I told you I was going to be reviewing things for The Old Schoolhouse, but what I did not tell you was that my first review was going to be a review of The Old Schoolhouse magazine itself! So, without further ado:
I have been a TOS subscriber for 4 years now, and I am a raving fan of this wonderful magazine. I am a fast reader and normally skim magazines and read the articles that interest me in a few minutes, and then I am finished. Well, with TOS it is completely different. This magazine is packed with meaty articles and contains such rich resources that I read it slowly, over a week or so, in order to fully enjoy each treasure-packed page!
I would not be exaggerating to state that TOS has opened my eyes to the larger world of homeschooling. I have learned in depth about each style of homeschooling, received great support for me in my role of wife and homeschooling mom, and gotten great ideas to use in my home as I learn alongside my children. It is so refreshing to read a magazine that embraces a biblical worldview, rather than being politically correct all the time, and I appreciate the way TOS is unafraid to challenge the status quo. It is enjoyable to read and well written by an interesting and diverse group of talented writers who are homeschoolers themselves.
My children eagerly await the magazine, now, too. Although it is not a kids magazine, each issue has a great section that you can use as a unit study with your children. It is like getting free curriculum! They are wonderful studies on widely varying topics- some favorites at our house from past issues have been trains and hummingbirds!
In fact, without The Old Schoolhouse magazine, you would not be reading this right now. Here are the reasons:
1. I learned about blogging from the magazine, so I might not be blogging without it.
2. If I was blogging, somehow, it would not be here. TOS owns Homeschool Blogger... enough said!
3. I have had times in my homeschooling where I was not sure what to do or was struggling with something, and the information and encouragement in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine helped me to keep going. So, I think it is fair to say that without TOS, it is possible I would not still be homeschooling.
This would probably be a good time to state that in my reviews I will always strive for a fair and balanced perspective that is brutally honest. I will tell the bad with the good as I see it. However, in the case of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, I cannot honestly say that I find anything wrong with it. As you will see in a second, I can't even find fault with the price. (Which is usually my hangup with nearly everything.... ahh, the life of a Cheapskate.) I even find the ads informative and helpful to me in my homeschool journey!
I wanted to tell you all about The Old Schoolhouse Magazine's Fall Special. You can get two years of the magazine, 6 fabulous physical gifts (no downloads!) worth over $120, plus the current issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine that is full of ideas for the new school year, so you start receiving your magazine in a flash!
It really is one of their best deals ever and you don't want to miss out. In fact, they've got a really cute Homeschooling with Heart tote bag (valued at $13.95) for the first 1000 to subscribe. About half of them are gone, but you should still be able to get one if you hurry! (They will remove the info from the subscription page when the bags are all gone.)
The total value is over $212, but you receive it all for only $39 - 50% off of cover price! Plus subscribers get their online monthly Teacher's Toolbox which focuses on a different topic each month, giving you words of encouragement, hands-on teaching ideas, book recommendations, field trip ideas, and a bonus download item.
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has helped me to feel like part of the larger homeschooling family, has encouraged and challenged me, and educated our family in countless ways. So, in case you haven't picked it up yet, I will state it outright: TOS gets a glowing review from me! I consider it a Must-Have for any homeschooler... and with the great deal going on right now, you won't want to miss out!
Click here to check it out!
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Easing into fall...
I have been away a while, and am happy to say that I am back and things are going really well! I have missed blogging a lot, for a couple of reasons: 1. I really enjoy writing. and 2. I really enjoy getting to know so many neat women!
School started at our house in early September, and I quickly found myself with the old overwhelmed feeling.... feeling like I was just buried in things to do and that none of it was getting done. After pouring it all out to my wonderful Gilbert, he suggested that I implement more structure to our day. So, I made some chore charts and daily routine charts and tried it... and after a week, it has made such a difference! Our house is so much more orderly and neat, learning is actually happening, and I have even seen a major reduction in behavior/disclipline problems! Praise the Lord! I am praying that I can keep it up and not quit!
