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Shared Feb 1, 2021 comment

Honest Review of Kroger Pickup (Formerly Kroger Clicklist)

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Honest Review of Kroger Pickup (Formerly Kroger Clicklist)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Interested in trying Kroger Grocery Curbside Pickup but a little bit hesitant? Here’s my honest review and experience after trying a Kroger Pick Up Order!

kroger grocery pickup

Last week, I tried out ALDI Instacart Delivery. It was sort of a big fail — or at least I definitely couldn’t recommend it from a money-saving standpoint. (Read my post here, if you missed it.) But so many of you followed up and messaged me asking if I could try out Kroger Pick Up and do a review of my experience.

So, this week, I decided to branch out and try Kroger Pick Up (formerly Clicklist) and share my honest thoughts on how it went. I, once again, challenged myself to stick with our $70 budget and see if I could get enough groceries to last for the week with Kroger Pickup. Here are my thoughts after trying it out…

What is Kroger Curbside Pickup?

Formerly called Kroger Clicklist, you can order your groceries online from Kroger and then pick them up curbside on the same day!

It’s super simple to use Kroger Pickup and you get access to all the same weekly deals and mobile coupons. Plus, it’s free! Win-Win!

Keep reading to learn about my honest experience, how it works, and all the pros and cons!

Pros of Kroger Grocery Pick Up

Kroger Pickup has the same online weekly deals and digital coupons as in-store weekly ads

This is a huge selling point! I was able to place a Kroger Pick Up Order and get the same deals I normally would.

I went to KrogerKrazy.com and looked at the weekly ad to find what deals were running, clipped the digital coupons, and then added these items to my cart. I was able to score a lot of great Buy 5 or More Participating Products, Get $1 Off of Each deals + take advantage of some of the weekly Digital Coupon deal (hello, $4.99 bags of frozen chicken!)

Free Grocery Pick Up on $35+ Orders!

As of right now (and I believe it’s been this way for a number of months!), it is completely free to place a Kroger Pick Up Order if you spend $35! The fee is usually $4.95. If you have little kids, are immunocompromised, or just don’t want to have to go into the store for your weekly shopping, as long as you are spending $35+, it literally costs nothing extra for someone to shop for you and bring your groceries out to your car. Score!

groceries from kroger pick up order

Cons of Kroger Grocery Pickup

You can’t get markdowns.

One of the reasons we’re able to keep our grocery budget low while also having lots of variety in it is by scouring our Kroger stores for their fantastic markdowns and closeouts. The only way to get these markdowns and closeouts is by shopping in-store.

You don’t know the final total on your Kroger Pick Up Order until after you get your groceries.

This drawback was a big deal for me. I found it really difficult to figure out what my total would be when the prices weren’t showing what I would actually pay for each item after the Buy 5 deals + the digital coupons — which were a lot of the deals I got.

My total at checkout said I was going to pay $120+… but I knew that wasn’t correct. By my estimation, I thought it would be right around $70 after taking off all of the Buy 5, Get $5 off discounts + the digital coupon discounts. However, I completely messed up on the pizzas and accidentally calculated the price they would be *after* the Ibotta rebate.

If you were on a really tight budget with no wiggle room, I think it could be very hard and frustrating to not know your exact total — and to maybe end up spending more than you had planned to, which could really throw your budget into a tailspin.

Instead of $70 like I thought our total would be, our total was actually $82 — which is okay since we fund our budget categories for the month ahead. So I’ll just make sure to only spend $58 this week on groceries and it will be alright. Not ideal, but we’ll make it work. Back when Jesse was in law school and we didn’t have any extra wiggle room in our budget, the $12 unexpected extra it cost could have been a devastating blow to our budget.

I think with time and practice, I could definitely get better at figuring out the totals and making sure I didn’t overspend. But I still much prefer shopping in-store where I can see the shelf tags and ring up my own groceries at self-checkout and see the prices in real time.

grocery haul

That said, if we end up in a really full season in the future (such as when we say yes to another foster placement, etc.) and I need to take a break from hardcore strategic shopping OR we are trying to stay out of the stores because we are caring for a medically fragile foster child or something, I think that using Kroger Pickup could definitely be a great option — provided we were okay with spending a little more on groceries and not knowing our exact total.

kroger curbside pickup shopping trip

My Kroger Pickup Shopping Trip

Here’s what I ended up buying and paying:

  • 2 bags of Goldfish — $0.99 each when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • 2 cartons Kroger ice cream — $1.79 each when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • 3 bags frozen veggies — $1 each
  • 5 DiGiorno Pizzas — $3.99 each with the Kroger Weekly Digital Coupon deal
  • 3 3-lb. bags frozen chicken breasts — $4.99 each with the Kroger Weekly Digital Coupon deal
  • 2 packages Pampers wipes — $0.99 each when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • Peanut Butter — $1.50
  • 4 boxes cereal — $1.49 each when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • 2 bottles Kraft BBQ sauce — $0.49 each when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • Pringles — $0.99 when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • 3 bags Kroger chips — $1 each with Buy 2, Get 1 free sale (I just realized they didn’t take off my digital coupon — I thought these were going to be $0.75 each.)
  • Water — $0.89
  • 3-lb. Gala Apples — $3.99
  • 32-ounce shredded cheese — $4.99 when you purchase 5 or more participating items
  • Eggs — $2.50
  • Milk — $2.49
  • Carrots — $1
  • 2 heads Lettuce — $1.79 each
  • Total with tax — $82.61
how to place a kroger pick up order

By the way, after you place your order, it’s super easy to pick it up. I got an email notification + a text notification reminder to pick up my order. They also notified me that one item wasn’t available and offered me the choice of a substitute.

When you get to the store, you can let them know you are on your way through the app. Then, just pull into the designated stall and let them know you are there through the app. They bring out your order and load it up for you.

Kroger Curbside Pickup Advice:

  • If you choose to allow substitutions, I’ve heard they are very generous in what kinds of substitutions they offer often giving you a larger size for the same price. However, keep in mind that they won’t take off the digital coupon nor will they give you the discount if what they substitute is not part of the Buy 5 deal. I chose not to have any substitutions because I bought so many items that had digital coupons and Buy 5 discounts attached to them.
  • If you order on the day before the sales change and then pick up the next day (the day the sales change), I’ve been told you won’t get the day before price but the day of prices. This could dramatically change your totals… so just something to keep in mind!
  • You do not get a paper copy of your receipt. Instead, it is emailed to you and also available in the app. I wish they would give you a paper copy to review to make sure everything is correct. Plus, it would allow you to easily scan it into iBotta for rebates.

Kroger Grocery Pickup FAQ

How do I pick a pickup from Kroger?

It’s super simple! Just place your order, wait for a notification by text/email that your order is ready, and then go pick it up. You can let them know you’re “on your way” when you leave for the store. Pull into a designated parking space for Kroger Curbside Pickup when you get there and select the “I’m here” button on the website or in the app. An employee will bring your order out to you!

Should I tip for Kroger pickup?

Nope! They explicitly state on their website that you are not supposed to tip employees for Kroger pickup. In fact, Kroger associates are not supposed to accept tips at all.

Can you use coupons on Kroger pickup?

When you order online, you have access to all the weekly deals and mobile coupons — just like when you’re shopping in-stores! Most stores will also allow you to use paper coupons at pick-up. Just tell them you have coupons and they will take them off your total and then take the coupons from you when they bring your groceries to the car.

Have you used Kroger Curbside Pickup? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences/thoughts/tips!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 30, 2021 comment

Three books I finished this past week

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Three books I finished this past week

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my book update post where I share what books I finished recently + my honest thoughts and star ratings of them.

