These Jam-Filled Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins are perfect for brunch or dessert, and they’re oh-so-tasty!
{Psst! Love muffins? Be sure to check out my top 7 favorite freezer-friendly muffin recipes!}
Guest post by my sister, Brigette Shevy.
These Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins are a family favorite!
These muffins have been a family favorite for over 20 years. We got the recipe from a Taste of Home magazine and have been making them ever since!
Even though they look fancy, they are actually really simple to make and rely on just a few basic ingredients (those kinds of recipes are the best!). The jam is a really fun addition, too!
Ingredients For Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins
- 1 ¾ cup flour (I use a mix of whole wheat and white)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (I always scrimp on this amount)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup jam
For the topping:
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
How to Make Doughnut Muffins with Cinnamon and Jam
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, oil, egg, and milk until well-mixed.
4. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened.
5. Fill 10 greased, paper-lined, or silicone cup-lined muffin tins half full.
6. Place 1 teaspoon of jam on top of each muffin cup.
7. Cover jam with enough batter to fill muffin cups ¾ full.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
9. While muffins bake, melt butter in a small bowl.
10. In a separate bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
11. When the muffins finish baking and are still hot, dip the tops in butter and then in cinnamon & sugar.
12. Cool for a few minutes before serving.
How to serve Cinnamon Sugar Muffins
I love serving these Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins for breakfast, brunch, or even during one of our traditional “breakfast for dinner” meals.
And if we ever have any leftovers, my children love them for snacks, and my husband takes them to work in his lunch. Because of how versatile this recipe is, I definitely recommend doubling it!
Here are a few recipes that pair well with donut muffins!
- Easy Breakfast Casserole
- Bacon Omelet Bites
- Red, White, and Blue Smoothies
- Baked Oatmeal
- Breakfast Burritos
Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins Storage
If you don’t eat the muffins immediately after baking, or if you make a double batch for later, let the muffins cool completely and then store them in an air-tight food storage container at room temperature.
You can freeze them for longer storage, but don’t refrigerate them as that tends to dry them out.
How do you keep homemade muffins moist?
Make sure you store them tightly sealed at room temperature or in the freezer.
Doughnut Muffins FAQs
Baking powder is best for muffins. When baking powder is added to the batter, it reacts with the liquid and acidic ingredients to release carbon dioxide gas, which causes the muffins to rise and become lighter in texture.
Brown sugar works well for adding moisture to baked goods, whereas granulated sugar will create a more aerated crumb and crispier texture.
Sugar on top of muffins adds a nice crunch, which offsets the soft chewy muffins nicely. Also, a little extra sweetness!
There may have been too much flour in your mix or you could have baked them too long. Also, storing muffins in the refrigerator can dry them out as well. One other option is swapping half the granulated sugar for brown sugar, which can offer more moisture.
In general, most muffins are not considered a “health food” although they often contain less sugar than cake! Many bakers choose to substitute honey, applesauce, and whole grain flour for sugar, oil, and all-purpose flour — these swaps increase the nutritional value.
Cinnamon Donut Muffins
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup jam
For the Topping
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, combine sugar, oil, egg, and milk until well-mixed.
- Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened.
- Place 1 teaspoon of jam on top of each muffin cup.
- Cover jam with enough batter to fill muffin cups ¾ full.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
- While muffins bake, melt butter in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar.
- When muffins finish baking and are still hot, dip the tops in butter and then in cinnamon and sugar.
- Cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
More Muffin Recipes:
- Patriotic Strawberry and Blueberry Muffins
- Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
- Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- The Best Bran Muffins
- Apple Butter Muffins
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
- My Top 7 Favorite Freezer-Friendly Muffin Recipes
Brigette is a full-time wife and mother to four kids. She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.
FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!!
Mornings just got so much easier with this FREE list of 50+ Easy & Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Busy Weekday Mornings!
5 Vegetable & Fruit Plants That Will Save You Money
Interested in growing your own vegetables and fruits? These 5 plants are certain to save you money and are well worth trying to grow at home!
{Trying to save money on groceries? Sign up to get 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.}
Guest post from Courtney of The Kitchen Garten:
I absolutely love gardening, and while many people envision this hobby as a way to save lots of money at the grocery store, that isn’t always the case.
Large slicing tomatoes, which we can eat by the pound in the summer, are notoriously difficult to grow to maturity with birds, disease, or neglect getting them first.
Then there’s the actual cost of soil, trellises, and maybe even a raised bed that cuts into any savings a gardener might expect.
Thankfully there really are some herbs, fruits, and vegetables that can be grown at home that add up to savings each week at the grocery store! These easy-to-grow and harvest varieties taste better than their store-bought counterparts, and you get the added bonus of exercise and outside time that comes with gardening.
Vegetables & Fruits You Can Grow to Save Money
Grape Tomatoes
Notice I didn’t say all tomatoes. Grape tomatoes, and other small varieties, are heavy growers in the summer season. They can bear for months from a single plant that could easily cost only $2.
One pint of grape tomatoes at the grocery store can run between $2 and $5 dollars depending on if you choose organic. If your family purchases a pint each week during the summer, you could see a savings of at least $36 — even if you’re only opting for the cheaper pint at the store.
Raspberries
One small half-pint of raspberries can cost up to $4 at the grocery store, and you have to be really careful there are no rotting berries under that label.
Two years ago, my family and I planted two raspberry canes in a flower bed at the side of our house. They now produce abundantly in the summer and into the fall.
We are easily saving $50-$60 each summer in not buying raspberries. And if the plants produce more than we can eat, my kids have had the entrepreneurial idea to begin selling them to friends and neighbors.
We don’t spray our raspberries with pesticides, so our berries are high quality and delicious — a win for everyone!
Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the easiest berries to grow, and they are easy to freeze for use all winter long.
Blueberry half-pints from the grocery store range in price from $3 in-season to $5 out of season. Our single bush produces more than a gallon each summer, and everyone loves going out to pick them.
We’ve now added three more bushes in our side yard. They blend in easily with the landscape and save us lots of money in the process!
Herbs
This past summer, our daughter planted four different types of herbs to use as a summer business. Herbs grow prolifically if they’re tended and pruned. Bunches of cilantro and parsley can cost between $1 and $2 at the store, though the distance they’ve traveled to get to your store can be hundreds, or thousands, of miles.
