While viewing Consumer Reports articles on the web in search of a new printer, I came across this new story. A 14-year old developed a science fair project and determined a way that we can all save money on printer ink.
Thank you Suvir Mirchandani for helping this frugal gal to save even more!
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Give us this Day, Our Daily Bread...
A couple of 2 loaf packs of bread for 74 cents to be exact.
Amen.
Cover (A) Girl
God's Holy Spirit is my make-up.
Regularly people say to me "You have such a gentle spirit about you" or "You're such a sweet person."
If only they knew where I was. If only they knew where I am.
God reminded me today in prayer with Him that He makes me beautiful. He covers up my sin with His grace. He makes the dark spots in me light with His love. I can take no credit whatsoever.
Only my God can cover a girl like me.
Regularly people say to me "You have such a gentle spirit about you" or "You're such a sweet person."
If only they knew where I was. If only they knew where I am.
God reminded me today in prayer with Him that He makes me beautiful. He covers up my sin with His grace. He makes the dark spots in me light with His love. I can take no credit whatsoever.
Only my God can cover a girl like me.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Treats from Daddy
Prior to the start of each month, Ross and I sit down to review our spending plan (budget). We begin that meeting with prayer and end it with prayer. The opening prayer is thanking God for His provision and asking Him for help to remember all the expenses for which we need to plan. Our closing prayer is asking Him to bless the budget that we've prepared and to cover us in those things that we may have missed.
Tithes and bills are a given in each budget. After these, we share any additional wants or needs with each other and make a decision as to whether or not to include them in our spending plan. I had on my list two items from Costco that were certainly wants, but definitely things that our family could use: a pencil sharpener and an air mattress.
Tithes and bills are a given in each budget. After these, we share any additional wants or needs with each other and make a decision as to whether or not to include them in our spending plan. I had on my list two items from Costco that were certainly wants, but definitely things that our family could use: a pencil sharpener and an air mattress.
|
8/1
|
Pencil Sharpener
|
|
20.00
|
|
8/1
|
School Supplies
|
|
20.00
|
|
8/1
|
Annapolis Trip
|
|
50.00
|
|
8/1
|
Annapolis-Hunter
|
|
|
|
8/1
|
Senators Cash I
|
x
|
15.00
|
|
8/1
|
Senators Cash II
|
|
15.00
|
|
8/1
|
Air Mattress
|
|
30.00
|
|
8/29
|
Bball Tailgate
|
|
40.00
|
|
8/1
|
Cat Food
|
|
15.00
|
|
8/1
|
Drive-in movie
|
|
50.00
|
|
8/1
|
Sneakers--Hunter
|
x
|
25.00
|
|
8/1
|
Sneakers--Blaise
|
x
|
20.00
|
|
8/15
|
Mom Birthday
|
|
30.00
|
|
8/5
|
ST Taxes Ross
|
x
|
343.00
|
|
8/5
|
ST Taxes Chanty
|
x
|
14.70
|
Yes, $20 for a pencil sharpener. But it's a good pencil sharpener. Last school year I was plagued by complaints about points breaking off in our 99 cent pencil sharpener and about how we have pencils but the sharpener doesn't work. Buying this $20 one would be more for my sanity then anything else which in my mind is priceless. The air mattress request stems from our camping interests and how Ross and I find it more uncomfortable with every passing year to sleep on the ground in our tent even with padding. We've talked about getting an air mattress for a while. It would also serve us in being used for overnight guests.
We agreed that we would put these items in our spending plan, but they would not be priorities and would likely be the first on the chopping block if we needed to downsize our spending for any unforeseen expenses. I was content with this.
Yesterday evening I went to get the mail and saw an envelope from Costco with my name and address handwritten on it. Inside was a letter apologizing for an error made in our recent membership payment along with a gift card for $50.42 to make up for the difference. My mind went right back to how we prayed over this month's spending plan and how God made allowance for my two requests. Certainly these items were not needs for my family, but God wanted us to have them just the same.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? Matthew 7:9-11
What blessing to have a Daddy treats me to good gifts that I do not deserve!
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Say Cheese!
