Cheap textbooks..... well, cheaper anyway.

Hello friends,

This is a practical post for college students and the parents who pay for it... If your kids are in high school, consider bookmarking this page or pinning it to your pinterest college board for quick access later!

Most universities make schedules and book requirements available online a month or two before classes start. While I really don't want to think ahead all that far, the practical side of me wants to save a few dollars wherever we can. Using the tips and resources below, we saved 25.66% on Nathan's books for fall semester. It's easy!

Here's how to do it:

1.  Look up courses and book requirements at the school website (through the student portal).
2. Record title, ISBN numbers (copy and paste to a document if you can) and school bookstore prices. We recorded prices of used/new books.
3. Use the same information (essentially the ISBN number) to search prices on other websites:
• Amazon
• Textbooks.com
• Chegg.com
4. At each site, make sure you know the condition of the book -- especially workbooks and books that include CDs -- as well as tax and shipping costs. 
5. Record the prices by site and make your purchases.
6. In a separate mailbox or file on your email, create a folder to save receipts.

Here's how it worked for us.

1. Nathan needs a total of six textbooks. At the school bookstore the used book cost was $318.70 and the new book cost was $424.80 (OUCH!)
2. We found three used books at textbooks.com for $123.83, free shipping.
3. We found a new workbook and another used textbook at Amazon for $64.64, free shipping.
4. Our total cost for five books was $188.47.
5. One book was not available at any site (new edition for 2012), so we will purchase it through the school for $89. Our grand total is $277.47, a 13% savings over all used prices and a 35% savings over new prices. Since we purchased some used and some new books, the total savings worked out to about 25%.

Some helpful tips.

1. If purchasing books to use over multiple semesters, consider buying new or "like new" used books so that it lasts as long as you need it.
2. If purchasing workbooks, consider buying new (we bought one). Is it really a time-saver or a benefit to use a workbook someone else already used? Figure out the answers yourself, using a new book.
3. Make sure books include everything they would if new, including CDs and pullout maps. You might need them!

College is expensive, but with a just a little time invested, you can rein in costs. Our two hour investment saved over $100, well worth the time.

Hope that helps.

Karen

Home Cookin'!

I'm taking a break from my usual responsibilities this week... Savoring the last week of being 45. Yeah... that's it! ;-)

Yesterday, I got in touch with my inner Pioneer Woman (someone once compared my writing style to hers. WOW!!! Thanks!) and made homemade -- from scratch -- chicken stock! Yes, I did! You know what? It's EASY!!! It's cheap. Way cheaper than the box stock at the store! When the chicken stock was done, I moved on to dinner -- using the poached chicken from the stock to make a lovely Italian soup.

Ready?

Homemade Chicken Stock Recipe (sorry, no pictures. I wasn't thinking.)

Clean and toss the following into a stock pot:

• 4 ribs of celery, cut to four inch lengths
• 4 carrots, cut to four inch lengths
• 1 medium onion, chunked (I cut mine into eighths and separated the pieces
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 10 peppercorns
• Thyme (I used one tablespoon of dried thyme, though I would have preferred sprigs of fresh thyme)
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 large (or 4 small) chicken breasts with skin and bones 
• 4 chicken thighs, with skin and bones

Cover the whole mess with cold water. Place it on stove and bring to a boil. Allow it to boil about 20 minutes. I didn't let it come to a rolling boil, but made sure it bubbled well. Then, reduce it to a simmer and allow it to cook another 40 minutes.

Remove chicken to a bowl and let it cool. 

Pour the liquid from the pot, through a strainer into a smaller pot. Add salt to taste -- I used sea salt, only about 1/2 tsp. (You can always add more salt to individual recipes. You can't remove it once it's there though.) Toss all the veggies and stuff into the garbage. They're all used up. (I tasted. Yuck.) Put the smaller pot of chicken broth on the stove and bring it to a boil. Allow it to simmer hard -- a little boil, but not quite rolling boil -- for at least 30 minutes. Then lower it to a simmer. The water will simmer off and the chicken stock will continue to reduce as long as you want. I simmered mine for about 2 hours.

