Holiday Savings & New Year Spending

2013, Here We Come

So I know Christmas has passed and the New Year is here to stay but I wanted to touch on a couple of saving tips for Christmas 2013. I also wanted to mention one way to get your finances in order, and start the year off on the right foot.

Kroger Gas Points

The first tip is to take advantage of Kroger gift card deals during the Christmas season.  When you purchase gift cards during the holiday season you get 4x the fuel points.  My husband and I live in a small town and don't have too many options so we had already decided on Lowe's for our Christmas tree.  We bought a Lowe's gift card at Kroger, saved .40 cents on gas, and used the gift card to buy our tree.

A Costco Christmas

Secondly, if Lowe's isn't an option I found out this year that Costco sells awesome Christmas trees for really cheap.  If we had a Costco's in town I would have saved $10 on our tree.

Tomato Trees

Lastly, as far as Christmas savings go, is an idea I read about in a magazine.  This Spring/Summer we grew our own tomato plants.  After the plants died off I just put the tomato cages in storage.  I assumed they would take up space in our storage shed, until I read of an idea where you turn the cages up side down and wrap them with Christmas lights to look like Christmas trees.  I thought this was an awesome cheap idea.

New Year, New Spending Habits

When my husband and I first got married finances always seemed to be an area of unnecessary conflict.  I have a background in finance and had to know where every dollar was going.  My husband, well lets just say felt almost the complete opposite of myself.  We both realized we had to do something.  One of my best friends and mentor suggested this website called www.mvelopes.com.   It has radically changed our finances.  I never thought I could ever say that I could let my husband manage our money and that is exactly the place I find myself today.  It is so user friendly and has tutorials to help you figure out everything.  It links with your bank account and pulls all your debits/credits over and then you place them into funded "envelopes".  My husband funds every envelope with a percentage of everything we make.  We both have a "fun" envelope, that allows us to spend without feeling guilty, and we have a folder set aside just for giving.  It is nice to know there is money being saved up just to give away to others.  Financial freedom has to be one of the best feelings in the world.  Mvelopes has allowed me to completely hand over our finances to my husband and know that we are saving, both in the long and short term, and we are able to plan ahead.  I can not recommend this website enough, it will change your life.

Tonight I enjoyed a basic black cup of coffee.  Sometimes the simplest form is the best.

Make it Great!

- CTaylor

Taylor 1.5

What a year this first year and a half of marriage has been.  It has flown by so fast but at the same time it feels like we have been together forever.  This year has held a ton of memories for both Joshua and me.  I should have started writing forever ago because it is hard to remember everything by the end of the year.  We celebrated our one year anniversary this year in charming Savannah and loved every minute of it, especially the much needed couple’s massage.  We have enjoyed being able to travel together anywhere and everywhere.  We have spent many weekends just getting away, to places like Memphis, Tunica, and of course back home to Atlanta.  This year though, I (Camille) enjoyed taking Joshua to California to meet family for my cousin’s wedding, and to see where I am from.  Outside of traveling we have enjoyed turning our house into a home.  Joshua has turned out to be quite the carpenter and has made me shelves, frames, candle holders, a dining room table, a bench, and an entertainment center. In the pictures you can see the entertainment center, table, bench, and palette shelves.

I have found a love for cooking and have put to good use everything in my kitchen.  Joshua this year got promoted to Sergeant and I took a new position within my bank.  I am now a financial services representative, and have enjoyed getting to know so many people in town. After getting married Joshua and I jump a few borders and found ourselves in Starkville, MS, where Joshua is finishing up his degree in Construction Management.  He is also working for a construction company, West Brothers’ Construction, when he is not in classes.  I am so proud of him. We so enjoyed the Holidays and getting to spend much needed time with family.  We look forward to this next year together and what the Lord has planned for us.  Joshua has one year left in school, and we know that God has something awesome in store for us both now and after he graduates.  We love all of you and wish you your best year yet!   

-The Taylors