Saving Cents

With the New Year comes a whole new set of goals, or if you are like me, old goals you didn't quite meet in the previous year. High on the list of most of my friends is saving more money in the new year. There are no shortage of suggested savings plans out there: the 52 week challenge, putting all your dimes away in a two liter bottle, squirreling away every five dollar bill that ends up in your hands. I have tried numerous savings methods over the years and none that I followed really worked for me. A few weeks would pass with me successfully saving, then something would derail me. Not dealing in cash, making very little money, unexpected emergencies, all those things and more would throw a hitch in my plans and my saving would stop or my stash of cash would have to be used for something. Many families are low income like we are and I am sure, also like me, think long term substantial saving is a near impossible goal.

This way of thinking was getting me nowhere, so I decided to change things up in 2017. Enter my newest saving strategy, the pickle jar. This thing is big, a glass pickle jar I picked up months ago at a yard sale with the intention of using it as a kitchen utensil holder. The mouth of the jar was a little narrower than I needed for the purpose I intended, so it ended up sitting on the counter a few days. During that time something magical happened, loose change started to accumulate. It happened without much effort or thought on our part, we'd just empty our pockets into the jar before tossing clothes into the laundry hamper. Once money appeared in there, none of us touched it. In my case it started as a matter of curiosity, wanting to see how much could accumulate before life threw a curve-ball necessitating raiding our jar. There's no thinking about it, counting out a certain amount of money to hide away, which is why I think this works for us. The jar has moved from the counter to the bookcase, but location doesn't seem to have hindered our habit of tossing coins there daily.

What's the point of this ramble about a change jar? Don't overthink it. Any savings is progress, even a small change can lead to a good habit. Don't stress that you aren't putting away $50 a week, especially if you truly cannot afford to do so. All you need to do is save SOMETHING. Change adds up and positive habits are positive habits despite the amount you sock away. Don't stress it, just do it. So far it's working for us.

Where did January go?

I saw something on Facebook earlier about January being a practice month and February beginning the new year. It gave me a giggle, but truthfully I wouldn't mind it. There was so much I intended to accomplish in January that just didn't happen. Instead of focusing on what didn't get done, I am looking at what did happen.

This gal is now a sophomore in college! My class this last term made me crazy, but thanks to some excellent help, I manged to pass and keep moving forward! I am so excited to be living my dream of going to college. It's no cake walk, but I know it will be worth it. 

The top of my list of priorities this month was inspired by watching War Room yesterday. If you haven't seen this film yet, I highly recommend it. It left me inspired and uplifted. So, I am going to work on my pray life. I also plan to check into Bible journaling. A friend mentioned this on Facebook recently and I've been intrigued ever since. I am pinning all sorts of resources on both subjects here if you want to check them out. There are truly amazing resources and inspirations to be found on Pinterest! This is a change I should have made in my life long ago and I look forward to learning and growing along the journey.

My next course, Introduction to Film History, is high on my to do list for this month. I am excited about this one and hope it will be fun and not quite as stressful as all the numbers I've dealt with the last 8 weeks. 

I have a few other things on my goals list this month, but I'm not quite ready to share those just yet. 

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive February! 

Be Awesome 2015

Another year and for a change I am hopeful. So much has changed in my life over the last few years, but I finally think I am in a good place. In fact, the hopelessness I felt a few years ago is completely gone. This is what I am most thankful for as the New Year dawns. It's because of the warm fuzzies and peace I feel that I bring you my resolutions, goals that are drastically different than any from years gone by.

So much for good intentions

English: Everything starts from needs or desires that become goals. In order to achieve their goals people frame intentions that lead to actions. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I started off the new year with a bang! I was determined to stay organized and on task, accomplish every goal I made for myself. Yeah, I've already screwed that up. I lose my list, can't find my pocket planner, and am distracted by anything shiny. None of this is leading to reaching my goals. Why? Because I suck at will power and self control. That an I am so blah as of late. Yep, blah. I go to work and all I really want when I get home is sleep. It's difficult to be productive while snoozing. All I can do is start fresh each new day, right? It beats throwing my hands up and laying down in defeat. 

What about you, how are your resolutions coming? Have you reached any of your goals yet? 

Uncertainty

I got a bad feeling about this (iii) (Photo credit: Kalexanderson)

Life throws curve balls. Lately, I've been trying to look at these as chances for growth, new adventures, anything other than negative. At times doing so is really hard. No one said life was easy, right?

It really hit home on my birthday last week. This was not how 35 was suppose to look. I had a few very difficult moments, wallowing I guess. Things are just so different than I thought they'd be even five years ago. But, it's an adventure, right? Chin up and all that jazz. Luckily some very dear gal pals and one voice from the past helped me pull out of it. I was told I was the standard someone held all other women to. You seriously cannot be down on yourself after hearing a comment like that.

But, tonight I'm struggling. I'm uncertain of my future and t scares the hell out of me. You are suppose to set goals, have dreams. But, just when I thought I had it all figured out, something happens. Doubt and fear creeps in. I over think. Apparently this leads to me blogging in tears. How do you figure out what you are suppose to do with your life? I have a plan, one I thought was the right path to take. Do you ever really know? I KNOW what I want. Does that make me nuts. Am I babbling nonsensically? The answer tot he last question is probably.

I guess my question is a two parter. One, how do you handle it when doubt creeps in? Two, have you ever just KNOWN to the depths of your soul what you should do?

P.S. I love that this app suggested a Storm Trooper pic. How could I not use it. It actually made me think my just knowing is right on target. Yes, I'm a weird Star Wars nerd.

New Blog & New Goals

Along with the new look, I also have some new goals. After a long talk with my hubby, we have set a few goals for ourselves. The ones I want to talk about here all involve are never ending quest to stretch our pennies.

1. I want a digital camera, and I'd like to have it soon. I realize this is not a necessity, but we have no camera at all and I feel like we are missing out on recording our kids childhoods. It doesn't have to be fancy, just an affordable, decent quality camera. I have no idea what this will cost us, so I need to do some more research. This is, in my mind the easiest to achieve of the goals.

2. We both very much want to drive to Vermont to see my brother (in law) graduate next year. Our rough estimate indicates that we need to put back about $225 per month for this trip. I honestly have no idea what a trip like this would cost, as we've never been anywhere really. My main concern is that gas could cost $10 a gallon by this time. As of now, we are figuring the cost of the trip at about $3000. Any ideas about frugal ways to travel would be greatly appreciated.

3. Dan would like to have the minivan payed off in 18 months or so. We'd need to save an extra $200 a month to make this feasible.

Here's the thing. If you know us, you know that we sort of squeak by as it is. So, we've been trying to find areas we can cut back in. If this has any chance of working, I need to get back to seriously couponing. For the past 6 weeks or so you could say I've not given coupons and bargain hunting the attention I should have. Dan actually paid full price for stuff while I was sick! It was horrifying! But, in all seriousness I have got to buckle down and trim the budget in all ways possible. I know it can be done.

So, for now at least, this blog will chronicle my efforts to trim spending and bring in extra cash. I hope to post good deals I find, frugal tips and tricks, recipes, and anything I find useful along the way.

Thanks for continuing to read my blog and for all your feedback! Ya'll are the best!