This was just Great!!! We just had our second radio interview Monday morning with Larry Hansgen.
The Bledsoe Family just did Amazing; it was so perfect!! We had a lot of fun with this interview.
I want to send a BIG THANK YOU to all of our followers, Wright-Patt Credit Union's Partner Employees, and Mad River Station Member Center for reading and assisting with our Savings Race. We love having fans!! :0) Thanks again to everyone that has been so excited for our Bledsoe Family. I want to also send a THANK YOU to our Coaches Kim & Andrea for being the BEST EVER!!
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Decisions...
The Christmas lists and sale ads are starting to come in, and I'll admit to stressing a bit already.
I love this time of year because I love giving gifts. I am trying to find the balance between saving/budgeting and being able to get the gifts I want to get for my friends and family.
We already made one "wise choice." We had plans to go on a cruise with my parents and brother's family for Christmas. With the Savings Race, and truthfully with saving for the adoption, we really did not need to be spending that money. So, sigh...we aren't going. It's for the best, right? Sacrificing a week in the Bahamas is nothing compared to the feeling of finally being able to hold our child. I need to keep reminding myself that.
This year we are getting one gift per family member (and really that's only 8 gifts) and then a few for close friends. Every year my mother and I make an Irish Mint Mocha Cream Liqueur. So, I will expand the yield and give that out in bottles as gifts.
Now Dave and I need to talk about gifts for each other...
Jessica
I love this time of year because I love giving gifts. I am trying to find the balance between saving/budgeting and being able to get the gifts I want to get for my friends and family.
We already made one "wise choice." We had plans to go on a cruise with my parents and brother's family for Christmas. With the Savings Race, and truthfully with saving for the adoption, we really did not need to be spending that money. So, sigh...we aren't going. It's for the best, right? Sacrificing a week in the Bahamas is nothing compared to the feeling of finally being able to hold our child. I need to keep reminding myself that.
This year we are getting one gift per family member (and really that's only 8 gifts) and then a few for close friends. Every year my mother and I make an Irish Mint Mocha Cream Liqueur. So, I will expand the yield and give that out in bottles as gifts.
Now Dave and I need to talk about gifts for each other...
Jessica
Somebody Cue Elvis
Viva Las Vegas. When we applied for the Race, we had already booked a vacation (long weekend) in Las Vegas. We paid for tickets and room well in advance, and I'm happy to say we are taking off on Friday. We discussed with our coaches the concept of vacation viewed through the frame of the Race, and we're agreed that vacationing is a real budget item. Perhaps more so than everyday spending, you have to stick to a budget, watch your spending, and keep discipline. Vegas? Perhaps the ultimate destination to test one's mettle. I've been to Vegas at least once a year for the past 7, for business. It'll be different to be there on vacation!
We're meeting up with friends that have since moved away, one in NY and one in San Fran, and spending the weekend there. Now, when one thinks of Vegas, often the first thought (right after Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and Elvis) is gambling. Spending money to win! Well, I'm a poker player, and I play poker for a reason. I don't like heavy risk. Most of the games you can play in a casino are designed for one thing: to make that casino money. Remember that, because I certainly will. You won't catch us this weekend at a slot machine, blackjack table, or roulette wheel, because I just don't want to throw my money away. You also won't catch us being silly with our money. We will not play games that are skewed toward the house...if I gamble, for instance, I'll play poker. And what's more, I'll do it with a set budget, and if I lose that money, I will be finished. This is something that far too many people don't do in Vegas, or any casino...stop. The "next big win" is not just around the corner.
