monthly challenges

May and June 2011 Financial Goals Update

July 6, 2011

I set new financial goals at the beginning of 2011, and I will be updating our progress every month. Here is our May/June wrap-up: -Husband starts a teaching and/or research job by September. He is working in a lab position full-time now that has the potential to turn into a post-doc. He needs to make [...]

Read the full article →

Monthly Financial Goals Update

January 7, 2010

I have always dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom, and now, with our third child due in April and our decision that I will quit my job even though my husband won’t graduate this year, we are trying to get “gazelle intense” as Dave Ramsey says and make the most of my income. Here are [...]

Read the full article →

Joining the Pantry Challenge

December 28, 2009

I was excited to see that for January, Crystal at Money Saving Mom and Jessica at Life as Mom are having a pantry challenge. I defrosted my freezer a week ago in preparation for the ¼ cow that we are purchasing, and I discovered several freezer meals that I had prepared back in August before [...]

Read the full article →

January Challenge–Needs Vs. Wants

December 28, 2009

In the week before Christmas, Suze Orman was talking about rationalizing spending money and justifying purchases. A mom works hard at her job, comes home with little energy and thinks, “I’ve worked hard all day; I deserve to go out to eat.” (You could insert me here; going out to eat is my weakness.) She [...]

Read the full article →

Monthly Goals Update–October Wrap Up

November 3, 2009

I am now back to work full-time and expect to keep my job until at least April. These are the new goals I am working on to help my dream of being a stay-at-home mom a reality. Save 5 months’ of living expenses. I get nervous when there isn’t any money in the bank. If [...]

Read the full article →

July Challenge

June 30, 2009

For my June challenge, I had a no spending month and challenged myself to only spend $500 for the month for groceries, gas, entertainment, birthdays, Father’s Day, and a trip out of town, etc. I did end up going over my $500, but I still consider the month a success because on a normal month [...]