That's it!!!!

Store the stock in sealed containers in the fridge for up to five days. You can freeze it for three months. (HINT: Put a piece of scotch tape on the lid and write the date you made it with a sharpie. You'll never wonder how old something is ever again.) Also, once it gets cold, you can skim the fat off the top to make it healthier! YAY!!! (After all, it's almost swim season :D)

Tomorrow, I will post the soup recipe. YUM! If you plan to make it, you will need three cups of the chicken stock and all that chicken, deboned, skin removed, cut into bite size chunks. Easy!

The Proverbs 31 woman expands her husband's empire. She is frugal and wise. My husband doesn't have an empire, but I still like to maximize his income. It's my honor to serve my husband this way! 

WHEN you make your own stock (I didn't say IF, I said when), please let me know how it turns out!

Blessings,

How to purchase a couch (or anything) and not go broke!

Friends,
I'll be sharing my planned post later on today -- all about surprises -- but I just read this and WOW!!! Generally speaking, I've always thought we were pretty "smart" when it comes to finances, but this post showed me I still have some things to learn. For me, this is one more reason not to eat out!!!! You'll see why....

How much does a $1000 couch cost? (It is not a trick question!!!)

Till later,
Love,

Flip flops! Slow down to go faster.

Our pastor recently preached a series called "flip flops," Biblical truths that are the reverse of human thinking. For instance, to get ahead in life, don't push your way to the top. Instead, be humble, serve others. In Matthew 20:26-28 Jesus says, "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” To be great, serve others. That's exactly how Jesus lived.

A friend of mine shared another "flip flop" on his blog. We cram so much in the day, trying to get it all done... Go to Bryan's blog and find out why he thinks we should "Slow Down to Go Faster!" Bryan's site also includes a great resource for saving money and time. If you struggle with either of these (don't we all???), I hope you'll check it out too.

I am thankful that God has provided me with friends, like Bryan, who challenge me to think about what I do and why I do it! I hope you'll be encouraged to look at what you do and make life better.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Blessings!

Music Matters

Friends,
My son was homeschooled through eighth grade. He finally convinced us to let him attend public high school by arguing, "You've taught me to be a light in the world. How am I going to shine it if I never get to go anywhere?" He had a valid point! Mark 16:15 says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." He went. He invited kids to church. He has made a difference in his school.

One of the main reasons he transitioned so well is that he joined the band. Instantly, he had a "social network." He fit in somewhere. He belonged. The band started rehearsing under the hot July sun. They spent ten plus hours together each week -- often more -- for about two months before the school year began. Though he is only one of the 650 kids in his graduating class, he wasn't lost on the big campus. Music matters!

This month, his high school band (full disclosure here -- he's no longer in the band because piano practice and competitions are so time consuming) is participating in the Pepsi Refresh Project. Would you please take a couple minutes to vote for them? These kids and their parents work tirelessly to raise funds for the program and a boost from Pepsi would help a lot!

It takes just a couple minutes -- tops! And you can vote every day this month.

STEP 1:

Text from your phone. 

The text will go to: 73774 

The message is: 108900 

Hit send..you should get a text back saying thanks for voting. 

STEP 2: 

Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/ and click "sign in" at the bottom left of the screen. 

If this is your first time, click SIGN UP (right below WANT A PEPSI ACCOUNT?) and follow the instructions. You will need a password that 

you will remember....westband is easy to remember. 

Once you have an account, click "sign in with Pepsi". 

Enter your email address and password that you used to sign up. 

Search West Johnston in search box at the top right of the screen. 

VOTE. 

Sign out. 

STEP 3: 

Click "sign in to Pepsi" on the Pepsi refresh homepage (bottom left of the screen). 

This time click "sign in with Facebook". 

Sign in to your Facebook account with your Facebook user name and password. 

Type in West Johnston in the search box at the top right of the page. 

