Saving Money

I have gotten out of the swing of saving money, but trying to get back into the hat of being thrifty where ever I can.

My latest task will be to cut down my grocery budget. I am currently spending $300/month for Myron, our three girls, and every other weekend a handicap adult we take care of. So not too bad, but I use to be around $200/month. My goal is to take $50 off next months, then $50 more after that.

I use to plan my meals out ahead of shopping; example, Tuesdays were left over nights, Thursdays were kid's favorite nights, Fridays were food storage nights, Saturday were for things that took a long time like maybe Pizza.

I did a little with coupons, but now trying to do better with this. So any tips would be wonderful. Today I found Yoplait yogurt for $0.48 and a coupon for $0.55 off! I have heard of deals like this coming around, but haven't personally found any. Sure helps me have more motivation to get into couponing.

Any ideas on how to cut back on groceries?

I realize that I have not been doing that great about keeping this thing updated. Taylor is now in 1st grade, and LOVES it. Its amazing how kids love school so much. Wondering when the day will come that she won't like it. Hopefully not any time soon.

BreeAnee will be starting preschool on Sept 8th, and she is going crazy waiting for the day to come. Poor Stacie will be left all alone with me, but I am sure looking forward to having one kid for a few hours a week. It will be strange but nice.

Myron and I took our house off the market for a little while, due to how tiring it was to keep our house clean ALL the time. We were showing our house 2-3xs a week and it was draining. But plan on putting it back on the market here soon, hopefully.

I have been thinking more about the idea of going back to school or changing careers. But not quite sure yet. There are so many things I am interested in; accounting, writing, health care, 911 dispatch, etc. I hate making decisions like this, but I better start thinking now and start schooling so when Stacie is in school I will be ready to start working a little bit.

I think I want to use this blog to help share useful tips that I have found to save money. As well as hear some of yours.





Laundry- Instead of using shout to treat stains, I will use Zote. It is a Mexican bar of soap, like Felps Nappa but cheaper. I can but it for 0.99 at the Macey's by me, but hear that not all Macey's carry it. Someone in my area requested that Macey's carry it. Felps Nappa costs like $2.00 (If I remember correctly) and are smaller bars.

This is how I spot treat clothes. I dunk the clothes in my washer, I love not having a front loader for this reason, then squeeze out all the water I can. I get it wet first, because when wet the soap will lather better. Making it possible to use less soap. Lay the piece of clothes on the dryer and rub the bar of soap across the stain. I then take a old toothbrush and scrub in the soap. In most cases I see the stain lighten right then. Of course let it sit for a few minutes before you put it back in the washing machine.

Another reason I LOVE Zote, is that I do not have to pump a spray bottle. When I was using Shout my hands would hurt before I was done scrubbing a load of laundry, my girls get really dirty. Who would've thought that a spray bottle would hurt your wrist, but it does mine. Rubbing soap on a stain is SOOO much easier, cheaper, smells better (and it lasts longer), and most of the time I think it even works better.

I also found the following info on Zote...

The Mexico company that makes Zote Soap describes it as a "quality laundry soap that can be used for all family clothes. Zote soap is safe for the environment and safe for your family!"

Zote Soap has varied uses, including the following:

• Hand washing: Moist Zote Soap is rubbed onto the wet garment and rinsed clear.
• Stain removal: Zote Soap can be used to pre-treat stains
• Delicates: Because Zote Soap has non abrasive ingredients and no salts that could massively deposit in the clothes, it can be used for delicates.
• Brightening: Zote Soap contains optical brighteners chemically designed for hand washing. Zote Soap has no chlorine, and thus bleaches without fading color.
• Clothes softener: A piece of Zote Soap can be placed in a sock at the end of the wash cycle for soft fragrant towels.

Other uses:

• Catfish bait: The manufacturer informs us that Zote Soap be used for catfish bait.. The citronella smell supposedly attracts the fish. Zote Soap is about 66% animal fat and works unbelievably well on trot lines, jug lines, and limb lines. It is soft, yet tough, it's easy to cut, and stays on the hook very well. The Zote Soap melts away the animal fat leaves a scent trail to your baited lines. The carp and other fish leave it alone. This bait works best in warm waters because it doesn't dissolve as well in colder water.
• Zote is hard just stream it and you've ready to fish again.
• Pipe repair: Some consumers have reportedly mixed Zote Soap and sugar to temporarily repair leaking pipes.
• Mosquito Repellent: The Zote Soap's citronella smell drives away mosquitoes.
• Soap sculptures: Zote Soap makes excellent soap sculptures due to it long shelve life.
• Drawer perfume: Zote Soap smell good and keep away other bugs and mice due to the citronella smell.
• Camping: Zote Soap has the mosquito repellent effect, small space need, long storage time, and design for hand washing makes this an ideal soap for camping. It can also be used to do the camp dishes. No need to pack bath soap, mosquito repellent or dish soap.
• Disaster supply: Because Zote Soap is designed for hand washing, has a small space requirement & long shelf life, it is a strong consideration for addition to a disaster supply cupboard. In emergencies it can be used as a bath soap or dish soap.
• Oily hair: Wash and rinse with any shampoo then lather your washcloth with ZOTE soap. Using the washcloth really scrub your head with the ZOTE soap and rinse. There will be no oil in your hair. Your hair will be absolutely beautiful..
  

