Budget View Part 2- Budget isn't a naughty word and 7 reasons to have one

WHAT? You mean to tell me you don't have one of these growing in your backyard? 

Apparently my parents didn't either. I heard the phrase, "Money doesn't grow on trees kid" more times than I care to admit. 

So I decided things were going to be different when I grew up and had my own yard. 

I was going to find that elusive money tree and make sure I planted a grove of them......guess what? 

Things are not so much different now that I have a family and I am the grown up PLUS  I never found that dang tree. 

Instead I had to figure out how to make our financial situation work for my family. My husband would rather bring home the bacon and leave it to me to figure out how to fry it up in a pan. (I know people of a certain era are singing the Enjoli perfume commercial right now). So I have been designated the CFO of our family.

With that title comes a lot of responsibility...so I had to think of some good reasons to actually have and try to follow a budget to the best of my abilities.

When I really thought about them these were the seven I came up with: 

#1-Take Control-

I hate to admit it, but I would be lying if I didn't, I am a bit a control freak. When it comes to the control freak spectrum I am on the very low end of it and most of the time it is about things that are out of my control anyway.... BUT you can see how this "TAKE CONTROL" reason for a budget would be very enticing for a self-proclaimed control freak, right? 

Taking control of your budget means that your money no longer controls you! It puts you back in the drivers seat. If you happen to have a spending problem this will help you avoid overspending.

#2-Prepare for Emergencies 

Surprises & emergencies are inevitable in life. And in the financial realm emergencies usually equal finding a source for quick money. The source is either a credit card or a savings account. I like to call the latter an emergency fund. We all know where credit cards take us...usually right down the old highway to hell if we are not completely disciplined to pay the balance off at the end of each month. But having an emergency fund is like a little security blanket that keeps us all warm and fuzzy at night knowing it is there for the "just in case" moments. I will talk more about the emergency fund in a future post.

#3-Reduce Arguments

I have always made it a goal to try and never argue with the B'Dog about money. Have we had a 100% success rate with this goal? 

No. 

I will say this though, the arguments are few and far between and I give credit to the budgeting system we have in place. I have heard that money woes are the #1 reason marriages fail.....I wonder how many marriages could be saved if both parties sat down and developed a budget that worked for them?

#4-Get more shut eye

How many times have you or your partner lied awake at night worrying about money, resulting in lost hours of precious sleep, which Americans get to little of anyway? 

Lack of sleep leads to crabbiness, crabbiness leads to arguments and we all know where the arguments lead....sometimes if left unchecked they lead to D-I-V-O-R-C-E(if you are married that is). 

Using a budget will hopefully give you the peace of mind so you are not lying awake at night and wearing crabby pants in the morning.

#5-Help Save Money for Fun Stuff

I told you that budget should not be a naughty word. 

And following one should never prevent you from having fun.

Typically because we have a budget we become more conscious about how and what we spend our money on. Impulse shopping becomes a thing of the past, but if we slip up once in awhile, a budget lets us quickly see where we are overspending and we can correct it quickly.

This in turn leads to being able to afford all our needs and freeing up some extra cash to spend some money on our wants. It could be a family vacation you have always dreamed of, or a new golf club you have been eyeing up. How about the massage your back has been screaming at you to go get or the 2nd new motorcycle tire of the year that you want to purchase before the season comes to an end? 

#6-Work Less

I know some people that work 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet. I understand that this has become more commonplace in the past 5 or so years because of America's economy. But honestly in a lot of cases if we all would  just take some time and create a budget and do our best to follow it, we might not have to work so hard. Wouldn't you rather spend time with your friends & family, and have fun doing all the activities you love? 

#7- Give More

I know that sometimes we all feel like we should be someone else's charity case because we can't seem to find two nickles to rub together BUT consider this....I was once told that if you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. 

Now, I don't know how accurate that is, but if it is true, that means YOU and I, are richer than 5 BILLION people! 

I'll let you sit on this for a second...........

There are soooooo many opportunities to give. 

