Budgeting – Stories by the Seashore

July 1, 2018July 1, 2018

What NOT to Do When Buying and Selling a Home

Months ago, I envisioned writing my first blog entry (post social media break) on the ins and outs of executing a contingency buy (selling our home in order to purchase another). I read through all the necessary exchanges, pinned a variety of sources and ecstatically entered the world of listing my home for sale. Staging? Check! Decluttering? Double-check! Shared to social media outlets? Yes!

Instead, I will share about what not to do. Though we did, thankfully, accept an offer on our home within three weeks, the process was not nearly as clear-cut as I anticipated. There were plenty of hiccups along the way. I present the top four DON’TS of selling and purchasing a home:

4. Purchase another home before selling yours.

The idea sounds terrible. Because it is. We did things backwards in this regard. We fell in love with a home, presented the offer of a contingency buy through a realtor, and then began the process of staging and listing our home for sale. We were under contract with the new house and all parties were on board.

The owners of our new space decided to make an offer on a dwelling in the midwest. They attempted a contingency buy within a contingency buy (Inception, anyone?!). Two weeks passed and because we did not have a buyer for our house, we released said owners from the contract.

Our hearts were broken, and so were theirs. While we agreed the whole process was not in vain, it likely could have been avoided had we sold our home first.

Lesson: You are the rightful owner of a home when you have the keys in hand.

3. Let your perspective rise and fall based on consumer and/or realtor feedback.

Shortly after listing our home, our realtor began setting up showings for potential buyers. This was absolutely thrilling! (the first three times…) Homemade Cinnamon-Sugar Bread? A must! Water set out? You betcha! Classical music playing in the background? Check! Essential oil favorites being diffused? Of course!

We had about fifteen showings before receiving (and accepting!) an offer. The two to three weeks in between proved to be a sort of waiting game: waiting for feedback from the other realtors (if they submitted it), feeling ready for someone to bite at a moment’s notice, and praying that the right family would take care of our space.

One of the first feedbacks we received said something to the effect of: “Cute home. Might want to have crack in the living room inspected; it could potentially scare clients away.” “What?!” I thought, “I love that crack; it gives our home character.” With stained concrete floors throughout, we knew it was nothing to worry about, and that the agent meant well.

Still, the comment stung, and I immediately panicked. “What if no one wants to purchase our home?!” I lamented to my husband. “Then it will mean God doesn’t want us to move,” he replied. Ouch. Though I knew he was right.

Lesson: The right people will purchase your home.

2. Settle for an “alright” home.

I will miss the excitement of looking for the right home. Truthfully, the search can be downright scary, too! We looked at a little over ten houses; they appealed to us online. Many left much to be desired in person. We began to doubt selling our first home and wondered if we would find one we loved more.

Unless you’re looking for an investment property, or you are into flipping spaces, you want something that is move-in ready. Don’t settle for a house that is less than what you envision for yourself and/or your family because you fear running out of time.

If any of us (myself, my husband or our realtor) had a “meh” attitude towards the potentials we saw, they were immediately taken off our list. No questions asked. This is one of the most important investments you will make; do not settle.

Lesson: You will buy a home you love.

1. Take the children to potential homes.

Remember how we did things in the wrong order? We took the children (all three, ages six and under) to the first home we loved. They played on the swing set outside (which was a nice bonus!) and were immediately sold, too!

This made it especially confusing for them when things did not work out as we hoped. We did things differently later. Once all our affairs were certain, and the contracts were in order, we blindfolded them, drove them to our new property and surprised them! It was a great moment.

Lesson: Take the children to the new house once it is yours.

We hope you learn from our mistakes and find your dream home. We give thanks for the new experience of selling our first home and purchasing another.

Now, we move!

September 3, 2017

Birthday Parties on a Shoestring Budget

I live in a land where children are worshipped. We Latinos are a fruitful people, and we enjoy any excuse to throw a good party! Now the mother of three children, huge pachangas where my husband and I shell out anywhere between $500-$1,000 (not exaggerating, this is the norm here) are not feasible. (And truly, not necessary in our books).

It seems every corner in our city has either a taqueria (taco stand) or a party place. They seldom run out of business. Below, I have compiled a list of some of my favorite ways we have celebrated our tots’ birthdays without breaking our budget!

Family Photos

The cultural norm is to host a monumental party for a little one’s first birthday. While I enjoy an introductory fiesta as much as the next person, my perspective is this: they are not going to remember. The celebration is more for the family and to preserve memories than it is for the actual child.