My Reading Goals for 2021

For 2021, I set a goal of reading 3 books per week —  1 fiction book, 1 non-fiction book, and 1 audiobook each week. I know this is an audacious goal, but reading is something I love and it’s a way I learn, challenge my mind, improve as a writer and communicator, and am refreshed and encouraged through inspiring stories.

I have a few shelves full of books (mostly that I’ve gotten free), so I decided to choose 52 books from off my shelf to read this year (see my list of 52 books I plan to read in 2021 here). I’ll also read other books that I find/am sent that pique my interest. Plus, I plan to go through a lot of audiobooks (I get mine free from the Libby app).

Each week, I plan to give an update on what I read/listened to + my honest reviews. We’ll see how I do with my reading goals. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to hit them, but it will be fun to try!

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.

In the past, I finished three books and here are my reviews…

 

Secrets of a Charmed Life

This is an engaging and beautifully written story of two sisters who are separated for years due to the Luftwaffe bombings on London during World War II. It is a story of how our choices can have life-long consequences, how secrets can impact us and others around us, and how chasing after our dreams without first counting the costs involved can be devastating.

It is a beautiful and heartrending story. There were parts that felt a little far-fetched, but I appreciated the rawness and realness of the characters in many places. I also loved that there was a lot of character development in parts in the story and it kept me guessing as to how it would end.

I gave it a four star rating because I would have loved a little more depth in places and some of what the author was wanting you to pull from the story wasn’t as obvious to me until I listened to the Q&A with the author at the end. That helped the book come more alive to me and I would highly recommend listening to/reading that after you finish the book.

One of my favorite quotes from the book: “A happy life is not made up of what you have dreamed of, chased after, and achieved, but rather whom you poured your life into, who poured their life into yours, and the difference you’ve made in the lives of others.”

Verdict: 4 stars

Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done

This book was written for women who are doers and movers and shakers… the Type A, Get Things Done Woman. The woman who rarely slows down, who usually has too many balls she is juggling, and a too long to do list. This book is a message of learning to reframe our perspective, change our focus, while also embracing the way we are wired.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is: “Worry is believing God won’t get it right. That sounds extreme, but isn’t that what I communicate when I allow worry to overshadow the promises and power of God? I abandon confidence in the Faithful One as I seek comfort from my familiar companion — Worry.”

She goes on to say, “May our ‘what if’ worry be changed to ‘even if’ worship as we remember Who is with us. Even if our what-if happens, the good news does not change. Jesus is enough, even in the dark, even in the battle…”

I gave this a 3-star verdict because I felt like the first three chapters were great… and then it felt like the rest of the book became pretty repetitive. It also didn’t feel like there was a strong story arc for the book and each chapter didn’t really build upon one another. That said, I felt like there was a lot of valuable info in it

Verdict: 3 stars

The Things We Cannot Say

This book wasn’t at all what I expected and I almost didn’t keep listening after the first few chapters because it threw me off… but I’m so glad that I did because it ended up being such a beautiful story.

I loved getting to walk in the shoes of a mom who has a child on the autism spectrum and to feel more empathy for what she is experiencing and walking through. The book also made me think of how everyone is carrying heavy burdens and how many people are probably walking around with secrets and burdens and struggles that we don’t know anything about.

Note: This book contains a little crass language.

Verdict: 4 stars

What books have you been reading/listening to recently? I’d love to hear!

Shared Jan 30, 2021 comment

Brigette’s $85 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $85 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.49

2 64-oz cartons 1% Milk – $1.68

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.96

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.39

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.49

1 32-oz carton Plain Greek Yogurt – $2.39

1 3-head pkg fresh Garlic – $0.95

1 jar Strawberry Preserves – $1.39

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.39

2 cans Biscuits – $1.78

1 pkg fresh Boneless Chicken Thighs ($1.69/lb) – $4.97

1 pkg 73/27 fresh Ground Beef, reduced – $8.63

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.49

4 pkgs Broccoli Florets – $3.40

1 bag frozen Mixed Vegetables – $0.75

1 Cauliflower – $2.19

3 Avocados – $1.47

1 carton Mushrooms – $0.89

1 bunch Bananas ($0.38/lb) – $1.08

1 bag Red Grapes ($0.95/lb) – $1.90

1 large bag Organic Kale – $2.29

1 bag Romaine Hearts – $2.19

1 pkg fresh Zucchini – $1.19

1 large carton Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

3 cans Diced Tomatoes – $0.87

3 cans Green Beans – $1.41

2 bags fresh Green Beans – $3.18

1 bag Spinach – $1.19

2 3-lb bags Pink Lady Apples – $4.58

1 jar Minced Onion – $0.69

1 bag Pretzels – $0.82

1 2-lb bag Brown Sugar – $1.29

1 jar Soy Sauce – $1.29

1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.25

1 family-size box Frosty Flakes – $1.99

1 bag Rice Cakes – $1.75

2 8-oz blocks Mozzarella Cheese – $2.50

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.59

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.59

4 dozen Eggs – $3.20

Grocery Total for the Week: $85.21

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:

Cereal, Toast, Fried/Scrambled/Boiled Eggs, Veggies Omelets, Fruit, Smoothies, Cottage Cheese, Yogurt

Birthday Breakfast for my 10-yr old: Lazy Monkey Bread, Hard Boiled Eggs

Lunches

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Kale Chips, Apples x 2

Peanut Butter and Jelly on Rice Cakes, Bananas/Apples, Zucchini Fries x 2

Birthday Lunch: Chicken Fried Rice

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Hamburgers on the Grill (half ground beef, half venison), Green Beans, Baked French Fries

Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad, Biscuits

Build-Your-Own-Burrito (Shredded Romaine, Shredded Cheese, Seasoned Ground Venison, Tortillas, Salsa, Avocado, Rice), Broccoli

Birthday Dinner: Pakistani Kima, Rice, Homemade Rolls, Ice Cream Pie

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Tossed Salad, Broccoli

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Spinach Salad

Leftovers

what to buy each month of the year to save money
Shared Jan 28, 2021 comment

The Best Items to Buy Each Month of the Year

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The Best Items to Buy Each Month of the Year

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Ever wondered what time of year is best to buy certain items? Don’t miss this list of what to buy each month of the year to help you save more money!

(Looking for more ways to save? Check out these 52 other ways to save $100 per year!)

what to buy each month of the year to save money

Did you know that you can save tons of money throughout the year by buying certain items each month? Use this guide to know what to buy each month of the year to help you be more intentional with your finances!

What to Buy in January

  • Bedding and Linens — You’ll find deep discounts on sheets and towels for freshening up in the New Year.
  • Fitness Equipment — Retailers everywhere know people have new fitness goals.
  • Calendars/Planners — You’ll see major discounts on these after the first of the year!
  • Diet Foods — Going along with the fitness equipment, retailers know people are starting diets. You’ll find lots of great grocery deals on healthy foods and diet brands.
  • Televisions — With the big game at the beginning of the year, televisions often go on sale.
  • Toys — You’ll typically see a lot of toys discounted at the first of the year since Christmas has just passed and stores are clearing out their stock for newer toys and models.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos, tangerines, and turnips!

What to Buy in February

  • Cold Weather Clothing & Outerwear — Stores start clearing out cold weather items to prepare for the spring season.
  • Home & Apparel Items — You’ll see some great prices on these items the week of Presidents Day, especially on furniture!
  • Candy — You’ll find great deals on clearance candy after Valentine’s Day!
  • Breakfast Foods & Canned Goods — You typically see a lot of deals on both of these items!
  • Jewelry — There are usually many jewelry sales in February in anticipation of Valentine’s Day.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lemons, oranges, parsnips, rutabagas, tangelos, and turnips.

