Frugal Friday 537

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Friday opened Owen's spring baseball season. We had dinner at home and did not buy any concessions. We will continue this trend throughout the season. We do get ice cream after the final game of the whole season. By setting that rule the first year, the kids know not to ask and to wait for the last game for the treat.

Pitching the first inning of the first game of his first Minors Season

- Saturday and Sunday Mark was gone camping with his Scout Troop. They had a great, but rather cold for this time of year, camp and enjoyed a beautiful state park hike on Sunday.

- The kids and I did school Saturday morning and then enjoyed Cartoons for Cans at the Artcraft in the afternoon. This has been a tradition in our town since the 1930's - you take a long at least one canned good per person and receive admittance to a cartoon show at the movies. The kids love this and we also love supporting the Interchurch Food Pantry. 

- Sunday after church we dropped 500+ items at the Here We Grow Again Indy South Sale. The kids were huge helpers so I treated them to an item each from Hoosier Candy Cupboard on the way home. As the parent at home and teaching parent, most of my interactions with the kids are school based or driving them to and from activities. Mark and the grandparents are generally the ones who take them out for movies or treats and so it was fun for me to get to be the fun one this weekend! 

- Tuesday evening I went by the funeral visitation for our neighbor. Much to my delight, the kids' pictures were featured on the "Grandkids" poster which I thought was the sweetest thing. We miss Mrs. W so much already and are so thankful to have known her and loved her.

- Wednesday Annabeth made a new cookie recipe. She made cookies and homemade frosting for Pastor Susan who came over to visit yesterday afternoon. Together they planned the VBS music program for this year. I am SO thankful for a church that truly asks people of all ages to lovingly serve our Lord! 

- We took some beauty products to a Little Free Pantry. I love free samples and gifts as much as the next gal but my personal rule is that if they don't get used in the first 6 months, they get donated. 

- Last night, Mark worked four hours at a neighbor's house doing handyman jobs. They ask him several times a year and always pay very generously. This money will be set aside for incoming medical bills. 

We are looking forward to a weekend of dance! Let's go SDA!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 536

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week: 

- Saturday we had a BIG work day. The boys took care of our yard and our neighbor's yard. If you would, join us in prayer for her family as our neighbor entered the Life Eternal early Monday morning. Owen is especially devastated as she was one of his very best friends. She would have been 93 in a few weeks but that didn't stop them from sharing most afternoons telling stories, doing chores, and sharing special snacks in her garage. I am forever thankful for this dear friend. In lieu of flowers, we opted to plant a tree in her memory as we shared many hours underneath her front tree playing with the kids.  

- I spent Saturday tagging 500+ items for the kids' sale for our family and our Express people. Annabeth helped me and then also baked cookies for Sunday dinner. 

- I mentioned that we went on a Field Trip last week. I was really reminded of how far we have come on our decluttering journey. At the end, they had all kinds of handouts, booklets, and even plastic fireman hats. Each of the kids quickly knew they wouldn't use any of the items and didn't take any. 0 clutter!

- Sunday after church and a meeting, we had lunch at Mark's mom's house. Luke and Cassidy made everyone pulled pork nachos for lunch which was such a treat! Thank you all! The guys spent the afternoon working on Kristi's lawnmower and got it all fixed up for the season. Annabeth and I left a bit early so we could come home and make dinner for youth group. Different church members take different weeks to make dinner and this week was our turn. We made two kinds of pasta bakes, french bread, and homemade cookies. 

- I very much overestimated how much the kids would eat so we had leftover pasta bake for Monday lunch and dinner. I froze the rest BUT one of the children defrosted it for me again on Tuesday so we again had it Tuesday night for dinner also. We still have a 9x13 pan in the freezer. We spent around $18 on the meal and it's fed us all week plus the youth group kids on Sunday.

- Already this year, we have needed quite a bit of blood work and imaging done. Unfortunately, this is not new territory for our family I share to remind you to SHOP AROUND before you have medical scans/bloodwork done. It may not be the best deal at your doctor's office or hospital that you generally use. Always be sure to have insurance pre-approve scans as well. We have already saved over $3500 OOP this year by having imaging done at one location vs another. 

- Last night was our homeschool co-op's Spring Review. As the Lead Chair this year, I felt a great responsibility for this group and am so thankful for the 20+ women who have served us so well each meeting. It is, honestly, a relief to be nearing the end of this huge commitment. On top of homemaking, homeschooling, and working part-time this volunteer job has really stretched my capabilities and taught me a whole new level of organization. I am so thankful for these dear friends who boldly live in faith without fear of the world's reaction. 

So thankful for the Spirit led, God guided community 

that we do school with! 

Owen's class studied Marine Biology first semester and

American History second semester. 

Annabeth's class dove into Biology all year long.

We had a great week and are in the home stretch of the school year! We can't wait to finish 3rd and 7th grade strong in the weeks to come.

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 535

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Saturday Owen had his Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta. He had a great time making his red pirate ship with Mark during the week and then a great time racing his friends. 

Mr. O and his Pirate Ship

- My sister arrived for the weekend on Saturday evening. We ate pasta bake for dinner, watched HGTV, and she took Owen out on a date to the car wash. He LOVED helping her wash and vacuum out her car. I love the special time that she pours into each of my kids. 

- Sunday we did not have church, it was closed due to the eclipse, so we mowed our lawn and then headed downtown. We walked and browsed many of our small town shops. I did take advantage of a sale and purchased two gifts from one shop - I love to buy locally when I can. We did stop at one food truck and split an order of fried Oreos between all of us.

- By Sunday evening my parents were in town to. We had a great time playing lots of games, cards, outdoor games, and eating together. We all went to Vienna, IL in 2017 to view totality and were excited to all be together again in Franklin for this one. Monday the view of Totality was everything we remembered and we were SO excited to share the moment with the kids at ages where they will remember. 

Eclipse Crew

*Taken before totality so I could just enjoy the moment when it came

Oscar Chase didn't seem bothered by the eclipse at all. 

He DID enjoy sitting on Owen's chalk drawing of an eclipse

- Mark worked many, many, many hours over the weekend and through Monday. For the sake of our town, our locals, visitors, and especially allllll of our first responders working I was SO thankful for the careful planning to keep everyone safe. Mark did earn quite a bit of overtime and it will go towards a summer trip we are taking. 

