I shared that my website (www.noexcusebudget.com) is getting more and more visitors as the economy goes farther into a recession (yes, I've decided to call it what it is, regardless if the "experts" call it one or not) but the cat's out of the bag as to what my day job is (bank owned property specialist) and I've been receiving emails from people wanting to buy a foreclosure and from those wanting to avoid one. Here's my first post in my month long real estate series.

When I started this blog I had really strong feelings about budgeting and being responsible for your own actions. Well, I still do, but I've realized over the past couple of years that I live in a glass house, especially when I use this blog as a diary of sorts.

Real Estate has been my passion and means of financial support and when the market tanked I went into shock. I long said that it couldn't keep going up at the rate it was. Around here the median home price would have been 2 million dollars in a few short years. What I didn't expect was for it to crash in the way that it did. It was practically overnight when the sub-prime mortgages dried up and loans were nearly impossible to get. Thankfully my shock was short lived and I had to change directions. I was able to "get with the game" before it was too late for me and I now sell bank owned properties in Southern California.



Back to my glass house... surrounding myself with bank owned sales (REO's, real estate owned) has opened my eyes to the fact that nobody, no matter how well prepared you are, is immune to loosing your home. Now you can say "what if it's paid for", well what if you have no money for taxes? In my area you have 3 years before you loose your home to unpaid taxes, but still there are people who stay in financial shock for years. It can be debilitating and so can major medical issues, death, divorce. etc. There are so many scenarios that I have seen where people loose their homes in scenarios I never though imaginable. Even people who have owned their homes for 20 or 30 years and refinanced their homes during the peak can become homeless. These people will never "recover", they are retired and on a set income. Who's to blame, they are and maybe others too. It's not my place to place blame and it's won't change anything at this point. I just hope we all learn from this. Don't get me wrong, these homeowners made a very poor choice in taking out all that money and agreeing to a repayment term that they could not afford, but who knows what they were told. Maybe someone swore to them that they would be able to refi. to a better rate and term that they could afford, and when that time actually came to refi. these same people told the homeowners that the loans were no longer available. Again, I've learned not to judge.

To keep me from getting down and depressed about all these different senarious, I focus on the good side of my job...and that is to get new owners, who can afford to maintain their homes, to buy these empty homes thus helping the neighborhood recover which is good for all the other homeowners.

Here's a few tips if you are facing any type of default on your mortgage.


#1. Consult a real estate professional for a current market value of your property. We call these "CMA's". You need to know if you have equity or how much you are upside down.

#2. Re-do your budget (be sure to use my free budget worksheets) to see where your money is going and where it needs to go.

#3. Call your mortgage company and explain your situation and see what they can offer you to help you save your home.

#4. Don't go into shock. Remember to eat and sleep. This is a temporary situation. No matter what the outcome is, this will not last forever. I'm hearing more and more about people ending their lives over their housing problems. If you feel depressed and need help, please get help. Call your local hospital for a referral to a mental health professional. If the situation is acute, call 911!

#5. Don't use all your money to pay bills... sounds strange, but keep some cash around incase of a real emergency. Prioritize your bills.

1. Food
2. Personal care products (toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, etc.)
3. Gas and car payment (especially if you work outside the home)
4. Utilities
5. Mortgage (if you rent this might need to be higher on the list)

July brings a new month for us all. My goal is to blog everyday. Every time I try to do this some disaster gets in my way (literally, death, fires, you name it) but I'm going to try again. This month will be dedicated everything real estate. I'll be posting about short sale, what happens if you do loose your home and ways to save your home.

If anyone has real estate questions please feel free to send me an email. Please note that our brokerage (Sale Pros Realty) is in California. Laws vary by state. I'm more than happy to offer assistance and/or referrals outside of California, but it will generic in nature as I am only licensed in Ca.

and that was only making lunch. So the kids wanted soup. They've been begging me for weeks, and now my youngest swore she was getting a cold and soup was the only thing that would save her. Normally this would have been an easy request to satisfy. I'd go to the pantry and open a can of soup. Done!

Not this time, they wanted homemade soup. My oldest was convinced that homemade soup would make her sibling healthier... and who was I to say no.

So I look in the freezer and found one of those little chickens that they have ready and hot at the grocery store, of course I paid half off, or $3.00 for the sucker. It had to be used that day so I froze it. Next I pulled out some leftover (frozen) carrots, onions, and some fresh celery. I don't normally have all these on hand but I was slowly freezing any leftovers thinking this day may come and it did. I also found a loaf of frozen (half priced too) sourdough bread to go with the soup... now we were set!