Fresh herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, and stevia can be grown easily each year. While hardier herbs like parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano can be perennials in certain areas, so they’ll come back year after year.
These herbs can easily be dried at home, cutting down on those pricey bottles of dried herbs ($2-$4 each), not to mention the fresh herbs in the plastic packaging in the refrigerator section of the store. (And don’t forget that you can also freeze extra herbs!)
Also, have you ever bought one of those plastic herb packages in the cooler section only to use half and the rest dies a miserable death in the back of your fridge? Guilty as charged.
Lettuce
Many lettuces are a “cut and come again” crop. This simply means you can harvest as many leaves as you need for your family’s meal, and the vegetable plant will continue to grow!
Many lettuce plants, such as romaine, can be grown in a container on a porch or patio and save you dollars each week at the grocery store.
Spinach, arugula, and spring mix are the same way. Harvest what you need, and they keep growing. (Bonus: You’ll also be able to skip the recalls on e-coil tainted lettuce!)
Most romaine packs and clamshell containers of salad greens are $3 to $5, so that $2 package of seeds or container of plants will go a long way to saving money in your weekly grocery budget.
Even for those of you who don’t consider yourselves gardeners, planting a few of these items can really help save you money! And I think you’ll learn that growing your own vegetables and fruits isn’t as hard as you think. Gardening isn’t a natural gift for most people. It’s a practiced skill, and you can be a gardener, too!
Courtney is a master gardener and owner of The Kitchen Garten — a site committed to helping people learn to garden with tips, tutorials, and fresh recipes using garden goodness. Grab her free email series: How to Start a Garden to start your own green thumb adventure!
Psst! Crystal here! Want more help saving money on groceries? Go here and sign up (it’s free!) I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.
Gretchen’s $82 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Aldi
I finally did a big grocery shopping haul this week and it felt SO good to get back into the swing of meal planning and grocery shopping!
1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49
1 box Cinnamon Cereal – $1.39
1.18 lbs Roma Tomatoes – $1.12
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $0.89
1 loaf Bread – $0.95
1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.69
1 bag Cinnamon Bagels – $1.49
1 bag Spinach – $1.39
1 bag Oyster Crackers – $0.79
1 pkg Hot Dogs – $0.79
1 bag Cucumbers – $2.55
1 box MooTubes – $1.55
1 bag Frozen Tilapia – $3.79
1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.59
2 dozen Eggs – $1.19 each
1 pkg Ground Beef – $7.27
2 pkg Frozen Peas/Corn – $0.79 each
2 Half & Half – $1.55 each
1 Vegetable Oil – $1.69
2 boxes Mac & Cheese – $0.33 each
1 gallon Milk – $2.15
1 box Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.35
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.25
2 jars Pasta Sauce – $0.85 each
1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95
1 canister Raisins – $2.89
2 bags Frozen Broccoli – $0.89 each
2 pkg Shredded Cheese – $2.75 each
1 lb Butter – $2.09
1 Baking Powder – $0.99
1 Pineapple – $1.49
1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $2.29
1 bag Apples – $2.99
1 Organic Yogurt – $2.09
Total: $71.66
Kroger
2 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.49 each
1 La Banderita Tortillas – $1 (I already had purchased tortillas at Aldi but couldn’t pass up this price!)
3.14 lbs Bananas – $1.85
2 lbs Strawberries – $2.99, used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate – $2.74 after rebate
8 Clementines – $2
Total: $10.57
Total for both stores: $82.23
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, Fruit Smoothies, Oatmeal, Bagels, Yogurt
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, Cheese Quesadillas, Tossed Salad, Leftovers
Dinners
Tossed Salad Bar, Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Grilled Chicken & Tilapia, Homemade Rolls, Steamed Broccoli
Spaghetti, Steamed Peas
Soft Tacos, Chips & Salsa
Beef & Gravy over Rice, Tossed Salad
Waffles, Eggs, Fruit Smoothies
Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks
Life Update: Baby picture overload, marriage with newborns, & seemingly slammed doors
Life Update: Baby picture overload, marriage with newborns, & seemingly slammed doors
Kierstyn turned 1 week old on Friday! loves baths, sleeping on her side (with her hands up by her face — this is how she always was in her ultrasounds!), riding in the car, and snuggling next to Champ.
(She absolutely loves baths! See a video of her getting her hair washed here.)
We love this girl so much and still cannot believe she’s ours! God is so good!
Silas and Kaitlynn have so much fun picking out clothes for the babies every day.
This boy is loving being a big brother!
We had our first outing with both babies on Monday. We took them to the pediatrician and then, because I was feeling so well, they were doing so well, and the weather was so beautiful, we ordered curbside pickup from The Grilled Cheeserie and then found a very secluded picnic table at a park to eat lunch at. The babies slept in their car seats for 30 minutes while Jesse and I enjoyed an unexpected date.
I know we have a lot of soon-to-be first-time moms here and if there’s one piece of advice I could give you, it would be this: make time for your man. Caring for a newborn can become an all-consuming job if you let it. And it’s easy to forget to prioritize your marriage in the process. Make time for your man… even if it’s just 5 or 15 minutes each day. Say, “I love you.”
Express appreciation. Look into his eyes and ask how he’s really doing. Talk about something other than the baby. Flirt with him. Give him 15-second kisses. And don’t apologize for your postpartum body. Show him through your words, actions, and attitudes that he is still your priority… even though your life has radically changed.
I wanted to close this post with something I shared on Instagram earlier this week:
My husband and I both come from large families. We hoped for a large family. And we’ve never used any sort of birth control or natural family planning.
After Silas was born (almost 12 years ago), we expected I’d get pregnant again within two years. But that didn’t happen.
After 10 years of trying and our biological clocks ticking, we decided to go through all the fertility testing — fully ready to do whatever it took to get pregnant. We were so excited & hopeful. I had even picked baby names!
Then, the test results came back saying that there was basically zero chance — with all of our issues — that we would ever be able to conceive. We weren’t even candidates for IVF we were told. We could go through with it, but we’d waste thousands of dollars because it wouldn’t work.
It was gut-wrenching. I came home that day and laid on the bed in a little ball and cried until I had no more tears. In a weird way, I had to grieve the loss of babies I had dreamed about so much they had become completely real to me.
That was almost exactly two years ago. Little could I dream that just two years later, we’d have not one but TWO babies at our house — one sweet little naturally conceived miracle baby and precious little baby we’d be fostering!
