Pause… Redesign

What needs to be in the room?

• A place to sleep
• A place for toys
• A place for clothes

Things to keep in mind:

• There are two little boys sleeping in there now. A baby will soon be added, but we have a pac-n-play that we could set up in our bedroom until he is ready to graduate to a big-boy bed.
• The toy collection expands and contracts. People give us stuff and we give stuff away. Nothing is set in stone, so the arrangement needs to be flexible. Also, I have found a potential spot for the largest toys, currently on the wall, in our bedroom.

Next week, I will pick up to five of my favorite submissions and you all can vote. The winner will recieve a $25 Amazon.com giftcard, puchased with swagbucks. (I may make my own submission and if mine wins, the runner-up will get the prize.) I will then resume Touring Tuesdays. When the tour is over, I will post pics of the new room.

You can either draw out your idea and email it to me me, or you can send me a written description, with product links if you want. Officials entires must be sent via email (under1000permonth@yahoo.com). If people have suggestions but not a whole entry, put them in the comments and someone else might win thanks to your great idea. There were also some great suggestions in the comments of the original post of My Boys’ Room.

You might want to check out my new comment policy .
Copyright Under $1000 Per Month, 2009-2010

Continue reading Pause… Redesign …

From Under $1000 Per Month.

Why Do You Love Star Trek So Much?

This is an answer to this question and is part of FAQ Fridays. If you have questions you would like answered, you can ask them on the FAQ page.

Question:

Why does your family love Star Trek so much? It is not a Christian program and in fact it strongly promotes a lot of non-Christian ideas, including the idea that women can be leaders and should not be submissive to men? Doesn’t this go against your life views? Don’t you think it will influence your children in a way that is undesirable to you?

Answer:

There are many parts of this question to address, so I’m going to take it one at a time.

Why does your family love Star Trek so much?

Because it is awesome! If you haven’t seen it, you can watch original episodes on YouTube and on cbs.com. The newer series’ DVDs are going down in price and our collection is slowly growing.

It is the most witty, entertaining and thought provoking show that either my husband or I have ever seen, and we both grew up with cable. My husband has a saying, “Even the worst episode of Star Trek is better than the best episode of anything else.” I whole-heartedly agree. We even love some of the fan series, also on YouTube.

Star Trek has something for everyone. My husband is a student of human nature, history and politics. He loves the interweaving stories of how different worlds are incorporated into the Federation and how other worlds fight against it. He loves the rebel Marquis fighters and the creativity that came when new planets were explored in “Voyager.”

I am a science geek myself. I find warp theory fascinating and my heart beats a litte faster when something goes wrong and I again get a further glimpse into how those engines run. I am intrigued by new species and the challenges Neelix faces in preparing foods for many different races. Looking at issues in genetic modifaction today verses in the “future” provides an interesting study of its own.

This stuff is so fascinating, and fun to think about. It is fun that my husband and I have something we both love and enjoy and discuss in depth. It enhances our marraige and our friendship. I am relatively new to Star Trek and am seeing many epsiodes now for the first time. He has been watching Star Trek his whole life. For each of our children, their first TV experience was Star Trek, and my husband can tell you which episode each child saw shortly after they were born.

It is not a Christian program and in fact it strongly promotes a lot of non-Christian ideas, including the idea that women can be leaders and should not be submissive to men?

The Bible does not say that women cannot lead, nor does it say that women have to be submissive to men in general. The Bible says women are to submit to their husbands. I don’t have to submit to your husband, my father, my brother, or any other man besides my husband, who I chose to marry because I love him and trust his judgement.

As far as women being leaders, the Bible is clear that women should not be in authority over men in the church. I, as a Christian woman, have no desire to have authority over men in any capacity. However, in the Bible Deborah, was a military leader because no man would stand up to the challenge. The Bible was pro-woman in a shocking way for thousands of years. It is only recently when new standards for women have rapidly emerged that the Bible is looked on as anti-woman. The idea of a husband loving his wife as Christ loves the church is more pro-woman than the philosophies of any other major world religion, and that was written thousands of years ago. For me, that command to my husband fulfills the desires of my heart as his wife, and is as pro-woman as you can get.

