Custom Art Without The Price Tag

   Everyone's idea of "art" varies, depending on what that person finds pleasing to the eye. I prefer things that are sentimental, homemade or heirloomish. A giant painting, however beautiful it may be, done by someone I've never met in another country I've never been to holds little value on my walls. For example, one of our favorites is a mounted sailfish passed down from Ian's grandfather. Another is a set of rubbings a friend of his family did. They are very unique and accent our fish-camp/nature inspired home





     Our most recent masterpiece was done 'in-house' ;o)  We took up hunting last year and would like to add a new variety to our nature-inspired decor. For Christmas, 'Santa' gave us a puzzle of a buck and doe in the woods. It was 1,000 pieces - our first puzzle to do together. It was an ongoing project we could work on at our own leisure and spend some quality time together while making custom art for our home. Although it took us 6 months to complete, it is now done. We "Mod Podged" it and framed it with an old frame we had lying around ($0). Because the puzzle wasn't quite big enough to fill the frame, I went to Hobby Lobby and had a mat cut to fit the frame and compliment the colors in the puzzle ($12 mat). The puzzle itself was $14 online - or so Santa told me :). If you're going to frame a puzzle and don't have an extra frame lying around, you can of course go to a thrift store and find one of suitable size, spray paint it a voila! So for a total of about $30, we now have a 22"x30" piece of custom art in our home. It is sentimental to us because we did it together and spent quality time together talking and joking while we puzzled. Good times.

I Don't Have a Money Tree

When you find yourself spending money on silly things or things you don't need, it's time to re-evaluate what your money is worth to you. Like our parents always said, "Money doesn't grow on trees."

   The next time you go to Target and inevitably browse the "Dollar Spot", ask yourself if you really need colored mini buckets to put trinkets in. And while you're at it, do you really need the trinkets that go in said bucket? I know I don't.

   I tried on a dress today that I didn't love. I started talking myself into getting it anyway. I could wear it to work. It is the right length and neckline. I could wear a blazer or cardigan with it. It does fit. But I don't love it. Why do we do this? Why would I waste my hard-earned money on something I had to talk myself INTO buying? Shouldn't I save my money for something I love so much I can't even talk myself OUT OF buying it? I didn't buy the dress.

   The moral of today's story: If you don't need it or love it, don't buy it. Put it down. If you're still thinking about it in a week and you can afford it, go back and get it.

Tough Decisions About Vacation

   Who doesn't want a summer vacation? But right now, it's just not in our budget. We had the opportunity to join our friends, Piper and Tyler, in the Keys this July while they celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Because they are staying in Piper's mom's house down there, we wouldn't have to pay for lodging - which would be great. However, the gas to get there and back (an 8 hour drive), food and drink while we're there would be a significant expense. We had to make the tough decision to pass on the chance for a week in the Keys. Bummer.

   But don't be blue! There are ways to get the vacation feel without a full week's expense at another destination. Use the internet to find "daycation" opportunities in your own neck of the woods. For my Ocala friends, check out the historic towns of Dunnellon, Micanopy or McIntosh. Each one under an hour drive and plenty to do there for a whole day. Check out Juniper Springs or Rainbow River, tube/canoe/kayak rentals are about $10. Or, my favorite inexpensive getaway.....camping! Although it's hot and you need to be careful of heat exhaustion, misquitos and other bugs that swarm in the summertime, it can be a fun adventure. For the cost of filling your cooler with a few days food and your campsite fee, you could have a great time with your family and get off the map for a while.

   If you have inexpensive summer vacation ideas, please share!

Slowly But Surely

   It appears we have lost a little steam on this savings train. Mostly because it is really hard! In the last few months, we have taken some financial blows. We attended Ian's sister's wedding in Savannah which included gas to and from Savannah, renting a condo, food and drink while we were there, wedding gift, etc. The following week, we had family in town for 8 days = $300 grocery bill. Plus, going out of town and having people in town means taking days off work, which for Ian means less sales, less commission, smaller paycheck. Our car ($710) and boat ($280) insurance came due. Ouch.
   We have had minimal to no opportunity to save money over the last few months. BUT, keeping up with simple savings habits has helped a little. I am proud to say I have brought my lunch to work every day this month. Turning down lunch invites on numerous occasions was difficult but had to be done. We celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day with delicious homecooked meals and homemade cards instead of gifts that neither parent really needed anyway. Instead of going out on the weekends, we have invited friends over for dinner and played games in the backyard like cornhole and used the pool table quite a bit.
   Unfortunately, we were not able to put much in savings recently, but we haven't had to take any out to pay bills either so I still consider it a win. Keep on truckin'.