This week is Thanksgiving and is always a time that we make a conscious effort to reflect on the things we are thankful for in our lives. This year, I'd like you to not only be thankful for what you know you already have but also for the dreams / vision that God has given you for your life. And while you may be wondering why you would be thankful for something that hasn't happened yet (and may seem like it will never happen), in the heavenly realm it has in fact already happened and we are just waiting to see it manifest in our lives.

It's all about patience and faith

Have you ever been told by someone that they are sending you money? That they are writing a check and will put it in the mail? (Like money as a birthday gift or payment for something you are selling.) Did you question whether that check would really come in the mail? Probably not. Likely, you started planning what you were going to do with the money as soon as it arrived.

The same is true for the dreams (aka goals or...

So I know that winterizing your home is not fun or sexy. I mean really, who wants to mess with that? But if you take a little time to do these simple changes, you can reduce your electricity costs which means more money for your budget each month!

It’s easier than you think to winterize your home. In fact, some solutions have little or no cost. By taking a few small steps, you’ll save more money just in time for the approaching holiday season. Plus you’ll enjoy a more comfortable home, keeping the cold out and the heat in. Reap the benefits this winter by following these suggestions.  

Quick and easy fixes

Before the temperatures drop, clean out your gutters leaving them free from leaves and other debris that builds up over the year. Clogged gutters and drains will prevent water from flowing freely which can result in icicles and ice dams to form. When this happens, ice can get under your shingles and begin to leak inside your home. It also adds weight to...

I am not a big fan of going out on Black Friday. Why you ask? Crowded stores, rude customers fighting for the last item, insanely early mornings...(or should I say crazy late nights?). No thank you! I'll take my chances by shopping early, shopping online Black Friday deals, waiting for Cyber Monday, or waiting for those last minute Christmas sales.

Beware of low quality items during Black Friday

Did I mention that a lot of times the items for sale on Black Friday are usually sub-par items? TVs that you wouldn't normally consider because of its technology or low reviews all the sudden become the rage when they are on sale for Black Friday. Do yourself a favor and whatever the product is, research it before going out to buy it!

Me...Want...Good....Deals....

Say that heading in your best Cookie Monster voice, lol!

But what if you're the type that loves the thrill of the shopping on Black Friday? And the temptation of a potentially amazing deal is simply more than you can bare? Then by...

November begins a whirlwind of birthdays in our house. We celebrate 4 birthdays plus Christmas all in 7 weeks! Sheesh. To say our budget takes a hit during this time of year is an understatement! Not to mention the cost of party planning. So what's a mom to do?! 

Fail to plan & you plan to fail

In the past our budget has always been the number one priority for me because time wasn't really an issue. Now that I have twin babies, making 4 kids total, I have no time and am learning how to balance time without sacrificing money. Why? Because it seems that there is always a trade off - if you don't want to spend time then you'll spend more money (think meal planning vs going out to eat). And if you don't want to spend money, you'll inevitably spend more time planning.

But what if you don't want to sacrifice either? Spend as little time as possible and as little money as possible? Does that seem like a pipe dream? Well it's not! It's all about starting your preparation insanely...

Hey!!!! Thanks for stopping by! I'd like to welcome you to my site and blog. I am Jill Gockel - mom of 4 and mom-eprenuer. So you might be wondering what my blog is going to be about. Well, there are a lot of things I am passionate about so you'll probably hear about all of them on here.

How to get out of debt

My husband and I began our journey to financial freedom when we got married. In less than 5 years we were 100% debt free. We'd paid off our house, vehicles, student loans, credit card debt, and more. And during that time we purchased 2 new vehicles, took vacations, and made several updates to our home. Our motto is - the journey to financial freedom does not mean living in lack!

Smart Spending

So along with getting out of debt, we developed a mindset for spending that we call quality spending. We evaluate purchases before we buy to make sure the product is worth the cost and how well it will serve our needs. We work hard for our money so we want to enjoy spending it! That...