FINANCIAL GOALS FOR 2011-MY PERSONAL LIST-HAVE YOU MADE YOURS?

I'm a firm believer that it's not always enough just to think about something or plan it in our own mind. Putting Goals down on paper in writing makes me more accountable and helps to keep me focused. If I fall completely off track, it's also a great reminder!

With that said, I'm sharing My Financial Goals for 2011 and plan to update whenever I cross something off my list! That should help me be even more accountable!

For anyone that has not read my previous personal finance posts, it might be helpful to know that I have finally paid off all unsecured debt ( NO CREDIT CARDS OR LOANS!) and we pay cash for everything. The only remainder of debt I have is our car payment, which I would really like to pay off this year.
"...the borrower is servant to the lender" ~Proverbs 22:7

You can make & acheive financial goals no matter how big or small or where you are at in your finances - whether you are living beyond your means in debt, have lost your jobor what have you. The point is to focus on making your money work FOR you instead of just working FOR your money. The end result of that is a freedom like no other !

It may also be helpful for me to share that my husbands company closed in January 2010 and he is still out of work. We are living on unemployment income and my online income...if that's not encouragement for you, I don't know what is!

2011 FINANCIAL TO DO LIST
#1 - Pay cash for a new set of mattresses - The King size mattress on our bed was purchased in 1993-back when I was a credit card queen and "charged" nearly $2800 for the luxe pillowtop set. It is beyond replacement time and I would like to downgrade to a Queen size to make more room and lower the cost of sheets & bedding.

**COMPLETED IN MAY#2 - Get 1 month ahead on our house payment - It is due the 5th of each month and since most of my income is paid to me on a monthly basis around the 10th of each month, we need to be sitting on a full month's payment in savings to avoid paying a $30 late fee each month...just because we are waiting on my paychecks. (How crazy is that? Yes...even I have frugal fails!)

**Paid CASH for my Suburban in MARCH#3 - Sell my car-last portion of debt I have-part 1 of my NO MORE CAR PAYMENT Goal - Pay cash for a dependable used vehicle

#4 - Double my online income overall - I have so many resources for income online (see my extra money makers & WAHM posts) and would like to double it this year. To do this I have started making a weekly schedule with more detailed areas of focus for each day. In order to double my income for the year, I have broken it down into a daily amount that I need to focus on, to make it easier to achieve.

#5 - Hubby to secure a better job - He had worked for his company for 9 years when they closed in Jan. 2010. Unemployment income (as many of you know) is quite lower and caused us to exhaust savings and be back to a month to month basis with bills. We are praying he finds work soon, but planning for the worst and only counting on our current income level to meet these goals.

Have you made a Financial Goal list or plan for 2011 ? Would love to hear some of your goals!

I also highly recommend reading my BUDGET CREATION Posts and also my 2 favorite resources to help you track your spending and stay focused:
MINT: FREE Money Management Software
DAILY WORTH: FREE Personal Finance Tips & Advice for Women

Many Freebies & Deals expire so quickly, we post them on Facebook - CLICK HERE to see what you've been missing!

READER POLL: WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING FOR HALLOWEEN? Thoughts for Thursday

Ok, so aside from posting Deals, Freebies & other finds, I haven't really written much lately. Or should I say "typed" much? I feel like a kid trying to explain why I didn't turn my homework in...and I really have no explanation!

Life has not been any crazier than usual...in my household, "normal" life & "normal" schedules don't exist anyways! So, nothing new there! After so many years of working from home and my children getting older, they are finally learning that when I'm in my office, I'm not just playing on the computer!

I have put more effort lately into the balancing act though. Walking away from the computer and leaving the room completely solves that! There is so much waiting for me throughout the rest of the house at all times, as I'm sure is true for all of you, as well.

