Week 5 Update...

Well, we are in the delayed gratification stage of our debt payoff.  We have worked a ton of hours, sold a bunch of stuff, gotten more jobs and now we wait.  We wait for the money to start coming in from the jobs, the reimbursements to come in from the things that we sold to pay for the trips that made us some extra money and for the new jobs to start.  OH!  But before I forget, I did make $118 dollars this week with my direct sales company.  Yay me!  That was really helpful.

    *Me working in the hotel.  Loved this lap desk by the way.........

It is a bit of a struggle this week.  I have been in a different country and wanted to shop, shop, shop.  But I didn't.  Part of me feels really good about it and another part of me REALLY wishes I could have just bought some stuff.  Not a lot of stuff, but stuff none the less.  *SIGH*  Like I said in the beginning, it is what it is.

Another thing that was a bit different this week was how we handled our food bill.  We did shop a little for necessities {milk, bread, T.P.; Can we please not discuss the catastrophe that happens when we are out of T.P.? Thank you.}; but have been using the stuff that we have to make it through the next several weeks.  We have had 2 of my husband's second job paydays go by now without a paycheck as he is on hiatus for the summer and man does it hurt.  You don't realize how much you depend on that money until it's gone.  

All of that said, we are still in a pretty good place.  Still doing better, not creating any more debt, and looking forward to paying off some in just a couple of weeks.  I think the best thing that's happened in all of this, is that our attitude has changed.  SIGNIFICANTLY.  We are both working on the debt now, neither one of us is in the corner trying to hide from it.  I can not even express in words how much this has changed our relationship and our bank accounts.  It still isn't pretty, but it's definitely headed in the right direction.

We still do not have any money in savings.....Ugh....But maybe by next weeks update I will have better news in this department!  Wish us luck. 

                                 

  *Traveling 31 Style.  I am exhausted, but the outcome will be well worth it. 

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Adoption Classes......

In order to adopt through the foster care system, potential adoptive/foster parents have to go through a series of classes, home visits, background checks and piles of paperwork.  You have to get a physical, be updated on your vaccinations and make some changes to your house.  All of it is worth every moment you have with your children when they come to your home, but it is stressful none the less.  

My husband and I went through our classes with a great group of people.  If it weren't for them, I don't know that I would have made it through.  See, I went into the classes knowing everything.  I mean, I have a degree in Social Work, for crying out loud.  Plus, I had wanted to be a parent for so long, that I was READY. I'd also been parenting all of my friends children for years.  Ok, actually I parented those children from afar.  On rare occasions I would babysit, but I just KNEW how to fix everyone's issues with their children.  

Your kids won't go to bed??? I have an answer for that.

Your kids are picky eaters??? I have an answer for that too.

Your teenager won't listen??? Well, good thing I'm here to fix that for you.

Um.....folks.....I am sure you have all figured it out by now, I know nothing.  Well not NOTHING, {yes, I know that's a double negative}; I could tell you about any stage of development you wanted to know about; cognitive, emotional, physical or social.  But book knowledge did not prepare me enough for the practical knowledge that a person needs to be a parent.

Thankfully, this epiphany occurred in class; before the Great Lord blessed us with any children that required our care.  I remember sitting there and all of a sudden, I teared up..... I stated a bit more loudly than I intended {this always happens to me} "But, we don't even have SOCKS!!" 

Now before you judge, I know many moms who have had a similar experience at some time during their pregnancies.  They were excited, but at some point that "HOLY CRAP WE ARE REALLY DOING THIS" kicks in.  For me, it manifested in socks.  As everyone in the room looked at me, some giggling, some thinking I was crazy, I went on to explain that my fear was not just because of the socks but because we didn't know what SIZE of socks to get.  Again, stay with me.  I know this sounds crazy, but for parents who are giving birth to their children, it is safe to say that you are going to buy new born socks.  With a few exceptions of gigantic babies, you aren't going to buy socks from the part of the store that you would for your 10 year old.  My issue was, I may VERY WELL need to buy socks for a 10 year old. Or 5 year old. Or 7 month old......DEEP BREATHS...DEEP BREATHS... I'm getting anxious just thinking about it.  

See the Good Lord saw fit to make me a planner.  Well when he did so, I found it necessary to take things into my own hands.  Often.  Too often.  So this meant that I needed {honestly I still do most of the time} to have my little plan in place.  Down to every detail.  Well for those of you who have ever adopted or are in the middle of adopting, you know that planning too many details ain't gonna make them so.  

