A Time for Everything

Baking Cupboard Organization: take 4

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you've been around here for a while, then you may know I've already posted three times in the past couple of years about my baking cupboard: here, here, and here.

Is that excessive? (Or maybe obsessive?) The fact is, I love to bake. And I've started doing some healthier baking, which has introduced new ingredients that weren't previously in my cupboard. Not only did I need to make room for those, I was also having problems with the ink coming off the clear layer of my fabric labels when they came into contact with anything wet.

When I followed a link to some fabulous printables from WorldLabel.com, I was totally motivated. The sunshine and 80-some degree weather didn't hurt, either.

Since I also wanted to line the cupboard, I removed every single item and wiped down the shelves.

I used an out-of-print laminate by Michael Miller to line the bottom shelf and the back of the cupboard. (It's nearly impossible to find, but Crafter's Vision still has some left for a good price.) Since I had been too burned out back when I painted my kitchen cabinets to tackle the insides, I thought at first I would go with something light. But I realized this fabric would work much better to add a fun pattern without too obvious contrast with the rest of the brown.

All I did was measure, cut the laminated cotton to size, and use my ATG gun to apply adhesive to the edges and in X's across the middle. It was very easy to adhere, and I think it will stick well over time.

Then, of course, I had to deal with the chaos.

I decided on these labels, because I knew they would fit on all of my containers, and I liked the border. Plus they match the polka dots on the laminated cotton! (There are several options & shapes of these pantry labels available, including a black version of each set and ones with names already on them.)

This printable was very easy to use since it's an editable PDF. All I did was open the file in Adobe Reader, click on the highlighted area of each label to type its name, and then print. The chalkboard font is embedded right in the file, so it's automatic. (If you'd rather have a different font, you could use a photo editing program such as PSE, but you'll have to create & center your text boxes.)

I printed on Avery full sheet (8.5" x 11") white inkjet labels.

Since I was out of contact paper, I used the full-sheet clear adhesive labels leftover from my last baking cupboard labeling project to cover each label sheet and protect it.

Then I used a 2" circle punch like the one below on each label, turning the punch upside-down so that I could visually line up the opening with the edge of the label.

After adhering the labels, I did some reconfiguring to accommodate a few additional containers and ended up with this arrangement. And yes, I did leave the cupboard open for a couple of hours afterwards so that I could admire the contents. :)

By the way, do you like my new measuring cups? I had green ones, but the measurement markings rubbed off a long time ago. I can tell what's what visually, but it was a little frustrating to my kids! These actually have the measurements embossed on them--very smart. Now I need to get measuring spoons, because those markings are about gone as well. Lesson learned.

Another thing I did was to move baking spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, etc.) from my spice cupboard to the baking cupboard. I can't believe I didn't think of it before, because it makes so much more sense!

So, are you motivated to tackle your cupboard? I would love to see pictures if you do, so please be sure to come back and share the link in the comments if/when you get to that point.

airtight BPA-free plastic containers: Shopko
smaller glass containers with white lids: Dollar Tree (These aren't always easy to find there, but I did notice that they sell a different glass container online that would also work well. Minimum order is 24, so you could go in with someone and split them. Free shipping to store. They may have them in-store as well.)
32 oz. glass containers with aluminum lids: Hobby Lobby
round spice jars and measuring cups: Cost Plus World Market
everything on top of the cabinet: vintage shops & markets, except for the clock which was from One King's Lane

Reading PDF eBooks on your Kindle or tablet

2013-05-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

tablet & arrow images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Perhaps you've considered purchasing a PDF eBook but have held back because you've never dealt with that format. Maybe you think you're going to have to sit in front of your computer screen to read it and don't realize it can be transferred to your Kindle or iPad or other tablet.

I'm here to help! And you won't believe how easy it is! There are other ways of going about it, but I have found this one to be the most convenient and neatest (since it's so easy to format the file name and make sure the author's name is correct).

The very first thing you need to do is make sure you have an Amazon account and your device is registered. You can double-check by going to My Account > Manage Your Kindle > Manage Your Devices to see if it's there.

Next, download Send to Kindle from Amazon's website. It's available for both PC and Mac. Then install it on your computer.

(From here on out, the instructions are for a PC, but I imagine following along with a Mac will be fairly straightforward.)

Once you download a PDF book to your computer, right-click on the file and choose Send to Kindle from the menu.

You will see a screen like this:

At this point, you can change the title to remove the underlines and capitalize words. You may also need to change the author's name since it probably defaulted to yours.

Make sure you've checked which device you want as the destination of your PDF. I would also recommend checking the archive option so that it's added to your Kindle library on Amazon. Then click send. You'll know it's working if you see the progress bar.

You'll get another message when it's finished.

After a few minutes, turn on your device, wait for the book to download, and you're good to go!

eBook reviews + a summer giveaway

2013-05-02T12:52:00.002-07:00

Two of my favorite books from the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle (no longer available) are from the Budgeting {Finance and Time} category. (Does this surprise you? ;)

Amy's Tell Your Time is short, to the point, and incredibly helpful--not only with practical aspects of time management, but also with perspective. I appreciate how her priorities are reflected in her schedule and that she intentionally creates margin rather than cramming in as much as possible. And she manages to get a whole lot done--plus significant family time--with this approach! I was motivated to sit down and make a schedule for myself as soon as I finished reading her book. (In Excel, even, despite the fact I'm desperately in need of Excel for Dummies.)

Susan's Become a Frugali$ta in 30 Days is the result of years of experience (including making ends meet as a single mom) and covers setting a budget, finding ways to save money so that you can live on it, and strategies for making money so that you can add to it. Each day has a different focus and provides lots of practical tips as well as links to online resources. If you need a book about frugal living that goes beyond theory and gives you plenty of actual strategies to implement, this is the book for you!

Another resource from Susan Heid that I am so excited about is her 2013 Summer Survival Calendar. Susan spent hours scouring the internet for a variety of fun, hands-on, budget-friendly activities that families can do together, and then she created a May-August calendar with at least one activity for each day. The part that makes my geeky self giddy is that almost every activity is clickable from within the digital PDF and takes you directly to the original website for instructions, recipe/supplies, etc. Isn't that cool?