I have also taken on a fun new project- I am part of the TOS Crew, a focus group for The Old Schoolhouse magazine who will review and spread the word about some homeschooling products over the next few months! I am excited to try everything and to get to share it with other homeschool moms! Stay tuned for my first review coming VERY VERY soon! ( as in, a few minutes from now! ;) )
Blessings for a wonderful fall!
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And the winner is....
Since I know you are dying to know what I picked, it was #1- declutter. But I didn't do it while the kids were at VBS, no... I spent that time wondering what I should do! Hehe!
But, it is going well! The hardest things for me to get rid of are books, but it really needs to happen! I figure with the size of our house and the size of our family, we need to lose about half our houseful of stuff! So I am trying to be ruthless. The hardest part for me is going to be following through on the piles, getting them donated or listed to sell on ebay or ready for a garage sale. So, we'll see what happens!
Our next two weeks are going to be nuts because of family coming in town and our county fair where dd is showing her horse (not really hers but we lease). So, I won't be getting through this project any time in the next few days, that is for sure!
But I am finding that I have a huge drive to declutter and simplify, so onward I will go getting rid of stuff!
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What to do? What to do?
As I type this, my house is quiet. My Gilbert is off at work, and all three children are at Vacation Bible School. They will go every day this week from 9-noon!
So, what on earth do I do during this time?
I mean, I have a list a mile long, but this whole concept is so completely foreign to me that I have no idea what to actually DO!
Maybe I should take a poll. Here are some of the (more realistic) choices:
1. Declutter. If I do this, should I do one main area or just hit some of the worst hot spots in the house? (ie, bookshelves, etc.)
2. Clean. I am not inclined to spend this time on that, because I clean all the time and they will just undo it the minute they get home.
3. List some curriculum and other things I have been meaning to list on various homeschool swap sites and/or ebay. This would accomplish #1 to a degree as well as earn some money to help out the budget!
4. Nap. Need I say more?
5. Scrapbook on my computer. I want to get a book done for Will for his third birthday August 1, and also one for my stepmom for her birthday August 23 of the vacation we all just took.
6. Read for pleasure, take my own trip to the library with no kids.... wow, this list is getting decadent.
Let me know what you vote for!
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Angela is giving away a planner!
The Mother's Heart is the Child's Classroom....
How right Henry Beecher was when he said that. The Lord is impressing upon me deeply that if change is going to happen here (house, children, tone, anything else, etc.), it is going to have to start with me. I need to allow the Lord to work in me, to change my heart. For the Mother's Heart is, indeed, the Child's Classroom. My children will not learn what I teach them with my words or even through my disciplining or child training, they will ultimately learn what they see in my heart.
Now THAT is a scary thought!
I like to read books about parenting methods or think through how to solve problems. I am an action girl. But there is no book or problem solving strategy that can change my heart. Only the Lord can do that, and it is only by yielding to Him and keeping "in step" with His Spirit that I can have a heart that bears much fruit and is a rich and beautiful classroom for my children.
Because of His Grace I can truthfully say that
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Renewed Focus
I am still praising the Lord for His most gracious gift of a job for my wonderful Gilbert! His timing, just as I kept trying to remind myself, was perfect. It allowed us to go on our annual vacation with my parents and extended family and truly relax and enjoy each other, rather than stressing unbelievably about not having a job to come back to and the finances. So, thank you LORD! I will post some pics from the vacation on my other blog when I get a chance, so be sure to check there in the next few days!
Now that we are home from vacation and DH is off to work all day (and some nights, as he is keeping the pizza delivery job for a while in order to help us recover from the last 10 months), I am returning to my role as keeper of the home, stay at home mom of three kids, and everything that huge role entails. And, I am seeing in full color already that there is a LOT that is in need of an overhaul here. Basically, the house is a wreck, the children are having major issues with obedience, kindness, and having good attitudes. I am finding that I have lost a LOT of the patience I at one point thought I had, and all in all it is a little- no, a LOT- overwhelming!
I am blessed beyond measure to be able to be at home with our children... but it certainly is a BIG JOB!!! I would really appreciate your prayers as I attempt to transition out of the crisis mode in which we have been living and into moving forward with life and priorities.
