You'll soon be dancin' a Molly-style jig when you discover all the treasure to be found in this month's Molly's Money-Saving Digest!
Join Molly as she shares a rainbow of fun, frugal ideas and explores ways to make money from home. What should you think about when considering a home-based business? Need some ideas to get started? Molly and her special guests will assist you!
Reel in some extra dollars to pay down debt, save for an emergency, and even fund a vacation! Entice your kids to learn resourcefulness with an entrepreneurial spirit along with Amanda Bennett!
You'll also find a variety of inexpensive projects, tips, informational links, creative ideas, easy recipes, and a whole lot more!
Each monthly Digest contains a Special Feature--an in-depth look at a specific topic.
Molly's Money-Saving Digest's special feature for March is:
Making Money from Home
If you've met Molly Green, you know that she's a mom, just like most of you, on a money-saving mission. She's learning how to make the most of what she has, while encouraging keepers at home, in the midst of our challenging economy.
May your heart be light and happy;
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always
Have a coin or two inside!
-an old Irish toast
It's time for happy hearts, big smiles and Making Money from Home with Molly! This third edition of Molly's Money-Saving Digest is full of new, creative ways to provide for your family's needs while remaining within your budget--just what you expect from Molly!
"I have already learned so much from this month's issue! What am I excited about?
Bentos--I want to make one of these nifty oilcloth lunchbags! No, actually several! These look simple enough for even me to make!
Lunch box food ideas--sure, we homeschool, but what about those field trips, scout outings, picnics in the spring and even lunches eaten on the run while headed to lessons and appointments!
Paying off debt and starting an emergency fund! We don't have very much debt, but do we really want any debt at all? I want to make mine disappear!
Decorating tips--I want my home furnished in something besides schoolpapers, schoolbooks, and a few piles of unfolded laundry, don't you? I can tell that I will keep buying Molly's digests, because she covers so many topics near and dear to my heart."
Start digging up opportunities with Molly in this month's special Digest! Take a peek at the riches you'll find:
Learn the "four Ps" of making money from home! There are still opportunities for resourceful, optimistic people who are willing to work hard. But as you do, don't forget the true value of being a homemaker for Him (page 4).
An exclusive interview with author Amanda Bennett (Amanda Bennett's Unit Studies) who shares about her current writing project and more in the "Parenting that Pays" column, about raising kids to be resourceful and creative (page 11). Put some of her ideas into practice with your family and expect great things to grow!
Brown-Bagging It! Here's a bunch of fresh, fun ideas for packed lunches with many informational links. Have you heard of bento (lunch-in-a-box)? Get recipe ideas and learn all about these cute homemade oilcloth lunchbags (page 5)! Toss the soggy peanut butter and jam sandwich idea and try some tasty alternatives!
Find these discounted items for March and put more dough in your cookie jar (page 6)!
Pay off your debt and build a small emergency fund! Continuing from last month with the next step toward a healthier budget-part 3. To help you figure out which payoff scenario to use, you'll want to play around with the free download debt reduction calculator (link provided on page 7). What a great feeling it will be to be totally debt-free!
How about a little edible decorating? Think of ways to creatively display your fruits and vegetables! Try pretty fruit displays, hanging baskets, decorative bottles and potted herbs (page 8). Keep an eye out for unique treasures that are both functional and decorative.
Reasons to celebrate! What calendar dates will you acknowledge and celebrate in March and April? How will you do it? Choose from an assortment of fun food, game, party, and craft ideas! Join the kids for a St. Pat's party! Check out the web links for even more ideas (page 10)!
A repurposed old door becomes a pretty, useful bulletin board! In Something Old-Something New, artist Jeanne Winters describes this transformation project complete with photos! You have to see it (page 14)!
Making Money From Home--this month's feature: Feel confident when researching home-based business opportunities! Enjoy these three special guest articles from inspiring women who are experts in their fields:
Working From Home: Is It Really Possible? By Jill Hart, founder of CWAHM (Christian Work at Home Moms) (page 15);
So, You Wanna Be a Freelance Writer? By Michelle Medlock Adams (page 18); also Quick Query Tips for Selling to Magazines! (page 19).
Homestead Originals:A Barthuly Family Business By Donna Rees, General Editor of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine who also shares a few marketing tips (page 20).
Do your homework before working from home! With creativity, flexibility and perseverance there is money to be made from home, but you need to ask the right questions first! Explore many possibilities of popular home businesses with many links to help guide you in the right direction-in the areas of crafting, writing, desk jobs, and practical skills (page 22). Don't miss this!