Here's another trick I learned early. Let's say you show up with 20 dollars to spend at the casino, and you start off "up". You win something. Each win, whatever game you play, should go into your pocket until you've got that 20 dollars set aside. And then forget the 20 dollars. It doesn't exist, and never existed. That way, you're playing with Other People's Money. The flip side of the coin? If the 20 dollars is gone, so are you. Don't go for another 20...stick to the budget! Enough about gambling...Here's our game plan: sensible breakfast and lunch. Not eating the expensive buffet in the morning, no, no, no. We save that money, eat small and cheap, and then we utilize what we saved to allow ourselves a treat, and have a very nice dinner. We will see shows. (We have a 2-for-1 coupon for one of them!) We will see a lot of the FREE things in Vegas...the Bellagio fountain, the Pirates show, the Volcano, and wander around looking at the sights of the Strip architecture. We'll hike Red Rock Canyon. We won't buy pay-per-view movies in the hotel room.
It'll be a challenge this weekend to stick to the budget...but we have our game plan, and despite a whole city that wants us to spend our money, we're going to let that city show us a good time...but on our terms!
Dave
We're meeting up with friends that have since moved away, one in NY and one in San Fran, and spending the weekend there. Now, when one thinks of Vegas, often the first thought (right after Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and Elvis) is gambling. Spending money to win! Well, I'm a poker player, and I play poker for a reason. I don't like heavy risk. Most of the games you can play in a casino are designed for one thing: to make that casino money. Remember that, because I certainly will. You won't catch us this weekend at a slot machine, blackjack table, or roulette wheel, because I just don't want to throw my money away. You also won't catch us being silly with our money. We will not play games that are skewed toward the house...if I gamble, for instance, I'll play poker. And what's more, I'll do it with a set budget, and if I lose that money, I will be finished. This is something that far too many people don't do in Vegas, or any casino...stop. The "next big win" is not just around the corner.
Here's another trick I learned early. Let's say you show up with 20 dollars to spend at the casino, and you start off "up". You win something. Each win, whatever game you play, should go into your pocket until you've got that 20 dollars set aside. And then forget the 20 dollars. It doesn't exist, and never existed. That way, you're playing with Other People's Money. The flip side of the coin? If the 20 dollars is gone, so are you. Don't go for another 20...stick to the budget! Enough about gambling...Here's our game plan: sensible breakfast and lunch. Not eating the expensive buffet in the morning, no, no, no. We save that money, eat small and cheap, and then we utilize what we saved to allow ourselves a treat, and have a very nice dinner. We will see shows. (We have a 2-for-1 coupon for one of them!) We will see a lot of the FREE things in Vegas...the Bellagio fountain, the Pirates show, the Volcano, and wander around looking at the sights of the Strip architecture. We'll hike Red Rock Canyon. We won't buy pay-per-view movies in the hotel room.
It'll be a challenge this weekend to stick to the budget...but we have our game plan, and despite a whole city that wants us to spend our money, we're going to let that city show us a good time...but on our terms!
Dave
Open a Sub Account!
Opening a sub account can get you more involved in saving. A sub account, like a Club, or Secondary Savings account, can be opened right at home through online banking, or at any WPCU Member Center.
A Club account is generally opened for a specific savings purpose like Christmas, Back to School, or Taxes, and has a specific maturity date (time of year when funds will be used), but can be set up for many other reasons.
A Secondary Savings account is essentially just like a traditional savings account, which gives you the flexibility to save for exactly what you want, while allowing you to withdraw from it any time you want.
Both types of accounts can be named to reflect exactly what the account was set up for (ex: “Vacation Club” or “Girl’s Night Out”), and can help you keep track of all the things you might be saving for. They’re easy to track with online banking, and can be accessed through Call-24, as well.
Sub accounts are a fun little way to watch your money grow, and you’ve gotta love that.
A Club account is generally opened for a specific savings purpose like Christmas, Back to School, or Taxes, and has a specific maturity date (time of year when funds will be used), but can be set up for many other reasons.
A Secondary Savings account is essentially just like a traditional savings account, which gives you the flexibility to save for exactly what you want, while allowing you to withdraw from it any time you want.
Both types of accounts can be named to reflect exactly what the account was set up for (ex: “Vacation Club” or “Girl’s Night Out”), and can help you keep track of all the things you might be saving for. They’re easy to track with online banking, and can be accessed through Call-24, as well.
Sub accounts are a fun little way to watch your money grow, and you’ve gotta love that.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Holidays are Coming!!
