Homemade Granola

This ish right here? Player please! Homemade granola is the business! You can make it as basic or as fancy as you like, just make it! I've not purchased ready made granola in I don't know how long. This stuff is amazeballs over Greek yogurt with fresh fruit, as a cereal with your milk of choice, with a banana or hell just to grab a handful as a quick on the go snach.  It's healthy, you control the ingredients, and it's delish!   Hit me in the comments for more details on how to purchase it premade or tips on making your own! 

Later babes, 

Bougie~

Laundry Detergent...so fresh n so clean-clean

Hey Bougie Babes!
Hope all is well and that everyone is living their bougie lives to the absolute fullest!
Last week I put together the homemade laundry detergent and it was awesome! I wanted to wait until I had some other folks try it before I posted about it so there was no bias.  So my testers were my straight no chaser mom, and my friend who I'll call "T.K" to protect her privacy.   I gave them both a sample of the dry/powdered detergent and the liquid and....<drumroll>...they both said it worked great!
The first picture is the liquid (obviously) and that's only about 1/4 of the batch! In true bougie form,  I re-purposed an empty Woolite bottle so I wouldn't use all my quart size mason jars, momma got plans for them.  The second picture is the powdered  - it looks kinda strange I know.
I used it on my dogs bedding and it was clean and fresh but the real test was using it on my 16 year old sons laundry...and again clean and fresh.
Just as a disclaimer, you won't see a lot of bubbles or suds but trust the cleaning power is definitely there.  And only 3 ingredients. The total cost to make was around $7.00 bucks, and a full batch makes 5 gallons of the liquid.  Now because I'm fancy and like to do my own thing, I actually made mine a little more concentrated so I had maybe 3 gallons.
Hope this helps and if anyone is interested the ingredients and directions are as follows:

Ingredients:
2 Cups Arm & Hammer Washing  Soda
2 Cups 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster (has tons of uses)
1 Bar Fels Napa  - its a bar laundry soap. You could also use Zote.  Some recipes suggest using a bar of Ivory or what you have on hand or can get cheap.  I think I'm going to use a bar of Dr. Bronners in my next batch.

Directions:

To Make powdered laundry soap:

1.       Grate the bar soap or mix in food processor until finely ground. Use the soap of your choice. I personally use Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Bar Soap because of its exceptional quality, and because it is available in several different natural scents like lavender, tea tree, peppermint, almond and others.

2.       In a large bowl, mix 2 parts washing soda, 2 parts Borax and 1 part grated soap. (Add a few teaspoons of baking soda if desired).

3.       Store in closed container. I keep mine in quart or half gallon mason jars. If you are using a big enough container, you can skip step 2 and just put all ingredients in storage container or jar and shake.

4.       Use 1/2  to 1 cup per load of laundry depending on how badly soiled your clothes are.

To make liquid Laundry Soap:

1.       Grate one bar of soap with cheese grater or food processor.

2.       Put grated soap in pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat, stirring constantly until soap is completely dissolved.

3.       Put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket (available for free in bakeries at grocery stores, just ask them) and stir in 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda until completely dissolved.

4.       Pour soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well.

5.       Cover and leave overnight.

6.       Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers.

7.       Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Later Loves!

Serenity

This is the notebook that I carry with me all the time everyday-I actually bought two of them because of the serenity prayer on the cover. I use it to jot down notes, ideas, random thoughts, things I want to talk to God about, etc. 
My decision to tighten up my financial house was based largely on my need for PEACE in my life.   I believe the planting of the seed was Gods way of giving me the COURAGE to change what I can, namely my budget, the financial seeds I sow, and my stewardship over my financial blessings.  Conversely, by forcing myself to be more accountable for my finances is helping me ACCEPT that the way my bank account is set up, there is not an endless supply of residual income-yet.  I also believe by showing that I am and can be a responsible steward over my finances, that my cup will soon runneth over!
Finances are only one piece of the puzzle as there are other things that will require change and fine tuning for me it's an appropriate place to start.  With money not being a worry I can focus my energies on the important things!

Bougie Blessings!

Break-fast

Hey Bougie Babes!
Hope all is well.  Man! There is so much going on righy now - I really don't know where to begin!

Coming up this week:

-Laundry soap recipe and reviews

-Birthday Budget fail and bounce back plan

-Homemade Granola

- Business ventures

- Full meal plan

- Christmas budget

If there are any subjects you all are interested in leave it in the comments-let's grow together! 

What's up Bougie Family!

