I have been at this "mom-wife thing" for quite awhile and have gathered some pretty great information. Tricks I have been using for years I am now reading about on blogs. I was pretty amazed to find I was not the only one to manage a household notebook, I had established a notebook years ago and thought I was genius, apparently not. Check out lifeasmom's How I Keep My Feet On the Ground for great tips on how to manage your household like a business.
I have come to the conclusion that alot of blogs provide the same information, the same great tips and advice. It's the delivery that is different as well as our personal experiences and end results. So take what I offer, add it to the mix and together we will come up with a pretty great way of life.
- FINANCES...run your house as you would a business. You are the manager, find a system (aka a budget) that works for you and set up a"business meeting", whether it is daily, weekly or monthly. My mom and dad sit down once a month to pay bills and go over their budget making adjustments as needed. Some people like to do it every pay day. My advice is to do it consistently. Setting goals to tackle debt or save for a vacation is a must. There are many resources out there if you need extra help and guidance, my favorite is Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University as well as following Anna Newell Jones Blog http://www.andthenshesaved.com/. The two approaches are very different but result the same.
- ORGANIZATION...find what works for you. Some people prefer labels and containers for everything, some like to keep it simple. If you have a hard time putting your make up away in the morning, quit fighting it and find a pretty way to keep it on top of the counter. If you are in the habit of setting mail in the entry rather than the office, set it in a basket or pretty box (discarding the junk of course), until your next business meeting. Asking a friend or family member to help you purge and organize will keep you motivated and a second opinion always comes in handy. Create a household notebook by keeping all of your lists, schedules and mailing supplies in one place. It will come in handy during your "business meetings" and can be used everyday to keep your schedule in check and lists up to date.
- FOOD... setting a spending limit will naturally motivate you to cut back on expenses. Creating a menu and shopping list is a way to organize as well as keep you focused on what goes into the mouths of loved ones. Resources are a plenty when it comes to food! Blogs, magazines, and websites are at your finger tips. Check out old editions and vintage copies of cookbooks for scratch recipes. Scratch is always cheaper and usually healthier.
- ENTERTAINMENT... staying in, as opposed to going out, can save you hundreds. Invite friends over for a dessert night or cocktails, maybe an ice cream social and everyone brings their fave topping. Girl's night in can be a craft night or book reading. Date night can be free if you research local activities in the community not to mention, picnics never go out of style. Your significant other will appreciate your undivided attention. Kids are easy to entertain on the cheap, parks and nature walks don't cost a thing. Give them a bag to collect leaves and pine cones and they are happy campers. Let them come up with a play date, share your experiences and stories from your childhood. My advice when it comes to parties, keep it simple. No one remembers anything more than the company they keep, stay away from planning the event around meal times and you can serve hors'de'ouvres or dessert rather than supplying a full meal. Pot luck can be fun and it takes the cost down considerably.
- GIFTS/HOLIDAYS... even if you are not the craftiest of people, there is always something you can create to please another. Crafts and art are great gifts but can get costly and out of control and there is more to offer, like baked goods, homemade candy, photographs and scrapbooks are sentimental,or what have you. Sometimes providing a service is more valuable than you could know, babysitting and chores are always appreciated or if you are an IT person maybe a computer session. Try not to limit yourself to store bought items.
- HOME AND GARDEN...DIY is the way to go these days (just make sure you know what you are doing, and research any major projects). Painting your own space rather than hiring someone will obviously save you money but home improvement gets a little more complicated than that. Most big box home improvement stores offer lessons and instruction for major projects. Enlist the help of a friend, maybe barter and trade services. I love decorating and interior design. I save dollars by buying 2nd hand at antique stores, thrift stores, Craigslist and more. Inspiration can be found via the internet, thank the lord for blogging. Rather than purchasing magazines, google your favorites and read them on line, or just search the topic and you will be amazed at what you will find. As far as the garden goes, free is always best. Trade with others, seeds and starters from friends are even better than buying them from a nursery. Farmers Markets often offer a wide variety of inexpensive starters and you can usually get any needed advice from the grower themselves who can provide trips and planting instructions.