- Mark took our eclipse glasses to his work. They are making a large shipment to South America for people to use there during the eclipse this fall. We were happy to recycle. 

- Tuesday morning Disney released their summer deals. I changed current clients' reservations, saving them hundreds of dollars, before the sun was even up! THIS is one of the many advantages of using my FREE travel services - I love love love to save people money! Want help with your travel plans? Message me at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com

- Tuesday evening, my dad and I took care of my neighbor's lawn. She has just been diagnosed with cancer and is unable to care for her lawn and it's our honor to care for her during this time of her life. I mowed and Dad trimmed/blew off the driveway and sidewalks. 

- Wednesday my parents treated us to a Costco shopping trip and lunch out. It was so hard to say good-bye when they left. We look forward to seeing them in a few weeks though! 

- Yesterday we took a field trip to the Survive Alive House and Firefighters' Museum in downtown Indianapolis. The staff there was incredibly kind and fantastic with our group of 45 homeschoolers! I cannot recommend this field trip enough to other school groups. I was so thankful that our friend Billie organized the trip - thank you! The field trip was free but I didn't find free parking. Total Cost: $4.55

Our weekend plans have been canceled due to the rain so Mark and I have each planned a work day tomorrow to get through a couple of projects. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 534

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we made extra money/spent money wisely/save money this week:

- We spent Thursday to Sunday down in Evansville and Owensboro. We were able to spend two whole days in Kentucky with Momaw and Lance. Thursday we went just for lunch and to visit and then Saturday we did a massive workday at her house. Mark and I did the powerwashing and were able to get the patio, walkways, porches, and driveways all done. We bought a new hose and some cleaning sprays which we will leave with the power washer -  my dad is kind enough to let us borrow it whenever we need it. The rest of the family moved furniture, worked on flowers, weeded, and completed many other projects.

- My parents treated us to dinner out at Fujiyama. It was wonderful and it just wouldn't be a holiday weekend without sushi and visiting our friend Miss Helen who works there. Helen even had sugar cookies on hand for the kids. I am so thankful for her friendship!

- Sunday we celebrated Easter at Old North, the church I went to from middle school on and where we were married. After church, my parents did an egg hunt and lunch for everyone. 

- Total money we spent on Easter - $0. We all wore clothes we already had on hand, no matching outfits here. We do not give our kids eggs/candy/baskets/etc but have always allowed the grandparents to do whatever they would like. Each year I do send Easter cards to our nieces and nephews, writing in a Bible verse or Easter hymn that is on my heart that year. All in all, Resurrection Sunday exists only because of Jesus - not a bunny, candy man, or any one else and therefore I like to keep the focus on Jesus. 

Easter 2024

- I hosted a meeting last night. I made black bean enchiladas, rice, chips and salsa, and special cookies that I only make for this group of ladies. It was one of the last important co-op meetings of the school year. I am so thankful for these women who choose to volunteer dozens of extra hours a year so the whole group can run smoothly. 

- 2,024 in 2024 Check-In. Our home is 934 items lighter and we've made over $200 selling items we are finished with! Hooray! 

This week I was reminded, twice in fact, of just how much our words and actions affect others. Both can be such a blessing, an uplifting moment to others but if we aren't careful they can also cause so much pain. My friend Lauren shared a reminder that our JOY doesn't come from the circumstances of our days but from the Lord. I pray as I move into the next week that I can let go of hurt. I pray that I can remember to speak only kind words, show only actions that support and affirm to others that they are loved, and that I can live in the joy that Jesus gives. 

Frugal Friday 533

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- A few weeks ago, Mark fixed our clothes dryer. It's been making a horrible sound for several months but we kept putting off the project because it was still working fine. We avoided the cost of a maintenance call ($90 in our area + supplies + labor) by having Mark buy everything and do it himself for just $130. 

- Friday we drove down to the lake to visit dear friends. The kids love seeing these friends on their school breaks and I treasure my visits with a friend I've had since college. Her birthday was the day before so we took along a birthday card as well as some peanut butter pie. The kids chose oranges to share as a snack. They had purchased some items from my Facebook page. I was thankful for the extra money as it helped purchase birthday gifts for April Family Birthdays.

- Saturday I spent an hour out alone and it was just what I needed. I had a meeting that was cancelled but we had already blocked out the time for Mark to keep the kids. I picked up coffee, birthday gifts for three family members, went to the library, and picked up groceries. Thank you to Kristi, Matt, and Jenn for coffee and breakfast gift cards which made my eat-out portion of the morning free to me. 

- Saturday morning Mark and Owen worked on cleaning up the backyard. About ten years ago, we put in a play area for the kids which has now become unnecessary as the play house, slide, etc have been passed on. We are not quite sure what we are going to do with the space and while we have several options, they are all pricey so we want to plan and choose them carefully.

- Saturday afternoon Annabeth baked and decorated sugar cookies for Easter. The boys took Mark's van to work and spent the afternoon cleaning it. Owen absolutely loves projects and this was his idea of a perfect day. 

- Sunday afternoon we sold Owen's old bike and helmet. A great little buddy of his bought it which made it  much easier to pass on. Typically with Facebook sales, we keep the money in an envelope that then gets used to cover dance, baseball, scouts, etc for the kids. This year though we're allowing them to keep any money earned from toys, games, bike, etc to save towards vacation. We have a very special, new location that we're headed to in January and I know know they are going to want a decent savings for it. This also helped motivate them to part with more items that they are truly finished with. 

- Sunday after church we headed to Kristi's for Easter with her. She made a special dinner, we took along cookies, and our niece and nephew told us all about their Disney trip last week. They are 3 and 5 and SO much fun!

- We had just enough daylight when we got home to get the yard mowed for the first time this season. I mowed while Mark trimmed and blew off the pavement. We typically don't work on Sundays but this was our only time to do it all week so we made it happen quickly. 

- Monday evening Annabeth took the rest of her decorated sugar cookies to dance to share with friends. There were about two dozen, obviously more than we would eat, and this created zero food waste.

- Tuesday afternoon we stuffed the treat bags for our church egg hunt. We put out empty eggs, as the tomb was empty that first resurrection morning, and then after the Bible lesson the children take home treat bags. I try to take the children along to serve as much as possible. We firmly believe that by taking our children along to volunteer and serve at church in our community it allows their faith to be moving and active. How will they learn to love others well if we leave them home when we go to serve? 

