Learning How to be Wise with My Mulah!

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I  might not have a family or many financial responsibilities at 22 years old, but this past semester I took one of the most important classes at Brigham Young University: Family Finance.

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So often I think to myself that it would be nice if money just grew on trees and I could focus on the exciting things in life.  I have always been scared to look at my bank account because I just didn't know how to see things in the right perspective.  BUT honestly, SFL 260 - Family Finance has changed that all for me.  I now know how to create a working budget and stay within it so that I am saving money rather than dumping it all down the drain.

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Dr. Hill's class taught me so many life altering ways to be smart with my money and I will always be grateful!  Here are just a couple things I learned and reasons why I love this class:

1. You will always be happy if you can learn how to live within your means.

2. Financial decisions should always be made together as husband and wife.

3. You should only go in debt for things that have lasting value: 

Education, Modest Housing, and Basic Transportation.

4. Start investing yesterday.

5. I now know how to file my taxes... 

it's time consuming, but a lot easier than I thought it was

6. I know how find my price range for a modest home.

7. We should never be afraid of our bank account(s).

8. Take the time to make the right decisions, always "sleep on it."

9. H.A.L.T. Never buy anything when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.

10. Financial blessings are meant to be used to bless others.

11. Pay the Lord first (10%), yourself second (10%), and then everything else.

Challenge 1.0

So I think it's about time to get back to working out... I was running and loving it until my knee started acting up and it just hasn't been the same, but I need something to motivate me and get me working out.  I called my mom and asked about all the popular workouts like P90X, Insanity, Jillian Michaels and she didn't have great reviews for those programs, but she had seen something online called "Bikini Mommy something or other" and told me it had great views so I should check it out.  Turns out it's called Bikini Body Mommy.  Now I know what you're all thinking... "you're not a mom" or "bikini what?" Well you just have to check it out before you say anything. Okay?

It's a challenge with about 20 minute workouts for 90 days.  She's real.  She does the workouts right along with you and is huffing and puffing and sweating just like you.  All the other workout videos you see of the perfectly trim instructors doing every workout like it should be the easiest part of your day are a JOKE!  I am loving Bikini Body Mommy!

I have never sweated so much in my entire life... okay maybe that's not true, I probably sweated like this in high school when I played sports, but still for only 20 minutes a day she gives you quite the workout.  I just finished Day 3 and I'm walking around like an old woman in need of a hip replacement!

If you're looking for an awesome way to get back in shape I highly recommend checking out Briana Christine's program!  You'll be sorry, but definitely not sorry.

Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0AlZHNUnml2-VHUyfSxCig

Website:

bikinibodymommy.com

College Student Food...

I realize I'm kind of on a food kick... sorry, not sorry.

I promised myself that no matter how poor I got during my college years I would never allow myself to consider Ramen as dinner... and so far I'm doing well :)

You can still eat well when on a stretching budget, and I absolutely HATE spending money on groceries... it makes no sense at all, but I really do.  So tonight I made BBQ chicken pizza and boy was it delicious!  So simple and pretty quick too!  I had some extra dough so I decided to make some breadsticks... not too bad either.

I Splurged!

MANGO!

Every now and then you just have to go for it! 

So whatever it may be that you must go for, feel free to splurge so all your wildest dreams can come true!

On my mission in Colorado I was introduced to mangos. And thanks to Mama Queisner I know how to properly prepare them for scarffage (aka: eating them).  They are a sweet treat and bring back so many wonderful memories of Aurora, my companion Sister Hunter, and living with Mama Queisner. 

If you have never tried a mango you must try them immediately so your life can be forever changed!

Pancakes

I make sure to do the most important meal of the day right!  These are my mom's buttermilk pancakes and they are by far the greatest pancakes you will ever eat in your entire life! 

I like mine with wheat flour, but they are fabulous with regular flour as well!

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 egg

1/4 Tbsp. oil

1/2 tsp. sugar

(makes about 4 pancakes)

A little something I've learned about HAPPINESS...

"Men are that they might have joy." This is an important lesson that the prophet Nephi teaches us in the Book of Mormon, but how do we live out this life lesson when everything seems to get in its way?

My mom has always taught me that happiness is more important than anything else.  Happiness is more important than being right, more important than holding a grudge, more important than stressing out about life, more important than anything.  She even bought me a decorative sign for my apartment that says, "Happiness is something you decide ahead of time."

Why is this so hard in our lives?  Why do so many of us struggle with having joy each and everyday? We want to be happy, and I honestly don't believe that anyone (or any sane person) wakes up any morning and says, "Nah, not today.  Today I don't want to be happy."  And yet despite our goals of wanting joy we don't always do very much to keep our happiness before it is stolen by the smallest little insignificant negativity.  I don't know the exact reason for the difficulty, but I do know that anything worth having in this life take time, effort, and dedication... why would joy be any different?

Now, please don't make the same mistake that I did (and probably will continue to make from time to time) which is to believe that you must go from 0 to 100 with the snap of your finger.  Change takes time.  Heavenly Father just wants to see progress.  He never intended for us to become perfect in this life and will never be disappointed in us for not being perfect.  He will only ever be disappointed for us is when we decide to roll over, give up, and stop making progress.  Pick yourself up, use the atonement and get back on track.

No one is saying that from this moment on we should never be unhappy again, that would be impossible and insane.  However, we should realize that the gospel of Jesus Christ is real, He is our Savior, He atoned for all of our sins not just the ones He wanted to, and because of Him our burdens can become light and He will lift our sorrows if we let Him.

These people bring me happiness, they're not necessarily the reason for my happiness, but they sure do contribute to it.  My mom and sister are my most loyal and true friends and I don't know what I would do in this life without them.