Magic Jack - Never Pay a phone bill again!

I didn't believe it was true, but it is. My neighbor told me her phone service was provided through Magic Jack. You purchase the jack for $39.99 and pay just $20.00 a year for service. I just had to give it a try. I plugged the jack into my computer, plugged my phone into the jack and like magic, I had perfectly good phone reception that worked just like a land line with call waiting, call forwarding and voice mail. It's terrific!
I disconnected my other service today and am happily enjoying the BIG RAISE I gave myself!
Check it out at Magic Jack.com!
It really does work!

Makin' it Work (and cleaning out the fridge in the process!)

Tonight: baked macaroni and cheese with ground beef, broccoli and diced tomatoes. (Cheese, meat and broccoli finished)

Tomorrow night: homemade chicken soup made from a rotisserie chicken, carrots, celery, onions etc. in the crock pot. (Veggies cleaned out.)

Tuesday: Chili made and frozen about a month ago with homemade bread.

Wednesday: Not sure yet......probably scrambled eggs, omelette's and Belgian waffles.

Thursday: Thanksgiving!

Keeping my fingers crossed that the check comes before my brother arrives!

Costco

Just three miles away and.....

2 Gallons of milk for $3.37
18 eggs for $2.29

....and free lunch for five as we walk the aisles!

Can't beat that!

For those on a budget like mine.....

Safeway/Vons this week: by 2 fridge packs of soda (your choice) get 3 FREE!!!!!! Stock up, friends!

Halloween $$$$

I spent $21.99 on Halloween this year - $10.00 for a pumpkin and $11.99 on candy - one big Costco bag. We filled the bowl, left the note and each time we passed our house, refilled the bowl from the loot the kids were collecting door to door. We still came home with over 25 pounds of candy - no kidding. That, I buy back from the kids for $10.00 - we don't need that much sugar in the house and the next time they tell me they want something in a store, I can say, " Use your Halloween money." They are much more choosey when it's their own money they are spending.

The candy, I donate, put in the teachers room, save for decorating the gingerbread house, put in goody bags, freeze for Easter....etc. It's a great tradition that keeps with our family motto of eating lean and thinking wise.

Get More Out of Every Gallon!

We all feel the crunch at the pump. Here are some ways to save.

~Properly inflate your tires: Save up to $0.12 per gallon!

~ Use the right grade of motor oil: Save up to $0.08 per gallon!

~ Install a clean engine air filter: Save up to $0.40 per gallon!!!

~Keep your engine properly maintained: Save up to $0.16 per gallon!

Your potential savings?!?! $0.76 per gallon!!!!!

Savings through the School

Many establishments offer kickbacks to the schools that our kids attend. Many schools promote the selling of gift cards to these businesses as fundraisers.

I choose to purchase these cards when I am able and I simply hold onto them for a rainy day. A $100 grocery gift card, $25 in movie money etc. I keep the cards in a special pouch in my purse. When lean living becomes oh so tight, I pull the cards out and we motor on. Today, we enjoyed a movie we have been looking forward to. We smuggled our lunch in a backpack and had a great time together. No popcorn, just a healthy lunch in the dark together.

I am enriching my kids and helping the school at the same time - a win/win situation!!!! (and we are no worse for wear - it's prespent and saved money!)

Deals where least expected

Well, much to my dismay, we HAD to go to the mall yesterday to get my boy new sneakers for gym class. Being not much of a shopper and knowing that he's not much of a sneaker wearer, the trip was one out of pure necessity.

However, while window shopping, we came across American Eagle who was giving away free movie tickets to anyone who tried on (not purchased) a pair of jeans.

Well, you bet the three of us that could, put those jeans right on!!!!

Off we walked with three movie tickets to use on a rainy day - no strings attached!!!!

Unexpected Conundrums!!!!!

I moved into a new house this week.
I took my awesome washer and drier with me....the last remnants of my once-upon-a-time marriage.
My high capacity Maytag Neptunes.....

The plugs didn't match.
The connections were stripped after three moves,

$350 dollars later.....
The repair man started the wash! ( but he doesn't do windows!)

Cheaper than new equipment, but NOT cheap!

Hence, the emergency fund. I work a few extra jobs and that money goes into a different account - for Christmas, for repairs and for a rainy day. Does it hurt? Yes.
Bt the laundry is DONE!!!!!!

