January Girls Night Out!

We went to Paradise Bakery (I had free meals and we all are trying to save our money). We followed up with a movie. The movie was rate PG but I still had to cover Ady's eyes on one part.

Storm Trooper

What is this? Gavin wants a storm trooper for his birthday cake. I thought I better practice. Does it look like a storm trooper?

Trip to Vernal

Gavin, Bradin and Ady came with us to go to Vernal. They played with their DS almost all they way . They love to go to Vernal and play with Kelli and Korbin and its always good to see Grandma and Grandpa Massey.

Family Home Evening

We had family home evening the first Monday of the year with the Jensens. Sam illustrated an awsome trick on how you can carry 12 nails on the head of one nail. It was to illustrate how Jesus could carry our sins. Great Leason! This is the boys afterwards just being boys!

The new year started out with a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa

We started out with a sleep over for the new year. We went out in our PJ's and bought a chocolate pie at Village Inn. The next morning we got up and played the Wii and soon it was time to go.

The Year to Save

I know that there are a lot of concerned people about the economy. I feel as long as we are prepared there is not too much to worry about. I in the past have been a huge consumer. I have always saved but this year I found out I could have saved so much more. I have had the same weekly budget for 15 years and almost always spent it all or more. As I was setting a budget for the year I was thinking maybe I need to increase the allowance for my weekly spending.

I was poundering this I thought about my daughters and what good little budgeters (I think I made that word up) they are. I also was thinking the example I am setting for my grandchildren. I decided not to increase my budget instead to curtail my spending. I have had my daughters teach me about their coupon shopping and I have tried it for about three months now. I notice a difference right away typically I was spending $150-200 a week in grocery's. and instantly I was saving 20-30%. This month is when I noticed the huge difference because the concept is about filling your pantry and only buying what your pantry needs and only buying what is on the best sale. Now I am only spending $50-$100 a week. I found with this savings plus watching for sales on other items I am saving $200-$150 a week from my previous weekly budget (and I thought I needed to increase it). I added the link to my blog on the right hand side "Smart Shoppers" if any one is interested.

I also have a blog for consumers looking for a mortgage called Mortgage Loans . (I know that is a very original name) I work in the mortgage wholesale world so I have nothing to gain by this blog it is only trying to help people from making mortgage mistakes. There are Hugh opportunity to save on your mortgage. I also have other blogs for Mortgages but they are more for the professional in the Mortgage business but you are always welcome to check them out.

Kasey started a new job!

Kasey just put in a long week. He started a new job I think he put in something like 70 hours. The kids are not used to that they missed him. But they enjoyed a nigh of coloring with dad!