Dear God.

Today, I have heartburn. Not because I ate delicious pizza, but because my life is insane right now. Today, I am having heartburn because of many things. Because my sister is blind to her domestic abuse and violence that can not end well. Because I am having to cancel my ceremony and reception because my mom wants to allow a felon who has a history of child abuse and sexual misconduct stay in her house where I live right now that weekend, even though he won't come to the ceremony. I will not stay anywhere near this man, and if I have to find another place to stay for MY ceremony and reception, why have it? I won't. Maybe it's petty-but I haven't told you the whole story. Today, I am aggravated because Mr. Wonderful didn't listen to me, the professional college student about financial aid and student loans. SO, while he is at work, and I am getting ready to go to work, I'm sitting here filling out his stupid paperwork to ensure he can finally go back to school. I feel unappreciated, ignored, and gross because it is disgustingly hot and we have no air conditioner. I am emotional and crying, and pissed off, and sad all at the same time. Today, I am frustrated with my life. Today, I am screaming at God for abandoning me for the past 10 years. And for letting terrible things happen to me, even though I know sometimes, Your hands are tied. Right now, I am pissed off enough that I almost hate you. I can't stop crying, and you can't start helping. I don't need much, I don't want much, I just need ONE THING (I don't care which) to be stopped so I can have a semi-decent, crisis free 24 hours. No more pregnant sister's who are abused, no more clinically depressed parents who are unemployed, no more adhd husband who can't do an effing thing without getting upset that I nag, no more tears running down my cheeks because I can't do it anymore and want to give up, NO MORE NO MORE NO MORE. FIX IT. All my life you were supposed to be there for me, and make everything better, or at least tolerable. Well let me tell you, it hasn't been tolerable for 8 years. I'm sick of funerals and cancer and crises and school, and work and budgets and fighting and douchebags. Today, I want a miracle. Today, I need one. Today, you need to show up. Because I'm done.

Wedding Invites on the Cheap!

So, eventually...I will figure out how to upload pictures, and either add them to this post, or re-write this post with pictures. Either way, hopefully soon, there will be pictures! :)

Mr. Wonderful and I got married in a quick minute earlier this year...not because we had to...because we wanted to. My Grandma (whom I'd been EXTREMELY close to my whole life..she lived across the street from us), was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. It was a long journey of ups and downs, she was doing really well, and then she started to not do well. We had already made an engagement commitment, and in hopes that Grandma could be there, we moved everything up. However, it simply was not meant to be. She saw my flowers choice, my guest list (from when she was doing well), and even my dress! But the day she saw my dress, and cried with me over how beautiful it is, she treated Matt and I, along with my parents and sister to lunch. Little did I know it was the last time we would see her that she was conscious. That night, she slipped into a coma, and passed away the next Tuesday. Many tears were shed, and many gasps were had when we realized the ceremony was to be the day of the funeral. Needless to say, we postponed everything a week (we had already arranged for out of town family to come, etc), and had a simple ceremony at my parents house. Now that everything has calmed down, we are going to do a vow-renewal/wedding ceremony and reception. Which, of course involves invitations.

SOO. Long story short-here we are.

I picked up plain white invitations, that have vellum connected by a ribbon bow to the paper. These I got at Wal Mart (not my favorite shop, but it did in a pinch), on clearance. I picked up 150, which is about 30 more than I need. These I can make up and save for our own keepsakes, as well as give some to friends and family in frames later in the year.

I then used my free 50 prints from CVSPhoto (Which everyone gets when they sign up with an e-mail address!) I used all 3 of my e-mail addresses, because I needed 150 prints. I then attached the photo's to the invitation (under where the vellum will be), using photo glue-sticks. Rubber Cement could work-but it's a heavy liquid, as well as having the possibility of being too acidic for some photos. You could also use scrapbooking squares or glue dots, but the glue stick was cheaper for us to buy.

