Start of Something BIG

We're at the start of something big! Something that will revolutionize my tiny family. Tomorrow, Craig and I venture into our NO SPEND MONTH! That means I confiscate our credit cards and we live frugally for one month.

OK, it happens to be the shortest month of the year but so what! It's still a month!

We're taking 1,100 New Israeli Shekels (currently $296) and using that to pay for:

- Food

- Entertainment

- Dinners out

- Gas

- Clothing

- Household expenses (like the remodel project I've been dying to do)

Every time we spend money, I will calculate the amount we spent and what were "necessities" and what we bought "just because". We're not going to live on nothing and we won't live like paupers but we want to see what we spend too much on vs. what we should be spending on.

When Rachel of The Small Notebook set out to do this challenge, she had more mouths to feed and a smaller budget. She gave herself and her family $250 to spend in 31 days. Craig and I have $296 to spend in 28 days. That's around $10.50 a day (or 39 shekels a day). There's only two of us. Think we can do it?

Our biggest challenge? The grocery bill.

Unlike in the US, we don't have a lot of coupons given to us by the grocery stores. Food is marked up and pricey. There's really no getting around it. We started being smarter about where we spend and what we spend on.

I'll start tracking our progress tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Have any advice for us on how to live "frugally"??

Shabbat Reflections

I do my best to not blog on Shabbat since it's my down time but I'm really excited for a few things.

1) It's almost time for our NO SPEND MONTH

2) I took my last university exam on Thursday ... pray that I passed.

3) We're becoming really creative.

I'll expand on each of the reasons I'm excited.

1) Earlier this /month, I set out a goal to not spend unnecessary money in February. People are CONSTANTLY telling me that life will only get harder when we have kids. As irritating as this is to hear - ON A DAILY BASIS (seriously, people, keep it to yourselves) - it lit a fire under my tush to start reigning in our finances NOW before we have kids.

Craig and I like to spend money - which is a problem. We spend money on things that are irrelevant - like packets of oatmeal that are WAY too expensive in Israel; and powdered soup that tastes disgusting and is overpriced at 13 shekels for a package when the real deal costs less than 10 shekels to make for more soup with less icky stuff in it; or even fabric deodorizer that we buy when filling a spray bottle with hot water, 3 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and a few drops of scented oil will do the trick.

Catch my drift? We're trying to get into the habit of cooking and making our lives cheaper BEFORE having kids. Working hard to make these things habits will make things easier in the long run.

2) School has been a big worry of mine. It's been a LONG strange trip and I'm glad to see it finish. I was not always the best student but it's relatively hard to be on your A GAME when you're working a full time job and going to school full time as well. While my tuition may seem "cheaper" than college tuition in the US, it's not always so much "cheaper" when you have $10K in debt to the US government and you work Israeli wages and pay more for an apartment in Israel than you would for a larger place in Michigan. Seriously.

I'm happy to be at the end of this long road. It's taught me A LOT about myself and what I am capable of doing. I've seen myself grow over the past few years and I am in love with who I became. This school taught me to set my sights on a goal and achieve it. I got to know my professors fairly well and I know, when the time comes for me to move on to my MA, I'll have some nifty letters of recommendation. Thank you, IDC, for teaching me to use my brain.

3) Given that we're trying to save money, Craig and I are becoming more "creative". I've started using old t-shirts to make interesting pillowcase covers. Our meals are becoming more festive and colorful (and he's even eating more veggies... which is amazing). I've even taken to using my phone's Couch 2 5K program for my workouts - which actually lessens my financial burden since I don't have to go to a gym. This country is not the cheapest country to live in but I can buy an a$$ load of fabric for next to nothing if I want to make a new duvet. Veggies are relatively inexpensive if you know where to buy them (i.e. - the local fruit guy... who we call Moshe) which makes cooking vegetarian food options much cheaper and much more flavorful.

This Shabbat, I've given a lot of thought to the life that we lead. We're good people who call our parents regularly (sometimes too much, sorry Dad) and are having fun on this crazy road we've taken. Personally, I'm incredibly grateful for the life that we lead because, someday, when we're millionaires - we'll be able to pocket most of our money because I'm still gonna be pretty stingy... I mean, creative.

What are you thankful for this Shabbat? Do you have any tips for how to save money?

For Sale: a netbook

I'm selling my baby. OK, not REALLY my baby but I am selling my netbook.

A year ago I bought a Lenovo S10e for school. I loved that netbook but I no longer need it. We have a computer and an iPad between us and it's time for my baby to find a new home.

Last year, I bought it for 1,500 shekels - it retails for almost $300 on the web.

Does anyone want a rarely used, netbook with a Hebrew and English keyboard? I'm selling it for 1,000 shekels or $275.

There are some great reviews of this netbook. It's great for students and AMAZING for Americans/Canadians because it comes with a European plug AND an American/Canadian plug. There's also an extended Israeli warranty on the netbook - valued at 300 NIS that I'm throwing in for free.

