Too Little Time

The cries of TGIF are all around us, and relaxation with my little kids should be a priority.  Yet, when you work full-time and mother little ones, even the weekend is a time of stress and busyness.  We have our must-dos, want-to-dos, and some honey-dos.   This weekend, the must-do list is HUGE, limiting my time for want-to-dos.  Holding it all together at times like this is crucial so although I WANT to post on my blog, instead I will be:

Cleaning out our van (and my husband's car)
Shopping for our family of five PLUS my sister and her five for our long weekend together (Sam's Club is my friend)
Babyproofing my house for on the five visitors who just turned one and believes if it fits in his mouth, it is food (My sister is most concerned about my cat's litter box)
Cleaning the floors, which somehow collected sand from both little kids shoes this week, ewwww
Sneaking back to work to clean off my VERY messy desk I left in disarray today because my son's daycare was close to closing
Plus, all the normal life weekend stuff, like laundry and cleaning, errands, dishes, cooking

So if you are having a less hectic weekend than me, and know how to post on my blog, go ahead and give us your best time saving tips for cleaning in a hurry! I need it!! Happy Weekend!

Enlighten Us

Earlier, I mentioned I wanted this blog to be collaborative and to encourage others to post their ideas, views, strategies.  However, some have expressed to me they are clueless on HOW to make a comment (technologically challenged by Blogger). If you know how to do this, could you inform the rest of us? Thanks!

Use Your 2013 Calendar to the MAX!

Moms are busy; calendars are essential! But I make my calendar work oh so hard for the money.  Not only do I write down appointments, meetings and parties.  I also include menus (planning out two weeks of meals after each payday to ensure we make it to the next paycheck with full bellies) to avoid the "What's for dinner?" debacle that can often wind up causing overspending at a restaurant or takeout.  Usually I only list the entree to save calendar space and just choose the sides at the time of cooking, making sure I keep lots of healthy side items in my freezer/pantry/cupboards. Finally, another great calendar addition is coupon expiration dates.  How many times have you saved a coupon to only let it pass expiration date unused?  Most likely, this is followed by an immediate need for the item to be bought at full price right after!  Noting a few of the best coupons you have is a great reminder to use them before you lose them.  Tonight, I get my haircut. Why? Because, yes, I do need it, but also because I have a 1/2 off at HairCuttery that expires TODAY.  If I hadn't have noted the date on my calendar, I may have missed the deadline only to pay full price tomorrow or the next day. Try adding this to your calendar and let us know if it helps save you some dollars.

Coupons Galore!!!

Today would be a great day to buy a Sunday paper. Or two or three.  There are five packets of coupons in my local paper AND because everyone is on their New Year's Resolution kicks, they are not the typical processed food/junk food variety.  Many of the coupons are for healthy meal and snack choices! There are many approaches to couponing that say clip or save ALL the coupons and organize them by date so you can match up with upcoming store sales.  If you do that, great for you, but that is NOT my strategy.  I simply cut the coupons for things I regularly buy, may buy if the price is right, or new product I might want to try.  I try to keep a limited number of coupons so my time does not get sucked by this could-be addiction.  Remember the clutter-free post from earlier---no need to buy or clip coupons for things you don't use/need!  Free is fun, but free is not worth the clutter if they are not needed.  Keeping a smaller number of coupons will help you find and use them quickly so you can get back home to your family and those important things that are not things.  This couponing strategy typically saves me $10-$20 on a purchase around $100, for those who are interested in how much this helps our budget, and I spend about half an hour weekly clipping, organizing, and preparing a grocery store list with my coupons.

What to Expect When Your Expecting to Read My Blog

If you're like me (and I am thinking you are since you read my blog) you belong to a lot of Facebook groups, email subscriptions, ect. that clue you in to deals on items for purchase, or free samples, specific ways to save a few dollars.  I belong to a plethora of them as well; they are great and have their place in my lifestyle.  That is, however, not the intent of this blog.  This blog is not a link to specific deals, but more specifically, this blog is a "big idea" blog.  I want to share more of the lifestyle choices we use to maintain balance between little kids, little money, and little time and hope to see our readers ideas, too.

Too often, those deal bloggers, websites, ect. that I am addicted to (right now, it is Groupon) do have great deals. BUT their goal is to encourage us to spend money. Yes, they have so many great deals, BUT it is still money out of our budgets.  For some budgets any great deal is no deal at all if the money is gone.  Some consider even buying a box of macaroni and cheese an unnecessary "splurge".  Nearly any amount of money is too much for some families' budgets and I want all to feel like this is a blog they can read and participate in, no matter the paycheck.

January shopping is still my favorite, but it is important to remember the most important things in life are not things at all.

Blogging is BACK

My original goal of this blog has always been to get a stockpile of ideas, opinions, interpretations...and the lack of reader participation frankly stole that motivation.  Facebook took over for much of 2012 as my blog because I could so easily share and hear responses of others.  However, 2013 is here, and I'm bringing it back to the blog.  My posts tend to get "wordy" for Facebook, not all my FB friends care about saving time, money, and raising young children.  Plus, I don't "friend" randoms or strangers, so the blog is a great outlet to the world....Anyone can follow it, join the discussion, friends or strangers.  So if you stumble upon my blog, but don't know me personally, please stay if the topics interest you.  You do not have to agree with all of my statements or opinions.  Please feel free to read and post or share on your Facebook if you have friends you think could benefit from this discussion.

***ALSO, please answer the poll question on the right side of your screen!*** Thanks!

May Madness

March has nothing on May on my calendar!  May is filled to the max with school events, field trips, award ceremonies, parties, a garage sale...plus all my normal "life" stuff of work, families, kids.  When it gets like this, it is easy to kiss the budget goodbye and get into survival mode.  Help me stay in the ZEN BALANCE MODE of little time, little money, and little kids.  Please share what you find to be your BIGGEST timesavers.  Because I need them.  And some of my readers might NEED them too! THANKS!