Doesn’t this go against your life views?

Some of what is portrayed in Star Trek does go against our life views. Some of what is portrayed in Veggie Tales goes against our life views as well. It would be impossible to find a TV show that we agreed with 100%. Some Christians decide not to watch any TV because of this. Agreeing 100% isn’t our standard for TV, movies, friends, a church, or books.

We choose to watch TV but think through what we watch. Dan and I talk about everything we watch. We discuss what was hilarious, what was accurate, what got us curious for more. If a Christian is not willing to think through what they are watching, they may need to abstain from watching TV, but there is no reason that those who are willing to put in the work of discernment should abstain as well.

Don’t you think it will influence your children in a way that is undesirable to you?

It is possible that our children may think the world of Star Trek is real, but we are planning on teaching them the difference between what is imagined and what is real. Star Trek is a great way to get them thinking about imaginary worlds, possibilities, new ways of thinking and other peoples’ points of view. In our opinon, that is a good thing for children.

Continue reading Why Do You Love Star Trek So Much? …

From Under $1000 Per Month.

Last Minute Gift Ideas Don’t Have To Carry An Impulse Shopping Price – Frugal Challenge

I know there are always going to be a few last minute gift items, but does that mean you have to run around picking up over-priced items, those little trinkets that are marketed to the impulse shopper?

Not if you’re clever.  Having a bit of creativity can go a long way to saving a lot of money when it comes to this kind of last minute gift.

One of my favorite gifts to give is a gift of homemade bath goodies, like bath salts and scrubs.  A nice little website called MyBeautyRecipes.com is loaded with simple bath treats that you can make easily with inexpensive ingredients.  Whip up a couple batches of Homemade Bath Salts, put them in a cute little jar, and voila! You have an instant and inexpensive gift that will be appreciated.

You can even make your own Homemade Lip Balm out of fresh ingredients.  Most every girl I know LOVES her lip balm, so this could be a great personal gift for a little girl, or even a big girl, who’s special to you.

Guys on your list may be a little more difficult.  But, what guy doesn’t like a little cooling foot spray?  If your guy or a guy you know goes to the gym or plays sports, mix up a batch of Peppermint Foot Spray.  It’s not “girlie” smelling and it works!

These are just a couple of thoughts that I’ve come up with during some of my last minute gift searches.  I hope you’ll also find something fun and frugal to make for some of your favorite people.

p.s.  If your special someone isn’t especially fond of bath items, you can always put this same idea to work only with food items.  Just click here to learn more about how to put together some easy, inexpensive, but yummy gifts.

Continue reading Last Minute Gift Ideas Don’t Have To Carry An Impulse Shopping Price – Frugal Challenge …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Eight Frugal Family Gifts

One of my favorite gift-giving strategies is to focus on family gifts rather than individual gifts. This approach is an effective means of saving both time and money, two very important resources,One of my favorite gift-giving strategies is to focus on family gifts rather than individual gifts. This approach is an effective means of saving both time and money, two very important resources, especially this time of year!  Deciding on one large present is much quicker than choosing several individual gifts. In fact, I can often find an appropriate family gift to fit several families on my gift list. One large gift is often less expensive and of better quality than several smaller, individual gifts. The fact that a family-oriented gift encourages families to take time to have some fun together and enjoy one another is a wonderful added bonus!

A little creativity in presentation can make all the difference between an average gift and one that feels special, so make the effort to be creative. For example, rather than just hand my college-student nephew a fast food gift card for his birthday, I asked for an empty fry container from the restaurant when I bought the card. Then I made sugar cookies, cut them to look like french fries, and put them in the fry box along with the gift card. A little extra effort gave a rather plain gift some pizzazz! Since my family ate (and enjoyed) most of the batch of cookies, the cost of the few “fries” in the gift presentation was very minimal.