That was until I realized I'd have to pick off all the meat from the chicken. That is when it started to go down hill. I might as well have shot, plucked and cleaned the darn thing myself. I felt bad. Now you remember, I'm a vegetarian raising meat eaters right? I'm one of those moms that lets her children choose their own way in life, at least food wise and mine chose to eat meat... really eat meat. So here I am.

I had to take pictures... first of the carcass.


Then of the final product... chicken noodle soup!


Finally a picture of the sourdough bread.


It was edible, or so they say. I think that some people, like myself are just not cut out to be cooks. Thank goodness that the common grocery store recognizes this and convenience foods are becoming healthier and less costly. My best grocery trick lately has been to purchase prepared foods once they are marked down. My new favorite grocery store, Fresh and Easy seems to mark down their bread in the afternoon. They only sell that days fresh bread. It's great to pick up and freeze. It also helps me not waste the bread as I only defrost it when I really need it.



Fresh and Easy (by the way does anyone else think that's not the best choice for a stores name? I know that it's an English Company, but really, I think about a "new" "woman of the night" if you know what I mean) Anyways, they are running a sale to promote their organic coffee. The 12 oz. bag is $2.99. I normally buy the non-organic variety for $4.99/12 oz bag, but I was even happier to buy the organic for $2.00 less. Next I used the $5/20 coupons that they mail and hand out at the store and really stocked up on coffee. I plan to go back and buy more before the sale is over, I think around the 12th of June is the end. The coffee is good too!

I've decided to post every day this month. There is a lot happening in the personal finance area these days and as usual I have a lot to say.

Hope you enjoyed my attempt at cooking. I'll keep trying. Thankfully my children are still well nourished despite my obvious shortcomings in life!

I haven't visited budget basics lately, and I think it's time to take a step back and go there again.

Budget basics can be thought of in 2 different ways. Planning and surviving.

If you are in planning mode a budget takes you through a journey into how much money you make and how much you CHOOSE to spend. You can allot a percentage to housing, transportation, food, medical, entertainment, etc. Your in good shape here. You are in control of your financial future. Enjoy the freedom and relief that comes from this. Use this time to really plan dream about the future. You can make anything a reality!

If you are in survival budgeting you list your exact expenses, then list your income and you either smile or cry! After that it's action time. My budgeting plan says to tackle every bill or expense one at a time and either cancel it (if you can) or somehow reduce it. Asking for a discount in the interest rate or service works. Whatever it takes. If it means renting out a room in your house to taking any and all odd jobs, do it.

Some people will find that they start in survival budgeting and end up in planning budgeting. By reducing expenses and increasing income you can get back on track.

Money trouble shock is a common accurance in a down economy. You might feel desperate, stuck, and ill when it all catches up to you and you realize just how bad it all is. Don't go into shock. Do everything you can to keep on going. When you get through this period your only regret will be why you didn't start recovering earlier.

Do whatever it takes to get through the day. Make a list of what you have to get done and what you should get done to better your situation. Sometimes it helps to have someone else directing you towards a better future, and your list can be this "person". Be sure to get sleep so that your awake hours are as productive as possible. Don't give up. Nothing is forever.

I think everyone needs to visit budgeting basics at least once a year just to make sure that you are on the road that you want to be, if not regroup and take a new road!

My backyard. Well maybe not exactly in my back yard... but too close. This whole economy has taken a big step in the wrong direction. Anyone who thinks that it's not that bad must live in a shell on a far away island. Restaurants are closing, food is becoming more expensive and gas... don't get me started!

I actually sold my car and got one with better gas milage. Not only is my monthly payment 1/3 less but I can use regular gas instead of premium too. I love it!

Walking through the grocery store was a reminder of how great coupons are. It is definately hard to find the time to use coupons when you are working, being a parent and just living life, but they are too great to pass up. There's nothing like the feeling of getting something for a huge discount, or free, especially when it's food. I remember when I started using coupons, I'd have family over and they thought I was the biggest money waster because I always had all of the newly released convenience foods and normally multiples of them... finally someone actually asked me about it and I explained that the best coupons were for new products and that I used them at a store that doubles the coupon and it was all free!

Even when I don't have the time to use coupons as I should I still shop the loss leaders, spagetti sauce for $1, pasta for .33, yes, I'm there loading up!

Hope you all are hanging in there. I think we're in for a ride with the real estate market, gas and food for a while... and yes the stock market too! Remember to call up you creditors and ask for a lower interest rate and also remember that nothing last forever!

My personal guide to surviving any bad situation is to “Control what you can and plan for what you can’t“.

Before you tackle this temporary financial situation (yes it is temporary no recession has ever lasted forever), access your emotional well being. The psychological effect of financial troubles can sometimes be debilitating. You need to take any and all steps to break out of the fog and start taking action. If you are really feeling blue please see a doctor or other mental health professional. Depression goes hand in hand with your inability to conquer this situation. If you need help, again please seek it.

Typically recessions last 8-16 months. Some say that this one will last 3-4 quarters or 9-12 months which would be similar to the recessions in 1969-1970 and the latest one in 2000-2001. I tend to feel that this one will last closer to 16 months, at least. During the last recession we were sent into even deeper turmoil by the events of September 11th (can you believe that was almost 7 years ago?), the already slow housing market and the internet stock market crash. Some would say that Sept. 11th helped with the recovery from the stock market crash, but I would tend to differ on that one as I know people who lost their businesses soon after due to consumers not spending for awhile after Sept. 11th, they saw no relief soon after these events.

This recession is different in many ways, especially in one big way. We are having a major credit crunch. Home loans and credit lines are not available. It’s one thing not to be able to afford the prices of homes in your area, but it’s another thing to be able to afford to buy a home but not be able to get a loan. Unless you have a very strong credit history and a hefty down payment loans are going to be too expensive, if you can even get approved. That’s not to say that it can’t be done. You can still get a mortgage, but it’s a lot harder and more expensive. The new FHA rules were a move in the right direction but I’ve yet to see it help the real estate market… maybe as we move into the spring/summer buying season we’ll see more market movement. I believe that the credit crunch is the fuel that is continuing to ignite this recession and until the credit crunch is over the recession will continue.

So what can you do to not just survive but thrive in a recession? I posted basic, easy and common sense ways in PART 1. But let’s take it up a notch and see what you can do to thrive in this economic environment.

1. Stay dedicated to your financial goals even after the media declares the recession over. Keeping at it will give you a head start on the next recession. Recessions can also be local instead of national, some areas will recover a lot sooner than others. Don’t get caught letting loose and then realize that you area is last to recover.

2. Buy a rental property is you can afford to and if you learn through research that you can come close to breaking even. Why would I recommend buying a house now? Easy, this might not be the lowest point in the real estate market, but it’s still a lot lower than it was before. As more people loose their homes these same people will need rentals to live in. There will be a need. The best part is that if you can make it “cash flow” then the payments you get every month will go towards the mortgage on the property, therefore paying it down AND during the next high market you’ll be able to sell at a profit or just let it keep getting paid down.

3. Consider changing to a recession proof job. The medical field is booming as the baby boomers age. The outlook for job retention and new hires in the medical field is very good. Why not consider going back to school to learn a new skill in the medical fiend.

4. Think of ways to make money that people always need to buy or do. Opening a restaurant would not be a good idea right now. Restaurants always feel the pain in a recession because customers cut eating out of their budgets first. But there are other business ideas to consider. Among them Debt Collection, Medical Transcribing, Handyman, and Ebay sales, etc.

See also my list of 50 Ways To Make More Money

5. Make yourself invaluable to your employer. Give your boss 150%, not just 100%. Work harder, smarter and more. Make yourself invaluable for job security. Make yourself invaluable and make your company more money. Make yourself invaluable and ask for a raise.

Here is the first part in my "surviving a recession" series... As always I like to hear your thoughts and comments! You can find more on tomorrows post and at http://www.NoExcuseBudget.com


With all the the recent turmoil in the housing market, stock market and the rise in gas prices it's normal to wonder how you and your family can survive a recession. You should be happy to hear that you are already on your way to not just surviving, but thriving in a recession, "why" you ask, because you actually have taken time out of your life to read this and care. The first step to learning how to do anything is to want to know and to search out answers.

From here there are many ways to survive any adverse economy. Lets look at some basic ideas.

1. If you have a job do your best to keep it. If you don't have a job, get one, even if it's not your dream job.

2. Consider taking on odd jobs to either pay down your debt or to build a safety cushion fund in case you do end up loosing your job.

3. Redo your budget. Write every expense you have on the No Excuse Budget Forms. Go line by line and eliminate or lower every possible expense.

4. Contact all your creditors and ask for lower rates. Call your credit card companies, your phone company and your bank, ask them all to lower your rates or fees. If they say no call them once a week until they give you something.

5. If you have a high interest rate loan or one that is about to reset, and you plan to stay in your home for any amount of time, call a trusted mortgage broker and see if your mortgage can be refinanced into a fixed, lower rate mortgage.

6. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't count on your job always being there. Don't count on your credit lines still being available and if you are self employed don't count on always getting work from your biggest client. There is a reason that you hear the saying "diversify" and "multiple streams of income". Think of other ways you can bring in money and do it now. Start right now. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people say they wish they had started ____________ sooner. It takes time and money to make money, start right now.