Can you believe the Holidays are just around the corner; it's that time of year again!!! It's the hardest time to save money and lose weight. :0)
It is exciting to see how motivating this race has become for everyone involved. The staff at the Mad River Station Member Center is very excited too. We even had a partner employee by the name of Amanda design a budget sheet for our Bledsoe Family. That is just Awesome!!! :0)
I just love the spirit and excitement that this brings to the Miami Valley; I feel blessed to be a part of something that is making a difference in our community.
I hope everyone is making their budget plans for the upcoming Holidays!! If you need help please feel free to visit your local Wright Patt Credit Union Member Center for assistance.
That's all I have for today; talk to you next week,
Coach Jayme
It is exciting to see how motivating this race has become for everyone involved. The staff at the Mad River Station Member Center is very excited too. We even had a partner employee by the name of Amanda design a budget sheet for our Bledsoe Family. That is just Awesome!!! :0)
I just love the spirit and excitement that this brings to the Miami Valley; I feel blessed to be a part of something that is making a difference in our community.
I hope everyone is making their budget plans for the upcoming Holidays!! If you need help please feel free to visit your local Wright Patt Credit Union Member Center for assistance.
That's all I have for today; talk to you next week,
Coach Jayme
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Devil is in the Details
How often has this happened to you...some stressful situation pops up, you focus on it to deal with it, and you miss something important? It happens to us all, I imagine. And it happened to Jess and I last week. In a day of preparing to run an event on the weekend, and having to drive down to Middletown to pick up the now-repaired car, and trying to cram more into the day...we forgot our class. No, really. The mandatory class we have to take to complete the race, and we up and forget. Fortunately, we hauled ourselves to Huber Heights to take it there, resulting only in incovnenience to ourselves, and rescheduling of another meeting...inconveniencing others.
But what does this remind me of? Has this happened to me before? Have I missed the due date on a bill and gotten a late charge, forgotten to make a deposit, or something like that? Oh, yes, yes I have. And so to the list of lessons learned this race, I'm adding this one: the devil is in the details. Just because something pops up to claim our attention, doesn't mean we can drop everything else (outside of an emergency).
How many late charges have we paid from simple forgetfulness? Wouldn't those dollars be better used in savings, or paying balances, or really anything else at all? I think the answer is pretty obvious.
Dave
But what does this remind me of? Has this happened to me before? Have I missed the due date on a bill and gotten a late charge, forgotten to make a deposit, or something like that? Oh, yes, yes I have. And so to the list of lessons learned this race, I'm adding this one: the devil is in the details. Just because something pops up to claim our attention, doesn't mean we can drop everything else (outside of an emergency).
How many late charges have we paid from simple forgetfulness? Wouldn't those dollars be better used in savings, or paying balances, or really anything else at all? I think the answer is pretty obvious.
Dave
Get a Mug!
For weeks before my birthday, my boyfriend begged me to tell him what I wanted from him as a gift. Generally I’m not a very lavish person, but if I am, I spend my own money, I never expect someone to buy something extravagant for me; so I told him I wanted a coffee mug, plain and simple. I explained to him that most mornings on my way to work I buy my hazelnut coffee at the gas station, and I don’t normally fill it all the way up, because the lids aren’t great and it always leaks on me. So by the time I get to work, I end up with only a 16 oz coffee, and a hazelnut smelling hand. I figured that a mug would be a practical & smart gift, plus, cheap!
I figured he’d just go get one somewhere & that would be that. Oh no, not my boyfriend, bless his heart. He scoured the planet looking for the best coffee mug money could buy. *lol* He found a mug that doesn’t leak - AT ALL - and in fact, the company is so convinced that it won’t leak, that they put a clip on it, so you can clip it to a purse or belt. AWESOME!
But he didn’t count on the fact that it would potentially save me a LOT of money.