I will admit, I really need to work on this step too. 

I give, when I am presented with an opportunity to give, but sadly, it is rarely at the forefront of my mind.

If you are like me, then you want to know that every cent of your charitable contribution is going toward the cause and not the President of a non profit organization or a corrupt foreign government. I make sure if I am giving to organizations that I do a little homework on them to find out how the money is allocated.

There are many people who can benefit from our generosity in our own community.......families affected by cancer that cannot pay their electric bill this month, a Dad that just lost his job and now the family has to resort to the food shelf this month to feed the kids, a young  Mom loses her husband in a tragic accident and struggles to get through her daily grief much less make their children dinner that night.

I have had loved ones benefit greatly from wonderful, giving people and it meant the world to them and helped them through a very difficult time. 

My challenge for all of us this week is to find a cause that tugs at our own heart strings. Make a donation, And don't tell anyone what you did. Let that warm feeling of giving be enough applause. We don't always need a pat on the back for the good things we do. 

Just remember $1, $5, or $100...Every.Little.Bit.Helps. 

I hope one of the reasons I listed above strikes a cord with one of you who is on the fence about creating your own budget. Or try to find your own reasons to budget for you and your family. Once you find the freedom it gives, you will wonder why you waited so long.

Enjoy the View~

Jenifer

  

The Budget View- Part 1- Needs vs Wants

OK we are all adults here, right?

I am willing to bet most of my savings account that the audience here does not consist of two-year old toddlers who kick and scream every time they do not get their way.

I also believe it's a safe bet that we all have had a case of "BBLS": Big Bottom Lip Syndrome. Typically this BBLS rears its ugly head when we have either figured out we don't have enough money for something we want or we have been told by someone(who probably loves us) that we do not need to make a certain purchase at this particular time.

I know you probably thought I was going to jump right into the tools(materials) you need to make a budget successful...

I actually think knowing the difference between real needs and wants can be the most important tool to learn how to use in a household budget. Everything else comes secondary.

In my very humble opinion our society has become a bit, ahem..... immature, lax when it comes to knowing the real definition of  a need.

I have faith that most of us already know this, but some of us may just need a very gentle reminder.

Please allow me do a break down, but first a word of warning..... 

Disclaimer: I am not judging anyone if spending your hard earned money on wants is what you wish to do. Although if you are struggling & stressed trying to make ends meet month to month, live on lines of credit(loans, credit cards, borrowed money) you find difficult to pay off, or have constant arguments in your relationships because of money, take a moment to ask yourself: "Self, do I  need to re-evaluate my true financial needs and wants?"

House:

Need: A roof over our head to keep us warm at night; a place where we are comfortable and safe that we can call home. 

Want: All the latest and greatest bells and whistles in a home that could house 10 people or more(because let's get real, most of us DO NOT have 10 or more people living with us)

Food & Clothes:

Need: Nutrient loaded, non-processed food we can make ourselves at home, and clothes that keep our private parts covered and our bums warm.

Want: Going out to eat and spending 10x's the amount of money we would spend by cooking it ourselves at home. Having 50 pairs of shoes, 20 pairs of jeans, or 10 different purses hanging in our closets.

Life:

Need: Breathing oxygen.... 

Want: The Life of someone else...someone who has a bigger house, a nicer car, a "fairy-tale marriage", someone else's vacation, or someone else's clothes.

Transportation:

Need: A mode of transportation that gets our family to and fro safely.

Want: The next best thing, with a big 'ol car payment.

Beauty:

Need: Usually this category requires an appropriate amount of sleep, exercise, and eating healthy. 

This may sound cliche but this Need can also be met by just "stopping to smell the roses", literally. 

Taking the time to really soak in all the beauty God provides us on a day to day basis.

Want: Warning! This is not a slam against the beauty industry. I use to be part of it as an Esthetician. And it was so much fun! But every last service that is provided by a Cosmetologist, a Nail Tech, an Esthetician, or a Massage Therapist, falls into a Want category: Facials, eyebrow waxing, acrylic nails, pedicures, massages, hair color...you see where I am going here, right?

