Keep Your Money :: Tip 4-How much am I paying?!

It is time to take a close look at your monthly bills and cut back.  Trust me, you are probably paying more than you need to.

Paying bills is so easy and convenient for us these days with online billing and automatic withdrawal that sometimes we don't take the time to look at our bills and see what we are actually paying for.  We just let the transaction go through and don't think anything of it just to save some time.  Don't get me wrong, I am all about saving time, but you might end up keeping a lot more of your money if you take the time to check out your bills once every quarter or even once a year.

This is where J and I really started to keep a lot more of our money in just a few months...

Look at your monthly bills and REALLY find out how much you are paying and WHAT you are paying for.  It might be something you don't use, need or even want.

J and I decided that we could cut out our land line because the only people that ever seemed to call us were telemarketers.  We ended up keeping much more money than we thought we would.  When we went to look at our bill (which is "conveniently" bundled with our internet and cable) we realized that we were also paying for some movie channels that we never even watched.  How the heck did this happen?  Have you ever signed up for something during a promotion before?  That is what we did and when the promotion ended they started charging us for these other channels and because our bills were paid automatically we didn't catch it for a long time.

Because we took the time to check out our bill we are now keeping almost $70 a month more now than we were before!!  That is 1-2 weeks of groceries or $840 a year!!  The nice thing about this cut back is that it isn't affecting our lifestyle one bit.

So, what are some other bills you can look at to keep more of your money...?

- Gas/Electric Bill: This is more about being more responsible with turning lights and other electronics of in your house and less about canceling something because there isn't, unfortunately, a lot we can do about how much we are charged.  We are keeping about $5 a month with this bill.

- Cell Phone Bill:  Do you have unlimited minutes/texts?  Look at your last year of bills and see how many minutes you are using and how many texts?  Do you really need unlimited?  Do you have a family plan?  Switching to a family plan helped us keep about $20 a month

- Insurance Bills:  This can be car, home owners, life, health.  You may not be able to do a whole lot here, but maybe sit down with your agent and figure out if there is a way you can cut back at all and keep more of your money.  We now keep around $60 more a month.

What bills do you pay on a monthly basis?  Have you done anything like this before?  If so, how much more money are you keeping every month?

Keep Your Money :: Tip 3+

Quit throwing Your money in the trash!

This is piggy-backing on my last post about coupons AND is two-fold.  We all go grocery shopping multiple times a month so this is really a great place to look for keeping more of your money.  When looking for ways to keep more of your money, first look at places that you spend money most frequently.

The first thing you need to do is go through your pantry and throw out what is bad and donate what you know you will most likely not use by the expiration date and then you won't be throwing away money; you will be helping those in need.  This will give you a fresh place to start and give you more room in your pantry and refrigerator.

Tip 3: Limit yourself to grocery shopping once a week.
Tip +: Buy food for 1 week not for a month or year.

How many of you have gone grocery shopping only to go back a few days later because you need something for dinner later in the week or you get invited somewhere and need a dish to pass?  I know I used to do it quite often (or I would send J to "quick" pick up something on his way home from work).

So some of you might be thinking...how is this helping me keep more of my money?

First, you will not be spending as much money on gas because you will be only going to the store once instead of 2, 3 or even 4 times a week.  Second, you will also be saving your time, which to some people is even more important that saving money.

In doing this, you should also focus on buying just enough food for a week and only buy what you are going to eat.  We used to throw away quite a bit of fresh produce.  Are you one of those people?  And that is why so many people think buying fresh produce is "so expensive".  If you are eating it all and not throwing it away then it is not expensive.

To accomplish all of this, it really does take some planning.  Figure out what you plan to eat for the week so you know exactly what to buy and how much.  Sometimes I have to buy more produce than I want for one meal.  When that happens, I make sure to incorporate it into the a different meal.  Usually, at the end of the week I will just see what is left in the fridge and figure out something to make with whatever is left.

My cart is typically 80% Fresh Produce, 10% Protein, 10% Misc.  For J and I to get 1 week of groceries it is usually between $45 and $60 a week.  Not bad, considering I almost always make my own lunch and J makes lunch 3-4 times a week and we usually eat 4-6 dinners a week at home.

Doing these things will save you some gas money AND prevent you from throwing your money away in the form of bad or expired food.

