Archives for 2012

Goals for July 2012: The Cash-Only Challenge – Baby Steps

July 11, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Summer is flying by. With days spent at the water park and in the jump zones, I look forward to my afternoon naps.

In keeping a busy schedule, some of these goals were hit or miss this month. Though progress is slow, I continue to take baby steps as I grow, learn, and follow Crystal’s 12-month plan as outlined in The Money Saving Mom’s Budget.

The following is a recap of my progress in June, and my new goals for July:

Physical

Drink 4 glasses of water per day. Success on the days I drank water. Yes, I went a few days drinking other beverages, mainly sweet tea or diet coke. Though making some headway, I will keep this goal for another month before adding another glass.

Eat breakfast each morning. I did much better this month as I chose to eat when my children ate. Though not consistent, I am moving in the right direction.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. Though falling flat on my face here, I will not deter from this goal. My activity has increased running around with my children, but this goal is to build my stamina. This goal will continue for July.

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Accomplished! Visited a local zoo, went tubing, helped a friend, and attended a birthday party. Love this goal, and keeping it all year.

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. I find it easier to spend personal time with my kids when I’m home. However, my youngest has received the most Mommy-time when we are out. She needs more attention while my older two play together. This goal is still a priority that I aim to reach each day.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Love it when my children finish one task and then come to ask how they can help. The initiative shown makes this momma proud. Our house is not in tip-top shape, but I’m getting there with lots of help.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. Still behind, but I did pay cash when going out to dinner with friends. To be honest, I did not feel empowered or any different from paying with the credit card. From what others share, the full-fledged budgeting is freeing. I’m not there, but I understand the freedom in having a plan.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. No progress made on this goal for June. Not sure when we will move our girls into the same room. Right now, there is no hurry.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. We purchased more memory this month to increase the processing speed of my laptop. We are waiting for delivery of our purchase.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. I feel like two steps forward and then catching up on this goal. When I get ahead, I end up taking a day off which results in writing one day ahead. Though not where I want to be, I am not behind. This goal remains as I work to get ahead.

Make one improvement to the blog this month. Accomplished! Though not seen from the front end, I have started making a backup of my category posts. This project is underway with completion in sight.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. Half done – I read one chapter this month. With my summer reading complete, I hope to increase reading this month.

In reflecting back, I am happy with my progress. This is journey is full of ups and downs, and I’m learning what I can handle. Without regret, I am pressing on and will continue to update you along the way. Keep taking baby steps!

Question: How are you doing on your goals this year?

Packing for Summer Camp

July 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Though my little ones are too young for summer camp, many are getting ready for a week of fun away from home. In preparing to travel to a land with fresh air, running water, and plenty of activities, Good Housing offers 15 Thing to Pack for Camp.

Though I would bypass the first aid kit, if a camp nurse is on-call, I agree with this list of necessities for a comfortable camp week. In using time wisely, I would add the following to the list:

Free Samples

In requesting freebies and samples, camp is a wonderful opportunity to use those toothpaste, shampoo, soap, body wash, deodorant, makeup, hand sanitizer, and sunscreens samples.

Plastic Bags

Having been a camp counselor, I remember weeks where it rained every day. Keeping clothing dry was impossible. To prepare for wet clothes and towels coming home, pack a large plastic garbage bag or a number of plastic grocery bags. This way, the plastic bag prevents mildew from growing inside your child’s suitcase.

Notes of Love

From the time I was a junior camper through high school camp, my mom hid little notes throughout my luggage to remind me that she loved me. I still remember the little note I got wet because she hid it in my soap container that I opened in the shower. I was really disappointed that I could not read it, but I will never forget those tokens of love.

When I got homesick, those little notes reminded me of home and encouraged my heart. One day, when my own children head to camp, I plan to pass down these little notes of encouragement as my tokens of love for them.

Packing for summer camp is exciting. By adding free samples, plastic bags, and notes of love along with the other essential items, your camper will arrive ready for fun. Happy packing!

Question: What would you add to or drop from the list?

Organizing Loyalty Cards on Key Chain

July 9, 2012 by Tracy

The other day, I found myself wasting time trying to find a loyalty card attached to my key ring.

The card was smaller than some of the other cards, and I went through my cards twice before locating the correct one.

