2013: Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Happy Valentine’s Day! My children are ready to present their friends with Valentine treats. Watching them get excited to give to others is my Valentine’s gift.

Understanding that some of you find this day difficult, I thank you for being a gift to me. You give of your time to read Using Time Wisely to which I am grateful.

As you celebrate Valentine’s Day in your special way, I present Joanna Fuch’s Valentine Gift.

Valentine Gift

On Valentine’s Day,
I’m thinking about
the special ways
you have made my life better,
the little things,
the not-so-little things…
your kindness,
the way you always listen
and pay attention to me.
You make my world
brighter and richer.
You’re a gift to me,
and I thank you
for being you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to Using Time Wisely!

February 13, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

It’s official; Using Time Wisely turned 2 today. Yip, Yip, Hooray!

Though I have posted almost every day and my writing has improved, I still feel like there is so much that I do not know about blogging (i.e., social media, blog design, etc.).

In this journey, I have met some fantastic bloggers, who encourage and share their expertise. During those rough patches when life consumes me, you, my readers, consistently visit the site and patiently wait for my return.

On this day of celebration, I want to thank you. Since giveaways are not my strong point, I decided to give you a free printable. 🙂 Spilling over from my 2012 goals, I am continuing to drink my water and exercise more consistently in 2013. You can join me as I update daily on Facebook.

Needing a visual helper, I created a Water and Exercise Log which I post on my refrigerator. (You may have noticed it with my menu planner.) Finding this resource helpful, I gift it to you.

To download, you may click on the image or on the link in orange below the image. Realizing that the monthly version may not work for everyone, I have included a 2-week, 3-week, and monthly printable Water and Exercise Log as we celebrate Using Time Wisely’s 2^nd Blogiversary.

Monthly Water and Exercise Log

Free Printable Monthly Water and Exercise Log Download

3-Week Water and Exercise Log

Free Printable Three-weekly Water and Exercise Logs Download

2-Week Water and Exercise Log

Free Printable Two-week Water and Exercise Logs Download (Designed to cut the page in half for a small binder.)

Enjoy your free download(s) on this special blogiversary day.

To share these resources with others, please forward the link to this post rather than sending the files directly. Thank you for protecting Using Time Wisely’s copyright.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to Using Time Wisely. This blog would not have sustained 2 years without your readership and support. I appreciate you and value your time. Today’s celebration is for us all.

Happy 2^nd Blogiversary, Using Time Wisely!

2013: Happy Groundhog Day!

February 2, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

The big question has arrived – Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow today?

As our family visited a nature museum this week, we saw a groundhog all curled up asleep in his habitat. If that groundhog is anything like Phil, then we might get 6 more weeks of winter.

No matter how long it takes, spring is coming. The birds will return, the flowers will bloom, and the land will awaken. Until that time, continue using time wisely.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Planning for Success: Arrange Coupon Redemption – Day 31

January 31, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 31: Arrange Coupon Redemption

These posts are getting longer with the lengthy list of posts from January’s Planning for Success series. Today, we reach the end, and my calendar will guide me to a successful finish of 2013.

Accomplishing the recording of all these notes, e-mails, and schedules is a big undertaking. I hope you have found this exercise just as beneficial.

When feeding my family, I depend on my menu plan, track my family’s favorite meals, and turn to quick meals in a crunch. Even with all this planning, there are still days when life happens, errands take longer than normal, or I just don’t feel like cooking.

Planning with Coupons

During these times, I turn to coupons. Some coupons have limited redemption times. For example, Chick-fil-A has chosen to issue cards with their calendars this year. Besides registering the card, the monthly coupons can only be redeemed during that month. If you don’t use it, then you lose it.

Though I am a fan of Chick-fil-A, I prefer the former paper coupons as I could use the coupons I needed when I needed them. Until they change their system, I have chosen to mark my calendar with the free item, so I can arrange coupon redemption.

If I know a busy day is coming and a break in the schedule is needed, I can plan lunch or dinner at Chick-fil-A. By combining activities, we can make memories without spending a fortune while the family enjoys a meal out.

Finding Discounts

I find restaurant coupons in the Sunday newspaper, the Clipper magazine, home mailers, booklets at the grocery store, e-mail notifications, and on the back of sales receipts.

From watching advertisements and calling restaurants, I discover specials and Kids’ Eat Free events before choosing to visit their location.

In addition to coupons and specials, I love the vouchers from Restaurant.com. Using coupons and vouchers lowers our out-of-pocket costs while providing a nice outing and food for our family.

In planning for success, arrange coupon redemption by scheduling an outing before the expiration date. Going out to eat is always a special event in our family even though we go multiple times a month.

I especially enjoy watching my 7-year-old figure out how much we paid verses how much we saved. He is very money-conscience, and we openly share the prices with him to teach him good stewardship.

Though I hate losing discounts due to expiration dates, I have bypassed a great deal when money was tight. The note in my calendar reminds me of a free or discount coupon to use, but I may just cross it out if the deal is not right for us. In using time wisely, research your options to make the best decision for feeding your family. Happy choosing and saving!

Question: How do you remember to use restaurant coupons before their expiration dates?

Planning for Success: Face Vehicle Maintenance – Day 30

January 30, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

Day 30: Face Vehicle Maintenance

When Paul and I got married, we made an agreement. He would not expect me to sew, and I would not ask him to fix the car. Fair deal! 🙂

Knowing that neither one of us knew anything about vehicles, we found a trustworthy mechanic, who keeps our vehicles running in tip top shape without costing us an arm and a leg.

In scheduling quarterly vehicle maintenance, our mechanic warns us when a major or expensive repair is coming due. With advanced notice, we can make sacrifices as needed to save money for those needed repairs.

Though we don’t always meet the quarterly schedule, our vehicles get their checkups often since these reminders are posted within my calendar. The oil change stickers on the upper left corner of our windshields also remind us to see the mechanic.

In planning for success, face vehicle maintenance head on. The little noises now can develop into larger, more expensive problems later. To make your vehicle maintenance a priority, add a reminder to your planning tool each quarter. Even if you miss one, your vehicle will still get 3 checkups this year.

Quarterly vehicle maintenance prevents annoying clinks and clanks and breaking down on the side of the road. In using time wisely, vehicle maintenance provides preventative care rather than creative reconstruction which saves money, energy, and time. Keep scheduling, and happy maintaining!

Question: How often do you face vehicle maintenance?

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