I began this list as a list only for homeschoolers, but realized that each suggestion, with some minor tweeking, would work for any family. The goal of this list is to provide some form of organization within the mind of a mother, to encourage parents, and to provide outlets for relaxation. The first part is a suggestion for homeschooling families, the second (in italics) is for all families.
1. Plan meals ahead of time – at least a week. If you know how to successfully plan meals a month at a time, please let me know how! I believe we all will benefit from this.
2. Incorporate the household chores into the school day. Trust me. It will help. And there is nothing as wonderful as a six-year-old who knows how to wash his own clothes. Again, no one loses with this suggestion.
3. Don’t forget to keep the ‘home’ in ‘homeschooling’. There are thousands of great opportunities for homeschoolers. They are all wonderful. What is damaging is the constant flurry of people, schedules, times and paraphernalia. It’s my old rule again: Keep it simple. It's too easy to offer our children every opportunity out there. Remember that 'being home' is the best opportunity because it's a place filled with parents, love, and a place of safety away from the expectations of the outside world. We all need a place to hide. Give kids the time to unwind and be themselves.
4. Plan vacations in the middle of the week and during the non-traditional vacation times. Feeling the February Freeze? Go south then. (South for us is all the way to Northern Indiana were we stay at our favorite lodge – a 2 for 1 special during the winter. It’s a good time and a great bargain.) I remember a friend from high school whose mom would keep her home from school one day a year and they would spend that day together. She was the happiest person I knew.
5. Celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa to the fullest! The public (not just schools, but stores and businesses) is forced to acknowledge all or none of these religious celebrations. As a homeschooling family, we are free to go all out to make these the best days of the year. Do the best you can at home. Bake the cookies, attend the parties, go to church, sing the songs, dress the part. Make it real and beautiful and memorable.
6. Take one day a month to work on a photo album with your children of your homeschooling adventure – this is a great assessment tool for you to see if you are doing everything you want in your school. Use a weekend or a vacation week to do the same. Kids love putting together their own pages and writing about what they've done. Even kids who don't like to write will jot down a few words about a picture. Talk about a family treasury!
7. Host Parent-Student Conferences or a Homeschooling Open House – plan an evening when children and parents sit down and have open & honest talks about homeschooling. Begin this evening with some modeling of how to say something that is negative and how to respond to something that is hurting your feelings. Or, invite grandparents or neighbors over to see your homeschooling achievements (or more realistically, works-in-progress). What a better way to squash some homeschooling misconceptions than to show what it really is. This is a built in feature for schooled-kids. Enjoy it. Even if it's a lousy conference with the teacher, love the fact that your kid has a quirk. It will probably serve her well later in life.
8. Attend a homeschooling conference. Get away, spend time with other parents who work endlessly for education and faith formation within the household doldrums. Find a conference for moms (Hearts at Home is a great one!) Or, go on a marriage retreat. Plan a weekend away with girlfriends. Do something that is just for you without any guilt.
9. Create a mission statement for your homeschool and post it, neatly printed, in a beautiful frame in the room where most of the homeschooling takes place. And then remember to read it occasionally to refresh your purpose. I think this idea works well for every family. Knowing what your family stands for will make or break each day. We would never write: "Our purpose is to yell at each other when things are perfect, spreading the knowledge that we only respond well when things are easy."
10. Incorporate Community Service into your homeschool. Volunteering is a requirement in many schools and is a valuable source of learning, socializing and charity. Call the church, find a need, fill it. Hopefully, this is another bulit-in feature for school kids. If it is, join in. If not, find a way to make it a part of your family's life.
Bonus: Take it one day at a time. Even God took six days to create the world. Write a goal for yourself each day and do it. God also rested one day. He knows what is good for us, so follow His example.
If you are a grandparent, get in on these ideas! Perhaps the negative issues of this generation are stemming from the fact that we are no longer inter-generational.
