With prices of everything going up while our budget stays the same, we have been looking for different ways to cut expenses.  One of these ways is our electric bill.  In the winter, our bill is very reasonable.  We hardly ever have to turn on the heat, so it usually stays around $80.  In the summer, our bill is outrageous.  It soars to over $200 for the months of June, July, and August.  We had to make some changes.

The first thing we did was switch to a timed plan.  I think these plans are only available in certain states.  I know when we lived in SC, we didn't have the option of different rates.   The plan is from 9pm until 9am and on weekends, we have a cheaper rate.  The goal is to shift 70% or more of our electrical usage to the cheaper times!  Right now on the June bill, we used 41% during peak hours and 59% during the cheaper times!  We have some work to do.

I decided to go straight to the experts form some advice.  I called our electric company.  Here's the advice they gave.

1.  Turn the televisions off with a power strip during the day.  Apparantly, the tv uses a lot of electricity even when off.  I didn't know that.  Another reason to limit our television viewing.

2.  The computer doesn't use a lot of electricity, and it is better for the computer to be left on (versus turning on and off several times a day).  The monitor uses a lot of electricity.  Even if you don't turn the computer off during the day, turn the monitor off. 

3.  The hot water heater uses the most electricity in our house.  We have all started taking showers or baths in the morning.  We sponge off of an evening.  My husband is the exception to this new procedure because he works at night and sleeps all day.  He takes a shower when he gets up.  I run the dishwasher and washing machine only during cheaper hours.  I wash the breakfast dishes before 9am and save all other dirty dishes until after 9pm.  (I do rinse them off in cold water and stash them in the dishwasher.) 

4.  The crockpot, toaster oven, bread machine and roaster oven all use less electricity than the oven.  The bonus to using a small appliance versus the oven is that it doesn't heat the house up causing the a/c to work harder.

5.  The dryer is cut off a little before 9am and turned back on after 9pm.  I know hanging clothes out to dry is cheaper, but we live in an apartment with strict rules. 

6.  The only other thing that uses electricity during on-peak hours is the a/c.  I just am not to the point where I can live without it.  It was well over 100 today and will be that way until at least September.  Some days it gets up to almost 120 or a little over.  Yuck!  Thankfully, it doesn't get cold in the winter.  It rarely drops below 60 even at night! 

We have switched to those energy saver lightbulbs and turn lights out constantly.  We keep the blinds drawn during the hottest parts of the days.   Do you have any other tips for energy conservation?  We need to get these bills down! 

Where is Gabriel???

Not in his bed where I tucked him in at 8pm.  Where is Gabriel???

Oh there he is!  Sound asleep on my bed with all of the stuff that is being sorted out of my closet!

Does anyone remember my New Year's resolution about getting him to sleep in his own bed?  I am fighting a losing battle!  Sigh!

Here are my spending totals for today:

Gas - $65 (ouch, ouch, ouch)
Drinks - $4 (I did not plan well for today, and the kids needed a drink.)
Hubby drink - $3 (This was my fault too.  I forgot his drink for his dinner at work.)

Total - $72

On the upside, my husband recieved an additional paycheck yesterday.  The payroll department messed his last paycheck up, so instead of making us wait until next payday, they cut an additional check and mailed it to us!  Yeah!  It wasn't much, but every little bit in the bank helps. 

Today, Rhonda Jean posted about creating a budget and sticking it to it!  I love her idea of using plastic ziploc bags to keep all cash in her budgeted amounts.  This is where I mess up monthly.  I like to borrow from one column to pay for another column.  I need to stick with budgeted amounts and spend no more!  I am going to try the plastic bags for the cash portion.  We try to use cash for food, haircuts, spending money, clothes and gifts.  The rest of it we leave in the bank.  We leave enough in checking to cover bills and gas.  Everything else is moved to savings.  If it isn't in the checking account, it is harder to spend!

