It’s been a while since I’ve shared much about my personal life here on the blog.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped.
I’m not entirely sure why, but it’s been about two years since I posted one a “My Story of Grace” update.
Of course, I’ve still been connecting with you—whether through our private SDS Facebook Group or via email—but it’s not quite the same, is it?
Truth be told, sharing my story is what inspired me to start this blog back in 2008 (which, yes, makes me feel like a bit of a dinosaur in internet years!).
This little corner of the web was always meant to be a place for connection, encouragement, and authenticity.
So, I’ve decided it’s time to get personal here again.
Starting now, I’ll be sharing a personal blog post once a week.
These posts will give you a glimpse into my life and heart, and I hope they resonate with you as much as the tips, tricks, and resources I share here at Saving Dollars and Sense.
Thank you for being here and for being part of this journey with me. I can’t wait to reconnect in a deeper way.
Let’s walk this road together!
Weekly Wins
I know we’re only a few days into January, but I am happy to report that our January No Spend Challenge is going strong! I have not spent any money on unnecessary expenses.
We spent some money on a small grocery trip and gassed up one of our vehicles.
It’s the non-essentials that you really want to remove from your budget during the no spending challenge.
We also spent a chunk of our savings to get a huge tree cut down that was slowly dying and needed to be dealt with before we had a bigger problem.
We had already gotten two other quotes when a tree service came to the door a couple of days ago. They made us an offer we could not pass up!
The other two quotes were both around $1500!! This did not include grinding the stump.
This week, the company that came to our door offered to do it all for $1000!
So now the tree is gone and we have more than enough wood to heat our home next winter after it’s had a full year to dry and get good and seasoned.
We received several gift cards during the holidays, so we plan to use those if we absolutely need to go out to eat, get ice cream, or buy something beyond the necessities.
But we are on a spending freeze for the next few weeks and will find other ways to entertain ourselves for free.
This is something we’ve done for many years.
It’s a great way to detox and break bad spending habits.
There are a number of benefits of a no-spend challenge beyond the obvious one of saving money.
You get a real sense of your financial habits and learn new ways to curb excess spending when you see how little you really need each month.
Often, we make purchases without giving them much thought. This challenge forces you to consider every penny you spend and shows that you can live without much of what you once took for granted.
You’ll develop discipline for the future. Refraining from spending for a period of time shows you what’s possible.
Determining between needs and wants and prioritizing your choices are necessary skills when it comes to budgeting.
You can read more about it: No Spend Challenge
Favorite Find of the Week:
I’ve been doing something different this year instead of setting goals or resolutions for the new year.
This includes being much more intentional with drinking water every day.
So, I’m using this bottle to keep track.
I love the markings on the side with the ounces and the times. It’s so much better than the enormous gallon jug I used to use. I hated carrying that thing around, this one is so much more reasonable.
I am currently refilling it three times.
This is just under a gallon of water each day. I’m also drinking a couple of cups of coffee, and that has water in it, too, right?
TIP: I stop drinking water by 7:00 pm because otherwise, I would be up all night long visiting the bathroom.
What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening To:
I’ve been taking advantage of the FREE Apple TV the last few days, and we watched a couple pretty good movies already.
The one we really liked last night was The Family Plan.
A former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him.
Rich and I both thought it was pretty entertaining and funny. We both really like Mark Wahlberg as an actor, and he did not disappoint in this movie either.
I should warn that it does have a lot of violence, language, and some innuendo. So it might not be the best choice for a family movie night, but we enjoyed it.
Do you have something you’ve been watching that you just love? I am always looking for new recommendations!
As we step into this new chapter together, I’m so excited to bring you along for the ride.
Whether it’s sharing personal stories, favorite finds, or what I’ve been watching and reading, my goal is to create a space where we can connect on a deeper level.
Your support means the world to me, and I’m grateful for every comment, email, and interaction.
Let’s make this a year of connection, growth, and a whole lot of fun!
If you’ve been inspired by anything in this post—or just want to say hi—drop a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
Here’s to reconnecting and rediscovering the joy of sharing life’s moments, one post at a time.
Until next time,
