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Shared Dec 3, 2018 comment

Gretchen’s $65 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on December 3, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons

2 Keebler Minis Crackers – $1.49 each, used 2 $0.75/1 Ibotta rebates and $1/2 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.25 each after rebates

2 Welch’s Fruit Snacks – $0.99 each, used 2 $0.50/1 Checkout 51 rebates – $0.49 each after rebates

1 Ruffles Chips – $1.49 after e-coupon (no longer available)

2 Kraft Salad Dressings – $0.99 each

2 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29 each

1 bag Oranges – Marked down to $0.99

1 bag Green Peppers – Marked down to $0.99

2 boxes Reeses Puff Cereal – $1.79 each, used $1/2 e-coupon – $1.29 each after coupon

2 Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes – $0.99 after e-coupon (no longer available)

2 boxes Back to Nature Cookies – $0.99 each

Used $0.10 Ibotta rebate for receipt

Total after coupons and rebates: $16.56

Dillons

I ran into a different Dillons to see if they had any markdowns and got a great deal on ground lamb! Any ideas on what to do with this? Can I use it just like ground beef?

2.45 lbs Bananas – $1.20

5 lbs Ground Lamb – $0.49 each

Total: $3.65

Aldi

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99

1 pkg Cinnamon Applesauce Cups – $1.49

2 cans Cream Soup – $0.49 each

2 Half & Half – $1.79 each

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 Pineapple – $1.29

1 lb Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $3.99

1 pkg Chocolate Chips – $1.29

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

3 Cucumbers – $0.89 each

1 pkg Grapes – $2.37

1 pkg Moo Tubes – $1.55

2 Yeast Packets – $0.89 each

1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.79

1 pkg Dried Apricots – $2.79

2 pkg Shredded Cheese – $2.59 each

1 bag Apples – $1.49

Total: $44.95

Total for all groceries: $65.16

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, English Muffins, Fruit, Bagels from Panera (after church)

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches/Fruit, Turkey Sandwiches/Chips, Crackers/Cheese/Veggies, Tossed Salad, Yogurt/Applesauce/Turkey/Crackers, Leftovers

Dinners

Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks

Spaghetti, Green Beans, Freezer Biscuits

Sour Cream Enchiladas, Steamed Veggies

Dinner from a friend (My friend texted and said she is bringing us dinner! I’m pretty spoiled!)

Grilled Chicken, Tater Tots, Pineapple

Vegetable Soup, Homemade Bread

Out to eat (using coupons)

Shared Dec 1, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $68 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on December 1, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ALDI

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.33

2 bags Baby Carrots – $1.38

1 pkg Fresh Zucchini – $1.95

1 large bag Organic Kale – $3.19

1 bag Spinach – $1.19

1 bag Radishes – $0.49

1 bag Envy Apples (1.45lbs @ 1.85/lb) – $2.68

2 3-lb bags Pink Lady Apples – $5.98

1 pkg Fresh Cranberries – $0.69

2 bags Mini Cucumbers – $3.38

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.39

3 bags Frozen Riced Cauliflower – $5.67

1 bunch Bananas 1.34lbs @$0.38/lb) – $0.51

1 can Olive Oil Spray – $1.99

2 3-lb pkgs Fresh Chicken Tenderloins, reduced – $6.87

1 32-oz carton Greek Nonfat Yogurt – $3.29

2 pkgs Sliced Deli Cheese – $2.30

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.65

1 10-lb Smoked Ham – $11.90 (I’ll dice this and freeze it, and this amount of ham will last for a number of meals over the next few weeks)

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 box Crispy Rice Cereal – $1.15

1 bag Gluten Free Pretzels – $1.75

1 bag Pretzels – $0.79

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.65

1 20-ct pkg Tortillas – $0.99

2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese – $0.50

2 dozen Eggs – $2.18

Total: $68.44

Grocery Total for the Week: $64.55

I decided to wait until early next week to go to Harris Teeter as they are running Super Doubles starting on Sunday. I’ll include that trip in my post next week – although I’ll be using some of the things I buy there in my menu plan for this week).

