Annie’s Surefire Mosquito Bite Remedy

Tonight I strolled out to work in my garden and to help JP put up rabbit-proof fencing. In the 30 minutes we were outside, I received literally over 100 mosquito bites.

I took a shower as soon as I walked inside. While it curbed the extreme itching a bit, I was still highly uncomfortable. So I quickly fell back to my old mosquito bite remedy: ammonia.

Annie’s Surefire Mosquito Bite Remedy

• Wet a cotton ball with ammonia.
• Dab onto all affected areas. (be sure to do this in a well ventilated area.

Most people have never heard of this remedy, yet it works quickly and effectively every time. Ammonia is a base, or alkali, and alkalies neutralize acids. Most bug stings are acid based, like wasp and ant venom. So dabbing ammonia on the sting will help neutralize the acid.

As soon as I finished applying the ammonia, the itching started to dissipate. Within fifteen minutes, the itching of over one hundred mosquito bites was gone.

This remedy has worked for our family for years. Most insect bite remedies that are sold in stores are ammonia based. Our family carries small tubes of an over-the-counter version called Afterbite with us in each vehicle, in my purse, and in our first aid kit. It comes in a great travel size, and can be purchased in any drug store. I find ours at Walgreens.

Afterbite also comes in a children’s version as well. We have used it on Little Bug for years, with excellent results.

 Little Bug is allergic to mosquito bites, so we must act quickly to keep her from having a very serious reaction. Ever since we have used the ammonia remedy, Little Bug no longer has the huge swelling and hives that were so common in the early years.

I hope this post helps y’all in your battle against mosquitoes this season. Enjoy your time outdoors, and make sure to pack the ammonia.

I am in no way getting paid to endorse Afterbite. I just happen to think it is a great product when you are on the go and need to treat mosquito bites.

“ The man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life.” ~Euripides.

~Annie

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My Journey Through Debt Part 9B: Food From the Grocery

As we slowly learned to conserve our monetary resources, I became much better at practicing my frugality at the grocery. I would love to share my tips of how to save money at the grocery with you.

First of all, I rarely, if ever, enter the store without a list. My list may contain 2 items, or it may contain 40. Whatever the case may be, write a list. I add to mine all week long. This list will help guide you through the store quickly and efficiently.

Never just stroll through the store. Know which areas of the store you need to visit, visit them, collect what you need, and leave. The longer you stay in the grocery, the more you will spend.

Try to have your menus planned in advanced. It is never a good idea to walk into a grocery without a menu of some sort planned in your head.

Use the local grocery circulars to look for sales. I briefly scan the sale ads every week. Even in my tiny rural community, I will find sales. These sales encourage me to maybe have fried chicken instead of roast beef for Sunday dinner. Shop the sales and you will save money.

Do not be afraid to stock up. If you know that your family really loves pork chops and they are having an awesome sale on them at the local grocery, grab a few extra packs to put in the freezer.

Check out the mark down areas of your local grocery.  We have multiple areas: produce, frozen foods, canned goods, refrigerated foods, and meats. I have found our mark downs to have great deals on foods that may be close to the sell-by date, have been part of a case that was dropped, etc. Many a time I have found large hams in the mark down that I took home and popped in the freezer. Those hams that I bought for $5, later became three nice meals for my family.

Shop the outskirts of the grocery. Try to stay away from the aisles. The aisles are mostly filled with processed foods, making them more expensive and less healthy choices.

The outer edges usually have the produce, meat, deli, and dairy sections. These sections house the fresh foods that are usually the healthier options. If you watch the sales, you will be able to get great deals in these sections of the store.

Leave the junk food and treats on your list for last. If you have extra money left in your budgeted allotment for groceries after getting the healthy food that is needed for your meals, go ahead and get a few of those items.

I rarely use coupons. I know some people are very good at getting great deals using coupons. However, I have found that in my life, a coupon usually pressures me into buying something I don’t need. Very few coupons actually save me much money. While I am happy for those that are excellent at using them, I have chosen not to invest time in them.

This is an “In a nutshell” description of how I shop at a grocery. Be looking for posts on

buying meat in bulk and visiting scratch and dent stores in order to stretch the food budget even more!

As Samuel Taylor Coleridge said,  “The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitesimal of pleasurable thought and genial feeling.”

~Annie

Annie's All Natural Coffee Maker Cleanser

This morning, as I eagerly anticipated that first sip of coffee, my fingers drummed the counter. When the coffee was finally in my cup, doused with a bit of almond milk, I took the first taste.

What I expected was a tasty, wonderful mouthful of a richly, brewed drink. What I got was bitterness. It was time to clean the coffee pot.

Cleaning a coffee maker is relatively simple. I am sure that they sell some sort of coffee maker cleansers somewhere, stock full of chemicals that you in no way want to ever ingest. Ever.

Instead of some high priced cleanser, let me let you in on a little all natural secret of mine. This little secret will cost just a few pennies, and a bit of wait time.

If you read my blog with any regularity, you will know my secret weapon of choice for all sorts of things. Its name is vinegar.

