Getting fit in the New Year!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to get fit.  I have begun to incorporate more produce into my diet and have been researching and using healthier recipes.

One way to stay motivated is to have resources at hand, and of course, I strive to find everything at a discount!

Best Deal Magazines has great prices on Health & Fitness magazines.  My very favorite is Clean Eating!

I am excited to have that resource available to me for inspiration and ideas. Though my family and I have always eaten healthy, we still eat some processed foods (because of convenience). I have been gradually reducing the amount of processed foods in my diet and I have already noticed  a difference.  My energy level has increased and I am not as fatigued at the end of the day!  Besides losing weight that has been the best perk of my new diet.

If you have a goal to get fit this year, the key is to just stay motivated! You can do it!

Bath & Body Works " Hello, Yellow" Sale! Lots of $3 items!

I'll admit I have a weakness for "smell good" stuff, so I really love it when I can find it on sale!

Right now,  Bath & Body Works is having their "Hello, Yellow" Sale!  Save up to 75% off in store and online!

There are lots of items priced at $3!

$3 Specials

$3 Antibacterial Hand Soap

$3 Signature Collection Classics Body Care (shower gel, lotion, body mist)

$3 Wallflowers

$3 Home Fragrance Oil & Spray

Other Sales:

Signature Collection Body Care Buy 3 Get 2 Free

$1 Mix & Match Pocket Bac (small-sized hand sanitizer)

$8 Breathe Collection

Buy 2 Get 1 Free Mix & Match Body Care

Happy Shopping!

Kale Chips! A great frugal and healthy snack!

This is my new favorite snack!
It's easy to make and healthy, too! Kale is easy to grow in your garden, so maybe eventually it will be FREE for you to make :)

Recipe:

You'll need: Fresh Kale or Organic Kale 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Trim leaves away from large stems, tear into bite size pieces. Rinse and strain (with salad spinner is best), put into a bowl and add 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp seasoned salt (I used about 1/2 tsp Tony's seasoning instead). Toss to coat. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake about 10 minutes until crisp. 

Yummy!

VTech 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter for $34.96!

Do you have a toddler or know a toddler who would love this toy?

Get $5 off a VTech 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter!

How cute is this?



The VTech 3-in-1 Learning Zebra Scooter is on rollback for $39.96 at Walmart right now.

Use the $5/1 coupon HERE to get it for $34.96! (To find the coupon fsst, click on the "Toys and Games" category on the left sidebar. 

It is age appropriate for children 18 months to 36 months of age and it converts from a push walker to a ride on scooter.

This product currently has 5 stars, and the fact that you can get a nice little deal on it now is a great bonus!

Great Game Coupons this Week!

There are some GREAT game coupons this week! (12/5/10)

I just had to let you all know it is worth making sure you get a newspaper today. 

I found all of this in today's edition (12/5/10) of The Daily Advertiser: hopefully you'll get these coupons in your region as well!

-The USA Weekend insert contains a coupon for 2 free photo greeting cards from the HP Kiosk at Walmart.

-The Smartsource has coupons to use in the Pictureme! Studio in Walmart, you can get either a FREE Portrait Collage or FREE Holiday Portrait (no purchase necessary).  Plus there is a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase- the coupon states you can "combine with studio specials for even bigger savings". I see they have a special for a $7.99 package with over 30 portraits!

-There are four high value game coupons in the Smartsource!

*$5 off Funglish, Scribblish, Scrabble Flash or Pictureka!

*$5 off Catch Phrase, Taboo, Things or Trivial Pursuit

*$5 off Elefun, Gator Golf, Hungry, Hungry Hippos or Pop Goes Froggio

*$5 off bop it! Bounce, Spin, Twister Hoopla or u-build Battleship

The Redplum has a coupon to use at Logan's Roadhouse $10 Logan's Bucks with every $25 in gift cards purchased!
-Other Logan's coupons:
*$3 off a food purchase of $10 or more
*$5 off a food purchase of $20 or more

The Redplum also contains a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $30 or more at Build-A-Bear!

Thanksgiving Day Online Deals!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It's not Black Friday yet, but the online deals are already plentiful!

Here are a few to get you started, happy saving!

WALMART Here is the link to the SPECIALS, and you can also plan your Black Friday trip with a map by entering your zipcode!
In-store video game, toy, apparel and home specials start at Midnight
In-store Electronics specials start at 5AM and last through 11AM!

