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One Good Choice After Another 

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One Good Choice After Another

Are you enjoying the life and blessings of God in your everyday life? Or have you made a series of choices resulting in disappointment, pain, or feeling that everything you do requires great effort and produces little reward? Don’t spend your time and energy mourning all the bad decisions you have made; just start making good ones. There is hope for you!
The way to overcome the results of a series of bad choices is through a series of right choices. The only way to walk out of trouble is to do the opposite of whatever you did to get into trouble—one choice at a time. Maybe the circumstances of your life right now are the direct result of a series of bad choices you have made. You may be in debt because you have made a lot of bad choices with money. You may be lonely because of a series of bad choices in relationships or in the way you treat people. You may be sick because of a series of unhealthy choices: eating junk food, not getting enough rest, or abusing your body through working too much and not having enough balance in your life.

You cannot make a series of bad choices that result in significant problems and then make one good choice and expect all the results of all those bad choices to go away. You did not get into deep trouble through one bad choice; you got into trouble through a series of bad choices. If you really want your life to change for the better, you will need to make one good choice after another, over a period of time, just as consistently as you made the negative choices that produced negative results.

No matter what kind of trouble or difficulty you find yourself in, you can still have a blessed life. You cannot do anything about what is behind you, but you can do a great deal about what lies ahead of you. God is a redeemer, and He will always give you another chance.

Trust in Him

If you have a situation that is too big for you to solve, then you are material for a miracle. Invite God to get involved, trust in and follow His directions, make one good choice after another, and you will see amazing results.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer.
budgetwithelly · Challenge · coupon · coupons · family · Family Share · free · frugal · mom · motherhood

Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Financial Life #BudgetWithElly

EllyFilho1 Comment

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By improving our financial lives, we also increased our happiness, in general. For this reason, I find important to share some tips and tricks that really works (at least for me).

I’m almost in the best moment of my financial life. because of the steps of Dave Ramsey. Also because we know how to handle money, not having debts, by saving and investing as much as we can.

Here are some tips and tricks that works for us (doesn’t necessarily work for everyone). Share what your tips in savings are in the comments!

#1. Use money

Rather than buying things with credit or debit cards, use cash for everyday expenses like eating out, fuel or supermarket.

Spending money makes the spending more real, and you still have the advantage of knowing exactly when the money runs out, avoiding spending more than you have.

#2. Stay home

Often going out makes you more likely to spend unnecessarily. Eating at  restaurants, going shopping, stoping at convenience stores for snacks. It is hard to avoid spending when you’re on the street.

Instead, stay home and find ways to entertain without spending. It is also a great way to be with your family.

# 3. Keep a “list of the 30 days”

If you often buy on impulse something that absolutely is not a need, go put it on the “list of the 30 days.”

You can not buy anything beyond what is necessary – anything beyond that goes to the list, with the date it was registered.

After thirty days, you can buy – but, most often, the anxiety to buy has passed, and you can evaluate the actual need more calmly.

# 4. Do exercises

Staying healthy is the best way to avoid medical expenses in the future.

# 5. Often talk to your partner

It is important that you and your partner are financially aligned. You should have the same financial goals, and from there on you must share the same spending plan and policy to avoid impulse purchases.

Make sure you both know what the monthly expenses are, how is the bank balance, among other things. A simple weekly conversation of 20 minutes is enough.

Communication is essential.

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# 6. Record all income and expenses

There are expensive software like Microsoft Money, Quicken, etc., which can do wonders to your financial information. There are also some that are free to both desktop and online, they also do the same things.

The problem is that I do not need it all. All I need is a way to track my money easily, no hustle, and the ability to access that data virtually, so that I can update them from anywhere.

An excellent way to really use is Google Drive (formerly Google Docs and Spreadsheets), who use Gmail. But nothing prevents you to use a financial spreadsheet or even a notebook.

The important thing is to maintain that record. And do it in the simplest way possible.

