Budget Bootcamp Week Seven: Tips and Tricks

I know what you're thinking - "Duh, Jordan, the whole point of this entire series is about your tips and tricks for budgeting!" Well yes, you're not wrong, but today's focus is going to be on things like apps and resources you can use to help keep you on track. I'm going to share a few of my favorites here, and you can also find more ideas on my Pinterest board. Try out a few of them and see what fits you best.

The Envelope System
If you're not at all familiar with the Envelope Method, check it out here. The Budget Mom does a great job breaking it down in detail. You basically take one envelope for each category and fill it with your budgeted amount at the beginning of the month, or half each pay period. This is a great approach for those that prefer cash to plastic, or for those who have really struggled in the past to stay within budget. It forces you to really stay on top of your budget, however it does have a downfall, in my opinion. That downfall is the need to actually fumble around with envelopes. Imagine a trip to Target or Walmart. You might be spending from a few different categories (such as groceries, paper products, pet supplies and clothing)... are you going to want to fumble around with paying the cashier in four different phases? No. Are you going to want to now have lots of change and coins to put back into separate envelopes? No. I love the theory, but for our personal lifestyles, it became a hassle and I began looking for something more streamlined.

GoodBudget
Good Budget is basically the digital version of the Envelope System. It's a free app that allows you to track your spending and even your earnings. There are a few different versions depending on your needs, but ultimately the purpose here is having your budget in the palm of your hands at all times. You can also use the software through their website if you like. This is great for those of us that utilize cards more so than cash, or if you don't like the idea of physically maintaining and carrying around the envelopes. What I like about it is the ability to sync with other members of the household. With cash envelopes (which we tried once for a brief period of time), we would run into the issue of needing to stop on the way home for a couple quick items at the store, but the envelopes were at home. Then we were having to "repay" our "bank" envelope because we spent money on a card instead of that particular cash. GoodBudget allows both of us to have access to our "envelopes" and to see where were we are throughout the month at a quick glance. I can enter my spending in a few quick seconds before I even leave the parking lot of the grocery store. No more "If I remember correctly, we have about X dollars left in this category this month. Now you know exactly where you are at all times. Super simple and super helpful.

Mint
Mint.com is another website that helps you digitally track your spending. Mint also is available as a mobile app, and unlike the envelope system or GoodBudget, it can be utilized to track investments, bank balances, and bills as well. It offers all the same features as GoodBudget and then some. This is a great option if you want to have all of your financial info linked in one, secure place. Mint also can offer you alerts and advice as well as help monitor your credit score.

Check out these platforms or methods and see what you think. Have you found any other tips, tricks, methods or apps that help you stay on top of your budget? What works best for one person might not work as well for someone else, so I love hearing from readers about their personal experiences. If apps and envelopes overwhelm you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with good ol' pen and paper. You can keep track of your spending by using a small notebook in your purse or car, or by listing expenses in your notepad on your phone. The goal here is to find whatever works best for you and to make staying on track as simple as possible! As we round out the month of February, I encourage you to review your spending and reflect on how you're are doing. What areas are you excelling in? What areas are you struggling in? How have your habits changed over the last seven weeks? What can you change to make March your most successful budget month yet?

Budget Bootcamp Week Six: Spending Methods

After 3 days of no laptop access, I'm finally back in business! Jason determined there is a short in the charger and a new one was ordered immediately on Amazon. Gotta love that Prime Shipping! So here's your super delayed week six post.

Yes, the goal of this series is to create better savings habits and reign in our spending. Since we will inevitably be spending money each month, it's important to talk about different spending methods. What works for one person or household might not work for the next. Knowing your own strengths, weaknesses and tendencies is crucial. If you are needing to reduce spending, better manage your money or get out of debt, you probably are going to have to make some changes in order for that to happen. This saying is true for so many areas of life, including finance: if you change nothing, nothing will change. Let me elaborate.

