Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I've Fallen In Love......
I've fallen in love...with nothing materialistic...but simply a bible verse. Since day one, Dave Ramsey has given us this verse and I have fallen in love with it:
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain"
--Proverbs 31:10-11
Tonights Lesson" The Role of Insurance"-- am really interested in this because since day one of being a grown up and paying for insurance- I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT! So hopefully I will have many of my questions- answered!
As for our budget- well-- I've began to do all the figuring/totaling to see how far over/under we are! I can tell you though that we paid off a big chunk of debt this month and that was a huge plus! I can also tell you that we got 75% of Christmas bought, and paid for, in cash! We also were able to pay for an $800 pickup repair, in cash, plus an additional $100 in parts. (This repair wasn't budgeted, in ink, since we were unsure of what the final figure would be!)
And now-- it's the end of the month--- and we get to start this all over again. I know now why he said it takes 3 months to make a budget work, because you don't budget for somethings, and some things, you over budget for! So- we are starting to get the hang of this!
Finally, I do want to express that I'm tried of the budgeting remarks being made. First off- EVERYONE-YES EVERYONE- should operate on a monthly budget. Hardly anyone does because they don't have the will power, the discipline, or the want to. Lots of people can't do a budget because, plain and simple, they don't want to take the time and see how careless they are with their money.
REASONS WE SHOULD ALL DO A MONTHLY BUDGET:
1. A written plan removes the management by crisis from your finances.
2. Managed money goes farther.
3. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will remove much of the guilt, shame, and fear that may now be a part of buying necessities such as food or clothing.
3. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will remove alot of stress from your life. (VERY TRUE)
4. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will show if you are OVERSPENDING.
I was recently having a conversation amongst a group of people, and one was about to make a big purchase for something. They remarked: "But it's 0% financing for X months"-- I wanted to stand up, scream, and shout, NO NO NO NO NO you CRAZY person! Don't ever ever ever finance anything other than cars and homes in your life! When you walk into a store to buy something, you either pay cash, or take what cash you do have and save it up to buy it. Chances are, you take all that cash with you in the store, throw it on the table, and 9 times out of 10, you will get a 15-20% just from paying cash. If they don't offer you that discount- then you walk out of that store-WITH YOUR CASH-and take it to the next store. They make other "things" like the "thing" you are wanting. You don't HAVE to buy it there. You don't have to STRESS about a monthly payment when you pay for it in CASH!
OFF MY SOAP BOX! (until tomorrow!)
"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain"
--Proverbs 31:10-11
Tonights Lesson" The Role of Insurance"-- am really interested in this because since day one of being a grown up and paying for insurance- I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD IT! So hopefully I will have many of my questions- answered!
As for our budget- well-- I've began to do all the figuring/totaling to see how far over/under we are! I can tell you though that we paid off a big chunk of debt this month and that was a huge plus! I can also tell you that we got 75% of Christmas bought, and paid for, in cash! We also were able to pay for an $800 pickup repair, in cash, plus an additional $100 in parts. (This repair wasn't budgeted, in ink, since we were unsure of what the final figure would be!)
And now-- it's the end of the month--- and we get to start this all over again. I know now why he said it takes 3 months to make a budget work, because you don't budget for somethings, and some things, you over budget for! So- we are starting to get the hang of this!
Finally, I do want to express that I'm tried of the budgeting remarks being made. First off- EVERYONE-YES EVERYONE- should operate on a monthly budget. Hardly anyone does because they don't have the will power, the discipline, or the want to. Lots of people can't do a budget because, plain and simple, they don't want to take the time and see how careless they are with their money.
REASONS WE SHOULD ALL DO A MONTHLY BUDGET:
1. A written plan removes the management by crisis from your finances.
2. Managed money goes farther.
3. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will remove much of the guilt, shame, and fear that may now be a part of buying necessities such as food or clothing.
3. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will remove alot of stress from your life. (VERY TRUE)
4. A written plan, if actually lived and agreed on, will show if you are OVERSPENDING.
I was recently having a conversation amongst a group of people, and one was about to make a big purchase for something. They remarked: "But it's 0% financing for X months"-- I wanted to stand up, scream, and shout, NO NO NO NO NO you CRAZY person! Don't ever ever ever finance anything other than cars and homes in your life! When you walk into a store to buy something, you either pay cash, or take what cash you do have and save it up to buy it. Chances are, you take all that cash with you in the store, throw it on the table, and 9 times out of 10, you will get a 15-20% just from paying cash. If they don't offer you that discount- then you walk out of that store-WITH YOUR CASH-and take it to the next store. They make other "things" like the "thing" you are wanting. You don't HAVE to buy it there. You don't have to STRESS about a monthly payment when you pay for it in CASH!
OFF MY SOAP BOX! (until tomorrow!)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Here lately.......
Yes, I know, it has been quite a while since I last blogged, but for very good reason. What time I did have available here lately to blog, I had been using to game plan a strategy for black Friday! My mother and I hit the shopping trail Thursday evening at 8:30, and returned back at 9 on Friday morning. I don't think I could have gone another minute. I was completely zonked! We did however get some incredible deals and got a huge chunk marked off our lists! Yay for us!!
Thanksgiving was filled with many blessings. Our weekend started with an engagement party for Jeremy's cousin. Then a day full of food and laughter on Thursday at Mimi's house. Black Friday shopping then game, then the day of recuperating was what happened for the remainder of the day. My husband, was by far, AMAZING! He kept the girls while I shopped but as I got home, I really, so badly, just wanted to sleep. My husband let me sleep, well Jentri slept with me, while he watched Jaylee. He then woke me up for lunch. I cleaned the mess, got Jentri and went BACK to bed...woke back up about 5:30 (because he woke me up questioning if I was going to sleep all day) and so I just got up and moved to the couch and slept some more! All the while he was playing Betty Crocker and making homemade dough for some jalapeno cheddar kolaches! We then ate supper, cleaned that mess up, watched Elf on the Shelf with Jaylee. This is a new tradition we are starting this year! Then we all got the dough back out, kneaded it and started rolling it out. Jaylee had a BLAST! She had already taken a bath prior to this activity, but we ended back up in the tub afterwards. She had flour from head to toe and all over her face/hair...it was caked into her hair! I loved every minute of it! Then Saturday was another day of Thanksgiving with the Lowe Family....then my husband and I attended the local Brazos Stone dance afterwards. THANK YOU MOM FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE A DATE! We don't ever get an OFFER extended to us to keep our kids that allow us to do anything by ourselves anymore, so THANK YOU MOM, you are truly a sweet, giving, mother who thinks about not only our kids, but our marriage and how important that is from time to time!
Sunday was quite the lazy day. Got up and made pies for my mother's birthday, took the girls and myself to church while Jeremy slept. He was not feeling too well....strep throat/flu perhaps!? Anyways..... he was pretty crummy all day yesterday....but seemed to be better yesterday evening! Then, the time came....Jeremy began to pack his pickup and the meltdown began. I knew it.....we got spoiled to having him for 4 days and 4 nights with us......and Jaylee knew immediately as he began to load his pickup what was about to happen. She held onto me tightly and bawled saying numerous times "I want my Daddy, I don't want him to leave".... Jeremy came back in.... and well....you can imagine the heartbreak for him. He ended up just staying last night and getting up at 2:30 to leave. Poor guy! I can't imagine having to drive at 2:30 then having to put in a full day after that. Which by the way, he has been at this job now for ONE YEAR as of this weekend! Can you believe that!?!? YAY! Here comes the 4 weeks PAID vacation! Here comes the Christmas bonus!!! And sadly, this lifestyle.....continues.....but I will look on the positive and know that "This too Shall Pass", " This is not forever" and "I am blessed that we are both happy, healthy, and employed!"