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Macaroni and Cheese, Apples, Carrots

PB & J Sandwiches, Apples/Bananas, Carrots x 2

Pretzels with Peanut Butter, Cucumbers, Oranges x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Ham and Bean Soup, Cornbread

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Spinach Salad

Build-Your-Own-Burrito (Seasoned Venison Taco Meat, Shredded Cheese, Plain Yogurt, Salsa), Spanish Rice

Crispy Oven Baked Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Roasted Zucchini, Cranberry Muffins

Pancakes, Strawberry Kale Smoothies (using strawberries from the freezer from my bulk purchase a few weeks ago), Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Cheese

Cauliflower Fried Rice (I’ll use this recipe as a guide, but do my own thing based on vegetables we like), Cranberry Muffins, Egg Drop Soup

Leftovers

Shared Nov 29, 2018 comment

How to Stop Buying Cheap Stuff

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 29, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Thank you for all you do. I have been inspired to be more mindful about my purchases. I would like to hear you address an issue I have had and that is buying things because they are so cheap but not needing the items. So, the purchases just sit there. A purchase only is good if you need it. -Tina

At this time of year, when there are deals and sales galore, it’s easy to get caught up in the sale frenzy and spend money on items that aren’t actually a good deal for us.

A sale might be a great deal for some people, but just because a sale is a great deal for some people doesn’t mean that it’s a great deal for everyone.

So how can you be more mindful of your purchases and not just spend money because it was a can’t-miss deal? Well, here are four suggestions I have:

1. Have a budget.

You knew I was going to say this, didn’t you? I know, it’s not exciting to have and stick with a budget.

But guess what? It will be exciting when you don’t have to stress over getting a credit card bill that you can’t pay!

Jesse and I have always lived on a strict written budget. And we attribute the current financial position we are in almost 100% to the fact that we have stuck with a budget since the time we were married.

(Hate the word budget? Then don’t use that word and use a different more positive word that works for you.)

A budget has also forced us to communicate about our wants and needs and goals. And it’s forced us to be really creative when times are tight.

There are times when it’s been really hard — because having a budget has meant that we have had to say no to a lot of good things and fun things and things we’d really love to have or do.

On the flip side, a budget has also given us permission to spend money. As soon as we had some wiggle room in our budget, we were able to add a Blow Category to our budget. Living on a budget and spending less than we make has also allowed us to have the extra money to give generously.

The best thing about a budget is that it lets you know whether you can spend on an item or whether you shouldn’t spend on an item. When you see that great deal on shoes at the mall or electronics on Amazon or cereal at the grocery store, you will know whether or not you have the money for it by consulting your budget.*

Psst! Feel like you can’t cut your budget but you’re not making ends meet? Read this post.

2. Use cash or a prepaid card or gift card.

A budget is imperative, but if you need help with actually sticking with your budget — especially when it comes to purchases like your Christmas gifts — you could make it easier for yourself to follow through with a budget by using cash or a pre-paid card or gift card.

These might not be as efficient as using a debit or credit card, but they will certainly be more effective at helping you stick with your budget.

I prefer cash since I can see exactly how much I have left to spend. For me, there’s something about having to pull out cash and hand it over when shopping that forces me to really examine each purchase and be 100% sure I want to spend the money on it.

I’ll find myself asking questions like, “Will I really use this? Could I get this for less money somewhere else? Do I really need this right now? How often do I think I’ll use/wear this?”

Using cash is great for in-store purchases, but it doesn’t really work for online purchases — and that’s where most of the best deals often are. This is where a pre-purchased prepaid card or gift card can come into play.

Designate the amount of money you plan to spend online for Christmas gifts (or whatever the purchases will be) onto this card and then that will highly motivate you to actually stick with that pre-determined budget!

(You can also earn free gift cards to use on Christmas gifts! Here are some of my favorite sites to use for that.)

Psst! Thinking you might want to start using cash envelopes? Read this post on 7 Budget-Saving Cash Envelope Hacks.

3. Get some accountability.

If you struggle to stick with your budget and are often swayed by “good deals” to overspend, I would encourage you to set up some accountability. This could be in the form of a budget tracker program like You Need a Budget. But I’d strongly suggest taking it a step further and asking for someone to be your accountability partner.

This would be a person who would know what your financial goals are, know what your budget is, and would get to check in with you regularly on how it’s going sticking with your budget. You could even give them access to your budgeting spreadsheet or software so they could check up on you in real-time!

Also, set up parameters for what influences you have in your life. If you find that reading certain blogs or following certain people on social media or going to certain stores or reading certain magazines or websites causes you to want to overspend, maybe you need to just stay away from them.

In the same vein, replace those negative influences with positive ones. Have people around you who will encourage you to stick with your budget, make wise financial choices, and live intentionally and frugally.

(Need some help finding frugal friends? Read this post.)