For example sake, we are going to talk about the two types of payment that are used most frequently. Cash and Cards. Some people prefer using cash for various reasons, and mainly because it's a cut and dry, accepted everywhere method. For most people, a cash budget is easiest to stick to because when its gone, its gone. You can't spend cash that's not in your wallet, right? There are also a select group of people out there that cash simply burns a hole in their pocket. My husband falls in this category. Cash in his wallet vanishes very quickly, and often with very little recollection of where it vanished to. It's like it is just begging to be spent, and because it's cash it doesn't come with a paper trail automatically. Yes, he's used to my need for receipts after 6 plus years of budgeting together, but if he doesn't bring home a receipt for a cash purchase, there's no telling where that money went. So while for some cash is a definitive limit, for others its a joy ride without witnesses.

Source: Google

With a credit or debit purchase, our online banking automatically indicates how much was spent, where and when. In Jason's case, he knows I'll notice and question purchases that are out of the norm, excessive or didn't get mentioned. Time out: I want to be really clear here that we work together when it comes to our finances. I am in no way bashing Jason or saying that he doesn't manage money well. We discuss almost every dollar spent, and usually beforehand. This isn't me being obsessive and controlling, and it isn't because he's constantly blowing money. Its because we respect one another and treat our money as that: our money, not his and hers. Now we can resume. So in Jason's case, he is less likely to spend on unnecessary items if it involves swiping the card. For others, this is the exact opposite. Some people have a very difficult time not overspending when using a credit card, because it doesn't have the same immediate visual impact as forking over cash and watching your wallet dwindle. This can be a slippery slope and before you know it you're out hundreds or thousands of dollars and reality is a hard pill to swallow. 

Do either of these scenarios sound familiar? Not all of us struggle the same way. If you do see yourself struggling with control over a certain form of payment, now is the time to address it. Take a look at your habits and your needs, and determine which style of spending will best support your financial goals. Maybe the answer is clearly one or the other, maybe you can appreciate both. If you realize you are better suited for a cash budget, consider Dave Ramsey's Envelope Method. This write up by The Budget Mom does a great job explaining the whole process. If the credit card approach is feasible to you, consider what you're getting from your credit card company. 

We use the Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card. We rack up cash back on every purchase we make so for us, it made sense to earn money on things we would be buying regardless. We earn 3% back on gas, 2% back on groceries and wholesale clubs (such as Costco or Sams), and 1% back on everything else. Each month there are about 20-30 additional offers that we can take advantage of, such as 10% back at PetSmart, 5% back at Starbucks, etc. We allow our rewards to accumulate to a balance of at least $100 per card before redeeming, and by doing so, they give us an extra 25% on top of what we've already earned, simply by redeeming our rewards into our checking or savings account. Let's break that down real quick here. If my grocery budget were $300/month and I spent $150 a month on gas, that's $126 ($3600 x 2% and $1800 x 3%) each year I would earn just for buying my gas and groceries with my credit card. And when I redeem that balance of $100+ to my checking or savings account, I get the 25% bonus, which here is and additional $31.50. FREE MONEY for purchases I was already making. Here's the catch though... spending money on things you don't need just to earn rewards will never be a good idea. 10% back on a $20 trip to a store you didn't need something from to begin with doesn't mean you "earned" $2, it means you spent $18. Feel me? Also, the thing to always remember with credit cards is to understand your fee structure. We pay each of our cards off in full, on time, every single month. If we didn't, we would be paying interest charges and late fees, in which case we would be better off sticking to cash to keep things under control. 

Financial balance is all about finding what works for you. Its about knowing your temptations, your goals, your strengths and your weaknesses. Make your money work for you. After all, you had to work for it.

Budget Bootcamp Week Five: Dealing with Debt

Debt is something not many people like to talk about. Let's face it, debt can be overwhelming, scary, and daunting. However, getting out of debt is something that tops the list in terms of goals for most people. And once you're out, the trick is staying out. According to USA Today, the average American household carries over $16,000 in credit card debt alone. This figure seems alarmingly high considering it doesn't account for anything other than credit cards! First of all, not all debt is created equal. There are different categories of debt to consider. I like to refer to them as good debt, bad debt, and depends debt. Today we're going to cover each of these categories, as well as some strategies for digging ourselves out.

