Hen and Chicks

* a dollar saved adds up fast . . . *

Last week I came across this article in the news:

With a bit of creative savings, $5 can get you at least $12,000

By Marie C. Franklin

Boston Globe Staff / July 20, 2008

Three years ago, I made a decision that changed my relationship with money: I stopped spending, and started saving, every five-dollar bill that passed through my hands. Squirreling away each and every $5 received as change from a cash transaction didn't require any complicated savings strategy, but it has paid off, to the tune of $12,000.

That's right. In three years, I have socked away $12,000 just by saving fives.

I have always been more of a saver than a spender, back to the day I walked into a suburban branch office of Industrial National Bank of Providence with my mother to open my first savings account with First Communion gift money. I recall, with pride, walking out of the big, brick building smiling as I clutched my passbook.

At 18, I came to Boston for college and transferred my funds to State Street Bank. By then I had $3,000, not a bad stash for a college freshman in 1971.

When my husband and I married and moved to Brookline in the late '70s, I was the one with the savings account (but gosh, he had a cute smile), so I set up the weekly Star Market budget, one that allowed us to eat well but never to waste money, or food. Our wages were meager, our expenses real. To me, it was simple. What we didn't waste living each day, we could save for a home in the suburbs.

Life has changed since then, and like many in the western suburbs, we've enjoyed family, fulfilling careers, and an easy commute. For most of the years we were raising our children in Newton, the money we didn't need for essentials, we either saved or splurged.

And then, after years of habitual saving, with two daughters away at college and Newton taxes and a mortgage still to pay, I gave up. With $7,500 a month to shell out for tuition and fees (you read that right, too, $7,500 a month, 10 months a year), there was no extra money. If some miraculously appeared, I stocked up on toilet paper.

One day, floating in cyberspace, I read a headline that drew me in: Trouble Saving Money? 10 tips to try. One suggestion was to quit spending fives and to make this currency the basis for a separate savings account. The blurb went on to say there were fewer five dollar bills in circulation than ones, tens, and twenties (don't know if this is true but I believed it), and that if I stopped spending fives, I wouldn't really miss them.

I opened my wallet. It contained two fives, a twenty, and change. I picked my own pocket and buried the two bills emblazoned with Abe Lincoln's face into a zipped pocket of my wallet, and the rest is history, one five at a time. The account went over $12,000 one month shy of its three-year anniversary.

More happy news. The younger daughter graduated from college in May, two years after her older sister. We paid their way. They did their jobs well, both making the most of their (expensive) college years.

But I digress. Here are a few lessons worth passing on.

This idea will only work if you are disciplined. When I decided to save my fives, I meant it, and I save every one. No exceptions. (OK, once on the Mass. Pike I gave the toll collector a 20 and he returned three fives and four ones. I panicked. This was my allowance for the week. I asked him to give me a ten and more ones instead.) Otherwise, if I get a five dollar bill back - at CVS, or Starbucks, or Marty's on Washington Street - I tuck it away, smiling.

When the fives pocket in my wallet reaches $50, I make a deposit in my credit union. When this account reaches $2,000, I buy a CD to earn higher interest.

Also, it helps to pay with cash. You can't get a five back if you're always using credit cards. Each week, I use the ATM in Newtonville to take out the money I expect to need to cover my basic expenses. I only use cards to pay for (ouch!) gas, and large purchases or airline tickets. Otherwise, I'm cash-to-go, which has not only helped my savings to grow, but has also saved oodles of time when I Christmas shop and get into the short, cash checkout lines at the mall.

People always ask me what I am going to do with the money in my fives accounts. I have no idea. I'm having too much fun watching it grow to want to spend it.

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So, this totally got me excited and I shared it with my friends, then the children and I had a talk about it, too!

We decided that $5 is a lot.  You could get a lot of things with a $5 bill.  But a $1, on the other hand, is pretty limited in what you can spend it on by itself.  So we decided to start saving up our $1 bills.

WOW!  We started that day (the 22nd of July) and already we have $48 saved up!  (Do you see the new Ticker on the left sidebar?)  We are all on the lookout for $1's and now I put them in a separate pocket of my purse so that when I get home the children can put it in our saving place.  When Dad gets home, he donates his $1's as well.

Is this something you could do?  Get your children involved!  I know that they sure help -- Do you have any $1's?  Mom, remember to save that one for when we get home.  ;-)

* blogger friend school: #19 *

This assignment entails visiting the Make a Child Smile Website, choosing a child or children with a  life-threatening/chronic disease, and send them a card.  Infomation about this organization below:

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Founded in May of 1998, by Alexandra Bakker, the Make A Child Smile Organization, also known as MACS, has been a source of support to children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their families. Emotional support is provided by creating the opportunity for people to visit the MACS website and learn about the children and their illnesses.

