Budget Re-Do...

I pulled out my Dave Ramsey Book 

"A Total Money Makeover"

again this past weekend.

We are slowly

working our way through 

his debt snowball plan

And I needed a little extra motivation.

It is EXHILARATING

to pay something off.

The high and uphoria of 

the payoff,

for me,

is more exciting than the purchase itself!

I started quoting from the book

to my husband

"Dave says, blah blah"

"Dave also said, blah blah"

My sweet hubs decided to remind me

that although Dave might be a good resource,

his book was not the gospel.

I know, I know...

Everyone does not fit perfectly

into his mold.

BUT,

his plan is a great one

and

after reading his books,

you get a swift kick in the BUTT!

And MOTIVATION!

I have been attempting to follow a budget

for a few months.

But haven't quite mastered it.

I am still figuring out what works

best for our family.

I seemed to be chasing our money

instead of "telling it where to go".

I would also try to budget for everything

that "might" happen that month:

Doctor's visits

pharmacy visits

haircuts

sports equipment purchases

dinners out

birthday/gifts

etc...

Not all of these things happened

each month,

so I found myself constantly 

and almost daily

making adjustments to our "budget"

in Quicken.

I also had our groceries & household

separate.

But I would sometimes buy household stuff

at the grocery store

but didn't have any desire to go through

the receipts and separate out the purchases

into the correct category.

So I have gotten rid of all but 5 categories:

Bills

Groceries/Household

Laundry

Gas

Blow Money

This is my first month attempting this plan.

Based on what we were doing,

I feel this will work well.

The blow money will include EVERYTHING

not listed under the other categories.

As I have said many times before,

we have NEVER had a budget.

But I really got tired of not knowing 

where our money went each month.

I would constantly sit down 

with a spreadsheet

and the bank statement

and categorize every purchase

then go into shock at how much we spent

at certain places.

When I started the budget,

it was really just for my benefit.

The hubs and I would talk about it

a little

but he really didn't seem to show much

interest in it,

so I wasn't going to force it...

can't make him be interested, right?

I am guessing he was just letting me

figure it out and sort through it all.

Cause now,

he is really encouraging me

and we do discuss it,

Every 2 weeks...

Where do we want our money to go?

What do we have going on the next two weeks?

Any major purchases needed/wanted?

Oil changes - got it.

Missions baseball game - got it.

Now we have it planned out.

And with any luck - 

I will know where almost every penny is going

before it goes!

Another headache with this budgeting 

is the grocery shopping!

I have been racking my brain

trying to figure out how to budget for groceries.

As mentioned before,

back home in NC,

I could sit down at the computer,

do my grocery shopping on-line

and flip through my coupon binder

and match up sales with coupons.

Then I would print off my grocery list

complete with prices

and mark which ones had coupons.

Then I knew within about $10 how

much I would be spending 

when I actually went in

and did my shopping.

That service is not offered down here.

So I have resorted to making my own

database.

I shop at the same store

every 2 week.

And their prices are pretty consistent.

They don't have major sales,

but offer coupons regularly

in the store.

I don't get screaming deals on meat

like I did back home,

I would wait til meats went on 

B1G1

or 

B2G3

or

B1G2

and just do big meat purchases

and stock our freezer.

It worked!!!

Can't do that here.

Even the Costcos &

Sam's Clubs

have similar prices to those

offered at our

ONLY

grocery store chain.

So I sat down with receipts from my 

past 3 shopping trips

and started creating a database

with prices.

Now as I create my two week menu

and then my grocery list,

I can add prices

and get a better idea of what I am going to spend.

This is the best way I know how to 

get a grasp on my grocery budget

and possibly find ways to trim it.

I have already started my menu planning 

for the next two weeks.

I am anxious to put this idea into 

action and see how it works.

Any other ideas 

on how to manage & foreshadow

 grocery spending?

What's For Dinner??

I try my hardest to feed my family on a budget,

sort of,

we have a budget,

but I really have NO idea how to use it!

I have the nifty Quicken software

and I have put what we normally spend on groceries

under the grocery category.

Then what? 

I have no idea of knowing how much groceries are

going to actually cost when I check out

at the store.

