Patch Work

In the past, a hole in a pair of jeans meant that it was time to be either donated or trashed. My how times have changed! A hole in a pair of jeans can be patched so easily! No need to think tacky denim patches on the outside of the jeans (my daughter would be horrified to wear a pair of jeans with that!).
Just turn the jeans inside out...

Then cut to size the patch and place over the hole....

Then iron...

When turned back right side out, it looks worn, but no hole.

Now walking in stores you will notice that the "worn" look is really in right now. So, no worries there!
Then the pairs of jeans that are just beyond patching, I cut off and either make shorts or capris.

I just cut, then measure and make sure both sides are equal. Roll once, iron and roll again and iron. Then take and tack at the inseams and in the middle of the roll, but making sure you don't go all the way thru, just catch inside roll. This way no stitch work can be seen, but the roll will stay in place. There you go! Easy! I like this too, because I am in control of the length of the shorts! I try to dress my daughter modestly and in today's society sometimes it's difficult to find shorts that is a respectable length.
Another tip, is that if your kids outgrow the jeans or pants in length, but they still fit in the waist, convert them to shorts or capris. It also gives you options when shopping at GoodWill or thrift stores. Always think out of the box. Autumn can still fit into a 6 in the waist, but they are too short in length. If she needs shorts, I can snag some size 6 at GoodWill and convert to shorts.
You can also jazz the shorts or capris up...go to your local craft store and get some cute transfers and iron them on. A little creativity goes a long way!

A part of being frugal is making do with what you have. How much money I have wasted by throwing things away that could be patched, fixed or re-purposed.

Family Day Celebrating Trent's Graduation!

As most of you know, we are on an extremely tight budget. But, your son graduating doesn't come around very often. So, we packed up for a day trip. We went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We ate breakfast at home before the road trip and took some snacks with us to eat on the road.
Once down there, we walked around and saw the sights (cheap and fun). Trent has been wanting a Henna Tattoo, so he got one of those. Here's a quick tip...eat early, after lunch but before dinner. You can get the "early bird" special. So, we ate around 3 and saved tons. Then they boys are big on racing go-carts. So, off to Nascar Park. Now, that could have been expensive, but we all agreed just 2 tracks a piece. Now, you may roll your eyes at that, but in the hot sun and standing in line for just those 2 tracks, my family was more than ready to go home. Something fun, but on the cheap! We had a great time! We laughed and just enjoyed being together and best of all....made memories!

Update on Life

Gosh, it's hard to believe that it's been almost 5 months since I have written on my blog! Wow!
Let's see, I have learned to do some canning!! I'm super excited! It's so easy y'all!! I can't believe that I was nervous over doing it! I made eight 8 oz. jars of strawberry jam! I can't wait to can some more! I do need to invest in some canning stuff, but I used regular stock pots and it worked out fine. You just make sure the jars do not rest on the bottom of the pot. I placed jar rings on the bottom and placed the jars on them to process. If you are nervous about trying...don't be!! I just followed the directions and went step by step and it worked out great!
I'm growing a bigger garden this year too. We worked really hard this spring clearing out a larger spot for the garden. Now, if my plants will cooperate and not die on me! Lol! My tomatoes are looking great, my cucumbers, squash and beans not so much.
On another note about veggies, we went to the Farmer's Market and I was amazed how much money you can save!! Soooo much cheaper than the grocery store!! The only draw back is that it's 30 minutes away.
We are still on a really tight budget...really tight! I won't go all into the financial stuff we have faced these past 6 months, but let me tell you....it has been ROUGH! Wouldn't you know it, as soon as we completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, things seemed to get worse! But, we are pressing on. Our emergency fund is gone, so we need to start all over on that. Ugh! I am struggling trying to figure out how to bring more money in. I even debated going back to work! I checked on summer and after school daycare...WOW! I wouldn't be bringing home more than I am now. It's crazy! I am praying that God will give me direction and wisdom! I'm so tired of being broke and in debt up to my eyeballs! Ugh!
I will try to do better in blogging. I can't believe that I have let it slip away like I have. I'm hoping to change that though!