Annie’s Coffee Maker Cleanser

• Pour vinegar into carafe. For large (12 cup) carafe, use 2 cups of vinegar. For small (4 cup) carafe, use 2/3 cup of vinegar.
• Pour vinegar from carafe into the holding tank, where you normally would pour the water.
• Leave filter basket in place. This is a great time for it to get a cleaning as well.
• Turn on coffee maker.
• Let the vinegar run through the coffee maker.
• Turn off coffee maker.
• Pour vinegar from carafe into holding tank, taking care not to burn yourself. The vinegar will now be very hot.
• Repeat three times.

While the coffee maker is running the vinegar through four times, I take this time to clean my sinks, and prepare them for cleaning their drains. This little tip is found here.  Since the vinegar still is useful, and is already hot, why waste it? Right? After the vinegar has ran through the coffee maker for the fourth time, just pour the vinegar from the carafe, down into the drains as directed in the drain cleaner post. In this way, you are killing two birds with one stone.

Ok, back to our coffee maker….

• Fill carafe with water.
• Pour it into the holding tank.
• Run water through coffee maker.
• Once the coffee maker has finished filling the carafe, pour the hot water down the kitchen sink. I pour half down one side, half down the other.
• Repeat six times. Yes. Six. For a total of seven times. I have found that it takes seven times to completely rid your coffee pot of the vinegar taste. If you want to chance it and live life on the wild side by only running water through a total of six times, do it. (I am currently on round number five of running water through the coffee maker as I write this post.)
• Your coffee maker, filter basket, and carafe are now ready to be used again.

If you have found that your favorite coffee now seems to have a bitter taste to it, clean your coffee maker. If you find that your coffee is taking forever to brew in the morning, clean your coffee maker. If you can no longer see through your carafe, clean your coffee maker.

For only a few cents, you can have your coffee maker back in like-new condition, and your favorite coffee tasting like a little bit of Heaven with each eagerly anticipated sip.

 As Aristotle said, “Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. “

~Annie

Annie's Bathroom Rug Freshener

 If your family is at all like mine, then you will be able to relate to our bathroom rug dilemma.

Long before the bathroom rugs are in need of a washing, they looked trampled down, old, and neglected. If I washed them every time they looked this way, I would be washing them daily.

Instead, I have come up with Plan B.

Annie’s Bathroom Rug Freshener

• Shake rugs outside.
• Spray vinegar solution that we used for our upholstery freshener onto rugs, being sure to lightly and fully cover them. Be sure to test the solution in an inconspicuous spot on your rugs first. I have never had an issue, but you never can be absolutely sure until you try it.
• Place in dryer for 3 minutes. Seriously. Just 3 minutes. That is all it takes.
• Return to bathroom floor.

You will find that your rugs have returned to that “just home from the store and looking fabulous and fluffy” state. They will smell lovely too. Trust me.

I find this works well if you have company on the way, or if your mother just called to say she will be dropping in for a visit in ten minutes.

Have a wonderful day, my friends. Enjoy this extra blessing of snow while we have it. Very soon it will be a distant memory.

Remember what Thomas Edwards said, “To rejoice in another's prosperity, is to give content to your own lot: to mitigate another's grief, is to alleviate or dispel your own.”

~Annie

Annie’s Easy Peasy Seedling Starters

Although there is no sign of warm temperatures in sight in my quaint little Northwest Indiana town, Spring in only two days away. This fact turns my attention to starting my spring and summer gardens.

While it is still definitely too early to be planting my real garden, it is not too early to be preparing the seedlings that will eventually find their way into the homestead garden plot.

JP and I choose to be a single income family most of the year so that I can be a stay-at-home-mom to Little Bug. Because of this, we live on a strict budget. We have no extra money for fancy seedling starters.

We have found this method to work wonderfully with all type of seedlings. From flowers to veggies, this inexpensive seedling starter recycles, as well as saves you money.

Annie’s Easy Peasy Seedling Starters

• Gather gallon sized milk jugs with lid in place. It is best to have at least one per variety of seedling you want to start indoors.
• Clean and dry out milk jugs.
• Cut jug almost completely in half, just under the handle, leaving 3 inches uncut.
• Fill with soil until one inch below cut on milk jug.. Not dirt. Dirt and soil seem to be used interchangeably, but they are totally different. Soil is used to grow plants. Dirt is usually unable to grow much of anything, including weeds. I like to use an organic, moisture holding variety of soil from the local farm store, but any soil will do.
• Using a permanent marker, write variety of seed on the milk jug so you won’t forget.
• Plant seeds. It is ok to crowd them in. They will not be in there long enough to get overcrowded.
• Water.
• Flip top of jug over onto rest of jug.
•  Place in sunny spot. It could be a windowsill, your living room floor; anywhere the sun will hit it.
• During the part of the day when the sun will hit it, flip top off of jug so that the seeds (and eventually seedlings) can get as much sun as possible. If it is warm enough, you can even take your seedling starter milk jugs outside for the day, however, be sure to bring them in at night if the temperatures get too chilly.
• When there is no sunlight, flip top onto jug, covering the seedlings. This will create a mini greenhouse for your precious seedlings.
• Once your garden plot has been tilled, the seedlings are at least several inches tall, and it is warm enough outside to plant, gently transfer seedlings. If you have more than you need, leave some in the jug to make sure that the planted ones take. If they don’t, transplant more seedlings into your garden. If you do not need the left over seedlings, give them to a friend or sell them at a farmers’ market.
• This method works great for container gardeners as well.