ONE STEP AHEAD (Children's specialty toys and learning merchandise) Shop HERE.
Promo codes:
HOL25: $25 off $100+
HOL50: $50 off $175
HOL75: $75 off $200
Free Shipping on $85 or more with code SHIP85

WALGREENS
FREE 8 x 10 Collage with THANKSGIVING (November 27)
70% off Desktop Calendars with code HOLIDAY70 (through November 27)

THINGS REMEMBERED
Black Friday Deals Now at Things Remembered
Shop AMAZON Black Friday Deals TODAY!
Start shopping HERE. Plus get FREE Super Saver Shipping!

Shop LINENS & THINGS online specials HERE.
 Plus get 20% off your order with coupon code Thanks20

Shop JCPENNEY Specials HERE.

Campbell's Soup Coupons!

'Tis the season for soup sales! So, now is the time to stock up!

Sales on Campbell's soup are plentiful:

Target has Campbell's Condensed cream of Mushroom soups on sale this week for .50 and all other varieties of Campbell's Condensed Soups are on sale this week as well. (sale ends November 20, 2010).

Walmart currently has a sale on select varieties of Campbell's soup for as low as .72!  (Prices can vary a bit by region).

"I already have plenty of soup", you say? Well, you may want to print the coupons anyway and keep them handy. You could swap with someone who can use them or may I suggest this...

While you do your other shopping, please consider purchasing a few cans to donate to your local food pantry...

Print $5 worth of Campbell's Soup Coupons HERE.

This is what is available:
$1.50/3 Campbell's Condensed Soups

$1.50/3 Campbell's Condensed "Great for Cooking" Soups

$1/3 Campbell's Condensed Healthy Kids Soups

$1/3 Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed or Condensed Light Soups

Super 1 Foods Grocery Deals (11/10-11/16)

Tip: Did you know you can get FREE ANTIBIOTICS at Super 1 Foods?  Find out more HERE!

SUPER 1 FOODS Grocery Deals (11/10-11/16)
(Lafayette, LA-Acadiana Area)

Produce

2.50 Navel ORANGES (4 lb bag)=.63/lb

.98/lb ZUCCHINI, Yellow SQUASH, or GREEN BEANS

.98/lb Green Bartlett or Bosc or Asian PEARS

$3 Russet POTATOES (8 lb bag)=.38/lb

Meats & Seafood

.77/lb Whole CHICKEN

1.57/lb Assorted PORK CHOPS

1.97 Eckrich SMOKED SAUSAGE (16 oz pkg)

(.55/1 SS 10/17 and SS 10/24 or $1/2 SS 10/3)=ALA 1.42

.77 BAR-S FRANKS (Meat, Red or Chicken) (12 oz)

2.77/lb Boneless CHUCK ROAST (Super Pack)

2.57/lb Breakfast PORK CHOPS (Super Pack)

2.97/lb TILAPIA FILLETS

Refrigerated & Frozen

.99 Food Club Large EGGS

.88 Food Club CREAM CHEESE (8 oz)

3.68 Goldenbrook Farms ICE CREAM or SHERBET (Half Gallon)

Pantry

1.38 Gold Medal FLOUR (4.25 to 5 lb bag)

(.55/1 peelie coupons)=ALA .83

1.98 Crisco VEGETABLE OIL (48 oz bottle)

($1/2 RP 11/7)=ALA 1.48

.98 Valu Time DRINKS (3 liter)

.38 Valu Time MACARONI & CHEESE DINNER

.79 Valu Time PIZZA (5 oz-6 oz)

.98 Duncan Hines CAKE MIX

(.35/2 WYB Cake Mix AND Frosting)=ALA .80 for the cake mix

1.48 Food Club SUGAR (2 lb bag) (Light or Dark Brown or Confectioners Powdered)

1.88 Hershey’s BAKING PIECES (8 oz-12 oz)

(B2G1F Tearpad Coupons)=ALA 1.25 each when you buy 3

.88 Food Club EVAPORATED MILK (12 oz) or GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST (6 oz)

2.50 Top Care Pediatric ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION (1 liter bottle)

Today's Deals!

There are a few websites out there that are offering one day deals at rock bottom prices, generally half-off or better.  You can also get perks for referring others, so it's a win-win situation.  The deals are usually available for purchase for one day only, but the voucher will be good for a month or longer.  I save my vouchers in a binder with the one expiring first on the top and I check it when we are deciding what to do for entertainment that week.

