Reflecting on 2017

Honestly, I can't believe that there are less than 2 hours left of 2017.  Probably like most, there have been plenty of ups and downs this past year, but I am not going to reflect on coulda, woulda, shoulda.  I am going to end this year by reflecting on how I've grown in a few aspects of my life.

Courage: Merriam-Webster defines courage as "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty."  This year I've had the courage to not give up when I very easily could have, the courage to take on a new job that was completely out of my comfort zone and the courage to open myself up on this blog to those who know me and those who don't.  

Confidence:  I came to the realisation early in the year that people in my life were dramatically influencing my self-belief, not in a good way either.  Not that it's been easy, I've begun to have a "I'm-ok-with-that-person-not-liking-me" attitude.... and, boy, is that freeing!  WHY in the world have I wasted so many years trying to impress people that I really don't like either.  I will only fight so long to keep a friendship alive; it either is or isn't.

I love writing this blog; I love sharing my thoughts about my money-saving mindset in the hopes that it helps someone.  It's my creative outlet.  Some people write music or paint amazing paintings or sew quilts.  Not me; this is how I'm creative AND completely practical.  I've noticed that whenever I go to discuss this blog with anyone, there's suddenly dead silence.  Ok... I don't exactly know what to think about it, but honestly, I don't care... much.  I do care what my readers think about this blog, but honestly, if someone doesn't like it or I write something that offends them (though I seriously don't intend to do that) and they decide to stop reading it, fine by me.... all the best to them.

"Lauren, that's just weird."  Yep, that's weird, I'm weird... I don't do what's "normal".  My confidence has led me to go against the grain - it's not normal to save, it's not normal to budget, it's not normal to voice "one's" opinion about life and living.  What's "normal" is to have debt, buy things to impress others and to live in the moment. My life may be seen as old-fashioned and hum-drum... ok, sure, if that's the way the perceiver wants to perceive my life.  I hope to prove the contrary.

"No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else." - watch the trailer for The Greatest Showman here to see what I mean.

Contentment: For the past 2-3 years, the Lord has been working in my heart to help me to stop fighting the desire for different circumstances, better this and more of that.  He has been teaching me to be thankful for what He has given me and to appreciate the "simple" things in life.  A big... no, HUGE... part of my money-saving mindset depends on this idea of contentment...of having enough, of being enough, of doing enough. 

In 2018, I do hope and pray that I will continue to grow in courage, in confidence and in contentment while also learning how to simplify and streamline my life to allow for what's truly important to me. 

In 2018, this blog will change - I'm not exactly sure how, but I do know for sure that it will take a more biblical approach.  For a few months now, I've felt the Lord pulling me to make this blog more of a ministry, an outreach. If this offends the reader, no apologies, I wish them the best on the path they choose if they no longer want to read this blog.  No, I definitely don't know everything about life, the Bible or finances, but I know enough. I know that if I don't take this step of faith I will not be following the Lord's prompting.  I want to walk along side you.  I hope you continue on this adventure with me.

Boxing Day Thoughts: Start Moving in the Direction of Your Goals

Hi Friends.  This cute picture of our daughters really warms my heart.  Brenna, the younger one, has just opened her gift from her older sister, Ellen, and is hugging her present.  Just thought I'd share it.

How are you feeling this Boxing Day?  I'm feeling pretty good, thanks, except I keep thinking about how much weight I've put on the past week or so.  Not good.  I decided that there was no point in waiting until New Years Day to "start" my diet... again.  For those of you who don't know me, I have been (struggling to) losing weight pretty much my whole life and have lost a fair amount in the past couple of years, but have been battling the same 10 or so pounds the past year in a half.  However, I weigh more this morning than I have in a really long time.  I could tell I was putting on weight even without stepping on the scale, because I felt sluggish and my clothes were getting snugger each day.  The problem is, food is yummy and I tend to eat too much.  I do know, however, when I create a plan and stick to it... day after day... I lose weight.