So there you have it, a cheap and relatively easy way to get your seeds planted and growing into seedlings.

Enjoy the remaining days of winter, lovelies. Very soon we will be wondering where all the cool breezes are as we toil in the hot sun.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”  ~ Harriet Tubman

~Annie

Annie’s Stain Pre-Wash Treatment

If your house is anything like ours, y’all get a lot of stains on clothes and towels that you may not mean to get stained.

Sure we all have our “work clothes,” but sometimes you just get sidetracked and before you know it, you have your Sunday-go-to-meeting attire filthy.

Never fear! Annie’s Stain Pre-Wash Treatment is here! (Courtesy of my sweet mama.)

This stuff works phenomenally well. Remember me telling you about how dirty I got my clothes on the night of the fateful meeting with the skunk?  Yep. This is the same stuff my sweet mama used on my clothing, and there was nary a stain to be found!

Annie’s Stain Pre-Wash Treatment

• Clean out and clearly mark old spray bottle or dish soap bottle
• Add one cup liquid laundry detergent
• Add one cup ammonia
• Add one cup water
• Shake

That is it, folks. So easy. So simple.

To use:

• Test in small spot to make sure it is safe for your garment. I have never had it not be ok, but one can never be too careful when it comes to our favorite clothes.
• Generously douse stain, allowing it to soak in mixture for at least one hour.
• Wash as you normally would
• After washing, look for stain, if still there, do not dry. Repeat above steps until stain is gone.

My sweet mama has used this recipe for years, saving all sorts of my favorite clothes from certain demise.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 8B: Contentedness With Who I Am

Once I realized that I was spending money I didn’t have, on people I didn’t like, for things I didn’t need or want to do, I knew I had turned a corner.

It had taken me almost 30 years to realize that I did not need to please everyone in the world. That I did not have to have everyone like me. That there was absolutely no way that I could gain the approval of every person I knew.

I finally realized that the only approval I needed was God’s. It was a very humbling and hurtful time in my life. I was hurt that so many people had used me, and that I had allowed it to happen. I was also humbled by God’s grace for me.

I slowly formed a new outlook on life. My true friends stuck with me, even though all of the meals out, concerts, and extra activities were replaced by nights at home playing games, watching movies, and eating home cooked meals.

I found that these true friends wanted to be around me for me, not for what I could give them. This discovery helped me tremendously in the coming months and years.

Knowing that my friend set (and believe me, it was a much smaller set than I had had during my freefall spending days,) wanted me for me was mind blowing. These people were in my life and wanted absolutely nothing in return. I believe that it was God’s way of showing me His love as I slowly climbed out of the debt pit.

It was at this time that I started making better choices for what little money I had. Since I now knew that my remaining friends did not expect huge, luxurious gifts, I was able to give them smaller, yet meaningful gifts on their special days with the confidence that they would be appreciated.

I was also able to invite friends and family over for a meal that I made myself, at a fraction of the cost that it would been to go out to eat. I rediscovered old games from the basement that I hadn’t used for years. I also found that I truly enjoyed watching movies from the vast movie collection that I had built up over years and years of garage sales.

The bonds between our family and our friends strengthened as we spent more time face to face. My relationship with God strengthened as I spent more time with Him in prayer and in His Word.

As I said in yesterday’s post, contentedness, to me, is coming to a state of peaceful satisfaction. After fighting against my own self for so long, I finally gave my battle to God. He took it from me, and in return, a sense of peace washed over me.

Eventually, along with that peace came the satisfaction that I had so desperately sought for oh so long. The satisfaction came when I started walking fully in God’s Will.

Was my journey over? No. Not by a long shot. However, I now had my support system in place to help me on my journey. Make no mistake about it; the journey that you are on is not one to walk alone.

A support system of friends and family are extremely helpful during the times that you may wish to give up your climb out of your debt pit. They are there to encourage you, to cheer you on, to march forward with you, shoulder to shoulder.

I have come full circle in the realization and contentedness with who I am. Today, I will leave you with a story that I hold very dear to my heart and read over and over during this time of my life. Credit to Abundant Life Church for excerpts.

I love MAX LUCADO’s story in which he describes a fictional village inhabited by wooden people called Wemmicks. If you’ve read it then you know that Wemmicks are the creation of a wood carver named Eli who lives in a house above their village. All day long the Wemmicks engage in one activity. They give each other STICKERS. If a Wemmick is pretty or talented he or she receives yellow STAR stickers. But if a Wemmick is not pretty or talented, then all day long there are given gray dot stickers.

The hero of the story is a Wemmick named Punchinello. He had no star stickers and was covered with so many gray dot stickers that he rarely went outside and when he did he hung around with other Wemmicks who were covered with dots. He felt better in comparison to them.

One day he met a Wemmick named Lucia who had no stickers at all on her wooden body and when Punchinello asked her how this was possible, she directed him to visit his creator, the woodcarver, Eli. Let me read to you what happens when Punchinello takes Lucia’s advice and goes to Eli’s workshop:

Eli scooped him up into his arms and said, "Looks like you’ve been given some bad marks."

"I didn’t mean to, Eli.  I tried really hard" said Punchinello.

"Oh, you don’t have to defend yourself to me, child. I don’t care what the other Wemmicks think."

