Posted in Budget

February Budget Challenge Day 3 – $155.94 Left

Posted on by 3toddlermom

We ran errands this morning before church as a family. How sweet! We own gumball machines as a side business so we went around town refilling them and emptying the quarters. I should be clear….my husband did all the work. I sat in the van on pinterest. Ha!

We swung by Walgreens to pick up a prescription (covered by insurance…score!) and I grabbed some kid’s toothpaste and a couple 9V batteries. Our smoke detector battery died a couple days ago and I decided I should probably spend some money so we don’t accidentally sleep through our house burning down just because I wanted to save a couple bucks on batteries. Yikes! So I was carefully comparing prices and found a $2 coupon for Energizer. Score! So I got 2 9V batteries for $7.99 instead of $9.99. And the toothpaste was $2.79, plus I had $1 in rewards so in total I spent $10.57. I was feeling pretty good about my thriftiness until I got back to the van and started bragging to my hubby. Turns out we are a dealer for a battery company in town and we can get 9V batteries for a little over $1 each. So much for thinking I saved us some money. Whatevs! I guess I keep learning.

Then we swung by Aldi after church because I needed salsa and flour for our Super Bowl party tonight. I returned a bag of mandarin oranges because they were all squishy and rotten. Yummy, huh?! So I ended up leaving Aldi with the salsa and flour and $.12! Boom shaka laka! I love making money at the grocery store.

So I spent a total of $10.45 today. Total of $144.06 this month.

$ 155.94 left to spend. 25 days to go!

I told my hubby that I’m going to need an extra $120 on my budget this month because I’ll actually be paying for my own gas this month. If you recall, in January I only spent $21 on gas because Hubby filled my tank most of the time. My businessman husband’s response?! “Well, if you get 4 gumball machines placed in locations around town, you can have the extra $120.” I love this man. It’s always his response if I want extra money for something. I just need to do it! I’m doing hard things that challenge me, right!? So I can do this! (This is my pep talk to myself.) I’m not naturally excited to do sales type things. This isn’t that hard…especially because it’s a fund raiser as well. We donate part of our proceeds to different charities. But I’ve had a bad experience. I tried calling a hotel once to simply see if they’d be interested in trying a new laundry soap and I got turned down hard. I cried…..like sobbing. For way too long. And I was a grown woman! It’s ridiculous, I know. But it’s true. So I tried this gumball machine thing once too. I did it in person at my mechanic’s shop while getting an oil change. I got turned down. I didn’t cry! Yay! Big step for me. But I never tried again. I need to try again. Anyone own a business that needs a gumball machine?!

Posted in Scripture Memory

Scripture Memory Challenge Day 2 – Psalm 18:32-33

Posted on by 3toddlermom

I love the security in the midst of challenge and risk. Like I was designed to be in risky situations but they don’t feel scary because He gave me the appropriate tools to handle it. Feet like a deer and strength for clothing. When God is my guide and with upgraded equipment I have no reason to fear. New heights in life don’t shake me. I could look down from the side of the mountain and think, that’s a big drop! But I don’t fear falling because the Lord my God who made the mountains for my enjoyment and made me to scale the mountains is my guide. He’s at my right hand so I won’t be shaken. When my thoughts attempt to trouble me, I will bless the Lord who counsels me. I will remember to put on strength. I will remember that my feet aren’t clunky and ill-fit for the path. My feet were specially crafted for the path ahead. They were designed to fit perfectly between rocks and on tight ledges and I was given perfect balance and a strong hand to hold. I will not tremble and shake in fear because I know that’s when I’m unstable and more likely to fall. I am clothed with strength. I am strong. I have the maker of the earth and the creator of my life holding my hand. It makes fear seem impossible.