So, this morning, my friend and I went to the gym together.  Same time as usual...6am.  We did a pretty challenging HIIT workout then 500ft on the Jacob's ladder.  Quite tough but I really thrive on challenges, especially when I believe or even know I can do it.  I came home and had one of my favourite breakfasts... a plate of sauteed red cabbage with two scrambled eggs, 1 slice of crumbled bacon, some avocado drizzled with some Sriracha sauce.  By the way, if you haven't tried Sriracha sauce, yet and you like to add a bit of kick to your dishes, just go out and buy yourself some Sriracha sauce... it's sooooo goood.  So, that was my breakfast this morning and I already feel better for making a couple of healthy steps in the right direction.

"Lauren, how exactly does this have anything to do with saving money and finances?"  Dieting and exercise have so much in common with finances, and I'd like to share my thoughts on this to inspire you to have a serious think this week, before New Years Day next Monday (when you might be gung ho to start something new), about where you'd like to go this year in terms of your finances.

#1: What is your goal?  Consider what you'd like to achieve this year.  Maybe it's paying cash for your next holiday/ birthday party/ life event, as opposed to putting it on a credit card to pay for after you return from your holiday or have that birthday party or life event.  Maybe it's to finally get a written plan in place so you know where every penny you spend is going before you spend a thing.  Maybe it's to cut back in little ways so that you can pay off some debt.  Maybe it's to start saving for an emergency fund or boost the one you already have, or to contribute more towards retirement, or pay more towards your mortgage. Perhaps you'd like to reach the end of the month or your next paycheck with money still left in your bank account.

#2: Does this goal need to be broken down? Perhaps your goal seems too insurmountable, too impossible to achieve.  Let me just tell you, that it's likely not impossible - is it possible to break down your goal?  For instance, if your goal is to save for your next holiday and pay for it in advance, write down how much you'll need for travel and accommodation.  Add to that entertainment, food and other costs.  There you go, you have a goal and you've taken the first step of considering the costs.  Now, divide that number by the number of paychecks or months until the holiday.  That is how much you need to save each paycheck or month prior to the holiday.  This seems kind of intuitive, but believe me, the next step may be the hardest.  Save that money each month or paycheck for that holiday.  This is the application step, the one that you need to work on each and every day to reach your goal.

This application part is the part of the diet of remembering to set my alarm the night before, actually getting out of bed at 5:40am the mornings I workout, getting dressed, going to the gym, having a plan in place at the gym, completing the workout, eating meals that are not only nutritious but also delicious, planning meals in advance, telling myself "no, not right now" OFTEN, having a plan for the tough times and identifying the tough times (like 16:00 after the school run when I'm hungry and tired) all while going through your normal, busy day.  It's not easy!  No one said that taking control of your finances is easy either, but by breaking your goals down into mini goals and steps makes accomplishing these goals completely doable. 

#3: Stop. Once you have a really good think about what you'd like to accomplish, stop a minute and consider where you are. What are you thinking about and feeling today?  Are you really ready to make a change and start working towards your goals?  Are there any emotional ties you may have to work through before or while working towards your goals?  Maybe there are some challenges you'll have to overcome or work towards.

#4: Ask for help.  You may be ready to start moving in the direction of your goals but aren't sure you know how or don't want to do it alone.  Is there someone you can share your goals with?  I am so thankful to be "on the same page" with my husband in regards to our financial goals.  Please don't hesitate to share your goals with me.   I promise it won't go beyond my ears or eyes.  I'd love to walk along with you to help you accomplish your goals.  Please feel free to message me on the Finding the Pennies Facebook page.  Seriously, I would be absolutely honoured and blessed to help you.

#5: Start ASAP. As soon as you're ready, START.  You don't even have to know what you're going to do exactly.  Just start paying attention to your thoughts and even writing down what you tell yourself about yourself and your goals.  But don't wait until a certain time or date.  Begin NOW, right now.

