The Shelf On The Elf

One of the Kindergartners told me about an elf who showed up at his house.

This elf on the shelf moves around "spying" on him to report back to Santa about his behavior.

It had made me suspicious as I looked around the shelves in my home.

Was there some mini-midget with pointed ears and tiny shoes stalking me?

What would his report state (about me) to the Big Guy up North?

* Has red nightie.  Flannel. 


* Thinks Christmas is still two months away.  


* The only holiday baking smells are cinnamon Red Hot gum.

*  No decorations. 

*  Currently on vacation in Denial.


*  Wonders why the news is highlighting houses decorated in festive lights in sync to holiday music.

*  States that her shopping is done (because she isn't going to do any.)

*  It sounds like the cat is purring to the tune of "You're a mean one..."

P.S.  Did the Grinch have a wife?

Elf
 


I am not sure what happened, but when I got up this morning there were the likes of miniature Ruby-like-Slippers sticking out from a fallen shelf. 

(It closely resembled the tornado stricken Kansas house accident.)
Did I mention the slippers fit perfectly?!

$ Cents-Less Gift Giving$

"Christmas is the season when you buy this year's gifts with next year's money."  ~Author Unknown

This is tip #5  from my last $Cents-Less $ post.

$$ 5)  We have to begin somewhere.

If our "style" has been to give lavish or costly personalized gifts
it may be hard for us to change that.
Either because we do not want to disappoint others
Or do not want to admit that we can no longer afford to do that.


If we do not want to go more into debt or are just not able to give as before,
because we no longer have the means to do that,
there are things we can do and still gift to others. 

Memories are about emotion. 
So give gifts from the heart.


Service gifts are usually appreciated and keep giving even after the Big Day.


It helps if you know the needs of the recipient when deciding what to give.

GIFT GIVING SUGGESTIONS:

One mother told me that she so appreciated when her husband watched the children for an hour or two so she could have some time for herself.  (I am not going to comment.)

Yard work coupons.  My son gave me several coupons for 1-2 hrs of yard work that I could cash in on and boy did I.  (Counterfeiting even crossed my mind.)


Childcare.  You can stipulate what days and how many hours you are available.


Sewing.  Offer to take in mending or make a ??? pillow of their choice etc.


Cooking.  Offer a meal or more on designated days that work for you.  Or make and freeze ones with directions for heating attached, maybe adding salad and fresh veggies and bread?


Baking.  Offer to help bake for them for the school carnival, big fund-raising event (they signed up for), a special birthday cake or goodies for each month of the year.

Carpool.  Offer to drive their children to school or an elderly parent to the store or appointment one day a week (?) for a month.


Painting or other home project.  Offer to help or do it yourself if you feel so inclined.


Professional Services.  Give an hour of typing, computer repair, decorating advise, photography, home repairs or landscaping ideas.

REMEMBER- Only offer choices you can live with and be specific about availability if you need to be.

Other ideas:


A cookbook with your families' favorite recipes.  Since my children have all moved away I am aware how often they want to know 'how do you make....?'
This is what I am giving this year.  (Since they don't read my blog it's safe to say.)


A book with the start of your family history.  You can start with a recent story.  Record a favorite family tradition and how it got started.
Then add to it for birthdays and other holidays throughout the year.
These become priceless gifts as we grow older.
(Make sure to keep a copy of each for yourself.)
My sister did this for me but stopped adding.  I was disappointed.
(She doesn't read me either so I don't have to worry about hurting her feelings.)

A movie basket for the whole family with a gift card or a movie itself and popcorn and candy.


Recorded music of their favorite genre or that tell a story of a special time in their lives.
(Can't you hear a song and be swept back to your high school/college days?)


A clothes basket with laundry supplies plus a coupon for a few loads done for them.


A toolbox with the start of basic things that can be added to over the years.  (Although this was not on my sons' list, they are glad they had it when needed and have added to it themselves.)


A bathroom/make-up bag filled with travel items that will be ready to go when they are.
 

EVERYONE has talent!

Share that with your loved ones.

One Christmas (when I was still married), it was decided amongst the in-laws (upon my request because many of us had little money) to make only homemade gifts for the person whose name was chosen.  
This was not well received at first because they did not consider themselves "crafty" but they went along.  
It ended up being such a touching Christmas that it is still remembered.
One sibling made a VHS (it was a long time ago) holder for his sisters collection of movies.
Another made her famous salsa.
Two were extremely talented in painting ceramics and gave pieces that were personalized.
The two children received homemade quilts and wooden beds for their dolls with their names painted on the foot-board. 


Write a poem.


Compose a song.


Paint a picture.
Make homemade general or thank you cards.

Frame a photo you took.

Write a letter to a loved one telling them how much they mean to you and why.
Or to a parent thanking them for all the 'right' things they did.
These are priceless gifts to the recipient and only cost you some heartfelt feelings.


 I CAN GO ON AND ON

Maybe you can still purchase gifts but on a smaller budget.


If friends, loved ones, or yourself will hold grudges for not getting what they want, your problems are bigger than money can buy.


