Abundant Springs

We’ve created a tentative budget – which basically includes what bills need to be paid each month along with budgeted items.  Like Amy @ Home Sweet Simple Home, we’re following Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (I highly recommend this resource!)  We still need to track every penny spent to find our leaks but we think we’re pretty sure where to plug the hole (eating out, “Stuff”)

I was also able to de-clutter some in the past couple days.  My Mom will be selling some of our “stuff” at her church’s yard sale this weekend.  It has helped to get things out of the house.

 I still struggle with PAPER but I’m trying to get a handle on that as well.  Anyone have a good organizing tool for paper? I’m using a tool over at Talk-a-Latte – Organization 911! Help for the Messy Mom ~ that I think will be beneficial for all my Messy Mom needs but any helps/hints/tips, etc are always  appreciated!

I have quite a few  unfinished de-cluttering projects ~read piles of stuff in each room that is currently undergoing de-cluttering~ but I hope to be tackling some of these over the next few days.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though which is really nice.  A lot of donating, tossing and re-purposing have been done and everything seems a bit more manageable~ not so overwhelming.

I’ve asked my husband and two older kids to write down foods that they’d actually eat if I cooked it.  So, I’m slowly building a list of menus that I can implement.

DD2 & DS0 are home with me and I struggle to get things done while attending to their individual needs along with everything else that needs to be done.   When DD16 &DS11 get home from school they are big helps.  DD2 loves DS11 and he’s very good with her.

I’ll post more as and when.

Tracy

I begin my planning in earnest.

I need to get so many things in our home under control.

There's a budget to be made (and followed), de-cluttering to be finished (I'm on the 5 year plan!), menus to be created (with things my family will actually eat and we can afford), a home travel business to build (I was waiting to go full tilt until after Nathan was born...now he's here), quiet time to find, a Bible study to lead, kids to take care of ~ a husband, too!

So many things and I have no idea where to begin.....

With this blog as my accountability partner, I'll post my accomplishments as they occur.

Find joy in your day,
Tracy 

Amy over at A Clean Heart has a wonderful challenge to de-clutter with The Colossal Clutter Clean Up prior to the Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge beginning on April 1st.

Today, Amy posted a challenge to be clutter free for 30-days.  Take a look HERE and see if it's something you'd like to do with her.

I'm almost famous for buying unnecessary items each time I go shopping.  I'm especially lured in by a discount sign (50% or higher get me all the time)~ and let's not talk about clothes.

So, I'm in....NO unnecessary items for 30 days~ starting......Now!

September is National Preparedness Month!!

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.

I found this really neat site from Homeland Security.  Ready.gov

They have checklists and downloads and even an area created for kids so they can learn the importance of having and following a family plan.

Since our area is frequently threatened by hurricanes this is a site I'll be taking a closer look at in the near future.

Enjoy the day!

Tracy

Wednesday's are usually my busiest and longest day.

There is so much to do in a day and this one is cut short for me.

• The kids are home from school an hour earlier;
• I have to go over the materials for my ladies book study  (we're currently reading Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George - I highly recommend it!);
• We leave early for church to help out with last minute administrative needs or just to help serve dinner.
• I stay after service for Praise Team practice.
• and I still have to "redeem the time" and do all my daily chores

The last bullet is probably where I fail the most.  I find that with everything else going on around me that I don't focus enough to get it all done.  That's why I'm currently working on a routine, a system, a notebook, an anything to help me get organized. 

Tracy