DO Something New: It's a New Decade and spring is just around the corner. My daughter informed me she has a "bucket list" filled with activities she plans on DOing throughout her lifetime. I'm not sure I want to see this bucket list (I'll worry too much LOL), however it is exciting to see her begin to cross off some of those items. What's on your list? When are you planning on DOing something new to you? We've got some ideas from our readers to get you started.... This month, choose just one simple thing and DO it!
Get Those Useless Cards Out of Your Wallet: "Cindy, are you kidding me?" No. Those credit cards keep us in debt. They are too easy. They are too tempting. One of the fastest ways to keep yourself from adding NEW debt to your current PILE of debt is to start stashing those pesky cards away. Choose one (perhaps one of those retail store cards) and pack it away. Put it on vacation. Get it out of your wallet. You can DO this. Remember, the credit card companies want you "interested" in their services as much as possible. Get rid of the cards you don't want anymore. Pay them off. Get them out of your life. Then begin to manage the ones you DO want.
Our Bathrooms: Home to toothpaste splatters, wet towels, old medicines, outdated eyeshadow, the hidden chocolate stash, and other mysteries of life (huge grin). Yes, we are going in. Our bathrooms are getting a shiny de-piling makeover. Nothing is safe. We are even going UNDER the sink. Are you ready to discover an amazing room to pamper yourself in? (If you are able to get your fellow to help you out, then click on the "Love Your Home" link on the top of the page for the guy-friendly bathroom cleaning tips.)
The Three Rules of NOT Buying: These are the rules that Cindy's Porch was founded on. Take these rules with you everytime you go shopping and you will discover more cash left in your wallet and less stash on it's way into your home!
Your Finances: We've got three simple steps to get you started on your journey to "Rediscover Your Money. Before you know it, your purse and wallet will be overhauled, you'll be tracking your spending, and you'll even have a spot in your home to "manage" your money (and it won't cost a dime). As your journey continues, you'll be taking a hard look at where your finances are today. How much do you OWN and how much do you OWE? Then we blow the dust off your savings account (YIKES). Remember what it was like when you opened your first savings account? We are going to recapture that magic. Credit card debt holding you back? Check out the "Three Magic Words" for avoiding new debt. Then read about how to tackle your current debt ONE CHUNK MORE at a time.
Loving Your Home: When you are unhappy with your home or stressed by a mess that never seems to go away, the temptation to BUY something to make things better or make things “look” better can become very strong. Some of us will even use a trip to the store or the mall as an excuse to escape this mess and this stress (been there, done that). Then the retailers, advertisers, and marketers begin to whisper their clever messages of BUY BUY BUY! Blech! Check out the "NOT ME FIVE," those 5 little things that can mess up a home in no time flat ("not me" is the person who messed it LOL). Dusting, vacuuming, and washing only takes minutes when the NOT ME FIVE are gone. We've also got tips for "deep cleaning" including the "guy's version" (put your hard hats on, we are going in). Enjoy!
Kitchen Treasure: Do you know what's lurking in your fridge, freezer and pantry? With our easy to use printout sheets and meal planning calendar you can SHOP at home FIRST for supper and save money at the same time! We've also added in steps for tackling the fridge (YIKES), and tips for solving the lunch time blues.