Thank God that....
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Splendid News!
My Gilbert got a job! I am, like Anne, very rarely at a loss for words. But, today, I am not at all eloquent.... I am stumbling over every word and giggling my way through them all. So, I will not attempt a coherent blog post here, I shall simply leave it at:
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So very THANKFUL that...
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Waiting...
So far, so good!! My Gilbert has had more interviews! We have not heard back from Walgreens yet, he had an interview with a local university yesterday, and the most promising one is Comair. He had two phone interviews last week, and then got called back and had a face to face interview with them this morning. It lasted two hours, and he met with two levels of executives, so that is a good sign I guess! He said he felt he did his very best, and now we just have to wait to hear something! They are looking to move quickly, so I hope we will hear this week! They may have another round of interviews though, as well, so we'll have to wait and see.
For me, the waiting is the hardest part. I am praying that Lord will just keep bringing Gilbert to mind whenever the people who are making a decision on this position think about who they want. :) I have SO thankful for all of the friends and family who are praying for us, so THANK YOU EVERYONE!
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Moving in the right direction...
Next week will mark the 9 month point since my Gilbert has been out of a job. To be accurate, he has picked up a pizza delivery job to allow us to survive, but he has not had a "day job" for 9 months. It has been, to say the least, an INCREDIBLE test of faith for me and for us! It has been hard at times to see God at work at all when it has seemed that nothing is happening towards him getting a job.
Well, this week it FINALLY feels like there is movement in the right direction! Last week he found several jobs that seemed to match his qualifications fairly well, and he sent resumes and followed up with phone calls. Tuesday, he had an interview with Walgreens and felt that it went pretty well, and then yesterday Comair called and did a short phone interview and scheduled another one for today. He said he felt GREAT about it after the phone interview today! He will know Monday or Tuesday if he gets an opportunity for the face to face interview. I am praying he does! I think this could be a great fit for him, and there are some incredible benefits, including free flights for our family! This would be SUCH a blessing to us as we have parents/grandparents far away and other family that we never get to visit because of cost!
He also has an interview with a university Monday, as well as two other possibilities that he is hoping will result in interviews. I am praying for 5 interviews and at least 3 offers for him to choose from, and praying to have it wrapped up by June 20, so that when we leave for vacation with family, we will be able to have a week to celebrate and RELAX after this incredibly stressful season!
I so appreciate everyone who has been praying for us, I am hoping that this is it!!!!! Thanks for your prayers and I will update soon, hopefully with GREAT news!!!!!
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Tightwad Tuesday
Today's Tightwad Tuesday is a very basic how-to that I use all the time, but I have found that a lot of people don't know how to handle. It is Dave Ramsey's tool on how to handle irregular income. You know, the not-always-the-same-in-your-paycheck, commission, extra money, tax refund, "stimulus check" type money that flows into and out of our bank accounts with such lightning speed that it leaves us shaking our heads and saying, "huh? Where'd it go? Where'd it go?" in utter amazement. Nearly all of us will be getting some irregular income sometime soon, and there are many people who have 100% irregular income, like if you own your own business or are on 100% commission and your income is variable.
So, here's what you do. You use the regular budget (a zero based budget that spends out everything you know you are getting in your check or the minimum you always get if you are somewhat variable on the amount) to allocate the "certain" money. You just make that go as far as it can go. So, for example, let's say my husband's regular check is $2000. I list my tithe of $200, my savings of $200 and my mortgage at $1000. I have $600 left, so I keep going. I am going to put $200 to utilities, $200 for groceries, and $200 for gas for the car. That is all I can do, because I have spent out the full $2000. But, there are lots of things that I need/want/desire to do that I have not paid for with the $2000. So I take out another sheet and list them, with amounts... more grocery money, $100. More gas money, $100. Clothing, $50. Tuition for co-op, $150. Car insurance, $375. Vacation to Disney, $5000. Notice I am putting down everything I would LIKE to do, not just what I need to do. Now I put in in order of priority. (I keep saying "I" but I mean "we"... you will need to call a budget committee meeting with both spouses to do this and agree on items and their priority.) So, mine is 1. Car insurance, $375 (Due this month, can't drive without it.) 2. Clothing, $50 (Have to pay for the dance costumes before end of April). 3. Co-Op tuition, $150 (want to go next year and reg. due now) 4. More grocery money, $100. 5. More gas money, $100 and 6. Disney (a total dream at this point!), $5000.