What to Buy in March

  • Tax Prep Software — Obviously you’ll see some great deals on tax software as Tax Day approaches.
  • Luggage — With Spring Break being in March and people starting to think more about travel, luggage typically starts going on sale quite a bit in March.
  • Corned Beef — Because of St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll see a lot of good deals on corned beef.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on artichokes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, pineapples, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips.

Big Candy Store

What to Buy in April

  • Vacuums — People start thinking about spring cleaning this time of year, so you’ll find some great deals on vacuums.
  • Candy — You’ll find great deals on clearance candy after Easter!
  • Paper Shredding Services — As a Tax Day freebie, you’ll typically see office stores offer FREE paper shredding.
  • Jewelry — You’ll see more jewelry sales during this month with Mother’s Day around the corner.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, and spring peas.

Bonus Tip: Keep an eye out for all kinds of other Tax Day freebies! (We update this page every year!) And you’ll typically see Earth Day freebies and free entrance to National Parks during National Park week!

What to Buy in May

  • Home & Kitchen Items — You’ll see a lot of great Memorial Day Sales on these items. Again, it’s a great time to buy furniture.
  • Star Wars Items — Due to “May the 4th Be With You” Day, you’ll see a ton of great sales on Star Wars items. So stock up for the Star Wars fans you know! 😉
  • Camping & Hiking Items — Outdoor stores usually put these items on sale for Memorial Day.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mangoes, okra, pineapples, radishes, rhubarb, spring peas, strawberries, swiss chard, and zucchini.

What to Buy in June

  • Gym Memberships — About halfway through the year, people start to drop off with their fitness goals. Gyms typically run great specials during the summer because of this!
  • Gardening Supplies — You’ll see a lot of deals on gardening supplies, seeds, tools, and more.
  • Pool Supplies & Outdoor Toys — Be on the lookout for great deals on pool toys as summer approaches!
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, corn, kiwi, lettuce, mangoes, peaches, strawberries, swiss chard, watermelon, and zucchini.

Bonus Tip: You’ll also want to start keeping an eye out for FREE summer activities for kids! They start rolling out in June and usually include things like free movie tickets, skating, bowling, summer reading programs, and more!

What to buy each month of the year July Outdoor Gear

What to Buy in July

  • Electronics — Due to “Christmas in July” Sales, you’ll often see a lot of great deals on Black Friday items, like electronics!
  • Patriotic Items — Look for these after the 4th of July to get them on clearance.
  • Camping & Hiking Items — Outdoor stores usually put these items on sale for 4th of July.
  • Grills — You’ll see grills go on sale after the 4th of July.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, green beans, kiwi, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangoes, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini.

What to Buy in August

  • Back to School Supplies — Back to School Season brings tons of great deals on school and office supplies.
  • Outdoor Toys — You’ll start to see stores clearing out their summer items, so look for great deals on outdoor toys for next year.
  • Lawn Equipment — As summer comes to a close, you’ll see a lot of deals on lawn equipment since sales are down on those items.
  • Swimwear — Look for clearance deals on swimwear at all stores!
  • Disinfectants — Because Lysol wipes and spray cleaners are on a lot of school supplies list, you’ll see some great deals on these items.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on acorn squash, apples, apricots, blueberries, butternut squash, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, green beans, kiwi, kohlrabi, lettuce, mangoes, okra, peaches, peppers, plums, raspberries, strawberries, summer squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, and zucchini.

Bonus Tip: Be on the lookout for tax free weekends in your state!

What to Buy in September

  • Mattresses — September is traditionally known as the best month to buy a mattress, especially over Labor Day weekend!
  • Appliances — You’ll also see great deals on home appliances over Labor Day weekend.
  • Older iPhone Models — Apple typically announces and rolls out their brand new models in September each year, which means you’ll see discounts on older iPhone models.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on acorn squash, apples, beets, butternut squash, cantaloupe, cauliflower, eggplant, figs, grapes, green beans, lettuce, mangoes, mushrooms, okra, peppers, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, and tomatoes.

Patio Furniture

What to Buy in October

  • Candy — Grab great deals on candy during Halloween sales. Or get clearance candy at 50-90% off after Halloween!
  • Outdoor Furniture — Labor Day has passed and people are starting to think about spending more time indoors as the weather gets cooler. That means a decrease in outdoor sales, which means great prices on outdoor furniture!
  • Vehicles — Dealerships typically start putting their cars on sale in October, and you’ll find the best prices on cars from October through December as the newer models are coming in for the next year.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on acorn squash, apples, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, grapes, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, parsnips, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, turnips, and winter squash.

What to Buy in November

  • Black Friday Sales — As you know, just about everything goes on sale during November for Black Friday. You’ll find amazing deals on home items, appliances, electronics, toys, tools, clothing, and so much more!
  • Vehicles — You’ll find the best prices on cars from October through December as the newer models are coming in for the next year.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cranberries, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pumpkins, rutabagas, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, turnips, and winter squash.

Bonus Tip: Veterans and military can get lots of freebies and deals on Veterans Day!

What to Buy in December

  • Holiday Sales — Black Friday Sales will spill over into December with more holiday sales leading up to Christmas!
  • Wrapping Paper and Christmas Decor — Be sure to shop the day after Christmas for amazing discounts on wrapping paper and decor for the following year!
  • Vehicles — You’ll find the best prices on cars from October through December as the newer models are coming in for the next year.
  • Seasonal Produce — Look for great prices on broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, leeks, mushrooms, oranges, papayas, parsnips, pears, pomegranates, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines, and turnips.

Are there any items we missed? Do you have any suggestions for what to buy each month of the year? We’d love to hear!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 27, 2021 comment

10 Lessons We’ve Learned in 18 Years of Marriage

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10 Lessons We’ve Learned in 18 Years of Marriage

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Jesse and I celebrated our 18th anniversary recently (our marriage is officially an adult!) and we had fun sitting down and recounting 10 lessons we’ve learned in 18 years of marriage.

We talk about lessons like: if your wife says she’s not hungry, still get food for her and why daily gestures are more important than celebrating Hallmark holidays. We also share honestly about a simple phrase that has completely changed the way we communicate and how I completely blew an opportunity when Jesse wanted to buy me a car. Plus, we share how forgiveness and praying together and choosing to love (even when we don’t like each other!) makes such a difference.

Whether you’ve been married for 18 days or 18 years (or longer!) or you are planning to get married in the future, I hope this episode encourages you.

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode: 

[01:43] The first lesson we’ve learned in our 18 years of marriage.

[03:20] Ways we’ve learned to talk about feelings without being accusatory with each other.

[07:12] Laughter is the glue to a strong marriage.

[09:33] The importance of pursuing individual interests.

[13:41] Don’t assume that your spouse processes at the same speed that you do.

[18:49] Daily gestures are so much more important than big moments.

[22:39] We’ve learned to express gratitude in our relationship.

[28:28] Spouses don’t always accept and give love in the same ways.

[29:28] Love is a choice rather than just a feeling.

[30:42] It’s so important to ask for forgiveness often.

[32:50] Pray together!

Links and Resources:

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.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Click here to sign up!
Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 26, 2021 comment

A Peek Into Last Week (+ 10 goals for this week)

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A Peek Into Last Week (+ 10 goals for this week)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly update post where I share my weekly goals each week. These goals are based (somewhat) on my yearly goals for 2021, with some extras thrown in depending upon the week and what other short-term goals I have.

