You know, we’re halfway through the year and I still haven’t reached all my goals. That private jet? In someone else’s name. Book deal? Workin’ on it. Owning a writers’ cafe? Yah. That’s on the back burner for a while longer. [See what I did there? Cafe? Burner? Sigh . . . ]
So, I’m sitting here thinking, egads! [True story. I actually said “Egads!” out loud. To no one except the fur family. Some days I’m glad they can’t talk English.] But back to it. I’m sitting here thinking, egads! I’ve been so busy I forgot to write Friday’s blog post.
And then I thought to myself, “Self! It’s a Five Things Friday post. You’d best come up with something good!” And my self answered, “Oh, Girl. Don’t bother us. We’re working on the budget.” Okay, it wasn’t all as Sybil-esque as all that, but, yes. Yes I did have a conversation with myself about the budget and paydays and where to find extra cash.
In fact, as I was writing this month’s budget, a nagging thought distracted me until I wrote it out:
Five Things Friday: Pocket Change – Money Comes From Unexpected Sources
That photo above is just a little snippet of my Happy Planner budget sheets. Y’all know my affinity for Happy Planning, yes? Well, maybe that will be next week’s FTF post. Today, we’re about saving pennies. And more.
But it got me thinking. I know I’m not the only who could use a few extra greenbacks. Or a means to accomplish that which must be, well, accomplished. Am I right? Oh, come on folks, I ain’t making this up!
So, in keeping with my striving for a better credit rating and a little fun money [or just a better bag of cat food now and then], here are five easy changes you can make to help save a little dough.
The Penny Jar. It sounds old fashioned, and even I was skeptical about its profitability at first. But when I cashed out my pennies at the end of six months, I was pleasantly surprised to find enough for a trip to the grocery store and gas station. Now, I’m not saying I bought enough for the month with a cross-country drive, but it did get me through the week and with a little sumthin-sumthin to enjoy Friday night. Which, coincidentally, is now my new penny jar.
Southern Roasted Pecan Gelato. Frankly, My Dear . . . Did someone say, “Yummm.”?
Talk. Chat. Discuss. However you want to word it, word it. Communicate. Got bills you can’t pay? Let the payee know ahead of time. Most times, companies are willing to work with you if you ask. Now, you can’t be all i-just-bought-a-car-and-quit-my-job-but-i’m-keeping-it on them. I mean, you do have to maintain some responsibility. But take it from me. You know. You’ve read about it here. When you’re in a bind, explain it. Late fees get waived, due dates get pushed. It’s worth a little time to save a little money.
Sort it all out. Take inventory of what you have, materially, and ask yourself if you really need it. Start small: Take one shelf, one drawer, or one cabinet, and sort it into three piles: Keep. Throw Away. Sell. If it’s in good condition but you don’t need it, consider putting it on LetGo or a local Facebook Yard Sale group. Ebay’s a great source, too. There’s tons of them out there. And if after a decent amount of weeks go by and no one’s bought, donate. Sure, it may not put money in your pocket, but your house will be less cluttered. Clean house, clear mind. Isn’t that a thing?
Explore your talents. Now, I know you’re good at stuff. And some stuff, you’re really good at. And I know it doesn’t always seem like it, but trust me on this: You have something to offer others. So get creative! Whether it’s a service or goods, take time to develop it. Freelance. It doesn’t take much for word to get out if you’re good at what you do. Babysitting, baking, tree trimming, yard care, dog walking. Are you good as socializing? Love to connect with people? Try something like DoTerra or Jamberry nail wraps. You not only get great discounts for yourself on products you love and use, but if you turn it into a business, you’ll get a nice little income, too!
Frankly, My Dear . . . Jam With Mojo
Give it up. There are just some things y’all don’t need. When the decision is between milk or bread, it’s time to stop the Netflix. Now, treating yourself is a must, so get that Redbox DVD once in a while. Splurge for that Starbucks every three weeks. But when you start cutting corners and realize how easy it is to roll that savings into paying off another bill and that snowball keeps rolling downhill . . . pretty soon you’re king of your mountain and those are wildflowers springing up to make things beautiful.
Hyacinth for the Soul.
BONUS TIP: Pay attention to your spending. Don’t just write it in your checkbook or look at your smart phone now and then. Make a budget journal. Keep your receipts. Figure out where and how things can change. Grab a small drink instead of large, especially when the refills are free.