Uses for White Vinegar!

Love, Love, Love White vinegar!! It has so many uses and it's CHEAP!! Lol! Yep, and we all know how cheap I am!
Vinegar can kill most mold, germs and bacteria because of it's acidity. It can be used to deodorize too. It can be used as a laundry booster, it makes the whites whiter and the colors brighter. It can also be used as a fabric softener.
You can pour it on weeds to kill them. Vinegar can deter ants too!
And did you know that white vinegar can remove hazy stains from inside of car windows. Speaking of windows...it can be diluted with water and used to clean windows.
It can tenderize meats, make the onion odor on your hands disappear and keep your eggs from cracking while boiling if you add a tablespoon to the water.
I have switched to using baking soda and vinegar cleaning my shower and tubs. Sprinkle the baking soda and spray vinegar on top and let it soak just for a 1 minute and scrub a little!! Clean and deodorized!!!
Give white vinegar a try! It's natural and cheap!!!

Fast and Quick Breakfast for the Kids

I don't know about you guys, but in the morning we struggle getting ready in time for school. So, I am constantly looking for quick and easy breakfasts that the kids can grab in a hurry. I do the typical cold cereal and pop tarts, but I wanted something more. So, I read where you can make pancakes and freeze them. Perfect, hot breakfast that will be fast, but I also need cheap! Looking at the pre-packaged pancakes, I soon discovered that they were pretty pricey considering what they are made of. So, I decided to make them on my own. I made 2 batches (24 pancakes) and placed them on a cookie sheet and placed them in the freezer. You keep them there for around 20 to 30 minutes remove and place in a freezer bag and place in the freezer.



The kids can grab the pancakes in the morning and heat in the microwave for 1 minute and there you go!!
It only took me around 10 minutes preparation time, and the kids have a hot breakfast in 1 minute!! Cheap, Easy and Quick!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

As promised....my homemade laundry detergent recipe (well, not mine, but the one I use).
Here is what you will need:


The Borax I get at Wal-Mart for $2.98, Washing Soda at Ingles for $3.38 and Ivory Soap at Wal-Mart $.33 (12 Pack for $3.98).
The measurements are as follows:
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1 bar of Ivory Soap
Place the Ivory Soap on a plate.

Place it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Keep your eye on it and if it gets too big, take it out and let it cool. Take the "fluffy" part and crumble in a bowl and place back in the microwave and let it expand again. Repeat this process until all the soap is "fluffy". It will look like this:

Take the cup of Borax and Washing Soda and combine it with the crumbled soap. I take my hand and keep crumbling the Ivory Soap while I work it into the mixture.

I use an empty coffee container to store it in.

I use 2 tablespoons per load. Place in the bottom of the washer and load with clothes. This has worked great with our laundry. Jeff's clothes can get really dirty and I have never had a problem. This is also an all natural laundry detergent!! I use 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of white vinegar for fabric softener. This kills odors, disinfects and softens the clothes. Again this is also all natural and it's cheap! Your clothes do not have a vinegar smell, nor does your laundry room. I buy a gallon of white vinegar at Wal-Mart for $2.98. White vinegar can be used with lots of cleaning...I will post more about that later!!

Grocery List and Menu Update

I had a car wreck a couple of weeks ago. This resulted in a $95 tow bill and a $100 deductable. So, add this in with that I absolutely used all extra money for Christmas...so in very blunt terms, we are broke right now. So,the challenge was to get groceries using all of our Wal-Mart gift cards from Christmas and not use any cash.
So, here is what I got:
Cabbage
Onions
Dog Food
Lettuce
Bananas
White Vinegar
Milk
Generic Cereal
Grape Capisun (School Lunches)
Toilet Paper
Dawn Dish washing liquid
Dried Beans
Generic unsweetened lemonade
Taco Seasoning
Baking Soda
Salt
Crackers
Snack Bags
Applesauce
Salsa
Canned Soups
Tuna
Green Chilis
Canned Chicken Breast
Hamburger Buns
Bread
Coffee Creamer
Turkey Smoked Sausage
Cheese
Large Generic Yogurt

Grand Total: $78.30
Mission accomplished!

