Hello everyone I hope you are doing well and that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. I just wanted to give an uupdate about the family and let you know what is on my mind. First and Most important is that Jennifer is Pregnant with our second child or #2 as we are calling it right now. We are supposed to have an ultrasound on the 10th of December to see the heartbeat and make sure all is well. We are super excited and cannot wait to see his/her cute little face. Due date is around July, 12 so it will be close to my b-day. Gavin will be 3 in February and he is doing great he is almost fully potty trained and is speaking circles around Jenn and I , lliterally. Family life is really fun and I cannot wait to see what it will be like with another.
Ok onto the second part of my post which should probably be a second post but that would be more work.I would love to promise that I will write more often but most likely I will not so I will just try for now. I have really been thinking, praying, wondering, a lot lately and I am sure that I am not alone. First I have been thinking a lot about finances and how to be a better steward of them and how also to live below my means so that I can save for unexpected events, payoff loans, debts, etc and to just be in a better place financially. These are times for everyone with prices sky high and media doom and gloom and overall worry in the financial arenas of the world. Theses things worry me to an extent but mainly they make me want to get serious about my finances so that I can weather any storm that may come. I have read Mary Hunt’s books and I “know” how to take control of my fiances but I lack the tools to get started on my journey. I know some of you may have some tips for me and I would love to hear those but I also want to know what works for you in saving, budgeting, not overspending etc. I want to thank Aaron , Joe , Drew , for there constant blogposts and updates that keep me thinking and wanting to learn new things and better my relationships with Jesus foremost as well as with my family and friends and I thank all of you for being a support group for my family as well as great friends and I will “try” to keep you posted on baby #2 as often as I know something new. For now I look forward to your encouragement and tips and tricks and I hope that you all have a great and wonderful Christmas and New Years. Sincerely, Justin
December 2, 2008 at 10:37 am
I am pretty sure I have already said it on Facebook or something but congratulations on #2. I have no doubt that I, too, will someday have a child. I look forward to that day but try to be patient in waiting for God’s time (and a wife, I guess).
In regards to finances you may know that on my personal blog I have been participating in a group called “Poverty Party.” While it is nothing glamorous and unfortunate that our economy has come to online support groups for those whose finances have spun out of control, it is something that has kept me on my toes and given me great ideas. If I may offer a Top 5 list for ways you can begin to gain control over your pocketbook.
1) Seriously go through your possessions. Go room to room and make a few piles: keep, donate, sell, trash. This will eliminate all the waste in your life and show you just what you need to live and what you are spending hard earned money on. You will be very surprised.
2) Take note of energy consumption. Do you leave your computer on 24/7? Is your fridge numbingly cold? Do you do multiple loads of laundry a week? Well, all those things are sucking power from you and money to boot. Try putting your computer on energy saver mode or turn it off if you know you won’t be returning for a couple of days. Turn your fridge up 2-3 degrees. Cut back on laundry (or wear jeans more than once, if possible) and air dry t-shirts. IKEA and Target have great drying racks for next to nothing to be used indoors.
3) Save your pennies. Save your change each month (and even some $1 bills, if you want) and then exchange them at the bank for bills. Put that money right into your savings, no questions asked.
4) Go organic. Quit spending money on produce and such. Grow an indoor herb garden or an outdoor veggie garden (when weather permits).
5) Walk. You need milk? You need a snack? Walk up to the 7-eleven rather than driving. It is good exercise, you can take the fam with you, and it saves gas. If nothing else it will be a nice outing where you and Jenn can talk and enjoy pushing Gavin around or whatever.
December 2, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thanks for the input Drew. I will look into those and see how that goes.
December 2, 2008 at 03:52 pm
I can’t say it enough but you have made me the proudest and most content mom, mom-in-law, and grammie in the whole wild world, keep prayin and thinkin!