A Project of Epic Proportions {Budget and Bills}

If you are lost or need to get caught up you can catch the previous posts on The Home Management Binder via The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, Medical, Account Info, and Calendar.

There isn't a whole lot to this week.  Mainly, due to the fact that I run our budget on an Excel Spreadsheet. I already have the formulas created so all I have to do is hit in the new numbers every pay day and it calculates everything for me. I've used it for the last few months, and love it! I won't be changing that part of it, but I still wanted a list to refer to every pay day to make sure that I paid what I was supposed to. Plus, if Tim ever has to take over, this will be an easy reference for him to look at. 

If you are looking for budget sheets to go in your binder The Nest Effect has them for sale in her Etsy Shop.  You can buy a few of the pages individually for $3.50 each or her entire Finance Packet for $20.00.  All of her pages are based off of Dave Ramsey's Program. 

• Bill Pay by Life Your Way. A Simple Checklist with the Payee, the Balance, the Amount Due, the Due date, and a little box to check off when you have paid it.
• Bills and Payments by Our Portion. Another simple checklist that includes space for the due date, the company/account name, amount, how the bill is received (ie electronically, thru the mail), how the bill is paid (ie automatic debit, bill pay, via check) and a box to check off each month that you paid the item. If for whatever reason you have to make a payment twice in one month, just split the month's box in half.

I am still undecided as to where exactly I will be putting this page.  I don't really want to create a whole section just for this one sheet.  It may go under accounts, but I'm not entirely sure. 

A Project of Epic Proportions {Calendar}

Ok.  This is where things might start getting a little bit harry.  I've completed all the weeks that I deemed simple.  Simple because I knew what I needed in those specific sections.  The rest is starting to get a little fuzzy.  Some things will rely on other things that aren't done yet...so trying to figure out where to go next has been difficult.  Hang with me though...I'm still going to be giving you lots of good stuff.  This week we will be working on the Calendar section.

If you are lost or need to get caught up you can catch the previous posts on The Home Management Binder via The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, Medical, and Account Info.

 

I have a general idea of what I want in this section, but not sure how practically it will play out.   I anticipate this being my most used section.  I'm just not exactly sure how to get everything I want in there.  I would like to have a general monthly overview, and detailed daily sheets that I can include our Homeschool Plans, Meal Plans, Cleaning Lists, etc. in them.....I think.  I will probably start with more than I need and then hopefully narrow it down to what works best for me.  At this point, I won't be making anything of my own (except one) because I want to see what I need first. 

I definitely don't know what you need either.  There will be lots of links on everything that I can think of that I might/you might want in your Calendar section somewhere/somehow.  Good luck!!

Monthly:  I like a monthly view so I can mark down holidays, appointments that are scheduled a few months out, etc.

• 2012 Calendar by Life Your Way
• 2013 Calendar by Life Your Way 
• 2012 Calendar by The Nest Effect. 
• Birthday's and Special Events by Our Portion.  This is the only one I made because I knew what and where I wanted it.  I have been HORRIBLE with birthday cards for the last 2 years!  I blame it on my 3rd child, but I really want to change my bad habit.  With every monthly calendar I will have a list of birthday's and Special events for that month.  On the bottom of the page will be one of Avery's Pocket Tab's.  At the beginning of every month..or two I can complete cards for whatever needed and put them in the pocket.  I can then add a little note to my weekly or daily calendar, just pull it out and mail it.  The list/page itself can transfer from year to year.
• Birthday Organizer by Life Your Way. Just in case you don't want it month by month like the one I made. This one has six months on one sheet.

Weekly: If you aren't Homeschooling or generally don't have a daily schedule, a weekly overview might work better for you.

• Weekly Overview by Life Your Way
• Master Weekly Checklists by Simple Mom.
• Week At a Glance by Mommy Tracked.
• Tracking My Time - Daily by The Nest Effect.  This one is toward the bottom so just scroll all the way down. :)

Daily:  My ideal in the end will be to make my own Daily Sheet with what I need on it...but for starters....

