A Time for Everything

A Giveaway for Money Smart Kids... and Parents!

2014-04-22T10:16:00.001-07:00

● 4/29/14: The contest is over and the winner has been randomly selected by Rafflecopter and contacted. Congratulations, Rachel Walsh! Thank you all for participating. :) ●

To celebrate the launch of Smart Money Smart Kids, I'm doing a fun giveaway!

I am thankful for this book and believe it will make a huge impact on families both now and in future generations, so I purchased a copy yesterday to pass along to one of you.

But that's not all!

The winner will receive the following:

One (1) hardcover copy of Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruze
Two (2) of my Give-Save-Spend wallets in choice of tri-fold or 3-pouch style

(fabrics to be determined)

One (1) PDF of my budget sheet for kids

The required entry is easy - just leave a blog comment and then submit your entry below in Rafflecopter. There are also several opportunities for extra entries that will increase your odds! Tweeting can be done once per day.

Note: The comment section does not seem to be showing up on mobile devices. I can't figure out why, but clicking "View web version" should bring it up for you. I'm so sorry about that extra step!

Reader bonus: From today through the end of April, purchase any kids GIVE SAVE SPEND wallet from my shop and receive the kids budgeting printable for free! Just leave a note at checkout mentioning this special offer and I will send the PDF to the email address associated with your Etsy account.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and over

and ends at 11:59 PM PST on April 28, 2014.

(View full terms & conditions in Rafflecopter widget)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 12 Highlight

2014-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just like the first chapter in Smart Money Smart Kids begins with hope - from the perspective of Rachel's story - the final chapter ends with hope, but from the perspective of her dad's story.

This pretty much sums up the message:

Isn't it good to hear that it's not too late? Not for any of us! Just start today implementing a little bit at a time. Give yourself grace, and know that any movement you make in the right direction will bear fruit.

Godspeed!

Be sure to check back a little later today for a fun giveaway!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 11 Highlight

2014-04-20T23:07:00.003-07:00

Chapter 11 in Smart Money Smart Kids is entitled Generational Handoff: Blessings or Curses. I really enjoyed this chapter. Maybe it's because we're not quite at the point of handing off to the next generation but can see it approaching and this chapter encourages me. I especially love the description of "The Rope" which the Ramsey family used to illustrate giving their children increased freedom and responsibilities as they earned them (or decreased ones as trust was broken).

This stood out to me as an important reminder:

I think there are too many people who assume being wealthy means you're evil--or at least materialistic. It's just as unfair as any other stereotype, but it can be so easy to assume that someone driving a luxury car and living in a large house in a desirable neighborhood must really not be as holy as the person who lives in a small, modest house and drives a 1995 Ford Escort.

I don't want my children to automatically conclude that people with lots of money are shallow and people with very little money are spiritual. That's just not the truth. It's what you do with it that matters. If the person with very little views himself as the owner and lives accordingly and the person with a lot views himself as a manager and lives that way, money has much more of a potential for being a root of evil in the first person. Once again, it goes back to the heart.

Come back on Monday for a look at the final chapter

FOLLOWED BY A GREAT GIVEAWAY!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 10 Highlight

2014-04-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Chapter 10 in Smart Money Smart Kids is about Family. In it, Dave and Rachel address how our relationships at home affect how our children learn to manage money. They cover conventional families, single parents, divorce situations, blended families, etc. since they realizes each one of those has its own unique effects.

This quote really stood out to me:

It stood out because it made me realize how blessed I am that my husband and I are on the same page in this area. I think I sometimes take it for granted, and I suddenly feel really grateful when I recognize how difficult it would be if we were in opposition or if I was trying to train our kids and instill these values on my own. I'm not saying it would have no chance of working, but it would be much more of a battle.

Nothing profound. Just thankful that we're a team. :)

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 9 Highlight

2014-04-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Chapter 9 in Smart Money Smart Kids is entitled Contentment: The War for Your Child's Heart.

Isn't that the truth?

As Dave and Rachel point out, if you live in North America, you can't deny that you are in a war against the contemporary culture that starts inundating children immediately with the lie that more stuff = more happiness.

I had a very difficult time choosing a favorite quote from this chapter! I think I had at least a half dozen, but I'll share this one:

I love it because it gets to the heart of the issue. It's very difficult to be grateful without humility, and someone who is not grateful will never be content. She will always be comparing her looks, possessions, income, husband, children, etc. to what someone else has. It starts young, and it starts in the heart.

This is an area we address often with our kids because we feel so passionate about it. It is not an easy battle to fight, but the alternative makes it worth the hard work. Plus it forces my husband and I to routinely evaluate if we ourselves are truly content or if we're allowing comparison to creep in. We're just as susceptible, and our children are watching us.