Big Purchase:

- Last week, Mark purchased not one new bike but two! Owen's birthday is in June and we had already decided that his gift would be a new bike and helmet as his are too small. Fortunately, the weather is unseasonably warm so we decided to make the purchase early so he doesn't miss the next few months of riding. Mark had also been looking for bikes and doing his research. An area bike shop had their big sale last weekend so he also got a bike and helmet for himself. I would have preferred to buy Owen a used bike as this one is not an adult size and he will need another however it was very important to Mark that he have a new bike vs a hand-me-down. I deferred to him on the matter and he made the purchase. 

Frugal Fail:

- Friday was quite busy with school, the drive to the lake, and then baseball practice in the evening. I decided that morning that we would pick-up dinner (a VERY rare treat in our house) We had some coupons and the family voted on Arby's. Even with a great coupon - saving us $15 - we still spent $35 on the meal! I was honestly in shock! I asked the cashier "Is that with the coupon?!" It was a great reminder why we never pick up food! It also helped us decide to do another "No Eat Out Meals" month in April. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 532

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Friday we spent the day down in Charlestown with our best friends. We have a system that one family drives and picks up coffee for the moms and the other family hosts and serves lunch. I picked up Coffee Crossing and we took along popcorn for a snack. 6 hours never went by so fast! 

- Saturday and Sunday was the kids' second dance competition. It was in Zionsville, roughly an hour drive from the house. We debated a hotel but the hotel prices were very, very high for the weekend plus the cost of having a dog sitter. We drove back and forth each day, packed our meals and snacks, and didn't buy any souvenir dance items to have as low cost weekend as possible. 

Annabeth in her lyrical costume

Annabeth in her jazz duo costume 

- Sunday evening we came home just exhausted from the weekend and were thrilled to cash in some Papa Johns rewards and a gift card for almost free pizza. That made all the difference as I fell asleep right after dinner! What a weekend though. Each of the kids showed so much improvement from the last competition and had a great time.

- Monday afternoon my dad came into town. He stayed through Wednesday afternoon and the kids had the best time with him! He had fun watching a bit of each of their dance classes and took them out on an adventure day on Tuesday. They cashed in some Christmas gift cards, shopped for used books, visited the library, and went out for lunch. 

- While they were out on their adventure, I took the morning to organize and enter all of my Express person's items for the Spring HWGA Sale. The sale isn't until the end of April but it felt great to get this task done so early. I will organize and enter our family's items tomorrow.

- Mark did a custom job with his Etsy business and I was up early yesterday making Disney Dining Reservations for clients. 

- We spent just $36 at the grocery for the week. For dinners we had BBQ Ribs/Homemade Mac and Cheese/Green Beans, Ruben Pizza, Chicken Nuggets and Fries (a rare treat), and Black Bean Enchiladas. 

- We did not spend any money outside of groceries, gas, and the cost of two scheduled appointments. We did stop at Miller's Dry Goods while out on a field trip and picked up some low cost baking items ahead of Easter baking season. 

- Yesterday we enjoyed a field trip to the Levi and Catharine Coffin House. Our homeschool co-op organized the trip and we received free admission as a school group. After the house tour, we made our way down the street to the Quaker Meeting House for lunch. They kindly offer their facility to school groups for a suggested donation of $1/person and also give a short talk on their local historical involvement with the underground railroad. Quakers and Methodists overlap in many ways and I admire many of their practices and beliefs so it was neat to learn more. We saved $23 off admission prices. 

We are looking forward to a really fun afternoon with friends today and then the beginning of Holy Week on Sunday. We look forward to listening this week for that Still Small Voice. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 531

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Friday we had a doctor's appointment up north so we headed to the Indiana State Museum after. By combining the trip north we saved gas vs doing two trips. We used the library pass for the museum and only paid $4 for parking. The kids spent over 2 hours at the Lego exhibit. Saved: $56

The Riley Family Homeschool 

Lego Time

- Friday night into Saturday I spent nearly seven hours training on Royal Caribbean Cruises. So far with my travel business, I have only really worked with Disney Cruise Line and I wanted to branch out to better serve my clients. Are you looking to travel in 2024 or 2025? Reach out to take advantage of my FREE services at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com 

- We spent Saturday afternoon and evening with our three nieces and one of our nephews. We had a great time having dinner with them, playing games, and getting conned into extra bedtime stories by the little ones. I am so thankful for precious time with each of these sweet kids. The rest of the adults were at the Trinity Treasures Dinner Auction. While Mark and I didn't attend, we both donated baskets to support the cause.

- Sunday after church we went to Kristi's to celebrate all of the family's February and March birthdays. It was great to have the IL Rileys in town and made celebrating all together even more fun.

- We had an $80 grocery bill this week and enjoyed the following dinners: corned beef pizza, pork roast/green bean casserole/mac and cheese, chicken Alfredo, chicken pot pie, and beef Ramen. I do not like to keep a lot of extra food on hand, with the exception of the beef and pork that we buy in bulk once each year. This week I used up some odds and ends from the freezer included the end of a bag of chicken, pot pie crust, tons of veggies, and some leftover pasta. We live right in town, a small town yet we have three groceries, so I don't feel the need to have a huge stockpile of food. We have always, even during covid lock-down, been able to find enough food for our family. I feel that having just what we need for each week forces us to eat what we have and to have very little food waste.

- We finished cleaning out the kids' closets and dressers ahead of the Kids' Sale. I listed many items on Facebook and have sold some. This always feels easier and faster than tagging for the sale so I try Facebook first always. Made: $18

- This week kicked off baseball season for Owen. He's grown quite a bit since the fall so new pants and cleats were a must - I was glad we've been cleaning out and that we had some extra money from that to put towards this season's gear. Last night he and Mark went to a local, free!, scrimmage to watch some game play. 

- Mark took a custom job for his Etsy Shop. Mark has been working his usual office hours but also many, many evenings and nights. He hasn't had the time to add a lot to his shop but has been taking custom orders as they have come in. Feel free to reach out if you have a sewing project that needs done.

- We continued working through our 2,024 in in 2024 cleanout. It feels SO exciting to color in each little box. The kids are really, really excited about this which I love!