But first, a little peek into last week…

We’ve been working on decluttering the kitchen this past week. We had a sweet helper while we were working! 🙂

Caring for two babies means we have lots of different types of bottles and bottle paraphernalia! We went through everything and got rid of a few things and then put away a lot of the bottles/stuff to save for when we have another baby foster care placement.

We also went through all of the mugs/tumblers. How do we have so many of them??

Ah! The mug cupboard can breathe again. (By the way, if you need a laugh, this picture created quite a stir on Instagram. You can read all about it here.)

And this cupboard looks so much better, too!

This girl brings so much joy into our home. She just loves life and has the sweetest personality. I just can’t even describe what a gift she is to our home. It humbles and moves me almost every time I look at her to think what a completely unexpected miracle she is.

I also went through the pantry, too.

From My Heart…

“This was the worst garbage. I picked this up as an audiobook to listen to. Her voice is exceptionally annoying.”

This was one of many similar reviews of my second book. While there were lots of kind reviews, all I could hear was that I should not ever narrate an audiobook again because my nasally voice irritated people. I was embarrassed that I had ever considered doing it myself.

So guess what I did? I told my publishers that I didn’t want to narrate my third book and they hired a professional voice artist to record it.

Over the past 5+ years since my third book came out, God has done a lot of life-altering work in my heart. He’s helped me to stop living my life to please, appease, and perform for others. He’s taught me that I don’t need to chase after the approval or affirmation of others. That I don’t need 5-star reviews or glowing accolades to be enough.

I am enough in Him. He loves me for exactly who I am because of Whose I am. And I can stand confident in Christ and live as loved, because I am already pre-approved by Him.

And that’s why I stopped letting negative reviews stifle me in insecurity. Maybe my voice isn’t professional voice actor level, but I’m not going to let that hold me back from sharing the message God has laid on my heart through live video, Instagram story, and podcasts.

I want to improve and grow and work on honing my craft, but I’m not going to sit around and wait until I can please everyone to show up on video and podcasts. Because if I wait until I can please everyone, I’ll be waiting the rest of my life.

Last week, I had the privilege of recording the audiobook for my soon-to-be-released book, Love-Centered Parenting. As I spent hours behind this mic, I felt such quiet confidence, passion, and excitement for this message… and such gratitude that I no longer have to live in fear of what others will think. I am loved by my Heavenly Father and that is enough. Period.

And now onto the goals update…

Last Week’s Goals

Personal Goals

1. Log 8,000 steps/day = 56,000 steps for the week.

2. Finish 3 books: The Water Keeper, The Things We Cannot Say, and Made Like Martha.

3. Fill out my habit tracker every day.

Home/Family Goals

4. Read 10 pages of A Boy’s War as a family. Read 5 chapters of The Trumpet of the Swan to Kierstyn.

5. Whole House Clean Out spaces to go through/organize/declutter: Pantry, under kitchen sink area, drawers in kitchen.

Work/Blog Goals

6. Run the live coaching event for the 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom group.

7. Write a post on the books I’ve read so far in January.

8. Record 8 hours of the audiobook narration for my new book.

Fun Goals

9. Have a family game night.

10. Do a craft project.

This Week’s Goals

Personal Goals

1. Log 8,000 steps/day = 56,000 steps for the week.

2. Finish 3 books: Mama Bear Apologetics, Secrets of a Charmed Life, and Keep the Doors Open.

3. Fill out my habit tracker every day.

Home/Family Goals

4. Read 10 pages of A Boy’s War as a family. Read 5 chapters of The Trumpet of the Swan to Kierstyn.

5. Whole House Clean Out spaces to go through/organize/declutter: Storage room in basement.

Work/Blog Goals

6. Finish a Q&A article I was asked to do for a magazine feature.

7. Get download page set up for the appendix of the book.

8. Work on outline/details for Yell Less, Love More Challenge for February.

Fun Goals

9. At home date night with Jesse.

10. Do a craft project.

Did you accomplish any of your goals last week? Let us know in the comments so we can celebrate with you!

Shared Jan 25, 2021 comment

Why My Instacart ALDI Delivery Experience was Not So Great

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Why My Instacart ALDI Delivery Experience was Not So Great

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Thinking of trying ALDI grocery delivery through Instacart and looking for reviews? These are my really honest thoughts on my experience with it! (You might also enjoy my honest Kroger Pickup Review!)

ALDI Grocery Delivery Review

As you all know, I love ALDI. If I didn’t have multiple Kroger stores nearby that offered such great markdowns and digital coupon deals, I’d likely be shopping at ALDI every week.

Last week, I took you along on my grocery shopping trip — and so many people said they found it really helpful for me to do so but asked if I could showcase different methods of shopping. So this week, I decided to try a different method: ALDI Instacart Delivery Service.

 Honest Instacart Review: ALDI Delivery

I challenged myself to see if I could get everything we needed for our menu plan this week and spend less than $70 while using ALDI Grocery Delivery. Well, I definitely learned some lessons in the process…

1) ALDI Delivery Instacart Charges You More Per Item

I noticed right away that each of the items cost just a little bit more on Instacart than they do by shopping in-store at Aldi. It was just about $0.10-$0.50 per item, but that adds up quickly! I estimate I paid about $4-5 more than I would have spent in-store because of this.

2) Aldi Delivery: Instacart Does Not Offer Weekly Sale Prices

Also of note: I wasn’t able to get any of the weekly produce specials. Usually, I mostly just buy the produce specials at ALDI. Instead, I went with the more inexpensive regularly priced produce options, but I still would have saved probably $6-7 by purchasing only the sale priced fruits/veggies.

3) Instacart Delivery Fee and other charges add up quickly

Because I don’t have an Instacart membership, I paid $14 for the tip (15%) + service fee + delivery fee. You won’t pay as much each time if you have the membership, but you have to pay the membership fee — which is pretty hefty.

So, all total, I estimate I spent about $25 more by using Instacart than by shopping in-store. And there’s no way we could sustain a $70 weekly grocery budget if we were to exclusively shop ALDI with Instacart delivery.

In fact, the only way I was able to stick with our $70 budget this week was because I relied heavily on what we already had in our pantry and freezer that we have gotten marked down in previous weeks with different sales and coupons.

ALDI delivery grocery haul

My ALDI Instacart Delivery Shopping Trip

  • Broccoli Crowns — $2.28
  • Tortilla Chips — $0.89
  • 10-lb bag of Potatoes — $4.39
  • 3-lb bag of Onions — $1.35
  • 1 pint blueberries — $2.09
  • 3-lb bag of Gala apples — $3.65
  • 2 cans Refried Beans — $0.89 each
  • Tater Tots — $1.65
  • 2 cans Green Beans — $0.55 each
  • Oats — $2.65
  • Oyster Crackers — $0.89
  • Crispy Oats — $1.25
  • Milk – -$2.59
  • Eggs — $0.95
  • 16-inch Pizza — $5.49
  • Salsa — $1.35
  • 3-lb. bag of Jazz apples — $4.22
  • 3-count Romaine hearts — $3.04
  • Carrots — $1.55
  • Cottage Cheese — $1.87
  • 16-oz Mozzarella Cheese — $3.22
  • 16-oz. Cheddar Cheese — $3.22
  • Powdered Sugar — $1.55
  • Tax: $3.50
  • Delivery charge: $3.99
  • Service fee: $2.60
  • Tip (15%): $7.78
  • Total: $70.12

4) You Might Not Get What You Ordered with Instacart ALDI Delivery

While I felt like the price — with the extra fees — were more than I’d want to pay on a weekly basis, the overall experience was pretty easy and I was kind of excited to have the groceries delivered to our door… which felt like this crazy luxury!

