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Guest Post by LeaDawn from The Coupon Basics

On the movie Remember the Titans a football team is challenged with looking beyond racial and social expectations.  At one point Gary tells his friend Ray something to the effect of:

There are so many unknowns in life.  When it comes to budgeting, planning for those unexpected things is both difficult and essential.  You may not have major car maintenance every month, but an unexpected problem could put serious strain on a tight budget.

How to Prepare
I definitely am far from knowing all the answers. Our life seems to be made up of unexpected twists and turns in expenses & income.  Sometimes I feel like it is impossible to plan for anything because there are so many unknowns.  But, in the end, having a plan- however broad it may be- allows us to stay on track when unexpected events are thrown our way.

Here are three things that we have done to prepare for the unexpected:

First- Create an Emergency Fund. To start off, try to save1-3 months of living expenses.  If you have an unexpected loss of income, this can stand as a buffer and ensure that your necessities are taken care of.

Second- Set aside savings for known expenses.  This may sound basic, but it is also easy to forget. 
 
For example: Daniel and I traveled to California for Thanksgiving.  Prior to our trip, we had set aside $300 to pay for our gas and travel expenses. Because we had the money set aside, we did not have to take that extra $300 out of our income for that month.  We also knew in advance that we would be able to afford the trip. 
 
Saving small amounts each month towards future expenses allows you to see what you realistically can and cannot afford.

 
Third-Save for possible big expenses.  On top of saving for expenses you know will come, be sure to save for possible unknowns. 
 
For example: Daniel and I have a small Auto Fund to pay for car maintenance- both expected and unexpected.  This may not cover all auto expense that will come our way, but it would serve as a good buffer in case of an unexpected expense.  We also have an account for medical expenses with the same idea in mind.  These are two areas that can easily bust a budget if not prepared for.  
 
By having an emergency fund, preparing for known and possible unknown expenses, we have been able to avoid financial stress and hardships.  Though our income is far from regular, we have been able to prepare.  At this stage of our life, that is as close to financial peace as we are going to get.

LeaDawn is a frugal blogger at The Coupon Basics. When it took her several months to find a job after graduating college, she began looking for ways to save & earn money. Couponing became a favorite thing to do. She and her husband have a goal of getting through Vet School debt-free based on the money-saving strategies they use.  LeaDawn began The Coupon Basics to teach others about frugal living and setting & reaching your financial goals, especially for college students and young families.

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Looking for a fun creative way to give gifts to your neighbors and friends? In this Guest Post  LeaDawn from The Coupon Basics will show you how to make a Cookie Mix In-A-Jar.

3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup vanilla baking chips
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Carefully place the chocolate chips on top of the cocoa.  Especially the first layer, again to avoid a cocoa cloud.  I put my hand in the jar and placed the first layer so that I was not dropping the chocolate chips a long distance onto the cocoa. 

Pour the vanilla chips on top of the chocolate chips.

Pack the brown sugar on top of the vanilla chips. (It is important to pack each layer so that everything will fit.)

Use a funnel to poor in the white sugar & remaining flour.  Depending on how well the ingredients are packed, you may need to put in half the flour, then pack it before adding the rest.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9×9 inch square baking pan.
2. Pour the contents of the jar into a large bowl, and mix well.
3. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Beat until combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

The brownies were the hardest to place in a jar because of the cocoa.  Here are 2 of the cookie recipes I tried.

Jar Ingredients (in fill order):
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup flour

Card Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Empty contents of jar into a large bowl and mix well.
3. In separate bowl combine 3/4 cup of butter, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until creamy.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture and mix well.
5. Drop by tablespoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Jar Ingredients (in fill order):
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Card Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven.

LeaDawn is a frugal blogger at The Coupon Basics. When it took her several months to find a job after graduating college, she began looking for ways to save & earn money. Couponing became a favorite thing to do. She and her husband have a goal of getting through Vet School debt-free based on the money-saving strategies they use.  LeaDawn began The Coupon Basics to teach others about frugal living and setting & reaching your financial goals, especially for college students and young families.

{ 0 comments }

Looking for a fun creative way to give gifts to your neighbors and friends? In this Guest Post  LeaDawn from The Coupon Basics will show you how to make a Cookie Mix In-A-Jar.

3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup vanilla baking chips
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Carefully place the chocolate chips on top of the cocoa.  Especially the first layer, again to avoid a cocoa cloud.  I put my hand in the jar and placed the first layer so that I was not dropping the chocolate chips a long distance onto the cocoa. 