- Last night Annabeth and I went to the Disney Princess: The Concert at Butler University. This was her big Christmas gift as we really try to gift experiences whenever possible. It was a beautiful concert and we loved having the night out together. With Mark's work schedule, drive time, etc it felt very rushed to try to eat out before so I made homemade beef ramen, a favorite of hers, to eat at home before we left. It still felt special, was more affordable, and we didn't have to rush. 

We're looking forward to the kids' second dance competition this weekend. Let's go SDA!

Happy Savings to All! 

 

Frugal Friday 530

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Mark worked a Friday night shift for the Coroner's Office. 

- We've had the warmest winter I can ever remember. Last week we got the grill, yard toys, and baseball items back out again. Mark grilled steaks, the boys played pitch and catch, and we ate some dinners on the patio. It's hard to believe we're able to do this in February and March! Thank you Lord!

- Saturday morning, Annabeth and I went to Space Day. This was a free event in our community to celebrate the upcoming eclipse. Annabeth really enjoyed learning about telescopes and looking at items from NASA. We had lunch together afterwards. It was great to have a day with just my girl!

- Mark and Owen spent Saturday at Trinity helping a friend with an Eagle Scout Project. Mark has been a leader for all of his adult life and has helped with dozens of Eagle projects both from his own troop as well as friends' kids' projects. Mark is also donating some very nice signs for the area of the project. Owen is enjoying being old enough to serve in this way as well. 

- Sunday was Mark's Birthday. His one birthday request was to be able to sleep in as late as he wanted. So, we set ourselves up for success by going to church on Saturday night and by having him open his gifts that night as well. We got him items and a giftcard to get ready for our upcoming Disney trip. Sunday morning he did sleep in and when he woke up he was surprised by Owen making coffee for him. Owen also had a "Menyou" with drink and breakfast choices as well as a reserved sign. It was such a great set-up! For lunch we headed to Mark's mom's house where she made a special lunch and we enjoyed the day with the Indy Rileys. 

- Wednesday night we had planned to grill out but Mark worked nearly 14 hours. When he got home and it was drizzling he did NOT want to grill. We used a pizza giftcard and cashed in for his free birthday treat on their website for dinner. It was a great solution and almost free!

- Yesterday after co-op, we met up with friends at a park. The kids played over 90 minutes before it was just too cold and windy (we had forgotten coats and were not properly dressed). We packed out lunches so we were not tempted to stop for fast food. On the way home, we took a long way and picked up a surprise piece of cheesecake for Mark as I still had a giftcard from Christmas. I know people say they hate gifting giftcards but I really love getting them! They help make ordinary days a little more special.

We had a busy week but tried to take lots of time for quiet, puzzles, read-alouds (we're reading Hatchet), snuggles with Oscar.

We are looking forward to a weekend and week with lots of out of town company visiting. We cannot wait!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 529

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Friday night Mark's mom came and watched the kids for us. They had dinner and played games together. While we did provide dinner, we were so thankful for this as it saved us the cost of a babysitter. We went out to the Cheesecake Factory with a gift card, also from her, that I got for Christmas. She wisely purchased it during a deal where you bought a card and got a $15 bonus card. The bonus card had an expiration date at the end of February so we had to go. Thank you Kristi!

- Saturday was the kids' first dance competition of the year. I ordered a new dance comps and coffee shirt from my friend Melissa and also took along a Starbucks drink for her. I had a reward to cash in, making the treat free!

- We arrived at the high school at 8:30 AM and had events scheduled through 10 PM. I knew we would be tempted to buy concessions or run out for fast food if I didn't plan well. We put a roast in the crock-pot the night before and ran home for lunch. We took along Annabeth's duet partner and had air fried potatoes, green beans, and the roast. We packed out sandwiches for dinner and took those along to the high school. 

- Sunday morning we had friends in from out of town. They were here over breakfast so I ran out to WalMart and grabbed mini donuts, bagels, cream cheese, and juice. I added some fresh fruit and it was a simple, no-cook, no clean up breakfast so we could just enjoy their company.

- We had dinners at home this week enjoying supreme pizza, chicken alfredo, chicken/potatoes/corn, bacon sandwiches, and chicken and fries. We had at least some of us out every single night so I went for quick, easy, and simple to reheat meals for zero food waste. By keeping fresh fruit and veggies on hand, I can always add to those to any meal quickly. 

- This week Disney World 2025 opened so I was busy with my travel business. This was a surprise to all of us as it typically doesn't open so early but I already have clients booking into next year! Hooray! Are you looking to travel in 2024 or 2025? Let's talk soon! 

- I babysat for a friend Wednesday night. It was such a joy to keep her sweet baby girl and they paid very well. This money went toward new shoes for Owen this week. The job came at the perfect time! 

- Mark worked overtime this week and also did a handyman job for a family in our neighborhood last night. I believe this is the third time this family has had him out for a simple, at least simple for him, project or two. They pay well and we always welcome the extra money in the budget. He put it towards a new camping item for himself. 

- As mentioned above, Owen was in need of new tennis shoes. This is always a very lengthy process so he and I took a few hours to do it last night. In the end, he wore me down enough that he got two pairs. Thanks to a sale and a coupon I spent $55 saving $100 over retail prices. 

- Last night, Annabeth subbed for some dance classes. Since her birthday in the fall, Annabeth has been teaching 90 minutes of dance class each week. She is paid for her teaching and the money is applied to her dance budget. This has really helped us cut down on our out of pocket costs and we are saving those funds towards the kids' Nationals and summer classes.  

- The kids did not approve any of this weeks' pictures for the blog so you'll have Mr. Oscar Chase to look at this week. Many have commented that they are seeing less of the kids on our social media. This has been at the request of the kids themselves. A few years ago, a Facebook friend of mine struck up a conversation with Annabeth and knew what all we had done the week before thanks to the blog. Annabeth was frightened by the encounter and couldn't figure out how a stranger (to her) would know so much. That conversation began a pull back of what and how much we choose to share here and on other platforms. Our kids do not have phones or social media but many, most, of their friends do. I realized in sharing whatever I wanted to share may have been putting more out there than they wanted. I know share each picture and post for approval from the kids first. 

King of the House. 

2,024 in 2024 Challenge Update: We have let go of 527 counted items AND made just over $100 by selling items we no longer need! Are you also working through this challenge? How is it going for you?