Source: Pinterest

Types of Debt: 
Good debt would refer to purchases viewed as an investment for the long term with an expected return on investment (or ROI). Examples of good debt could include things like a mortgage, business loan or an investment property. These are all endeavors that most people need to finance, as we usually don't have an extra $60,000 or more dollars just lying around. These types of loans generally come with a relatively low interest rate and have a life span of 15-30 years.

Examples of bad debt include things that we often want, but don't have the cash for right away, so we charge them to our credit cards. This is where most people get into trouble. Instead of saving up for that new TV, remodel, or vacation they really want, they put them on their credit card and it adds to the balance they carry from month to month. Most credit card companies charge 11-24% interest depending on varying factors such as credit score, payment history, and the size of your balance. That $600 TV is actually costing you $666 or more if you don't pay off your entire credit card balance at the end of the month. If you carry that balance, every month it keeps costing you more and more. This can become a slippery slope that takes a long time to dig out of.

The "depends" debt is just that - it truly depends. Here I'm referring to things like student loans or auto loans. The reason they depend is because there are lots of variables here. These are loans that sometimes are necessary, but need to well analyzed. Are you taking out a massive student loan for a degree in a field that's highly competitive, low paying or hard to find employment in? This type of risk could leave you with student debt lingering for the next twenty years of your life and cost you over double what it was actually valued at. Or are you taking out a reasonably sized student loan that can advance your career with low risk? One you'll be able to pay back in just a few short years, or even better, before your program is even completed? This type of student loan is smart because its both manageable and sets you up for better financial security down the road. In the instance of auto loans, are you needing safe and reliable transportation for you and your family? Is this vehicle necessary for you to get to and from work, thus needed to pay your bills and uphold your responsibilities? Then this purchase would be deemed necessary and worth financing for. If you just are wanting the newest features, "coolest" truck or a flashy sports car but your current mode of transportation is perfectly suitable, then taking out a loan isn't a wise choice. If you have enough value to trade in for this type of upgrade, then by all means go for it. This type of a purchase is something you should hold off on until you can pay for it outright. Otherwise, stick to something a little more practical and stay within your means. Remember, vehicles depreciate in value very quickly, so they aren't something you can expect to get much out of down the road should you change your mind.

So now what?
If you have zero debt, congratulations! That's quite the feat and I'm certain it has taken some serious diligence to get there. If you have minimal debt and debt that is either good or easily manageable, you have probably had to make a good deal of sacrifices to get there. If you feel like you are drowning in debt coming from all different angles, do not give up. Every step you take to eliminate debt you will feel so much better about. No two lives or families are the same. Every situation is different and how you got to where you are isn't nearly as important as how you're going to move forward.

When it comes to paying off debt, the first step is knowing exactly how much debt you have, who it's to, when it's due, and what your minimum required payment is. I've created a printable here that you can use to keep all this information tidy and in one place. These debts need to be accounted for in your monthly budget. Things like mortgages, auto loans and student loans are things we already discussed creating a category for on our budget worksheets. If you have any other forms of debt, please add a line to account for those too. If credit card debt is what you're up against label it that and indicate the total minimum monthly payments required for all your combined cards.