So there I sat, in my class, knowing that we were about to be parents, worried about socks.  

Then I was reminded, Walmart is open 24/7.  And guess what...They sell socks.  All different kinds of socks. In all different sizes and colors.  Our child's feet would not be cold or frostbitten because I didn't have the right socks.  

I also had a sweet lady in my class that brought me a huge gift bag of socks the next class.  There were several pair, in all different sizes.  

We had the socks...........We were ready...............

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Savings.....

So I met some very interesting people this past week, while working for a bit in Canada.  The conversation of money came up and I discovered a new {well, new to me} way to save money.  It is called a sou-sou.  It is popular with Caribbean and African cultures.  Let me explain my understanding of how this works...... A group of friends and/or family get together and contribute the same amount of money into a "savings account" every month, week, bi-weekly, whatever works for the group.  Then each member picks a month that they get to draw from the sou-sou.  For example, if there are 10 people contributing a total of $100 per month.  That would mean the sou-sou would have $1,200 each month for a person to draw.  Each person then picks a month either by mutual agreement or by drawing a month out of a hat.  If you draw October, then in October you get the $1,200 for that month to with what you wish.  

This tradition started as a means for people to get the down payment for their houses or other large expenses, when credit from a bank was not available.  The sou-sou has been around for generations and is still very active in Caribbean and African communities today.  There are different amounts that are contributed as well as different time frames for saving the money, but everyone benefits.  

What are some different ways you save?  What would you do with your sou-sou draw?

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Blog:  www.reddersideofpink.blogspot.com

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Out of the Country.....But now I'm back

I've been a bit of a slacker this week with the blog. The good news is that I am back in the saddle and ready to go! I got a ton of new ideas for the blog while I was gone. Holy Moly!! I almost don't know where to start. For now, I am on the monthly Blog Hop with Bloggy Moms! Come and check it out!!!! Keep your eyes open for new posts. There will be a lot to see this week!!!! Have a great day!

