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Here's What's New  
This post is part of the How We Saved This Week weekly feature. My husband and I talk about pretty much everything. That’s one thing that we established well before going into marriage (we met when we were 9 and 10 and were good friends for years before we actually were in a serious relationship) and it’s the “glue” that holds our marriage together. Since I’m a verbal processor and Jesse’s highest receiving love language (meaning: how he feels loved) is quality time, we spend a LOT of time talking. In fact, our friends tease us about how much we talk together because it’s rare that something happens that we don’t talk about it.  
There’s No “Mine” or “Yours” I truly believe that one reason we’ve been able to make a lot of financial traction in recent years is because we’ve really become a strong team when it comes to finances. We’ve set aside the whole “his money, her money” fights and made it all “our money”. We don’t talk about “your earnings vs. my earnings”; it’s all “our earnings”. We don’t have separate bank accounts. We don’t make big financial purchases without consulting each other. We don’t give to a cause or need or person without both agreeing to it. And we don’t move forward with any long-term financial plan without both of us being on the same page about it. Yes, We’ve Had to Learn to Compromise We’ve had a lot of intense discussions about finances over the years, and while it sometimes takes a lot of talking and time and discussion, we’ve found ways to compromise so that we’re both feeling “heard” when it comes to our budget. (Such as having a blow category in our budget so that Jesse can have some wiggle room to enjoy spending money! Or cutting back in some areas so that my frugal self doesn’t feel like we’re wasting money.) Over the years, the practice of making unity a priority when it comes to finances has paid off well. We have a lot less friction, we’ve grown in our communication skills, and we’ve learned a lot about the needs and fears we both have. 
Thinking Long-Term About Property Investments This past week, we sat down and talked about our long-term financial goals — especially when it comes to rental property investments. This is an area that we were just experimenting with for a year or two, not sure how it would work out. Well, it’s worked out really, really well. Jesse has loved the process of researching areas to buy rental properties in, he’s loved reading and listening to books and podcasts on how to have a successful rental management business, he’s loved working with the rental management company we hired to manage our two houses in Kansas, and his enthusiasm for this whole idea has only been strengthened from a few years of doing it. And not only that, but the cash flow from our rental properties has turned out to be a good income source, even after deducting all the expenses involved (such as taxes, rental management company percentages, maintenance, and repairs). 
How We Saved This Week We sat down and talked about all of that this week. We spent some time dreaming about the future and then talking realistically about where we want to be in 5 to 10 years. We talked about pros and cons to single family houses versus multi-family residences, where we wanted to purchase rentals in the future (Kansas, Tennessee, or somewhere entirely differently), and we talked about what was doable with what we’re able to save each month + the rental income we’re earning. We set some short-term and long-term goals, we discussed a couple of big dreams, and we mapped out a game plan for the next few years. While I can’t tell you a dollar amount we saved (or earned) by having this discussion, I truly believe that taking the time to talk about these things in-depth will end up paying off in significant dividends and savings in the months and years to come. What are some ways that YOU saved this week? 
Jamberry Nails is a company that offers a wide variety of non-toxic, latex-free nail wraps. They offer over hundreds of different adorable nail wrap designs — there's truly something for everyone! 
Jamberry Nails are heat-activated vinyl nail wraps that last up to 2 weeks on fingers and up to 6 weeks on toes. Each sheet provides enough for at least 2 manicures and 2 pedicures — making each application less than $3. Watch this video here to see how to apply them. There are over 250 styles to choose from, including Jamberry Juniors for little girls, or you can even design your own! Kaitlynn is getting quite good at doing my nails these days and I’ve perfected the art of holding a book and reading to the kids while she paints them. She loves it, it helps her listen, and I get a free manicure to boot! Ruthie sent me some Jamberry Nail Wrap samples, so after Kaitlynn was finished doing my nails and I was finished with our read aloud time one day this past week, I surprised her by offering to give her a Jamberry manicure. She loved it. And aren’t the colors on her nails so much fun?? This is definitely the perfect option for cute nails for someone like me who has almost zero artistic talent! Ruthie is also offering a special offer for MoneySavingMom.com readers: Buy 3 sheets of wraps, get 1 FREE! You can browse all the styles at Ruthie’s site here. Also, you can join Ruthie’s Jamberry Jazz Facebook Group here. Would you like to win a free $25 gift card to spend on anything on the Jamberry Nails site? Just click on the graphic below and type in your name and email address to be entered to win. This giveaway ends Sunday, February 1, at 11:59 pm, CST. 
Through February 7, 2015, buy 4 participating Suave Professionals Sea Mineral Infusion or Luxe Styling Infusion products at Target and you’ll get a $5 Target gift card. This NEW Suave Professionals® Luxe Style Infusion line of products available at Target was designed to help you bring salon-quality styling right to your home. Whether you want curls, volume, or a simple smooth look, there's a Luxe product that will work for you. What's more, the entire line is proven to work as well as the expensive Kérastase® brand that salons use. 
