In the past Irish and I (okay, mostly Irish) have tossed around the idea of doing a strictly cash budget when it comes to groceries. Each time he brought up the subject I wasn't too excited, not because I didn't think we could do it, but I'm all about the points! With our MC we earn points, which in turn can give us free groceries. My only hang up was loosing out on those points.
It was about the middle of January when Irish finally 'put his foot down' and said that this is what we are going to do. I rolled my eyes, and almost felt like telling him to start doing the grocery shopping, BUT as a good & supportive wife (like I try to be) I said OK. We discussed what we thought would be a reasonable weekly amount for our family, and withdrew that amount.
So here I am, as I drop him off at work, with an envelope 'full' of cash. Off to the grocery store I went. I decided the best way to 'manage' the money would be to write each item I am putting in my cart down on a piece of paper, along with it's price, if it's a weigh-able item...then I would have to weigh it and figure out how much it cost. After all, how am I suppose to know what is in my cart and what my bill is going to be when I get up to the cashier. That was/is my biggest fear of paying with cash, not knowing my total...and then coming up short, then having to ask the cashier to remove items. I could have just kept a running total in my head, but with this prego brain I've got going on, and two little ones in the cart...it was best that I wrote it down!
Before we made the switch from plastic to paper (MC to cash) I would have never described us as people who just bought what ever, or purchased items that we didn't really need. Yes there were times that one of the kids would say "Oh Mom, look at this" or "Could we get _____ please". Every once in a while I would 'indulge', because everyone needs a treat now and then. Plus I didn't always want to be saying NO to my kids.
When you are buying with plastic, it's SO easy to over spend, because 'money isn't an issue'.
I can not tell you the freedom (...is that the right word?) I felt when buying with cash. I knew exactly what was in my cart, there was no surprise at the total when I got to the till & to be able to pay in full right then and there, knowing we didn't owe the MC company for the food we just bought, was AMAZING!
It almost feels like a game, I feel like such a winner when I purchase everything we need for the week (I like to plan my meals a week in advance, so that I know all the ingredients I will need, thus resulting in one weekly grocery trip) and come out UNDER budget! This has happened both times I've gone so far since starting our cash budget. The last time, which was our last shopping trip for the month, we had a nice little amount left over. So I 'treated' us by going to Costco and buying some items that we've been out of for a while, but use on an almost daily basis...plus we had company coming that weekend, so I wanted to be all stocked up! You know what?? I even have $7.50 left after shopping at Costco!! I was so pleased with my self!
In the end, I would recommend doing a cash budget if you are looking for some way to save some money. In the two trips I've taken, I've noticed that we are now spending on average $30 less a week in groceries. Now keep in mind that I haven't had to replace the Tide, or buy more chicken, which are big ticket items, but I'm still fairly confident in my self that I can remain on budget! (we also decided that diapers should not be included in our grocery budget, and have a different amount set aside for those)
Ooh and the bonus of it all, is that with the new program our store has come out with (we shop at Superstore, and they now have their PC Plus Points system), I can STILL earn points on the items I purchase (that have been selected for plus points) even when I pay with cash!! I don't get my points for bringing my own bags...but at least I'm getting points! Yay, happy day!!
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I'm Excited...and I just can't hide it
I'm excited because I think I just made my life a little easier!
I love to scrapbook, or rather I think I like the idea of scrapbooking! The one thing that always 'weighs me down' is first figuring out a place to start...you have to start somewhere! I while ago, I decided I would start scrapbooking pictures from the time Irish and I were married (and I will still do one album dedicated to just that)...it just seemed logical! But then I look at, and think about alllll the pictures I have not even touched! All the 'catching up' I would eventually have to do. The idea of possibly having multiple albums for ONE year!...as I currently have ONE album full of the first FOUR months of Marshall's life!!...Ya Once I realized that, I knew I had to get pretty particular on which pictures I would actually print!!
For the last little while I had kind of decided to go away from scrapbooking chronologically...and just pick what ever pictures I wanted to do...after all if you are not inspired by your pictures, you are not going to do a good job. In the back of your head you are always going to be thinking about those other pictures that you really really want to be scrapbooking!
Then came a time where I just didn't feel like scrapbooking...at all! I didn't get excited about it, I didn't think about it, in fact I tried not to think about it!
And then today, I found this. It is called Project life. I don't know who the 'first one' to come up with this idea was, nor does it really matter. I found this blog from Ali Edwards. She seems like such a fun and creative gal! On her blog she has explains and gives you a glimpse of her Project Life.
It is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. Something to simplify my scrapbooking dilemmas!!! A simple, but yet fun one or two page spread for an entire week. Something where everything comes together. Pictures, journaling, stories, postcards, souveniers, pamphlets, maps, wedding invites, Christmas letters from family...etc etc....they all get incorporated into this ONE book!
