The Bible Says That?... Proverbs 22

One of the chapters I have been meditating on recently is Proverbs 22, the older i get the more I realize that the Bible says a great many thing I don't like and disagree with however just because it says that doesn't mean I don't have to follow it. I don't particularly like paying taxes or obeying traffic laws, but I do it. You don't have to love everything in the Bible to love God, but you really should try to follow it. OUCH!

Verse 6- Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.(notice it doesn't say when he is YOUNG he won't depart form it, but it says OLD how many people do you know who were raised in Christian homes but care nothing for God until they are old?)

Verse7 - The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Have you ever been a slave to an object or purchase? I have, I once had a car that I hated, I was a slave to it. When we were young and stupid (or maybe just stupid) we bought a beautiful car as soon as the warranty was over the transmission died, a 4k transmission...it sat in our driveway for months and we were still paying the payment and insurance on it, I hated that car because I had becomes it's slave.

Verse 16- He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Is this talking about slum lords? maybe, but think of all the "services" that target the poor, the lottery , cash advances, title loans at 25% interest those "pay by the week" furniture and electronics stores?

Splash Lagoon Savings

Splash Lagoon has again released some good coupons, I personally think their regular prices are outrageous! However, it is local and fun and all indoors, if you are treating this like a "staycation: it's a good deal. One coupon that has been in the Sunday paper is for $14.95 per person (up to 6 people) but it's only valid on Thursdays their site has a good "Mommy and Me" coupon for Mondays.http://www.splashlagoon.com/coupons.html

If you don't get a paper Applebee's and other Scott Enterprise restaurants had ones available (that's where I got a lot of mine). of the $14.95 ones that are good for any age. One thing I will caution is that if you have never been there the food prices are VERY high don't go on am empty stomach and bring some bottled water or Capri Sun with you.

What Do I Spend Money On?

I realize most of my posts are about what NOT to spend money on so you may be curious as what I DO believe in spending money on.

#1. A good mattress, if you can't sleep at night because you have springs poking you or you can't get comfortable, your whole life quality will be effected including how you preform at work and how well you feel, buy a decent mattress and springs.

#2. Fresh foods, I am a big believer in raw foods, not that I don't love junk food items but I really try to eat 4 raw foods a day, usually 3 fruit and 1 vegetable. I also believe in raw milk, however the closest place to me proves to be a little far in the summer to make it a convenient choice even with the use of a cooler. I also believe in eating a lot of fiber, death begins in the colon.

#3. A good haircut, you wear your hair every day, I have very long hair and I pay $23 plus a tip for a haircut, I have tried walk in places and they just don't cut it, trying to save a few bucks can result with months of growing out a bad look, it's just not worth it.

#4. I am hesitant to mention this but someone needs to tell ladies, you need a decent bra. If you can only afford to buy thrift store clothing that is fine but you MUST wear a decent bra and replace it often, spandex doesn't have a long life. If you are a "C" or above you need an underwire and probably a "molded cup", I pay "big money" $35-$40 for one, I treat it like a little baby hand washing it and hanging it to dry. It will make all your clothing look better. Think you are flat chested and don't need a bra, you are mistaken and trust me everyone but you knows it. It is better to have one good one the ten cheap ones.

#5. Tips, if you can't afford to tip decently then you can't afford to go out to eat. 15%-20% is what you should tip at a sit down restaurant. If you are using a coupon as I often do for a B1GI meal tip on what the bill would be without the coupon. I tip Pizza Delivery men extra, I also tip my hair stylist. If I am at a restaurant where it's buffet and someone just brings your drinks and clears the table I tip $1 per person.

#6. God's work, the more money you give to something the more you find yourself caring about it.

Motivation

Inside one of my kitchen cabinets is a little photo of a lobster...why? It's my motivation. To me it means that for the price of burgers and fries at a family style restaurant I can afford to buy a lobster(or a steak) at the grocery store and cook it myself. The difference is effort.