Now, just print the vellum like you normally would, and voila! You have a wedding invite on the cheap that's personal, and fabulously cute and frugal!!

Til then,
C.

So little to do, so much time! Scratch and Reverse that...

Alright. Here we go. This is my to-do list...and then I'm off to sleep. Hopefully tomorrow I can scratch off my progress! :) That's assuming I make progress...but I think I can, I think I can..

Tuesday:

*Pick up Wedding Invitation Pictures. (Note to self: Blog about chic, frugal wedding planning)

*Address invitations (Note to self: Get the rest of the addresses!)

*Buy stamps

*Send invites

*Buy Rubber Cement to make invites! (Note to self:List not in order...)

*Laundry

*Exercise ???

*Laundry (if time allows)

*Drop off at GoodWill

*Pay Phone Bill.

Wednesday:

*Laundry

*Finish Organizing Basement.

*De-Clutter Basement

*Etsy?

This Week In General:

*Clothes to consignment shop

*De-Cluttered items to GoodWill, Listed on Craigslist, or taken to consignment shop

*Laundry done and PUT AWAY in the correct place/manner.

*Prep for school.

Ok. And now, I think I will go to bed. I am sleepy with much to do!

~C.

Check it out on the Daily!

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So-let's face it, I've been wishy-washy on the blogging train. Which, I'm hoping will soon change! :) I've put together a fabulous Home Binder, which I copied from Joy over at Just Organize Yourself, you can find her site here: http://justorganizeyourself.blogspot.com/ I'm a big fan of her blog, because anyone who knows me knows that organization is so not something I'm good at...and it's a constant battle, and I'm working on it! But anyway, this thing is hopefully about to become my best friend. And this is how I plan to start being more accountable not only to my blog, but to myself, and my life! :)

I have a job interview next week, at a facility I've been trying to get into since I was 18 years old! It's next Friday, mid-morning, and I want this so desperately I'm actually nervous for the first time in my life about an interview. So, I'm all over the place right now emotionally, and trying to get everything done. BUT here's a run-down of what I hope to do this week on the blog: Give a list of the blogs that I read on a daily/every other day basis to help me with my frugal journey, explain how excited I am about some new FREE software that helps with our finances, talk about how we're planning a vow renewal ceremony on a VERY limited budget, and then who knows what else!?! Let me know what you'd like to get from this blog-ideas, deals, concepts, topic for series, that type of thing!

~C.

ADD, Goal Setting, A New TV Show.

So, I'm sitting here with my husband, watching Rizzoli and Isles (Which we were both nerdily excited for...as in LOST excited...oh wait-the ending of that show killed me..but never mind!), and reading some e-mail, and catching up on my fav blogs while Mr. Wonderful is working on putting together some computers and techno stuff. The more I'm reading, and researching, and trying to change my life, the more I realize I need to set some consistent goals. And if I do them here, and have to update them monthly, I will be more inspired and accountable!

So. Instead of blogging about what I thought I would be (that sounds familiar...dejavu from yesterday maybe?? Haha...), I'm gonna switch it up AGAIN! Oh-please note-I do have a slight case of ADD, and I'm ridiculously easily distracted, and I'm relatively scatterbrained, AND I could just go on and on and on...just for future reference.

Goals:

De-Clutter. By de-clutter, I mean EVERYTHING. Clothes, school supplies, books, Mr. Wonderful's techno stuff, furniture, whatever! :)

Become Financially Independent and Responsible. This means I will be disclosing how we are doing on paying off our debt (depending on how brave I feel, I may even disclose how much debt we have! We'll see)

Budget twice a week. With Mr. Wonderful. (I think that is my new code-name for Matt...because I like it, and it's fun)

Exercise. Anything is better than nothing, right?

Eat better.

In conjunction with eating better, Cook at Home More.

And with that, I think I'm done for tonight. Because now, I am sleepy, and desperately trying to peg tonight's serial killer before Mr. Wonderful does... ;)

C.