Coming soon: a peek into chapter 10!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 8 Highlight

2014-04-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

This 8th chapter of Smart Money Smart Kids is packed full of sane & practical advice for approaching your child's college education, whether you're in a position to ultimately pay for it all yourself, you plan to pay half, or you can't foresee being able to contribute much of anything. (I'm going to guess most of us are in the latter two categories!)

I had the immense blessing of a father who saved and invested money wisely so that he could send my brothers and me to college. I graduated without owing a penny. (Well, except for that $800 on my Visa!) And that blessing has continued to the next generation. Following the birth of each of their nine grandchildren, he and my step-mom started a 529 Plan and made a lump sum deposit. Then instead of sending money or buying gifts the kids will tire of, they make deposits into that 529 on Christmas and their birthdays. Even now as I type this, my eyes are filling because I'm so very grateful they have done this for my children and their cousins.

But while a large portion (and maybe even all) of their college expenses will be covered, we still have a significant job ahead of us.

When I look back on decisions I made regarding selecting a college and a major, I clearly see some things that I would have done very differently with more guidance.

For example, I had the chance to earn a local full-ride scholarship to a particular in-state university. It's very likely that I would have been the recipient based on the criteria, but I didn't even apply. Why? Because I perceived that university as a party school. So instead, I crossed seven miles over the state line and attended... a bigger and more expensive party school. Not joking. I shake my head at my naïveté and ridiculous reasoning. I really needed someone to lovingly smack me upside the head when I was making that decision.

I was also a little clueless about choosing a field of study. When I was a junior in high school, I put Marketing as my intended major when filling out my ACT form, just because that's what my friend wrote. I didn't even know what marketing was! Then I decided I was going to be a nurse. But that felt like shaky ground when some teachers and other adults told me I was too smart (What? We don't want smart nurses?) and that I should become a doctor. So I started college in pre-med courses, just because it seemed to make everyone else happy. I finally had the wisdom my sophomore year to realize that my deep desire to stay home with my (someday) kids did not fit with becoming a doctor, and I changed my major to education.

Since my parents hadn't gone to college, they didn't have the experience to guide me in some of these areas. But as I have a little "been there, done that" under my belt, I think I'll be better equipped to talk through these decisions with whichever of my kids go on to college. Making wise decisions on what college to attend can save a whole lot of money, as can deciding on a major and being able to graduate in four years.

Check back soon for a glimpse into chapter 9!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 7 Highlight

2014-04-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

Chapter 7 in Smart Money Smart Kids deals with debt, specifically as it relates to kids as they grow up and are faced with all sorts of enticements drawing them toward the plastic.

Unfortunately, I was one of those college students who fell for the credit card offers. It started with American Express, which I justified since it was a charge card that had to be paid in full every month. Of course, I didn't exactly take the time to analyze what would happen (high fees) if I there was a month when I couldn't do so.

Student teaching was an overwhelming, full-time gig, so I had no part-time job and no way to earn money. Then entered Visa. I didn't go crazy with it and used it largely to buy things I needed, but when I graduated from college a few months later, I had a balance of $800.

Now, that probably doesn't seem like much to a lot of people. But to someone fresh out of college in the early 90's whose teaching pay wouldn't start for three more months, it felt paralyzing. It was also a little embarrassing, because I had grown up with parents who did not carry debt. My mom was so gracious, though, and just encouraged me to pay it off as soon as possible. I'm sure she recognized how much I regretted what I had done and didn't see any need to make me feel worse. :)

I don't want my kids to experience that paralyzed feeling. I don't want them to be in a position where they have to take the money they earn and "throw it backwards" to cover the spending they've already done rather than making a plan for it going forward. So we will continue to develop a culture of being a family who doesn't borrow money.

Don't forget! You must pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids by Monday, April 21 to receive the $50+ in extras.

Check back soon for a glimpse into chapter 8!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 6 Highlight

2014-04-15T22:49:00.001-07:00

Chapter 6 in Smart Money Smart Kids is all about budgeting... woohooooooo!

Spoken like a true Nerd, right?

I love that this chapter emphasizes the connection between parents who tell their money where to go and kids who grow up incrementally practicing the same so that they can transition into handling their money wisely as adults. We can tell them all we want about the importance of planning everything on paper, on purpose, but if we don't do it ourselves... it's just empty words.

I also love this:

"No" is not a popular word. Some parents feel mean when they say it, others don't like it when their kids get upset by being denied, and still others are reluctant to use the word because they want their children to have everything they didn't as a child. But saying no when appropriate--both to ourselves and to our children--is healthy. It keeps us from being indulged and feeling entitled.

Our kids know what a budget is and why we have one. Just last week, we sat down with the older two and explained that since sales have been down for the last few weeks, there are things we aren't going to be able to do for a while. Since we don't want them to worry or feel insecure, we reassured them that we have enough to cover the basics, but we felt that it was good for them to know where we stand and why we would be saying "no" to a lot of things. We've found that when kids are included in an age-appropriate way in the budget discussion, they have the opportunity to respect spending decisions and are less likely to complain or badger about the fun extras disappearing for a time.