# 7. Work out at home

Some may disagree with this tip, and thats no problem. You should do what ever way that works for you. But I saved enough money (over US $ 1000 per year), who used to spend on gyms and changed for walking at a park near my home.

All though we don’t all have a gym in our homes, it’s still cheaper to buy some weights to work out at home, or even practice walking / running somewhere nearby. An academy is honestly not necessary.

# 8. Cancel your cable TV

I’m not saying you should stop watching TV – I even watch movies and football games regularly, for example.

The difference is that I’m sure I’m watching something I really want, instead of useless programs we see on TV most of the time.

In addition, there are enough online content, free and good quality.

# 9. Donate, lend and borrow

Get rid of excess things in your home, you not only make your life much simpler and quiet, but also will become much harder to buy things that will just lay around again.

Once your home is organized (and simplified), you will not want to go back.

Also, donate books, clothes and toys you no longer need. If you need something (a book, for example), send e-mail to your friends or post on Facebook asking if anyone has it. There is the chance of someone close by having it and give it to you for free if they don’t use it anymore.

# 10. Find happiness in life, not on spending

Often, people buy things because they think (perhaps unconsciously) that this will bring happiness. “I have to have those clothes or buy that car,” some think. So they buy what they want it to be, and are happy only for a few days.

Then they need to buy more. And it becomes a no yes cycle.

Instead, learn to value life. Find fun in the people around you. In doing something you really love. In exercising.

There is so much in life that make us happy, it is not necessary to try to find happiness in spending.

Challenge · family · Family Night · Family Share · fun · love

4 things I wanted to know when my children were small #parenting

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All parents make mistakes and they try to fix it. This doesn’t mean they are less of a parent. What most of them feel is regret about something they did or did not do and it’s too late to turn back. Don’t suffer because of it. If you look back at your life, you will see that your parents made a few slip-ups as well and not so you will love them less or never forgive them. However, there are some things I wish I knew when my children were small. Hope this helps new parents not to make the same mistakes I did. Here are four things I wanted to know when my children were small:

1. They grow too fast Look at your children. Look at all the moments. Register what you can. They grow up so fast that soon you feel homesick for a baby. How many times I was using the computer late at night instead of putting them to bed, or telling a story, and praying with them. I was doing these things whenever possible, but I lost many nights without doing so. It’s not too late to change your behavior. I don’t remember exactly what I was doing on the computer, what kind of work or surfing on social networks, but I remember perfectly their happy eyes when I would say good night with many kisses and hugs. When I prayed with them and told a story. There is no money or fun in the world to compensate these sweet moments. Tip: Don’t be the only one telling the story, let them tell it as well.

2. Pay attention to what you promise Let’s have a picnic every day … We can go to the movies on Friday … Next week we can go to the zoo. Plans, promises that will break. Time will pass by and now they no longer feel welcome in these family programs and will not take advantage of them as they would as children. Create this kind of memories with your kids is something they will carry for life. I wish my parents took me for picnics. I would have done more of these activities with my kids and their grandparents.

3. They need loving limits A child does not know how far you can go if you do not circumscribe the border between what is allowed and what is forbidden for them to do. I never understood this principle until a few weeks ago in letting my children free to explore their own world and find their own answers. It was not a very happy moment. When I read that limits gave security to the child I imagined that they would feel like monkeys in a cage. But it is not so. Children like to know if they are pleasing or displeasing their parents. If you do not know what parents expect they will feel confused and unsure of what to do or not do. Set limits with love it’s the best way to raise a child.

4. They need the example I think one of the major functions of a parent is to be an example for their children. As the saying goes: “When there are no words, the example follows and it starts in the cradle.. What kind of children you want to have? Educated? Gentle? Who likes to read? Religious? Respectful? Responsible? For sure we want our children to have such qualities and the best way to teach them is cultivating these qualities in ourselves. Many parents punish their children for lying, but when the mother calls, send the child to say that she is not available. We want our children, to be honest, but we don’t return the change when received wrong. They want responsible children, but we do not keep up on our promises. It’s not easy being parents, everyone knows it. Important and valuable thing are not easy to achieve. So despite our mistakes, we are the best person we can be and we need to learn from our mistakes before it is too late. And as a bonus, here’s another tip: Smile at your children and make their day better with this simple gesture.

