Date Night Ideas

My husband and I love to spend time together as a family but we also love and NEED, to spend time as a couple. The traditional date night of dinner out followed by a movie or other entertainment is something that is just not in the budget these days. (Well, it really hasn't been in the budget for a few years but who's counting.) An evening out like that happens once/year for us, because once you add the babysitting cost, what was already expensive becomes even more so. Brett and I have had to find creative ways to have couple time on a budget. We sometimes have the grandparents watch the kids or we have arranged babysitting swaps with other parents we know. This means one night we watch both our kids and theirs and the following week, they return the favor giving us a night out.

In terms of fun things to do together, we do enjoy going to restaurants but usually bring an Entertainment book coupon to help defray the cost. Additionally some restaurants have fixed price menus during certain time periods of the day or the year. Sometimes we head to our favorite restaurant and we buy only ONE entree, this saves money and perhaps more importantly, calories. The other night we had the grandparents on board to babysit and were looking at our restaurant options with coupons in mind. Nothing was striking us as a "must-do" and dinner out would have still cost us at least $30. This is when I suggested that my husband and I cook a nice meal at home. At first he wasn't thrilled with the idea but then became supportive. He went to the grocery store prior to our date and bought some small steaks and a few fresh vegies. I already had a bottle of wine and dessert at home. Once we had the house to ourselves the act of cooking together was fun and we enjoyed a lovely meal by candlelight, in the comfort of our own home. I am certain the meal was much healthier than the restaurant version and cost us just $10 (and I am rounding up here) for everything including a glass of wine.

Other ideas for ways to spend time together include (but not limited to):
- Walking and/or window shopping in a new neighborhood
- Going for coffee and/or dessert instead of dinner
- Breakfast or lunch out instead of dinner
- Bringing a picnic to a favorite park
- Costco Cafe $1.50 as we like to call it, followed by sample city
- Happy Hour at many places can be more affordable
- Run errands together
- A nice long car ride to a special vista, giving lots of time to talk
- Movie night at home with a "free" movie from the library

I would love to hear your ideas for budget-minded date nights or days. I know I am just scratching the surface here. Have fun with it in the name of "research"!

Gift Giving Ideas

I love Christmas and celebrating with family and friends. However, I do not love the craziness and the stuff-mania that is so exaggerated this time of year. Given the current economy I can see that more people are cutting back and really thinking about how they spend their money which is a good thing. However, on the other side of the equation are the merchants who want you to buy all sorts of stuff that most don't need. It is a true battle of marketing vs. your will power.

I wanted to share some ideas for gifts that are low or no cost or gifts that do not take up more room on the planet. Over the years (even before the economic stresses) my siblings and I decided on a rule to minimize the cash outlay. Gifts needed to fall into one of three categories: homemade, an act of service, or cost $10 or less. Since $10 doesn't buy too much we typically use our creativity to make gifts for one another such as homemade cards or photo gifts or we make a paper gift certificate promising either help around the house or something similar. The possibilities are truly endless depending upon the skillset of the giver and the need of the recipient.

Here are some service ideas, but remember this is just the tip of the iceberg:
- An afternoon of gardening help
- Four hours of cleaning indoors or out(can set your own time frame)
- Bringing over a meal a few times during the year
- An evening or day of babysitting
- Baked goodies once/quarter, delivered to the recipient's house
- Help organizing around the house (kids clothing or kitchen etc)
Other certificate ideas are:
- Taking the person out for coffee or a meal so that you have time together. After all, isn't that what we all really want instead of more stuff?
- Purchasing tickets for a special performance or show. This is the gift of time along with a fun memory.

I would love to hear your ideas for Christmas gift giving, that save both money and resources. 'Tis the season to be creative!

Your Freezer, Your Friend

Hopefully you took full advantage of the great prices available on turkeys with Thanksgiving, you simply cannot beat 27 cents/lb. Any meat under $1/lb is a good deal but the turkey is great because you end up with so much food and a wide variety of ways to use the meat. Given that the holiday season is upon us and you may be cooking turkey again (or some other large chunk of meat) in the near future I thought I would remind you of the beauty of your freezer. Whether you have the stand alone kind or simply one portion of a fridge/freezer combo, it is a great ally in the quest for living large with less.