Here is our budget:

LIVING EXPENSES 

Rent - 1042.44
Electric - 200.00
Phone - 75.00
Internet - 45.00
Renter's Insurance - 30.88
Auto Insurance - 140.00
Tithe - 200.00
Groceries - 400.00
Gas - 200.00
Haircuts - 25.00
Car Repairs/Maintenance - 50.00
Clothes - 20.00
Gifts - 20.00
Spending Money - 40.00

DEBT REDUCTION

Car Payment - 400.00
Other Debt - 258.00

SAVINGS - 50.00 (and anything left over)

We have an HSA that we use for any health related expenses, so we don't budget for those.

Total Monthly Expenses - $3196.32
Total Weekly Expenses - $737.62
Total Daily Expenses - $105.09

Wow!  Putting this stuff on paper has made me realize just how bad we are with money.  It is very easy to say that we can pay our  bills, have a bit of wiggle room, and we are okay.  We want to be more than okay.  We want to be out of debt with a little money in the bank. 

I think it is time for me to change my spending habits.  My husband says that I nickel and dime us to death.  I tend to spend on a lot of little things.  He spends once in a blue moon on a big ticket item! 

Rhonda Jean at Down to Earth  is doing a series of posts on budgeting.  We need these lessons again.  We are doing so much better than we have in the past.  Our random spending is way down.  I mean way, way, way down.  At the same time, I am no longer making $35K to $40K a year, gas is going up,up, up, groceries are going up, up, up, we now have three children, live in a city with higher home prices, and have a higher car payment.  We just can't seem to get ahead and stay ahead.  Our expenses seem to be going up every single week.  Hubby got a 4% raise which doesn't cover the additional cost of gas!  (We are thankful for every additional penny, though.)  Hopefully, Rhonda Jean will have some wonderful ideas and helps.

Her first piece of advice is to stop spending on anything but necessities.  Okay, we are so there.

Next, make a list of everything you spend for a whole week.  Here is today's list:

Groceries - $50.52
Soda & candy - $2.83 (having a chocolate craving - so not good!)
Water (3 gallons) - $.45

Total for the Day - $53.80

After looking over my totals, I realized that I am spending on non-necessities.  Soda, candy, chips are not needed!  In my mind, I think of non-essentials as Victoria Secret's lingerie* (you should have seen my credit card bill from there) or eating out.  I need to switch my thinking to all non-necessities.  If you really think about what you absolutely need to survive, it makes it harder! 

On a forum that I belong to we have been discussing living more simply.  Another member posted a link to an article discussing The Compact.  Fascinating!  There is a group of people getting together and promising each other and themselves not to buy anything new for a whole year!  The rules are pretty simple. 
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used.
They do have some exceptions to the rules like underwear and stuff.  I decided to join up.  It should be interesting.  I am thinking that I need to brush up on my creativity just a bit!  I am going to a used curriculum sale this week, so, hopefully, I can get everything that I will need for next year.  If not, ebay here I come!

The thing that I am having a little doubt about is Christmas.  What do you give other people?  Why is it that I can purchase something from a pricy, antique store for a present, and it is to die for, but if I get it from Goodwill, it is just junk?  I am perusing The Tightwad Gazette hoping to gain some tips.  Any ideas, pass them on!

Now to the other stuff - My friend Karen at Between the World is once again participating in NaBloPoMo.  She is blogging about food this month.  If you have time, go over there and encourage her.  I am going to try to blog every day this month, but it won't be about food! 

*Random side note:  I have not bought any new undergarments in about seven years because of my huge Victoria Secret's credit card bill.  I am finding that I need some new things, but I can't enter into that store.  It triggers the spending monster in me.  I also can't bring myself to buy it from Wally World.  Any one have any ideas or tips or places to go?  How about a great website?  Thanks!

I have been flying by the seat of my pants lately when it comes to meals, and our budget is showing it!    For the next few weeks, I have to plan my menus focussing on the pantry and freezer first.  Thankfully, I have plenty of stuff stocked up. 