• Daily To Do List by Life Your Way
• Daily Schedule by Finding Home. 
• Daily Docket by Simple Mom.
• Customizable Daily Docket by Money Saving Mom.
• Daily Pages by Life's A Journal.
• Daily Schedule by Buttoned Up.
• Tracking My Time - Hourly by The Nest Effect.  Again, at the bottom, so just keep scrolling.

Menu Planners:  I think my plan long term is to put my weekly menu planner in with my Food/Recipe Binder, and then transfer each day's meals onto my Daily Sheet.  I figured I'd go ahead and list them now for you just in case you want them in your calendar section. 

• Weekly Menu Plan by Life Your Way.
• Weekly Menu Planner by Organized Home.
• Menu Planning Form by The Project Girl.
• Meals by Karnley Lane.

Other: 

• Exercise Log by Life Your Way
• Weekly Cleaning by Evelyn Kate Designs.
• Cleaning Calendar by Tips and Pixs.  This one isn't a printable. Sorry.  I just liked the lay-out of the weekly/daily cleaning schedule.  Eventually I'd like to use something as simple as this and add it to my daily sheet..again...I think. 

I've dug into my past experiences to figure out a way to re-use the daily pages, that way I'm not having to print 5 pages EVERY week.  You can easily write on your protector sheets with a dry erase marker but I found that they will easily smudge, and even rub off, when you close your folder and the pages move around.  You can write on the sheet protectors with a Sharpie!  That's right..a Sharpie; Permanent Marker.  Just make sure you run out and find some 100% Pure Acetone first (right by the nail polish remover).  Put some Acetone on a cotton ball or a napkin and wipe your sheet off.  It should be clean and ready for the next set of notes.  I currently don't have any Acetone..so I tried using some hand sanitizer.  It works for cleaning off my white board, so I figured I'd give it a go.  It got most of the permanent marker off, but not all, so I will have to figure out where to find the Acetone at since they don't have it at the PX.  :)

Seasons

"Seeing life in seasons enables us to get some perspective in our lives.  In every season there will be trials and joys.  Hardly anything lasts forever.  We need to see our life in seasons and rejoice in the season at hand.  As we relax and begin to soak up the unique blessings of this particular season, we will begin to experience and to enjoy the incredible richness of life."

                                                            -Excerpt from And Then I Had Kids by Susan Alexander Yates

My friend recommended this book to me and I just started reading it this past week.  I'm only in the second chapter, but really enjoying the wisdom she has to share.  I plan on sharing more when I'm done. 

Although the paragraph above is speaking more to the seasons of mothering it fit perfectly to what I knew these last few months were for me in the world of blogging.  A season.  I have thought about it several times these last few months. 

Since we had our Internet connected, about mid-late March, I have had (for the most part) something posted five days a week.  That's a lot!  I have enjoyed every minute of it, but I knew it wouldn't last forever.  I am coming to the end of that season.  I love having this place to write and I'm not giving it up, it just won't be nearly as consistent. 

I am about to head into a new season that I know will take up a lot of my time.  Homeschooling.  I have prayed for his opportunity for years. Starting this coming Monday we will be starting Ryan's 1st Grade School Year (which reminds me I still have to go pick up his Kindergarten records from the Elementary School).  I still have a lot of studying/planning/organizing to do this week!  Praying that in the newness of homeschooling, that I'm sure will bring chaos and frustrations and doubts about the choice in general, that I would be able to step back and look at this as a season and truly be able to cherish the opportunity I have to teach and mold my boy's. 

**Prayers appreciated!!**

Book Review {Crazy Love}

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be make more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

Excerpt from Crazy Love.  Intro of Ch.6

(www.amazon.com)

A Project of Epic Proportions {Account Info}

Well, I have to admit...I'm not sure I'm 100% pleased with the Medical Section.  Eventually, I might re-format a few of the forms, but for now it's staying as is and I'm moving on.  It's a start.

If you need to get caught up check out The Challenge, The Supplies, Contacts, and Medical posts.

