Hey everyone! I'm trying to gather a list of lies that women believe about themselves and about marriage. I've included the list I've come up with, but as I've said before, I can only see this through my lens, and I need to know what other people think too. Also, if you have any thoughts on these issues, pleas share; it will be really helpful as I put together workshops on some of the topics. Thanks for your help!
My husband will always be there to listen to me
My husband will complete me
My husband will make me happy
My problems will go away when I get married
I’ll be able to have the exact number of kids at the perfect time once I do get married.
I’m not worthy/pretty/thin/smart/interesting enough for a guy to be interested in me.
There’s no one good left/No one is good enough for me
There is sin in my life that God wants me to work through before I can get married.
I don’t have worth outside of a relationship.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Housing
I'm collecting a list of pros and cons for either renting an apartment, buying a house or renting a room. (From the perspective of a single gal.) Any suggestions would be welcomed!
Thanks for your input so far!
Thanks for your input so far!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Mega Potluck
I tend to fix the same meals all the time and get really bored with my food. My recommendation for this is to have a mega potluck. Invite a few other gals over and have everyone bring a main dish to share. Everyone should bring leftover containers with them to the potluck. Then, fill up your containers with each other’s meals. You’ll get a much wider variety of foods to eat in the upcoming week instead of having to eat the same casserole for 6 days in a row, and you might try something yummy and new! Be sure to bring the recipe to share with everyone so they can make it on their own.
books
Has anyone read any of these books?
Singles at the Crossroads: A Fresh Perspective on Christian Singleness by Albert Y. Hsu
Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life by Barry Danylak and John Piper
Sacred Singleness: The Set-Apart Girl's Guide to Purpose and Fulfillment by Leslie Ludy
If Singleness Is a Gift, What's the Return Policy? by Holly Virden and Michelle McKinney Hammond
Singles at the Crossroads: A Fresh Perspective on Christian Singleness by Albert Y. Hsu
Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life by Barry Danylak and John Piper
Sacred Singleness: The Set-Apart Girl's Guide to Purpose and Fulfillment by Leslie Ludy
If Singleness Is a Gift, What's the Return Policy? by Holly Virden and Michelle McKinney Hammond
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Money saving ideas
I know I'm posting a lot right now, but it's just because I have a lot to say at the beginning. I promise I won't post this often after I get going. Here are a few of my suggestions on how to live within a budget. I would WELCOME any more to add to the list. This is especially important for college students because they are POOR! I know it's a along list, but hang in there! I think there are some good ideas in there. If you have any websites/blogs, etc that would support any of these items, let me know!
1. Libraries are my best friends! They are free and unless you really live in the middle of nowhere, there should be one relatively close by. Most libraries have an interlibrary loan program, so even if you live in a small town, they can borrow from larger libraries. I get cookbooks, decorating books, movies, CDs, magazines and of course novels, biographies, books on CD, etc., at the library. It’s great, free entertainment! Also look to see if your library has community events or museums coupons. Many of them also offer programing right there at the library. It’s a fun way to meet people that love the same things you do!
2. Most grocery stores have reduced racks. These shelves have either almost expired food or containers that were damaged in route to the store. Frankly, I could care less if my cereal box is smooched on the bottom; it’s tastes the same but is half off! Most commonly you can find day of bread and pastries on these racks. I love to stop by the store on the way to a party or event and buy the half off goodies, knowing I’ll be using them that night. Buying produce this way is the biggest way that I save money. Fresh, healthy food like fruit can be very expensive, but I find a lot of ripe fruit on those racks. I enjoy buying lots of fruit and canning or freezing it. You might not have a ton of freezer space, but a friend or family member might. You can also use the fruit as a gift!
3. I know it can be very tempting to eat out when you’re single. If you enjoy cooking, then maybe you don’t mind being at home every night. But….I hate to cook, especially for just me! I wish I could eat out every night! My suggestion is to make a food budget for the week. If you want to eat out, that needs to be factored into the budget.
4. When you’re standing in the grocery isle with 17 different kinds of lunch meat, it can be a little overwhelming! Be sure to look out for the “Price Per Unit” on grocery items. The PPU will tell you how much something costs per ounce and you can easily find out what brand is actually cheapest. One thing that seems logical is to buy in bulk. This can be true; the price per unit cost is often cheaper. However, if you’re buying something like salad dressing that expires, you can often end up throwing a lot of it away! It’s better to buy a smaller bottle and not waste!
5. My favorite TV family is the Duggers. You might have seen them on TLC, or at least have heard of them! They are a Christian family with 19 kids. Goodness knows they have to live on a budget. Their motto is a simple one, and certainly nothing new, but I can’t stress how much money you will save if you “buy used and save the difference.”