At the same time, I look back and see how God used that devastating news from the fertility doctor to change me as a person. To get me to a place of complete surrender. To give me newfound freedom to stop longing for what I didn’t have and start embracing the life right in front of me.
I said yes to two trips to India, a trip to South Africa, being more involved in our Discipleship Group at church, building relationships in our local community, co-leading the 8th grade girls’ youth group small group at church, investing more in my marriage and my kids’ lives, writing more books, speaking & travel opportunities, and stepping out in faith and saying yes to foster parenting.
My life is so much richer because of these last two years. And I see how God used a seeming slammed door to open up my heart in big ways. And I’m so very grateful.
Thank you to @jenniferdukeslee for the graphic above!
How I Saved $175/Month in Two Easy Steps!
Looking for easy ways to cut your monthly expenses? Try this simple solution!
Guest post from Kari of Esavings Blog:
Do you budget but just can’t seem to get ahead.? Maybe you cut everything you possibly can out of your budget and still can’t seem to save money.
If this sounds like you, I have a simple tip that could possible save your hundreds of dollars each and every month!
I am pretty frugal already, and I was able to save over $175 per month following these steps:
Step 1: Do a Bill Audit
You can skimp on every area of the budget (groceries, entertainment, etc.) but the biggest expenses are always the ones you just pay automatically each month — insurance, cable, phone, and more.
These are the areas that have the biggest impact on your monthly expenses and are probably bills you just set and forget about.
But what if you could cut these expenses down? Think about it, when was the last time you actually looked at your phone bill? How about your cable bill? Your electric bill?
With electronic billing these days, fewer people are looking at their statements and it’s costing them a lot of money! So let’s look at how you can audit your bills and save.
How to Do a Bill Audit
1. Gather your billing statements or bring them all up online.
Start with bills such as cable, phone, and insurance. These will be the easiest ones to lower. Don’t forget to also bring up your bank statements, as you will want to audit them as well.
2. Look at your statements closely and see what it is you’re actually being charged for (you may be surprised).
- Are there interest fees?
- Are there questionable items on your bill?
- Are you being charged for something you never even use?
- Is there a fee for paying monthly versus paying in full?
- Has your bill gone up significantly over time?
These are some of the things you want to look out for. This is also a great chance to think about what you actually need and use on a monthly basis.
For example, you may be paying for HBO but you never watch it. Or you may be on an unlimited data plan for your cell phone but you’re only using 4GB of it.
Be strategic and look at your bills like an IRS auditor would look at your taxes. Make notes on the bills or in a notebook of anything you find.
After performing your bill audit and gathering all the information, you can move on to step 2 below.
Step 2: Make Some Calls
Did you find anything questionable in your bill audit? Any fees you didn’t realize you were paying? Maybe subscriptions you had forgotten about?
Give the company a call and ask them questions about any fees you see and how you can get them waived.
Even if you think your bill audit didn’t reveal much, you still want to reach out to your billing companies and let them know that you’re looking to lower your bill and would like to know what they can do to help.
This will work especially well with bills like insurance, phone, and cable. Don’t be afraid to call more than once if you don’t get what you want the first time. Sometimes it all depends on what promotions may be going on or even who you talk to that day.
Pro Tip: Do some research ahead of time. For bills like cable and phone, look online to see what the company is offering new customers. Look at what competitors are offering as well and use this information to try to get a better deal on your plan.
I Saved $175/Month!
Still wondering if this is actually worth the time? Let me reassure you!
The last time I did a bill audit, I was able to shave $175 off my monthly expenses! (And I run a personal finance blog and tend to be really good with finances!)
Here’s how I was able to do it…
I have my homeowner’s insurance lumped in with my mortgage so it’s not something I check often. But when I got my renewal notice and opened it, I was shocked at how much it had gone up over the years.
There really was no reason, I have never had a claim and my house hasn’t gone up in value (if anything it’s gone down).
After seeing this, I decided to give them a call and see why.
I made a call to Geico (they’re my home insurance agent because I have my car insured through them). They looked at my policy and couldn’t find a way to lower it without lowering my coverage. I obviously was not satisfied so they offered to look for other quotes from other companies in their network.
To my surprise, they were able to find me another company to insure with and a BETTER plan that covered even more than my old plan for $827 less a year!
Yes, I saved $827 with one quick phone call.
I then did a similar thing when it came to my cell phone bill. I already had a pretty affordable family plan but I wanted to see if I could get it lowered.
When my current company didn’t lower my bill, I decided to shop around.
Around the time I was looking, a great deal popped up from Sprint. They were giving new customers a FREE Year of Unlimited if you bring your own phone over.
I jumped on the deal and have been paying only $13.56 a month TOTAL, to cover taxes and fees, for 3 Lines of Unlimited for my family! Yes, you read that right.
Now you may not be able to get that great of a deal but look around and see what’s out there.
This switch saved me over $107 a month.
So in total, just with those two changes alone, I am saving over $175 per month. That’s over $2,111 each year!
I basically gave myself a raise and you can too!
What can you save on?
Start looking at your monthly bills and see where you can save money. Leave a comment below and let me know how much you were able to save!
Kari is an aspiring financial coach and blogger over at Esavingsblog.com. She uses her knowledge about personal finance to help families save money, stick to a budget, and increase their income.
