Frugal vs. Survival

Here at our house we have went into survival mode, as I am having extreme morning-noon-night sickness. With 2 2-year olds to keep up with, it is all about just getting the necessary things done. I cannot handle the smell of food cooking right now so the budget has really had to be adjusted. Breakfast is cold cereal, lunch is peanut butter and jelly, and dinner is at a restaurant/take out usually. This is a big change for us as I used to meal plan and make dinner each night. Thanks to our usual frugal ways we can afford to do this for awhile as a way of making life easier. And of course, the end result is worth it. As with a lot of things in parenting, it is only a stage. Soon enough we will be back to our frugal meals. There is a season for everything. I am a huge advocate for the frugal life but there are times when it is just about survival. With all that said, I am sad to say I will be saying good-bye to this blog. I will probably come back to it because I am passionate about frugal and debt free living but for now I need to take a break from it to simplify life. I hope you all have been inspired and encouraged.

Canning

Canning is a great way to eat produce for really cheap all winter. This year I have done plums, apples, pears, green beans, and blackberries. I don't have room for a garden in my yard but have been blessed with people letting me pick all their excess produce. If you are like me and don't have room for a garden consider posting a wanted produce ad on freecycle (of course be safe and never go alone). Many people have lots of extra produce they are not going to use. Freecycle can also be a great way to get canning supplies if you don't have them yet. Even if you decide to buy the canning equipment, it will more than pay for itself. The other thing I love about canning is that I know what is in our food-mostly organic and no preservatives.

Life Insurance

If you have minor children then you NEED life insurance. To find the best rate go to Zander Insurance where they will compair rates and find you the best one. We had life insurance through another company but are in the process of switching to the one Zander recommended because it is a substantial savings each month. You take care of your children while you are alive, make sure they are also taken care of if you were to die.

You NEED an Emergency Fund

This post is to show you that you MUST have an emergency fund if you want to get out and stay out of debt. Last night The Man was helping me with all my canning (sshhh...don't tell all his manly friends) and the stove started on fire! Thank God it was a small fire in one of the burners that stopped when we turned it off. After that-nothing-the thing is totally dead. The Man and I were talking about how a few years ago we would have been worried about how to buy a new one. We would have paid with credit and thought "of course we will pay it all off next month". Then the next month would have come around and we probably wouldn't be able to pay it all off. Hence, how we got into debt in the first place. It is so great to have money in the bank for emergencies like this one. If you want to become debt free, start with $1,000 in the bank for emergencies because I can guarantee you they will happen! That way you won't have to ever rely on credit again. After all, isn't it wonderful knowing YOU can take care of yourself?

Mommies Making Money

This week Dave Ramsey had a TV show dedicated to how stay at home moms make money. I am a huge advocate for moms staying at home as much as possible. Raising you children is the most important job you will ever have. I also know, however that a lot of families cannot survive on just one income. I am very blessed to have a job I love that is willing to let me work the days my husband is off. This is great for many different reasons. I can keep up my skills, get out of the house, and the Man gets regular alone time with the kiddos. If working part time around your husbands job is not an option, there are also other things you can do. The women calling in had some great ideas:

1. Cleaning houses

2. Selling home-made soap

3. Decorating cakes

4. Childcare

5. Freelance writing

Some women started up their own businesses from their homes. The main thing to remember when doing this is do something you have a lot of knowledge on and NEVER build a business with debt-pay cash as you go.

I also think of my frugalness and coupon clipping as a part time job. It is very important to handle the finances well and make your money stretch. If you are a stay at home mom, this responsibility will probably fall mostly to you. So get on a budget and stick to it, girl!

Coupons.com Reloaded

The coupons on coupon.com have been reloaded-Hooray! A couple of my favorite are the $1.50 off Tava (take to Safeway when they have it on sale for 2/$5 with your SDC only $.50) and the $1 off Kotex (take to Walmart for FREE panty liners). Remember hit the back button and print 2. Happy couponing!

A Thought For Married Couples

One huge reason that we have been able to become debt free and do pretty well handling our finances is that The Man and I are on the same page. 4 years ago when I suggested we take the Financial Peace classes, I have to be honest that The Man was less than thrilled about it. However, like a good husband he consented when I told him it was really important to me. There was one stipulation though, he said he would try it for one week and after that if he hated it he didn't have to go. After the first class though he was hooked. We got so excited about paying off debt and learning how to manage our money. I don't think you will win with your money if both partners aren't on the same page. The Man and I never fight about money as both of us agree on where the money will go each month and work as a team to reach our financial goals. Actually, now we love talking about our finances because we are so excited about the progress we are making.
I think it is imperative to have joint accounts if you are married. You need to be working as a team to achieve your financial goals. Both people need to be aware of and accountable for the finances. A great place to start would be to take some financial classes together, of course I recommend Financial Peace University. Also set aside time each month to talk about the budget, how things are going, and places that need to be improved. You will not win with money if both people are not committed to the same financial goals.