And it helps train them how to set financial boundaries in the future, which may be the best side effect of all.

Don't forget! There are only 7 days left to pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids and receive over $50 in extras.

Come back Wednesday for a glimpse into chapter 7!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 5 Highlight

2014-04-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

Chapter 5 in Smart Money Smart Kids is Give: It's Not Yours Anyway. (I love that tagline.)

After beating myself up a bit the last two chapters, I felt a little more encouraged after reading this one. This is one area where we have been pretty intentional and have spent a lot of time talking to our kids about Who really owns what we have, modeling, and communicating an expectation that we will be a family that gives.

Now, this doesn't mean we're all natural givers. Three of us are, three of us aren't. But that is a character trait that can be nurtured, as described by my favorite quote from the chapter:

Just like spending can be contagious when you hang around shopaholics, giving can be contagious when we create that kind of culture in our families. Even when my husband and I haven't had a lot of extra to give, we have tried to live with open hands. (And wallets!) And just as I remember my mom faithfully tithing even when money was tight, our children know that it is always the first priority for our income.

Can I tell you a secret? We have never regretted it, and it has never once kept us from paying bills, buying groceries, putting gas in the car, or meeting any other need of our family. Not once. And our kids have witnessed that.

We also include them in opportunities to give to others in need. We could just go ahead and do it ourselves, but we want to involve them so that they experience it firsthand it and it (hopefully) becomes a part of who they are.

I really love the story Rachel shares about the giving situation her mom orchestrated for her and her sister, and it got me thinking about creative ways to do something similar. You'll just have to read the book to find out what it was!

Don't forget! There are only a few days left to pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids and receive over $50 in extras.

See you soon for a peek into chapter 6!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 4 Highlight

2014-04-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Chapter 4 in Smart Money Smart Kids is entitled Save: Wait for It.

I have to confess, we have really fallen short in this area when it comes to teaching our kids the value of--and requiring--long-term savings. We save, but I think we've allowed it to be translated to a "parent thing" that's tied to a higher income. So our kids don't really have a vision for saving for something big.

A few days ago, I broached the subject with our 13-year-old and 11-year-old about saving for a car. Now, we're starting this discussion later than it should have been initiated. At first they thought I was crazy. I pointed out that they could decide that and end up walking or riding their bikes to the jobs they get after age 16, or they could decide to start now, make better choices that would require even saving some of their "spend" money, and save enough to buy a used car in a few years. They were listening.

I'm pretty sure we won't be able to implement the "401Dave Plan" where we match what they save toward a car dollar for dollar. But I mentioned that we might be able to match a smaller percentage of what they save. Then they were really listening.

You can bet we'll be starting to talk about this much sooner with our younger two who are seven and five!

Here's my favorite quote from chapter four. I think it's safe to say this is good for all of us.

Don't forget! There are only a few days left to pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids and receive over $50 in extras.

See you next time for a peek into chapter 5!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 3 Highlight

2014-04-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

The third chapter in Smart Money Smart Kids has to do with spending.

I was a little convicted by this one, prompted in part by this quote:

See, I'm kind of a controller. I'm much more comfortable ~~lecturing~~ instructing my children in what I believe to be the wise use of their discretionary money than allowing them to spend it and learn what is and isn't worth parting with it.

I will be making a more concerted effort to let go in this area and allow them the freedom to make childish errors in judgment that help to teach them rather than keeping such a tight rein and then watching them really blow it when they're older and have the freedom by default.

Not saying it's going to be easy, but it's definitely for the best.

Don't forget!

If you pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids by April 21, you'll receive over $50 in bonus items.
~~For a limited time, you can download Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money at no cost from NoiseTrade. Any "tips" that are received will be donated to the ministry Young Life.~~ *This offer has expired.

See you Saturday for a peek into chapter 4!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 2 Highlight

2014-04-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

Chapter 2 in Smart Money Smart Kids is entitled Work: It's NOT a Four-Letter Word. I love it. Here's my favorite quote from the chapter:

To be honest, I am astounded by how many people I know (not just people I hear about) who don't require their children to regularly contribute around the house. Moms are exhausted and discouraged, not because they have babies and toddlers who are too young to help but because they have older kids who aren't required to help, so mom is doing everything herself. And often she's treated like an ATM.

We don't do ourselves or our kids any favors when we take pity on them or make excuses as to why they don't have time to work around the house. I want my kids to enjoy their childhood and remember it being largely carefree, but carefree is not the same as responsibility-free. I don't want to burden the world with overgrown, entitled children who expect to receive without giving.

It is far more difficult to start requiring children to contribute to the practical needs of the household when they are older and used to being waited on, so it's ideal to start when they're toddlers. (It actually thrills them at that age!) But if you didn't and your kids are older, it's not too late! Their future employers, roommates, and spouses will thank you.

