Saving $$$ in the Kitchen

We all like ways of saving money, right? Some of those ways are really big, giant changes that are mind blowing and other ways are really simple like...well....making bread at home.

I know! I never thought making bread at home could be so inexpensive and simple! Well, I'm here to tell you it is and it's a lot of fun, too!

Chris and I bought a bread maker, second-hand about 2 years ago. Back when we were superintendents of an apartment complex we had an elderly tenant who was moving out and selling a bunch of her stuff. We bought this brand new bread maker from her for $20 and it turned out to be a Wolfgang Puck name brand. Okay, yep.... cool!

We stuffed into the back of a kitchen cabinet and knew one day we'd get a chance to use it. Well...to be honest, two years have gone by and I still had not used it. Back then it was because our job was just so busy we barely had a chance to grocery shop and think about things like saving money and making homemade bread.

But that was over two years ago! Life just got away from us and we did almost get rid of the bread maker a few times as I just hate having things kickin' around and not being used. I didn't get rid of though, I made Chris hold onto it and knew that someday I'd use it.

Now, I'll never go back to store-bought bread! Ohmygosh homemade bread is delicious and so easy to make! We've made three loaves in the month of March and each has looked a little prettier and this last loaf just looked beautiful, if I do say so myself!

We probably spent no more than $0.75 making this loaf of bread. (Initially, we thought it was about a buck, but no, it's probably $0.50 to $0.75, including Hydro cost). That's significant savings compared to the store bought loaves if you really think about it and here we don't add preservatives, fillers or extras that are just not needed.

We are both just thrilled and I plan to make a cinnamon raisin loaf very soon just to see how that'll turn out.

So, sometimes if there's a garage sale bread maker available you may just want to see about purchasing it for $20 or less. It could be worth it to save a little money in the long run. In about 27 loaves our bread maker will have paid for itself.

Also, as a side note, the smell of baked bread on Sunday afternoon after church is just divine... Oh, what a blessing!

So, if you'd like to stop by for a warm slice of bread along with Sunday dinner just let us know. We have plenty to go around. You're always more than welcome at our table and our doors are always open for family and friends.

Two to One

There seemed to be only three major events in February in regards to budgeting. Two of them were awesome moments and one well, not so much...

Last month, we were able to put over $1,700 towards our debt! I know, I'm
thrilled about it, too! It was a lot of fun to see where we could cut back a little and move a bit of money around in order to throw more at that debt. Usually, our debt pay off number is great, but seventeen hundred is just amazing. It gave us such a thrill and made us dance with a little in the kitchen.

Then late one night, I took a look at my phone and saw I had an email from Canada Revenue Agency. groans "What do they want now?" I thought to myself. I vowed that no matter what they wanted from me, I'd do my best to see it through. That next morning, I open the letter, from the CRA website, and saw my installment reminder notice had arrived. This made me internally groan a second time. I expected this installment reminder in January but it never arrived. Here it comes, a month late, I am just dreading opening the letter up. Finally, after another fervent prayer, I open it up and read.......

Nil.

What?

Eh?

I do not owe any installment payments for the first and second quarters. Uh.......that's never happened before. Like....ever... I have to admit I sat here

stunned for a moment and had to read the letter again. No.....there it is the three letter word again.......Nil. Nothing......nada........zilch.....

Well, whoopee!!!! I think Chris and I did another kitchen slow dance for that one that day as well. Good news always makes Chris want to slow dance in the kitchen, which always makes me giggle in his arms.

We are still saving for taxes every month, just in case, it's needed for 2018 taxes next year. The annuity amount is brand new and 2017 taxes will be the first full year where we just have these payments as our own source of income, so we've already paid up for 2017 taxes and saving in advance for 2018. It's better to safe than sorry.

Okay well, two pieces of good news! Whoo-hoo! We were really on a role by this point, but then that bad news hits. Apparently, another unknown debt has cropped up on our radar. Chris had a debt he wasn't aware of, due to some very unusual circumstances. We'll be saving up a bit for this debt in a month or two and get it taken care of. Thankfully, this seems to be the last of it, but it's nice that we'll get it resolved soon and then it'll stop hurting his credit.

I have admit, both of us were blindsided by this issue. Chris had no idea that there was anything owing and had never had services with this company. In a weird set of circumstances the charges are technically legitimate but not really.....Unfortunately, we just have no way to prove they are not 100% accurate. Oh well, chalk it up to a learning curve and move on...

No one is perfect and everyone requires grace. This is why we talked it through, found a plan of action and plan to take care of it ASAP.

I will say all and all February was a great month and we even had a little Valentine's Day celebration. Nothing too fancy and extravagant but lots of laughter and fun.

Now on to March and already budgeting has been coasting along nicely. It seems the second half of the month always puts a bump in the road, so we'll just have to see what happens from here, but all and all, The Lord has given us the means to find solutions at every curve that's been thrown at us. We'll be fine. We're in this together and with daily tracking, budgeting, and financial fitness we'll get there... We'll kick this debt's butt!