The first time I took my shiny new mug to the gas station and filled it before my workday, the attendant gave me the total - only 69 cents! It was always $1.09 before! Granted, I downgraded from 20oz to 16oz (that’s all the new mug holds), but that is a HUGE difference in price. I told the attendant, had I known there was such a big price gap, I would have been getting the 16oz size long ago. She explained that the reason it’s so cheap was because I brought my own mug, and they only charge for refills in that case. WOW! I never even thought about the fact that they might do something like that.
So to break it down…
Before:
20oz @ $1.09/cup – can be up to $5.45/work week, which can be up to $21.80/month!
After:
16oz @ $0.69/mug – can be up to $3.45/work week, which can be up to $13.80/month.
That means effectively (were I to go get coffee every day of the year before work), I can save up to $96.00 per year! Not only that, but I don’t have to use one of their styrofoam cups every morning, so hopefully I’m helping the environment daily, too.
It’s amazing what a huge difference one little mug can make.
I figured he’d just go get one somewhere & that would be that. Oh no, not my boyfriend, bless his heart. He scoured the planet looking for the best coffee mug money could buy. *lol* He found a mug that doesn’t leak - AT ALL - and in fact, the company is so convinced that it won’t leak, that they put a clip on it, so you can clip it to a purse or belt. AWESOME!
But he didn’t count on the fact that it would potentially save me a LOT of money.
The first time I took my shiny new mug to the gas station and filled it before my workday, the attendant gave me the total - only 69 cents! It was always $1.09 before! Granted, I downgraded from 20oz to 16oz (that’s all the new mug holds), but that is a HUGE difference in price. I told the attendant, had I known there was such a big price gap, I would have been getting the 16oz size long ago. She explained that the reason it’s so cheap was because I brought my own mug, and they only charge for refills in that case. WOW! I never even thought about the fact that they might do something like that.
So to break it down…
Before:
20oz @ $1.09/cup – can be up to $5.45/work week, which can be up to $21.80/month!
After:
16oz @ $0.69/mug – can be up to $3.45/work week, which can be up to $13.80/month.
That means effectively (were I to go get coffee every day of the year before work), I can save up to $96.00 per year! Not only that, but I don’t have to use one of their styrofoam cups every morning, so hopefully I’m helping the environment daily, too.
It’s amazing what a huge difference one little mug can make.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Little Things Do Add Up
Well, I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to be a coach and be involved with Jessica and Dave. They have been very excited and they are working hard to achieve both a savings and debt reduction.
Dave and Jessica are so very easy to work with and they take every suggestion that we give them and they literally run with it.
Personally, I am going through some issues and I have learned a great deal from being involved in this savings race. I believe that my kids are hating the fact that I ask the question: "is this a need or a want?" and when we pass a fast food restaurant, I will not stop. I am always looking for ways to save money and I am very much aware of what I am spending on the "little things".
Each of the coaches are giving up something to encourage Dave and Jessica. For the month of November, I have given up my daily breakfast stop. I am now bringing something from home for breakfast. Also, it helps when coach Jayme and I started the weight loss race as well. Stay tuned, we are having a ball.
Dave and Jessica are so very easy to work with and they take every suggestion that we give them and they literally run with it.
Personally, I am going through some issues and I have learned a great deal from being involved in this savings race. I believe that my kids are hating the fact that I ask the question: "is this a need or a want?" and when we pass a fast food restaurant, I will not stop. I am always looking for ways to save money and I am very much aware of what I am spending on the "little things".
Each of the coaches are giving up something to encourage Dave and Jessica. For the month of November, I have given up my daily breakfast stop. I am now bringing something from home for breakfast. Also, it helps when coach Jayme and I started the weight loss race as well. Stay tuned, we are having a ball.
Winter Coat Savings
Although I like to pretend that winter will never come, the cold weather makes it hard for me to deny. I finally dug out my heavy coat, and all the other winter gear, preparing myself for the cold that always comes too soon. As I threw my coat on, I shoved my hands in my pockets, and to my surprise found $20! With gas as low as it is (for the moment), that was practically like finding a free tank in my pocket! And thank goodness, because I’m running a little short before payday, and was looking at having to do some “creative accounting,” with my Christmas savings accounts. Now I don’t really have to!