My goal weight seems elusive, but I know that with every small, "right" decision, I will eventually reach my goal.  This is not a sprint, nor something that I will achieve overnight.  Every small change, every small achievement all counts!  It's all about creating the mindset of working towards my goal every... single... day.  That's where I want to walk along side you. I want to help you to create small changes... the pennies... in your life to help you to reach the financial goals you have set out to achieve.

I just wanted to share a picture of these cute Santa pancakes that I made for the girls yesterday morning. Simple and cute, right?!

How I "Spent" My Day: Christmas Eve Eve

To be honest, Christmas Eve Eve wasn't super "wow", nor super "last-minute-Christmas shopping hectic"... it was quite like a normal "home day". For some reason, if we're home on Saturdays, I tend to spend most of it cooking and baking.  Not that I don't enjoy doing both, but I do wish I could get to something else in the house. I really must strive to do that. 

My day started at the gym with my friend - an arm and shoulder workout. A few hours later, at about 9:30, I left my local Morrisons shop this morning with a smile on my face.  After having been there since 7:50, having spent the majority of it waiting for my Christmas order, I could have very, very easily left feeling very upset.  Instead, I had received FANTASTIC customer service just minutes before.

For a second year, I made a Christmas order from Morrison's - a ham, a pork pie for Jeff, a Christmas tree cake and a robin cake - yep, two cakes.   I selected the 8:30 pickup time, but arrived at Morrison's just before 8:00am to get a few more things to "survive" through Boxing Day.  At about 8:40, while I was bagging my groceries at the checkouts, I looked to my left and noticed a queue of customers.  It was customers waiting for their Christmas orders.  "Oh, great, it's happened again", I thought.  Just like last year, the delivery was late, so staff were scrambling to get the orders together.

I went over to Customer Services to enquire about my order. The young man behind the counter told me the lorry was late, so the orders weren't ready, but I was welcome to have a complimentary tea or coffee in the cafe.  I was actually impressed that the staff already had a plan to appease the customers while they waited for their orders.  I got my cappuccino and waited about 5 minutes in the cafe, then the same young man came over to tell me that my order was ready.  I joined the queue and waited... and waited... and waited.

As you can imagine, I became more agitated as I waited and was asked my surname numerous times.  The queue thinned out and I was the last one standing there.  I received numerous apologies but still no order.  Finally the customer services manager came over to find out what I was doing still standing there. I explained that I understand that the lorry was late to arrive, but the disorganization and the lack of staff to help sort it out was simply not good enough.  Somehow I remained calm while the refrigerated and frozen items I bought slowly came to room temperature in my shopping bags.

The customer services manager surprised me by offering me a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Cava "to put a smile on my face".  I thanked her, but said that I'd rather have a small discount off the remainder of my order.  When I placed the order, I paid a £20 deposit.  She walked away and came back moments later with a lovely bouquet.  When another member of staff brought my order up in a large box, she explained that the pork pie I had ordered hadn't come in, so they replaced it with another one.  "I sure hope they don't charge me for that pork pie after waiting all that time", I thought.  A £10 pork pie for free would be nice!

The customer services manager then rang through most of the items, except the pork pie and the partially-thawed bag of peas I grabbed while I was waiting. £35-something rang up on the till, but she said that she didn't want me to pay for it.  Twenty pounds would have come off that for the deposit, but she gave me at least £15 worth of food for free plus the lovely bouquet!

She told me she wanted me to walk out of there with a smile on my face.  I thanked her and walked out slightly embarrassed for being doted upon.

Once I got home - and calmed down a hysterical 3-year-old - I made a small batch of my slow cooker bolognese.  This is the link to the recipe: http://littlespicejar.com/slow-cooker-bolognese-sauce/, but I don't follow it to a "t".  I also add probably 1/2 a cup of lentils to the bolognese not only to add a bit of fibre to the sauce but to "bulk out" the ground beef/mince.  Sometimes I add the cream, sometimes I don't.

The kids and I made cut-out Christmas cookies today after lunch, which I do enjoy, but admittedly, it is slightly frustrating.  The main thing is that the girls enjoy it and we have delicious cookies ready for Santa's arrival.