This ONE book is all I will have to work on. I now don't have to worry about whether or not I am going to scrapbook an individual book for each of my kids, what size it will be, and for how long I will do it. I'm excited to complete my first year of Project Life, and then sit down and reminisce about the past year with it!
This is the place where those pictures finally have a home. You know the ones you take, where there are maybe only one or two...so not enough for an entire scrapbook layout...just perfect for one spot in your weekly page, with a little journaling explaining it!
Sorry this is going on really long...but I'm just SO EXCITED!
The other thing I'm really excited about is my One Little Word for this year. I have never done this before, heard about it, but never really 'got into it'.
I was reading my SIL's blog (Kaly Court) and she inspired me to choose a word for this year. At first I was having a hard time, thinking it was going to take me f o r e v e r....as I wanted to find the perfect word.
When finally I decided I would think about it later, and that is when this word popped into my head.
Thanks for sticking with me through the loooong post!
I love to scrapbook, or rather I think I like the idea of scrapbooking! The one thing that always 'weighs me down' is first figuring out a place to start...you have to start somewhere! I while ago, I decided I would start scrapbooking pictures from the time Irish and I were married (and I will still do one album dedicated to just that)...it just seemed logical! But then I look at, and think about alllll the pictures I have not even touched! All the 'catching up' I would eventually have to do. The idea of possibly having multiple albums for ONE year!...as I currently have ONE album full of the first FOUR months of Marshall's life!!...Ya Once I realized that, I knew I had to get pretty particular on which pictures I would actually print!!
For the last little while I had kind of decided to go away from scrapbooking chronologically...and just pick what ever pictures I wanted to do...after all if you are not inspired by your pictures, you are not going to do a good job. In the back of your head you are always going to be thinking about those other pictures that you really really want to be scrapbooking!
Then came a time where I just didn't feel like scrapbooking...at all! I didn't get excited about it, I didn't think about it, in fact I tried not to think about it!
And then today, I found this. It is called Project life. I don't know who the 'first one' to come up with this idea was, nor does it really matter. I found this blog from Ali Edwards. She seems like such a fun and creative gal! On her blog she has explains and gives you a glimpse of her Project Life.
It is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. Something to simplify my scrapbooking dilemmas!!! A simple, but yet fun one or two page spread for an entire week. Something where everything comes together. Pictures, journaling, stories, postcards, souveniers, pamphlets, maps, wedding invites, Christmas letters from family...etc etc....they all get incorporated into this ONE book!
This ONE book is all I will have to work on. I now don't have to worry about whether or not I am going to scrapbook an individual book for each of my kids, what size it will be, and for how long I will do it. I'm excited to complete my first year of Project Life, and then sit down and reminisce about the past year with it!
This is the place where those pictures finally have a home. You know the ones you take, where there are maybe only one or two...so not enough for an entire scrapbook layout...just perfect for one spot in your weekly page, with a little journaling explaining it!
Sorry this is going on really long...but I'm just SO EXCITED!
The other thing I'm really excited about is my One Little Word for this year. I have never done this before, heard about it, but never really 'got into it'.
I was reading my SIL's blog (Kaly Court) and she inspired me to choose a word for this year. At first I was having a hard time, thinking it was going to take me f o r e v e r....as I wanted to find the perfect word.
When finally I decided I would think about it later, and that is when this word popped into my head.
INTUNE
I guess technically it's two words...but this year, for me...it will be my two word combined into one....so I am going to hyphenate it...to make it my ONE word.
First and foremost I want to be more in-tune with my Heavenly Father. I feel as though I have kinda let this one slip while trying to juggle being a mom...a working mom, being a wife, a cook, a 'maid', a disciplinary-er, a 'scrapbook-er', blogger, sew-er...just being ME...etc...etc...etc I have come to realize that this was NOT the thing to let slide. In fact if I put more time and effort into this one...so many other things in my life would fall into place! I can and will feel more 'on top of things' (One thing I am also focusing more specifically on this year is coming to a greater knowledge and understanding of the Atonement)
Second, I want to be more in-tune with my children. I need to slow down and enjoy them. Love them. Listen to them, be patient with them, and teach them. They are only completely 'mine' for a short little while. I need to take this time to instill in them the knowledge that I have, to better prepare them for this world they are about to be "thrown" into.
Third, I want to be more in-tune with my husband. I want to become more of a unit than we already are, so that we can stand united on every level...well most levels...it's okay to be different! I want to go on more dates with him, spend more quality time with him, get to know my husband better (I know this may sound weird...but we as human beings constantly change, grow and develop...catch my drift now?) and just love everything about him!