A Sunday afternoon Quic

So, I've decided to split up the post I originally had planned...because some of these subjects cause me to get excited, and therefore long-winded! :) I will be telling you about how I coupon today, and then offering a link to a blog I read on the daily who is sponsoring a $10 Target Gift Card Giveaway! :) YAY!!!

How I coupon.

My current method of couponing is this: CUT IT ALL OUT! I cut every coupon available in Sunday's paper. I am fortunate enough that our paper has a few options for subscription-daily, weekend, Sunday only. We go with Sunday only, my parents get it daily, and my work receives the paper on the weekends. This gives me access to 3 sets of coupon inserts, while only paying for one.

****But before I actually cut and organize, I do go through and take out all expired coupons! These can be thrown away, recycled (which is one of my faves!), OR sent to military families...I will try to find the link for that and put it up at a later date-I just can't find it! :(

*If you are at a point where you are ready to tackle couponing, and can handle more than one insert some options to do this are to go to your local recycling plant and check out their paper section (some people I know do this and come away with 6-10 inserts a week!), ask a gas station or grocery store if they will save the inserts only for you (they get credit for the papers they turn in, but inserts don't matter...at least here), or have family, friends and neighbors save them for you! :)

*After I cut them all out, then begins the organization. I am currently using an old plastic box to hold my envelopes. Other methods include binders (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE, and am saving up for!), boxes, and who knows what else! My envelopes are labeled by subject-such as Milk/Dairy, Cereal, Eggs, Frozen, Meat, etc. (By the way-I will try to get a picture of my old plastic box up here..it's old, and sort of tacky, but I love it!)

And that my friends, is the gist of how I coupon. More in-depth posts to come later, with what websites I use to match up my deals, how I match up my deals, that sort of stuff! :)

Now...as I'm sure you've all been waiting for it-here's the $10 Target Gift Card Giveaway I was talking about! It's over at Couponing To Be Debt Free (which is a newfound fav of mine), and everything you need to know about entering should be one click away on this link: http://couponingtobedebtfree.com/?p=5201

Head on over, and check it out! :)

Later Gators,

C.

My goodness this night got away from me! I worked both second and third shift yesterday, and so unfortunately, my Saturday morning and early afternoon were spent napping. But then Matt found a spectacular Craigslist ad, and we went and retrieved some treasures! He got some computer tools and parts that he needed, or can use by converting them (tech-talk is so not something I understand!), and I got some clothes for a friend of ours who is pregnant, as well as my mom, and some material for a new project that I'm trying to put together...maybe an etsy shop is in the future? We'll see! :)

But...on to the good stuff. Now that it is Sunday-(only officially, via the timezone), I want to share a heads-up as to what I'm going to be sharing with you either tomorrow, or Monday! I am a firm believer in coupons, and bargains, and deals, frugality and thriftiness! Sooo...seeing as coupons come in the Sunday paper, and today is-You guessed it! Sunday! I'm going to explain to you how I coupon, why I coupon, how I organize my coupons, and some of my great success stories! I will also offer links to my usual go-to deal sites...these are sites that offer daily deals, fabulous frugal advice, as well as coupon match-ups for the week!!! It is AWESOME and I can't wait to share!!!!

Do you coupon? Do you have a preference as to organizational method? How do you clip your coupons? Which do you clip and why? I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear!!! :)

Until another time, another place...

C.

What we did with a plethora of Irish Springs...

One of the things that I do to help save us money is make our own laundry detergent. The first time I did this I did a liquid recipe, and I have to admit-I rushed through it a little bit...and while it turned out alright for the first week or so, it did soon begin to separate into a sort of gel that neither my husband nor I wanted use. So, the next time I went with a dry detergent, and so far-this has been awesome!!! AND perhaps even cooler is that it doesn't take long to put together.

For the version that I use, here are the directions.

1c Borax

1c Washing Soda

2c grated bar soap.