For more about how we handle work and commission in our home, see this post.

Reminders:

If you pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids by April 21, you'll receive over $50 in bonus items.
~~For a limited time, you can download Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money at no cost from NoiseTrade. Any "tips" that are received will be donated to the ministry Young Life.~~ *This offer has expired.

Stay tuned for a glimpse of chapter 3!

Smart Money Smart Kids Chapter 1 Highlight

2014-04-09T22:11:00.001-07:00

Chapter One of Smart Money Smart Kids covers Rachel's background, from the six-month-old whose parents declared bankruptcy to the young woman who is living out what they learned and taught her and helping to spread the message and educate others.

Here's my favorite quote from this chapter:

I wholeheartedly agree with Rachel's statement that being taught how to handle money is a precious gift to give to children. When I was growing up, I remember my mom paying for everything with either cash or a check and being very clear that a credit card wasn't something she used. (She and my step-dad didn't even own one!) I saw her write notes on the cash envelope to record where it was being spent. I watched her tithe even when money was tight.

I really didn't analyze any of this as a child, but as as an adult I can look back and see that I was learning about managing money. There were still areas where I needed to be educated, but I had the foundation of knowing how to live within my means and be faithful with what I had been given.

Though my husband and I were debt-free the day we got married (except for his vehicle which had a few payments left), we did incur some debt during a particularly rocky time in our marriage. But because of the foundation and convictions we both had, we were able to tackle that debt and get free once again from its bondage. Our individual backgrounds and journey as a couple have provided the tools to give this gift that Rachel speaks of to our children. I'm just realizing more and more that we have to be intentional. A lot of it is learned by them watching how we manage our money and hearing us talk about it, but some of it needs to be more direct, especially as they get older. So now our prayer is for more wisdom!

A couple of important things:

If you pre-order Smart Money Smart Kids by April 21, you'll receive over $50 in bonus items.
~~For a limited time, you can download Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money at no cost from NoiseTrade. Any "tips" that are received will be donated to the ministry Young Life.~~ *This offer has expired.

See you Thursday for a glimpse of chapter 2!

Smart Money Smart Kids Introduction Highlight

2014-04-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

Being part of the launch team for the new book by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze, Smart Money Smart Kids, means I have the privilege of reading it ahead of time. And let me just tell you, it is GOOD! Practical, inspiring, funny, helpful... all of it.

The book will be available two weeks from today. Since there's an intro plus 12 chapters, I thought I would spend the next 13 days (excluding Sundays) before the launch highlighting each chapter and a bit about how it relates to either my family of origin or the one I'm currently raising. I won't share a lot of direct content so that I don't spoil it for anyone. But I really want you to catch glimpses of what Dave & Rachel discuss in the book so that you're inspired.

And on launch day, I will do a related giveaway from my shop!

My very favorite part of the Smart Money Smart Kids introduction can be summed up in one word.

Hope.

I don't know of a single family who hasn't experienced some degree of poor financial habits or decisions along the way. But the backdrop of thought as we head into the content of the book is this:

It's a message of grace and a message of hope. I don't know about you, but that kind of message motivates me! My husband and I haven't always managed our finances wisely, and I am so grateful that we didn't let our mistakes paralyze us. We were committed to experiencing the freedom that comes from managing our money according to biblical principles in every area, and the hard work and sacrifice have been so worth the results.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a glimpse of chapter 1!

Kids: Earning and Learning to Manage Money

2014-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

In order to learn to manage money, kids need money to manage. (Yes, I know. I have a keen sense of the obvious.) And the way in which they receive and manage that money should fit as much as possible with grown-up reality since we're not ultimately training them to be responsible kids, but responsible adults. There's a whole lot that can be said about kids and money, but today I want to focus on establishing the connection between work and income.

Click here to continue reading my post over at A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Coming up: Kids Earning & Learning to Manage Money

2014-03-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I'll be sharing suggestions on how to provide your kids with opportunities to earn money so that they can learn some healthy principles for managing it before they're out of the house! I'll outline what we do in our family (through age 13 since that's where we are, as well as what we anticipate for the teenage years) and will have a free printable download that's designed to help your kids track their giving, saving, and spending.

See you Thursday!

Some of my favorites from the Printable Love Bundle

2014-02-15T10:50:00.001-08:00

Since I don't promote products I can't personally recommend, I wanted to share a few pictures of some parts of the Printable Love Bundle (available until 11:59 EST tonight) in action at my house.

I am enjoying using the blog & shop planner pages that are part of I Heart Organizing's kit. It's fun to have a colorful place to brain dump ideas in a list format and then check them off when they're completed. In addition to these that you see, there are also pages specifically for a shop. So if you have one, the other, or both, you're covered!

Since I'm now using a discbound system for my everyday planner, I recently converted my previous 7-ring planner into a budget binder. I love using the pretty bill payment tracker from the Financial Mini Kit by A Bowl Full of Lemons to keep track of the few bills we have that aren't paid automatically.