In addition, she created the 10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever action guide which includes the following forms (plus one audio):

Summer Goals worksheet
Ideas for Summer Fun checklist
10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide
Your Best Summer Ever Audio Workshop
Quiet Time Activities worksheet
Important Summer Dates checklist
Standard Operating Procedures worksheet
Weekly Menu Planner/Grocery List
Summer Weekly Planner
Be Summer Organized checklist

There are several options for purchase. You can buy just the calendar ($5), just the supplemental set ($3), the bundle of both ($7), or a bundle that includes both 2013 resources plus the calendars for 2010, 2011, and 2012 ($10), giving you a lot more activities to choose from throughout the summer.

The summer survival products are not part of the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle, but Susan has generously allowed me to give away a 2013 set (calendar + action guide) to one of you! Entry for this one is super simple--just follow the Rafflecopter directions below. But be sure to actually leave a comment, otherwise it won't count. :)

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the cash envelope system wallet set from my shop!

~~This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and older, and will end on May 4, 2013, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Winner will be contacted by email within 24 hours after the giveaway ends.~~ This giveaway is over.

Congratulations, Carol! Be watching your email. :)

Note: Two entries were eliminated before random.org chose the winner, because those individuals clicked that they had left a comment when they actually had not.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Divide-It Deluxe cash envelope system wallet giveaway

2013-04-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned, I'm adding to the excitement of this week's fabulous eBook bundle special with a giveaway from my shop! You will have the chance to receive a Divide-It Deluxe cash budgeting wallet with a coordinating wrist strap in your choice of fabric(s) along with a set of printable spending logs--either blank or personalized.

You may enter any time between now and 10 AM PDT on May 5, which gives you several hours after the bundle sale ends to be sure and get those extra entries for your purchase.

This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 years and older, and will end on May 5, 2013, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Winner will be contacted by email within 24 hours after the giveaway ends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is the day! $29.97 for a $640 eBook bundle!

2013-04-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

This bundle deal has ended, but the individual books are

available for purchase by using the links below.

The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle is officially available for purchase.
97 fabulous eBooks and eCourses for only $29.97. That's a savings of more than 95%!

I will list the books & courses again for your convenience, followed by details regarding the bonus products. And the fine print and link to FAQ's, of course. :)

Check back tonight for a post about the giveaway from my shop that will be going on for the duration of this special. There is no purchase required to enter, but there will be several ways to earn extra entries, including 10 extra for purchasing the bundle through my blog.

Over the course of the six-day sale, I will also be blogging about a couple of my favorite eBooks from the bundle and will be giving away a separate item by one of the authors.

The Whole Shebang

Bonus Offers

A FREE Two-Month Membership to Fit2B Studio, where their wholesome workouts for the whole family are tummy safe and particularly target Diastasis Recti (split abs). ($19.98 value. No shipping restrictions.)
A $15 store credit to TruKid. With products like their aware-winning sun care, they are dedicated to providing all natural skin and hair care for kids, babies, and now pets. ($15.00 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)

Your choice of incredible natural products like sea salt and clay for FREE. Choose from the Redmond Trading Earthpaste Bundle ($24.90 value) or the Facial Mud Bundle ($26.90 value). (Standard shipping applies. Continental US only.)

Your choice of a FREE heirloom sourdough starter or FREE yogurt starter from Cultures for Health, the leading supplier of starter cultures and supplies for making cultured and fermented foods ($12.95 value. US & CAN addresses only. Standard shipping applies.)

Your choice of: a FREE 3-Month Subscription (for new accounts) or 30% off a One Year Subscription. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)

A FREE Culinary Herbs Assorted Seed Pack Check just in time for spring planting from www.wheatgrasskits.com, a living whole foods company. ($11.95 value. Standard shipping applies to all US states and territories- no international shipping for seeds.)

Get $10 off Union28's original "my husband rocks" tee. Their marriage apparel lets you celebrate your spouse in style. ($10.00 value. Standard shipping rates apply. International shipping available, but free shipping only available within USA.)

A $10 store credit plus 1 FREE lip balm from Bee All Natural. Their whole body products nourish and heal, and are made using only the highest quality, food grade, organic ingredients. ($13.49 value. Standard shipping applies. International shipping available.)

A FREE 2 oz. bottle of your choice of liquid herbal formula from TriLight Health. They specialize in fast acting, great tasting natural herbal remedies. ($12.95 value or more. Standard shipping applies, within the USA only.)

Your choice of 3 FREE ePlanners OR a 3-Month FREE Membership to ListPlanIt, whose mobile lists will help to organize your life. ($15.00 value. No shipping restrictions.)

The fine print:

Bonus Offers

Each bonus offer can be redeemed once only per eBook Bundle purchase.
For each bonus offer, transaction numbers or proof of purchase may be required at the time of redemption.
All bonus offers are free gifts from the bonus sponsors, are their sole responsibility to provide, and are subject to availability.
All bonus offers expire at midnight on May 19th, 2013 (2 weeks from the last day of this sale).

General

It is your responsibility to download and back-up your purchase within the 1-month download time-frame. With proof of purchase, we can renew download links up until August 1st, 2013. After this date we will no longer have access to the books and will not be able to provide any new links to download.
Due to the nature of this sale, there will be no refunds available. However, we would invite you to read our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the file types, the download process, how the bonus offers work, etc.

Please note: This collection is only available from 9 a.m. EST on April 29th to 11:59 p.m. EST on May 4th. There will be no late sales offered, so make sure that you get your bundle right away!

Particularly for those wanting to read these ebooks on their mobile devices (iPhones or iPads, Android, Kindle, etc.) you will want to learn more about the file types, how to download them correctly, and how to transfer them to your device.

This post includes affiliate links, and I make a portion of the sale of each ebook bundle. Thanks for your support of this site!

Bundle of 97 eBooks and eCourses for $29.97!

2013-04-25T12:14:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to share this sneak peek with you!

For 6 days only, more than 75 bloggers and authors in the homemaking sphere--many of whom are likely familiar to you--have joined together to offer 97 of their most popular eBooks and eCourses, valued at over $600, for only $29.97!

Plus you'll receive over $140 in bonus offers!

AND I'm going to sweeten the deal with a giveaway from my shop! You will have the chance to win a Divide-It Deluxe cash budgeting wallet with a coordinating wrist strap in your choice of fabric(s) along with a set of printable spending logs--either blank or personalized.