I usually stay within a certain range.

But how in the world am I supposed to know how

much I am actually going to spend

until I am there?

I am sure there are ways to do this,

but I already spend about 6 hours (at least)

on the entire shopping experience:

menu planning

list making

actual shopping

post shopping prep:

fresh greens

snack packs

I already carry around a big ole binder with me

do I really need/want to add a calculator into the mix?

And walk around the store with a calculator

adding things up as I go?

Not really!

When we lived in NC, I could budget by doing my

shopping on-line first.

I would make my list,

then I would sit with my coupon binder

and do my menu planning based on what

was on sale that week.

Then I printed it off

took it into the store and did my shopping.

I knew EXACTLY how much I was going to spend.

Now - not so much...

due to this monopoly that this ONE grocery store has down

here and they have mega stores here.

I have had to change things a bit.

I could do our menu more simply,

more processed foods,

more cheaply 

and

more bland...

BUT - 

I choose to be a little creative.

This past shopping experience 

I shopped for:

Taco Salad with homemade tortilla bowls (see below)

Sausage & Kale Pasta (we love!!)

Mel's Sweet & Sour Chicken*

Mel's Stuffed Manicotti*
Burgers
Stroganoff
Kielbasa, Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage
Mel's Beef with Broccoli*

(we have not tried the ones with the * beside them -
I will let you know what we think)

these will hopefully produce enough leftovers

to cover a couple of dinners too...

However,

as these kids get bigger, 

they are definitely eating more.

Every once in a while I will get a glimpse
into our future...
and there will be no leftovers
when I thought there should be PLENTY leftover!!

Side note on the Sausage & Kale Pasta -
this is a HUGE hit in our house!  HUGE!
So much so that apparently daddy and I are
now fighting over the leftovers!
There was 1 serving left,
I was so looking forward to those for lunch
the next day.
Things were crazy and I didn't get around to making
daddy's lunch for him.
So he made it himself and took MY leftovers
Yes, MY!  (haha)
What a disappointment when I went to the
fridge at lunchtime the next day
and couldn't find them.
I already use an entire box of pasta,
and entire bunch of kale
and a pound of sausage.
I don't think I have a big enough pot
to double this recipe!

So far this week we have tried two new things:

Homemade tortilla shell bowls
and
Scratch made blueberry muffins

Homemade tortilla bowls

They were ADORABLE,

but kinda hard to eat

for everyone!

I popped the corn tortillas in the microwave
to soften them up and make them pliable.
Then pressed them in between an upside down muffin pan.

Bake at 325° for about 10 minutes (check often though)

And this is what you get.

Unfortunately while Mr. T was trying to figure out 

exactly how he was supposed to eat this thing...

he dumped the entire contents of his bowl

in his lap!

 That morning I decided to try some homemade
blueberry muffins, with whole blueberries.
These were VERY time consuming and somewhat
labor intensive.
But I really like them!
So did J,
the rest of the family, not so much.
I did not use the sugar topping it recommended.

But they looked pretty!

Mel's Best Blueberry Muffins

How Do I Feed This Crew???

I took my typical grocery store trip,

but I did it on a Tuesday evening

(instead of my Sunday afternoon norm).

Before I left, I did my meal planning

and grocery list.

On the Menu for the next two weeks:

But this time, I added in "planning" for 

breakfast and lunch too.

I typically just wing those.

And doing a better job of having snacks available.

The menu is put on the fridge for all to see...
I used it for helping keep track of breakfast
and lunch this past week and it worked
well!

I have found a LOT of inspiration

on a new found blog called

"I Heart Organizing"

With a little inspiration from her,

I took all of the snacky foods

I just bought

and put them

in individual servings!

(yes the wine was necessary for this task)

And found a couple of relatively neat homes
for them in our pantry.

But they are not nearly as organized and cute as her's
- yet!!

So now, 

when we are running out the door

for practice,

errands,

or the kids want a snack...

I send them to the snack basket.

Aside from the snacks,

I always take the time to do a few more
little bits of prep before I finish up
my shopping process:

* Put large purchases of meat in smaller,

meal size portions for the freezer.