Thanksgiving was filled with many blessings. Our weekend started with an engagement party for Jeremy's cousin. Then a day full of food and laughter on Thursday at Mimi's house. Black Friday shopping then game, then the day of recuperating was what happened for the remainder of the day. My husband, was by far, AMAZING! He kept the girls while I shopped but as I got home, I really, so badly, just wanted to sleep. My husband let me sleep, well Jentri slept with me, while he watched Jaylee. He then woke me up for lunch. I cleaned the mess, got Jentri and went BACK to bed...woke back up about 5:30 (because he woke me up questioning if I was going to sleep all day) and so I just got up and moved to the couch and slept some more! All the while he was playing Betty Crocker and making homemade dough for some jalapeno cheddar kolaches! We then ate supper, cleaned that mess up, watched Elf on the Shelf with Jaylee. This is a new tradition we are starting this year! Then we all got the dough back out, kneaded it and started rolling it out. Jaylee had a BLAST! She had already taken a bath prior to this activity, but we ended back up in the tub afterwards. She had flour from head to toe and all over her face/hair...it was caked into her hair! I loved every minute of it! Then Saturday was another day of Thanksgiving with the Lowe Family....then my husband and I attended the local Brazos Stone dance afterwards. THANK YOU MOM FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE A DATE! We don't ever get an OFFER extended to us to keep our kids that allow us to do anything by ourselves anymore, so THANK YOU MOM, you are truly a sweet, giving, mother who thinks about not only our kids, but our marriage and how important that is from time to time!
Sunday was quite the lazy day. Got up and made pies for my mother's birthday, took the girls and myself to church while Jeremy slept. He was not feeling too well....strep throat/flu perhaps!? Anyways..... he was pretty crummy all day yesterday....but seemed to be better yesterday evening! Then, the time came....Jeremy began to pack his pickup and the meltdown began. I knew it.....we got spoiled to having him for 4 days and 4 nights with us......and Jaylee knew immediately as he began to load his pickup what was about to happen. She held onto me tightly and bawled saying numerous times "I want my Daddy, I don't want him to leave".... Jeremy came back in.... and well....you can imagine the heartbreak for him. He ended up just staying last night and getting up at 2:30 to leave. Poor guy! I can't imagine having to drive at 2:30 then having to put in a full day after that. Which by the way, he has been at this job now for ONE YEAR as of this weekend! Can you believe that!?!? YAY! Here comes the 4 weeks PAID vacation! Here comes the Christmas bonus!!! And sadly, this lifestyle.....continues.....but I will look on the positive and know that "This too Shall Pass", " This is not forever" and "I am blessed that we are both happy, healthy, and employed!"
Monday, November 21, 2011
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to my Mom!
Here's to someone who is such an inspiration and a wonderful role model! I definitely almost caused her several strokes.....but our relationship only grew stronger because of it. She has shaped me into the person that I am today. Not many children are blessed to have such a talented, amazing, giving, caring, loving, and as grammatically in-tuned mother as I am. No one also is as lucky as me to have the Bible Nazi as their mother either. Whenever I'm struggling with my faith or need a pep-- I know I can always have a prayer or bible verse within minutes, almost seconds, through an e-mail. It's almost therapeutic! I love e-mailing my problems to her and always within moments getting a direct response! She helps me make many mothering decisions as well as life long decisions. I don't know of one big obstacle in life that I haven't gone to her for advice. My most recent memory is sending her my usual "need your advice email" and her response this time was "You always get me to thinking!" I loved it! I always said I never wanted to be my mother, but since I've become a mom, I want to be nothing less than the wonderful Mom that she was to us. Looking back on my childhood, I cannot imagine raising three girls, by myself, working a full time job and having no child support. There are many many days that I think "how the hell did she ever do this-- those years by herself" when comparing my current lifestyle to hers.... but with the exception of me being continually blessed by a wonderful husband who loves his children and his wife more than life itself. I know that she will tell anyone that she wouldn't have made it without continuous faith and prayer. She will tell you that it was hard leaving my Dad, and to make that decision......but she did what was best! My mother is awesome! She's the rock that holds us all together! I know that my Grandmother would be extremely proud of her and all that she has become and made of herself. I look at her life and I think "Wow! To have a successful career, without a college degree, that she has moved up in all because she WANTED better for herself and her retirement, to look back upon three daughters who are college graduates, happily married with children, and a son who is on his way of becoming a man himself as well. To have 4 christian children who try diligently, day after day to live their life according to the christian example that was set before them. To be blessed with 7 grandchildren who love their Nana to the moon and back! To be at her age and to accomplish what all she has accomplished--- I can only think of that bible verse that says in Luke 19:17 "Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant!" Here's to you Mom....and Many Many more happy, healthy, years!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
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