Company Girl Coffee...4-17-09

Sanctuary on a Shoestring...pretty well sums up my life, that's for sure! There are a LOT of things I do to save money - Once a month cooking, shopping at the you-bag-it grocery stores, shopping at discount stores. BUT something that has made a huge difference is that our kids receive an allowance. How can paying money OUT save money? Before we did official allowances, we would buy things for the kids. Nothing major, but a new CD or DVD, a cute t-shirt, etc. With 4 kids, this could add up fast. We switched to an allowance system so the kids could learn to budget their money and prioritize how they wanted to spend it. They get a pretty generous allowance ($2 for each year of life) at the beginning of the month (coincides with hubby's payday). They are encouraged to tithe, save, and then spend the rest how they would like. They have learned quite well how to make their money last. I didn't mention, but if they want to buy food at school, they also must use their own money. I learned long ago that when they had "lunch money," it typically went to buy a brownie, a pack of donuts, or something else as nutritious as those options. Instead of lunch money, we provide sandwich fixings, fruit, veggies, drinks, etc. This has been a lifesaver for us. When we're shopping and they want something, they think very carefully about it, knowing it will cost THEM and not ME.

Wishing you all a very blessed weekend!

Cheryl

Praying today for: Dora, in CCU and very frail; John & Sharon, leaving tomorrow for an 8-week trip to Europe; Randy & family, auto accident.

Antiquated?

Apparently I'm antiquated.  I was watching Oprah today - a rare thing for me, but they were discussing teens and s-e-x.  They said that 1 in 5 teens will have sex by the time they are 15.  I don't know about your 15 year olds, but MY 15 year olds aren't even allowed to date.  This means they're not having sex.  That really goes for their friends, too.  The conversation centered around two 14 year old teens, freshmen in high school, who "love" each other and want to take that next step "because we've done everything but intercourse."  Much of the conversation dealt with preparing them for sex.  Oprah's friend, Gayle, piped in, saying that they are TOO YOUNG and that they shouldn't even be entertaining the idea.  AMEN, Gayle!  Oprah immediately called her thinking antiquated.  Sigh.  It is so disturbing to me that someone with so much influence will not use Biblical teachings as a basis.

I think I'll go pray for America's teens.  Again.

What to do with leftover Cadbury eggs?

(Not that there would be any leftovers here!)

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=17252662001

Company Girl Coffee, April 3, 2009

Welcome, ladies!  I hope you have had a productive week.  I have been busy, and I'll admit the Home Sanctuary tasks have been hard for me this week and I have had to get very creative.  Sad to say, but today to gather trash or donations, I cleaned the fridge.  When did I buy this fresh broccoli?  I'm thinking it was for the twins' birthday party last month and it never got made into a veggie tray.  Why is this new'ish bag of potatoes mushy?  Is this sprouting sweet potato the same one I bought around the holidays?  If not, where did it come from?

*Warning: political opinions ahead*

In other news, if ya'll take a close look at your recent paychecks, you'll probably see what we saw this week:  a little note stating that due to the economic bailout plan, federal taxes have gone up effective immediately.  Higher taxes, California's 10% paycut, and an IRS bill.  I guess this is the economic stimulus that we've all been hearing about.  The only stimulating we will be doing in the economy is buying more Top Ramen and less fresh broccoli.

In spite of my rantings, we ARE blessed,

Cheryl

Praying for:  G., hip replacement surgery; R.B., double bypass surgery; E.C., results; Praise: N., ovarian mass is NOT cancer!; B., PET scan today; safe travels for those traveling for Easter (us included!).

Musings

The State of California recognizes Cesar Chavez's birthday (March 31) by giving its state employees the day off.  Um, Happy Cesar Chavez Day?  Funny.  They no longer recognize Abraham Lincoln's birthday or Christopher Columbus Day.  Why is this?

And why is it only acceptable to share liberal views?  Seems that those of us with conservative views get bashed for speaking up.  Of course, if I believe in the issues that go against the Bible, I am welcome to share them openly.  Why is this?

I think I'll stop my pondering now and go sew some Binkies.  Track meet this afternoon and it looks like we're going to have perfect weather for it.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Praying today for:  L, K, T, midterms; B, PET scan on Friday; N, seeing a specialist on Friday/ovarian mass.