I loved Walmart – back when Sam was still in charge. The atmosphere of the stores abounded in friendliness and warmth. The employees I knew told of a family more than a job. You could find what you needed and at reasonable prices. The entire story from start to finish was all-American.

Things change, and Walmart went away and was replaced by a massive superstore. One by one, the little stores around the community closed up. Maybe it was coincidence, but I had my doubts. The big supercenter had its benefits – mainly great prices and one stop shopping. The variety of products was also amazing.

Things change, and the variety began to dwindle. The prices remained low, but I struggled to find the volumes or choices on my lists. I began to avoid the supercenter. First, I wanted to support the smaller, family owned businesses. Second, I wanted to get the items on my list instead of having to compromise. Finally, I was frustrated at the concept that when I did go I had to find what I needed or wanted on my own.

I began to hate the Walmart in my community because it was no longer the business I had grown up knowing.

These last several months, my attitude has started to sway me back to the side of support for Walmart. Little things make a big difference when it comes to earning my shopping. The employees have been cheerful, always greeting me with a smile. The offerings have been closer to what I have needed, although not the one-stop shopping that had been the original draw for me.

It still has a long way to go before it holds the same place in my heart, but Walmart has earned its home on my shopping list. Today, I do not hate Walmart, but I will still confess that I choose to do most of my shopping somewhere else.

What do you look for when it comes to finding the right location to spend your dollars?

Break Away to Debt Freedom

The bumps in the path on our move towards debt freedom jostled our resolve. We had no debt but the mortgage and an equity loan that had allowed us to enlarge the home to three bedrooms for our growing family. When he left his job in 2007, our income fell squarely on my freelance writing resources. It was NOT pretty. Each year the income tax refund ran out a little sooner until we were living off the credit cards.

Our struggles stem from a lack of communication that grew out of an anger issue. My husband would freak out when negative finances were discussed, so I kept our problems to myself. By the time he was handling issues better and I was bold enough to bring things up – we were in a huge debt hole again.

Find Ways to Boost Debt Freedom

• Sell it off – if you have no need for it, or you have no love for it, or if it is just in the way then let go. My husband had a Mustang GT that had been a part of his life since 1985. He “treasured” the car, but because we had no extra finances the car sat out in the yard undriveable and deteriorating with each passing year. I had already released most of my stuff (like stuffed animals and silver) and seeing him sign the title away for that Mustang gave me hope that together we would defeat debt in our lives!

• Save it up – Start with a little emergency money. The income tax refund boosts this step by allowing you to set aside a portion (in a separate account preferably at a separate back so that there is no easy access). We opened up an emergency account and stashed a little in the account for the “I did NOT see that coming” moments of life.

• Set the resolve – our income tax refund landed in the checking account and one of the last things we wanted to think about was debt freedom. There was money in the account for the first time in a long time and the urge to spend was almost uncontrollable. The way we were able to use the income tax refund to boost debt freedom was with a plan. We knew how we were going to spend almost all of the money and some of it did include a little free spending money for all of the family. Sticking to the plan has helped us maintain money in the account AND allowed us to pay down the debt we had grown over the past several years.

• See the possibility – there are a lot of fingers that could be pointed at who or what is to blame for our troubles. Pointing will not make things different. We have to choose to focus on the possibilities and NOT the problems in order to make a change. I am seeing new ways to earn more money as a writer and my husband has found a new job that allows me that time to write. We are seeing the income level rise and with each wave the hope grows stronger.

The income tax refund may not be the answer to everything, but with the right plan and preparation the income tax refund boosts debt freedom and helps push finances back into the black.

Traditional health insurance does not work for our family, so we looked at investing in a HSA (Health Savings Account). These accounts let you set back money each year to pay for any medical expenses. The money is yours and when you reach retirement age you have access to that money that you did not have to use for medical purposes.

It is like buying a house as opposed to leasing a house.

The only catch is that you have to purchase health insurance with a high deductible even if you choose the direction of the HSA. These insurance policies do not cover much of anything (if anything) until after you meet that high deductible. The theory is that you can use the money in your HSA to pay expenses until you reach that high deductible.

