A Coupon Organizer for Regular People

I'm not a hard-core couponer, but I appreciate saving money. So the other day when I sat down with a stack of inserts, I needed a plan. At one time I had an accordion style file folder, but it must have run its course because it has disappeared. :)

This cheap photo album/brag book has been sitting on my shelf for awhile (i.e. years). Of course there are no actual photographs in it, so I decided to give this a whirl. 

4x6 notecards are what I inserted into each page. Quick and easy. Sticking with my don't-make-this-harder-than-it-needs-to-be approach, I found categories on Pinterest and considered if they would work for us. I changed them around a little bit for my purposes.  Each category is written on the card in 3 different places, because you never know where your coupons are going to land. 

I can use the front and back of each category to store coupons, and since I don't have 12 million coupons to organize, it's easy to see what I have. 

One thing I was worried about was functionality. I love a cute book, but would it be easy to utilize in the midst of a shopping trip with children fighting over who should be pushing the cart? Turns out it's very easy to turn the pages, because they have that plastic covering and just enough stuff in them to give some structure. On the spot it worked quite well and I was pleasantly surprised. 

This was one of those purely-practical projects.  Straightforward and simple. 

Sometimes it's best to just focus on the basics. 

I don't know how long this thing will survive, but so far I'm pleased. It's a functional, inexpensive, reasonably sized solution. It makes me happy to know I have a place to go with my coupons when I'm organized enough to gather them up. 

Happy average-person couponing!  ;)

When Your Dreams and Your Reality Are Staring Each Other Down

Last week Hearts at Home inspired me to write about giving yourself permission to dream. But today we need to pause for a moment and think a little about how this fits into where God has us now....

Planning.  Plotting.  Preparing.  These are a few of my favorite things.  I’m way better at coming up with an idea than I am at following through on it.  So I have a few. 

And some of these ideas have turned into big dreams and goals and there are moments in the past handful of years where I am so ready to put 1,000% into making these goals a real part of everyday. 

Then what happens?

Well, a whole lot of reality, usually.  I joke all the time that if I were independently wealthy, I’d be so much further on my plans.  But I’m not.  So crazy-things like the need for a paycheck sooner than later, tend to crop up as a reason to go to work instead of writing queries for a book deal.  And it’s not just money. One of my kids gets sick and ends up needing a surgical procedure.  How bout a big event at church or my work week doubling in hours due to its seasonal nature?  

Then there are the really huge things.  

Waking up one day to find that if my marriage doesn’t get some life-support ASAP, it’s not going to be around to see the book tour happen.  Dealing with family deaths and stupid diseases that we don’t understand.  Small children who ask if I can read them another story and I can’t say no.

photo credit: Fabio Bruna via photopin cc

Here’s the thing.  I am a huge fan of identifying your passion and running with it.  I know that this requires sacrifices.  No question.  But there are some years where it’s not an excuse.  It’s a really good reason to put family first.  There are some seasons of life where it might be better for you to put the dreams aside, just for a little longer, so you don’t miss something that could make your ministry even stronger.  There is a time and a place for everything.  …..  And being a really intentional parent or friend might need to come first for a time.  

This is not a guilt trip.  Exactly the opposite.  If you are feeling pulled in two different directions, don’t be afraid to let your kids or your husband have the best of you for a while if that’s what your family needs.  Sometimes really taking care of those things is even scarier than pursuing a big dream.  

Trying to fix a marriage or figure out what your kids need is incredibly hard, but making that your big goal for the year can be abundantly more fulfilling than a book tour, or a big speaking engagement.  

In fact, it might be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.  

But it might also be the best thing you’ll ever do.

#LetGodShowYouHowToLoveYourFamily 
#BigDreams

#TheMinistryOfBeingASpouse

#TheMinistryOfBeingAParent

Has some hard-headed Reality stepped right in the way of your big dreams? Have you found a way to make peace with that? Share your story to encourage someone else facing the same thing.

For Dream-Seekers Like Me

Life is constantly about making choices. Sometimes those choices are easy. Sometimes they are really hard.

One bossy factor when it comes to making choices is that there are only 24 hours in a day. Somedays this seems to be the bane of my existence. Having to make a choice between 2 or more things because I just don’t have enough time, often feels like failure. If I don’t have enough time to mow the yard that doesn’t usually tear me up. But having to tell someone you don’t have room in the schedule can be torture.