The only thing was, when they were delivered, 7 items were completely missing! The shopper had just left everything on our porch and then we got an email that it was delivered. When we went out there, we discovered that probably what amounted to an entire bag of groceries was missing.

I’m guessing that somehow the groceries were delivered to a different house or left in her vehicle. It was probably a fluke thing, but it was definitely a disappointment.

The good news? I contacted Instacart and they quickly contacted me back and processed a refund for what I didn’t get…

ALDI delivery review experience

I shared about my Instacart shopping trip on Instagram stories and heard from a few hundred of you about your experiences. Here were just a few of the responses:

amazing Instacart customer service

I heard from so many people that they’ve had a good experience with Instacart Customer Service, so that was encouraging to me!

Instacart Issues

I thought maybe the person who got my bag of groceries may have needed the groceries or maybe it was a special blessing for them in some way.

funny story about Walmart Pickup

This made me laugh! 🙂

Instacart Delivery Review

I just had to share this one above. I love it so much!

Is ALDI Grocery Delivery Worth It?

So is it worth it? Overall, I’d say my ALDI delivery review is that it’s probably not for me.

That being said, I could see how it would be really helpful for many families — especially if you’re in a super busy season of your life or have littles at home!!

And based on the messages I received on Instagram, I do think my experience of having items missing may have been kind of a fluke thing.

Cut your grocery bill!

Want to cut 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.

Have you ever tried ALDI grocery delivery or Instacart? I’d love to hear your reviews, if so!

Shared Jan 24, 2021 comment

7 Books I Finished Recently

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7 Books I Finished Recently

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my book update post where I share what books I finished recently + my honest thoughts and star ratings of them.

My Reading Goals for 2021

For 2021, I set a goal of reading 3 books per week —  1 fiction book, 1 non-fiction book, and 1 audiobook each week. I know this is an audacious goal, but reading is something I love and it’s a way I learn, challenge my mind, improve as a writer and communicator, and am refreshed and encouraged through inspiring stories.

I have a few shelves full of books (mostly that I’ve gotten free), so I decided to choose 52 books from off my shelf to read this year (see my list of 52 books I plan to read in 2021 here). I’ll also read other books that I find/am sent that pique my interest. Plus, I plan to go through a lot of audiobooks (I get mine free from the Libby app).

Each week, I plan to give an update on what I read/listened to + my honest reviews. We’ll see how I do with my reading goals. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to hit them, but it will be fun to try!

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.

In the last few weeks, I finished seven books and here are my reviews…

Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling

This is the story of ABC New reporter and The View co-host’s journey to finding her calling. She shares her personal struggles with finding her worth in her work and her affirmation through accolades… and how neither of those really satisfied.

As a fellow Type A personality who has battled workaholism during more than a few seasons of my life, I related to her tendency to push harder, sleep less, and try to white knuckle her way to success. I appreciated her candor in recounting how holding some of the most-coveted journalism positions don’t bring happiness and joy.

I only gave this book three stars because I felt like the writing/story-telling could have improved a lot. While some of the content and examples were inspiring, it felt like the book, in general, jumped around in many places and left me kind of confused because of things being so out of order chronologically. If she had been writing a non-fiction book that was topically based, it would have been okay to have stories from many different times in her life throughout the book. But because the book was supposed to be more memior-esque (did I just make up a word?), it felt disjointed for it to jump around in the storyline so much!

Verdict: 3 stars

Code Name: Lise: The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII’s Most Highly Decorated Spy

Jesse and I started listening to this book on our trip to Kansas for Christmas. We didn’t finish it on that trip, but we each individually listened to it because we wanted to know how the story ended!

Code Name: Lise is the true story of a fairly ordinary mom of three young girls who ended up landing herself a job (very unexpectedly!) as a spy. While I thought the book was a little dry and detail-heavy at times, parts of the story were very interesting.

I gave it a 3-star verdict because I didn’t love the narrator of the audiobook and thought that the emphasis on details (many that I found unnecessary and boring) would make the book more of a slog to read. In fact, I’m guessing I wouldn’t have finished it had I read a physical copy — so I’m glad that I listened to the audiobook.

I also was surprised that a lot of story was all the details of her life in captivity. I expected a lot more details on her time as a spy. That said, I found her resilient spirit, creativity, and care for others while she was imprisoned and interrogated to be quite inspirational.

Verdict: 3 stars

In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm

Ruth Schwenk sent me a copy of their book soon after we said goodbye to Champ. It meant the world to me that she would send it with a personal note to let me know she was praying and thinking of us — and the book really blessed me!

This is the story of Patrick’s cancer diagnosis and what it was like to walk through that as a family. While Patrick is a pastor, I appreciated how honest he was with his doubts and wrestling with the goodness of God in the middle of a really difficult season. I also found their insights into standing firm in faith in the midst of heartache and hurt and unknown to be so encouraging and a blessing to me as I grieved the loss of Champ.

My one complaint with this book is that I would have loved more details on what they experienced and walked through in their cancer journey. That said, it’s their story and I completely understand if they just didn’t feel comfortable sharing more details.

(I’m cracking up that I said the book before was detail-heavy and I’m saying I wanted more details with this one! I think it’s that I  felt like they gave little snippets in each chapter, but didn’t dive into the story at the depth I would have loved. What was it really like? What was it like for your marriage? What was it like for your kids? I wanted to sit with them and hear the details of the treatments and recovery so I can understand more what it was like to walk in their shoes… so that I can have more empathy and understanding for others who are on a similar journey.)

Verdict: 4 stars

We Were the Lucky Ones

Yes, folks, we have our first 5-star read of the season! Actually, it wasn’t completely a “read” for me because I started reading it and then discovered that the audiobook was available for free on Libby so I ended up listening to a lot of it.

This is based on the true story of a Jewish family during World War II who were separated all over the world and how they ended up surviving and eventually being reunited. It is deeply moving, gripping, and heartbreaking. But at the same time, it is the story of love, family, and perseverance against all odds.

One thing I noticed was how creative and determined each of the family members was to beating the odds, coming up with outside the box ideas, and not giving up. When all around it felt like everything was crumbling and hopeless, they chose to keep pressing on and keep holding on to the will to live.

Of all the parts of the book, I think the sections that most impacted me were thinking of what it would be like to have young children during the Holocaust and how deeply difficult it would be to try to care for and protect a baby or child in the midst of so fear, uncertainty, and straight up disregard for human life. I can’t even begin to imagine and this book helped me to have a glimpse into just how horrific that would have been.

Note: There is a little bit of language and, as you can imagine, some intense and graphic topics are touched on. However, I felt like the book did a good job of not going into unnecessarily graphic details and stayed true to the story and experiences.

Verdict: 5 stars

Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need

And we have another 5-star review!! I just couldn’t give this book any less than five stars! It chronicles in beautiful and brutal detail David Platt’s week-long trek in the Himalayas. He takes you on the journey with him to experience the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and bone-chilling cold he witnessed. But the cold wasn’t the most chilling part of his week, not by any stretch of the imagination. He pens so vulnerably his encounters with great poverty, trafficking of little girls, and human suffering, the likes of which he didn’t even believe existed.

This book is his honest account of questioning his long-held beliefs about God, suffering, and what it truly means to give your life to follow in Jesus’ steps. He doesn’t give a lot of answers in the book; he mostly just shares stories, asks questions, and challenges you to stop living a life of complacency.