Okay, so with all that said...I have some supplies on hand (another reason for food storage!!!!). Listed below is my menu plan for the upcoming 2 weeks.

Menu Plan
Manwiches
Breakfast Dinner (Bacon and Eggs)
Smoked Sausage
Butter Beans with potato cakes
Spaghetti
Turkey
Deer Steak with Onions and Mushrooms
Quesdillas
Chili
Meatloaf
Lemon Pepper Roasted Chicken
Breakfast Casserole
Shepherds Pie
Rice with Venison and Mushroom Gravy

Those are my main dishes and they will be served with veggies.

The kid's lunches and ours will be soups, sandwiches, and spaghettos. Snacks will be popcorn and homemade cookies. Breakfast will be pancakes, cereal and oatmeal.

2011 Goals

2011 Goals...where to begin....there is so much I want to accomplish, I can get totally overwhelmed by it.
1. Continue to get my debit paid off. This year was the first Christmas that we absolutely did not purchase one thing on a credit card. It felt great!! Yes, Christmas was a lot smaller in the gift area, but you know what it was GREAT!! We had a wonderful and blessed Christmas without the "stuff"!! So, it has really empowered me to even be more intense about living simpler and with more of a purpose than just collecting stuff!
2. Become healthier in our eating and lifestyle. I continue to get the processed junk out of this house! Christmas was a bit of a slip up with all the sweet goodies. But, now it's back on track. I am constantly on the search for healthy frugal recipes and I am enjoying the journey. Also, I am becoming more aware of the chemicals that I am using cleaning and using on our bodies. I have made several improvements and will continue to work on this.
3. Learn to cook venison. I am still a beginner. I have been blessed with some deer meat and I am experimenting with it and look forward to cooking more with it.
4. Making more cleaning products. I have started making my own laundry detergent that is so cheap and healthy!! I will post the recipe later. Next I'm making my own dishwasher detergent and natural cleaning products. My great friend Elise gave me a book for Christmas with lots and lots of recipes I'm excited to try! Not only is this going to be healthier for our family, but also save us money.
5. Start back on my stockpiling of food. My goal is to get at least 3 months or more of food stockpiled. For those wondering why...well, we never know what the future holds. I want to make sure that I have the means to take care of my family. Prices are going up but not paychecks, jobs are uncertain, economy is scary and honestly I am not sure how much tribulation the church will see before the rapture. My spirit has been telling me for a while to get prepared. I have been distracted or unable due to money, but I truly want to get back on track with this. I have storage issues, but that's not going to stop me!

Well, that is my narrowed down list. There are a couple of things that I did not list, but I consider them a given...
I want to strive to put the Lord first in my life, read the Word more, Worship more, Serve more, submit more, surrender more....I want MORE of the Lord!!
I want to be a better wife and Mom.
I want to slow down and enjoy life instead of going wide open and feeling like I have to constantly be doing something...I want to spend more time just being. To savor each moment instead of looking for the "next" moment to happen.
Okay, I could possibly go on forever with this list, so I will stop now.
So, there you have it...my condensed version of my 2011 goals!!

Frugal and Healthy!

Healthy and frugal?! Can the two go together? Lol! I am on a journey to do just that! I have made a couple of changes in our household.
Change #1: I have started making my own laundry detergent. It is all natural and CHEAP!!! Love it!!! It is easy to make too!
Change #2: I am cutting down on my cleaning products and trying out natural non-toxic ones. Borax, baking soda and vinegar has become my new best friends!! They are also CHEAP!! I have started cleaning my counter tops, toilets, tubs, stove top and microwave with them.
Change #3: I have changed our soap to Ivory (99.44/100 pure) and it's also CHEAP!
Change #4: I have changed my facial cleanser to an all natural oatmeal soap that is about the same price as what I was using.
Change #5: I have slowed way down on my coffee intake. Yep, you heard right. I went from 8 to 10 cups a day down to 3 cups a day. I am now drinking green tea (chocolate mint flavor) and drinking a detox tea.