There's no "Buy Now" button today, because the bundle is not available until the 29th. On Monday, you'll find the full details and have the opportunity to purchase. I will also be blogging next week about a few of my favorite books from the bundle as well as some tips for getting the PDF's onto your Kindle and organizing them once they're there. (If you don't have a Kindle, you can read them right from your computer and set up category folders to organize.)

In the meantime, I want to provide you with the comprehensive list of books in case you'd like to check them out before next week. You might just find a few new favorite blogs in the process!

[Keep this really cool fact in mind as you browse: You can choose to gift one or more of the books!
For example, I am done having babies, so I will be sending the pregnancy & baby care books to a friend and then deleting them from my computer. I'm really loving that this is an option.]

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae @ SarahMae.com ($4.99)
Getting it Together: Your Guide to Setting Up a Home Management System that Works by Kayse @ kayse pratt ($3.99)
Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks by Becky @ Clean Mama ($10.00)
Simple Living by Lorilee @ Loving Simple Living ($2.99)
NOT a DIY Diva by Melissa @ The Inspired Room ($3.99)
One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh @ Simple Mom ($5.00)
28 Days to Hope for your Home by Dana @ A Slob Comes Clean ($5.00)
Organizing Life as Mom by Jessica @ Life as Mom ($9.00)
Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed by Jenni @ Live Called ($4.99)
10 Steps to Organized Paper by Lisa @ Lisa Woodruff.net($5.00)
Handmade Walls by Jamin and Ashley @ the handmade home ($9.95)
Easy Peasy Chores: An Easy-to-Use Chore System That Brings JOY Back Into Family Chores by Alina Joy @ The Good Old Days Farm ($17.99)

Educational Children's Resources

Princess Training by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($3.99)
The Armor of God by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($2.50)
My Bedtime Learning Book by Richele @ Under the Golden Apple Tree ($1.00)
Think Outside the Classroom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($6.97)
Raising Rock Stars — Kindergarten Bundle by Carissa @ 1plus1plus1equals1 ($10.00)
The ABC's For Godly Boys Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)
The ABC's For Godly Girls Curriculum by Lindsey @ Road to 31 ($8.00)
K4 Curriculum by Erica @ Confessions of a Homeschooler ($15.00)
Write Through the Bible (print) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00)
Write Through the Bible (cursive) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life ($5.00) Balcony Girls (books 1 & 2) by Sandy @ Reluctant Entertainer ($19.90)
The Dig for Kids: Luke (Volumes 1 and 2) by Patrick, husband of Ruth @ The Better Mom ($5.98)
Music: An Essential Ingredient for Life by Ryan @ Resound School of Music ($6.99)

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

From Debtor to Better by Barry @ From Debtor to Better ($10.00)
Tell Your Time by Amy @ Blogging with Amy ($2.99)
The Homemakers Guide to Creating the Perfect Schedule by Amy @ Raising Arrows ($4.99)
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne @ Authentic Simplicity ($7.99)
Finding Financial Freedom by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($5.97)
Become a Frugalista in 30 Days by Susan @ The Confident Mom ($3.99)

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Crock On by Stacy @ Stacy Makes Cents ($5.00)
Real Food, Real Easy by various bloggers @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Wholesome Mixes by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
20-Minute Meals by Leigh Ann @ Intentional by Grace ($4.99)
Restocking the Pantry by Kresha @ Nourishing Joy ($9.99)
Money Saving Mom's Guide to Freezer Cooking by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom ($3.99)
Simply Summer by Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama ($7.95)
Do the Funky Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($4.95)
Real Food Kids: In the Kitchen plus 1 month access to select Real Food Kids eCourse videos by Wardeh @ GNOWFGLINS and Jami @ Eat Nourishing ($20.00)
Seasonal Menu Plans on a Budget: A Month of Meals from My Humble Kitchen to Yours by Diana @ My Humble Kitchen ($4.99)
Just Making Ice Cream by Marillyn @ Just Making Noise ($12.00)
The Curative Kitchen by Susan @ Handy Pantry ($20.00)

Pregnancy & Baby Care

First Bites by Hilary @ Accidentally Green ($9.99)
Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)
Stress-Free Baby Shower by Sara @ Your Thriving Family ($4.00)
Unbound Birth by Jenny @ The Southern Institute ($2.99)
My Pregnancy Journey by Mindy @ Simply Designs ($9.99)
My Buttered Life Baby Edition by Renee @ Made On Hard Lotion ($5.00)
The Minimalist Mom’s Guide to Baby’s First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($5.00)
Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide by Angie @ Redeeming Childbirth ($3.99)

Holidays & Special Events

Festive Traditions by Jill @ Modern Alternative Kitchen ($7.95)
Holiday Mixes: Gifts in a Jar by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
Flourishing Spring by Michele @ Frugal Granola ($5.95)
Family Camping Handbook by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($6.95)
Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda @ Oh, Amanda! ($7.99)
Plan a Fabulous Party by Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect ($4.99)
iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide by Alli @ Alli Worthington($9.97)

Spiritual Growth

Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 by Amy @ Amy Bayliss ($3.99)
The Best of Visionary Womanhood by Natalie @ Visionary Womanhood ($5.00)
God’s Word in my Heart: A Scripture Memory Learning Guide with Verses {all 4 versions} by Jenn @ The Purposeful Mom ($3.99)
Kept: a 13-Week Inductive Study on 1 Peter by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($4.99)
Love Like Him: an 8 week Inductive Bible study on 1 Corinthians 13 by Lara and Katie @ Quench Bible ($2.99)

Marriage & Romance

Rekindling Romance by Jason & Jami @ A Biblical Marriage ($4.99)
Good Wife’s Guide by Darlene @ Time-Warp Wife ($2.99)
31 Days to Build a Better Spouse by Ashley @ Ashley Pichea ($4.99)
31 Days to Great Sex by Sheila @ To Love, Honor and Vacuum ($4.99)
Entangled: Recognize Your Emotional Affair by Amy @ Amy J. Bennett ($4.99)

Motherhood

The Heart of Simplicity by various authors @ The Heart of Simplicity ($9.99)
True Christian Motherhood by June @ A Wise Woman Builds Her Home ($7.00)
Hula Hoop Girl by September @ One September Day ($4.99)
When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly @ Generation Cedar ($4.97)
Mindset for Moms by Jamie @ Steady Days ($4.99)
From Cube to Farm by Heather @ From Cube to Farm ($2.99)
4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions by various authors @ 4 Moms, 35+ Kids Parenting E-book ($7.99)
That Works for Me! by Kristen @ We are THAT Family ($8.00)