You haven't seen me going crazy with Halloween posts and talk about decorating or baking,etc., because personally, we don't "celebrate" Halloween in the same sense that we celebrate other Holidays. Halloween is more of a man-made holiday and while it's fun for the kids to dress up and of course get candy & goodies, that's about the extent we do in our household. Most of our local churches will hold a sort of Fall Festival, as an alternative to public trick or treating, which usually turns out to last longer and be more fun in the end. And they won't go to bed with nightmares like many other Halloween events!

So, what about you? Do you decorate for Halloween in the same way you do Christmas and other Holidays? Will your kids dress up and trick or treat or attend some other type of event? Inquiring minds want to know...especially since I am apparantly suffering from writers block (shall we call it "typers block" ?)

Leave us a comment and let us know!

WHY I NEVER SHOP TAX FREE WEEKEND + WHEN IT IS & IS NOT WORTH IT

Today is the beginning of the TAX FREE Weekend here in North Carolina. Call me a scrooge, because I never have and doubt I ever will shop during the tax free weekend!

Why, you ask?

Let's think about it. Tax Free - that means you get a discount of what 7.75% ? I think that's the current sales tax rate (unsure but it's close if not correct!) So, basically, using that number, you will save $7.75 for every $100 dollars you spend.

Hello ? I do 110% better than that on a daily basis with coupons matched up to sales.

It must be the "sound of it" that drives consumers out to fight for parking, struggle to get down isles and stand in long checkout lines. It certainly can't be the savings percentage. I guess I'm the odd ball out, because 7.75% discount is completely not even worth the time it takes to try to find a parking place! Much less to deal with the aggrivation of over crowded stores!

The only time that I would remotely consider hitting the Tax Free Weekend, would be for a very large purchase, like a computer. The tax free policy applies to computer purchases that are below $3500. So, if you're planning on that large of a purchase, then it might be worth it, though I still think comparing sales prices and stores might even get me more of a discount than 7.75%.

Here's how the purchasing breaks down for this weekend:

North Carolina's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 6-8, 2010

Applies to:

•Clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100
•Sports and recreation equipment under $50
•Computers under $3,500
•Computer equipment under $250

I'll leave to you all to fight the crowds on this one. I haven't hit the stores on this weekend and I'm certainly not gonna start this year either!

What about you? Are you heading out to brave the crowds this weekend?

SUNDAY SENTIMENTS - PURSUING THE AMERICAN DREAM CAN BE DEADLY

Don't you love the title of this post? I really do believe that statement, as I myself, have pursued that promotion, "title", "fame", and other worldly gratification at different times in my life. It is very easy to get caught up in pursuing a passion, career, or just about anything in our life and forget your roots-even when your roots are what made it possible!

As a Christian, we can think we KNOW this, but sometimes we REALLY need to hear exactly what The Word says from someone else, to really "Get It" again in our hearts.

I love to dream. I have big plans and dreams. I've pursued many in my life-some successfully and some crashed and burned. It doesn't matter if you have the means for something, the support from someone or whatever the situation is, the ONLY thing we need to be successful in anything,is Christ himself, as our partner! Whatever is going on in your life that you just can't seem to be able to "see" how it will come to pass or how some "change" will ever happen, most of what seems so impossible to us, is ONLY possible through God, and that's the point! All for His Glory, and not ours! If we can accomplish it all in our own power, we're treading on very unsafe waters and will eventually fall.

I read a quote this week that really sums that up to me:

"Dont fall for the temptation of being impressive & performing for people. You dont have to campaign for your ministry or for your own successes. God says, "Serve ME & I'll make your name great." Anything done in your own strength, you will also have to keep up in your own strength! God is not responsible to sustain it..."

So, if we allow God to be the one that brings us into whatever situation, position, success, then we can relax ! But when we run around in circles trying to accomplish it all on our own accord, fix something or make something happen by our own works and efforts and for our own glory, we will eventually grow tired and weary and unable to keep it up. That is a lesson I've had to learn many times in my life in various situations. Whatever skill or blessing you have been given, allow God to use it and be glorified through you, instead of running with it and proclaiming your own name as wonderful. That skill, talent, gift or blessing can easily become a like a dreaded curse otherwise!