Over the years, I’ve built up a repertoire of gifts that families love to receive. Take a look at some of the following ideas and see if one isn’t just what you’re looking for. Present it with some creative packaging and I’ll almost guarantee you some happy gift recipients!

Movie Night
One of my favorite, not to mention easiest and least expensive family gifts is the Family Movie Night package. I take a white cardboard paint tub from the hardware store and fill it with a 2-liter pop, several bags of microwave popcorn, some large boxes of candy from the dollar store and a movie rental coupon. I create a gift card to look like a filmstrip or ticket stub. A tub like this can be made for well under $10 and is easy to mass produce if you have several families you’d like to remember. You can also bump it up a notch by using a large glass, plastic, or metal bowl and including DVD(s) rather than a rental certificate.

Super Sundaes
Who doesn’t love ice cream—especially when you get to make it just the way you like it? This gift looks extra special when presented in a big basket (from the thrift or dollar store, of course). Include a bunch of bananas, various toppings, sauces, nuts, and a $10 grocery store certificate for the purchase of ice cream and whipped topping. Search your dollar or thrift store for inexpensive sundae glasses or banana split dishes to give the gift some extra punch. You could also include long dessert spoons and/or napkins. Don’t forget a jar of Maraschino cherries! Create a gift card that looks like a banana or tub of ice cream.

Fun and Games
A family game night package is sure to be enjoyed. Depending on your budget, you can include inexpensive card games or a more expensive board game. Visit a game store and you’ll find a surprisingly large selection of both types. Snacks could range from popcorn and candy to cheese, sausage, and crackers, to a batch of your favorite brownies or cookies.

Christmas Morning
We had a friend who gave us the same gift every year and I always looked forward to it with eager anticipation. On Christmas Eve day, she would deliver her homemade version of Cinnabons® along with a Mason jar of homemade hot chocolate mix. These yummy treats were intended for us to enjoy on Christmas morning. This gift was inexpensive and simple, but was always a favorite to receive.

Photo by Sheila Scarborough

Get Corny
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love popcorn. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to put together a gourmet popcorn gift basket. Make up some caramel corn or popcorn balls, but don’t stop there. Search the Internet for “flavored popcorn recipes” and find everything from Jello® flavored, to pizza, to ranch, to cinnamon popcorn. I even found a recipe for cranberry popcorn balls! Package each flavor in its own tin, box or basket and label appropriately. You can even go the extra mile and include recipes so the family can recreate their favorites.

Winter Warm-Up
Buy a great puzzle that the family can work together, include a cute or comfy pair of socks for everyone and some fancy hot chocolate, and you’ve got the makings for a cozy winter evening. Include a wonderful apple pie or vanilla scented candle to help set the mood. You could even bake them a real apple pie, for that matter!

Sports Fan Fun
Sports fans will appreciate a gift based around their favorite team or sport. Set the tone with a homemade Sports Fan Hand and, just for fun, include a mini football, basketball, or homemade pom poms. Depending on the sport being highlighted, you might include seat cushions, hand warmers, sun visors or knit caps, all in appropriate colors, of course. Be sure to include water bottles, trail mix, and peanuts.

Book Lover Basket
Are you giving to homeschoolers or a family of book lovers? What about putting together a package with personalized bookmarks and book plates? These elastic bookmarks are unique and easy to make. An Internet search for “printable book plates” will provide you with lots of options. You could even make your own from scrapbooking papers or buy some at your local bookstore.  Include a great family read-aloud or even a favorite book on CD.

So, can you save time and money this year by gifting families instead of individuals?  I hope these few suggestions have given you some inspiration. Bless a family with a gift they can enjoy together, and boost your budget at the same time!