Most of the high deductible insurance policies that I have found for the family are not cheap. We would be paying about the same for one that we currently pay for full coverage through my husband’s employment. I understand that we would probably have to pay a little more for full coverage if we bought insurance privately, but not so much that it justifies the switch to investing in a HSA account.

Another catch is that when you make the switch you need to have enough money set aside to cover that high deductible. Most people are not able to set aside extra money to save when paying these high premiums for regular insurance. And to add insult to injury (pun intended), the government prevents you from opening a HSA account until you do have that high deductible policy even if you have full coverage through another policy.

I know there is a way out of this maze. Every corner I turn leaves me facing another wall. We want to be good stewards of our money. We want to prepare for the future. But the health insurance option, government regulations and basic craziness of it all do NOT make the journey an easy one.

There are no more creative solutions. The last zero looms in the night and I see little or no way around it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Tips for Finding Financial Balance

1. Sell something – you have been holding on to a special item; a gift, a first car, a piece of land. It could be the answer to your current financial woes. Let it go. Remember anything that you cannot release is no longer a possession but now possesses you.

2. Turn back the clock – there was a day when every house did NOT have a television and phone in every room. It was not so long ago that three channels of television entertainment were all that was provided. Release some of the technology. Cutting out the cell phones (at least some of them) or cutting back to basic service, turning off the cable and television and even turning off the internet could mean lots more time for family and more money in the wallet.

3. Get HELP NOW – the things that have been tried have not worked. No more messing around. Find a financial counselor and get serious advice on how to get the red back into black.

4. Be honest – with your family, with your friends and most of all with yourself. Coming clean will allow you to get the help that you need and repair the damage that has already worked its way into your life.

5. Walk away – mortgages (and equity loans/lines) make up the biggest debts that most people have today. Payments should not exceed more than 25% of income. Once that balance starts to shift the troubles will follow. It may be time to seriously look at walking away from the financially hole that many mortgages cause.

It can be done. It may be scary and it may seem crazy to others around you. In the end, a debt free life does more than turn the ink from red to black. A balanced budget provides your life with comfort, stability and hope.

Feeding growing boys gets exhausting and expensive. Several years ago, I created a recipe for Taco Pie that cuts back on both of those. I have even modified it a little to be used in a crockpot if you want something to be ready when you get home.

Taco Pie

browned ground beef (around one 1lb or enough to fill a quart freezer bag) – thawed $3
1 jar salsa $2
1 bag shredded cheese $3
Two boxes cornbread muffin mix $1
2 eggs $.20
Buttermilk $.20
Shredded lettuce $1
1 container sour cream $1
1 casserole dish – covered with no-stick cooking spray

Crack one egg in a mixing container and then add one box of the muffin mix to that same container. Blend the two together. Add enough milk to make the mixture loose. Spread out the mixture on the bottom of the casserole dish and put in the oven at 350 degrees.

While that is cooking, crack another egg into the same mixing container and add the second box of muffin mix. Blend together and then add enough milk to make the mixture pourable (about cake mix consistency). Set this aside.

When the mixture in the oven is just about set, pull out of the oven. Now begin layering your ingredients on top of the muffin mix that is already set in the bottom of the casserole dish. Start with a thin layer of salsa, cover that with a layer of ground beef, add a layer of cheese, another layer of ground beef and cover with a final layer of salsa.

Take the muffin mixture that you set aside and pour into the casserole dish as the final layer of your taco pie. Put back into the oven and cook at 350 degrees until the muffin mix is completely set (or about 45 minutes).

Let cool slightly before serving. Have tomatoes, shredded lettuces and sour cream to top each serving and completing your Taco Pie.

“Without knowledge and understanding of the past, we are doomed to repeat it.”

Creating a sound business plan has been labeled one of the most important steps to developing a successful entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurs may spend countless hours creating a business plan that meets every possible issue. The problem that some business owners have is that one that plan is in place, the work stops. A good business plan should be reviewed and revamped at the end of each year of business.