You don’t have to wait for the seasons to change to start your “winter coat savings.” When you get paid, pull a little out of the check in cash (even if it’s only 5 or 10 bucks), and then stash it somewhere safe. Do what you can to forget about it (like the money I found in my pocket & didn’t even know I had). Next paycheck, do the same thing. If you get a raise, or a bonus, I suggest taking half of it out in cash and putting it in your “secret savings.”
With this technique, you may find that your winter coat does more than just keep you warm this year.
You don’t have to wait for the seasons to change to start your “winter coat savings.” When you get paid, pull a little out of the check in cash (even if it’s only 5 or 10 bucks), and then stash it somewhere safe. Do what you can to forget about it (like the money I found in my pocket & didn’t even know I had). Next paycheck, do the same thing. If you get a raise, or a bonus, I suggest taking half of it out in cash and putting it in your “secret savings.”
With this technique, you may find that your winter coat does more than just keep you warm this year.
First TV Interview with Dan Edwards
This month is going by so fast; I can't believe it is already November 12, 2008.
Our Bledsoe Family is doing Outstandingly well; we had our first TV Interview on Friday November 7, 2008. This interview was Fabulous!! I had so much FUN and Dan Edwards, the reporter, was just Awesome!!!
He was so down to earth and easy to work with it was a pleasure meeting with him. Jess and Dave shared their story and events leading up to them entering our Savings Race. Their story was on how they met and became a family; it was so heartfelt. Please make sure and watch their show on Friday at 5:30 PM and Saturday at 11:00 PM ( Channel 2; WDTN ) this week!!! * Don't Forget to Watch! ( It is during the NEWS )
Dan Edwards even asked about Savings Race vs Weight Loss Race; cool huh? Now on to that topic; Coach Kim did loss 2 pounds last week and Coach Jayme ( Me ) did loss 3 pounds!!! Sounds good; I wish it was 23 pounds, but I guess I will start with 3. :0)
Talk to Everyone again next week!!!
Our Bledsoe Family is doing Outstandingly well; we had our first TV Interview on Friday November 7, 2008. This interview was Fabulous!! I had so much FUN and Dan Edwards, the reporter, was just Awesome!!!
He was so down to earth and easy to work with it was a pleasure meeting with him. Jess and Dave shared their story and events leading up to them entering our Savings Race. Their story was on how they met and became a family; it was so heartfelt. Please make sure and watch their show on Friday at 5:30 PM and Saturday at 11:00 PM ( Channel 2; WDTN ) this week!!! * Don't Forget to Watch! ( It is during the NEWS )
Dan Edwards even asked about Savings Race vs Weight Loss Race; cool huh? Now on to that topic; Coach Kim did loss 2 pounds last week and Coach Jayme ( Me ) did loss 3 pounds!!! Sounds good; I wish it was 23 pounds, but I guess I will start with 3. :0)
Talk to Everyone again next week!!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Birthday Breakfast Blues...
I’ve been pretty out of touch with reality for the last few days, due to a HORRIBLE case of food poisoning, which I picked up during breakfast on my birthday. Although I spent a few days sick as a dog, I managed to save some money AND lost weight. Looks like I just jumped in on Kim and Jayme’s race, in addition to the Bledsoe’s. Hahaha. Okay, so I’m really stretching to look for a bright side of things here, but given what I went through for the past three days, this cloud needs a serious silver lining. It’s been a long few days, but I finally made it back in to work, and am feeling much better. Thank goodness!
Our Anniversary
I know, it's been a week since the anniversary. Suffice to say I'm not a "diligent blogger." I want to thank our coaches and the staff at Wright-Patt Credit Union for our little impromptu celebration. This was a good anniversary, a romantic, silly surprise. Which kind of sums us up, really.
