Well, as I said I am in desperate need of some new clothes {or new to me} for Type A Mom Conference at the end of September where I will be speaking {!!}.  So Lisa and I hightailed it out of church 30 minutes early {I know.}, headed out to the sale armed with a budget of $10 each and the knowledge that we must find bargains.

Exactly 17 minutes after the sale began we were done. Having been some of the first to the sale {the idea all along} we were able to secure the best deals on the clothes we wanted. Now the clothes were already picked over having been up there most of the summer anyway, but I was still able to find some really great deals and stay within my budget. Wonder what I got?

Check it:

Total spent: $10.76

Now I went .76 over my budget, but come on…it’s .76 cents! Look at the great stuff I got! I’m thrilled with my purchases and can’t wait to wear them. They are {mostly} my style and the ones that aren’t are just outside my spectrum of comfort {and since my spectrum of comfort is blue jeans and a tee-shirt it’s probably a good thing I branched out a bit.}

Anyway, did you find any good deals this weekend?

No related posts.

Well, I’m here to help. I took to Twitter and Facebook (as well as my own brain) to collect the 10 affordable summer activities for younger children.

• *See a movie for free (or very cheap). Many movie theaters offer summer viewing programs, which offers a specific movie (usually an already released to DVD film) for free or extremely discounted one or two mornings a week. I should also state here that not all small people are ready for movie theater viewing so please use your discretion. Another factor to keep in mind is more often than not the theaters are quite full during these mornings.

Some of the theaters participating in these programs include: Regal Cinemas (free), AMC Theaters ($1 donation to The Children’s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute), Cinemark (.50-$1), Dickinson Theaters (free or cheap), Marcus Theaters ($2.75 + free children’s popcorn), National Amusement ($3.50), and Harkins Theaters (.50-$2).    *Call ahead to your local theater for more information on pricing, availability, and schedules.*

• * Take your little one (and big ones too) to a local farm. What a great way to get some fresh air, exercise, and good old family time.  Your children will also have the opportunity to learn where much of the food they eat comes from (relatively).  Some farms will let your little one watch as they work and answer any questions your curious child might ask.
• *Plant a family or community garden and track your progress through photos.  Your child will love to look back at your progress and you can use this opportunity to discuss creation, photosynthesis, and responsibility.
• *Invest in some new craft supplies & kits. Let’s face it, it is going to rain at some point this summer or hey, you just might not feel like going out of the house some day {happens to all of us}.  Walmart, Michaels, JoAnnes, insert other crafty store here have a plethora of crafting supplies. I have bins of this stuff at my house {I am not a crafter, I only play one at home}.  My girls make all sorts of robots and aliens out of some pom-poms, googly eyes, and chenille stems.
• *Spruce up your backyard. Clean up the swingset, dig out the hula-hoops and slip-n-slides {unless yours is ruined from last year…not that ours is or anything}, pull out the Tball bases and tee and create an obstacle course, or just play hop-scotch with you kids. It doesn’t matter. They’ll love the time you spend with them.
• *Join your local library’s reading program. We do this every year and it is easily the highlight of our day-to-day.  Not only does our library provide storytime, crafttime, and a reading contest every year they also offer neat things like Family Movie Thursday which includes a family-friendly movie, popcorn, and lemonade…not to mention the great quiet time for Mommy { all for free!!}.

Social Media Suggestions

• *Tara, from This Military Mama, suggests on Facebook: “Picnics! It’s just moving lunch out doors! Include popsicles or some light fun dessert! Go to a park and you can play after you eat! … Plant watermelons in a pot [they vine out so it works] but make an afternoon of painting the pot then planting. Have the kids water it threw the summer and maybe even keep a log on the growth, then they get a tasty treat at the end, the watermelons they grew!”
• *@OurOrdinaryLife (Our Ordinary Life) suggested via Twitter: “The park, many of our local parks have water play areas that are free. The kids all like the water during the summer.”
• *@MorethanMommy (Quirky Fusion) says “@HighImpactMom Get passes to museums/zoos from local libraries, geocaching/letterboxing, hiking, beach…”
• *@SandyBasker (Nates Stories) reminds us “Even very young children can hike and backpack. We took our for a backpack when he was 5. Great times!”