4. Wait 24 hours.

If you have the money in your budget, but you’re just not sure whether you should spend it on this item, a great exercise is wait 24 hours before purchasing it.

This gives you time to consider whether you really think it’s a good deal. It gives you space to step back and analyze whether or not you will really use something. And it also guarantees that you’re not just buying into an adrenaline rush and buying something you’ll later regret.

If you still think the item is a great deal after 24 hours, then you can guiltlessly purchase it. And there’s a really great chance it will be something that you will love and use for years to come because you were so thoughtful in your purchase.

What tips or advice would you have for Tina? Share them in the comments.

* One of the tools we love to help us track our spending and make sure we are sticking with the budget is using You Need a Budget. You can read more how it works and why we love it so much here.

photo credit; photo credit

Shared Nov 28, 2018 comment

How to Save Money on Groceries When You Live in California

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 28, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I have been following this blog for several years now and love it! What I am challenged by are the grocery savings that many of you are able to enjoy in other parts of the U.S.

I reside in California and grocery prices are very high here. I am unsure how I would only spend $70 a week on groceries for three of us let alone five! I work part-time and am currently advancing my degree so I don’t do a lot of couponing. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Hi there! Your question is one I’ve heard often and I decided it was high time I answer it. And I hope that what I share encourages you to not only know that you’re not the only one who feels this way, but also to know that there are practical things you can do to save a lot of money on groceries.

Here are my suggestions for you:

1. Focus on the Positive

It’s so easy for us to focus on the negative things and miss the positive things about our circumstances. Here’s the thing: While cost of living might be higher in CA and grocery prices on some things might be much more, that’s definitely not the case for ALL groceries.

You see, I’ve actually shopped in CA before and found great deals there! In fact, when I shopped there, I was shocked by how inexpensive some of the CA produce prices were. They were incredibly cheap compared to what I’m used to paying in other parts of the country.

Jessica from LifeAsMom says in her post on Saving Money on Foods in Southern California:

The mainstream grocery stores, like Albertsons, Ralphs, and Vons, usually have one or two loss leaders each week. But the smaller chains like Henry’s and Sprouts have a whole barrel of bargains on a weekly basis. A peek at my recent finds:

limes $0.10
kiwis $0.20
apples $0.49
lettuce $0.88
cuties $1.97
swiss chard $2
green onions $0.25
cucumbers $0.49
zucchini $0.88/lb
blackberries $0.97
tomatoes $0.88/lb
cilantro $0.25
broccoli $0.97/lb

Go read the rest of her fantastic post here for more tips.

Now maybe you can’t find all of those same prices at your local stores, but I bet if you looked around, you’d see that there are, indeed, some pretty great produce prices in California. And there are probably other great deals and sales on other items, too!

2. Stop Saying “I Can’t”

If you pre-decide that you can’t do something, there’s an almost guaranteed chance you won’t be able to do it.

This means that if you decide that that you can’t save money on groceries because groceries are too expensive in California, you’ll likely not be inspired or motivated to try to cut your grocery bill.

On the other hand, if you pre-decide to have a can-do, creative attitude, you’re going to be a lot more successful at saving money on groceries. Stop telling yourself that you can’t save money on groceries because you live in a high cost area, and start challenging yourself to find creative ways to save.

2. Pick Your Own Number

I noticed that you said you can’t figure out how on earth you could only spend $70 per week for your family of three, let alone if you had a family of five. Well, guess what? You don’t have to!

The only reason I share about our grocery budget here is to show you ideas of how we are keeping our grocery budget low. But the $70 grocery budget number is not something I’m putting out there saying you need to do, too.

That’s just what works for our family right now based upon the time I have to shop and the stores and prices I know I’m able to get and how much (and what type!) of food our family consumes.

There is no one-size-fits-all grocery budget number because everyone is in a different season with different needs, different capacity, different stores, and different options. So choose a number that works for you and your family based upon the time you have, your dietary needs and preferences, and your store options. And don’t feel guilty if the number is very different from the number another family has!

3. Find Someone to Do the Legwork For You

One of the best ways you can stay inspired to save money (and save a lot of time in the process!) is by finding a blogger who is covering the deals at your local store.

To do this, just search for your local store + “blog” or “coupons” or “deals” and search until you find something relevant. There are typically blogs or forums covering deals at just about every store in the US.

4. Make it a Game!

Think about when any pro sports team plays against another team. They have to change up their approach and their plays each time because each time is different. But the goal is the same with each game: they want to win!

