To Run a Marathon You Have to Commit

There are many marathon analogies I’ve been using here lately. In past blogs I’ve talked about topics that connect to running a marathon (running) and our part in the Savings Race. To run a marathon you need to RUSH, DRIVE, REST, TRAIN, BLOG, and now COMMIT.

When we made the decision to run this race everything was coming so fast. So many changes and reporting and hassle. Not to be a downer but really reporting and changing are tiresome. There are many good things to come from racing and the biggest part is to COMMIT. For example last Friday I really really wanted my favorite Mexican restaurant food for dinner. What I wouldn’t do for some chicken nachos. What I wouldn’t do? Get my favorite Mexican meal. We’ve come so far in this race and going out could be a real setback for this week’s budget. So…we ate hot dogs, tortilla chips with homemade guacamole, and spinach salad. It was a really good dinner, really cheap dinner and I already had all of it in the house so we ate and stayed home and watched a movie. There are a few things that are important if you are going to COMMIT.

C hoose a different way
O pen your mind
M anage your spending
M aintain your budget
I gnore impulses
T reassure progress

Last week to vote Team Kayleigh https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/97T3VLN.

Visit personal blog for more tips and pics. http://fullestplate.blogspot.com/

To Run a Marathon you need to BLOG

There are only 6 weeks left in the Savings Race. Being a business major I frequently look at the opportunity costs of any activity. It’s ironic that the race is about decreasing debt and increasing savings, they both take cash flow, yet the experience also includes this educational element where not only our family is learning but we are sharing our experiences with the public. In sharing the experiences during daytime hours I have to take time off work. Well time off work means a day off work as a substitute teacher, and a day off work means no pay because you don’t exactly get benefits as a “temp”. That is where the blogging comes in. I find it beneficial when I start to see all the things I’m NOT accomplishing to in turn reflect on all we have accomplished. It’s hard to remember everything you’ve learned and it’s difficult to remember where you came from, even if it’s only been 6-7 months. With a blog you have a record reminding you what you’re doing right, what you need to do differently, why you made that change, and MOST important the journey traveled.

To Run a Marathon you need to BLOG

B egin looking for new ways of doing things
L og your experiences often
O perate within your budget
G et an accountability partner

Start your preparing for your marathon at any time, it’s never too late.

Vote Team Kayleigh

Last week to support our efforts for the March of Dimes


http://fullestplate.blogspot.com/

To run a marathon you have to TRAIN.

I don’t know why I thought I’d be able to come into a race and win-it without taking the time to train. I’ve mentioned before that in some ways this race was a challenge because we were so prepared (at least I thought).

I use coupons, never EVER pay full price, and comparison shop.
Shop clearance and often don’t shop at all even when our home and wardrobe seem to depend on it.
Cut the phone bill, use pay-as-you-go cell phones, don’t have pay TV.
We pack lunches.

Living without charge card dependency, no restaurants, no Easter dresses, let me tell you…that is something you have to train for.

My husband recently confessed that he used to go to the gas station EVERY morning to get breakfast and coffee. Now, we buy at the grocery and save a ton…consequently our grocery budget had to grow to accommodate the expense but in the long run it saved a ton in other areas. That was one way of training. Once he realized that he could live without that stop… habits changed. When asked about our position on the race and saving we agree that we need to make changes we can live with so that after the race, the habits will remain ways to live daily.

How can you train?
Treasure small accomplishments
Reassess your spending monthly
Allow for breaks
Imagine your end goals
Never give up

Please consider contributing to support the March of Dimes

Remember to Vote for Team Kayleigh

SuperHero of the 21st Century: Dialogic?

Who is the SuperHero of the 21st Century? Powers: more bandwidth, faster speed, Name: Dialogic, Nemesis: mass contraptions.

Being a math and technology teacher I’m always looking for new ways to connect what I’m teaching to real-life. In today’s world ALMOST everyone has a cell phone, and most home phones have caller ID services. Have you ever wondered how all that information passes through your line? Twenty years ago caller ID was amazing, now with smart phones and mass data communication Dialogic tools redefine what is possible in networking and network optimization products. So I set out to learn more, to be more “connected” with the students. It's funny the way to stay connected in the 21st Century is still through the telephone even if the communication looks different. The difference comes through information sharing, video conferencing, and full multimedia productions being delivered to remote offices. Dialogic tools help streamline these processes for providers.

When laying new wire gets expensive, companies look for products to amplify the capacity of data transfer within a network and connected networks. These tools are usually required by phone and Internet providers to get the most from their servers. Sometimes I feel like I need these products for my home. With each of my kids having a handheld game/music device that connects to the Internet via WiFi, with the tablet, eReader, laptop, desktop, and Smart TV streaming videos, there are upwards of 10 devices connected to the home network/Internet at a time. We are one wired, yet unplugged family. Well, this creates a scenario where nothing seems to be moving/playing/loading at all. It’s like a hamster running on a wheel. Working so hard and going nowhere! {You see that rotating circle on the screen hypnotizing you, don't you?}

Well, if it’s this bad in my home, how about at school where they are trying to implement several types of access to technology? Trying to take a network, and get the most out of it for less. I can feel a financial management lesson developing as I research new technology solutions. Now I can solve all the world’s problems, I just need… more… bandwidth…

As companies are developing more devices, more powerful devices, and another level of Candy Crush Saga being designed there are tools also developed for the providers to keep your devices going.

Now, that companies are on top of creating technology, my task…create a lesson for students. Look for the lesson coming soon. In the meantime, take time to investigate why your system shuts down when “everyone” is connected.

Disclaimer:
This post is sponsored, however all the points and views are my own.

To Run A Marathon You Have To REST.

Generally I’ve written some clever anagrams for running this marathon called Savings Race.

Today I’d like to say rest. Take time to enjoy the small things and quit worrying about the outcome. Sometimes we need to just take a break.

Vote Team Kayleigh

A Day in the Life (Part 4)

Thursday – if you followed my posts about a day in the life, and you are like me, you realize that there really are things going on in that every-day life of yours.

How many of you are familiar with the pic below?

Man do I feel like that sometimes.

If you ever feel like you’re not doing enough…I encourage you to write down a day in the life. I probably have a lot more interesting days in my life than I discuss but when you look at what a day in your life holds, good and bad, you realize your day – in your life is important.

A Day in the Life (Part 3)

Wednesday – The Savings Race crew showed up about 9 AM and filmed 2 hours. They asked us about our savings and plans, and rocky road. If you’ve been following me you know that 2 weeks ago I lost my job to someone with more seniority. ☹ Kayleigh modeled the Prom dress she got for free



and played it up for the cameras while she talked about Financial Management (state of Ohio standards) and preparing for college. THEN we took our cans to recycle ($12), requested a few local businesses to donate to our March of Dimes campaign (see I told you every day is the same), went to the dentist, went to the alterations company, went to the hotel to visit a friend that was in town from California (we are in Ohio). Then after 45 minutes visiting we went to the Health Department to get a TB test (see other blog) went to get the little one from her friends’ house (24 hours of tweens hanging out should be enough) and came home to make omelets for dinner. I am quite certain I did something after 6 PM, something other than play Candy Crush Saga but I quit logging those moments so I guess they don’t count. Yet…another day in the life.