[If you were stranded on a desert island....]

1. The Bible

2. Little Women (I don't really know why, except that I love it!)

3. Henry VIII (a novel - huge, and a time filler!)

4. A Dummy's Guide to Survival (for obvious reasons!)

5. A really difficult puzzle book (to keep my mind busy and off the bugs, heat, sand, and bad food!

 

I will pick up and read just about anything when I am bored. I know there are probably better options, but that is what I came up with in my sad sick state this morning! :(

[Is it cheaper to build a loft bed, or just buy one?]

I think this is the site we used - http://bunkbedsunlimited.com/

 

Good Luck!

[Is it cheaper to build a loft bed, or just buy one?]

When our three kids had to share a room, I ordered the plans and hardware for a triple bunkbed from a site that I found in a Google search. Then, my dad bought the wood, and build the bed. It was about half the cost of buying the bed from the company, and is a great bed, that we plan on keeping through the grandkids!! :D

[Budgeting decision - would you help?]

Thanks everyone for the perspective!! For those who asked, it is a Cherokee, and no they are not any more roomy than a car, however I can haul/pack more in it. When we moved, I could lay the seats down and pack tons in the back. When we went on vacation last summer, we could take tons of stuff with us that we would not be able to take in a car trunk.

 

I really don't drive far day-to-day, and it does run well, so I think I will present your advice to Dh, and we will probably keep it!!

 

Thanks again!!:D

[I could really, really use some cheering up. (looong, sorry)]

((((Jill))) I'm so sorry = I know this can be heart-breaking. I'll be praying for you today!

[Budgeting decision - would you help?]

My Dh and I are avid Dave Ramsey fans. We are working down our debt - really just getting started with this, since he just started working full-time. We have only one car right now, because we gave our (very old) Honda to a couple with three children and no transportation. We will use our tax return to buy him something in the $2000 range.

 

The question is this - Do we sell our Jeep, making about $4000, and also buy me a car for about $2000? We could then use this extra money to pay down debt. We have three children, so packing for trips will be tight. But, on the other hand, we won't be taking any big vacations until we are debt free anyway. The only other "big" travel that we do is to Dh's mom's about 2 hours away, which is do-able with a car.

 

Buying the car will also help with gas prices being so high. But a part of me just wants to keep my big truck!!

 

What do you think? Is this something we should do? Would you do it if in our position? Dh is in ministry, and we really want ot save to buy the house we are currently living in.

 

Thanks all! :)

[{sigh} I'm a Dave Ramsey fan, and today's the day for a new budget.]

You can do it, Julie!! Tell me what time you are working on your's tonight, and I'll work on mine at the same time! You know things always go faster when you do them with a friend!! :D

[What time do YOU wake up in the morning?]

I wake up around 8, and get up by 8:30. I love to lay there and think through my day before getting up. Oh, yeah and stretching so that my back pops!! But, that said, my kids sleep until about 9, so that does give me time to myself.

[Need ideas for 5 dc in 3 bedroom home...]

I second the triple bunk-bed idea. We just moved from a two bedroom, and all three kids had to share a room. The triple was a great space saver. We also gave the kids the master, since they had more toys and things to spread, and were more likely to be in their room during the day. (I hardly ever see my room again once I am up for the day!) :)

[Do you have a problem with me posting my art?]

I think you have a great gift, and am glad that you share it with us!!

 

Keep it up!!

[What magazines do you subscribe to or read regularly?]

I get Country Living, Real Simple, and Reader's Digest. RD is a gift, the other two I just love!

[I have to be put under to have my wisdom teeth removed!]

I would rather be put to sleep at the dentist, no matter what they are doing - even a general cleaning!! I had my wisdom teeth out about 20 years ago, with no lasting after effects, unless you count the insatiable need that I seem to have for eating undercooked brownies!! Somebody get them out of my house now!! :eek:

[Politics aside, please, what are YOU thinking of spending your tax rebate check on?]

