5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. I did not eat out even though I was tired several nights after work and wanted too :)

2. Walked with my babies I Nanny and bought a few groceries at a local store instead of driving

3. Used my library this week to get books to take with me to work

4. Took my own coffee to work instead of buying some at the local gas station

5. Made Kid # 3's birthday cake myself instead of buying one :)

Grapefruit Cleaner

I have been trying to make more and more of my own cleaners.  By doing this I not only save money but I also believe it is better for us.  I have seen several posts on other blogs and also some pins on Pinterest for homemade orange cleaner.  We don't eat oranges every often but after doing a little research I realized you can really use just about any citrus fruit and get the same results.  My husband does eat several  grapefruit a week so that is what I used for my cleaner.  I have been using this recipe for about a year now and I really like the results.  I keep a spray bottle in the bathroom and I recently made my own home made wipes with it also.

This is a picture of the start of my cleaner.  It is an old ice cream tub filled with the peelings of grapefruit and then covered with vinegar.  At first I didn't have enough of the grapefruit peels.  But my husband has a grapefruit most days at work for lunch, so he just brought them home to me.  I then added them to my vinegar and grapefruit mixture until it is full.  Now I will let this sit for about 3 to 4 weeks.  When the time is up I will strain out the grapefruit peels and leave the vinegar liquid solution.  When I need to refill my bathroom squirt bottle I will fill it with half the solution and half water.  I love it and it works great!

What's For Dinner This Week

Monday - Tacos

Tuesday - Goulash and Salad

Wednesday - Tostadas

Thursday - Crock pot Balsamic Chicken, Green Beans,  Potato

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - ???

Sunday - Coffee Cake for Sunday Family Brunch, and Sandwiches later

Well I survived

my first full week of work.  So far the start of this week has went just as well.  My kids are on spring break all this week.   At least one of them will be going to work with me everyday.  Today, it was Kid # 4.  I left Kid # 3 at home and put her in charge of starting dinner and watching Kid # 5.

To make traveling with the babies I nanny for easier on everyone, I purchased a car seat and a double stroller.  I found both of these used on a facebook yard sale site in my area for $45.  The car seat has not been in an accident and it is also not expired.  Just thought I would throw that out there before someone asks :)  I still need one more car seat but my cousin says she has one for me and I should be able to pick that up next weekend.

I have found that having a meal plan now that I am working is invaluable!  It really made evening time last week a heck of alot easier.  I have a white board on my refrigerator that I write the menu for the week on which made it easy for everyone to help out with starting dinner.  I also have a hook with a clip hanging from it inside one of my cabinets and that is where I hang any recipes needed for the week.

I really do love my job and it is nice to not have to worry about what to do with my kids this week.  Has anyone started to think about Easter baskets yet?  I have been collecting little trinkets here and there to use for them. 

I am working on a project for Kid # 3's birthday next week.  I will share it after her birthday is over just in case she read my blog :)

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Had a meal plan and used it!

2. Combined my driving to save gas

3. Walked to places I could instead of driving

4. Worked on a project using supplies I already had

5. Posted on my facebook asking if anyone had a car seat they wanted to get rid of first before I went and bought one.  Turns out someone did!  I could really use one to keep in my car for my Nanny kids :)

Funny How You Forget.....

that taking care of babies is hard work!  I have now worked two full days at my new job.  I love it!  But tonight my back is killing me lol :)  I know it is from holding and rocking and picking up one heavy 4 month old and one even heavier 18 months old.  Funny how I forgot how much work taking care of babies can be..... but oh wait I never had babies 13 months apart and now I know why!

All kidding aside, I really do love this job.  It has been an adjustment being at someone else's house but so far it has went well.  Hopefully we continue to do so. 

It has been a challenge trying to coordinate rides for all the kids to and from their various activities especially since my hubby is still working his side tax job.  But so far we have managed.  I think once hubby is done with that things will go much smoother.

One of the best things I did to keep us on track is have a meal plan!  That has been a super help and something I will definitely have to keep up with.  I will have to adjust when I do grocery shopping though.  I maybe able to run and do small shops with the babies in tow but I doubt I will be able to do big ones like I am use to.

All in all the first two days have went well.  I hope it continues on this path!

I've Got News :)

For the first time in almost 20 years of being a stay at home mom.........I GOT A JOB!  I am so excited!  I start on Monday.  I will be putting my skills of being a mom to many to go use and I am working as a Nanny.  Since most of my kids are now teenagers I really look forward to taking care of small kids.  I am working for some friends so everything is very flexible and I will be able to bring my kids with me on school holidays and summer vacation if I want or need to.  I won't be making a ton of money but I will be making enough to satisfy me.  I tried to give our friends a break financially as they are young and I can remember what it was like to be that age with several small children. 

This extra cash will definitely come in handy though to help me reach my goals for the year.  I am really excited about this opportunity.  I am sure I will have many posts about how my family adjusts to me being a working mom.  Should be interesting!

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Combined several driving trips so I did not waste gas

2. Menu planned

3. Had very little food waste this week

4. Used up food we already had and did not go grocery shopping

5. Made snacks using items we had in our cabinets and pantry

One year ago......

this month I started this blog.  I am happy to say that we are well over halfway to reaching my plan !  I do not think we will actually have my car paid off by the time I turn 39 in June. But I do think it may be possible to have it paid for by the end of summer.  I am so excited about this!  I really owe a huge thank you to my hubby.  He has taken on a second job doing taxes for the season.  What started out as a part time extra job has really turned into a second full time job.  Thankfully it is only for a few months.  It is because of his willingness and sacrifice that we have been able to accomplish as much as we have.  I really love that man!

On another note, Kid # 4 has been out of the hospital for over a week now and seems to be doing much better!  Thank you all for your kind thoughts for us.

Kid # 1 has now pushed his wedding back to April of 2013 instead of Oct 2012.  It seems that I will be becoming a Grandma about that time so it seemed wise to wait a few more months.  This will allow me to put off the goal of saving to help with the wedding for a few months longer.

Lastly, thank you to all of you who have read my posts and followed my blog for the last year.  Thank you for all of your encouragement and well wishes!  I love blogging and reading blogs too!  Here is to encouraging each other to reach our goals and to be debt free!  Thank you all!

Crock Pot Ravioli

Judy from finally frugal and happy ( one of my very favorite blogs btw!)  asked for the Crock Pot Ravioli recipe.  I originally found the recipe on Pinterest but is is really from this blog.  It is so easy and good to make that I have to use two bags of Ravioli because my family eats every single bit of one bag and then asks for more. The only think I do differently is we make our own spaghetti sauce and do not by jar sauce.  So here ya go Judy !  Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Whats for Dinner 3/5-3/11

Monday- Chicken Taco Bowls

Tuesday - Pepperoni Roll

Wednesday - Spicy Chicken Stew

Thursday - Crock pot Ravioli

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday -????

Sunday - ???

Well as you can see I have no idea what we will be having by the weekend.  But hopefully I will come up with something soon :)

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. Stayed home alot!

2. Had some car repairs done to my husbands car by a friend who is nice enough to trade services with my husband.  So it just cost us parts!

3. Cooked at home even though I didn't have a meal plan this week

4. Made my own trail mix out of little bits of this and that from my cabinets

5. Babysat for a friends children and earned $20 for just a few hours of my time

Tonight.......

I found out Kid # 1 is going to make me a Grandma, for the first time, at the end of the year!