I know, I know...many of us would hate to even think about living without some of the services mentioned above, Me being one of them! BUT sometimes the truth hurts, ouch!

Water:

Need: Plain, clean drinking water(this may require a filtration system of some kind on your tap)

Want: Any store bought bottled water.

Energy:

Need: Vitamin D from the sun, Fresh air, healthy non processed food, exercise

Want: Energy drinks, Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, Gym memberships & Exercise equipment that is not being used.

Now just one minute before you go all pout-y lip on me. I have been guilty of most of these in my lifetime. And honestly this is just scratching the surface. I am not pointing fingers at anyone, just merely pointing out a few of the differences between Needs and Wants. 

However, at certain stages in my life I have had to prioritize what is really important for myself and my family and our peace of mind when it comes to our finances.

If you are serious about wanting financial peace in your life, I suggest you start right here....figuring out the difference between your basic needs and wants. I know it sounds so boring, and horrifying but I promise if you stay tuned there will be room for the fun stuff...plus taking this step means I won't hear about your episode of Hoarders, because I can't watch that show, it makes my skin crawl.  

Oh Lord have mercy....ain't nobody got time for that!

And remember, that no matter what step you are standing on, take a really good look around you, and show gratitude for everything & everyone you have in your life. And always remember to........

Enjoy the View

A Viewing...where plants "usually" come to die and other tales from the crypt

I've been inspired.......to garden this year....if the snow ever stops falling and the ground thaws.
It is nearing the end of April and Minnesota was just slammed with another winter storm this week.
Thankfully it was 40 degrees yesterday and there was some serious melting going on while the sun was shining.
Let me tell ya folks, that is the ONLY good thing about snow in April, it does not last.

OK let's get back to the inspiring parts....a couple blogs I read have "talked me into" becoming a quasi-farmer.
When it comes to anything living that is green, that needs TLC, let's just say, I don't do it well.
Typically it's a big 'ol flop. In my defense it's not always my fault. I try, really hard, to carefully tend to the beautifully gifted houseplants that I have received, but I have 2 serious issues and they look like this:

Cute, right?

Don't let them fool ya, they are fur-covered plant killers.

P.S. not the same cat...Big Mow(Mow sounds like Mauer, as in Joe, without the "er") & Mee Mow(on the right)

So I gave up on house plants, because it was easier than giving up on the Mows.

But come February, in Minnesota...I am jones-ing for some plant life. 

I think you already get the drift that these two criminals make it nearly impossible to have a living one indoors.

Ms. Kelly over at: Grassroots Homestead, was an inspiration on two parts: to get my blog up and running and to start producing my own food, or at least TRY to produce my own food.

Hop over to Kelly's blog and check her out, let her know I sent you :)

Another inspiration was Jessica over at: Optimal Living. 

Her family leads, what I would consider, a healthy lifestyle. Her blog has inspired me to incorporate little tips and tricks into my family's lifestyle too!  Find a moment to check out Jessica's blog, you won't be disappointed.

 She recommended this book on gardening: 

I must admit, it has an overwhelming amount of information to sort through. Especially for this non-gardener's brain. But we, as a family, are going to put our best foot forward and try to produce a little of our own food.

Sounds fun, right? 

I hope I think that as I am out tending to my precious plants, when it is 100 degrees, 70 degree dew point, and the mosquito's are dive bombing my head this summer.

And just so you don't go away thinking ALL plants come here to die, I have proof they don't:

(pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a flat of marigolds(apparently these keep the rabbits out of the garden?)

My daughter and I actually grew these from little teeny-tiny seeds!

I would like to say there wasn't any criminal activity from the fur-covered plant killers, but I would be lying. 

Mee Mow was caught red-pawed(?), with a tomato seedling hanging out of her mouth.

They have since been safely tucked away into the play room, with the door closed at all times.

Hopefully sometime this summer we will all get to,

Enjoy the View......from our garden!