Health & Fitness

100-pound Loser by Jessica @ Muthering Heights ($4.99)
Honoring the Rhythm of Rest by Danielle @ Domestic Serenity ($2.99)
42 Days to Fit by Brandy @ The Marathon Mom, Emma @ Real Fit Moms and Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($4.99)
Healthy Homemaking by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home ($12.95)
Personal ePlanner by Jennifer @ ListPlanIt ($5.00)

Beauty

Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae @ SaraMae.com ($4.99)
The Cottage Mama’s DIY Guide by Kristy @ Little Natural Cottage ($4.00)
Simple Scrubs to Make and Give by Stacy @ A Delightful Home ($3.99)
The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley @ The No Brainer Wardrobe ($7.99)
Embracing Beauty by Trina @ Trina Holden ($9.00)
Reuse, Refresh, Repurpose by Kristen @ The Frugal Girl ($3.99)

Working from Home & Blogging

Your Blogging Business: Tax, Talk and Tips by Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger ($4.99)
The Bootstrap VA by Lisa @ The Home Life {and Me} ($12.99)
How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home by Jacinda @ Growing Home ($4.99)
How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($12.00)
Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging by Rachel @ Small Notebook ($8.00)

Ecourses

Learning in Love: The Preschool Years by Renee @ FIMBY ($7.99)
Homeschooling from the Heart by Renee @ FIMBY ($7.99)
Grocery University by Carrie @ Colorado Bargains ($24.95)
Vibrant Living Strategies for Moms by Lisa @ Well-Grounded Life ($59)
You Can Do This! The First Five Steps to a Real Food Kitchen by Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers ($5.00)

And here's a peek at the companies offering the free bonuses...

Are you excited? Me, too! (Especially since I'm in the same boat as you and can't buy the bundle until Monday!) Come back then for all the details and the chance to purchase and enter the giveaway.

Frugal Living ebook bundle for only $7.40!

2013-03-07T09:35:00.001-08:00

As someone who is passionate about people getting out of debt and living within their means, I was so excited to see the topic of this week's ebook bundle! You can get all 5 ebooks for just $7.40, which is a savings of more than 70%.

Become a Frugali$ta in 30 Days by Susan Heid
In Become a Frugali$ta in 30 Days, Susan shares 30 practical money-saving secrets to help family managers keep to their budget and earn extra money while saving on everything from entertainment and dining out to groceries and household expenses.

Your Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne Simpson
Your Grocery Budget Toolbox is a basic handbook for any family who wants to eat well on a budget. She shares tips for setting a practical budget, shopping once a month, using price lists and price caps, utilizing the internet to save on groceries, finding healthy food on a budget and much more!

Advanced Penny Pinching by Tabitha Philen
Tabitha takes you beyond standard money-saving tips with her Advanced Penny Pinching ebook, which walks you through building a stockpile that actually saves you money, spotting the marketing tricks that get you to overspend, using loyalty and rewards programs to boost your budget and customizing any money-saving plan for your family’s likes and dislikes!

From Debtor to Better by Barry Myers
As a former debt collector turned financial counselor, Barry Myers is passionate about helping people get out of debt as quickly and safely as possible. Barry brings a unique perspective to debt counseling, and in From Debtor to Better, he provides a simple, easy-to-follow system to help you climb your way out of debt and take control of your finances.

Coupon Quick Start Guide by Angela Newsom
In the Coupon Quick Start Guide, Angela shows you how to use coupons and other strategies to cut your grocery bill by 50-70% or more without spending hours clipping coupons or preparing for shopping trips. This handbook will take you through your first shopping trips from start to finish to show you just how easy saving can be!

The Frugal Living bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 3/11.

Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive a small commission on any sales of this ebook bundle that are generated through my website.

Cash Budgeting: Do I really need to track every dollar?

2013-03-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

If you’re operating from a cash budget in key spending categories, chances are you go to the bank each pay period and withdraw a certain number of 20’s, 10’s, 5’s, and 1’s. Then you distribute the bills to envelopes or your wallet sections based on your pre-determined budget amounts. From then until the next pay period, you spend accordingly but don’t necessarily track where each bill or coin goes.

image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This method works fine for many people. They don’t see a need to worry themselves over the destination of each cent as long as it’s been taken from the correct envelope. But there are occasions when specific tracking is advantageous.

For instance, let’s say I’m finding that my grocery budget is running out several days before payday. By tracking my specific cash expenditures, it might be easier to discover where that category is hemorrhaging. I may examine it at the end of the month and find that I’ve been shopping more frequently at grocery stores where prices are higher or that I’ve been making a lot of “emergency” trips to the closest store because I’m not planning meals ahead of time. Seeing those trends can help me adjust my habits and stretch the grocery budget.

Continue reading my post at A Bowl Full of Lemons for a free download through 3/13/13.

The Confident Mom Household Planner (aka, How I kissed chore charts goodbye)

2013-01-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

Name a chore chart system. I've probably tried it. Or at least pinned it, bookmarked it, or cut the idea from a magazine.

Then I discovered the Confident Mom planner. From the product description:

The 2013 Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner will keep busy moms from all walks of life motivated and on track with all their to-do items day after day, week after week, all year long. This weekly planner breaks down household tasks into manageable daily and weekly bite size pieces, utilizing smaller increments of time to keep the tasks from becoming too large and overwhelming. Most of the items can be easily completed in 3 to 30 minutes, and you can select appropriate items to delegate to family members (after all, even with the household planner, you still can’t be “super mom”).

It's mainly that very last part that compels me to proclaim my great affection for it. Because now, I sit down for about a half hour during the weekend with my weekly planner page, four highlighters (one color for each child), and my Pinterest recipes board, and this is the final product:

Tasks assigned, meals planned, daily scripture reading noted, page hanging on the fridge where eyes at every level can see it clearly.

Fare thee well, complicated chore charts. Fare. Thee. Well.

Want to give it a try in your home?
Click here or on the image below to purchase.

Disclosure: As an affiliate, I receive a small commission on any sales of this planner that are generated through my website. However, I only recommend products I can personally stand behind, and this compensation in no way influences my review.