7. Save any extra money in a high interest savings account. I like The Orange Savings Account It all adds up and every penny counts. As interest rates are lowered your local bank will offer lower and lower rates. Put your money in the highest interest account you can find. If you have more than 6-12 months living expenses you can afford to put the remainder above your emergency savings into more aggressive places like stocks and bonds.

8. Put your kids in public school if you have decent schools. Buy a better fuel economy vehicle if you can get a loan that has a good rate and/or you drive a lot.

9. Rethink your insurance. Make sure you have enough and that you are getting the best rates. Shop around. Nothing can be a budget killer like not having or not having enough insurance.

10. Watch for signs and act before they act for you. Is your current job showing signs that you might not have a job for much longer? Are your paychecks late? Are sales down? Start putting together your reseme and possibly even start interviewing. If you do lose your job immediately file for unemployment and start looking for another job. This is no time to feel sorry for yourself. Act immediately.


Remember it's all about money. Money coming in and money going out. Your goal is to bring in as much money as possible while, save as much of that and limit what goes out. Easier said than done at times, but you get the idea.

Here are more easy ways to save without crimping your style :-)

Get rid of any reoccurring charges that are not absolutely necessary. How many subscriptions to random things are on your credit card?

Consider getting your hair cut at a discount chain instead of your normal salon, even alternating between the two can save you money. Just for the record I get mine cut for less than $12 ($7 if I have a coupon) and I never thought I could leave a salon and a long time hairdresser, but I like the way the budget salon cuts it more... same with my nails!

Make your coffee at home. Even if you have to have Kona coffee or another expensive type making it at home at save.

Eat at home.

Use your coupons.

Buy an entertainment book.

Find a mechanic that is not only good at fixing cars, but does it for a good price.

Indulge in small ways. If you see flowers on sale for a cheap amount buy them every once in a while. Seek out ways or places to buy things that make you happy that offer them at a good price.

Use a reward credit card and actually use the rewards. My favorite credit card gives me rewards to book stores and animal supply stores... needless to say I never "buy" books or pet food... I love the library but sometimes I want to buy a reference book, or a special book for my kids, and I save the gift certificates for these reasons.

Don't become the local animal shelter. A lot of animal lovers are faced with this real problem. Once the word gets out that you are animal friendly, your home suddenly becomes a zoo. Don't let this happen to you.... it's expensive and counter productive. Instead make arrangements with an area non-kill animal shelter to bring in these homeless pets and spend your time helping at the shelter. The shelter has arrangements with Vets, food suppliers and more so your donations can go farther than they could if you opened up shop in your home.

Shop at thrift stores. This is the hardest for most people. There is a bad connotation with shopping and using stuff from thrift stores. As long as you really clean your finds you can get absolute bargains! When my children where younger I was able to buy those big plastic play structures for about 10% of their "new" cost. I cleaned the heck out of them till they shined like new.... and then sold them for a profit when my kids where done playing with them!

Birthday season used to leave me seeing RED $$$$ signs everywhere! Between my kids parties and presents for the other kids birthdays it was a lot of money! You read about the parents that pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for a child's 1st birthday party and scream and then laugh because a 1 year old would have more fun with an empty box and a cup cake!

Here is how I've learned to save while still keeping the magic of birthday fun alive!

1. Shop all year. From gifts to party supplies, keep your eyes open to bargains.

I stumbled upon a great deal on books. Hard Cover brand new books that are still shrink wrapped and sell at Barnes and Nobles for $15.99 and I bought them for $.35 each. I bought 20 and used them as party favors! I have my child write a thank you note inside the book and then we handed them out as the child left. My kids love books and these were a huge hit!

I love after holiday clearance sales. After Christmas I buy all the red and green decorations and table settings like paper plates and napkins and Valentines day and easter always have me buying red and pink... I then use these as table settings for birthday parties. I add a table setting with the child's chosen theme and I've saved about one million dollars (not really, but it feels like it when I see the prices for the real paper plates and napkins).

2. Let the Dollar Tree and Oriental Trading Company be your friend

Dollar Tree sells helium filled balloons for $1. and has tons of party favors and more for $1. I can fill a goody bag for next to nothing.

Oriental Trading Company has lots of specific themed goodies for a really good price. This one you need to plan as they ship it to you and the sooner you need it the more that the shipping costs. So if you give yourself a couple months you can really make out.

3. Coupons

I've seen lot's of the home mailers sending out coupons for discounts on jumpy's and pizza... both good choices for an easy party. I also stock up on juice and snack type foods using the Sunday coupons and get most of it for free.

4. Choose your party time carefully.

Consider having your child's party at an off time. During the week is a great time instead of the weekend if you are using any outside services. Jumpy's, clowns, face painters, etc. will be more willing to negotiate on their fees if they are booked during a normally slow time.