Source: Pinterest

Now that you've accounted for all your potential debts, let's start chipping away at them. This is where you'll have to do a little work to find out what makes the best sense for your situation. There are a few different ways to approach debt payoff. The first is the Snowball Method made famous by Dave Ramsey. He talks about tackling your smallest debt first ($500 in credit card debt for example), then moving to the next smallest ($750 on another credit card we will pretend), then to the next ($8000 on your vehicle) then the next (maybe $20,000 on your student loans) then the largest for last (maybe $80,000 on your mortgage). The concept here is to gain momentum as you go, much like a snowball does as it rolls down a hill. The idea is to gain confidence and celebrate the milestones as you knock them off, which will fuel your fire to keep going. Keep in mind, that while you focus on that first $500 debt, you can't entirely ignore the others. You continue making all your required minimum payments to each of them, you avoid adding any more debt, and you push as much extra money to that debt you're focusing on as possible. In order to eliminate debt, you have to go above and beyond. So paying double, triple or even more (as much as possible without neglecting other needs) on that debt of focus will get you out as quickly as possible. Once your first debt is knocked out, you start applying all the money you'd been paying towards it each month toward your next debt. You're following me, right? This strategy is great for those that have numerous debts and need a starting place pronto. If this seems like the right route for you, I highly encourage checking out Pinterest for some ideas of how to get started. I've seen lots of creative trackers and charts that others have used to keep them going.

But what if you only have a few debts, that are significantly larger? That's where Jason and I are. Our debts include our mortgage and our van. We have big goals to pay off our 30 year mortgage in less than 20 years. And we are on track to do it. Our van payment is scheduled for 48 months, and obviously is much less costly than our home. So why wouldn't we pay off the van as fast as possible, and then worry about the mortgage? Two words: Interest and Leverage. If we paid only the exact amount owed each month for the next 30 years, we would pay for the purchase price of our home, plus an additional 71% just in interest. I'm not getting 71% more house at the end of it all, so why would I want to pay anymore than absolutely necessary for it!?!?! So in the interest (yes, pun intended) of saving significant amounts of money in the long run, we've chosen to pay this debt down as quickly as possible. That's not to say I want to pay loads of interest on the van, because I don't. But remember how I mentioned leverage? Here's what I am talking about. Let's say we deemed that we were going to pay an extra $500 a month towards our debts. We could throw that $500 at the van balance, at the mortgage, or split it 50/50 to each. It's still $500, right, no matter how you slice it? Wrong. It might be $500 spent, but how much is it saved?

If I threw all $500 in additional payments each month toward the van, I would have it paid off 13 months early and save $677 over the next 3 years. If I split it up, an additional $250 to the van and $250 to the mortgage would save me a total of 8 years, 11 months and $15,530 (8 years on the mortgage accounting for $15,180 and 11 months on the van accounting for $350). Not too shabby, right?  But if I put that $500 towards the mortgage, it would have us done with our 30 year mortgage in only 17 years, saving us over $37,000. Crazy, right? So I'll gladly pay the bank an extra $677 in interest for the van to save $37,000 in interest on the house.

I know that was a lot of math thrown at you. But I wanted you to see the power of paying off debt and that HOW you do it can make a huge difference. To find out how much money you can save, I use a debt payoff calculator like this one. Interest and late fees are two of the biggest ways Americans waste money with nothing to show for it each year. Yes, some of it is unavoidable, however, lots of it is unnecessary. Take some time this week to assess your debts, play with some hypothetical situations, and determine what course of action you'll take to resolve them. Once again, I am in no way a professional financial advisor or expert on debt and money management. These are simply techniques and methods I have used in my own life to gain financial security. My goal is that by sharing these experiences with you, you'll be able to do the same.

Saving Money on Groceries!

As part of our Budget Bootcamp series, it is my goal to bring each of you some tools, ideas and resources to help you save money. These are some of my most tried and true tips that I use on a regular basis to help save money on the cost of food. These things are all ideas I've learned as I go, and I'm hoping that you can put them to use for your family also. So today I'm sharing with you 8 different ways to save on groceries.

1. Shop at Aldi: 
There are numerous things I love about Aldi. When I first began shopping there in college, it was all about getting the most bang for our buck, especially considering the incredibly high costs of groceries in Chicago. I was admittedly skeptical at first, however to this day, I have yet to find any Aldi offerings that weren't just as good, if not better, than their name brand counterpart. If I ever did find an Aldi product I wasn't thrilled with, their Double Guarantee is a great fall back. Not only will they refund you your money, but they'll also replace the product!

