For today’s Thrifty Thursday post, I thought I would share a fun new idea I stumbled upon this week:

Using old magazines to make homemade bows

I found this website yesterday, and got very excited. I am always looking for was to reuse old magazine, and I though this one was very creative. Now, I am not very crafty, so I was nervous to try it. However, my attempts didn’t turn out too bad. I will post pictures tomorrow when my internet is cooperating :) The instructions provided are easy to follow, and it is a fun and creative way to save money and prevent waste!

I hope you enjoy this new idea. I am constantly on the lookout for new money-saving ideas to share, and I would love to hear your recent finds in the comment section below!

This post is the seventh post in a series entitled Keys To Unlocking Great Relationships. Read the previous entries in this series here

For today’s post, I would like to discuss the power of choices, and how they impact our relationships. Many of these thoughts come from the work of Dr. Henry Cloud, in his book entitled “Changes That Heal.” Any of my classmates that read this will laugh because they know how much I love this book. I recently had to reread it for class and I was reminded again of how incredibly life changing it was for me. If I could only read two books for my entire life, I would choose the Bible and “Changes That Heal.” It really is that life changing and I wish everyone in the world would read it. If you want to grow spiritually, improve your relationships, and heal from past emotional wounds, than this book is for you.

Ok, enough of my soap box, but really, buy the book. Today, I want to share some thoughts I have been having as a result of reading this book namely:

We are responsible for our own thoughts, feelings, actions, desires, behaviors, and choices. We are NOT responsible for the thoughts, feelings, actions, desires, behaviors, and choices of others.

a. We are responsible for our own thoughts, feelings, and actions. No one has the power to make us feel or do anything.

b. Yes, we should be sensitive to how our behavior affects others, but ultimately we are not responsible for how they choose to react to our choices.

c. In the same vein, we have the power to choose how we will react to the choices of others. People may do things that hurt us, but ultimately we are responsible for how we choose to handle this pain. Although this truth can sound harsh, it is actually quite empowering. We are no longer victims of our circumstance. Yes, we may feel sad about other’s choices, and we need to allow ourselves to mourn and be angry about the sin of others. However, we must not get stuck there. We must use this hurt and pain to motivate us to action.

There is so much to say about this topic, but I just wanted to share a basic overview on the idea of choice. If we remember we are free to make our own choices, this releases us from the bondage of resentment and martyrdom. If we remember that we are not responsible for the thoughts, feelings, desires, and behaviors of others, we are freed from guilt and over-responsiblity. These concepts have revolutionized the way I relate to those around me.

Understanding the power of my choices and having a proper view of my responsibilities has freed me to love authentically in that I am no longer motivated by guilt or fear.

For today’s “Trying To Be Healthy Tuesday” post, I thought I would share some of my organic vegetable gardening research. As I have mentioned before, I am planning to start a porch garden in the spring. Although I usually kill all things green (I even killed a cactus once), I am arming myself with as much research as possible, in hopes of being successful. I may fall flat on my face, but I am going to give it my best shot.

I am so excited about the possibility of growing my own food, even if it is a small amount. First, I would like to share my motivations behind why I want to start a garden. For me, it is more than just a hobby or way to save money. After sharing those reasons, I will post links to the helpful sites I have found so far.

Reasons To Consider Growing Our Own Food:

1) Fresh food is the most nutritious and versatile food option.

2) Eating home-grown produce saves money on the grocery bill.

3) Producing and eating our own food reduces our carbon foot print.
This is a big one for me. Gardening will reduce my consumption of packaged and processed food. This will reduce the amount of waste I generate.

4) Growing our own food increases our awareness of where our food comes from. This makes use more conscious consumers.

5) Gardening allows us to reuse household items and waste that may have previously ended up in a landfill. (i.e. composting or using old baskets as containers)

6) If you have children it can be a very educational experience.

Here are some sites that have helped me start this journey:

–Here is an introductory/how-to basic article.

– Organic Gardening.com- great articles here on creating your own seed pots and here on gardening in a small or urban space. This site is by far the most comprehensive resource I have found. So much great information!

-Davidson County Master Gardeners- this information is specific to my geographical area. However, if you Google search the Master Gardeners in your area, they will most likely have similar information.

-Find inexpensive and creative container ideas here. Craigslist would be a great place to look for these items

For today’s Money Monday post, I would like to share with you some quick and easy ways we found to cut our monthly bills significantly! As I have mentioned before, my husband and I recently finished Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class, and since then, we have been on a journey to save money and pay down debt. Today, I would like to share some creative ways we have found to reduce our monthly spending to help us achieve our goals.

1) Stop the drain of phantom energy.
This means unplugging things you aren’t using. Even if something isn’t on, if it is plugged in, it will still drain energy. For us, this looks like turning off the power strip that the tv, entertainment devices, and computer are hooked to. We also unplug all the small kitchen appliances (except the microwave) when not in use.

2) Pay attention water usage
We are really being intentional about trying to use less water. For us, this has meant turning off the water when we are brushing our teeth, and taking shorter or less frequent showers. We also only run the washing machine or dish washer when they are full.