5. Buy presents whenever you see them.

There are some presents that are always a hit, books, art supplies, remote control cars, flying planes, etc. I buy these up whenever I see them on clearance. It saves me gas, time and my sanity not to have to run out and get another present when we get another invite to a birthday party. I do ask the parent what the child wants for their birthday and if I don't have anything on hand that would work I go out and buy something, but 95% of the time I have something.

6. Just write a check.

This seems cold , but for my siblings I just write them a check. I don't even buy a card. I realized that at this point they know what they want and are too polite to blurt out what they really want so I give them a check... but I take it a step farther. I give them $20 plus the cost of a stamp plus the cost of a card and gift bag and tissue wrap. It's almost become a fun joke but it works for us... I love to hear what they bought for their birthday.

7. Remember that the things in life that children remember and consider fun are normally free or pretty close to it.

Why not just do the homemade pizza and cupcakes party? Let the kids run around and play. Plan a scavenger hunt. Let them color the sidewalk in bright chalk!

I am a recovering restaurant eater. My problem stemmed from a lack of cooking skills (I'm a horrible cook) and a lack of time (I work every second I'm awake).

I expected the "normal" perks of eating at home like when I started eating at home as much as possible but I was surprised at the end results:

• save money on expensive eating out
• save time not waiting in lines
• eat healthier by knowing exactly what is going in your food

But I did not expect to actually save money on my grocery bill. After a few months of eating at home I tallied my receipts and I actually am saving money on my groceries compared to when I would eat out. These are the only explanations I can come up:

• I am more realistic about how much we really eat, I purchase accordingly, so there is less waste. I hate to throw out spoiled food.

• Planning our meals based on sales

• We're not eating as much, home cooked meals make us fuller?

Whatever the reason I'm enjoying the benefits and realizing I might not be the worst cook... I actually might be an okay one... not great but okay!

I'm curious are there any other cooks that might not be the best but are trying like me? Any secrets?

A few days ago my child was shown a video at school about a third world country and the struggles they face to survive. I was deeply moved. It’s hard not to feel pain when you watch a 5 year old walk an hour by themselves without shoes on just to get an education that they are so excited to receive.

I think about my own children, facing the pain of hunger, the desire to learn and the bleak future that those children face. The presentation was compliments of “change for change” which encourages children to bring in change to their classroom which they then pool together to buy families in third world countries a goat or other animal. The animals are used to boost the families income and change their life. If a family is given a goat they can sell the milk and use the money to send their children to school. Then when the goat has a baby the baby is given to another family to provide the same help. That initial change keeps on giving.

It’s a great idea. How better to help others by not only giving them a fish, but also teaching them to fish. It also teaches the children compassion, charity, and that even small amounts of money do add up. I was truly inspired at the thought of helping others.

But, I couldn’t help but think why aren’t we helping others here in America that are starving and lacking an education to better their lives.

It pains me to see anyone struggling here or in another county, but I feel like we are so close to the ones here that need help, some even in our own backyards that only sending money far away is like saying we don’t care about our own.

I don’t want to appear uncaring to the needs of others that are not American and I don’t want to cut off support to Countries that need it, I just want to see those that are hungry where we live fed too.

I once did a TV appearance where I showed how you can save major money by using coupons to “buy” food. I bought around $225 worth of food and only paid $2.15 (if I remember correctly). The news crew followed me through by grocery shopping trip and then followed me to the local food bank where I donated all the food. I included the food bank trip because people always assume that coupon shoppers buy food they don’t need and waste money doing so. I was able to prove that not only did I not waste money using coupons, but that even when I didn’t need the items I was buying someone else did. As we were unloading the car full of groceries people were lined up outside the local food bank waiting for the food. There were people here that were hungry and there was a way to feed them that costs very little in time and money.

I just wish we could play a video of the people struggling here in America… lining up at the food banks and unemployment offices… and teach our children how to help them too…

By far the easiest way to save money is by using the law of lazyness.

The law of lazyness is shopping at home in your bed, in your pajamas, at midnight on the internet and then sleeping in the next day because you are so "exhausted" from shopping.

Now I take this "law" a little farther and I only pay for things at really deep discounts preferably with a coupon code and a rebate too.

Here is an example for you to see how it works.
Say I need to buy school uniforms for my child (my kids don't wear uniforms, but this makes for a really easy example as I recently helped an online reader with this exact purchase).
1. I would go to Ebates (sign up if you haven't already by clicking here) and look to see what companies are listed that sell uniforms.
2. You will see that Lands End sells uniforms.
3. Click on the link to Lands End.
4. You will now get 2.5 % cash back on your purchase right now from Lands End. Look to see is they have any specials on their home page, maybe a free shipping coupon or a dollar off
or % off coupon. If they do read the instructions on how to use it and follow them.
5. If you did not find a coupon code on the website open a new internet window but keep the Lands End one open too.
6. Do a google search for "Lands End" coupons.
Jackpot.... right the one down that works best for your needs.
7. Shop


Remember to shop through the rebate links whenever possible. It may seem like a small amount of money that you are saving at the time, but it all adds up!