And of course I am fond of the printable spending logs that fit behind the dividers in my cash envelope system wallet! :) It's a great way to track your cash spending on the go, whether you simply like to keep a detailed record of it or are trying to identify problem spending areas.

Don't forget that this bundle is only available until tonight, 2/15/14, at 11:59 EST. It won't be offered again in this package format at such a deep discount again, so don't delay!

How about a chance to win a Carry It All wallet?

2014-02-12T15:51:00.001-08:00

This summer, I was so excited to begin sending a monthly newsletter. I was on a roll for the first few months, but when the holiday season started in full force for my shop, it fell by the wayside through January. (That's actually my very busiest month, with everyone getting homes, lives, and budgets back in order.)

After much consideration, I have decided to go to a weekly schedule for a few reasons:

I can share useful information & links relating to money, organization, and my shop in a more timely fashion,
I won't be as likely to agonize over what to include and what not to include. Not that I ever did that with the monthly one. No, not me.
I'm hoping it will help me become and stay consistent while also developing more connection with the A Time for Everything community.

I promise I will keep the weekly email brief, relevant, and not sales-y. I will mention my shop, of course, but it will be mostly to share new fabrics, new products, and specials so that my subscribers know about them first. Each month, my newsletter subscribers will have an exclusive special available only to them. But the bulk of the email will be just as useful for a customer who already owns a wallet or someone who has no plans to buy one.

*Segue* But this really is related...

Back in November, I had one extra set cut for a Carry-It-All Wallet in "happy flowers" so I went ahead and sewed it along with the rest. Well, in December I decided to make some modifications to that wallet style before I listed it again in January. So since this one is "last year's model" and a little different (mainly the locations of the card slots & coin pouch), I couldn't include it as an available option.

Instead, I am going to send it off to one of you along with custom labels and a matching wrist strap if my goal of 1,000 subscribers is met by noon PST tomorrow, February 13! Only those who have signed up will be eligible to enter, and the giveaway--if it happens--will be featured in my first weekly email. (U.S. residents only, ages 18 and up, due to sweepstakes regulations.) It won't be mentioned here on the blog, Facebook, or anywhere else.

We're so close... only about 35 more people to go! So please share this blog post with any friend or family member you think might be interested in the topics of frugal living & organization and who would like the chance to have a new wallet to help her budget with style!

Also, anyone who subscribes will be given a link after email confirmation to a download of our printable spending logs in black & white at no charge. If you're already a subscriber and don't have a set of these, just shoot me an email at melissa at atimeforeverything dot net and I'll find you on my list and then send you the PDF. :)

Thanks so much for being part of the A Time for Everything community!

It's finally here! The fabulous Printable Love Bundle.

2014-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

---This bundle deal is now over. Thanks!---

Do you love printables & customizing your personal planner? It's one of my absolute favorite things to do. If you are anything like me, the Printable Love Bundle (created by several of the most popular lifestyle bloggers) is the perfect kit for you! Whether you use a Filofax planner or a 3 ring Home Management Binder, the Printable Love Bundle has something for everyone. It's the only printable bundle devoted entirely to the love of planning. We also threw in some extra fun printables for Valentines Day, the pantry, and your budgeting. For one week only, you have the opportunity to stock up on hundreds of printables for your finances, blog, home, pantry, chores, menu planning, and much more. They contain everything you need to create a home management binder or personal planner. The best part about it, these printables can be printed over and over for many years to come.

What's included in the Printable Love Bundle?

You will receive 275 printable pdf pages in this fabulous bundle. The pages can be used in planners & home management binders. There are many more uses for them as well.

A Bowl Full of Lemons Financial Mini Kit (6 pages)
Clean Mama's Simplified Life Kit (26 pages)
I Heart Organizing's Blog Planner Kit (20 pages)
Modern Parents Messy Kids 2014 Planner Printables (38 pages)
CitrusPaperCo's Household Binder Printable Set (18 pages)
Super Sweet Life's Huge Printable Set (61 pages)
Organizing Homelife's Complete Home Management Binder + 2014 Calendar (84 pages)
Bizuza's Printable "To Do" Planner Organizing Pages (4 pages)
Perfectly Organized Editable Kitchen Grocery Lists (3 pages)
Less Ordinary Designs Valentines Day Treat Bag Toppers (1 page)
The Paper Society's Printable Pantry Labels (12 pages)
A Time For Everything's Printable Envelope System Spending Logs (2 pages)

How much does the bundle cost?

The Printable Love Bundle is only $20. That's an amazing 85% off the retail cost of $132!

How long is the bundle for sale?

The bundle will be available from 8am EST on 2/7/14 through 11:59 pm EST on 2/15/14. There are no exceptions.

