Saturday, October 25, 2008

I Apologize

Dear Fellow Blogger,
You may notice that I have removed the Christmas countdown icon at the top of my blog site. I just logged on to moderate a comment and an advertisement was in it's place. The advertisement was asking what type of alcohol drink I preferred. Let me answer a resounding NONE!
This blog is dedicated to bringing glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't want any area of this blog to be displeasing to the Lord. If you have logged onto my blog recently and saw something being advertised that was offensive to you, I apologize. This blog is dedicated to sharing Christian ideals with fellow believers, and the Blessed hope of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
It is also dedicated to help women learn frugal ideas and skills, in turn helping them to reduce their family budgets. Perhaps sharing with them that if their hearts desire is to be a "Keeper of the Home", it is possible with hard work and God's grace, even if they are currently working full-time outside their home. Beyond that it has no other purpose. I am not blogging to make money or advertise something I did not approve of, or even better that Christ would not approve of. If you are looking for a blog that is Christ honoring, soul loving, Bible teaching, Devil Hating, than you have found the right place. Welcome. I hope you stop back.
Blessings, Michelle

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

65 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!! YIPEEEEEE!

I know that I have had the Christmas countdown icon on my blog for quite some time, but folks have you noticed that it's ticking away? Christmas is truly just around the corner. In a previous post. actually way back in July, I gave some frugal tips on preparing for Christmas. How y'all doin?

Hopefully you have all started planning ahead. This year I have decided to make many homemade gifts. For some I will be making some type of bread( I am not sure yet) and giving away some of my homemade jams. Some will receive homemade pickles and some will receive a table runner. I have purchased the fabric for the table runners but I have yet to make them. November's project.

We are HUGE Christmas fans around here. We love celebrating, starting the night of Thanksgiving (After our guests leave we usually watch "It's a Wonderful Life') and we plot out our Black Friday excursion. We usually are on the road between 3-4 a.m. We have scored some great deals on this day. I am hoping this year that we will be finishing our shopping on black Friday. We are setting some extra money aside now to take advantage of all the great deals.

Hopefully you have set aside a few dollars each week from the savings you have been getting by using coupons for your groceries. If you haven't started, it's never to late. Start saving this week!! See if you can shave $5 off your grocery bill. Reduce paper products, reduce juice or cut it out all together and drink water with meals. Cook a meatless meal this week and you could even save $10 off your budget. Hopefully you are all on your way!

Make a list of all the people you wish to give a gift to. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive. I have received coupons for meals and child care and I have loved these gifts. The coupons were from dear friends. Some were having financial difficulty that year and the fact that they remembered our family meant even more.

In my previous post, I wrote about the precious resource...time. Maybe this year there just isn't any extra money. Consider giving pockets of your time. Give a coupon for running errands to a busy Mom who has more money than time. Offer to babysit for friends that don't have family nearby. Maybe give their Christmas gift early and offer to watch their children so that they might go out and do some uninterrupted shopping! Put your thinking cap on and be creative. Also, pray and ask the Lord what might be a blessing to someone. He knows all our needs better than we do and He can use you to be a huge blessing in someones life. I have prayed many times for the Lord to lay on my heart who may have a need. He has clearly shown to me who He wants me to give some extra groceries or a bag of bounty from my couponing scores. Many times I have heard, I gave them something, "just when they needed it." I love serving My God!!!

I have many more frugal Christmas tips mulling around in my head. Stay tuned. Also I would love to hear all your frugal tips. I am always looking for new ideas:)

Have a blessed day! Michelle











Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Precious Resource-Time

O.K. O.K. O.K., I know it's been quite a while since my last post, but I have been really busy. To the few of you faithful, stop by everyday readers ( Miss Wanda) I am sorry. I am like all of you, a very busy Woman!!
With homeschooling, learning the new skill of canning and preserving food, (I've made bread and butter pickles and homemade jams. I've mastered peach, blueberry and raspberry!) serving my Husband and family, serving in our local New Testament Church in several ministries I might add and then raining as "The Coupon Queen", I don't have much time for blogging.
It's not that I don't have much to say, God has been blessing my family greatly in the area of scoring great coupon savings recently, I just can't seem to find the time to write it all down. I have even taken a few pictures to post of my great deals, but that takes time and a lot of it. Time is the one thing that we are all equal in. We all have been given 24 hours in each day. No more, No less. The key is in finding the balance of using our time wisely and productively. As for Me, I look to the Lord and His Word for the guidance in my life.
If I have spent all day cutting coupons, scoring great deals and then blogging about them, but have not met the needs of my family, I am out of balance. If I have saved a ton of money in multiple trips to CVS, Price Chopper and K-Mart for double coupons, but the board of Health has condemned my home, my priorities are out of balance. If I am so busy scouring the Internet for new deals, but can not take the time to encourage a friend in the Lord, then things are out of balance. I mention these things because some days I get out of balance. It is only when I am walking in the Spirit, seeking the Lord in the planning of my day and reading His Word Daily, that I am able to achieve balance in my life. If there be any balance in my life it is God's grace and mercy, of which I am so thankful for. I truly enjoy blogging, but not at the expense of the "better" things to use my time for. I 'm still around and will post when I can. I want to be frugal with one of the most precious resources God has given us and that is our time. I pray blessings for you all!! Michelle