Have you got any great tips to share?!

I’d love to get some new ideas of activities to try with my girls!

Linked to: Works For Me Wednesday

Related posts:

1. Vacation Tips to Make Life Easier
2. Green & Frugal Tips for Back to School

After the optometrist assured KG she did not need glasses…yet…and I chose the “look” I would have for the next 2 years, we headed out to Meijer and Walmart to do our weekly shopping.  We had the opportunity to meet and enjoy dinner with my dad at Tumbleweed.

On our way home we pass a city police officer in the small town next to ours and think nothing of it.  As we weren’t speeding, we continued to think little of it when he pulled in behind Jon and followed us out of the city, out of his jurisdiction, and five miles out of his jurisdiction. As soon as Jon turned on the signal of for our driveway, the officer turned on his lights also.  We were pulled over in our own driveway.

The officer gave Jon a ticket for the expired tags (which we didn’t realize at the time were expired) and I took the girls in the house.  Jon was furious…not because we got a ticket we deserved, but because the officer pulled us over out of his jurisdiction…and questioned the officer’s jurisdiction.  Officer P. told Jon that yes, he was a city officer, but he has jurisdiction all over the county (not true).

Now granted our tags were expired, but should the officer have pulled us over outside the city limits and his jurisdiction?

No related posts.

I’m lazy. There I said it. Now I feel better.

I’m also on a budget and the two do not go hand in hand (surprising I know.)  You see, I need to cut coupons and shop sales at my local Kroger in order to feed our family of four on a budget of $75 every two weeks. But as I said earlier, I am lazy.  I do not have the time, patience, or energy to sift through the ad and coupon match.  I just don’t.

Luckily there is CouponMom.com.  I love this imaginary Coupon Mom.  Seriously. I wish she were my mom.  Then I would get all the good cool foods for uber cheap and save time in the process.

But alas, she is not (at least I don’t think so).  SO…in exchange I use her. Yup. I use Coupon Mom.  Seriously. This website makes my Sunday (grocery day) so much easier.  I hop online Sunday morning before church, log-in, check out this week’s specials, check the boxes for the deals I want to take advantage of, and print.

Out of my printer comes a list with all of the coupons for each eligible item already listed.  If you keep your coupon inserts together, labeled on the front with the date they were issued, the job gets even easier. You see, she has it all laid out for you.  What coupon, from which insert on what date.  Then you just cut out the coupons you are going to use that day.

No more cutting out all the coupons I might use (but then don’t), scavenging through them to find the right ones, then being exhausted by all the work. No, no. All the hard stuff is already done for you.

Just choose, print, cut, and go. Simple right?

I thought so too!

What do you do to make grocery shopping easier? I’d really love to know!

For more ideas that work, be sure to head over to We are THAT Family.

Check out what else Works for ME while you’re here.

Don’t forget to enter one of our great giveaways we have going on this week!

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with or have any connection with Coupon Mom.com.  I have just found using her site helpful.  I have not been compensated in any way for this post. Thank you.

No related posts.

Starting today, September 2, Clorox is giving away a FREE Clean Up the Classroom Kit to teachers.  The kit includes handy lesson plans and games to share with students and for a limited time, through September 5,  teachers can sign up to receive free Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for their classroom.  You are required to register with the site and the free wipes offer is only valid until supplies run out or Saturday.    With all the sickness floating around, be sure to tell all the teachers you know!

Don’t forget to enter one of our great giveaways we have going on this week!

Related posts:

1. Free Chocolate

With just a few minor adjustments to your daily routine and buying habits you can save a bundle over time and do your part for the environment.

*Instead of using plastic bags to put your kiddlet’s lunch goodies consider purchasing reusable plastic containers.  These can be used for everything from sandwiches to dried fruit and other goodies.

*Purchase an easy to open small sports bottle and fill each day with your child’s favorite drink.  Just make sure it has a good seal, we don’t want it to spill out and soak kiddlet’s food.

