January 6th, 2008

This year has definitely started off better than last year. I finally have some goals set. I have given myself some parameters within which to operate. Watching Jane4girls and her $800 a year grocery budget really made me start to think about setting goals and how to reach them. So, for this year, I have made some goals. I will not call them resolutions, those are just made to be broken, kind of like diets.

First and foremost, each month I will have a written budget for that month before the month begins! Ala Dave Ramsey, spending every dime on paper. Sticking to that budget 100% and if something has to change, knowing that I will have to move it from somewhere else (another category). Any money left over at the end of the month will be moved to savings.

I have started a savings category for bills that will come occasionally, like car insurance and property taxes and will take them out monthly so there is not a problem (read:panic) when they are due.

Things like car maintenance and clothes and furniture replacement....these all need to be funded, but just a little at a time. And, I will keep an emergency fund that is truly designated just for that. A true emergency.

Now on to the food budget. Right now, I'll admit, I am a little chicken. I have it set higher than I think I need it. I set it at $300 a month for our family of four. (2 teenage sons, dh and myself) We do have a fair amount of things stockpiled, but I have not been keeping track of anything for the last 2 1/2 months and I want to make sure we are in good shape before I lower it. Does that mean I will spend that much? I sure hope not! I am aiming a lot lower. I just have to get dh back in the habit of not running to Walmart and overpaying for cokes.

Start Planning Early! Posted 01-14-2009 at 06:03:17 AM by kmmmom I am not a planner. My youngest is going to college in the fall. He is very bright and we are searching for the right fit for him to continue his education. I've always heard that you need to start planning in their Junior year. I figured we had plenty of time. Now all the sudden, we are running up against deadlines and we really have no clue where he wants to go. I hate for him to apply at tons of colleges (and have to pay the application fees to each one) if they are not the right ones for him.... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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One is the Lonliest Number Posted 01-13-2009 at 07:46:08 AM by kmmmom We have a busy house. My kids are always running in and out. The school teams have given way to jobs and dating and college courses. I only have one left in high school and it's his last year. He is also taking a college course this semester. Tonight was the first night of classes. Since my son doesn't drive yet, my husband had to take him to his 3 hour class. My daughter's classes started tonight. My other son had left for work. So here I was. Sitting here all by myself. I don't know... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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How to Clean Your House Posted 01-12-2009 at 08:57:50 AM by kmmmom I have a wonderful home with a husband and three great kids. I have 2 playful dogs. I have what I consider normal "clutter" all over the house. I clean up some, we mess up some. It's a never ending cycle. The thing is, over the years, I have come to embrace our "lifestyle" of a messy house. After all, I reason that my kids will remember the fun we had and the games we played far more than they will remember that my linens were ironed and my kitchen was always spotless. There... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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I'll Stop Procrastinating......Tomo rrow Posted 01-11-2009 at 09:23:40 AM by kmmmom I lost money today. Again. It's my own fault. I didn't loose it out of my purse or pocket. I didn't misplace it. I lost it because I am a major league procrastinator. I lost it by missing a great sale with great coupons. I had several coupons that would have garnered me free or close to free items today. I could have gotten enough Reynolds Wrap to last me the rest of the year. I had the coupons, but because it was the last day of the sale, they were out of stock at Walgreens. I know,... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Wii Want to Play Posted 01-10-2009 at 04:23:18 AM by kmmmom Let me preface this by saying, I am not a big video game player. I love to play boardgames like Life and Clue and Scrabble. I have spent many Saturday afternoons playing Risk or Yahtzee or Monopoly with my children. I love the time my family has spent bonding over the cards or dice or pencil and paper in Pictionary. But then, the children got older. The days of sitting with Mom and putting together a puzzle became further and further apart. I was loosing my appeal. There was a new game in town.... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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