The P word!

The "P" word! And you are wondering... oh no, is she going to start talk politics? Is it going to be more talk about Sarah Palin? Nahhh! I want to talk to you about price books. Yup... price books. What? You don't know what a price book is? Get yourself a fresh cup of java and I'll tell you all about it. It's not too difficult, but I always like a good excuse to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend.

A price book is a notebook of sorts, in which you write down each item you purchase and at what store. I also like to write down the cost per ounce so I can compare easily. You can categorize the book by store, product, or categories, such as cleaning items, canned foods, etc.

Amy Dacyczyn (pronounced Da cision), author of the Tightwad Gazette, gave me this idea and it has worked well.

The idea behind the price book is that you can accumulate the cost for each of your most common items, thus determining where the best prices can be found. When something is on sale, you will know if it really is a good deal. You eventually get a sense of what is good and what is not.  I have used it to create goals for how much I spend on meals. My goals might be $3 for each breakfast and $3 for each lunch and $9 for each dinner. Your mileage may vary. At least with a price sheet, you will know where your money is going.

Another aspect of using this price book is that you can see seasonal trends for items. Produce are not the only items that fluctuate in price for the season. Turkey, ham, potatoes are just a few items that fluctuate according to the season or time of year.  You will learn when the best time is to purchase these items. Stock up! Plan ahead!

I have provided this price book for you in a .pdf format for your own use. If you prefer it in Excel, which can also be opened in Open Office, click here. Feel free to print, copy, distribute. I simply as that you not remove the copyright information and website at the bottom of the page.

Other reading on the topic can be found at the following:

• The Dollar Stretcher
• Get Rich Slowly
• No Credit Needed

Wait, I'm not quite done, yet. There's another part of this picture. I have found a great little free program, which installs quite easily, wherein I can take all my data and set it up on the computer. The program can is simply called Shopping List and can be found here.

Motivated Moms Planner

I admit it. I'm a list-maker. I like to make lists of what's for dinner, l what I need to do today, what I need to pick up at the store, what I want to do in the future. You name it, I list it ~grin~

I wanted to share with you about Motivated Moms planners. I have heard of these before, but had not purchased it. I know... I'm cheap. $8 for a planner seemed like a lot. Ha! It really isn't, though, at least not for this planner (click here).  AND.... it's half off because the year is half over! So, if you are interested in taking a peek at her other items, this may be the time to give them a spin. Then you'll know if you want to go back and spend the extra $4 later.

She has check off boxes for daily and weekly tasks. They rotate week to week.  These are a great starter kit for anyone wanting to jump start their daily schedule.

Some items she has are:

• Full Size Planner
• Half Size PlannerFull Size Planner with Bible Reading Schedule (I wish I had tried this one out)
• Half Size Planner
• Half Size Planner with Bible Reading Schedule

Let me know if you end up purchasing one of these that I don't have. I'd like to know what you think... or if you already have one that I don't have, would love to hear.

Books And Tips For Cleaning And Maintaining A Home

Emilie Barnes shares some fantastic ideas from a biblical perspective. Between her and Don Aslett, my home has come a long way! No! It's not even NEAR perfection, but I probably wouldn't like it that way, anyway But, because of Emilie, I can locate just about anything quickly, including the multiple times I've had to produce appliance warranties in a couple of minutes or SS#'s, vehicle titles and birth certificates. When we moved, I used her methods and it went SO SWIFT.

Mrs. Barnes has helped and encouraged me over the years. The one thing I am reminded of is her suggestion to take a task and just work 15 minutes each day on it. This might be cleaning out a pantry, attic, or bedroom. After 4 days, you've worked an hour! In bite-size pieces, it's easier to get to and easier to work with. How much can you get done in 15 minutes? What if you spent 15 minutes working in your kitchen, then moved to your bedroom for another 15, then some deep cleaning in your desk for another 15, etc. Is that doable?

Another thing that has helped me greatly, is her idea of prioritizing. I love to make lists! I've always been a list-maker. But to accomplish all my lofty ideas has not come so easily, until I read Mrs. Barnes' books. She suggests the list-making, but then she suggests prioritizing the list as such:

Priority #1 - God: According to Matthew 6:33, our first priority is to seek and know God. We are better able to decide what to read, what to view, how to spend our money and time when this is done first.

Priority #2 - Family: She reminds us in Proverbs about the woman who "looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."

Priority #3 - Church-related Activities: When the first two are right, it makes this priority easier to handle.

Priority #4 - All other areas: This includes job, athletics, exercise, classes, clubs, etc.

Now...back to the list part. After making the list and considering the above priorities, take into consideration what is really necessary for today, also. She suggests the following labels:

• Yes: I will do this.
• Maybe: I will do this if there is time.
• No: I will not attempt this today.

Don Aslett has made me laugh at myself and all my stuff. Don taught me when and how to get rid of stuff while Emilie taught me how to deal with what I have left. Don taught me the proper way to clean a toilet, and which cleaners really do the job...laughing the whole way. Emilie told me to just give cleaning a try 15 minutes each day. Don taught me which carpets to put in front of my door while Emilie taught me to tackle each room one at a time. Don taught me how my time is valuable and shifting my things from here to there is a poor steward of that time. He also taught me how to mop my floors and vacuum for the greatest effect.