Other small changes have been that I am cutting back on meat (even chicken and ground turkey) and started plugging in fresh veggies. The cost is around the same. I have cut waaaaayyyyy back on sweets!! I used to have some sweet things around for the kids and hubby to snack on. Now it's fruit, pretzels, granola bars, cheese, and popcorn. Not saying that with the holidays coming up that I won't make a batch of cookies or make some homemade candy...but, for the most part we have very little sweets.

This may totally sound weird, but for a while I have been wanting to make things "simpler". Sometimes, it may mean a little extra work for me...like making my own detergent. But, really I have become quite spoiled. I started thinking about my grandmother (who was debt-free!) and what she used to do. She was very creative and did not waste a thing. She lived through the depression and knew how to stretch things out and how to make do. If only I would have paid attention more!! Ugh!
And completely and totally off the subject....BUT, I was speaking with a lady at a local charity trying to figure out how I could help and she was telling me that people were calling and actually complaining and asking for help to buy Christmas because they were not able to spend $500 a child like they did last year...they could ONLY spend $200! Are you kidding me?!? My two kids will be lucky if they get that much spent together!!!! How spoiled have we become as a society!!! We are all about the material things!! As a recovering materialistic girl...I am so thankful that I'm not there anymore. Yes, I still want...desire...whine...and even complain that I don't have, but praise God that I am slowly finding the true value of life. It's not about the brand names that you wear, or the size of your TV or having the latest greatest cell phone...but it's about God, family, health, spending those precious moments with those that you love!!! Those things truly matter!! Those things will make you happy!!

Okay, off my soap box....I am going to continue to post about things that I am changing to be more frugal and hopefully more healthy in the process!! I look forward to the journey!!!

Financial update...

Financial update....well, really, there isn't much to update. We are currently enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. I LOVE it!! I just thought I was on a budget! One thing you realize when taking his class is that you HAVE to be organized and prepared! I discovered that we were just floating through life. No savings, no emergency fund, no car repair fund, no vacation fund...the list goes on and on! Thus, this is one reason we got ourselves in MAJOR credit card debt! Now we are actually trying to get organized and prepared. EVERY dollar is accounted for! It's time consuming and stressful (for me anyhow), but it's well worth the benefits.

So, this morning I have been working on the budget and tweaking amounts. Did I mention it was stressful?! Christmas coming up, bills behind, Senior pictures to buy, winter clothes to replace....UGH!!!! I am struggling with not allowing this to steal my joy...I MUST trust my Heavenly Father!! I worry! I stress!! I try to figure things out and plan...and it does nothing but add to my stress level! I become depressed and discouraged! Realistically, it took almost 3 years to get us into this debt mess, so I can't just wave a magic wand and get out of it. I know this is a growing season for me! Trust has always been a huge issue for me! So, to trust God to bring me through this is HUGE! I know silly, right? I trust Him to save my soul, but not help me with my finances.

Okay, thinking positively...we are on a budget...a STRICT budget. We are becoming organized and prepared. We ARE trusting our Heavenly Father to bring us through this!!!

Now, I am trying to think creatively about Christmas. I am clueless! I have no ideas! I'm frustrated! Ugh! I am running into issues finding winter clothes at Goodwill too! I think more people are shopping at Goodwill, so the selection has went way down. Jeff's compressor in his car has went out (no money saved for that yet). We are STILL waiting to see if our mortgage company will approve us for a loan modification (it's been almost 4 months). Hmmmm, let's see and gas is going up in price, and winter is coming so the electric bill will most likely go up. And to top it all off....Jeff's overtime hours have been reduced and possibly discontinued until Spring. Wow!! I'm just spreading the joy and happiness, huh?