6. Reduce electricity costs: remember to turn off lights, get a controllable thermostat, take shorter showers, use energy efficient light bulbs, spend hot summer days in free, cold places like the library so you can use their air conditioning!
7. Make homemade gifts, especially wedding and baby shower gifts.
8. Sell items you don’t use or need on ebay or have a garage sale. Be sure keep track of any items you donate to charity because that is tax deductible!
9. The 1 month rule: This isn’t always possible, but try to wait a month before a big purchase. You will have more time to comparison shop, pray about it, think about whether you really need it. It might also go on sale.
10. Repair clothes instead of buying new
11. Learn how to sew. There are more and more videos on youtube these days than help you learn! The tricky thing is; sewing isn’t always cheaper these days, but there are some things that are still cheaper to sew. A book I recommend is One Yard Wonder. It comes with patterns and all the projects use less than a yard of fabric. Look for sewing supplies like thread and zippers at thrift stores. This can help keep the cost way down!
12. I know this might be a jarring thing to your daily routine, but choosing to drink water the majority of the time will save a bundle!!!! It’s also so much better for you anyway.
13. I’m guilty of buying books like crazy!! If you’re looking for just anything, thrift stores really are the way to go. Most stores charge 50 cents to a dollar for a book. If you’re looking for something specific, check out www.paperbackswap.com.
14. Use cash or debit cards only.
15. Only buy what is on sale. Plan your meals around what is on sale at the grocery store.
16. Gift service instead of tangible items. Offer to mow your Dad’s lawn for father’s day or give your Mom a backrub. Offer to help someone put on a garage sale or clean out the attic. My Mom used to swap service with her friends all the time. She would paint her friend’s kitchen in exchange for her giving us kids swim lessons. Ask around and find out what your friends can do and have a service swap party where you can match people up together! You can even do something three ways, where person A helps person B who helps person C who helps person A. That way, everyone gets help with something, even if they aren’t helping the person who helps them.
17. Buy holiday items after the holiday. This is one of my biggest tips if you love to decorate! Most items go on sale for 50-80 percent off in the weeks following a holiday. It’s always fun to buy that stuff, immediately put it away and then have the fun of digging it out next year. Also, buy gifts year round. I have a drawer in my apartment filled with gifts. It's great because I have stuff on hand if I need something last minute, and I can buy things when they are on sale instead of last minute.
18. Start a garden
19. Carpool
20. Buy an entertainment coupon book
21. Don’t speed: you get better gas mileage (and you can avoid speeding tickets!)
22. Put coupons by the door: it will help you to remember then as you leave the house.
23. Use money envelopes. Put cash into various envelopes, like clothing, food, entertainment, etc. This will help you keep to your budget. When the money’s gone you can’t spend any more until the next month/paycheck.
24. Check brand websites for coupons. If there is something you use all the time, check out that product’s website. There are often free samples or coupons right on the website.
25. Have a coupon swap with friends. Bring all your coupons and trade!
26. Have a potluck party. Have everyone make a casserole or some dish to trade. Then, you don't have to eat the same leftovers for a week! Bring leftover containers with you to the party and load up!
1. Libraries are my best friends! They are free and unless you really live in the middle of nowhere, there should be one relatively close by. Most libraries have an interlibrary loan program, so even if you live in a small town, they can borrow from larger libraries. I get cookbooks, decorating books, movies, CDs, magazines and of course novels, biographies, books on CD, etc., at the library. It’s great, free entertainment! Also look to see if your library has community events or museums coupons. Many of them also offer programing right there at the library. It’s a fun way to meet people that love the same things you do!
2. Most grocery stores have reduced racks. These shelves have either almost expired food or containers that were damaged in route to the store. Frankly, I could care less if my cereal box is smooched on the bottom; it’s tastes the same but is half off! Most commonly you can find day of bread and pastries on these racks. I love to stop by the store on the way to a party or event and buy the half off goodies, knowing I’ll be using them that night. Buying produce this way is the biggest way that I save money. Fresh, healthy food like fruit can be very expensive, but I find a lot of ripe fruit on those racks. I enjoy buying lots of fruit and canning or freezing it. You might not have a ton of freezer space, but a friend or family member might. You can also use the fruit as a gift!
3. I know it can be very tempting to eat out when you’re single. If you enjoy cooking, then maybe you don’t mind being at home every night. But….I hate to cook, especially for just me! I wish I could eat out every night! My suggestion is to make a food budget for the week. If you want to eat out, that needs to be factored into the budget.