My oldest son and the little boy I babysit have art camp all week, so I need breakfast to be fast and easy.  Tonight, I cooked a batch of oatmeal pancakes and waffles for breakfast each day.  We cannot eat cold cereal very much any more.  It is just too expensive lately even with coupons.  Have you noticed that the boxes are getting smaller, but the price isn't?!

Monday

Breakfast - Oatmeal pancakes, fruit, milk
Lunch - Steak tips w/ gravy, rice, leftover veggies
Dinner - Turkey & Cabbage stir-fry, brown rice, strawberries w/ cream

Tuesday

Breakfast - Waffles, fruit, milk
Lunch - Tuna patties, carrot sticks, grapes
Dinner - Chicken curry (crockpot), brown rice, broccoli

Wednesday

Breakfast - Oatmeal pancakes, fruit, milk
Lunch - Sandwiches, carrot sticks, grapes, cookies (Picnic in the park before going to the library.)
Dinner - Pizza (Church is at 6pm.)

Thursday

Breakfast - Muffins (or leftover pancakes and waffles), fruit, milk
Lunch - Spaghetti w/ turkey meatballs, peas
Dinner - Pinto beans, cornbread, collard greens

Friday (Happy 4th of July!  I don't have to babysit!!!!)

Breakfast - Eggs, biscuits, turkey bacon, fruit
Lunch/Dinner - Shredded BBQ beef, rolls, carrots, green beans, this cake
Unless we decide to do a picnic in the park before the fireworks, then it is this menu
Hamburgers, hot dogs, carrot sticks, pickles, chips, and cake

Saturday

Breakfast - cereal (I am sleeping in, so hubby will be up with the kids.)
Lunch - bagel sandwiches
Dinner - Leftovers or 4th of July menu if we decide picnic in park

Sunday

Breakfast - Muffins, eggs, turkey bacon
Lunch - Steak w/ gravy, oven-cooked barley, corn, collard greans
Dinner - Quesadillas, refried beans, fruit

My son is starting second grade, and I can't find a Language Arts program that I like!    I want one that does it all.  Teaches some grammar at a slow pace, spelling, reading, poetry, and writing.  I also want it to be hands-on without a lot of worksheets.  I want learning centers and art projects.  I want to read books and poems that go along with the concepts being taught.  When we are learning about nouns, let's read books filled with lots and lots of nouns.  Let's read poems filled with nouns.  If it could include some songs and movement along with the other stuff, I would be in curriculum Heaven.  I don't think a program like my dream exist.  Sigh!  I'm off with a pad of paper and lots of pens to doodle, dream, and plan some sort of something for the upcoming year. 

My two boys are science nuts, so I have put together a weekly science camp complete with lots of things to blow up!  I will try to blog each week about the specifics as I get it planned a bit more.

Week 1 - Scientific Method

We will be using this form to start the day.  After the M&M's are finished and everyone has a great understanding of the scientific method, we are going to use that knowledge for an experiment.  We are going to take 2L bottles of Diet Coke, Coke, Sprite, and Water and see what happens when we drop Mentos in them. 

Week 2 - Gravity or What goes up must come down.

We will have fun reading different books on gravity and jumping on a small trampoline to see if anyone can defy gravity.  Then, we will make a water balloon yo-yo. 

Week 3 - Gravity Revisted

We are making safe rockets. 

Week 4 - Forms of Matter

We will do water in its different forms and then make ice cream in bags.

Week 5 - Forms of Matter Take 2

I think we will grow crystal gardens.  Still working out the kinks on this lesson.

I need to plan at least 4 more weeks, so I am heading off to the library to hammer out details. 