It’s the same with saving money on groceries. I’ve lived in multiple cities and each one had different stores. I’ve learned that you have to change your strategy each time, but you can keep the end goal the same — to save money on groceries.

It’s all about being creative, thinking outside the box, pairing sales with coupons (you can search our Coupon Database to easily find any available printable coupons for items you are already planning to purchase), and following the deals that a blogger shares for your local stores (hopefully you can find one!)

I also recommend looking into whether there are any discount grocery stores in your area, looking for markdowns at your local stores, learn to buy ahead when there are great sales (that way you never pay full price for most things you buy), plan your meals based upon what is inexpensive and on sale, and just do the best you can do!

(Need more ideas? Read my post on 10 Simple Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill by $50 This Week.)

Do you live in California or have you lived there before? If so, I’d love for you to chime in with your best tips and tricks (and if you know any great bloggers who are covering deals there, leave their link in the comments).

Shared Nov 27, 2018 comment

How to Find Your Blue Flame

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 27, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m so excited for today’s guest! Jennifer Fulwiler has been a great inspiration to me. I first encountered her writings over a decade ago when I first started blogging, and rediscovered her this past year when I read her new book, One Beautiful Dream.

If you’re a mom who works or wants to pursue your passions, I can’t recommend this book highly enough — and I think you’ll really enjoy today’s conversation. (And even if you’re not a mom, I think you’ll get a lot from it!)

In our conversation, Jennifer talks about whether she has always been okay with being imperfect, how she thinks about balancing work and motherhood, what a blue flame is and why it’s often invisible to us, and even her experiences with stand-up comedy and how she’s facing a big fear with this. Tune in for this fun and enlightening conversation.

In This Episode:

[02:52] – I have fallen in love with this particular article of clothing and have worn it over and over again as the weather has gotten cooler. (Psst! You can see a picture of me wearing it here.)

[07:05] – My book pick this week is a book by one of my favorite podcasters. It’s not out yet, but you can go ahead and pre-order it!

[08:28] – Today’s interview guest is Jennifer Fulwiler, a bestselling author, radio host, speaker, and mother of six. (Because she is a radio show host, she’s so easy to interview and I could have talked to her for WAY longer than we had scheduled for this interview!)

[10:23] – Jennifer talks about how she did wish she could portray more perfection online at one point in time, but she realized how inauthentic and untruthful that would be.

[12:24] – Do you want to work or need to work and feel guilty that you won’t be able to prioritize motherhood? Jennifer shares how she finds balance in the middle of a really full life — and how balance doesn’t look like you might expect it to look.

[15:17] – I ask Jennifer what she would say to a woman who has no idea where to start or feels like she’s not good at anything?

[17:19] – A pretty crazy example of something I do that I thought was incredibly no-brainer, but that people have said has revolutionized their lives by doing it, too. (Note: It involves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!)

[19:40] – Jennifer talks about why she has been challenging herself outside her comfort zone and doing stand-up comedy — even though it scares her so much (she also spills the beans on a BIG thing she’s launching in 2019!)

[25:43] – Jennifer talks about why they got rid of their dressers and this trick that has helped them have a lot more room and storage space in their small house.

[28:30] – I answer a question from Marcy on what hospitality looks like in this season of life (and how it’s often not necessarily inviting a family over for dinner),

Links and Resources:

Tea N Rose Open Front Herringbone Cardigan (pictures only; not for sale)
Emily P. Freeman
The Next Right Thing Podcast
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman
Jennifer Fulwiler
Freezer-Friendly Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler
Think Like a Warrior by Darrin Donnelly
CrystalPaine.com
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 we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. 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.

Sponsor Spotlight

Today’s episode is sponsored by Twigby — a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices. As I mentioned in the podcast, if you are looking for a great deal on a phone for your teen (or yourself!), I’d highly recommend checking out what Twigby has to offer.

Unlike traditional cell phone companies, they give you the ability to create your own custom, prepaid plan — without a contract or an unnecessary activation fee.

You don’t have to mess with going to a store and picking out a phone plan. You just go to their site, pick your phone plan and either switch your current phone over or get a new phone, and they get it all set up for you.

My favorite part about their service (in addition to their great prices!) is that they offer plan flexibility with the ability to change plans or phones at any time for free. You’re not locked into an expensive contract that has activation and termination fees.

They also offer Free Overage Protection, so you can rest easy in knowing that you will never be charged for overages without your go-ahead! You have complete control.