3) Make using less into a game
Set a goal for how much you want to save each month, and reward yourself if you meet your goal. Get your family/roommates involved, and it can really be a fun challenge instead of a duty. For example, set a goal of reducing your electric bill by $20 a month, and if you do, use $5 of those savings to buy ice cream and toppings at the store and have a special ice cream party at home.

4) Review your insurance polices/get new quotes
This was a huge one for us. We did not want to signficantly reduce our coverage, but we were able to find plans that better fit our current needs.

5) Check you cell phone plan
This was also a big saver for us. We realized we were paying for minutes and service that we were not using. We were able to step down to a lower plan and save $20 a month.

6) Reevaluate your miscellaneous monthly bills (magazine subscriptions, cable, ect)
For us, this meant switching to rabbit ears instead of paying a monthly cable bill. You have to find what will work for your family, but there are often ways you can cut spending by doing without a service for a short time in order help you reach your financial goals.

7) Reuse, Reuse, Reuse
This is an area where you can really be fun and creative. Some of the more innovative ways I have found recently include, never having to buy wax paper again by saving the bags that come inside your cereal box. If you wash them and save them, they work the same as wax paper. Another idea is to save junk mail and use it as printer paper (if it is one-sided).

I hope you enjoy these tips, and I would love to hear your money-saving ideas in the comment section!!

In an effort to do some of that “practicing what I preach” stuff I talked about last week, I am going to give myself the freedom to write a shorter post today. Letting go of needing to be perfect is a day-by-day process :)

Today, I would like share a list of a few things that have inspired me recently:

1) But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.
~Vincent van Gogh, Dear Theo: An Autobiography of Vincent van Gogh, 1937

2) ” Passion can be defined as the deep response of the soul to life: the freedom to rejoice and weep…(Romans 12:15)…It requires open-hearted, other-centered, reckless involvement”
-Dan Allender

3)“The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is be still”
-Exodus 14:14

4) Sara at My Frugal Fun life.
She is authentic, bold, and relatable. A friend shared her blog with me, and I have truly enjoyed reading her. Her story is beautiful, challenging, and encouraging.

Today, I would like to share an additional way to cut your grocery bill. See previous posts on this topic here. In today’s post, I am going to share with you some easy ways to maximize the benefits of a store that doubles coupons. First, I would like to share a picture of what I purchased yesterday on my trip to Harris Teeter during their “Double Coupon Days” event.

Here is what I purchased: 5pack Kraft Mac&Cheese, A can Hunts tomatoes, a box brown rice, 2 packages tea, muffin mix, always pads 18 count, .62lbs chicken breast, Buitoni pasta, butter, cooking cream, 2 packages Kraft cheese, one small Parmesan cheese, Greek yogurt, Activia yogurt 4pack, 2 dozen large eggs, silk almond milk. Total Retail Price before coupons/store sales= 58.92.

ACTUALLY SPENT 16.05. With store savings and coupons that is a TOTAL SAVINGS OF 42.87!!

What I am trying to illustrate here, is that using coupons is actually worth it. You can get both items you need and items you want for excellent deals.

Here are some tips for creating your own double couponing success:

1) Know the coupon policy of the stores you normally shop. For example, my Kroger and Publix always double coupons up to 50 cents. This is a huge help in savings because it doubles the value of most coupons!

2) Make sure you are aware of any stores in your area that offer “Double Coupon Days”, and stock up during these rare events. However, be aware that some stores may limit the number of coupons you can use per visit. For example, Harris Teeter, only allows 20 coupons per visit.

3) Make sure to only use coupons that would not be doubled normally (unless that is an unusually low sale price on an item). For example, when Harris Teeter has “double coupon days”, I only use coupons that range from 55 cents to 1.98. This is because the stores I usually shop at already double coupons up to 50 cents, thus I would rather save those coupons for other stores whose prices are generally cheaper than Harris Teeter.

4) Come in with a plan. I take some time to pull out all the coupons that I think will be the best value according to the guidelines above. I also visit blogs that match store sales with coupons.I used The Deal Scoop to help me prepare for my recent Harris Teeter trip.

These are my tips for maximizing the benefits of special coupon days!! I would love to hear your ideas in the comment section. Also, if you could share what stores you have found that offer special double or triple coupon days.

This post is the sixth post in a series entitled Keys To Unlocking Great Relationships. Read the previous entries in this series here. Today, I would like to write about a thought I heard in class yesterday:

“We should glance at the past but gaze at the future”

I think this is especially true in relationships. Perspective is everything. It is vital to understand how our past experiences influence our current behavior. Yet, we must not get stuck in the challenges of the past but instead we can use the insight gleaned for looking at the past to empower change in the present. We can use the knowledge we gain from examining the past to fuel our healthy choices in the present. Striking a balance between understanding the past and focusing on the future is an important part of healthy relationships. Thinking about this has challenged me to ask myself these questions:

About the past:
Have I adequately “glanced” at my past to understand how it affects the way I relate to others?

On the other hand, am I allowing myself to get caught up in the past by focusing too much on how my previous relationships affected me?