As I wasted time, I knew I needed to get these cards organized by size to help me find the one needed.

An Option for Organizing

For those of you with smart phones, you can scan your loyalty cards into an app that will save your barcode. When you need that card, you can scan it directly from your phone.

Since I am content with my normal, no-fuss cell phone to use for phone calls only, I do not have this option.

With the smart phone application, you will still want to keep your loyalty cards in the event that your battery dies or you forget your phone. If you add these cards to your key chain, then keeping them organized can save you time and energy when finding the one you need.

Start at the Beginning

When I would get a new loyalty card, I would just stick it on my key ring. With all different sized cards, I needed them arranged by height. To carry out this goal, I had to start over.

1. Took all the cards off the key chain.

2. Organized them by size based on the key ring hole.

3. Put often-used cards before rarely-touched cards that were the same size.

4. Placed the cards back on the key chain.

Ripple Effect

Once my loyalty cards hung in size order, I decided to rearrange my keys within the same order. I know . . . quirky, but my entire key ring in height order makes me happy. 🙂

I know some people (OK, most people) would not care, but it matters to me. In using time wisely, I organized my key chain to hold only what I need, in height order, for quickly selecting the requested card.

Before and After

My organized key chain has already helped me save time since I can see all the edges of the cards when finding my choice. As you purge, clean, and organize, small projects like organizing a key chain can save you energy while using time wisely. Happy organizing!

Question: What small project keeps you using time wisely?

Long-Term Disability Insurance

July 8, 2012 by Tracy

Today is monumental – the last category in Box 2 of our important documents! Though these last two categories (short-term and long-term disability) only hold a few documents, I keep them separate due to different types of policies. Also, should claims get filed, I need space to keep all the documentation for proof of submission.

Kept within the eleventh file opening are the documents for our long-term disability insurance which makes up our ninth and last category in our insurance filing system. 🙂

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Defined

Similar to our short-term disability, our long-term disability insurance policies protect Paul’s paycheck should he become disabled. Paul’s employer offers a basic long-term disability policy free of charge to all active employees. This benefit has basic coverage, but we choose to pay for supplemental long-term disability which provides at least 65% of Paul’s covered pre-disability earnings.

Our long-term disability policies work together and begin on day 90 of Paul’s disability. Should Paul become disabled, our family would receive compensation beginning on day 7 with short-term disability and then transfer to long-term disability on day 91.

Documents

For these policies, I keep the following documents in this eleventh file opening of our insurance file box:

Summary Page

This one-page document has the administrator’s contact information and instructions for filing claims.

Policies

From the employer’s web site, I downloaded (and still need to print out) these two policies. I do keep a record of these links in this file opening.

Instructions

Since Paul’s employer holds these policies, we do not have personal policy numbers. If we need to file a claim, Paul’s benefits’ office has specific instructions and deadlines for submitting documentation. I have included these instructions to make finding the information quick.

All these documents make up the ninth category of our insurance documents. Remember your file will hold your documents which may or may not include all these items.

If you have a long-term disability policy, then gather those documents and place them in this file opening. If you don’t have this policy and hope to have one in the future, then create a label and leave an empty space in your file.

All the categories are now complete. Yeah!

However, I have other documents in the last section of this file. My accordion file offers a front and back opening without a slot for a label. Usually I keep these pockets empty, but we had some unusual documents. I will share that information with you next week. In the meantime, keep up the good work, and happy organizing!

Question: How is your document organization coming along?

2012: Sales Tax-Free Days

July 7, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Recon Cycles)

If your state or commonwealth participates in tax-free days, then waiting to make a qualified purchased during those times will stretch your dollars. The Federation of Tax Administrators issued the 2012 State Sales Tax Holidays list, including limits and information links.

Though designed to help offset the back-to-school costs, these tax-free days can save you money on items you need.

For example, in South Carolina our tax-free days have no limits on clothing, school supplies, and computers. If we plan to purchase an iPad or choose to purchase clothing from the summer clearance racks for next year, then those items will not incur sales tax on those tax-free days.

By planning ahead, waiting patiently, and scoring those deals during tax-free days, you can continue stretching your dollars while using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: Are you planning a big purchase during your tax-free days?

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