Family Budget

For a long time my husband and I tried to find a perfect strategy to budget our finances. We went through many different tactics and have finally found the best system that works for us. Mint.com is one of the best websites that I have seen that helps budget all of your finances. My husband and I had a lot of student loans that we had to pay off and by using this method (mint.com) we have paid all of it off!  

Every month my husband and I get together before the month starts and go over everything that we know is going to be spent for that month, for example:

1. Mortgage
2. Car Payment
3. Utilities
4. Phone
5. Internet
6. TV or any media
7. Groceries
8. Gas and Fuel
9. HOA
10. Church
11. Savings

Notice that there is a category for Savings. Every month we put in an X amount of our income into savings/investments. Once that is all calculated if/when money is left over then we have FUN money. We split it up between:

1. Eating Out
2. Kids
3. Mommy
4. Daddy
5. Other

I hope this helps I love to budget even though sometimes I see something and really want it but I know that in the long run I can get more later in life if I can show a little bit of self control.

Chore Chart Update

The chore chart has been working really well. My kids have almost filled out the entire chart. They will be getting a reward when it's all filled out. I have noticed that there are days where the kids to the chores but I forget to put the stickers on and my kids get upset. So I think having a chore chart is a good way to go for a parent if they can keep up with it.

To Diet or not to Diet Take Two

Having a healthy well balanced diet and not feeling hungry is the ideal diet for me. I was so excited when I came across this website www.supertracker.usda.gov It is free and it helps with weight loss and weight management. I have just started using the website so I am going to see how it goes.

As with an update on my previous post about healthy eating. I have still been incorporating healthy meals for my family and the outcome? Life has been so much better. The kids have more energy and there is more peace in the home. Who knew that children having healthy diets could effect so many people on a day to day basis.

Stress Free Hosting

Extended family stayed with my family this past week and it was so much fun. There was very little stress because of the following tips that I use whenever we have guests staying with us overnight:

1. Clean the house before the guests come

2. Prepare a separate bathroom for the guests to use

3. Towels, extra toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, or any extra hygiene kits that you may have put it in the guest bathroom

4. Have the laundry done before the guests arrive that way if the guests need to do a load of laundry it won't be a problem

5. Before the guests arrive call and ask what meals they prefer and then get all the groceries and extra staples before they arrive preparatory for upcoming meals 

6. Buy paper plates, napkins, cups, and disposable cutlery to use when the guests arrive that way there is less dishes to do (I also have a sharpie on hand for everyone to put their names on their disposable cup for the day)

7. Have tentative plans to do fun things so the guests won't get bored

8. Have their bedroom set with extra sheets and blankets on hand 

9. If guests have young children put away toys that are not age appropriate

10. Always remember to have fun!

PANTRY

Today I organized my pantry. I see so many blogs that have pictures of beautiful pantries with a bunch of matching boxes and labels etc. I used the containers that I already had and just taped on a label, it's not the prettiest but it's free. I also decided to cut the tops of cardboard boxes that I already had and organized all of the crafts. (All of my crafts are on the bottom shelf of the pantry because we are still working on another area for arts and crafts for the kiddos. Post coming soon)

Do Chore Charts Work?

I am trying out the chore chart method this month. As to seeing if this method really works? So far so good but it's only been a couple weeks. The kids seem to be very enthusiastic on putting star stickers on their charts. If you notice on the chart my baby decided to color on it "and make it all beautiful" so that's why there are scribbles. I found the (already in graph form) poster board and stickers at Walmart I only spent like $5 for everything and it was worth it.

Celery and Peanut Butter

I have issues with getting peanut butter on celery sticks. I just get the peanut butter EVERYWHERE! So I decided to make my life easier. I spooned it up in a lunch bag, cut off the corner, and wallah mess free peanut butter on my celery sticks. Not to mention the younger kids love to just eat it from the bag and there is less of a mess.