BONUS BONUS TIP: On the morning of each payday, whatever money you have left in your bank account that’s unallocated, transfer it to your savings or emergency fund.
BONUS BONUS BONUS TIP: Barter. You can’t afford everything you need and want. Neither can everyone else in your world. But you may be able to work out a trade. You can wash a car in exchange for yard cleaning. Tired of your DVDs? Trade them with a friend for some new but free entertainment. Money is a means, not an end. When you remove money from the equation, you may find a different solution.
BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS TIP: Don’t be afraid to ask when you need help. It’s okay to admit you can’t handle everything on your own all the time. No one can. If we could, we wouldn’t need each other, would be?
BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS BONUS TIP (So really this should be a Five Things PLUS Five Things Friday): Take it all to the Great Provider. I find that when I earnestly ask God to bless my budget, I’m more aware of my frivolous spending habits, and more attentive to being a good steward of what He has blessed me with.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Happy Planner Budget Dashboard
When I joined the Jamberry Nails team last spring, my intent was to use the consultant discount to my benefit. Selfish, I know. Or so it sounds.
JamWithMojo – Jamberry Consultant
The truth is, I want to share Jamberry with everyone around me. Using my fingertips as an artist’s canvas is so fun and individual. I say it’s like scrapbooking on your hands. No two Jamicures are the same, even if I’m the one doing them.
Sure, I have my favorites:
My Mother’s Day Jamberry Nails
Jamberry Nails: Mad Hatter and Word to the Wise
But Jamberry is much more than pretty fingers. It’s also healthy hands.
After a month of wrapping and unwrapping and decorating and cleaning and undecorating and more cleaning ~ you get the picture ~ after all that, my hands were ready for some pampering.
So today, I indulged. In less than ten minutes, I went from post-holiday-damaged grossness to bring-in-the-New-Year beautiful.
Before and After my Jamberry Indulgence and cuticle oil treatment.
Indulgence is a three-piece set:
Buff: Sugar scrub made with coconut oil.
Nourish: Lotion absorbs into your skin without leaving a greasy residue on top.
Quench: Balm for those rougher areas like knuckles and elbows.
BONUS: Cleanser with a refreshing citrus fragrance.
Because of recurring eczema, winter is hard on my skin. I keep Nourish in my bag wherever I go, and use Quench as a lip balm. Cleanser is great to use just before bed.
With each of these products, a little goes a long way which is good because I love love love each and want them to last.
One of my New Year’s goals is increasing my Jamberry business. I mean, I get paid to sit around with the girls, drink wine, and pamper. How fun is that?
If you’d like to learn more about Jamberry Nail Wraps, earn free product through hostessing, or join the Marvellous MoJo Team, please contact me through my Jamberry website.
Remember when I was so excited to sign on as a Jamberry consultant? Remember what a thrill it was when I hosted my first party, earned my first commission, and reached my first goal?
My Mother’s Day Jamberry Nails
Me, too. I’m loving my Jamberry Journey. It’s like scrapbooking on your fingertips – there’s no wrong combination, and you’re only limited by your imagination.
Jamberry Nails: Mad Hatter and Word to the Wise
I mean, you can even upload your own designs to the Jamberry Nail Art Studio. How freaking amazing is that?
Tonight I tried the Indulgence Hand Care Set for the first time. Like, wow! I didn’t know naked nails could look so good!
Naked Fingers made healthy with Jamberry Indulgence
I’m just having way too much fun. In fact, it’s been so great, I’m making more memories. And friends. And videos.
Well, one video.
Okay, so maybe you’re a guy (William or Danny) who doesn’t need his nails done. Or maybe you’re more tomboy-ish or just don’t do nails. So maybe you’re thinking, you don’t want to see this video.
And I agree. If you think it’s about the Jamberry Nail Wraps, please, do not watch this video.
But if you could give This Girl a shout out and appreciate my newly-rediscovered video editing skills (thankyouverymuch, Babycakes MacBook Pro), I’d sure appreciate it like a cool water on a hot day.
Granted I’m no Francis Ford Coppola, but I think I did okay.
What do you think? I personally think it’s kinda jammin’. (See what I did there?)
Thanks for watching. We now return you to your regularly scheduled manicure.