What do you do to be efficient in your grocery shopping?

Keep Your Money :: Tip 1

Keep Your Money :: Tip 1-Walk if off

You may be asking yourself, how does walking save me money? Well, as I said in my first post was that J and I not only saved money, but we are also healthier and have lost weight...think of it as a bonus :)

The most obvious way to have walking save you money is to walk places instead of driving because, of course, gas prices never seem to get any lower.  This tip is one that most of us have probably heard before is to walk to the store, gym, work, a friend's house...

Now if you are one of those people that doesn't live in town or close to where you work, you may just toss this tip to the side and just say, Next Tip Please! Remember, I asked you to commit to these tips.  So let's get creative and figure out how we can use this tip in a way that works for you.

Most of probably try to run multiple errands during one outing, so when you are out and about are there any places you stop that are close to each other?  For instance, if you live in Madison and you are planning on going shopping at Kohl's and the Mall on the West side.  Try parking at the end of the lot so that you are in the middle of both buildings and walk back and forth from each building.  You will definitely be getting more exercise and you will be saving that little bit of gas money.  And really, if you think about it, this probably won't even take any longer because you are going to spend time getting in the car, driving to the next store and looking for a new stall.

Another way you can use this tip if walking is really difficult for you is to find a carpool buddy and take turns driving one another to run errands (assuming you are going to the same stores or ones that are close to each other).

One more version of this tip that can be more time conscious than walking is instead of walking, try biking.  :)

This is just the first tip for you and although this by itself will probably not save you a significant amount of money right away, it will in the long term and this along with the future tips can really make a difference.

One important thing to remember that easily gets lost in this day of the internet and instant gratification is that you really need to think about how what you do today will affect you tomorrow because in the end it will whether you want it to or not.

Have you ever walked somewhere instead of driving?  Where will you start walking to now?  Please comment and share!

Keep Your Money!

“It’s not how much money you make; it’s how much you keep.”  

What does this statement mean and how can you make it work for you?  In this next segment of blog posts I will share with you how my husband, J, and I are doing this.  

In the last six months not only have I left a job that I was making more money than I am now, but my husband and I also have managed to lose weight and become healthier through supplementation and eating healthier.  Most people think that eating healthy is more expensive and that the supplements I take are too expensive.  I will show you how my husband and I have not only maintained the same lifestyle (for the most part), but have saved more money than ever before all while losing income, eating healthier and buying supplements we weren’t buying before.

All of the tips I will be giving are things that we are implementing on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.  Some may be things that you have heard before and others you may not have.  The important thing for you is that YOU have to commit to using this information to benefit you.  I can give you all the tips in the world, but if you aren’t willing to implement them into your life than they are not doing you any good.  The more you implement the more you will save(keep).

I really hope you enjoy this next series and can't wait to see what you think and how you are keeping more of your money.

Exercise: 30-30-30

6:00am
I know it has been a while since my last journal entry, but I have had so many exciting things happpening that it has been difficult to find the time to journal.  This is just an excuse and I do realize that something that is difficult to do (losing weight, making more money, finding time with family, staying connected with friends...) is probably the most rewarding.

This goes right into my journal entry about exercise.  This is where the majority of people struggle when it comes to weight loss because it is the easiest to make excuses for (not enough time, tired, work...).  To be perfectly honest; all of those things are just excuses and if you are serious about your health, you won't make those excuses.  And I'm speaking from experience here, not from my high horse. 

So how have I encorporated exercise into my hectic life...?  30-30-30!

What does this mean?  I do 30 pushups, 30 situps and 30 squats every day (usually in the morning).  For those of you with no time, this is a great place to start.  It takes lest than 5 minutes and at least gets you in the mindset of working out on a regular basis.  Eventually, you will have to do more than this, but if you can start with this, you can work your way up to a 30-60 minute workout.  I know some of you are saying to yourselves..."I can't do 30 pushups!"  and I say, "YES you can!"  You can do 10 of each 3 times or 5 of each 6 times...just break it down so it is doable for you.  And I personally do modified pushups (a.k.a. "girl pushups").

The key is to make it work for you and start out small!  Have fun moving your mass! :)

Coach Michelle

Don't jump too fast...

1:45pm
The end of last week went great.  I started to add a little protein by Saturday because I was doing some major cleaning and needed a little extra something.  So Saturday and Sunday I had a veggie egg white omelet for breakfast both days.  Saturday, Jarrod and I got Panera so I got an Asian chicken salad with the dressing and won tons on the side and the vegetarian black bean soup.  It was delicious.  I used just a little dressing and had none of the won tons.  Sunday we had Old Chicago for lunch so I got a California chicken sandwich (no bun) with fresh veggies for the side.  We also got the spicy spinach dip, which I probably ate a little too much of, but that also came with veggies so I didn't have to use chips or bread to dip.  After a few hours I could tell that my stomach didn't like the dip right after detoxing...oops a little too fast I guess.

Today I did an omelet for breakfast again and this time I used a tiny bit of oil, just to prevent from sticking and then I just had lunch and did homemade soup and veggie salad.  I put a little bit of vinaigrette on my salad along with pecans and I started getting a headache by the end of lunch.  So I think it was either the dressing or the pecans that did it and I am thinking it was probably the dressing.  So tomorrow I will use even less dressing and no pecans and see how that goes.  It is amazing how quickly your body will tell you that you are eating something that might not be that great for you when you get your body detoxed and clean.

I am planning on making a veggie with some red potatoes soup tonight so Jarrod and I can eat the same dinner.  I will let you know how I feel tomorrow after that.
Today's lesson...don't jump right back into adding everything back into your diet. :)

Daily Affirmation:

"I am making a transition to a new life."

Coach Michelle

I feel Great! :)

9:27am

Feeling great again today!  Slept amazing last night.  I am struggling with eating only raw veggies, I think mostly becuase it is cold out and I want something warm.  So the last 2 nights I had cooked veggies (no butter) with salt and pepper and that made my craving go away.  I am still so ready to eat protein again.  I know the longer I hold out the better results I will get, so I am staying strong :)

Tonight, Jarrod and I are going to my Sister & Brother-inlaw's and luckily they live the same lifestyly so I know they wont be pressuring me to eat things they know I can't have.  Having a supportive family really helps.  That is why we recommend you telling your family what you are doing so they don't poke fun at you or make you feel bad for getting healthy.  The great thing is that once they start seeing you looking better, feeling better and having more energy, they will want to join you.  That is the best feeling ever.  By helping yourself first, you are now helping your family :)

Coach Michelle

Sleep is Great!

11:15am
I have been sleeping great the last 2 nights!  I feel like I have as much energy today as any other day before when I was drinking my MochaTonix.  That means this detox is really working.  Getting rid of the toxins in my body from the sugary processed foods over the holidays has helped me increase my natural energy and I love it!
I am still struggling with only eating vegtables, but I know it is only 7 days and I am already on day 4.  Not much else to report for today.  See you tomorrow :)
Coach Michelle

Detox-Day 3...starting to feel better already :)

6:45am
I am using the 7-Day Nutri Clean Cleansing system along with the veggie diet for the detox this time and I love it!  I am not running to the bathroom all the time, yet I can tell that I am being cleansed.  I slept so good last night and didn't want to wake up at 5:30.  I seriously slept like a rock.  I normally don't have any issues with falling asleep or staying asleep, but this sleep is awesome.  Today is day 3 and I think since this is my 3rd time doing a detox that I am past the hard stuff.  Yesterday was very difficult for me.  I was tired and kinda in a fog all day (which is normal), I can already tell that I am feeling better this morning.

Alright, gotta get ready for work.

Daily Affirmation:
"Today I will seize the opportunity to make the right choices when regarding my health and well-being."

Coach Michelle

Today is a sleepy day :)

6:50am
I am very sleepy this morning. I need to work on getting more sleep. Typically I am fine with 6 hours of sleep, but this week, it isn't cutting it. Luckily, since this is my third time doing the detox, I know what to expect and how to cope. Having the Health Guide and Journal has really helped because I can track my progress throughout the day and then plug it in to my plan at night.

I am so excited because today I get to share this wonderful program to a room full of people. Which is my mission: Create success stories and new coaches to Get America Moving Again! It is up to me to inform the uniformed. See you tomorrow :)

Coach Michelle

Detoxing my Body & Mind

This will be my daily journal for success to help keep me on track and motivate you to take control of your life, no matter what aspect.  I hope you enjoy and learn something and at the end of this, you will probably know a lot about me, who I am and what I stand for.  Enjoy!

6:37am
I am ready to cleanse and detox my body of all of the toxins from the holidays.  Since this will be my 3rd time through the program, I know that this program will not only set me up for success for my physical goals, but also help me stay focused on personal & business goals.
This is the start to my detox week and I know I will be detoxing my body, but I really feel like I will be detoxing my mind to set me on my path to financial freedom.  I am so ready for these changes in my life and I can feel that they will happen as I grin typing this.
As I sip on my warm lemon water, I know the road starts out tough, but I also know it will make me stronger.
It is time to #findyourfit! :)

A Resolution or a Goal...

I used to think that making a New Year's resolution was dumb because nobody ever keeps them going for more than a month.  Well, I have learned a lot in this past year about personal growth and development.  I think I realized why resolutions rarely work for anyone.


Typically a resolution is a vague statement: "I am going to be healthier."  "I am going to save more money." 

The problem with these resolutions is that there is no way to tell if or when you have reached what you are looking for.  Let me help you set a goal for next year and better yet; help you reach your goal.

Here is one way to start:
1. What do you want?
2. When do you want it?
3. What are you willing to give up to get it?

The most important thing to remember is to be as specific as possible.  Once you answer these questions you can then make it into a goal statement.  Here is an example:

1. I want to increase my savings account by $6,000.
2. I want to do this in a year (by 2013)
3. I will stop eating out for lunch and put 1% more of my paycheck in my savings

This is the statement I would make from these answers.  It is best to put it in the present tense because then when you read it, it is like it has already happened.  Trust me; it makes a difference.

It is January 1, 2013 and I have have added $6,000 to my savings account in the past year.  I did this by being disciplined in my spending by not eating out for lunch and putting 1% more of my paycheck into my savings account.  It feels great to have accomplished this goal!

Here are my tips on how to better improve the likelihood of you accomplishing your goals:
- Write out your goal statement and hang it up somewhere (like your bathroom) and read it out loud every day.
- Break down your long term goal into smaller short terms goals.  This way you don't have to wait a whole year to feel proud of yourself.
- Read your goal to someone you trust so they can keep you accountable and on track.

I really hope this helps you.  If you want more help please ask.  I am here to help you.  Just remember that you can do it and YOU are worth it!  Happy New Year!!

Tis the season...

of giving, reflection of the past year and making the change.

I was cleaning and organizing this weekend and when I went downstairs to put clothes in the community laundry I saw a few boxes with signs on them for the food pantry.  I thought to myself, "that is nice; I wish I had something to give."

Coincidentally, I was cleaning out the pantry.  As I was cleaning out the pantry and finding food in there that had been in there a while, I was reminded of the boxes in the laundry room.  I decided to put a few cans and boxes in the wash basket.  As I was doing all of this and deciding what to donate I also recalled a short video of Dani Johnson I had watched earlier in the year called, "War on Debt."  I was reminded to simplify my life.

As I was going through the pantry and putting some food in my basket to donate, I was looking at expiration dates on the foods.  I ended up throwing out a few cans of food and and some other miscellaneous foods.  One of the things I learned from Dani Johnson was to not overbuy.  This goes for food at the grocery store and clothes at the department stores.  I realized that the food I was throwing in the garbage wasn't just food; it was money that I was throwing away.  Have you ever thrown expired food away?  How about found clothes you have never worn with tags on them still?  All of this is money you are throwing away.

The great thing about all of this is that I was able to donate to those who are less fortunate, remind myself what I need to do to stay on the road to financial freedom and, of course, clean up.  For those of you that are wishing you could donate, but don't have the money, this is perfect for you. 

My recommendation:  Clean out your pantry and give away some of the food to a food pantry.  Anything that you have to throw away because it is expired, realize that it's money you are throwing away.  I would seriously considering purchasing "War on Debt" because it can really help you get on a good path.

What have you done this holiday season to help yourself or others? 

Part 1: Principle 3: Arouse in the other person an eager want.

"Tomorrow you may want to persuade somebody to do something.  Before you speak, pause and ask yourself: "How can I make this person want to do it?'"