1.	A Bloggy Mom	2.	A Money Maven
3.	Gingerlillytea	4.	The House of O
5.	Ramblings of The Geek Wife	6.	Hushed Voices, Secrets Untold
7.	always Josefa	8.	Thyroid Thureen
9.	A purpose driven wife	10.	Thyroid Thureen
11.	Mama Love Diaries	12.	Suburban Epicurean
13.	Mrs Flams	14.	Plus the Magic
15.	On Loneliness...	16.	Mommy Writings By Daughter of Maat
17.	Cool Moms Cool Tips	18.	Mamamusing.ca
19.	The Non-Martha Momma	20.	The Dairy-Free Home
21.	Flotsam of the Mind	22.	willamette valley wonder woman
23.	Grateful with Twp	24.	The Born Unique Baby Guide
25.	This Girl's Life	26.	Baby's Own Room Blog
27.	Mommy Call	28.	DecRenew.com
29.	Raising Hunter Lane	30.	Sweet on Books
31.	The Mommy Rundown	32.	My Life on the Divide
33.	Hope Whispers	34.	Two Little Humans and Me
35.	DaysnThoughts	36.	Ebabee
37.	Becoming Synena	38.	Carrigan's Joy
39.	MotherStucker	40.	The Army Life of an Aviators Wife
41.	Home and Never Alone	42.	sunnydaytodaymama
43.	DecRenew Interiors	44.	Michelle @ Our Three Peas
45.	Magic, Memories, Mayhem	46.	Sand In My Toes
47.	Ann @ Such a Mama	48.	Meals by the Week
49.	Just Everything Ashley	50.	Life away from the office chair
51.	I Support Mental Illness, How About You?	52.	All My Loose Ends
53.	Kingdom 1st Mom	54.	This is Really 40
55.	Sockadoodle- World of Accessories	56.	Practips: Tips for Family, Home, Garden
57.	Mama And The City	58.	This Is Really 40
59.	BeforeSexAfterBaby	60.	A drink in one hand, a baby in the other
61.	Successful Homemaker	62.	Chikadee Creations
63.	This Momma's Ramblings	64.	She Turned Her Dreams Into Plans
65.	Love to Laugh and Learn	66.	Big Foot Tribe
67.	Sisters Raising Sisters	68.	Anywhere Is....
69.	Practical Mama	70.	Country Bunkin Mama
71.	Papertree	72.	Housee of Bedlam
73.	Running In Pearls	74.	Organized Island
75.	Frugal Fit Family	76.	Sewing and Crafting with Sarah
77.	My Papaya Jambalaya	78.	The Real Housewife of Ohio
79.	The Sticky Mom	80.	DevelopaChild.net - About Child Development
81.	First Time Mommy Adventures	82.	Pretty Little Dahlia
83.	Another Cent Saved	84.	Road Trip the World
85.	Krazy Momma	86.	Stringtown Home
87.	He Married Me For My Cooking	88.	Domesticated Breakdown(follows back)
89.	Byrd is the Wyrd	90.	Baby Social
91.	Blueberry010	92.	Christin @ Manicures & Extra Sprinkes..Please!
93.	The Chocolate Bottle	94.	Epic Mommy Adventures
95.	Harvey Ever After	96.	Momsters Gabwheel
97.	Modern Hippie Momma	98.	Oh Hey Baby
99.	A My Name Is Amy	100.	Where the Submarine Takes Us
101.	Homemakers Heart	102.	Mommy Works a Lot
103.	Roberta's Realities	104.	Messie Jessie's Kitchen
105.	Searching for the Happiness	106.	Inspired Passions
107.	It's me, Deb CB!	108.	Michelle Mossey
109.	Sweetpea Lifestyle	110.	The Hodge Podge Diaries
111.	Day to Day Life	112.	Piloting The Zoo
113.	Aileen's Thoughts	114.	Vodka Infused Lemonade
115.	Frugal Texas Diva	116.	My Little Sunshine House
117.	Uncommon Designs	118.	Mom In Love Forever
119.	Finding Myself Young	120.	Love, Umi The Master Rantor
121.	Ef Zin Creations...Live Well!	122.	Rachel's Country Roots
123.	Thee Mommy Diaries	124.	Shh!! Momma's Writing!
125.	Behind the Makeup	126.	The Harris Life
127.	Sharing Thanks	128.	Back Home Again
129.	CREATE WITH JOY	130.	The Elements of Review
131.	Beauty, Fitness & Health...Oh my!	132.	Momma Candy
133.	1mommy2monsters	134.	Live Simply, Live Thrifty, Live Savvy
135.	My Fruitful Home	136.	Everyday Morning
137.	Just Mildly Medicated	138.	Rich Single Momma
139.	Busy Mom of 4 Kids and A Blog	140.	Alphabet Soup
141.	Word Traveling	142.	I Sarah Take You
143.	Hot Commodity Home Decor	144.	Sharing Thanks
145.	Life With The Crust Cut Off	146.	Life and Other Stuff
147.	Dear Creatives	148.	Simply Sweet Savings
149.	Diy mason jar lantern	150.	one family's first home swap experience
151.	Simple Sojourns	152.	Disentangled Heart
153.	Super Fun Mama	154.	Running Through Motherhood
155.	Beauty Health Goddess	156.	Mom Spot
157.	Dayton Mom Spot	158.	sincerely, sara d.
159.	Sockadoodle- World of Accessories	160.	A ChicMom
161.	What Does She Do All Day?	162.	Love Inspired
163.	BossDivas Fashion Cents	164.	From the Desk of Elle Ay Ess
165.	Momfever	166.	Welcome to my cloffice!
167.	A Bit of Wine	168.	Rosels' Mom Diary
169.	Dandy Giveaway	170.	Heart of Carrot
171.	Countryside Mam	172.	A Few Days in the Life of Courtsie Ann B
173.	Hot City Cool Mom	174.	Living on Phosphenes
175.	Western New York	176.	Love to Laugh and Learn
177.	My Real Food Family	178.	Left Brain Buddha
179.	Ashlie @ That Love Rush	180.	Behind The Scenes
181.	Max and Me Marketing	182.	Frugal Fanatic
183.	Urban Almanac	184.	Mommy Madness
185.	Our Everyday Harvest	186.	Carpool Goddess
187.	Living on Phosphenes	188.	What Vegan Kids Eat
189.	The Bluebird Patch	190.	Looking at life CreativLEI
191.	Top Free ebooks	192.	Geomatics tools
193.	Toronto Mama	194.	The Power of Play-The Best Way To Teach Your Toddler To Talk
195.	Budget Hotels Delhi	196.	Car Booking
197.	Royal Proclaims	198.	Project Courtney
199.	Melanie Britt Project Life	200.	FILL IN THE BLANKS
201.	Your Mom Is Strange	202.	Mommys Juice
203.	Ting's Mom	204.	The Redder Side of Pink
205.	Avon Beauty with Mary	206.	Miss Mama Me
207.	Ef Zin Creations	208.	My Life as a Trimommy
209.	Meredith's Musings	210.	Mom Imperfect.
211.	Pixie Budget	212.	Diary of a Working Mom
213.	Night Owl Venting	214.	Jewelry box creation
215.	Nom Monster	216.	Frugal Fit Family
217.	Trending Belly	218.	Babs in Blogland
219.	One Reason I Love Disney World	220.	Life With The Crust Cut Off
221.	RENOfamonthego	222.	How Long Are You Going to Breastfeed?
223.	The Jenny Evolution	224.	Not My Year Off
225.	Georgie Lee Books	226.	Alena @pidala family 5
227.	Flirting with My ISMS	228.	Umoya Designs LLC
229.	Umoya Designs LLC	230.	Blogdeedah! - Summer Food Fun, Corona Cupcakes Recipe