Pour the vanilla chips on top of the chocolate chips.

Pack the brown sugar on top of the vanilla chips. (It is important to pack each layer so that everything will fit.)

Use a funnel to poor in the white sugar & remaining flour.  Depending on how well the ingredients are packed, you may need to put in half the flour, then pack it before adding the rest.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9×9 inch square baking pan.
2. Pour the contents of the jar into a large bowl, and mix well.
3. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Beat until combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

The brownies were the hardest to place in a jar because of the cocoa.  Here are 2 of the cookie recipes I tried.

Jar Ingredients (in fill order):
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup flour

Card Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Empty contents of jar into a large bowl and mix well.
3. In separate bowl combine 3/4 cup of butter, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until creamy.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture and mix well.
5. Drop by tablespoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Jar Ingredients (in fill order):
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Card Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven.

LeaDawn is a frugal blogger at The Coupon Basics. When it took her several months to find a job after graduating college, she began looking for ways to save & earn money. Couponing became a favorite thing to do. She and her husband have a goal of getting through Vet School debt-free based on the money-saving strategies they use.  LeaDawn began The Coupon Basics to teach others about frugal living and setting & reaching your financial goals, especially for college students and young families.

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I am excited to share with you today a Guest Post by LeaDawn from The Coupon Basics.  

Step One: Binding the Book
First, decide how many pages you want.  I will be using 2 bags and have 8 pages counting the front and back.  Make sure the bags are lined up and fold them in half.

Then I weaved ribbon & tied large knots to create the binding. I designed my scrabook with parts of the paper bag showing because I like the rustic paper bag look.  If you don’t want to see the paper bag when you are done, cover the bag with a base color of paper, then bind it.

Step 2: Add Character

The paper bag provides more than a backing for the scrapbook- it gives you several easy ways to add character.  I left the top of one bag open- so I have a pocket. I am not sure what I will put in the pocket yet… maybe a paper snowflake, more pictures, a note- use your imagination!

The top of the bag gives you a pocket, the bottom of the bag makes a flip out page!

I used the bottom of the bag as a half page.  As you can see, the bottom of the bag can fold part way open already.  To make a half page, I cut the bottom flap of the bag so that the flap opens all the way.

I then covered it with paper.  The paper serves a double purpose here.  It covers up the messy, cut up bag, and it reinforces the book.

Step 3: Scrapbook It

You can decorate it any way you like from there. Here is how I did mine:

I only had a few pictures I wanted to use- so I used mostly paper & thoughts about winter & snow.

This is the flip out page.  I used it to hide a picture of Daniel about to through a snowball.

That was definately my favorite page of the book!

I only made one flip out page.  I covered up the bottom of the other bag.

Success!  We now have a cute little book documenting our fun in the snowy Rexburg winters. Here is another example below.

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I am excited to share with you today a Guest Post by LeaDawn from The Coupon Basics.  

Step One: Binding the Book
First, decide how many pages you want.  I will be using 2 bags and have 8 pages counting the front and back.  Make sure the bags are lined up and fold them in half.

Then I weaved ribbon & tied large knots to create the binding. I designed my scrabook with parts of the paper bag showing because I like the rustic paper bag look.  If you don’t want to see the paper bag when you are done, cover the bag with a base color of paper, then bind it.

Step 2: Add Character

The paper bag provides more than a backing for the scrapbook- it gives you several easy ways to add character.  I left the top of one bag open- so I have a pocket. I am not sure what I will put in the pocket yet… maybe a paper snowflake, more pictures, a note- use your imagination!

The top of the bag gives you a pocket, the bottom of the bag makes a flip out page!

I used the bottom of the bag as a half page.  As you can see, the bottom of the bag can fold part way open already.  To make a half page, I cut the bottom flap of the bag so that the flap opens all the way.

I then covered it with paper.  The paper serves a double purpose here.  It covers up the messy, cut up bag, and it reinforces the book.

Step 3: Scrapbook It

You can decorate it any way you like from there. Here is how I did mine:

I only had a few pictures I wanted to use- so I used mostly paper & thoughts about winter & snow.

This is the flip out page.  I used it to hide a picture of Daniel about to through a snowball.

That was definately my favorite page of the book!

I only made one flip out page.  I covered up the bottom of the other bag.

Success!  We now have a cute little book documenting our fun in the snowy Rexburg winters. Here is another example below.

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