Brigette’s $84 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $84 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49
4 bags frozen Broccoli Florets – $3.56
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99
1 bag frozen Mixed Vegetables – $0.57
1 bag frozen Strawberries – $1.89
1 pkg fresh Broccoli Crowns – $2.35
1 bag Flat Leaf Spinach – $1.19
1 Cauliflower – $2.19
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.19
1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.49
1 pkg Zucchini – $2.19
2 cans Green Beans – $0.76
2 3-ct pkgs Colored Peppers – $4.38
1 large bag Organic Kale – $2.99
2 large cans Chicken Breast – $3.98
1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.59
1 64-oz Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.65
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $0.99
1 gallon Whole Milk – $0.97
1 gallon 1% Milk – $0.97
1 carton Crumbled Goat Cheese – $2.39
1 2-lb bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.99
1 pkg Pepperoni – $1.99
1 1-lb box Butter Quarters – $2.99
1 3-lb bag frozen Chicken Thighs – $5.99
1 32-oz box Elbow Macaroni – $1.19
1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.85
1 jar Strawberry Preserves – $1.79
1 canister Quick Oats – $2.36
3 boxes Macaroni and Cheese – $0.99
1 jar Dried Parsley – $0.79
1 jar Dried Oregano – $0.79
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.95
4 dozen Eggs – $4.16
6 single-serving cartons Greek Yogurt – $3.54
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.85
Total: $77.99
Harris Teeter
3 boxes Kellogg’s Cereal – $7.50 (plus receive $5.oo off wyb 5 participating Kellogg’s items) – $7.50, used 1/2 Kellogg’s All-Bran Frosted Mini-Wheats, Crispix, Mueslix, Rice Krispies, Special K, Smart Start, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes or Raisin Bran Cereals, exp. 5/17/20 (RMN 04/05/20 #2) plus $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $0.50/3 after Coupons and Promotion
2 boxes Rice Krispy Treats – $4.00 (plus receive $5.00 off wyb 5 participating Kellogg’s items) – $2.00/2 after Promotion
2 Turkey Hill Trio’politan Ice Cream – $3.96, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1.96/2 after Coupon
1 pkg Keebler Sandies Cookies – $1.89, used $0.75/1 Keebler Cookie Products, exp. 5/2/20 (SS 03/08/20) (doubled) – $0.39 after Coupon
2 cups Oikos Yogurt – $2.00, used 2 $0.65/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after Coupons
1 18-ct pkg Eggs (I bought eggs at Harris Teeter thinking that Aldi would be limiting their eggs, like they’ve done for the past month. They weren’t, however, so I went ahead and picked up extra in case next week is different!) – $1.99
1 box Tampax Organic Pure Tampons (I don’t normally share non-grocery items, or include them in my weekly grocery total. I am sharing this in case anyone is interested in this good deal, but I’m not adding it to my grocery total.) – $5.99, used $2/1 Tampax Pearl, Radiant or Pure Tampons, exp. 5/30/20 (P&G 04/26/20), plus receive $3.00 rebate from Ibotta – $0.99 after Coupon and Rebate
Total after Coupons, Rebates, and Promotions: $6.84
Weekly Grocery Total: $84.83
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Cereal, Oatmeal, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Smoothies, Fruit, Yogurt
Lunches
Macaroni and Cheese, Cucumbers, Strawberries (a friend went to an orchard and gave us a bunch for free this week!)
Ham/Cheese Quesadillas, Apples, Peppers x 2
Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Strawberries, Broccoli x 2
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Grilled Chicken, Grilled Peppers/Zucchini, Biscuits
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Mixed Vegetables
Chicken Gravy over Rice, Broccoli, Tossed Salad
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad
Venison Burgers on the Grill, Homemade Baked Fries, Broccoli
Spaghetti Carbonara, Homemade French Bread, Tossed Salad, Green Beans
Leftovers
3 Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Good Grocery Deal
3 Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Good Grocery Deal
Are you often lured in by great deals, only to get home and wish you hadn’t gone over your grocery budget? Sometimes saving money on a deal isn’t worth it if you’ll go over budget! Be sure to ask yourself these important questions next time you’re considering buying a good deal at the grocery store.
{Trying to save money on groceries? Sign up to get 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.}
Someone on Instagram recently messaged me and asked, “Would you buy 34 of something if it’s a good deal?”
My honest opinion is that getting a good deal should never become an obsession to the point that you’re buying something just because it’s a good deal, even when it’s something you don’t need. So it got me thinking about what my parameters are for deciding to purchase a good deal.
When I’m at the store and I find a great deal, I ask myself these 3 questions:
1. Is it actually a good deal?
Just because something is 50% off doesn’t mean it’s actually a really great deal.
You could go broke taking advantage of bargain bins, clearance stickers, and BOGO deals — when a lot of times they aren’t even great deals!
I always try to ask myself if it’s actually a good deal that meets my price point.
I have a mental price list of what I’ve paid for certain items in the past. So when I see a good deal, I typically think about if I’ve ever gotten it for less and how much I typically pay for that item.
2. Will we use it?
The next thing I ask myself is whether we’ll use or and if we’ll like it as a family. If the answer is no to either of these, then it doesn’t matter how good of a deal it is!
It’s not worth buying and it’s not a good deal for your family if you’re not going to ever use it!
I also like to think about how we’ll use it. I like to think about how it will complete a meal, if it will pair well with other foods in our pantry, if it will be useful, what we’ll serve it with, if it’s freezable or shelf stable to use later, and if we’ll be able to use it before it expires.
These are all really important factors to consider, so that you know you’ll use the item and it won’t go to waste!
3. Do we have money in the grocery budget for it?
I know it probably seems weird to save this question for the end, but there’s a reason I save this question for last.
If I’ve already decided it’s something we’ll use and it’s a really good deal, then sometimes I will switch around some things in the budget to make room for it.
For example, let’s say I see a really amazing deal on cantaloupe, but grapes are also on sale. Cantaloupe will stretch further and I’ll be over budget if I buy the grapes and cantaloupe, so I decide to put the grapes back.
So often if I find a replacement that’s less expensive, I’ll swap it out to make it fit the budget.
After asking myself these questions, I usually pass up a lot of good deals in the store because it’s not a good deal for our family.
Related Posts:
- My $70 Grocery Budget Posts
- How We Afford Snacks & Treats for Our Kids On a Tight Grocery Budget
- How to Eat Well on a $40 Weekly Grocery Budget
- 5 Things You Should Never Do If You Want to Save Money on Groceries
- 25 Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries
- 5 Tips to Save Time and Money on Groceries
How do you decide if a good grocery deal is worth buying? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Psst! Need help cutting your grocery budget? Go here and sign up (it’s free!). I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.
Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner
Looking for a really easy homemade soft scrub cleaner recipe? This one takes mere minutes to whip up, and you might already have the ingredients on hand at home!
(You can check out more of my Do-It-Yourself Experiments here!)
I learned to make Homemade Soft Scrub years ago, and it’s crazy how simple it is! I thought this would be a fun one to bring out of the archives!
It’s seriously just three ingredients — one of which is water. How much easier could it get?!
It takes all of maybe three minutes to mix up. And that is it!
I always love having cleaner with a little bit of gritty scrubbing consistency to it to really get the tough spots clean. And the baking soda in this recipe does just that. It works really well for cleaning tubs, tile, sinks, and toilets. Score!
