Archives for 2012

Decorating: Our Nativity Scenes

December 3, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Excitement is in the air at my house. My oldest daughter is 5 years old, and she awoke this morning asking to turn on the Christmas tree lights. Sometimes I think she eats, sleeps, and breaths decorating. She is very creative and in her element when we decorate together.

Bombarded with lights, sparkles, and advertisements aimed at squashing our contentment, Paul and I emphasize the Christ of Christmas. He is the reason for Christmas though we, myself included, can quickly get caught up in the wrapping, purchasing, and wanting mentality.

To focus our hearts and minds on Christ, our family follows a daily advent calendar beginning December 1, and we place nativity scenes around our home. We currently have 5 scenes: crystal set in living room, vinyl cling set on wall in hallway, 2nd grade son’s plaster set, kindergarten daughter’s ceramic set, and toddler daughter’s plastic scene.

Nativity Scene Tradition

Our manger scene tradition began with receiving our first one in our first year of marriage. I love crystal items and am blessed to have beautiful pieces which currently are stored away.

Tracy’s choice: Though I would love to display my beautiful crystal items, my children need freedom to play in our home without fear of breaking these items. As they grow older, I will get to incorporate my things more and more. After all, the crystal is just a thing. For me, building relationships with my children is a higher priority than the decor of my home.

Our first nativity scene consists of 6 crystal figures that rest on a circular mirror. This Christmas decoration has become my favorite. Resting in the middle of our mantel, this manger scene resides at the center of our decorations and our celebrations. Though we have had a few other nativity scenes, I have pared down and only keep this one for our family. I also keep a vinyl cling nativity set that we place on the wall in our hallway.

Nativity Scene Choices

My 7-year-old Son

When my son turned 2, his grandparents presented him with a manger scene. He carefully played with the characters and continues to care for his manger scene.

As our oldest daughter grew more inquisitive, she kept sneaking over to play with her brother’s set. Of course, my son protected his plaster-made manger scene, and we knew it was time to get her a set of her own.

My 5-year-old Daughter

For Christmas that year, my daughter was gifted a Precious Moments nativity scene from a dear friend. Though ceramic, my daughter carefully lines them up and moves them around.

A few figurines have been broken, but all breaks have been mended without noticeable errors. Her set still looks new, and she protects her figurines from harm (i.e., little sister.)

My 2-year-old Daughter

Yep, my toddler is now 2 years old, and she desired her own set. In watching the deals, I found the Little People Manger scene on sale at Family Christian. Using a promotional code, I purchased her set for $24 which was a bargain. Excited to have a manger scene of her own, my toddler plays with her plastic characters and all the animals.

In keeping Christ at the center of our Christmas traditions, Paul and I encourage our children with manger scenes of their own. From plaster, ceramic, and plastic, the nativity scenes are different for each child, but portray the reason for the season.

As we continue our 25 Days ‘til Christmas, our family includes the gifts, Santa visits, reindeer food, Christmas movies, and stockings, but we keep our focus on the Christ of Christmas.

You can follow along as I document our journey this season. I post the result of each day on Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page.

Day 1 – Visited a museum for a Russian Christmas celebration

Day 2 – Decorated our home with nativity scenes

Please join me in the comments or on Facebook sharing your progress in celebrating this holiday season. Happy decorating!

Question: How is your holiday decorating coming along?

Retirement: Investing in Multiple Plans

December 2, 2012 by Tracy

With the increase in contribution limits for 2012, consumers have more options as they plan for retirement.

In working through our important documents, I took the time during this retirement category to explain the options through an overview, the types of accounts, allocating your money, designating your beneficiaries, and transferring your accounts.

In completing this category, I will share how to invest in multiple plans and list the retirement documents held within my File Box 3.

Investing in Multiple Plans

If you have money to invest for retirement, then you will want to get the most from your contributions. Remember, you will need to part with your money and not touch it until retirement.

If you think you will need that money before retirement, then consider a money market fund – which acts like a savings account with a higher return for your investment.

When you determine that you can put this money aside without touching it until retirement, then invest as follows:

1. Employer-sponsored Plan – the maximum one can contribute in 2012 is the lesser of one’s entire income or up to $50,000 which includes any matching by the employer. For 401(k) and 403(b) plans, employee contribution limits are $17,000.

2. IRA or Roth IRA – the maximum is $5,000 per person. You may split your contribution between your Traditional IRA and Roth IRA, but the total cannot exceed $5,000 in your individual retirement accounts.

3. Annuities – if you have invested in the prior two options or a self-employment option and still need a retirement account, then invest in annuities. Remember, annuities are not tax-free, so choose wisely.

Filing Retirement Documents

Within File Box 3, I have filed our social security documents in the first file opening. In the second and third slots, I have our retirement documents. The second slot holds Paul’s retirement documents while the third file opening holds my retirement documents.