Showing posts with label household. Show all posts
Showing posts with label household. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Living Within Your Means
If you've read any previous post, you know that I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom - which means that my husband and I manage our household on a single income. He owns his own business, which comes with the blessing of being his own boss, and the burden of paying for everything. As wife and mother, it falls on me to use what he brings home to feed and clothe my family. This could be a ridiculous burden, but I found that if I make it a game, I love the challenge.
I'm know that we make less money than many, many people. I also know that we make more than many. But I believe that what we do to stay afloat in the economy will uncover some options for others who also want to trim their budget.
God First
Before I write another word, I must stress the importance of putting God first in your life. Begin the day in prayer, spend the day in prayer, end the day in prayer. In doing so, I have discovered a fullness and satisfaction with my little life that makes a great difference. I know what I have and I don't worry about what I don't have. Tithing and charity are no longer burdens on us financially, but acts of true love.
Clothing
I no longer shop for clothes at the Mall or department stores. I first go to the Second Hand stores and Consignment shops. If you have never explored the world of second-hand shopping, give it a try before you pooh-pooh the idea! With my children growing, keeping them in well-fitting, nice clothing could break the bank. But with some smart shopping and a little digging through the racks, I was able to buy 6 pairs of pants and capris, 4 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of shoes (never worn), and 9 shirts for less than $50. To purchase these new, averaging each item at $20.00 (which I think is conservative) would have cost me $400. I saved $350. My daughters and I laughed as we left that second-hand store with all our purchases stuffed into a giant black trash bag. True, I miss the new clothes that are wrapped in tissue paper and placed lovingly into a thick paper bag with handles. I'm over that - with a savings of several hundred dollars, I'll take the garbage bag of clothes.
There are some clothing items that we do purchase new - underwear. This is my preference, and I'm sure you can understand why. Even in purchasing undergarments new, I've discovered that mega stores like Sam's Club, Walmart, and Meijer and sometimes at department stores that offer coupons, I can find reasonable prices for these private necessities.
Second-hand clothing can be a sticking point for many people. Well, get over it. If you are looking to save money, put your pride on the shelf. You will be amazed by the freedom you find in the treasures that consignment shops offer and you will love the money you save - 80% off department store prices.
Food
Providing my family with healthy food options is a huge priority. My husband is a personal trainer with a degree is nutrition and I have diabetes that I manage mostly through my diet. It is not an option for me to clip coupons to save money since most of the coupon items are boxed and prepackaged foods, which are high in carbohydrates and therefore not a healthy choice for me (or anyone, for that matter). So what do we do?
We plan ahead. Using a calendar, I plan out the weekly menu, first using items that I already have, then shopping for what we need. A valuable part of the planning meals includes a 'buffet night', which I schedule for the day before I go grocery shopping when I set out all the leftovers from the week. Since I have been meal planning, I've tracked a 40% reduction in my monthly grocery bill.
I plan that weekly menu around what's on sale that week at the grocery store. The savings on a weekly basis range from $10.00 to $35.00 depending on the sales. I also talked with the produce guy at my local grocery store about the discounted fruit shelf - you know, when there is an overstock of fruits and veggies so they package up the older produce and sell at 50%- 90% off. I go to the store on the morning after they package up that fruit. I've been able to trim my grocery bill another 15%-30% by doing this. Yes, we eat that much in fruits and vegetables. And no, the fruit isn't much different than what pretty displays hold.
Another food plan we utilize is purchasing quality food in bulk. Sam's Club and Costco are great places to purchase items such as: oatmeal, flour, rice, coffee, tea and canned goods in bulk. Of course, if storage is a problem, you will need to be a little creative, but it will be worth the effort.
