April 2017 -

How to Save While Spending

When was the last time you spent money? Last night? Earlier today? A few minutes ago? Spending is inevitable. Saving while spending is smart.

Today I am sharing a few ways to save while spending.

savewhilespending

Make a list of what you want and stick to it.

I actually shared this idea in a prior quick tip post, but it’s worth mentioning again. A list in the grocery store helps you buy the items you need for the week (and not all the other items screaming your name as you walk by). A list for a trip to the mall for summer clothes helps you stick to your needs (not your wants). Lists help you stay focused and budget-conscious.

Choose online shopping.

I am a big fan of online shopping because of the convenience, but it has other benefits as well including helping you to save money. With online shopping you can check out a few sites before settling on a specific price for a certain item. There are even comparison shopping engines that do the work for you so that you can get the best price for the item you desire.

Use coupons and rebates.

Coupons and rebates are a great way to save a little money while you spend. Cutting coupons is always an option, but if you find that task tedious, you can use various coupon apps to meet your needs. Coupons.com is a very popular coupon site, and today I added their new app to my phone!

Along with coupons, you can easily receive “cash back” thanks to the ease of rebate websites and apps. Have you tried Ibotta? You can scan your receipts and receive cash back for certain purchases. If you are interested in Ibotta, you can click my referral link to receive your $10 welcome bonus!! https://ibotta.com/r/dkcywic

Ebates is another easy rebate option you can utilize when making purchases at your favorite retailers. Earn cash back when you shop at any one of the 2,000 retailers listed on their site.

Look for credit for first time customers.

If you have followed my blog for any amount of time you should already know that I am huge fan of thredUP. One of the first reasons I was drawn to this online second-hand clothing store was because first time customers could get a $10 credit towards their first purchase.

thredupbox

Schoola is another online second-hand clothing store that also offers a $10 credit for first time customers. If you have to buy clothing, why not check out an option that provides you with a little credit?! It’s also a great way to try out a new store without throwing away a bunch of money.

I hope the ideas I shared with you today help you to save while spending!

What about you? How do you save? I would love to hear your ideas, so leave me a comment below!

Until next time,
Charissa

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3 Reasons to Make Space in Your Life

3 reasons to make space in your life

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Is your calendar jam-packed? What about your closet? Are your days filled to the brim leaving you tired and stressed out? Is your child’s play space stuffed with…well, stuff?

Space, both literal and figurative, can be hard to come by. Maybe we don’t see it as important. Perhaps we don’t think it is possible. But I believe space can and should be a part of life.

Today I am sharing 3 reasons to make space in your life.

You Can Rest

When you make space in your life, you can rest. Some might say rest is overrated. In this culture of go-go-go, rest can seem a bit unproductive. And I suppose it is; that’s the point.

For some, rest truly is a struggle, but a lot of good can come from rest. Our bodies heal, our minds stay sharp, our moods improve, and we have energy for whatever lies before us. When we rest we can do the things we need to do and do them well.

bedding

Space allows time for rest. When your schedule has space you can sit and rest. When your day isn’t crammed with activities from start to finish you can go to bed early and rest. A home with more space than stuff also allows opportunity for rest.

You Can Say Yes

I talk a lot about saying yes and saying no. Sometimes we have to say no in order to say yes. Some people say yes too often and burn themselves out. Some people say no too often and miss out on opportunities and life all around them. I believe the full life is about saying yes to your priorities and no to those things that simply clutter up your life. The beautiful thing about allowing for space in your life is that you can say yes when others have to say no.

I had a friend recently ask if I could help with watching her kids for a bit. I agreed. She then switched the time for when I would be watching them and asked if that was ok. I said that yes, the change in time also worked for me. She mentioned after that exchange that she thought I was one of the most flexible people she knows. I certainly think that I could be much more flexible in life, but I understood and appreciated what she was saying. The space in my life allowed me to say yes. I love being able to say yes to people especially when it is unexpected.

When your home has space (think less stuff), you can say yes to more time with your children. You can say yes to exploring the outside world because the inside (of your home) doesn’t need your constant attention.

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You Can Appreciate More

If you have 50 shirts filling your closet you probably pull one out and think, “Where did this come from?” or, “I don’t even like this.”. If you only have a dozen shirts in your closet, you can see and value each piece. You appreciate what you have because what you have is not being overwhelmed by all your other items.

The same is true in our daily lives. A day overstuffed with activities makes it hard to appreciate those 24 hours. You might be too busy running here and there to truly notice what you are doing and why you are doing it. Space in your day allows for appreciation. You can appreciate the people who are around you because you have time to be with them and cultivate relationships. You can appreciate the activities you choose to participate in because you aren’t worn down and stressed out by trying to do everything everyone tells you to do.