* Cut 16 oz hunks of cheese into

16 - 1oz sticks

* Pull apart and clean grapes and put 

them in a bowl for easy picking

* wash fresh greens (cilantro, kale)

and put in a zipper bag with a wet paper towel
(thank you Rachel Ray)

My entire grocery shopping process is 

rather time consuming between:

menu planning,

grocery list making,

shopping,

putting away

&

organizing...

I think I spend at least 5 hours

every 2 weeks.
But it makes the rest of the time a lot

easier
and the ONLY thing we will have to get
is milk...our garage fridge died shortly
before we made the move from NC
and we haven't found a $35 replacement yet.

What are some of your time saving

& 

money saving tips for your grocery shopping process??

Couponing and Cooking and Recycling

*Disclaimer - no kid pics this time and just a little randomness*

I am NOT one of those 

mega-couponers

but I use them when I can.

I used to be a lot better at it than I am now.

But also used to get a lot more unnecessary items

than I do now.

I got tired of my unorganized accordion coupon file folder thingie.

So I joined the ranks of the women walking the 

grocery store aisles with those huge

3 ring binders full of coupons

in those clear pocket thingies.

I joined those ranks months ago while

we were still in NC, 

then proceeded to lose it during the move.

Finally found it again and revamped it.

(along with my meal planning and grocery shopping)

Down here - this coupon binder is not

as widely seen as it was back home.

I get stopped multiple times when 

I am in the store and asked about my

coupon binder

and complimented on my organization.
(hahahah!!)

So I figured I would share.

Here is my handy dandy zipper closed 3 ring binder:



(yes its red, go Pack! - that and they didn't
have purple)

I *highly* recommend the zipper kind.
That way you can shove stuff in there and zip it in
and not risk it falling out everywhere.

I also recommend lots of pockets,
to put more stuff in:
pens, scissors,
unfiled coupons
(that you can file during dance class -
not that I ever have time to actually do it then)

(note on the scissors - make sure you keep
the whole thing out of reach of your 3 year old,
otherwise, she helps you cut out coupons
and decorates the outside of your binder
with a few cuts to the pocket and zipper,
leaving on of your zippered pockets
USELESS!)


(that is not funk on the left side, its the flash - promise)

I found trading card holders at Staples.
You can use the business card ones
but these were a little bigger and
I could see the coupons better
and didn't have to fold them
as small..

Back home, I would go to the store

once a week.

Buy stuff that was on sale

and plan around that.

There were no real meals

"planned".

I tried it but didn't stick with it 

and was ALWAYS making changes

based on what we did or didn't have on hand.
And did the typical 5pm
what's for dinner tonight
dance around the kitchen,
pantry fridge freezer, pantry fridge freezer
what do I have all the ingredients for??

Down here I plan out a full 2 week menu

and I buy accordingly.

While I am creating the menu

(in an excel file),  

I fill in a shopping list

on the same worksheet 

and have it categorized

and organized by how my store is laid out.

Then I keep a spiral notebook at the front of my coupon book

and hand write my grocery list on that.



I also have a paperclip attached at the top of the
grocery list page in the spiral
notebook.
This is where I put my coupons as I
put the product in my cart.
Then when its time to pay...all of them are stacked right there.



I also make my list in one color
and mark it off in another.
Makes is easy to see the items I am missing,
cause even though I am shopping by myself,
I still somehow manage to skip items!

It takes an hour (at least)

to prep for my trips to the store.

The whole process takes up the majority of every other

Sunday afternoon.

BUT,

it works!!!

On this week's menu:

Sun : Burgers, Carrots & Fruit
Mon: Fiesta Chicken & Rice
Tues: Honey Jalapeno Chicken with Soba Noodles
Wed: Leftovers
Thurs: Sizzling Korean Beef, Rice & Sesame Broccoli
Fri: Taquitos
Sat: Early Birthday Dinner for R
Sun: Mini Vacation
Mon: Mini Vacation
Tues: Mini Vacation
Wed: Mexican Confetti Casserole
Thurs: Coconut Ginger Chicken
Fri: Leftovers
Sat: Burgers, Carrots & Fruit
Sun: Rotisserie Chicken

So I will shop for the ingredients I don't have.
I overdid it a few weeks ago, so I have all
the chicken I need (except for the rotisserie).