Now, when I get my extra money, here's how it works. Let's say I sell something on eBay for $75. I look at the list. The first item, car insurance, is $375. So I hold on to that $75 and put it in my account or envleope and mark it "car insurance". Next, My husband's pizza tips for a weekend were really great, and he brought home $300. Guess what? Car insurance is funded! I go ahead and pay it. Then the stimulus check arrives, $2100. That is gonna do a lot here! Instead of just deciding what to do with it on the fly, I now have a plan! I pay the $50 clothing, the tuition $150, the grocery $100, the gas $100, and I still have $1700 to put towards Disney! (It is now feeling like it may actually happen someday!)
So, although your items will be different, and mine are too (Disney has never made the cut! LOL!), you can see how it works. Hope that helps someone!
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THANK YOU, GOD, FOR LUNGS!!!! PLEASE PRAY!!!!
There is a blog I follow regularly that is just the most amazing story of faith, hope, and miracles. Nathan, the author of the blog, is married to Tricia, a beautiful young woman with Cystic Fibrosis. They were married a couple years ago, and Tricia was healthy enough that they were given permission to try to have a baby; however, she did not get pregnant and in late 2007, she became sick enough that her doctors told her that she would need a double lung transplant and that, for life-sustaining reasons, they needed to prevent pregnancy. So they did, but Tricia had a secret she had shared with no one... she had been praying for a miracle baby. The day before she was to be listed on the transplant list, they discovered Tricia was pregnant. Despite the advice of her medical team, they decided to carry the baby and at 25 weeks in January, Gwyneth Rose was born via emergency c section because Tricia's life was in danger due to the pressure of her growing uterus on her already limited lung capacity. She is a beautiful little girl who, despite her micro-preemie status and the normal issues that come with it, has been extremely healthy.
After Gwyneth was born, Tricia soon got healthy enough that she was able to be listed on the transplant list. I have been praying daily, along with tens of thousands of readers from around the world, for lungs for Tricia. Late last week, I begin to feel strongly that something was going to happen soon. I started checking the blog several times a day, but thought maybe it was just me getting anxious, because with all our job/financial concerns lately I have been doubting my ability to hear the Lord's voice. Then on Sunday, there was news... lungs for Tricia! The transplant team flew out to examine the lungs, and then the word came back... no good. The lungs were not going to work. I thought, well maybe that was it... but I still felt like it was something else coming soon.
So, today is Nathan's birthday. Today he is getting the birthday present of his life.... they found lungs for Tricia, and this time they are a go! So, right now, Tricia is in surgery, and Nathan is anxiously awaiting word that his beautiful bride is OK and ready to start her life as a mom to their little Gwyneth with new lungs! ON HER HUSBAND'S BIRTHDAY!
I cannot tell you how encouraging this is to my faith. Now only did I actually hear from God, but also this is just confirming what I keep telling myself about our situation... that His timing IS PERFECT!!! And how much He loves us, how He answers prayer, and SO MUCH MORE!
Please pray for Tricia, Nate & Gwyneth tonight and in the coming days, and also for the lung donor's family and loved ones, who I can only imagine are struggling through grief.
And take time to thank the Lord for miracles and organ donors.
Thank you, Lord!
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Writer's Block
I have a case of writer's block. I notice that I get this way every so often, especially when things are not too exciting and there is not too much good or funny to report. It stopped me from blogging completely a while back for a long time, so I am just making myself write a post on both my blogs simply so I won't go day after day with no blogging.
