Hanging In and Checking Out

Hubby has successfully completed one week of employment at the new job. Hurrah! The first day was probably our biggest concern. We both had a lot of unanswered questions; questions that could only be answered once he started working. Thankfully, he came home at the end of his first day in a very positive mood. Obviously the longevity of this job after only one week is still uncertain. But he likes the work, and he likes the people. Doesn't get better than that! Even when he came home on Friday night, he was in a positive mood. He was even given a lot of positive feedback by the hiring manager on Thursday and Friday, and he's happy about that. So until the permanent job offer comes, we'll just keeping hanging in there...doing what we do best, praying like crazy and living our lives. Writing about all that I've learned over the last six months would take me weeks, but I can tell you one of the most important lessons I've learned...not putting our lives on hold in bad times. Yes, we had to make financial cutbacks and sacrifices, but we were still able to have good times and make plans. It's not easy, but it is possible. And that's the word I want to spread to anyone out there who is looking for work and/or has been out of work for a long time. Don't postpone the part of life where you enjoy something positive every day...no matter how small. Enjoy a good conversation w/your spouse or a close friend. Enjoy a good 15-minute tickle & giggle session with your younger child. Enjoy a fun experience away from the house with an older child, spouse and/or friend. Enjoy life! All worry and depression do is rob us of our lives. Little by little...minute by minute...our lives are on a countdown. Don't waste a single moment!

Hubby is currently a temporary employee on this job, so that brings a certain amount of uncertainty with it. The hiring manager has told him that they will offer him a permanent job if he "works out". It's a try-before-you-buy situation. Maybe it's not ideal, but it is work. The pay during this trial period isn't terrific, but it is more than unemployment. And did I mention that it gets him back to work??

Because the salary at this new job is about 35% below his last salary, we still have to mind our P's and Q's where money is concerned. Even though there will be a little extra each week, we've agreed to shove the extra into savings for now. When he's offered a permanent job (whenever and wherever that is), we will use the funds that we need for big projects around the house....not a second sooner though. We have no plans to deviate from the current budget any time in the near future. Even though we could spend more on groceries, household items or stuff for the kids, we've recognized the need to get serious about saving for some rather big items like a newer car, a bigger emergency fund, kid's college, retirement, etc. So yup, that stingy budget will be around for awhile!

In an effort to stay under or on budget, I'm looking for alternatives to cut expenses. Groceries and eating out use up a lot of our money, so I'm educating myself on how to make all our expensive favorites myself. I've tried a few new recipes that have turned out very nice and will continue in the weeks to come. In addition to making my own convenience foods, I'm also building a cache of freezable recipes. I would love to make my cooking chores a lot easier not only for myself but also for hubby. Depending on the size of our tax refund, I plan to purchase $200-300 worth of staple groceries that I can vacuum seal and store in the freezer or store in the pantry. It might be a big expenditure up front, but I know it will save time and money in the long run. Who couldn't love that?! I'll keep you updated on all my kitchen adventures in the coming months!

I'm also doing research on a raised bed garden for our backyard. Every year we plant tomatoes, but that's all I've ever had time for. Because our girls are older now, I'd really like to add a couple small raised beds to plant additional veggies. The raised beds may just get us through our veggie eating habit for the summer, but that would be okay. It's an experiment. I don't want to sink a ton of money into an experiment that doesn't work well. If we're successful, we can always add on later. I'm most excited about planting a ton of herbs. I love cooking with herbs, and fresh herbs are the BEST! Lots of work will be involved, but that will give the girls & I just one more reason to be outside in the fresh air. Hopefully I can keep them entertained enough to help me for longer periods of time than in the past. Jordi is a little copycat and will do whatever her big sister does, so if I can get Ray to help me for more than 5 minutes, I know Jordi will follow suit.

I'm really looking forward to my upcoming experiments. Hopefully I will get to enjoy the benefits of it, so that I can pass it along to you as well!!

The End in Sight?

On the eve of a new week, I can't help but wonder. Is this the end? Is this the end to days, weeks and months of praying & wondering? Hubby starts his new job in the morning. The best way to describe our attitudes would be reserved excitement. The job is temporary. It's a try-before-you-buy situation. If they like him, they will offer him a permanent position at the company. If not, they'll let him go after his contract is up. So his nerves are wound tight; a lot is riding on him and on this job.

At this point, neither of us want this to be a just temporary job. But however it turns out, we're at peace and know that God will provide. We'll continue to pray for the best and for wisdom. Who can go wrong w/the kind of wisdom and blessings that comes only from God? He has definitely been good to us; I wish I could explain all that's happened in our lives over the last six months. We love to brag on Him and what He's done. And we'll continue to find every opportunity to do so!

