Money Management

I was wanting to write on here today, but I couldn't figure out what to write. Then, thanks to my bestie, I figured it out. Today I want to talk a little about how frustrating debt is. I have debt... too much of it for sure, and I know it's all because I didn't know how to budget, and save, and manage my money right. Now that I have actually learned those things, I'm working (very hard) on paying all that debt off. I know it wont be over night, but at least I know I'm making dents in it.

 

I've learned a lot about budgeting and money management this last year, and it's made a huge impact on my spending and on my savings account. I actually don't exactly even use a savings account, I really just use an envelope (It's easier to spend a savings when you can just transfer it over to your checking). A few things I have learned I'd like to share with you. Now remember, I'm not a financial expert, I really only know what has worked for my family, and I have actually just taken these tips from my best friend and her husband (who really should be teaching everyone how to save money). So with that being said, here are a few ways to help you be better at managing your money.

 

1.) Make a list.

Make a list of all your bills. This includes groceries, gas for  your car(s), savings, vacation fund, and regular bills. Make sure you include EVERYTHING that you pay each month. I have actually made an excel spreadsheet for my monthly bills, just so I would know how much is being paid where. You can also enter in your paycheck amount and add a few functions to the spreadsheet to subtract each bill from your check. This is way easier than I just made it sound BTW.

 

2.) Get some regular mailing envelopes.

No need to get fancy here, unless you really want to, but these envelopes will probably get super trashed. So buying expensive ones is not necessary. With these, I just write each bill I am paying on the envelope. I have a few bills that I always do online, so those ones I don't worry about. These bills are more like your grocery money, gas money, savings, rent, and whatever else you can pay in cash with. I know it's more convenient to pay everything online, but it will really help you stay on budget if you pay what you can in cash.

 

3.) Don't spend what you don't have

I can not stress this enough. We have SO many credit cards that are in collections ( we hit a rough patch and couldn't pay them) and now all we can do is continue to pay them off one buy one. It was so crazy that we had them in the first place. All we did with them was use money that wasn't ours. I understand that you can build credit with them, but to play it safe, I'd just give up on those dang Credit it cards all together.

 

4.) Enjoy

Seriously, enjoy the feeling of saving up for something and finally being able to get it. Who does that anymore? Our society is so spent on needing what we WANT, and needing it now.

 

These are just some things that have really made an impact on how I manage my money, and I hope it can do the same for you!

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

          

The other day I made some seriously awesome Spinach Lasagna Rolls! I had a few people ask me for the recipe (which was so easy), so THIS is where I got the recipe. Enjoy!

Confidence?

I was given a chance to help my husband with a few projects at school lately. I was actually really excited that he asked me for my help, and even more excited when he told me what a great job I did. It made me want to (again) write more! I think he asks me for help just so he can get my artistic juices flowing. I used to write poetry all the time, and when I was in school, I loved having writing projects. Now that I'm not in school I'm having the hardest time finding what to talk to all of you about. Maybe I'm worried that I'll write about pointless things and no one will care to read it.

 

Not sure if you can relate to that feeling, but that is a huge road block in figuring out what to do with my future. what if I'm not good enough? What if no one likes me or what I'm doing? What if really no one cares? what if, what if, what if. That is really what I think about all day every day. I'm honestly terrified to do something that I might be good at because, in the end, what if  I'm really not good at it.

 

So this all boils down to one point, you'll never know unless you give it a try. I've read a specific quote so many times by now that I should have it memorized, SHOULD is the key word here. Instead of having it memorized, I just wrote it down for you all in case you need a pick me up about things you want to do in your life, and in case you haven't already read it.

 

What if I fall?

Oh, but my darling what if you fly? -E.H.

 

Such a simple quote that just reminds you that you can't be too scared that you wont succeed to not even try. You must at least take a step, leap, or jump, of faith to even find out.

 

Here is the last time I'll use these two words today, What if  you are supposed to succeed?

Writing legs

I've had a conversation with my husband recently about what I want to go to school for. Yes, we had a "where are you going with your life" conversation. I honestly could not tell him. I don't know many things that I'm actually good at...So he asked," What do you love?"

I have few passions in my life, but they are passions I should be sharing with you all! One of these passions is writing. I have always loved to write. Give me a topic and I will write my heart out. Even if I never become a journalist one day, or never have a household name when it comes to a novel, I hope that all my writings will at least be shared in my family through the generations.