Special offer! Want to save 25% off your first 6 months of Twigby? Click here.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Nov 25, 2018 comment

7 Days in India (where we went, what we ate, what we did!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 25, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to the last post in my series on our 10-day trip to Rome and India where I’m sharing a peek into our trip — where we went, what we learned, and how we saved money. For details on why we went to Rome and India, read this post. For more information on where we stayed in Rome, read this post. And for budget-friendly things to do in Rome, read this.

Our flight from Rome to India was quite eventful. We flew from Rome to London first… but our flight was delayed and we ended up having an incredibly tight layover. But British Airways was amazing! They met us at the gate as soon as we deplaned, gave us these Express Passes, and they personally ran with us to security to make sure that we made it through.

There were some hangups along the way, but the British Airways personnel made sure that we got through security as quickly as possible and then they made sure that they didn’t shut the boarding process down until we were on the plane.

Getting on the flight involved a whole lot of running and craziness, but we made it — and we are so thankful to the British Airways employees who were incredible to work with and who bent over backwards to take care of us!

Since Jesse and I have status on American Airlines (because it’s the only airline we usually fly), we were able to get amazing seats on this flight — well, as amazing as you can get for free (without paying for business class or first class!). The leg room was so nice on the 10-hour flight!

I wished we would have gotten to see London, but it was fun to at least fly over a little of it. We are hoping to visit London and Rome as a family in 2019.

Once again, the British Airways food was delicious — a word I would rarely use to describe airline food! 🙂

We made it to India! We flew into Hyderabad and I was instantly impressed with how much nicer everything was there compared to where we flew in on my last trip.

They had a McDonald’s at the airport!!

We made it to India… tired and without our bags (because of the flight delay and the really short layover, our bags didn’t make it on the flight). But we made it!

(They had made us check almost everything because of their bag restrictions — which was fine and we had all made sure to pack toiletries and an extra outfit in our carryon bags — but it was kind of a hassle when we got into India because there was only one flight per day on British Airways from London to India and so we’d have to wait a full day for our bags to show up. In addition, it was kind of complicated because of the language barriers to try to figure out how we were going to actually get our bags since we were going to be leaving our hotel before they could deliver them to the hotel and we wanted to pick them up from the airport instead. But that was not their typical protocol… but we finally got it all sorted out and were able to leave and head to our hotel.)

Hyderabad is a very Western-influenced city and has a lot of wealth. This was the view out one side of the hotel

And this was the view out the other side. I really loved Hyderabad and would go back there in a heartbeat!

After napping and getting some work done at the hotel, we all went out for dinner at Paradise — which is well known for its Biryani.

Buttered Naan… by far my very favorite Indian food!

I thought the Biryani was okay… I honestly much preferred the Chicken Fried Rice. Which I’m sure shows how Western I am! 😉

Since no one uses silverware in India and you only eat with your right hand, your hand gets quite messy. So they bring you these hotel bowls of water to wash your fingers at the end of the meal.

After dinner breath refreshers.

The next morning, we drove a ways to meet a number of the orphans and start doing eye exams. Covenant Children’s Homes has around 650 orphans that they care for in their homes and all of the kids had had eye screenings and then only the 125 kids who failed the eye screenings came for the exams.

Of the 125 who came, 103 needed glasses. Some of them needed them desperately and we’re not sure how they have been functioning at all without them!

This photo might not seem like anything special or out-of-the-ordinary to you, but it represents so much to me.

Since I didn’t have an official job and was just filling in where needed, I spent most of my time just sitting with the kids and getting to know them (and eating the food that they kept serving us! Indians are so hospitable!)

I used to feel incredibly awkward going into situations where there were language barriers and huge cultural differences. I didn’t know what to ask or say or how to act, so I’d gravitate toward the little kids or just stay on the sidelines — or just avoid situations like this altogether.

But the more I’ve put myself in these kinds of situations, the more confident I’ve become. On this trip, I realized anew just how life-giving it is for me and how I’m no longer nervous going into these situations.

Yes, it will be awkward. Yes, you won’t understand a lot of what is being asked or said. Yes, you’ll have to use your phone to talk through pictures. Yes, you’ll have to repeat yourself slowly multiple times. Yes, you’ll have to ask them to repeat themselves many times, too. Yes, you’ll need to use big hand motions & gestures to help communicate.

But it’s worth the awkwardness and the effort because it opens the door to learn so much from others and to have the opportunity to look into someone’s eyes and let them know that they are seen and heard and loved.