Contact local farmers for purchasing meat in bulk. The initial expense it quite a bit - we spent $822 on a half of a cow this year, providing us with 330 pounds of meat, but considering that from that expense we have a full chest freezer of ground beef, steaks, roasts, and ribs - enough to last us an entire year if we eat meat 3-4 times a week, that's a bargain. Our price per pound for ground beef, steaks and roasts was $2.50. Today at the store, steaks are $10.00 pound and ground beef is 3.50 (unless you can find it on sale). Purchasing our meat directly from a farmer has saved us $565.00 this year. Again, storage could be an issue and while it might be an expense to purchase a chest freezer, check out those second-hand stores and let people know what you are looking for and it will come to you.
Fitness
The Health and Nutrition field is a million dollar market - and I don't mean doctor bills, but health club memberships, workout equipment, clothing, and DVDs. This could be money well spent if it is used daily, but as many of us can testify, treadmills make great clothing hangers and dumbbells are great door stops.
Instead of joining a club, try the great outdoors. Spring, summer and fall are the easiest months to take the workout outside. Find a park with trails and walk. Do push-ups on benches and lunges from this tree to that tree. Buy a jump rope for $3.00 and feel like a kid again. Find friends to walk or jog with. Trade workout DVDs with friends and try something new.
The potential to save here is unlimited and can only be judged by how much you have spent in the past. No matter what your fitness needs or goals are, you can always do more and spend less.
Vacations
Summer is the season to get out of town and relax. For us, we go camping. For a mere $12-$27 a night, we can pitch our tent or park the camper and find fun in God's natural world. Yes, we plan our meals when we camp and yes, we go for hikes to include exercise in our vacations. Instead of spending $4000 - $5000 on airline tickets and hotels, amusement parks and restaurants, we spend on average $150-$200 a camping trip depending on how far we travel. With gas prices floating at $4.00/gallon and up, we will spend more time camping closer to home. (Note that the cost of camping includes what you would normally spend on food - since you have to eat, it's not an extra expense.)
A very dear friend of mine loathes the idea of camping. Can't say I blame her - we have spent many afternoons in our camper playing board games and watching movies on the laptop while it rains (which I don't mind - vacations are meant to be spent with family). For her family, searching for a hotel is a better choice. There are many lodges that offer swimming, game rooms, craft rooms and local attractions. During the winter months, our family goes to Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana and stay at the Potowatomi Inn. From November to April, all Indiana State Park Inns offer two-nights-for-the-price-of-one from Sunday to Thursday. With a pool, hiking trails, a wonderful nature center, craft room, game room and restaurants, we can have three days and two nights for less than $150, (We bring a cooler of food, again planning our meals so it doesn't add any extra cost for food and only eating one or two meals in the restaurant). Indiana's state parks offer several family deals with amenities. If you are a hotel-camper, I highly encourage you to go to http://www.in.gov/dnr/.
Home Repair
I'll keep this one simple - if you can do it yourself, do it yourself. Painting, plumbing, remodeling or any other fix-it project can raise blood-pressure and leave dusty footprints throughout the house, but how you approach any project will make the difference. Remember that saving money can be challenging, but also fun. Keep that positive attitude and soldier forth. And know when to call the professional. Sometimes the best way to save money is to have someone else do it right the first time.
Also ask yourself if the project is necessary. If it's plumbing, necessity is assumed. But remodeling projects might be better saved for later when the budget is less sticky. Until then, what can you do to improve the house? Cleaning and de-cluttering (and then selling those items online or at consignment stores for extra income), are two places to begin.
Entertainment
This is my specialty. I love having people over for dinner,grilling burgers (that we bought directly from the farmer) and serving new recipes (which I have planned a week before). We don't rent movies often, but we do that more than we go to the theater, when we also use coupons, go to matinees or look for special pricing from nearby theaters (which, honestly happens maybe twice a year). Instead, we play board games and card games and listen to books on tape from the library. We go for walks and hikes and bike rides. Our city offers free entertainment that allows us to explore where we live and discover new places to visit. There are several cities nation-wide that plan a "Be a Tourist In Your Own Town" day that opens all the museums for free and provides $0.50 all-day bus rides. Grand Rapids, MI has the newly established Art Prize with free-to-low-cost transportation. If you know of other fun and free entertainment venues, please share!