It’s a well-written book that draws you in with the engaging story line and leaves you taking a really deep look at your heart, your choices, and your perspective. I highly recommend it — and can’t stop talking about how it has made me examine life with fresh eyes and ears to the need around me — and around the world.

Verdict: 5 stars

The Water Keeper

When I asked on Instagram for clean fiction author recommendations, a number of you strongly encouraged me to check out Charles Martin. I had never even heard of him before, but I looked on Libby and found that this book was available.

It’s hard to really describe the storyline and I’ll admit it was a little far-fetched in places. However, it drew me in, it moved me, and it made me want to keep listening even when I needed to turn it off and move onto something else in my day. To me, those are all marks of a good book and I will definitely plan to listen to more of Charles’ books in the not-too-distant future. In fact, I already have a few added to my holds list on Libby.

Note: This book deals with trafficking and some abuse and does have a few graphic details in it. I felt like it was tastefully done and clean overall. However, the subject manner could be triggering for some.

Verdict: 4 stars

Charlotte’s Web

I finished reading this book to Kierstyn last week. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Charlotte’s web and we really enjoyed reading it together (or at least I enjoyed the story and she seemed to at least grasp a tiny little bit of it from the pictures in the book!).

The one thing I had forgotten was that the book could be very sad (Charlotte dies) and possibly scary to sensitive kids (Before Charlotte saves his life, Wilbur is going to be butchered and the book alludes to this multiple times). I also felt like there was definitely some bullying from the animals and some shaming. I know, I know, I probably am over-analyzing these things, but I think it’s important that we call these things out to our kids and have conversations about it.

That said, I’m giving it four stars because I really enjoy the story overall and think it’s a worthwhile classic book to read aloud as a family — especially if your kids aren’t highly sensitive, enjoy animals, and are between the ages of (maybe) 6-10?

Verdict: 4 stars

What books have you read or listened to recently? I’d love to hear your thoughts on them — and if you have any recommendations for me!

Shared Jan 23, 2021 comment

Brigette’s $79 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $79 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.90

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.39

1 32-oz carton Plain Greek Yogurt – $2.39

2 5-lb bags Flour – $2.30

5 bags frozen Broccoli Florets – $4.25

1 bag frozen Blueberries – $1.79

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.65

1 5-lb bag Golden Potatoes – $2.89

2 cans Green Beans – $0.76

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.49

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

1 bag Limes – $1.59

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.19

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $2.09

1 bag fresh Cilantro – $0.79

2 bags fresh Green Beans – $3.18

1 pkg fresh Broccoli Crowns – $1.90

1 10-lb Russet Potatoes – $3.99

4 cans Nothern Beans – $1.56

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.49

1-lb Sausage – $1.89

2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $5.10

2 8-oz pkgs Sliced Cheese – $2.50

6 individual cartons Greek Yogurt – $3.54

1 can Whipped Dairy Topping – $2.89

3 dozen Eggs – $2.40

1 jar Salsa – $0.89

1 pkg Taco Mix – $0.29

1 jar Garlic Powder – $0.59

1 jar Onion Powder – $0.59

1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.75

1 bag Hint of Lime Chips – $1.69

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.59

Total: $72.78

Harris Teeter

1 pkg Tortillas – $0.64

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $1.78

2 boxes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars – $3.34, used $1.00/2 printable, plus receive $1.00 rebate – $1.34/2 boxes

1 Peanut Butter – $0.99

1 Life Cereal – $2.74, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled), plus receive $0.75 rebate – $0.49 after coupon and rebate

2 boxes Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats – $3.98, used $1.00/2 printable, plus receive $0.90/2 rebate and $1.00/2 rebate – $1.08/2 boxes after coupon and rebates

2 boxes Annie’s Mac and Cheese – $2.00, used $1.00/2 printable – $1.00/2 after coupon

Plus receive $0.25 off any receipt from Ibotta

Total after Coupons and Rebates – $7.07

Grocery Total for the Week: $79.85

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:

Cereal, Toast, Scrambled/Fried/Boiled Eggs, Yogurt, Fruit, Smoothies, Veggie Omelets, Oatmeal

Lunches

Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheese, Cucumbers, Oranges x 2

Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter, Apples, Mini Peppers x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Ham and Bean Soup, World’s Best Honey Cornbread, Broccoli

Date Night (kids eat Mac and Cheese)

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Easy Whole Wheat Bread

Hamburgers (half ground beef and half ground venison), Baked Potato Fries, Tossed Salad, Grilled Cauliflower

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Tossed Salad, Green Beans

Build-Your-Own-Burrito (Seasoned Ground Venison, Shredded Romaine, Rice, Shredded Cheese, Chopped Cilantro, Limes, Salsa), Chips and Salsa, Broccoli

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham, Green Beans, Biscuits

Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 20, 2021 comment

How to Love Someone You Disagree With

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How to Love Someone You Disagree With

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Recently, on Instagram, I got asked the following question, “How do you handle friendships and disrespect in this political turmoil and pandemic.” I shared the slide above to answer it, but I had so many more thoughts swirling in my head as I wrote the answer that I realized it would be the perfect topic to tackle more in-depth in a podcast episode.

So this week on the podcast, Jesse and I share what we have learned and are learning about how to love someone you disagree with and how not to ruin relationships because of differing opinions.

In addition, we talk about new recipes Jesse is trying using duck, granola and Greek yogurt, wearing real PJs, my habit tracker, a book I loved recently, a funny story about mispronouncing words, and what Jesse has been reading.

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode: 

[01:47] Duck poppers are saving Jesse’s life this week. They were so good!

[05:38] Granola and greek yogurt are saving my life these days.

[07:08] Why I’ve been trying to wear real pajamas to bed.

[09:18] I posted about my habit tracker and came to find out… Jesse was right.

[11:35] I have been reading/listening to We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter.

[15:53] A quick story about how I used to pronounce Yosemite.

[16:58] Jesse has been reading SOG by John Plaster.

[17:53] The question that inspired this episode.

[19:27] There is so much fear circulating in the world causing us to feel reactionary.

[21:06] Then to add on top of the fear is the nature of conversations on social media.

[23:28] We often lose so much context and empathy by not having face-to-face conversations.

[26:22] Why you need to listen with a heart to understand the other person.

[28:07] Don’t make sweeping generalizations.

[30:00] Always remember to care about the person more than you care about their opinion.

Links and Resources:

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.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.

OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!

Click here to download!
Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 19, 2021 comment

A Peek Into Last Week (+ my goals!)

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A Peek Into Last Week (+ my goals!)

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly update post where I share my weekly goals each week. These goals are based (somewhat) on my yearly goals for 2021, with some extras thrown in depending upon the week and what other short-term goals I have.

But first, a little peek into last week…

She is obsessed with going up the stairs right now… and is getting better and better at going down the stairs!

We got to babysit for him two days last week. He is just growing and learning so much! We are so proud of him and how far he has come. He’s thriving with his mom and we are just so grateful for the gift of continuing to be involved in his life.

Did you check out my $68 Grocery Shopping Trip from last week? I shared lots of in-store pictures this week!

Also, don’t miss my post on the 12 Books I Plan to Read to Kierstyn.

From My Heart…

I walked out to the kitchen to see him feeding her oatmeal for breakfast and reading the Bible to her.

This a picture of who this man is. Day in and day out. He selflessly gives to serve our family.

From the time I was a baby, my parents prayed for my spouse. I don’t know all of the specific prayers they prayed, but I know beyond any shadow of a doubt that God has answered those prayers abundantly in this man.

Jesse: You are one of God’s greatest gifts to me! Your self-sacrificial love is a continual reminder to me of how much I am loved by God.

