$$$

Money...what a powerful thing, huh? Can't live without it. Want more of it. Hoard it. Spend it.
We are all so emotionally tied to money and are very affected by how our parents taught us how to spend and save.

Being unemployed, I think about money a lot. A whole lot. I've spent some serious time working on lowering all my outgoing expenses and have succeeded in many areas.

Mortgage: I refinanced in September, lowering my monthly payment $300! The refi also allowed me to drop private mortgage insurance, which made me crazy happy.
I also switched home insurance companies, from Encompass to Travelers, which lowered my yearly policy amount by $300. Additionally, I already had my auto ins with Travelers, so having joint policies there dropped the premium for both home and car. Gotta love that!

And it gets even better. I received a new roof this year due to hail damage. Encompass was my ins company at the time and I was very dissatisfied with their customer service (this is why I switched to Travelers, not to mention the rates were way better). Anyway, it turns out it pays to complain, because when Encompass paid the roofing company to do the work, they also paid my deductible! Not only that, but the roofing company had given me $350 in vouchers to use in paying the deductible, so they now will be cutting me a check. I made money in the deal!

Utilities: I called all of my utilities and asked what I could do to lower my monthly fees. Didn't get very far on this one, mainly because I have pretty bare bones service anyway. I have the very basic cable, which gives me antenna service and a few extra channels. I don't have long distance service on my landline (use the cell for that) or call waiting/caller ID. I do keep a landline even though we all have cells. Just can't quite cut the proverbial cord there.
I am already on the super saver switch with my electric co (used on the hottest days in summer to reduce elec costs) and use the budget plan for evened-out billing on both gas and elec.

Craig's List/eBay/Freecycle/PaperbackSwap and SwapaCD/the Library: These sites are all wonderful ways to sell and donate or trade items. They take some getting used to and time to set-up, but I have made a decent amount of money as well as scored some really great free items. And let's tip our hats to the wonderful public library system. I have saved thousands of dollars by checking out books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, etc. Fantastic resource!

Cars: My van is six years old and has under 80,000 miles on it. I'm determined to keep it running for another five or so years. I bought it brand new (never, ever again...stupid) and did take out a loan. I had the money in the bank, so I did pay it off right away. Again, not recommened. I would have had much better buying power if I had purchased it with cash. Dave Ramsey taught me this one! Regardless, I just love having a reliable vehicle that is completely paid for. I invest money in maintenance to keep it chuggin' on and so far it's been a great plan!
Now, there is the debate of my oldest getting his license soon. I'm trying very hard to talk him into waiting on that, to save on the insurance money as well as give him more driving experience with an adult in the car. We'll see on that one!

Food: Major expense in my house, with two teenage boys and three cats. We rarely eat in restaurants and I make a weekly menu that I shop from. Not a fun job but it saves untold dollars and frustration. Highly recommend this approach.

Entertainment: We are subscribers of Netflix and love that. It keeps us out of the theater most of the time. We also have a decent DVD library and re-watch favorites frequently. And there's always the opportunty to dig out the old home movies for a laugh!

So you see...I'm frugal. But I make it work. While I was working and making a great salary, I socked away as much as possible. That gave me a lovely emergency fund that I can now use to keep the home fires burning while launching my prof org biz and land an additional job.

As Dave Ramsey says, "live like no one else so that one day, you can live like no one else."
Hard to explain here - basically, if you sacrifice (like no one else, because everyone is out spending money they don't have) NOW in order to pay off debt and save save save, when you retire, you will be comfortable, secure and sitting in the lap of luxury (like no one else, because they didn't save for retirement). Nice, eh?

Mom's delightful goodie bag

My parents live one state away, so we don't see them all that often. Whenever the boys and I do make the trip to visit, there are a few things that can be counted on.

1) My Dad will ask me what time we left. Always. Why, oh why does this matter? He doesn't even listen to my answer anyway :)
2) The boys will say they are STARVING regardless of the fact that they snacked the whole way down.
3) My Mom will have a goodie bag in the guest bedroom, just for me.

The goodie bag exchange has been going on for as long as I can remember. Inside could be a huge variety of items:
a candle
some granola bars or a similar snack
a coupon for a product she knows I regularly purchase
a newspaper article/photo of someone I know
a shirt OR a pair of shoes she got for herself and decided she no longer wants
a note someone wrote to her that she thinks I'd really enjoy reading
book - ALWAYS books, we share similiar taste in authors and trade off titles

These goodie bags are such a delight for me and something I really anticipate. Incidentally, I often bring her a goodie bag also. Oftentimes it has mending in it :( I try to pay her back by helping her learn to online shop or set up her computer/learn new tricks with email.

Another tradition she and I started is to create a true getaway for our guests by placing several items to the guest room in anticipation of a visitor. There's usually a vase of fresh flowers, a bottle of water and a glass, new magazines, fresh towels, a delicious smelling soap, a great reading light and a pile of books. The whole idea is to create a pampered experience. It's become a fun game to visit one another and see what's in store. We're headed to their house tomorrow; I can't wait to see what awaits me!

May you all have a blessed Thankgsiving and be aware of all God has provided for you!

Loving this...

Mary Jean Iron quote:

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

Sunny November

The weather has been incredible this November! I spent several days working in the yard. Seriously, my yard has never been this tidied up in the fall. Never had the time until this year. I am really feeling good about it too!

Still not working - I am floundering between many feelings. The hard-working Iowa girl feels i should be pounding the pavement and taking a job because, well, that's the right thing to do! But deep down I refuse to just get sucked into a job I am capable of but yet don't want to do. With a plethora of free time, I am bouncing between wanting to:

1) work on my house. Paint all the rooms, order new curtains, etc. Because even though I don't really have the $$$, i do have the time. And I know it would def make me feel incredible.
2) Really kick-start my professional organizing business. I took two days of training and it really rocked my world . I would love to be able to dive in, headfirst, with no fear. Yet, the pragmatic side of me says I can't do that full time and still make the mortgage payment and feed my teens each day. So I'm a bit conflicted.
3) Get a job. A real job with decent pay and a full-time status. I don't really want this, mind you, but I def need something with decent benefits and a constant paycheck, so I can build the Prof Organizing business on the side until it bursts and needs to become my full time gig.

So...for now I'm reading "48 Days to the Work You Love" and enjoying that.
Praying a lot for God to reveal his plan to me.
Talking a lot with friends and my mom and sis-in -law.
Praying some more.
Thinking too much.