Molly Green is passionate about cheerful, creative homemaking on a down-to-earth budget. Visit her online home, www.Econobusters.com for tips on frugal and tasty cooking, fresh decorating ideas, affordable family fun, simple but effective organizing, and much more! Sign up for her free weekly E-Newsletter, and get a bonus menu-planning  E-Book too!

Molly’s favorite project is her monthly Money-Saving Digest. In each issue she features columns on decorating, hospitality, parenting, and more, as well as one featured topic, like working from home, education, frugal vacations, family organization, or gardening.

Molly is learning that frugality means freedom, not drudgery, and it can be fun, too! especially this time of year!

Continue reading Eight Frugal Family Gifts …

From Econobusters.

Candy was a frugal hostess at a church gathering

It’s one thing to be frugal in your own home. It takes a bit more creativity and courage to be frugal in a social setting when other people might quite willing to spend whatever money it takes to provide hospitality, fashion, style and formality.

My frugal friend Candy at Deal With It, Simply! hit the right combination when she served as a co-hostess for a women’s Advent gathering at her church. The hostess duties at this event include decorating the table who which the hostess is assigned.

Candy and her frugal niece Angie worked out a theme with the sand dollar legend and everything they used to decorate their area was free or from a dollar store. You can see the pictures here.

Continue reading Candy was a frugal hostess at a church gathering …

From Monroe on a Budget.

Perfect Time To Clear Out The Toy Clutter – Tidy Tuesday

Yesterday I talked about creating a strict budget for Christmas gifts.  That got me thinking about the toys in our house.  Spending money on more toys when the toy room is already full-to-overflowing seems rather foolish.  When I stop to think about it, some of those toys never see the light of day anymore.  Because I’m starting my gift list, I thought this would be the perfect time to reassess the toys in the house.

Before you start making your gift budget and list, it seems wise to figure out what toys you have that your child is not playing with, and question why the toy is not being used.  The following are general categories that I find most toys fall into.  Start in the toy room by sorting all the toys into these four categories:

Broken Toys – It can be difficult to fix or repurpose broken toys.  However, if you have the creativity to use the leftover pieces of a long lost game or puzzle, then by all means go ahead and create!  You can make very cute picture frames out of puzzle pieces, for instance.

Batteries Missing – This is a common reason that a toy may be discarded, especially if a child is not old enough to know that the toy quit working because it needs a battery.  As you clear out the clutter in the toy room, check each battery operated toy that is in good condition and see if it needs fresh batteries.

Ignored Toys – If a toy is in good condition but has lost its appeal it could be for several reasons.  The child may have outgrown the toy, the child may have changed interests, or, if the clutter in the toy room has gotten out of hand, the child may simply not be able to find the toy.  In this case, clearing out the clutter in the toy room can reap some real rewards!  New toys… well at least newly discovered.

Unopened Toys – These somehow got missed during gift giving time I presume.  For whatever reason, you have just hit the jackpot, as long as your children have not outgrown them entirely.  Hide them away safely and you’ve got some extra gifts.

Once you’ve sorted the toys into these groups, grab some boxes.

Starting with the broken toys, make a decision about whether you want to save any of the pieces for craft projects, etc., and discard the rest in an appropriate manner.  Broken toys are not welcome by charities as they can be dangerous and, basically, no fun.

The toys that are battery operated should be sorted to see which ones you want to keep, and which ones should be sold or donated.  For the toys you keep, add up the batteries you need, listed by the type of battery, and add that to your shopping list for the next time you run an errand.  Keep in mind that if you’re going to be selling any of the toys either at a garage sale or on an auction site, you may need to buy new batteries to guarantee the toy works.  Depending on where you donate your toys, you may need to prove the toy works before they take it.  In that case you’ll need fresh batteries for those donated toys.  In other circumstances, you may be able to donate toys without proving they work, in which case you would just want to be sure you remove the dead batteries from those donated toys.

