STRETCHING Our Dollars...

When Jon and I realized that our romance was blossoming into "till death do us part", we began discussing our dreams, goals and hopes for the future. One of the many topics of conversation included making responsible decisions regarding our finances.  As a couple, we knew it was important to agree on how we would manage our money, and aspired to work as a team to accomplish our goals. To be honest, money, bills, budgets and the weight of it all stressed me out!! To alleviate this tension, Jon and I decided that it was best for me to manage the checkbook so that I had knowledge of how much money was being spent. I had learned the discipline of frugal spending from my parents. My mom and dad viewed money as a blessing, and took great effort to be responsible with this gift God had given them.  Because of this perspective, my parents were always able to help people in need and pay their bills in full, including their mortgage and our college tuition.

Through the years, Jon and I have learned to integrate a few practical habits into our lives that have made a HUGE difference in our monthly spending...

1) Our family rarely eats meals out.  I've made it a priority to prepare dinner every evening, with a few rare exceptions. Challenging? Yes, at times, but the key is planning ahead.
   a)Map out the meals you'd like to serve during the week, and make your grocery list accordingly.  Go to the grocery store with a specific list and your price matches (which I will discuss next).
   b)Use a crock pot to prepare meals in the morning on those days when you know you'll be running around until dinnertime. It's great to arrive home to the yummy aroma of a meal that's ready to eat!
   c)Double or triple your favorite recipes and freeze the leftovers. This provides you with a healthy, inexpensive meal that is ready to cook and serve on those crazy, busy days :).
   d)If you're one who loves the experience of eating out, treat your family to ice cream or your spouse to a coffee date a couple times a month. It's fun to splurge once in a while.
   e)Take the time to calculate the savings gained from eating meals at home.  I guarantee the amount saved will give you motivation to continue.
*Two great resources that provide tips on meal planning, great recipes and even printable grocery lists are: emeals.com and orgjunkie.com (under menu planning resources).

Chicken Taco Salad--one of our family's favorites!!

2) When shopping for groceries, I always try to use price matches at our local Walmart.  The grocery store ads come out on Wednesdays, so I set aside time at the end of each week to make my grocery list using these ads.  Many times I add or subtract from my list based on the good deals in the paper.  For example, I decided to make spaghetti this week because the pasta sauce in the Price Cutter ad was $.88 for a 24 ounce can. (I bought three...I used a couple cans for spaghetti and the remainder for manicotti.)  I also added strawberries because Aldi's had them on sale for $1.79 per pound.  As I approached the register on Tuesday, I looked at my cart thinking it could be close to a $200 shopping trip.  I cannot tell you how excited I was when the cashier said, "That will be $142.82."  I floated to my car and called Jon as soon as the food was out of the cart!!

Eagleeyedeals.com is a website for shoppers in our area.  All the local grocery store ads are compiled and listed for easy and quick access. It's been very helpful for me when I've forgotten my price comparisons at home.

3) Jon and I go through our budget at least once a year.  Last summer we reduced our expenses $50.92 a month by researching and switching our internet and home phone carrier, and cable provider. We are currently shopping around for a different home/car insurance company because our home premium will be increasing by over $600 a year. No, thank you!

4) I love clothes, accessories and shopping for good deals. In recent years, I've been selling our clothes to a local consignment store. It takes some time to go through everyone's clothes, but it has definitely payed off. At the end of last summer I gathered all of our outgrown, unused fall/winter clothing and took it to "Just For You" in Nixa. In December, Karleigh and I went shopping and discovered I had $93.00 in credit due to the sale of our used clothing! In addition, they give an extra 10% off if you use it to purchase clothing in the store rather than taking the cash. Here are a few items I purchased last week, without spending any money...

This blue "Forever 21" shirt was $8.00 at "Just For You" (which is already a great deal).  It only cost me $7.30, which was taken from my store credit.

This gray "Forever 21" dress was $9.00 at our local consignment store.  It cost $8.10 in store credit...I didn't spend a dime :).

This cute dress was $14.95 before my discount.  The final cost was $13.50, deducted from my store credit.  AMAZING!!

