How to Stock a Gift Closet On a Budget

FTC disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.

Several years ago, I began putting things back for gift giving occasions.  I hadn't heard the term "Gift Closet" or "Prize Closet" (as those who enter sweepstakes often call it.)  But I knew the concept.  I also knew our amount of money to be spent was next to nothing.

Why I Don't Attend Church on Mother's Day.

Last year, a couple ladies I know asked me to go to church with them that next Sunday.  I said honestly, "I never go to church on Mother's Day."  Truth is, churches have turned me off to going to any service that entire weekend.

The last time I did attend one, I left in tears.  The priest kept repeating that being a mother is God's highest calling for women.  I have to disagree with that.  It is the highest calling IF you are to have children.  Do you think Mother Theresa missed God's highest calling because she wasn't a mother? I think God's highest calling for us is what He has called us to -- and that might not be motherhood.

Adoption and Goals Update May 2016

I'm changing how I am doing my adoption updates as it seems things are dragging so slowly.  I feel overwhelmed much of the time and I think if I categorize and attack things in a more systematic manner, it will help me.  Also, on some of the online selling boards I visit, they love to "show the numbers" so while I'm not comfortable showing all my numbers, this is a little more of "how I do what I do" As always, this post contains affiliate links.

Adoption / House Goals

*We need to get the 89 year old windows replaced.

Week Two of the One Month Pantry Eating Challenge

Two weeks ago I announced my husband and I were going to do a one month pantry eating challenge.  I am a bargain shopper, avid coupon user and have so much in the pantry that I want to see how little we can buy and still eat for a month.

I often stock up before winter, but it's not as needed anymore, and so I'm going to see how long the one month pantry eating challenge will last.    Here's what we ate and what we spent last week.

A Budget is NOT a Bad Thing -- In Fact it is GOOD!

FTC disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.

I was scrolling through Facebook and saw someone mention a budget.  To my surprise, every response was negative.  I "learned" that having a budget means you can't buy your kids something they want, and you have to eat Ramen.  My response was "Being on a budget means you can afford the extras without feeling guilty because you have been careful with your money in other areas."

Week One of the One Month Pantry Challenge

Last week I announced my husband and I were going to do a one month pantry eating challenge as a way to both save money and help clean out the pantry.  Here's how the first week went.

Day 1:  Burgers from McDonalds ($5) Okay, so it looks like we failed before we even started, and in a way we did, but we hadn't planned on having burgers that night.

4 Ways I Paid Off My Student Loan EARLY

I graduated from college in 1998.  I had over $16,000 of student loans.  That probably seems like change to today's graduates, but it seemed a lot to me at the time, especially because I became ill soon after graduating and couldn't hold down a full time job.  I started selling on eBay (this was in the early days and people rolled their eyes even more then than they do now.)