On to the positive,taking Dave Ramsey's class, doing budget and menu plan, and we are enjoying simple and fun family times!

So, there is the update....it is what it is. Depressing...but hopeful.

Financial Peace

For years I have been listening to Dave Ramsey. But, now I am actually enrolled in his Financial Peace University. Not only are Jeff and I going thru this class, but they have allowed Trent to sit in it as well. This is HUGE! I don't want Trent making the mistakes we made! I feel like this will give him a good foundation to go with the example Jeff and I are trying to set.
We have been serious about getting out of debt for approximately 2 years now...but, taking this class we feel more empowered and more equipped to do so. I'm excited...well, as excited as you can be about pinching pennies and trying to get out of debt.
Now on to the pinching penny part.
1. I have switched banks for my checking account. This bank offers 3% interest for my checking account. Huge difference from old bank of .054%!
2. Made a "Quickie Budget". This is the first budget that Dave wants a family to make. Next will be a more detailed budget...but for now the quickie one is what we are going on until we get more data on our actual expenses.
3. Back on a menu plan. Over the summer I kinda got out of this. I wasn't as organized and I really didn't take the time that I needed to do the best in this area.
4. Reading Dave's book Financial Peace.

Small steps, but steps all the same. This is the easy part for me...the hard part is people and relationships!
People don't understand the word budget or choose not to understand. We have been made fun of, belittled and talked about behind our backs...yep, I can assure you people are more than willing to tell you what your "friends" or acquiantances say about you behind your back. I truly do not understand why this is a source of ridicule. I do not find it shameful to want to be a good steward of what the Lord has blessed us with nor do I find it disgusting or awful to be debt-free. If it's between going out to eat or putting money in our emergency fund...guess what?! Emergency fund ranks higher in importance! It's not that we are being "unsocialable" or I think the best remarks I have heard made were, "We think we are better than them and don't want to hang out." or "They thought we wanted to be friends...we lied."
Can you believe those comments?! I just have to shake my head.
I just got out of a toxic and dangerous relationship a couple of years ago...I have no intention of being pressured or manipulated into doing something or spending money that I do not have. I will not allow anyone to have that control over me any more. Now, I must admit that I have slipped up a couple of times and given in to peer pressure. But, with God's help, wisdom and discernment I will not go back into a people pleasing mentality!!! That's how I got myself into this mess!! Really when you think about it...why would you want to be "friends" or hang out with someone who does not value or respect you. If they did, they would be supportive...not ridicule you. So, all that said to say this....penny pinching is not fun, doing without is not easy, saving money is hard, making a budget and sticking to it is a lot of work, ridicule and belittling from others is not easy to take, BUT being debt free and having that security is soooooo worth it.

This and that...

As usual I start this post out with an apology for not posting in a while. I must confess that I have become quite addicted to facebook. The time I would usually spend updating my blog, I now spend on facebook. I hope to change all of that. Less time on facebook and more time to blog. But, I won't increase the time that I spend on the computer, so if I slip up and spend more time on facebook, then no updating blog. I refuse to increase my time on computer to do both. It's a personal decision that I had to make. I do not want my time with the Lord or with my family to suffer.
Now, with all that said...this morning I made my menu plan for dinners. I have went online to find different ideas. I tend to get stuck in a rut when cooking dinners. At the end of the day the last thing I want to do is think too hard about dinner. I like to pre-plan and have everything together where it's a no brainer. The dinners need to be cheap but healthy...hmmm, that's not always easy. But, I am very excited with garden season coming up! The down side is I only have room for a small garden, the good news is...fresh fruits and veggies are a lot cheaper during this time! I am on the lookout for meatless recipes where I can utitlize all those veggies!
This year I would also like to learn how to can. I have wanted to do this for a couple of years now...maybe this is the year! Fingers crossed! But, of course I will be freezing some fresh fruits and veggies, starting with strawberries! They are in season now....but keeping my family from devouring them before I can freeze them is a different story! Lol!
My stockpiling of food is going pretty well. I still have a long way to go, but I am doing a lot better than I used to. My goal of having 3 to 6 months of food on hand is still not met...I guess I have maybe 3 weeks worth stockpiled. But, I am still plugging away at it...slowly!
This weekend I was able to go to GW boutique (GoodWill)and find some great things. I found Autumn 2 shirts(one from Izod and the other from Children's Place)and a pair of jeans and capris from Old Navy. I even found Trent 2 pairs of shorts and a pair of jeans...I can't remember the brand of those. And lastly, I found Jeff a pair of Lee brand shorts. All of this for $24!! Love GW!!
Little things like this make a huge impact on your budget. If I was to go to a store and buy this...could you imagine how much I would spend?!
So, there you go a quick update. Hopefully I will stay on top of my blogging!! Until next time.....