We're looking forward to a birthday weekend here - Happy #36 to Mark!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 528

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Friday we had friends up to play. Each of the kids did bit of school work, we finished the rest of Saturday, and we all had a great time with friends. We were juggling many allergies so I did a nacho bar and prepackaged safe cookies for dessert. We celebrated the January and February birthdays in the group. 

- Friday night through Sunday evening Mark camped with his Scout Troop. Due to the unexpected snow on Friday afternoon, they all go safely to the school where they meet and spent the night there. They headed on to camp in the morning when the roads were clear and much safer. They had a great, cold weekend. Mark brought home an extra package of sub rolls so I worked those into the menu this week.

- The kids and I stayed home and enjoyed the snow. Saturday evening the roads had cleared enough to head over to church for a "Jesus Loves You Snow Much" event that our Children's Ministry Team put on. It is my pleasure to serve on this committee and we had a great time with the families able to come. Annabeth made oatmeal, double-chocolate chip cookies to take for the pot luck. We went to Saturday night service after the event.

- Sunday we stayed home and cleaned house and had a school day. This worked well as we took Monday off school to be with Mark since he was off for the holiday.

- Monday morning we attended a rescheduled Valentine's Day party at my friend Katelyn's. Katelyn always does a lovely job of hosting and we had a pitch-in for lunch. We took along a cheese ball and crackers and Annabeth brought her own safe meal. Katelyn had several crafts for the kids and then they all exchanged non-food Valentine's. Our kids took along bubbles and pencils as those were items I was hoping the other kids would use and enjoy. 

 - Mark and Owen both did HUGE cleanouts over the past couple weeks. We have taken more than 150 items to donate, many items went straight to trash or recycling, and we have some to save back for the kids' sale as well. Next week I'll check in with our February totals for our 2,024 in 2024 Challenge. 

- As Owen cleaned out a lot of clothing and baseball gear, I listed it for sale on Facebook. Sold baseball pants and heart guard. I also sold two shirts. Made: $23

- As we cleaned out we have taken two HUGE boxes of items to donate. I always make a point to load up and donate either the evening we clean out or the next day. This is your sign to do the same with a donate box you have sitting around - let it go!

- I had two things come in the mail that didn't fit as I had hoped. Since I knew Owen and I wouldn't use them - we took them to return right away. The items aren't in our house now and the money is back in bank account. Do you have items that need returned? Take it today!

- Owen got his haircut this week. This is one thing that we do hire out and it's well worth it. This week he sat still enough for some cool designs. He was thrilled!

Mr. O - Feeling SO cool!

- Yesterday, we took advantage of Butler's free educational series. We enjoyed the show Radium Girls. This was listed as a middle/high school performance but Owen did enjoy parts of it. 

- Last night was rom-com movie night with some of the moms from our co-op. I'm really thankful that this year's mom's night out committee has offered so many events at different days/times as I've been able to make it to several. I took along chips and dip and we all snacked and enjoyed a movie. 

We had an unusually warm week for February and as a result spent so many hours outside flying kites, walking, bike riding, and warming up for baseball season. I am so thankful for this lovely week!

We are looking forward to the kids' first dance competition this weekend. Good luck SDA Company!

Happy Savings to All!  

Frugal Friday 527

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Friday night we went to the Dick's Outlet for spring sports gear for the kids. We found a great deal on tops and tennis shoes for Annabeth. We did find new baseball cleats for Owen that were a good sale for the brand but still much more money than I had hoped to spend. I did a quick Google search and found a better savings online. We left those at the store, ordered online, and they arrived this week saving us $35 from the outlet sale price.

- On the way home, we made a last minute decision to eat out. The kids had been very upset last week when Mark was called out right as we sat down to eat dinner. I found a $25 coupon and we took the kids to Bucca Di Beppo for the first time. Obviously, we could have stopped somewhere much more affordable but the kids loved the decor, the food was awesome as always, and with such large portions we also had it for lunch and snacks on Saturday. 

- On Saturday, Mark and Owen volunteered with the Scout making Super Bowl Subs. Their troop and pack sell this every year as a fundraiser. Annabeth spent the afternoon with Nana and they took a coupon to Bath and Bodyworks for a free lotion. Annabeth also spent some of her own money on some new soaps and such.

- Saturday morning I had a meeting with fellow MVP Travel Advisor Kiki. We went over our goals from the last month, helped each other with some projects, and set new goals until we meet again in March. Monday evening we had our team Zoom where we share ideas and learn more about our vendors. Since we work remotely, I really love these in person opportunities to work together. If you have travel plans for 2024 or 2025 please reach out at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com - I'd love to help you.

- Sunday after church Mark's mom hosted lunch for my birthday. I got to choose the menu of pizza and cookie cake. I was spoiled with a gift card to a coffee shop I love and new Mickey/Minnie bags. Thank you Rileys! 

- Monday and Tuesday were both incredibly busy with appointments, meetings, and getting into the busy busy part of dance season. I planned ahead some very basic, easy, quick dinners so we wouldn't be tempted to go out. We had two kinds of pasta/veggie bakes this week as well as BLT's. Everyone was actually happier than when I make big recipes. 

- I received my quarterly Rakuten check. I deposited into one of the kid's savings account. 

- Yesterday on the way to co-op, we realized that while we had made lunches we had forgotten the lunch bag. We went to recreation with friends for about 90 minutes after class and then left early to go home for lunch. We could have eaten out but it really, really wasn't in this week's budget so I held firm. 

I had a wonderful birthday week. I was most thankful for a nearly hour long phone call with my Momaw on my birthday. I don't know many people who have the joy of having grandparents still at my age and I am so thankful for her! The kids and Mark made a lovely dinner of cheese bread and cookies for me and surprised me with the most wonderful gift - a new chromebook! Mine has been dying a slow death for about a year, I've limped it along with a dead mouse, broken keys, and without any more updates (it's 5+ years old). I was just blown away by the surprise of a new computer for work and the fact that the kids have kept this secret for many weeks! 

We are looking forward to a cold, busy weekend

One of the highlights of the week has been kite flying.

Our neighbor Ed, who is around 90, came out to help Owen.

I feel so blessed to have such dear neighbors!

.Happy Savings to All! 

 

Frugal Friday 526

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Thursday-Sunday the kids and I spent the weekend in Evansville for an early birthday weekend for me! Hooray! It was our first trip home since Christmas and much needed.