For my firstborn’s first birthday (Jack), we decided on family photos, a cake and only immediate family members. Our children have five grandparents that all live in the same city we do (they are extra blessed!), so we had them celebrate the occasion with us. They wrote letters to Jack with their favorite memories of him from that first year. It was special, and looking back on the photos and letters warms my heart. We also had family members come in shifts, so as not to overwhelm our little tike, and it helped us plan around his nap time.

2. 3 is a Big Deal!

Because Jack is the oldest, he sets the precedent, in many ways, for his younger sisters. Thus, 3rd birthday celebrations are huge in our house. We invite extended family members and friends. The idea is that this is a celebration they will remember. If not, there are plenty of pictures. Our theory has been proven true with our two oldest kids. Ceci still talks about her Princess Party we hosted back in March!

3. Keep Them Busy
As a former elementary school teacher, this is my motto when working with little ones. With parties we host, I often implement stations to keep them entertained (on their own). Favorites include: sidewalk chalk, lego building centers, nail painting stations, Play-doh and coloring areas, and a cookie decorating table. Most of these call for supplies we already have in our home (score!) and require little to no prep and maintenance (bonus!).

Plus, it’s fairly easy finding that older child or younger relative that doesn’t mind manning said areas to make sure things don’t get out of hand.

4. Age=Number of Invited Friends

This is one of the best pieces of advice on birthday milestones I received from a dear friend. She suggested that the number of friends a child invite be equal to the age they are turning. For example, when our son turned 5, he invited 5 classmates to his social gathering. Of course, we had more than 5 guests total, but it was a great strategy. He insists on doing this for his 6th birthday celebration this year, too! (This does not include their big 3rd birthday social gatherings).

5. Pick a Theme and Stick to It!

This is my favorite thing to do in the way of planning. With one son and two daughters, we
have had quite the array of party themes: Thomas the Train, Princesses, Voltron (I blame my husband) and coming up: Ninjago! Pinterest has been a lifesaver when looking for creative ideas on a budget.

You can dress up, bake, order, and plan games and activities all around the main idea.

And there you have it, folks! No need to break the bank in order to make special memories with your children. What are some
ways you celebrate your little ones?

Cupcakes in the classroom are always a hit, too!

July 4, 2017July 4, 2017

Preparing for the Inevitable

I originally thought about titling this post, “Preparing to Die,” but reconsidered. (Think Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride – anyone?) The truth is, each one of us will pass on. There is a 100% chance that we will not live to see forever on Earth. While many fear death and spend most of their days avoiding it, I say it is imperative to think about it and prepare for it– not in a way that is morbid, but practical, considerate and wise. Below you will find my Top 4 ways to make as clean an exit as possible, in no particular order (since none of us really knows how or when it will happen).

1. Get out of Debt

My husband and I have been living debt-free for about 6 years now. We have a mortgage, yes, but it is on a house that belongs to us. For the story on how we got rid of roughly $14,000 worth of baggage our first couple of years of marriage, read my original entry here.

If you pass away and have a large amount of debt (or any), your spouse may be responsible for paying it off (depending on the situation, whether you co-signed on the credit, and state you live in). If you are not married, the burden will fall to your estate. In some cases, when the money owed is steep, heirs must sell items in order to pay it back.

If they are unable to cover it, the creditors are eventually forced to write it off. Still, don’t do this to those you love. Because nothing says I love you like “Here is $50,000 worth of credit I didn’t have time to take care of before kicking the bucket.”

2. Prepare a Will

There are a plethora of online sites that can help you create and print, or order a will. We used legalzoom, and paid about $70. I know people that have simply written something out on a sheet of paper before venturing on a big trip or new move. Something is better than nothing.

In it you will dictate who inherits your home, belongings and assets. My husband and I have had difficult discussions over “What if…?” situations before. The most challenging was conversing over this worst-case scenario: What if we died at the same time? What would become of our children? We have specified that in the official document. We pray that it never comes to this, but you simply don’t know.

It is necessary to contact said parties and make sure all are in agreement with the arrangement, too. These talks are not easy to have, but they are of utmost importance. Other relevant questions deal with life support and emergency situations, and burial and cremation preferences. Also, are you an organ donor, and does it specify that on your driver’s license?

We have what’s called a Last Will and Testament, and are at liberty to modify parts of it at anytime. Every now and again we revisit it (like when we recently traveled abroad) to make sure our hopes and wishes are the same. If they are not, we change it.

Emotions and tensions are at an all-time high when a loved one perishes. I have heard horror stories over feelings that were hurt and falling-outs that occurred because there was not a will, and expectations were not made clear. This can happen even when there is one.

3. Invest in Life Insurance

It is best to invest in a life insurance policy that is three times your annual salary. First, you find a life insurance agent. We found one through USAA, because it supplies many of our insurance and banking needs. You apply for it and they send someone to your home to give you a physical.