Vacation

Well, our vacation was a success! We stayed in our local area and had a blast!! Everyone agreed that while we loved the beach, this vacation was just as fun! We went hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway, played in rivers, and enjoyed all the fun that the mountains has to offer. The only expensive thing that we did was go to Dollywood in Tennessee. We went after 3 p.m. to get our tickets. We didn't have to stand in any lines to ride the rides and the best part was because we got there after 3, the next day we got in for free!!! So, we got a day and a half out of a one day ticket! Believe me when I say...that's plenty! We were all exhausted!!!
I was not looking forward to this vacation, I was upset we weren't able to go to the beach. But, I can honestly say this was one of the best vacations that our family has had in a long time. We enjoyed each other and we enjoyed nature. God is Good!!!

Dreaming of the beach....

Usually our family goes once a year to the beach for vacation. This year...it may not be happening. In fact, as I sit here and type this, I do not see any financial way that we can afford it this year.
I am really struggling with this because the kids really look forward to it...heck, I look forward to it! When we go... we do it frugally, I cook and we do free activities. But, looking at the price of accommodations...Geesh! It's not looking good. Then you add in that we are trying to get out of debt and any of our extra money needs to be going to chip away at that. Well, even if we could find a place should we go?
Again, it makes me so disgusted with myself for allowing us to get into the debt we have. I feel guilty for not being able to give my children special memories. Did I mention the kids talk about going to the beach all year?! Ugh!
I'm looking, hoping and praying to find some awesome and cheap activities for the family to do around here. I'm still bummed about not going to the beach! But, I won't allow myself to wallow in self pity. So, I am in search of cool things to do around here. Now to convince the family and myself that it will be just as fun as the beach....

Menu plan

I have been tweaking my menu plan just a little. I am trying to trim down my meat even more. In the winter it was easy, I just added more soups. Summer is a bit more difficult. We finally have propane for the grill, and I love to grill. But, our budget is not allowing a lot of meat. If anyone has any suggestions....PLEASE let me know!
Now on to the menu plan for this week:

Crock pot Mac-n-cheese and tuna franks
Beefy baked beans and potato salad
Homemade pizza
Stuffed shells (no meat)
Hamburgers (camping with Mom and Dad)
Lemon Pepper chicken (It was a HUGE hit with family)
Tuna casserole
Breakfast casserole

Snacks:
Homemade brownies
Homemade rice krispie treats
Cake with homemade icing
grapes
bananas
cheese

Breakfast:
pop tarts
waffles
Egg sandwiches

Lunch:
Sandwiches and fruit

I found absolutely no deals in meat so far this week! Bummer! But, I want to start learning to cook vegetarian meals. I have no creativity in this area...so I will search for some good cheap veggie meals. My garden is starting to grow and with it being summer, I'm hoping to really stock up on some awesome veggie deals to freeze. I am also wanting to learn how to can veggies. So, we tighten up our belt once again. Gas is starting to go back up and my hours at work has been cut way back. I must confess that I wasn't sticking to my grocery budget for the past month, but now that's not an option. Back to clipping coupons, looking for deals and being more frugal than I was in May!