When you push past the awkward, you get to experience the awesome.

By the way, you don’t have to go to India to put this into practice. Look for someone who is hurting or lonely or in need of love and reach out to them. Invite them into your home, invite them out to coffee, or just stop and take time to look into their eyes and listen to them and let them know that they have value and worth.

I wholeheartedly believe that this is one of the most important ways we can change the world — by stepping outside our safe and comfortable lives and taking some risks in the name of love. It’s so worth it!

Jesse was in charge of doing all of the refractometer readings.

Drew and Jamie’s kids had never traveled internationally before and yet they jumped right in and helped out.

It was so fun to get to see them interact with the kids and teenagers.

This has been a longtime dream of Drew’s to get to come and serve in this way and it was incredible to see him in his element!

The guys wanted to get lots of selfies with me while we waited… and were also quite fascinated to find that I had a Facebook Page and Instagram page with so many followers (most of the people in India are quite tech-savvy!)

Jamie helped everyone who needed glasses pick out frames after they had had their exams.

Lunch!

Yes, I know I have my eyes closed. No that was not on purpose. 😉 But I thought it aptly represents how we all felt at the end of the day. TIRED. But so fulfilled and happy to have this opportunity!

After all the eye exams, we left to travel a few hours away to another town. We stopped for dinner — and I used my first squatty potty at the rest stop. (Can you believe I managed to go my entire first trip to India without using a squatty potty??)

And then we ate at Domino’s for dinner… our last time to see anything Western for a few days.

The pizza actually tasted weird (though it’s not like I’ve eaten a lot of Domino’s pizza, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to!), so I mostly just ate this instead…

We got into our hotel around midnight. The place reeked of smoke and mold, but we were so tired, so we were grateful for a bed to sleep in! And then we got up early the next morning and drove another hour to go to a village church.

The village was SO excited for us to be there — this is a very non-touristy area so it’s likely we are some of the few Westerners who have ever gone to this village!

They greeted us with flower petals and flower garlands.

Their church service was so incredible to be a part of.

They had chairs at the front for us to sit on while they all sat on the floor. As time went on, more and more people came and crowded in the building.

They were so enthusiastic in their singing and praying and — even though we couldn’t understand the language, it was a joy to be part of.

One of the things I noticed on this trip was how excited people were for me to take their pictures. I would usually ask if I could before snapping a picture and they were so happy to oblige!

After the church service (which was a few hours long and SO hot… we were dripping sweat the entire time; it’s such a good reminder how much comfort we live in with all of our climate-controlled homes and buildings!), we went over to eat lunch with the pastor and his family and some of the locals from the church.

They made this incredible spread of food for us.

I got to try Thumb’s Up for the first time (a sort of Coke-like Indian drink). I don’t drink soda, but it was actually pretty good!

After lunch, we asked if we could pray with them and then they all gathered around and prayed for us. When I realized they were going to pray for us, I asked one of the young girls if she could get some pictures with my phone because I had a feeling it was one of those moments I would want to have captured.

I was right. They all pray at once and it’s so powerful and moving.

I was sort of the unofficial photographer for the trip and I took at least a few thousand photos. Jamie got this one of me taking the above photo, which I loved!

We drove for a few more hours and finally made it to our next hotel quite late at night.

We were now in a very non-touristy area of India that has basically zero Western influence. We stayed in the best hotel in the city and it was by far the most primitive hotel I’ve ever stayed at. It was so good to think about the fact that this bathroom — which felt like “roughing it” for us, would have been extremely upscale and glamorous for almost everyone in this city.

For dinner, we went to the very “upscale” (for this area) grocery store and bought crackers and bananas and water — what I would be eating a lot of the next few days since we were almost out of the snacks we had brought with us on the trip!

Because most of the water is very unsafe for Westerners (and you can get violently sick from just getting a drop or two in your mouth), we had to be extremely careful the entire trip what we ate and drank (especially since I really didn’t want to get Dehli Belly again like last trip!

Thus, we could only eat items that had really thick skin on them or were in packages. And we had to use bottled water for everything — including brushing our teeth. So it meant we ate a lot of things like crackers and bananas. I may have even eaten a package of wafer cookies for dinner one night because I was hungry and that was about all we had left.

While it felt a little inconvenient to have so little access to the foods I would usually eat, it was such a good reminder how blessed I am to have access to safe, clean drinking water and so many fresh foods and such a variety of wholesome foods. So many, many people in the world would love to have crackers and bananas to eat.

