Author Archives: Sheila

Things that Work

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I wanted to share with you things that we are finding that work for us as we continue to reduce debt and live crazy busy lives.

  1. Weekly menu lists:  a very simple list of 5-7 meal that we have all the ingredients for. Each day Matt or I or both can decide what sounds good for dinner. We usually make the list on weekends and it most likely follows a trip to the building to grab items from the freezers. Currently we are focusing on using up what we have an only adding items that are awesome deals. In the future we are considering purchasing a half cow but don’t have enough space for it right now so cleaning out is serving multiple purposes as well as keeping us to the $600 grocery budget.
  2. Zaycon foods: My plan is to order another 80 pounds of chicken breast this month for pick up in April. This will be the 3rd time we have ordered the chicken breast. 80# last almost 6 months for us. I have also been pleasantly surprised that each time we order the price per pound has dropped!  Another item that has been great is the uncooked chicken tenders. I will be purchasing more if they are offered in our area again. We have considered the bacon and hamburger but the price per pound seems a little bit much for us currently but I will keep options open!
  3. Coupons especially when playing the drug store game at CVS. I have reduced my spending greatly as CVS recently but it is still the best way for  me to save money and by lots of items. .
  4. Costco- this may seem out-of-place but I hate to grocery shop! Costco makes it fun and easy. I watch my prices and do try to purchase as much as possible with coupons but if we run out of an item than Costco is definitely cheaper for us that paying full price at the local super market!
  5. Coke Rewards- I am actually more impressed and pleased with this reward program than either diaper brands! I simply enter points and redeem for free product. The great thing is that they always offer free coke products and unlike the diaper reward programs the prices have not changed greatly!

Sunday Night Chit Chat 3/3

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I have been reading over at http://www.halfdozendaily.typepad.com for several months now, but this is the first time I have participated in so hope you enjoy!

I love the new rug we found for $30!

I love the new rug we found for $30!

 

  • Reading: “The Story”  as this is the basis for our weekly sermons for the next 9 months.
  • Watching: Plan on watching either “The Bible” mini series or “America’s Worst Cooks.”
  • Listening to: ” Peppa Pig ” as we wait for dinner.
  • Baking/Cooking: Taco Soup yesterday and a pasta salad to go with Matt’s Grilled chicken today.
  • Happy you accomplished this week: Budget for March!
  • Looking forward to next week: Lily has a competition next Sunday
  • Thankful for today: A new client for Matt that really helped this month!
  • BONUS QUESTION: Have you ever left the house in your pj’s? On a regular basis to drop the kids off at school :X

 

 

February in Review 2013

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Financial goals: February has been an up and down month for us, especially in this area. We have had extra income but also extra expenses with Zach. But progress is progress and overall this goal was met!

  • Pay off all outstanding debt except the mortgage by June–  With the extra income, we now have no interest bearing debits. We were able to pay off our final two credit cards today!  We still have outstanding debt of 4600 but that is slowly and steadily disappearing!
  • Emergency fund to $2000–  We actually dipped into this fund to pay for some of Zach’s dental expenses. We will focus on bringing this up for the next several months! The plan will be to have it back at 1000 by the end of March so we can start working toward the 2000 mark.
  • Maintain a budget using a form of the envelope system – DONE! I love the app and the “freedom/expense” accounts that are making tracking so much easier for me to keep track of the money.
  • Groceries: Spend $600 or less a month Goal met, we spent $515 on groceries this month! So are almost back on track for the year. I am going to roll the negative $25 balance into March and with the idea that by the end of March we will also be even for the year!

Blogging:  Goal: 15 per month This is my 12th post of the month and more importantly my 501 post overall. This month has been difficult with me being so sick for a week but I am going to keep trying!

Devotions: Goal is 5 a week   GOALLLLL!  I have finally found a time, in the mornings, that I am consistently able to read and complete a devotional! Still on the right track!

Weight: Goal to exercise 3x a week and to be down to 150 by December by losing around 4 # a month. I have been able to consistently exercises 3x a week this month with at least 2 of those at the YMCA! I am very proud of myself. I did not met the weight goal but hope to catch up with this in March!

Zach’s New Clothes

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Today we headed once again to Concord NC to a cheerleading competition. I am planning to post some different views from this on Wednesday so check back. Last year we also attended this same “Cupid Classic”, we discovered by accident that a large clothing consignment sell was happening in an adjacent building. I had been hoping that the same was true for this year and it was!

I am not a person who believes in chance or fate, my God is in control! I decided to start out shopping for Zach some new summer clothes as he does not have any that will fit. As I started looking at the rack, a worker said “excuse me can I hang this clothes up? Some just brought them in I think?” Of course I let her hang and was even more excited when she brought back a second batch of clothes.  There is  no way that this was an accident. Today is the last day of the sale, it was around 11am and the sale ended at 5pm today. The clothes she brought were brand new looking and all marked for less than  $3 each!  Thank You Jesus!!! After finishing in the little boys clothes, we headed to the girls size 6 clothes which actually was a full aisle long and on both side. Kendall spotted one shirt to ask for and it was discounted to $1.50, I showed Lily several items but in the end she did not find anything. If you have ever shopped with Lily you know that she is picky but when the option is nothing she will also go back and find something. Not this time! Before heading to the check out I checked out shoes, we found 2 pair for Zach.