Some of my favorite websites that list good deals (besides The No Excuse Budget Website ) are
http://www.fatwallet.com and http://www.slickdeals.net. Both have forums where people post when they find a good deal on both the internet and in regular stores. It's fun to keep an eye on what
others deals are out there, but you need to be careful not to buy something just because it's a good deal. You have to actually need it and have the money budgeted to buy it. Fat Wallet also has a rebate program too.


My favorite rebate programs are Ebates and Upromise . Ebates has tons of stores to shop through and upromise does also. Ebates gives you actual cash back. Upromise deposits money into an account for college savings and also to pay off existing student loans for you or your family members. You can sign up other family members to help you save for college through upromis too!

Really, who new grocery shopping could be so fun... and teach a 7 year old about money?

Fresh and Easy has come to town and I never thought I'd be this happy! It's not just the $5 off a $20 purchase coupon that they are giving out either (although the coupon lover in me was delighted), but the prices and freshness of their products are what really make this grocery store great!

The first time I knew about Fresh and Easy was when I noticed that the town next to mine was getting some MAJOR updating on one of their older, run down shopping centers... It's always nice to see a deserving neighborhood get revitalized... it almost empowers all the surrounding areas and encourages everyone else to care about their neighborhood again.

A few months later I saw the same thing happening in my little town. Although my town as a whole has great character there was one shopping center that needed a little TLC and Fresh and Easy remodled this one too! The shopping center looks wonderful now, complete with the communities quaint character shining through... and the store hasn't even opened yet!

Back to the store itself, because honestly looks are good, but the goods are what count. I first stopped at the Fresh and Easy in the neighboring community by myself. I figured it was either going to be good or bad, and if it was bad I wanted out of there asap, and bringing the kids would slow me down. The first thing I noticed was the brightness of the store. Not to the point that my eyes hurt, but to the point where I could see the product and read the ingredients. The aisles where wide and the whole store was clean. Wondering employees were spread out to see to the needs and questions of all customers, and there is even a sample bar in the back of the store where you can taste all of their specialty items.

Some of our new favorite items are :

Field green salad $1.99 This salad could easily feed 4. It comes with a bunch of different lettuce types, carrot shreds, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes and the most delicious balsamic vinaigrette. You could easily eat it for lunch as it even comes with an individual napkin and fork!

Ready to eat mac n' cheese $2.99 Both the kids and us adults liked it... rare!

Butter $2.08 Good price out here!

Pizza dough Ready to use $.99 Tastes great!

Frozen bag of broccoli florets $1.29

Tomato and mozzarella sandwich $2.99 This is so good! It's a baguette with aoli, Buffalo mozzarella, fresh sliced tomatoes and water cress. It's one of those things that you crave!

Peanut Butter $1.89

And so much more. I know that I like to see prices so I included a few. There is also a whole section of fresh baked stuff like bread, scones, muffins, and lots of dessert items.

I could go on and on but the reason I really like Fresh and Easy is because my kids now want to help around the house more. I'm sure Fresh and Easy had no idea that their store could make my kids want to do extra chores to make more money to spend on groceries. It's not that we don't have more than enough food at home, it's not that I make them buy their own groceries, it's just that they love Fresh and Easy! They love to pick their own food (I rarely have had to say no to anything they sell), they love to budget the money they have and discover how much more items they can buy if they use a coupon. They love scanning their own purchases and bagging the groceries. They especially love the fresh fruit selection and the baby carrots. I love that they eat the baby carrots and fresh fruit and don't complain when I say we need to go grocery shopping when we run out of milk!

by Heather D Reese

Most “heavy shoppers” love credit cards. I used to be a “heavy shopper”, groceries, clothes, dog food, it didn’t matter, if you could buy it, I wanted to buy it. If I could use a credit card a credit card to pay for it, even better… Then came kids. My whole life changed. Shopping took on a whole new meaning. I was now responsible for someone else and I could care less about shopping for all the crap I did before. I shopped for diapers, formula and baby food, for baby clothes, medicine and juice, then one day it hit me… this baby is just going to poop in these diapers, and I’m going to need to buy even more to be pooped and peed in. Why not try to get the best deal on something that’s not going to increase my net worth and that in essence will be thrown away as quick as I can buy it.

This is where my love affair with credit cards came from. It wasn’t during the days of my overspending, it was from my days of deal shopping (today).

With any love affair there are the good days and the bad days, but the following make my good days far better than the bad days!