Over 2 years ago I found myself looking for a way to earn some money while working at home. I had a tiny little boy and 2 older girls. Between doctors visits and school involvement and my husband’s company, we agreed that a job outside of the home was just not feasible. But direct sales seemed to be calling my name and my favorite company by far was The Pampered Chef.


photo credit: Bruce A Stockwell via photopin cc

I had NEVER wanted to be in sales. I didn’t want to be pushy, I hated the idea of talking people into something they can’t afford, and I was scared of the NO’s. But it turned out it wasn’t like that. I DID believe in the product and knew that it was a worthwhile investment for anyone who spends more than 5 minutes in the kitchen. I had a boatload of support from the company and my director. And I learned more than I ever expected about how to succeed - at anything.

During my 2 years of selling Pampered Chef products, I attended conferences, met inspiring women, and found a confidence in myself and my abilities I hadn’t felt for years. I learned time management skills, organizational strategies, and a lot about rejection. I toughened up, but at the same time I softened to the the very different kinds of life circumstances people find themselves in... that sometimes can lead to great accomplishments.

I’ve made a decision that I will no longer be selling Pampered Chef because my circumstances have changed. There is a new plan for my 24 hours these days and I think I’d be better off as a hostess than a consultant. (Lucky for my new consultant, I have also developed an addiction to these kitchen tools. ;) As I wrote the letter to my director explaining this latest difficult ‘choice,’ I was surprised by the swelling of emotions in my heart. Whenever we have meetings we talk about the great friendships that we’ve made in this business. And I always agree. But until the possibility of not seeing these people regularly is presented to me, I might not have realized quite the extent to which they were blessing my life. No matter what field of work you are in, the people always make the biggest difference. Today that truth fills the room I write in.

People’s experiences in direct sales vary widely. I know this has everything to do with the people they work with and the product they sell. But my experience has been incredible and I will always defend the possibilities and dream seekers that flourish within this arena.

Farm Work?

When Brad and I were dating, I asked him if he wanted to be a farmer like his dad. “No, not really.” “Ok, great,” I responded. “Then our relationship can proceed.”

I didn’t want to marry a farmer. I didn’t want to be tied to the weather and the busy planting and harvest seasons. My Mom worked at a grain elevator and my dad farmed.  I knew what kind of work was involved and what kind of schedule these people kept. I was not interested.

This makes it all the more bizarre that I last August I took a job as a farm-hand for my dad. I like to call myself ‘Personal Assistant to Hofbauer Farms’. But we joke that really my title is “lackey.” Either way, I’m back on the farm.

This was an unexpected turn of events for all of us. It was out of a conversation Dad and I had about 2 years ago. He was looking ahead at the need he would soon have for more help, and I was looking ahead at the need I would soon have for more income.  Neither of us wanted a full-time solution. It’s seasonal and that works for me. He’s flexible and that’s even better. I need someone who will understand when I can’t get

there until after the kids get on the bus. And he needs someone he can trust.

I think it’s working out pretty good. I’m kind of used to the way he does things and we get along. I’m enjoying the work, actually, and the escape from my job as CEO of my family. I’ve really come to appreciate so many things about manual labor and long underwear and my dad’s tendency to plan obsessively.

The last few weeks I’ve been working more and more as we get closer to planting season. It’s just a busy time of year. It’s been hard to go from working a day or two a week outside of the house, to working some everyday. This last week was really rough. I did not have a good plan in hand before we started. So we had late suppers and meltdowns and piles of laundry.

But we’ll get the hang of it. I’m nervous as planting season quickly approaches. It will be a very different year for our family. I don’t plan on making this a career, though. We joke about me taking over the farm, but there are just too many huge decisions to be made. I’d much rather be support staff.

It’s funny to think of my aversion to farming 20 years ago. Now here I am learning how to back up a wagon and put together planter parts. Almost wishing I’d done more of this in high school. And while my husband and I are making no plans to put fencing up on our property, I can certainly take advantage of the opportunity to find even more reasons to appreciate the farmers in my life. They are strong, hard-working, and fearless.

The To-Do List

Today on Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa writes a devotional about being real with people about what Jesus has done in our lives.

I need to be real with Jesus today, about how unfocused I’ve become this week.

Wasn’t it only Sunday night that I joined with a large group of women from my church and relished the Christmas message? Wasn’t it just last week that we celebrated Thanksgiving and all we have to be thankful for? Shouldn’t I BE FOCUSED on what is important right now?

But I’m not. How quickly the message goes in one ear and out the other; crowded out by my to-do list. I predicted this in Sunday night’s devotional. I identified the realities that overwhelm our Christmas season and make it hard to celebrate what Christmas is all about. And just like that: I’m there.

