by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 21, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
The 5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week series is getting a little face lift! What do you think of the new photo? Design is definitely not my strong suit, but I’m trying to make my graphics easier to read. So let me know what you think of this and other pictures you’re seeing around the blog.
I’m doing all of this for you guys, after all. If you can’t read it or don’t like it, I will change it all! 🙂
Every Friday I celebrate the small wins that have led us closer to our big hairy goal of paying off thousands in credit card debt. We’ve been working on this goal for 19 months now. We have times that it’s easier, and times when it’s just plain hard.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 19, 2017 | Parenting Tips
Love it or hate it, a school routine keeps the wheels turning. Put these 6 ideas in place and rock the new school year!
Summer break always brings mixed emotions.
You probably don’t miss alarm clocks and keeping up with school supplies.
Then again, getting back into a routine of the school year does make life flow more smoothly.
Over the years, I’ve found some awesome resources that keep our family on track when the school year begins. Here are 6 things you can do to rock the new school year!
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 14, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
Summer vacation isn’t complete without a week at Vacation Bible School. So the kids are enjoying that this week. It’s a free way for them to grow closer to God (not to mention others in our community).
I love to get there a little before pick up time and listen to them sing. The first day I thought there was a choir! It feeds my soul, and they come home more relaxed (so I suspect it’s the same for them).
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 12, 2017 | Debt, Saving Money
Why use a monthly budget when you get paid every other week? This Google Sheets bi-weekly budget template is just what you need. But watch out for 3 mistakes that will bust it!
You get paid every other week…but all of the budgets out there are broken up by months.
I mean, even if you squish two paychecks together, that’s 28 days of pay…
and you’re going to try to budget that into a 30 or 31 day month?
Does this make sense?
No!
Then why does everyone insist you make a monthly budget when you get paid bi-weekly?
And heaven forbid we compare those months when you get 3 paychecks instead of 2. Sure, they call that a “bonus” paycheck. But the last time I checked, we still need at least food and gas for those “extra” 14 days.
There must be a better way!
Well of course there is! It’s called the bi-weekly budget template, which I’ve created just for you.
As a bonus, it also makes those 3 paycheck months easier to factor into your money saving plan!
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 10, 2017 | Recipe
These pickle dip roll ups are a quick lunch or appetizer, perfect for days when it’s just too hot to cook.
It will probably come as no surprise that the idea for these Pickle Roll Ups Appetizer recipe came to me when I was pregnant.
(This is coming from the same gal who thought mixing green olives in with mashed potatoes was the ultimate treat. You’re welcome for that idea.)
Well, roll ups aren’t just for pregnant women. This recipe is perfect for a quick and easy lunch, an appetizer for a party, or a simple snack on a hot day.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 7, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
The rain was pouring down and the kids joked about going outside to play. They could hardly believe it when I said, “Sure. Why not?”
There’s a creek that runs right through our backyard. Usually in a downpour like this, it swells and takes over much of our playing space. Or it rushes so quickly that I can’t risk the kids being near it. Too many horrible stories on the news makes that not worth the risk. (shiver)
It’s just another reminder that the simple things in life bring a lot of joy. Me? I’m not going to run in the rain, but I’ll take this moment to appreciate a quiet cup of coffee.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 6, 2017 | Parenting & Household Tips
Here’s a unique list of cool birthday presents that people will actually want! Buy them something they won’t throw on a forgotten pile (for once).
Have you been to a birthday party where the child unwraps a gift, glances at it for a second, tosses it aside, and runs back to the pile for the next gift as fast as they can? (Yep, sometimes it’s your own kid acting this way. I get it.)
Kids are living in a world of instant gratification and more than enough stuff. But that’s a whole different blog post about the sense of entitlement.
If you’re looking for a gift idea that will make the birthday boy or girl stop for a moment, these cool birthday presents are just what the doctor ordered!
By the way, most of these ideas are good for kids of any age!
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 3, 2017 | Debt, Goals
Happy July! Summer is in full swing, and life is finally calming down a bit. You may have noticed that there was no June check in on our goals. Whoops!
The truth is, life was absolutely crazy in all of May and a good chunk of June. But I did miss the accountability of this post, and I’m really happy to get back to it this month.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jun 30, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
What a week. I decided to migrate my blog to Siteground. Everything was finished and ready to go, when I made a small adjustment….and broke the whole blog.
I was so frustrated! After a lot of back and forth between a few different sites, we finally got it working again. It took all day.
I guess the good thing is that I was able to test Siteground’s customer service on day one. I would certainly recommend them! They were very patient and helpful. (You can try them out for 3 months for free if you use my referral link!)
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jun 29, 2017 | Household Tips (Chores and more), Parenting Tips
Don’t let summer bucket lists get the best of you. Try these Mom hacks to simplify life so you can focus on what really matters…the best summer yet!
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Have you ever tried to create the perfect summer bucket list? Maybe you’ve made a list that makes you eager to scratch everything off in record time.
Proof that you’re giving your kids the best.summer.ever.
It’s funny how we don’t realize that the simplest things are the ones we enjoy the most until it almost too late.
It’s like that amazing deal you found at the store. You love it… until a couple years later when you’re carting it out of the house to a donation box, because no one ever used it after all.
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I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. 