My 2013 Book List

2013-01-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a cue from a few other bloggers I follow and posting a list of 24 books I intend to read in 2013 in addition to the Bible. Perhaps you'll get some inspiration.

Most of these I already own, either in actual book form--always and forever my favorite--or as free Kindle downloads. (I don't actually own a Kindle and planned to read those particular ones on my iPod--ugh!--but am now considering using my Christmas money for a Kindle. Sometimes I surprise even myself.) A couple of them are re-reads, but most of them fall into the category of Get with it and read these already! As for the six or so that I don't own in some form, I am hoping to find them at the library. So this is a blissfully cheap book list indeed.

Here they are, in no particular order. You'll notice that I didn't list any fiction--with the exception of the three children's books at the end--since I never seem to have a problem fitting some of that in during the year. (I'll also place this list as a widget in my sidebar so that you don't have to come back and search for this post.)

Amazon.com Widgets

Disclosure: A Time for Everything is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Isn't a cash budget so "last century?"

2012-12-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I know what some of you are thinking when you read blog posts or articles about using a cash budget.

Why would I do something so archaic when there’s an app/software/tool/etc. for tracking my spending? Get with the times!

I know this because that same thought has crossed my mind more than once. I’ve experimented with other methods of budgeting that don’t require asking the teller for a particular number of 20’s, 10’s, 5’s and 1’s. I’ve tried both online tools and computer software and have also kept a handwritten ledger to record our debit card transactions in their respective categories. But each time, I’ve come back around to using cash again.

Now, there are definitely categories for which we do not use cash. With the ability to pay bills online, it’s far more practical to set up those predictable recurring expenses to automatically come out of our account. And there are also budget categories for which it doesn’t make sense to withdraw cash from each deposited paycheck, such as saving for a vacation or home project. We choose to keep those amounts accumulating in the bank until we need them.

I’m talking about those variable expenses that can be budget busters: groceries, entertainment, clothing, and eating out, to name a few. Even gas can throw off a budget if one isn’t intentional about combining errands, carpooling, or employing other strategies that reduce driving distances.

While there are some people who have no more of an issue with overspending when they use debit or credit vs. cash, even disciplined people will acknowledge that when they pay with cash, they spend less. If I bring $100 with me to the grocery store, guess how much I will spend on groceries? $100 or less. If I go into it planning to spend about $100 with a debit card, I can almost guarantee you that I will find a way to justify spending $125.

An interesting study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and MIT used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study which regions of the brain activated when participants had to make decisions about purchases. The insular complex—associated with pain—was activated when people viewed prices of goods and were faced with the decision of spending actual money. The conclusion?

"Credit cards effectively anesthetize the pain of paying," said George Loewenstein, Carnegie Mellon professor of social and decision sciences (SDS) and co-author of the paper. "You swipe the card and it doesn't feel like you're giving anything up to make the purchase, unlike paying cash where you have to hand over bills."

image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Another benefit is that there is no risk involved. If you use cash, you remove any chance of not being able to pay for your purchase when the bill comes due. What if you make a habit of using a credit card but then you lose your job or face a major crisis between your shopping trip and when your statement arrives? At the very least, you’ll be paying interest on those charges, possibly for a while.

{Interesting side note: As part of a multi-billion dollar settlement this summer, Visa & MasterCard agreed to lift their longstanding policy against businesses passing along credit card “swipe fees” to their customers. Kroger even considered either charging two separate prices for groceries (a card price and a cash price) or giving a cash discount at the register. It could be just a matter of time before this becomes reality at some stores. Another reason to use cash!}

But there’s a lot of risk involved in carrying around a whole bunch of cash! you might protest. This is true. So only carry with you what you expect to spend, with a little cushion. For example, if I’m going grocery shopping, I’m not going to bring along the entire amount that’s budgeted for that pay period. I’m going to make a list and bring what I believe I will need.

image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’m not saying that operating with a cash budget is without its drawbacks. It takes a little bit more planning and a trip to the bank or credit union, and you have to be committed to not steal from one envelope to cover another. But I challenge you to try it out for a few months and see if it helps to temper your spending and save you a little money. You have nothing to lose!

Cyber Monday Sale!

2012-11-26T12:04:00.001-08:00

In case you don't follow my Facebook page, you might want to check it out today, "Like" it, and find out about the Cyber Monday specials in my Etsy shop! They're good until 10:00 PM PST tonight.

Your Christmas Spending Plan

2012-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We're fast approaching that time of year when Christmas shopping moves into high gear, typically kicked off by Black Friday sales the day after Thanksgiving. According to a consumer spending survey by the National Retail Foundation, the average holiday shopper will spend $749.51 this year on gifts, cards, decorations, etc.

I would venture to say that $1,500 per couple is more than most families can actually afford. If that's true, it means that a lot of people are going into debt with their Christmas spending and then taking months (or possibly longer) to actually pay for their purchases...

{Click here to continue reading my monthly budgeting post at A Bowl Full of Lemons.}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 31}

2012-10-31T17:25:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Day 31! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Yesterday we covered the issue of deciding how to spend bonus money. I'm not sure we'll have any coming up in the form of a tax refund due to my self-employment income (and subsequent self-employment taxes) this year, but if we do, we'll most likely be putting it into savings. We're getting to the point where we need to either paint or side our house, and we definitely want to be able to pay cash to do it.

I hope you took a few minutes to make an intentional plan for any money that comes in above and beyond your typical income. You'll certainly be glad you did.
.

Whew! We made it to the last day of this series! Now we can just sit back and implement our budgets and not have to go through all this work again! Right?

Well, not exactly. It's true that it may never again be this much work, especially if you were starting from scratch at the beginning, but a budget is not a static feature. It needs to be evaluated and updated on a regular basis--definitely after any sort of significant event (job change, marriage, move, birth of a child), but even with everyday circumstances such as changing ages and needs of children and rising costs of essentials such as food and gas.

Your assignment from here on out is to set periodic dates for going over your budget and seeing whether you're on track or possibly need to tweak it here and there. Once a month should be reasonable. If you do it consistently, I guarantee you it will prevent the need for the kind of overhaul that will require repeating all 31 days of this series. :)

Thank you so much for following along with me!

I hope you feel better equipped and are experiencing the freedom that comes from living within your means!

The framework for this series was used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 30}

2012-10-30T23:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 30! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

On the previous post, I talked about making extra money by selling on eBay and Craigslist--either things you don't use or want that are cluttering your home, or items you purchase (low) with the intention of reselling (high).

