May. 26, 2009 - Cheap way to bless someone
It is wonderful to keep in touch with people through emails and blogging. However, there are times when it's nice to use snail mail. We all have times when we like to receive something we can hold in our hands, rather than just read it on the computer. 
I try to find good deals on notecards at places like garage sales, Goodwill, Walgreens, the Dollar Stores, etc. If I want to do something more than just a card, but money is tight, I will enclose a $1 bill with a note explaining that we moms tend to set our own wants aside in order to provide for our family. The $1 is for my friend to treat HERSELF to something like a candy bar. It may seem like so little, but for the friend who needs a pick-me-up, your note and the $1 will mean so much.
Here is something I also feel is worth mentioning: Since I recently started working full time at the hospital, I have to evaluate if some of my money-saving tips are worth the time I must put into them. MOST of them are worth it. However, I posted about making grape nuts cereal. It does taste better than the store-bought stuff, but it is very time consuming to make:
- First, you have to mix up the cereal and spread it on a baking sheet and bake it. (Takes roughly 20-25 minutes.)
- Once you take it out of the oven, it has to cool quite a bit. (Add another 30-45 minutes of time here.)
- Next, you have to grind it in a blender. (Add another 15 minutes of time.)
- Spread it on two clean baking sheets and return to the oven for another 30-45 minutes.)
- Remove and let cool completely. (Add another 90 minutes, just to make sure it is completely dry before you put it in a container.)
- Finally, you can put the cereal in the designated container. But you still have to wash 3 baking sheets, a large bowl, plus all the parts to the blender. (Add another 20 minutes here.)
At minimum, it is going to take almost 3-1/2 hours of my time. Is it still worth the savings to me? Nope! 
Time with my family is more important than this money-saving idea. When I was a SAHM, I didn't mind at all putting in that kind of time on it. However, working full time drastically changes the way I think about it now.
We all know that having peace of mind is priceless. What will give me more peace of mind these days is learning to delegate so that I am not working 3 full-time jobs (working outside the home, hs'ing, and managing the home). That is going to take some time and a lot of prayer because I want to delegate in a gentle, loving manner as opposed to nagging about it. Me, nag? 
Unfortunately, yes. 
Comments
May. 26, 2009 - Home Ec Course
Posted by AnnieKate
Here's where you apply some course designing of your own. Decide what skills she needs to learn that would help you out, and add them on as a practical part to her home ec course that she's doing now. She benefits for the rest of her life, you benefit now, and everyone is happy.