The cell phone breaks, the oven is on the fritz, my cough won’t go away, the bank account is shrinking, there are meetings and calls to make, the girls need new clothes, the baby has a well-check appointment, and the laundry is ridiculous... my list is endless.

It’s like your list. I’m not whining about all I have to do. This is my life. I love it! I love that I have an oven and a cell phone. I love that my girls are growing and I need to find them some new clothes. I love that my baby lives in a country where I can get him vaccinated. I know Brad makes enough money to support us and our bank account will be just fine.

It’s just that... Well, it’s like the sign I saw in a store yesterday: “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” There is so much going on... so much to think about. I found last night I couldn’t go to sleep because I was still on auto-drive. And time in the Word? Ha! Not even close.

Lysa wrote something else in her devotional today:

And don't fret trying to figure out how to arrange the perfect situation… Just tell Jesus you are willing. He's very capable of handling all the details. Our job is obedience. God's job is results.

I’m glad that’s God’s job and not mine.

Lord, I am REALLY unfocused on you right now. Things are already getting a little out of hand, here and it’s only December 2. I need you to step in RIGHT NOW and get me right with you. I need to be motivated to look to you first, before I look at my to-do list every morning. I need to pray before AND after I go into Target (or whatever store), that I can be positive, responsible with our money, and a witness of your love and patience – with my kids and everyone else I interact with. Lord I know you can make these things happen. I’m handing things over to you.

Amen.

Money Motivation

I've tried a lot of things over the years when it comes to gaining control of my money, but I think Dave Ramsey may be on to something here.

This afternoon I had an hour or so to myself and worked on the last step to October's budget. Usually I don't get to this part. It's the step where you look at what you ACTUALLY spent compared to what you INTENDED to spend. Yeah, it doesn't take much to figure out why I always avoid this part and just start "fresh" on next month.

But I've been trying really hard the last few months and today I sat down to take note. So it turned out that I didn't stick to the numbers in each category, but I DID stay within the overall budget!! This is a big deal. We have very little expendable income, but something always comes up. This month "it" was $90 for Tamaflu for Clare. I'm sure there were other bigger costs not exactly planned for. But I didn't have to borrow money from other accounts or anything. And I'm motivated by this.

Ramsey is right about needing to take things in small steps so as not to get discouraged. And even though we really really have to watch every penny, it's starting to get kindof fun. Since I'm home a lot I have the opportunity to find a way to make it work. Praise the Lord!

Dramatic Change

This week I got my hands on a Dave Ramsey book called Total Money Makeover. As a salute to the concepts, I borrowed it instead of rushing off to buy it with money I don’t have.

My brother and his wife introduced me to Ramsey years ago when they took a Financial Peace class – another book and study that Ramsey has authored. Bradley and Beth were very inspired by it and without doubt, it has changed their lives. Recently my friend Alison reminded me of the wisdom of his ideas, and I’m glad she did.

Ramsey’s idea is that no one has to live a life with debt. In fact, he contends, if you rid your life of debt, you will be happier, freer, and richer. Our culture feeds and nurtures the idea that you can have what you want when you want it, and also the concept that ‘debt is a tool.’ Ramsey argues both these points and gives a blueprint for how to get out of debt (yes, all of it) and how to move toward building wealth. His goal isn’t just to have money, but to have money to give away. He supports much of his approach with God’s word, as well as advice he’s gotten from “your grandmother.” In the past, saving was much more popular than it is today. Last year’s financial crisis should have brought all of us to our knees and forced us to live lives of a more reasonable standard of living. This may have happened for some, but I haven’t seen the dramatic turnaround in society’s attitude that I was hoping for.

We’ve climbed out of some nasty debt, partially due to Ramsey’s information. Now I’m ready to take on his ideas full force and really commit to living without credit cards and, hopefully, to delay gratification until I have saved up for the things I want. I haven’t had any money to spend the last few weeks anyway. I might as well make this a conscious exercise in self-control. I am really motivated by what this could mean for us as a family.

We’ll see how it goes. Ramsey stresses over and over again – this is hard. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. This is not something that will happen this month. It’s a complete change in lifestyle and person. It takes months and, really, a lifetime. Meanwhile, I’m selling everything I can find in my house that I don’t really need or feel sentimental about. The first step is to build up an emergency fund of $1000 (cause emergencies will happen, and my credit card shouldn’t pay for them). Then I can start, little by little, paying off outstanding debts for good, and not reopening those accounts again.

Sounds kindof crazy, doesn’t it? Yep. Doable? I think so. I know people who are doing it, and I’m reading about a lot more. They are people my age with way more debt than I have, and they’ve made it work. With God – we can probably do it too.