Vote for West and you're done! 

Our family does not benefit from this at all. We are not affiliated with Pepsi. I'm asking because I know this program makes a huge difference in kids' lives!

Thank you!

Love,

American "Idol" (Part Four)

photo © 2008 Pen Waggener | more info (via: Wylio)
Genesis 22:4-5 says, "On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”


For those of us who battle to trust God, whether with our children, work, finances, or relationships, this passage demonstrates how strong our faith in God can be when we choose to trust him. 


Abraham kept going -- right on up that mountain -- Isaac in tow. No worry. No fear. He says, "We will worship and then we will come back to you." Abraham's confidence in God's provision was absolute! He didn't send the servants off to search for a ram -- to help God out. He didn't bring a servant along to take Isaac's place, just in case.


How different Abraham's actions were compared to those of us who doubt.

On date night, we hire a sitter, but then check in 20 times just to make sure the kids are okay. We skip out on the tithe to have money for emergencies. We install security alarms on the doors -- and deadbolts -- and flood lights. And still, we're scared of the dark.

Abraham trusted. Absolutely. Completely. We can too.

It comes back to the choice I talked about in the last post: Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

If you struggle to trust God with some part of your life, what's holding you back? What can you do that God can't do? I'm not being smart. I'm asking seriously. If you're afraid of something -- is it too big for God?

Consider the same question Abraham did, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Ready for the "funny coincidence?" Abraham and Sarah were asked this question BY GOD when they got the news that they would one day have their son, Isaac. See? God tested Abraham's trust for the birth of his son. Abraham grew closer to God through that experience. When it finally came time to trust God with the "sacrifice" of Isaac, Abraham had already learned that God is trustworthy.

If you struggle to trust, look back. When has God shown himself trustworthy to you before. Go ahead, make a list. Thank Him for every provision he has ever given: a friend when you were crying, unexpected funds when your checkbook was empty, a kind word when you were hurting... What is it? What has he done for you already?

When you finish your list, thank God for all he has done. Then ask him to help you trust him more. With everything.

To continue reading this series, go to American Idol (Part Five).

Memorial Box Monday: Generosity

A few years ago, our church collected a special missions offering. My son, then about 12 years old, asked if he could donate the money from his savings account. He had saved up about $100 to purchase his own bass guitar.

My husband and I took some time to mull over his request. I'm saddened that we didn't agree to his request right then and there. Maybe that's why Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:3 NIV) Eventually, we came around and he gave his savings.

We didn't tell anyone about it. He gave anonymously. The purest, most generous gift a boy could give.

About a week later, a guy from our church who happened to play bass guitar on the praise team, called. He stammered a bit, then finally asked if he could buy our son a bass guitar. He rushed on, explaining that he felt God telling him to bless Nathan with the guitar. He then added he had never done anything like this before, and he hoped we'd let him do it.

Really? God, really?

Can you imagine the thoughts roiling through my head? First shame, for not trusting God the way my son did. Quickly replaced with stunned amazement. God says, "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38 NIV)

Our son understands generosity. Give. God's got you taken care of. Simple as that.

The following weekend after services were over, we led our son into the worship center, eyes blind-folded. The guys on the praise team brought out the new bass guitar -- AND CASE AND AMP AND CORDS AND STRAP AND CLEANER AND TUNER! They set it down and Nathan opened his eyes.

Nathan is back right on stage.
His friend, Matt, is in the foreground.

Stunned!

We all cried a few joyful tears that day. (I'm choking up as I share this now.)

Fast forward four years. These days, my generous boy, now 16, not only plays bass guitar, he is honored to serve alongside some wonderful musicians and lead our church in worship. Every time I see him, guitar strapped on, I remember this incredible blessing from God. Truly. Blessed.


Memorial Box Monday started at "A Place Called Simplicity." A friend of mine introduced it to me, and I love it! love it! love it!!! Memorial Box Monday provides an opportunity to remember all the good things God has done. Huge, gigantic things and little things that might seem insignificant. God's word is clear: "Cast every care on Me, for I care for you." (1 Peter 5:7).