My apologies people!  I've been unintentionally M.I.A.   Well that's not totally accurate,  I've definitely been in action. I've celebrated a birthday, took a staycation which I'm still on,  did lots of reflecting on my past and planning for my future. Lots of D.O.P.E stuff in the works so I'll be posting regularly to keep yall up to date.
Oh I also got a new camara so I can take my blogging on the road in 1040HD! I'm excited about that. I've wanted/needed a new camara for a minute now after giving babygirl bougie my last one so yeah, its about to go down.
Stay tuned for DYI Day.  I have some crafts and diy projects coming as well as some budget updates coming.

Hope all is well.
Love, Peace and Bougieness!

Busy Bougie

Hey Bougie Babes!
I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day weekend, even if it was just a weekend of chilling out.
This past week has been bananas! It has been a week of family drama(but what's new there), self-improvement, self reflection, and budgeting!
Now that I have my cash flow under control (kinda) my next phase is taking a look at my spending habits to see where else I can cut back.   I'm exploring some D.I.Y. options which should be an adventure in and of it self.  This weekend I am going to make and try homemade laundry detergent and...wait for it...deodorant. Don't look at me like that! I think it'll be ok.  The laundry detergent I'm not really worried about.  From the recipes I've found, it should be pretty powerful. I'm going to do a load of coloreds and whites so I'll be able to really see how it does.  The cash savings should be mind-blowing!!! I use Gain liquid. I usually get the 64 Load bottle which runs between $14.99 and $16.99 depending on where I buy it, and it usually last about 3 weeks.  My husband has to wash towels at least twice a week -its his thing- so it would probably last longer if it were not for his obsession with washing towels. I digress.  The homemade detergent will cost $6.00 to make three times more than the bottle of Gain AND you use less per load *hits my dougie*.  I'll be posting the recipe after I try it - no need in having yall try it before I know it works.
Now let's talk about the homemade deodorant.  I know, I know don't nobody got time to be walking around here funky.  I concur because quiet as its keep Bougie sweats, yep, the pits perspire.  This one I'm really interested in though because there have been studies that tie the Aluminum in deodorants and antiperspirants to breast cancer and I took a solemn oath to protect "the girls" at all cost so I'm willing to give it a shot. Mind you I'll be trying it this weekend when I'm close to home and the shower, Bougie ain't nobody's fool and I'm much to fine to be funky!

Well loves, that's whats on tap for my weekend, D.I.Y til I die, well not really but it rhymed so there you have it.

Later!

Meal Planning?

Does anyone consistently do meal planning? I'm planning to give it a try but first I have to get my thoughts on the matter together. To be honest, I'll probably have more luck meal planning for LUNCH and not dinner.
Dinner is a little easier as I usually have food in the deep freezer and a boat load of side items, or my husband deems it to hot to cook, but lunch? Lunch is an entirely different matter. Either I'm moving to slow in the morning to make a lunch, there's nothing that I "want" to take for lunch or some other lame excuse.  So I figure if I think about it, and plan out a weeks worth of lunches I will be better prepared to grab n go.
There are a plethora of websites that offer meal planning services - for a fee! What the Windy City?! Man, I tell you everything cost these days.  Bougie's on a budget so a sista will be partaking in the free sites and trial plans. Humph!  I did find that the Evernote application which is available for iOS and Adriod has a meal planning feature, so I am going to look further into that and give it try.  I will let you all know how that works out.
Another thing I'll have to work around is keeping variety in my lunches because I'm not a fan of frozen meals, or canned soup and damnit I can only eat so many turkey sandwiches.
Since this is a longer weekend I'll get my plan together, make a grocery list, grab my coupons:-) and hit the stores.  I'll let you guys know how I do.

Catch yall later,

Bougie

Credit

Hey y'all. 

I guess I'll just get right to it.  I pulled my credit report and yeah I have some work to do.  Its not horrible, I mean I've seen worse.  The few things that are on their are from lack of giving a damn, or forgetting.  Life really took its toll on me and I got caught up, caught up I tell you!  So Bougie on a Budget may become Bougie on a Budget: The Credit CleanUp! 

I do have a plan though.  There are some items that I need to dispute and others that I can't really worry about, like Student Loans.  If those ads I've been seeing about Obama forgiving Student Loan debt somehow by the grace of God come to light, looky here, I am all in.  I'm also going to step up my hustle game so I can have some funds dedicated strictly to debt reduction.  

