Saving on Taxes

It's scary how much of our money disappears through the cracks. I've discovered that one of the really big cracks in my finances is that of sales tax. Here in Nova Scotia we pay 14% sales tax on most things. (Books have a lower tax rate.) That adds up to literally hundreds of dollars ever year. It surprised me when I realized just how much we pay out in taxes, between sales tax, income tax, etc.

Now, I'm not saying we should avoid paying them, because for one it's illegal and there are stiff penalties, and because the Bible tells us specifically that we ARE to pay our taxes. But I've started looking for ways to reduce the amount of money that I "nickel and dime" out of my budget. With baby #2 on the way and me looking ahead to a cut in income, it's something that is weighing more on my mind lately.

One very easy way I've found to reduce the amount of money that goes out in sales tax is to pay closer attention to what I'm buying. For example - if I buy a bag of grapes, there is no tax. If I buy them washed and stemmed, then there is tax payable on it. Ground beef has no tax, but pre-made patties do. Flour, sugar, eggs, milk, chocolate chips - no tax. Chocolate bars - tax. The tax is payable on things that have had extra processing, convenience foods, etc. So just by cutting out the extra services, and the extra junk food, from my grocery shopping, I am quickly saving $5, $10, even $20 and I haven't really *done* anything. It might mean a little more work when I get home, but it might also mean I have a little extra left over to buy something special. :-)

So, you want to be treated like a lady?

Something has changed in the last couple of generations. We want to be treated like ladies, but heaven forbid we should do anything that would make us appear weaker than our male counterparts. So we squash the craving to be cherished, to be cared for, to be protected, and we rush off to do everything ourselves. This is in stark contrast to what I see when I look at my grandmother's generation. Most of the more aged ladies I know are indeed 'ladies' who would think it odd indeed to be out with a man who didn't come around to open the car door.

I see it in little things, like whether a man opens the door for a woman, or lets her go ahead of him, who places the order in a restaurant, who drives, things like that. I think a lot of the reason for it is women becoming more independent, more dominant, and not wanting to appear "weak". And also, because of men working more and more hours, more women are thrust into the position of having to do everything themselves, or else having it simply not get done.

I'm trying to change this in myself - I'm very much one who will "just do it" rather than waiting, whether "it" is doing a load of laundry or changing a light fixture. I'm stepping back a bit more often. Hesitating rather than rushing ahead - if I just go ahead and open the door, then he doesn't have the opportunity to do it, even if he wants to. I'm trying to ask for help more often. Pointing out things that need to be done, but of course trying not to nag. Opening up a little more and admitting that I would like to be more feminine even though I struggle with it. Asking him to pray at mealtimes when he's home, and getting C to say her prayers with daddy when he's here instead of just doing it myself. Asking for advice, even if I feel like I already know the best answer and am ready to move forward.

And no doubt paying attention to appearance helps immensely. I've been trying to pay more attention to that - being 6 months pregnant has thrown me a bit and I tend to just put on something that fits and put my hair up in a knot because it's cooler... but this week I got a big bag of maternity clothing from a friend which was a nice boost to my shrinking wardrobe, and I've been giving a little more thought to little things like painting my nails or putting on a bit of perfume.

I guess it comes down to taking the time to think and act a little more "delicate" and allowing the men in our lives the opportunity to step up to the plate and treat us like princesses :-)

Helpful resources

I just thought I'd pass on a couple of links that have been incredibly helpful for me in getting myself better organized, or at least inspired to be!

Keeping the Home blog. Lots of great writing and teaching here as well, but at the moment she is also working through a series on building a Home Management Binder. Definitely pop over there and learn something!

Who hasn't heard of FlyLady by now? Excellent site. 'Nuf said.

I'm finally getting to the place where my morning routine is happening consistently. I'm sure that having the house for sale is helping. But for a solid week now I've kept up with the dishes, the laundry and the clutter, just by making sure it's all done before I leave the house to go anywhere. Which meant for a few days we really didn't go anywhere. But I got all caught up and now it's maintenance.

Want to know what I did to help with the laundry? I threw away my hamper. Yup. Tossed it out. So now all I have to catch the laundry are two baskets in the bathroom, one for darks and one for lights. When one is full, it goes straight to the washer, and voila, just like that the laundry isn't getting ahead of me anymore! Before, I was dumping it into the hamper in the laundry room (which will hold something like three loads if it's packed down). No wonder there was always more to do!

Save Money and Calories - Eat from the kids' menu!