This week we will be working on the section for Account Information.  This will include account numbers, passwords, e-mails addresses associated with an account, company phone numbers, etc.  To TRY and keep things as easy as possible, about a year ago, I created  a separate email account I use for all on-line accounts ordering, etc.  This way I don't have to worry about getting a lot of spam in our regular account. 

I was encouraged to do a basic sheet with this information last time Tim deployed as well.  It came in handy multiple times when having to contact a company about a certain bill...especially when moving.  It was easy access for their contact number, our account number, etc.  This section will contain three basic sheets...but LOTS of information!!

In my Account Information:

1.  Bank Account Info.  This will be specifically for bank accounts.

• Account Tracker by Life Your Way.  This form is made to keep track of your bank account information; to include Debit/Credit Card Numbers. 
• Bank Accounts by Our Portion.  Again, I made this specifically for my needs.  We bank with USAA and every person in our family has a member number even if they don't have any open accounts.  Plus, even though Tim and I have joint accounts we have separate Internet logins.  The first page is specifically for that.  The member number will allow our kids, in the future, to open their own account with USAA, whether or not they themselves are serving in the Military.  I couldn't even tell you my member number...much less theirs.  The second page is for the account information itself (and no we don't have that many accounts).  I'm still not sure this is the best format, but I've already re-done it a few times, so it's staying as is.

2.  General Account Information.  This form will helpfully help organize any/all other accounts for any other bills we might have.  IE Cell phone company, Internet provider, Insurance, Utilities, Car Loan, etc.

• Account Information by Our Portion.  In the notes section I will be including billing information.  IE When it's paid, from what account it's paid, automatically, thru web bill-pay, etc.  This way if for whatever reason I am unable to do the bills, Tim should be able to step in and keep everything tracking.

3.  Online Accounts.  If you have ever ordered anything from on-line; which I'm assuming you have, most companies wants you to create an account which means you need a login and password.  Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Shutterfly, I-tunes, etc, etc.  If I'm normally ordering as a one-time thing I'll continue as a guest, but if I know it's going to be more regular, I make an account.  I try to keep them all the same (Not good security wise I know...but let's face it...putting all of my information in 2 3-ring binders isn't the most secure either.  It's just helps to keep me a little more sane.), but some companies require something specific which normally means there is some variation of my norm.  Normally I sit there typing in three or four different things until it locks up on me and I have to start over.  Now, if you haven't ordered anything from online...how do you survive?!!  :)

• Online Passwords by Life Your Way.
• Online Accounts by Our Portion.  Mine is very similar to Life Your Way's as far as what information is listed, but I needed more space for the login and password than the URL (which I won't list for most.  I will also be listing all of our current email address.  I think we have 4.  One for family/friends.  One for ordering.  One for my "business" (selling crafts/photography).  Tim's Army account.  I will try my best to put these in Alphabetical Order from what I have now, but anything new will just be added to the bottom.

How's it coming?  Are you keeping up?

June {In Pictures}

Mid June we decided to buy two hampsters.  We had been talking about it for a while...although I was still trying to convince Tim of getting fish.  We have been pet free for 2 1/2 years and I have loved every minute of it!  The boys have been asking though for a pet so we figured this was a good place to start.

The boys decided to name them Iron Man and Frankenstein.  (We have no idea where they got Frankenstein from!)

*As of this past Sunday we are down to 1 hampster.  Not sure why he died.  They had plenty of food and water.  The boys didn't seem to affected by it...not sure that's good or bad.

Blaine getting in some snuggle time with Daddy.

 Colin found my sunglasses and apparently felt the need to wear them during breakfast.  And I think he's saluting me.

Coloring....where you are supposed to...

Coloring...where you aren't supposed to....



We got a box from Grandma and it had one of those catch and throw/velcrow ball games.  Colin thought they would be better used as armor.



Cause it's always more fun to wrestle on Mom & Dad's bed...



"Kiss the puppy Ryan!" 