There are deals for many major cities, just search for a city near you and find your deals! Here are a few of today's deals in the Lafayette,LA area:

You can get a $100 worth of facial rejuvenation at Acadian ENT for only $50 from Bargain Bee!  A few of the services you can use this for include microderm abrasion, facials, spider vein treament, hair removal, or a makeup consultation.Interested? You can get the deal HERE, it is only available for purchase today but doesn't expire until 5/7/2011.


You can get $40 worth of merchandise at Sweet Melissa Little Ones' Boutique for only $20 at Seize the Deal! Sweet Melissa carries children's clothing, accessories, gifts and more and you will find attire for newborns to tweens.  This would be great to use towards Christmas gifts, but it doesn't expire until Feb. 8, 2011, so you can save it until after Christmas if you choose. Sound good? You can get the deal HERE.



The deals change everyday, it is always fun to see what's next!

Wonka Mix Ups Candy Winn Dixie Deal

Get Wonka Mix Ups Candy at Winn Dixie this week for $1.49 after coupon! (week of  10/27/10-11/2/10)

Wonka Mix Ups Candy (18.7 oz) $2.99
-$1.50/1 Wonka Mix Ups Printable HERE
Final Price=$1.49!

Halloween Candy Coupon Round Up!

October 17, 2010

by Taffi Poirot-"arasmom"

Owner & Administrator-www.TheBudgetQueen.com

Halloween candy prices can be downright SCARY!  It is a big job to have enough candy on Halloween night to satisfy all of those witches, monsters and goblins who come to your door!

The candy deals can be plentiful, if you have the right coupons!

Here is a list of coupons that are available right now…

Printable TARGET coupons:  

(scroll down and click on “Get coupons” under Grocery Spotlight)

$1/3 Mars Candy (8.67 oz or larger)

Other Printable Coupons:

$1/2 Bags Skittles, Lifesavers or Starburst Fun Size Bags

$2.50/2 Bags Nestle Variety Candy (20 oz or larger)

$2/1 Wonka Best on the Block Candy (20, 28 or 40 pack)

Insert Coupons: (SS=Smart Source, RP=Red Plum)

$1/2 Hershey's, Reese's or Kit Kat Snack Size Bags (9-22 oz)-(10/17 SS)

$1/2 Nestle Chocolate Halloween Candy, Fun Size, 11.5 Oz. +, Any -(10/17 RP)

$1/2 Nestle Butterfinger Snackerz, Crisp, Or Fun Size Bags, 11 Oz. +, Any - (10/03 RP)

$1/2 Wonka Halloween Candy, Fun Size, 9 Oz. +, Any -(10/17 RP)

Now, you should be all set to head out to the store and get some great deals on candy, without too much of your money making a ghostly disappearance!

A beautiful trip to CVS!

Beauty products and skincare can cost a pretty penny, and I am always searching for deals, but it seems that it is expensive to be beautiful...

Well, this week, CVS was the place to be for an awesome Olay deal! It was a beautiful trip!

Thanks to a great coupon in this week's paper, and a super CVS deal to match, my beauty supplies were wonderfully affordable. 

The Scoop? There was a coupon for a free Olay Regenerist Eye Roller when you buy (2) Olay Moisturizers in the Sunday paper- plus, CVS had a GREAT deal on Olay this week: Buy the Olay Regenerist Eye Roller and you receive $6 Extra Care Bucks.  See where I am going with this?

And...my trip to CVS was so beautiful, I ended up getting MUCH more than just Olay, AND I got ALL of it about the regular price of the eye roller!

Here is what happened on my beautiful trip to CVS this week:

I did three transactions this week and here is how I did it:

Transaction #1 (The receipt for this one walked away, so I will do my best to explain it)

The deal-(Buy $10 Airwick/Lysol, get $5 ECB) (Buy Skintimate, Get $3 ECB)

I bought:

(2) Airwick Aqua Mist Sprays @ 2.50 each=$5

(2) Airwick Scented Oil Refills @ 2.50 each=$5

(1) Skintimate Shave Gel @ 3.98

Coupons used:

(1) BOGO Airwick Aqua Mist Spray (-2.50)

(1) Airwick Scented Oil Refills (-2.50)

Total $13.98 minus $3.50 in coupons=$10.48 + tax OOP (out of pocket)

*Received $5 ECB

*Received $3 ECB

Transaction #2:

The deal: (Buy Olay Eye Roller Get $6 ECB)

I bought:

(2) Olay Moisturizers at $9.99 each = $19.98

(1) Olay Eye Roller @18.99=18.99

Coupons used:

(1) $1/1 Olay Moisturizer (-$1.00)

(1) Get Eye Roller Free with the purchase of (2) Olay Moisturizers (-$19.99)

Total $38.97 minus $20.99 in manufacturer coupons=$17.98

Total 17.98, paid with $5 ECB and $3 ECB from Transaction #1, total $9.98 + $3.12 tax=

$13.10 OOP!