Each month, new children are featured. A picture and biography describing the child and information about their family is published on the website. Hundreds of 'net surfers, schools, service organizations, girls/boys scouts and church groups use the MACS website as a philanthropic project where they can send cards, letters and small gifts to the featured children and their siblings through postal mail.

In December of 2000, MACS was granted tax-exempt status so that it could expand its mission to include fund-raising efforts in order to provide financial assistance to qualifying families for help with medical, funeral expenses or other costs associated with the child's illness.

Our Mission
To provide emotional and financial support to families whose children suffer from chronic or life-threatening illnesses and also give those who visit the MACS website the opportunity to participate by sending mail to the children.

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I visited the Make a Child Smile website and how can you not want to help?  The children and I are choosing some of these Urgent Children to send some mail to this week.

Will you please join us?

Choose a child/children that are close in age to your own.  Or better yet, have your children each choose a child to send a card to.

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.  Mark 10:14

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  Matthew 25:40

* blogger friend school: #15 *

This assignment is to tell about our buttons.  I don't have any sad or funny stories about my button collection, just the buttons and the very sweet way that I got them.

I actually have a pretty good size collection of buttons, although I collected none of them myself.  They were all a gift from two older ladies in the church. 

One of them, Miss Bea who had been a widow for many years, was cleaning out her house in order to move into a retirement center.  She was having a yard sale, "Come, come over," she said.  So we went.  As I recall my daughter got a sweet handmade cloth rabbit with an apron, I got some kitchen utensils and a purple Pyrex casserole dish, and the boys got a few games.  We stayed to chat and help, and after a bit Miss Bea asks if I sew.  Of course I do.  So she immediately gets up and heads over to a pile -- reaching out, she brought forth a large parmesan cheese container filled with buttons.  "Then would you like these?"  All shapes and sizes of buttons are in there, and the best part is that she said some of the buttons were her mothers' buttons.  Of course I gladly accepted this gift, given with graciousness and joy and received with honor and thanksgiving.   When I got home and looked through the jar, I marveled at the resourcefulness and thrift of the women who clipped buttons and snaps off of old, worn clothing while thinking ahead to the day when a few pennies would be saved by using them again.  Several of the larger buttons still had cloth attached to them and I sat and imagined the elegant or utilitarian coat that at one time held these buttons.  Did the hand that fastened this button do so getting ready for church one Sunday morning just after reaching out and fixing a stray hair or two from a child's head?   The life and stories that the buttons could tell were endless.

The second set of buttons I received were from Miss Betty, another widow who no longer sewed, in two tins, very old, and full to the brim.

I have all of these in their original containers still, because I think that the containers add so much to their story and their charm.  One day, when I am blessed with inquisitive grandchildren, I may put them all in a large jar to be viewed and sorted and counted and enjoyed.  But I'll remember to tell about Miss Bea and Miss Betty, and their mothers and their families from which all these treasures came.

For more Button Tales at Blogger Friend School, click HERE.

* praise, praise, let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD *

These past few weeks we have been regularly reading the Bible together, the children and I.  Proverbs in the morning, Old Testament history during school, reading through Galatians & Ephesians one chapter at a time in the afternoons, as well as a character study a few times a week.   

Also, with the setting up of our new bookcases, I was able to get some great little books out of my room and on the new shelves where the children can have easy access to them.   One of those little books is called Little Pillows, or Good Night Thoughts for Little Ones.  Its an old reprint from Keepers of the Faith and DS3 has been reading it, one very small story at a time, before going to sleep at night.

The story tonight started with the verse I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions.  Isaiah 43:25

After he had read, he called me in to pray with him.  As I was sitting at his side, asking him what he would like to pray about, the  LORD spoke to my heart and I knew that he was going to ask about being saved.   We had such a great conversation, my sweet sunshine boy and I, late at night, in the dark, with quiet and stillness surrounding us.  And then we prayed.  His child-like voice spoke words that were coming from his heart as tears flowed from his eyes.  I prayed and cried, and then he prayed more. 

Now I am rejoicing that my dear son desires the LORD Jesus Christ as his Saviour, desires to have his sins blotted out and his life made new, desires to obey and serve.

Join with me in my rejoicing, and also join with me in prayer for this child, who at 12 is starting on a new path.  Pray that his feet would be firmly established in following Christ, that his heart would be well-watered with the Word and this seed would grow deep, strong roots, and that is ears would be quick to listen and his feet quick to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking within him.

* blogger friend school: #14 *

Jesus, Lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly; While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest stillis high; Hide me, O my Savior hide, till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, O leave my not alone, still support and comfort me; All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defensless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind; Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; Vile and full of sin I am, Thou are full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound, make and keep me pure within;  Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart, rise to all eternity.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul, written by Charles Wesley

For more Blogger Friend School, click HERE.

