peelosophy

This has been many moons in the making and will never be to the detail that I want it, but it helps me so I thought I would share.  It’s my price book.

What is a price book you may ask? It is some sort of book to keep track of prices.  I use it to keep track of grocery prices.  For example, I never know if that’s a good deal on peanut butter or not, so I would look in my price book for reference. I’ve learned that not every sale is a sale.  I get the prices on items I buy from my own grocery receipts or sales ads and mark it in my price book.  It sounds a little consuming and it is at first, but once you get into it, we buy most of the same things at the store and eventually my price book runs itself.

I have used a paper notepad before, but have switched to an Excel document in the recent year in hope of accessing it from my iPhone when I’m at the store. I’m hoping to put a link on the main page of peelosophy soon too.

Here is the link if you want to access my price book: peels price book

Here is also the grocery list template I use too: market list

Yes, I love tools and spreadsheets.  Let me know if you have any ideas for improvement on these.

I’m kinda floored right now with the coincidental showering of thoughtful gifts I’ve received in the last 24 hours.  Of which half the people don’t know that we have been under a financial strain or that I have been desperately wanting things because of it.

It started last night at a wedding shower where the gifts to those attending the shower were earrings.  Can I tell you – I literally asked God for some new earrings like two days ago.  No joke.  I was putting on one of the two pairs that I own (because I have this thing about losing one earring) and I found myself really wanting to go out and buy some more earrings.  Instead of shopping, I told God that I would love some new earrings.  Yeah, it happened like that and now I have these…

Next was today, Greta called and asked what I was doing about 5pm, I told her nothing and knew John was working late.  She said, great, Maddie and her were taking me out to dinner at CJ Muggs their treat and that her mom was watching ALL 7 OF OUR CHILDREN.  The best surprise gift ever.  And Gail, their mom, wore the boys out so good they fell asleep in 10 minutes after hitting the sheets – record time.

Then, this evening, Lucy, the best neighbor ever, came over because she had a couple of things for me.  The first was a darling maternity shirt from Target that a friend of hers didn’t like after buying and it was too small for Lucy, but Lucy thought it would fit me – love it.  There is nothing like new maternity clothes for your fourth pregnancy.

The second thing she gave me was something I had been looking for for a while – a banana slicer.  Don’t mock, it’s really for the kids, they love prepping their own food for snack.  I haven’t been able to find one not online and mentioned it to Lucy eons ago and sure enough she found one and picked it up for me.  I am so excited about it!!

We, personally, are finally seeing the hits of the economy.  Nothing terrible.  John’s company did salary cuts “until business” gets better.  But in the mean time he is totally busy at work and is working long hours.  In my mind, it doesn’t make sense.

We are thankful we can pay are mortgage and take care of our family.  We just need to figure out how to cut some unnecessary costs.  These would be for us eating out, aimless trips to retail stores, spacing out our purchases, cutting back on counseling, babysitting and I don’t know what else yet.  Hardly anything to complain about, but nonetheless it is hard to adjust.

I’m finding it  funny how much I want things when I can’t have them.  For example, I want to eat at McDonald’s for EVERY meal now, all of a sudden I need new tennis shoes and I want to go shopping and I am NOT a shopper.  I am finding myself thinking a lot like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I want things and I don’t want to be told “no” even if it’s by my own conscience.

It’s interesting that it was easier to be frugal when I didn’t really have to be frugal. It was a choice.  I enjoyed seeing how much I was saving, it was like a game, now it just sucks.

Luckily, I am a glass half full personality.  It will get better and it’s far from the worst that could happen.

I did get some encouragement from a devotion I read this morning.  It’s from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young.  Here it is….

June 24

Hold My hand- and trust.  So long as you are conscience of My presence with you, all is well.  It is virtually impossible to stumble while walking in the Light with Me.  I designed you to enjoy Me above all else.  You find the deepest fulfillment of your heart in Me alone.

Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in the Light of My Presence.  When you turn away from Me, you are vunerable tot he darkness that is always a work in the world.  Don’t be surprised with how easily you sin when you forget to cling to my Hand.  In the world, dependency is seen as immaturity.  But in my kingdom, dependence on Me is a prime measure of maturity.

Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 62:5-6