Dylan will finish up his second full year of homeschooling next week, and my babysitting charge will finish his school year next week too.  Two very energentic seven-year old boys, a three-year old girl, and a two-year old boy inside a small apartment as the temps start rising is a recipe for disaster.  Trying to preempt catostrophe (and a very stressed out mom), I have developed a lot of "plans' for our summer.

We have a great library system which has a lot of summer activities.  With those activities, swimming lessons, VBS, art, movies, and science, summer is packed full of fun things to do.  I am putting together an "Art Camp" once a week which will be an art project combined with great children's literature.  For example, one of the projects will be creating a paper quilt.  With that project, we will read The Rag Coat  by Lauren Mills and Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Hopkinson.  I am using a lot of the ideas from Five in a Row.  I am also putting together a "Science Camp" once a week.  We are going to start with the scientific method and blow mentos out of Diet Coke; then, we will blow up rockets, make yo-yo's, make goop, make silly putty, etc.  Anything that catches the interest of seven-year old boys!

Here is the tentative plan for the afternoons:

Monday - Fun stuff at library
Tuesday - Art Camp
Wednesday - Fun stuff at library
Thursday - Science Camp
Friday - Movie

The mornings will be either swimming lessons, VBS, or school work since we need to continue reading, math, and writing practice.

Wow!  My summer sounds busy.  :)  We are taking a bit of vacation in June, and I think we are going to need it.

Lately, the Lord has been showing me just how special I am to Him.  It is so easy for me to almost glibly say, "God loves the world (the masses)," but it is much more difficult for me to say, "God loves me (the person)."  The individual part of it has been lost on me for a long time.  Through some Bible study, prayer, guidance from others, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and good preaching, I am beginning to discover just how much God loves me - the person, the individual.  As I learn more of God's amazing love for me, I have become convicted of my treatment of myself. 

I Corinthians 3:16 - 17  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall god destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

I am the one who has been defiling the temple.  There have been lots of excuses.  I've been depressed, my husband works too much, two pregnancies back to back, I moved 2,000 miles away from my family, the kids keep me so busy, etc.  The fact is that I have let myself go and have become extremely unhealthy.  My purpose in life is to glorify God, and I cannot do that completely at this point because of my health.  For example, the Lord has given me a good voice.  I enjoy singing specials in church.  Because of my weight, lack of exercise, and smoking, I have lost a lot of my range, vocal control, and my breathing is horrible.  I cannot offer God my best.

I want to start a challenge for myself (and anyone else who wants to join).  It is not a weight loss challenge but a return to health.  I want to be as healthy as possible, so I can bring glory to my Lord and serve my Lord in the best way possible. 

This week, I am going to focus on water.  I am not drinking any at this point.  Instead, I am drinking a ton of Diet Dr. Pepper.  I am going through a 24 pack in about a week plus the extra bottles that I buy to supplement the cans.  Wow! 

My goals are two-fold this week:

1.  Limit the Diet Dr. Pepper to 1 a day.
2.  Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day.

This challenge might last two weeks since I am a die-hard soda addict.  Anyone want to join me?  Let me know in the comments. 

I have quit smoking.  It's been a year since my last cigarette, but I am still coping with the effects of the smoking. 

This blog has become pitiful.    In an effort to rejuvinate my blog, I have made a list of things to blog about on a weekly basis.  I will also try to remember to figure out my new camera, so I can upload some of the pictures of my beautiful children.

This blog has been neglected long enough.  I am pulling the weeds and getting to work. 

We are having revival services this week, so the crockpot will be a fixture on my counter for the next couple of days.