Memorial Box Monday: Answered Prayer

Yes, I'm writing my MBM post on Wednesday. It's okay -- next year if you come back to revisit this post you won't even know I didn't write it on Monday!

If you don't know what Memorial Box Monday is, it started with Linny at "A Place Called Simplicity." Linny had this brilliant idea that we should remember the prayers God has already answered. We should cherish that answered prayer and revisit it when we need encouragement. MBM represents my family's faith journey. Much of it centers on our daughter's adoption. Today I realize that I have never prayed as fervently or walked as much by faith as I did then. (I need to get back to that place of total dependence.)

When I first told Rob that God was calling us to China to bring home a little girl, he wasn't as convinced as I was. He had his reasons. All of them logical. One thing he pointed out was that we had just paid off more than $100,000 in student loans the month before. We had a plan for the next stage of our financial life - to start saving for retirement and the kids' college. I'm a planner. Normally, he's more relaxed.

Unusually calm and clear, I suggested that we should pray about the finances. He agreed. So that night we asked God to show us. Our prayers were a lot like Gideon's fleece test. God, if this vision is really from you, prove it.

The next day...

Yes, I said, THE NEXT DAY! We got a letter in the mail from the student loan company. I opened it, expecting the payoff letter. The letter was there, but it said we had overpaid our payoff.

I don't know about you, but when I pay a bill, I don't ever want to pay more than needed. I called the student loan company before I wrote that final check. I followed all the automated prompts to get to payoff information. The automated voice told me our payoff amount and that it had to be received by a certain date (three or four days later). I repeated the amount and checked my figures. Twice. I wrote the check and sent it in.

Back to the letter we received... It said we overpaid the payoff. Not humanly possible. It included a check to reimburse us for the overpayment.

As I write my heart is pounding from the excitement of that day!

I called my husband right away. Again uncharacteristically, I calmly read the letter and told him about the check. I didn't connect the dots. This check was for him. From God. To help him see that our money is not ours. God can do whatever He wants whenever He wants. We just have to be obedient.

My husband and God had a little talk that day. I think we both learned how very great, how very loving, and how very in control our God really is.

To remember God's faithfulness, I'll put the check stub (yes, seven years later I still have it) in our memorial box. I never want to forget that God is in control and I don't need to worry about anything. I want my daughter to know that God cared about her from the moment she was conceived. I want her to know that God made sure we listened and brought her home -- where she belongs! May she never doubt His love -- or our love -- for her.

Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Matthew 6:26

Frugal lessons learned from football -- yes, football.

Dear bloggy friends,

Forrest Gump says, "Life is like a box of chocolates." I say, "Life is like a football game!" If you know me, you know I love football -- especially Ohio State! I have compared my faith to a football game. My family to a football team (my husband is at quarterback. I'm his number one receiver. The kids, depending on their moods are either offensive linemen, helping us make the next first down. Or, they are defensive madmen, slowing us down!) It seems our financial plans fit the scenario too. When we are young, newly employed and/or newly married, we think the world is ours. We think we're invincible and can never lose. Can you hear the chant, "We're number one. We're number one!" Unfortunately, our opponent, Debt, whose key players are: greed, selfishness, unbudgeted, and impulsive, thinks the same thing. Without a good gameplan, debt steals the ball of life and runs the other way. Score: Debt, 7 - Us, zero! It happens again and again. Before the first half ends, debt runs up the score: Debt, 35 - Us, still zero. Ohhh.

We get quiet, tense, and worried. Like a losing football team, we sit on the bench, face in hands, shoulders sagging. Dejected. Demoralized. Defeated. Team Debt gloats in ruining our life and enthusiasm. Can you see it? Team Debt on the far sideline, fist-pumping and high fiving? It breaks my heart!

