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.

Road Trip Posted 01-20-2009 at 01:55:14 PM by kmmmom I am approaching today with guarded optimism. My youngest son is a senior in high school. Today we are headed to Alabama to check out a school that has offered him a full scholarship. I know that i's a fantastic opportunity for him to go to college for free, but, it's 8 hours from our home. This is the child who would not stay overnight at summer camp even though his older siblings were there with him. He is a homebody. He is beginning to get excited about the possiblities of college. We honestly... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Sunday Mornings Posted 01-18-2009 at 02:47:17 PM by kmmmom There is just something relaxing about Sunday mornings. It's quiet. I'm usually up before the sun. It's peaceful. No kids yet, the dogs are usually sleeping. (I can hear the gentle snoring of my pug who is curled up on the back of the sofa) I get up in the morning. I slip on my tennis shoes (they look fantastic with my fluffy light blue robe) and trek out to locate where the paperboy might have hidden my paper for the day. I only have so many trees and bushes he can hide it under, but... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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giveaways Posted 01-17-2009 at 03:06:52 PM by kmmmom hotSacks and lounge socks jane4girls is having another great giveaway. She is giving away a set of hotSacks to one lucky reader. These are like the bags you buy at Kroger or Meijers to use instead of those wasteful plastic bags. But, they are free from adverstisements. This is a really great prize. I hope everyone enters. JANE4girls $800 Annual Budget For A Family of 4 Another giveaway that I found (through erin's site) is for some fabulous soft lounge... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Warmth Posted 01-16-2009 at 01:18:23 PM by kmmmom No matter how much I want to complain about the high cost of heating, nights like tonight put everything into perspective. It is -2 here right now. That's before the wind chill factor is added in. Schools in the area are canceled. The news keeps going over again and again on how to protect yourself if you absolutely must go out. Then, they keep showing a piece about how the homeless shelters are filled to capacity. These people who are crammed in there would have no chance of survival if they were... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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Making contact Posted 01-15-2009 at 07:56:24 AM by kmmmom Have you ever wondered how people score those fantastic coupons for frees or high value $$$ off items? One of the best ways I have found is to contact the companies. People think to complain when things are bad, but what about letting a company know when they are doing good. You may be surprised at the results. I have gotten free coupons for seapak shrimp, country bob bbq sauce, pledge, toothpaste, dog food and a plethora of other things. All I did was email and compliment the company on their product.... Continue reading... kmmmom Member of the month - August 08

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