Am I allowing my former relationships to taint this relationship? Do I have expectations based on previous relationships that are unfounded in my current situations?

Do I have any areas of unforgivness in my life that are chaining me to my past? Are there any steps I can take to begin the process of forgiveness in order to break those chains?

About the present:
I am intentionally building new memories and healthy communication patterns?

Have I spoken to those closest to me about my fears stemming from past relationships? Are they aware of where I am vulnerable, and have we discussed ways we can work together to create new healthy patterns?

Am I taking time to intentionally grow the connections in my life?

About the future:
Do I take time to dream about the possibility of wholeness or healing in my current relationships?

Am I excited about the direction my relationships are going?

Do I have a vision of what I want my life to look like in 5 or 10 years?

After thinking about these questions, I found that I focus a bit too much on the past. I want to take some time this week to allow myself to cherish the present and dream about the future.

Today I would like to write about something that I feel is an essential ingredient to a healthy life:

*Celebrations*

Too often when we are trying cut spending and/or calories, we forget to celebrate small victories. Maybe it’s just a one pound change on the scale, or realizing that you drank 8 glasses of water today, but we must remember to reward ourselves for a job well done. Rewards are vital to staying motivated!

However, when I first started my weight loss journey, my problem was, that my celebrations always revolved around eating unhealthy food. I always thought if I went to the gym, I got two extra cookies at dinner. By doing this, I was shooting myself in the foot and derailing my progress. I am having a similar experience in my journey to wiser spending. After achieving a goal (say passing a large exam), I used to reward myself with expensive dinners out or beauty treatments. Don’t misread me, these things in and of themselves are not wrong, and it is very important to make room in both our budgets and our health plans for occasional splurges. What I am saying, is that I often used celebrations as excuses to blow my calories and my cash.

Now, I am trying to look at celebrations in a new light. I am trying to find rewards that support my goals instead of sabotage them. (Note: this doesn’t mean that I never have cookies or pedicures, I just make sure those items are planed for if I choose to use them as a reward.)

Here are some ideas for budget and fitness friendly reward/celebration options:

1) If you need to relax, ask your family for some extra help and take time to do yoga or take a relaxing bath.

2) Wishing you could pamper yourself, but don’t have the money for a spa treatment? Visit your local dollar store; they often have great deals on hair, nail, and bath supplies. Another idea, if you have a significant other, plan a “massage trading evening”.

3) Achieve a fitness goal? Instead of celebrating with dinner out, use that money to buy a new exercise DVD or fitness accessory.

4) Keep yourself motivated to achieve your nutrition goals by checking out kitchen gadgets at your local thrift store. You can find some great deals on fun, new-to-you kitchen items (I call them grownup girl toys)

5) Looking to fuel the fire of your spiritual growth? Ask your friends and family for book recommendations and then see if they would be interested in starting a temporary book trade. This way you can pass on books that have been helpful to you, and spark good conversation.

6) Achieve a financial goal? Treat yourself by having an intentional celebration night at home. Try out a new or special recipe and spend some time talking with your family about how good it feels to be making progress towards financial health.

In any journey, when you have a long way to go, it is easy to just mark a goal off the list and begin focusing on the next challenge. We must remember to celebrate our progress and be grateful for how far we have come.

I would love to hear you thoughts on ways to have goal supporting celebrations.

Since today is a holiday, I am taking a break for normal Monday theme (which by the way I have renamed, just Money Monday. From now on Monday’s posts will focus on a variety of issues related to financial health).

As this Valentines Day draws to a close, I was grateful to remember that the love of family and friends can celebrated everyday. This morning I was listening to the Black Eyed Peas song Where Is The Love, and this line stuck out to me:

“If you never know truth than you never know love”

This reminded me that we all long for a perfect love, and this is a longing no human can satisfy. Today, I am grateful for the love that only a Savior can bring.

For today’s faithful Friday post, I want to share some thoughts I have been having about authenticity.

For me, this word is both beautiful and challenging. On some level, we all long to relate authentically to those around us. We long to be fully known, yet also fully loved and accepted. We yearn for a community in which we are free to be 100% ourselves.

Recently, I have been writing quite a bit about both knowing and accepting ourselves. What I keep coming back to is that I must practice what I preach. Upon reflection, I have found that usually what we are most passionate about; what we most long for others to experience, is ultimately what we wish we were experiencing ourselves.

Although I am still wrestling with all of what that means, I think it has something to do with the fact that writing this blog has called me to a new level of authenticity. It is scary to write what you are passionate about, because you begin to hold yourself to new standards. I have found myself longing to have it all together, so I can be more of an “expert”. I realize now that this is not how I want to approach this process and that I need a paradigm shift. Passion should be about journeying with, not being an expert over.

As I am still seeking to find my authentic voice in the blogging world, I challenge you to ask yourself:

Where have you lost your authentic voice?

Are there places in your life where you are caving into the pressure to be something other than who you were created to be?

I have felt the pressure of the world in a couple of areas of life this week, and needed to remind myself to “practice what I preach”. Part of doing that is forgiving myself for my mistakes, and seeking the grace I need to make better choices.