- Friday we went to Owensboro for the day to visit everyone. I picked bagels for lunch and received a beautiful new outfit from Momaw. I am so thankful for 37 birthdays with her!!!

So thankful for my dear Momaw and Mama

- Saturday Mama, Lu, Annabeth, and I had a Girls' Day. We went to Dwell Darmstadt for brunch and then went thrifting. We shopped two stores and I only brought home two items for myself! Their stores still have dressing rooms, unlike ours here in Central Indiana, so I was able to try on. I brought home a Madewell tank that I've had my eyes on forever on the website, paid $1.99 vs $38 new, and a dress. The dress is actually the same as one I already own, and wear many many times each summer, but in different colors. I know I will get good use from it! Mama and Lu found a few items but we really hit the jackpot with items for Annabeth and Owen. Thank you Mama for treating us all!

- After church on Sunday, Mama and I went to a grocery store that is local to her but not up north. She bought the kids lots of safe treats as a Valentine's Day gift. Thank you!! If you ever want to give a great gift to a young family - buy groceries! Such a treat!

- We continued our house cleanout. Listed many items for sale. Made: $30

- I wrapped up our Winter Cards for a Cause at the kids' dance studio. Families sold 50 card boxes and earned over $650 towards class fees! I am so thankful to be able to offer this with my book business. Ask me today if you have a group or nonprofit you'd like to raise money for! 

- Wednesday night we took dinner to some friends/co-workers who welcomed a new baby last month. We made chicken broccoli alfredo, cheese bread, and Annabeth made chocolate chip cookies. I always like making this dish as it's easy to double for us to eat that same night as well. 

- Last night was set for Family Date Night, we had plans to go to pizza and then take the kids out to get shoes for spring sports. As soon as the breadsticks arrived, Mark was called to a scene. We got the pizza to go and the kids and I went home and had dinner together. We'll hold off on the shopping for when Mark can come too. 

This was a busy week. I am thankful for the warm, sunny weather but we were very disappointed that Mark worked an incredible number of hours this week. We miss him and hope to have him home this weekend!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 525

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we've saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Friday-Sunday we went to Fort Wayne for both kids to participate in the Refresh Dance Convention. Our studio requires one convention a year and the kids both LOVE this one! We booked a hotel through my travel business and saved over 50% the cost of hotels attached to the convention center. We did have about a 10 minute drive each day but the money saved was well worth it. 

Refresh Day 1 - Ready to dance!

- While the kids danced, Mark and I had a date day on Saturday. He really wanted to visit the Famous Coney Island hot dog stand so we went right at 9 AM when it opened at missed the long line of people it usually has. At just $1.95 for a coney dog it was a cheap breakfast out. We also did some antique browsing. For maybe the first time ever, we antiqued without buying a single item. We enjoyed many of the items we found but didn't feel like any of them needed to come home with us to add value to our lives. 

- Saturday evening we did eat a planned meal out. We always get Burger Bar in Fort Wayne as it's treenut/peanut free and Annabeth can have any item on the menu including dessert! We had planned ahead for this eat-out meal. 

- Sunday after we dropped the kids at dance, we drove down to the Morgan's house. Our friend Melissa's parents are kind enough to host us each Sunday of this annual Fort Wayne weekend. We split the cost of pizza with everyone and had a great day! We picked the kids up, exhausted and happy, and made the drive home.

- Our dear friend Lily was our house and pup sitter this weekend. We have had Lily house/pet/kid sit many times over the years and I just am so thankful for her! Oscar doesn't like many people but I always leave easily knowing he's happy with her. She always takes incredible care of the house too. We are so thankful for her! We also save a tremendous amount of money using a private house/pet sitter vs using a dog boarding business. 

- As we finished out January, we happily parted ways with 294 items as part of our "2,024 in 2024." The saddest items for me were two picture frames with beach pictures that I store in my closet in the winter as I rotate my decor through the year. They fell one day and both broke. One frame was from our wedding and one was from Mark and the kids for my 30th birthday. Both were very special items that I would not have parted ways with otherwise. Thankfully the pictures were fine so I saved those and let the frames go. The easiest item, was my student level flute. My nieces are both playing flute and I hope that it can be a blessing for them during their student years.

- Most of the items we let go of so far in the challenge have been donated, passed on, or just thrown away/recycled. I did list some of the kids' clothing and shoes items on Facebook. Total made so far in the challenge: $10. 

Yesterday, for the first time in weeks, we had a hint of sunshine! We cheered and ran outdoors to soak it in! I keep reading that the past 10 weeks have been the darkest weeks of the year - the sun, the light, spring is coming!!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 524

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Mark took a custom job through his Etsy Shop. I worked my travel business. 

- Friday night it was still very, very cold so Annabeth and I went to walk at the community center after dinner. Owen worked on his snow igloo out back while Mark cleaned up dinner.

- Saturday morning I had coffee with a fellow travel advisor/friend. She and I serve very different client bases and have had different personal travel experiences. We are both working towards a big goal in 2024 and have committed to meeting each month to help each other learn new things and to hold each other accountable. She taught me something I had been very confused about in our back office system and it made my life SO much easier this week with bookings! 

- Saturday night Annabeth enjoyed a movie night with church youth group. Another family did dinner and hosted, I had the fun of getting to know the parents of the family. We found we had many things in common - music, Louisville, and Disney - so it was a fun night for both Annabeth and me.

- After church and Sunday School, we took Mark's mom lunch. We all played games afterwards - Tenzies for some and Yahtzee for others. 

- Annabeth had youth group on Sunday night. Mark took her while Owen and I did the Sunday reset at home.

- Owen got his haircut for the first time since October this week. His regular gal was on maternity leave and he took the past few months to grow his hair out. Mark did some trimming at home but overall we enjoyed saving the cost of three haircuts. Owen LOVES choosing different cuts and came back with a doozy. He's thrilled with his new look: 

Cut by Ashley Dorsey

- I am cooking my way through Tieghan Gerard's Halfbaked Harvest: Super Simple cookbook. So far every single thing we have tried has been so good! This week I made her bread, chicken potpie, and lemon cod. All were fantastic!

I HIGHLY recommend Tieghan Gerard's cookbooks.

We borrowed from the library, and then got one as a gift. I love them

as I feel like a "real" cook and we are yet to try a recipe we haven't liked. 

