Practical Solutions

I wanted to give some practical advice this week.  Some lessons
learned the hard way.  This will be random, off the top of my head,
but here goes:

1.10/10/80.   Save 10%, tithe 10%, the rest is for you to spend.  It
seems like it will be hard, and it makes no sense sometimes on a
logical plane, but when I was a broke single parent, I lived by this.
That way when something comes up - like the dryer goes out, or a car
repair comes up, etc...you have something in savings.

2. Meal plan.  One of the BEST things you can do if you have kids is
eat dinner together when you are together.  Cooking meals at home is
cheaper than going out.  I managed to raise my kids eating dinner
together.  Other meals were catch as catch can, but dinner we ate
together - and still do, most of the time.  The best way I have found
to make this work is meal planning - I sit down and write out a list
of meals for a week (or two weeks if you can), every single day.
Then, based on that list, I make my grocery list.  If you are a
couponer or read the specials, base your meals on the sales.  Then go
to the store and use the list - and stick to the list!!! That way at
night when you come home tired, you don't have to think- you know
what's for dinner.  It has worked very well for me.

3. Get outside!! That is why I put the spring picture on the
newsletter.  I was facing a very stressful day that day - and I went
for a run in Indiana to do some pre-stress intervention.  I ran about
3 miles, then I walked for another 1.5 miles, just taking pictures,
smelling lilacs, taking in the beauty of the day.  It was flat
medicinal.  Now that I am home, I have set the goal of going to the
beach once a week.  For me, that is very relaxing.  I spend some time
walking on the beach for fitness, then the waves are very soothing.
Whatever works for you - I encourage you to get outside and go for a
walk.  As it gets hotter, go in the morning, or go in the evening -
but GO!

4. Continue to set goals.  Whatever that means to you.  But setting
goals, no matter how "small" they may seem, will give you a sense of
accomplishment when you meet them, and that will give you a
cornerstone that will encourage you that you met THAT goal.  The rest
of the week may suck but you got THAT done.

5. Stay connected.  At the least, email or facebook.  It would be much
better if you are getting out and doing something - music at the beach
on Tuesdays, church somewhere some morning or night.  Don't stay home
in the misery.  The church needs help right now with disaster recovery
- even if you could donate a little time there, it will make you feel
better.