Now I could readjust my budget and put a more towards debt and it may very well come to that- but its not here now.  I'm going to pick one and tackle it and move on to the next one.  "Experts", suggest focusing on paying down the smallest bill by paying the most you can afford monthly or what every frequency is agreed on.  Pay and move on to the next.  The key is to take the $25 you were paying towards Debt A and add that to the payment for Debt B.   That takes some discipline but its completely do-able.

My biggest caution is to not get so caught up in paying bills that I'm not enjoying living.  No m'am.  There will be none of that! Chances are I'll have some kind of debt when I depart this earth and my life insurance will take care of those so for right now, I'm going to work my budget, clean up these stray items on my credit report and live my life - at the same damn time!

Coupon WIN!

I spoke previously about my hesitancy to give couponing another try. I decided to take the go for it- after all what did I have to loose. So last week, Friday I believe I dusted off my coupon holder and headed Krazy Coupon Lady (http://thekrazycouponlady.com/) . I like this site because she/they do a good job organizing available deals! I'm not sure how often the site is updates, but, it seems like its pretty frequent.  They also have good tips on HOW to coupon. Definitely worth a look if you're interested in saving a buck or 2.
On to my WIN. This past weekend my mom and I went to Target - a.k.a TakeAllMyDamnMoneyVille.
Now before I get on to my cash register win, let me point out something that I noticed.  This may mean more to those that are local however something to look out for all the same.  We all know you can't walk into Target and not look at the CLEARANCE section right? I noticed that some of the clearance items were marked at a higher price at this particular Target than at a Target I was at earlier in the week! Saaayy What???!!!
I was only looking for household items so this should have been a relatively quick trip right? Factor in a coupon novice and a mother who likes to get lost in the store, two hours later (smh) I'm at the cash register and my total before coupons was $127 and after coupons? *Drumroll*  $95.27! POW!!! I may or may not have done a C (for coupons) Walk at the register.
Needless to say, I plan to continue using coupons, my next challenge is going to at the grocery store.
That should be interesting.

Hope you all are having an awesome week so far!

Savings, coupons, and deals OH MY!

I just signed up for Cartwheel by Target.  Its their savings program which you can use on top of manufacture's coupons, and your RedCard discount..Say Whhhhhaaattt??? This makes me happy, its like getting rewarded for shopping at one of your ok my fav stores. How cool is that!
There is a mobile app available for Android and Iphone. The only downside in my opinion is that you have to log in with your Facebook account.  One other possible fail is that it looks like theirs a limit
This will be good for me because its one less coupon to clip and as long as I have my phone I have my savings, BOOO-YYAAA.
And shut the front door their are coupons for food too - hits my Dougie.

Dont forget to check out the coupon section at target.com for additional savings!

http://cartwheel.target.com/?ref=tgt_soc_CW_%20dvmy13c0027v000141i002862_18Aug13

Random, but Relevant

One of the most important lessons I've learned over the past say 10 years is that, you cannot tell people (including friends)  all of your plans.  As soon as you do, they are plotting trying to figure out how to capitalize off of your thought/idea or you have the commentators, with their, " Uhn  unh gurl, if I was you I wouldn't do that" Or those with the fake cautionary tales of your pending doom, "Girl my cousin on my step-daddy side, baby momma's god sister's mechanic tried that and it didn't even work" ....My response? PHUCK OUTTA HERE WITH ALL THAT NOISE!
Those closest to me know that I tend to be very tight lipped about what I'm doing and what irons I have in the fire, not that I don't trust you all, in fact, I trust you all to do exactly what you do...let that settle, give it some time.
This is not to say that you can't or shouldn't share your good news with anyone just be careful who you share with. I mean if you have something going on and you need to tell somebody, tell God, shoot he knows about already! Everybody that's with you ain't for you

Peace
Lady Bougie (dont that just sound bougie)

Book recommentation

This is a oldie but goodie.  Years ago I was recommended a book on finances aimed at African American women, however, the principles apply to us all, so don't get your panties in a bunch if you're not an AA woman!
The book is titled "Girl Get Your Money Straight" by Glinda Bridgeforth and you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0767904885/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1377190525&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165
The book has some really easy to follow principles and sample budgets amd such. If you get the kindle version you can duplicate the charts with in a notebook or Excel.  Which ever floats your boat-just get 'er done!

Today's the day!

Hey Yall! Welp. Today's the day I fund my envelopes.  My plan is to go the bank and when I make my withdrawal, I'll ask for all small bills, $10's, $5's and $1's a.k.a a Mississippi Bankroll.  Because I'm so gangsta I might even wrap it in a rubber band.

