Oh my, where to begin? Life is stressful right now. Good, but stressful. Enjoyable, but stressful. Why are things so stinkin' expensive? I mean, I think about how much I spend on groceries for only three people. Not just food, but diapers, diaper genie refills (who wants to smell poopy diapers all day? Not me) baby wipes, ink cartridges for the printer, shampoo, cleaning supplies, toilet paper. I mean...c'mon! Does it ever end? No, it doesn't.
I am having to jump through HOOPS to get medicaid and foodstamps. To make a long story short, I sent in our applications, apparantely I had an appointment on the third which I didn't show up for, because they never even informed me about this so called appointment. So I've called them SEVEN times and left SEVEN messages. They haven't returned my calls. And we really really need the help. I'm looking for a job, but its hard to find a job where I can bring Mae. I went to Golds Gym the other day to see if they were hiring (thats where I worked when we lived in Utah. I worked at the daycare and it was perfect) but they aren't hiring right at the moment, but she told me to call in a couple of weeks. She had me come in and meet her and fill out an application, so I guess thats a good sign.
ANYWAYS, what I would really love is to be able to work from home with my etsy shop. I am doing a complete shop makeover, complete with new name and everything. I'm working on paintings and I hope to have my new shop up at the beginning of next month. Its hard though, finding the time to sit down and paint when Mae's napping is so sporatic. Some days she just refuses to take one. Plus, my back/neck and bones are really messed up right now, so sitting down to paint is rough. I'm in pain all day long. I feel like I'm 95.
I know I'm complaining, but honestly, life IS good. We have a roof over our heads, good friends, loving family, food in our tummies, and most importantly, the Gospel.
What I would love from all of you is any advice you have that has helped you through rough times. Is coupon clipping REALLY worth all the trouble? How in the world do I start my food storage when I barely have any money to buy groceries for everyday? (Has anyone else felt the urgency to be prepared? Its been bugging me for the past six months) etc. etc. SERIOUSLY. Any advice would be well appreciated!
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7 comments:
Ha. I get to be the first to comment. You see it's late at night and I just finished editing too many pictures so that I could update my blog. I feel for you on the work part. Just pray for some help and see if it's what you are supposed to do. I want to get ahead as well and am considering a night job but will it affect my time with my children? Since being at home with our children is our greatest work, I think if we skimp and save and try our best to live within our means and pay our tithing and be the best moms, then all will work out. You do have a lot on your plate right now but just remember what really counts in this life. As for the food storage. You are one of many of my friends that have the Spirit telling them it's time to prepare. It's "raining", so to speak, and that feeling is the Lord pushing you to be ready. The Last Days are here and they are terrible and glorious all at once. Your food storage is the most valuable thing that you will have and it will be worth finding the way to get it. Coupon shopping is okay. It's takes time and I know that there are internet sites that show you how. Buy two of the staple foods when you go. Look for the things that your family will eat. (The days of wheat and barley are pretty ancient now with the new food storage out there.) Pray for guidance and do your best. The Lord will bless you because you rock. He'll show you the way because He knows your situation. Just follow the promptings of the Spirit or you will always feel anxious and unprepared and that's no way to live. Prepare ye every needful thing (including your spirit) and you'll feel ready and at peace. Wow. Look at me go on. I'll try to send you info as much as I can. I promised myself that I was going to try and be a better friend so here is my start. PS. I would love one of your Save the Boobs t-shirts one of these days when I can afford it. PSS I will get to your awesome pic with some color changes asap.
Love,
Me
Yeah, we all have these times. Fortunately I married someone who is almost incapable of getting discouraged or tired of it all. So first, I would try to remember that hard doesn't equal bad. Two separate things. So see if times are really just hard and not really bad. Clipping coupons is a badge of honor that you can rant to your children about forever. And when they come to you with this same question, you say, "Oh, I know! Your father and I used to sleep under newspaper to keep warm! If we did it, so can you!" Which leads me to the best news. It won't always be like this! As for food storage, I just picked up 2 or 3 extra cans of whatever when I went to the store. Also PB and oats. All good things that are cheep and will keep you alive, yet won't break your budget during the non-disaster times. Good luck. You'll do great. I believe in you, Peter.