And you could totally slap a label on it to give as a fun DIY gift — especially during spring cleaning season.
Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner
- 3/4 cup baking soda (slightly heaped)
- 1/4 cup Castile soap (I’ve also made this in the past using Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner, and it worked just fine!)
- 2 Tablespoons water
Mix the baking soda and soap together to make a paste. Add in the 2 Tablespoons water and stir well. Pour into plastic or glass container with a lid.
To use, squirt or pour onto a sponge and scrub. Rinse well with water after scrubbing.
Recipe adapted from Live Renewed.
Let me know if you try this homemade soft scrub cleaner or if you have another recipe you like!
More Homemade Cleaning Recipes:
- DIY Tile Cleaner
- Lavender Bath Salts
- Window Cleaner
- Dishwashing Detergent
- Powdered Laundry Detergent
- Homemade Tub & Tile Cleaner
- All Purpose Cleaner
- Foaming Hand Soap
And you can go here to see all my Do-It-Yourself Experiments from over the years.
How I Cured My Online Shopping Addiction
Do you have an online shopping addiction and find yourself going over budget each month because you can’t control your spending? Read this article for some practical help and encouragement!
Guest post from Melanie of Sweet Frugal Life:
I didn’t used to have an online shopping addiction…
It all started before Christmas. There I was… feeling like a frugal queen… and then I decided to buy some of my kids’ Christmas presents online.
My first purchase was a set of PJs.
When I realized how easy and painless the whole online shopping thing was, I decided I needed to buy ALL of my Christmas presents online.
I mean, does it get any better than shopping in my pajamas while watching a movie?? Nope!
But wait, it got even better! The packages started showing up and were delivered right to my doorstep. It felt like Christmas every single day!
I thought I had everything under control until I just didn’t stop. All the gifts were bought, but I kept ordering items online.
For the first time in years, I found myself overspending, ignoring my budget, and buying completely on impulse.
I knew something needed to change.
I reached out to my Instagram support group for advice. Just as expected, they came through with a plethora of ideas to help me curb my online shopping addiction.
I started implementing these tips immediately and they really helped! If you struggle with an online shopping addiction, I hope these tips help you as much as they helped me!
7 Ways To Cure Your Online Shopping Addiction
1. Delete your credit card info from the store’s database.
One of the biggest draws for online shopping is convenience. Make it a little less convenient by deleting your credit card info from the store’s website.
I found when I had to manually enter my payment info at each checkout, it gave me those few extra minutes I needed to decide if I truly needed to make the purchase or not.
It hurt MUCH more when I had to manually input my credit card versus just pressing the “buy” button. It felt like actually spending money (go figure!) rather than clicking a button, and it made a huge difference in my spending.
2. Unsubscribe From Store Emails.
Let’s be real. Who can resist those flashy emails promising you “40% off” or “best deal ever”? Get those temptations out of your inbox by unsubscribing to each and every one of them.
It has been so freeing to not constantly have deals pushed at me every time I check my email, and this has been a big key to helping me cure my online shopping addiction. If I don’t know the sale is happening, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything!
And guess what! There will always be another sale… ALWAYS!
3. Implement the 48-Hour Rule
The 48-hour rule is the golden rule to quit impulse shopping.
It’s simple really. Do not buy any unplanned purchases until you have thought about it for 48 hours.
This 48-hour period gives you time to research to find a better deal or to possibly change your mind.
Most of the time when I stick to my 48-hour rule, I end up changing my mind and not making the purchase! It’s funny how just giving yourself some time to think will make something not look so tempting anymore — even if you felt like you had to have that item before!
4. Delete Shopping Apps From Your Phone
As mentioned earlier, the less convenient you make online shopping, the less likely you are to give in to the temptation.
If you have any shopping apps on your phone, delete them immediately. Apps make giving into an online shopping addiction quick and easy.
Make it harder on yourself and get rid of the apps!
5. Rely On A Support System
A good support system is a huge key to success. I am so grateful I had my Instagram support system to encourage me to quit online shopping.
I decided to open up to my Instagram followers and admit I had an online shopping addiction. This was scary to do (I am usually frugal!), but afterward I received so many wonderful messages full of encouragement, support, and advice.
Knowing that I had all of these great friends supporting and encouraging me was the push I needed to finally do something about my addiction.
Find yourself a strong support system — people who will challenge you, encourage you, and motivate you to stick to your spending goals.
6. Give Yourself a Reward
Rewards work great for my kids… and they work just as great for me!
I promised myself that if I could go an entire month without shopping online, I would treat myself to my favorite salad from my favorite restaurant (Café Rio).
This reward was in my mind constantly. Whenever I would get that temptation to click and buy, I remembered my salad and changed my mind. Go me!
If you’re struggling to keep to your goal, promise yourself a mini reward. Maybe you can get your nails done or treat yourself to a movie.
Just make sure it’s something that you don’t do very often so that it feels like a special treat. (Just remember to budget for your reward! ;))
7. Keep Busy
Online browsing is addicting and a fun way to spend time when you’re bored.
If you relate to this and feel like you might have an online shopping addiction, find a hobby that will prevent you from having this extra downtime.
This might be starting a new hobby, reading a new book, or taking up an exercise class. Do whatever it is you need to do to keep yourself off the computer.
My Results
I am proud to say that I am now a reformed online shopping addict! Yay me!!
I accomplished my goal of no online shopping for an entire month. And now that the month has come and gone, I can proudly say I still haven’t been shopping online. The addiction is gone!
I’ve heard it takes 21 days to break a habit and I am living proof of that.
If I can do it, you can too!
If you are struggling with an online shopping addiction, try to pick one or two of these ideas to implement in your life.
My hope is that these tips will help others cure their online shopping addictions, too!
Melanie runs the blog Sweet Frugal Life where she shares all things frugal. Her world was turned upside down when her husband came home unemployed five years ago. But it also shaped who she is today. She learned how to stretch every dollar, be content with less, and appreciate the sweet life they have. Melanie is now passionate about sharing these important life lessons with everyone else. She truly believes that being frugal does not make life any less sweet!
The baby is here!!
She’s here!!!!!!!
Kierstyn Michaela Paine.
Born 4-24-2020 in a very quick, unmedicated labor — the doctor and nurses almost didn’t make it to the room for the delivery.
7 lbs. 10 oz.