When you were a kid, did you ever play in the sprinkler? How many kids still do that? Mine do. It's cheap, fun and takes the pinch off the summer heat. Make your own popsicles. Find a local pool or park that offers swimming and a playground. Pitch a tent in the backyard, or (gasp!) make a tent out of blankets. Go to the library and find a good book, a book on tape, or a movie to rent for free. Dig out board games like: Sorry, Life, Trouble, or a deck of cards and play. Tell stories about your childhood (believe me, your kids will love it!). Find the simple and put it into play. It's the best way to enjoy the summer and find time to bond with your family.
Married? The rage right now is to date your spouse to keep the relationship healthy. This is tough for us as we would need to hire a sitter and then pay for dinner and a movie. The idea of dropping a $100 to spend time with my husband doesn't feel right considering our economic state. So how can I have my cake and eat it too? We plan our dates after the kids bedtime. I will take the kids to the park and have fun with them, wearing them out a little more than usual so they will go to bed early. Their dinner and bed time comes an hour earlier on our date nights. Then, using a movie I've rented from the library ($1.00) and dinner (which was planned and paid for on the shopping day) my husband and I have dinner and movie night.
Will My Plan Work for You?
The plan my husband and I use works well for us, but we didn't just sit down and create the perfect plan. This has taken our entire marriage to come to this place and it will change when his income changes (for better or worse). From openly discussing our budget and living within our means, we no longer worry about what we don't have and enjoy all the blessings God has given us - and that can work for everyone. The key to any successful budget plan is to start with what you have, work with what you earn, and forget the rest. Find the joy of finding a good deal, the satisfaction of doing with less, and the relief of saving money to pay off debt or get ahead. How well your plan works for you is all up to you.
A few weeks ago, we had dinner with friends and they congratulated us on living so nicely on almost no money. I have never thought of my family having nothing. I suppose we are quite simple in our living compared to some, but I know that what we have gained in this life-style are wonderful children, a strong marriage and a blessed understanding of knowing that God is taking care of us because we are putting Him first in our lives.
I'm know that we make less money than many, many people. I also know that we make more than many. But I believe that what we do to stay afloat in the economy will uncover some options for others who also want to trim their budget.
God First
Before I write another word, I must stress the importance of putting God first in your life. Begin the day in prayer, spend the day in prayer, end the day in prayer. In doing so, I have discovered a fullness and satisfaction with my little life that makes a great difference. I know what I have and I don't worry about what I don't have. Tithing and charity are no longer burdens on us financially, but acts of true love.
Clothing
I no longer shop for clothes at the Mall or department stores. I first go to the Second Hand stores and Consignment shops. If you have never explored the world of second-hand shopping, give it a try before you pooh-pooh the idea! With my children growing, keeping them in well-fitting, nice clothing could break the bank. But with some smart shopping and a little digging through the racks, I was able to buy 6 pairs of pants and capris, 4 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of shoes (never worn), and 9 shirts for less than $50. To purchase these new, averaging each item at $20.00 (which I think is conservative) would have cost me $400. I saved $350. My daughters and I laughed as we left that second-hand store with all our purchases stuffed into a giant black trash bag. True, I miss the new clothes that are wrapped in tissue paper and placed lovingly into a thick paper bag with handles. I'm over that - with a savings of several hundred dollars, I'll take the garbage bag of clothes.
There are some clothing items that we do purchase new - underwear. This is my preference, and I'm sure you can understand why. Even in purchasing undergarments new, I've discovered that mega stores like Sam's Club, Walmart, and Meijer and sometimes at department stores that offer coupons, I can find reasonable prices for these private necessities.
Second-hand clothing can be a sticking point for many people. Well, get over it. If you are looking to save money, put your pride on the shelf. You will be amazed by the freedom you find in the treasures that consignment shops offer and you will love the money you save - 80% off department store prices.