So, did you pull out anything and list it? Even one thing? I didn't since I'm still unpacking/getting reorganized after being out of town, but we do have several things in our garage that we set aside a few months ago with the intention of putting them on Craigslist. (We obviously did not meet this goal.) I feel motivated to get my husband to take pictures--he promised!--so that I can list at least two things this weekend. Too bad a few of the items are summer-specific. Sigh. Procrastination rarely pays.

Perhaps you or your spouse work for a business that generously gives holiday (or other) bonuses. Maybe you count on getting a tax refund every year.

It's easy to start dreaming about what you'd like to buy with that extra money. But it's usually smarter to consider how you could either apply it to debt, use it to build your emergency fund, put it towards a large seasonal or one-time expense, etc. (When we lived in our previous home, we often used extra money to cover costly heating oil fill-ups in the winter.) Or perhaps you're feeling led to spend it in another specific way, which is fine. The point is to be intentional about it rather than use it to fund a shopping spree, however tempting that may be.

Do you have a strategy for handling any bonus money that comes in to your household? If not, start brainstorming now!

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 29}

2012-10-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 29! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Yesterday I shared how you can earn some extra money by taking surveys and had you look at a list of legitimate sites compiled by Money Saving Mom.

To be honest, I have been out of the survey-taking loop for quite some time. Right now, it just doesn't make sense for me to spend the time on surveys that I could be spending creating things for my shop. But in the past I did surveys regularly and appreciated those little bits of money that came in from them.

Another way to earn money is to sell things you have but no longer need or want. (And you can clear out your garage or storage area at the same time. Win-win!) A garage sale is one way of accomplishing this, but for the bigger-ticket items, Craigslist or eBay are often better choices.

But you don't have to stop there. There's actually potential for becoming a successful reseller using these venues. Maybe you're one of those people who is always finding incredible deals on quality items. If you purchase multiples of an item that's priced way below retail and then turn around and sell them, and you do this repeatedly, you could add the equivalent of a part-time income to your family's budget.

I used to do this on a small scale with children's clothing back when our first child was a baby. I would find great clearance deals at Baby Gap / Old Navy / etc. and then sell those items for a nice profit on eBay. I didn't get into it enough to have an eBay store, but it generated a little extra income for us that I then used to purchase clothing and shoes for our son.

Each site has its pros and cons. There are fees involved with selling on eBay, but you're definitely reaching a larger audience. And if you use the auction format and sell popular items, your bids could go higher than what you might receive on Craigslist as buyers compete for them. Collector's items also do well on eBay. Craigslist is great for larger, heavier items that are not practical to ship, such as furniture, bicycles, etc. And it's free!

(If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of selling locally on Craiglist and having a buyer come to your home, arrange to meet at a public place such as a grocery store or post office.)

Regardless of which venue you choose, creating a good listing is important. Here are some places to start:

Today's assignment is to start by going through your garage or storage area and pulling out a few things you could sell to make some money! Then list them on either your local Craigslist or eBay.

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 28}

2012-10-28T16:21:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Day 28! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Since Day 27 is missing from the outline on the Inexpensively site, we will look back to Day 26. I provided a list of potential ways to increase your family's income and asked you to start thinking and dreaming about what you might do.

Two years ago, I started making some cash envelope system wallets at the request of friends and blog readers and sold them here on my blog. I had very occasional sales, but it was fun to have a little bit of money trickling in here and there. While I had registered for an Etsy account, I was kind of intimidated to jump in and start selling there. So I didn't.

A year ago, I attended a crafting retreat during which I was able to get several items made. When I returned, I decided to give Etsy a try, so I listed those items. In the first week, I sold seven things. I was thrilled! After a popular blogger hosted a giveaway of one of my wallets in January, my shop took off, and in the first year since starting on Etsy, I have had almost 1400 sales. It has been so fun and has gone beyond what I ever could have imagined. But it's also taken a lot of hard work, networking, and constant improvement. My husband and I never really considered that this could become a major source of income for our family, but it has. I share this to encourage you to dream and to go for it. You never know what can happen!

Another way to earn some extra money is to take surveys online. It certainly won't result in a windfall, but those little bits could be applied to debt or saved for something special like Christmas shopping or a weekend away.

Your assignment is to check out this list of 9 reputable survey sites at Money Saving Mom, register with at least two of them, and then actually follow through and take the surveys when they show up in your Inbox. :)

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 27}

2012-10-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Day 27 has been missing from the Inexpensively site since I started this series. Since I haven't yet heard back from the site owner regarding it, I'm guessing she hasn't located the post or even the title.

If and when I am provided with that information, I will update this post and add it to the series. Thanks!

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 26}

2012-10-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 26! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Yesterday's assignment was to make a date with your spouse to talk about your budget and goals. Maybe you haven't sat down to do this yet, but I hope you're looking forward to it! It may not be easy at first, but I have found that if you go into it with the right attitude, it can really draw you closer together. Finances tend to be the biggest cause of strife in marriage. (Trust me, it once was in ours.) But it doesn't have to be that way!

Sometimes as you're trying to meet your goals (getting out of debt, purchasing a vehicle with cash, saving for a vacation, etc.), it makes sense to find methods of increasing your income.

There are all sorts of ways to do this, including:

ask your boss for a raise
elect the maximum number of withholding allowances on your W-2 so that less money is taken out of each paycheck
take online surveys (more on this on Day 28)
have a garage sale or sell items on eBay or Craigslist (more on Day 29)
write an Ebook
open an Etsy (or other) shop selling handmade items and/or participate in a craft fair
provide child care, housecleaning, lawn care, or another service that you could work into your family's schedule
start a blog and use it to earn money

Sometimes all it takes is thinking of something you do well and then having the courage to move forward to turn that earning potential into reality!

Take some time to look through this list--or think of other ideas--and start to dream about what you could do to increase your family's income without creating hardship.

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 25}

2012-10-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 25! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

At the end of the last post, I suggested that you sign up for one or more of the sites that offer cash back shopping. It only takes an extra step or two each time you make a purchase, but it's worth it when you receive those bonus checks!

Today I want to address a topic that might be a hot button for some: managing finances together.

I realize that there's not a certain mold that all couples fit into when it comes to finances. In some households, one person does the majority of the budgeting and bill paying, either because it makes more sense (perhaps because one is at home and the other works full-time outside the home) or because one of them is simply better at that task.