I hope to find this bad boy a new home. Any takers?

I'm hungry... and I have a recipe

Last night, I tried something new. We had quite a few things to eat in the house but since I don't want to use our meat during the week (I'd rather wait until Shabbat), I tried an all veggie meal. I made a lot of mashed potatoes last night and added carrots. Then I had a BRILLIANT idea (that wasn't so brilliant after-all): turn them into potato pancakes. Horrible horrible idea... that Craig devoured. He ate the entire batch. Seriously. I thought it was gross and he was hungry.

This got me thinking, what ELSE can I make that is low budget and relatively "healthy" besides salad? Well, here's what currently in our freezer:

- potato kreplach

- Chinese stir fry veggie mix

- Cauliflower

- A mix of cauliflower, broccoli, onion, and carrot

- Chopped onion

- Malawach

- Cubed pumpkin

With my frozen stock, tonight I've decided to make pan seared potato kreplach and roasted mixed veggies.

Here's how I'm gonna do it:

Pan Seared Potato Kreplach

Since the kreppels (that's what we call it in my family) are small, the serving size is around 5 pieces per person. If you're my husband, it's around 10 (he might be thin but he can eat!)...

Take out around 20 pieces of kreppels and put them into a pot of boiling water. Let them cook until they float to the surface.

Drain the kreppels and lay them out on a plate to "dry". Do not over lap them - it's best to do this before they cool off. You want the kreppels to dry as much as possible because you don't want to throw wet pasta into boiling oil.

While your kreppels are drying, lightly grease a non-stick pan with olive oil - do not over saturate with oil! While the pan is warming, lightly dust the kreplach with salt and pepper. When the pan is hot, add your kreplach to the pan. Depending on the size of your pan, I would recommend no more than five per pan. You do not want to over crowd the pan.

Flip the kreplach to the other side once the first side has browned a bit. When the second side browns, place them on a plate lined with paper towel (to catch any leftover oil). Add your next batch and repeat! It's really just that easy!

Roasted Mixed Veggies

Since I already have a bag of mixed veggies, I'm going to defrost them a bit by steaming the vegetables over hot water. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and line a baking pan with parchment paper.

Once they are steamed (not cooked), I will put them in a large mixing bowl, add garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. Mix the veggies and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix again. Place the vegetables on the lined baking pan and put it in the oven.

Let the veggies roast until they are browned (or a bit burnt on the edges) then turn them as much as you can. This will take around 20 minutes to cook in total but the time varies depending on your oven size.

There you have it! My easy dinner for tonight. I may add some rice for a bit of flavor but I don't want to over do it on the carbs.

Do you have any great ideas for low-cost, meatless dinners? I'd LOVE to hear your recipes!

Wordless Wednesday - Wish-list Edition

There are two things I want from this picture:

- a nap.

- a vacation.

To Dye For...

Three months before Craig and I got hitched, I wondered what my REAL hair color would look like all over my head instead of just at my roots. About a month before the wedding, I had my hair extensions put in and the hair stylist ... or as I call him "Satan Spawn that Over Charges" ... wanted to dye my hair to match the extensions. I said "no thank you" and did it myself. My dye job did the trick (and I wasn't paying him ANY more money) and in the fake hair went. When it came out in October, I noticed my ends were super blonde and my roots were not. So, I did what any normal former hairdresser would do... I put red highlights in my hair... by myself.

My highlights looked awesome for a while. They've since faded from bright red to copper (which looks awesome) but as I was driving, I noticed that my roots were really dark and I had this strange sparkly things in my hair. I steer clear of glitter on a daily basis so I couldn't figure out what it was.

I had a gray hair.

This isn't the first time I've had gray hair pop up. Usually it gets colored over with something. But I haven't actually gone for a full-on hair dye job since July. Normal women are probably gasping right now.

So are my hairdresser friends.

And probably my sister.

Fear not, my roots look OK and I don't look all white trash. But I have more gray hair. More than I realized. How the heck did THAT happen?

So, now I need your opinion - to dye or not to dye... that is the question.

Oh the excitement!

This has been the WEIRDEST day ... for me. I woke up to find that my astrological sign may have changed (only to find out later that it really didn't)! Although, after reading my horoscope today, I may want to be a new sign:
A major roadblock is all you can see; it's blinding you to other options. If you can take a deep breath and look around, you may find a detour that is just as satisfying -- if not more so!

Um, say wha?

If by "roadblock" it means "what do I make for dinner?" and by "detour" it means "mac and cheese" as opposed to "chicken pot pie" - then, YES! It is correct. Although, I don't think that's what it was referring to.

Anyway, I'm making - what can be considered as the most expensive mac and cheese I'll ever make! Cheddar cheese is expensive here and for 500 grams of Cheddar cheese infused with whiskey - I think I sold my first born child to Tiv Taam groceries. If you've ever had this cheese, you'd understand why I think it's a fair trade.