"Kiss it, I said!!!!"



Ryan and colin were wrestling on the floor when Blaine decided to join in.  The wrestling only lasted so long when Blaine decided he was more tired.  He was fighting a bit of a cold and hadn't been feeling well, so instead he just decided to lay down on Ryan.  Then Colin went and got his blanket to cover him up.  :)



A Project of Epic Proportions {Medical}

Hopefully last week's "assignment" went smoothly for you!  I got mine put together fairly quickly.  The longest part was transfering our Address Book!  When I was done though, I was happy to be able to get rid of 4/5 random pieces of paper with info on it, plus our Address Book!  I'm down one more book to carry around!!!  Since we've done a lot of the prep work in the previous weeks we can get down to it.  If you are lost and feel the need to catch up you can check The Challenge, The Supplies, and Contacts.

This week we will be putting together the Medical Section. Again, we will be using sheets from two main sources, plus a few that I created myself.  Feel free to look further or to make your own!

In my Medical Section....

1.  General Information. 

• Basic Medical Information by Life Your Way. Your Insurance Companies Information to include policy number, contact information, Phyician's Information, etc.
• Basic Medical by Our Portion.  Your Doctor's/Dentist's/Insurance/Policy Holder's Contact Information.  (I am obviously making most of my sheets to fit my needs specifically.  I have NO idea how the civilian world of medical operates.  This is just what it looks like for us...for now.)  This one is also two pages long.  Here our eye doctor is in the clinic on post, but back in the states we would have to go off post.  I wanted to have room to add other doctor's office's if needed.  IE Chiroprator, OB, etc.

2.  Individual Medical Information Sheets.

• Finding Home.  This is a detailed sheet you can keep for each person in your family with information on allergies, daily medications, etc.
• Our Portion.  I went ahead and made my version of this sheet.  There was a lot of excess information that I didn't particularly want on mine.  Plus, I will be attaching one of the Avery Pocket Tabs I mentioned previously to the Sheet Protector of each of our Medical Sheets.  The pocket will be able to hold each person's shot records, and for Tim and I, our glasses/contact prescription.  The pockets are easily removable, but I'm hoping I formatted it correctly to where I won't be hiding any information.

3.  Appointments

• Appointment Chart by Our Portion.  I will be adding this to the backside of the Individual Medical Sheet.  Let me say we are BLESSED to have wonderful Health Insurance to include yearly eye exams and two Dental exams/cleanings a year!  The biggest trouble is that the older my kids get, and the more we have, I have trouble keeping up with appointments for everyone and remembering when I took them last and when they are due to go next.  For some appointments if I don't get it right, and go too early, we could end up paying out of pocket for it instead of our insurance covering it.  I'm not sure how beneficial this chart will be but I figured I'd give it a go. 

4.  Height/Weight/Milestone Chart.

• Our Portion.  I'm not sure this is where it's going to stay, or if I formatted it in the best way..but for now this is where it's going.  I figured since you normally get most of the measurements during appointments it kind of went hand-in-hand.  I normally don't do baby books.  I just add it all into one big yearly photo album and type in the information as needed.  The only problem is I haven't had a specific place to write down all that information and so some of it has gotten lost along the way.  I'm still searching out options of what to do with certain papers I might want to keep that the boys make, so it might eventually go there...where ever that may be.  I'll work that out later.

Other forms you might want to consider....

• Prescription and Supplement Chart by Life Your Way.  A chart to keep track of any medications you might be taking/giving, when to start/stop, and the amount given.
• Physician Records by Life Your Way.  Trying out a new doctor?  Or have three or four of them?  Keep track of each office's information and the date of your initial visit.
• Symptom/Medicine Tracker by Life Your Way.  Ever get to the doctor and they ask you what your syptoms have been, when the last time you took meds, etc.?  Or more comonly...for your child?  This will help you remember!  Especially when you might be tracking a high fever or symptoms that seem to go on for days!

Hope this gets you pointed in the right direction.  If there's anything you think I am forgetting just let me know!