Monday

Swiss steak w/ black beans (crockpot)
Rice
Salad
Steamed carrots

Tuesday

Baked beans (crockpot)
Cornbread
Collard Greens
Japanese Pumpkin

Wednesday

Mac & cheese (crockpot)
Steamed broccoli
Leftover backed beans

Thursday

Chicken Cobbler
Salad
Pound Cake

Friday

Chicken & black bean enchiladas
Slaw
Corn

Saturday

Cheesy Tortilla Skillet
Steamed broccoli & cauliflower
Slaw

Sunday

Creamy Chicken Breasts (crockpot)
Rice
Collard Greens
Steamed Carrots

For more great ideas, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

My friend Karen at Between the Worlds is hosting a curriculum fair this week.  How fun!  I love reading about what other people are using in their homeschools.  Here is what we are using this year:

Math:  Saxon math 2 - Dylan finished his first grade workbooks that I bought him from Wal-Mart, so I invested in a real Math program!    My debate was between A Beka and Saxon.  I eventually decided to go with Saxon because I saw the results.  Some friends use Saxon, and their sons are very well grounded in math which is what I want.  Saxon reviews the concepts over and over until the student truly knows it.  Saxon explains concepts in a way that makes sense to me.  It goes beyond simple rote memorization of facts and uses a combination of memorization and logical explanations as well as some tricks to help remember.  If I have a complaint about Saxon, it is that it moves really slow.  Dylan is a fast learner (I have a hard time keeping up with him at times).  

History:  The Story of the World Volume 1 - I love, love, love this book and have bought the Volume 2 for next year.  I am learning so much just reading the selections to Dylan.  It is amazing what I missed in school and am learning now.  This is supposed to be about Dylan not me!    We have a timeline that we make to go with the book and next year we are going to use the activity book along with it.

Geography:  We use Ambleside Online recommendations of Paddle to the Sea, Tree in the Trail, and Seabird all by Holling C. Holling.  My son has thoroughly enjoyed these books.  We trace the journeys on the map and learn about the local animals and flora.  Using these books, he has learned about the Great Lakes, the American West, and the Atlantic and Artic Oceans.  Next year, we will be studying about the journeys of Marco Polo.

Reading:  A Beka - awsome reading program.  Dylan finished all of the 1st grade readers and has started on the 2nd grade readers.  The reading books use a great mixture of poems, fables, and wholesome stories to reinforce phonics.  I like the books because the selections are moral and good reading.  They're not just fluffy filler pieces. 

Science:  We have used unit studies on whatever struck his fancy this year.  We used the Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science as well as lots of library books to explore dinosaurs, the solar system, the human body, the microscope, and several other topics.  We also do nature studies and have spent a lot of time studying birds.

Language Arts:  We use Ambleside Online which overlaps with Science and History.  This year we have read almost all of the year one booklist.  Using these books, we are studying history, geography, science, literature, and poetry.  I love this curriculum.  I love using living books as much as possible.  We plan on using Year 2 next year.

Dylan does copywork for handwriting.  He copies the morals from Aesop's Fables on the days we read from that book.  He copies verses from Proverbs and other passages of the Bible.  He copies poems and funny sayings.  I try to make his copywork relevant to what he is studying in history, science, Bible, or literature.

I do not have a formal grammar or spelling program at this time.  I think grammar should be formally taught a bit later.  We do discuss capital letters and punctuation as we come across it in his journaling and copywork. 

That sums up our homeschool.  A lot of reading which is fine with both of us!  I would love to read about your curriculum choices.  Let me know if you post yours. 

I was blog surfing the other day, and I read about a woman who hadn't cleaned her oven in so long it was considered a fire hazard by the home inspector.  I laughed so hard and then started thinking about my oven.  We moved into this apartment February of 2007.  I wiped the oven down when we moved in and haven't touched it since then.  Hoping for the best, I checked inside my oven.  Yikes!  My oven was a fire hazard itself.  Gross!  I have been determined to clean it since then, and today was the day.  I couldn't find any oven cleaner at the small store I shopped at this afternoon, so natural cleaners were the name of the game.  So in honor of upcoming Earth Day, here is my all-natural guide to cleaning your dirty, disgusting oven.

1.  Fill the bathtub with hot water and dish detergent.  Put oven racks in the tub and let them soak.  (I know using a lot of water is not enviromentally friendly, but I haven't figured out a way around this yet.)