Paul’s Retirement Documents

1. His employer-sponsored retirement plan documents include the summary description, quarterly statements, and beneficiary designations which are paper clipped together. If he had any withdrawals, then copies would also be kept within this bundle.

2. For his Roth IRA, the summary page, conversion documentation, quarterly statements, and beneficiary designations stay paper clipped together within this opening.

3. The final set of documents are copies of the check and account statement from the initial transfer from an employer-sponsored plan to a Traditional IRA.

These three sets of documents are housed in the second file opening of our File Box 3.

Tracy’s Retirement Documents

Behind the summary pages, I keep one set of documents for my Roth IRA. These documents include copies of the check from my employer-sponsored 401(k) plan when I rolled it over to a Traditional IRA, the quarterly statements, and beneficiary notifications.

This bundle also includes the transfer paperwork from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and all the quarterly statements since the conversion. These documents remain paper clipped and housed in the third file opening of File Box 3.

Other documents you might have are correspondence, withdrawal slips, and merger documentation when one company combines with another.

Weekly Project: Separate your retirement documents by person and file them.

In using time wisely to organize your important documents, find a system that works for you. I share my documents as an example to follow. Adjust these recommendations to meet your needs.

In finishing up 2012, we have completed the second of five categories in File Box 3. Beginning in 2013, we will continue organizing the third category – our investment documents. Continue plugging along while using time wisely.

Question: What additional retirement documents do you have within your filing system?

2012 Feed It Forward: Free Restaurant.com $10 e-Gift Certificates

December 1, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Feed It Forward

One of my favorite programs is back, and I’m so excited to get started! Feed It Forward is a holiday program through Restaurant.com. In celebrating the gifting season, Feed It Forward will gift up to 100 of your friends, family members, business contacts, and anyone else you choose with a $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate!

Last year, I posted the instructions and sent my maximum of 40 certificates each day. In 2011, I took almost all month to send everyone on my list an e-gift certificate. This year with more friends, I started today. With the increase in the number of e-gift certificates sent going from 40 certificates per day in 2011 to 100 gifts per day in 2012, I may finish my list early this year. 😉

In stretching your dollars, you cannot get better than free. This program is now in its 5^th year, and continues to gain momentum. I have personally used the program for 3 years. I love it, and look forward to giving my family and friends these restaurant e-gift certificates each year.

Feed It Forward Overview

You will need a free Restaurant.com account. You can either log in or sign up at Feed It Forward. When you sign in, you can access your e-mail contact list and Facebook account.

When you accept the Feed It Forward app, an e-mail confirmation will arrive in your inbox. Save that e-mail. After you have gifted everyone in your e-mail contacts and/or Facebook account, return to that e-mail and unsubscribe from the app. This way, you cut off the app from reporting your activity.

Feed It Forward Process

You can create one card, write one message, choose 100 recipients, and click send. In completing my first batch today, I spent about 10 minutes. Of course, part of that time was trying to remember my password as I was too lazy to go upstairs to look it up.

Your recipients will receive an e-gift certificate. They will need a Restaurant.com account to retrieve their gift. Once activated, your recipient gets to choose which restaurant to visit.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, start at Feed It Forward. Providing gifts for everyone on your list (and those who had no chance of making it) is possible. The best part is that there is no cost to you. As many are struggling to make ends meet this holiday season, allow Feed It Forward to gift you with a free Christmas for family and friends. Happy savings!

Question: Who can you now cross off your list?

Giveaway: Coupon Binder Extravaganza Event

November 30, 2012 by Tracy

Quida over at Simple Savings for ATL Moms is offering her incredible coupon binder giveaway again!

Knowing the value of an organized binder, Quida includes all the essentials. The giveaway is free to enter, so don’t delay!

In addition to the giveaway, Quida is offering 30 days of FREE Online Coupon Classes that start December 10, 2012, at Simple Savings for ATL Moms. With all of the classes online, you can pickup tips and tricks to using coupons while using time wisely. When you sign up, please let Quida know I referred you. It’s a contest, and I would love to win the $75 prize. 🙂

If you are following me with the Start Saving from Scratch series, then you might want to create a new coupon system. I know it took me 2 full days to get my coupons back in order. Saying that they were a mess is an understatement.

The Rafflecopter form below indicates the spectacular prizes one will win during this coupon giveaway. Quida adds prizes periodically. To located additions, look for the New! Just added {along with date} tag in the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is provided exclusively by Quida, blog owner at SSFAM! All opinions are 100% mine, but I was compensated for promoting her coupon binder giveaway. This event runs from today, November 30 – December 21, 2012. The giveaway is not associated with Facebook, and there is no purchase necessary to enter. With all the details covered, go enter. Good luck!

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