*Received $6 ECB

Transaction #3:

I bought:

(1) Goldfish Crackers @ $1

(1) Gallon Green Tea @ 2.22

(1) Gallon Milk @ 3.79

=Total $7.01 + .14 tax =$7.15

Paid with $6 ECB from transaction #2,

$7.15 minus $6 ECB=$1.15 OOP!

Total ~ $24.73 OOP for all three transactions!! How about that?

My beautiful trip to CVS!

You, Too Can Live Without a Microwave-and Other Little Known Facts of Life.

By Taffi -The Budget Queen

Owner & Administrator-www.TheBudgetQueen.com

We get so used to the convenience of modern technology that sometimes we feel that if we ever lost any of those conveniences we would cease to function. Well, of course, that is certainly not true-but you never know till you have to try. Occasionally, circumstances will rob us of what we deem pertinent in our lives-the cell phone tower goes out for an hour and we can’t deal, when in actuality all we missed out on was someone texting back “yeah”.

We will survive.

Then, there are the times when you want to watch a movie on your television and you put a movie into the Netflix cue and it doesn’t update instantly, then you have to go back and redo it and it takes 60 whole seconds. I mean, why can’t it work right the first time, especially when you’ve got a two hour movie to watch. Time’s-a-wastin’! Geez!

What about when your receipt doesn’t print at the gas tank…and you have to actually walk inside the store to get it? Wow, that really puts a dent in my day. After all, I need that receipt to adorn my console and be there for that time next week when I'll proceed to throw it away.

So I thought that I would never be able to live without a microwave…well, it’s been three months and I’m still kickin’. Good thing I’ve been taking my vitamins.

Once upon a time, I sold my house, and all of the appliances were included in the deal. But that was perfectly fine because we were going to be in a hotel for awhile waiting on our other house to be ready, and the hotel had a microwave. Never fear, I had a microwave replacement plan in place. I would be buying a microwave when we got into the new house because we were going to redo the kitchen anyway. Well, now we are in the new house and we are renovating, but very conservatively because we want to fund everything with cash, so we are holding off on the kitchen for awhile so that we can get exactly what we want without settling for a “this will do for now” situation.

There is a microwave in this house, but it does not work in the way that microwaves normally do. In fact, it is so ancient that I truly believe deep down in my heart that it was a concept microwave-you know, the ones they had before there were real microwaves that actually microwaved food.

Yes, I’m sure....I just know by looking.

Which brings us to another point…why won’t I just buy a cheap microwave? I can always buy a nicer microwave once we know what will work in the new kitchen. Right? Ha! I refuse to do it, because it’s a waste of money. I could easily afford one, but it’s the principle of the matter. Waste not, want not.

In actuality, it has served greater purposes in my daily life. Since it is positioned below the wall oven, and because the microwave door opens like an oven door, it is quite novel indeed. My preschooler has noted this fact and used the microwave in glorious ways: a platform for stuffed animals that were apparently in great need of jumping lessons, a snack service and drink service, a vending machine simulator, a toy and shoe storage facility…and that’s just a glimpse into its versatility.

I have a feeling its entire power has yet to be harnessed.

So, I’d like to introduce to you to my new microwave-less self. I cook on the stove a little more, I keep my coffee pot on warm, and I plan ahead a little more…but I do not mourn the loss of my convenient friend. Sometimes you just get used to things and become conditioned, like the way we’ve become conditioned with all of our modern conveniences which lead to instant gratification.

Back in the day when fire was the only way to get a hot meal-no one was the wiser. So challenge yourself next time you are faced with a situation such as mine. You just might find that things you couldn’t live without become things you’ll never miss at all.

Buckwheat wasn't that neat.

By Taffi Poirot
June 29, 2010

The Buckwheat wasn’t that neat.