Details about each kit:

Listed below are the pictures, details, and links to the 12 kits within the Printable Love Bundle. If you have any specific questions about a kit, please email the blog associated with the kit. For general Bundle questions, you can contact us at printablelovebundle at gmail.com. Please look at the FAQ page before emailing with questions. All kits are pdf documents and will be sent to you in a zip file, once payment has been made (instant download). All pages are 8.5 x 11 inches unless stated in the description. Visit the FAQ page for details on how to resize the pages to fit into smaller planners.

A Bowl Full of Lemons – Financial Mini Kit – ($7.00) 6 pages

The popular organizing blog, A Bowl Full of Lemons has introduced a fabulous “Financial Mini Kit” to help get your budget in order. The kit contains 6 colorful pdf printables. Created to stand alone or to compliment the Budget Binder, the Mini Financial kit has everything you need to keep track of your finances. The kit is sized 8.5 x 11 inches & coordinates perfectly with the Rainbow Planner.

The Financial Mini Kit Includes:

Monthly Due Dates
Checkbook Register
Passwords Log
Expense Tracker
Income Tracker
Bill Payment Tracker

Clean Mama Printables – The Simplified Life Kit – ($15.00) 26 documents

Looking for a simple way to organize a busy life? The Simplified Life Kit was created to streamline just the most important tasks and optimize planning for a busy season or all the time. This kit includes essential documents for running a busy household with ease and efficiency. You'll love the bright and bold color scheme and streamlined information in this attractive kit. This kit coordinates perfectly with other Simplified Life items.

The Simplified Life Kit includes:

2 Budget + Bill Pay Checklists - one in turquoise + green and one in pink + purple
2 Spending Trackers - one in turquoise + green and one in pink + purple
2 Rotating Cleaning Checklists (not dated and January - December)
Shopping List + Menu Plan for a week
2 To Do Lists (blank + pre-filled)
2 Weekly Docket (blank + pre-filled with my daily cleaning suggestions)
15 Month Calendar (15 pages) October 2013-December 2014 - vertical with plenty of room to put in a binder or planner

I Heart Organizing – 2014 Blog Planner Kit ($10.00) 20 pages

The blog planner kit is a great way for bloggers to 'keep it all together'. Everything from maintaining ideas for daily posts, to keeping track of planned projects and daily to-do items. Enjoy a monthly calendar spread for keeping track of important dates and posts. Run a shop? Gotcha covered. Looking to expand your branding and business? There is a section for those ideas as well. You can also print of standard "Notes" pages for all the other items you want to remember and keep track of.

Modern Parents Messy Kids Project Organize Your Entire Life (POYEL) 2014 Planner Printables ($7.99) 38 pages

Inside the 38 page printables pack, you’ll find everything you need to manage every aspect of your day-to-day life from cleaning and meal-planning, to scheduling and that never ending to-do list. There’s something for everyone here including two different cleaning systems (are you more of a checklist person or a calendar cleaner?) as well as all the printables in both an 8.5″ x 11″ size AND a 5.5″ x 8.5” size. So whether you’re looking to create a home management binder, want to use these in your personal planner you carry around in your bag, or just want a meal plan/to-do list/cleaning chart to stick on the fridge – we’ve got you covered! There are tons of options in this 38 page printable pack – use them all or pick and choose exactly what you need. There’s even a suggested daily cleaning checklist, weekly cleaning schedule, and master cleaning list included.

Here’s a look at everything you’ll get:

A Daily To-Do List with spots for morning, afternoon, and evening as well as appointments and menu ideas
A weekly planning calendar
A weekly meal planning worksheet
Two types of weekly cleaning worksheets
Filled-In weekly cleaning schedule & checklist
12 months of pre-dated calendar pages
Both a blank master cleaning checklist and a filled-in version

CitrusPaperCo - Household Binder Printable Set ($10.00) 18 pages

This complete home binder printable set includes ALL of Citrus Paper Company’s binder printables to keep your life and finances organized and beautiful! It includes home organizers, weekly schedules, meal and menu planning, financial trackers, and more!

SuperSweetLife - Huge Printable Set ($33.00) 61 pages

This is a set of over 61 pages to make planning easier and more fun. All the writing areas are lightly lined, to keep your planner neat. There is a beautiful cohesive color scheme and design used throughout the pages. The pages include a monthly calendar, weekly layout, daily docket, goal setting pages, menu planners, kitchen inventories, bill tracker, cleaning checklists, and more. This includes everything you need to set up your planner and homemaking binder.

Organizing Homelife - Complete Home Management Binder + 2014 Calendar ($15.00) 84 pages

Organize your family’s home life with these 60 printable home management pages. This bonus set (which is only available in the Printable Love Bundle) also includes the 24 page 2014 calendar and a printable grocery list. All pages are 8.5” x 11”. There are a total of 84 printable pages in this kit.