I still believe that humility is one of the hardest traits to TRULY posess, but one of the most important. I pray every day that whatever successes I have in my life whether that be my childrens achievements, knowledge that is shared with others, (yea, we can get the BIG HEAD from being told how we are so helpful and knowledgable), the growth of this tiny little spot on the web or the "Fans" impacted by it, (yes, I've seen bloggers with the "Big Head",even those quoting scripture and it's a great reminder to me!)just whatever the case might be, I pray that I always remember the purpose I started with and the simplicity of it. Anything that we accomplish in our own strength can vanish very quickly and it is no fun to realize that it all disappeared because we strayed from the original purpose and allowed ourselves to get caught up and pulled off the tracks!

A WORD for Wednesday ! Because I know, that I know, that I KNOW !!

Wordless Wednesday Post - School Project Time !

Sunday Sentiments - Joyce Meyer Eat The Cookie, Buy The Shoes Part 1

If you've ever been on an airplane, notice how you are told that if there is a problem, you are to put your own oxygen mask on before you put one on your child. That is such a great example of the principles of taking care of yourself before you can take care of others. You can't be a "wounded healer". As a mom, to me, this means that I HAVE to take care of myself before I can fully take care of my family. I function so much better when I have taken the time to meet my own personal needs first. As a mom, guilt can keep us from doing this, but if we can grasp that principle and realize that, then we will have so much more peace in our life so that we can function to do the million and one things we need to do for our families.

Joyce Meyers new book "Eat The Cookie, Buy The Shoes" is probably the only book of hers that I don't have yet! This video is just a preview of what she talks about in that book. I'm loving it already and can't wait to get the book! I hope that you enjoy it and it causes you to think and make some changes as it has for me!

Don't forget to signup for Joyce Meyer Ministries FREE Monthly Magazine "Enjoying Everyday Life". It is a wonderful blessing in your mailbox every month! If you can donate, this is one ministry that is annointed and far-reaching, time tested and definately a fertile place to sow your seed!

Wordless Wednesday Post - My Baby Girl and My GRANDbaby girl !

Anybody know where I can get one of these? (VIDEO) Laundry Folding Robot !

If I had one of these, I think I could really get some things accomplished around the house!! Anyone know where I can get one? =)

RiteAid suggestions for my local Albemarle and Stanly County Friends & Fans !

Well, I was going to write a very lengthy post about my horrible experience at the East Main Street RITEAID located in Albemarle. We are very lucky to have 2 RiteAid Stores here in Albemarle, North Carolina, and I'm even more grateful for that now!

Rather than go on and on about my horrible couponing experience at this RiteAid, store # 11431, I've decided to spin it around and rave about RiteAid store # 11430 in Albemarle, as well.

Of course, venting about the appearingly very nieve and uneducated staff at the East Main Street store and their now comical view that I couldn't use coupons on certain items, because it just didn't "seem right", since they were already on sale....LOL...WOW, is all I will say to the apparent lack of store knowledge and operations knowledge passed onto employees of this store through their management team. EVERY store employee should be fully aware of their own stores coupon policies. It should not be up to the customer to pull out their own hardcopy of those policies(don't leave home without it!) and point these things out. Really !

OK, let me get back to the part where I am not going to vent and rant but am going to RAVE about the wonderful staff of the RiteAid on the other side of town!

It is my personal recommendation to all of my Albemarle friends that you shop at the RiteAid location just across from Harris Teeter in Albemarle. That is store # 11430 on Salisbury Avenue.

The staff at this store is so friendly and always welcomes me and more importantly, my coupons, with a smile! The store Manager there is Randy and he has been with that store for what has to be over 20 years now! I actually worked there when I was 15 and it was named Eckerd's ! Randy is very knowledgeable about his company and about how to treat customers and handle coupons.

