WASTE NOT WANT NOT

Since we started this budget thing. I feel like that is all I think about. Might be good. Might be bad. We'll see. Yesterday as I was paying bills I opened our bank statement. Usually never even open it, I just put in the file. Well, I decided to see what we had been spending on. I added up all the dining out debit charges. Oh my, from 7/25 - 8/25 we spent $352.?? on eating out. That is not counting what we spent using cash, so it is probably more like $400 or more. That might not sound like much to some people but we spend $500 a month on groceries too. That is almost a mortgage payment for some. When I think of all the things that I could use that money for, it just makes me sick that we have been wasting our money like this. Mcdonalds, Chick fila, Arbys, etc were alot of the debits from eating on the run. Not only are we wasting money, we are not eating very healthy either.

We did great this week eating at home and sticking to the menu's I had planned. We had to tweak it a little here and there. Wednesday Scott made hamburger helper and I made him a bowl for lunch the next day and before going to bed I put the taco meat that I had made on Sunday in the fridge to thaw. Well, my boy took the taco meat instead of the hamburger helper to work. He didn't realize it until lunch time. Poor guy, I felt bad for him all day because I noticed it first thing the next morning.

Since I have Monday off from work I will spend some of it cooking up things for the week again. I would like to do at least 3 meals. I could have to crock pots going and something in the oven. It is much easier when part of the meal is completed. I'm not confident on how well complete meals freeze so I need to research some good one pot meals that will freeze well. If you have any recipes, I would love to have them. Forward them to me at pamc001 at centurytel dot net.

I gotta go take my sleep aid and try to get to sleep. I have to be up at 4:45am to be at work by 6am.

Enjoy your labor day weekend.

Blessings,

Pam

QUILTY AS CHARGED!!!!!

This was me at lunch today. Not really me in the photo but you get the hint. I was off in la la land and ran through a red light. I can't believe I did that. I glanced at the car next to me because she was driving slow and then fast, kinda weird. Anyways, I glanced back up and it was red. The police were sitting at the light. Just my luck. Guess how much that is going to cost me?

One hundred thirty dollars yes $130.00! Oh my gosh, why weren't they out chasing some drug dealer or something. This is the big ticket I got.

There goes the extra money I made working a 2nd job this week. Scott and I want to get out of debt completely within the next 3-5 years so we are both taking on extra work or whatever to make extra money. My sister needed someone to cover for a employee that is out sick so I will be working for her a couple days a week until the girl comes back.

I have been researching ways to get out of debt and Dave Ramsey has a great system. We will be starting with the babysteps like getting a $1000 emergency fund set up and then we will focus on debt snowballing. Putting all extra cash towards either the lowest amount of debt or the highest interest rate. As we get 1 thing paid, that payment will be added to the next debt until everything including the house is paid in full. Every piece of financial advise I have read says if you really want to do this and see results quickly you need to get a 2nd job. I don't want to commit to a 2nd job just yet.

I was praying about this last week and asking God to guide us in this endeavor. Later the same day my sister called about needing help. Answered prayer. Isn't that awesome how he works. Some might wish he would just send a couple thousand but I am grateful that he is providing ways for us to meet our goals and honor him at the same time.

I need advice on starting a Etsy shop. Is this a good way to make money? Is it easy? I don't even have a paypal account, is this a simple procedure to start?

What works for you? If you have done it Dave Ramsey's way, I would love your tips.

Blessings,

Pam

Cooking up a storm!

I have these no bake cookies cooling on the counter.

I have a very busy week ahead. I thought I would do some cooking today so we would have meals ready to go for the weeknights. I have a pot roast in the crockpot. Taco meat is ready to freeze. Gabbage and lettuce have been shredded. A loaf of bread in the oven and another dessert will go into the oven when the bread comes out.

This will all help in preparing lunches and dinners for the week.

Our menu for the week is:

Sunday - Pot roast with carrots and mashed potatoes
Monday- Make a stew out of leftover roast
Tuesday- Tacos, salad
Wednesday- Meatloaf, veggies, salad
Thursday- Chicken something or other
Friday- Pizza

This is the first time for me to really prepare ahead of time. I plan all the time, but I am bad about follow through.

We are starting a budget to get out of debt and our first step is finding ways to save money. Thus the eating out is over. This will actually be beneficial for lots of reasons. Save money, lose weight, eating healthier meals. The hard part for us is getting home at 6pm and thinking whats for dinner, so I have to plan ahead.