Pare down your grocery spending and save big within a year! In the Goal-Getter Spotlight, Betsy, a farm wife, set aside money she saved toward a trip to Europe with her husband (page 26). Perhaps you can do it too!
"How do you make money from home?" One of Molly's readers, Stephanie, shares about her excellent stay-at-home job of cake decorating. Find out how she does it (page 27)!
Molly's Question of the Month: To be answered in the April issue: Have you or your child(ren) experienced non-traditional alternatives to physically attending a college full time after high school? Molly would love to hear from you!
Don't miss next month's special feature for April . . .
"Making a Frugal Fresh Start"
What others are saying about Molly's Money-Saving Digest for March 2009:
"Molly and her contributing authors make living frugally look fun and free rather than confining and boring. I consider myself fairly frugal (in the areas I want to be anyway) but came away with several new ideas that I can't wait to try out."
-Carie Shinn, TOS Review Panel
"Have you heard of Molly Green?
She's the cartoon version frugal queen.
She'll help you keep your hard-earned dough.
The more you'll save, the less you'll blow!
There's a lot of information packed into this digest for those who want to work at home. It's just so hard to get by these days on one income, and, though it's possible, it's not easy to homeschool when both parents, or a single parent has to work. Working at home can really be a blessing when you know how to do it! Let Molly and her friends show you how!"
-Diane Hornbeck, TOS Review Panel
"I love Molly's ideas for inexpensive home decorating and re-purposing old items! Home decor is an area where I'm always looking for new ideas. Molly helps inspire my creativity! Molly's Money-Saving Digest for March 2009 is full of great ideas and encouragement. You won't want to miss it, especially if you are trying to get out of debt or looking for a new way to supplement your family's income."
-April Elstrom, TOS Review Panel
"This issue brings me right back to my days of sitting in the Dave Ramsey classes--it introduces and encourages the concept of paying down debt by using a snowball principle and creating an emergency fund. It also features an interesting interview with famed unit study author Amanda Bennett, on the topic of Parenting that Pays . . . Amanda shares her own testimony of raising kids who went on to build their own businesses and become very successful at them, along with worthy ideas on encouraging our own children to do so."
-Angela Sackett, TOS Review Panel
"During these times of economic trouble, it is refreshing to find a resource filled with ideas to not only save money, but to make money as well. This issue is overflowing with sound advice and great ideas to boost your income from home . . . I was so thrilled to see the coverage of this topic in the March 2009 edition of Molly's Money-Saving Digest. If you are considering working from home as a way to boost your income, then you will want to be sure to get this issue of Molly's Money-Saving Digest. It is what I would term a Must-Read Publication."
Begin with the Basics: an overview of a basic skill, from bread making to composting.
On Sale This Month: a roundup of merchandise that is typically discounted by month.
Keeping It All Together: practical home organization.
Feather Your Nest Frugally: seasonal and frugal home décor.
Pull Up A Chair: thrifty tips and recipes for hospitality.
Parenting that Pays: basic parenting principles that don't cost a cent to implement.
Something Old--Something New: repurposing items for your home.
Goal-Getter Spotlight: families who have met big goals by staying on track financially.
Readers Write In: pertinent input from real families.
Molly's Question of the Month: send in your answers for possible inclusion in future Digests.
Words Worth Saving: a parting quote or verse relating to finances and stewardship.
You won't want to miss Molly's Money-Saving Digest's upcoming features:
Making a Frugal Fresh Start--making small changes for big results in 3 areas.
Kindergarten to College--preschool activities; a primer on homeschooling; and a look at college alternatives.
Buying, Insuring and Caring for a Used Car
You name it, Molly will be learning about it. In fact, she'd love to hear your ideas for topics to be featured!
"By the time you hit the end of the March Molly's Money-Saving Digest you will be making fantastic and scrumptious lunches, decorating with ingenious repurposing techniques, entertaining with Irish spirit and you'll feel equipped and educated about where to look and how to succeed in a home-based business. Don't miss out on this wealth of knowledge and creativity. Be sure to get your copy."
Molly has a wealth of information & support to share for an incredibly low price!
$4.95 is such a small price to pay compared to the great benefits you'll receive and the money you'll be saving once you dig into this E-Book! You'll more than recover your investment as you are encouraged to keep going strong in your commitment to the Lord and your family.
Are you ready to do-si-do
into Saving More with Molly?
