So....I've been doing my best to save money in as many ways as I can come up with. I'm determined to be completely debt free, earning an incredible income, and done trading my precious minutes for someone else's scraps in no time. (Okay, at least by this time next year.)
I've watched that "Extreme Couponing" show before, and I'm always AMAZED at the haul these people take home for pennies. Each time I watch it, which admittedly hasn't been THAT many times, I turn the TV off and decide that I could absolutely do that! Why not?! I'm smart, determined, and if those people can pull that off so can I!
Well, that excitement lasts just about as long as it takes for my next payday to roll around. That's when I realize that Couponing on that level, the kind with the capital C, is A LOT of work. And anyone who knows me personally can certainly tell you how incredibly UNORGANIZED I can be. So I crash and burn on my first adventure at the store, and deem myself a loser for life in the coupon kingdom. I figure that's reserved for the real queens of saving.
That is, until recently. I finally realized that, as hard as it may be for me to admit, sometimes going "all in" before you know how to swim may not be the best advice. Sometimes, starting on a smaller scale is ~GASP~a good thing! Who knew?! So, I started by clipping a few coupons, for items my family would actually use, making a menu plan based on what we actually eat (and I actually have the time and skill to make), and matching my coupons to sales at the grocery store I actually shop at.
And guess what?! Week 1 I saved $67.00. Week 2 (actually week 3, as I get paid twice per month) another $59.00. The best part though was not the actual savings from rewards cards and coupons. The best part was the fact that when I shopped only for the things I would actually need and use, or for the things that were so cheap I couldn't pass on them, I actually ended up saving SO much more!
Just to show how incredibly intense this was for me.....typically I would spend about $350 every 14-15 days, not counting the odds and ends I had to stop and pick up in between my grocery store runs. I can safely say I would spend about $800 per month for my 4 person household. (And that's being VERY conservative!) We also had a lot of waste, food that was thrown away because we just didn't eat it before it spoiled.
Guess what I have spent on food and incidentals for the past 2 months, now that I'm making a plan and (mostly) sticking to it?! $567.92 the first month and $457.53 this month. And....we haven't run out of food. And....I haven't heard once "Mom what's for dinner?" or (my personal favorite) "There's nothing here to eat!" (After you just spent $400 at the store!) And I've been able to start stocking up on things like body was, diapers, wipes, etc. That to me is an awesome haul!
So I may never be the "Queen of Coupons" and I may never figure out how to get $1000 worth of groceries for ten bucks, or have a room full of stockpiled items. What I will have, and anyone else can as well, is a happy, healthy and well-fed family and a little extra money at the end of the month. It also makes for a WAY less stressed out me, with just about an hour of work on Sunday. That's a win-win in my book!
******Bonus for you lazy savers like me!!!! Download the ibotta app for your phone. Super easy and the cash back adds up so quickly! I use it for things I'm likely to buy anyway, I have my store cards linked so it's automatic. If I go to a store that doesn't use rewards cards, like Walmart, it's super simple to upload receipts. Voila....in 4 months (I started the month of December, and did use it for a lot before the holidays) I've cashed out $60.00 and I still have a $13 balance on my account. Pretty easy way to earn some cash! Enjoy!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
"When something goes wrong in your life, just yell "PLOT TWIST!" and move on." ~FB/Joy of Dad
What an awesome way to look at life and its inevitable ups and downs, don't you think?
I saw this pin on Pinterest and it really resonated within. It made me smile and made me think, isn't that the way of the world? Things will be going along relatively well, and bam!, suddenly the tire goes flat, or your daughter gets strep right before the big family vacation, or you forgot that you wrote that check to the vet and your account is overdrawn--and you don't get paid for over a week.
Oh well, that's just a plot twist. One more thing to test your resolve and to add interesting tidbits to your life. Stories to tell. Experiences to overcome. Life to be lived.
As much as we like to think that we would want a "perfect" life--one where there was never teenagers with attitude; bosses in bad moods; customers who just can't be pleased; and where everything ran along smoothly every second of every single day--wouldn't that make for a very boring existence?!
Isn't it the very "bumps" along the road that end up leading us to some of the most amazing moments and adventures of our lives? The stuff that makes for laughter and growth further along in our journey?