Let's see.... I guess I will tell you ten things that have been going on with me lately, even if they are not at all exciting:
1. Still no job, my Gilbert has had a couple interviews but no offers. He is working a full schedule delivering pizza and hopes that his former employer will open up his old job soon now that it has changed departments and that he can go back. There were aspects of the job that he really liked, and the changes will eliminate a lot of the negatives for him. The other great thing about him going back would be that they have incredibly wonderful benefits. I would appreciate prayer!
2. I am growing in the area of trusting God. Even though we have no conclusive answers on the job front and our financial survival continues to be day to day, the Lord is taking care of us and I am finally to the point where I have "gotten it" that I am not in control and that it is fine, that God is in control and He loves me and is working for my good even though I cannot see it.
3. I have been cleaning like a madwoman and I still can't really tell, unless you count the kids' rooms, which are remarkably changed.
4. My van is feeling a little weird at times to drive and could use prayer, because there is no funding for fixing if it breaks.
5. I can't even think of anything beyond those four! Isn't that sad?
6. Oh, yeah... my mom had a terrible knee pain and I spent all day with her Monday getting her fixed up, which after a very ouchy fluid aspiration and cortisone shot, I think she is (or will be after a couple days).
7. I am finding myself thinking a lot about how thankful I am for the wonderful friends God has blessed me with. I have so many dear, dear friends who love me and I truly love them.
8. My friend Amy blessed me with a day at the homeschool convention here, and it was SO great to get out of the house and be immersed in the homeschool community for a little while!
9. Because I was blessed with a trip to the homeschool convention, I got to see a lot of friends I haven't connected with in a while, which was great! I also got some awesome hang time with Angela, which was just supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
10. For the family update, come on over to my other blog, www.homeschoolblogger.com/MrsIncredible!
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What's So Good about Good Friday?
Tightwad Tuesday
Today's Tightwad Tuesday tip is a little unconventional, in that it is not a tip on a specific way to cut down expenses. It is just something that is on my heart, that the Lord is teaching me in regards to my finances. You see, because my husband has been out of work for 6 months, we have very very little to work with. Even some of the traditional "tightwad" things like shopping with CVS deals or buying in bulk are too expensive for us right now. We are at a point where pretty much if it is not something we absolutely NEED to live TODAY, we don't buy it. But that is not my tip. My tip is very simple, and obvious, but it is not something that comes easily or naturally to me.
It is simply this: Prayer really works.
Pray about your finances. Pray that if God has called you to be at home with your children, that He will make it possible for you to obey His call. Pray that He will help you if you are in need. Pray that He will help you to obey Him in the area of your finances, even when everything in the world system is against you.
I don't want to seem preachy here, I need desperately to follow my own advice. Perhaps this was written by me for me, just so I can see that I actually said it. Because, most days, and especially today, it really feels like it is just not working and there is no hope. But in the middle of feeling that way today, the Lord brought to my mind that even though I sometimes feel like He is not working, I have NO WAY to know what it would like if He actually ceased to work on my behalf. He reminded me that although I worry and fear daily about every single expense and every bill, He has not ONCE in six months allowed my cupboard to be bare. He has kept us healthy through the winter and protected us from time during a time that we have no health insurance. Somehow, every month, we have been able to scrape enough together to pay our house payment. There have been little things, like when I found $15 in a jacket pocket I hadn't worn in a while on a day when I desperately needed some groceries and gas to get to an appointment. There have been big things, like the fact that somehow I was off by $12000 in my estimation of what we would owe come tax time, and instead of owing thousands and thousands of dollars when we didn't have any money, we got a refund. There has been a part time pizza delivery job to at least provide a tiny amount of income. There has been an opportunity to serve in our church's Financial Peace University class, where we have weekly been encouraged and had a chance to serve others and get outside ourselves for a couple hours.
So even though it is easy for me to focus on the big looming elephant sized thing that has not yet materialized- a full-time job that will meet our needs, I know that if I stop to think about these smaller things, I can see a God who loves me, my Heavenly Daddy who is crazy about me, taking care of me.
I am convinced that prayer, even when we cannot see tangible results, really works, and that if we pray to our Heavenly Father about our finances, He will help us and provide what we need.