Have you ever experienced the madness of those mountain goats that can hop around on tiny little 2″ mountain ledges without slipping?? We saw some mountain goats like this on our honeymoon in Ireland. It just makes me all nervous but, of course, my adventure loving, thrill seeking new husband is jumping out on those cliffs with the goats! I was pretty sure he was going to lose his balance and fall off the huge drop and I was going to come home a widow. Freaked me straight out! But fortunately, he survived and we got to be married for more than just 7 days.

He’s still the same thrill-seeking, risk taking, adventure lover that I married 7 years ago and this straight laced, rule following, 1st born is trying to jump on the risk-taking wagon and go for an exciting ride! (But I’ll probably at least buckle my seat belt.) He’s a former engineer turned entrepreneur who took a dying chemical manufacturing company and in 2 years has turned it around and in 2018 made over a million dollars in sales! He’s amazing. But he has only gotten there by taking some crazy risks. He forfeit a steady paycheck at a well known company in order to put all his energy into this new one. We invested a ton of personal funds. And everyday he tests new chemicals (trying not to blow anything up) and makes cold calls to try to increase sales. Did I mention that he’s amazing?! This all makes me nervous…..it’s just not me. I’m all about getting a mediocre paying job, working it til I retire with a nice pension and never doing anything that I might fail at. But as I memorize this verse today I’m encouraging myself that God didn’t design me to live in a safe bubble and never take any risks. He’s holding my hand and, although I will most definitely fail at times, He will never let go of my hand.

So adventure, watch out! Here I come!

Posted in Scripture Memory

February Challenge: Scripture Memory

Posted on by 3toddlermom

New Month, New Challenge!

This month I’m going to keep a budget challenge going plus I’m going to memorize one section of the Bible every day.

I really like reading the Bible. It’s great because it’s not just some old boring history book. It’s amazing!! From raising the dead to raising a family, it is full of insane stories and timeless wisdom and I’m trying to fill myself up with as much of it as possible.

Right now, I’m reading through the Old Testament-the first chunk of the Bible that was written before Jesus was born. I started back in the summer of 2018 so I’m not going super fast by any means! But I’m enjoying reading it straight through. I did listen to Leviticus on my youversion Bible app while doing yard work this summer because it was a bit much to sit and read. By you should listen to it! Some of the laws those people were under were nuts….and so specific!

So I just got to The Psalms which is basically a collection of poems and songs written mainly by King David who was known as a man after God’s heart. As a teenager, I’d read a couple psalms a day and then move on to “the good stuff” like something from the New Testament. Almost like the psalms were just fluff, a filler. So when I came up on the book this time I was not super enthusiastic about reading it straight through. It’s just a bunch of songs! What am I really going to get it of that?!

But I’m amazed so far! And I’ve been inspired to take my reading one step further and memorize a couple sentences or verses each day. I’ve been keeping a journal and loving what I’m learning! It’s not just memorizing verses to recite at church so I look holy but actually getting the truth of the Bible in my heart so I can have a way cooler life.

Want to join me?

MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE EACH DAY

MOM CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Posted in Budget

February Budget Challenge Day 1 – $166.39 Left

Posted on by 3toddlermom

January went by faster than I expected so why not try this $300 budget again in February! It is only a 28 day month so it should be a breeze, right?!? 😬

We finally got out of the house for the first time this week and guess what? We needed gas! So already spent $39.91.

And we were basically out of groceries. Plus I’m going to try fasting a bit this month. My husband got inspired by a couple different friends. One friend was fasting meat for 21 days, another sweets and another friend is almost always fasting something. He’s even done multiple day water only fasts. No food. Just water. What?!? I’m not quite to that point yet but maybe someday!

So I’m going to start simple next week with a Daniel Fast. So I’m basically cutting out meat and other animal by-products and sweets! Eek! Although I’m not a fan of giving up sweets I can do anything for 7 days. I’m determined. I think it will help me keep my body and cravings in check. It should also help my family eat healthier for a week. I’m trying to be the best wife I can be and it is partially my job to ensure my husband has healthy options…at least while he’s at home.