Molly's Money-Saving Digest
for March is only $4.95
Once you've read this E-Book we know you'll be anxious to start
As one of the co-creators of The Schoolhouse Planner, I am so happy that it is finally available for purchase. It truly is a wonderful planner and one of the few out there that is interactive, meaning you can personalize the pages BEFORE you print them out! The planner contains forms for managing your home as well as your homeSCHOOL!! Please feel free to leave a comment if you have a question about the planner and I'll answer you here on my blog UNDERNEATH your question.
... Kris
We are so excited to announce that our much-anticipated Schoolhouse Planner is READY!
The Schoolhouse Planner has so many wonderful features. You told us what you wanted in a planner, and we have delivered!
Some of the main features include:
Calendars in various forms - yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily
Planners for your homeschool - in various styles to meet your individual needs
Household planning forms
12 "homeschool must-know" items, one for each month of the year
12 essays from some of our favorite authors in the homeschool community - you absolutely won't want to miss these!
24 easy main-dish recipes from some top homeschoolers around the nation
and so much more!
PLUS, the Schoolhouse Planner is interactive! You can type right into the pdf! If you have Adobe Acrobat, you'll be able to save the changes you make. (Note: If you only have Adobe Reader, you can type in your planner information, print it, but will not be able to save these changes.)
Don't forget, monthly planner add-ons are available for purchase every month. We already have some great holiday related information ready for July's planner supplement!
We're there with you each month to make your home and school planning as easy and fun as possible throughout the year!
Have a friend who likes an organized home and school? Let them know about the Schoolhouse Planner.
________________
We want to say a very special "thank you" to those of you who pre-purchased the planner.
If you pre-ordered the TOS Planner, you will receive download instructions within the next 48 hours. Watch your inbox! If you haven't ordered your Shoolhouse Planner, now is the time to order your copy. The new school year is quickly approaching!
I have so enjoyed the four months that I have been Senior Editor of HomesteadBlogger.com, but I have another part-time job with The Old Schoolhouse that is taking a lot more of my time. This has meant that I have not done justice to this site and so I have decided to step down and turn over the position to someone else who blogs here regularly .... Chas! This month will be one of transition and so things may be a bit behind (like the Featured Blogger). Please be patient this month as we change things over and Welcome Chas as our new Senior Editor! She'll take over officially on May 1st!
Subscribe NOW to reserve your set of these INCREDIBLE 25 BONUS gifts, before they're gone, again!
Our most popular subscription promo is back this Spring and in full bloom! It's our 25 for $25 Spring Promo and you don't want to wait. Our Winter gift promo sold out early, so subscribe NOW to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine before these fantastic gifts are gone. From preschool to college, we have it all - let us deliver it to your mailbox. You'll not only receive four terrific issues packed with encouragement, resources, and ideas, you'll receive over $550 in BONUS gifts from these popular homeschool companies:
Hand of a Child - 6 month super membership
Schola / PHONICS Road to Spelling and Reading - A Brief History of English Spelling E-Pamphlet
God's World/World Magazine - 4 free issues of WORLD Magazine and 2 month's worth of WORLD Magazine
Kinderbach - Discover Music Package, five lessons on DVD & activity e-book included
Adorned With Modesty - Proverbs Paperdolls Books I and II, 16 Short Sermons and a $3.00 coupon.
KT Graphics - Free month subscription to Helpme2teach.com
Knowledge Box Central - Declaration of Independence CopyWork Notebook and a Human Heart Lapbook
Homestead Originals - Homestead Simplicity e-book
Clark Health – Educational Health Audio
Vintage Remedies – Kitchen Herbal e-book
Knowledge Quest - What Really Happened: A Collection of Historical Biographies
Remembrance Press / The Gift of Writing - The Girlhood Home Companion E-sampler and The Pebbly Brook Farm Stories mp3 download
Systematic Math - DVD Math sample lessons for 6th grade and up
Deeper Roots Publications - Encouragement for Home School Moms book
LGS Services, Inc./Little Giant Steps - Auditory booklet, Heroes DVD, plus, a free Auditory Processing Test Kit
Motherboard Books - Silly Animations e-lesson
New Harvest Homestead - 5 Free issues of their newsletter
Internet Safety Editorial - Free 12 month subscription to Safe Eyes
American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. - K-12 Social Studies lesson plans America's Heritage, Adventure & Liberty
Paws N Tales - Free MP3 Download of Paws & Tales Episode
Math Facts Now - Math Facts Now! computer program
ALEKS Corporation - Free 1-Month of ALEKS Math (for new users)
Teach Magazine - A free e-newsletter and e-book "Organizing Happiness"
Write Shop -Free e-gifts! 224 StoryBuilder Cards, WriteShop I sample lesson, and coupon.