 
There are many ways to be good parents. There is no formula or proven and guaranteed way to success in raising small. But regrets, yes.

budgetwithelly · coupon · coupons · family · Family Share · free · frugal · mom · motherhood · savings

7 ideas to learn how to #BudgetWithElly

EllyFilhoLeave a comment

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As the family grows,  your cost will increase, and you will always seems to have something new that will come up.

It’s easy to lose track. Here are some tips on how to save money for a greatter achievements in life: the house, the car, the trip, a special gift, a smooth retirement …

1. Record all your expenses for a month To be able to save, you need to know how you are spending the money. It sounds simple and obvious, but it isn’t. Over the next month, mark all your expenses. You don’t need a complicated spreadsheet. A little notebook will do. Write all small expenses, such as  tips or just that cup of coffee. Get ready for some surprises. That sacred coffee every day, or a daily bottle of water, may represent more than $90 per month, or $1080 per year (and $ 10,800 in ten years! Considerable savings). And the outfit you got for your child, those cute ones you cannot resist? If paid with a credit card, calculate an increase of 20+ percent, at least on top of the sticker price. It’s what it will cost you if you fail to pay the invoice total that month. You do not need to give up your daily dose of coffee, or hydration, or fail to dress your child in super cute clothes. All you have to do is just weigh in all the spending. A bottle of water can come full from home, for example. As for the clothes, wait for sales or clarence  and give yourself a spending limit whenever you start buying. Knowing where the money goes every month, you will have a better idea of ​​where to cut to save for the future.

2. Put yourself first. It may not make much sense at first, but the secret to start saving is to “pay” first. No, it’s not for you to buy the first blouse you see on display.  Think about a realistic amount of long-term goals (like changing the car, make that treatment, saving for emergencies, a vacation), and then “pay” early in the month, separating the money in another account. If you wait until the end of the month to see how much left to save after all mandatory expenses, you will realize that there is nothing left, because it is almost always the case for everyone.
The best way to make payments is to schedule automatic transfers from your bank account to another account or an investment. That way it will make you save. You can create, for example, two accounts: one for a long-term goal, such as saving for retirement or emergencies, and one for your dream closest consumption (the trip, the car etc.). Set the transfer to close the day you receive the salary. The cool thing is to create a routine, as if it was as mandatory as paying the electric bill. Later in the month, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that a portion of the salary is already saved for something really constructive. Economists say that an emergency fund should have the equivalent of six months of total expenses. If you have managed to gather that amount, you may even start saving for retirement.

3. Pay off your debts Yes, paying your debts is the best way to save money. The interest rate charged on overdrafts or credit card is much higher than the profit of any investment. Get rid of your debts first, especially credit card, so you can start saving money. If you have late payments, contact the company or bank to see if you can negotiate a settlement. Do not wait, untill you have all the money to pay off the debt. Find out how to pay it off  as soon as possible, even if it has to be little by little.
If it is for you to have some debt, let it be to finance a home. Yes this is a debt that is worth it.
For the car payment, you can do the following: when you finally finish paying, instead of rushing to exchange model and pick up a new provision, pretend that the booklet is not over. Continue paying the same amount for a time, only for yourself, in a separate account. So you will earn enough money to make a better deal, giving greater input and achieving a lower performance, with less interest.

4. Take one goal at a time and be strong! Choose an object of desire, something you want very much. It may be a new sofa, an electronic device, a trip. Calculate how much it will cost and trace a realistic goal, like saving for six or twelve months to achieve. To motivate, spread photos and advertisements of this desired item everywhere (at work, at home, within the portfolio). Whenever thinking about buying something, ask yourself if you want it as much as you want your big goal, the one for which you are saving.