For you to become acquainted with your freezer it might mean that a thorough cleaning is in order. Take an hour and see what is hanging out in your freezer that should be tossed or perhaps there are large containers only partially full that could be condensed into smaller, more space efficient ones. When you have a little (or a lot) of space available you can start brainstorming all of the ways to use it. Here is a shortlist, by no means comprehensive of things I love to keep in my freezer:
- Turkey leftovers, of course!
- Turkey fixings, if you have side dish leftovers you can make another great meal in minutes down the road.
- Bread from the bakery outlets (Oroweat in my area), at 99cents/loaf I load up on bread and english muffins once/month. Keep frozen and take out only what you need.
- Costco size shredded cheese which I have downloaded into small ziplock baggies. One baggie is approx 2 cups of cheese. Simply remove a few hours before you need it.
- I am a huge fan of the Costco size tomatoes from S&W, equivalent to about (7) 14oz cans. Usually I am making several lasagnes at a time when I open a can so I don't need to worry about storing the rest. However, if I have tomatoes that I cannot use immediately after opening the large can I simply ladle them into ziplock baggies (approx 2 cups) and freeze them laying flat. Very space efficient way to go.
- I am a huge fan of dinner leftovers as my lunch, but often I want to wait a few days before seeing the same meal again. I use Tupperware soup cups for just about every kind of meal leftover storage, be it lasagne, chili or soup. I fill the container and freeze it, then remove the night before I want to eat it. This saves lunch money too, always a plus.

What do you love to keep in your freezer? Let us know if you have any great storage tips or bulk items that keep well in the freezer...or don't, we would want to know that too. The possibilities are endless and with a little planning your freezer can be a huge asset in the war on food prices and meal planning.

What's in your Closet?

I had a frightening experience a week ago when I needed to empty out 3 closets in our hallway in order to have new flooring installed. When asked by the contractor to do so I thought to myself, "No big deal, that'll be easy". However, when I began unloading the contents of each closet I realized how much JUNK was in each, many items that I either forgotten about or simply never used. I became reacquainted with sheet sets and table cloths in my linen closet and found tools hidden in a clothing closet. Additionally, I found two boxes of wedding gifts that were packaged up about the time Lukas came on the scene. Breakable knick-knacks and fancy candle holders + small, wandering hands don't really mix.

After the new flooring was installed and I was able to reload my closets I took the time to purge, making a few bags for Goodwill. I was also able to put other items where they belong and where I will find them, such as the tools. And I was excited about the "new" table cloth and now have a very festive dining table. Closets should be for items we USE and/or need on a somewhat regular basis...not a dumping ground for miscellaneous items or things we simply cannot part with. Do you know exactly what is in your closets? If not, take an hour and empty one (or part of one) and carefully evaluate the contents. Get rid of the thread-bare towels and random knick-knacks, organize what you do use so you can find the items and don't cram it full. In other words: Know thy closet. Living Large with Less means being able to manage the assets you already have, and not adding to the stuff collection unless truly necessary.

LLWL - Baby Style

It has been exactly 27 days since our lives were forever changed with the addition of our youngest son, Garrett Edwin. Our family is thrilled to pieces and our lives are now full of all things baby. Hence the lack of any blogging this month! Hopefully that is a one-time lapse and that my excuse is a good one.

Since Garrett arrived I am happy to report that I have my Living Large with Less mindset for all things baby too. This is new for me because when my first son was born I was running out for new items constantly and I definitely was sucked into the Babies R Us vortex. Now, six years later I have a new goal: borrow whatever I can. I now know many more moms who are all happy to pass along their baby's hand-me-downs or larger baby items. The beauty of this strategy is many faceted: my friends get some more use out their baby items, I do not have to earn money to spend money on things I need only for a short time, and in most cases I am returning the items back to their rightful owners after using them (this will save me storage space and/or the hassle of a future garage sale).