Such a simple thing to do, this is. Except that the restaurants make it more difficult than it needs to be. But if you're going through a drive-through, just order yourself a kid's meal. It costs less, and it has much less food, although what's in a kid's meal today really is enough for an adult. Eat slower, don't just gulp it down, and you'll see I'm right. The same goes for ice cream shops - most of the places I've been recently serve as much on a kid's cone as any adult needs to have! And you'll save yourself a couple of dollars just like that. That's actually what put this on my mind today. C and I went out for an ice cream cone at DQ, and instead of a small I ordered a kid's cone for myself. The order total went from 5.37 for a kiddie and a small down to 3.00 for two kiddie cones. Which means I have enough change left to go through the car wash later on. :-)

If you're eating in, this is trickier because most place won't let an adult eat from the kid's menu. If that's the case then just put a little more thought into your meal. See if they will do half-size servings. If they won't, then ask them to box up half of your entree before they even bring it out to you. Bring the other half home and you've got lunch for tomorrow! Or simply split a regular entree with your dinner partner.

Eating out doesn't have to blow your budget - either in cash or calories!

Tough Life for Stay-at-Home Moms?

Well said, Dr. Laura!

"The last few generations have been brought up with too much and too little: too much opportunity and things, too little gratitude and obligation. We actually have a large segment of our population that couldn't imagine giving without getting, sacrificing out of obligation, suffering out of responsibility, following through out of honor. "

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34558

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day. Sorry to admit it, but I honestly didn't know that until just now, as I was watching the 5:00 news. Oops.

Anyway, I was watching the feature on the news and it was pretty thought-provoking. Although there was a brief segment about the importance of removing the stigma of domestic violence and protecting women better, the real focus was primarily on the lack of women in the trades professions and what can be done about it.

"What can be done about it." Like it's a bad thing that women aren't turning out in droves to become carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Like there's some terrible tragedy that the trades are a male-dominated industry.

How about celebrating International Women's Day by celebrating our womanhood? We're different - why don't we embrace the differences instead of trying to erase them? Tonight would be a good night for mothers and daughters to sit together and celebrate that they are special and different and honored by God in their womanhood and girlhood, to be thankful that they ARE made differently from men. It might also be a good night for fathers to embrace their daughters and celebrate them for who they are. Let them know that you're proud of them, just for being your daughters. Show some extra love to your wife, for being the special woman she is.

Remember, we're not unequal - we're just different.

Consideration - Without being crippled

The last few weeks we've been discussing "boundaries" in our ladies' class at church. I admit it surprised me the first day that I came into the class; I expected it to be a Bible study class. But it's been interesting. We've been talking about things like setting limits (self-protection), checking your motivation for doing things (service in love vs guilt or manipulation), and realizing that you are probably going to hurt someone's feelings by saying "No" or by making a particular decision, but that it won't do them any long-term harm, whereas not doing so might do you some long-term harm.

So it's been interesting. This morning's thoughts are heavily influenced by the last couple of classes, I think.

I've been thinking this morning about how our decisions have an effect on the people around us, and how we can be considerate of that effect without letting fear of hurting them cripple us in our decision-making. Whether it's a little decision like turning down a second piece of cake, or a bigger one like breastfeeding or homeschooling, someone is going to be affected and might even be hurt.

When it comes to breastfeeding - we all know it's the best choice, for many of us it's the only choice we're willing to consider. But I think sometimes in our mission to do the best for our child, we get into a place where we almost have blinders on. The last two generations of moms have basically been instructed by doctors and other "experts" that their milk wasn't good enough, or that breastfeeding was unsterile, or that formula was just plain better. Now we come along and we have better science, better knowledge, and are making the decision to breastfeed, which is great - but when we get questioned about our decision, how do we respond? Do we become defensive immediately, or do we take a minute to consider the other person's point of view before responding? Do we consider that they might be struggling with their own feelings of guilt or inadequacy (whether or not it's conscious), and respond graciously and lovingly, or do we lash out with something like "everyone knows breast is best" or by throwing out statistics?

And then there's homeschooling. Studies are proving that it works, and that it's a good choice. But it's still a minority decision which a lot of people are nervous about. Again, when questioned, how do you respond? Do you respond in love, explaining why you made this choice but why you also accept that not everyone can homeschool... or do you preach about the evils of the public school system? Do we come across as "holier than thou" or wierd and eccentric because we homeschool, or do we speak in love and grace, attracting others to us? Do our words make other parents feel bad about their own past choices, or hopeful about their future?

Just some things to think about. Consider what you say and how it is being received by the other person. Don't let their feelings cripple you or limit your decisions, but do take them into consideration and think about changing your presentation a little bit.