It is not a good way to start the year with stress and resentment (at yourself?) because you are in over your head. 

The hardest part is convincing yourself that it is O.K. to change the rules this year.

IT IS O.K.! 


If you are stuck and don't know what to give send it this way and we'll brainstorm!

"Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money."  ~Author Unknown

$ Cents-Less Bugeting Basics $

Budgeting is one of those words like:
Dieting
Exercising
And Contractions.
They all can have negative connotations when you hear them.


As I mentioned here,
Budgeting comes in all shapes and sizes.

One of the biggest factors to successfully getting out of debt,
Or accumulating savings is in what we tell ourselves.


If like dieting or exercising we tell ourselves all the "we can'ts",
Being thrifty will feel like a punishment instead of our key to freedom.

If on the other hand, it appears as a ticket to a better way of life,
it can become a fun, challenging way of looking at and bettering our circumstances.

BASICS:

$$ 1)  Our financial solution is unique to each of us and our family.
That means we will need to know more about who we are
And about our spending habits and needs.

$$ 2)  It has been said that we only change when we get sick of where we are at.
If we are worn down by always living paycheck to paycheck
(And in some cases, not even making that),
We want to have some money in savings,
Or if we are weary of debt dictating our peace of mind
then we may be ready to make some needed changes.


$$ 3)  Know that these changes are not a punishment but a reward for all the hard work we do.
When we feel like we are just 'treading water' money-wise
We may get discouraged, feeling like we are in survival mode.

Fighting to survive can become overwhelming and we may want to give up.
If that happens we may surrender carelessly spending ourselves into debt oblivion,
Feel as if there is no hope of things changing,
Or become despondent and think that life itself no longer has value.


$$ 4) Self sufficiency does not depend only on how much money we make.
Many wealthy people are smothering in their financial 'plastics'. 
What does matter is that we spend less than what we earn
And are able to begin saving.


$$ 5) We have to begin somewhere.
With the Holidays here, now may seem like the worst time of the year to start.
We each will have to decide.
I will say that if we curb our spending now, we will be that much more ahead starting the New Year.

When January comes, we will be glad we did things different now.
That will be a first step to positive change.


$$ 6) Overspending can be tied to emotional feelings.
This blog is not advise-fix for that.
That is professional territory.
For if we do not heal the void that spending is filling (be it temporary)
No matter how hard we want change, we will soon enough return to our old habits
Or ofttimes replace them with another vise.


$$ 7) And finally, another good thing that comes from making financial progress
is that we can not help but learn more about the person who has been living within us.
When we do, it frees us to make healthy adjustments
which pays back in returns; greater love and respect for self.
Thus greater self esteem.
Thus better decisions in the future.

I will try to touch in more detail on each of these basics in the future,
giving examples in each case if possible.


GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer- This is my personal opinion and is not professional advise.

Debt, n.  An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slavedriver.  ~Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1911 

An Unexpected "Mom" Paycheck

When you are a stay-at-home-mom,
"official" paychecks come about as often as coconuts grow in Kansas.
Not. very. often.

I coined this phrase, 'mom paycheck', when my children were young and would get complimented for their behavior
or for something kind they had done
or when they stood up for a family value on their own.

This week I got a mom paycheck from my daughter.

It was the end of school and she showed up at my job with a bouquet of multi-colored carnations.
They are my favorite flower and are my favorite color.
(I took some out and left them in my classroom.)

I, being the gracious mother I am, asked, "Oh, so what are these for?" 


The Director then came out and met my daughter and saw the flowers.
I explained where they were from and she said, "If my daughter brought me flowers I would wonder what she wanted or did wrong."
(I am glad I am not the only gracious mother.)

While I walked my daughter to her car, she sort of explained why she brought them, in the roundabout way that we communicate.
She then left, with me still not certain what prompted her kind act.


It was then that I saw the card.
It said simply, Thanks for everything.
Maybe that wasn't simple after-all.
Those words touched my heart!


 As I was walking back to the classroom I received a text from her that said,
"I guess i just realized with all the stuff moms put up with they need to be thanked"


My second mom paycheck in a row!


I am the richest woman alive!

Not to worry, I will still continue to write my $cents-less$ tips.

 (Oh wait, a substantial return on your (parenting) investment?  This was one of those cents-less tips!)

"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul."  ~The Koran

Make Her Quit Looking At Me!

Remember the Mirror/s?

The past couple of days I did not like the reflection I was seeing.
In my mirror!

Because it was none other than me!


I could not blame it on my carnival/gypsy past
(because I never had one),
Nor could I accuse someone else, as I was the one yelling,
"Who is the fairest one of all?!" 
(Or at least whose opinions are?)

Thank goodness my son who was on the other end of the line,
cleared the blur by wiping my mirror off with Windex or some other humbling cleaning product (he had to hang up the phone to do it.)


When he called me back and spoke just of the 'good parts' of what I had said,
I commended him for being such an amazing son, husband, father, and man.

He said it was because I was the fairest one of all.

Well, what he really said was that it was because he was my son (that it was because I was his mom.)