Currently I am borrowing a wonderful bouncy seat, bathtub, and mobile. Additionally I have received a few bags full of clothes that are seasonally appropriate for Garrett. My other son was born in May and his clothes are not warm enough for the baby this fall. I love the variety of clothing options and sharing resources. Don't get me wrong, I love new baby clothes too but I am equally excited about gently used items. Because of my LLWL passion both showers that are being thrown in Garrett's honor have requested gifts of gently used items or new. Think about how you might put your baby or child's "old" clothing to better use: share it with a friend, bring it to a consignment or local thrift store, or perhaps organize a clothing swap with friends. Why buy what you can trade, borrow, or receive for free??!!

Ch-ch-changes...in season

Last week we had the first rainy weekend and I was reminded of how much I truly LOVE summer in the northwest. Summer is the best because there is a freedom to do just about anything outside without a worry about the weather. Summer also means an abundance of free activities being offered for the public, i.e. outdoor movies, concerts in the park, parades, and festivals not to mention picnics and park outings. The organizations planning these events count on good summer weather too. As a proponent of Living Large with Less I am always looking out for free or practically free entertainment or outings. The options in the summer are more bountiful and I will miss that as we move into fall and winter.

Below are a few of my favorite fall/winter outings but what I really look forward to are some of my reader suggestions in the comment section of this blog. New ideas can be the way to refresh anyone's schedule.

- As a zoo member some of my favorite times at the zoo are when it is raining, as it keeps the crowds away and there are plenty of indoor spots for animal viewing.
- I don't necessarily recommend retail therapy but we sometimes head to Target and purchase the "popcorn combo" which includes a refillable drink and popcorn for $1.50. Not bad if you just need to get out with your child(ren).
- Parks can be fun in the winter too, we like Carkeek which has some hiking options, even in the rain you can be largely protected from the elements because of tree cover. Many other parks are perfect for walks, hikes or simply fresh air.
- Swimming at one of the public pools, low cost and always entertaining.
- Metro bus is always a favorite and makes the journey half the fun, even if it is just downtown or to pick up lunch or a snack.
- Love the public library system too. Free. Free. Free. Then curl up at home with a good book.
- In our house we end up baking a lot during the winter months. Cookies always freeze well so you don't need to eat all of them. Or think of creative ways to give the cookies away, to neighbors or drop them off with friends. A good excuse to visit and get out of the house!

These are just a few suggestions that come to mind. I look forward to hearing your ideas too.

Anneke's Finance Bibliography

By popular demand I am listing my now infamous finance bibliography in my blog, available 24-7 for all to see. Hopefully while on-line you can request your choice of book(s) via your local public library system, saving money of course, and then being able to pick it up in a few days or weeks. Enjoy!

Bach, David. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich. 2003

Bach, David. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful Plan to Finish Rich in Real Estate. 2006

Chilton, David. The Wealthy Barber. 1995

Economides, Steve & Annette. America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money: Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams. 2007

Hunt, Mary. The Complete Cheapskate: How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out, and Break Free from Money Worries Forever! 2003

McCoy, Jonni. Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two Income Economy. 1996

McCoy, Jonni. Miserly Meals: Healthy, Tasty Recipes Under 75 cents per Serving. 2002

Orman, Suze. The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke. 2005

Orman, Suze. Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny. 2007

Ramsey, Dave. The Total Money Makeover: a Proven Plan for Financial Fitness. 2006

Stanley, Thomas and William Danko. The Millionaire Next Door: the Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy. 1998

Walsh, Peter. It’s all Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. 2006

Yeager, Jeff. Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches: a Practical (and fun) Guide to Enjoying Life More by Spending Less. 2007

Nice Catch

Today's blog comes from a friend who attended my August class. On a recent trip to the grocery store Erika had a chance to put some of the Living Large with Less principles into action. "I spent just over $100 on the overall shopping trip, (and) I did save $92 so I felt good about that. I'm finally tracking my spending and planning a week of meals." YAY Erika!

"My biggest savings though was separate from the coupons and specials. I was watching the screen with the prices, trying to guess how much I was buying, when I noticed that my single pomegranate was $23.88. Not the $1.99 that I had already deemed reasonable (since it is the one exotic fruit my kids will actually eat). It turns out, the checker had charged me for 12 pomegranates! I wonder how often people overpay just for errors?"