And here it is Wednesday and I have rearranged
the list twice already,
BUT
not a big deal,
I have all the ingredients!

And when we go on our mini vacation,
I will take whatever I can to prevent us from
eating out for EVERY meal.
Cheese sticks (cheddar block cut into ~ 1oz sticks)
Cut up fruit
Muffins for breakfast
yogurt
nuts
crackers
and probably a couple
pb&js
parfait ingredients
(a total hit in this house now!!! -
we made pear/plum ones a couple of days ago)

This is the plan anyhow...
we will be back and forth
attending 3 different sporting games
on Saturday,
so we will see how much of the above I actually
get done before we leave.

Then, as crazy as this is...
I have to share.
I am a little ridiculous when it comes to recycling.
I am not the worst (er, best) at recycling,
but I try, really hard!

We have been using those little green bins for YEARS,
then I saw that some towns
have started using those bigger rolling containers.
I was so excited and wanted one!
My hubby was getting tired of the overflowing one
he had to put at the curb once a week.
So it arrived and I was SO excited!!!
The absolute best part...
it tells you on the lid
EXACTLY what they take!!!
Each city is different,
but this one gives pictures,
and descriptions
and numbers!

Last week,
we filled ours 3/4 of the way up!!
I was so excited!

And hubby likes it too,
he doesn't have to fight with the overflowing bin.
After the big thing was delivered,
he informed me that he
had been throwing the overflow in the trash.
AAAHHHH!!
The horror!!
I would have rather lived in the land of the
ignorant than known that.
Oh well...
I got my big ole rolling container now,
I am happy!

Recommendation, Warning & Let the Games Begin!!!

Recommendation:

We have ALL seen the 

rotisserie chickens

that the local grocery stores 

have for sale every day.

And if you have ever tried them, 

you know that they are scrumptious!

BUT - unless you found somewhere 

that has them for $3.50 each...

its hard to pay $7/chicken.

(well for me anyways).

Back at my favorite grocery store chain in NC,

they would occasionally run these super specials

on chickens and you could get them for $0.59/lb.

So me being the frugal person I have always been,

I would buy as many as they would let me and

load my freezer.  I was known to have 12

chickens in my freezer at once.

(outside, garage freezer)

Then I had to come up with ways to cook all those

silly chickens!!

I decided to bite the bullet and buy a rotisserie.

We did NOT buy one new.

(remember the frugal statement above)

I wasn't convinced we would love it and use it,

so I wasn't forking out the dough for a new

kitchen toy.

So we found on on Craigslist for $40.

It had ALL the pieces and the lady

said she had only used it a handful of times.

That was the BEST $40 we have EVER spent.

I have learned how to truss the birds,

without those goofy strings they sell specifically 

for trussing.

(I just use cotton thread!)

And after some trial and error -

if you have never brined a bird...

oh good heavens,

you MUST!

There is NO other way to do a chicken!

You have to play with the seasonings in your brine.

But your loved ones,

will be asking for you to make

"one of your rotisserie chickens".

(oh and a little Lawry's seasoning on top is the kicker)

You gotta try it!!

Warning:

Along with the frugalness,

referred to above,

I do my best,

and always have,

to know where our money is going.

When we sign a contract to buy a house,

I want to know where all of those 

costs are coming from on that 

"good faith estimate" 

they present you with.

When we buy a car,

why aren't these numbers adding up?

I ask questions...

Tax documentation,

double check it!

Most of the time,

they are correct

and legit,

but occasionally,

by you asking questions

and double checking,

you can find errors

that could cost you 

literally 

HUNDREDS of dollars.

The past two days, 

I have spent crunching numbers

only to discover an error

significantly to our disadvantage.

So now we have to get it fixed...

let the fun begin!

It doesn't take long,

just give it a shot.

Trust me,

you will thank me one day!

The Usual:

Nothing too exciting this week.

I actually got ALL four of the kids

at the table and occupied this week

(once)

it was beautiful!

(albeit fleeting - I'll take it)

A few years ago,

I discovered dried beans

as a sensory item!