Homeschool in the Woods – Artists Activity Pack
Subscribe NOW to reserve your set of these INCREDIBLE 25 BONUS gifts, before they're gone, again!
Don't Miss Out on the New TOS Digital Magazine Subscription!
With TOS's new digital magazine, you will get to enjoy all the same great content as the print edition of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, but in a new format - digital!
Want to know why you'll want to subscribe - even if you already get the print edition?
Instant delivery - No waiting for your mail to arrive.
Huge savings - At $16.95, the digital subscription is 32% less than US print subscription price, 43% less than Canadian print subscription prices, and 65% less than international print prices. If price has kept you from subscribing before, you can't go wrong with the huge savings on the digital subscription.
Helpful links - No more running to the computer to check out an advertised product or website reference. One click and you're there!
Exciting features - Print or email articles to share with up to five of your friends.
Fun, dynamic format - Flip through a real online magazine, not a pdf file.
Never lose your magazine again - Save all your TOS issues to your computer.
More of what you love - Enjoy the same high-quality content and beautiful design of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine print edition.
I have received several submissions, but I need a LOT more!!
I'd like for YOU to nominate YOUR favorite blogger to be a Featured Blogger of the Week! I think it would be nice for all of us to get to know someone that fellow HomesteadBloggers really like, so email me your nominations and I'll get them lined up to be featured! Let one of your favorite bloggers know how much you like their blog and nominate them today!
With the digital subscription, you save money and also get your magazine before it is mailed to you! If you are an international homeschooler, here is your chance to FINALLY be able to subscribe to TOS at an incredible price! Here are the details that I received in my email this morning! This week, pay only $10.95 for your 1-year subscription and receive $379.66 worth of items including 19 free gifts and 5 bonus items! To view the 19 free gifts, click here - you can also subscribe from this page. But do this before 3/18 because the price is going up on 3/19!
Order during Week One 3/12 - 3/18:
Pay only $10.95, receive our Fall '07 digital back issue and the following five E-Books:
A blogger recently said that she'd like more control over moderating comments. I have emailed Tech Support about the issue and will let you know what I find out. However, in the meantime, you CAN moderate your comments. Here's how:
When you receive the email saying that you have received a comment on your blog, you can click on the link to see what has been said. If you'd like to delete that comment, and are logged into HomesteadBlogger, you should see the options to Edit or Delete that comment right under the comment itself. It's that easy!
You have the right to delete anonymous comments if you wish. Also, you can respond to the comment by clicking on the Edit button. Leave the comment intact and just answer it above or below.
If you have any questions about this, please just ask and I'll be happy to look into it for you. I understand that some of you would like to be able to moderate the comment BEFORE it appears on your blog, but I'm not sure that that is in the script of this website. I'll have to wait to hear back from Tech Support before I can respond to that. Either way, you still have to read the comment before you approve it (like people can do at Blogspot) or decide to delete or edit it (like you can do here).
After being in the position of Senior Editor for a few weeks, I feel that I need to take a moment to comment on one little thing. If you are having trouble with your blog, the best place to start is the Contact Us page. There was a question as to whether this form is working or not, but I tested it and Tech Support got my email. Our Tech Support team is part-time and some of them know different things than others, but they do their best to get back with the blogger within 24 hours and, more often, sooner. This is NOT a big site and so support is not online 24/7. We would appreciate your patience while we try to get an answer to your problem.
Now, if you don't feel like you've heard back from Tech Support within a reasonable amount of time, the next step is to email me directly at senioreditor@homesteadblogger.com and then I'll get in touch with them again. I know that recently a blogger had emailed me, but I never got those emails. PLEASE be patient and courteous in your emails to me and Tech Support - DO NOT assume that we are ignoring you ... it is likely that we never got the email for some reason. I do NOT have a "spam" folder and I check my delete box regularly, just in case. I can't imagine how many "lost" emails are hanging out there in cyberspace somewhere .... hmmmm .....
Remember, you can get more with a little honey than you can with vinegar ! And, finally, a note of "thanks" emailed to the people trying to help you goes a long way to making our jobs worthwhile. I'm doing this because I want to be here in this community and I'm spending many more hours online than I originally thought I would be ... and it's fine with me and my family because I like you all so much and am having fun learning so many great things. However, it is nice to hear someone say "thanks" for helping them out.
So, on that note, it's time to return to our regularly blogging schedule - have a super weekend!