The next day, we went to a big conference center and did more exams for more of the orphans.

Lunch!

Then, we went to a local wholesale market to do some shopping.

The prices were insanely low… but we were told we were supposed to haggle with them since they were likely triple charging us because we were Westerners. In addition, I guess it’s sort of not polite to not haggle as it says that they don’t have great products… or something like that.

The next morning, we went back to the same location to do more eye exams… and these people had another ceremony to honor us for coming. We were so blown away by their kindness and warmth and hospitality.

This was one of my favorite meals. They put more sauce on the rice after this photo was taken… it was SO good!

This young lady was so well-spoken and had the best English of almost any of the kids and teens… so she helped interpret for us. We loved getting to know her and learn so much about Indian culture from her.

We went up on the roof to watch the sun set.

And then we went back to the same wholesale market to get more gifts to bring back to family at home.

Drew was a pretty amazing haggler and he didn’t need our Indian friends to even help him out at all!

We ended the evening by riding on an auto rickshaw back to the hotel!

The next morning, we woke up early and drove to the Indian ocean. It was so vibrant and colorful and alive on the beach.

I was sad I didn’t have my DSLR camera to capture the colors on the beach. It was truly stunning.

And then we checked out of our hotel for the 8-hour drive back to Hyderabad. We stopped at a Coffee Day on the way back. It was incredibly clean and modern.

And look at the beautiful latte they made for Jesse!

We spent a lot of time in this kind of traffic while in India. They are amazing drivers and it’s pretty incredible to witness!

We stayed at a really nice hotel in Hyderabad the last night. We were all so glad to have real showers with hot water and clean rooms and clean beds to sleep in. It’s amazing how much our perspective had changed in just a few days!

And we left for the airport the next morning around 4:15 a.m.

It was time to say goodbye to India.

We were so ready to get home to our kiddos… but also so glad we came on this trip!

One of the highlights of the trip home was seeing Michael Phelps (most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time!) at the London airport (can you spot him with the baseball cap on right next to the 32 in the above photo?).

This meal on the way home basically tasted like the best pasta dish I had ever eaten in my life! 🙂 Also, it was so nice to get to use a fork again! 😉

My first trip to India (in August) was really rough. It started with a man trying to force his way into the airplane bathroom and then one of the hotel staff actually forcing himself into my hotel room (and standing in front of the closed door for a few minutes so I couldn’t leave) and it ended with me getting violently sick with Delhi Belly.

I struggled with sensory overload with all of the newness and different tastes, sights, sounds, smells, and cultural differences and it was hard to know how to grapple with the overwhelming need.

I also found it hard to be one of only a few white women in a huge city. The gawking, the pointing, the incessant staring by men… it felt unnerving.

I came home wondering why I had gone. Yes, my courage muscles were stretched. Yes, my worst fear of getting Delhi Belly happened and I survived. But I felt confused as to the purpose of the trip… because I honestly just didn’t know what to think about India.

But if I hadn’t gone on that trip, I never would have gone back to India this past week. That trip was a catalyst for us to go on this second trip to India.

And there was so much redemption in this second trip. I was much more mentally prepared for the sensory overload, so it didn’t overwhelm me like the first time. I also was super careful about what I ate and drank.

Most importantly, I fell in love with India and the Indian people this time! I was so touched by their warm hospitality and the way they live and work in such community with one another. They are so involved in one another’s lives. They don’t have the same personal space bubbles I think we often have in the Western world and it’s really beautiful to observe.

I was also able to see past the “sensory overload” to see so much beauty, life, joy, and celebration in all the colors, sounds, smells, and tastes. It touched me and inspired me in a deep way.

It’s so good to be stretched a little (or a lot!) out of our cultural comfort zones and to get to experience a very different way of life.

There’s so much I learned and was inspired with from spending time with and getting to know those who live in India on this trip. I will never forget it!