20 inches long. (She looks so big to us since we’ve gotten used to caring for Champ these past 4 weeks and he’s smaller than her!)
Daddy has had your first name picked out for years (it means “follower of Christ”). Your sisters wanted to make sure you had a K name with a unique spelling to continue on the Paine girl tradition.
Mommy picked out your middle name, because you are our miracle child. The baby the doctors said would never be conceived. The child we hoped for for many, many years. Truly, as your middle name means, “Who is like God?”
You are more loved, wanted, and waited for than you can even imagine. Welcome to our crazy, loud, adventurous, never boring family. 
My favorite 5!
I’m going to say right now that I’m pretty sure all the Red Raspberry Leaf tea, Evening Primrose Oil, and dates worked amazingly well considering my body started showing signs that labor was imminent at 38 weeks (I usually always go to 41-42 weeks!), the labor and delivery went so smoothly (I was only in hard labor for 2 hours!), and even though she had shoulder dystocia and pushing her out required my most Herculean effort ever (I’m thankful for an amazing doctor who had me flip over and maneuver my body while Kierstyn was halfway out in order to dislodge her arm!), I didn’t tear at all.
My recovery has gone so well and I can’t believe how great I feel. (But I promise I will take it very easy, even if I do feel so well!) I’m so grateful!
And thank you for ALL your prayers, support, and excitement!
P.S. For more photos, videos, and details on the birth, check out my Instagram Stories.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Brigette’s $104 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $104 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
My older sister, Brigette, shares her shopping trips and menu plans every week! You can go HERE to see all of her weekly menu plans and you can go HERE to read all about her family!
Aldi
1 canister Quick Oats – $2.36
1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.59
1 64-oz Almond Milk – $1.65
1 gallon 2% Milk – $0.68
1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55
1 can Whipped Topping – $2.65
1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59
1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99
1 2-lb bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.99
1 2-lb bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.99
1 pkg Sliced Cheese – $1.33
1 can Parmesan Cheese – $1.99
1 pkg Cream Cheese – $0.65
2 bags Fresh Green Beans – $2.98
2 Avocados – $1.30
1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.49
1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.49
1 pkg Strawberries – $1.29
1 bag Spinach – $1.19
1 bag Lemons – $2.99
1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49
1 3-lb bag Jazz Apples – $2.99
1 3-lb bag Pazazz Apples – $2.79
1 Cauliflower – $1.99
1 bag Frozen Blueberries – $1.79
2 pkgs Zucchini – $2.28
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99
1 bunch Bananas (@$0.24/lb) – $0.37
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65
1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.65
1 pkg Uncured Turkey Franks – $1.99
1 pkg Turkey Pepperoni – $1.99
1 3-lb bag Frozen Boneless Chicken Thighs – $5.49
1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $1.89
1 pkg Brats – $2.69
1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.85
1 box Rice Squares – $1.19
1 box Crisp Rice – $1.36
1 box Cinnamon Crunch Squares – $1.26
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.19
1 box Crackers – $1.09
1 32-oz pkg Spaghetti Noodles – $1.09
2 cans Chicken Noodle Soup – $0.98
1 large can Baked Beans – $1.05
1 jar Barbeque Sauce – $0.75
1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.65
4 single-serving cartons Greek Yogurt – $2.36
2 dozen Eggs – $1.58
Total: $94.82
Sawyer’s Produce
2 boxes of Vegetables (some organic) – $10.00
Weekly Grocery Total: $104.82
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Oatmeal, Cereal, Fruit, Smoothies, Yogurt, Boiled/Fried/Scrambled Eggs, Veggie Omelets
Lunches
Chicken Noodle Soup, Apple Slices, Carrots/Tomatoes
Cheese Quesadillas, Apples, Mini Peppers
Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Grape Tomatoes, Mini Cucumbers
Crackers with Summer Sausage, Cheese Sticks, Carrots x 2
Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter and Honey, Grape Tomatoes, Bananas
Leftovers
Dinners
Hog Dogs on the Grill, Tossed Salad, Grilled Summer Squash
Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, Easy Italian Breadsticks, Tossed Salad, Green Beans
Brats, Baked Beans, Grilled Asparagus, Cottage Cheese Pie (Birthday Dinner for my Husband)
Grilled Chicken, Boiled Cauliflower, Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Pepperoni Pizza, Green Beans, Strawberries
Barbequed Meatballs (using mostly ground venison), Biscuits, Broccoli, Baked Potatoes
Leftovers
My Top 7 Favorite Audiobooks
Looking for some of the best audiobooks to listen to? This is a list of my top 7 favorites!
Psst! Be sure to check out how I listen to audiobooks for free. And don’t forget to sign up to get 3 FREE audiobooks from Audiobooks.com right now!
Reading every day is a big priority of mine. But on really full days, fitting in reading time can be a challenge. Which is why I’m so grateful for audiobooks! They are the perfect solution to making reading a priority — even when I’m not able to physically sit down and read a book.
How to Get Free Audiobooks
I discovered the Libby app a couple years ago, and I love that I can listen to just about any audiobook I want completely for FREE! I highly, highly recommend it!
That being said, right now there is a really high demand for audiobooks since more people are at home, so it’s a little harder than usual to get access to specific titles and the wait times are a lot longer than usual.
If you’re looking for another way to grab a few FREE audiobooks, you can currently sign up for an Audiobooks.com trial and get 3 FREE audiobooks during your first month! You’ll get access to over 150,000 audiobooks! (Just remember to cancel your subscription before your free trial is up so that you don’t get charged!)
Psst! If you like eBooks, you might want to take advantage of this FREE two-month Kindle Unlimited Trial that’s available for just a few more days, too! It includes not just eBooks but thousands of audiobooks, as well!
My Top 7 Favorite Audiobooks
Every time I talk about how much I love listening to audiobooks, I get a lot of requests for my recommendation of the best audiobooks to listen to. So I figured it was about time I put a list together of some of my top favorites.
These are some of my favorite audiobooks that I’ve read over the past year or two:
1. Eat Cake, Be Brave
I loved hearing this in the author’s voice. I felt like it made the book come alive and seem so much more authentic.
The author, Melissa Radke, has gone through so much in her life from weight struggles, to infertility, to infidelity, to losing a child, to rejection. I think almost all women will be able to relate in some way to her story and her bravery will inspire you.