Our friends visited this afternoon for a short while, which is always nice, but always too short.  We've always been touched by their thoughtfulness and generosity.

Fast forward to now, and this is my view. A simple, cosy evening. Jeff and I are watching "It's a Wonderful Life", the Yankee candle my friend surprised me with lit in the background. I'm sitting in our comfy recliner typing this post and while sipping a small glass of Chilean Merlot that was leftover from my work's Christmas party.

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings", George Bailey's little daughter says in his arms in the last scene of the film. George's house is filled by the people whose life he's impacted and for whom he is so grateful.  I am grateful for your support of my blog and want to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas.

"Beans and Rice, Rice and Beans"

While looking for another recipe the other evening, I was reminded of a recipe for black bean soup that I haven't made in a while... probably a couple of years... and boy, did it sound good!  Not only simple to make, delicious and nutritious, but it's inexpensive, too!  I was a little nervous about what my daughters would think of it, but recently, I never know what they will like and not like, so I didn't feel I had much to lose. 

I better quickly explain the title of this post.  Dave Ramsey, the American financial "advisor" radio host who I'm an avid listener of and whose advice I mostly follow, says all the time when he advises people how to get out of debt, "Beans and Rice, Rice and Beans", meaning to cut waaayy back on expenses in your life.  We quite literally followed his advice!

I keep my eyes peeled for black beans when I'm out and about, but the only place I can find them are at Sainsbury's for 65p a carton (below).  Not terribly expensive, but I bought the tin of black eye beans for 30p, so less than half the price.  I hoping to find dried black beans, but even spending £1.30 for two cartons of beans isn't too bad. 


This is the original recipe from Comfy in the Kitchen; however, quantities aren't listed, so I'll give you an idea of what I used - it's a pretty straightforward soup recipe.

2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. chili powder (or more, if you like it a little spicier)
1 tsp. cumin (or slightly more, if you prefer)
2-3 cartons of Black Beans (or two, plus one can of black eye beans, like I did)
2 stock cubes with 2-3 C. of water or chicken stock (depending on the consistency you'd like to achieve)

Heat the oil in a medium/large saucepan/pot, then add the onion.  After the onion cooks a few minutes, add the garlic and stir being careful not to allow the garlic to burn.  Add the chili powder and cumin, stir and cook for about an minute.  Add the beans, crumble the stock cubes in and add the water.  I used about of cup of homemade chicken stock along with the stock cubes and water.  I let this boil about 10 minutes, then turned off the heat used a immersion blender (handheld stick blender) to puree the soup a bit. I wanted my bean soup to be a bit chunky, so I only blitzed it a little bit. I ended up boiling it another 5 minutes to allow more water to evaporate so it was a bit thicker.  That's it.

I boiled plain 'ol rice while I was making the soup and served this with the bean soup, topped by a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

To my amazement and delight my girls gave this dish two thumbs up!  Not only did this £2 meal - for the whole pot - feed us all this evening, there are at least 3 meals leftover in the fridge.  I hope you'll try this soon.  Please let me know if you find black beans cheaper anywhere else and if you try the soup in your home! 

Welcome and "Forget the Budget!"

It's almost 11:00pm, so this won't be long, but I can't go to bed without a quick hello and welcome to the new readers of this blog and a kind of funny story that happened just before 7:00am this morning that had me saying, "Forget the budget!"

