Comments for Frugal & Simple

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Heather

Heather — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:15:47 +0000

I was wondering if your food budget included house hold items like cleaning supplies, paper products, etc?

Comment on Spring Break by Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:15:49 +0000

Love that photo. Hope you enjoyed your break.

Comment on Spring Break by Hilary (Mod Apron)

Hilary (Mod Apron) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:42:45 +0000

Love the matching outfits!

Comment on Spring Break by Lexie

Lexie — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:28:13 +0000

What a happy family! Have a great Break.

Comment on Spring Break by Chanel

Chanel — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:41:02 +0000

Have a relaxing Spring Break! Your boys are adorable, by the way. I haven't been online for the past couple of months (12 weeks of maternity leave) and have some reading to do on here. )

Comment on Spring Break by Simply Rebekah

Simply Rebekah — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:05:58 +0000

What an adorable photo!! Enjoy yourself!

Comment on Spring Break by Nic

Nic — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:22:29 +0000

Have fun!

Comment on Spring Break by Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:05:50 +0000

Happy Spring Break! Have fun celebrating and working on projects!

Comment on Mexican Casserole by Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:02:06 +0000

Made this last week and we are making again tonight!! So yummy, thank you for the recipe!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:05:31 +0000

We started Bringing Up Boys about 3 months ago! I've read it before but he hasn't and its full of good information about raising boys!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 03:04:45 +0000

Yay for working towards debt free living!!

I think reading separately is the best approach! And I'm in a mom's group at church and we read through a parenting book together and I have learned so much from the mamas with older kids!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Nic

Nic — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:43:26 +0000

What book are u reading?

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Meg

Meg — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:51:12 +0000

I didnt realize how much I was slacking on my goals this year until I did a post on my Q1 progress. Yikes! I have done alot the past week to help with the progress, but I need to keep up with it. I have learned that many of the goals that I made for 2012 really are not measurable. I will have to keep that in mind for next year's goals. You are doing so well!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Cat

Cat — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:15:29 +0000

I enjoy reading your goals and accomplishments. It gives me a way to show my husband that life can be different if we work together on it. We didn't set any goals this year together but I have been trying to restructure my financial mind set to get us debt free and start saving.

In regards to reading the parenting books together, my husband and I tried this but were never able to. Now we both look up our own research and have discussions. Also, our church started a Group for Parents with Young Children that meets once a month and reads different spiritual and everyday parenting books as a group. I enjoy these greatly because I am one of the younger parents who attends, seems I had children early even though I was 25 when I had my daughter. I would suggest making this suggestion at church or starting your own with friends. It makes you more accountable and you get to learn other peoples perspectives and experiences.

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:42:51 +0000

Woohoo!! Congrats on being credit card debt free…that's awesome!!! Good luck as you continue to work towards being completely DEBT FREE!!! And, I'm also finding it's easier/more convenient to read on an e-reader!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:41:08 +0000

Right now we're trying to pay as much towards the mortgage as possible since we view it as debt! Of course, we also drive two 10 year old vehicles and we want to be able to replace those with cash when the time comes (hopefully in 2 years or beyond) so we know we need to continue to squirrel away a little bit to add to our car savings fund. Hope that makes sense!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Shelley

Shelley — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:14:41 +0000

You're making good progress on your goals! I also set a goal to read more and I received a Kindle for Christmas which has helped me be able to do that. Since I don't need to hold a book open with it I can read while on break at work and still be able to pump/eat – it is wonderful! I also got $100 in Kindle gift cards and haven't even spent half yet so I can get many more books plus free ones!

We didn't set specific goals this year but one goal that we have been working on is reducing debt as a long-term goal so we can buy a home. As of last month we no longer have any credit card debt!!!!!!! We paid off the final balance with part of our tax returns! It felt great. I even sent a check this time vs an online payment. The kids and I took a walk to the post office and mailed it. There was just something about dropping it physically into the mailbox – it was very freeing Next debt to tackle – student loans and a personal loan Jason brought to our relationship. I did call for the payoff balance but we're just not there yet. I plan to cal again in a few months and see if we can do it then!

Thanks for the post! It gave me a chance to reflect on some of the goals we've been working on for awhile now and remind me we are making progress!

Comment on Quarterly Goal Update by Molly

Molly — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:34:44 +0000

I'm impressed by your goal progress!
One question – how do you prioritze your financial goals?

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:26:28 +0000

I am pretty sure we wouldn't have any chickens if it was -20 here in the wintertime! And $1 a dozen for local eggs is absolutely awesome…probably much more economical than having your own!!

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:25:25 +0000

I'm glad you've enjoyed it! I'll probably take a month or two break from sharing but I do want to share more since my grocery spending habits, budget and meal planning are evolving!

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:24:14 +0000

I think this approach is the best to take if you're wanting to lower your grocery budget, just do it a little at a time! But, don't worry about comparing your budget to anybody else's…just compete with yourself!

Comment on Episode 14: Mexican Casserole by Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:48:52 +0000

Just made this for dinner! It was a hit, everyone loved it!! Thank you.

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Lindsey

Lindsey — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:02:02 +0000

I am really looking forward to your blog about chickens being economical! I want to get some again but my husband does not think we should waste the money… Feeding/watering/heating them in the dead of winter in -20 degree weather does not make them worth it. Plus, we can by fresh eggs for a $1 a dozen right down the road – they are free range and organic.

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Laura Rogers

Laura Rogers — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:37:30 +0000

I have thoroughly enjoyed your weekly shopping trip posts! It is so nice to see that it is possible to eat healthy and do so frugally even without many coupons. I hope that you will continue to share your shopping expeditions, especially for local and bulk trips. My husband and I are starting to buy more things in bulk and buy more items locally as a way to eat more healthy, and seeing how others achieve this is not only helpful, but also encouraging!

Comment on Grocery Budget: Week Four by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:25:14 +0000

Way to go staying under budget! I think the last week of the month is the hardest to stretch since it seems you get down to the minimum then when we you don't have much left! I love that you are putting the extra money saved into a bulk purchase envelope – I need to do something like this! I normally just roll our savings into something else for the month but keeping the grocery money simply for groceries is a good idea.

This was the first month in 5 months that we have been at our budget for the month! we normally always go over by at least $25 no matter how high I set it, so I am excited.