Receipts

Keep all receipts in your wallet for at least two weeks! Popular stores have markdowns and if you return within 14 days, they will honor the markdown and deduct the cost. I always walk back in when in the neighborhood and have them check the codes. Usually, I'm pleased to find that I have "found money!" Sometimes, quite a bit! (And since I only by on sale, I have proudly walked off with stylish down jackets for less than $10 a piece!)

AWESOME (CHEAP) ORGANIZATION!!!!!

We are moving into OUR new home in a few short days. Obviously, money is tighter that usual. I came across a few wonderful ideas to share.

1) Instead of buying a spice rack, right the names on the tops of your spice jars with a permanent marker. Store them standing in a kitchen drawer. Not only is this inexpensive, but it is so easy to locate your spices when you need them!

2) Store grocery bags in an empty tissue box. You can pull them out easily when needed!

And....when it comes to saving money....ALWAYS ASK FOR A DISCOUNT. Yes, everything is negotiable. I had to get a new refrigerator for our home. Nothing was on sale until I asked. Low and behold, a competitor was having a sale and just because I asked, they gave me the sale price. Not only that, they also gave me free delivery - usually $79.00 Total savings? Over $300!!!!

Spending Wisely Does Rub off on Your Kids!!! :)

I received a phone call from my 11 year old yesterday. She, and my other three children, are visiting their father and his family 2500 miles away. They had spent the day at a popular amusement park that houses many early childhood memories for all of us and had a most wonderful time. They had such fun with their grandparents, they are hoping to go back with their father before returning home.

Aside from the enthusiastic sharing of events at the park, she shared an observation. Nana and Poppy had spent $30 dollars on 35 tickets which afforded each child 3 rides - no doubt exhausting the tolerance of two wonderful grandparents on a hot and humid day.
Always thinking and a great persuader, my daughter bargained a deal with her dad. If you buy the unlimited bracelet for $35 dollars and put it loosely on my wrist, we can all go back and ride all day - we just exchange the bracelet!

Like mother, like daughter!

Juggling......

The juggling of our finances is a full time job. Every morning and evening, I must weigh what we can and can't do, what bills can be paid, and how much is left for food and entertainment.

This job begins each week with the newspaper. Every week, I sit down with the various circulars and determine what sales and coupons will dictate our menu, which stores are offering incentives, double and triple coupons, and what necessities we have. I take time to plan plan our weekly menu based on this information. Hint: never enter a grocery store without a list and a menu!!!!! I save hundreds by planning ahead! I actually post this menu on our refrigerater and organize my days around it's structure! That's not to say that we don't switch days out, just that I know what is in the house and we eat those foods that will quickly spoil first.

Another key factor, USE UP EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU BUY MORE!!!!! While this may mean that everyone is not praising your evening meal once in awhile, I find that things get pushed into the back of the freezer and are completely forgotten until it's too late.

It takes time and energy to plan ahead effectively, but I have cut my grocery bills substantially by doing so. Give it a try!

Confessional.....

I admit, there are two things I will not compromise; education and health care. In these two areas I am still an east coast snob! Never, ever be without health insurance and always, ALWAYS be on top of your kids education! Both will take you under if you are not two steps ahead!!!!!!!
You are your own health advocate and the school is not responsible for raising your kids. (And I say this as a teacher!!!!!!)

Within our means....

Within our means doesn't mean much anymore because, truly, we have limited means! What is does mean is that we have had to adjust, revamp and appreciate every little thing that comes our way.

We lived, it seems a lifetime ago, in a very upscale community. With that, came an upscale lifestyle. Each time I return to my roots, I am amazed at how much that lifestyle grows. While the scenery remains the same, the truth is, I have changed so much that I no longer fit in. The restaurants, the dinner parties, the clothing and decor all seem fake to me now- and it was once so very comfortable! I simply see a tremendous amount of waste. That's not to say that I do not appreciate the opulence, just that it's no longer the life I lead.