If everything checks out fine, it takes about 6-8 weeks for documents to be filed and your insurance to begin. I am thankful that my husband has taken care of this, should anything happen to him. We will work on getting mine next. The point of life insurance is to cover those you leave behind. Funeral expenses can also be included in this.

4. Make things right

I would argue that this is the most important. Believe me when I say there is deep regret when it is too late. Too late for that conversation, thank you, hug, kiss, word of encouragement, offer of forgiveness, etc. So, have that awkward but needed talk. Send that letter. Make things right so that you are at peace when your loved ones pass, and they are at peace when you do.

There is no correct way to make such a grand exit, especially since most of us have no control over when or how it will occur. Thinking of those we leave behind, their well-being and our legacy are the real treasures, not the material goods they will inherit. As for me, I want to make sure things are right in my heart with the Lord, too. (Feel free to comment or message me if you have questions about this.)

What are some steps you have taken to prepare for no longer being here one day?

June 17, 2017

To Coupon or Not to Coupon?

Couponing seems to be everywhere. Whether you follow The Krazy Coupon Lady or enjoy shows like Extreme Couponing, one needs not look far to find examples of people saving thousands of dollars on goods. I originally took an interest in downsizing my grocery bill for the sheer challenge of seeing if I could do it.

Ever a diligent student, I met with a couple of other women who were further down the line, organized and experts in their economizing fields. One had a binder full of vouchers, categorized with individual, labeled dividers. I listened intently to her words, eager to get started on slashing my grocery bill in half.

The following is an account of my three-month process, the top three steps that save me money at the grocery store, and why I decided to stop cutting coupons out of the newspaper and other media.

1. The Bargain Book is your friend.

This is an example of the H-E-B ad section in the Bargain Book.

Our Bargain Book is delivered every Tuesday morning, and contains specials that are good for that week. My favorite grocery store is H-E-B, and there are ads that specifically showcase their discounted meat, produce and Combo Locos (Spanish for “Crazy Combos”-ex: buy seasoned fajitas and receive rice, beans and a 2-liter coke for FREE).

I plan my meals for the upcoming week around which cold cuts are on sale. While we tend to stay away from red meat (save for the occasional lasagna, spaghetti and barbecue meals), we consume our share of chicken and fish. The Combo Locos featured in the promotion have yellow, corresponding coupons you pick as you shop.

The meat, vegetables, fruit and other items marked down will have the sale price listed. There is also an H-E-B app you can download to check off discounted items (with digital vouchers) as you go, and other money-saving, smart-phone apps like Ibotta.

2. Purchase only what you will consume.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the biggest problem I had with couponing was that the discounts were not for products my family and I regularly consume. I would purchase the The Brownsville Herald’s Sunday Newspaper for $1.25, and it was full of specials. I gradually began cutting out useful vouchers for products we could use, and started an envelope system to keep them organized. I knew getting the hang of saving money in this way would take time.

Eager to learn new things, I set aside different coupons for each trip to the store that corresponded with items on our list. The majority of the discounts were for name-brand items, and ended up being more expensive than buying the generic label. Strike one.

On certain occasions, I ended up spending more with my magical, marked-down tickets because I began buying things out of convenience. Both granola bars and Eggo, frozen pancakes fell into this category. We never snacked on store-bought granola before, and then it became a staple in our home because it was on sale. I had not tried anything made by Eggo before, but the convenience of heating up the pancakes once a week in the microwave became common place. While neither of these products tasted terrible, I could easily make them both from scratch and save more in the end. Strike two.

We also enjoy breakfast for supper once a week, on average (another way to save). Our children love French Toast and Eggs.

While I did find good deals on toiletries and children’s medicine, I shaved a total of $25.00 off our monthly grocery bill (and this was once I got the hang of things). I began to question if the time I was investing in the endeavor was worth the results. Strike three!

3. You can’t be a snob if you want to save.

Truly. Once upon a time, I was a Wal-Mart snob. I preferred stores like Target for my essentials. And then I had three children, and poof, no more being a snob!

While H-E-B will always be my favorite, if I need to buy necessary items outside of food, Wal-Mart is where I go. The six months following the birth of our third baby, I thrived because of their online, grocery pick-up system. I wrote a blog post on that experience here, For the Love of Convenience.

I also know other moms who swear by Target, and enjoy their vouchers and apps. That is what works for them. Ultimately, I decided to throw the towel in on couponing because it was not working for me, and I was already saving money without it.

What are special things you do when shopping for groceries or toiletries, that have proven to be gentle on your wallet? Most of the best ideas I have followed I received from friends, so do share!