This is where I say, "Nice catch!" Had Erika not been paying attention she might never have noticed this error or noticed it at home and not had a chance to immediately correct the problem. She saved herself the hassle of coming back later or simply losing that money on 11 invisible pomegranates. It pays to pay attention. In addition to paying attention while I am checking out, I am also vigilant about both my credit card and bank statements. Both are notorious for hidden charges, new fees or simply human errors in entering amounts. Sometimes I tire of the need to review financial documents or receipts but it helps me know exactly what I am paying for, even if errors are not found. So be sure to celebrate your next "catch" and consider it money saved.

99 cent Repair

We live in a disposable society where it is far easier to throw out an old item and replace it with the latest and greatest, than to fix the old or to simply keep using the old for fear of being out of vogue. The new item may be "improved" in speed, color, performance, size, or taste. However, many times there is nothing wrong with the existing/old item in the first place. It is simply the job of the marketers out there to have us buy the new and improved product. Consider this as you shop!

I want to give a plug for part of my Living Large with Less motto, which is simply this: buy less. This could mean saying no to the improved versions of products we want even though we have one that works already (iPod anyone?). Or maybe the older item just needs a little TLC in order to be operational again. This is where my story comes in, the story of my hand mixer that came into the marriage via Brett. This little mixer is a workhorse and I have never found the need for a large Kitchenaid standing mixer. Recently one of the beaters on my 12 year old mixer broke leaving me with just one functional beater. I think it would be safe to say I could easily throw this old mixer away and not feel too bad as it had a useful life. However, I was challenged to see if I could extend its life by another year or so. During a recent trip to Goodwill I found a single beater for 99 cents. I bought it in the hopes that it would fit my mixer, and what do you know? It DID! I was ecstatic and now have my mixer back in business.

Is there some household item you could hang onto for a while longer before replacing it? Or could you revitalize something that needs some fixing instead of simply throwing it away? Consider the savings to both your wallet and the planet of buying less and with greater intention.

Time for More Creativity

This is the first photo I have of me with my now infamous cast, or 'summer bummer' as someone called it. This summer has been full of lessons for me as I was forced to slow down. Since I could not drive it forced me to be resourceful and creative in how I would get from place to place. I have learned to scooter at a fast pace chasing behind Lukas on his bike or at a quick pace alongside of my jogging friend. I also learned to enjoy the Metro bus service recently, a very nice lift slides out of the bus to get me aboard. And most importantly I have been carpooling with all of my gracious friends, who have delivered both me and Lukas to our destinations.

You may be wondering how this ties in with my teachings of Living Large with Less and once again, I see some parallels. Working with limitations (financial or otherwise) can force you to seek solutions you might not have considered. The side benefit of my creative transportation methods include: getting to know my co-workers better during our carpool commutes, spending less money on gas, being able to get out of the house to exercise with my scooter, and some fun memories to boot. I would not have discovered any of these blessings without being forced into my non-driving state. The same can happen with finances, desperate times can force change. But why wait for desperate times, put on your creative thinking cap and consider ways to save money for your household in just one budget category or consider a new purpose for something you considered old, as the previous post describes. Creativity is a wonderful asset whether your cup is half full or half empty. I'd love to hear your stories on how a less than ideal situation resulted in a creative solution.

Something Old, Something New

Today's blog is brought to you by a dear friend who attended my class in June. She has definitely understood the spirit of Living Large with Less. Here is her story: In the spirit of getting ready for fall, making a few dollars, and my belief that “less is more”, we decided to have a garage sale today. We spent Saturday evening sorting through the attic (things we’d put up there when we moved in five years ago), the “organizational” boxes in the basement (blue tubs full of things we had mostly not seen in five years), and the living room buffet (full of pretty things, many of which we never use). We sold today from 9-3, met some nice people, bonded with our neighbors, and made $100, which will go toward new eyeglasses for Marty. $100 having fun and ridding ourselves of things we never use! The rest we threw in the back of the truck and delivered to Goodwill. We feel lighter. Mission accomplished.

In addition, we discovered things in the attic that WE can use. What a concept! We had come close on Friday night to buying some new bedding at Fred Meyer…we’ve been wanting “spare” bedding to take with us to our timeshare at Mt. Baker and here it was on sale. We looked at flannel sheets, down comforters, etc. Fortunately, we held off. When we went through the attic on Saturday, we discovered all kinds of great bedding that we’ve had over the years. We had a CHOICE about which we would use for the timeshare! So I washed up some flannel sheets, a duvet, and a duvet cover, and we are set! We easily saved ourselves $100 there…yay!