There are many ways to stretch your dollars~ it just takes a little time and organization. Several scriptures encourage being good stewards of your time and money.  Proverbs 21:5 states, "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."  Proverbs 24:3 also reinforces this thought, "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense." I want to build the home God has given me with His wisdom and direction. My prayer for you this week is that God will show you creative ways to build your home, which in turn will bless the people around you.  Please post some of your personal experiences finding money saving deals, helpful websites, and/or frugal DIY ideas.  We can learn so much from each other!!  Much love to you all...

How to Have a Frugal AND Fun Valentine's Day

Another Valentine's Day is behind us, and many people I know are breathing a huge sigh of relief!  This year I began to view Valentine's Day through a different lens.  Here's the way I see it~it's a special day set aside to celebrate our love and gratitude for the AMAZING people who have been placed in our lives.  I've been considering that we shouldn't have to be in a romantic relationship to celebrate Valentine's Day; and to take it one step further...should our love and affection only be communicated one day out of the year?

Our family always celebrates Valentine's Day together, usually in the evening.  We make a nice meal and give cards, candy and/ or small gift cards.  When Jon purchases the cards, the kids know to expect humor :).   Inside each card, Jon and I always take the opportunity to tell each child specifically what we love about him/her.  I love being able to shower them with affirmation and encouragement every chance I get!!

Thursday night Jon and I had the privilege of sharing with a group of college girls during a dorm chapel.  It was a great opportunity to talk to them about healthy friendship and dating relationships.  After it concluded, a few girls came up to ask more personal questions about friends who weren't making good decisions, their career choices, and specific relationship questions regarding the men in their lives.  It was a precious time of investing in students, which is a passion of ours.  (My husband has been teaching for 25 years; 15 of those have been on the college level.)

Here are two sweet seniors that we met in 2010 when they started attending James River Leadership Campus.

Jon and I answering questions after sharing with the girls.

I loved the chapel worship time...

I want to share some of the things Jon and I did for each other yesterday... not because you need to know about all the details of our day, but because I want you to see how easy and inexpensive it can be  to make someone feel special.  First, I purchased a $5.00 Starbucks gift card and taped it onto our coffee maker.  I know Jon LOVES coffee, and for us $5.00 specialty coffee is definitely a splurge.

Next, I placed a tube of Carmex ($1.59) with a note on the driver's seat of his car.  Strange...?  Maybe for some, but he asks to borrow my Carmex frequently when we're out running errands, so I knew this would be something he would use.  When Jon arrived at work, I had placed a Vitamin Water ($1.69) and protein bar ($1.29 on sale) in his computer bag with another note.  He's been striving to be more disciplined in what he eats, so he knew I was trying to treat him without derailing his nutritional goals.  BUT, at dinner I did have a small goody bag with a chocolate bar for him ($.99), as well as treats for the kids.  For a grand total of $10.56, I was able to show him how special he is and how grateful I am for him through little gifts (one of his love languages).

Jon is always very thoughtful and generous in his expressions of love for me.  On Thursday night before our time with the students, he gave me a bouquet of roses (one of my favorite flowers).  The expression that was most meaningful to me, though, was a sweet compilation of notes that he left on our bathroom mirror. On each individual note he named something specific that he loved about me!  My heart melted!!

With a little extra time and intentional thought, it's very easy to encourage the people around us. It's a choice, and certainly doesn't have to be romantically motivated!  Plan ahead. What do the special people in your life enjoy?  Think through what you need and be ready to follow through.

Philippians 2:1-2,4 asks, "Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another...Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." 

We are to be Christ's hand extended...that's why we are here!! Be intentional about blessing others.  When you have an "outward" focus, life is much more fun and fulfilling!  Share some things you've done to encourage the special people in your life.  We all can use some extra help thinking of creative ways to build others up.  Have an AWESOME week!

Jared and his award winning Valentine's box. 

All That Sparkles...

My daughter, Karleigh, LOVES anything that sparkles...clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories...can you relate?

These glasses are one of her FAVORITE 2013 Christmas gifts.

 Why are girls so drawn to sparkle?  Here are a few thoughts...