Jess and I met at an audition for a show at Playhouse South Community Theater, doing Jesus Christ Superstar. This was years ago...don't ask me how many. ;) We were cast as a couple...the director had a "Babe" for each apostle. I remember saying to her "Looks like you're going to be my babe." If I'd only known. We became good friends through the theater, and did a lot of growing, even though we weren't a couple yet. We were in a veritable plethora of shows together, and eventually, slowly, realized we were crazy stupid in love with each other. Although technically, she knew that well before I did...I can be slow on the uptake.
Then came the time we did Into The Woods together. I was playing both the Big Bad Wolf and Cinderalla's Prince Charming, and Jess was playing the Witch. And I arranged the coup d'etat of romantic, silly surprises. With her family in the front row, and surrounded by our cast, the curtain call was interrupted...and I proposed to her there on stage. I'm lucky to have gotten a standing ovation for a wedding proposal...but luckier by far that she said "yes."
Over the years, our family has grown a bit. There's Kelton, our first cat...we sometimes call him the Prince of All That is Fuzzy. There's Alley, a cat we adopted from friends of ours, who was originally rescued from the middle of I-75. And there's Oberon, our German Shepherd, part cuddly boy and part home security system. And somewhere in our future, hopefully our near future, there's another surprise awaiting us. We don't know who it is yet, but someone is going to get adopted into this life of ours, and taught the lessons we've learned...and the ones we haven't yet...and we're looking forward to what's called "Gotcha day", to the completion of the first adoption.
It's important to know the goal, and to remember the steps you took to get there.
David
Jess and I met at an audition for a show at Playhouse South Community Theater, doing Jesus Christ Superstar. This was years ago...don't ask me how many. ;) We were cast as a couple...the director had a "Babe" for each apostle. I remember saying to her "Looks like you're going to be my babe." If I'd only known. We became good friends through the theater, and did a lot of growing, even though we weren't a couple yet. We were in a veritable plethora of shows together, and eventually, slowly, realized we were crazy stupid in love with each other. Although technically, she knew that well before I did...I can be slow on the uptake.
Then came the time we did Into The Woods together. I was playing both the Big Bad Wolf and Cinderalla's Prince Charming, and Jess was playing the Witch. And I arranged the coup d'etat of romantic, silly surprises. With her family in the front row, and surrounded by our cast, the curtain call was interrupted...and I proposed to her there on stage. I'm lucky to have gotten a standing ovation for a wedding proposal...but luckier by far that she said "yes."
Over the years, our family has grown a bit. There's Kelton, our first cat...we sometimes call him the Prince of All That is Fuzzy. There's Alley, a cat we adopted from friends of ours, who was originally rescued from the middle of I-75. And there's Oberon, our German Shepherd, part cuddly boy and part home security system. And somewhere in our future, hopefully our near future, there's another surprise awaiting us. We don't know who it is yet, but someone is going to get adopted into this life of ours, and taught the lessons we've learned...and the ones we haven't yet...and we're looking forward to what's called "Gotcha day", to the completion of the first adoption.
It's important to know the goal, and to remember the steps you took to get there.
David
The Cost of Convenience
It's amazing what a little motivation can do to your outlook, and more importantly, to your results. We're going a little crazy right now with saving, and I think that's a good thing. We opt out of buying something, and instead of just leaving that money in the checking account, we go ahead and spend it...by moving it to savings. We look at "extra money", and our treat to ourselves isn't to go buy a pair of shoes or a new video game, but to put it in a savings account, then grin and giggle about being closer to our goal.
One of the shortfalls we've overcome in our family is one of perception. "I can't afford to save." How many times do we tell ourselves this rationalization? I know I had worn a rut in it. Well, the truth is, I can't afford NOT to save. WE can't afford not to save. A shortfall or unexpected expense cripples us mentally, and we think the sky is falling. And sometimes, it is. Our setback with the auto accident is impacting the budget...but our coaches have taught us how to make the savings account as much a priority as any other bill...and that's a big difference...and in the future, we will have an emergency fund, which makes those setbacks easier to deal with by far.