So here we are on the flip-side of the buckwheat cooking and consumption. First, let me say that I am wondering whether the choice to get the toasted buckwheat over the “plain” was the wisest choice for a first time taste-test. But, let me say-it wasn’t all that bad either. I expected the taste to be different and I expected earthy, so that went well…but I did have to imagine myself back in time as a hunter-gatherer for a moment to get beyond the first bite.

Once I got through the first couple of bites, the taste started to grow on me. Would I eat it plain? Probably not, but I think if I added in a few vegetables and spices it could turn into a nice little side dish worth revisiting. I am not giving up, I am simply saying I need to tweak my approach a little. I must admit that I did put in a bit of my own mad science at the end…though the beginning was pretty straightforward.

At first, I prepared it according to directions with one part buckwheat to three parts water, put it on to boil and I went with that for a while. Then I tasted it and quickly decided that it needed “something”, so I added some beef stock, a bit of pepper, and a little olive oil. This helped redeem it a little, but it never quite reached the delicious stage.

Though my first acquaintance with buckwheat was not a smashing success, I think that if I change a few things next time, it will become more welcome on the menu. First, I will choose the untoasted buckwheat, then I will cook it in some sort of flavored broth, and I will add yellow onion or green onion and experiment with different spices.

In the end, I hope to develop a recipe that will be more palatable and I will pretend to be a hunter-gatherer no more.

Groovy Grains: Braving Buckwheat

By Taffi Chandler-Poirot
Owner & Administrator-www.TheBudgetQueen.com

I’ve been so bored with rice, potatoes and pasta…I decided it was due time to think outside of the box. There are so many grains out there, but since they don’t fit the mold of the commonplace side dish, people shy away from including them at the dinner table. It may seem a little daunting to try something new, especially when you’ve got picky eaters in the house, but you just might find a new favorite!
I thought it was worth a try to liven up the “starch” portion of our dinner plate, so I went on a little grain gathering adventure. I bought toasted buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, barley and spelt.



Pictured from the left: Toasted Buckwheat, Red Quinoa, Amaranth, Barley and Spelt

I know you’ve heard of barley…and no, I did not make up the rest of the names, and yes, they do exist. Promise.

So now that you know what I’ve bought, you may wonder if I am brave enough to try these grains or if they will be layered for aesthetic effect into a glass bottle time capsule forever a centerpiece. Well, though I am guilty of the pasta-in-a-glass-bottle time capsule, I have since forgiven myself and moved on. However, I assure you that amaranth-and-friends are in no danger of meeting that fate.
So, which shall I try first? I think I will try the buckwheat first, because it has a short cooking time and seems like a relatively adventurous choice. By the way, buckwheat is not a wheat, but a seed-therefore it is gluten-free! The basic cooking instructions call for one part grain to three parts liquid with the cooking time about 15-20 minutes. I got the toasted buckwheat as opposed to the plain because it is supposed to be more flavorful. I will try it in the place of rice tonight, and we’ll see how it goes…

Edible Flowers: Planting Day...The Adventure Begins!

By Taffi Chandler "arasmom"
Administrator-www.TheBudgetQueen.com



Today is planting day!

Did you know that Nasturtium blossoms are edible? In fact,every part of the Nasturtium plant is edible except for the root! So, that is my flower of choice for my culinary flower adventure.

I have a book on edible flowers in my personal library entitled, "A Handbook of Edible Flowers: Their Cultivation and Use" by authors Dale and Ziga. I've owned the book for quite a while now, and originally I'd bought it because I was intrigued with the idea of trying flowers in recipes. But I hadn't actually tried it myself until now...

I thought, if I'm going to try this out, I'm going to start from square one. I want to make sure that the flowers I am going to use for food are pure and free of pesticides and chemicals. There is no better way to guarantee that than to grow them yourself.

Which leads us to today-planting day!

(This planting day was made extra special because my three year old daughter was my sweet little helper!)

We took out some Naturtium seed packets as well as some Mesclun lettuce mix seeds and some Zinnia seeds.

Each have a special purpose...you'll see!

We used one of those ready made peat pellet seed starting trays...and added water until the pellets expanded in size...



Then we laid out the seed packets...

*Nasturtiums*



By the way, despite their sweet smell, the taste is described as "hot" and "slightly peppery". I'll let you know for sure on tasting day.


*Mesclun Lettuce Mix*



We are growing the lettuces for the base of our edible flower salad...


*Zinnias*



We are growing white Zinnias...



And purple Zinnias...