However, no matter where you fit on this spectrum, it is very important that you talk about it! Maybe you won't divide tasks equally, but communication is vital so that you're on the same page with your spending and your goals.

Your assignment is to make a date with your spouse to sit down and talk about this whole budgeting process. Go into it ready to listen and to be transparent. If you've already done so over the course of this series, good for you! Keep it up! And if you're engaged, it's not too early to start this important habit.

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 24}

2012-10-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 24! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Our previous assignment was to set up an organized system for processing rebates from start to finish. I have high hopes that this will prevent me from going past the submission deadline and missing out on the rebate altogether.

Another way to get rebates is through cash-back shopping online. It involves clicking through a central site and making a purchase, a percentage of which you will get back after a period of time. Some sites automatically send you the rebate after you reach a certain threshold, others require that you request your rebate.

Before making a purchase online, I always check to see if a cash rebate is available. My favorite site for doing this is Evreward. It's not a rebate site itself, but it compiles all of the sites through which you can receive cash back rewards, points, frequent flier miles, etc. for purchasing from a particular merchant, as well as any current coupon codes or other special offers.

For example, here's what Evreward shows today for Old Navy. I couldn't fit it all in a screen shot, but you'll get the idea of how nice it is to have everything in one spot.

I typically use Ebates and Mr. Rebates, both of which offer sign-up bonuses.

Your assignment is to sign up with one or more of the cash back rebate sites and then get in the habit of always checking for these rewards before making an online purchase!

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links.)

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 23}

2012-10-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 23! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Yesterday I shared some of my favorite sites that direct me to freebies. I hope you signed up for one or two and even got started on getting those free items. You'll begin loving the mailbox again.;) It's been a while since I've signed up for freebies on a regular basis, and I'm motivated to get going again.

Today's subject is an area in which I have bombed more than once. I don't fail in finding the rebate deals or even in cashing/using them in time. But I can't count how many times I have returned home from a purchase, stuck the rebate form in a drawer or folder, and promptly forgot about it until the deadline for submission had passed. Ugh. Some of those still make me cringe, especially a couple for which the amounts ended in the letters -ty.

So here are some steps for successfully using rebates to your advantage:

Get the paperwork you need and make sure you understand the rebate process. If anything isn't clear, ask the cashier or email customer service if it's an online purchase.
Fill out the paperwork right away, make a copy for yourself, and mail the rebate. Double-check that everything you need is in the envelope. I literally check each thing off on the form so that I know I'm not forgetting something.
Note on your home calendar / Google calendar / phone / etc. the date you mailed the paperwork as well as the approximate date you expect to receive the rebate. Then file the paperwork in a "pending" folder. These steps should help prevent you from completely forgetting about it. Some companies (such as Staples) even have a way of checking the status of a rebate online, which is helpful.
Use it or lose it! Duh, but I'll bet many of us could confess to experiencing the second part of that sentence.

Your assignment is simple--set up a "pending rebates" folder to keep in the area where you pay bills and do other paperwork. Tape a note to the front with the steps I just shared. And the next time you have a rebate to process, follow through with all of them!

'

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 22}

2012-10-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 22! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

Yesterday we took a look at some different ways that it can pay to shop off-season or purchase certain items during certain months.

I was aware of some of the things on the lists (like buying your calendar in January and tools & home improvement items in June), but some of them were definitely surprises. Butter is priced the lowest in June and July? Who knew!

Companies want you to buy their products (of course), so they often offer free trial sizes or samples. And sometimes they even come with coupons to be used on the full-size version. It's usually as easy as providing your name, email, and mailing address. Occasionally you might be asked to answer a few simple questions.

Now, it would take you all day and then some to hunt around for these individually. Fortunately, there are people who have turned sharing these deals into a living and do the work for you. What's not to love about that?

Over the past few years, I have subscribed to lots of these sites and also unsubscribed from lots of them. There's just no way I can feasibly follow them all. In fact, when there are too many on my list, I tend to ignore them altogether. So I've narrowed them down to the following favorites:

Money Saving Mom (lots of other great content as well)
Freebies 4 Mom
The Freebie Blogger

Your assignment is to check out these sites (or others--they don't have to be my picks) and sign up for a couple of them either by adding them to your feed reader or subscribing to their emails. But remember--once you start finding those freebies, only sign up to receive the ones that you will actually use or have a plan to donate. No hoarding!

Do you have any other favorite freebie sites?

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 21} & the Divide-It Wallet Set giveaway winner

2012-10-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 21! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.} In typical Sunday fashion, I'll keep this one brief.

But first, the winner of the Divide-It Wallet Set giveaway:

And comment #12 was:

Congratulations, MrsManley! You can visit my business Facebook page to see fabric options and then email me with your choices.

(By the way, "Liking" my Facebook page is a great way to make sure you always hear about sales, new products and fabrics, etc. :)

Yesterday's assignment had to do with daily deals--either sign up for one or two of the most reputable providers or unsubscribe from the numerous ones that are unnecessarily cluttering your inbox.

I was able to get off the list of six companies I have never utilized. I will definitely be more selective in the future.

When I talked about setting a clothing budget, I mentioned how I try to shop off-season whenever possible by taking advantage of the clearance deals at the end of each season. Though it's not an exact science, I'm pretty good about guessing what sizes my kids will need for the following year. I always love pulling out those bins and seeing that they already have shorts & t-shirts, winter coat & boots, etc.

But clothing and shoes aren't the only items for which timing matters. For today's assignment, check out these websites for some great lists and information about purchasing certain products at certain times of the year. You may be surprised by what you learn!

Need A Good Deal? Buy Things Off Season To Save Money! (via StupidCents)
The Best Time to Buy Anything in 2012 (via lifehacker)
The Best Time to Buy Guide for 101 Products and Services (via freeshipping.org)
Best Time to Buy (via The Centsible Life--one post for each month of year)

You might also take a look at this book, Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There

*includes affiliate link

Have you ever saved a bundle by intentionally waiting until a certain time of the year to make a purchase / take a trip / replace an appliance / etc.?

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 20}

2012-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Day 20! {Click here to find the topic menu for the entire month along with links to each day.}

No recap today since Day 19 is missing from Inexpensively. But don't forget to enter the giveaway and take advantage of the 24-hour sale in my Etsy shop before 1:30 PM PST!