Seriously, the purpose of the small bills is so that I don't have the issue of breaking and possibly spending it all on nonsense.  We all know how when you break a large bill (and by large I mean $20) before you know it, it's gone and you're somewhere looking dazed and confused because you have NO idea how it happened!

The other thing I have to remember is to get my receipts!  I need to get in the habit of reconciling my envelopes a couple of times of week.  I'm not even gonna lie and say every day because that's just ain't gonna happen.  This will also double as my method of tracking my spending, which is essential to the process.  I mean if I don't know where and how I'm spending my money its gonna be that much more difficult to get a handle on my bad spending habits. 

Again if anyone wants to take this journey with me hit me in the comments! 

Have a good one!

A Bougie Budget Breakfast

Morning loves!  Hope everyone is budget behaving:-).  While my actual budget bonanza doesn't officially kick off until Thursday, I'm trying to wrap my mind around identifying and closing cash leaks. One in particular stopping for coffee, usually at Starbucks, which leads to grabbing a pastry and a Cranberry Refresher since I'm there. $8 here one minute gone the next! Sadly, if I'm stopping for coffee that means I walked past the Keurig and the KCups sitting on my kitchen counter and bypassed the fridge to prepare a lunch so guess who's eating out at lunch too?  Noticing a evil pattern? Yeah, me too. 
So today's breakfast is coffee provide the job, an apple from the fridge and a protein bar.  We are having a team lunch sponsored by the company so guess who's WINNING today!

Until later!

Coupons...crazy or worth it

I'm debating on whether or not to add couponing to my list of money saving efforts.  Why the debate? Well for household items its all good, I mean a $1 of a Gain is alright in my book.  The issue comes into play with FOOD.  I don't eat a lot of boxed or processed foods and those are the items that seem to have the best coupons.  I have yet to see a $.50 off coupon for a bunch of Kale or better yet $1 off of chicken breast!  I've tried the whole coupon thing before and all I got out of it was a bunch of newspaper laying around! Alas, I think I'll give it one more shot. I'm going to check out Krazy Coupon Lady and see what tips I can get - its not like I'll be doing any shopping so hell, I have the time.

GOAL! And I ain't talkin bout soccer!

While I was busy getting my envelopes ready and figuring out my allotments, I decided I needed a goal or six so that I would feel like I was working towards something specific.  Now, I could go with a savings goal, say $500 by Christmas or, I could save for that new 15 inch MacBook Pro (its only $2199)  that waves at me every time I walk past the Apple Store.  The problem with "things" is that's what got me to this point in the first place! I'm gonna give this more thought as I want a realistic S.M.A.R.T goal - who remembers what that acronym stands for?
            S  - Specific
            M - Manageable/Measureable
            A - Attainable
            R - Realistic
            T - Tangible
         
Yep that was random, but it worked.
I also want to do some investing, so I guess a financial goal it is.  Let me get another envelope :-)

Love n Blessings, 

M

Welcome....Excuse me while I get my (financial) life

Hello all! Welcome to Bougie on a Budget! Here I'll chronicle my journey of getting my LIFE financially! Now mind you this is only my personal budget - not my household budget- that's straight. But my personal budgets? Chile hush! Somehow over the last few years, I've thrown caution to the wind and my spending has gotten out of control!  Time for momma to reel it back in. So to get started, I looked at my personal expenses and  reconstructed my budget and personal savings using a good old fashioned Excel spreadsheet. I went old school - The "envelope method".  For anyone not familiar with this, you take plain envelopes or you can get jiggy with it and get fancy envelopes if you like. Lable the envelopes with the names of your spending categories and put in the allotted amount of cash and once its gone its gone! I will be filling my envelopes bi-weekly according to my pay cycle. I have the following envelopes: Shopping, Entertainment, God/Tithes, Lunch Money, and Hustle Fund.  Whats a Hustle Fund? Glad you asked! The Hustle Funds is any extra money earned from any of my various side hustles...hence The Hustle Fund. What are my side hustles? Another great questions! I sell MaryKay (www.marykay.com/mscott0915), small business consultation (website is under construction but holla at me for details) and I make homemade preserves!  Whew, you would think I had to much going on to blow the budget huh? Nope- HA!  I'm also pondering a 2nd "job" but I don't think I'm built for that.
I'll also be posting any interesting/helpful information that I find.  And just to be forewarned, I'll be posting more than my budgeting experiences because I'm cool like that.
So again welcome and if anyone wants to join me to make it interesting hit me up in the comments and let's do this!