I found myself wanting to jump up and down and yell “preach it” as I was listening… and I’m not even a very charismatic sort of person. I loved the book so much that I ended up buying a copy from Amazon after I finished listening to it, since I wanted to have it in my library to re-read parts of it and loan it out to others.
Note: I was honored to have Melissa Radke on my podcast. You can listen to our interview here.
2. Before We Were Yours
At the advice of my readers, I started reading this one and immediately couldn’t stop talking about it.
It’s the tragic and true story of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society Orphanage scandals and how they played out in the lives of the children who actually went through this horrific experience.
Truth be told, I had never heard of these scandals before listening to this book — and I live in Tennessee! I have asked multiple people who live here and they haven’t heard of it either.
It’s heart-wrenching and horrible and I think a powerful reminder of how money can cause people to make terrible decisions that can hurt people in devastating ways.
The book is well-written and engaging and appears to be very well-researched historical fiction. It is also the beautiful story of sibling love and how trauma and devastation doesn’t have to define your future.
Note: There are a lot of situations in the book when it comes to abuse that could be very triggering to people, depending upon your life experience and trauma. The book doesn’t give nitty-gritty details, but it’s enough that it could be very triggering.
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
I read this book a number of years ago and loved it. Then, I watched the Netflix movie they did based upon the book.
Well, after watching the movie and enjoying it, I realized I couldn’t remember enough about the book to compare the movie and the book. So, in an uncharacteristic move, I decided to read the book again.
Only this time, I listened to it (thanks to getting the audiobook for free from the Libby app). This is one of the best audiobooks, because it’s SO well done and I loved that the audiobook is narrated by multiple voices!
4. The Tattooist of Auschwitz
I began listening to this book at the recommendation of my sister and a few others. I almost didn’t keep listening because I had trouble getting into it at first. I’m so glad I stuck with it and finished it because it was a truly beautiful and heart-wrenching story… and it’s TRUE!
While it’s tagged as a “novel”, it’s actually based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov. It’s both sickening and heart-warming, and I felt the author did a good job of bringing both tensions into the book.
It made me think a lot about what it would be like to live in the conditions that those who were in the concentration camps went through. While I can never imagine the horrors, I still found myself pondering what I would do. Would I be willing to risk my life for others? What kinds of choices would I make if my life 100% depended upon those choices?
Note: As expected in this sort of book, there is some crass language and some sections that might be triggering to some people.
5. Dear Bob and Sue
I really loved this book… which shocked me considering I never once would have thought of myself as someone who would find a book of letters about visiting National Parks to be something I wouldn’t just tolerate but would enjoy.
Matt and Karen are a couple who set a goal to visit every single one of the US National Parks. I found their wit and sarcasm to be laugh out loud funny and their letters to be very interesting. Also, their teasing and poking fun at one another reminded me a lot of me and Jesse.
And guess what? They inspired me to want to visit all the National Parks, too. Or at least start visiting some of them — something I haven’t done in years (we visited some of them growing up but it’s not been on my priority list for vacations since Jesse and I got married).
I told Jesse that after we finish our goals to visit all 7 continents and 50 states, maybe we can set another goal to visit all the US National Parks! 🙂
6. Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, and Killing the Rising Sun
I decided to list these all together, since they’re all written by the same author and are very similar.
What I love about these books is that they really bring history to life! I learned so many intriguing details about these historical events that I never knew before. Plus, having more historical context made the stories so much more compelling.
From what I could tell, they were all very well-researched and historically accurate. I also appreciated that they didn’t seem politically motivated/biased but just very facts-based. If you enjoy history, these are definitely must-listens!
Note: Killing Kennedy did have some details that were definitely not appropriate for young ears. (Jesse and I were listening to it while on a road trip and had to turn it off since the kids were in the car!)
7. Eat That Frog!
I read this book back in 2011. I remember it being a worthwhile read, so when I saw that it was available to download on the Libby app, I was excited to listen to it again.
It’s a quick read, but it packs a punch. If you are looking for some actionable tips and suggestions for how to get more done and enjoy your life more, I definitely recommend this book.
One of the key takeaways is if you start the day out by doing the things you like least first, you’ll get them out of the way so you can enjoy your day more and be more productive and fulfilled.
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
- Get 3 FREE Audiobooks from Audiobooks.com
- Free Two-Month Kindle Unlimited Trial
- How I Listen to Audiobooks for Free
- 8 Ways to Get Free Books
- How I Read 15 Books in One Month
- Listening to Audiobooks with Kids 101
- How to Find More Time to Read — Even When Life is Busy
- 7 Ways to Find More Time to Read
- The Top 10 Books I Read in 2019
- 4 Top Reads from 2018
- My Top 10 Reads from 2017
- 8 Favorite Reads from 2016
- My Top Reads from 2015
- My Top 10 Reads from 2014
What do you recommend as some of the best audiobooks to listen to? I’d love to hear!
Two Books I Finished Last Week
Welcome to my weekly book update post where I share what books I read this past week + my honest thoughts and star ratings of them.
A Word on My Star Ratings
The star ratings I give the books I read are based on a 5-star rating system. I rarely will ever give a book a 1-star rating (maybe never?), because my philosophy is that if a book is only worthy of one star, I’m more than likely going to quit reading it. 🙂 In the same vein, you’ll also notice that I’ll rarely give a 5-star rating as I reserve those for only my very, very favorite books.
Want to see all of the books I’ve read so far this year? Check out my Good Reads page.
Home Court Advantage
This book, by Kevin Leman, makes the case for the importance of families to really prioritize home and time spent together. I think it’s an important message that we parents need to hear re-iterated over and over again.
I really loved parts of this book and they resonated with me and with our family values. For instance, we’ve chosen to only have our kids do one sport/activity per season. And as much as is possible, we try to all show up as a whole family for the games. That way, it becomes something that unifies our family rather than splitting us up in different directions.
In addition, I found his insights and encouragement on why you shouldn’t do your kids’ school projects for them or make good grades the big goal to be very refreshing. And I was intrigued with his thoughts on why teenagers shouldn’t get jobs. I don’t know that I agree with it, but it definitely did make me think.
That said, I felt like some of the parts of the book could come across a little more guilt-inducing rather than grace-filled and I think some parents could read it and feel discouraged rather than encouraged. Thus, the 3-star rating rather than a 4-star rating.