Which will adorn our table in a little vase when we are ready to sample our salad...


We artfully arranged our seeds next to our planting station...




And with the help of sweet little hands...



Our seeds were placed into their snug homes.



Ready to soak up the sun.



Live long and prosper, little seedlings. Live long and prosper.

Edible Flowers. Nature You Can Eat.

By Taffi Chandler "arasmom"
Administrator- www.TheBudgetQueen.com
May 12, 2010

I've been thinking some of my thinks lately, and that always seems to get me in trouble. Not that thinking is really bad-but when it gets like this-it always leads to some adventure. Today, it's edible flowers.

Maybe it's because the flower festival (Festival des Fleur) is this weekend or maybe it's because it’s spring time or maybe I've just been bored with my salads...whatever the case-it's edible flowers on my mind. I admittedly already own a book on edible flowers. I rediscovered it while unpacking my books the other day. I recall looking at the pictures of the flowers mixed into very innocent and unsuspecting food; food that had been invaded by something so wild yet delicate. The carefully crafted photographs depicted beautiful petals adorning the plates-each little flower reminded me of a pageant contestant sailing through the competition on beauty alone-and then, well, then comes the question and answer segment. You know what happens then…you’re in the audience and think-oh, this could be really good or this could be very, very bad. You stare in silence and feel the anticipation-nervousness and confidence all at the same time. You just don’t know what could happen. When the moment of truth finally arrives-sometimes you know that’s the end of the road-but you root for them all the same-‘cause they are beautiful.

I mean, when you ask someone what's for dinner, you don’t expect to hear “flowers”. And you certainly don’t expect for them to step outside and harvest them from the garden at that moment either. In an alternate universe, perhaps, but definitely not in your backyard.

Why not? Be a little spontaneous! I’d venture to say many of us are past the “let’s do donuts in the parking lot” stage. So live a little. It’s a flower. Taste it. Or you’re lame.

Don’t try to get away with the fried squash blossoms. That’s so last year.

The new trend (that was created by me, just now, after the word “now”) is a little more-dare I say-daring.

Plant a flower in your garden this year that is edible. Refrain from using pesticides or other chemicals on the flowers that you plan to eat. Make sure to do your research, and know the exact flower and flower part that is edible. Educate yourself and learn all you can about the flower or flowers you’ve chosen and then, use your culinary skills to create something fantastic.

Sometimes it’s as simple as knowing what you need to know and having the confidence to go for it. Then you win the crown.

The Purge Project: New Year, New Life

By Taffi Chandler-Poirot: 12/31/09

"arasmom"-Administrator & CEO of www.TheBudgetQueen.com

New Year, New Life: Just as 2010 begins, I am starting new chapter in my life. My family and I are currently in between houses-we have sold our house that has been home for the last six years and are waiting to close on our “new-to-us” house that requires a full renovation. It’s a lot to take on, but after much contemplation, and investigation, we felt it was a good fit for us. We will be displaced in a small hotel/suite while we await the habitability of our “new” house. We are gaining quite a bit of square footage with this move and I had been thinking all along-“Wow, we really need the space! And, thank goodness because we grew out of our house long ago.” Naturally, my next thought to follow was “Now we have more room for all this stuff!”.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Basically, during the process of packing, I’ve realized that the most important resolution for me to commit to is a purge project. Not because my house is a mess, because it generally isn’t, but because I’ve been holding on to extra baggage. It may not appear that way on the surface, but I am having trouble letting go of “things” on the outside (material baggage) and on the inside (emotional baggage). Sound familiar?

Now that we are staying in a small one bedroom apartment/suite in a hotel and most of our stuff is in storage, we had to choose what would be brought to the hotel room. What did we really need for our daily life for the next month or two? It was such a huge task to clear out everything and pack it away, and it was extremely draining, physically and emotionally. Which brings me to my point; sometimes something has to really rock your world for you to truly reflect: to see yourself, and your life, from the outside looking in.

For me, it all started with magazines. I had a collection of different magazines that I had been holding on to for who-knows-how-long-and hadn’t looked at them in exactly who-knows-how-long either. So there I was, standing in my garage with the recycle bin in front of me on the last day of packing in the last few hours before leaving our house for good…and it happened. I let go. All of the magazines went into the recycle bin. Every.single.one.