Well, that's the thought for today fellow Phoenixes. Hope it's a blessed Easter for everyone!
What an awesome way to look at life and its inevitable ups and downs, don't you think?
I saw this pin on Pinterest and it really resonated within. It made me smile and made me think, isn't that the way of the world? Things will be going along relatively well, and bam!, suddenly the tire goes flat, or your daughter gets strep right before the big family vacation, or you forgot that you wrote that check to the vet and your account is overdrawn--and you don't get paid for over a week.
Oh well, that's just a plot twist. One more thing to test your resolve and to add interesting tidbits to your life. Stories to tell. Experiences to overcome. Life to be lived.
As much as we like to think that we would want a "perfect" life--one where there was never teenagers with attitude; bosses in bad moods; customers who just can't be pleased; and where everything ran along smoothly every second of every single day--wouldn't that make for a very boring existence?!
Isn't it the very "bumps" along the road that end up leading us to some of the most amazing moments and adventures of our lives? The stuff that makes for laughter and growth further along in our journey?
Well, that's the thought for today fellow Phoenixes. Hope it's a blessed Easter for everyone!
Thursday, March 24, 2016
I saw this last night and it really struck a chord with me. Today is just a quick little musing on this statement.
So many times we human beings lament our circumstances. We sit around bitching and complaining with our friends about our relationships--our husband is getting on our nerves, he doesn't appreciate us, he has become mean and cruel--we complain about our children--how disrespectful they are, how "entitled" they can be--we complain with our coworkers about our jobs; we even complain inside our own heads about how much we hate______(fill in the blank). I would venture to say that often we spend a sizable portion of our day just moaning and groaning about what is wrong with our lives.
However, when offered the chance to change one of the aspects we've been so frustrated over, we freeze. Oh no, we couldn't do x, y, or z! What would the neighbors think? What if it didn't work? What if things were actually worse? What if the world just stopped turning on its axis?! Sometimes we need to take a deep breath and realize that "Hey, this is just what I need to jump start that change and make my life a little bit more enjoyable. So what if it doesn't work out exactly like I imagine--WHAT IF IT'S EVEN MORE AMAZING?!"
At one time or another, every experience you have had came on the heels on some other experience's ending. Even though endings in and of themselves--ending of a relationship; kids going off to college; leaving a job; moving away from your home of so long--can be scary, and indeed there may be a tinge of sadness laced in there as well, they are also the BEGINNING of something new and exciting! Without endings there would be no beginnings and life and the world would never move forward. It would be stagnant and boring and stifling.
So, that's today's thought of the day. Embrace the endings in your life, and feel the excitement of new experiences and adventures that the Universe has in store for you.
And have a blessed day!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
You are a Phoenix
Are you feeling stuck? Like nothing you do EVER turns out right? You can pretty much predict beginning at Day One how every relationship; job; business endeavor; New Year's Resolution....pretty much anything and everything you attempt is going to end up exactly like it did yesterday, and the day before that, and the month before that--well you get the picture!
What if I were to tell you that you can change that. You can totally change that and you can do it actually quite simply--and absolutely free. Yep--not a single red cent, just some serious effort and a serious desire and willingness to work on the one thing you DO have control over, your thoughts and your belief system.
Have you heard of the legend of the Phoenix? For those who haven't, here is a brief (very brief) introduction to this incredibly powerful imagery. In Greek Mythology, the Phoenix was a beautiful and regal bird which lived very long. When the Phoenix felt it was near to the time of its death, it would build a funeral pyre and burst into flames. In its place, a young, powerful, and brand new bird would be born. Isn't that an amazingly powerful image to hold? Being reborn from the ashes of one's old life?
Well, you and I, we are like that legendary Phoenix. At any time, we have the power to completely deconstruct our old lives--our old selves, and be reborn as the person we want to be. The person we KNOW we really are deep down. The key is, we have to be willing to build that funeral pyre and completely destroy those old thoughts and beliefs. Pretty cool, right? Sounds simple enough so far.