Verdict: 3 stars
Your New Name
I wanted to love this book. I had really been blessed by the author’s other book (No More Faking Fine) and the topic of this book is something I’m very passionate about. Unfortunately, I just didn’t find myself connecting with the author like I had hoped.
As I analyzed why this book fell flat for me, I think it was because it felt like a lot of the stories weren’t fully fleshed out and developed, the timeline of some of what she shared felt like it jumped around, and I just felt like it seemed choppy and not very. engaging. I found myself slogging through a lot of it.
That said, the topic is so important and if you struggle with feeling like you are not enough or don’t measure up or you’ve been carrying around lies and labels that are limiting you, maybe it will resonate with you differently. (And if you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!)
Note: A book on a similar topic that I really found invaluable and also very engaging is Love Idol. I’d recommend that if you struggle with feeling loved, seen, valuable, and good enough.
Verdict: 2 stars
What did you read this past week? Any books you think I really need to add to my long to-read list??
What to Do When You Lose Your Job
Did you recently lose your job and you’re wondering what to do? Read this post for lots of practical ideas and encouragement on the next steps to take!
Psst! Be sure to check out these Income-Earning Ideas and these Easy Ways to Save & Make Money at Home!
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people are losing their jobs.
And while I recognize everybody’s experience is different, I wanted to offer some practical ideas and encouragement for anyone facing unemployment — whether it’s you or a spouse.
What To Do When You Lose Your Job
1. Try not to freak out.
Freaking out doesn’t fix anything, and it doesn’t do anything productive. Worrying and stressing won’t help.
I know it’s easier said than done, but it definitely helps to try not to freak out and instead focus on the next right step!
2. Trim everything possible from your budget.
What can you eliminate? What can you do without? Is there anything you can cut, reduce, or put off?
How can you try to live more frugally?
Stretch your budget as far as you possibly can.
3. Sell everything you can sell.
Usually after you lose your job, it’s hard to find another job right away — especially right now in this economy.
While you’re in the interim period of trying to figure out what the next step is, selling items can definitely help add money to your budget.
Look around your house and see if there’s anything you can trade or sell to give yourself a little bit more wiggle room in your budget. Every little bit helps!
4. Use what you have.
Look around and see what you already have that you can use.
Maybe this is a great time to challenge yourself to eat from the pantry and freezer. See how long you can go using what you have and not going to the store.
If you feel like you need to buy something new, look around and see if there’s a way to make do with what you already have.
This is a great time to research free and frugal ideas for having fun when you’re in a tight place financially.
5. Pray.
If you’re a Christian, this is your time to call out to God and remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.
We’ve gone through really lean times in the past, and it really helped to remind ourselves of the truth that He will provide!
6. Focus on your blessings.
It’s so much easier to focus on what you don’t have than what you do have.
Focus on the good — there is always something to be grateful for!
If you have a roof over your head, warmth at night, running water, and can read & write…you already have so much to be thankful for that a lot of the world doesn’t have!
7. Think outside the box.
If you can’t get another job right away, this is your opportunity to get really creative and put on your thinking cap!
Come up with some creative ways to make extra money. Ask people around you for their input on ideas. Maybe they’ll even have a connection for a job opportunity!
Think about odd jobs you can do, skills you have, and services you can provide.
When my husband lost his job, I started this blog in a place of desperation to try to make money. And we learned so much from that time that has helped us get where we are today.
Sometimes the hardest times will teach you the most and eventually lead you to a great place you never thought you’d be!
Do you have any other ideas on what to do when you lose your job? Please let us know in the comments!
Parenting in the Middle of a Pandemic
A lot of you have asked for my thoughts on how we’re dealing with the Pandemic as parents. In this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show, Jesse and I share some of the ways we’re approaching parenting right now and what’s working for us.
As always, every child is different and you know your kids best, so I’m only sharing how we are approaching things at our house… and these principles can be applied to many different seasons of upheaval.
Here are some of the strategies we share in this episode:
Don’t dismiss your kids’ feelings. Feelings are not right or wrong and no one can tell you how you feel or don’t feel. It’s what you choose to do with those feelings that matters most. Give them space to talk about whatever it is they are feeling — anger, sadness, loneliness, grief, frustration, boredom.
Don’t preach sermons. I know it’s easy to want to use this as a way to teach valuable life lessons… but probably way more than sermons, your kids just need a listening ear and empathy. And trust me, your kids ARE going to learn many valuable lessons from this, but a listening ear goes a long way to help them feel seen, heard, and loved.
Don’t stress yourself out trying to get it all right. There is no manual on how to parent well through COVID-19. We’re all just doing the best we can do! When you feel overwhelmed or unsure how to handle a situation, it’s okay to acknowledge this and give yourself some grace. If you are a Christian, this is an amazing opportunity to cry out to the Lord for wisdom and direction for how to respond and love your kids well.
Do remember that you set the tone for your home. If you are extremely stressed and irritable, it’s going to trickle down to your kids and make them feel stressed and on edge. Make sure you’re not spreading yourself too thin so that you are completely zapped and exhausted.
Do relax some of your usual rules/standards. We are allowing a lot more sleeping in, PJ-wearing, screen time, and junk food eating than usual. Yes, I probably just lost some followers over admitting that, but I feel like a lot has been taken away from our kids right now and as long you’re doing your chores and school, I’m pretty chill about a lot of other things in this season.
Do look for the humor in everything. We’ve laughed so hard as a family in the last few weeks — over so many ridiculous things. Laughter has been such good medicine for us and we’ve sought to find the funny in the ordinary.
Important Note: This will be the last episode we’ll be releasing until the end of May as I’ll be on Maternity Leave until then. We do plan to pop on once during Maternity Leave to do an episode on my birth story. Look for that in the next few weeks!
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In This Episode:
[03:00] Jesse and I are both reading fiction books right now.
[06:35] L’Oreal magic root cover up is saving my life right now. Jesse is loving the Couch to 5k Program.
[12:20] Don’t discount your kids’ feelings.
[18:03] Stop trying to get it all right.
[20:36] Remember that you set the tone for your home.
[23:21] Consider relaxing some of your usual rules.
[25:16] Look for the humor in everything.
[28:20] What is working in your home?
Links and Resources:
- The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
- Savage Son by Jack Carr
- L’Oreal Magic Root Cover Up
- Couch to 5k
- MoneySavingMom.com
- YourBloggingMentor.com
- My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
- Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: [email protected]
How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show
The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player here. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)
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