Well….ok, it didn’t happen exactly like that….it was a pretty intense process. First, I looked at the huge amount of magazines I had accumulated over the last 6 years (at least 100+)… all neatly organized within magazine holders…not too daunting, I thought. I quickly realized I had to decide which magazines were more valuable than the next; should I decide based on title, or content, or date? Hmmm… So, I tossed them in one by one based upon type and content: parenting and baby magazines met their fate first, followed by home and interior type magazines and then some general cooking magazines. There were still lots left. So, I thought I would then flip through the remaining ones and carefully choose the winners based upon the quality and usefulness of information. I did that with a few, and then decided that it was too time-consuming, so I began to choose them one at a time and toss them in-least interesting first. Then, the tossing gained momentum; less looking, more tossing. In the tossing frenzy, I had decided that if I really liked any particular magazine, I could subscribe again and get the new issues. I quickly began to feel a liberating sense of freedom. I wouldn’t have to haul these magazines to the storage unit or hotel room, “That’s a relief”, I thought, “Less for me to deal with, because I have enough on my plate…Whew!...I really need to simplify my life”.

Eureka!

Score: Taffi-1. Stuff (a.k.a. magazines)-0. What a great feeling! Ah, to be free of that burden! Those magazines were just there, no longer useful-neglected and abandoned-just taking up space and cluttering……My Life!

So why am I putting all of this out there for everyone? Exposing my personal life to the masses? The reason is two-fold: First,I figured that I can’t be the only one in the universe with this kind of problem. Second, if I admit to it, in public, then I become instantly accountable. What better motivation? Especially for something I am not really keen on doing, and especially since it’s been hidden away so well for so long….

I mean, it’s pretty easy to conceal. There are creative ways of hiding away material things, lots of ways. All of our stuff was hidden away somehow-drawers, little baskets, underbed storage, the garage, organizer containers….you name it. It was hidden away in a cutesy kind of way, but stuff is stuff any way you see it (or don’t!). It’s really when you begin to clear out things that you see just how much stuff you really have and just how buried it was. There were lots of things that had been hidden away-a distant memory…..and consequently re-bought. (Imagine “doom” music here.)

There are even more creative ways of hiding away emotional baggage-you just pretend it’s not there-or explain it away when someone on the outside sees a glimpse. We are all aware of the truth behind our actions-we just have to open our eyes and be ready to face it.

I am NOT the type of “hoarder” or “pack-rat” of reality television fame, I am simply using the gradual accumulation of “stuff” as a way to calm whatever emotion is driving me to collect it. Whoa! I really admitted it, I am emotionally attached to this “stuff”. It is sucking away my energy, like a black hole. Well, maybe not a black hole-maybe just a Dyson. But you get the point.

Hence; we commence on this Purge Project together…one aspect of my “New Year, New Life” adventure, (not sure what the other aspects are, I’m sure I’ll figure it out as I purge and make more room for them-just kidding). “We”, you say? Yes, I say “we” because I am now accountable to you, those of you who will read what happens in my life in the coming year on my journey I have so creatively named the “Purge Project” because I am purging and it’s a project. You may now be asking why this purging nonsense is relevant to The Budget Queen System and the lifestyle of saving money and developing a smart spending mindset...

It is quite pertinent, because as a consumer, unless I streamline my accumulation of stuff and stop wasting time and money by duplicate purchases or failing to utilize what I have in the most efficient way possible, I’m wasting money and wasting time, and a lot of it! Gasp!!

Lately, I have been feeling stagnant, a bit robotic, really. I have come to realize that a major source of stress for me is that I spend so much time worrying about accomplishing as many tasks as I can in one day and getting from point A to point B, that I have lost much of the enjoyment that comes with a simpler life. I get so lost in the “doing” that I can’t enjoy just “be”-ing. I want to recapture that part of my life-more enjoyment and relaxation, so that I can be with my family more and be what my family needs me to be: present (physically and mentally) and what I need me to be. I long for organization, simplicity and peace…each leads to the other, and that peace will flow into the lives of those closest to me. Peace folds into happiness. The more I purge (albeit a material or emotional), the more I can focus on what’s truly important. Clear away all of the baggage, and then there will be a clean slate.

So now that you know how all of this goal-setting came into play and you are now asking “Alright, already…So what is this Purge Project really, and why do I care?”

1) Every week, for the next year (52 weeks), I will choose a new item to purge from my life. It may be material or emotional baggage, whatever the case-it’s going bye-bye.