Fourth, I want to be more in-tune with ME. I want to be more aware of the way I, Karley Lilburn, feel about things. I want to be able to express those thoughts/feelings/desires more often without thinking of feeling that someone is going to think 'I'm dumb'. I want to like things be cause I like them, not because so-and-so likes it, or this person thinks this is really cool...etc. I want to be more in-tune with the things I want to do. I want to make more ME time. Just because I am married, doesn't mean i need to spend every waking minute (okay so maybe it's more like every waking minute AFTER the kids are in bed) doing something with my husband...we both need our ME time.
Well off the top of my head, those are the main things that my 'one word' makes me think about. I may add some more to it later...and I might just let you know about it! :)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Lost, if found please contact ME
Lost: Patience
Contact: ME
Need by: ASAP
I don't know what it is, but lately I have NO patience for a certain little boy in our house! Everything is driving me crazy. He's being too loud, he doesn't want help...OH but wait YES he does, everything has to be done a certain way, he is the only one allowed to say the prayers (and NO he doesn't need help with that!), all he ever wants to do is watch movies, he NEEDS a nap but won't take one, everything is a race and if he isn't in front of you/doesn't win - OH DEAR! He KNOWS how to put his underwear and pants on after the potty but lately it's "this way, this way, this way"...after being told what way they go on, instead of telling me he "has to go", his signal is jumping up and down on the spot and whining, and why oh why does he have to POUND his feet into the floor as he runs across it?! .....
I have to keep reminding myself that he is my CUTE, ENERGETIC, TWO YEAR old boy whom I LOVE...and somehow we get through the day without me exploding.
SO if you have seen my patience please tell it to get it's lil bum back home NOW! Thank you
Contact: ME
Need by: ASAP
I don't know what it is, but lately I have NO patience for a certain little boy in our house! Everything is driving me crazy. He's being too loud, he doesn't want help...OH but wait YES he does, everything has to be done a certain way, he is the only one allowed to say the prayers (and NO he doesn't need help with that!), all he ever wants to do is watch movies, he NEEDS a nap but won't take one, everything is a race and if he isn't in front of you/doesn't win - OH DEAR! He KNOWS how to put his underwear and pants on after the potty but lately it's "this way, this way, this way"...after being told what way they go on, instead of telling me he "has to go", his signal is jumping up and down on the spot and whining, and why oh why does he have to POUND his feet into the floor as he runs across it?! .....
I have to keep reminding myself that he is my CUTE, ENERGETIC, TWO YEAR old boy whom I LOVE...and somehow we get through the day without me exploding.
SO if you have seen my patience please tell it to get it's lil bum back home NOW! Thank you
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Preschool Verdict
First off if you are reading this and you are one of the many that posted your comments on my Facebook, thank you.
I didn't even realize that Marshall would be old enough to attend preschool this September until a friend asked me if I was putting him in this year. After she asked, I got thinking about it and really the only reason why I would consider it is so Paisley and I could have some one on one time...is that selfish of me?!
After weighing out all the for and against sending him, keeping him home seems like the best idea. I think right now the best thing for him is to be able to be at home with us and bond with his sister...and me :)
As far as the interacting with other children is considered, I really don't think he will have a hard time making friends. (The other night we took him to a basketball game and he just went from one group of kids to the next group running and playing right along with them.)
I think right now I am exposing him to a variety of different learning situations within our community. We attend a Mommy and toddler workout class where he sees the importance of exercising and being active, while learning to listen to another adult. Time for 2's at the library where we have circle time, sing lots of fun hand game rhymes and read books. We also go to "Gym time" at the YMCA where he can just run around and jump and be the energetic kid he is.
...So as it stands right now preschool is not for us, after all I only get to have him home with me for a short time...then before I know it, he will be in kindergarten!!
I didn't even realize that Marshall would be old enough to attend preschool this September until a friend asked me if I was putting him in this year. After she asked, I got thinking about it and really the only reason why I would consider it is so Paisley and I could have some one on one time...is that selfish of me?!
After weighing out all the for and against sending him, keeping him home seems like the best idea. I think right now the best thing for him is to be able to be at home with us and bond with his sister...and me :)
As far as the interacting with other children is considered, I really don't think he will have a hard time making friends. (The other night we took him to a basketball game and he just went from one group of kids to the next group running and playing right along with them.)
I think right now I am exposing him to a variety of different learning situations within our community. We attend a Mommy and toddler workout class where he sees the importance of exercising and being active, while learning to listen to another adult. Time for 2's at the library where we have circle time, sing lots of fun hand game rhymes and read books. We also go to "Gym time" at the YMCA where he can just run around and jump and be the energetic kid he is.