I would like to take all the credit for him taking the higher road,
but my method of forgiving is a lot more bumpy and has a slow ascent, incline(ation).
I am no where near as mature or as loving and quick to pardon and forget as he was.

Thank you for looking past all my the cracks and imperfections!

"Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge, and dares forgive an injury."~E.H. Chapin 

The $ Cents-Less Budgeter $

Hopefully I can consistently share a featured money-saving tip.

I just happened to find one yesterday.
(And I wasn't even looking.)
Actually, budgeters ALWAYS have their keen eyes open.


I have always had dry skin and found 7-In-1 Anti-Aging Oil of Olay Moisturizer to work for me.  (Except I'm starting to question the anti-aging part...)
I have used other products I prefer, but this one fits in my budget.
Today I bought two. I will explain.

NOTE: Although I would like to say it is, this is not a picture of me.



$TIP$ 
Keep track of how often you have to replenish something that is on the higher priced end (for me that is $20.00- $30.00+) so that you know when it is coming time to buy it again and you can budget for it.
To originally find out when that was, I wrote on the bottle with a Sharpie the date I bought it. I then logged when I had to purchase another one.
For me with moisturizer that was every 3 months.
Keep track for at least 2-3 cycles so that you can get an accurate idea.
(I know it's a pain at first but will pay off as you get into a budgeting routine.)


I buy the 3.4 oz bottle at Sam's Club.
When I was there today I saw this ad next to the product.
A $20.00 rebate with a $50.00 purchase. 
(Sorry I could not turn the picture?!)

So I decided to buy 2 bottles knowing I will use them and I rarely see rebates at Sam's.
I spent $55.90 on two bottles before taxes.
I will get $20.00 back in a Sam's Club gift card.
That means a savings of almost 36% making each bottle cost only $17.95.
Not too shabby as the smaller version at Wal-Mart costs almost $21.00.


Although this isn't a smok'in deal, it works for me because my family has 5 birthdays in  February that I will be spending for.
(That is when I would be due to purchase another bottle.)



****If you are not a member of Sam's Club, on the Olay website or here, there is a similar rebate for $20.00 also.  It includes more product choices so may be easier to reach.




$TIP$
So what if you don't have an extra 30.00 laying around?
I have a steal-from-Peter-to-pay-Paul account just for these times.

So where does this $ come from?
I have gotten this money from different means.
My daughter has some money at my house she leaves for safe keeping.
So she won't spend it.
(So I do it for her instead.)
She knows I use it and I always pay it back the next month.

It can also be from your savings (I'll address later how you get that when you are already so poor)
Or if I know I have a guaranteed income coming real soon, I will borrow from a bill due at the end of the month.
(I will explain at a later time on how I setup my bill paying .)
I do not borrow money that would charge interest for that defeats the purpose of savings.

NOTE: This rotation ONLY works if you are disciplined enough to only use what you need and repay it the following month or sooner if possible.
There is also a cap,when I can't buy.
Even if there is a great sale, if my stash is empty, I do not steal from Peter and Paul's friends also.



Disclaimer:

The info provided here is for informational purposes only.
I should not be considered a financial adviser and I am not a substitute 
for seeking financial permission from a spendthrift friend, spouse or child (preferably a nonverbal one.) 
Always seek a telemarketer, Ouija Board or a incoherent bystander should you have concerns regarding spending, sales of any kind or impulsive splurging on whatever it is that is possessing you that day.

"Thrift was never more necessary in the world's history than it is today."  ~Francis H. Sisson

NEW!!! The $ Cents-Less Budgeter $

Hang on....
Unless you are new to my blog,
You know that you will have to read through the fine print before I get to the cheap stuff.

As I am wasting my days and nights perusing around the blogging world, I am finding out how different I am than many of the bloggers I am reading about.

For instance, I am not married to the man of my dreams.
Heck, I am not even married at all!
(Thus one income)

I have raised five children as a single parent.
Just having five (or 8 at once) children is an oddity nowadays!
(And sort of insane!)


I do not live in my dream home.
(Although it can become much closer to it with Nate Berkus paying a visit to me.)


I did not and do not love every minute of parenting.
Some moments are downright painfully hard!
(I get suspicious of people who say they do.)


I do not have a formal education beyond a semester at a junior college.
(Yet all five of my children have graduated from or are currently attending college.)


I do work at a job that I love!

AND I live below poverty level and raised my children (according to the guidelines), close to extreme poverty.
I can say we have been very, very, very blessed,
And we have never had to do without necessities.

As I have Windows shopped (I made a funny) a variety of blogs, I have not seen money saving tips on my $Cents-Less Budget$.
(Budgets, like people and chocolate, come in all sizes.)

So I decided to add a new feature (?) to my blog 
And to share some ways that I have found to save (or spend) money.


As with the original purpose of my blog,
I hope I will share something that may be useful,
or at least spark some creative financial embers
(making sure not to burn a hole in your pocket)
and maybe help you or someone you know to keep their common cents.

Let's get senseless Cents-Less!!!
 

"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need."  ~Vernon Howard

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE ANY MONEY SAVING TIPS YOU MAY HAVE