Food
Providing my family with healthy food options is a huge priority. My husband is a personal trainer with a degree is nutrition and I have diabetes that I manage mostly through my diet. It is not an option for me to clip coupons to save money since most of the coupon items are boxed and prepackaged foods, which are high in carbohydrates and therefore not a healthy choice for me (or anyone, for that matter). So what do we do?
We plan ahead. Using a calendar, I plan out the weekly menu, first using items that I already have, then shopping for what we need. A valuable part of the planning meals includes a 'buffet night', which I schedule for the day before I go grocery shopping when I set out all the leftovers from the week. Since I have been meal planning, I've tracked a 40% reduction in my monthly grocery bill.
I plan that weekly menu around what's on sale that week at the grocery store. The savings on a weekly basis range from $10.00 to $35.00 depending on the sales. I also talked with the produce guy at my local grocery store about the discounted fruit shelf - you know, when there is an overstock of fruits and veggies so they package up the older produce and sell at 50%- 90% off. I go to the store on the morning after they package up that fruit. I've been able to trim my grocery bill another 15%-30% by doing this. Yes, we eat that much in fruits and vegetables. And no, the fruit isn't much different than what pretty displays hold.
Another food plan we utilize is purchasing quality food in bulk. Sam's Club and Costco are great places to purchase items such as: oatmeal, flour, rice, coffee, tea and canned goods in bulk. Of course, if storage is a problem, you will need to be a little creative, but it will be worth the effort.
Contact local farmers for purchasing meat in bulk. The initial expense it quite a bit - we spent $822 on a half of a cow this year, providing us with 330 pounds of meat, but considering that from that expense we have a full chest freezer of ground beef, steaks, roasts, and ribs - enough to last us an entire year if we eat meat 3-4 times a week, that's a bargain. Our price per pound for ground beef, steaks and roasts was $2.50. Today at the store, steaks are $10.00 pound and ground beef is 3.50 (unless you can find it on sale). Purchasing our meat directly from a farmer has saved us $565.00 this year. Again, storage could be an issue and while it might be an expense to purchase a chest freezer, check out those second-hand stores and let people know what you are looking for and it will come to you.
Fitness
The Health and Nutrition field is a million dollar market - and I don't mean doctor bills, but health club memberships, workout equipment, clothing, and DVDs. This could be money well spent if it is used daily, but as many of us can testify, treadmills make great clothing hangers and dumbbells are great door stops.
Instead of joining a club, try the great outdoors. Spring, summer and fall are the easiest months to take the workout outside. Find a park with trails and walk. Do push-ups on benches and lunges from this tree to that tree. Buy a jump rope for $3.00 and feel like a kid again. Find friends to walk or jog with. Trade workout DVDs with friends and try something new.
The potential to save here is unlimited and can only be judged by how much you have spent in the past. No matter what your fitness needs or goals are, you can always do more and spend less.
Vacations
Summer is the season to get out of town and relax. For us, we go camping. For a mere $12-$27 a night, we can pitch our tent or park the camper and find fun in God's natural world. Yes, we plan our meals when we camp and yes, we go for hikes to include exercise in our vacations. Instead of spending $4000 - $5000 on airline tickets and hotels, amusement parks and restaurants, we spend on average $150-$200 a camping trip depending on how far we travel. With gas prices floating at $4.00/gallon and up, we will spend more time camping closer to home. (Note that the cost of camping includes what you would normally spend on food - since you have to eat, it's not an extra expense.)