So how would one go about this...hmmm...?  Now, read the quote again.  If you actually do this, it will help you take your time and think about the other person.  Have you ever heard that everyone's favorite subject to talk about is themselves?  So if you start by talking to the other person about them or what they want, you will build a relationship.

The question you might be asking yourself now, is: "What if it is a stranger or somebody I don't know?"  If this is the case, start by asking the other person questions.  Have you ever hear of the "F.O.R.M." technique?  Family, Occupation, Recreation, Money or Message (depending on who you ask).

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We should listen more than we speak.  So this next week, let's focus on listening and really getting to know people.  You may find a new friend or maybe you will find yourself learning more about your current friends and/or family.  Enjoy listening! :)

Part 1: Principle 2: Give Honest and Sincere Appreciation

"Dr. John Dewey said that the deepest urge in human nature is "the desire to be important.'"



 What a bold, yet true statement.  So in the simplest terms, if you want to get someone to do something for you, make them feel important.  How do you make someone feel important?  Appreciate them!  You can't just do it to blow smoke though.  You have to actually mean it!

"We often take our spouses so much for granted that we never let them know we appreciate them."

This statement really hit home for me.  I really like this statement because you can interchange the word, spouse for brother, sister, mom, dad or even friend. 

One of Jarrod's (my husband) "jobs" in the house is to do the dishes so I can get to work on business or volleyball right after dinner.  He does dishes so often that sometimes I go a whole week without saying "thank you" to him for doing the dishes.  Even though dishes are pretty simple, it is something worth appreciating.  If you really think about it; isn't it the small things that are done all the time, the things that make our lives easier.  It is easy to thank someone for a gesture done out of the ordinary, like a gift, because it is unexpected.  But doesn't everybody do that.  We are trying to be unlike other people.  If you are the only one at work saying thank you on a reagular basis, do you think you might be the first to get a raise or a larger bonus...?  It may not, but this is something so easy to do and also easy not to do.  Therefore most people don't!  What if this did work...?  This may not get you the raise or the bonus, but it is a start; and if you start small and grow from that, the next thing you do might be the tipping point for what you want.

Make a concious effort to make this change.  It will make you feel better :)

Part 1: Principle 1: Don't Criticize, Condemn or Complain

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do.  But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving." 

Really take a moment to think about this very first principle because it is powerful.  In the past few months I have been really focusing on being positive and saying positive things to others and to myself.  It wasn't until I read this chapter that I really realized that even though I am being more positive, I am still being negative because I am criticizing others and complaining about them.  And most of the time it was to myself, which I think can even be worse than saying it out loud because then it is just stewing around in my head.


Since reading this chapter I have caught myself complaining about things and criticizing those around me.  And I do it A LOT more than I thought I did, which means you probably are too.  Realize this though, it may not be all of your fault.  Think about what you brought up around.  Most likely it was complaining and criticizing.  Men are stupid, My boss is an idiot, Why can't people learn how to drive... Do any of these sound familiar to you?  Look in the mirror...do you really like what you see (hear)?

Now, this isn't something that you can change over night.  Trust me, I still complain and criticize.  So how can you get on a better path?  Take the time to really realize what you are saying.  How often are you criticizing someone?  How often are you complaining about someone or something?  And when you criticize, condemn or complain, does that really change the situation?

Check out this article that really puts it well and illustrates the message of this principle. "Don't Occupy Wall Street"

I would love to hear your thoughts!

I'm Back and Better Than Ever! :)

To those of you who followed my last blog; Thank you!  My last blog was about making lifestyle changes to improve your physical health and sharing what I was doing.  I am happy to report that I am still living that lifestyle and it feels great!

This blog is going to be about another lifestyle change.  This change is not necessarily a change, but more of a modification of how I go about my life on a daily basis.

My Goal:  To give you a different outlook on life

I have been reading some amazing books, going to trainings and listening to audios for a while now and it has radically changed how I approach my life and you will see that throughout this blog.

I will be posting updates on books I am reading and what I am learning while I am reading.  I will also be sharing what I have been learning with the trainings and audios I have been going to and listening to.

I appreciate your comments and you sharing this blog with your friends and family that you think could benefit from a little bit of change :)

Let's Begin...