2) Plan B-(you must always have a Plan B)-just ask anyone from the A-Team…

-Go through the alphabet twice-and choose something to purge based upon the first letter of it’s name. (Conveniently, as there are 26 letters, I could go through twice, if needed. Obvious, I know, but I am attempting to leave myself little room for weaseling out of this….)

By taking on this project, I truly feel that I will no longer be feverishly swimming toward a mirage; an oasis in the distance. I really want to make the change to live simply and more efficiently, so that I can continue to build my savings and really enjoy what’s important in life-the “stuff” you can’t replace, and help to secure a promising future for my family-which includes eventually becoming debt free.

Right now, I see my goal, and I know it exists, but until I am actively doing everything I can possibly do to reach it, it is going to remain out of my reach and will forever be an illusion.

I am determined to take action and make that illusion a reality, and it starts today. Here we go….

“PURGE PROJECT” 2010 (Complete with step-by-step instructions to myself)

Warm up: Magazines

Plan of Action:

-Open recycle bin.

-Decide on importance of keeping magazines. Choose wisely. Ponder, then purge and purge some more.

-Continue this action until all magazines are in recycle bin. (Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? ;)

-Bask in the glory of purge-ality.


Thursday, December 31, 2009

1) Become less of a Ms. Fixit.

Plan of action:

-Choose 3 things that do not truly require your personal action to say “No” to. (Meaning the actions people pretend they need your help on, because they know you will say yes, but they are really too lazy to do it themselves. And let’s face it, you’re predictable.)…..Not anymore!

-Discontinue one thing that repetitively takes time away from my family.

-Give someone who continues to come to me for help one tool to do things on their own: empower rather than enable. Then walk away. Nope. Just walk away.


I will continue to keep you posted on my list, and on my progress. I am aware that this journey will likely have some pitfalls, and that’s another reason why I don’t want to do this alone. I’d like to invite you all along for the ride.

Perhaps I’ve inspired you to take on a “Purge Project” of your own.

Perhaps you’d just like to check in every now and again to see how things are going for me.

Perhaps you think I should have abandoned this whole writing-a-blog-thing while I was ahead… (That would be just after the title, ….and right before the first paragraph.)

Perhaps.

Either way, I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about my new venture…more to come.

Are You Satisfied with Your Child’s Education?

by Nicole Comeaux, GroceryGettersLLC.com

I had so much fun with my children today!! We started our day a little late but who wouldn’t after a two week break? We cooked a big egg and ham breakfast and then got to it. It is not always fun, sometimes we have to trudge through until we’re done, but in the end its worth it a thousand times over. We always start with scripture, then Chloe has a math binder that I created based on the LA third grade GLE’s (Grade Level Expectations) that contains practice in every math standard required. While she does this (I have about 20 minutes) I quickly get a few chores done. Then I sit down and we “have school” for about 1 ½ hours. We start with math because this is what she struggles with the most and I want the freshest brain she can give me. Then we move on to reading. Not because it’s a struggle but because it’s just important. Then we do all the rest of the subjects and sometimes we go in my order and sometimes we go in her order. It is so rewarding knowing that when (not if) that light bulb comes on in her little head I helped! Naomi, the three-year-old gets some of me too when I sit and watch “Your Baby Can Read” with her and then complete the activities associated with the program we watched. That is always interesting because her imagination is always in fifth gear. The fun comes in so many ways but especially in the way we can relate with one another and laugh at the little things.

Home schooling is a choice my husband and I made several years ago and I have never regretted it. When people ask (with a negative connotation, of course) if we plan to keep this up all the way through their senior year our answer is always the same: I don’t know. Every year is a new year. It is not a decision we take lightly and we reconsider if we should do it again the next year EVERY JANUARY! I have been praying lately for a clear and concise answer should I or shouldn’t I do this again next year. I can’t explain in words how I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am in His will to home school again next year. It is because of our convictions that I pose this question to you: Are your children getting the best education available to them? I know it’s not easy, believe me some Monday’s when Chloe has no focus and I struggle to get my point across I can’t help but wonder why God has chosen this route for our family. But You know your child/children better than anyone else and all children excel with individual attention. You CAN do this no matter what you think your patience level is. If your child has any attention deficit issues this is a wonderful alternative than any public or private option out there. I would like you to give this some serious thought and weigh your options. There are many resources out there to help you with the decision and you can contact me and ask me all the questions you can conjure up. If I don’t know the answer I probably know where to find it.

Seriously, your children (and your family for that matter) have nothing to lose and a whole new world to gain.