The first thing we did was move. Now, this was easier for me than most as I have always had a secret desire to explore new places, but also because I have limited immediate family so we were able to relocate with little guilt. The bottom line is that I could have dug in my stubborn heals (which I proudly possess and have come in handy in other areas!) and worked three jobs or we simply had to adjust. As I appreciate time with my kids more than anything, the choice became crystal clear. Yes, it was scary and after the honeymoon was over, I spent many a night staring at the ceiling wondering what the hell I did!?! Just recently, I realized that I actually like my home, the people I've met and really, who cares as the world has become so very small. Familiarity is wonderful and I'm happy to say, this is becoming all too familiar.

We chose the southwest - an area that offered great weather and a whole new way of life PLUS, the cost of living was substantially cheaper than my hometown. The added perk to this location was that it is a place that people CHOOSE to visit so, we are well fortified with a constant turnstile of people staying at various resorts in our area that bring our home to us.

What this means is that, at the very moment we feel a tinge of longing, someone passes through and puts out the fire. The fun of these visits is that we have had the opportunity to frequent many of the finer resorts - places we would never see - at the cost of the drive down the street. As a result, my kids have grown to quickly love the place they now call home and while I still sit on the fence between "here" and "there." here is starting to look a heck of a lot more positive at a fraction of the cost!

Use Up What You Have!

One of the best ways to save money is to make sure you actually use up what you buy. Every purchase that sours or rots before consumption is money thrown away. This is especially challenging during the warmer months.

Luckily, there is a website that gives the weary warrior the advice needed to keep those fruits and veggies fresher longer. For example, did you know that garlic should be stored on the counter and NOT in the fridge?

See: http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1103

Emptied Out

Emptied out, I still had a full storage unit to fill. My parents died in my teens and I had ample "family history" to store. I also had friends who wanted to "remake my image." I was toted around for cheap, stylish wardrobe, home accents etc. Was I pretty or what?!!? Truth be told, I spent less on fine clothing than they spent on cheap style and I soon came to miss the old "me."

I shop out of need and necessity - always did. I keep the same pair of old shoes until they have no soles and then I resole them as getting rid of them is, somehow sad. I have 30+ pair of shoes - most are over 10 years old. I'm somewhat a hippy and half a middle aged style maven. My kids shop sale racks, always did and now, resale shops. My son wears the latest Billabong and Hurley styles at $3.00 a piece. My girls don't even look at a retail rack, but they are damn cute! As cute as my wealthy counterparts, no, but given the right Payless shoes and hairdo, they do okay!

My motto now is "If we bring something new into the house, what are we getting rid of?!"

I am a huge recorder, picture taker and keeper of memories. They choose what leaves and I follow the very same rules as my kids so the playing field is fair. If something comes in, something leaves. I'll photo it, I'll chronicle the journey, but I will not collect and I also do not choose their disposal. Frankly, they are usually wise and no one is taking anything beloved away. you'd be surprised what they will let you sell at a yard sale that you probably purchased at a yard sale so you break even!

My kids found a box of OLD PHOTOS tonight - the iguana, the first meal, the preschool field trip, Mom and Dad swimming with dolphins, the old dogs, the old boat, Mom and Dad parasailing, our first home and the flowering cherry..........the fun was in the dialog and the stories behind each photo.

Stuff is not important. Our conversation tonight was PRICELESS!
Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Less is MORE!

The late comedian, George Carlin, once said, "Home is a place to keep your stuff!" The below quote from today's New York Times struck a chord and brought a smile to my face. We used to be those credit card toting fools who needed immediate gratification - stuff; and our stuff was abundant! Every hobby tried had all of the amenities to make us look like experts that had been at it for years. When my former husband decided to try kayaking, we had the kayak and every cool kayaking toy to go with it. The same for fishing, boating, home improvement, tools, outfits, cars, exercise equipment, motorcycles, picnicking, hiking....you name it, we had it! This also meant that we had the bills to go with it! So, in addition to having a basement and garage filled with these oh-so-important purchases I, the household bill payer, had to set aside ample time to balance the household books and keep the creditors off our backs. It was a job that I dreaded and hated even more so when I became a stay at home mom well aware that I was the only member of our home who knew where the money was, wasn't, and how to manage the accounts. I also knew that with the responsibility came the blame! Try as I might, I could not relieve myself of this job and the monthly stress it caused.

When my marriage ended in 2005, my husband left with 3 outfits, a tennis racket, his motorcycle and the clothes on his back. Suddenly, all of this "stuff" was mine - even though I didn't even know what to do with half of it! It took a LONG time for him to come and get what belonged to him and at that time, I made a conscious decision that Less was MORE!