Lastly, this is all relatively new to me…the garage sale, the using what we already have instead of buying new, the being excited about saving money. Though this last year has been financially tough on us, one of the gifts of this time has been that I have become much thriftier, wiser about spending/buying/wasting, and I am much more likely to recycle goods as a way of life. Another “yay!”

Best Quote Yet

On Thursday I hosted my third intro session to Living Large with Less. Once again I was amazed at the quality of the conversations and the sharing that happened throughout the class. I am thinking that perhaps, we should meet more regularly like a book club might. Stay tuned as this idea evolves.

The best quote from a class member came at the end of Thursday's session. When asked for a tip to share with others my sister said, "Don't do anything (when Living Large with Less) that makes you feel cheap, embarassed, or otherwise awful." I think this is an important piece of information to remember as everyone is in a different place financially and our goals are all different too. If we focus less on being miserly, and more on why we want to live with less (i.e. travel more, save more, free up time etc.) then it will be easier to make the harder choices. However, hard choices such as NOT buying an item or choosing a generic brand, should not leave us constantly feeling horrible. We all have CHOICE. Choose what is important and be intentional in your plans. So please feel free to enjoy your quality cup of coffee or haircut, if those are places you do not want to skimp. And conversely, where you are willing to sacrifice be sure to remember the long term goals.

Instant Savings

Instant Savings? How is that possible without clipping coupons or waiting for the infamous one-day sale? This is a short and sweet plan and one where you can rack up savings without lifting a finger-literally. Here is the secret: Never under estimate the power of not spending. Now take a moment to ponder that statement.

The next time you are at the store (or on-line) with your eyes on the latest garment, tech gadget, kid's item, or whatever floats your boat, take a moment to consider how much you could save by not buying the item. Sure it may be nice to bring the coveted item home but how much longer would the satisfaction of not having spent the money last? I venture to guess that the financial savings would outweigh the buzz a new purchase might give you, if you really stop to think about it. Not purchasing the item might do the following: keep you from the guilt of buyer's remorse, allow you to set that money aside for a major purchase at a later date (aka delayed gratification), give you the strength to say 'no' again in the future, and thus show self control. And finally, think about the money you don't need to earn, which is time saved. If you successfully walk away from a potential purchase and are still dreaming about it days later, perhaps it is worth a return visit and/or a closer look at the budget to see if this purchase can and should happen. However, most of the time we have simply saved ourselved some cash. Instant Savings.

$22.34 Bathroom Make-Over

Don't you love those home makeover shows? As an architect I truly enjoy seeing the finished product and I especially enjoy those shows with budgetary constraints. Who has an unlimited budget these days? My victory this weekend was giving my not so large bathroom a makeover, for a whopping $22.34. How was this accomplished? Well, since the space is limited the shower curtain is a major player, we decided that our 8 year old IKEA curtain had done us proud but it was time for a change. At Bed, Bath and Beyond we found a festive shower curtain that was discontinued, making it $15. Then we added some new curtain rings and a new shower caddy to round out our purchases. When it came time to check out we used our $10-off coupon too, hence the $22.34.

Our bathroom doesn't look vastly different as the paint color is the same as is the rug, but we hope to change that in time. For now we smile when we walk by the bathroom, the fresh colors in the shower curtain have already made a difference between us simply liking a space and loving it. Have you been thinking about making some changes inside your home? If so, think about small changes that might have a big impact. Perhaps a fresh coat of paint in a new color, new throw pillows, or even a new piece of art or even a plant. Something small and affordable is often all you need to freshen up a space, not necessarily the extreme home makeover you fantasize about.

