Relay for Life 2012

Hi All!

I am joining Relay for Life and The American Cancer Society again this year.  I am fundraising for the event representing my school at the Relay.

I have lost a father-in-law and grandmother to cancer.  I am happy with this organization and for what they do for people living with this terrible disease and seeking a cure.  When you give, you are helping to supply people with cancer "More Birthdays!" 

Please give if you can...here is the link to my page:

LINK to My Relay Page:  http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY12SA?px=20845960&pg=personal&fr_id=40705&s_src=fbcomments
Melanie

Happy Mother's Day! 2012

Happy Mom's Day to all the Moms and Moms-to-be out there!

I hope you all have had a terrific day!

My hubby and kids gave me two gift cards...one for Kohl's and one for Michael's!  Both are terrific.  With the Kohl's card...I found my son some new sneakers and I still have $10 left for myself later on.  I will probably purchase a new pair of yoga pants for the gym.  With the Michael's card (I haven't spent just yet) but will probably try to purchase a bookcase (raw wood one..small) if they have it.  If not...you know it is going to be jewelry supplies for supplies for my art room!  I am happy with what I have purchased and what I plan to purchase with the gift cards. I do not intend to waste a dime of it.

We also enjoyed church this morning.  The message was about what a "Real Woman" is...I hope they have this in an archive...it was a very good message and much of it would surprise you and not so predictable.  It was excellent.  My church's website, should you be interested in attending online, is: www.c3church.org !  The live feed for Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings is:  www.C3church.com/LiveFeed   If you can find today's message in archive...it is well worth watching.  They all are..but I really enjoyed today's!

As far as a financial update...we are doing fine...still battling that credit card I keep bringing up but it is looking better and better all the time.  Even though we paid a lot on it two months in a row and it says $0 due...we still pay the old requested amount to stay ahead so in future months should there be one that is difficult...we can skip a payment then or simply pay it off quicker!
Have a great week and Month of May!
I am a teacher and this month in the world of Schools is action packed with testing, ending classes, closing down classrooms, etc... It may be June before I can give another update!
Thank you for being a loyal Thrifty and Creative Reader!
Sincerely,
Melanie

Kids are getting older! Side effect: saving money!

I have only two kids...one boy... 6 1/2 years old and one girl...2 years old. 

My oldest seems to not care for normal toys anymore...just the typical electronics and playing ball outside.  This definitely (for us) cuts down on cost.  Also, the only way our son gets a new game, etc..is doing well in school or in his sport...Soccer! 

My youngest (daughter)...she is happy with any toy and pretty much we never buy her clothes or toys.  Family have been great about giving her toys and clothing randomly.  She doesn't need anymore than what she has.  She is also starting to potty train and using less diapers and moving into the pull-ups where less changes are necessary.  These are all normal getting older savings.
Also, with daughter getting older...less doctor visits, etc...Thank God for that one!

None of these are a surprise to anyone but it sure is helping out our financial problems of the past couple years.  Definitely an assistance. Also,  I am excited to report...we will be loving the month of April for a long time to come.  I just got my first ever Longevity Check (10 years of service is the first time you receive this at my work).  It wasn't huge but it was something and offset my husband's MRI and my Dermatology visit.  We appreciate it greatly. Also, my husband gets his raise each year in April!  Even if not alot...it is something!  We are very appreciative and frugal peoples.  We are going to target the large credit card that was developed due to a death in the family and having to replace an engine in the same year. We don't complain about this, we are greatful we were able to do what we had to do anyway we could.

Happy Sunday! 
"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Passage Psalm 118:24

Happy Earth Day as well!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Long time...No post! Back to Lowe's Promo time!

Hi All!
So sorry for the lack of updates/posts.  I tend to spend more time on Twitter, Facebook and Etsy anymore.  But even those I am just not on as much. I suppose it is due to having a 2 year old, 6 year  old and all the events, activities, and such that go along with those ages.

It is that time of year again...Lowe's Promo 12 Months No interest!  We take advantage of this each year around this time.  (Right after taxes.)  We pay of our balance from the previous year and make new purchases to be paid over time and off at next year's tax time.  It is nice...we get to improve our home and no interest.  Makes our home feel "fresh" again each Spring!  This is at least the 3rd or 4th year we have done this and we have been wonderfully disciplined in paying off the balance at tax time.  If you are not a disciplined individual...these promos could be a trap for you.  Examine yourself and be realistic if it is for you.

This year we will buy landscaping improvement products.  Nothing exciting...trying to keep the trees alive.  Also, will purchase a fridge filter, giant trash bags (since we take our own trash...very much a money saver and we haven't looked back).  We have decided what else exactly yet, I will update on our final list and what we get.  I love this time of year! :-)

Take Care and have a Happy Easter! (it's around the corner!)

Melanie

New Year's Goals for 2012

My apologies for ringing in the new year here at Thrifty and Creative a few days late.  :-)

I haven't forgot you, Thrifty and Creative...just busy with lots of other online stuff.