Melissa,
Sorry this will be so long! I have been just as frustrated as you. I want to save money in every possible avenue & get my savings up & have no debt. The children book business has actually been taking off like wild fire. They say that during an economic hardship, educational items sore. I can say that I have never been busier. I only work at night & some saturdays so it's been great for me. I make well over $2500 a month & I only work about 3-4 hours a night (depends on drive time) to talk to people about children's books. I have at least 2-4 parties a week. I am home during the day to take care of my kids needs. I "work" while my son is napping & my daughter is at school. (making phone calls, training, entering in parties on the website, etc.) I am hoping that this next year will bring me over $4000 a month. I've only been doing this for a year & a half! Anyway, if you want more info check out my website at www.Jennifersbooks.com or email me at jennifer@jennifersbooks.com and I'll answer all of your questions if you want. I'll even tell you how to get parties without knowing people where you live. That's my plug for making money & still being a "stay at home mom".
Now, for coupons. I just went to a class on this & I am really excited to implement the things I learned. Before, I wasn't saving much & I was spending too much time clipping coupons. There is a program in Utah that makes it all easier. I would call your local newspaper & find out if there are any websites out there in AZ like this. (or google "coupons", "grocery store")
Or get your local ads. It will take more time w/the ads but you'll still save. Anyway, she keeps a folder with 5 months of coupons in it. She marks the dates on the pack of coupons you get for that sunday. She doesn't clip them until she needs them for that week. A lot of websites out there will have the local grocery stores ad online. Then they will list the items on sale. Next to this, they will have the sale price, the coupon price & then how much you are actually paying for the item. In the coupon price section, it will sometimes have the date & coupon pack it came from. Like in Utah, we get 2-3 packs of coupons in the paper. On the front in the upper corner it says the name of the printer of the coupons. Like one pack is Smart Source, so in the ad online it will say 10/8 SS. Then I go to my coupon folder & look for the date of 10/8 & then find the Smart Source coupon pack, then the coupon & clip it. This lady showed us her reciepts & she spends $40-$70 a week on $150-$250 worth of groceries. Including, diapers, wet wipes, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc! She said that it would take about 4-5 months to get that good at it, but you will start to see savings at once. She only keeps the coupon packs for 5 months & then tosses them. She said that's about the life span of the longest expiration on the coupons. She also gets 5 papers to her house, thus 5 coupons. So she buys in multiples. Thus getting her storage set up & then shops from her pantry for dinner. You have to use a coupon with a sale to get your bill down this far. She gets a TON for FREE!!! Like yogurts, if they go on sale for .50 and you have a coupon for 2 for $1.00 off, then you buy 2 and they are FREE!!! We have a website here called Grocerysmarts.com (enter code "g84rcm") that lists all of stores ads & we take that shopping with us. If you are picky about certain brand name items, then yes, you won't save as much, but if you can buy that item in any brand, you'll save a TON. Another good website that YOU can go on is Couponmom.com. She lists national grocery stores ads. Download her 10 page book for free & it will help you out a lot too.
I don't know if this makes sense. I can go into more detail if you want to call me. Email me at jennifer@jennifersbooks & I'll send you my phone number. Can you imagine spending only $50 a week and getting your food storage with that? That would be a lot of money saved to apply somewhere else.
Another good website is www.couponmoms.com with a "s". There's couponmom.com and couponmoms.com
well after all your lonngggggg comments I feel like mine will look wimpy! just to add to Jennifers is that I also just went to a coupon party last week and I am going to try it this week it is kind of confussing for me but sounds so great at the same time Nick is going to help. You can look on my blog and click on Janae and Craig this is a girl I work with and she also went to the party and went shopping that same week and she post a blog about it and pic's it is amazing how it looks. My problem is that I only have a small pantry and no room for a food storage. I can also show you another blog to go to when you come down if you want and try to explain the whole thing. It is definitly hard right now with the whole economy thing causing thing to be so expensive. My dad alway told me you can't just start at the top off the ladder you have to climb up one step at a time. I am always an ear way for anything you need. I hope that they get on the program with you guys health insurance so you can get in and check out your back!Just take a deep breath and I know that you will be blessed in many ways. Keep the gospel. Thanks for being such a good example! Love ya see ya soon.
I don't have anything profound to say by anymeans, I just want you to know how much you have made a difference in my life since you moved here.
It is HARD really HARD but it is worth it and honestly I am ALWAYS willing to listen or take Mae if you need time to work.
Melissa- go to my blog and click on the link to Bargain Moms. They list all the best deals w/ and w/out coupons for the Phoenix area every week. We should get together and I'll show you how I get TONS of groceries and other stuff for free. CVS is your friend! Seriously. If you're interested, I'll show you it all. I have just about cut my grocery bill in half!
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