- I made the very difficult decision to step away from leadership with my book business. I made a slight change to my role in 2022 hoping to have less stress/more flexible time but ultimately it wasn't quite enough. I will remain a Brand Partner with PaperPie and you can still shop my site here. I am thankful for the flexibility and freedom to step out of leadership in to a smaller role with the company. I will transfer those working hours to my travel business. 

Overall we are SO thankful that the cold left us this week and have really enjoyed being back outside more with 50+ degree days!! 

We are looking forward to our first busy dance weekend of the year. 

Happy Savings to All! 

- 

Frugal Friday 523

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Friday night we had dinner a home, took a long/cold outdoor walk, and played games as a family.

- Saturday we used our local library pass to enjoy the day at the Indiana State Museum. This was the kids' first visit and our first time there since our first year of marriage. It would have been $88 for us with museum tickets + parking. Thankfully we had the free pass and they gave us a coupon to spend only $4 on parking. 

- We renewed our pass to our local community fitness center this week. Mark has a free gym at the station to use, the kids obviously workout at the dance studio, and I really prefer at home videos or outdoor walks BUT the weather has turned just too cold over the weekend. It worked out well as I walked 4 days this week on the indoor track. We receive this pass for free as Mark is a city employee.

- Sunday evening Annabeth had her first lock-in with our church youth group. I volunteered a few hours and had a great time getting to know the friends she talks about from church. I really enjoyed a big all building game of tag and was proud to be the first person to find a hidden object AND beat the middle school taggers back to base! Annabeth was shocked I had those kind of skills - all of my Lakeview training stayed with me after all. 

- Monday we took the morning to volunteer with Seeds of Caring at the Madame C.J. Walker Theater. I saw many posts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s children asking people to DO things vs posting a picture and quote for his holiday. The kids loved working with this program was it was activities designed FOR kids to do. 

The kids and Mark making cards to go inside of dental kits

- After volunteering, we went to lunch with L&C, the kids, and Mark's mom. It was Miss Oaklynn's 3rd birthday and we were so happy to celebrate the sassy princess with some chips and queso.

- I won a planned from the Well Planned Paper company this week! Thank you to the owner and creator Justina Murphy for this prize! I can't wait to put it to good use! 

- I kept meal plans basic and tried to make as many items from scratch as possible. We repeated Saturday night's dinner on Wednesday. I made this white lasagna soup. I had to buy some larger containers of spinach, chicken broth, half-and-half, and so I decided to make it twice vs wasting ingredients. Always shop your shelves first. 

- I worked a TON this week. I have set a BIG goal for my business this year and after missing it last year I have my eyes on the prize this year. If you are looking for help with 2024 or 2025 travel plans - please reach out! I'm happy to help. a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com

- Mark, unfortunately, has worked a great deal of overtime this week. This winter, dreary season is difficult for SO many. If you, or someone you know, are struggling with suicidal thoughts look for help here. 

We are sad that the icy, cold weather impacted some plans for the weekend but we are confident that God has us right where we can be safe and sound. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 522

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money:

- Last Friday, the kids and I enjoyed a FREE day at the Eiteljorg Museum as we checked off the final item from our Christmas Bucket List "Jingle Rails." It was shockingly busy as more people were still on Christmas break than I realized. Thankfully, we had the free pass from the library so we can go again another time. The museum does validate parking which saved us $20. Over all, the day without the pass and validation would have been $64 - our cost - free. 

- We enjoyed several free meals this weeks thanks to generous Christmas gifts. My parents gifted us bean soup, dear friends of Mark's gifted us a DIY deep dish pizza kit, and my sister-in-law's parents sent over pulled pork and chips. Thank you all for gifts that helped our grocery budget this week!

- Friday into Saturday Owen and Mark had a lock-in with the Cub Scouts. Owen managed to stay up until 4:30 AM having a blast with his friends. They got home Saturday morning and went right to sleep.

- Annabeth entered her first art show at the library this year. She and I went on Saturday to see her piece and to see what other middle and high schoolers in our county had created. Annabeth, in true Annabeth fashion, voted for her friend Delaney's artwork vs her own for the "People's Choice Award." 

- Sunday night at youth group they did a White Elephant gift exchange. Annabeth took coloring supplies and a grown-up coloring book that was quite popular she said. She came home with some chapstick, new cup, and a new game. It was actually a game her cousins introduced her to last week and she loves! That was a fun surprise. 

- We took 30+ items to donate this week. Hooray for less stuff!

- We continued eating meals at home. We had three scheduled eat-out meals for the month but other than that we are eating at home for the month of January. Ironically, three meals out is MORE than normal but at least this is keeping us from impulse stopping for food. 

- The kids have had the BEST time building Legos, reading books, and enjoying all of their new Christmas gifts. I love that even when January is rainy and cold we always have plenty to do. 

Annabeth reading a new book from Christmas.

Oscar must have been tired - it made him yawn

- This week was grey and rainy all the way to sunny and 45 yesterday. We made a point of getting out and walking at least a mile each day. It makes such a difference in my mood when we have some fresh air and sunshine (or cold wind). Owen loves to ride his bike and happily heads out with me each day to ride. 

- I worked a TON this week as people are booking up their 2024 travels! Disney and Universal were hot places to book for spring vacations. Can I help you plan your 2024 trips? Let me know at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com

- Last night, my friend Crystal messaged about working a Southwest airline deal. I was SO thankful she helped me navigate editing our flights and we ended up with $178 in flight credit! I would have liked cash back but we'll hopefully find a way to use the flight credit in the future. I have only flown 1x in the past 15 years so I really appreciated the help learning a new skill - thank you! 

We are looking forward to a fun and busy weekend.

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 521

 Happy Frugal Friday!

On January 1, I wrote about our decluttering goal (2,024 items in 2024).

Today I want to share how we have been working to eliminate clutter in the first place. While we are in no way minimalists or trying to have "only"a certain amount of items in our home the biggest goals for me have been: easy and purposeful.

First of all, I want, deeply desire, a neat and tidy home. The best way I have found to do that, for our family, is to simply have less. Fewer toys, clothes, kitchen items, etc means we have less in general to pick up. Each day we do a 20 Minute Tidy and over the last few years we've really worked our way down to a Daily 8 Minute tidy. It does help that the kids are older and more efficient in their work but it also makes it easier to have less!