Now, there are people and blogs who use only certain brands of soap, but we were recently given a plethora of Irish Springs bar soap, and this is what I've been using. Neither of us have super sensitive skin, so this has worked well for us. Some of the other soaps I've seen recommended or would personally recommend are Fels Naptha, or Ivory. I imagine this would work with any bar of soap you have on hand.

To grate the soap I use an old cheese grater. I grate the cheese into a bowl or container we just have on hand, and then when I have the 2 cups I need, I combine the soap with the Borax and Washing Soda. I stir it up with a spoon and shake it-you can do either/or, but I prefer both. This detergent can be stored just about anywhere, in anything-a disposable container, a diaper wipes box, anything you have lying around that will fit the mixture should work. My work uses insane amounts of the Clorox Wipes for the Kitchen (the kind in the cute little box), and so I bring those home and use them to store my detergent in.

If you want to try this, or check out other recipes, there are tons of options on google, however, one of my favorite go-to sites is WiseBread, and they have a link for household cleaning hacks...which is http://www.wisebread.com/household-cleaning-hacks-that-save-you-money , and they have a link there for an option for 10 homemade laundry detergent recipes, and the link is http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Hope this helps! If you decide to do this, or already do-I would love some feedback as to why you chose homemade detergent, and why you chose which version to use! :)

~C.

Vacations are good. Even the Universe Maker thinks they're a good idea. I know this, because of Sundays/Sabbath. The day of rest. However, in my house, we don't really have schedules that allow for full days of rest or meditation...which means we take what we can get! :) While Matt and I no longer work opposite shifts (for the most part), we don't have a single day off together as of right now, unless someone swaps out with me, or one of his get cancelled. Being able to camp together, and with our friends was a nice reprieve from the every day craziness. We enjoyed walking through small towns in Northern Michigan, holding hands, watching camp-fires, making s'mores, and so much more. It was truly a sad day when we had to come home. But not coming home wasn't really an option. So now, it's laundry/cleaning/babysitting/figuring out our week day. But there will be more to come later this week!

Viva La Revolucion...and Craigslist.

When we decided to do something about our finances, and their very sad, sorry state, we began to brainstorm about anything and everything we could do to help fix it...nothing too big, nothing too small that it couldn't be written down on paper. Our list was extensive, and even silly sometimes...for example-things on that list include write and sell a best- seller novel, become a singer, audition for American Idol, America's Got Talent, Real World, write VH1 for a reality show, babysit, nanny, craft and open an etsy shop, mow lawns, become secret shoppers, sell extra clothing, sell anything we don't/won't use, make household supplies, and the list goes on and on, and on, and on...and-well, you get the idea.

What we actually ended up doing seemed to be rather common sensical (oh, I probably forgot to mention that I have a tendency to make up words), to us anyway. Our core concepts were simple, and yet made a profound impact on us that we weren't even aware of at the time, and still may not be to some extent.

**We cut costs where we could*** Are you amazed? I know, right?!! If only we had thought of this, or been willing to do this earlier...BUT it's not about what you could/would/should have done, it's about what you're doing, right? Right.

*We stopped buying paper products we don't need-(paper towels, napkins, etc. We DO firmly believe in toilet paper!)

*I started making our laundry detergent. Now that I've done this for a couple of months, it already has impacted both Matt and I!!!! Now, the only way we buy laundry detergent is if it comes out free after a coupon (which is NOT often), or is just too unbelievable of a deal to resist..but one of those has yet to come along. Besides, I get enough free samples thanks to several other blogs that I ALWAYS have trial sizes in case I'm crazy-busy, or sick..and this can get us through in a pinch.

