Do I Really Have to Do This?

Talk about preconceived ideas and mindless routines. Do we do the things we do because it's the best use of our time, or because we enjoy it? Or... because it's expected?

Take a good look at your household tasks. Do you really have to fold the washcloths? What about underwear? What if you just tossed them in a small drawer, or in a box in a big drawer? Would anyone die? Start thinking about time-savers. What else has become a habit that we could eliminate?

And where do you draw the line? :)

Once a Month Cooking

Once a Month Cooking! Is it the best invention since the cheese grater? Prepping meals in one or two days saves you cooking a main dish for the rest of the month. Who wouldn't get stars in their eyes thinking about a month's break from cooking main dishes?

Except there is a price to pay. It has to be fairly stressful to chop, slice, cook, stir, and package for one or two days straight. It doesn't seem like a SIMPLE solution for me. The idea is wonderful... I get stars in my eyes, too, when I think about it. But for now, I prefer a more gentle approach. One that has happened naturally for us, since there are only two of us and I am... well... lazy!

When I make a meal, I rarely make a two-person portion. I automatically make bigger amounts and freeze meal-sized portions for later. If it is not a freeze-able meal, we eat leftovers or my husband takes it in his lunch. My husband is one of those gems who doesn't mind leftovers one bit.

There are tons of freezer meal ideas on the web, so use them! However works best for you. Maybe the once-every-two-weeks version works better for you. Maybe you only need to do freezer meals when you are having guests for the weekend, or before a baby, or during canning season.

What is your version? Do you use OAMC? How do you keep it simple?

Clear Your Mind

Do you ever wish you could just sift through your mind and find your priorities again? What do you have to do to clear out the deadwood when you have too much to do, you don't know what to cut, and you know you just need a better focus?

I make lists of goals. Sometimes, I write down everything I would LIKE to do, then go through and mark the things that are most important.

But there is only one thing that always works, and works well. I make sure my connection with God is strong, and my eyes are on him. That clears the glass I am seeing through, instantly. A relationship with God is stress-reducing and mind-clearing.

The Very First Post

I got inspired today to start a blog. It is a learning blog. I'm learning to be successful at saving money and balancing life, and I think I'll record the journey.

I'd like to keep it simple, just like I'd like to keep my life simple, but I know I have the tendency to type deadwood, just like I  tend to collect interesting and useful things around the house. Trying to figure out what's useful in a house and a sentence are equally hard! But I'm learning.

I just got married last November, so life has changed quite a bit. Among other things, I'm learning to "coupon", which means waiting for sales and stacking coupons on the sales to get fantastic prices. There is a lot to learn, and there are questions along the way... such as, is it worth it to drive the several miles into town to get a great deal? And, do I REALLY need this?

There are many other ways to save money, such as cutting the electricity bill, not wasting the food you do have, and budgeting. Yuck. Budgeting.

Actually, I'm starting to enjoy budgeting. The challenge of meeting the limit in each category becomes a sport. You can get a rush from beating that budget!

When it comes right down to it, my blog is about life balance. Saving money is a necessity and a top priority for me, but I am determined not to let it define me or take over my life. Obsess me, yes... drive me... influence my friendships and day to day conversation... okay, it's taking over my life. But it's a good life!