"You don’t?"

"No, and you shouldn’t either. Who are they to give stars or dots? They’re Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn’t matter, Punchinello.

All that matters is what I think.  And I think you are pretty special."

Punchinello laughed, "Me, special?  Why, I can’t walk fast.  I can’t jump.  My paint is peeling.  Why do I matter to you?"

Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly. "Because you’re mine. That’s why you matter to me."

Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this-much less his maker. He didn’t know what to say. "Every day I’ve been hoping you’d come," Eli explained.

"I came because I met someone who had no marks," said Punchinello.

"I know.  She told me about you."

"Why don’t the stickers stay on her?"

The maker spoke softly.  "Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. 

You see, the stickers only stick if you let them. The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers."

Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and sat him on the ground and as he did, he said, "You are special because I made you. And I don’t make mistakes."

As Punchinello walked home he thought, "I think he really means it." And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.

You are special. ALL OF YOU! All of us are PRECIOUS in God’s sight. And there is a great freeing power in that knowledge. When we know how priceless we are to God, stickers don’t stick and the cell doors in our lives swing open.
~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 8A: Contentedness With Who I Am

Probably the biggest step for me to take in my debt journey, after Realization, was learning contentedness.

 The definition of “content” is, “In a state of peaceful happiness. (Adj.)” and  “A state of satisfaction. (Noun)” I derived from this that in order to be content, I had to come to a state of peaceful satisfaction.

My frame of mind was far from peaceful or satisfied. I was in constant worry. Worry about the accumulating bills. Worry about the mail (and consequently the credit card bills) arriving at the house before I got home. Worry about JP finding me out.  I was also completely dissatisfied. Dissatisfied with how I looked. Dissatisfied with my clothing. Dissatisfied with my possessions. Dissatisfied with my life.

I tried to satiate myself by buying more stuff. I would get a little bit of happiness from the purchase, but then reality would set in, coming along hand-in-hand with worry about the money I had just spent. This would lead to dissatisfaction. Which would lead to me purchasing more stuff.

The cycle was never-ending, repeating itself over and over, until I was found out. Once I no longer was able to remain in the crazy cycle, I found a relief. Do not get me wrong. I was not happy, nor was I joyous. However, there was an inkling of peace.

The peace came from knowing that I had a plan. I would, eventually, be able to crawl out from under the mountains of debt.

As time marched on, the peace inside of me grew. It grew into satisfaction. I came to understand that material possessions or people couldn’t give me happiness or joy. In order to find absolute contentment, I had to look inward.

For most of my life I had been a people pleaser. Sadly, a great majority of my debt came from trying to please others…through gifts…through purchases…through me spending money on people that I wanted so desperately to impress. Once I figured out that those people were just using me, I was able to curtail most of my spending.

I was spending money I didn’t have, on people I didn’t like, in order to impress them with things I didn’t need. All along, God was whispering to me that I didn’t need to spend that money. That those that wanted to be my friend would love me and want to be around me, even if I had no money, that my true self worth was not to be found in stuff.  And you know what? He was right y’all.

Once I found my true self worth in Christ, I became much more confident in telling people “no.”  I no longer felt the need for their acceptance. I no longer cared what they said or thought about me. I was completely satisfied in being me.

As is usually the case, once the money well dried up, the users moved along, leaving me with mountains of debt. I hold no animosity towards them. All I feel is sympathy and pity, for they, themselves, are not content with their own lives.

As I regained the peaceful satisfaction of life, I was able to focus on those things that truly meant something to me. More on that in a later post.

As you walk this journey through debt with me, do not feel disheartened. I am sharing my journey with you in hopes that it will help others come to their own realizations. That the debt cycle will be fought and conquered. Many of you write to me, sharing your own debt stories. As I have said, we are all in this together. One day we will all be able to stand up and be free of the weight, the shame, and the worry that debt brings upon us. You can do it. I know you can.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

~Annie

Annie’s Natural Upholstery Freshener

As spring-cleaning time approaches, I will be sharing little tips for your cleaning pleasure. I love to organize. LOVE it. Cleaning? Not so much. However, I do realize it is necessary, and try to make the best of it while I clean away.

To freshen up the upholstery on furniture that has started to have an odor from daily use, pets, too many gym socks, etc., here is a tried and true, inexpensive idea.

Annie’s Natural Upholstery Freshener

• Obtain a 32 ounce spray bottle.
• Pour 8 ounces (1 cup) of white vinegar into bottle.
• Pour 24 ounces (3 cups) of water into bottle.
• Shake well.
• Test spray on hidden section of upholstery to ensure that it will not ruin the fabric. (I have never once had this mixture ruin anything, but you can never be too careful.)
• Spray entire piece of furniture with mixture, paying special attention to highly used areas. The piece of furniture will be damp.
• Allow upholstery to dry before using. I have found that a fan will help in the drying process.
• This spray may be used on carpets as well.
• While the white vinegar does have an odor while wet, once it dries, it will have no odor and will have taken away most, if not all, of the odor in the treated upholstery or carpet.
• If necessary, repeat steps until odor is gone.

A wonderful friend once gave us a much-needed sofa bed that had been left in their new home when they moved in. The former owner of the house had smoked around the couch for years. When I first got the couch to our house, I set it outside and doused it with Febreeze and other products like it. All it did was mask the odor for awhile.