*I started clipping coupons. While I have yet to master menu-planning (working every weekend alternating shifts, and second shift during the week, as well as being full-time college students doesn't really open itself to flexibility that way), I do however-plan what meals we have available, and keep our pantry stocked. This allows us some meals that are quick and easy if only one of us is home for dinner, but gives us great options for when we are home to eat dinner together too! The coupon thing has probably been one of the most fun, and awesome things to come out of this experience. I can remember my mom clipping coupons when I was younger, and my Grandma would talk to me about them, and I have a FABULOUS cousin who was lovely enough to have me over one afternoon, and show me the ropes, and give me some great starting advice..and to her I am forever grateful! I usually don't have time for hobbies, but couponing is one that I make time for. It relaxes me, and becomes a game to see how much I can save.

*I use free samples...ALOT!!! There are numerous blogs available that put together the weekly coupon match-ups, best deals of the week, and who/where to get free samples. This allows me to try new products, have stuff that I want and/or need in small enough sizes that when a guest comes over, or if I'm headed out to camp (like later tonight!) I am covered, and don't have to take a full-size bottle.

*We sold stuff we didn't need/want/use anymore through sites like Craigslist...and had garage sales.

*We started looking for things that we wanted/needed in the "free" section of Craigslist

*We joined Freecycle! (This is one of my favorites...I'm kind of a hippie)

*I started a garden. (See above-hippie)

*Matt picked up odd jobs with a friend of our's that is a sub-contractor, doing work whenever it was available, and he wasn't working at his "normal" job..sometimes working 19 hours in a day!

*We started babysitting together (or separately, depending on our schedules) for some friends of ours whose son is adorable

*Matt started flyering for a local pizza place-doing advertising on foot for them on the weekends while I'm at work, and when our schedules coordinate and we don't have other things to do, we do this together.

*Matt began to offer his techie services via craigslist, and business cards, and word-of-mouth advertising to fix, make, clean-up, and do just about anything one can do to a computer.

*Matt also began collecting spare computer parts from wherever/whenever he could get them, and now assembles computers, and sells them when/where he is able.

*We began shopping for our holiday presents all year round. I already have several birthday/Christmas gifts for individuals we know we will be buying for each season set away for the coming year of 2010...(Getting married and having 3 brothers means I have lots more presents to buy...and I LOVE it!!!)

*We let our friends know we were trying to be on a budget, and work our events around that. Matt and I have been very fortunate in having friends who are content with coffee or tea that only costs $1.00 in a smelly coffee shop, just to hang out, and have fun..being together is what really matters.

*We started eating at home, and packing brown-bag lunches. My husband and I LOVE food...especially when we don't have to cook it! But, this is expensive, and now is reserved as a treat, or emergency measure!

*We started to budget. Together. Consistently. And we check our purchases with each other. Now, before anyone gets bent out of shape, this is NOT a control thing, it's a respect, a "united front", a "We WILL conquer this together, and our relationship WILL get stronger because of how we deal with this" thing.

*We set goals. Consistently. And strive and evaluate how to meet them. Consistently.

*We stopped making plans for fancy vacations with friends. Did it break my heart to cancel a wine-tasting weekend in beautiful country-side with my roommates from Ireland and their spouses this summer? Yes. Is it going to be so much more worth it when Matt and I can attend these trips without feeling guilty, or not paying certain bills in order to be able to go? YES YES YES.

*We learned to enjoy each other's company, and simple things like walking our dogs, playing cards, playing chess, watching movies, learning new games, hanging out with my parents, and quietly reading together.

*We opted to both be in school full-time at the same time, and set educational goals. While this doesn't exactly give us booming social months for most of the year, it does allow us to get closer to our eventual final goals, and teach us self-discipline.

Some of these things were easy-making laundry detergent for example, only takes me 30 minutes, and can be done while I watch a movie. Some of these things though, like telling our friends our financial woes, was not so easy. But we were shown nothing but grace, and mercy, and understanding by our amazing support system...and more often than not good, sound, solid advice.

Hope this peek into some of what we did/do was helpful, or at the very least entertaining!