1. Choose a card that offers rewards you will actually use. If you are scared to fly and only will do so once every 10 years to go to a funeral, your miles will expire before any friends or relatives will.

2. Pay attention to the interest rate. On the off chance that something comes up and you have to carry a balance choose a card that had a lower interest rate. Start with your local credit union.

3. Pick a good card. Stay away from double billing cycles.

4. Be aware of any extras your credit card offers. Some offer extended warranties for all products bought on the card, others offer rental car insurance, shop around for the benefits that you will use the most.

5. Do you drive a lot for work? Consider a gas card that gives you cash back on your gas/fuel purchases.


A real reminder of the benefits of using a credit card vs. a debit card was sent to me right before Christmas by one of my No Excuse Budget Readers. Sue sent me an e-mail explaining her situation. Sue was working with very limited funds for this Christmas. Her husband had just taken a new job (a better one) but she would be loosing out on one paycheck since her husbands new job required 2 weeks of training at no pay. She budgeted enough to buy each of her grandchildren one special gift. She watched for sales and saw a great deal… she spent her budgeted amount at the retailer using her debit card. They were to ship her the item as soon as they came in. By mid December she was worried, the product had not arrived. She called the retailer and was told they were not going to be able to fill her order… and no substitutions were allowed. The worst part was that the refund was expected to take 8 weeks because they process it via check as it was a debit card transaction, had she used a credit card, it would have been in her account within 48 hours. To say she was crushed was an understatement.

I often preach that credit cards can be one of the best tools to your financial success and I’m saying it again today… when used responsibly, you might fall in love with credit cards too!

by Heather D. Reese


I was so excited today when my daughter came home from kindergarten today and asked me what I really need in life. More specifically, are the things in my life a "Want" or a "need".


At first I was confused, was she really asking what I thought she was? I've talked about this before with both of my children, they know the value of money... but I've never used these terms with my kindergartner.



She then pulled out a worksheet that teached them the difference. They had to circle the "needs" out of pictures of the following... Food, water, apples, candy, a bed, a teddy bear and a mom hugging her child. My daughter circled everything except the candy and teddy bear. I asked her about not circling the teddy bear... she said it would be nice to have, but that she doesn't need it to survive... I was so proud!



She then started saying things in her life that were wants and what was a need, "I guess my sister is a need". I said yep, "it'd be hard to survive without her", she says "yes, who would make me popcorn?". And the moment was over.



It really did open up a whole new level of money talk between us though. I'm a firm believer in talking to your children about money from the time they are toddlers, but I just didn't realize she was ready to understand even more.



It's about time that the kids are taught more about money in schools, and what a great way to start in kindergartner with the wants vs. needs. I think a lot more adults are also struggling with being able to differentiate the difference between a need and a want....

by Heather D. Reese

This article is a follow-up to yesterdays titled Frugal, Prepared and Organized... the typical saver . As you can see most wealthy people know how to time a market. They know how to act in any economy.

They know how to time a market. During the good times, the high stock market and the booming real estate market, they stockpile their money away. They might invest in the stock-market some and the real estate market a little but they know that in order to come out ahead they must buy on the low and sell on the high. They recognize that buying in a high market is not the easiest way to success.

They take risks, and limit their risks. Sounds like a play on words, but they know that in order to really come out ahead they must take risks. They know that they will not always pan out like they planned and so they limit their exposure at the same time. They know how to take a risk but limit it to what they can handle.

They watch for signs and act quickly. Occasionally they do take on more than they bargained for and in this case they constantly watch for signs that their investment may be in trouble and act before a major catastrophe occurs. They follow the media's news stations, but more importantly they get out and get first hand knowledge of exactly what is going on. They realize that it's their money at stake and take a personal interest and responsibility to find out what is really happening. They process this all and act at the first signs, not when it's too late to rebound.

They surround themselves with like minded people. They dine, play golf, and vacation with others that have the same goals and life plans. They thrive on networking and keep working even during their down time. They see every moment as a way to get ahead. This is not to say that they do not value their friendships on a friendly level, it's just that they see friendships beyond the normal sense of the word and onto a higher level of possible financial gain.

They know that failure is a temporary place. They know that in order to be successful that they have to taste a failure here and there. They know that the only way to feel good times is to feel the bad times. They don't quit, they get up and keep going and learn from the mistakes that brought them to this bad patch. They view it as a test of their resilience and they get on their way to building up their wealth. Most wealthy people have had bad times and will share them with you openly. They are proud of how they made a comeback.

They build a team of the best people for each job. They know they are not and will never be the best at everything so they hire others that are the best in each field. They go to these people, the experts, for advise and they use this advise.