A bargain or not....

While at Wal-Mart, I found this hair color for $2.97! Now, I am always on the look out for a bargain! My roots were starting to show a bit, so I gave it a try. I only color my hair once every 2 months or so...that would be around $1.50 a month for color! Lol!
It is a basic coloring kit, no thrills here. It had conditioner, but for only one application. The color was true to the box, I was completely satisfied with how it colored my hair. It took a little longer than I usually spend; I usually leave color on for 15 to 20 minutes and this called for 25 minutes. But, the color was nice and shiny! The only problem I have with this is the conditioner. It didn't have a pretty smell to it...it wasn't bad, but it just wasn't a fragrance I would have chosen! Lol! I like the kits with the conditioner that has a weekly treatment for a month, this had only one application. Now as far as conditioners goes, it was okay...so I really can't complain about it...except the smell of it! Lol! But, I will have to buy an intensive conditioner or hot oil treatment for a $2 or $3 to make up for the fact I don't have a weekly treatment. But, my hair is fine and breaks easily...so if you don't have that problem you may get by without buying anything additional. So, it may have cost me $2.97, but you add the additional conditioning treatments for $2 or $3...and well, I might have saved a dollar or two. I don't usually spend a lot on my color kits (I'm cheap! Remember!). I never spend more than $8 for a color kit and MOST of the time it's less with coupons.
If your hair doesn't need a lot of conditioning like mine does...go for it! In my opinion, it's a nice product...just needs more conditioner with a different smell! Okay! Okay! I will be quiet about the smell!.

Yea! Grocery amount was under budget!

WOOOO HOOOO! I was able to get my 2 week grocery budget under $150! I spent around $130 this go around. I was able to find some great markdowns on some meat! Ingles had family packs of chicken thighs marked down to $3!! I can't remember off hand the price of my other meat find, but it was sirloin tips and I was excited! We hardly ever have beef because it is so expensive. It's usually chicken, ground turkey, and tuna for this family! Aldis is a life saver! I LOVE Aldis! They really help keep my grocery budget intact! When the cashier finished ringing everything up...and my buggy was all the way to the top with no room left, she asked me to guess my amount. It was $83! She was as amazed as I was! Then with the meat buys I got at Ingles and Super Wal-Mart...the total was $134. God is so good!
I had all intentions of taking a picture for everyone to see just how much I got, but my hubby and son went to putting away the groceries pretty quick!
I am wanting to start stockpiling some groceries...I just need to figure out how to budget it and what to get. If anyone can offer up suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I have read where a case lot of food is the cheapest...but how do I go about getting that...where and how much am I looking at. I learn so much from you ladies on your blog!! Thanks for all the wisdom!!

ONE CREDIT CARD PAID OFF!!!!

Well! It's finally happened we have our first credit card paid off!! I'm so excited! We still have a very long way to go...but it feels like we are FINALLY making some progress! Our debt snowball is finally rolling!! Lucky for you guys...you can't see me doing my happy Snoopy dance!! Lol!
We have gotten used to our strict budget and (speaking for myself) I don't feel like it's a sacrifice to be on it anymore. I don't miss a thing! I don't miss eating out and shopping all the time at all. Our life has become simpler and more enjoyable. I LOVE finding bargains! I LOVE shopping at thrift stores, Goodwill and consignment shops!! I LOVE trying to improve my grocery budget and trying to get the money part lower and the actual groceries brought home to be more! It's such a RUSH to save money! I could really kick myself for not living like this before! Ugh! But, that is the past, and well....I need to stop living in the past! There is nothing I can do about it but learn. And BOY DID I LEARN!!! Lol!

God has been so good and gracious to us to allow us to pay off this credit card! So....ON WITH THE SNOOPY DANCE!!! And I hope there are LOTS more Snoopy dances to come!!!