2.  Make a paste with 5T baking soda, 4T vinegar, and a couple of drops of dish detergent.

3.  Put the paste all over the inside of the oven with a rag.  Scrub with a recycled plastic bag tied in multiple knots wich makes a great scrubbie.

4.  Rinse with plenty of clear water.

5.  For the really tough stains, use a Kitchen Cleaning Block .  These things are amazing.  They scrub off all of those baked (burned) on bits without killing you hands like steel scrubbies. 

6.  Rinse the oven again.

7.  Scrub the oven racks with choice of scrubbie.

8.  Done!!!!!  No harsh smells or chemicals.

Note:  If your oven doesn't have a light, let your 3yo daughter who is just dying to help hold up the flashlight. 

I had my menu all planned out and then I realized that I have boiled chicken in the fridge, a bag of potatoes in the pantry, and a block of tofu that all needs to be used this week.  Then, I went to the grocery store this morning and found quite a bit of marked down meat.  My menus changed quite a bit, and we are having curry two nights in a row.  That is actually okay with us - just looks a bit odd. 

Monday

Chick N Broccoli Curry
Rice
Melon for desert

Tuesday

Korean Tofu Curry
Rice
Collard Greens

Wednesday

Pizza or Sandwiches

Thursday

Coke Steak
Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
Lima Beans
Steamed Carrots

Friday

Hamburgers
Tater Tots
Baked Beans
Lettuce & Tomatoes

Saturday

Cherokee Casserole
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Corn

Sunday

Creamy Chicken cooked in the crockpot
Rice
Broccoli
Carrots

We are eating oatmeal pancakes, muffins, eggs and fruit for breakfast.  Leftovers, sandwiches, carrot sticks, and fruit for lunch.

It has finally dawned on me (I'm a really slow learner) that it is okay to go grocery shopping on Mondays and to plan menus from Monday to Sunday.  Our schedule is so different from other people's.  My husband has Wednesday' nights through Friday nights off.  Sometimes, he is off on Saturday night as well.  Not only that but our local grocery store marks down their meat on Monday.  It really is okay to go on Monday instead of Friday or Saturday.  I am beginning to realize that you have to figure out a pattern for your own family.  It is really hard to completely copy someone else even if it totally works for them.  Like I said I am an extremely slow learner!!!

I started watching a little boy before and after school about three weeks ago.  We have settled into a sort-of routine.  This week, I need to buckle down and get really organized.  It's time to start cooking and cleaning again!

Devotions/Quiet Time:  I am going to start studying in the book of Psalms.  I am using Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon and Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible. 

Must Do: 

1.  Go through paperwork and old bills.  File, organize, and put all of the piles away.

2.  Create a new schedule and follow it.  Create a new cleaning schedule and meal schedule.  Get organized!

3.  Balance checkbook, pay bills, and create a new budget.

4.  Thoroughly, clean my kitchen.  My fridge and freezer are just gross at the moment.  I need to mop my kitchen floors, reorganize my cabinets and drawers, and clean my oven.  It must, must, must get done this week!

Exercise/Weight Loss:  Exercise every day. 

Train them Up:  We are working on obedience this week.  We need it to be immediate obedience especially with my 3 year old.

Menu:

I am cleaning out the fridge this week so using a lot of leftovers.  We have guests coming on Thursday. 

Sunday - Toasty Cheese Bake, Steamed Carrots w/ leftover buttered peas mixed in, Brownies
Monday - Chicken Pot Pie w/ leftover Brown Rice hidden inside, Apple Cobbler
Tuesday - Turkey & Cabbage Stew, Homeade Bread
Wednesday - Mac & Cheese, Scalloped Tomatoes, Steamed Spinach
Thursday - Roasted Pork Loin, Cheesy Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, Carrot Cake
Friday - Pizza

To see more Monday Meanderings, check out Tiany's blog.