I'm also praying long & hard that this temp job converts to permanent soon. Last year, we saved a lot of money to pay for necessary home projects, new appliances, a new couch and some extra things we've been wanting for a long time. Fortunately (or unfortunately) when he lost his job, we hadn't spent that savings yet, and we agreed not to until he found a new job...just in case we needed the cash to pay bills or buy food. Thankfully almost all of that savings is still there!! We agreed that we would still not spend the money until he gets a permanent job offer, but I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. When he does get that permanent job, we'll be going on a spending spree!! :) The only exception might be the purchase of a new fridge right now. Our state will be offering a "cash for clunker appliances" deal starting next month. Funds are limited, so we have to act fast. Since we have the cash to buy a new fridge outright and because we could save several hundred dollars through the program, we just might have to spend a few bucks before he gets that permanent job. You have no idea how happy I am about that prospect. I HATE my refrigerator!!!! I also despise my broken down 15-year old couch, but since it technically holds our butts in relative comfort (e.g. off the floor), I can't argue that we have to buy a new one right this minute. We've waited six months already; what's a few more months?

That's all inconsequential though to what will happen tomorrow. MY HUSBAND IS GOING BACK TO WORK, and I cannot be more excited for him!! I'm going to miss him greatly, but I am so happy that he will find himself on a new path in the morning. And I have a feeling (deep down in my bones) that tomorrow is the start of something super, super awesome. Whether or not you believe, let me be the first to tell you that God is good all the time...good times, bad times, easy times, hard times, happy times, sad times, mad times, glad times, fun times, icky times, troubling times, peaceful times. God is good ALL the time, and He has been so good to us! Praise God from whom all blessings flow...material and otherwise!!

Tummy Trouble

In light of other concerns over the last several months, I forgot all about the "Funnies" category for my blog. We certainly have experienced several funny moments in that time, but I just haven't made the time to write the stuff down. Thought I'd share one that happened this week and still has me in chuckling. My 4-year old approached me and began the conversation:

Ray: Mommy, I want a snack.
Me: (Because it was too close to lunch) No, not right now. We'll eat in a little bit.
Ray: Puh-leeeeez
Me: No
Ray: (in a huff) Well then tell my tummy to stop asking for one!!!

Where do they get this stuff?!?!

Amazing Aluminum

Lots of cleaning tests being done in this house lately!! Looking forward to trying many, many more! This week's test was an attempt to cut back on the amount of money we spend on laundry products. We spend enough on the water to wash the five tons of laundry every week. Why not try to offset some of the costs for cleaners?

And I've definitely found a replacement for dryer sheets....aluminum foil.

First, I've gotta say that I hate liquid softener. I've been burned too many times in the past by stains that I can't get out. The dryer sheet is a staple in my house, but they can be a little costly. I've tried using vinegar in the wash as recommended by some sites...especially when hanging my laundry on the line during the summer when dryer sheets aren't feasible. The vinegar recommendation worked okay, but I really wanted to try this other method before I gave up.

Crumple a few small sheets of foil into a loose ball and throw into the dryer with your clothes. It prevents static electricity and doesn't leave a residue in your lint trap. I've tried this with several loads of laundry now, and I'm in love.

The cost savings? A box of the 80-count dryer sheets I buy (generic, of course) costs about $2.80. If I'm feeling particularly stingy, I can use one dryer sheet for two loads. So best case scenario is 160 loads of laundry for the cost, which works out to approximately 2 cents per load.

Now for the aluminum foil cost breakdown. A 50 sq feet roll of generic aluminum foil (heavy duty) costs about $2.30. For my two balls of foil, I use a total of 1 square foot approximately. Here's the kicker...I was able to use those two balls for about four loads of laundry. That's 200 loads of laundry for the cost, which works out to approximately 1 cent per load.

Okay, okay...we're talking pennies here. What's the big deal? First, that's half the cost. Given the amount of laundry I do, that's a huge percentage! I don't know about you, but it's usually the small things that end up killing our budget. This is just ONE of many household cleaning options I plan to try in an effort to cut back on our spending in this area. Only time will determine how much we can save in a year, but if we can manage (at the very least) to cut our spending in this area by half, we will be saving $40/month. That's almost $500 in a year! And THAT is if we save only half...what if we save more? I don't know about you, but $500 could buy me something awfully nice!!!!

