Random Monday Post

I really need to get back to stricter budgeting.  We have been spending money much to loosely and honestly if we would be paying more attention we could be close to having Baby Step 3 complete.  My New Years goal is to get this step done.

Along with the lack of attention to the budget I not paid close enough attention to items that we really need to purchase and that we should have budgeted for.  One of those things are winter boots for myself and Kid #5.  This is something I am hoping to find a good deal on and be able to squeeze into Decembers budget.  We will see....

Today  I worked on our menu until our next pay day which is December 3. Now I just need to make the grocery list and do the shopping.  I really don't think we will need much.  We are going to my sisters for Thanksgiving Day.  I just need to make some potatoes and a few pies for that.  Nothing overly expensive.

This week I am trying something new at least for me with my To Do List. Instead of making a giant weekly one I am trying just a daily one. I may still end up doing a weekly and then dividing it into daily parts.  We will see how it goes.  So far so good for today anyway :)

Hope you all are having a good Monday :)

5 Things I Did That Were Frugal This Week

1. I made a small batch of pancake/waffle "syrup" 

2. I research the going price for fire wood in our area. We bought a truck load. We will use this in our fire place over the winter which will hopefully help with out heating costs.

3. I had 2 stay at home days 

4. On Tuesday night we had Chili for dinner. On Thursday night I added elbow macaroni to it and it became Chili Mac. Two cheap & easy dinners. Plus there was enough for my husband to take for 2 lunches :) 

5. I set up my 3 drying racks in my craft room which is off the laundry room. I hung most of the laundry to dry. What didn't get hung was washed & dried all in one day. 

Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping has been on my brain lately.  I personally hate shopping.  What the what?? Yes I am a woman who hates shopping. 

We have a large family so I try to plan my shopping for Christmas gifts all year long so that I can get the best bang for my buck :)  I try to keep a running list of ideas that Kids have all mentioned over the course of the year of items they would like.  I look for gifts everywhere.  I have no problem with buying used especially if it looks in brand new shape.  Luckily for me, my Kids and other family members don't care if they received a second hand item either. I also use apps on my phone to earn free gifts cards for doing different things.  I typically use these gift cards to buy Christmas gifts also.

I have done a lot of shopping online this year.  I use a cash envelope for my Christmas shopping.  I also have a envelope that I add money to when I make an online purchase using my debit card. Once a week I go place that cash back into my checking account.  Maybe not a great system for others but it has been working for me.

Anyway, how is everyone doing with their shopping?  Have you started yet or are you done?

Our Frist Holiday In Our New Home

We celebrated our first holiday this weekend in our new home.  We have been here just a few days shy of 6 months.  We hosted our Family Thanksgiving with our kids and other family members on Saturday. I have posted in the past how we do a big Thanksgiving dinner the second Saturday in November so that our grown children are then free to attend Thanksgiving at the other houses of their choosing.   We had approximately 20 people here.  Hosting that many proved to me why I bought this house.  I love having a partially open concept for the entertaining factor!  There was plenty of room to move and places for everyone to sit and eat. All in all it was a wonderful weekend and I really look forward to celebrating Christmas now with all the kids too :)