I've been giving this some thought and I'd like to change the At Home with Kris editorial on Friday to also be a post that shares what is going on here at HSB and what you are involved in around blogland. For example, I'd like it to include the following:
- links to giveaways! Have you heard of a great giveaway? Then email me and let me know about it so that I can spread the word!
- I'd like to share news about online study/devotional groups. So, if you know of a great resource for this, tell me about it!
- FREEBIES!! We all love a good freebie and so I'd love to highlight those as well as some posts from some "professional" frugal shoppers. Email me a link to your post where you share some of your great weekly finds.
- Home remodeling and decorating. Have you bought a fixer-upper? Are you remodeling or redecorating your home? Then post the pictures and tell me about it so that others can see what you have been up to!
- FAMILY EVENTS - births, anniversaries, weddings, etc. If you'd like to highlight someone special in your family, I'd like to help!
- anything else that you'd like to share!
I can't promise that I'll be able to include EVERY link that gets sent to me, but I'll try! The Homesteading Newsletter will no longer come to your box each month, but I'd like to keep a community news post running on the porch at least 2 times monthly. So, I'll continue to share my thoughts on various things, but I'd also like to spotlight what I'm reading here at HSB each week. My email is in the sidebar, so don't hesitate to share a bit of yourself with everybody.
Well as 2007 is coming to a close, so is my time as Senior Editor of HomesteadBlogger and the Homestead newsletter. Sometime today, there will be a new picture on the front page.
I just checked and I first came to HomesteadBlogger about eighteen months ago on June 14, 2006.
I have learned SO much from you all. And one of the main things I've learned is just how important it is to keep things simple. This past year I took a promotion with The Old Schoolhouse and I am now their Senior Marketing Manager, as well as a contributing writer. With Tony, the boys, homeschooling, one old horse, four dogs (a stray beagle has stuck around and is now lovingly known as Foofer), ten cats, twenty-something chickens, and over forty acres, the time has come for me to cut back on some responsibilities.
It's sort of bittersweet because I have so cherished my time with all of you - sharing, learning, and dreaming homestead dreams. Yet I'm also thankful for how this is going to free up a little more of my time and attention. I knew when I didn't "have time" to leave comments, join in the Homestead Carnival, host contests, or choose Featured Bloggers, that I just didn't have time to do HomesteadBlogger justice. And you know, I still have a lot of Lessons to Learn on the Farm!
I've found someone though who is going to do a FABULOUS job. She was one of the very first bloggers I ever met over at HomeschoolBlogger. I think she set up one of the first blogs at HomesteadBlogger too (although she deleted it and started over with a new one a month ago) She's wonderful with templates. She loves, loves, loves blogging, reading blogs, and commenting.
So without further ado, I'm happy to introduce you all to...
(drumroll please....) Kris Price!
Kris Price is happily married and homeschooling two wonderful kids. She has many interests - Proverbs 31, blogging, frugal and simple living, healthy living, papercrafts, knitting and crochet. She enjoys leading the church youth group and helping with the local 4-H Honor Club. Kris still has many things she wants to learn - gardening, soap and candle-making, to name a few - and dreams of retiring in a "cozy cottage" in the woods someday!
Kris is officially taking over for me at HomesteadBlogger so please take the time to stop by and introduce yourself to her. She loves to read about all of the homemaking, frugal, simple living, healthy, natural, homesteady stuff and I know that you all are going to be a blessing to her, just as you have been to me.
I'm reminded of a quote we had on the porch a long time ago - The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it , but what he becomes by it. ~John Ruskin
Thank you for investing in this Unlikely Homesteader's life and for what you've helped me to become. I'll see you around the blogosphere... May your 2008 be a wonderful one!
Stop by to check out the great posts she's collected on, well, a little bit of everything . Also wish her a Happy Birthday, as she'll be turning 18 soon!
Join us on the Front Porch to talk about anything and everything that has to do with homesteading! Catch up on the latest news at HomesteadBlogger. Chat with our Front Porch Team as they blog about their favorite topics. The Front Porch is the heart of our community. Make yourself right at home!
! And, finally, a note of "thanks" emailed to the people trying to help you goes a long way to making our jobs worthwhile. I'm doing this because I want to be here in this community and I'm spending many more hours online than I originally thought I would be ... and it's fine with me and my family because I like you all so much and am having fun learning so many great things. However, it is nice to hear someone say "thanks" for helping them out. 
Kris Price is happily married and homeschooling two wonderful kids. She has many interests - 
. Also wish her a Happy Birthday, as she'll be turning 18 soon!
Happy Birthday, Amanda!!!
