Is there a purgatory? Why does God let babies die? How can I forgive my unfaithful husband? These and dozens more of life's hardest questions are addressed in "Max on Life" by Max Lucado. Each page of this book answered a different question. If I was struggling with one of the specific areas touched on in Mr. Lucado's book, I likely would have really benefited from reading it. While the content of this book is bang on, I find Mr. Lucado's writing style relate-able but tedious. My favorite parts of the book were his quotes from C.S.Lewis. Then again, who can compare to C.S.Lewis? I have no doubt some people will be greatly encouraged and helped by this book but I wasn't one of them.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Taking Frugality to a Whole New Level
Since we are a single income family, out of necessity, I've taken stretching a penny to a whole new level. Some websites on saving money have given me some wonderful tips. Others....not so much. For example, waiting until the Gap is having a 30% off sale IS NOT being frugal! I've heard it once said that if you take care of the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves. Too true my friend too true. So for all of you out there that need to learn how to watch your pennies, I'm going to give you some of my tips.
1. Seriously avoid restaurants and coffee shops. You've likely heard this a thousand times over $20 a week on coffee and lunches times 52 weeks is $1040! You could go on a cruise once a year instead. If your coworker or friend insists, pack two lunches - one for them and one for you. You'd still be WAAAAY ahead financially.
2. Learn to cut hair. Yes you CAN do it!!! A guy's hair cut is not that hard. Youtube is a great (FREE) teacher. Practice on your young son's head before tackling your hubby's h$ead if it'll make you feel better. Money saved? $20/month
3. Recognize the amount of clothing you have vs. what you really need. If you were packing for a week away, what would you bring? Other then specialty items - snowsuits etc, whatever you would pack in that suitcase is really all you need. There has to be a change in outlook for true saving to begin.
4. $1.00 for a cake mix is tooooo much! You still have to add the egg and oil and those are the expensive ingredients. The flour, sugar and baking soda is worth all of approx $0.15 and you're only saving yourself 5 minutes. Rethink the value all premades.
5. Oddly enough decluttering is great for saving money. The less you have the less you seem to need. Mess begets mess, stuff begets more stuff. The only way to true financial freedom is to learn that YOU DON'T NEED IT. ("it" being whatever you are drawn to that doesn't actually keep you alive.
6. If you drink wine, make it yourself. If you go in with a friend or two and split up the batches you each make at a u-brew store, it's a blast and save an incredible amount of money.
7. Spending some money saves you a lot of money sometimes. Regularly,get the car tuned up, your teeth checked, furnace filters changed, buy proper running shoes. The problems that will arise from not maintaining the things you own will cost you more in the long run.
8. Don't rent movies. You'd be amazed at what you get at the library. And except for school curriculum or bible studies, I only buy books from yardsales if they are under 50 cents each. How often do you really reread a book? Think library, library, library.
9. Believe it or not, all your son needs in the way of toys is a bike, a ball, and some blocks. Oh and the occasional big cardboard box. Our society is choking itself on a mirade of toys! Stop the madness and watch your child's imagination soar.
10. Scale back on birthday parties. My son came home from a party not that long ago with a loot bag easily worth $20! Too bad I know that the family is swimming in debt. For a loot bag I bake huge cookes suckers and wrap them in cello. If we make a craft during the party, that's part of the loot bag. I also refuse to try and keep up with the Jones in the gift department too cuz the Jones are in debt and I refuse to follow them there.
I have started to try and teach my children the art of money smarts. I don't allow them to impulse buy period and I don't let them buy junk from the dollar store. $1 for junk is $1 wasted.
I'd love for you to comment with your own helpful tips. Let's all get out of the money spending madness together.
1. Seriously avoid restaurants and coffee shops. You've likely heard this a thousand times over $20 a week on coffee and lunches times 52 weeks is $1040! You could go on a cruise once a year instead. If your coworker or friend insists, pack two lunches - one for them and one for you. You'd still be WAAAAY ahead financially.
2. Learn to cut hair. Yes you CAN do it!!! A guy's hair cut is not that hard. Youtube is a great (FREE) teacher. Practice on your young son's head before tackling your hubby's h$ead if it'll make you feel better. Money saved? $20/month
3. Recognize the amount of clothing you have vs. what you really need. If you were packing for a week away, what would you bring? Other then specialty items - snowsuits etc, whatever you would pack in that suitcase is really all you need. There has to be a change in outlook for true saving to begin.
4. $1.00 for a cake mix is tooooo much! You still have to add the egg and oil and those are the expensive ingredients. The flour, sugar and baking soda is worth all of approx $0.15 and you're only saving yourself 5 minutes. Rethink the value all premades.