Using a Year End Review to Build Success

Start with the money – an entrepreneur needs to look at all of the expenses for the year and determine the value of those expenses. Unseen leaks can be uncovered and plugged before they cause irreparable damage to the business. Taking a few hours to review the financial health of the business plan can give the entrepreneur the right insight to drive the business on to success.

Look at the employees – to build a successful business the entrepreneur needs to know what (and who) has worked and those that have not worked. An Entrepreneur can move towards streamlining a business by understanding the job descriptions and tasks that are no longer relevant for the pursuit of success. Seeing the potential for new jobs or needs prepares the entrepreneur to take on the future.

Review the market – twelve months can be a long time for the entrepreneur. Customers change, the needs change and the economy can slip into a hole that NO ONE saw coming (or wanted to admit). The year-end review provides the entrepreneur with the flexibility to adjust and change according to the future markets.

Evaluate growth and education – look at the conferences and classes that were attended. Put a value on each event – include contacts made, information gleaned, and other assets that were gathered. Let this set the pattern for future attendance (or it may even ignite the desire to host an event).

Many entrepreneurs think of the year-end review as a tool for evaluating employees. Although this can help individuals learn and grow, the year-end review can be equally valuable for the business as a whole.

Entrepreneurs need to take to the time to see what worked in the business. Finding the things that did not work will serve to help the entrepreneur further streamline the business. Locating the better way to do things will provide the entrepreneur with the tools for success.

Knowing the past will help the entrepreneur prepare for a stronger and more successful future. Implementing a year-end review for the business as a whole can be one of the most valuable assets the entrepreneur can have for that business.

I was determined to make a change, and Amy Bayliss offered the perfect opportunity in her weekly HOMEmaker challenge. She told me to make three new outfits out of the things I already had.

IMPOSSIBLE! Was my first thought. I had worked hard to thin out my closet so I knew there was nothing hidden in the darkness. It was some hand-me-downs that inspired the new outfits. These were clothes I had discarded because of a misfit here or there, but the challenge gave me the inspiration and motivation to remake the clothes into something that would work with my wardrobe.

Outfit #1 – The brown shirt and brown printed skirt. The skirt started out as a halter dress that was handed down to me. I LOVED the print, but there was no way my . . . um, curves were fitting into the halter portion. I cut off the halter, added a little hem and now I have a cute skirt to go with my brown shirt. All I need to make this the perfect outfit is some hot, high heeled boots.

Outfit #2 – The blue pants and printed shirt. The shirt was the major change in this outfit. It also started out as a dress. This time it was the lower half that I did not like. I just cut it off, hemmed the bottom and added a pair of dress pants. I’ll finish this outfit off with some black and silver pumps.

Outfit #3 – The pink skirt and brown shirt. The material of this skirt is amazing, but it started out as a tank dress. I liked the fit and the feel, but the skirt was too long on the dress and I prefer separates. The scissors again came in handy. I cut the tank portion of the dress off and hemmed the skirt to be right a knee level. I paired the skirt with a brown, thrift store find that I have had in my closet. I think the brown boots I will be getting for outfit #1 may also rock outfit #3.

Three new outfits for my new place in life and they were all completely free. Even the hemming only took about an hour per outfit, probably less. Why not take the challenge for yourself? Three new outfits – and not a dollar spent!

Simple Activities for Team Building

Share a meal together – eating together takes the pressure off the team and allows people to connect on a new level. Set aside a time each week to relax and provide a meal to the entrepreneurial team to help bring unity. It will not only allow the team to develop relationships but it will also show the team that you care about them beyond just a paycheck.

Play some games – there are a wide number of games that can be played onsite or off site, or the entrepreneur may want to invest some money in a team building consultant. These games will help teams learn to work together to solve problems, find unique answers and lock together to accomplish tasks that will translate to the business day.