Welcome to the new readers to my blog! Thank you for continuing to follow my blog if you've been a reader for a while and thank you for joining me if you've just started following. By sharing with you my money-saving mindset, I hope to inspire you to make small changes, aka "the pennies", in your life that will help you to create your own money-saving mindset.  I am not a teacher, nor am I qualified to give any financial advice, but I do go against the cultural norms of spend now, think later.  My husband and I make short-term sacrifices for long-term gain.  We tell our money where to go before we spend it, aka "budgeting".  I may do weird or unusual things to save a pound, but "weirdo" is a term of endearment to me 😉

So, on to my story.  You know, as much as I get a kick out of scoring a free cup of coffee, finding a penny on the ground or deciding not to buy something because it'd be a "want" over a "need", believe it or not, there are times that the little green envy monster creeps in... and that happened this morning.  See the lovely snow in the picture above that I took yesterday morning?  The snow has ground most of the UK to a halt... most, I said... that is, all except my lovely neighbours' gorgeous pickup truck.  Their pickup truck simply laughs at the snow as it plows its way through it.  I get a taste of this gorgeous pickup when my neighbour friend and I drive in it to the gym on occasion.  As we were plowing through the gym in the pickup this morning, I felt the gentle warming of the seat on my bottom.  Oh, life's little luxuries!  On the way home, again plowing our way through the snow and feeling the warmth on my bottom, I told my friend that I had told my husband that we NEED one of these gorgeous pickup trucks.  "Forget the budget!", I howled! "Forget the budget!"  We laughed as she knows how seriously I take my budget and saving.  I reeled it in by stating how thankful I was for my reliable 11-year-old Vauxhall Vectra *sigh*.... but is it too much for a girl to ask for a warm bottom?!?!  😂

There you go. There are times when I feel like saying "forget the budget!", but then again, I quickly remember how it important it is to be thankful for what I do have and to allocate my money at the beginning of the month to reach our (my husband and mine) financial goals. Night, night everyone.

Simple Gifts

Do you know the song "Simple Gifts"?  If not, listen to it here. I sang it at some point in elementary school and it has stuck with me.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,

To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.^[4]

I have been blown away by simple gifts this week.  They have come in all forms: time spent with friends, cups of coffee, hospitality, offers to help babysit the girls, a Yankee candle(!!!!) and thoughtfulness.  Anyone who knows me well know that I am not a tangible gift kind of person.  In fact, my top love language is quality time - I discussed this in a blog I wrote in February.  Time spent with someone is the best gift... ever.  Do you know what I also love about this?!  It's quite literally PRICELESS.

This week was slightly different than other weeks; I seemed to be inundated with gifts!  It began on Sunday afternoon when I met with a friend who I hadn't seen in at least a year at Costa.  We caught up over a cup of coffee she paid for with a gift card she had been given.  A gift from a gift!  I'm really looking forward to the next time we catch up, and if it's at Costa, I'll treat her to a cuppa with a gift card (that I bought at a discount, of course!).  I offered to give her the gift of my time and hopefully talent to help her with something, but I won't say specifically what (if that's ok).

Early Tuesday morning I received a text from a friend. She had "a little something" for me. A little while later, she dropped a gold-tissue-paper-wrapped gift off.  She said that she had read in my post from last week (I think) that I love Yankee candles... and she had three and thought she didn't need all three and thought that I would!  Yes, inside was a Christmas Yankee candle!  How incredibly thoughtful!

Tuesday was also my husband's birthday.  He gives me the gift of laughter every single day.  He gives our family his constant love and devotion.  Ok, I'm getting a bit sappy... but I love him.  Jeff likes to keep things even simpler than me... which I don't always embrace!... but I know he appreciates having a yummy dinner and a couple of presents, so that's what we gave him. I must admit though that I went all out and cooked him steak instead of the usual "celebratory" meatloaf for dinner... I know, fancy... right?!  The girls and I baked him a ginger birthday cake that they loved decorating.

I started a second batch of vanilla extract on Wednesday.  My first batch turned out really well and there's something very, very lovely about opening a bottle of very vanilla-ey Vodka (yes, I take a whiff every single time) knowing that the matured extract was made by me.  Aaahh!  I've given a couple of small bottles away this year, which has been fun and will likely do the same again.  What was even more fun was telling my friend on Sunday that I had bought the vanilla pods that we were going to share - I bought 10, so 5 each - and that she didn't owe me anything because a) she had given me some lovely nutmeg, cocoa powder and homemade raspberry jam in October and it was my turn to reciprocate, and b) I actually used credit from our PayPal account that I had earned from purchasing something through a cashback website earlier in the year, so I didn't really pay for it.  A gift that keeps on giving!