Now, I do enjoy eating out but I try to remember it should be a "treat" that is built into our budget. Recently we were eating at Smokey Bones, we eat there quiet often because they send out a lot of $10/$20 coupons or buy one meal get one free. Well our check came and my coke was $2.69... I thought about that for a second I would NEVER pay $2.69 for a 2 litter of soda in the grocery store but served over a great deal of ice in a fancy glass I would? For that money I could have bought a lot more product... (and I confess I didn't even finish my first glass the the restaurant).

One of my college roommates used to cut out photos of beautiful women in magazine and post them next to her bed, I thought her quiet silly and maybe a little vain...but now 6 years and 2 kids later she is still very thin...it is something she works at but those photos were her "motivation".

When I don't feel like picking up one more thing or doing one more load of laundry I want an episode of "Horders", and I get cleaning fast... inside my coupon binder is a receipt from CVS saying I spent .12 total for numerous products to remind me that time spent cutting and organizing coupons is MONEY .

One those days when it seems like all I do is correct, clean and discipline small children and I hear myself complaining because I am pregnant and feeling icky yet again, I'll read some of Michelle Dugger's book on child rearing or maybe watch an episode of their show to remind me what kind of finished product I want. If I am a Christian but never pray, read my Bible or go to Church or do one good deed for Christ I would soon not care much about Him.

So what types of things do you use to stay motivated?

Living Like No One Else...

Those of you who know me know that I am a big supporter of Dave Ramsey and his financial advice. I am also one of those obnoxious people who will dispense his advice freely to you with my added twist when I feel the situation calls for it.

The other day I was talking to one of my friends and she was disparing about how much debt she and her husband were in how she felt like they could never afford to buy a home etc. they drive a new car (on payments) both have an elaborate cell phones, cable, eat out often and go on regular vacations...then she said the kicker "if my husband made as much money as yours we could afford a nice home"...well guess what her husband DOES make as much as mine. She just has never learned how to put herself in prison. Put herself in prison? That's a little phrase that one of my college teachers used to use the basic concept is to "put yourself in prison now so you are free to do what you want later". i.e. Put yourself in prison at the dinner table so you are free in the dress shop" or in this case cut out the all the extras so you are free to buy your own home. Drive by the fast food and cook dinner yourself.

I have found that if there are things we as people really want we will work and find a way to get them. We have certain goals both long and short term (as Dave recommends) you must have something to aim at.

Our Goals:
To NEVER , EVER again have a car payment, to drive an older car and use CASH to replace it.
Never , ever again use our credit cards (except to rent a car)
To never pay interest but rather have interest PAID TO US
To send our children to Christian School
To pay off our home in 15 years
To go to Disney World in 2015 (when the kids are 10,7 and5)
To have 10k saved for each child as a wedding-college gift(to start out life)
To take a transatlantic cruise on our 25th wedding anniversary (on the Queen MaryII)
To have enough savings that we can afford in home care until we die

What are some of your goals?

The Modern Day "June Cleaver"

I have recently been watching "Leave it to Beaver" on our Roku player (which by the way gets my top recommendation for cable-less, inexpensive TV viewing) and I noticed a distrubing thing...June Cleaver the housekeeper, wife and mother so many women expire to was a phoney! She had a cleaning lady! to do the "heavy work". No wonder she always looks so polished and well rested, her two boys and husband were gone all day and Women's Clubs and Garden Parties could be attended freely. After having this revelation I have either decided that I too may have to retire my pearls and heals...or get myself a cleaning lady.

Menu Plan: 9-6-10/9-12-10

Monday- Hot Dogs, chips, baked beans, corn on the cob- for the holiday
Tuesday- Sweet and Sour Chicken, rice and egg rolls
Wednesday- Meal at church before classes
Thursday- Spaghetti w/ garlic bread
Friday- Chicken Marsala, pasta and green salad
Saturday- Pork Chop, German Potato Salad and green beans
Sunday- BLTA's (BLT + avocado) soup

I used to always make a fancy meal for Sunday after church, after a few years and a few babies I've come to realize that everyone is STARVING after church and something quick or in the crock pot is best. Friday night is now our "fancy" meal for the week. We do go out but it's almost always lunch as the children seem to be in a better mood to sit still and the prices are much cheaper.