Meet regularly – having regular meetings will allow a team to discover weak points and trouble spots before they consume the business. Daily meetings can be used to set up the schedule for the day. Weekly meetings can be set up to break down projects and issues. Monthly or quarterly meetings should be taken away from the office and for longer periods of time to work on the team and connect away from the office.

Learn together – conferences and classes can be attended or held in-house. They allow entrepreneurs to grow and expand, give employees more knowledge about the business, and help teams come together around one topic. Bring in motivational speakers and teachers that can provide your team with the tools they need to build a cohesive working environment.

Give together – nothing takes the focus off self quicker than giving to others. Set up volunteer opportunities for the team. It will offer new directions to connect but will also increase the level of inspiration for the team. Let the team determine the best path for their volunteer hours and encourage them to continue to volunteer outside the team time.

Create healthy competition – offer incentives for the team members that achieve the highest level, but also offer incentives for the levels achieved by team. Competition sparks new connections and helps to ignite the fires of success.

Building an entrepreneurial team that can push your business to a new level of success requires a wide range of tools. Use the tools of communication, competition, and connections in their different forms and you will find that your team will stand strong and reach farther than you may ever have imagined possible.

Credit Basics

Credit is the use of someone else’s money when you have the availability to pay. The shop owner may offer you credit if you have left your wallet at home and he knows you will return to make the payment.

Debt is the use of someone else’s money because you are not in a position to pay for the item with your own funds. A mortgage for a home is the most common form of debt because few people have the ability to save enough money to purchase a home with cash.

Credit can be the perfect way for an entrepreneur to make the most of available assets. Reading the fine print on credit agreements, staying organized and doing a little basic math allows the entrepreneur to use credit cards instead of finding that the credit cards are using the entrepreneur.

Best Tips for Using Credit Cards

Know the due date for payments (and the cut off time for that day). When in doubt, pay early. Paying late will result in late fees and an increase in percentage rates.

Pay in full. Avoid finance charges by keeping your balance at zero.

Review rewards programs. Some credit cards offer cash back plans on all purchases. Choose a rewards program that works best for the needs of the individual entrepreneur or business.

Keep accounts open. Closing credit card accounts may adversely affect a credit rating.

Compare interest rates. The amount of interest being made on the investments of the entrepreneur should always be more than the amount of interest being paid to use the credit cards.

Read the paperwork. Entrepreneurs can avoid unexpected credit card costs by reviewing all the materials received by the credit card companies. Companies have been known to change due dates or times, interest rates and more by hiding the information in “junk” mail.

Use different cards for different needs. Some cards offer higher rewards for specific purchases. Entrepreneurs make the most of credit cards by using them in a way that reaps the highest payback.

Entrepreneurs should NOT be afraid of credit cards. Keeping the plastic as credit (by only spending what can be paid in full) will allow the entrepreneur to use the credit cards and keep the credit cards from hijacking the entrepreneur or the business.

Time and money get tight in a house filled with men. Even the four year old can eat like a bear stocking up for the winter. Trying to find meals that will satisfy this hungry crowd can be overwhelming at times. It helps to be able to look to a family with almost four times our numbers and be inspired. I figure if the Duggars can make it work then my crew can too.

Tater Tot Casserole

1 bag of tater tots
1 pound of browned ground beef
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 cups of milk
1 bag of green beans

Coat a large crockpot with non-stick spray. Cover the bottom of the crockpot with a layer of tater tots. Add the ground beef on top. Put the green beans on top of the ground beef. Cover the green beans with the remainder of the tater tots. Mix together the milk and cream of mushroom soup and pour that mixture over the layers in the crockpot. Put the top on the crockpot and cook on low for eight hours or high for four hours.

This is a great family meal that costs only around $10 for the entire dish. The green beans can be left out, but are a great way to slip in a vegetable. Using the crockpot allows you to have a no fuss meal waiting at the end of the day. A crockpot liner can be used to make clean up a snap as well.

Thanks to the Duggars for introducing me to this amazing and cost friendly dish. Check out their website for the original version of the dish and other great recipes.

Do you have a dish that your family loves, that will feed a small army and that is also budget friendly?