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5. Make the withdrawals hard Search for alternatives applications that are not ready or available to move. Funds with automatic withdrawals when the current account is negative doesn’t work – it is very easy to end up with no savings in a moment of excitement or necessity. Make separate accounts, or apply in investment rules which do not allow automatic withdrawals, or that deem certain work redemptions (such as CDs).

6. Did you receive a money did not expect? Save it! You received a refund of income tax, a bonus at work or some unexpected money? First, resist with all their might to spend that’s the first impulse. If you can resist for a few days, it’ll be much easier to appreciate the extra money. If you’re still having some debt, use that money to reduce it (pay the most from the car financing or own home, for example). All Credit card debts have priority! Second comes the overdraft. It won’t cost you anything to try and talk to the bank manager to see if there’s an easier way to pay. If you do not have a debt, save the money in that special account different from the day to day account, for something that really matter.

7. Rethink the spendings with a car If you have a car, write down all the expenses you have with it. Say that car is practically a child, and it’s true. From property taxes, insurance, financing, fuel, parking, tolls, licensing, washing and repairs, you may be surprised at the amount of expenses annually.
There are people who realize that life becomes even easier without the car (or just one car for couples). Even if for you the car is essential, take it easy with the spending. Leave the car at home whenever you can. Walk to the supermarket and use the delivery service at home. To concentrate their business in the same region. Take the car to solve several things at once, And do the math. In large cities is more expensive to park a car than going back and forth in a taxi, depending on distance. And spending on toll and fuel can surpass that amount of a bus ticket – and even plane.

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Family Share · Wordless

The art of living well #ButgetWithElly

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Do not demand from others what they can not give you, but expect each of their responsibilities.
Be sure to enjoy pleasure, but do no harm anyone.
Do not take more than you need, but fight for your rights.
Do not look at people with your eyes only, but look with their eyes as well.
Don’t always teach , you can learn more.
Do not be discouraged before failure, but overcome it transforming it into learning.
Do not take advantage of anyone who tries so hard, he may be doing what you did not do.
Do not ruin a different program with your bad mood, discover the joy of new things.
Do not let life slip away from the faucet it may be missed by others …

Love can absorb much suffering, but not the lack of respect to yourself!
If you want the best of people, give them as much of yourself, since life has given you so much.
Anyway, always be thankful forever because gratitude opens the door of the heart.

 

budgetwithelly · coupon · coupons · family · free

Coupon Thursday #BudgetWithElly

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 Coupons Save Money on Must-Have Items
It’s not like I could stop buying toilet paper, so I might as well save money on it.

Coupons Help You Try New Products
Coupon+sale=a chance to try something new without spending a lot of money.

Some Coupons Get You Free Goods!
I’ve received free toothpaste etc, by combining a coupon with a sale.

Coupons Help Manage Food Costs
If you’re trying to save money on food but want to buy more fresh, coupons can help you manage the costs.

Coupons Save Money on More than Groceries
I’ve received coupons to clothing stores, restaurants, and local services.

Couponing takes time, effort, and patience, but anyone can do it.

( A few tips I learned from a mom )

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I love good deals 🙂

Pizza Hut

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Challenge · coupons · family · Family Share · frugal · savings

#BudgetWithElly the @DaveRamsey Style

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Let’s start today with what I did to become frugal and try to be Debt free.
My husband inspired me by listening to ” The Dave Ramsey Show ” and he came home one day and said, can you listen to this guy I think he’s awesome. I decided to listen to Dave Ramsey for the first time and I thought to myself. Can we do this? Can we really be debt free? Is it possible to pay over $10k of credit card bills and actually live like ” No One else, so later in life we can live like no one else? __ Dave Ramsey”
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So, who is this Dave anyways?
Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, radio talk show host and TV personality who over the years has helped thousands of people become debt free and change their financial lives.