*Stop buying individually packaged foods. I know this is one you’ve heard before, but I can’t stress enough how easy and how big of a money saver this is.  Individually packaged foods not only cost more, but require more natural resources to package.

*Let your child pick out their favorite cloth napkin design and I suggest purchasing 5 or so.  It may seem like up front, but you’ll be glad you don’t have to wash the same napkin every night.  Plus you’re more likely to continue using them if it isn’t a hassle.

*Invest in a sturdy, insulated lunchbox sans characters.  Yes, they’re cute and yes, your child is going to whine for one..but putting the money down on a good one now that will last them many school years with save you money in the long run.

*Rather than sending plasticware each day, spend a little money and pick up a couple packages of cheap toddler reusable forks and spoons.  Toddlerware is great because if your child accidentally throws it away it’s no big deal and they can be washed and reused.

We’ve been doing these few small things since KG started school last year and it has saved a ton of money along the way.  I’m also impressed by how much KG has gleaned from these small practices; she asks for snacks in bowls/containers rather than in a snack bag and loves to drink out of her very own water bottle.

I would love to hear your frugal or green back to school tips!

Please share them with me here!!

Related posts:

1. Green Tips Tuesday
2. Travel Tips~Part One
3. Green Tips Tuesday ~ Earth Hour Reminder

I have at least gotten the meeting minutes and the volunteer sign-up sheet all printed out. But that pretty much sums up my accomplishments for the day.

Do you guys have days like this? How do you schlub out of it?

No related posts.

Familial Examples

If you look into your extended family you are bound to find fabulous examples of how to (and not to) handle money in a marriage.  You may have an Aunt who is a stay-at-home mother who pays the bills while your Uncle earns the income and participates in a weekly budget meeting with his wife.  Or you might have a cousin who hides her purchases from her husband, keeps separate accounts and doesn’t know where her money is being spent. Learn from what works…and what doesn’t.

Discuss It

This is where I have trouble, you see, I feel like every question or comment Hubby makes about a purchase I have made is a direct attack upon me, or that he doesn’t approve.  Many times it’s the exact opposite and he is impressed with a purchase or had been meaning to get the same thing.  It’s important to take a moment, center yourself, and remember this is your loved one and they are not attacking.  Perhaps you did not make clear why a specific expenditure was needed or found to be of importance.

It is perhaps just as important to remember when  you are the person asking questions how you feel when the tables are turned. Be sure to legitimize your loved ones thoughts and feelings while calmly expressing your own.

Let it go

A trick I learned early in our marriage was how to work my internal filter, though I should probably re-read the manual.  I heard somewhere when Hubby and I were in an argument or “discussion” and things started getting sensitive that I should stop, take a second to think about whether “winning” this argument was really worth all the nagativity.

Side note: For those of you who don’t know me in real life: I’ve very opinionated…and honest.  Some might call me brutally honest.  But that’s me, people who know me know that I don’t mean any harm, I just feel like you outta man up to the truth.  This honesty only applies to adults.  I will tell a child whatever they need to hear =) There is only so much honesty any child needs to hear…

Well, I started shutting up.  Really.  Now, stop laughing.  I did. When Hubby and I would getting into a heated “discussion” and it was clear we couldn’t agree, I started shutting up and taking stock in my case; was it really important enough for me to continue arguing about?  Many times, I found it was much simpler and harmonic if I just stopped talking, smiled at him, and nodded.  I learned to swiftly change the subject and steer us towards safer topics.

When it comes to money, allow that you were both brought up differently and therefore have differing views on spending and saving.  If it isn’t going to have a detrimental effect on your future or your children then consider letting it go every once and a while.

You may find that opening up the lines of communication with your spouse may result in more saving and a more harmonious lifestyle.  One where the most you can find to fight about is who’s weekend it is to get up with the kids in the morning.

How do you and your spouse handle money talk?  I’d love to hear any more tips and ideas!

Don’t miss anything from Mom of Faith, sign up for a subscription to this blog or to have it delivered right to your email!  Catch up on more Money Talk.