This kit includes the following:

Cover Pages & Binder Spines
Schedules & Chores: To Do List & Time Schedule, Daily & Weekly Chore Schedules, Monthly Zone Chores
Finances: Bill Payment Schedule, Budget Printable, Insurance Policy Information
Contact Lists: for Family, Friends, & Neighbors; Medical & Health Contact Lists; School Contacts & Schedules
Other Important Information: User Names & Passwords, Book & Movies, Birthdays & Anniversaries, Babysitter Notes
Maintenance: Household Project Planner, Home Maintenance Schedule, Auto Maintenance Log
Meal Planning & Organization: Weekly Meal Planner, Favorite Recipes, Meal Planner for Entertaining, Freezer Inventory, Favorite Take Out Places, Recipes to Try, Holiday Meal Planner, Bonus Addition - My Grocery List
2014 Calendar (24 pages)
Section Dividers

Bizuza - Printable To Do Planner Organizing Pages in A4 and Letter Size ($7.00) 4 editable pages

This printable planner kit is perfect to start organizing your days, weeks and months. Putting your tasks onto paper allows you to remember, focus and prioritize. Stop wasting time trying to remember what you were going to do - be more productive and organized! You will receive 4 documents as downloadable PDF files that allow you to print as many pages as you need. All the pages are perpetual: you fill in the dates, so basically you can use it forever! All the captions and content areas are fillable. These templates are for printing on letter size paper (8.5" x 11"), A4 paper (21cm x 29,7cm) or A5/FiloFax size.

Perfectly Organized - (Editable) Kitchen Grocery Lists ($2.00) 3 pages

PLAN and BUY - write down all products you need at home next week - plan what you should buy in separate grocery lists, plan in columns by product categories or sort by shops! Make your mundane things a little more cheerful with bright colors! Place it in your Home Planner to have it near at hand or place it on your freezer or memo board. Be always keep up and Perfectly Organized! Print it out any time you need additional grocery list!

Less Ordinary Designs - Happy Valentine’s Day Treat Bag Toppers (editable) ($8.00) I page

This "Happy Valentine's Day" printable treat bag topper is the perfect personalized valentine's treat! With this unique valentine, your child is sure to be the coolest kid at the party! There is an editable signature area on the pdf so that you can enter your own personal message. Or leave it blank if you'd like to hand write your own! The tags are approximately 4" x 4", so about 2" tall once folded. There are 4 tags per page and you can print as many as you need!

The Paper Society – Printable Pantry Labels ($9.00) 12 pages

Make everyday life just a bit more pretty with The Paper Society's "Vintage Blue" collection of pantry labels. Featuring 48 of the most common pantry items in both square and long shapes, these printable labels are an easy way to bring some organization into your kitchen.

A Time For Everything – Printable Envelope System Spending Logs ($3.00) 2 pages

Want to keep more detailed track of your cash spending AND have the means to do it while on the go? Print this two-page PDF on 8.5 x 11 paper, write in your category or sub-category names, and trim the logs to size. They will fit perfectly behind the cash dividers in your Divide-It Wallet or Plan-It Wallet or you can even adhere them to the outside of a paper envelope. Print as many times as you need!

Important Details:

If you have any questions or issues with your Printable Love Bundle, please visit this FAQ page. Look over the questions and answers on the page BEFORE emailing. If you have not found your answer on the FAQ page, please email printablelovebundle at gmail dot com. To ensure that your question is answered in a timely manner, please take care to email at the printable love bundle address (not our personal email address). Please note that due to high email volume, we will do our best to respond within 24 hours - thank you for your patience! When emailing, please include a copy of your Paypal receipt and highlight your issue in the "subject" line.

The Printable Love Bundle is only available from 8 a.m. EST on February 7th to 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15th, 2014. There are no exceptions.
PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THE BUNDLE WITH ANYONE ELSE - it is intended solely for the person who purchased the bundle. Please be respectful of the authors' copyrights.
After purchasing, you will automatically receive an email (to the email address you provide) containing the download link. Please check your spam folder, if you cannot find the email.
Please download and back up your Printable Love Bundle purchase, AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT. You only have 5 download attempts to access your files. The download link expires on 3/01/14. After that date, we will not be able to provide new links to download. Please remember to back up your files. We are unable to send you copies of the printable bundle that have been deleted or lost. We will not respond to those emails.
Due to the digital nature of this sale, there will be no refunds & no exceptions.
If you have any questions or issues with any of the printables included in this bundle, please contact that author directly.

Disclosure:

This is an affiliate post. If you purchase a bundle from my link, I will profit from a percentage of the sales. Thank you for your support!

A further glimpse at the Printable Love Bundle

2014-02-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a little peek at the printable bundle that will go on sale tomorrow morning at 8:00 EST. Yay! Check back at that time for a picture of everything that's included and all the details.

Upcoming Printable Bundle!

2014-02-01T00:13:00.000-08:00

It's been difficult to wait to share this with my readers, so I'm glad I can spill a few of the beans!