April 18, 2017April 18, 2017

Traveling with Littles

Planning family vacations is one of my favorite pastimes. Once we decide on a destination, I am quick to research must-sees and get in contact with locals to maximize fun time! Below, you will find my favorite tips when traveling as a family on a budget.

Road Trip When You Can

Fall 2016: Driving through Louisiana in our family van.

We have been traveling with children for the past 5 years, and will choose to take a road trip over flying whenever possible. Not only is it the most economical option, it allows for stopping at your leisure (believe me when I say this will be more frequent with kids). When adventuring with preschoolers and those that are potty training and in diapers, we suggest adding a minimum of 2 hours to your ETA. If you know this ahead of time, you can plan accordingly and not feel rushed or upset by the change.

Rest stops are your friend; the ones with play areas will be your best friend (read: FREE fun). Stow necessary items in easy to reach places. A spare change of clothes is a must for anyone under the age of 5. In special circumstances, older. You know your group best.

Our littles have done an excellent job traversing via plane, car, bus and train. Pinterest has a plethora of resources that you can print for free. We have done road trip scavenger hunts, fun academic worksheets and coloring activities. I know of families that will show movies on the road or allow their youngsters to play with their tablets. We allow for educational games on a Leap Pad, but they have not interested our preschooler or tot when caravanning.

Playing music and singing along is a favorite pastime, along with simply looking out the window.

Budget, Budget, Budget

I strongly discourage going on a journey as a family if there is not a budget for it. Whether you set aside money each month for a vacation fund or utilize a portion of your income-tax return, make sure that you have the means ahead of time. You don’t want to return from your voyage stressed because you can’t buy groceries or afford basic toiletries, for example.

An example of our budget to get you started. Account for where you will stay, gas, food and attractions. Make sure you have a budget set aside before taking that trip!

Purchasing snacks for the voyage in advance will ensure you stay within your means. We highly recommend buying easy to go food items that you can make breakfast and lunch with (ex: yogurt, granola, fruit, turkey slices, mayonnaise, wheat bread, etc.). Our tribe typically eats out about once a day when vacationing. Allowing the littles to help pick treats is a huge motivator (we even permit junk food for these special occasions!).

Texas has some of the best rest stops! This is our oldest daughter a couple of years ago enjoying one in North Texas.

Stay with Relatives and Friends

All of our journeys thus far have been to areas where relatives and companions live. I affectionately refer to this as the three-fold design: we board with people we love, get local expertise on where to tour and save money.

It is best to bring a gift upon arrival (perhaps something unique to your area of the world) and/or serve them while there. Our favorite present to make is Hesterberg Spaghetti for our loved ones. There are many ways to be a gracious guest and connect intentionally with your hosts.

I once heard a pastor refer to family vacations as, “planned disasters.” I completely agree. In certain cases, events don’t go as intended. Rather than being shocked by the occasional surprise, it is useful to anticipate a detour or two (a miscellaneous fund is helpful!). Knowing there is potential for tension (something about being in the same place for prolonged amounts of time) can help in being a generous grace-giver and receiver.

Take Flight

Our firstborn enjoyed his first flight a couple of years ago!

God willing, in a few weeks, the five of us will be boarding a flight and heading across the Atlantic to visit Germany! On the way, we will have a 12-hour layover in London and are hoping to explore that city as well. In our single days, my husband and I both explored different parts of Europe. We are thrilled to head that way again to visit his cousins and travel internationally with our children for the first time (prayers appreciated!).

One of the most important lessons I learned when taking flight with our oldest two (who were 3 and 1 at the time) was that modeling is imperative. If you are a ball of nerves, your children will pick up on that energy and be nervous, too. While some of that cannot be helped, we dialogued with them extensively and checked out books at our local library on flying and airplanes. We were ecstatic to share in this adventure, and thus they literally could not wait!

While there are more uncertainties in taking flight, you arrive at your destination faster and possibly well-rested.

Make sure to carry necessities on your person (ID, passport if needed, spare clothing and toiletries). Read through the rules your particular airline has to make sure nothing will be confiscated at the gate (I once had to leave behind mousse– not a huge deal, but it would have been better for me to know about it ahead of time). I cannot emphasize packing light enough (rolling your clothes instead of folding them saves space in your suitcase). Remember that you will potentially be rushing to catch your next flight with littles in tow.

My final tip is one that was confirmed last week. Purchasing your plane tickets on a Tuesday morning can save you hundreds of dollars as a family. In fact, it saved us about $800 on the pricey international flight.

We live frugally, by choice, for a variety of reasons. Towards the top of our list is it frees us up to afford exposing our family to great vacations. Please share your favorite traveling tips with me! Until then, happy planning!