1) FUN~Sparkles are fun!  When I see a shiny, glittery item, it grabs my attention.  Some of us purposefully don't wear sparkles because we want to avoid the attention they draw.  But on a good day, I think we all like a little attention ;).

2) FABULOUS~Sparkly items are fancy and fabulous!  Girls like to dress up...it makes us feel special and pretty.  Doesn't every girl want to feel special?!

3) FASCINATING~Diamonds are loaded with sparkle!! There are no two diamonds that are alike, and each one is extremely valuable and fascinating!

Jordan, our 16 year old son, gets so frusterated when I buy glittery cards or gift bags because the glitter gets everywhere!  He is NOT a fan of sparkles on his sweatshirt and jeans...I guess it's not very "masculine."  Ha!

Jordan during a 2013 Nixa High School football game.
Photo credit: Jon Thomas Spence

 Like these cards and gift bags, we leave a trail wherever we go.  We leave a trail in our homes, in our workplaces, and in our neighborhoods (schools, grocery stores, gyms, etc.).  What are you leaving behind?  Are you leaving sparkles of appreciation, encouragement and laughter; or are you leaving a negative trail of anxiety, complaints and insecurity? 

Karleigh not only likes sparkle, she has sparkle...her daddy always says she brings sparkle wherever she goes.

Jon and Karleigh before the Father/Daughter Dance (February 7, 2014)

It doesn't take long to notice her laughter and ability to have fun no matter the circumstance.  Yes, she enjoys dressing up and takes special care in choosing her outfits, nail polish and hairdos, but her sparkle comes from the inside.  She has a joy and excitement about life that radiates from her heart, even first thing in the morning!

Zechariah 9:16 states, "The Lord their God will save them...they will SPARKLE...like jewels in a crown." As a child and young adult, I just wanted to blend in.  I didn't want to be seen for fear of people noticing a flaw or weakness--can you relate? But as I grow and mature, God's showing me that He's given me gifts, abilities and strengths so I can shine!!  When I become secure and confident in who God created me to be, I can more effectively help others see their sparkle.  Each of us is designed uniquely and beautifully for a specific purpose.  God wants us to live FUN, FABULOUS, FASCINATING lives and encourage others to do the same.  Don't be afraid to "sparkle" wherever you go...this is how people will see Jesus in you and want to experience the same joy they observe in your life.

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept.  We're going public with this...If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand--shine!  Be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God." (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

I'll be introducing you to the men in my life in future posts. (Jon Thomas, Jordan, Jared and Jon)
A couple of them may even be guests bloggers!

My Beautiful Mess...the Beginning

As I entered adulthood~marriage, the workplace, home management and parenthood~ I had this idealistic perspective about how my life should look.  My goals included marrying a godly man (who had an 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday work schedule); having children and raising them in a healthy, Christian home (where there was never any conflict, and we lived in unity 24/7); maintaining a well-balanced schedule and an orderly home (always clean, updated decor); keeping in shape through exercise and healthy eating (working out 1 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week); and basically living a peaceful, orderly, fulfilling life every moment of every day.  Was that too much to ask?!

In July 1993, this was my reality...I married the man of my dreams.  He taught junior high history and coached high school football.  We traveled to Waco, Texas immediately after our honeymoon to attend my graduation from Baylor University, and I began working part time as a speech therapist in August 1993.  We purchased a modest 1,200 square foot home in Springfield, Missouri, and my journey as an adult began!  As I write this, I realize how perfect this reality sounds, and it was WONDERFUL! But my idealistic expectations turned my rose-colored lens to a slight shade of gray as I began learning to cook, trying to decorate on a skimpy budget with little experience, and my football coach husband was coming home between 7:30-8:00 every night except game nights (which were closer to 11:00 pm).  I quickly realized my perspective and attitude are what create the beauty or shattered hopes of my reality.

In this blog, my hope is that you will be inspired to see the beauty in your current situation.  Whether you are a poor college student, a young newlywed, a tired new mom or a driven career woman, I know your world has beautiful potential.  I will be sharing helpful home management tips, delicious recipes, frugal finds, encouraging thoughts on parenting, marriage and spiritual growth in a culture that values the external.  May we ALL find beauty in our messy moments!!