From February 7-15, there will be a fabulous printable bundle available at a fabulous price. I have had a chance to download it already, and I think you'll be thrilled with the variety and quality of printables that are included. Stay tuned for more details on February 6!

My Life in Infographics

2014-01-11T23:56:00.003-08:00

Since infographics are taking over the world (or at least Pinterest), I thought it would be fun to use them to share a little bit about myself. Here goes, in no particular order.

I am smart. I know that no matter how long I spend searching, I will not find Comic Sans on this chart.

While I still have a ways to go in a couple of these areas, I really do love both roles, which I believe is one reason owning a business has been a pretty natural fit.

Purple has never been my color, but I'll wear it this once.

It's a good thing I never owned my own Game Boy, because TETRIS. I'd be in therapy.

This list is missing one that really drives me crazy: a part vs apart.
Example: "I love being apart of the human race."
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

This does nothing but perpetuate my identity crisis. What about those of us who can't commit to one side or the other? Ambibrain?

I am Elrond of Rivendell.
Who are you?

See that orange triangle? That's where I'm living right now, and it's definitely a very sweet spot.

Pocket: My Newest Favorite App

2014-01-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

As one attempt to begin breathing new life into this blog, I'm participating with a group of kindred list-lovers in posting a weekly list of... whatever. While I am by nature a rule-follower, I often feel paralyzed when presented with specific guidelines, so hooray for the freedom of choosing my own content!

So for week one's list, I will share with you what's in my Pocket.

Do you use this handy little app? Here's the synposis from Wikipedia:

The application allows the user to save an article or web page to read later. The article is then sent to the user's Pocket list (synced to all of their devices) for offline reading. Pocket removes clutter from articles and allows the user to adjust text settings for easier reading.

The only other device I own is an iPod Touch, and I do like that I can easily access saved articles on it. But probably the best use of it for me is being able to put a web page in my Pocket and then close the tab on my laptop, for I am well-known to have dozens open at once. I am the poster child for why multi-tasking is overrated.

Here's a list of the most recent web pages I've put in my Pocket.

So now you have a little peek into what's currently on my mind. Yes, I am all over the place, but it keeps life interesting. :)

Sticking to a Grocery Budget

2013-12-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Groceries tend to be a category in which many people overspend. Here are 10 tips for staying on track.

via freedigitalphotos.net

1. Create a food budget!

Obvious, yes, but it’s important to start here. While the average American family spends 9-12% of its monthly income on food, the amount will vary based on your family size, ages of children, where you live, and whether or not you’re accommodating dietary restrictions. Start by looking at the receipts from the past several weeks and use them to calculate a baseline. Then try and lower it a bit over time as you’re disciplined to implement other steps.

2. Pull out the budgeted money in cash.

It is very easy to go over budget when you use a card. Even a store gift card may not keep you in check unless it’s loaded with the exact amount you’re limited to for that shopping trip. But when you know you must have enough cash to cover your purchases when you get to the register, it forces you keep a running total as you put items in the cart. (Otherwise, it can be a little embarrassing!)

3. Don't carry your entire monthly grocery budget.

Take whatever you've budgeted for the month and divide up into weeks if you shop weekly, two weeks if you shop bi-weekly, etc. Then bring only that amount and leave the rest at home. Always set aside a little margin for things you may need to pick up in the interim such as milk, bread, and eggs.

Continue reading tips #4-10...

Budgeting for Fluctuating Bills

2013-09-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

via freedigitalphotos.net

When you're on a tight budget, paying fluctuating bills can be a little frustrating or even stressful. Your natural gas bill might be nice and low in the summer and then skyrocket in the winter. And vice versa for your water bill.

You can help your budget and reduce your chances of not having the funds to pay a monthly bill when it comes due in one of two ways:

1. Pull out the bills from a particular utility company (or look up your account online) from the past year. Add up the totals and divide by 12 to calculate the average. Write that amount into your budget with a little padding in case of increased rates or usage. In months when your bill is lower than the average, set aside the excess. Don't view it as extra and move it into another category! Do this each month until you reach the season when those bills are higher than average, and then use the reserved funds to supplement your payments.

2. If you've lived in your residence for at least a year, contact your utility company about enrolling in comfort level or budget billing. Most power and natural gas companies offer this option. They will look at your usage over the past year and use those figures to determine an average that you will be expected to pay each month. There will always be a balance or credit showing on your account depending on the time of year, but it should level out for the most part. These companies usually evaluate once or twice a year to see if your monthly payment needs to be adjusted.

As you can see from the note on our last gas bill, sometimes budget billing amounts go down after evaluation. Hooray!

Some utility companies charge an administrative fee for this service. If that's the case with yours, you may decide it's a better option to carry out the budget billing yourself via the first method.

With a little planning, you won't have to wonder from month to month if a regular bill is going to take you by surprise and wreck your budget!