Since we've began shopping at Aldi in the fall of 2010, we've LOVED watching them grow and expand to meet the needs and demands of their consumers. They've continued to add new products and hold themselves to higher standards. Their organic and SimplyNature products didn't exist in 2010, but now they carry nearly 150 products that fall into these categories. None of the groceries sold in Aldi stores contain hydrogenated oils, artificial colors or MSG. The SimplyNature line takes that a few steps further. 122 steps to be exact, meaning they are made free of 125 added ingredients that aren't good for us, including things like high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, rBGH, parabens, sulfites, propylene glycol, and so much more. Yay for less additives! Aldi also offers their own line of gluten free products through their liveGfree brand.

If you've never shopped at Aldi before, there are a few things you'll notice that are different from traditional grocery stores. Aldi strives to offer the best products at the lowest possible costs. They do this by running incredibly efficient stores. The average Aldi store only has 5-8 employees. When you shop at Aldi, bring a quarter and reusable shopping bags with you. By bagging your own groceries and renting a cart (you get your quarter back when you return your cart to the corral near the entrance), it saves labor expenses. Because no one is being paid to chase carts around the parking lot or to bag your purchases, you avoid paying a markup on products to cover these costs. Aldi products on average cost 40% less than their name brand competitors at traditional grocery stores. Make the switch and check out the savings for yourself!

Source: Google Images

2. Buying in Bulk 
We do approximately 70% of our shopping at Aldi. The next 20% is done at Costco, for items that either Aldi doesn't offer or for items that save us money buy purchasing in bulk, and the last 10% (or often less) is at other stores for more specialized ingredients. Things such as grains, baking ingredients, organic chicken and beef, wild caught seafood, cooking oils, and more are often significantly less expensive when purchased in bulk. For instance, paying $2.95 for 28 ounces of organic brown rice at Aldi or paying $11.98 for a ten pound bag at Costco (10.5 cents vs. 7.5 cents per ounce) can really add up to big savings over the long term. What is important to remember about buying in bulk is that you should only buy quantities that you can actually use up. You aren't saving any money if you let food go bad before you can eat it. Consider how and where you will store bulk purchases, and how long it will take you to use them up. Make sure you are purchasing wisely. We store our bulk pantry ingredients in air tight containers labeled with the name, date and quantity it was purchased. We also use a sharpie to label bags of bulk frozen fruit or sealed packages of meat and seafood so we can always use them up in an appropriate time frame.

3. Shop Seasonally
Have you ever noticed that the cost of strawberries is usually around $5.99 per pound in the winter, but $0.99 in the spring or summer? Ever wondered why? Because they are in season in the spring and summer, meaning that they can be grown locally to you. When they aren't in season, there are far fewer farmers able to grow them, and they have to be shipped in from California and other warm climates. This increases the cost of production, therefore increasing your cost to purchase said produce. I highly encourage eating fresh fruits and vegetables year round, but you have to be smart about doing so. Not only does in season produce cost less, it also tastes best! Freezing or canning certain produce in peak season can allow you to enjoy them year round, and shopping seasonally for fresh produce will save you lots of money. Here's a great visual guide for what is in season at what times of the year.

Source: Pinterest

4. Avoid Premium Cuts
When it comes to meat, learning to cook various cuts is a great way to save money. The cost of a whole chicken, chicken legs, wings, or thighs are all significantly less expensive per pound than boneless skinless breasts. Make the most of your budget by incorporating less expensive cuts. Also consider using meat as more of an accent rather than the main feature. Try dishes such as spaghetti squash with meatballs or veggie stirfry with a few shrimp or pieces of chicken. Even just filling your plate with more veggies and whole grains and less meat can make a significant impact. Often Jason and I will split a chicken breast, which maybe takes up 20% of our plate, and then fill the rest with veggies and wild rice. Speaking of filling our plates - as Americans, we often have a problem with over eating. We grew up being told to "clean our plates" so we often eat whatever is there, long after we truly have reached a point of satiety. I have three tips to help prevent this, which not only saves you money, but also saves your waistline! Here's my 3 tips:

1. Drink a full glass of water before sitting down to eat. Often dehydration gets confused as hunger. Your body craves water, so hydrate first, then enjoy your meal. 
2. Use smaller plates. That "clean your plate" attitude isn't usually because we truly are that hungry, but usually because we eat mindlessly. If it's on the plate, it's probably going in your mouth. By using smaller plates, you run less risk of over consumption.
3. Wait 20 minutes before going back for seconds. Give your body and your brain time to process the food you've consumed. If you truly still feel hunger after this time frame, pick more veggies or protein versus carbs. 

5. Meal Planning
I know I've covered this topic before, but it's SO important when considering both the cost of food and sticking to healthy eating. Take the time to sit down and plan out your meals each week. After you determine what you'll be eating, do a quick check of what ingredients you have on hand. One sure fire way to waste money is by buying ingredients you already had. Make your list of items you need to grab at the store. Don't forget to include snack options in your list. And when you go to the store, stick to the list!! Spending an extra $5 a week on impulse buys will add up to $260 in over spending in a year!! Make a plan, and stick to it. For more ideas on how to meal plan, check out the Meal Plans page.

6. Meal Prep
This concept follows Meal Planning for a reason. Don't find yourself failing to stick to your plan because you don't prep. We like to do our meal prep on Sundays to set us up for a successful week. Chop your veggies, wash your berries or cut up fruits, transfer any meat that is frozen to the fridge to safely thaw. These simple tasks are definitely a starting place, but the more you do now, the better prepared you'll be all week. If you're taking lunches to work, go ahead and cook and portion those meals. Don't find yourself resorting to fast food on your lunch hour while you have perfectly nutritious food sitting in your fridge at home simply because you didn't have time that morning to put it together. If all you have to do on your way out the door each morning is grab your Pyrex of lunch and a banana or apple to snack on, you're set for success!

7. Batch Cooking 
One of the best ways to save time in the kitchen and yield a decent number of meals is by batch cooking. Think about things that freeze well or can be turned into lots of other quick meals. Some of my favorites include large crockpots full of Texas Chili or Tomato Basil Bisque that I can portion out, using some for lunches that week and pop others into the freezer for later. Other ideas include cooking a Whole Chicken in your crockpot that can serve as dinner or lunch with veggies, and also leaves lots of meat that can be shredded and used in things like Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, BBQ or Buffalo Stuffed Sweet Potatoes... you get the idea. And don't forget to make the most of that chicken carcass by making Overnight Stock!

8. Don't throw money in the trash! 
We are all guilty of it - letting food good bad before it gets consumed. Think about this, if we throw out $20 worth of food each month, that's $240 a year of money that virtually goes right in the trash! Cheese that molds, veggies that rot, fruit that browns, leftovers that don't get eaten. Get in the habit of using up everything. A great way to put vegetables to use is in stir fry or vegetable soup. If you have fruits that you can use up, turn them into a smoothie or freeze them for a later time. Sometimes we have a "clean out the fridge" dinner, meaning we eat up whatever needs eaten, even if they don't really go together. Leftover pizza and a medley of fruit, rice and a side of veggies with guacamole, leftover salmon with a side of leftover pasta... you get it. You've already paid for the food... eat it!

I hope these tips and ideas can help you find savings and stretch your grocery budget a bit further. Do you have any favorite tricks I didn't mention? Drop them in the comments so others can try them out! 

Recipe: Protein Packed Breakfast Bars

Those of you who follow me on Facebook got a little sneak preview of this delicious creation earlier today. We were getting burnt out on the same rotation of 4 breakfasts (eggs with greens, avocado toast, oatmeal or protein smoothies) and decided we needed to mix things up this month with a few new ideas. When Jason proposed a more plant based diet, I was totally game! I also knew that the best way to do this successfully was to ask him to find some new plant based recipes that he was interested in trying. You see, I could find PLENTY that appeal to me, but I wanted to try new things he felt he'd like. So off to Pinterest he went, and he came back with lots of new inspiration.