My kids have LOVED them.  

Its easier than rice and sand inside.

But give them: 

different color beans

funnels

bowls

measuring spoons

measuring cups

aluminum pie pans

and 

watch them go!

They will spend quite a while occupying themselves that way.

Just stay close, cause when the beans start flying...

or TOO many are hitting the ground...

they are DONE!  

haha!

Let the Games Begin!!!

Our new sports season is officially in full swing and

we had our first Saturday FULL of games today.

MERCY!!!

10am - A's soccer game

2pm - J's soccer game

4:15 - R's baseball game

This is about what our Saturday's look like

for the next 8 weeks.

OY!

And, of course, the field is too far from the house

to justify going home between games

(most of the time).

Which makes for a VERY long day

with an 18 mo old in tow!

Below are a few pics from our day...

Soccer Girl!!!

Home Sweet Home

(we had to get something but that thing had NO airflow and it was HOT!)

Camera man, videoing his brother's soccer game.

T's perch most of the day.

(poor thing)

Action shot, after a throw in.

J's is doing AMAZING this year in soccer!!

Luckily the camera snapped when it did - cause the ball went

right through his legs.

I would have HATED to get that on camera!

Haha!!

Team M!

Accountability Check In:

1) Getting up before the kids...

not every day.

2) Working out before the kids get up...

NOPE, not at all,

but I have been getting my workout in 

before they get up from their newly 

implemented rest time,

does that count?

3) Dave Ramsey/Budget - 

Done, let me just say, I have NEVER 

looked so forward to the first day of the month

in my LIFE!

Brand new squeaky clean budget to work with!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful

Valentine's Day.

Well, I threw our "menu plan" out the window...

(That didn't take long!)

and opted for something a little different last night.

I decided we needed to do something special.

Started out with just a special dessert.

Then it morphed into a special dinner.

Then that morphed into a  

quiet (kinda) dinner for 2

after we fed the kids.

I went to the store to get steaks and lobster tails.

And the fixins for a small cheesecake.

Got enough for everyone.

Then as we walked from the grocery store

to the UPS store (to ship something),

we passed a local 

"Take and Bake Pizza Place"

They had a picture advertising a 

heart shaped pizza for $7...

hmmm...that is interesting.

So on the way back from the UPS store, 

we stopped in.

And wound up with their 

Sweetheart Special.

(disclaimer - the following pictures are mainly for my 

dad - I thought he would get a kick out of them, 

so just enjoy!)

Un-baked Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

\

Baked Heart Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

Un-baked S'mores Dessert Pizza

Final product:

And I got this bright idea to feed the kids first

then put a movie on

and daddy and I could actually enjoy a (semi) quiet

dinner.

I think the S'mores pizza was a hit based on the 

resulting s'mores pizza faces...

and chocolate teeth!

(and as you know from previous posts - 

the quality and focus of pictures are hit or miss

so do your best to kinda enjoy)

Once we got the kids situated we moved on to...

The adult menu:

Parmesan Crusted NY Strip

Broiled Lobster Tails

Salad with Blue Cheese & Cranberries

Baked Potato

and

Individual Key Lime Cheesecakes

with Strawberry Sauce

and

Pink Champagne

Turned out PERFECT!

All of it.

The lobster tails were the BEST I have ever had

(I can't tell you the last time I had lobster, but these were AMAZING!)

The cheesecakes were a combination of recipes.

I used the ingredients from one and used 1/3 of the recipe

(math came in handy here)

and the cooking instructions from another recipe

and 

IT WORKED!

Definitely will be done again.

Pre-baked cheese-cup-cakes

Final product:

The kids were great, 

except for the occasional uninvited guest appearances

by the baby/bird/lap monkey.

The kids got a combined present of a fish tank.

And their goal is to have one like their Uncle Jack.

BIG goal, but gotta start somewhere.

Here is what they are aiming for:  

 Every one worked together to get the aquarium up and running.

(Is this where the cord goes?)

(J & L rinsing the rocks for the tank)

More rock rinsing...didn't know we could fit this 

many people in that little bathroom!!

Or that rinsing rocks could be a 

spectator sport!