5. Oddly enough decluttering is great for saving money. The less you have the less you seem to need. Mess begets mess, stuff begets more stuff. The only way to true financial freedom is to learn that YOU DON'T NEED IT. ("it" being whatever you are drawn to that doesn't actually keep you alive.
6. If you drink wine, make it yourself. If you go in with a friend or two and split up the batches you each make at a u-brew store, it's a blast and save an incredible amount of money.
7. Spending some money saves you a lot of money sometimes. Regularly,get the car tuned up, your teeth checked, furnace filters changed, buy proper running shoes. The problems that will arise from not maintaining the things you own will cost you more in the long run.
8. Don't rent movies. You'd be amazed at what you get at the library. And except for school curriculum or bible studies, I only buy books from yardsales if they are under 50 cents each. How often do you really reread a book? Think library, library, library.
9. Believe it or not, all your son needs in the way of toys is a bike, a ball, and some blocks. Oh and the occasional big cardboard box. Our society is choking itself on a mirade of toys! Stop the madness and watch your child's imagination soar.
10. Scale back on birthday parties. My son came home from a party not that long ago with a loot bag easily worth $20! Too bad I know that the family is swimming in debt. For a loot bag I bake huge cookes suckers and wrap them in cello. If we make a craft during the party, that's part of the loot bag. I also refuse to try and keep up with the Jones in the gift department too cuz the Jones are in debt and I refuse to follow them there.
I have started to try and teach my children the art of money smarts. I don't allow them to impulse buy period and I don't let them buy junk from the dollar store. $1 for junk is $1 wasted.
I'd love for you to comment with your own helpful tips. Let's all get out of the money spending madness together.
Monday, April 11, 2011
"The Fight of Our Lives"
Book Review Time
I just finished "The Fight of Our Lives" by William J. Bennett and Seth Leisbsohn and am slightly shaken up. The catch line on the cover is "Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth & Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam. Admittedly, before reading this book I followed the media-fed, prevalent school of thought that the war going on in the Middle East needed to be ended. But as this book pointed out, since when has the war against terrorism become something we need to end instead of win? Why are we so afraid to call muslim terrorists by that name since that's what they call themselves? Why do we feel the need to protect "moderate" muslims if they don't stand up and rebuke these extremists? When a "christian" bombs an abortion clinic, the rest of the christian community immediately stands up and cries out against this travesty.
"The Fight of Our Lives" answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I should be asking. It isn't an easy read but definitely one worth reading.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I just finished "The Fight of Our Lives" by William J. Bennett and Seth Leisbsohn and am slightly shaken up. The catch line on the cover is "Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth & Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam. Admittedly, before reading this book I followed the media-fed, prevalent school of thought that the war going on in the Middle East needed to be ended. But as this book pointed out, since when has the war against terrorism become something we need to end instead of win? Why are we so afraid to call muslim terrorists by that name since that's what they call themselves? Why do we feel the need to protect "moderate" muslims if they don't stand up and rebuke these extremists? When a "christian" bombs an abortion clinic, the rest of the christian community immediately stands up and cries out against this travesty.
"The Fight of Our Lives" answered a lot of questions I didn't even know I should be asking. It isn't an easy read but definitely one worth reading.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Monday, April 4, 2011
Math books and Jean Jumpers
A few days ago I took the hand of a friend of mine who has homeschooled for a couple of years now and braved my first homeschooling curriculum fair. Suddenly I wished I hadn't dyed half of my head bright red and why on earth did wearing tight, though comfy, yoga pants seem like a good idea? To be honest there were lots of woman who would describe their sense of fashion with the same adjectives as I would.(I used the word "adjective" cuz I homeschool.) In fact awhile back I took the kids to the library during the day and a woman there asked me if I homeschooled. When I replied, "Yes.", she said she did too. This woman was as goth punk as ever you've seen and with joy and delight I took this woman's hand and said,"Oh good! You don't look like you would own a jean jumper!" She laughed and I cried with relief. Could it be I was mistaken with my stereotyping? Is anyone every not mistaken with their stereotyping? I'm still not over my surgery from 3 weeks ago so the book fair wasn't as pleasant as it could have been. Holy Crowds Batman! I had no idea! There was more pushing and shoving at the bargain bins than at a blue light special! Okay I made that up but in truth you could see the look of hysteria behind many of those polite faces, mine included. I figure it cost me $1300 last year to homeschool and it'll cost me about $900 this year so if I can get a spelling book for 50% off, look out! I've got steel elbows and I ain't afraid to use them. (But I can't use the word ain't cuz I homeschool.)
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