The best defense, of course, is a good offense (at least in the game against Debt). If we don't get into debt in the first place, debt can't win. My husband and I made some tough choices early in our marriage. We bought with cash. We didn't settle, buying cheap things on credit card in the moment when we knew we wanted something specific. (We were married 13 years before we had an entertainment center. Really!) We cut up our ATM cards after realizing we weren't good with them. We thought, "Ready cash? All the time. Sweet!" (You can read the details of that lesson here) Bottom line: we couldn't manage the ATM card and we didn't want it running our lives, so we chopped it up into little tiny bits and threw it away. Forever! ATM cards did not fit our team strategy!

What do you do, though, if you've lived on the defensive and are losing the game against Team Debt?

First of all, don't give in! Once the mess gets so big, it's easy to quit trying. I've watched many lopsided football games, always marveling that the obvious loser comes back for more in the second half. Like scrappy dogs, they come out fighting. I still remember "The Comeback" -- when the Buffalo Bills overcame a 32 point deficit to the Houston Oilers to win their playoff game. Truly, amazing! We couldn't believe our eyes! You can do the same thing! Consider this moment your halftime. No matter how big the deficit, head into the locker room with your "team" (that's your family) and come up with a new gameplan. Choose now to "Go. Fight. Win!"

What can you do:
1. Cast the vision. Great coaches give inspired speeches at halftime, giving the team focus, confidence and hope. Do the same with "your team." Encourage your family to commit to debt free living. Help your family see the improved quality of life you'll have if you change your ways. The reality is, if the whole team doesn't help, you can't win. Kids can handle the truth. They'd rather eat peanut butter every day than watch their parents fall apart, fight, and worry. Really!

2. Change the game plan. Great coaches make adjustments at halftime. They change their strategy to address what the opponent is throwing their way. Do the same with your family.

• Reevaluate your need for cable TV, magazine subscriptions, prepackaged snack foods, bottled water, and gourmet coffee shop coffee. This is not an exhaustive list. What else can you get creative with?
• Ladies, if your husband can give up cable sports, you can give up professional mani-pedis and hair color! We all go gray sometime, let's just be real about it!
• Embrace left-overs. I have two teenage boys. They are always hungry. Always! With some help and encouragement, they have learned to eat the left-overs after school rather than pull something new out of the pantry. Regularly we have "clean the fridge" dinner nights. Anything previously prepared is fair game and it's first come first served. We eat those left-overs and don't throw them away anymore! Tons of money saved... or at least not dumped in the garbage can.
• Consolidate errands. Running a car is expensive, so plan. Keep a list of errands you need to do on the refrigerator, such as "Lowe's - fluorescent lights for laundry room. Walmart - return outfit that was too small. etc." When the errands start to line up, then do all of them at once. Some advanced planning saves you money AND time! Awesome.
• Grocery shop with coupons. We regularly save $20-50 per week using coupons. Some cautions, though. Don't clip coupons for items you wouldn't normally purchase. Make a list -- and stick to it!
• Turn the temperature up a couple degrees in summer (we keep our A/C at 76 in the summer and turn it down only if we have guests). Turn the temperature down in winter (we keep our heat at 68 degrees).
• Set budgets for clothing, eating out, etc. and stick to it. Teach kids about budgets and refer back to the budget when they ask for items not on it. Our older two kids have a clothing allowance for the year ($250, which includes shoes, underwear, coats and clothes). Anything else they want, they have to save for -- birthday gifts, mowing lawns, babysitting, etc. They don't ask for much anymore and they are learning how to live frugally! Honestly, we have a harder time "sticking to it" than our kids do. Remember, though, this is the football game of life. Do you want to win the game?

3. Celebrate the success. When a football team makes a great play, the whole team knows it and celebrates instantly! Do the same with your team. At the dinner table, share a temptation you faced and overcame! Praise kids for wise choices. Offer a monthly report to the family highlighting the reduced debt. Celebrate the success along the way, just like a football team does. It's true. Success breeds more success. Get that momentum going and watch your family win!

May God bless you with wisdom, patience, and passion to live a life free from debt!

Will you do it? What strategies does your family use?