I've also received offers from three friends to help with the girls due to having to work a few days while the girls are off school.  It's seriously so amazing to receive this gift of help and time so I don't have to worry about what to do with the girls those few days.  Friends' hospitality is another fabulous gift, especially after a long day at work when she serves you a comforting plate of absolutely delicious plate of potato pancakes and cream sauce.  A little TLC goes a long way!  Cups of coffee or tea are also very appreciated and Brits do this soooo well.

Yesterday, I gave myself a gift... the gift of quiet time in the car, listening to Frank Sinatra singing Christmas music while sipping a cappuccino from Costa that I got for free through the Wuntu app while my daughter slept in her car seat.  It was soooooo peaceful. I could have done something else in that time, but I didn't. Except for a few scrolls through the Facebook app, I just sat there in enjoying the peace and quiet... until it got too cold and I had to wake Brenna up to go inside the house.

This morning we were blessed by fresh snowfall. Now, I'm really not a big fan of snow, but we haven't experienced a real snowfall in years... maybe since we lived in Germany, but seeing the Winter Wonderland around us was simply beautiful.  My friend and I squealed with excitement as we ran out of the gym this morning... ok, it was mostly my friend 😉 The girls got the chance to build Frosty in the garden this afternoon and, while Ellen got to attend a Christmas tea party with her friends, Brenna and I took a walk together in the crunchy snow in the dark.

Jeff gave up a couple hours of his time and LOADS of energy to clear a large section of our street to help us and our neighbours drive up the street should it turn to ice overnight and/or snow more over the weekend.

During this time of giving, consider that gifts don't have to be expensive, just thoughtful.  Gifts come in all shapes and sizes.  Since giving reflects the condition of your heart, I want to encourage you to take the time to recognize the gifts you are given and also the gifts you could give to someone.

WWLD? Budgeting for Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Bolton household  Yours, too? Our Christmas tree is glowing in the lounge and most of the decorations are up, but I just need to put a few finishing touches here and there.  The girls even got to proudly don their new apparel at school on Friday.  Hiding away in various closets and boxes around the house are presents patiently waiting their unveiling Christmas morning.

"Lauren", you may be wondering, "how do you find pennies at Christmas? Do you really follow a budget at Christmas?  But it's Christmas! It's the time of year for giving and abundance!"  Well, yes it is a time for being generous and perhaps abundance, but I definitely believe this can be attained by following a budget and making the most of your precious pennies.

"But how Lauren, HOW?" *she imagines this being questioned in a dramatic tone* I'll tell you how.

1. Set realistic expectations: There are so many pressures to have a "perfect" Christmas, but let's face it, your house is mostly like not on the cover of House Beautiful, nor are your children the models for a beautiful children's clothing brand or all of your gifts going to be purchased from Harrods. *sigh* Be honest with yourself and ask what the most important thing about Christmas Day is: is it the presentation of gifts under the Christmas tree?  Giving that perfect gift to a loved-one? Perhaps it's the all-day-long buffet of beautifully tasting food and drink. Maybe it's that atmosphere of a decorated house, lovely scents of cinnamon, cloves and orange, Christmassy music and fantastic company.  Maybe you want to choose one or two things that really matter and set your attention on those things and not the others.  Believe me, I want to make sure my family has a wonderful Christmas, but I also want to do this in line with my Christmas budget.

