Piggy Bank Challenge

Val of Val's Quilting studio is hosting a challenge this year for people to throw all of their change into their choice of a piggy bank.  And then at the end of the year count it up to see how much there is.

This is something I normally do, but haven't been really keeping track of the totals but I will do so this year.  I also normally hold back all $5 bills that I get as an additional means of saving money and that also adds up!

Since this last move when the jar I used to use for my change vanished, I have replaced it with one similar to the middle jar in this picture (lid is different, but size is about the same).  I've already got about 2" worth of change in it at this point.  

I may end up changing it out for something smaller because it is getting heavy and will be very heavy by the time it is full.  Need to go check out what I can find at Goodwill in the way of a nice looking jar.

As for what I'll be using the money for - most likely to help pay expenses for a trip next May for my nieces wedding back in Indiana.  =)

Gratitudes:

1. Pretty Jars to help keep me focused on things like this

2. A job that pays the bills

Easy to Forget......

It is so easy to forget why I've made decisions and walked down certain paths in my life, especially when things are frustrating and life becomes filled with things I'd rather not have to fight.   And it is easy to not see progress made over the course of a few months or a year if you look at things

But FB reminded me of a picture that I had posted a year ago this morning of the 'paintings' that I'm using to remind myself to keep on plugging away at paying off my debt.   Three bills paid off, a fourth that will be paid off by the end of the year, Lord willing.  I knew I'd been paying off debt over the last 9 months since I've been here in Wyoming.......but it wasn't until I looked at the pics from a yr ago and now that the difference really made an impact.

Still a long way to go to be debt-free, but I'm so thankful to have this visual reminder of God's faithfulness and manifold blessings in my life.

Here's to making more progress over the next year as I move to Tx for my new job and to continuing to live on a budget in order to do so!

Gratitudes:
1. Packing is proceeding

2. Keys are turned in at school and everything is tied up there.