I do want to be clear here on what "plant-based" eating looks like to us. I'm sure some of you are thinking we are crazy, maybe even jumping all the way to thoughts of "good gravy, they're gonna go all hipster vegan, aren't they!" So let me set the records straight here. I have nothing against vegetarian or vegan lifestyles when done responsibly. There are those that do vegetarian/vegan the right way, meaning their diets consist of only the best that grows from the earth, and then there are those that do vegetarian/vegan in the most unhealthy ways possible. Just because there is no animal product in Diet Coke, Oreos, and cigarettes doesn't mean they are healthy. Get my drift? A full vegetarian lifestyle isn't something we feel best suits us, but we are making meat and seafood more of the minority in our diets. What we aren't doing is replacing meat with lots of processed or carb heavy foods (you guys know me better than that, right?) So breads, pastas and other grains like rice are still going to be minimal. Our emphasis here is on nutrient dense produce as the make source of our daily consumption, with good doses of healthy fats, nuts and seeds as well. If you're interested in some of the reasoning behind why we've chosen to reduce our intake of animal products, you can check out the Resources page for a list of documentaries we recommend.

Now back to that inspiration I was talking about. Jason found lots of great starting points on Pinterest, but as always, I'm one for experimentation and like to make things our own. The inspiration for this recipe came from The Glowing Fridge, and there were lots of other variations on Pinterest also. I loved the fact that we are getting antioxidants, protein, omega 3s and fiber in these bad boys! Starting your day with quality protein and fats is so important to creating satiety and keeping your body's metabolism in check. Below is what I came up with and they were delicious! I can't wait to have one tomorrow morning also!

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine all the BASE LAYER ingredients. Use a hand mixer to combine.
2. Pour the mixture into an 8x8 (or comparable size) pan that is lined with parchment. Use a spatula to press tightly and form the crust, then bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. 
3. While the base layer bakes, stir the TOPPING LAYER ingredients together by hand. This can be done using the same bowl and spatula as before.
4. Once the base layer has baked, remove from the oven and add the topping layer. Press down gently, and then return to the oven to bake for 15 more minutes. 
5. When baking has finished, allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. 

     

I already told Jason how I'm excited to play around with different berry and nut combinations. It'll be a perfect way to use all those beautiful raspberries we get from the garden each summer! You can print a copy of this recipe here, which includes some fruit and nut options for variety!

Budget Bootcamp Week Four: Setting Goals & Making Sacrifices

Before this series officially began, I asked a few questions to you all in our Facebook group. One of these questions included identifying your reasons for setting a budget. The purpose of this was to give us a goal to work toward and to keep us focused when sometimes sticking to the budget doesn't seem fun. Let's be real. Life throws curves. Things don't always go according to plan. Sometimes things we really want or need just aren't within reach as quickly as we would like them to be. These facts are exactly why sticking to your budget is important. Today, we're talking about keeping our eyes on the prize and making sacrifices.

Setting Goals
Those of you that know me personally know I love making lists and setting goals. This applies to lots of areas of my life, finances included. Statistics show that actually writing down your goals on paper increases your likelihood of success by 50%. Fifty percent! That's huge! Sharing said goals with someone close to you increases these odds even more. In order to achieve our goals, we need to not only know what they are, but how to get there. "I want to get out of debt" is a great goal, but without having a plan of action, it's probably going to feel like it'll never happen. So how do we expand on this goal? I like the acronym S.M.A.R.T. for goal setting. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Action Oriented, Realistic, and Timely. So let's put this into action for our goal of paying off debt.