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H54Friday

What a great week!  I have been in Canada all week on business.  I feel so grateful that God has blessed me with an education that I can use to feed, clothe and make my family feel secure.  Canada is a beautiful country.  Thank you for this opportunity, Lord. Feeling Blessed.  :)

1.  Who knew two little chocolates could make a person feel so warm and fuzzy.  

2.  Keurig??? I think I will......

3.  This little guy is going to become a part of the Smith family sometime soon.  I can not tell you how easy it made posting on the blog and other places.  EVERYONE should get one. Now to find out where.....

4.  The beautiful view that God created, from my hotel room window.  Breathtaking.

5.  The sweet man that looked like Santa in the airport on the way to Ottawa.  It makes me want to be a kid again and believe in the pure, little things.......

Happy Friday everyone! 

Just say NO to giving out your email address

When trying to save money, I have found that getting the emails from Tiffany's and Coach, do not help my desire to shop.  Let's be real: I am a shopper.  I love shopping.  It could be anywhere; Target, the mall, the outlets, online..... ANYWHERE.  I do find though, that getting the emails telling me what sales are happening and promising free this or that with so and so purchase, make my task of lessening our debt more difficult.  

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind getting the emails and will probably sign up for them again when we are closer to our goal.  But right now, they make me sad.  They make me want to buy things.  Yes I am grown up enough to say no, but it's like that friend that drags you down every time you see her. You may leave that person questioning yourself or feeling inadequate in some way or feeling that your significant other is inadequate in some way....She/He is BAD NEWS.  Walk away.  Walk away quickly.  

That's how I feel about the "Retail Email".  Walk away.  Walk away quickly.  Now, I do know that sometimes there are really good coupons or other deals that come via "Retail Email".  But right now, I have to take the lesser of two evils.  Plus, there are a ton of other places that provide coupons now a days.  I still can't get all of them to quit coming to my mailbox.

So next time someone asks you for your email address, think twice.  Are you in a position to look at them objectively, or is it going to be counterproductive with where you are in your financial journey.  For me, I think I will pass........For now.  :) 

Week 4 Updates................

Two steps forward.......Four steps back.

This has been a rough week.  We have had do postpone paying some of our bills due to an issue that came up.  It is so frustrating.  I start work this week, so as of June 7th, we will be bringing in some more money.  

Next week, I will be out of town on business, but it is one of those, reimbursement situations.  I pay for the hotel, food and plane ticket up front and get reimbursed.  The ONLY reason we decided to do this at this time, is because I will make $1,000 for 4 days worth of work.  After babysitting clears, I will still have a chunk to put towards our debt.  

We also had to buy more than our normal amount of groceries this week.  We were out of every meat possible.  Meat is really expensive.  I mean seriously people----EXPENSIVE!  We were in the habit of buying a half a cow and a full hog when we lived in Iowa, which saved us a TON, but we haven't found anyone here yet that sells live stock for butcher.  We also TRY to have one day per week where we do not eat meat, {difficult to do with my Iowa born and bred husband} and one day is left overs.

But the good news is that the week finished strong!  We got an extra little bit of money--going towards debt--and the opportunity to make an extra $1,000 between the two of us on another job that came up.  It's going to require traveling a bit, but that can be exciting---aaaannnndddd, it isn't on our dime.  Yay!!!  I also had a good show with my direct sales business this week.  It won't be a ton of money, but definitely worth the effort.  It worked out to be around $42 per hour.  Not bad, people.  Not bad at all.

We have been so blessed this week.  Even though it originally started out rough, God AGAIN has provided for us.

In the last 4 weeks that leaves us with a total of:  $316,849.62   This is $1,400.00 less than we started with a month ago!  Baby Steps.  Have a great day!