My mom, who is my go-to person for all things natural, suggested the above vinegar-based spray. While it did take three applications, the smoke smell did come out of the upholstery. We were able to freshen up the sofa bed for hardly any money, and we were able to do so without using harsh chemicals.

I now use this mixture whenever I have upholstery or carpet that needs to be freshened up a bit. It is quick, easy, and inexpensive. If only all spring-cleaning projects were as easy as this one….

Enjoy your day, lovelies. And remember, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.”

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 7: Reacquainting Myself with the Library

After stopping my spending cold, I went into a major pouting stage. I missed going to the movies. I missed buying the latest CD. I missed renting movies. I missed going to the bookstore and walking out with the new best seller. I missed the Internet. I. Missed. My. Life.

I wallowed in my self-pity for quite awhile. I am sure that it was very attractive to all that lived and worked around me. For some reason, knowing that every paycheck was spent before I received it bothered me. A lot.

 In reality, it had always been spent before I received it, at least since my debt had started piling up. However, now I knew that there was no “vacation from reality” coming my way. No “payday splurges.” No “I worked hard all week so I deserve a night out.” Nothing.

Once I realized this, I felt that my going to work was rather pointless. Although I had indeed signed my name to all of those little charge slips that had created the debt pit I was living in, I somehow still was trying to defend my actions. Since I knew that my paycheck was going to essentials and debt repayment, I knew that “fun” activities were long gone.

Or so I thought. Enter, the local library. I had had library cards for all of the local libraries because I had been a teacher before Little Bug came along. Once in awhile I would check out a few books to use with whatever unit I was presenting to my students. That was the extent of my library usage. Things were about to change.

My first encounter with the library as a vacation destination was a bit surreal. Sure, I knew they had books. All libraries have books. I wanted to read the latest book in a series by my favorite author. Of course since there was no money allotted in my new budget for such frivolities, I headed to the library.

Yes, the local library had the book for which I was searching. However, I found so much more. I found shelves and shelves of newly released books, as well as reference materials and older books.

I found a vast collection of movies, documentaries, TV series, and more in their DVD section. I found CD’s, current newspapers, and my favorite magazines (remember, the ones I had to cancel my subscription to because of all my debt?). I even found artwork available for check out. Yes. Art work.

Y’all, it was like an entire world opened up to me. The longer I stayed, the more I discovered. Programs for children. Classes on crocheting, card making, gardening, etc. Lectures. Book groups. Tax help. Internet and computer usage. Wi-Fi. All for free.

FREE. As in there was zero charge to do any of it. I was as happy as a pig in mud. I checked out an armful of books, three movies, 2 CD’s and a painting. I signed up for a lecture. I surfed the Internet. Then I went home. The desire to go out and obtain “things” had been satiated, and I had not even spent a penny.

After that day, I became a regular at my local library. I enter every contest, go to many lectures, peruse their new release section. When I enter the library, I am greeted by name. I am made to feel welcome, and I love it.

Over the years, my local library has become more than just a place of entertainment. As I worked through obtaining my Master’s of Education, the library staff was with me every step of the way. While I live in a small town in rural Indiana, that would never be known from viewing our library’s capabilities.

Whenever I needed a book, article, of movie, they found a way to get it for me. Through inter-library loan, they were able to get me the two most rare books I have ever read. One came from the rare books vault at Indiana University. The other came from The Library of Congress. The Library of Congress, y’all. Yep, our little local library went all the way to the Library of Congress to find the book I needed for my research.

The inter-library loan feature is available to anyone. If there is something you would like to read, listen to, or view and you cannot find it at your library, just ask if it is available on inter-library loan. Yes, you may have to wait a while to get it, but you do not have to pay a thing.

Another great feature of the library is that usually there are funds set aside for purchasing items to add to the library’s inventory. If there is a book that I would love to read but do not find it in our system, I will sometimes ask if the library is willing to purchase it. If the funds are available, the library readily agrees, and I am put first on waiting list to read it.

As you climb out of your debt pit, one step at a time, do not do as I did. Do not wallow in self-pity for months on end, looking back with longing to the days of concerts and shopping. Embrace the now. Enjoy the free things in life for a while. Check out your local library and all of the services it has to offer. I believe that if given the chance, you will learn to cherish it as I have.

As William Shakespeare said, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

Never doubt yourself. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. I have heard from several readers regarding their journey through debt. You can do this. We are in this together. All of us.

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 6: The Necessity of a Humidifier

To read my debt story, click here. To begin your own journey towards financial freedom, click here.

Throughout the winter months, JP and I run three warm-steam humidifiers non-stop in our home. By doing this, we have found a much lower occurrence of illnesses, headaches, bloody noses, and sore throats.  We have also found that it saves us money on the heating of our home.

Humidifiers replace the moisture in the air that is taken out during the heating process of your home. Air that is heated by a woodstove or furnace is dry. Any moisture that was once in the air is wisked away. This also holds true for our bodies.

Moisture is quickly wisked away from our bodies as we breathe in the dry air. This dries out the mucus membranes in our noses and nasal cavities. Once dry, our mucus membranes have a very difficult time catching the germs and foreign objects that are in the air that we breathe.

