Update and confessions

It has been a busy few months and I have not taken the time to blog about anything. I have been enjoying living my life rather than "talking" about it. But seeing as I started this for my own record, I should probably put down my last few months history.
I have continued to us coupons and built up a nice "store" as my husband likes to call it. It is so nice to just go downstairs and pull something off the shelf that we need.
In May we had a neighborhood yard sale. I posted a lot on KSL the days leading up to the Yard sale and a few things here and there since. We have made just over $600.00 selling things that have been taking up valuable real estate (storage room) in the house and garage. The most recent thing we sold was a tent that I bought for John a few years ago with the intentions of going camping. I have come to the realization that I am not a camper and never will be. We sold it for $175.00 the same day I posted it. I bought it for $80, who new tents went up in value!?!
We have been able to take the money we have earned from KSL and us it to do home and yard improvements that we otherwise would not have been able to do.
I have enjoyed talking to friends and neighbors about our goals and appreciate their support to insure that we stay on track. I had talked my mom out of buying a new camera a few weeks ago by asking her if she really NEEDED it, can she make do with the one she has, is there other places she could be putting that money?
Yesterday I stopped at Down East and found a BEAUTIFUL crib that would match the nursery. I came home a told a friend about it and instead of doing the "Friendly" thing and saying that I should go get it, she sat down and said, "I am going to do the same thing you did for you mom. Do you need it? Will it get you closer to your goal?". After teasing about it with her and actually taking my husband to the store to see it, I realized that the freedom and happiness of being out of debt would far out weigh the few moments of joy that having a matching crib would bring. I am so grateful for a friend that knew what I need to hear and was not afraid to say it. That is the support that I am looking for. Thank you dear friend!
I must say we have fallen off the wagon a little. I told myself I was not going to get any new clothes, but the hubby found some pretty great deals that we couldn't pass up. I am bummed that I couldn't resist. He both had a moment of weakness and now we just need to regroup and get back on track.
We also ate out more than I would have liked us to this last month. I pushed us through June with out turning the A/C on until the 25th and turning on the oven to cook dinner just did not appeal to me the way I would have like it to. I think we ate out maybe 3 times, and that is just not what we need to be doing right now, so I hope to refocus and get back to sticking to my calendar of meals.
So what do your struggle with? What has been difficult for your this summer in trying to stick to your budget? Please share and maybe together we can help each other!

April spending

I had so much fun this month doing coupons. This month I made a menu that required little or no additional ingredients to purchase so that I could focus on my storage. We really did well and I saved more than I spent! From what I kept track of, I spent $387.56 and saved $471.54! I just think that is amazing. I got so many things for free. I know I don't know everything about couponing, but I am a strong believer now and would be willing to show anyone how I do it!

What's new!

It has been so long since I have posted anything. It's kind of hard when you get into a routine and things aren't changing as quickly as they use to. We have now acquired our 3 months of expenses and will now be working towards the debt pay off. It is just to the point were we sit and wait. Wait for the paycheck. Wait to pay the bill. Not too exciting, so I have given us another "monthly goal". This time it is no sugar for a month.

I told the kids I would give them $20 if they could go a whole month without eating sugar (candy, cookies, sugar cereals). Little do they know that this is really more than just a food challenge. This is a lesson on delayed gratification, willpower and self control.

In February we did the no spending month, and that one really made the biggest impression on John and I. We really learned the value of needs vs. wants. This time I think the kids will get the lesson. John and I are doing it too. It started because I was sick of the kids asking what was for dessert, and having the pile of Easter candy on the counter. The kids are really doing well and they have the choice to do it or not to do it. They do get Mother's Day off, it is N Birthday. M has been asking if this or that has sugar. It is so cute. He really wants to stick to the plan. My other motive is to get us free from always needing something sweet. We are loosening the bound from debt, now we are loosening the bound from addictive foods.

I know, that might sound crazy, but again, you can do anything for a month. I have really learned a lot about myself by doing this and knowing that my family is on board makes it that much better.