Here we go! But eating this meal plan requires slightly different foods than I typically have on hand. I always have cheeses, deli meat, eggs, bread and chocolate. So my meal plan and grocery list consisted of tons of fresh veggies and fruits. Wow! It’s going to be a great week.

I spent $91.56 at Aldi today. I stuck to my list. I went over the meal plan several times and made my grocery list carefully. I even priced out my estimates for how much each item costs so I had a rough idea of how much I’d be spending. I estimated $80. I wasn’t too far off. The good part is that tampons and kitty litter were also on my list so it wasn’t entirely all groceries.

Here’s my meal plan for the week.

I’ve already changed a couple things because ALDI didn’t have Brussels sprouts and my husband told me he didn’t like vegan meatballs. I’ll let you know what I decide to do instead!

After the grocery store, my sister picked up pizza and we headed to the mall play place because our kids HAD to get out of the house! We’ve been inside all week because of this crazy sub-zero weather. So I grabbed two Dr. Peppers at McDonald’s for $2.14. 😁

Ok, so I’ve already spent $133.61.

$166.39 left. 27 days to go.

Posted in Scripture Memory

Scripture Memory Challenge Day 1 – Psalm 16:7-8

Posted on by 3toddlermom

First I simply bless Him. I turn my attention to Him; start thinking about His goodness rather than my troubling thoughts. Then I LET, ALLOW Him, ASK Him and LISTEN to Him guiding me. I do what He asks.

I just get to sit back and take in the beauty of the journey. As long as I stay with my guide, I won’t get lost. He may take me up some rocky paths that seem steep and treacherous so I can look down from above and be in awe of the beauty. But He will be at my right hand through it so I won’t be shaken. Because He is at my right hand – He’s closer than anyone else in my life. I let His words speak louder than anyone else in my life. I remind myself that He made it all, experienced it all and literally knows it all!

vs 9 Therefore my heart is glad.

When my focus is on my counselor and guide then my heart can be glad and light. I have a guide. It’s not up to me to figure out the path and remember the map.

Posted in Scripture Memory

6 Simple Steps to Memorize Scripture

Posted on by 3toddlermom

1. UNDERLINE IT

When I read a verse I really like, I underline it in my Bible. My cool brother-in-law got me a fantastic note-taking Bible for Christmas. It has space in the margin for notes. Thanks Bro! Even if your Bible doesn’t have lines for notes, you should still write in it. Might as well use it and help yourself remember things that stuck out to you. They print new Bibles every day. If it gets too marked up, just get another one. 🙂

2. READ IT

Then I read it out loud. Several times. As I read it, I’m not just saying words. I’m getting them in my heart. I’m getting myself excited about how they apply to my life. I’m thanking God for them.

3. SAY IT

Then I attempt to say the verse with my eyes closed. I might do one sentence at a time, or even one phrase at a time.

4. WRITE IT

Next, I try writing the verse without looking at it in the Bible.

5. JOURNAL ABOUT IT

I then take time to journal about the verse. I write down what I think and I don’t attempt to make it eloquent. I want to actually use this verse in my life so I try to be as raw as possible while I journal. This is surprisingly the most important step for me. If the verse doesn’t apply to my life, or I simply don’t take the time to think about how it applies then it’s just empty words I’m trying to remember. When I see how it makes sense in my life, I remember it because I have a connection point in my brain.

6. RECITE IT

And then all day I recite it to my husband, kids, the cat. I say it out loud while I’m doing dishes, laundry, sitting down for dinner. I let it roll off my tongue constantly. All day. I try to put it into words that my kids understand and use it as a devotional time for our family.

And then each morning when I memorize a new verse, I recite the previous ones. Phew! This is going to be a CHALLENGE! I guess that’s kinda the point. Gotta push myself if I want to be the fabulous woman God’s made me to be!