I am not a huge fan of "resolutions." It looks as it is the cool thing Not to be a fan.  LOL  I do; however, believe in "goals."  One has to better themselves by trying to achieve something greater than the ordinary, everyday.  For me (us) and finances...my (our) New Year's "Goal" is to pay down that same massive credit card I have blogged about before.  I suppose it is official...we have been working on that particular card for over a year now.  The point?  We aren't giving up but continuing to plan to get it paid down and eventually off.  This year...saying we get back a tax return (hopeful)...90% of it will be dedicated to that card.  From my estimate...it won't pay it off, but it will bring down the monthly payment enough to be able to pay MORE than the monthly and "snowflake" it down.  The other 10% (again saying we get a return) will go to savings and to pay off our usual Lowe's Home Improvement card (it will be less than $400 at tax time).  We always make at least one or two home improvements (small or large...depends on our current financial situation) with the Lowe's Card at Tax Time and take advantage of the 12 or 18 months, no interest specials.  We always pay off whatever remains each tax season.  I enjoy this tradition as we love to better our home and continually increase its value.  The dream?  LOL One day borrow against our home's equity and buy a second one in a foreign country for retirement.  Crazy?  Perhaps!  We have to have Goals and a Plan to reach them!  This is one of ours. 

Happy New Year!
What are your Goals for 2012?

Merry Christmas and Thrifty New Year to you all! :-)

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Thrifty New Year as well..where we all watch carefully how we spend our hard earned dollars. 

What will I do different?  Not much where month to month is concerned. 

I am, however, hoping to do well at Tax Time (Oh man...I said it..can you believe that is already around the corner?).  If I can do decent at Tax Time ...my 2012 financial goal will be to put a huge dent into one credit card that has spun out of control and caused us the financial problems we are having right now.  We are getting by and I am proud to say that, but something needs to happen with that card and that is the reason it is the goal of 2012 for us/myself.  The card got like it is for important, unfortunate reasons: Death in the family in 2010 and replacing an engine in one vehicle Summer 2011.  Both could not be predicted and nope...we weren't ready financially.  Granted, this has taught us some lessons on finance.  But we have to start with getting that card paid down (and off) and then start a "real" savings. 

Merry Christmas!

Cheers to a New Year of Smart Financial Decisions!

TV Update

Well, I did call and found out I am still in a contract from when I added HD for life til June of 2012.  No problem.  They allowed me to lower my bill still by simply changing our programming.  We still get to keep our four tvs and two dvrs.  The only thing we lose that we liked was Disney.  It lowered the bill by $40 per month.  I can't complain.  By June, either we will be doing better, or we cut all TV out like we had originally planned. 

Keep in mind, we lowered our Phone/Internet by $30 per month by making a phone call as well...this all together lowers that bill by $70.  I am happy.  Now onward on making our own Liquid Laundry Detergent. Once I do this...I will write a post update on that one as well.  :-)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Need to Lower Bills....starting with the TV

We currently have Dish Network and we love it and love DVR and all the bells and whistles; however, can no longer continue to pay it. 

We want to know what other alternatives are out there and have found a few but do not understand them, etc... We aren't sure what to do next.

I am hoping a reader out there can shed some light on this.
I have found so far, Netflix and Hulu Plus (and figured the product Roku to watch them on).
Has anyone made this switch and how do you like it?
I know either are $8 per month and the Roku (bottom price) is $59.99 (which is a streamer for either and makes it where you don't have to be hooked directly to a PC).

This is a question for anyone out there that can help us out with some information. I am looking for personal experience...you have A or B and you like it...don't like it and miss your cable/dish, etc...

Thank you for reading and looking forward to all responses on this issue.

DIY: Make your own Hand Soap!

I don't know about any of you all out there...but lately I am slightly addicted to Pinterest!
While there I have found some awesome money saving ideas from other great bloggers and savers out there!

The one I want to share with you today is Making your own Liquid Hand Soap!
I am amazed as it calls for only One Bar of Soap and a few other ingredients that aren't expensive...and whamo...you have 2 liters worth of hand soap!  I am totally trying this one as it would be nice to make something that I will not have to buy!  Check the Article/Recipe out for yourself!  If you try it..please comment about it..I would love to know of your experience.
This article and recipe comes from a great blog Titled:  Savvy Housekeeping!  I will be frequenting this blog for more great DIYs and Housekeeping advice.  I surely can use it.  :-)

Have a great October!

Yay for Autumn!

Love this time of year! 
The weather feels great.  Everything feels fresh and new.  I also have a two week Fall Break that I intend to enjoy and figure out some of our finances that I posted about last.

Good news to report...my husband is working on a drawing and I have some new listings up in our Etsy Shop!  We are getting motivated for the upcoming Holiday Season!

Click the picture above to see our new listing for Custom Photo Bottle Cap Pendants, Necklaces, Keychains and Ornaments!  We made these last year and they were a huge hit at craft shows, etc... Now we offer them online to the Etsy shopper!

I pray to continue to bring you good news on our financial status in the upcoming posts.

We have really been paying attention to sales flyers and coupons we have for Everything and believe we have saved quite a bit already from doing so. You really have to be careful not to buy things just because you have a coupon.  Unless you are Excellent at it..sometimes it is less money to buy store brand or another brand....shop around for EVERY item!!!  No matter how small the price...as you know...every dollar and penny adds up.

Happy Autumn!