Like I said, that one was for me, because I need to remember that right now. But if anyone is still reading, I hope it has in some way encouraged or benefitted you.
I will leave you with the Old Irish Blessing, which we used to sing in my choir every year at graduation, and seems a perfect close to this tip (and because this is the last TT before St. Patrick's Day!). It is a blessing that you may prosper, and my prayer for all who read this today.
May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back,
The sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
SO VERY THANKFUL THAT....
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Monday Meandering & Menu Plan Monday
Before I start my list today, let me just say that doing these two weekly memes is helping me to get organized for my week and have a sense of focus. If you want to participate, go sign up for Menu Plan Monday at orgjunkie.blogspot.com and Monday Meanderings at www.homeschoolblogger.com/tiany. Leave me a comment and let me know you signed up, so I can come visit your Monday lists!
Monday: Cincinnati Chili Cheese Coneys
Tuesday: Broccoli Cheese Soup
Wednesday: White Bean Chicken Chili (for us, Kim’s family, and sis in law/bro)
Thursday: Salmon Burgers, Broccoli, Waffle Fries
Friday: Pot Roast
Saturday: Pizza
Sunday: leftovers
Monday Meanderings:
1. Deepen my relationship with the Lord- continue to write in my prayer journal daily.
2. Financial Peace- list items on ebay
3. Training my children and homeschooling- Reading and Implementing, “Good and Angry” chapters 9 & 10
4. Health, Fitness and Nutrition for family overall, including personal weight loss goal- increase water intake to 8 glasses a day
5. Personal Growth as a wife, mom, and homemaker- Reading and Implementing “Love and Respect”, daily prayer time for husband and children.
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Tightwad Tuesday
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The price of gas has risen higher and higher, and often I think it is hard to think we have any conrtol over the amount we spend on gas. But, like most areas, we actually have a lot more influence than we think! So, without further ado...
10 tips to make the most of your gasoline budget (and save gas!)
1. Get a tire gauge and check it every time you get gas. Find out what your owner’s manual recommends for your tire pressure, and keep it there. Generally speaking, a slightly higher pressure will improve fuel mileage and handling, but too high will degrade traction and wear the tires rapidly.
2. Plan ahead so you can combine trips. Make a weekly menu plan and don’t go to the grocery more than once a week! Plan your route if you hit multiple stores for sales, so that you are using gas wisely.
3. If you can walk between several places for errands, do it. At the little strip mall, I can park at the grocery and walk to several stores down the lot. Exercise AND saving gas!
4. Drive carefully. A slower speed, more distance between cars, smooth starting and stopping and other precautions all use less gas.
5. Institute a day (or two, three, four, whatever…) of “No Driving Day” and just don’t go anywhere.
6. Check for deals. At the Speedway near our house, they run specials where if you buy a $25 prepaid fuel card, you save $1. So that is $25 of gas for $24! That can add up! Our Kroger offers a savings of $.10 per gallon on a single fillup for every $100 you spend at the grocery. So check out, you might get a deal!
7. DON’T fall for the “deals” offered by credit cards, like free gas or special pricing. If these were truly amazing deals, they would lose money and go bankrupt. But guess what? They don’t! They know what you don’t: that you WILL pay them enough to make it worth it for them, thus nullifying your gas “Savings”
8. Carpool!!! I found out there were 5 girls from my daughter’s dance class within a half a mile. I organized a carpool, and I only have to drive 1 out of every 5 months now! And I can bless others at the same time by helping them to not have to drive every time!
9. Clean & Clear. Clear out the heavy unnecessary stuff in the trunk or the car, a lighter load uses less fuel. (Also take the smallest car you have whenever you can.) Clean/ change you air filter often and you will realize higher fuel mileage.
10. Turn off the car if you are going to be sitting idle for more than 30 seconds. Idling give you a mileage of exactly 0 miles per hour. Turning on the car is equal to 30 seconds of idling. So while you are waiting for children, etc, turn off the car if you can.
OK, so this is more than 10 … but my last tip is... homeschool! Just think of all the driving to and from school you save!