Ingredients: Zote Soap is made with coconut oil and tallow. It contains sodium chloride, glycerin, perfume, an optical brightener and dye. Zote Soap is scented with citronella oil, making the soap fragrance long lasting.

Zote Soap comes in 3 colors pink, blue and white.

UTA's FrontRunner

Saturday I rode the FrontRunner for the first time. I have to admit it was quite a nice experience. It was a lot nicer then I thought it was, and I LOVED that it had little tables to use. With the economy the way that it is, and gas prices starting to go back up. I decided to us the bus system to get to SLC for my cousin Brandon's mission farewell.

Normally there is a bus that goes all the way to Brigham City, but not on Sunday; when I was to come home. So instead I drove to Ogden and got on the FrontRunner. It left at 7:10 and got to downtown SLC around 8:07. One hour on a train sounds boring, but it gave me time to read and relax. It really didn't feel like a hour. The only think I would've changed would've been the punk teenage boys who were sitting close to me. They were a little crude, but once they left it was very peaceful.

Then I got on the trax at 8:13, which took me to the Meadow Brook station. My arrival time was 8:39 and talked to a very nice lady. From there I took a bus that dropped me off right in front of my parent's house. Yes I had to wait 30 minutes to leave the trax station on the bus, but I was able to talk to some friendly people.

The whole trip from my house to my parents took me 3 1/2 hours, but that was also with a 30 minute stop at Walmart. So yes it took longer then my 1 1/2 hour commute, but it only cost me $5.50. And I can't normally drive and read all at the same time, now could I?

I will definantly be taking my girls on the FrontRunner and Trax in the near future. I think they will have a blast.

Ok today has yet to start off well for our family. I didn't finish my hours last night so I woke up early to finish my hours, but realized the work was all gone. A little bit later BreeAnee woke up with a bloody nose. Blood was EVERYWHERE; in her hair all her face, arms, you name it and it was probably there. It looked like someone hurt her it was so bad.

While I was cleaning her up, Myron fell down our stairs! Before you judge him too harshly you have to realize that we have steep wood stairs. So when you are wearing just socks, like he was, your feet will some times slip on them. He said he is ok, just hurt his elbow and hip bone. We have looked into getting a runner for the stairs, but they are pricey and since we will be moving some time in the near future (hopefully any how) we don't want to waste the money.

Today we are going to a picnic at Taylor's school today. Its nice to see her so excited to see us when we see her at school. I wonder when she is not going to want us around. Hopefully never, but it might be unavoidable who knows. I just love that she loves us now.

AMERICAN WEST HERITAGE
BABY ANIMAL DAY

Stacie

Taylor

Taylor posing

BreeAnee

Trying Some Thing New

I finally did it. Are you guys proud of me? I started a blog. I said I wouldn't but yet here I am all the same.

Not really sure what people really want to hear from me, so hope my life is not too boring. Because if you do, then you should come stay with me for awhile and you would see that it is a little crazier then what it seems.

Myron and I are still selling our house, and have QUITE a few interested buyers. But obviously no one has actually bought our house. We have had it under contract twice, but due to issues with loans and such have not been able to sell. I guess with all the incentives to buy a house, people are thinking then can handle a loan, but really can't.

We showed the house two times last Friday, and one of them came back on Sunday. We only allowed them, because it was their second time coming and it was the only time their parents and family could come. And when I say family, I mean family. They came in 3 different suvs!! Some of our neighbors were thinking we were having a open house they had so many people come with them. They haven't decided what house they want just yet, but according to their realitor ours is their 2nd choice. So we will wait to see if anything becomes of that.

We also had a showing yesterday, but didn't know about it until they knocked on our door. So I was a little embarrassed by the clutter in our house, but luckily it wasn't too messy.

Myron and I will soon be members of the Hyrum Saddle Club, which means we will be in charge of the Hyrum Rodeo. Also we get to go on rides with everyone else in the club once a month. These rides include camping and then a day of riding. We are really excited.

Well I will try and update this more later.