Budgeting

My husband and I made a life changing decision last year when we decided to build a house. It is one of the best decisions that we have made; however, it was extremely terrifying the first time that we received a mortgage payment. It was a HUGE wakeup call that we were A.) Real adults and B.) Needed to begin a monthly budget. It has taken months, MONTHS to figure out this whole budget thing, and I am still adjusting it slightly every now and then.

I’m not really sure why budgeting has been so difficult because I was raised in a middle class family who lived on a strict budget. As a kid I remember asking my parents why we weren’t going to this place on vacation or why I couldn’t buy this new toy (side note: I was by no means deprived whatsoever as a child, but I constantly compared what my family was doing to my friends’ families). They would laugh and say because we are on a “budget”.  Gah..that awful word that I have so feared. My parents worked extremely hard and saved their money, which has allowed my dad to retire before the age of 60 and my mother to retire this year. Huge props to my parents!

That being said, I should have known what I was doing when it came to creating my own budget but I had no idea where to begin. Here are my steps for figuring out a budget AND sheets to help you learn how to budget.

Step 1: Write down all of your expenses for 1 month.

Write down ALL of your expenses and I mean ALL. You might think that is an easy step; however, if you are just moving out on your own it can take some time to set it up. Your bills might fluctuate depending on the time of the year and emergencies will pop up.

Step 2: Input your expenses into a budget spreadsheet.

Once you have figured out what you spend on average a month, put it into a spreadsheet. Some of my favorite ones to use can be found on the Suze Orman website as well as google docs. There are PLENTY of websites that have spreadsheets available; you just have to find one that meets your needs.

Step 3: Pay with cash!

One area that I have personally struggled with on the budget is the entertainment and clothing area. I want to constantly do fun things, but have learned that sometimes I’m not able to do those things or purchase new clothes all the time. Become real and honest with yourself. DO NOT compare yourself to others because it will not help. I have begun paying with cash rather than my debit/credit card. Personally for me, I have found that I tend to go “over budget” when I purchase items with my debit and credit card. Once the cash runs out each month, it’s a wake up call that I cannot spend anymore.

Again, the more time that goes on, the more that you will be able to learn about your budget. Good luck!

Naked3 Palette

Urban Decay has officially won me over with the release of the naked3 palette. I usually am not someone who spends a ton of money on eye shadow. In fact, before I was introduced to the naked palettes, I wouldn’t spend more than $10 on eye shadow (not that there is anything wrong with that). What do I like the most about the naked palette? The rose gold colors look fabulous on every skin tone that I’ve seen them on. My skin is fair and the colors go great with my hazel eyes. One way to enhance the appearance of the colors is to use an eye primer before you apply them. The palette includes 12 different colors that can be blended together a variety of ways. One of my favorite things is that I can mix different colors to get different looks for everyday.

Cost:

$52 at Sephora

Pros:

Variety of colors, blendable, high quality

Cons:

Some of the shadow tends to fallout on skin when it’s first applied

Go ahead and try it out for yourself. I’d love to hear your review!

Soup Recipe

Cooking has never really been my forte, so when I see a recipe that doesn’t have a lot of ingredients and can be thrown into the crock-pot I’m sold! I love soup, especially during the winter months, so when I stumbled upon a chicken tortilla recipe I knew that I had to try it out. In my opinion, the crock-pot might be the greatest invention ever, especially for a workingwoman. I was a little apprehensive about this soup because the last one I tried to make did not turn out very well.  

Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients:

1-cup picante sauce

2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup

1-pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cups frozen whole kernel corn

1 can black beans

1 soup can water

1-teaspoon ground cumin

4 corn tortillas

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions:

Mix the picante sauce, soup, chicken, corn, beans, water and cumin in the crock-pot.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until the chicken is fully cooked.

Stir the tortillas, cheese and cilantro into the cooker.

Review:

This soup was delicious! I give it 5 stars and will definitely be making it again. If our power hadn’t gone out, I would have added a picture to share.

What’s your favorite crock-pot recipe? 

Hope In A Jar

As temperatures continue to plummet outside, and I sit inside snuggled up underneath a blanket, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my recent discovery. A moisturizer has come into my life and quite frankly, I’m not sure how my skin survived without it up to this point. Hope In A Jar by Philosophy is my new favorite product that I’ve been raving about to all of my friends. This product hydrates the skin without emitting a strong odor. My skin is usually very sensitive, so it was a relief when I experienced no irritation after using it. Hope in a jar absorbs quickly and a nice bonus is that since I’ve been using the product, I’ve noticed a reduction of acne on my skin.

Where can you purchase this product?

I purchased mine at Sephora. They have two different sizes, so I suggest trying the 0.5 oz jar first to see how you like it.

Price?

0.5 oz jar retails for $15

2 oz jar retails for $40

Go ahead and try it for yourself. I’d love to hear your feedback!

Disclaimer: All opinions are based on my own experiences with the product. 

Ebates

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love saving money? I sure do which is why I want to share a website that I discovered a few years ago. It still amazes me how many people don’t know about this website or just do not use it. Ebates is probably one of the greatest websites ever. When you use Ebates, you are literally able to earn free money. It’s super easy to sign up for an account and quick to use every time you are on the Internet.

How do I join?

Join for free simply by giving us your email address.

How does it work?

Shop through Ebates and earn up to 25% cash back at your favorite stores. Stores pay them a fee when you shop through them. Purchases you make at Ebates stores are only credited if you start your shopping session at Ebates.com and click to a store via an Ebates link.

For all the skeptics out there, this really does work. I’ve already received numerous checks just by going to their website before I begin shopping online. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own.