4. When you’re standing in the grocery isle with 17 different kinds of lunch meat, it can be a little overwhelming! Be sure to look out for the “Price Per Unit” on grocery items. The PPU will tell you how much something costs per ounce and you can easily find out what brand is actually cheapest. One thing that seems logical is to buy in bulk. This can be true; the price per unit cost is often cheaper. However, if you’re buying something like salad dressing that expires, you can often end up throwing a lot of it away! It’s better to buy a smaller bottle and not waste!
5. My favorite TV family is the Duggers. You might have seen them on TLC, or at least have heard of them! They are a Christian family with 19 kids. Goodness knows they have to live on a budget. Their motto is a simple one, and certainly nothing new, but I can’t stress how much money you will save if you “buy used and save the difference.”
6. Reduce electricity costs: remember to turn off lights, get a controllable thermostat, take shorter showers, use energy efficient light bulbs, spend hot summer days in free, cold places like the library so you can use their air conditioning!
7. Make homemade gifts, especially wedding and baby shower gifts.
8. Sell items you don’t use or need on ebay or have a garage sale. Be sure keep track of any items you donate to charity because that is tax deductible!
9. The 1 month rule: This isn’t always possible, but try to wait a month before a big purchase. You will have more time to comparison shop, pray about it, think about whether you really need it. It might also go on sale.
10. Repair clothes instead of buying new
11. Learn how to sew. There are more and more videos on youtube these days than help you learn! The tricky thing is; sewing isn’t always cheaper these days, but there are some things that are still cheaper to sew. A book I recommend is One Yard Wonder. It comes with patterns and all the projects use less than a yard of fabric. Look for sewing supplies like thread and zippers at thrift stores. This can help keep the cost way down!
12. I know this might be a jarring thing to your daily routine, but choosing to drink water the majority of the time will save a bundle!!!! It’s also so much better for you anyway.
13. I’m guilty of buying books like crazy!! If you’re looking for just anything, thrift stores really are the way to go. Most stores charge 50 cents to a dollar for a book. If you’re looking for something specific, check out www.paperbackswap.com.
14. Use cash or debit cards only.
15. Only buy what is on sale. Plan your meals around what is on sale at the grocery store.
16. Gift service instead of tangible items. Offer to mow your Dad’s lawn for father’s day or give your Mom a backrub. Offer to help someone put on a garage sale or clean out the attic. My Mom used to swap service with her friends all the time. She would paint her friend’s kitchen in exchange for her giving us kids swim lessons. Ask around and find out what your friends can do and have a service swap party where you can match people up together! You can even do something three ways, where person A helps person B who helps person C who helps person A. That way, everyone gets help with something, even if they aren’t helping the person who helps them.
17. Buy holiday items after the holiday. This is one of my biggest tips if you love to decorate! Most items go on sale for 50-80 percent off in the weeks following a holiday. It’s always fun to buy that stuff, immediately put it away and then have the fun of digging it out next year. Also, buy gifts year round. I have a drawer in my apartment filled with gifts. It's great because I have stuff on hand if I need something last minute, and I can buy things when they are on sale instead of last minute.
18. Start a garden
19. Carpool
20. Buy an entertainment coupon book
21. Don’t speed: you get better gas mileage (and you can avoid speeding tickets!)
22. Put coupons by the door: it will help you to remember then as you leave the house.
23. Use money envelopes. Put cash into various envelopes, like clothing, food, entertainment, etc. This will help you keep to your budget. When the money’s gone you can’t spend any more until the next month/paycheck.
24. Check brand websites for coupons. If there is something you use all the time, check out that product’s website. There are often free samples or coupons right on the website.
25. Have a coupon swap with friends. Bring all your coupons and trade!
26. Have a potluck party. Have everyone make a casserole or some dish to trade. Then, you don't have to eat the same leftovers for a week! Bring leftover containers with you to the party and load up!
Coupons
One of things that I want to talk about with the college students I interact with is money management. I have tons ideas about how to save money, but just to start, here are some of my favorite coupon websites:
www.ppgazette.com
www.smartsource.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.hotcouponworld.com
www.coupons.com
www.couponsurfer.com
www.organiccoupons.com
If you know of any websites on the topic of budgeting or money management, let me know so I can pass them on.
www.ppgazette.com
www.smartsource.com
www.coolsavings.com
www.hotcouponworld.com
www.coupons.com
www.couponsurfer.com
www.organiccoupons.com
If you know of any websites on the topic of budgeting or money management, let me know so I can pass them on.