The thing I've noticed most in this month is just how much we pay for "convenience." Fast food, delivery food, quick food, pre-packaged food, convenience stores: all kinds of expenses that we shell out because it's easier. It's a little bit crazy when you think about it. And in just one month, we've made some big adjustments to the way we do things. And honestly? It's just not been a huge sacrifice. It's just a reduction of consumption, and if that means less pie for dessert, well, maybe that spare tire of mine will thank me for it by going away.
David
One of the shortfalls we've overcome in our family is one of perception. "I can't afford to save." How many times do we tell ourselves this rationalization? I know I had worn a rut in it. Well, the truth is, I can't afford NOT to save. WE can't afford not to save. A shortfall or unexpected expense cripples us mentally, and we think the sky is falling. And sometimes, it is. Our setback with the auto accident is impacting the budget...but our coaches have taught us how to make the savings account as much a priority as any other bill...and that's a big difference...and in the future, we will have an emergency fund, which makes those setbacks easier to deal with by far.
The thing I've noticed most in this month is just how much we pay for "convenience." Fast food, delivery food, quick food, pre-packaged food, convenience stores: all kinds of expenses that we shell out because it's easier. It's a little bit crazy when you think about it. And in just one month, we've made some big adjustments to the way we do things. And honestly? It's just not been a huge sacrifice. It's just a reduction of consumption, and if that means less pie for dessert, well, maybe that spare tire of mine will thank me for it by going away.
David
Decisions
Well, on Monday, I did a very good job of controlling my impulse buys. I was at Joann's and they had the most adorable fabric. It was multi colored (mostly autumn colors) and had swallows flying all over it. It was even on sale! I immediately grabbed it and started to think of all the things I could make with it. Maybe a cool purse! "No Jess, put it down. That's $20+ you don't need to spend." So I purchased what I was there for (and only what I was there for) and ran to Flower Factory to pick up the one thing I needed there. Again I was faced with temptations! But walked out of Flower Factory having only purchased the one item I had gone there for.
And Monday night, Dave and I made the hard decision to not audition for a musical. A few factors went into this decision, one being the money we could save. The gas to Kettering and back 4 times a week, the occassionally eating out with the cast, or the fast food quick dinner on the way to rehearsal. Yeah, that's all money we can save. So, we are going to figure out how much money we are saving by *not* doing the show and deposit that in our savings account over the next two months (the rehearsal period).
Jessica
And Monday night, Dave and I made the hard decision to not audition for a musical. A few factors went into this decision, one being the money we could save. The gas to Kettering and back 4 times a week, the occassionally eating out with the cast, or the fast food quick dinner on the way to rehearsal. Yeah, that's all money we can save. So, we are going to figure out how much money we are saving by *not* doing the show and deposit that in our savings account over the next two months (the rehearsal period).
Jessica
Monday, November 3, 2008
Savings Race vs. Weight Loss Race
It has been almost a month now since the Savings Race began. The Bledsoe family is increasing their savings and reducing their debt daily. I am so proud of them!!!
It has inspired me in so many ways. It has made me make changes in my own life too. Coach Kim and I have began our own race ( The Weight Loss Race ) with Coach Andrea as our "Enforcer" to keep us on track! The motivation for this was given to us by the Bledsoe Family. Thanks Jess & Dave!!! :0)
Our Weight Loss Race started November 3, 2008. Wish us LUCK!!!
We will be using the same techniques as Jessica & Dave have used so successfully. These techniques are:
It has inspired me in so many ways. It has made me make changes in my own life too. Coach Kim and I have began our own race ( The Weight Loss Race ) with Coach Andrea as our "Enforcer" to keep us on track! The motivation for this was given to us by the Bledsoe Family. Thanks Jess & Dave!!! :0)
Our Weight Loss Race started November 3, 2008. Wish us LUCK!!!
We will be using the same techniques as Jessica & Dave have used so successfully. These techniques are:
- Setting Goals
- Making a Plan
- Being Dedicated
- Journaling Daily
- Working as a Team
- Motivating Each Other
Let's hear it for Team Bledsoe!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