...So as it stands right now preschool is not for us, after all I only get to have him home with me for a short time...then before I know it, he will be in kindergarten!!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Top 10 reason why I think I'm becoming a 'sewaholic'
10. There is a loooooong list of things I want to sew (another quilt for Marshall, re-cover my oven mitts, cute bumper pads for when Paisley moves into the crib, as well as matching crib skirt and a cute little pillow for her room, a bag for Marshall to carry all of 'his' stuff in for church, stockings for our whole family, a 'hot momma' apron, a new camera strap etc...)
9. I have used my sewing machine more in the last two months than I have in my entire life!
8. I've been doing more sewing lately than scrapbooking!
7. Seriously thinking about getting a leash for Marshall so I can actually go into a fabric store for more than 5 minutes without him running up and down the isles!
6. Just thinking about sewing makes me happy
5. I surf the internet looking for cute fabric
4. I get all giddy inside when I finish something
3. I now know who Amy Butler is
2. Instead of waisting my time of Facebook, I now waist it 'blog surfing' other people's blogs seeing what things they sew. My favourite one so far is This and That
1. In the middle of the night after I'm done feeding Paisley, I can't quite get back to sleep because i'm thinking of all the things I could sew/make
...My name is Karley and that is why I think I am becoming a sewaholic!
9. I have used my sewing machine more in the last two months than I have in my entire life!
8. I've been doing more sewing lately than scrapbooking!
7. Seriously thinking about getting a leash for Marshall so I can actually go into a fabric store for more than 5 minutes without him running up and down the isles!
6. Just thinking about sewing makes me happy
5. I surf the internet looking for cute fabric
4. I get all giddy inside when I finish something
3. I now know who Amy Butler is
2. Instead of waisting my time of Facebook, I now waist it 'blog surfing' other people's blogs seeing what things they sew. My favourite one so far is This and That
1. In the middle of the night after I'm done feeding Paisley, I can't quite get back to sleep because i'm thinking of all the things I could sew/make
...My name is Karley and that is why I think I am becoming a sewaholic!
Monday, July 20, 2009
I surrendered?!
Before we ever had Marshall, I told myself that I would never use a portable potty. There was NO way I was going to deal with that! I didn't like the idea of dumping the 'waste' from one potty to another, when it could just as easily of been done in the big one!
Our first purchase of a toilet seat was the plain blue and white first years one...it was alright except there was not a pee guard...which is a must if you have a boy!
Our second purchase for a toilet seat was a Cars Lightning McQueen one, which Marshall LOVES, and it has the BEST pee guard I've seen so far!...The only problem is that there is no way, even with the help of a stool that Marshall can get on or off (without doing some serious damage) by himself!
After a week and a bit of spending a lot of time sitting on the bathroom floor (I almost began to think we lived in there), I thought, there has to be an easier way! It might not be so bad if I wasn't 37 weeks pregnant...but I AM!
So after talking to some much more experienced potty trainers than myself...I gave in...I surrendered to the portable potty!
And I must say, that it isn't as bad as I thought. In fact it has made potty training on ME a lot easier! Marshall can get on and off by himself, I can continue to proceed with what needs to be done during the day, and Marshall doesn't feel as though he will be missing anything by taking time to go and sit on the potty...as he is right in the middle of all the action!
Although he still doesn't tell me when he needs to go to the bathroom (i hope this comes soon) I am pretty darn proud of my boy! He is filling up is pee and poo chart, and is spending all day (except for nap) in his big boy Lightning McQueen/Spiderman/NBA ginch and LOVES IT!
Our first purchase of a toilet seat was the plain blue and white first years one...it was alright except there was not a pee guard...which is a must if you have a boy!
Our second purchase for a toilet seat was a Cars Lightning McQueen one, which Marshall LOVES, and it has the BEST pee guard I've seen so far!...The only problem is that there is no way, even with the help of a stool that Marshall can get on or off (without doing some serious damage) by himself!
After a week and a bit of spending a lot of time sitting on the bathroom floor (I almost began to think we lived in there), I thought, there has to be an easier way! It might not be so bad if I wasn't 37 weeks pregnant...but I AM!
So after talking to some much more experienced potty trainers than myself...I gave in...I surrendered to the portable potty!
And I must say, that it isn't as bad as I thought. In fact it has made potty training on ME a lot easier! Marshall can get on and off by himself, I can continue to proceed with what needs to be done during the day, and Marshall doesn't feel as though he will be missing anything by taking time to go and sit on the potty...as he is right in the middle of all the action!
Although he still doesn't tell me when he needs to go to the bathroom (i hope this comes soon) I am pretty darn proud of my boy! He is filling up is pee and poo chart, and is spending all day (except for nap) in his big boy Lightning McQueen/Spiderman/NBA ginch and LOVES IT!