They love what they do. They really have a calling for the type of work they do, but rarely do they feel it's work. They find enjoyment getting up everyday and the thought of a new day keeps them going. They might have a high level of stress, but they truly find happiness in their chosen path.

Lessons we can learn from. Do what you love. If you can't quit the job you have now, start transitioning towards the job you want. Prepare your life for the time when you are doing what you love. Start today by taking on extra work to build an emergency fund that would allow you to leave your job and start your new career. Click here for 50 ways to make more money . Time your market. If winter is the busy season in your industry plan to put in extra hours to earn overtime. By planning for this you can take advantage of the extra pay that's offered. You'll know it's temporary and that the money is really going towards your future. Search out your own experts and use they're advise. Advisor's are not for the extreme wealthy anymore. Everyone can benefit from some expert advise. Surround yourself with others that are heading the same way. Keep negative influences to a minimum. You'll never be brave enough to follow your dreams if everyone keeps telling you you'll fail. Keep the faith in yourself alive and "just do it"!

By Heather D. Reese

For me the answer is simply yes... a dishwasher can make you happy. It's not really just a dishwasher, the dishwasher is more of a symbol of the little things in life.

I don't know how many times we have bought new appliances. We've been in real estate a while and replacing appliances was a common occurrence, but those were just part of the business. Now that the market has slowed down we're not buying as many appliance these days until yesterday.

We moved into a new house that has fabulous "bones" but could use a little cosmetic updating. Upon moving in we learned that the dishwasher was not working. We knew for us this was a need so we've spent the past month looking for the best deal. We finally found a great price, free delivery, free installation and no tax... we were sold, quite literally!

Yesterday was the first "run" for our new dishwasher. It felt so good, and then I realized it wasn't the dishwasher, it was all the little things in life that you forget about that make you feel so good!

by Heather D. Reese


I wanted to write about something fun and I knew exactly what to write about as soon as I though FUN!


Vegas of course! So this is our favorite part of our Las Vegas vacations...


We make reservations as normal, check-in at the counter and pass a $20 bill to the clerk and ask for any upgrades. Now I should backtrack and mention that from the time of meeting the clerk you have to be your usual friendly self... if you are not usually nice, please have a friend help you with this part. So you pass the $20 and wait. The clerk will normally thank you for the tip and start looking for an upgrade to give you in the computer.


The last time we did the trick we got upgraded from a regular two bedroom that we had already booked at a "special" rate of $169/night... to a two bedroom suite with an amazing full view of the strip! It was fantastic! And it cost us the same $169/night and that $20 bill!


Good luck with the trick... let me know how it goes for you!

by Heather D. Reese

I live in a smaller town in North San Diego County... with the recent disasters here I understand the importance of shopping locally and supporting the local businesses. As such I've decided to start my own "financial challenge", everyone is welcome to join in! Please be sure to email me or add a comment about your experiences.

Here is how it started. My daughter was bored and needed more books. Off to the library we went. If I had to give you all a "guess" as to the amount of money the library saves us weekly, it would be around $110. We borrow 20 books a week at around $5.50 a book, yikes $110! Not to mention the even bigger benefit, we are all reading!

Although I consider this a money saving moment, I'm working towards saving money AND supporting the local economy. We'll see how the next week plays out. I'm not going to distinguish too much between a mom and pop place and a corporate owned place as they both offer jobs to the community but if I can I'll go towards the mom and pop place!

Hopefully our local farmers market will be back on soon too, this would definately help my challenge. Latest info. looks like we lost over 22,000 fruit trees in the area due to the fires, so I'll definately want to help by buying up whatever is available.

Please share your ideas on supporting your local economic communities!

Now I'm no hypnotist, but these two "tricks" work. One of the keys to living on a budget is to not overspend on "wants". It's such a great feeling to make your money work for you... by putting it towards your "needs" and building your savings up for your future.

Trick #1- When you see something you want determine if it is a "need" or a "want". A need is something that you have to have in order to survive. Some peoples "needs" will actually surprise others. One person's view of a need might be strictly basic, like housing and food. Another persons "need" might include housing, food and coffee. You need to determine your "needs" and when presented with a purchase, really evaluate if you need it, or if it would be better to apply that saved money from not buying it towards savings. If you would have to use money that is supposed to be used for another item on your budget, do not spend that money!

Trick #2- Determine how many hours you would have to work in order to pay for the proposed purchase. I was talking to a bank teller once. She really liked having a cafe mocha every morning. After determining that she would have to work 25 min. (after tax's) to pay for her mocha, she decided that flavored regular coffee was a better long term choice for her. She only had to work 3 min. to pay for that!

Today's Question- I'm sure alot of you have tried these tricks or other variations of them... what are/were your favorite tricks to get you into the budget/saving mode?