Hey, y’all. I trust you had a great weekend. Mine was wonderfully out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, I don’t have any new photos to share. Crazy, right? I mean, this is me we’re talking about. Oh, well. Take my word for it: the scenery was beautiful.
I drove up to Fresno, which is no little task for me. When I was younger, I used to drive all the time. It was nothing to head to the beach or Disneyland or even up to the mountains. But somewhere between here and there, my collection of car accidents plus having Dot to consider . . . well, my drive to drive took a wrong turn (see what I did there?).
Let’s not forget it was just a few simple years ago that I got lost coming home from Disneyland–a trip I’d made at least twenty times in as many years. The Southern California freeways are not necessarily enjoyable. And in my neck of the desert, there is always, and yes I do mean always, some form of road construction or deconstruction going on.
Keep moving.
[Okay, so this meme was created, like, over a year ago. I had to put some visualization in this post. Anyway . . . ]
When Dot and her husband began their grand adventure, I whispered, “I wish I was brave like you.” Now that she is married and three states away, a little bit of that bravery has come back to me.
No longer do I have to consider coming home “on time” to make dinner for anyone other than myself. I don’t have to worry about “If I do this, what will she do?” I’m no longer a single parent trying to make ends meet and feeling guilty for eating all the ice cream. Nosirreebob, I am just single. (Unless you count the FurFamily. But that’s a tad diff, don’t you think?)
So. When my friend Becky said, “Come on up for the weekend.” I said “Are you nuts? Don’t you know I don’t drive? Like, ever ever. You wanna drive me crazy? Why don’t you come see me and keep the peace instead?” I said, “Hey. I’ve been wanting to be braver. This isn’t too bad. And it’s the opposite of LA traffic. Sure, I’ll come visit.”
Now, mind you. Ursula is nine years old, and it’s been a while since she’s been out on the open road for any great stretch. But they (whoever “they” in the care-for-your-car-industry is) recommend taking your car on longish drives now and then to clean out the carburetor And by the way, I had to verify the spelling on that word. Doesn’t it sound like it should be spelled “carborator”? That’s what I thought, too. Obviously.
But I digress. So. Back on track. Yesterday morning I packed up my Babycakes laptop, a few Jamberry supplies, some bottles of water, and put ‘er in gear.
And four hours later I was in Fresno. Fresno, folks! Like, central California. We’re talking farm country. Open fields. smooth roads. Friendly freeway traffic (I know, right?! I couldn’t believe it either!).
And all I wanted to do was turn around and do it again!
This crazy thing happened to me. Someone called it confidence and I said what did you smoke from your peace pipe and they said no its true and I said no seriously and they said don’t you believe in yourself and I said yes I do but I just drove four hours and in people terms that’s like two hundred and fifty miles which is like sixty miles more than the drive to Vegas and three times as far as Disneyland and have I mentioned that lately I get lost coming home from Disneyland and they said stop being so dramatic you haven’t been to Disneyland in years and I said I KNOW BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I TRIED COMING HOME I GOT LOST and they said stop talking to yourself so I did.
Except to tell myself once more that I have more confidence.
I realized anything that could happen to me and/or my car such as a flat tire or a breakdown could also happen close to home. I have my Triple-A membership card. I have a sense of adventure. So why not go the distance (see what I did there?)?
And then comes the best part. Not only did I get to spend the weekend with Becky and her husband, but her husband happens to be Al of Al Gansky fame, of Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and Firsts in Fiction fame. Yes, that Al Gansky. Of course a month ago when Becky and I were planning this I tolddictated asked Aaron in his capacity as my writing mentor, “So, it’s not totally weird for you that I’m going to go hang out with your folks for a weekend, right? Cuz if it is, we need to talk.” [I told him before Blue Ridge that I collect parents. This shouldn’t have been a surprise for him.] [Apparently, it wasn’t.]
Obviously he and Naomi were fine with it (I did have to promise not to supersede them on the parents’ Christmas card list) and the rest is almost history. Er, almost the rest is history. I mean . . .
ANYWAY.
I spend the weekend with Becky and Al which was a lot of fun when you consider a few things:
Becky and I have the same sense of humor. I feel sorry for Al.
Al has the same sense of humor as Aaron. You feel sorry for me.
The excuse for the drive was for Becky to hostess a Jamberry party, which allowed us some fun girl time with a few guests.