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Monday Meandering & Menu Plan Monday
Monday: Kim making dinner for dinner swap
Tuesday: Swiss Chicken Bake (for us, Kim’s family, and SIL/bro who just had baby)
Wednesday: Super Salmon Salad with peas
Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie (for us and SIL/bro)
Friday: Pizza
Saturday: leftovers
Sunday: White Bean Chicken Chili (for us and SIL/bro)
Monday Meanderings:
1. Deepen my relationship with the Lord- this week I am going write in my prayer journal daily.
2. Financial Peace- List camera on eBay and start listing books. (didn’t do it last week, going to do it this week.)
3. Training my children and homeschooling- Reading and Implementing, “Good and Angry”
4. Health, Fitness and Nutrition for family overall, including personal weight loss goal- increase water intake, some form of exercise at least 20 minutes a day.
5. Personal Growth as a wife, mom, and homemaker- Reading and Implementing “Love and Respect”
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Blogger Friend School Shopping Spree!
Hello again, Blogger Friends! I haven't done an assignment in a while, but hopefully I am back!
This week you are given $1000 PRETEND online spending money! The rules are simple for this assignment. Using ANY online store…write out a shopping list of what you would buy! You can even post pictures of the items you're buying, if you want, it's not required. These things should be things for YOURself ONLY!
List the name of the website with a link and include product item # and cost…you must use all your $1000 without going over!
OK, I am going to have FUN with this one... as $1000 to spend on myself is WAY out of the realm of possibility in my life right now, pretending is the next best thing! For the sake of pure fun, I am going to assume the $1000 is after tithe and savings, which I take off the top of any money we receive, and that I have the entire $1000 to spend on myself.
So here goes!
 Canon Digital Rebel xTi camera with 18-55 kit lens $578.95 including shipping
Canon digital photography school course, $200
With my remaining $221.05, I would get $89 a night suite deals at the Embassy Suites (booked online of course so as not to break the rules of this post), invite a friend, take all my scrapbooking stuff, a book or two, some bubble bath, and my swimsuit and go for a weekend scrapbooking/R&R retreat!
Whew! That went fast, but it was FUN!
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Kindred Spirits (8) Your Thoughts? Share This With a Friend!
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Tightwad Tuesday
This is my very first time doing Tightwad Tuesday. My tip for this week is a very obvious one to some of you, I am sure, but it is so important that it bears repeating here.
Spend cash. Spend ONLY cash. This is not for things like the mortgage or electric bill which come out of your checking account, but rather is for discretionary spending… ie, shopping.
Statistics show that you will spend AT LEAST 12-18% more on average if you use a debit or credit card than if you use cash. I am going to assume for the sake of this post, though I know it is probably not the case, that every person who reads this does not use credit cards. But, it is important to realize that debit cards are not the same as cash. Think about it. Banks and retailers are in it to make money. Your bank does not get interest from you if you are using a debit card, so why would they spend money to produce the card for you? No, it’s not for your convenience. (If they cared about that, they would pay your overdrafts with no fees.) It is because they get paid a fee by Mastercard or Visa, who in turn gets paid a fee for use by retailer who take your card. So why would retailers want to pay 2-4% to take your debit card? Again, if you think it is for your convenience, think again. (If they were out for that, they would put the milk in the front of the store.) It is because they know you WILL definitely spend that 12-18% more in their store with the plastic, thus justifying them paying the small fee for higher sales.
Yes, it involves a few extra steps like budgeting and then getting the cash out for the categories you spend at the store (Like groceries or gas.). And you may have to come up with creative solutions for some issues. For example, I hated spending cash at the gas station because I had to herd all 3 kids out of the van and go in to the store to pay rather thank paying at the pump. So now I take my cash, purchase prepaid gift cards for my regular gas stations, and then use those since they are finite like cash.
The payoffs are definitely worth it. Want to give yourself a substantial savings with very little effort before you even enter the store? Well, take my tip for this week and USE CASH!
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Kindred Spirits (13) Your Thoughts? Share This With a Friend!
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