Thank you for loving me on the good days and on the bad days. Thank you for choosing to stay when it would have been much more convenient to leave. Thank you for committing to love me — even on the days when I’m not very likable at all.

Thank you for listening to me, praying for and with me, pointing me to Jesus, and making me laugh. The past 18 years have been a way wilder ride than either of could have imagined when we stood at the altar and said “I do” but there’s no one else I’d rather be on this adventure with than you!

I love you — and happy anniversary!

And now, onto my goals update…

Last Week’s Goals

Personal Goals

1. Log 8,000 steps/day = 56,000 steps for the week.

2. Finish 2 books: We Were the Lucky Ones + Something Needs to Change.

3. Fill out my habit tracker every day.

Home/Family Goals

4. Read 10 pages of A Boy’s War as a family. Finish reading Charlotte’s Web to Kierstyn.

5. Whole House Clean Out spaces to go through/organize/declutter: Laundry room, bedside table, kitchen cupboards.

Work/Blog Goals

6. Finish all the content and emails for the 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom Challenge.

7. Write a post on the books I plan to read to Kierstyn in 2021.

8. Write a post on how I use my Habit Tracker.

9. Put together details for my book launch team.

10. Film the trailer for my book promo.

Fun Goals

11. Get a manicure with a friend.

12. Do a craft project.

This Week’s Goals

Personal Goals

1. Log 8,000 steps/day = 56,000 steps for the week.

2. Finish 3 books: The Water Keeper, The Things We Cannot Say, and Made Like Martha.

3. Fill out my habit tracker every day.

Home/Family Goals

4. Read 10 pages of A Boy’s War as a family. Read 5 chapters of The Trumpet of the Swan to Kierstyn.

5. Whole House Clean Out spaces to go through/organize/declutter: Pantry, under kitchen sink area, drawers in kitchen.

Work/Blog Goals

6. Run the live coaching event for the 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom group.

7. Write a post on the books I’ve read so far in January.

8. Record 8 hours of the audiobook narration for my new book.

Fun Goals

9. Have a family game night.

10. Do a craft project.

What’s on your list of goals for this week? I’d love to hear — and help keep you accountable!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 18, 2021 comment

12 Books I Plan to Read to Kierstyn in 2021

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12 Books I Plan to Read to Kierstyn in 2021

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Why I Prioritize Reading Aloud

From the time our three older kids were little babies, I prioritized reading aloud to them. And not just reading picture books — although we enjoy lots of those! — but also reading chapter books.

I know that some people find it strange that I would read chapter books to babies and toddlers. Yes, they can’t understand a lot of what is being read when they are little, but developing a long for reading and learning can begin at a very young age. Plus, as they get older, they will begin to understand and comprehend much more quickly than we often give them credit for.

One of the biggest reasons why I love reading aloud to kids — even when they are little — is because it encourages them to develop a love for books and literature and it helps me establish the habit of reading aloud from a very young age. When they are tiny, I’m the one who enjoys the books more than they do. But as they grow, they quickly begin falling in love with read aloud time, too (or at least that’s what happened with our older three!)

Our older three will tell you that they learned so much from the books we read when they were little and the audiobooks and audio dramas they listened to. And I have so many special memories of the hours and hours we spent reading together.

(The three older kids when they were much younger. Oh the sweet memories I have of all the reading we did together!)

How to Get Started Reading Aloud

If you are looking for some advice and ideas for reading aloud to preschoolers and grade schoolers, be sure to read my post on How to Get Your Kids Excited About Reading Aloud + this post on 10 Tips to Read Aloud to Kids.

By the way, I have listed some of our favorite read alouds when my kids were younger here. I also have a few more suggestions and chapter book ideas here.

For a long list of book ideas, check out my post on 37 Books I Planned to Read Aloud to My Kids in 2013 (this was when they were 8, 6, and 4 and we were homeschooling). Spoiler alert! We didn’t get through that entire list, but we read a lot of them.

When I Read Aloud to Kierstyn

Right now, Kierstyn and I read together in the mornings. It’s either usually while I’m nursing her or right after I nurse her. We read a chapter from the Bible, we read through her ABC verse book, and we read a chapter from our current read aloud. We also often we a picture book or two. By reading a chapter of a book aloud almost every day, we can pretty easily get through more than one book a month!

12 Books I Plan to Read to Kierstyn in 2021

I picked out the books I want to for sure read to Kierstyn based upon what books we already had on our shelf. I tried to go for a variety of books — some I loved reading to the older kids, some that are classics I’ve wanted to read aloud, and some that are newer.

I love the E.B. White classic book shown above because it has three E.B. White books in one. We’ve already read Stuart Little (the first book in it) and now we’re working our way through the rest of it. So these are the first two books on my list for 2021:

1. Charlotte’s Web

2. The Trumpet of the Swan

And here’s the rest of our stack:

3. The War That Saved My Life

4. The BFG

5. The Imagination Station: Voyage with the Vikings

6. The Imagination Station: Attack on the Arena

7. The Imagination Station: Pearl in the Palace

8. The King’s Highway

9. Fantastic Mr. Fox

10. The Story of Eli Whitney

11. Robinson Crusoe

12. Amy Carmichael

What are your favorite children’s chapter books?

Money Saving Mom
Shared Jan 17, 2021 comment

Last Week’s $68 Shopping Trip

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Last Week’s $68 Shopping Trip

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to see what we bought for this week’s $70 grocery budget? I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 budget for our family (two adults, two teenagers, one preteen, and one baby). This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunch for Jesse and me (the kids have lunches at school most days), snacks, and dinners + most household products (toiletries, laundry soap, etc.).

For live updates, be sure to follow my Instagram Stories. See all posts on my $70 Grocery Budget here.

This week, I decided to do a Shop With Me feature on my Instagram Stories. Which means, I took my Instagram followers along with me from start to finish of a shopping trip at Kroger — including the planning, how I look for markdowns and re-arrange my list while at the store based upon what I find, where I find markdowns, and what I ended up buying for $70 this week.

If you are interested in watching this, I saved it as a highlight on my Instagram stories. You can view it here or go to my Instagram profile and look for the bubble at the top that says “Shop With Me”.

The bakery clearance cart was pretty empty, but I still found some garlic bread and rolls marked down to about $1 each.

Our store has started to have this section in the health food/natural area with markdowns on frozen healthy/allergen-free foods. Does your store have this?

The Mom’s Best Cereal deal is still going — and the iBotta rebate is still available, too! If you’ve not done this deal yet, you can get 5 boxes of cereal for $0.97 to $1.49 each and then submit for 5 $1 rebates from iBotta. This makes the 5 boxes of cereal either free or just $0.49!

I found a lot of closeouts at the store this week! If you have time when you’re shopping at Kroger, go through the aisles and look for these white tags. I was especially excited about the $0.97 granola! I got 3 bags at this price and it’s SO yummy!

I’ve been eating the granola over the honey Greek yogurt I found marked down to $1.99. Delicious!

Does your store have a section for dairy markdowns? You never know what you’ll find in ours!

There were lots of Thanksgiving/Christmas markdowns in the clearance section this week.

I got yeast, StoveTop stuffing, Snickers bars, and lots of canned goods!

And pasta is on stockup price at Kroger again!

