Chosen

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Welcome! I'm Lauren Maruki. Life has a way of throwing unusual situations my way. Join my husband and I as we work through infertility, adoption, decreasing debt and living, gluten free. I will sprinkle in some traveling too! Feel free to laugh, cry and agree to disagree!

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Starting Your Envelope System

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Now that you have placed your debt in increasing order, lowered your bills and placed all saved and newly found cash on the lowest debt, you can turn your attention to the envelope system.  Learning to save a few bucks a month will prevent a birthday party from throwing you into financial ruin for a month. Since we have followed this method for nearly a year, we now have savings for things that we never thought we would.  We can't tell you how much to place in each envelope but, I have listed our amounts that we save per month. Often Forgotten and Yet 'Fun' Spending: Auto Repairs       $30.00 Auto licenses and tab renewal/taxes     $10.00 Medical Bills       $10.00 Vitamins     $60.00 Dentist/Doctors       $0 Restaurants     $20.00 Clothing     $20.00 Transportation (gas)       $120.00 Drinks (coffee, beers after work and smoothies)       $10.00 ...
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Thoughts on Open Adoption

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Open adoption has become a sore spot in my family. For those that are new to my corner of the blog world, welcome. I'm Lauren Maruki and I have been writing about all the bumps in my road from living and travelling internationally to infertility and now adoption of our first child. Hubby and I both have adopted cousins. Hubby's cousins are now adults, and mine are all under the age 12. Open adoption was a topic of discussion a couple weeks ago at a family event. To our surprise, my mother discovered that my cousins do not have an open adoption with their birth family. I had wondered if that door was shut. Now I am wondering if it was accidentally shut or purposefully shut. I want an open adoption. I want to continue to learn not only about the birth mother, but the birth father, the birth grandparents, the aunts, the uncles and all the crazy cousins. Those people make up my child. Those people have traits that my child will possess. The traits will be the key to perso...
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Money Mondays- Summer Cash 2

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Did you know that summer effects our wallets more that the rest of the year? Welcome to the second half of a two part series of how to save money over the 100 Days of Summer. 4.) Entertainment costs rather on vacation or right in your own town can really put a damper on your summer cash. There are plenty of free festivals around. Visit them on a full stomach and a backpack full of half frozen water, juice and snacks. Go will a preset purchase amount in cash and that should keep you on tack. If you are visiting attractions such as an amusement park that requires an entrance fee, check their website for free or discounted days. Traveling with a medium size family of 5 or 6? Go with another family because many discounts begin at 10 people. No matter if you drink Pepsi or Coca-Cola or not, local area attractions partner with them to offer discounts. Pour the coke down the sink if you have to, but save $20 on your next family event! 5.) Nothing says Summer like a cool and refreshi...
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