I need suggestions for a boys' book club for ages 8-12. We are studying the Middle Ages this year. We have most of our books selected, but need input on the following topics: Norse Mythology William the Conqueror/The Battle of Hastings Middle Ages Samurai William Wallace We prefer juvenile historical fiction with a lot of battles and excitement! Do you have any book suggestions? Thanks in advance!

**I am just noting expenditures that fall outside of my normal/budgeted expenses like gas, food and household items.... 1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $10 lunch out, $10 face cream 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 1/8 $0 1/9 $1 coffee 1/10 $5 consignment shop, dd's room re-do 1/11 $8 lunch out with ds (rainy day envelope) 1/12 $30 undies for potty-trainer, birthday present for Grandma 1/13 $10 over budget on groceries 1/14 $15 out to lunch with all 3 dc 1/15 $0 1/16 $5 another room re-do item for dd, lunch out (again!) but this time I paid for it with cash from the sale of some old cookbooks! 1/17 $45 Target trip (arrgghhh Target!)....2 birthday gifts and some household odds and ends that we needed (usually the household stuff comes from my "household supplies" envelope which is currently empty) 1/18 $3 fast food, $15 medicine and a few grocery items...over budget 1/19 $0 1/20 $0 1/21 $15 out to eat with kids (it seems like this has become a habit on Mondays, after co-op) 1/22 $5 curtain for dd's room re-do 1/23 $0 1/24 $10 out to lunch, $6 Gingerbread house kits (huh???) on clearance...as if I need one more thing to store for months on end :glare:

I have lost track and stopped posting....grrr....I know I haven't gone crazy or anything, but I have made a few rash purchases. Something this thread has made me aware of is that I need to find an alternative to "eating out" as entertainment with my kids. And I also need to budget $ for gifts....we have spent about $75 just on birthday gifts this month--and I did not plan for that. I'm really impressed with everyone's resolve and discipline!! You all inspire me!!

**I am just noting expenditures that fall outside of my normal/budgeted expenses like gas, food and household items.... 1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $10 lunch out, $10 face cream 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 1/8 $0 1/9 $1 coffee 1/10 $5 consignment shop, dd's room re-do 1/11 $8 lunch out with ds (rainy day envelope) 1/12 $30 undies for potty-trainer, birthday present for Grandma 1/13 $10 over budget on groceries 1/14 $15 out to lunch with all 3 dc 1/15 $0 1/16 $5 another room re-do item for dd, lunch out (again!) but this time I paid for it with cash from the sale of some old cookbooks! 1/17 $45 Target trip (arrgghhh Target!)....2 birthday gifts and some household odds and ends that we needed (usually the household stuff comes from my "household supplies" envelope which is currently empty) 1/18 $3 fast food, $15 medicine and a few grocery items...over budget

Thank you Sooooooo much!!!!!

Thanks so much! Will you tag me when you post those recipes? :)

Have you guys ever heard that saying "It takes 21 days to break or make a habit"? I wonder if a lot of this is about habits? I have a bad habit of eating out. I just get so tired of having to come up with new ideas...lunch can get so boring! I need to be proactive about coming up with new lunch menus!!

**I am just noting expenditures that fall outside of my normal/budgeted expenses like gas, food and household items.... 1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $10 lunch out, $10 face cream 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 1/8 $0 1/9 $1 coffee 1/10 $5 consignment shop, dd's room re-do 1/11 $8 lunch out with ds (rainy day envelope) 1/12 $30 undies for potty-trainer, birthday present for Grandma 1/13 $10 over budget on groceries 1/14 $15 out to lunch with all 3 dc 1/15 $0 1/16 $5 another room re-do item for dd, lunch out (again!) but this time I paid for it with cash from the sale of some old cookbooks! 1/17 $45 Target trip (arrgghhh Target!)....2 birthday gifts and some household odds and ends that we needed (usually the household stuff comes from my "household supplies" envelope which is currently empty)

I have an almost-eight-year-old dd that needs some major spelling help. I've used ETC to no avail. I need something that's easy to implement. I am not interested in All About Spelling b/c of the cost. Please help me figure out how to help her. She's not a strong reader, either. I keep thinking it's going to "click", but I'm starting to panic.

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (in the budget), $10 lunch out by myself (not in the budget), $10 face cream (not in the budget) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 1/8 $0 1/9 $1 1/10 $5 consignment shop, dd's room re-do (not in budget) 1/11 $8 lunch out with ds (rainy day envelope) 1/12 $30 undies for potty-trainer, birthday present for Grandma (not in the budget) 1/13 $10 over budget on groceries 1/14 $15 out to lunch with all 3 dc (not in budget) **learning that going out to eat is my weakness!

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.) 1/9 $1 for coffee (but it doesn't "count" because it was change I found around the house!) 1/10 $5 at a consignment shop.....got new items for my dd's room re-do and used store credit (I sell stuff there, too), so I only needed $5 to make up the difference and and a MAJOR victory was driving past Chick Fil A at dinner time with little one saying "I want to go to ChickILa!!!!" Well, I wanted Chick Fil A for dinner, too....but I just kept driving and we ate at home! Yay!!! 1/11 $8 lunch out with 3 y.o.....I'm happy, though, because the $ came from my Rainy Day envelope:) $4 Pinewood Derby kit for Cub Scouts for 9 y.o. 1/12 $30 unplanned Walmart trip....ugh.....but I desperately needed more undies for my potty trainer and a birthday gift for my grandmother.... 1/13 $10 over budget on groceries, otherwise a good day for me!

