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Instagram post 2177439243161087453_6369173406 I feel like there may be a misconception about becoming debt-free. The misconception is that in order to accomplish this, you have to purchase the most inexpensive things available, and only things that are on sale. While I try to mostly buy things when they are on sale; this isn’t ALWAYS the case. ⁣ ⁣ I will purchase the least expensive brand of certain items sometimes (like the least expensive rubberbands or bobby pins), but I don’t buy the least expensive brand of every item. ⁣ ⁣ There is definitely a time, and a place for the different options available.⁣ ⁣ First, budgets are personal. You might really value purchasing a really expensive star wars figurine, while I really value buying myself a @patagonia jacket. Everyone’s choices and preferences are different, and that’s ok.⁣ ⁣ The questions you need to ask yourself with every purchase is: "Will buying this item give me the value I was looking for?" And “Is it in the budget?” If it isn’t currently in the budget, then is it worth saving for? ⁣ ⁣ What’s the point of buying a $5 pair of flip flops if they are just going to fall apart in 2 days and you will have to purchase another pair? In some cases it’s worth it to spend more money up front on something of great value that will last 10x longer than the least expensive counterpart. ⁣ ⁣ Some brands I can think of that offer great value, & customer service experience in return for the price: @jaanuubydrneela , @nordstrom, @patagonia , @athleta , @hansgroheusa @lululemon , @westelm , @fawndesign, & @olukai.⁣ ⁣ In case you missed it, I took over @jaanuubydrneela Instagram account today! Hop over if you get a chance! ⁣ ⁣ What are your favorite brands that provide great value? #debtfreecollective #debtfreecommunity
Instagram post 2175990644929871657_6369173406 Six year ago when we were paying off the majority of our debt, I was working 2 jobs as an ER Nurse which involved 50-100 hour work weeks, lots of hours on my feet, 16-hour shifts, and lots time away from my husband. This was a choice I made for my future self. I was “living like no one else so that later I could live like no one else.” (I love that quote by @daveramsey )⁣ ⁣ When it got hard, and it did, we had to remember our end goal: freedom of our time. Giving up was never an option, and if my husband or myself ever felt like giving up, we held each other accountable to our goal of achieving financial freedom. We paid off our debt with our future children in mind, to be able to spend lots of time with them without HAVING to work extra, and to give me the option to work part-time or per diem.⁣ ⁣ I would highly recommend that whatever pace you decide on, make sure it’s sustainable. You don’t want to burn out, give up, and lose sight of why you set out to achieve your financial dreams in the first place!
Instagram post 2175255409191675299_6369173406 The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis⁣ ⁣ This quote speaks so much truth. I remember when my daughter was a baby, and she was choking, I had to give her back thrusts to dislodge a foreign body out of her airway. I will never forget that moment. Everything was in slow motion, and I couldn’t even find my cell phone that was in plain sight because I was so focused on getting my daughter to stop choking. For what seemed like forever (it was only a few minutes), my daughter kept struggling despite my back thrusts so I ran to the neighbor’s house and had them call 911 for me. Despite being an ER nurse, and knowing what to do, I knew that enough time had elapsed where my daughter was struggling and I needed backup. Between the time it took for me to get to my neighbor’s house, my daughter dislodged the item that was obstructing her airway and started crying (crying is great a sign that an airway is clear).⁣ ⁣ I remember calling my mother-in-law after that and I remember her saying “this is one of those moments after which the sun seems a littler brighter, the grass a little greener, and the sky a little bluer.” She was right. I was so incredibly thankful that my baby girl was ok.⁣ ⁣ I’ve been writing in a gratitude journal in the morning semi-regularly, and it feels like nothing can go wrong the days when I start with a grateful heart.⁣ ⁣ What are some things you are thankful for? . . . . . . . . Follow me on the LIKEtoKNOW.it shopping app to get the product details for this look and others http://liketk.it/2GNKz #liketkit @liketoknow.it #LTKhome #LTKfamily #LTKunder50 @liketoknow.it.home @liketoknow.it.family
Instagram post 2172324747425880361_6369173406 I love when pomegranates are in season because that means I can make pomegranate salsa! My mother-in-law made the first batch I ever had, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I don’t typically measure the ingredients when I make the salsa, so here are approximate measurements of what I use: ⁣ ⁣ Super simple pomegranate salsa recipe:⁣ 2 medium pomegranates deseeded⁣ 1-2 tablespoons olive oil⁣ Lime juice (to taste, usually closer to a whole lime) 1/2 bunch cilantro⁣ Red onion chopped (I use about 1/4-1/2 of the red onion)⁣ Cumin, salt and pepper to taste⁣ If you want some spice add some chopped jalapeño or serrano pepper⁣ ⁣ A special thank you to @ybbaperiot for reaching out with her pomegranate hack. I had previously talked about how deseeding a pomegranate is a labor of love, and Abby shared her hack with me. Cut the pomegranate in half, hold it over a bowl filled with cool water and hit it with a large, heavy kitchen spoon, and voila! The seeds sink to the bottom, almost everything else floats to the top! It comes out 10x quicker than my previous method!!!⁣ ⁣ Anyone else love pomegranates? What do you make with them?
Instagram post 2170021792119170887_6369173406 51 more days until Christmas! If you are saving for Christmas, I have created a new freebie for you! A Christmas savings tracker to help you reach your goal. Click the link in my bio to download the new savings tracker and for gift ideas, and things to remember to budget for this holiday season.⁣ ⁣ If you haven’t started saving, don’t fear…you still have time to save and grab great deals! I would start by writing down a list of who you will be purchasing gifts for, what is your budget per person, tally that up and now you have a starting point for how much you need to save.⁣ ⁣ Something else to consider are all the other things to budget for: kid’s school parties, gifts for teachers, holiday gift exchanges with groups of friends or family, decorations, food that you will be bringing to the holiday parties, and maybe sponsoring a kid or family in need.⁣ ⁣ This year we are going to continue to incorporate more experiences as gifts. While this requires lots of thought, I find they are the most memorable by far! ⁣ ⁣ What’s your favorite thing about this time of year? #debtfreecollective #debtfreecommunity
Instagram post 2167301245572695676_6369173406 Elsa costume: $3 from a garage sale I bought earlier this year⁣ Princess Leia: $21 on Mercari including the wig⁣ Olaf: $23 on sale at @kohls and we will be repurposing this for our Polar Express Trip⁣ Stormtrooper: the exact same costume my son wore last year! ⁣ ⁣ We decided to dress up in pairs this year. Lots of fun, candy, and friends! ⁣ ⁣ Side note: I had fun dressing up as Princess Leia! May the force be with you, and happy Halloween!