Weekly Wrap-up

It's Friday already!!
I have just finished with all of my cleaning. I like to clean really well on Friday because during the weekend cleaning is not a priority. I have gotten caught up on all of my laundry and now just have to put it away. I will vacuum out my van today too before I pick up the kids at school. I was going to start digging out the summer clothes to take to the consignment shop....but, that will have to wait until Monday. I am cooking my chicken and will have chicken tonight; as well as; freeze some for other meals.
Now for the weekly wrap-up!
I did my menu plan for the next 2 weeks and went grocery shopping. I was able to lower my bill slightly, but this shopping trip there were no cleaning supplies like detergent. I called the cell phone provider and dropped my coverage to the lowest plan available. We did not eat out at all this week and I made everything from scratch. I was able to work at the Bridal shop more this week than I had in the past...a total of 10.5 hours this week and I will have the Bridal show this Saturday(I will take my lunch to this too!). There were no purchases made on anything! This week has been a success on the frugal front. However, emotionally it has been rather draining (note the prior post!). Spiritually, I feel God is showing me things and doing things in my life that will help me in the long run, but boy do they hurt now! I am trying to keep myself out of a shame spiral for allowing some things to go on in my life. I am surrendering things in Prayer more than I have in the past and trying to place my trust completely on my Heavenly Father! Each time I feel myself thinking about or trying to take the burden back that I just prayed about I remind myself of God's love for me and that He has it under control! Although this week was very trying in some areas, I feel it was a success!
I wish everyone a great weekend! I'm unsure if I will be able to post anything during the weekend. If not, I will catch everyone up on Monday!

Bi-weekly Grocery Shopping done!

This shopping trip was a small victory for me. I got my bill lower! I shopped at Aldis and picked up most of my list. I will list below what I got and the cost of each item. If you have never shopped at Aldis, it is much cheaper than our local Ingles Markets and even Wal-Mart!

Black Beans @ $.55
1 pound ground turkey chubs @ $1.19
Cream of Chicken soup @ $.49
Cream of Mushroom soup @ $.49
Canned Tuna in water @ $.57
Canned Pink Salmon @ $1.99
Italian Bread Crumbs @ $.89
Spaghetti Sauce @ $.99
Tomato Sauce @ $.25
Canned Mandarin Oranges @ $.45
Navel Oranges @ $1.99 (6 in a bag)
Baby Carrots @ $.99
3 cups of shredded Colby Cheese @ $2.99
Egg Noodles @ $.99
Cream Cheese @ $.99
House Blend Coffee @ $2.99
Roma Tomatoes @ $1.49 (6 in container)
Cooking Spray @ $1.29
Parmesan Cheese @ $2.39
1 gallon of 2% Milk @ $2.89
Popcorn @ $1.49 (microwaveable 10 pack)
Bananas @ $.45 a pound
Mini Marshmallows @ $.79
Bread @ $.89
Sweet Onions @ $1.79 (5 per bag)
Canned Mixed Veggies @ $.55
Raisins @ $1.79


I got 4 ground turkey chubs and several soups for casseroles, so I may have listed the item once, but I got more in some items. I quickly went to Wal-Mart (which is across the street)and found a pack of cut up chicken for $.98 a pound! I also got some luncheon meat that was on sale for $2.83, Southwestern Style Egg Beaters @ $2.89and a pack of 10 hangers for $1.25. I will use the hangers to replace the wire ones I have and use the wire ones to take some more clothes to the consignment shop. I made my Wal-Mart trip quick and stuck to the perimeter of the the store...meat, diary, fruits and veggies. That way I had no temptations to battle! Although I didn't get some items on my list due to price (potatoes are getting expensive!), I was able to buy a pack of chicken that can be cooked and divided for more than one meal to replace them.
So, here it is.....usually I spend around $150 for 2 weeks, this time I was able to spend $100!!! That is $50 a week and I have a small stock pile of some items. A small victory for the pocket book!