My best friend Alexandra and I were just talking yesterday about her grandma having so many journals written in. She told me how awesome it was to look through and see all the cool stuff she wrote. Then we talked about how bad we'd like to do that, but never seem to have the time. I literally look at my journal every night on my nightstand and think...." I should really write in this", then I go to sleep. I believe this laziness that is bestowed in my body is a generation thing. Something I'd like to change drastically. I don't want to be 80 years old one day and wishing I would have documented more. This should be just as important as washing and moisturizing my face at night...(just to let you know, that is actually VERY important to me. I haven't missed that ritual in about 5 years).

Talking about writing in my journal makes me think about my blog. I've been neglecting this blog for sooooo long. Yea I have a busy life, but who doesn't? So if you see a blog post from me coming soon that is just me rambling about whatever comes to my mind... just enjoy it. That is me just getting my writing legs... you know... kind of like sea legs when you are on a boat... but my writing legs are for when I'm getting the hang of writing again

10 & 11 Months: Reese Taylor

So I posted Reese's 10 month so late that I decided I would just put them together for an even more amazing blog post!

 

Reese has gotten so big, I don't even know what to do anymore! She's literally going to be taller than me by age 5... okay maybe 10.

 

Here are 11 new things about Reese:

- She can officially give high fives.

- She'll blow you kisses if she likes you.

- She has tasted dog food...When we tried to get it out of her mouth she got mad.

- She eats just about everything we eat for dinner, just in smaller portions.

- She has 7 teeth!

- She is wearing 18month-2t clothes.

- We can no longer hide things on top of our dresser, because she can reach that high.

- She LOVES the Toy story movies, and will look at her Woody doll when he comes on the screen.

- She's not a big FROZEN fan....yet. I keep trying though.

- She gets mad when I eat the last Oreo without sharing.

- She holds things up to her ear and acts like she's talking on the phone.

 

I love how much I love her. I'm so sad to see her grow, but I absolutely love how much she has grown. I can't believe her birthday is less than a month away. Be ready for a post on of that party for sure!

9 months Reese Taylor

I always feel bad when I don't get Reese's update out quicker. She's almost 9 1/2 months now... But in my defense, she's been a little sick, and I didn't want her to be miserable as I was taking pictures. 

 

She's doing a bit better now! So here are 9 new things about Reese:

1- She now has 4 teeth.

 

2- She knows how to climb the stairs (this is a very scary new thing!).

 

3- She has now experienced her first ear infection. 

 

4- She will always cry when you take her away from Grandma (doesn't matter which one)

 

5- She can wave Hi and Bye!

 

6- She loves to dance! 

 

7- She prefers big people food more than a bottle.

 

8- She'll give you kisses if she feels like it.

 

9- She has the cutest way of expressing herself. Lots of gasps when she's excited, and you can tell she's trying so hard to talk!

She's kind of a hot mess in this picture, but she is still the cutest hot mess I have ever seen!

This was at my brother in law's wedding, She had so much fun dancing!

Easy 5 Ingredient Guacamole

 

 

 

I'd like to start off by saying, I dislike onions with a passion. Now, with that being said, this is why I don't usually like guacamole. For the most part, the onions seem to be over bearing, and when I do try to eat guacamole, I have to pick through it to avoid the onions. 

 

 

Something you should also know, I LOVE avocados. This is why I keep trying to eat guacamole, I want the avocados more than anything. 

 

 

My father in-law showed me a simple trick to making guacamole without having to cut up onions into it. Instead we used Picante "mild" salsa. Mind you, this is probably the only salsa I like because the onions don't overwhelm me when I eat it. 

 

 

So here is what you will need for your simple, yet flavorful guacamole.

 

* about 4-5 tablespoons of picante mild salsa.

 

* 5 avocados ( we used small avocados so you'll need to adjust your measurements if you use bigger ones)

 

* pinch of garlic salt

 

* salt and pepper to taste

 

 

- Cut the avocados in half, and take the pit out.

 



 

 

- Using a spoon, put the inside of the avocado into a bowl.

 

 

 

- Mash the avocados until a little creamy. 

 

- next you'll want to add your other ingredients and mix them one by one. 

 

-Enjoy with some tortilla chips! 

 

Hope you like this as much as I do!