The ignored toys need to be sorted as to whether they were outgrown, lost interest, or couldn’t find.  You can simply reintroduce the child to the toys that were just buried among the clutter.  If the toys have been outgrown they should be boxed up and either sold or donated.  You may want to set the toys aside that your child has lost interest in and bring them out again in a couple months.  If the child still has no interest, then box up those toys and get rid of them.

Unopened toys should be hidden away quickly.  This is your secret toy stash to use for Christmas time or anytime you need a gift for your child.  You can also re-gift if you’re careful and don’t give it back to the person who gave it to you.  This may be touchy, so just keep that in mind.  If your child has outgrown the toy that is unopened, you may consider selling it on an auction site or donating it to a hospital or other charity.

Now that you have a good idea of what is actually in your child’s toy room, you can help Santa plan for his Christmas shopping!  Clearing out the toy clutter before Christmas may produce some pleasant surprises, saving you a lot of money and headaches by eliminating those duplicate toy purchases.

I hope this project not only helps you clear out the toy clutter you’ve been accumulating, but also helps you with your gift list, and budget, for Christmas.

Continue reading Perfect Time To Clear Out The Toy Clutter – Tidy Tuesday …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge

It may seem a bit early to be thinking about shopping for Christmas gifts, but, if you’re like me, trying to save as much money as I possibly can, you should probably start today.  Planning a more affordable Christmas this year doesn’t have to mean cutting out all the gifts, decorations, food, and fun.  You just need to start early, use your creativity, and base your shopping on good judgment.

Christmas time is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration.  If you are burdened with debt because you overspent on gifts, your heart will not be light and full of good cheer.  Those expensive gifts can become a burden that strips away the joy of the season.

Let’s look at some basic strategies for slashing the overspending that can occur at Christmas time.

Plan Your Gift Budget – This is so basic you would think that most people already do this, but many don’t, and that is where the trouble starts.  Don’t start with a gift list, start with writing down exactly how much you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts this year.  Don’t forget that you’ll need to budget for the rest of your Christmas expenses, too.  Things like decorations and food need to be budgeted for, so keep the total expense in mind.

Make Your Gift Recipient List – Write down everyone you normally buy a Christmas gift for.

Remove Some People From That List – This may seem a bit difficult, but you are almost guaranteed that after you go through your list, you’ll find someone that you really don’t need to buy a gift for this year.  If it makes you more comfortable, just move their names to the bottom of the list so you can remember to do something for them, even if that doesn’t involve buying a gift.

Plan Dollar Amount For Each Recipient – Write a dollar amount behind each name that you now have on your list, then add it up.  Are you outside your budget for gifts?  You’ll need to go back then and rethink each amount and adjust the figures until it fits within your gift budget.

Make Your Gift List – Now you can go through your list of names and start jotting down ideas for each person.  Because you’ve created a budgeted dollar amount for each individual, your ideas now have a limit.  The problem most people get into when they shop for gifts is that they create a gift list with gift ideas first instead of dollar amounts first.  To save your budget, always start your gift list with the dollar amount to be spent for each gift recipient.

Start Your Shopping Early – Yes, there are some great bargains to be found as you get closer to Christmas, but the panic that sets in usually ends up costing us more than we planned.  Last minute shopping narrows your choices.

Re-Think Gift Shopping – Consider more inventive options for at least some of the names on your list.  Shop smart and thrifty by looking through bargain basements and resale shops.  Yes, even a trip through the second-hand stores may prove to be rewarding.  You’ll never know what kind of fun and funky finds you’ll come across.  For instance, you might find great vintage jewelry that would be just right for a teenager.  You may even stumble upon some antique books.  And, what little princess wouldn’t like a big box of sparkly gowns to play dress-up in?  You’ll find racks of bejeweled, lacy, and shimmery dresses on the bridal and special events racks in most larger thrift shops.  Check it out before you head to the mall.

Homemade Gifts – If you are creative, if you can follow a pattern, if you can cook, or if you just have a desire to make something nice, put your skills to work and make a gift.  Something as simple as a pretty jar filled with bath salts can be just the right gift to give a friend in need of a relaxing moment. Gifts made from the heart are always appreciated.

