My Mom has been very busy this past week. They live in a nice one-bedroom apartment, here in Small-Town, on the second floor (much quieter than the first floor, my Dad informed me), and one of their neighbors has moved out, and the TWO BEDROOM apartment is available. So, Mom and Dad decided that they'd like to have more room for company and grandchildren who like to visit and stay overnight, so they are going to move. So, they have been sorting, packing, cleaning, and hauling boxes over to the new place. Luckily, the new apt. is only a few feet away from their old one. That is the beauty of moving within the same apt. complex and on the same floor. No going up and down stairs!! And, if it is raining, the wonderful awning keeps everyone nice and dry. I really like their apt. complex; I'll take some pictures of it and post them eventually.
Here it is, folks, today's segment of:
MOM MINUTES
Continuing the "Christmas in July" theme, we talked last week about ways to create extra money for Christmas and places to shop for good deals. But, we all know how easy it is to spend that extra money that we create, how enticing those sales and bargain priced items can be, and how it all can wreak havoc on the budget. So, I have come up with a simple plan to not kill my budget:
First of all, make a list of those who you would like to give a gift to; that way, you have a good idea of how many you are buying for. Always plan on getting a few more gifts for last minute gift-giving for someone you inadvertently left out!
Next, figure out the available cash that you will have to spend, and allocate how much you want to spend per person. I try to budget on the high-end, because if I do under-spend, I take that extra amount and add it back into my available cash to spend. It is far better to Under-spend than to Over-spend.
Now that you have the names and amounts, this will hopefully keep your spending on track. As always, flexibility is the key here. If you allocate $15.00 for so and so, but the gift that you are dying to get them is $20.00, just rearrange your Christmas budget to find the extra cash.
This system has worked out very well for me; I am usually able to get everyone on my list a little something.
Last but not least, if you think that the extra cash that you have in your checkbook or just "lying around the house" is going to be spent on other things, take that money and put it into a savings account either at your own bank or in an online-savings-account. (My daugher has an online account with ING Direct, but there are other ones also.) That way, you won't be tempted to spend it, and it'll be sitting there, earning a little interest (and I do mean LITTLE!) but it'll at least be there when you need it!
There you are folks; tips from the one and only Earlene, the "voice of wisdom" behind Mom Minutes!!
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Can't get enough of the stories about the stripey cat, Hobbes, and the adorable gray cat, Grace Anne? Then, go on over to Lin's blog at: duck and wheel with string to read today's story about Grace Anne, grass, and things that go "Urp" in the night!! I laughed until I had tears running down my face!! :)
Oh wow mom minutes AND Hobbes-how good can a Wednesday get!
ReplyDeleteLove the tips. I also love ING. And I am too happy to know mom will have an extra bedroom :-) I promise to keep it tidy as my fridge when I come visit :-)
I was on the computer at 5am but figured you wouldn't appreciate my demands for mom minutes at that time fo the morning :-)
I just read Duck Wheel. The Nasa kick is what got me :-) I have done that so many times. And with two twenty-plus pounders it makes for quite a thud :-)
ReplyDeleteI tell you what, Helene, anytime you want to come and visit, I'll just let Mom know. She's always got some kind of baked goodies around on her cupboard, in her VERY CLEAN fridge, or EQUALLY CLEAN freezer! :)
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to fight the grandkids for the extra bedroom! LOL
That NASA kick is also got me laughing so hard I had to wipe my eyes. I could just see it in my mind....WHAM! THUD!
Tell mom thank you and I hope that the move goes well for all of you!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, i'd like to help them.. Isn't it odd that when a couple got married, they are the only ones at home then they have kids and raised them, when they have their lives, the parents go back to the same situation where they started!
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