January Rudolph Day Topic: The Notebook and Rudolph Plan 2014

[aggy]

I'm going to try to have my Rudy Days one Sunday a month. Sunday's are my "me" day. I spend the entire day home (all by myself) doing whatever I want or nothing at all. For the first few Rudy Days I want to get all of my lists completed. I need to focus on gifts mainly. If I can get that out the way I will be more prepared and hopefully start filling up the gift closet by mid-year.

 

[missjane]

I decided to start January with a look at the budget. I just can't wait until August to try and start saving enough to cover Christmas....

I sat down yesterday and went over my Christmas budget with a fine tooth comb. No wonder I'm always running out of money! I overspent and I do it every year, so we scrimp by from December paycheck to January paycheck because we get paid only once a month.

I plan to tuck away even more each month (on Rudy Day since that is the day we get paid), but I also need to revamp my spending. I'm really going to have to give this area a serious make-over. We paid all cash and that's good, but I still spent too much! I need to reel it in and learn to stay within my limits.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

It is January Rudy day here. I have so much on my to do list, BUT I will sit down tonight and watch a Christmas movie that I tapped over Christmas. I will sit down sometime this weekend and think about my stocking gifts for this year. Buying for the stocking is one of my favorite parts of Christmas prep.

 

[missjane]

Katrina, I love doing the stockings, but I always spend TOO MUCH on them! My kids have told me they look forward to their stockings as much, if not more than, their gifts, and I always wait until late in the year to start buying for the stockings. I love reading about what you've bought already in the gift closet thread.

 

[jampss]

Hmmmmm

Katrina, I love doing the stockings, but I always spend TOO MUCH on them! My kids have told me they look forward to their stockings as much, if not more than, their gifts,

Gosh ... I think I have to learn about how to do stockings better!

 

[Minta]

Last year I made extra homemade jams and apple-butter and the kids gave them out as teacher gifts and we gave some out as gifts to friends/family. and they were a hit. This year I plan on making more this year so I am including that into my notebook for the summer months. I am also budgeting out money to start buying the canning jars each month to help spread out the cost.

 

[jampss]

Nice

Last year I made extra homemade jams and apple-butter and the kids gave them out as teacher gifts and we gave some out as gifts to friends/family. and they were a hit.

Very sweet. I make apple sauce in the crock pot. But we eat it up fast.

If I were to give as gifts, I could say ... eat it up as it's not "canned". I don't know about canning stuff. Those of you who "can" ... inspire me to want to. Sort of.

 

[Minta]

Very sweet. I make apple sauce in the crock pot. But we eat it up fast.

If I were to give as gifts, I could say ... eat it up as it's not "canned". I don't know about canning stuff. Those of you who "can" ... inspire me to want to. Sort of.

I started canning 3 summers ago after going to a local you pick orchards and we picked too many peaches. I made peach jam with the extra peaches and canned them in a water bath, it was so easy. After that I was hooked and have expanded to several types of jams, applesauce and apple-butter, apple pie filling and cherry filling. This year I will try to can peach and pear slices as well.

I havent bought jam in 2 years, applesauce & apple-butter in over a year. The family likes the homemade stuff better, fresher and less sugar. Since the fruit is picked at the peak of its ripeness its already sweet so I don't have to add nearly as much sugar.

Canned jams, apple butter and pie filling will stay good for 2 years.

 

[jampss]

Yum

Minta! Wow and yum! Thanks.