Finally, Some Good News

I have nearly stopped listening to the news, it is so depressing these days with regard to the economy. And it seems that the economic turn-around is further out with every new forecast. However, in my mailbox the other day came one small bit of good news, and I do mean small. The interest rate on one of our student loans has been lowered for the coming year resulting in a $17/month savings. Now I know this may not sound like the time to rejoice but it is. I could gloss over this small victory or be excited about that money back in my pocket, $194/annually. However, I've decided that we do not need the $17/month. In addition to paying the revised monthly student loan amount I will ADD an automatic payment of $25/month. This will be comprised of the $17/mo I was already paying plus an additional $8/mo that I am throwing in to round up the amount. At the end of the year I will have paid $300 more for that loan than the company requires, speeding up my repayment. Now that is something to get excited about for an $8/month effort on our part!

Is there any small bit of good news in your life that you can turn into even better news? Perhaps there is some "found" money that can pay off a debt faster, as we chose or perhaps put it into savings for a future unforeseen expense (i.e. auto or home repair) giving you peace of mind, or perhaps it is the seed money for something fun like a vacation fund that you had always hoped to have. I can't wait to hear!

At the Car Wash

Yes, you can start singing..."at the car wash.." (by Rose Royce for those interested). I was singing this tune to myself on Sunday when we washed both of our cars as our afternoon entertainment. Lukas and Brett with the hose and sponges and me on the interior detailing and vacuuming. We had a great time talking and working side by side and best of all, as Lukas noted, "Our cars look brand new!"

If we had paid someone else to wash the cars we would have had to drive somewhere, costing gas and time as well as the money, to pay for the washing. I also know for a fact the cars would not have looked nearly as good on the interior. But for me the money saved was actually secondary to the time we enjoyed as a family. We shared some fun conversation and we also had built in teaching moments for Lukas as he improved his car washing technique. In this case our family activity cost nothing and saved us both car wash money as well as additional money that we might have spent on something else, ie attending a movie or going out for ice cream. I hope you might think of some creative activities for you and your family that build community and save money. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Free Shorts

A few days ago my neighbor, who I do not know super well, yells across the fence to me, "Anneke, what size shorts do you wear?" Now this is information that I am not likely to share with anyone, much less yelling it across property lines. However, the neighbor comes over and proceeds to tell me that she has some shorts that don't fit and asks if I would be interested. I hesitate and then proceed to tell her my pant size. The following day she brings 4 pairs of shorts to me. At first glance I figure that I will simply pass them along to Value Village, but later that day I actually try them on and low and behold, 3 out of the 4 pair look great on me. Free shorts.

Since beginning to live large with less, my husband and I joke that, "yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch." The only caveat is that you must keep your eyes and ears open to see these gifts. God has surprised us in our journey with more than one free meal, free entertainment, and sometimes free samples of new products and most recently, free shorts. My charge is that you keep an open mind and see what might be out there for you, and more often than not it will be at just the right time. God knew I had exactly one pair of shorts that fit properly.

OUCH!

"Ouch" wasn't the only thing I shouted 3.5 weeks ago when I missed a stair and fell with my entire body weight onto the side of my foot. I navigated my home stairs several times a day and yet this time it resulted in a major injury, my broken foot. The pain was excruciating and entirely unexpected.

Today I opened the mailbox to find a bill from the fine folks who deliver heating oil to the tank that sits below my driveway. They come approximately every 8-9 months to fill 'er up. Our home heating system is powered by oil and today when I opened the bill I again said a loud, "OUCH!" One might argue that it should not have been unexpected given the rise in gasoline prices, but it was still a massive shock to the system. Imagine if you had to buy 220 gallons at $4.75/gallon! This was almost twice what I paid the last time the tank was filled.

I have zero control over the price of gas or oil but I certainly have some control over how much I can and will use. Brett and I have already started talking about strategies for this fall and winter. So far we have brainstormed not turning on the heat in the morning, dropping the temp a degree or two when it is on, and of course as my mother used to tell me, "wear a sweater".

There will be many more "ouch" moments this year as long as prices keep rising and sticker shock occurs. I plan to use this time to control what I can in the midst of the many things I cannot. Just as my broken foot has yielded some creative solutions for manuevering around(I can hop like no one's business), creativity will go a long way to empower you and your finances within this economy. Time to put on your thinking cap!

Happy Fiscal New Year!