A very dear friend of mine loathes the idea of camping. Can't say I blame her - we have spent many afternoons in our camper playing board games and watching movies on the laptop while it rains (which I don't mind - vacations are meant to be spent with family). For her family, searching for a hotel is a better choice. There are many lodges that offer swimming, game rooms, craft rooms and local attractions. During the winter months, our family goes to Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana and stay at the Potowatomi Inn. From November to April, all Indiana State Park Inns offer two-nights-for-the-price-of-one from Sunday to Thursday. With a pool, hiking trails, a wonderful nature center, craft room, game room and restaurants, we can have three days and two nights for less than $150, (We bring a cooler of food, again planning our meals so it doesn't add any extra cost for food and only eating one or two meals in the restaurant). Indiana's state parks offer several family deals with amenities. If you are a hotel-camper, I highly encourage you to go to http://www.in.gov/dnr/.
Home Repair
I'll keep this one simple - if you can do it yourself, do it yourself. Painting, plumbing, remodeling or any other fix-it project can raise blood-pressure and leave dusty footprints throughout the house, but how you approach any project will make the difference. Remember that saving money can be challenging, but also fun. Keep that positive attitude and soldier forth. And know when to call the professional. Sometimes the best way to save money is to have someone else do it right the first time.
Also ask yourself if the project is necessary. If it's plumbing, necessity is assumed. But remodeling projects might be better saved for later when the budget is less sticky. Until then, what can you do to improve the house? Cleaning and de-cluttering (and then selling those items online or at consignment stores for extra income), are two places to begin.
Entertainment
This is my specialty. I love having people over for dinner,grilling burgers (that we bought directly from the farmer) and serving new recipes (which I have planned a week before). We don't rent movies often, but we do that more than we go to the theater, when we also use coupons, go to matinees or look for special pricing from nearby theaters (which, honestly happens maybe twice a year). Instead, we play board games and card games and listen to books on tape from the library. We go for walks and hikes and bike rides. Our city offers free entertainment that allows us to explore where we live and discover new places to visit. There are several cities nation-wide that plan a "Be a Tourist In Your Own Town" day that opens all the museums for free and provides $0.50 all-day bus rides. Grand Rapids, MI has the newly established Art Prize with free-to-low-cost transportation. If you know of other fun and free entertainment venues, please share!
When you were a kid, did you ever play in the sprinkler? How many kids still do that? Mine do. It's cheap, fun and takes the pinch off the summer heat. Make your own popsicles. Find a local pool or park that offers swimming and a playground. Pitch a tent in the backyard, or (gasp!) make a tent out of blankets. Go to the library and find a good book, a book on tape, or a movie to rent for free. Dig out board games like: Sorry, Life, Trouble, or a deck of cards and play. Tell stories about your childhood (believe me, your kids will love it!). Find the simple and put it into play. It's the best way to enjoy the summer and find time to bond with your family.
Married? The rage right now is to date your spouse to keep the relationship healthy. This is tough for us as we would need to hire a sitter and then pay for dinner and a movie. The idea of dropping a $100 to spend time with my husband doesn't feel right considering our economic state. So how can I have my cake and eat it too? We plan our dates after the kids bedtime. I will take the kids to the park and have fun with them, wearing them out a little more than usual so they will go to bed early. Their dinner and bed time comes an hour earlier on our date nights. Then, using a movie I've rented from the library ($1.00) and dinner (which was planned and paid for on the shopping day) my husband and I have dinner and movie night.
Will My Plan Work for You?
The plan my husband and I use works well for us, but we didn't just sit down and create the perfect plan. This has taken our entire marriage to come to this place and it will change when his income changes (for better or worse). From openly discussing our budget and living within our means, we no longer worry about what we don't have and enjoy all the blessings God has given us - and that can work for everyone. The key to any successful budget plan is to start with what you have, work with what you earn, and forget the rest. Find the joy of finding a good deal, the satisfaction of doing with less, and the relief of saving money to pay off debt or get ahead. How well your plan works for you is all up to you.
A few weeks ago, we had dinner with friends and they congratulated us on living so nicely on almost no money. I have never thought of my family having nothing. I suppose we are quite simple in our living compared to some, but I know that what we have gained in this life-style are wonderful children, a strong marriage and a blessed understanding of knowing that God is taking care of us because we are putting Him first in our lives.
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