I got to pick Al’s brain about all things writing, editing, and Blue Ridge. Like, conference chatter. And it isn’t even conference time! I found out more of what goes into the behind-the-scenes, and I shared with him some of my immediate, short-term, and long-term goals as a writer and editor. He didn’t even charge me a coaching fee.
A once-a-year thunderstorm hit just as I was considering coming home Saturday night. So I stayed per the original plan and we enjoyed some flickering lights, dimming TV screens, flashes of lightning and serious boomage that set car alarms off. Now that’s thunder!
We watched Perry Mason and Alfred Hitchcock together. Between yelling “Motive!” at the TV and pointing our fingers at all the characters, all I can say is, Al will never let me near the medicine cabinet. And he really shouldn’t leave the cyanidesaccharin pain pills where anyone can get at them. Just sayin’. How’s that coffee this morning, Al?
The same, easy drive to get up to Fresno was just as easy coming home. Except for the microburst in Tehachapi that slowed traffic for about fifteen minutes. Only in California can the sky ahead be blue while the sky directly above is bringing down God’s wrath. Just sayin’.
Once I got home and loved on the FurFamily, we had our own storm system move in. That was about five hours ago. And it’s still here. Lightning. Thunder. Rain. It’s all good.
So I sort lied about the no new photos thing. Okay. This isn’t a photo. It’s a video. I know, semantics. And you can’t hear the thunder, but trust me. It was there!
I think I’m gonna bottle this sound and play it all time. Especially when I’m writing NOLA. Or missing Blue Ridge. Or when it’s too hot and dry. Or when I’m trying to sleep. Or any other time. Yes. Definitely any time is a good time to listen to rain.
I’d say all in all it was a great weekend. And it left me with a deeper drive to reach my goals: writing, editing, social media presentations, speaking, Jamberry, redecorating Bedford Manor, and making sure all my peeps know they’re important to me (the people, not the goals) (well, I mean, both. But the people. Right now, I’m talking about the people).
There’s one truth that people tell me almost every day: I have a lot on my plate.
A Lot on my Plate: Del Taco and Jamberry
The first reason I recently signed up as a Jamberry consultant was for the discount. Let’s be real: Who doesn’t love saving money for things you already do? I buy Jamberry, and the more I buy, the more I love. So saving money while doing so is one of my no-brainers. And we’re not talking just five percent, either. We’re talking a substantial reason to keep myself in business.
The more I enjoyed, the more it showed, the more friends became interested in having shows of their own (see what I did there?). So the second no-brainer is to pursue this venture for supplemental income.
My Mother’s Day Jamberry Nails
Okay. Let’s run down that list again:
Substantial discount
Time with friends
Making new friends
Feeling more confident (isn’t that what a great mani-pedi does for every woman?)
Extra income
Wearing Jamberry nail wraps and lacquer allows my creative side to flourish even more. The mix-and-match-ability are never ending. They even have NAS (Nail Art Studio) which allows you to design your own wraps by simply uploading your own art to the website (copyright images not allowed, all images subject to approval).
But back to too much on my plate. Jamberry wraps are quick to apply. The lacquer dries faster than other brands. And they last. Like, a long time. This Girl’s nails were always chipping and peeling what with the amount of paper shuffling, keyboard clacking and housework I do. I was lucky if I could get polish to stay on for three days.
Well, thanks to Jamberry, a tiny investment of money and time allows me to look pretty and feel confident for up to two weeks.
I’ve been asked what my favorite hand care essential is and I have to say, it’s the $10 Cuticle Oil. This little brush-on bottle works wonders in less than a minute. Don’t believe me? A photo (or two) is worth a thousand words.
Thirty seconds: Before and After Jamberry Cuticle Oil
(And check out how awesome my eight-day old lacquer and wraps are holding up!)
The cuticle oil has a light, uplifting fragrance. It doesn’t leave a residue on hands or fingers. It’s almost therapeutic to apply before a jam-packed day (ooh, see what I did there?) or when getting ready for bed.
Sure, $10 (retail) is two Starbucks. Or a dinner out. But it lasts longer than both. I will definitely keep this in my bag and in my nightstand. Because it takes just a small amount, the 0.4 ounce brush bottle lasts a long time. It’s recommended for twice-daily use, but can be used more frequently as the need arises.
If you’d like more information on ordering, hostessing, or joining the Jam With MoJo team, please visit my Jam With MoJo website.