There are other gems in this store as well! Helen is a very helpful cashier who is amazed every time that I coupon there and is always very patient to make sure all the coupons scan and I get all the savings I am supposed to!

RiteAid puts so much effort into gaining couponing customers online through their video values program, single check rebate program and other couponing incentives, and it is such a shame to allow 1 store shed such a bad light on this company. If I didn't have an alternate store with such a wonderful staff, after my experience tonight at store #11431, RiteAid would have lost me completely as a customer and a supporting blogger.

Ok, so maybe this was my vent post afterall? hehehe...ya know what they say, blogging is good for the soul! And of course, it's my bloggy and I'll cry if I want to !!

Thanks for "virtually" listening to my sugarcoated rant/vent :)

P.S. For those they know me all too well...YES! I sent a letter and emails to their district manager and corporate office with my complaint...you knew I did...didn't you ?!

Thoughts for Thursday - Recycling Plastic Bags and using Recycle Totes

I have never been one to jump on any bandwagon, take any major political stand or the like. So it's a HUGE surprise that over the past few monthes I have become very insistant on using Recycle Bags when shopping. Those PILES AND PILES of plastic bags under my kitchen sink, overflowed and made their way into even more and more piles in my pantry. And I'd finally had it! ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

Now I'm just talking about 1 households plastic bag accumulation. Can you really imagine the millions or likely billions that end up in our landfills, or blowing with the wind into natural areas and cause problems for wildlife, not to mention just plain ugliness that takes way too many years to degrate? Did you know that nearly 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year and that an average family throws away approx. 1,500 plastic trash bags per year! For whatever reason, this is one of those "controversial" issues that has really hit home with me and I feel the need and more likely, the duty, to do my part to keep this process from continuing.

Most stores now have their own Recycle Totes available for purchase. Some even PAY YOU to use them!(CVS Green Bag Tag $1 every 4th scan/trip and Target gives 5cent discount for every recycle bag you use!)They are also usually pretty cheap at about 50cent to $1 per bag. The average Recycle Tote holds 2 to 3 times as many items as a plastic bag, and even better than that, there's no risk of it ripping and breaking or ruining whatever is inside! Can you say busted milk or 2 liters? That happened to me one too many times, even with doubled plastics.

Recently, at a trip to our local Merita bread store, I noticed their sign that they are now charging 3cents for each plastic bag you use! Some states have now banned the use altogether...so I really think I'm just one step ahead of the game! I foresee in the very near future that all stores will either not offer plastic or will charge for it, to discourage it's use.

Maybe it's really a sign that I'm getting older...I don't know, but I know that feel the responsibility now and won't turn back. If that's the case, then here's the contradiction to that thought....the designs are so cute on the Recycle Totes now that it's almost become an obsession to have them! I have one that I even carry just because it is so cute! And when my 18 year old daughter saw one, she had to have one too! CVS just redesigned some of theirs and though I already had tons of the Green Bags, I just had to grab one of the new Black ones with the Green recycle designs on it ( I had a coupon for half-off, too, of course!)

So, is it catching on with any of you? I would really like to know if you are utilizing the cute Recycle Totes and rejoicing over the non-clumped pile of plastics, or are you still using the plastic bags? Please post and share! Inquiring minds want to know :)

This weeks Belated WORDLESS WEDNESDAY Post ! He Scores !!!

Sunday Sentiments with Joyce Meyer - Establishing Boundaries In Relationships

Do you need to put up some fences in your life? Do you feel like someone is or has taken advantage of you or walked all over you? Can you really hold that resentment or is it time to put up those boundaries and stop being mad at others for what we ourselves have allowed to happen?

WOW...if we can grasp this and apply it to our lives, we can avoid so much turmoil and frustration!

Yet another of my favorite messages by Joyce Meyer, speaks directly to my heart!