I have a confession to make. Up above I said the bread was in the oven? Well it was still on the counter and the timer was almost up when I noticed that I hadn't put it INTO the oven. DUH! Now it is in the oven and the timer is set for another 30 minutes.

Wasting gas is not going to save us any money!

I have to go snuggle with Coco. She was performing for us and we weren't paying attention. She is mad and holed up in her room pouting.

Blessings,

Pam

Allergies

Have you heard of netty potting????

I had horrible seasonal allergies until I saw this guy on one of the morning shows using this little pot to pour water through his nose.

You mix warm water and about 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt into this little pot. Then you bend over your sink, tilt your head a little to the left and put the spout of the pot into (or up against) your right nostril and starting pouring, the water will come out the other side. Do this to both sides of your nose. This washes out all the pollen and dust that collects in your nose which helps keep the allergies down!

Sounds crazy but it really works. It even opens up your ears, you might not even realize your ears are stuffy until after you do this.

I use this about 2-3 times a week.

If you are in Arkansas you have probably noticed some allergy symptoms already with all the rain we have had. If so, you should go out and buy yourself a pot and salt.

They sell these little pots at wal-mart or any of the drug stores in town.

That's my tip of the day!

Hope you all have happy noses after getting yourself a netty pot!

Blessings

Pam

First Day of School ~ Eatin Her Dust

The first day of school. Coco is back to class.

Doesn't she look so excited. Well I was excited enough for both of us! I just love it!


I even got the hand! That was for taking pictures.

She hit this corner going about 40mph.

I guess I had nothing to worry about, she is not going to be lonely and without anyone to play with. So I ate her dust as visions of monkey bars, swings and friends danced in her head!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to record all the special moments of the first day of school.

This was at 5:30pm today, after a long day of learning and monkey bars!

I took off early to meet her at home after school and we sat on the couch while she gave me the rundown of her day. I gave her a foot rub for her sore feet from tennis shoes after not wearing anything but flip flops for 3 months.

She liked her teacher, she was so nice that everyone listened when she was talking. Sounds good to me.

The most exciting thing of the day was getting a locker! WOW I didn't get a locker until Jr. High!

Oh and her boyfriend from last year is still her boyfriend because ummm

SHE THREATENED HIM! Way to go baby, way to go.

I think it's going to be a good year!

Blessings,

Pam

Week in review

I have been spending my evenings watching the Olympics.

I am so excited for this guy. He is an amazing swimmer. I am rooting for him to get his goal of 8 gold medals.

I stayed up until after midnight to see this girl get the gold!

I think the judges were pretty hard on our girls in gymnastics last night. But they came out with gold and silver. Way to go USA!

On to other news. We went on Tuesday to meet Coco's teacher. She is new to our district and that makes me nervous, but she seems to be really sweet. I hope she can be tough when needed. She has been teaching for 4 years so she isn't new to teaching. Coco is not happy, all her friends are in a different class. I am grateful for that. Now she can focus on her studies and still get to see the friends at recess. I know it will all change the first week. She will hook up with other kids in her class and the disappointment will be a thing of the past. Kids are so resilient.

All in all it has been a quiet week for which I am thankful. Because with school starting we will have Girl Scouts, weekly football games and who knows what else keeping us busy!

SNEAKERS VS TENNIS SHOES

The big reveal! This first photo is SNEAKERS. Now we all know the difference.....


These below are tennis shoes. Guess which ones we brought home.

Yes, the tennis shoes. She picked out these black/pink Fila's. Not my first choice but I will pick my battles.

We also hit old navy and bought 3 outfits. She picked the black shorts and sweater vest for the first day. That will be really cute with a white polo shirt under the vest. Hopefully it won't be 100 degrees.

She fell in love with the Peace Love & Rock N Roll jacket. Thank goodness she doesn't wear a bra yet or she might be inclined to burn them.

All we need now is some black ballet flats and she will be stylin and ready.

This is the first year she has been interested in shopping for clothes. This is kind of a double edged sword. We have different tastes. She likes all the trendy stuff and I still want her to be in lots of pink with big bows. We both have to give a little to make it work. I refuse to budge on the issue of modesty and she is ok with this.

It is hard when you walk into a store and see all the clothes for sale in the junior department that show to much. This is where she gets her ideas for clothes. Of course she wants to grow up to fast and looks up to the older girls.

Some days she wants to dress like a boy. With basketball shorts and a wrinkled t-shirt. I just shake my head and go on. At least she's covered up.

I can only imagine what it is going to be like when she is 13. Lord help me!

Blessings,

Pam