Leave Yourself Off Your Gift List – If you’re tempted to buy yourself stuff while you’re shopping for gifts, you’ll need to give yourself a stern talking to!  There are so many lovely things out there in the store aisles and they all seem to be calling your name.  That is what is called “marketing to the impulse shopper.”  If you have no control, give your list to someone else who has more self-control and is willing to do your shopping for you.  Know yourself and avoid this pitfall.  Your budget can’t take it!

This is my frugal challenge to you.  Hold onto the joy of Christmas gift giving by setting your gift budget within your means.  Don’t go into debt in order to give gifts that you cannot afford.  Your family and friends would not like it if they knew their gift caused you a hardship.

Continue reading Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge …

From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.

Menu Clarification

I think there needs to be some carification on our menu.

I have not published all of my recipes. I think recipe posts are boring. I try to make them interesting with a story and a few sarcastic quips if I can, but generally, I find them boring. I force myself to publish about two a week because I know that the food budget is where most people can cut the most.

We have a fourteen meal rotation, but several nights are pretty open. Our chicken night, quesadillas and our mac and cheese night have a lot of room for creativity. I don’t know if I’ll ever exhaust the recipes I can try with chicken.

This is not a rigid rotation. I just found a recipe on Hill Billy Housewife’s site that I want to try. It’s a rice and beans recipe. I’m always on the lookout for good rice recipes, but usually am disappointed because I don’t like rice much. I’m just going to skip one of the other meals for this one. I have that freedom whenever I want it.

We go out to eat once per week on average. Sometimes it’s to a sandwich shop, sometimes it’s to a steak house, and occasionally, we even go to a fast food joint. I wrote a whole post about how we can afford that.

Meals get switched in and out. Just this month, two meals were replaced, one for health reasons and one because I got sick of making it. There are plenty of recipes we like that we could switch in and out anytime if we wanted to. We’ve had the two week rotation for several years. A friend in Quebec gave us the idea when we were on vacation; she was making fun of her mother-in-law’s two week rotation and I thought her mother-in-law was brilliant. I don’t remember what our rotation looked like at first, except that Sunday is always a Sunday ham, Wednesday is always chicken night, and Saturday is Mexican.

My family is not depraved, they like my food.

The other day, while I was cooking supper I realized I was real hungry. Then I remembered I had forgotten to eat since that morning, as a post partum appetite can be a little erratic. I told my husband about that after work and he was amazed. “How can you forget to eat?” he asked, “Eating is the best part of the day.” He went on to explain that he bases his whole concept of time around when he gets to eat again. He has a structured eating schedule and is not a grazer like the rest of us. That’s my food he’s eating, that his thinking revolves around, that he is looking forward to.

If someone looks at a picture of a meal and decides they don’t like it, I would consider that close minded. If someone looks at the few recipes I’ve published and decides my family’s diet is not varied enough, I would consider that ignorant. If someone reads a few blog posts, or even the whole blog of someone who has been blogging all of ten weeks and assumes they know everything the blogger does and does not do, that person is being a little presumptuous.

I love blogging, and find it a sort of brain splat, where you get a piece of my mind every day. Sometimes you get a big chunk and really get good a glimpse of my life as a whole. Sometimes you get a detailed look at a minute section. My brain has not been exhausted, and I still have much to say. Please, don’t limit me to only what I have said, for if I had said all that there was for me to say, I would have nothing left to blog about.

Continue reading Menu Clarification …

From Under $1000 Per Month.

Decorating on a Shoestring Budget

Right now one of the most popular shows on television is, “Trading Spaces”. If you haven’t gotten an opportunity to watch this show, the object of the game is to decorate one room in someone else’s house with a budget of a $1,000. The decorator’s truly struggle to accomplish this so you know it is hard when even they, trained professionals, are having problems creating the room of the homeowner’s dreams.
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