The full, yet uninhabited, aquarium.

We will keep you posted on the fish as we acquire and name them. 

Pizzas, Putt Putt, PE & PenPals

PIZZAS

We have added a new lunch "activity"

make your own pizza! 

How simple and how yummy!!

And the kids love it!!!

And if you get

whole wheat (with fiber) english muffins

2% mozzarella cheese

pizza sauce (no fat, no sugar)

and

turkey pepperoni

its actually GOOD for them too!!

Our first go at it...

I let the boys make them for everyone.

(yes the boys need haircuts)

Mommy: "Smile"

L: "Cheese"

Mommy:  "Try again, smile, please"

L:  "Cheese"

Mommy:  "Ok, this time open your eyes please"

(Argh! Forget it!)

Whatever - you guys get the point!

The kids all enjoyed the pizzas.

So much we did it a second time and I let L

make her own this time:

Next up...

Putt Putt

We went out to Canyon Lake to explore

and 

took in a quick game of Putt Putt.

T helped retrieve everyone's balls.

Yes - that is a STEEP hill. 

We kept trying to get her to turn the club head around

but eventually gave up and let her do it her way.

Look at that form!  :)

Checking out the hole...

J telling me how much fun that was and

that he was going to do it again.

The ball retriever...

And the ball thief!

Do you know how hard it is to play

Putt Putt with a ball

obsessed 1 year old?

We had a good time - daddy and mommy were playing

in the beginning but

gave up quickly cause it is too hard to keep up with the 

chaos of 

4 little ones

3 swinging clubs

6 loose balls

and a 

1 year old who

decides he needs to 

be in the 

MIDDLE 

of all of it!

P.E.

The older 2 participate in a 

Homeschool PE class that we found.

We go almost every Monday 

and the boys really enjoy it.

There is a "coach" who leads all

the games and activities 

and then they get to have free time

before and after

the organized class.

And the cool part is it is 

all different ages (4-14)

and

all different skill levels

and

IT WORKS!

Here are a few pics from freeplay.

Its with my phone so they aren't the best

but if you look really closely

you can see the joy on their faces!!

THE BEST PART!

 and finally...

PenPals

When we left NC and R left his old school.

His teacher mentioned that he could write to his class

and they would write back.

So as a language arts exercise,

we took her up on that idea!

R made a list of the things he wanted to tell his class about.

Then he wrote a letter

using his best handwriting

and paying attention

to spelling, capitalization 

and punctuation.

I am KICKING myself for not scanning it in 

before we sent it!

I asked him what he wanted to tell them about

and fresh on his mind

was the roller coaster he has been going on

at SeaWorld.

I also suggested he tell them that we are homeschooling

and that I am his teacher.

He told them a little about what we do

and then I used this as an opportunity

to ask him if he liked homeschooling

(so he could put it in his letter, of course)

he said he did (phew!)

so he wrote what he liked about it.

His number one reason for liking

homeschooling:

Its a whole lot shorter than normal school!

(whatever, I'll take it!)

I got an e-mail from his teacher today 

and the class enjoyed his letter.

Some of the students are even writing him back!!

One final note...

Daddy introduced the boys to chess about a year ago.

It is a "belt loop" you can earn in scouts.

So daddy took that as an opportunity to teach them.

Since then - they have BOTH caught on amazingly.

And they were gifted with a nice wooden set

for Christmas.

J is way more into it than R though.

I have attempted to avoid learning.

Last night, my 5 yo roped me into a game though.

I told him he was going to have to teach me

and he was MORE than happy to do so.

He did a great job and was very informative and very patient with me.

I told him he was a great teacher.

He got a kick out of the fact that 

I was "his student".

And giggle profusely when I did made a move without considering

the consequences and he took my...

I have no idea what he took to be honest

but he thought it was hilarious when I took his (something)

and then he told me that wasn't a good idea 

and immediately took my (whatever).

I was all excited about my move

til he swiftly took my (whatever), 

in return

and I said 

"well that didn't last long"

and he busted out in a total sly giggle fit.

Wish I would have had a camera!

And yes - I got "schooled" at chess by my 5 year old!