The drier the air, the drier the membranes. The drier the membranes, the greater chance we have at catching the latest virus running amuck in our little corner of the world. Dry membranes also lead to sore throats and headaches. By returning moisture to the air, many sore throats, headaches, and illnesses can be averted.

Not only is this a wonderful thing for your health, it is also a wonderful thing for your pocket book. Doctor visits, medications, and days off of school or work add up to major money spent, or lost, to illness each year.

Humidifiers also help save money on heating costs. Moist air seems warmer to our skin. Therefore, you are able to turn down the thermostat a few degrees more than normal, and still be comfortable. Running a humidifier in much cheaper than running the furnace.

By making the initial investment of a humidifier, you can possibly save yourself several times the starting costs within one year. That money can be used to pay down the principle of your debt. This will take you one step closer to getting out of your debt pit.

If you simply cannot afford the initial investment of a humidifier, there are other options available to you. If you have a woodstove, set a pot of water on top of it. Make sure to fill it everyday. You will be amazed at how quickly the water will be gone.

When you take a shower or bath, do not turn on the fan. Open the bathroom door and let the moisture stay in the house.

If you have a dishwasher (I do not, by choice,) do not run the dry cycle. Open the door and let the steam escape into the house, while the dishes air dry. Not only will you put moisture into the house, you will also save money by not drying the dishes in the dishwasher.

While these are not the optimum ways to get moisture back into your home, they are better than doing nothing.

JP and I started out with just one humidifier, but over the years we have added two more to our 800 square foot home. We use one in each bedroom and one in the living room. We prefer the warm-steam type, but cool-mist humidifiers work just as well.

Humidifiers can be found at garage sales, resale shops, or in someone’s basement, usually for just a few dollars. I have also found them on sale quite often in stores. Many stores will sell you the display model at the end of season for a fraction of the original price. All you have to do is ask.

While it may seem odd that a post on humidifiers is part of the debt series, stay with me. We are trying to get you out of the debt pit. When you are driven enough, you will find all sorts of creative ways to save money that are not part of the mainstream financial wisdom.

I leave you with this, “Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keep going. You can do it. I know you can.

~Annie

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My Journey Through Debt: Part 5: Cutting the Budget: Unplug

Once I had cut out spending money on entertainment, I took a look through other bills that were for essentials, hoping to find places that I could stretch my dollars. I found the first in my electric bill.

Seemingly little items, left plugged in, use electricity. Those little charges add up to quite a hefty sum of money over a month’s time. They add up to an even more significant charge over a year’s time.

Not one of the items on the list are hard to do, per se, however, they do require a bit of extra time. Whenever you get frustrated or tired of spending time doing items on the list, just remember that you are doing this to pay down your debt and get out of your debt pit.

• Unplug the following between uses:
• Electronics. Examples include TV, DVD player, Stereo, VCR (yes we still have, and use a VCR,) game systems, charger cords, etc. To make this easy for us, JP and I use outlet strips. Not only does it make it easy and convenient, we have also found that it somewhat protects our electronics in case of a power surge.  Yes, I understand that the clock might blink at you when you go to plug it back in. However, it’s ok. Either set it every time or ignore. Your choice.
• Appliances: Examples include coffee pot, toaster, coffee bean grinder, toaster oven, mixer, food processor, and, if you are hardcore, your microwave.

• Use a clothesline. Yes, it is easier and less time consuming to throw the clothes into the dryer. However, it is much more cost effective to use a clothesline. You might be thinking, “I don’t have a clothes line, Annie, so shove it!” (I do recognize that I did not have the most positive attitude during this time of my life, so I am willing to extend grace to you if you are mentally calling me names as we journey down the debt road together.)You do not need to own a clothesline. While a clothesline is helpful, you may also use laundry racks, the shower curtain bar, etc. The initial investment of my clothesline was $80. I am positive that I have saved several times over that amount by using my line from March through November.
• Turn lights off when you leave a room. I do realize this sounds elementary, but most people just do not take the time to shut off lights. Now, if you are going right back into the room, just leave it on. Otherwise, if you are finished in that room, flip the switch.

You will be amazed at how much money you can save just by being diligent in these areas. At the end of the month, take your savings on the electric bill, and apply it towards paying down the principle of your debt.

 I know there is probably some other very tempting use for that money, but remember, the entire point of all of this sacrificing is to get yourself out of your debt pit. I promise it is worth the sacrifice. As the debt slowly goes away, the huge weight upon your life will lessen. The worry will slowly melt away. The creditors will stop calling. You can do it.

As Robert Cushing said, “The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.”

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 4: Cutting the Budget: Entertainment

For all of you that are new to this series, you may want to head back to the beginning of my debt journey by clicking here . We will wait.

After stopping the outflow of money through bad spending, I knew I still needed more accessible money if I ever wanted to be free of the albatross of debt around my neck. I had to cut the budget.

I am dividing up this segment of my journey for two reasons. First off, it will be easier for me to write because there is so much ground to cover. The second reason is that it will be easier for y’all to digest if it is given in little doses.

I say it will be easier to digest because this stuff is painful y’all. There is no fun, whatsoever, in not only denying yourself new possessions and activities, but getting rid of those you have already.