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Free 4-day Healthy Finances Course!

November 14, 2019November 14, 2019 by Lauren
Free 4-day Healthy Finances Course!

I made a brand new “Healthy Finances” mini-bootcamp course! This free course is for the finance beginner, the person that’s tired of living paycheck to paycheck, the person that keeps overspending and lacks self-control, and…

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Easy Christmas Savings Plan & Free Printable

October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 by Lauren
Easy Christmas Savings Plan & Free Printable

Christmas Savings Imagine the feeling of knowing you have a completely funded “Christmas Savings” budget category once November hits.  I know the feeling of wondering if I will have enough money to buy all of…

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Best Free Savings Tracker for any Goal

August 19, 2019August 27, 2019 by Lauren
Best Free Savings Tracker for any Goal

Why you should use a Savings Tracker for your Goals When my husband and I were paying off our $266,000 debt, we used a debt tracker visual aid so we could see our mortgage pay-off…

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Mountain Modern Motel: Jackson, WY Review

August 11, 2019August 27, 2019 by Lauren
Mountain Modern Motel: Jackson, WY Review

Mountain Modern Motel Review, Jackson, Wyoming After doing extensive research for places to stay in Jackson Wy, I knew that Mountain Modern Motel was the best choice for my family for many reasons: location, amenities,…

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Tailwind Review & Tutorial: How to get your Content Seen

July 23, 2019August 27, 2019 by Lauren
Tailwind Review & Tutorial: How to get your Content Seen

With the help of the app Tailwind, Pinterest traffic to my blog increased 688%  after the first 4 months I signed up, and more than doubled 1,651% the first 9 months of using Tailwind!! Tailwind….how…

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About Me

Hi! I'm Lauren: ER registered nurse, wife, mama to 2 little ones. I'm passionate about design (I designed our entire home remodel), budgets (my husband and I paid off $266k of debt in 33 months), food, and travel. Follow along to get tips, ideas, and inspiration!

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