I've also tried using aluminum foil and baking soda as a silver polisher. While it works very well...not nearly as expensive or harsh on the skin...this particular cleaning option works best with flatware, platters, picture frames - things that are flat. I tried cleaning a small silver piggy bank. It worked, but it was difficult for that particular object. Definitely worth trying for yourself though!

Until next time....

Happy Dance!

Hubby called a little while ago to tell me that he was offered the job that he interviewed for last Friday. YEEHAW!! He was very upbeat & positive about the job after the interview, so we both had a good feeling. In this job market though, you have to watch yourself and not let your hopes get too high. Even now, there's a part of me that's not going to really believe it until he starts work next Monday.

The job is contract work (aka temp work) for at least a few months. It's basically a "try before you buy" situation. They've told him that if things work out well, he would be hired as an employee. Again, not going to get excited about that until it's reality, but it gives us a new prayer directive for a few more months. The pay isn't fabulous. In fact, it's much less than his last job, but it is more than unemployment...and more importantly, it gets him working again.

I'm SOOOOO happy & excited for him.

Last Saturday marked six months since he lost his job. The time has gone by quickly, and it hasn't been as stressful as we both thought in the beginning. We're not quite out of the woods yet, but God has taught us during this time to focus on the here and now and not worry about the future. That doesn't mean we're to be irresponsible or reckless, but we're not to worry ourselves into an early grave or into divorce. In other words, we're not to let worry rob us of our joy. That's happened a few times during the last six months, but God is so good to us. Whenever we felt overwhelmed, He wrapped His loving arms around us and made Himself known to us in a variety of ways. The hard times were hard. The good times were fabulous. But it hasn't been all bad and for that we are VERY grateful!!

Thanks goes out not only to God but to the "angels" among us who have been praying for us constantly and encouraging us to keep living life. THANK YOU!

Interesting Finds

This week, we celebrated Ray's fourth birthday. She is quite the young lady; we're very proud of who she is. Jordi celebrated her second birthday a few weeks ago, so last weekend we threw a big birthday party for them, family and a handful of their little friends. At first I wasn't entirely sure we could afford what I wanted to do, but after a lot of research, work and bargain hunting, we did it...and we did it under budget! The party was a lot of fun, and the girls enjoyed themselves quite a bit. The only thing I didn't like was how exhausted I felt after everything was done & cleaned up!!

In light of all the celebrating we've done in the last week, I thought it might be fun for me (and anyone reading this blog) to write about something other than our unemployment situation. :) So I'm returning to my roots and sharing a couple of household cleaning "finds" that I've tested this week and will definitely use again. In addition to trying to keep our weekly grocery bill down, I've recently turned my focus to what we spend on cleaners and other household consumables. Hopefully I'll find some gems in the bunch I've collected.

So without further ado....

Fight the "Nasty Sponge" Syndrome: I don't know about you, but I hate washcloths for washing dishes. They aren't nearly tough enough on the pots & pans that I wash by hand, so I opt for those dish washing sponges. The problem is that they're expensive, and even when wrung out and air-dried, they take on a nasty smell after awhile. In addition to the normal "nasty" smell, we have very hard water that results in a very icky metallic smell too. Try our best, the sponges don't typically last longer than a few weeks. For a few years, I've read about cleaning these sponges in the dishwasher during a regular cycle, but I've never tried it....until now! And it works!!!! The sponge that went in was dirty and smelly. The sponge that came out was like new. It was awesome! So now I can indulge in my choice of cleaning apparatus and still cut back on the cost. AWESOME!

Non-Traditional Stain Fighter: Dawn dish washing liquid is advertised as the most effective on grease, right? Well, I served spaghetti for dinner several nights ago, and as usually happens with little kids, the spaghetti sauce ended up in their mouths and on their laps. Unfortunately I didn't get around to doing laundry that night, and I forgot to spray the spots on their pants. When I did laundry the next day, I sprayed the stains liberally with OxiClean and washed. (I LOVE OXICLEAN!) Imagine my surprise when I pulled the pants out of the washer and the stains were still there! I remembered that the spaghetti sauce was particularly oily, and I remembered reading that Dawn liquid is awesome at taking out greasy stains in clothes. We don't normally buy Dawn, but we happened to have it on hand. I figured what the heck? I covered the stains with the liquid and laundered again. The stains didn't come out completely, but the difference was pretty dramatic...between throwing the pants away and being able to keep them. I have read that the dish soap needs to sit on the stain for a little while, which I will do next time. I was very pleased w/the result though, which is why I'm sharing it here.

More tested cost-saving ideas to come! Stay tuned....