Mine will go to pay down/off our debt. But every extra dollar right now is going for paying off debt, and then the house! ;)

[Can we talk frankly about a difficult topic?]

so I always felt as if something could collapse at any time. We moved 13 times, all within the same town when I was a child, because of financial issues. My parents are now at retirement age, and have no credit, cannot afford their house and cannot afford to fix it up to sell it, and cannot fully retire. Their heat went out recently, and they cannot qualify for the loan through the gas company, that they were told that everyone qualifies for, so they have no heat.

 

That is not the legacy I want to leave my children. I am currently working through Dave Ramsey's program, and plan to be debt-free in 2017, including the house. Along with doing this, I am trying to figure out how to provide for my parents. We may not have much right now - in fact we are selling our 1997 Jeep in order to buy a cheaper car to put that money on debt - but one day we will "live like no one else". :D

 

As hard as it is, I try to remind myself what I do have that my parents don't, and never did. A close relationship with all of my children, a relaxed relationship with my spouse (because we don't have to worry about money - Not because we have a lot, but because we know where every dollar is going!), tons of friends, a church family that loves us dearly, and stability.

 

That all said, money and budgeting are the topics that I spend the majority of my time thinking about, and I wish that were not the case. But that is my nature, and it drives me to excel.

[2008 Calendar Question]

Is this year a leap year? I am trying to work on some planning, and just cannot remember. :o What is up with that? i seem to remember that it falls on election years, right? TIA

[Beardie slideshow on my site - can you tell we are hs'ers?]

Ok, this is one pet that I may be willing to add on the menagarie (sp?) we already have. Does anyone have a website that would give me good information on what supplies are needed?

[Poll: Who would you prefer to see running in the general election?]

I also had a hard time voting in this one. I am a pretty conservative gal, and none of these guys are quite there for me. I am a Huckabee fan.

[Time for a weather thread. We're at -42 (F) (windchill)]

I think it is supposed to be about 55-60 degrees here today. (All you NC girls correct me if I am wrong!)

 

I tend to not watch the weather, and then dress wrong for it. Doesn't bother me so much, but when kiddos were little I would get strange stares from people when my kids had on shorts in 40 degree weather! It changes in NC at the drop of a hat!

[Anyone homeschooling 4 days a week with ...]

I am thinking of starting this when my Dh graduates, because he will have Friday as his day off. (He is in ministry, and works on Sunday) I would love to have more field trip ideas, though. I am afraid it would just become another Saturday if I don't have a plan!

[Mansfield Park...]

I recorded it and will be watching tonight, I hope. This is the only one of Austen's book that I haven't read before watching the movie. Do you think I should put off watching, and read first? Would that make the story line more "followable"? Is "followable" a word? :o

 

Thanks!

[My 12 1/2 year old boy has gone sappy on me]

HUH! I did not know that I had this to look forward to.

 

Lord, give me strength! :rolleyes:

[LizzyBee and others - about that tax refund ("rebate")]

Thanks Elizabeth! I understand now, and like you, am not holding my breath (yet!)

 

:D

[LizzyBee and others - about that tax refund ("rebate")]

So, LizzieBee, (and I am glad to see you, by the way!), do you think this will reduce our 2008 return, or cause us to owe in 2008?

 

I am just hearing about this, and am a little confused myself. I remember getting these checks a few years ago, and do not remember them affecting the next year's tax returns. But I would like clarification, because our taxes will be different this year due to Dh working full-time for the first time in 4 years!! I have adjusted our withholdings so that we don't owe, and will not get a big refund, but I do not want this "rebate" to affect that.

 

Confused yet? 'Cause I certainly am!! :rolleyes:

 

Thanks!

[Allowance - if you give one, how much?]

Adding to previous post...our allowances are not based on chores. I want my children to be able to handle money as adults, so I consider allowances a part of our school work. They balance checkbooks, and will learn to budget when the time comes.

[Allowance - if you give one, how much?]

Our kiddos get an allowance equal to their age twice a month, on Dh's paydays.

 

So, for example, our oldest gets $12 on the first and fifteenth of the month.

 

I have changed things this year. Instead of giving them their money outright, I have them fill out their deposit slips the night before payday, and all money (except for tithe) goes right into their accounts. All our kids are saving for something, but when they have money in hand it goes right out the window!! (Much like their mom!!)

 

HTH!