About Us

About Brian
I am an Army veteran, stay-at-home dad, master of playing Dino Dan off the DVR, and home cook. Sometimes if Beth gets overwhelmed, I will even do a load of laundry! ::gasp!:: I have degrees in Finance (see the budgeting come into play?!) and Education and am licensed to teach high school social studies here in Virginia. My favorite things to do when not breaking up fights in the living room are reading, playing “silly games” (Beth’s term) on the computer or xBox 360, trying a new recipe in the kitchen, and doing projects in the yard or around the house. If I get a new power tool to complete a task, so much the better! One day I hope to be at the front of a classroom but the lack of teaching jobs in this area is making sure I know my place right now is here at home! (Brian isn’t sporting the goatee right now … thankfully it was just for his Tough Mudder race earlier this year! But I don’t have an updated picture to post yet!)

About Beth
I work outside the home full time supposedly using my degree in Computer Engineering. Yet I don’t code nor do I build circuits (both are a good thing!) I will finish my Master’s in Instructional Technologies in May 2013 and that day can not come soon enough! I love crafts and reading but never have enough time for either (is there ever really enough time?). I also enjoy fussing in my flower beds (the vegetable garden is my husband’s project!). If I am not reading or in the garden, I am probably in the kitchen baking. I don’t like to cook but I sure do like to bake! Sometimes I can get the kids involved in the baking, but they are much better at eating the the treats than helping to make them! To top it all off, I am the girls Daisy Girl Scout leader and am a sucker for anything Girl Scouts!

About Us

We have been together as a couple since 1999 and eloped in Clarksville, TN (near Ft. Campbell, KY) in 2003 prior to Brian deploying to Iraq. We started our family in August of 2006. If we can’t do activities as a family, they generally aren’t on our list of things to do. We get a kick out of playing outside in the yard and we teach our kids through everyday activities and by living our lives well. We have had our budget and debt struggles along the way but have learned to live on a pretty straight forward budget. We find that most people think that living on a budget is a negative thing and not something that everyone can do. We have found a few tips and tricks over the years that help us get by. Hopefully they can help you, too!

Our Family

Taken December 2012.

Our Kids

Taken August 2012.

Our oldest, Grace, is 6 and in 1st grade. She is very into wanting to learn everything and loves coloring, reading, and hiding from her sister.
Our middle child, Sophie, is 5 years old. She is our December baby. She is in a 5 day (half day) transitional kindergarten preschool program this year! Sophie loves everything her big sister does and being active.
Our little dude, Matthew, is 3. He is a monster … a cookie monster to be exact.  His favorite foods besides cookies are hot dogs and pizza! Matthew loves everything cars and dinosaurs right now! Our success this year is that Matthew is happy to go to preschool two days a week (half day) and doesn’t scream at drop off time any more!!

Simply Budgeted’s History

If you really want to know why Beth started this blog check out her first post here!
Brian joined forces with Beth when the site changed over from Simply Living on a Budget to Simply Budgeted in July 2011. We have stopped growing since that time. The addition of Brian’s time and talents in the kitchen have added content and another perspective to Simply Budgeted that makes it even better!

Thanks for getting to know us!

 Updated December 14, 2012