As I’ve gotten older, my hair has continued to get more and more wave in it — which has been a total surprise to this girl who once had straw straight hair! I got to try the Luxe Style Soft Touch Curls Mousse and the Soft & Defined Curls Gel Serum and found it worked really well to put it in my hair while it was wet, scrunch it up, let it air-dry some, and then pull it back into a ponytail. This makes for a very quick and simple hairstyle that takes just minutes to pull off and gives my hair some volume and wave. Best of all, I can just pull it back into a ponytail or messy bun the next two days — no fuss and hardly any time spent in front of the mirror at all. That’s a total win for me! Win a $100 Target Gift Card! Would you like to win a $100 Target gift card? To win, just post on Twitter which Luxe Style Infusion you’d like to try. Be sure to use hashtag #NewLuxeStyle and tag me (@MoneySavingMom) in your post. I’ll choose a winner next week to win a $100 Target gift card. {This post is underwritten by Lunchbox, all hair opinions are 100% my own. Read our disclosure policy here.} 
This is the weekly list of Free Homeschool Curriculum and Resources compiled by Jamerrill from FreeHomeschoolDeals.com. If you aren't a homeschooler, but you're a parent, teacher, babysitter, or nanny, you'll probably find at least a few useful freebies in this list. You may also want to go through the Educational Deals and Freebies from earlier this week for more. We have some some fun winter, Valentine’s, and President’s Day themed learning resources this week! 
Don’t miss the TOP 50 Homeschool Freebies of the Past Month for January 2015 Edition! Holiday Learning Groundhog Day is on February 2. Here are Free Groundhog Sizing Mat Printables, a FREE Groundhog Day Pack, and a FREE Groundhogs Day PreK-K Pack so everyone in the family can learn. Love is in the air so why not in school, too? Try one of these fabulous Valentines Day teaching resources: Study the presidents with FREE Presidential Printables, and use these FREE Presidents Day Coloring Pages for the little ones.  It’s not a holiday, but here are Free February Learning Printables with Interactive Notebook. This pack has a lot of additional printable notebook pages and activities, so it can easily fill up the whole month with some great school work.
Reading Does your child love Frozen? Use this FREE Snow Queen Unit Study (subscriber freebie) to compare the original book to the Disney movie. Here are FREE Phonics Books (set 9) that can be used to teach young readers phonics and reading skills. PreK and Kindregarten Keep track of all those wonderful things you are teaching your kindergartner with this FREE Kindergarten Daily Learning Notebook. This FREE Kindergarten Math Pack includes addition, counting, spacial recognition, and more! Have fun teaching your child color words with these FREE Color Word Play Dough Mats. Science 
Subscribe to Blue Manor Education and receive this FREE Biology Book (subscriber freebie). Are you confused about how to choose a science curriculum? Here is a FREE eBook: How to Choose the Right Science Curriculum for Your Kids to clear things up! Music and Art How catchy is that Pink panther music? Now you can learn all about it with this FREE Squilt Pink Panther Music Lesson. Study the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Artists with a FREE Exploring Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Artists Pack. Language Arts These fun FREE NUMBER WRITING PAGES (Instant Download) are a Free Homeschool Deals exclusive and are the perfect resource to teach color words. Teach the story of Creation while practicing writing with these FREE Creation Story Copywork and Printables. Flex your child’s editing skills with this Free Editing Practice Printable. History and Geography 
Study the states and capitals with these FREE States and Capitals Worksheets and this Free Me on the Map Printables – USA Edition. Math Have fun learning your way around numbers with this FREE Exploring Greater than, Less than, and Equal Numbers Activity and Printables. This FREE Snow Themed Math Pack includes multiplication, division, odds and evens, addition, subtraction, and a whole lot more! Here are FREE 24 Math Addition Flash Cards to practice those skills. Make the best of those winter days with FREE Winter Themed Counting Mats and Free Snow Themed Printables. Random Homeschool Goodness If you want to make learning even more fun for your kids, try this Free How Children Learn with Board Games eBook! Maybe you have been wondering: What is your best homeschooling advice for new homeschoolers? This 50+ page FREE Angel Learning Resource Pack includes both math and language arts resources. Click here thousands of homeschool freebies! *Don't forget! If you are looking for additional free homeschool resources please check the huge growing list of free homeschool curriculum and resources on MoneySavingMom.com! Jamerrill is the homeschooling mother of a large and growing family. After seasons of spending $50 or less annually to homeschool her children, she started Free Homeschool Deals in 2012 to help all families afford the homeschool life. You can follow the homeschool goodness on Pinterest and Facebook. | 