Don't tell my kids, but in July, it's not TV month! ;)

Update

March was another great month. It feels so good to know where our money is going and the coupon thing was a ball. It totally pays for itself and if you love to save money, it is so much fun. I will continue to us coupons and price match as I work towards growing my year supply. (As long as my oldest stops eating the food out of the food storage.) I also felt very strongly this month to save 3 months of expenses. We are not in any jeopardy of losing a job, but our cars are 11 and 12 years old and I just don’t want to stop our progress if one of them needs to be replaced. It’s not a matter of if, but when. We will just feel better to know that if anything comes up, we will be prepared. We have been throwing every extra penny into our savings account and are only a few hundred dollars away. At that point, we will start putting every extra penny we can towards the student loans.

This month’s goal is to build up our storage as I mentions and so far we are doing great. I want to have at least 2 of everything that we use regularly and I have planned a strategy to do it. For the menu I looked over our food storage and planned meals that require little or no extra ingredients to make. We will eat a few things twice, but you can do anything for a month, right? My grocery shopping for the meals was very minimal which then allows me to spend more on getting items for storage. The coupons then enable me to spend less and get more. The problem now is finding places for everything I buy. My dear husband is in charge of that part. I just buy the stuff! Yesterday I went to 5 stores, spent 264.00 and saved 200.00! I bought cleaning supplies, napkin, food storage bags, cereal, rice, razors, shaving cream, cough drops, and so much more! I would have to ask my stock boy what else. I was very tired at the end of the day, but after adding up my totals, it was worth it.

Time card payout

I forgot to post the value of the tally marks. The oldest (10 year old) got .10 and the two younger (7 and 3 1/2) got .05. The same amounts were deducted for bad behavior or buying extra media time.
When buying back toys that didn't get put away was involved, each toy was worth .05 or groups of toys like the Lego or car bin was $.50-$1.00. Sometimes the boys would pull their money together and buy back a family toy or even buy toys for each other so it would not get donated. It also helped them decide if they really wanted a toy. There were times it wasn't even worth a nickle to get it back and they would say, "you can sell it or give it to the DI."

Job/chore chart and income

I had a friend ask me to go into more detail of the job chart. So I will do my best to explain more.

It works on a tally mark system, they can get up to 6 tally marks on "daily chores". (you don't get marks for Sunday, but you still do the work) I guess I should explain that there are three categories on the credit list; daily, weekly or as needed, and monthly or extra jobs. I shaded them in so that they could tell the difference. I Made it have 2 weeks, then total, and then 3 week and total, so that the kids could see their progress half way through, even if they don't get paid until the end of the month. Dad gets paid twice in a month so we just made it like a real job.

The charts are posted in a central location (some where that they will see it everyday) so that we can both see their progress.

I do have time limits on a few, and if the job is not done on time, they can't mark it as done. They also can not back mark. If you can't be responsible to mark your chart, you can't get the credit.

As far as the minus section goes, you will have to figure out what your child struggles with and make it suit them. The child that has the problem with timing, has it on both credit and minus. So not only does he not get a mark if homework is not completed by 5, but he gets a minus too. I don't do that with every chore, but that is one we are really trying to work on.

When you are determining what chores to put on your chart, make a list. I sat down and wrote down everything that either I did when I was a kid or that I would like them to do or learn to do. Think of jobs that you do that your kids could do for extra money and put it on the chart. That way, instead of asking what they can do for extra money, they just look on the list and choose what they want to do. Then they feel like they have a little control in the work. They may never do the chore, but at least it is on option.

Finally, if it a chore your child has never done, you need to SHOW them how to do it the first time, WATCH them the second and then by the third time they should know how to do it the way YOU want it done. There may need to be refreshes here and there, but one thing I have learned is that my way of "Clean" and a boys way of "Clean"are VERY different.

Also, I left extra spaces for things to be added on. Just like your budget changes every month, so will their chores. I had my oldest pass one of his jobs off to my third son and had HIM teach it. It was interesting to see how much my oldest really did remember from when he was taught.

Good luck and happy chore days!!!

$4.65! Fun With Coupons

This was my first week of doing coupons and now we have enough kids shampoo and toothpaste to last us for the rest of our lives! Not really, but this is just one of my trips to Walmart where I price matched and used coupons! This was fun and the hubby has a good old time guessing what I spent!