Last evening was the final date to use a coupon voucher for a free birthday burger at Fuddrucker's for our son. Since Morgan had band practice and Ross had some meetings, I whipped out a BOGO 1/3 lb. burger coupon from our coupon book and we were set for dinner for three (me and the boys) for under $6.00.
We had already planned that I would have the birthday burger, since it was a smaller kid's burger, and the boys would get the 1/3 lb burgers. We had also talked ahead of time about what they could get on their burgers since there was a dollar charged for every topping on the menu. I gave them an allowance of one topping each in addition to having free reign of the no charge toppings at the bar (veggies and condiments).
Looking at the menu above the counter, it was difficult for me to determine whether or not they charged for cheese. I inquired of the cashier and she told us that, yes, there was a dollar charge for cheese. Thankfully, one of the offerings at the bar was hot nacho cheese. Ta-da! We got our cheeseburgers at no extra cost.
On the drive home, my mind started churning...this week Karns has Sargento cheese 8 oz. for $2 a bag. Would it be "cheesy" of me to bring cheese to Fuddruckers and put it on my burger as soon as it comes out to save myself a buck? Hmmm...talk about having your cheese and eating it, too.
We had already planned that I would have the birthday burger, since it was a smaller kid's burger, and the boys would get the 1/3 lb burgers. We had also talked ahead of time about what they could get on their burgers since there was a dollar charged for every topping on the menu. I gave them an allowance of one topping each in addition to having free reign of the no charge toppings at the bar (veggies and condiments).
Looking at the menu above the counter, it was difficult for me to determine whether or not they charged for cheese. I inquired of the cashier and she told us that, yes, there was a dollar charge for cheese. Thankfully, one of the offerings at the bar was hot nacho cheese. Ta-da! We got our cheeseburgers at no extra cost.
On the drive home, my mind started churning...this week Karns has Sargento cheese 8 oz. for $2 a bag. Would it be "cheesy" of me to bring cheese to Fuddruckers and put it on my burger as soon as it comes out to save myself a buck? Hmmm...talk about having your cheese and eating it, too.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Ten Dollar Dilemma
This morning I found a ten dollar bill while walking through the parking lot of the plaza below our neighborhood.
There it lay in a parking space. The time was about 5:30 in the morning and no people or cars were around. Excited about my unexpected fortune, I picked it up and continued on my walk.
In the last class that Ross and I taught on managing finances, we shared that money with no named job or assignment is often poorly spent. It practically runs out of our hands leaving us wondering where it went. In spite of our recent teaching, I still fell victim to the "I wants".
Looking over at the bagel shop I thought 'I could treat the kids to breakfast this morning.' But the more I thought about it, I reasoned that I had just treated them to lunch yesterday and we had plenty of food in the house for breakfast. I think it was more that I wanted to go to breakfast than anything else. I thought about using it towards maternity clothes but God had blessed me just yesterday to receive a box of mostly brand new maternity clothes from a friend. How should I spend this money?
God brought to mind James 1:5, one of the verses shared in our most recent class.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
'Remember, Chanty,' I thought. 'You need to pray. Ask God what to do with the money.' So I prayed while I walked and asked what to do with the ten dollars. Almost immediately I was reminded of the plan we already had in place for "found" money. We have been putting it into an account to save for a new vehicle in the near future. Dilemma solved.
There it lay in a parking space. The time was about 5:30 in the morning and no people or cars were around. Excited about my unexpected fortune, I picked it up and continued on my walk.
In the last class that Ross and I taught on managing finances, we shared that money with no named job or assignment is often poorly spent. It practically runs out of our hands leaving us wondering where it went. In spite of our recent teaching, I still fell victim to the "I wants".
Looking over at the bagel shop I thought 'I could treat the kids to breakfast this morning.' But the more I thought about it, I reasoned that I had just treated them to lunch yesterday and we had plenty of food in the house for breakfast. I think it was more that I wanted to go to breakfast than anything else. I thought about using it towards maternity clothes but God had blessed me just yesterday to receive a box of mostly brand new maternity clothes from a friend. How should I spend this money?