When we moved for the third time, I did so in a whole new way. Anything not needed or sentimental went directly to charity or into a huge dumpster before the packing began. No more "stuff!"

The payoff was immediate. Not only did it take a fraction of the time to balance the monthly books, but the house was immediately calmer. A cluttered home produces a cluttered mind and, for me, that clutter resulted in a lack of productivity. When a job gets too big, I am prone to get overwhelmed and simply shut down. I have learned that I am part of a large portion of the population that acts this way. While "normal," this was not comfortable so now, instead of juggling, I simply "do." I have more time for leisure, more time with my beautiful kids and I am happier.

I own the necessary tools, enjoy hobbies, try things before committing to them and plan ahead for things that matter. During my marriage, we rarely vacationed as a family. This simple act has also allowed for a yearly trek with my kids and a whole lot more fun!

Less IS more!

Quotation from the New York Times 7/20/08

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"I think a lot of people in this country have a lot more debt than they let the outside world know. I worked in retail for five years. And men, women would open up their wallets to pay and the credit cards that were in some of the wallets just amazed me."
DIANE McLEOD, whose home is in foreclosure.

DIG DEEPER!

In order to "stop digging" one must first dig deeper - into yourself. What is really important? What is luxury? Giving up the dream also means reevaluating the present. We have learned that less is more.

What do I mean by this? I buy clothes that are all color coordinated - many different outfits out of the same basic materials. Yes, I once boasted a closet of glory - now I simply mix and match the daily uniform and, I have to say, we are pretty damn cute!

I also disposed of any plants - which I love, but require care that I have no time for and they DIE. I have no patience for anything less than permanent. If it is going to require extra work on my part without payoff, it's GONE! Just tonight, I met with a landscaper for our home and as I looked through the "ideas" brochure, my only request was in budget and low maintenance. Y'see, I shop price and convenience and we will have a most beautiful yard without the hassle of tremendous upkeep.

What else have I done? Due to the wonderful state of our current economy I have learned, quite by accident, that many gas stations and grocery stores offer economic stimulus packages. In other words, if you buy a $100 gift card, you are GIFTED with $10 SO, knowing that I will spend $800+/ month on groceries, I purchase these gift cards - at both gas stations and grocery stores. Just yesterday, I spent $140 dollars in the grocery store....with coupons x3 and the perk of giftcards - owning that I only buy from the circular and with coupons, my final payout was $48!!!!!!!! And we're set for the next two weeks!!!!!(More on grocery shopping later!)

We have DUG to the bottom of our souls and we could still continue to dig. The bottom line is DO YOU NEED IT OR DO YOU WANT IT?!?!
We live by need alone - the wants come into play for entertainment and fun and guess what, I've heard that my house is still the greatest place to hang out on the street!
And yes, we still have fun that I could not afford unless I played each and every card the smart way.

(By the way, these very same stores offer a $0.10 fuel discount if you shop there. I drive a humongous diesel guzzler (paid for) so therefor, I benefit on both ends! No car payments and the fuel is less. With a 44 gallon tank.....do the math!)

If You're in a Hole.....STOP DIGGING!

This was probably the first lesson we learned, and not an easy one at that! Upon realizing that we had to "go it alone," the first thing I did was cancel every single credit card in my name. There were gas credit cards, store charges, Visa's and my beloved, American Express that had no spending limit! Even before the divorce was finalized, I canceled, paid off and tore up each and every one - and paid every other outstanding debt in my name.

Why?!

The temptation to spend beyond one's means is too great. It was too easy to use these pieces of plastic in exchange for real money and the pattern that soon developed was "paying off what I could afford" rather than "paying in full." Not only did the debt keep me up at night, but it never went away - not before I was married; not during...but it sure as hell did AFTER!

An added perk that came from my cash only life was the fact that every single, nobodies damn business expense is subject to the rules of discovery in court. This was something I did not realize at the time. By having NOTHING to discover, I was able to lead my life without feeling like I was under the magnifying glass of my enemy and it was a lot easier for me to get my paperwork together for judgment day. Talk about improved sleep!