My Kroger Shopping Trip

  • 9 boxes pasta — $0.49 each when you use the Kroger digital coupon
  • 2 boxes StoveTop stuffing — marked down to $0.49 each
  • 2 packets of yeast — marked down to $0.49 each
  • 2 boxes Jell-O pudding — marked down to $0.25 each
  • 2 Snickers bars — marked down to $0.29 each
  • 2 cans Campbell’s soup — marked down to $0.25 each
  • 4 cans beans — marked down to $0.29 each
  • Baking powder — $0.99
  • 3 bags granola — on closeout to $0.97 each
  • 1 bag rolls — marked down to $1.09
  • 1 loaf garlic bread — marked down to $1
  • 2 cups yogurt — marked down to $0.39 each
  • 2 bags Tyson chicken breasts — $5.99 each when you use the Kroger weekly digital coupon
  • Half & Half — $1.99
  • 5 boxes Mom’s Best Cereal — $0.97 to $1.49 each with Kroger digital coupon
  • Bananas — $1.63
  • 2 heads Romaine lettuce — $3.58
  • Red Leaf Lettuce — $1.79
  • Radishes — $0.99
  • Carrots — $1
  • Honey Greek Yogurt — marked down to $1.99
  • Whole Chicken — marked down to $3.36
  • Deli chicken — marked down to $4.99
  • Diced pork — marked down to $3.91
  • Milk — $2.99
  • Total with tax: $68.14

Want to learn some of my best tips and tricks for cutting your grocery bill? Sign up here for my FREE tip sheet on how to cut your grocery bill by $50 this week.

Shared Jan 16, 2021 comment

Brigette’s $87 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $87 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

2 bags frozen Riced Cauliflower – $2.98

2 pkgs Mixed Caulifornia Vegetables – $1.58

1 bag Steamable Mixed Vegetables – $0.75

1 bag frozen Broccoli Florets – $0.85

2 pkgs fresh Bone-In Split Chicken Breasts ($0.99/lb) – $9.79

1 pkg Pepperoni – $1.99

1 pkg (5.45lbs) 73/27 Ground Beef, discounted – $7.94

1 8-oz pkg Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.25

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.99

2 16-oz bags Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $5.10

1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.55

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.49

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.45

1 gallon 1% Milk – $1.45

5 Greek Yogurts – $2.95

1 jar Salsa – $0.89

1 jar Strawberry Jam – $1.39

1 32-oz carton Egg Whites – $2.95

3 dozen Eggs – $2.40

1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

2 Cauliflower – $3.98

1 bunch Bananas – $1.00

1 bag Red Grapes ($0.95/lb) – $1.73

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $0.99

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.70

1 bag Romaine Hearts – $1.99

1 3-ct pkg Colored Peppers – $2.69

1 7-lb bag Grapefruit – $4.19

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.79

1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.99

1 box Kid’s Krunch – $1.95

1 box Frosty Flakes – $1.99

1 box Marshmallow & Star Cereal – $1.25 (This is what happens when my husband does the shopping and I write the non-specific word “cereal” on the list :))

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.59

Total: $83.73

Harris Teeter

4 pkgs Mueller Pasta – $3.18, used 2 $0.55/2 Smart Source 1/10/21 (doubled) – $0.98/4 after coupons

1 pkg Southern  Biscuit Mix – $1.29, used $0.75/1 Smart Source 11/15/2020 (doubled) – FREE after coupon

1 box Quaker Life Cereal – $2.00, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – $0.50 after coupon

1 pkg Sargento Breaks – $1.99, used $0.75/1 Smart Source 1/10/21 (doubled) – $0.49

5 Yoplait Yogurts – $1.85, used $0.50/5 printable (doubled) – $0.85/5 after coupon

1 Larabar – $1.00, receive $0.10 rebate from Ibotta (any snack bar), plus $2.29 rebate – $1.39 MM after rebates

1 8-oz block Kraft Cheddar Cheese – $1.99, used $1.00/1 evic coupon – $0.99 after coupon

1 8-oz carton White Mushrooms – $1.00

1 Light + Fit with Collagen & Antioxidants Yogurt – $1.25, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) – FREE after coupon

Total after Coupons and Rebates – $3.42

Grocery Total for the Week: $87.15

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:

Oatmeal, Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Smoothies, Boiled/Fried/Scrambled Eggs, Veggie Omelets

Lunches

PB and J Sandwiches, Peppers, Cheese Sticks, Grapefruit x 2

Stovetop Mac and Cheese, Applesauce, Carrots x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Crustless Ham Quiche, Mixed Vegetables, Biscuits

Oven Baked Chicken and Rice, Tossed Salad, Broccoli

Taco Salad, Spanish Rice

Grilled Chicken, Mashed Cauliflower, Cranberry Orange Muffins

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Cauliflower Rice, Baked Sweet Potatoes

Meatloaf (I use half venison/half beef), Baked Potatoes, Sauteed Zucchini

Pepperoni Pizza, Mixed Vegetables

Shared Jan 14, 2021 comment

5 Steps to Start and Stick With Better Habits

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5 Steps to Start and Stick With Better Habits

Published: by on   |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

As we talked about yesterday, good habits done consistently can completely change the trajectory of your life. (And the inverse of that statement is also true.)

So, how do you start with stick with better habits? In this week’s podcast episode, Jesse and I tackle that topic along with sharing an update on our Christmas break, Jesse’s hunting trip, an audiobook we both listened to, and two updates we made to our home recently.

Here are the five suggestions we gave for starting and sticking with better habits:

1. Keep it simple.

Don’t try to overhaul your life overnight. Focus on 1-2 small habit changes at a time. As you master those, you can add another 1-2 habits.

2. Write it down.

Make a plan for the habits you want to develop. What will you do? When will you do it? Where will you do it?

3. Make it public.

Get brave and share your plan for building a new habit with the world. Tell a friend who will help you stay accountable. Or, post about it on social media.

4. Do it consistently.

Try to go for a streak. Don’t miss more than one day. Give yourself grace if you do miss a day and then tell yourself you can’t miss more than one day.

5. Track it regularly.

I highly recommend something like my Habit Tracker Checklist or another habit tracker printable or app (there are lots of free ones available!)

My Favorite Book on Habits

Looking for more practical encouragement to develop good habits? As I mentioned yesterday, I highly recommend Atomic Habits. This is, by far, my very favorite book on habits.

James Clear, the author, does such a great job of unpacking why and how to build good habits. I’ve read a lot of book on this topic and I feel like he has a very fresh and encouraging approach. The book is not written from a Christian perspective so I disagree with some of his worldview and conclusions, but there are so many great nuggets of truth and inspiration in this book.

If you feel like you are forever failing at follow through or you just can’t seem to stick with good habits, get a copy of this book. I listened to it about a year ago and loved it so much that I bought a hard copy and then slowly read it again this year. That tells you how valuable I found it! (I loved it so much that I picked it as one of my top 10 reads in 2020.)

Listen in to the episode where we share a lot more tips, suggestions, and motivation for starting and sticking with good habits.

In This Episode: 

[00:33] We’re back! Here’s why we took a 3-week break.

[02:29] A quick rundown of our holidays and how they were different than in the past.

[05:12] Jesse shares some of the details of his hunting trip.

[08:32] The string light saga.

[12:09] After almost three years, we now have a working gas fireplace!

[13:13] The combination of Audible and Scribd is saving Jesse’s life these days.

[14:25] Both Jesse and I finished the same audiobook at the same time and we have thoughts on it.

[20:19] We’re talking all about how to develop new habits.

[22:53] Keeping it simple is the best thing. Just pick one or two habits to change.

[26:28] Why it’s important to write your new habit down.

[28:03] Make what you write down active instead of passive.

[28:58] Once you’ve figured out all of the details, make it public.

[29:50] Consistency is key.

[31:55] Give yourself grace and change the language that you use about yourself.

[33:30] Don’t forget to track your habit changes.

Links and Resources:

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.)

Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.