I won't be posting again until Monday, or Tuesday, we are heading a few hours north, to camp with some friends and their children for the weekend...we pitch our tent on the property of their cottage, and they use their camper...it's a relatively new tradition for us (this is only the second year we've done this), but we look forward to it, as this is our only vacation!

Happy holidays everyone!

C.

Righteous Rebellion.

Seems like an oxymoron, doesn't it? I want this blog to be genuine-raw, and real. To reflect my flaws, my strengths, and the lessons I've learned, am learning, and will learn. This is not going to be easy for me in many ways; in others-this will be one of the most liberating things I've ever done, of this I am convinced.

You will see that I am indeed a rebellious spirit-always questioning everything, and nearly everyone. I say this not to offend you, or make you crinkle your forehead, and think "What can a rebellious girl possibly do for me? How can she impact me? She might offend me! I don't want to expose myself, or my family and friends to someone who is openly rebellious". I understand all of these things may, or may not cross your mind. However, if they do, I hope that you'll bear with me. I don't revere rebellion, or even recommend it. I'm being honest, because I'm not rebellious in the way most people expect-(although, I did go through a pink-hair phase, and have some piercings other than just a single stud in my earlobe)-but I have always been a person that fights for the underdog, and questions authority. BUT-I can blog more about that at a later time if necessary.

Now. As to why I have the need, at 23 years old, to write a "manifesto" about debt...that's a whole other cup of tea. And it's not the easiest one to talk about, admit, or even think about. Which is part of the reason I got here!

So. Here it is.

1. I am a compulsive spender.

2. I am not patient (BUT I am working on it!)

3. Because I am not patient, I LOVED credit cards...they offered me instant gratification.

4. Because I LOVED (notice the past tense) credit cards and instant gratification, I owe several institutions a lot of money.

5. I am easily overwhelmed.

6. Because I am easily overwhelmed, I bury my head in the sand, and don't necessarily want to, or choose to deal with things that I should. (I learned this one while not dealing with a close family member's illness)

7. Because I chose NOT to deal with things, I owe people more money.

8. I have a hard time asking for help-I am stubborn, and resilient, and struggle with having to accept I can't deal with everything.

9. Because I have a hard time asking for help, I let my problem get way out of control.

10. Because my problem got way out of control-I had to learn to ask for help, and needed to learn multiple lessons in humility. This however, is GOOD.

In learning humility, I started doing research, so that my husband and I could get out of debt, and eventually move forward with our lives, and buy/own a home someday...and this research lead me through several options. The one we chose however, is a non-profit agency certified by several boards and associations we trust, that essentially consolidates our debt, and only takes a small fee, as opposed to the typical 10% of total debt other agencies wanted. This is so not a perfect solution-I am NOT advocating for this by any means...because we desperately wish we hadn't allowed our problem to get this far. BUT there are times that good ideas, or perfect ideas aren't feasible, and we have to do what we can. On the upside, going through this agency, we are rebuilding our credit, and are being FORCED to learn good, healthy money habits. With the aid of a course offered by this agency, and books by Dave Ramsey (who we are loving so far), and coupons, and so much more, we are well on our way to being debt free-to accomplishing the revolution against the debt prison...breaking out, breaking it down, demolishing this for good...(hopefully).

*Wow. That was hard to type. It took me 20 minutes just to type that paragraph...and I nearly cried reading through it again. Good thing that this is not the end-there IS light at the end of the tunnel, and there will be a prosperous future for my husband, and I-and our future family. I put my trust in my Universe Maker-He always has me in the palm of his hand.*

So. I think that's it for now. Next time I'll be blogging about what we're doing to get ourselves out of this mess...and how we manage to stay optimistic even when we're discouraged about living paycheck to paycheck.

IF you've ever had to do this, or are still doing this-what do you do to keep sight of your long-range goals? Do you have any tricks or tips for having fun on no-budget, or how to maintain perspective? If you haven't had to do this-my hat goes off to you! Leave a frugal tip as to how you've maintained your budget, or what you do to maintain your costs and your savings! :)