I also want to be purposeful, mindful about using the resources God had given us. If we spent most of our money on stuff, is that furthering God's kingdom? Is it sharing the love of Christ for others? Or is it storing up treasures earthside? Also, if we have things that we aren't using...sharing them CAN be a way of sharing God's love with others.

7 Simple Ways We've Eliminated Clutter

1. We sort mail immediately. We read and file important items, reply immediately to bills or letters, and we recycle the rest. We don't stack mail or keep it in files. We let it go.

2. I don't aimlessly shop after holiday sales. In the past, I would hit up stores the day after a holiday for napkins, plates, party favors, decor to hold back for the next year. More often than not we'd never even use those items. Now, I keep a list of what we actually need and also shop those sales if I truly need a specific item like tape or wrapping paper.

3. I stopped participating in many gift exchanges. I have found, especially as I got into my 30s, that between church, friends, homeschool groups, and work that I was invited to more and more gift exchanges for the holidays. Everything from giftcard swap, handmade items, ornaments, to $15 and under. Especially after COVID and with working remotely, many of these were on Zoom. I finally realized it was was really eating into our own holiday spending budget and I rarely if ever got an item that really added value to my life. I started saying "no" and you know what? Not a single person minded!

4. I have clear storage solutions for holiday decor. One large tote holds our Christmas items and it goes in a closet with the ornament totes. In our china cabinet, I have two little cabinets for all of the rest of decor for the year. Once those get full, I choose not to add more until I have sorted and cleaned out others. I really enjoy simple holiday decor and we really only have items we've thrifted together or gotten from family members, I personally don't want to load up on items from box stores to cover every surface. It means I never get that "Ah! There's stuff everywhere!" feeling during the holidays. 

5. We don't buy our kids vacation souvenirs. Thanks to dance competitions, family trips, and my job as a vacation planner, we travel quite a bit. We have always chosen to not buy our kids souvenirs. They may choose to spend their own money on items but we don't generally buy any. We typically buy each kid a shirt, or a hat for Owen, on one trip a year. If we see an item is something they really desire, we will often have one of us get it and we hold it back for a birthday or Christmas gift. We did this at Christmas with a Elvis Pink Cadillac magnet for Owen. He was thrilled! "How did you get this to surprise me?!" By having the kids spend their own money, they really weigh the options and only bring items home that they love.

6. I keep a bag in the laundry room for items that we've outgrown or that we are finished with. Items that I save back for the kids' sale go to that tote and other items fill the bag. When the bag is full, we drive and donate it that week. It helps to simply get things out in a timely fashion. 

7. We ask for, and gift, experiences. Many years my parents gave us zoo and museum passes for Christmas. These were awesome gifts that were well used and enjoyed! Our kids also love getting to go on an eat-out meal or special date with family members. We try to gift the kids experiences for their birthday and Christmas as well. We do wrap up a small ticket or item so they have the fun of opening something and then we move on to the fun!

A no-buy, stuff-free day that ended with a beach sunset

Long Beach, MS - November 2023

In the end, I hope that each family finds their own sense of peace and order in their home. Maybe you'd come in my house and be shocked by the amount of stuff you think I have OR maybe you'd laugh at my outdated decor (that I love) and think I could really update.

How are you going to make your own a haven this year? 

2,024 in 2024

 Goal: 2,024 Items leaving our home in 2024

If you've been around a while, you know we did a massive overhaul of our home in 2020. Two big things started this change: 1. We were planning to build a new house and wanted to only move things we truly loved/used. 2. I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning which completely revolutionized the way I held onto objects. Even though we abandoned our plans to build, you know...frugal living goals and all...we kept parting ways with stuff. 

Since then, we've done a decently good job of cleaning out several times a year thanks to the fun of having garage sales with family/friends and also the spring and fall HWGA Kids' Sales. As always though, we can do better.

My friend Justina at the The Well Planned Mama shared with me that she challenged herself to get rid of 2,023 in 2023 and even created a great printable tracker to see her progress. I fell in LOVE with this idea and so even though it's not yet 2024 we have started at our house! So far, since November 16, we have parted ways with 150+ items from our home. Want to join the movement? Check out Justina's 2024 Decluttering post with FREE printable to track your own goals. 

I was so excited about the idea that I presented it to the kids right away. It was the week they did their Pre-Christmas deep clean of their rooms so we counted many items that left the house then. We told Mark about it and he jumped right in with some sorting in the kitchen. Having the printable to color has made it even more fun!

If you've been around a while, you also know that I LOVE rules. I had to add some of my own to the challenge:

1. What constitutes an item? Some items like a book, pair of pants, etc felt obvious. But what about every little broken crayon from the school room? We're calling a pile of those just one item. Same with paper scraps or trash from projects. One big pile is one item on the coloring sheet. Maybe you're just beginning your own decluttering journey or want to count every little item - sounds good for you!

2. Although I desperately wanted to, I did not make any parameters for how many items needed to leave each week or month to stay on track. I wanted the others to be intuitive as to when they felt like it was time to part with something vs forced into it. 

3. Be wise in donating. I wanted to be careful and intentional about making sure items were leaving in a timely fashion, not just sitting in a box in the back of the car, and trying to get them to free pantries or the right non-profits to be most beneficial to others. 

But...WHY? Our why is based on previous success by decluttering so much in 2020. 

For one, We do a quick 20 Minute Tidy each day and often don't even need the full 20 minutes because everything in our house has a place and typically gets put in place. We do struggle with kitchen counter clutter, the kids' rooms, and our school room. Once a quarter we do big overhauls of those three rooms and it really helps keep down paper/junk clutter and every time we get faster at getting the big one done. 

And two, by having less stuff we actually want less stuff! It's true. As we have parted ways with so many unnecessary items, it's been very evident to Mark and myself that we've wasted a lot of money buying those things in the first place. Instead of buying things, we want to put aside money for experiences, travel, and opportunities. I plan to track everything we're able to sell as we declutter so we can see how much money we put back into our budget by getting rid of items. 

Christmas Day 2023

We did small, simple Christmas filled with useable, practical items for all

and it was such a joy to LOVE every item entering our home. 

Several times I've done a monthly challenge, for example the By the Numbers Challenge - 1 item on the 1st, 15 on the 15th, etc but the idea of a whole year was thrilling to me! I'll keep you posted on how it goes! 

Do you have any goals in 2024? Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!