Unfortunately, while it sounds incredibly simple--change around a few beliefs and poof, you become who and what you desire most in this world--it really does require some work on your part. Beliefs are tricky little things. They often hide so deeply within your subconscious mind that you may not even be AWARE that you hold that belief. While your conscious mind is busy working on affirmations and holding positive thoughts as much as possible; your subconscious is busy whispering like that devil on your shoulder--"Are you CRAZY?! You can't do that! Remember when you tried that thing five years ago? That didn't work out so well now did it you idiot! You must be ignorant to even think that you can ever be rich, thin, happy (fill in the blanks with whatever you've been trying to manifest)." And there you go. All the positive affirmations in the world; all the happy thoughts you could possibly muster..well they just can't do battle very well with an insidious little voice sweeping them away with every breath you take.
So, step one is not creating goals or writing positive affirmations, or just starting to make the changes you think you "should". Step one is working on the inside. It is on clearing away any and all negativity that is lying dormant in your subconscious. Sure goals are important. Believing you can do something (faith) is absolutely crucial as well. But again, all the faith and goals in the world will do you absolutely no good until you change what's lurking in the corridors and dark alleys of your mind. Phew...that's a lot for one day isn't it?! More on this later. For now just hold that image of the Phoenix in your mind. Put your own face on the face of that brilliant, regal bird. Know that, just as the Phoenix can be reborn when it realizes it is ready to be, so too can you. Science has proven it--all the cells of our bodies regenerate completely in time. Even neuroscience is beginning to catch up with the reality that has been posited for years--your brain is even moldable your entire life (neuroplasticity). Now it's time for you to catch up with science and quantum physics.
Because YOU are a PHOENIX!!!
What if I were to tell you that you can change that. You can totally change that and you can do it actually quite simply--and absolutely free. Yep--not a single red cent, just some serious effort and a serious desire and willingness to work on the one thing you DO have control over, your thoughts and your belief system.
Have you heard of the legend of the Phoenix? For those who haven't, here is a brief (very brief) introduction to this incredibly powerful imagery. In Greek Mythology, the Phoenix was a beautiful and regal bird which lived very long. When the Phoenix felt it was near to the time of its death, it would build a funeral pyre and burst into flames. In its place, a young, powerful, and brand new bird would be born. Isn't that an amazingly powerful image to hold? Being reborn from the ashes of one's old life?
Well, you and I, we are like that legendary Phoenix. At any time, we have the power to completely deconstruct our old lives--our old selves, and be reborn as the person we want to be. The person we KNOW we really are deep down. The key is, we have to be willing to build that funeral pyre and completely destroy those old thoughts and beliefs. Pretty cool, right? Sounds simple enough so far.
Unfortunately, while it sounds incredibly simple--change around a few beliefs and poof, you become who and what you desire most in this world--it really does require some work on your part. Beliefs are tricky little things. They often hide so deeply within your subconscious mind that you may not even be AWARE that you hold that belief. While your conscious mind is busy working on affirmations and holding positive thoughts as much as possible; your subconscious is busy whispering like that devil on your shoulder--"Are you CRAZY?! You can't do that! Remember when you tried that thing five years ago? That didn't work out so well now did it you idiot! You must be ignorant to even think that you can ever be rich, thin, happy (fill in the blanks with whatever you've been trying to manifest)." And there you go. All the positive affirmations in the world; all the happy thoughts you could possibly muster..well they just can't do battle very well with an insidious little voice sweeping them away with every breath you take.
So, step one is not creating goals or writing positive affirmations, or just starting to make the changes you think you "should". Step one is working on the inside. It is on clearing away any and all negativity that is lying dormant in your subconscious. Sure goals are important. Believing you can do something (faith) is absolutely crucial as well. But again, all the faith and goals in the world will do you absolutely no good until you change what's lurking in the corridors and dark alleys of your mind. Phew...that's a lot for one day isn't it?! More on this later. For now just hold that image of the Phoenix in your mind. Put your own face on the face of that brilliant, regal bird. Know that, just as the Phoenix can be reborn when it realizes it is ready to be, so too can you. Science has proven it--all the cells of our bodies regenerate completely in time. Even neuroscience is beginning to catch up with the reality that has been posited for years--your brain is even moldable your entire life (neuroplasticity). Now it's time for you to catch up with science and quantum physics.
Because YOU are a PHOENIX!!!
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