* blogger friend school: #13 *

This assignment is about my Bible.  Or more particularly:

1. How old is your Bible?    My current Bible is only about three years old.
2. Why did you chose this Bible?     It is a King James Version which I chose specifically after doing much reading about the different Bible versions.   I will no longer use any other kind of Bible.
3. Do you highlight/mark passages in your Bible?      Yes, I highlight and marks passages in my Bible.  I used to have a friend who said she never wrote in hers, that it was a book and she was taught to never write in books - but for me the Bible  the Word of God, living and active.  Just as the Holy Spirit continually opens my eyes to new understanding in its' pages, that discovery is recorded in those same pages.
4. If so, what is your system for marking passages?       At different times I will do word studies and so will go through and mark similar/applicable passages in the same color.  For example, every verse that mentions wisdom is underlined in blue.  A word study that I did on desire and its synonyms covet, lust, imagination, and delight, are marked with differing symbols in red and orange.
5. Do you have notebooks to record things?     No, I do not use a notebook.
6. If so, how many and what do you record?   See above.   
7. Where is your favorite spot to read your Bible?     I most like to READ it, no matter where that may be.  Probably my most cherished time is in bed at night - I meditate on the scriptures and a hymn from my hymnbook before going to sleep.  Another favorite would be in the early morning snuggled in the corner of the couch while I read and look out my window.
8. Are there any special thoughts about your Bible you want to share?   Special thoughts?  Only that I wish I read it more and listened more to the Holy Spirit's prompting in my heart to obey it.  More, I want more of it.  More of its truth, more of its peace, more of Christ.  And to impart that desire for more into my children so that they seek it as gold and find the treasure within to the saving of their souls.   

For more responses to this assignment from Blogger Friend School, visit HERE.

* kanga *

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

* jumbled july musings on saving *

We've been thinking of ways to save and conserve and economize the past few weeks.  Shorter showers, more legumes, meat as an ingredient instead of the feature, putting away dollars and change for our savings/giving fund, driving only when necessary, waiting until just before DH gets home before we turn on the air conditioner, buying only what we need at the store, and more.  All the things that go along with the use what you have wisely mentality.   Even doing a search this morning I found out that we can get several free water saving attachments from our local Water District - adjustable massage showerheads, faucet heads, adjustable hose nozzles, and more.

One of the things that I have been thinking about for a while - since January, in fact - is that I pay money in order to play on the computer and have a little contact with the world.  I really like Typepad and how easy it is to use everything - but do I really need to spend this much money a year just to post my pictures and thoughts?

No.

In January I signed up for a WordPress blog, and this morning I signed up for a blog at HomeschoolJournal.net.  Both of them are experiments.  Sticking my toe in the water I guess.   Honey is the theme for both of them since I am trying to cultivate a sweeter spirit which brings forth sweet water and pleasant words, and I want to train my children to feed - feast! - on that which is good, to be filled with milk and honey.

* homeschool: journaling *

I got up early this morning - What a blessing!!  I'm dressed and ready for the day, the laundry is started, breakfast is in the oven, I've had a chance to go over our plans for the day, and it's almost time to wake up the children!

I wanted to recommend a great little creative writing booklet -

From Heart to Page:  Journaling Through The Year For Young Writers   by Michelle Van Loon

It is filled with suggestions for 180 days of journaling ideas, broken up into four seasons.  A few of the ones for summer are:

*Draw your family tree.  Use 3 adjectives to describe each person on there that you know.  For example, Grandpa Harry: funny, giving, roly-poly.

*Now, pick one of those people and tell about them in more detail.  What do they look like?  What do they like doing?  How old are they?  What makes him or her special to you?

*Study your face in the mirror for a couple of minutes.  Then come back to your journal and describe what you saw.

*Plan a menu for a special meal.  What sort of event will your meal celebrate?  Make a list of the foods you'd like to serve at this meal.  Decorate your journal page to go along with your menu if you wish. 

*What do you wonder most about God?  What would you like to know about Him?  Write your thoughts in the form of a prayer to him today.

*Make a list of what you did yesterday.  Be as detailed as you can!

*Close your eyes for three minutes and listen.  Then open them and write about all of the different sounds that you heard.

*Sketch a picture of your house from outside.

*Which room do you like best in your house?  Why?

*Can you draw a comic strip or a cartoon today?  Try to feature at least 2 different characters having a conversation or sharing a joke.

*Have you tried anything new lately?  New food, new experience, new friend?  What made it new?

* candles & wishes stampin' fun *

There was a party last night, with nice people and great conversations and two cute and different projects!

This one was made with the Big Candle set and designer paper. 

This is a picture frame made with four inch squares of chipboard and kept together with ribbon hinges.   LOVE the colors!