Posted in Budget

3 Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store

Posted on by 3toddlermom

I only spent $280 during the month of January!! What?! I’m amazed! This included groceries, some gas, extra toiletries, and basically anything that wasn’t a monthly bill. In the past, I would easily spend at least $400 -$500 on groceries alone each month. But I decided to be super intentional and it really paid off! If I can complete this challenge, you can too.

The top 3 things I learned from this challenge:

1. Meal Plan

Always make a meal plan before shopping and try to plan meals with food you already have in the house. This was amazing because I was able to use up food that I already had in the house and I didn’t throw as much old food away at the end of each week. See 5 Easy Ways to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget for specific tips on meal planning.

2. Always Shop with a List

Always make a grocery list and don’t deviate from it once you’re in the store. This was great for the kids too because I asked for their input while making the list and then if they wanted something extra while in the store I was able to simply reply that it’s not on our list this week.  Let’s put it on the list next time.  I’m helping them to be planners too! And I’m not having to say “We can’t afford that!” I can simply help them be better planners and not impulse buyers.

Making a list also helped me reevaluate what are “staples” in our kitchen.  Do we always need 7 jars of cream of mushroom soup in the pantry?  Having a meal plan and a list helped me feel like I didn’t need to buy extra of something to have on hand just in case I decided to make a different meal.  I just made the meals I planned for. 

I also paid closer attention to what we chose for snacks.  Apples, bananas and cheese slices are pretty important for us to have on hand because they are easy and healthy go-to options that hardly ever go bad because we eat through them quickly.  

I use my reminders app for my grocery list. It’s easy and I always have my phone with me so it prevents me from forgetting the list!

3. Never Shop Under Pressure

I learned to never shop with extra people or under extreme time limits. As a mom, you can’t always shop alone. That’s just crazy talk! But you can choose to shop when you have the least amount of kids with you. I usually choose the couple hours while my toddlers are in preschool so I can shop alone with Sweet Love.

I also go to the store at the least busy time of day. The Aldi in my town opens at 9 am so I head there right after school drop off and walk in as the doors open. On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9am, there are usually only a handful of people in the store. Less busy hours make shopping easier because the pressure to go through an aisle quicker is removed. I can slow down and take my time to make the best financial decisions.

I can’t wait to hear how your grocery shopping goes this month!

Posted in Budget

Challenge #1 Complete

Posted on by 3toddlermom

Wow! I actually made it. I went a whole month and spent less than $300. Sure I cheated a bit but I’m still pretty proud of myself.

Today we ordered a gift for a neighbor online for $20 so my final left over amount was $20.18!!

I’m totally carrying that money over into February and I’m doing it again! Anyone want to join me?!

Posted in Budget

Bitter Cold

Posted on by 3toddlermom

Still no school! Today’s HIGH is -12. That’s without wind chill.  Right now it’s sunny and -16. I am definitely not leaving my house.  Especially with 3 little kids.  Yikes!

The best part of this intensely cold weather is that I’m not spending money.  No gas, no grocery runs.  And we’re eating up the left-overs and food that we have in our house because we’re stuck inside.  I even deep cleaned the freezer yesterday! Yes!  It feels so good to have a fridge, freezer and pantry with enough but not so much that I’m throwing stuff away that got pushed to the back and is now moldy, freezer burnt or stale.

I’ve been comparing prices on kitty litter and tampons online.  Two necessities that I won’t be able to go many more days without. I think I’ll order them from Target’s app.  On second thought, maybe I’ll just wait til Friday when it warms up a little and get them at Aldi along with my groceries.  By then, it will be February!

$40.18 left…ONE MORE DAY!  I’m going to make it!

Posted in Budget

Frigid Temps

Posted on by 3toddlermom

School’s cancelled. Probably all week. It’s snowy, windy and bitter cold.  Not just…brrrr, it’s cold.  But freeze your face off if you step outside without a coat, hat, scarf and gloves. 

Easy to save money when you don’t leave the house.