2 Easy Ways To Save $1378 In One Year

When I saw the 52 Week Savings Challenge chart come up on my Pinterest feed, I thought "I can do that."    I have to admit I'm not that great with saving money. For me, this plan seems simple and painless.
 

There are two different ways to do the weekly version, you can either start with $1 and increase it each week or start with $52 and decrease each week.   The end result is still the same, but I figured I'd have more money in the beginning of the year then at the end.   Obviously this is meant as a New Year's resolution type challenge, but you can start it at any time.  I'm starting this week but will save as if this is week 4 which means I'm putting aside $202.   It will be a nice chunk of change that sure will come in handy for Christmas gifts.  Although, you could use the money for a family trip, maybe new furniture or a household project that's been put off for too long.  You could just leave it and grow your savings every year, but that's no fun.

This chart breaks it down monthly, it might work better with someone's budget to do it this way. 

I've seen people tape it to a large jar, but I think it would be too easy to "borrow" from the jar if it was sitting right there.  I'm printing mine out and keeping it in my bill paying binder so it's always there to remind me.  I should frame it and hang it on the wall above my desk, that would be hard to miss!  

Do you have any tips or tricks for saving money?  I'd love to hear about them.  

Cleaning Out The Clutter... One Week At A Time (Master Bedroom)

With the new year comes all of the good intentions of being more organized in every aspect of life.
Since it's January, I am doing my BEST to turn all those "intentions" into reality.
I believe that when your household clutter is so out of control, so is your life and mind.    It's a lot easier said then done.   "Oh, just clean out, throw out and organize everything and it'll make your life better."   Well, when you really step back and look at all that needs to get done it's a bit paralyzing.   At least for me it is.

I know we are a few weeks into January already but it's been rough around here with my father-in-law in the hospital with serious heart and kidney failure.   I'm doing this now because, A) It's NEEDS to be done..B) I need to get my mind back in the game.. C) I could really use the distraction.  

Better late, then never...right?  

I originally was thinking I would do a 31 Day Cleaning/Organizing Challenge, but that quickly became too overwhelming.  After, I typed the whole list on my computer and printed it out, I instantly realized I was being unrealistic and setting myself up for disappointment. I just if I couldn't accomplish something everyday, I would get defeated and give up totally.   I decided it was probably a better idea to give myself a bigger goal but at the same time give myself a longer time frame.    So, I came up with this weekly "Cleaning Out The Clutter" challenge for myself.  

This week it's my bedroom.   I would normally start with an easier room, like the bathroom or laundry room. But I really wanted to challenge myself to get a big job done first.

Here's my plan:

• under the bed 
• both night stand drawers 
• both dressers 
• tv/entertainment center shelves and cabinet 
• closets  (This will be the worst job of them all.  Both my husband's closet and mine are packed  from floor to ceiling with clothes and shoes.    The saddest part is that probably 75% of what's in there, is stuff  we wouldn't ever wear or doesn't fit.)    
• vacuum and steam clean the rug 
• new curtain for window 

Are you doing a cleaning, organizing or decluttering challenge?    I love hearing about how other people tackle their household chores.  

I'll be back every Sunday to update my progress and hopefully move on to another room.