Before I started to listen to Dave, we had to make a decision, to either listen and apply or don’t do it at all. I started to believe we could and believed in GOD we could do it. AM I there? no! not yet, but we have a lot less to go. 🙂

We started with Dave Ramsey’s baby steps that are

Baby Step 1 – $1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
Baby Step 2 – Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
Baby Step 3 – 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings
Baby Step 4 – Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
Baby Step 5 – College funding for children
Baby Step 6 – Pay off home early
Baby Step 7 – Build wealth and give!
we are obviously not anywhere close to where we would like to be, but we will get there.
We had to make some sacrifice, especially at the beginning. It’s not easy because it requires sacrifice. And it’s not a lot of fun. We started less than a year ago.
So, I decided to start looking at all the ways I could save, and I started doing the frugal mom thing (Coupons) I save over $200 a month just on coupons alone. Some people are embarrassed to use them, I’m not simple as that. they are there to help you and you’re not stealing from someone, So why not?

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A lot of people talk about how to change their financial lives but never touch on the fact that if you or your spouse isn’t ready to change, it isn’t going to happen. You have to want to change.
His plan might not be perfect for everyone, but it does point everyone in the right direction.
What is your life’s purpose? When you find it, you’ll find the motivation you need to live according to your financial plan, even when it’s tough. Making these steps require a budget. In order to succeed with these bigger goals, you’ve got to make it work day-by-day. Paying off your debt snowball requires snowflakes. And you and your spouse need to regularly communicate.
Give it a try, visit the Dave Ramsey site and other budgeting sites and get started. Believe me, It’s never too late 🙂

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Devotion · family · sunday devotion

Start building your trust #SundayDevotion

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Start building your trust in God day by day!

elly

Form New Habits

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

God’s Word teaches us that when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, He gives us a new nature. He gives us His nature. He also gives us a spirit of discipline and self-control, which is vital in allowing us to choose the ways of our new nature. He gives us a sound mind (see 2 Timothy 1:7), and that means we can think about things properly without being controlled by emotion. The way we once were passes away, and we have all the equipment we need for a brand-new way of behaving. God gives us the ability and offers to help us, but we are not puppets and God will not manipulate us. We must choose spirit over flesh and right over wrong. Our renewed spirits will then control our souls and bodies or, to say it another way, the inner person will control the outer person.

Without God’s help we have difficulty doing things in moderation. We frequently eat too much, spend too much money, have too much entertainment, and talk too much. We are excessive in our actions because we behave emotionally. And after the thing is done and cannot be undone, we regret doing it. But we can choose to form new habits, not doing something just because we feel like it, but instead doing what will produce the best result in the end.

We do not have to live in regret. God gives us His Spirit to enable us to make right and wise choices. He urges us, guides and leads us, but we still have to cast the deciding vote. If you have been casting the wrong vote, all you need to do is change your vote. Forming new habits will require making a decision to not do what you feel like doing unless it agrees with God’s will.

Trust in Him
God wants you to live out of your new nature, not your old one. Every time you put your trust in Him and cast the deciding vote to obey, His Spirit transforms you and makes you more like Him.

From the book Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2012 by Joyce Meyer. 

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Friday · Health · mom · motherhood

How #HealthyFriday can help you prevent the future

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Did you know these facts

Blood clots can occur in both the veins and the arteries. A clot formed in a vein could restrict the return of blood to the heart, causing pain and swelling as blood gathers behind the clot. Clotting in the arteries typically happens when they harden, and a deposit of plaque narrows the inside of the arteries. As the passage narrows, the heart needs to force blood through the opening, and that strong pressure can rupture the plaque. The body then overcompensates by forming an unnecessary clot in the artery, which can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Smoking is one of the most prominent risk factors for developing blood clots, as well as other heart problems and some chronic diseases. Stop the habit by using nicotine patches and gums, prescription medications, and support groups. Other risk factors for blood clots include obesity, pregnancy, immobility, certain cancers, trauma, age, and family history of blood clots.

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Actually, doctors recommend exercise to prevent blood clots. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults get 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, which can be swimming, walking, dancing, and biking, among others.