I have learned, the hard way, that the kids don't need a ton of toys. They don't need a ton of clothes. Consider going through and giving away a lot of their things. Maybe it would be a great time to incorporate them in this because of Christmas coming up, they could help another child who is less fortunate. Just a thought. I learned to actually throw away broken toys. I learned to throw away any and all broken pieces of chalk and crayons. Yes...I throw away crayons, even if they are new, as long as they are broken. We also don't allow cutting of paper until a child is about 6. An aunt of ours has Lego's. She only allows children to play with them ON A SHEET. That way, when they are done playing, the corners are picked up and everything goes back into the Lego box real swift-like.

My husband, also, taught me to be an armchair director, instructing and teaching the kids what to do so it can be delegated. He says, "the kids make the messes, anyway."

I found that simple is easiest, too, when it comes to toys. Having toys separated, lined up, and delegated to covered bins is nice it just ain't happen'n here. It's not reality in the McLean household. It's a whole lot easier to have one toy box (or in our case, a tub) and just throw everything in. The kids don't need toys in their rooms. Their rooms are for dressing and sleeping in. Clothes are a big enough issue that we don't need to clutter their room with toys; unless, of course, you don't have another place for the kids to play with toys. Whatever you do, limit where the toys can go. No toys in the kitchen, for example: That makes the kitchen a dangerous place when carrying a boiling pot of water to drain. I digress. What toys don't fit into the one bin, they are outta here. We are big Lego fans here. That is, before they got into witches, ghosts and Harry Potter. We do have a separate bin for just Lego's.

My grandmother used to say, "A place for everything and everything in its place." I think of this often. I think, "okay. If something doesn't have a place, do I really need it? If I need it, where can I put it so that it's not more clutter?" Another thing my grandmother taught me was that if you have few surfaces and keep them clear, it will give the appearance of tidy. I used to be totally embarrassed if unexpected company came! YIKES! I couldn't think of anything worse! I do not have that fear anymore. Things may not be perfect, but we have come a long way, baby

Teach your children. Have them work right along with you as you wash dishes, sit on the floor and sort toys, or vacuum. This is how they learn and you can direct. We do this with baking cookies, sorting laundry, and setting the table.

I found both above-mentioned authors at the library. Since then, I have kept an eye out for their books at thrift stores and have accumulated most of them. I'm sure you could also find these books by searching the Christian book half.com or elsewhere.

Oops! Correction! Chaos to Order

Who was the cartoon character that would say he was "mortified?" Well, that's me. I went back and edited my post here to reflect the correct link.

From Chaos to Order

I want to share about an audio I listened to recently that may be a great help and encourager to other mothers who are trying to juggle family and home.

From Chaos to Order, Bringing Organization to Your Home (41 minute  workshop) comes from www.homemaking911.com.

Malia shares, in a seminar-type approach, how you can get your home organized and cause less stress for yourself and give your home a new peace.  I found it to be a shot in the arm, even for me! It is an exhortation with practical insights to get one going.

For $7, I think this resource is worth it. It is something you will want to listen to now, and then again in six months. You may not be able to implement everything at once, but she gives you step by step ideas to get you going. You will want to come back and glean more later.  It is so practical and doable!

Malia is a great example of a Titus 2 woman. If nothing else, you will enjoy browsing her site!

Use for junk mail envelopes

I reuse the back of junk mail envelopes and the envelopes I remove bills from. I use the backs of them for my note paper. I make grocery lists, to do lists, or jot down things I need to remember. I never buy cute/fancy note pads (but I have been known to receive a couple as gifts )

Birthdays in a large family (One way we "cope", er celebrate)

As we added children into our home, it became obvious that we needed to figure something out about Birthdays.  Many, if not most years, I am usually pregnant and something large is mentally exhausting for me. 

We let the Birthday person choose their dinner meal. Mom and Dad get to choose a breakfast, as well. Oh! And each person gets to choose their cake, also. We do a lot of celebrating around feasting

The kids used to do a penny toss at the Birthday person. They made it up. It was where they each got a penny out of their piggy bank and stood in a circle with the honored person in the center. Then they tossed their penny on them. It was cute.

We make a trip to the dollar store, where everyone chooses something for the Birthday person's gifts. When we give each other the gifts, everyone sits in the living room and we start from youngest to oldest, one at a time. First, the youngest gives her gift and the person opens it, thanks them, then the next youngest and so on.

Each 5th birthday (5yo, 10yo, 15yo) is a "special" birthday. This is where the honored person gets to have a "big party" where they may choose a theme (tea party, dinosaurs, clowns, etc.), get to send formal invitations to have a party, decorations, games, and favors.   We might play games or search for hidden candy around the house or break a pinata.

Most years, I have to put together 2 parties, but it's very doable.  We have never spent piles of money on a party, but we do make them special, inviting whomever they wish, decorating how they like, etc. I know of a family that has 2 children.  They have *2* big parties for both of their children each year, often spending $200 on each party, alone...not to mention the gifts they buy.