I am one of those people who love to reflect on the past year and then set goals for the new year on January 1. I realize that it is summer now but today is the last day of the quarter and for some that means the fiscal year end. I think that the end of each quarter is a great time to see how your investments are performing and check the pulse of your finances in general. Take some time this week to review statements and be sure to note how much you invested & how much it grew as well as your goals for the coming quarter or beyond. I am personally excited about having reviewed and revised our insurance coverage as well as having found a traditional savings account that bears 3.3% interest. Looking ahead I am excited about teaching more classes as well as getting rid of our student loan debt faster than before (see previous post, Baby Steps).

Check your Pride at the Door

The other day I wanted to go to Target, just to get out of the house given my broken foot. However, it is simply too tiring to walk through a store of that size so my dear husband Brett reminded me that it would be best if I used one of their motorized wheelchairs. Ok, how about "no way"! Needless to say I was unable to let go of my pride and we did not venture out, which may have saved us a few dollars anyways. However, my point here is that I will need to sacrifice some of my pride along the way, asking for help to reach something or for help around the house etc. I need to let go of my pride in order to move forward (literally).

I saw an analogy here with finances. Sometimes we need to check our pride at the door and make some unusual and perhaps seemingly "embarassing" choices. This might mean bringing a brown bag lunch when meeting with a friend instead of buying lunch, it might mean shopping at the Grocery Outlet instead of Metropolitan Market, or it might mean saying no to the latest designer clothing or accessory. These ideas may challenge your pride but they will move you forward towards your financial goals much faster than your need to be cool or hip or simply status quo. Dave Ramsey has a quote that I like which fits in nicely here, "Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later." These potentially pride-challenging financial changes will be worthwhile in both the long and the short run. Take charge and take positive pride in the new decisions you are starting to make. For me this will mean sitting in the wheelchair with a smile, as I stick to my short shopping list.

Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

I think all of us deserve a pat on the back for the step(s) we have already taken, like attending last week's class. That was no small step, to be interested in learning something new in the financial arena. Also, as I was talking with a friend yesterday I was thinking that it might seem like "no fun" to constantly be reducing expenses. However if we take stock of what we have accomplished once in a while we might be more excited about moving forward in a similar manner.

At the end of 2007 I took some time to write down all of our financial accomplishments. My list included how much we had invested, by how much we'd reduced our student loans, how much we saved on groceries, the fun trips we took, as well as some intangibles like the financial freedom we were feeling because we brought all our financial issues into the light. This list was such a boost and proved to me that yes, all of our hard work was worth it.

Take 15 minutes and think of the good things you are already doing, whether that is trading babysitting time, shopping at consignment stores, or investing. I bet you have a few tricks already in place. Now write these down, there is power in the written word. The goal is to add a few more and to begin to think more creatively of ways to spend less money. In another month or two write an updated list of all the things you have accomplished this summer, perhaps those discussed in class. You are worth it and this "work" will be worth it!

Baby Steps

This weekend I took some baby steps on our household finances. I have decided that it is time to kill our student loan debt. Without making any changes we were on track to pay off our biggest loan in 23 months (a major accomplishment since we have been paying for it since 1996) and the second, more recent loan, in 8 years. By redirecting our ROTH IRA money into our student loan repayment we will pay off the big one in 12 months! At that point if we add all of the money we were paying to loan #1 to our loan #2 then we should be done with that one in about 2 years. I am excited and figure the extra years of peace without that debt hanging over our heads will be worth it. We will continue to invest through our work 401k programs as we are today. Baby steps, one day at a time one new thing at a time.

Let us know what your baby steps are.

First class was a blast!

Thursday night's class was my debut as an educator and purveyor of financial wisdom and tactical "secrets" to Living Large with Less. The introductory overview class was attended by nine ambitious women and I had fun sharing my knowledge as well as hearing the various financial challenges as well as goals.

I want to use this blog as a place for those who attended the class to share ideas, resources, and encouragement. (As my business gets rolling I hope to open it up for more folks but for now just those who have attended.) I am a newbie blogger so I look forward to learning how to best use this forum as the summer progresses.

I would like to host 1 or 2 additional LLWL introductory classes this summer. If you have a friend who would be interested in attending please send me their email address and I will include them on the summer intro Evite list. If they attend you will be entitled to attend one of my new classes for free.

Looking forward to your lessons learned along the way.