mom used to make for our adolescent birthday parties.  I’m trying to keep our visit simple; in the past I would have gone overboard with things.  It’s taking some effort not to do that this time.  Staying on budget is a must, but I don’t want to make their visit seem less important that it is.  We three girls don’t get together very often! 

Yesterday I shared my recipes for laundry soap and dishwasher soap with several coworkers.  Only one of them looked at me like I was crazy, which was a nice surprise.  I’m looking forward to hearing how everyone’s cleaning supplies work.  We also discussed the benefits of cleaning with vinegar.  One of the gals uses it in her steam cleaner and swears that it removes the dog smell from her carpets.  That’s one idea I think I might have to try.  The boys and I use vinegar as an occasional fabric softener, window and mirror cleaner and it does a great job removing some of the tough water stains in the toilet.  Last summer I applied vinegar to my sunburned skin after a day of floating on the river.  The stinging sensation from the sunburn dissipated quickly, as did the lovely vinegar odor.  It seems we’ve lost quite a bit in our search to “simply” our lives by purchasing premade items.  Buying multitudes of chemical laden cleaners and over processed, preservative filled foods hasn’t really improved things.  Going back to making things from scratch is a healthy and cost saving option we should all consider.

I recently came to the realization that I was raised by a brand snob.  This is not an opinion my Mom agrees with, mind you.  I do see a difference in the items at Mom’s vs. the items at my house.  I buy store branch sandwich bags while she only buys Ziploc, for example.  She only purchases Hunt’s tomato products and I now buy store brands. I was quite certain that buying store brand tomato sauce would mean the demise of my spaghetti.  I’m happy to report that isn’t the case.  The cost of my spaghetti sauce, in total, was about half of what I spent pre contest.  In the world of starving teenagers, that is a huge realization!  Prior to the contest, I purchased most of my clothing at Macy’s.  A few months ago I purchased a pair of really cute slacks at Target for $15.  I love these pants. They don’t require dry cleaning and they look great. 

The boys and I have put this new theory to the test in many areas of our daily lives.  We’ve determined that $10 haircuts aren’t for us.  The boys prefer the barbershop and I prefer my gal at the salon.  Body wash is a tossup –we didn’t notice a difference in generic opposed to name brand.  We don’t have a favorite type of toothpaste, so we tend to purchase whatever is cheapest.  Generic medications are sometimes half the price of name brand.  When the name brand product is $20, the savings can add up quickly!  The same is true for cereal.  A box of name brand Cocoa Puffs can run almost $5, while the Malto-Meal version can often be found for around $4, with twice the cereal in the bag! 

Brand snobbery is an issue for most people, in one way or another.  My suggestion would be to open your world to the less expensive possibilities that exist.  Saving money isn’t a bad thing and will certainly benefit you in the long run.  People tend to relate to name brand items, only making the decision to purchase less expensive products when money is tight.  I’ve decided I’d rather save money now.

Wow, we’re almost out of October and heading into the Holidays and winter.  It is so true, the older you get the faster time flies by.  That’s why I try so hard to get our members to start NOW to save and plan for tomorrow.

Do you remember your first financed car and what the loan payment was?  I do. Mine was a 1973 Ford Pinto and my monthly payment was $55 a month.  I was struggling making ends meet because my monthly salary was $325! As I would sit down to pay my bills I’d think “I’d sure have a lot more money if I didn’t have to pay this” and then I’d hear my dad’s voice telling me just how important credit was and it was my obligation to make my payments and make them on time!

Yes, that was a long time ago, but the concept is still the same. If a lender has granted you the privilege of credit, it is your obligation to make the payments on time.  Credit follows you your entire life and you are rewarded with lower interest rates, quicker loan decisions, and better limits if you have “paid your creditors as agreed”. 

Obviously, credit is paid off quicker if you can afford to pay more than the minimum due; but if all you can pay is the minimum, pay it and make sure it gets there on time.  I am glad to see that credit card statements now disclose how long it would take you to pay off the balance owing by making just a minimum payment and what the overall finance charge would be. I think it’s an eye opener!  Our website has some great tools for financial planning and one is a credit card calculator.  If you have a card with $1000 owing and an interest rate of 15.9% and make the minimum payment of $20 (and do not add any more charges to it) it would take you 83 months to pay it off and the interest you would pay is $650!!  If you doubled the payment to $40, it would take 31 months and interest would be $223, a savings of $428. Quite a difference!

Next time you pay a credit card payment, ask yourself “Can I afford to pay a little more?”  Make it your goal to pay off your card(s), and not charge more than you can pay monthly.  That’s the road to Financial Health, which leaves more money for you!

So this last couple of weeks we have had some surprises.  My car decided that it was going to make a grinding noise.  We knew it was the brakes, and I felt my self freeze up, and some anxiety took hold.  Last time we needed brakes we almost over drafted our account buying them.  We had no breathing room for the slightest change.  I felt the same feelings coming on, and just before I started to panic I realized….we got this…. It was not only fine for me to buy one set of brakes, but we ended up buying all four tires brakes, and I didn’t even need to stress.  I didnt even stress when I thought we might have to replace some other things.  I know my bank account, and I am taking control.  Situations like these make me realize where we have come.  A year ago I would have panicked.

There are only six weeks remaining in the Financial Health Challenge.  Feeling nostalgic, I spent a few minutes looking over my notes from the past four and a half months.  We’ve made so many changes and accomplished so much!  The boys and I still struggle with our budget on occasion, but we do try to plan ahead.  We’ve learned that being flexible is an important part of a budget.  Little things sneak in and try to throw you off, otherwise– car repairs, licensing fees, dr. visits.  I’m learning that the trick is to set money aside, so when these things pop up they don’t destroy all our hard work!  Setting money aside is code for “Savings Account”.  Or should I say savings accounts, plural.  Once the contest is over, I am planning to meet with Gayle and set up five additional savings accounts.  Really, five of them!  I’ve been tracking our spending since the contest began and have a pretty good idea where our money goes.  More importantly, I have developed a plan for how we’re going to handle our money in the future.  Simply put, we are going to be prepared.  We will have savings accounts for the following things; Holidays, Vacations, Furry Kids, Car costs, Emergencies, Washer and Dryer replacement, and Miscellaneous.  I may add one for school stuff, but I’m going to see how that goes.  Why am I planning to have accounts for each of these things instead of one big account?  To help me stay on course and to keep track of the money’s purpose.  This might not work for some folks, but I believe that keeping funds in separate accounts will keep me headed in the right direction.  If I had one savings account it would be easy to forget that some of the money is set aside for the dogs to get their shots or to replace the washer and dryer.  I might look at the account and say “Wow!  $2,000!  I can buy a nice new couch with that.” Another thing I’ve learned is the advantage of having several checking accounts.  I have a checking account for household bills and another for groceries, allowance and gas money.  By opening my future savings accounts at the credit union, I will lessen my chances of frivolous spending.  To access those funds, I will have to actually go to the credit union.  And I love how the folks at UHSCU will let me name my accounts.  I’ll chuckle every time I access the “Furry Kids” account.