My Frugal Year

One of my goals this year is to stop just dumping all of our digital photos into random folders on my computer! It’s time to get prints of the good ones and do some scrap-booking! Snapfish has a great deal right now – you can get 50 free prints! Gotta love free stuff!

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I also love their photo books. Maybe you don’t have time to crop photos and make scrap books, but it’s sure easy to use their online system to make gorgeous, affordable photo books. They’re so versatile! Make books for special occasions, vacations, school years, individual family members – the possibilities are endless!

Ugh. I mean really, what could be less fun than getting ready for tax time? Whether you expect a nice refund or not, doing taxes is a pain. So many little things to collect and organize. As I’m getting ready to file for 2010, I’m also trying to look ahead and make 2011 easier. Last night I set up a 2011 file to collect pay stubs and receipts. Already added a couple receipts for medical expenses. Gotta love starting the year off being sick. Woo hoo.

I’ve been using Turbo Tax for years, and it makes a painful process much easier than it would be otherwise. E-filing is so simple and the refunds come quickly. They have products for whatever situation you’re in from the simplest tax situation to business income and investments. If you haven’t tried it – go for it. You won’t be disappointed!

I’ve never been one for New Years Resolutions. Too easily made and easily forgotten. This year, I do have some goals for the year and one of them is to get back to regular blogging on frugality, saving money, making money and in general making wise decisions around money.

2009 and 2010 brought some unexpected hurdles for our family, and some unexpected blessings too. Sadly, I let all that derail my blogging. My husband being rear-ended by an irresponsible driver in 2009 really started a chain of events that affected our family in many ways. My best laid plans for budgeting and finance were blown to bits as we struggled through his being unable to work for six months. All that is joyfully behind us now – he’s well and back to work and we’re getting back on track. In 2010 we were even able to take our first ever family vacation which was incredible.

My hope for 2011 is to learn a lot and share my finds here.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Our first view of Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World