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.) 1/9 $1 for coffee (but it doesn't "count" because it was change I found around the house!) 1/10 $5 at a consignment shop.....got new items for my dd's room re-do and used store credit (I sell stuff there, too), so I only needed $5 to make up the difference and and a MAJOR victory was driving past Chick Fil A at dinner time with little one saying "I want to go to ChickILa!!!!" Well, I wanted Chick Fil A for dinner, too....but I just kept driving and we ate at home! Yay!!! 1/11 $8 lunch out with 3 y.o.....I'm happy, though, because the $ came from my Rainy Day envelope:) $4 Pinewood Derby kit for Cub Scouts for 9 y.o. 1/12 $30 unplanned Walmart trip....ugh.....but I desperately needed more undies for my potty trainer and a birthday gift for my grandmother....

that's amazing! Way to go! Is there a website you recommend for your freezer meal recipes?

I think FB status updates from businesses and marketing emails are evil! I need to unlike a bunch of pages and unsubsribe to a lot of emails, too. I find myself clicking through to see the "great deals" all the time....and then I have to talk myself out of buying. If I just didn't know about the big sale or whatever, I would be blissfully unaware. Agghhh! Amazon and Shutterfly are my big temptations online.

My husband, a retail manager, would want to know right away. I, too, absolutely adore Publix. I miss it so much....we don't have one where we currently live. However, like you, I had an unsettling experience at one. There was a particular bagger that always gravitated toward me as I was checking out. It made me slightly uncomfortable, but I tried to brush it off. I ignored it until the day he walked me out to my car, loaded my groceries, asked for my "autograph" in his autograph book (huh?), and went in for a hug. I had to physically put the car door between myself and this person to keep him from touching me. It was ICKY. I called the manager right away and reported the incident. I continued to shop there, but had to avoid that bagger....not make eye contact, etc....it was really wierd.

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.) 1/9 $1 for coffee (but it doesn't "count" because it was change I found around the house!) 1/10 $5 at a consignment shop.....got new items for my dd's room re-do and used store credit (I sell stuff there, too), so I only needed $5 to make up the difference and and a MAJOR victory was driving past Chick Fil A at dinner time with little one saying "I want to go to ChickILa!!!!" Well, I wanted Chick Fil A for dinner, too....but I just kept driving and we ate at home! Yay!!! 1/11 $8 lunch out with 3 y.o.....I'm happy, though, because the $ came from my Rainy Day envelope:) $4 Pinewood Derby kit for Cub Scouts for 9 y.o.

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.) 1/9 $1 for coffee (but it doesn't "count" because it was change I found around the house!) 1/10 $5 at a consignment shop.....got new items for my dd's room re-do and used store credit (I sell stuff there, too), so I only needed $5 to make up the difference and and a MAJOR victory was driving past Chick Fil A at dinner time with little one saying "I want to go to ChickILa!!!!" Well, I wanted Chick Fil A for dinner, too....but I just kept driving and we ate at home! Yay!!!

Ended up scrounging up some change and getting coffee at McDonald's during my afternoon errands....it's the little things (again). Don't have a firm plan for this afternoon, but I know I need to go to Target (one of my biggest weaknesses!). I need to come up with a plan for how to get in and out quickly without finding something on sale that I must have. Of course, I don't have to get anything besides undies for my little one who's potty training.

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.) 1/9 $0 so far...but I have to go out this afternoon...I'm going to want to stop for coffee or something....somebody talk me down!

It IS hard! I know what you mean. But, it feels so good to have a goal and meet it. Just try to tackle today and reward yourself (with something that's free...ha ha) if you make it! Have you thought about selling anything around the house to make a little "fun" money? Then you could buy that bra and Bible cover. I've been selling some things on a local buy/sell facebook page...it's pretty fun to have a little bit of extra, unexpected money!

We need a new coffee maker. We've noticed the quality of our recent coffee makers stink! I need a good quality one that can handle a lot of use and operate well for several years. We would like it to be programmable and brew 10-12 cups. TIA!

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!) 1/8 $0 (Used a gift card at Starbucks....so, what happens when my gift card runs out??? :nopity: That will be a sad day.)

Just wondering if you are in a high COL area? Yikes....$70 for a haircut is such a bummer. We used to live in metro Atlanta and things like haircuts were much higher than where we live now. Also, I've been going to a hairstylist that recently graduated from "hair school" and she is cheaper than many other stylists in town, but does a fantastic job....I got lucky!

1/1 $0 1/2 $0 1/3 $0 1/4 $85 hair cut and color (already budgeted, but it seems kind of frivolous!), $10 Panera (lunch out by myself after hair appt, couldn't resist), $10 Walgreens (face cream), $0 Victoria's Secret!! Used an expired coupon for free panties (P.S. their coupons don't really expire! and a $10 voucher they sent me for my birthday) 1/5 $0 1/6 $14 over budget on groceries 1/7 $0 (the library is a wonderful source of free entertainment when you just need to get out of the house!)

It kind of gave me the feeling like I went shopping for something fun, without actually spending money. I think I got that out of my system for awhile! It's the little things (literally!). :thumbup1: