by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 18, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
When I agreed to help build a brand new non-profit PTO from scratch with a few other enthusiastic parents, I had no idea what I was getting myself into! We’ve been working hard to get everything ready for back to school on a very limited budget.
At least I knew a little about dealing with a budget anyway!
Needless to say, I’m a little fried from all of that busyness, so I apologize for not getting a new 5 Ways post up last week. I’m glad you didn’t give up on me!
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by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 16, 2017 | Debt
Inside: You must learn how to stop worrying about money, because life is so much more than hiding behind your current circumstances.
The cart was nearly full as I turned down the last aisle at the grocery store. I eyeballed the foods I had selected to feed our family, which were always carefully chosen to keep our budget down. But prices had been rising steadily for months. In fact, the cost of food seemed higher this trip than they were just a week ago.
Gas prices were through the roof and everyone I knew was struggling in one way or another. There was a recession. Plus I had just quit my job, lowering our income just as our third child was born. The timing wasn’t perfect.
As I pushed the cart along, I couldn’t help but wonder if the cost of food would continue to climb until we’d find ourselves unable to feed our small family. A terrible feeling washed over me, and I frantically dug through my purse, looking for my phone. As I called my sister, I knew I was having a heart attack.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 14, 2017 | Grocery Tips, Recipe
Inside: Last minute dinner ideas can save you from another night of pizza deliveries. Get recipes that use ingredients you probably have on hand!
At least once a week around here, there comes a night when dinner time sneaks up on me. I’ll look at the clock, wonder what happened to my day, and realize that I’d better get something that looks like dinner put on the table!
Since our days of ordering pizza on the fly are over, it’s good to have a list of foods you can usually toss together with just a little effort using things you have on hand. I’m not saying this list will cut it if your pantry is down to nothing but a jar of pimentos and a bottle of hot sauce! (If that’s you, head over to learn more about grocery services like Kroger Clicklist instead. Trust me, you need this in your life!)
But if it’s a run of the mill evening and you’re too tired to create a recipe based on what you’ve got, don’t worry. It’s as simple as scrolling through this list of delicious recipes here!
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by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 7, 2017 | Goals
July was kinda rough. There were moments (hours) (days?) that I was just doggone tired of paying off debt. For a while, I wondered if I could even see it through to the end.
Paying off debt ain’t for the weak, and after some reflection I wrote about it. And as I wrote, I realized that the only way around these problems was to go straight through them.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 4, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
Piles, piles everywhere! School hasn’t even started yet, and I already feel behind. The house is full of piles of half finished projects, school supplies, things that are usually in our minivan, and (of course) laundry mountain.
It’s been another super busy week, but we’ve managed to save throughout the week, too! Our credit card debt is dropping, and every week gets us that much closer to the freedom that comes with escaping credit card debt.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 2, 2017 | Parenting Tips, Saving Money
Inside: Your child wants to join the band, but you’re wondering how much this is going to cost you! Learn when to rent and when to buy that school band instrument.
Your kid runs in from the school bus and throws a paper at you. She got to see the band teacher today and he brought some neat instruments with him! Now she’s got her heart set on playing the flute.
But the first thing you think is “How much is this going to cost me??”
Playing in the band is a wonderful opportunity for students! It’s a great way to feed their right brain, and provides them with lifelong benefits.
But the cost of joining the band can give pause to most parents. Let’s figure out whether you’d be better off renting or buying a school band instrument, and how you can keep the cost affordable.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 31, 2017 | Saving Money
This post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own.
It’s a huge decision to make when you’re shopping for a new or used car. You’re buying a vehicle that you’ll (hopefully) drive for years. So it’s super important to make the right choice. Because choosing poorly can cost you a lot of money and even more time!
So let’s talk about some ways to simplify the process a little.
It is possible to find a car that meets your needs without breaking the bank. Here are the tricks we use to make sure we find the best vehicle possible in our price range.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 28, 2017 | Ways We Saved This Week
It’s fair week, and for the first time in years we aren’t showing any animals. It’s an odd mix of wishing we had our goats and lambs over there and relief that I don’t have to deal with all that stress!
Showing animals is an expensive adventure, and it takes up a lot of time. By taking a year off, we are getting debt free faster and enjoying a slower pace in between baseball season and band camp.
Have you ever made a big change? Just stopped doing something you’ve always done? We have parts of our lives that seem permanent and we don’t give them much thought. But remember that you can stop doing things that become more stress than they’re worth.
(We’ll probably show animals again, but it will be simplified! Two goats rather than five…)
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 24, 2017 | Parenting & Household Tips
It’s time to hit the stores for some back to school shopping. What’s your style? Do you try to find everything on your list quickly so you can be finished? Or are you always on the hunt for the rock bottom price?
Both our time and our money are valuable to us, and usually you have to give up one to get the other. But today, let’s talk about a way to have your cake and eat it, too. It’s possible to find quality back to school supplies that will save you both time and money year after year.
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by Jamie Jeffers | Jul 22, 2017 | Debt
I think it was the open window that did it.
My daughter and I were sitting down to play cards. (She’s becoming quite the card player at the age of 7. We may have a card shark on our hands!) It was a pretty hot day, so we were spending the afternoon inside.
We aren’t real big on air conditioning here. Our old drafty house doesn’t usually get too hot, so an open window or two is good enough for me and the kids.
But since Hubby spends his day in an air conditioned building and then rides home in an air conditioned car, the house doesn’t feel cozy to him when he finally gets home. So I try to turn on our window units and close up the house a little before he leaves the office.
On this day, I started the air and then did some chores. When I sat down to play cards and noticed that the window was still open, I closed my eyes and let out a big sigh.
Money was floating right out the window, and I had no one to blame but myself.
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My family is clawing out of debt, one un-bought fast food bag at a time. When I'm not sharing frugal tips, you’ll find me indulging a sweet tooth, juggling our 5 kids’ activities, or playing Rescue Bots (though the preschooler always insists I'm doing it wrong). Hope you'll join the fun and chaos at Medium Sized Family! 