2. Set a Christmas budget: Perhaps I'm a little too late in posting this tip as you may have already started or even completed your Christmas present buying, but this is critical.  If you spend your money willy nilly to buy presents, Christmas cards, party food, celebratory meals out and whatever else, how much does this add up to?  More importantly, are you able to pay for this in cash or pay it off immediately with your next credit card bill... or are you paying it off for months afterward? I hope the former.  None of these things are wrong or too lavish, but by planning for Christmas before you spend anything is so important to staying on track.  I do this by having a Christmas tracker as part of my budget and planning for the usual expenditures: gifts for my children, gifts for my husband and extended family, and Christmas cards and postage (which adds up quickly for us, since we order 125 Christmas cards!).  I do not include food in my budget because I'll just fit this in with our normal food budget, and I plan to use some Nectar points at Sainsbury's to pay for extra treats.  I also don't have any special meals out in our budget, simply because we don't have any special plans.  But if we did, I would include this in our Christmas budget.  I don't plan on buying any new Christmas decorations or - my downfall - Yankee candles.  I have some from last year which hopefully see me through the season.

Our Christmas budget was actually set before 2017 even began.  When setting up our 2017 budget 31st December, I divided this number by 12 (months) and we save that amount each month for Christmas.  Yep, we save all year for Christmas.  No special savings plans that you see advertised on tv, just money set aside in our checking account.  Since I keep my budget on a spreadsheet, it's easy for me to keep track of expenditures and how much I have left to spend on Christmas.

3. Stick to your Christmas budget: Believe me, I am tempted to buy each and every time I set foot in a shop... hey, those marketing professionals know what they're doing!  If you find it difficult to walk out of a shop without buying something, limit how often you step inside one.  The more often you make trips to the shops, the more likely you're to spend extra.  Buy more online!  The advantage of doing this is, not only am I not tempted by things that I didn't intend to buy in the first place, but I usually find discount codes for anything from free shipping to 25% off the purchase.

Another trick I've been using is using discounted gift cards I've bought online to make in-store purchases.  What?! You've never heard of buying discounted gift cards?  There are a few websites you can do this through, but I've been using Zeek for the past year and have saved quite a bit!  I wrote a post on this in January but in short, with Zeek you can get gift cards for the normal places you shop at a discount, plus if you follow the link above, you'll get £3 off your first purchase.  Once you set up an account and share Zeek with others, you get a credit to spend on your next purchase as well.

I've already mentioned using my Nectar points from shopping trips to Sainsbury's - although these are becoming fewer and far between as I'm loving Aldi and a local meat delivery service (#ukfreshmeats) which offers great value for money.  In November, I took advantage of the Nectar double up promotion where by points were exchanged for vouchers worth double the usual amount. I spent these vouchers on a couple of DVDs for the girls' stockings, a silly gift for my husband and a My Little Pony costume for Brenna.  These things I don't count against my budget as the points were pretty much free to begin with - yes, I had to spend money to get these points - but I didn't need to spend anything to buy these things.

4. Stick to your list:  One thing I did slightly differently this year is I've intentionally asked my girls to look through the Smyths toy store catalog in October when it was slipped through our front door's mail slot and circle the toys they wanted.  We did this together so that I could get an idea of what they were asking for, how many things they were asking for and how much each toy costs.  Then a few weeks ago, I sat with my girls again and we made a list of the things they really wanted, which was surprisingly fewer things than they wanted the first time thumbing through the catalog.  Then I asked them if they could only have 5 gifts, what were the top, top things they absolutely wanted.  And they told me.  Unfortunately, they desperately want a slushy maker; but so far there's not one hiding away in our house. Oh, and they want a disco light so they can have a "dark party".  *sigh*

Although most, if not all, of the presents for our girls have already been purchased, the gifts for my in-laws (parents, brother and sister) haven't yet been purchased. However, I've already accounted for these costs on my budget so I don't go over.

5. Remember the true reason for the season: As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I keep the whole Christmas season in perspective.  He is the reason Christmas is celebrated.  Jesus - the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace - was born among animals in Bethlehem - a lowly birth for a king!  Yes, there are many, many things at Christmas that are fictional and come from pagan beginnings, but remembering that my Lord was incarnated as Jesus Christ, a perfect human, to a sinful world to later die to save His people from eternal punishment makes everything else dull in comparison to this amazing fact. No light is brighter and no gift is more precious than my salvation through Jesus Christ.

I wish you an amazing Christmas season full of joy and blessings.