Symptoms can be experienced in five places.

1. Heart—chest pain, shortness of breath, chest heaviness.

2. Brain—weakness of the face, difficulty speaking, vision problems, severe headache, dizziness.

3. Arm or leg—swelling, tenderness and warmth on limb, sudden or gradual pain.

4. Lung—racing heart, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood.

5. Abdomen—severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

DVT most often forms deep in the blood vessels in your leg. This can partially or completely block flow of blood to the heart and damage one-way valves in your veins. About 350,000 Americans are diagnosed with DVT each year, and many more don’t know they have it.

Even healthy, young individuals can develop DVT. As you age, your risk becomes slightly higher, but many patients with it are in their twenties and thirties. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of developing DVT until around six weeks after they give birth.

If you are diagnosed with a blood clot in your vein, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in blood diseases. If you have a blood clot in your artery, you may have several different doctors involved in your care, such as a cardiologist, neurologist, and hematologist.

Your doctor may prescribe anticoagulants, which prevent clots from forming, and thrombolytic, which dissolve blood clots. You also may undergo catheter-directed thrombolysis, a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the body and guided to the blood clot, delivering clot-dissolving medication inside of it. You may also have a thrombectomy in which your blood clot is surgically removed.

surviver

In reality, blood clots are often preventable. To reduce your risk, live a healthy lifestyle, check your blood pressure at least once a year, and talk to your doctor if you have a family history of blood clots.

I'm a Surviver DVT & PE
I’m a Surviver
DVT & PE
coupons · dad · family · Review

Monday #Review of the @DollaShaveClub

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I wanted to give this time. Try it out before I wrote anything bad or good about it. 
The first day we got the shaver from @DollarShaveClub we were very excited couldn’t wait to try it out. 

It looked very appealing in the pictures, the website promotes

A GREAT SHAVE FOR A FEW BUCKS. No commitment. No fees. No BS.

As for me being a frugal stay at home mom I liked the idea of the price.

Yes, it’s cheaper than the other brands.
When you stop to think about it using coupons with other brands you can get it for the same price maybe even cheaper. Even though we realized that we still wanted to try it out.

The website is easy to choose and start getting what you are looking for as it states on the website.

HOW IT WORKS Dollar Shave Club couldn’t be simpler. Select one of our great blades, pay only for the cost of your blades, and we send ’em right to your door every month.

We selected to have the most expensive one $9 month +shipping because I thought

” Hey this will be perfect. The website describes the blades as follow.

THE FINAL FRONTIER THE EXECUTIVE $9 EVERY MONTH SHIPS FREE SELECT 6
stainless steel blade
4 cartridges per month
Special trimmer edge built in for the professional
This blade comes from the future and lives in outer space
Full 90-degree pivot head Wide-open back for a fast, easy rinse Aloe, Vitamin E, and lavender lubricating strip calms sensitive skin.
What do you get the bathroom sink that has everything? The Executive. This blade is my successful. Muy sexy. Weighty, substantial handle delivers the ultimate compliment to the man who understands. And the shave is so buttery, it feels like you’re carving turns through a virgin Wyoming snowfall.

It took about a week for the delivery, and we had our brand-new shavers and a free sample of the aftershave in our hands.

It’s a nice-looking shaver and the Special trimmer was cool.

So, my husband tested it first, he used the shaver 2x and had to move on to a new one.
I told him maybe it was because I used it once and he said ” well the one we get at the store lasts 3weeks before changing blades.

He tried using another one by himself, I never touched it (I promise LOL) again after 2 shaves the blades were dull and it looked horrible.

Yes, we got disappointed. I had so much expectation for this product, and it failed. 😦

Still haven’t decided what I want to do next, but since the one we got is the best they can offer I think we will need to cancel.

(I bought this product, and this is my honest opinion, don’t forget everyone is different and the product might work great for you. It didn’t for us, and this is why I’m doing my review.)