PS: The RSS and Email sign-up is at the top left!

Related posts:

1. Money Talk Monday~Tips to Becoming More Involved in Your Financial Future
2. Money Talk Monday
3. Money Myths Revealed

You may not think taking care of the things you already have is a way of protecting and building your wealth, but it is. When you take care of your existing assets, you protect your investment and your wallet. Taking the time now to do maintenance on your assets will save you time and money in the future.

Many women (myself included) run their cars into the ground because they do not have the time or don’t want to take the time to have regular and timely car maintenance performed on their cars. Most women, mothers especially, are so focused on what needs to be done they tend to take for granted the car that gets them there.

Our homes are another big investment that we tend to take for granted. We can become negligent of something as small as an air filter to as big as the home’s roof. When we fail to take the time to repair our window screens or deal with the ant hills, we waste extra time and money.

However, it’s not just the big things we lose track of, it’s the suit hanging in the back of your closet (or mine) that needs to be taken in (or let out) and hemmed. When that outfits hangs in your closet unworn because of needed alterations you are wasting money; the money you spent to purchase the suit.

Do whatever you have to do to make sure you take care of your current assets, because doing so will save you money, stress, and time. When you take care of the assets you already own, you enable yourself to save more money and have a better financial outlook.

Stay tuned next week, I’ll be updating you on our financial progress!

Don’t miss anything from Mom of Faith, sign up for a subscription to this blog or to have it delivered right to your email!  Catch up on more Money Talk.

PS: The RSS and Email sign-up is at the top left!

Related posts:

1. Know Your Financial Worth
2. Reaching Your Financial Goals

I wanted to add that for any woman who might still have lingering questions about whether a man finds an uninformed woman sexier than an intelligent woman, Hubby and all the men I know find intelligence sexy.  There’s just something about a woman who is confident in herself, men love it.  But I digress, what I really want to today is expand a little more on the idea of making your financial state a priority.

Immerse yourself in finances. Everyday spend some time reading about money, finances, or stocks.  Start small if you need to with just the headlines in the business section of a newspaper or financial website.  Gradually add more resources as you understand more. It is also important to know what the Bible says about finances, God should guide your money moves also.

My husband and I have subscriptions to Money, Kiplingers and Smart Money, we both read the entire magazine (even the parts that don’t apply to us) every month.  I struggled at first to understand all of the “slang”, but the understand has come with time.  I love knowing what I’m talking about when we talk finance with people, it’s empowering. Which leads me to…

Discuss your finances. Don’t be afraid to speak up! You’ve been doing your research (haven’t you?), so naturally you have formed your own opinions of your financial state (if you figure anything out about the world’s finances let me know)–speak your mind. But be open to other opinions, talk to people who know more about finances than yourself.  Talk to your spouse. Keep the lines of communication open with your honey. 50% of marriages end in divorce…the leading reason?  Irreconcilable differences.  How many of those differences came about because they weren’t willing to talk about finances?

Listen in. Whether it’s to Dave Ramsey or some other radio show use the time you are in the car to learn.  Listen in to the advice, learn from it.  Try listening to different shows ever day/week.  Learn about Christian personal finance one day, then listen to a talk show about stocks and bonds…mix it up and maximize your drive time.

These are just a few ways for you to immerse yourself in finances for some part of your day…even if it’s just 15 minutes.  I mean we make time for everything and everyone else. Do this for yourself. You deserve it.

I’d really love to hear any steps you have been taking to take control of your financial future!  If you’re already financial secure, was there something particular that you did to help get there?

Don’t miss out on your chance to win 2 Go Blue Ridge Cards and a one of a kind piece of pottery.  Go Blue Ridge Cards get you into 25 different attractions in and around Asheville, NC. It’s like Spring Break, plus the souvenir.

Don’t miss anything from Mom of Faith, sign up for a subscription to this blog or to have it delivered right to your email!  Catch up on more Money Talk.

PS: The RSS and Email sign-up is at the top left!

Related posts:

1. Money Talk Monday:Make Financial Management a Priority
2. Know Your Financial Worth