God brought to mind James 1:5, one of the verses shared in our most recent class.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
'Remember, Chanty,' I thought. 'You need to pray. Ask God what to do with the money.' So I prayed while I walked and asked what to do with the ten dollars. Almost immediately I was reminded of the plan we already had in place for "found" money. We have been putting it into an account to save for a new vehicle in the near future. Dilemma solved.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Mommy Moment
Following our second night of vacation bible school for this week I was wiped out. Once we arrived home shortly after 9 pm, I charged the kids with watering the flowers immediately after stepping foot out of the the car. It was getting dark and this task is not easily done past dusk. We were pushing it as it was.
My goal was to have everybody in bed without any fuss or conflict. My youngest did not cooperate. Little things kept getting him down or distracting him from his instructions. I gave him my sternest "Just get her done" lecture, all the while trying my best to practice patience with him as I was very tired and I knew that he was too.
In addition to a myriad of other ailments mentioned, he yelled down to me from the hallway outside his bathroom that he got glass in his foot. I took a deep breath, arose from my chair in the kitchen, and trudged upstairs. As much as I wanted to ignore his plea as an exaggeration, I was reminded to show love to him in spite of how I was feeling. Showing me the spot where it hurt, he asked if I could feel the glass. I told him that I couldn't. I'm thinking it was just something a crumb or something that he had stepped on. I circumvented the problem by directing him to brush his teeth in my bathroom.
Tucking the boys into bed, my youngest prayed for two women in our church as he has been doing consistently. My heart softened as I was reminded of this other side of his temperament--concerned for other people and sensitive to their needs. After praying, he came down the ladder from his bunk to give the baby in my belly a kiss. My heart melted.
Back downstairs in the kitchen I began working on prepping to make banana bread for breakfast the next day. I hear the familiar creak of the steps letting me know that someone is coming down from their bedroom. It is my youngest son letting me know that he can now show me where to feel for the piece of glass in his foot. Ugh! I thought we were done with this. Deep breath again. I patiently ask him to sit in a chair so that he can prop his foot up on the table. He feels the spot for himself and then directs me where to feel. Sure enough I feel and see a small shard barely breaking his skin. I grab a pair of tweezers and work on dislodging the sliver while he sits bravely wincing at the pain. Finally, I get it out and present to him the source of his misery.
A grin fills his face from ear to ear as he gives me a big bear hug. "Thank you, Mommy. I love you," he says with the gratitude of one whose life has been saved. Thank you, God, for giving me yet another reason to be excited about being a mommy all over again.
My goal was to have everybody in bed without any fuss or conflict. My youngest did not cooperate. Little things kept getting him down or distracting him from his instructions. I gave him my sternest "Just get her done" lecture, all the while trying my best to practice patience with him as I was very tired and I knew that he was too.
In addition to a myriad of other ailments mentioned, he yelled down to me from the hallway outside his bathroom that he got glass in his foot. I took a deep breath, arose from my chair in the kitchen, and trudged upstairs. As much as I wanted to ignore his plea as an exaggeration, I was reminded to show love to him in spite of how I was feeling. Showing me the spot where it hurt, he asked if I could feel the glass. I told him that I couldn't. I'm thinking it was just something a crumb or something that he had stepped on. I circumvented the problem by directing him to brush his teeth in my bathroom.
Tucking the boys into bed, my youngest prayed for two women in our church as he has been doing consistently. My heart softened as I was reminded of this other side of his temperament--concerned for other people and sensitive to their needs. After praying, he came down the ladder from his bunk to give the baby in my belly a kiss. My heart melted.
Back downstairs in the kitchen I began working on prepping to make banana bread for breakfast the next day. I hear the familiar creak of the steps letting me know that someone is coming down from their bedroom. It is my youngest son letting me know that he can now show me where to feel for the piece of glass in his foot. Ugh! I thought we were done with this. Deep breath again. I patiently ask him to sit in a chair so that he can prop his foot up on the table. He feels the spot for himself and then directs me where to feel. Sure enough I feel and see a small shard barely breaking his skin. I grab a pair of tweezers and work on dislodging the sliver while he sits bravely wincing at the pain. Finally, I get it out and present to him the source of his misery.
A grin fills his face from ear to ear as he gives me a big bear hug. "Thank you, Mommy. I love you," he says with the gratitude of one whose life has been saved. Thank you, God, for giving me yet another reason to be excited about being a mommy all over again.
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