Anyway, you're probably wondering WHY I'm excited. It's an easy answer: Fresh Sugar Mineral Cosmetics! I ordered my first batch of mineral cosmetics yesterday and I have a feeling this will be a beautiful relationship. I highly recommend them. Their customer service (and by that, I mean the wonderful Kelli) is amazing!! Stay tuned, I will likely review the products in February (during our NO SPEND MONTH!) and let you know how I really feel about them. For now, I'm in LOVE!

שבת שלום!
Good Shabbos!!

Thankful Thursday - Procrastination Edition

I'm procrastinating at work...again. Well, not really procrastinating. More like taking a break. I need a brain break. My brain hurts. Seriously.

I was searching through websites today - as I do every day - for bloggers to write about us. I came across this site called FredFlare.com. It's a kitchy website that sells stuff that I like.

That is what I am thankful for this Thursday.

This site allowed me to turn my brain off for a bit. How so?

I found this book:

What's Your Poo Telling You?

I can spend hours making fun of this book.

I also found this:

Domo In Love Plush

Michele might like this for her birthday.

Also on the list of things I want:

Yoda

Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure

Betty Crocker's Box O' Recipes

Bacon POP - It's KOSHER!

AND...

I Like You by Amy Sedaris

I am thankful to FredFlare.com today.

Thank you for helping me keep my sanity while making my co-workers laugh with your funny gadgets and goodies.

Wordless Wednesday - Thug Life Edition

Lessons Learned at Work

For those of you who don't already know, I work at GlassesUSA.com. That's right, I write the words that make you buy stuff. I started with the company when it was very small and I'm still with the company because, well, because I'm a glutton for punishment.

Just kidding.

I love what I do. Not many people can say that! I love helping people afford vision care. Sure, it's a business but we're filling a void in American society that hasn't been filled before. We're helping people who couldn't normally afford a pair of eyeglasses - achieve better eye health.

There are a few things I learn at work:

- how to be a better wife

- how to be more organized

- the Internet is your friend

- webcams are not toys ... well, sometimes they are

- if there's a Zombie apocalypse, trust no one and carry a shot gun with A LOT of bullets

One of the biggest lessons I learned from work this week is to share. I know, I was supposed to learn that lesson a while ago (like around age 3) but there's a lot of work in our office and we are gearing up for our big BIG BIG promotion (that I cannot talk about yet). This means that people who work at the pace I work at (superhuman) get more on their plate than those who work half-pace or regular-people pace. Sharing is caring, right? WRONG!

I don't like doing other people's work but I will chip in and help because... well because I have to. I won't be happy about it but, since I love what I do, I've learned an important lesson: when entering a job, work normal-person pace and not "Hillary pace" because the moment you start working at my pace, people come to expect it of you.

Wise words: Work less. Enjoy life more.

NO SPENDING!

Wait, what? No spending? What am I talking about?? Oh yeah, I'm giving our marriage a challenge... only Craig doesn't know it yet! I'm taking Rachel's No Spend Month Challenge... in February. It's already almost 2 weeks into January so I'm going to aim for February. We've been spending a lot since we moved in together nearly two years ago so I'm doing a little test to see what we actually spend our money on.

I'm giving us 1,100 shekels (around $300 depending on the exchange rate) to spend in February.

According to Rachel, things included are:

• 
  
• Groceries & eating out
• Gas
• Clothing
• Household items
• Entertainment

Things not included are:

• Rent, insurance, and bills
• Health expenses
• Work expenses
• Savings and investments
• Tithes and gifts

Wow, we get $300 to spend on food/gas/household items. Wow. Looks like I'm gonna need to be more crafty when it comes to my grocery shopping. Perhaps I'll even try to make my own floor wash (since we spend a butt load of money on it every month) ... or I'll just dilute the one we have. That's a MUCH better idea. Thankfully, February is cold so I can make more soups (they last a while in the fridge) and eat more inexpensive foods like rice and pasta.

Have any other great ideas for us? We'd love to know what you think about our February challenge!

Wordless Wednesday - Princess Edition

Two (princess) peas in a pod?

(Mazal tov to Lara and Oded on their wedding... where these pictures were taken!!)

New Years Res-a-who-now?

I'm not one for making resolutions. Seriously, I think they are a big ol' waste of time. I used to make resolutions as a kid/teen that read "get a boyfriend" or "become a size 2" - all knowing very well that boys didn't really like me at that age and you can't be a size 2 if you like french fries the way that I do. This year, I'm breaking with my tradition of NOT make resolutions. I decided to make a resolution I could stick to.

I'm starting the Couch to 5k program. Why? Because I love my couch and I fail to have the stamina to run. It's time for that to change. I need to channel my energy (both negative and positive) into something constructive (i.e. - NOT baking). It might help me in my fight to lose some weight but, more importantly, it'll probably help save me from killing people. I have a rage problem... or so I've been told.

I needed a way to focus my strength in a more productive manner - running seems to be the answer. Who thinks I can do this? Anyone? ::crickets chirping:: No? Maybe? Well, I believe in me.

Happy New Year, everyone!