Another advantage of this was the ability to budget effectively. I know almost to the penny what I have to spend each month and the hours I used to spend paying bills are now spent on more lucrative and enjoyable activities with my children. I have a food budget, a clothing budget, a gas budget, an entertainment budget.....all which I must maintain if we are to make it through each week. Of course, there are unexpected happenings, like the flat tire I had yesterday because a screw punctured my tire and the plumbing that I effectively clogged single handily in a rush to do too many things at once. Of course, this latest occurrence happened on an expensive, emergency plumbing holiday weekend. How do I deal with such things?

The tires were bought at a store under warranty. Even the screw puncture which was no fault of myself or the tire, was covered! My tire was fixed in a matter of minutes FREE OF CHARGE because I bothered to shop around for this warranty! The plumbing was a different matter. No plumber is going to work overtime and not charge you for ruining their holiday weekend. Fair enough. These were once the exact dilemmas that would go on that credit card of yesteryear. So, there I was, faced with a $325 plumbing bill (which would have been four-hundred, but I asked for a break. You'd be surprised how many people will work WITH you if you just ask). I had no way out SO.....I paid. This, in addition to getting two kids off to camp left me with a whopping $18 in the bank for three days! What that meant in the major scheme of things was that we had to REALLY think about what we were going to do and spend for a weekend. End of story, no big deal.

The one thing I always do is make sure there is at least 3 days worth of nutritious food in the house and at least a 1/2 tank of gas. While those three days were LEAN, we enjoyed swimming, reading, crafts and good meals which made them LARGE! Thanks to the 1/2 tank of gas, I was able to get my 2 oldest to sleep away camp and no one was any worse for wear.

Which brings me to CAMP?! How do I put two kids in camp for a week? The same way I took them to Disney! (saved for another post) This is something I budget for from the week school starts. It's a personal feeling of mine that kids need a variety of activities and experiences with which to grow. Putting just $100 per month into a jar (that's $25/ week) allowed them this very opportunity. In addition, there are scholarships and opportunities available that enable one to lower the price substantially. This year, I was unable to get in on those deals, but you bet, I will be all over them for next! In my case, this year, I simply explained what I had and guess what, they let them in anyway. Ummmmm.....yes, I ASKED.

So, the first step to Living Lean Large is to get rid of all debt and stop accumulating more. It is impossible to get ahead if you are always behind - a lesson learned by me the HARD way.

If you're in a hole.....STOP DIGGING!

Introducing US!

This blog was born out of both necessity and query; my necessity and the query of others.

I am a single mother of four young kids who, once upon a time, had a home, a husband with a successful career, a life of abundance and good fortune. Those were good times! Unfortunately, they came to an abrupt end and the fish went belly up quite suddenly and with that, so did life the way we knew it. From an over $300,000/ year duel income to living on a meager teacher's salary, we were forced to learn the hard way how to MAKE IT WORK!

Let me start by saying, my kids wear (some) designer clothing, eat nutritious meals, enjoy activities and have traveled. We live in a lovely, albeit modest, home in a beautiful area - an area where people choose to visit for vacation year round. My children are wonderful students and I am fortunate enough to teach in their elementary school so I am able to participate in those "once upon a time PTA activities" at leisure. We eat out (occasionally), see movies (sometimes) and visit with friends - as much as we once did (?), no, but enough so that they have learned the proper etiquette of restaurant behavior.

I also received the advice of well meaning friends who offered suggestions that work only when you have a trust fund, a family of support that provides everything from babysitting to clothing and food, and a husband that helps out around the house. I have NONE of these things and it was only a matter of time before this "advice" sounded more like criticism and, in order to survive, I was forced to "turn down the volume." We are not living off gifts, supplements, or anything other than what we ourselves bring to the table. (Although it WOULD be nice!)

We do believe in a higher power, but also in free will and, in our world, you get out of life exactly what you put in. While believing in a "master plan" is comforting to some, we do not believe that our difficulties were placed before us by a God that is trying to teach us a lesson. We do think that experiences that teach are wonderful opportunities for growth and self actualization.

My point is, that you don't have to be rich and successful to lead a full and enjoyable life. Yes, we have made tremendous sacrifices and altered life substantially in order to live on a meager salary, but over time, these have become painless routines in our everyday life and we have FUN!

My hope is to share some of our "learned on our feet trade secrets" so that you too can enjoy a life LEAN LIVING LARGE!