For a total of $46.64 I purchased for Zach

  • 2 pair of swim trunks
  • a pair of brown dress shoes (Oshkosh), the most expensive item with a price of $7.00
  • Tom Hilfiger sandal
  • Dress outfit of orange polo shirt and matching shorts
  • A complete play outfit
  • 5 T-shirts including a “Beatles” shirt
  • 3 pair of athletic shorts
  • a pair of jean shorts with adjustable waist
  • a pair of tan shorts with adjustable waist
  • 3 polo shirts

The cashier even comment about finding such good items the last day, she could not believe they were still there!

I have to admit that I don’t shop consignment sales as much as I should simply because we no longer have one in Lexington. I also seem to forget when they are or go and find nothing for the kids to wear!

In other great news, I budget $100 a day for us at competitions. We only spent half of that today so we are already ahead for the March competition without using the travel fund!

Overwhelmed- Zach’s Dentist Vist

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I am going to start out by saying that I do understand that this really is a minor set back for us. I also know and are praying for several families that have much more serious health issues to face but at the same time this is huge for a 3-year-old and quite a bit for his parent to deal with at the same time. I could not even get this out yesterday but today I am feeling much less overwhelmed and more of God’s in control. Finally at the suggestion of the dentist, we are limiting the discussion regarding this around the younger gang, instead it is planned as a dentist visit for Zach at the hospital. Feel free to comment or call with question but also understand the need for us to keep this as low-key as possible around the 3 younger kids.

Zach at the coolest detist office I have ever seen!

Zach at the coolest dentist office I have ever seen!

The very last day of January, we had 5 dentist appointments scheduled. This would be Zach’s first appointment as our dentist refused to see him prior to age 3. The hygenist took one look at him and spoke with the dentist who referred us to a Pediatric Dentist.  So yesterday 2/21, Zach and I head to his new first dentist appointment.  First, I am informed that he has “Enamel Hypoplasis”  This is a condition were for either genetic or environmental reason the enamel does not form or only forms a little over teeth.  Zach currently has 2 teeth that are severely decayed to the point that they may possibly not be able to be saved, 2 teeth are decayed and need immediate attention, 2 teeth that have cavities and 2 teeth that need silver caps to keep them working until he is 10-12 year old.  After some discussion, it was decided that the best way to take care of this woudl be a 2 plus hour dental surgery as an outpatient at a hospital.  The good news is that the surgery is schedule for Thursday March 28th, I will already be off work. Zach should be back to his normal self by Friday, in time for Easter!

After scheduling the surgery, pre-op appointments and post op appointments, the financial impact starts to take over. We had chosed to lower our dental insurance this year because of the significant decrease  of cost and at the time the decision was made no thoughts of this type of situation entered my head. So after my dental insurance covers the dental aspect of the surgery, we are expected to pay $1900. I emptied my med flex saving account for the year and pulled the rest from our Emergency Fund.  I am expected to also have to cover part of an anthesologist bill and the actual charge for the surgery room from the hosptial. The estimate I was given was $3000 out of pocket. We should be able to cover all ths with our Emergency Fund as well as moving money from our travel fund so at least, we can proceed with the scheduled surgery date.

Crazy & Sick Weekend

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glassesFriday afternoon while I was still in my class, Matt took the girls to Vision Works to pick up their new glasses. Both of the new glasses are plastic and thicker frames. We plan to use these at the pool this summer. Kendall’s are purple and Lily’s are a deep redish purple.  I had a really hard time in class on Friday and did not feel good so I went to bed around 8ish Friday night.  By early Saturday morning, I was totally sick and knew I need to get something for this. I was unable to drink or swallow so off to Salisbury to the Urgent Care both Matt and I went. Matt was starting not to feel well either and I did not feel comfortable at all driving. Haley was awesome, staying with the kids, fixing lunch and even doing some housework. Matt decided to go ahead and be seen since it would take the same amount of time.  Both of us ended up with Strep, so we stopped by the pharmacy on the way home and headed to bed. I will say the antibiotic started to work and I could even eat Chinese on Saturday evening. Saturday most of the day was spent…

sleeping

sleeping

 

We had already made the decision that church would not be an option for any of us today.  By Sunday, I am getting back to normal. We were able to wash our sheets, catch on some housework and even get the menu for the week ahead. I made this soup

hunter soupin the crock pot by adding things from the freezer. I was also able to use the new Kitchen Aid mixer and all 3 attachments today.So hopefully both Matt and I are on the mend and no one else gets sick this week!

Saved 95% at CVS

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I mentioned yesterday that we were currently $0.30 over our grocery budget for the month. I have done most of the grocery shopping this month at Costco but I continue to shop CVS for free stuff and good deals on everyday items like Diet Coke. I did make a trip on Sunday where I purchased 15 2 liters and some other items. I left the store with 5 ECBs. One of the debates was if I was to go back to the store and stock pile more drinks rolling my ECBs. The decision to try to stick within our grocery budget this month made that a no go but of course on the same day, I ran out of hair spray. I attempted one day without using anything and that was not a good choice so off to CVS to use my ECB to purchase hair spray.  I had read on Southern Savers that using a store coupon and one from Sunday’s paper you could get a tube of toothpaste free so I decide free is always good and grab that coupon as well. I was able to purchase a can of hairspray, tube of toothpaste and 2 Diet Coke for $0.54, which is strictly the tax. I saved $10.72 or 95%!!