In the world of paying down debt, the first line item to be cut is entertainment. While it is the first to be cut, it is also one of the hardest for us to do. We rationalize with ourselves that we need those moments of fun. To perk us up after a long day. To reward ourselves for dealing with a horrid boss all week. To have something to do over a weekend.

But listen. We do not need those things. We want those things. And right now, you cannot afford to obtain those things.

The following list is painful, but bear with me. Remember, I have been were you are. In order to speed up the process of getting out of debt you are going to have to truly and honestly consider taking the following steps.

• Cancel your cable/satellite TV. Now I know your immediate thought is that there is a huge charge for canceling before the contract is over. HOWEVER, is that charge more than the monthly bill times the amount of months left in the contract? No? then cancel it and put that money towards your debt. Yes, you may be out of the loop as to what the latest reality show stars are doing, or you might miss a sports game or two, but as of now, you have more important, life changing things to do with your funds.
• Stop Netflix or video/game rental. Your local library had a vast collection of movies for your viewing pleasure, and they are free.
• Stop going to the movies. Once again, the local library has new releases almost as soon as the video stores. Get put on the waiting list to borrow the newest flick.
• Cancel, or scale back your cell phone. I know that you are already thinking, “but I need my cell phone.” However, actually, no, you don’t. No one needs Internet on his or her phone. No one needs texting (unless you are hearing impaired.) Most people do not need a cell phone, period. For those that must have one, a pay as you go, track phone is the best option. It will allow you to have the security of a cell phone while paying down debt, yet a much smaller bill at the end of each month.
• Stop going out to eat. While food will have its own post at a later date, this is a very simple, and quick method of saving money. Make your food at home. More on this at a later time.
• Stop going to places that you know will be a money pit. Examples: amusement parks, concerts, fairs, rodeos, car shows, bike shows, malls, and the list goes on. If you know you will spend money if you attend, don’t go.

I know this is a painful list. I know you probably want to kick me right now. I know that you have a laundry list of reasons that you simply cannot abide by this list. I know, because I have said them all before. I railed against this list. I yelled. I pouted. I sulked. However, once I finally bit the bullet and started to actually do the items on this list, I saw a huge increase in the amount of money available to me for paying down the principle of my debt.

As the principle of the loans went down, my attitude got better. Remember, this is not a forever situation. You do have an end goal. There will be a time that you may reinstate the entire list. However, as of now, your main concern is climbing out of your debt pit.

You can do it. I know you can, because I did. Set your goals and set out to attain them. As Bryan Tracy said, “Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.”

~Annie

Onions and Celery and Peppers, Oh My!

Good morning lovelies! As we start to wrap up winter, I see more and more deals on produce at the grocery. Some of these deals can be wonderful, money-saving opportunities!

I have found that there are three items that freeze especially nicely in my freezer for use at a later date in soups, stews, and other recipes.

Celery, onions and peppers can be chopped or diced, placed in the freezer in gallon or quart Ziploc bags, then pulled out at a moments notice. The prep time for all three is a very short 2-5 minutes.

• If you need to wash your produce, do so, and then allow time for it to dry. I wash my peppers. Since I am peeling the onion, I do not wash it. Depending on the celery stalk, I may or may not wash it.
• Using a sharp knife, dice your selected produce into small pieces. I put all left over scraps into the chicken bowl for the animals. As I have said before, we try not to ever waste what God has given to us.
• Label your bag with the date and contents, using a permanent marker.
• Place diced produce in bag, leaving the top 2-3 inches of the bag empty.
• Squeeze out air and close bag.
• Place in freezer.
• When ready to use produce from bag, loosen the contents by hitting it against the counter a few times. Produce should be loose and ready for you to measure out for whatever delicious food you are making for your family or yourself!

I have found that I love to do this anytime throughout the year, but especially when I find great deals at the grocery or farmers’ market.

When I go to the grocery, I always look through the mark down to see if there is any older produce that may not look great, but will be just fine for freezing and cooking at a later date.

My favorite spot for these deals is my farmer’s market a few miles from my house. I visit there once a week, always asking if there is any old produce. Linda, the owner, always has a box of items that she has taken out of bins because she cannot sell them at full price. We usually strike a great deal on the boxes of slightly aged produce, a win-win situation. She can sell and get rid of the older produce, and I can take it all home to put into my freezer so I am able to enjoy it year round.

This method also works great for overflow from the garden, or produce that is starting to turn in your fridge.

Stay tuned for more money-saving food ideas in future posts!

Today I leave you with this….”The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” ~Arthur C. Clarke.

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 3: Paying Down the Principle

This is part three of a series about my journey through debt and how I climbed out of the debt trap. If you are new to this blog, you will find my debt story here, and also be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 before reading today’s post.

Once I stopped my out-of-control spending habits and started writing down every penny I spent, I started to see a little money left over at the end of each paycheck. This money went towards paying down the principle of my loans.

Minimum payments on credit cards pay mainly the accrued interest and a few cents (if any) of the principle of the loan. That must-have deal on your favorite brand, quickly becomes quite pricey once the balance is on the credit card, and you are stuck paying for it (with interest) for the next decade.

By paying down the principle of the loan, you are lessening the amount of the original loan. Do not be discouraged if you only have 87 cents to pay towards the principle. I have been there. 87 cents is exactly what I had left in my pocket book at the end of the pay period. That is exactly what I added onto my minimum balance due and sent in to the credit card company.