Today we get to talk about those fun group buys and other daily deals that seem to have multiplied like rabbits over the past couple of years.

Groupon, LivingSocial, Eversave, Tippr, Dealfind, Very Jane, GroopDealz, Pick Your Plum, Peachy Cheap, AmazonLocal Deals... oh my! And that's just a tiny list.

It's easy to get carried away by the pressure of "This deal only lasts for two days! Better hurry and snatch it up!" But the biggest issue isn't how long the deal will last, but whether or not you would have purchased those goods or that service anyway.

If you can answer yes, then you have the potential of really saving some money. Perhaps you need a sprinkler blowout or to have your carpets cleaned, and you have the opportunity to purchase the service for half price. Or maybe you can get some great date night deals like discount movie tickets or a 2-for-1 dinner at a favorite restaurant. These group buys can also make fantastic Christmas and birthday gifts.

But as with anything that presents itself as a tempting bargain, use wisdom and don't be impulsive. Sometimes if a daily deal looks really great, I'll put it in my cart and then "walk away. Many times, I don't come back and purchase. I can't think of a single instance where I was really upset with myself for not following through with the transaction.

Another thing to keep in mind is that only a few of these group buy sites have a policy that protects you from losing everything you spent if you happen to let a deal go past its expiration date. Groupon and LivingSocial both guarantee that the paid value will not expire even if the promotional value does. I'll use one of our recent purchases as an example. We bought a Froyo Earth deal that was $5 for $10 worth of frozen yogurt. If we forget about it and let the expiration date pass (fat chance with with frozen yogurt and this family!), we can still redeem that voucher in the amount of the $5 purchase price.

Your assignment today is to either check into and sign up to receive emails from one or two of the most popular and dependable group deal sites--Groupon and LivingSocial--or do what I need to do, which is unsubscribe from the rash of sites that you've never purchased from but which are cluttering your inbox!

If you're working through these steps along with me, I'd love to know!

Please leave a comment and share how it's going.

The framework for this series is being used with permission from Inexpensively.

Links for 2011-08-05 [del.icio.us]

2011-08-06T00:00:00-07:00

Smashed Peas and Carrots: The Best Coffee You'll Ever Have and How to Use a Coffee Toddy
I need to try this cold brew method for making coffee, especially to have it on hand for making iced coffee & granitas.

Links for 2011-08-04 [del.icio.us]

2011-08-05T00:00:00-07:00

An Appetizer for the Feast by Noël Piper | Reformed Theology Articles at Ligonier.org
"Good things can happen in solitude. Quietness can be a sweet place to meet God. But there’s a dark side to solitude when I crave it above all. The I comes to mean not “introvert” but literally only “I”: I don’t want you around, because I am the one who makes me happy. I can solve my own problems. I am all I need."

I appreciate and completely relate to Noel Piper's vulnerability. And I pray that I won't wait until age 60 to learn the same friendship lessons.
Johann Hari: How to survive the age of distraction
"And here's the function that the book – the paper book that doesn't beep or flash or link or let you watch a thousand videos all at once – does for you that nothing else will. It gives you the capacity for deep, linear concentration. As Ulin puts it: 'Reading is an act of resistance in a landscape of distraction.... It requires us to pace ourselves. It returns us to a reckoning with time. In the midst of a book, we have no choice but to be patient, to take each thing in its moment, to let the narrative prevail. We regain the world by withdrawing from it just a little, by stepping back from the noise.' "

Links for 2011-07-23 [del.icio.us]

2011-07-24T00:00:00-07:00

Do You Drip? | CindyBeall.com
I used to be a big dripper (Get it? Ha.) Thankfully, any leaks I experience now can usually be taken care of with a little tightening (aka the Holy Spirit).

Links for 2011-06-10 [del.icio.us]

2011-06-11T00:00:00-07:00

I'm Overdue for my Performance Evaluation
Sweet words that hit the spot.

Links for 2011-05-28 [del.icio.us]

2011-05-29T00:00:00-07:00

Healthy Snacks I Feed My Family | Heavenly Homemakers
A great list of healthy snacks with links to recipes.

Links for 2011-05-12 [del.icio.us]

2011-05-13T00:00:00-07:00

10 Tips to Beat Clutter…in Less Than 5 Minutes.
I already do several of these, but a few were new suggestions. I agree that some of the quickest, simplest tasks can prevent that feeling of being overwhelmed.

Links for 2011-04-21 [del.icio.us]

2011-04-22T00:00:00-07:00

What I’ve Learned & Can’t Do Fast Enough {Ebook Advice from The Nester’s Dad}
Very informative. Makes me want to get writing!

A Time for Everything

Baking Cupboard Organization: take 4

Reading PDF eBooks on your Kindle or tablet

eBook reviews + a summer giveaway

Divide-It Deluxe cash envelope system wallet giveaway

Today is the day! $29.97 for a $640 eBook bundle!

The Whole Shebang

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

Educational Children's Resources

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Pregnancy & Baby Care

Holidays & Special Events

Spiritual Growth

Marriage & Romance

Motherhood

Health & Fitness

Beauty

Working from Home & Blogging

Ecourses

Bonus Offers

The fine print:

This post includes affiliate links, and I make a portion of the sale of each ebook bundle. Thanks for your support of this site!

Bundle of 97 eBooks and eCourses for $29.97!

Home & Property {Cleaning, Organizing, Decor}

Educational Children's Resources

Budgeting {Finance & Time}

In the Kitchen {Recipes and Cooking}

Pregnancy & Baby Care

Holidays & Special Events

Spiritual Growth

Marriage & Romance

Motherhood

Health & Fitness

Beauty

Working from Home & Blogging

Ecourses

Frugal Living ebook bundle for only $7.40!

Cash Budgeting: Do I really need to track every dollar?

The Confident Mom Household Planner (aka, How I kissed chore charts goodbye)

My 2013 Book List

Isn't a cash budget so "last century?"

Cyber Monday Sale!

Your Christmas Spending Plan

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 31}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 30}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 29}

How to write a good, effective Craigslist ad. An in-depth tutorial for beginners.

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 28}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 27}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 26}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 25}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 24}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 23}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 22}

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 21} & the Divide-It Wallet Set giveaway winner

31 Days to a Better Budget {Day 20}

Links for 2011-08-05 [del.icio.us]

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