Making space is a simple concept, but perhaps not always an easy task. If you keep in mind some of the reasons for making space, you might be more encouraged and motivated to do it. Make some space in your life; I think you’ll be glad you did.

What about you? How are you making space in your life? I would love to hear from you, so leave a comment below!

Until next time,
Charissa

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My Photo of the Week

Enjoy the little things in life for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.

~Robert Brault

siblinglove

Love is letting your little sister use you as a footrest while she plays with your hair.♥♥♥

I have 3 children, ages 10, 8, and 4. Some of the moments they share together are beautiful, and some are not so lovely. Bad moods, unkind words, and selfish attitudes make for some moments that are not always photo-worthy.

I also have plenty of moments that are not photo-worthy. Bad moods, unkind words, and selfish attitudes (hmmm…sounds familiar) can plague me, too.

We’re not a perfect family, but we get up every day, and by God’s strength look to love each other through the good and the bad, the easy and the hard.

I’m thankful for the little, beautiful moments like the one captured above that remind me of the love that binds us together on even the hardest days.

Until next time,
Charissa

What I Do With The Clothes I Purge From My Closet

Several weeks ago I organized my bedroom closet, and this organizational mini-project led to the removal of several articles of clothing. Whenever we clean out or organize our closets we are left with a decision: What should we do with the clothes we purge?

Today I am sharing what I do with the clothes I purge from my closet.

closetpurge

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links.)

I begin by doing a quick assessment, and then sort the clothes into piles determining what should be tossed out, given to friends, donated to an organization or sold.

Toss Out: Sometimes an item has to be tossed out. I don’t like when clothing becomes trash, but sometimes it has to happen. If I find clothes with holes, rips or other damage I toss them out. (If I am able to make them into rags then I do that.)

Give Away to Friends: I sometimes see an item and know it will be a good option for a friend. This happens most frequently with my children’s clothing. It’s nice to be able to share the love and pass along items that no longer fit my kiddos.

Donate to an Organization: We have many Red Cross and Salvation Army donation boxes around us. I limit the amount of clothing I leave in these boxes; I know these organizations are often overloaded with donations, and I am not fully certain about what happens to the clothes I donate. We have a local family pantry that receives clothing donations so that has become my first choice when donating to an organization.

Sell: There are times when I choose to sell my gently used items that no longer work for me because it is a unique way to make a little money. There are a number of consignment shops in my area, and there is one in particular that I will consign with if I choose to sell locally. More often than not, if I am choosing to sell, then I will do it online.

My number one online option for selling my gently used clothing is thredUP. I buy from thredUP and when it makes sense, I sell to them. The process for selling your clothes begins with ordering a clean out kit. The clean out kit consists of a large plastic bag (to fill with your clothes) and some basic info and instructions for sending your clothes to thredUP.

Poshmark is another option for selling your clothes. I just heard about and am trying Poshmark for the first time. I have listed just 2 items, and I will let you know if I have any success!

When donating or selling clothes, I like to take the time to make sure the clothes look as good as they can. There are two tools I use to make this happen: a lint roller and a fabric defuzzer.

Remove the lint!

Get rid of the pills!

A closet clean out and organization will lead to unwanted items, so remember the options I shared when considering what you might do with the items you purge!

What about you? What do you do with the items you purge from your closet? Leave me a comment; I would love to hear from you!

Until next time,
Charissa

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Why I Don’t Make Easter Baskets for My Children

I’ve been wanting to guest post on other blogs and websites, and I am so excited that I have been able to do that today.

My article Why I Don’t Make Easter Baskets for My Children was published by Her View From Home!!

Although I do share the reasons why I don’t make these baskets, there is a much deeper message found in my article. The message is one I strongly believe in.

“Hop” on over to Her View From Home & check out my article.

I would love to have you read it and leave me a comment there!! If the article speaks to you, then please share with others.

Many thanks.

Until next time,
Charissa

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When Reaching Your Financial Goals Means You Don’t Look Like Everyone Else

6 years ago my family and I began our financial journey.

6 years ago I read a book that inspired and challenged me. I passed it along to my husband right before he got on a plane, he read it, and returned from his trip inspired and challenged. What was this inspiring and challenging book? The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

Prior to those 6 years, we were responsible with our money. We were being thoughtful about how we spent and saved, but we didn’t have any solid financial goals. Then something changed and we became focused, unified, and determined…

*I’m excited to be guest posting over at The Budget Girl! You can read the rest of the post there. I hope our story encourages you!

Until next time,
Charissa