Never let yourself be tricked into believing that whatever money amount you have available is too little. No matter WHAT it is, it will help pay down your debt. As you pay down the principle, you will slowly see a shift in how much of the money you pay the credit card company goes to interest, and how much goes to the principle balance.

I have been asked which card I paid down first. After paying all the minimum payments to each card, I put the extra money for the principle towards the card with the highest interest rate. In this way, I was getting the worst load off of myself the fastest way possible.

This is NOT an overnight quick fix. It took quite a while for me to get myself into the amount of debt I had on credit cards, and it took me quite awhile to get out. The difference was, I actually came to the point of looking forward to receiving the credit card statements in the mail and sending my payment in.

I knew that everytime I sent in a payment, I was inching closer to getting out of my debt pit. Sometimes it was 87 cents. Sometimes, it was $100. whatever it was, it was a step closer to my goal of paying off my credit card balances.

In order to make extra money so that my principle was paid down faster, I took on extra jobs. I cleaned homes, tutored, and did any other odd jobs that were available. I also sold items that I did not need and put the cash earned towards principle. Every Christmas and birthday gift that was given to me as cash went towards my debt. No it was not what I WANTED to do with it, but it was what I NEEDED to do.

I came very close to rationalizing that it was my BIRTHDAY present. I DESERVED to splurge on something with that money. But you know what? No, I didn’t. I had put myself into slavery of the credit card debt, and I was slowly, little by little, getting my freedom back. Out of all of the things I was doing, turning over my birthday and Christmas present money to those credit card companies was the hardest.

Ok, so I have shared with you how I got into debt, my realization that I was debt, my immediate actions, how I started to keep track of my money, how we changed our food habits, and why it is important to always pay towards the principle. In a future post I shall delve into how I started the very necessary, yet very painful process of making cuts in our budget so that more money was freed up to pay down the principle of the loans.

Thank you for staying with me on this topic. While debt, and money in general, seem to be a taboo subject in our society, it is one that needs to be discussed and shared. Remember, this is MY story. I have been there. Do NOT give up. No matter how deep your debt pit is, there is ALWAYS a way out.

As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 2: Writing It Down and Changing Our Food Habits

Although I was now willing to recognize my problem with credit and do something about it, life still went on around me. There were still bills. Still vehicles that needed to be fueled. Still a mortgage to pay. Still money that needed to be spent.

Notice I said needed. As in it is an absolute necessity to spend a set amount of money on a particular bill. For times like that, I carried with me a pen and tablet of paper. I wrote down every single purchase. Every bill paid. Every quarter loaned. I wrote it down to the penny.

I found that by writing it down, I was able to take a semblance of control over my money. No longer was it ruling me, I was ruling it. No longer would I live in fear of the total balance due vs. the total balance available. No longer would I remain purposefully ignorant of my money.

I kept a running total in my notebook of how much CASH I had on hand. I paid everything in cash that I possibly could. If I had to mail the bill, I used check or money order to get it there. Charging it to the card was NOT an option.

I also started to get creative at home. I found that the less I left the house, the less money I spent in gasoline or trips to the store. I found that if I thought I needed something, I could write it down on a list and wait until Friday, my errand day, to purchase it. Usually by then, I found I no longer “needed” it. I also found that although I may have run out of certain types of food, I could make other dishes that worked just fine. By NOT buying more food, I was able to put more money towards paying off the principle of my credit card debts.

If I DID buy food at the grocery, I spent more time figuring out the cheapest way to go. This was not a time in my life for steaks, pork chops, soda, chips, or the like.  During my climb out of the debt pit was not the time to be picky about brands, either. I learned to buy in bulk more, breaking it down myself when I returned home.

By shopping the outer edges of the grocery, I was able to select the healthiest options for my family, while saving money by NOT buying the convenience, pre-packaged foods that seem to gravitate towards the middle of the store. This time in my life was NOT about convenience. It was about paying down debt. Yes it was hard. Yes it was time consuming. Yes it was worth it.

Although it was a struggle at first, I soon found that our family did just fine with only adding half the meat (usually the most expensive part of a food budget) called for in a recipe. I also found that some of my creative ways to stretch the food budget and the meals became family favorites (potatoes in tacos, rice in stews).

You may say, “Sure Annie, easy for you to say, there were just two of you.” That simply wasn’t true. While we did not have Little Bug yet, we did have several mentor children that lived with us or were in and out of our house on an almost daily basis. While we loved them and were blessed to have had them here, extra people do cost money to have in your home, plain and simple.

The way we dealt with that was simple. We were honest with them. No I didn’t tell them every little thing, however, if they asked why things had changed, I did inform them that we were in the process of saving money to pay down debt.

If you have family members that may rebel at the idea of changing spending habits and food habits, you may want to talk to them about why you are doing so and how they can help you.

I realize that this path is not easy. I do understand. I walked it and experienced it. It is HARD to tell yourself “no.” It is time consuming to write every penny down. It is frustrating to have a teenager or spouse questioning you as to why there is no soda in the house. I get it. However, stick with it. It will be worth it. I promise.

“Who recalls when folks got along without something if it cost too much?”  ~Kin Hubbard.

~Annie