Cooking
I am no cook, but I'm trying to find things that reheat well. It's hard to cook for just one person! Here are a few meals/items that work well for a single gal. Please let me know if you have any good ideas!! I own a crock pot but have never used it. I guess it's because I don't like to cook my veggies, meat and potatoes together. I'm kinda still a kid and don't like all my food to touch. Any suggestions? Do I need to just get over this?
Banana Bread
Blend: 1 cup sugar
½ cup butter
dash salt
Add: 3 large bananas (4 small)
2 eggs
Add: ½ cup boiling water
Combine and add: 1 t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder
2 cups flour
Grease and flour loaf pan.
Bake 350, 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool 10-15 min. before taking out of pan.
Cinnamon Rolls
3 ¾ cup warm water or milk 1 T salt
2 T yeast 6 T melted shortening
6 T sugar ~9 cups bread flour
Add and mix in order 1st five ingredients. Add 4 cups flour.
Slowly add and knead in the remaining flour for a soft dough.
Let rise until double (about an hour).
Divide dough in half or thirds and shape into crescent rolls
For cinnamon bread or cinnamon rolls:
Add melted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar
Bake 375, 10 min for rolls, 25-30 min for cinnamon bread or rolls.
Potato Soup
Simmer together for 20 minutes:
1 ½ cup water ¼ cup finely chopped onion
4 cups diced potatoes 2 chicken bouillon cubes
½ cup celery
Add and heat: 1 cup milk
Combine:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1 T flour
Slowly add to soup. Do not boil.
Optional: add 1 T chopped chives
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
A few good ideas!
My friend Diana came up with these topics! Great ideas!
How to be truly happy for others with announcements of marriages and babies.
Dealing with family and friends who believe that because you're single you have so much extra time on your hands (so not true).
Holidays - especially if your family isn't close by.
Not letting being single stop you from doing what you want to do for example going out to eat and the movies
How to be truly happy for others with announcements of marriages and babies.
Dealing with family and friends who believe that because you're single you have so much extra time on your hands (so not true).
Holidays - especially if your family isn't close by.
Not letting being single stop you from doing what you want to do for example going out to eat and the movies
Monday, April 11, 2011
Here we go!
Despite my insistence that I'm not a writer, my mother claims I am! I like to write, but I certainly enjoy talking a whole lot more! I've blogged once before, when I went to Europe. That seems practical and purposeful. This time around, I'm doing more of a project and I need your help! I work at a Bible College and I want to start a woman's singleness ministry on campus. I want these ladies to learn how to thrive as a single woman, instead of just surviving. I know there's a million books on singleness, but I want to talk about the more practical side of being single. What do you do when you're car dies on the side of road? I currently need to hang curtains in my bedroom, but the ceiling is 12 feet tall. How in the world do you get motivated to cook for one person!? How do I get genuinely excited about buying another wedding present?
It was my Mom's idea to blog. She asked me if I knew of any helpful blogs out there for single people, and although I didn't look really hard, I couldn't find any! So, maybe this can be a helpful tool!??
Anyway, I've started this so I can get some ideas from you ladies. I'll put a list of topics below, and if you have any suggestions of more topics or subtopics of the ones I've provided, I would be really grateful. I have been single my entire life, but I still only know what it's like to be single from my perspective, and I'm sure I'm missing some big holes! I know some of you are married, but I wanted to include a few women I know that didn't get married right out of college. I'm sure you remember what it was like and have valuable insight! If you know of anyone else that might be willing to contribute to this discussion, please invite them! Thanks!!
Logistics of being single (like money, housing issues, cooking, etc)
Daydreaming
Contentment
Jealousy
Loneliness
Lies women believe about marriage
Lies women believe about themselves
What to do while you wait
What to look for in a husband
Recommended resources (books, websites, etc)
It was my Mom's idea to blog. She asked me if I knew of any helpful blogs out there for single people, and although I didn't look really hard, I couldn't find any! So, maybe this can be a helpful tool!??
Anyway, I've started this so I can get some ideas from you ladies. I'll put a list of topics below, and if you have any suggestions of more topics or subtopics of the ones I've provided, I would be really grateful. I have been single my entire life, but I still only know what it's like to be single from my perspective, and I'm sure I'm missing some big holes! I know some of you are married, but I wanted to include a few women I know that didn't get married right out of college. I'm sure you remember what it was like and have valuable insight! If you know of anyone else that might be willing to contribute to this discussion, please invite them! Thanks!!
Logistics of being single (like money, housing issues, cooking, etc)
Daydreaming
Contentment
Jealousy
Loneliness
Lies women believe about marriage
Lies women believe about themselves
What to do while you wait
What to look for in a husband
Recommended resources (books, websites, etc)
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