• S - Pay off Credit Card Debt
• M - $8,000 debt to date
• A - Making extra payments each month
• R - $350 per month 
• T - Paid off in Two Years

So although this situation is entirely hypothetical, you can see that the underlined words are where we met the acronym requirements. We took the goal of getting out of debt and identified what debt, how we would do it, and how long it realistically will take. Setting goals that are realistic is so important. It's great to push ourselves and rise to a challenge, but saying you'll pay off $8,000 of debt in 3 months is probably very unlikely. Only you will be able to determine what is realistic and feasible for you and your goals.

One goal we should all be working towards is creating or building an emergency fund. Those curve balls I mentioned life throwing usually come with a price tag. Unexpected car repairs, medical expenses, home repairs, or loss of income are some things that could drastically impact your financial situation and leave you wondering how on earth you will pay for things. An emergency fund is for true, unexpected expenses. It should not be spent on vacations, elective remodels, paying routine bills, or other wants. These things should be saved for separately. Most checking and saving accounts are fee-free these days, so consider separating your money into different accounts for different purposes. We have our checking account that is used for month to month expenses, a checking account for my business expenses/income, a savings account labeled Emergency Fund, a savings account labeled Home Expenses (for our renovations), a general savings account (for travel plans and other miscellaneous things) in addition to our investment and retirement funds. Dave Ramsey is a great leader in the world of personal finance, and he recommends a minimum of 6-12 months of living expenses stashed away in your emergency fund. If you don't currently have any emergency savings set back, now is the time to start. Even if it's only $5 a week that you can contribute, it's a start. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. 

Making Sacrifices
Sometimes our goals can seem overwhelming and feel like we will never achieve them. I get that; I've been there. And what I've found to be the most effective way to take the reigns and make it happen boils down to one simple question. How bad do you want it? Like most things in life, achieving financial goals won't just happen by wishing for them. You have to be willing to make some short term sacrifices to get you where you want to be long term. Dave Ramsey's saying "live like no one now so you can live like no one later" couldn't be more true. What he means is that you might have to do things a little unconventionally now so that you can live the life of your dreams later. This is where we have to keep our eyes on the prize. What small sacrifices can you make in your life to get you to your goals? Some ideas include cutting cable, reducing the number of trips to Starbucks, cutting back on how much you dine out, brown bagging your lunch... these only scratch the surface. Take a look at your spending and find ways to cut back with your goals in mind. It may take a while to get used to, but in no time you'll be reaping rewards for your efforts.

So this week's "assignment" is to write down your goals and sacrifices. Use the smart acronym to help you create a realistic plan of attack. Hang this up somewhere you'll see it often. The fridge, your office, your bathroom mirror... somewhere you'll see it and stay motivated. Here is a peak at mine.

Meal Planning: February 2017

January has come and gone, so you know what that means... it's time for a new meal plan! If you haven't checked out the Meal Plans page recently, I recommend you do so. I've made a few changes and updates that I think you'll find useful.

Speaking of changes and updates, we've done things a little differently here this month. Jason takes home cooked meals and leftovers to work each night for dinner - this isn't new. But he asked me if we could start cooking numerous meals on Sundays and/or Mondays so that he has more variety and options to choose from throughout the week. What I had been doing was cooking a meal with intentional leftovers (chicken drumsticks for example) and packaging them up ready to go in the fridge. He would eat those for the next 2-3 days. By that point I would have made another meal yielding leftovers for his next 2-3 nights worth of dinners. He loves the home cooked meals, but said he'd prefer getting to rotate them a little more instead of having the same dinner in a row. So instead of cooking a meal every other(ish) day that yields leftovers, we will be cooking those dishes at the beginning of the week. Then for our lunches during the week, we will be making things like salads or dishes that are less than ideal as leftovers.

He's awfully demanding, huh? "If you give a mouse a cookie..." Just kidding, babe. I'd rather slave away in the kitchen than have you at the drive thru every day. So here it is, our plan for February. I'll be going grocery shopping tomorrow to make the bulk of our purchases for the month. This will include stops at Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe's, and then we should only need small trips about once a week to Aldi for fresh produce.

So what's on your menu? I'm always looking to add new things to our rotation, so leave me your favorites in the comments!