Shared Nov 24, 2018 comment

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

Published: by Brigette on November 24, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.38

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.33

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.89

1 3-lb bag Frozen Boneless Chicken Breast – $5.39

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.75

1 large tub Pretzels – $3.29

2 loaves Sandwich Bread – $1.30

1 box Crispy Rice Cereal – $1.15

1 can Evaporated Milk – $0.59

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $1.99

2 pkgs Baby Artisan Lettuce – $3.78

1 3-lb bag Mandarin Oranges – $2.39

2 16-oz bags Mini Cucumbers – $3.38

2 3-lb Pink Lady Apples – $5.98

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.35

1 pkg Fresh Zucchini – $1.45

2 3-lb bags Sweet Potatoes – $1.98

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39

1 pkg Radishes – $0.49

1 pkg Blackberries – $0.89

1 bunch Bananas (2.18lbs @ $0.39/lb) – $0.83

2 bags Frozen Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 pkg Brussel Sprouts – $1.49

2 pkgs Baby Carrots – $1.50

1 large can Whipped Cream – $2.65

3 cans Pumpkin – $2.37

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

1 1-lb box Butter Quarters – $1.99

2 pkgs Deli Sliced Cheese – $2.30

2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.30

1 container Feta Crumbles – $1.89

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.99

1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.65

3 dozen Eggs – $3.33

Total: $78.41

Harris Teeter

5 Chobani Yogurts – $5.00, used $1.00/5 Chobani Yogurt Singles – 11-11-18 SS (exp. 12/16/18) – $4.00/5 after coupon

1 pkg Jello – $0.75, used $0.25/1 Jell-O or Jet-Puffed Product – 11-18-18 SS (exp. 12/31/18) (doubled) – $0.25 after coupon

1 Equal Cafe Creamer – $1.64, used $1.50/1 Equal Product – 11-18-18 RMN (exp. 12/31/18) – FREE after coupon

1 pkg Southern Biscuit Mix – $0.89, used $0.75/1 Southern Biscuit Mix – 11-18-18 SS (exp. 12/30/18) (doubled) – FREE after coupon

1 4-lb bag Sugar – $1.79, used $0.55/1 Dixie Crystals Granulated Sugar or Poly Bag of Light Brown, Dark Brown or Powdered Sugar – 11-18-18 SS; Includes Granulated, 4 lbs or Larger or Baking Sugar, 2 lbs or Larger (exp. 12/30/18) (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon

5 cans Del Monte Green Beans – $2.78, used $0.40/4 Del Monte Canned Vegetables – 11-4-18 SS; Includes 10 – 18 oz Only (exp. 01/04/19) (doubled) – $1.98/5 after coupon

Total: $6.92

Grocery Total for the Week: $85.33

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Baked Sweet Potatoes, Cucumbers, Pretzels x 2

Deli Meat/Cheese Sandwiches, Apples, Carrots x2

Cheese Quesadillas, Mini Cucumbers, Oranges x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Pizza Casserole (recipe from “Trim Healthy Table Cookbook” – we like this recipe, and since it uses riced cauliflower for the crust, it’s a great way to get in extra veggies!), Tossed Salad

Crockpot Italian Chicken, Tossed Salad, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Roasted Broccoli, Biscuits

Date Night (Kids are spending the night at their adopted Grandparent’s house – my husband and I will go out for dinner or do take-out)

Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup, Gluten-Free Oatmeal Spice Muffins, Veggie Tray with Dip

Taco Salad (I use ground venison), Green Rice, Fruit Salad

Leftovers

Shared Nov 22, 2018 comment

Choosing to Be Thankful When Life is Hard

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 22, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today is a day when we celebrate our blessings and reflect on all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. It’s a good thing to stop and express our gratitude — we all have much to be thankful for.

However, some of you are probably really struggling this Thanksgiving. Maybe your spouse recently left you, or your child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or you are battling an addiction, or your finances feel like they are in shambles and you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole because of unemployment and ever-mounting bills.

Life is hard and messy sometimes — and just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean that the pain and burdens are lifted.

If you are struggling today, I want you to know that you are not alone. You are not the only one. And you are going to make it through.

Don’t lose heart. Don’t lose hope.

And I want to encourage you to do two things:

Look for something to be grateful for. It might feel like you have to look really hard, but I think that if you start to look for something to be grateful for, you will find it. (And it could be something simple like clean drinking water or clean clothes to wear or a roof over your head or running water or a bathroom in your house… when we were in India last week, I was reminded just how many people don’t have access to basic things like this that we so easily take for granted.)
Find someone to show love to. When we focus our energy on loving and blessing those around us, we are blessed in return and our heavy spirits will likely be lifted up, too!

Also, if you are struggling today, I’d love to pray for you. Just leave a comment on this post or send me an email and I will stop and pray for you by name. Because I want you to know that you are seen. You are not alone. You matter.

A Heartfelt Word of Thanks to Each of You

I also wanted to take a moment to thank you to each of you for everything you mean to me and how you bless me on a daily basis by reading here.

Thank you for your kind words. Thank you for being faithful readers. Thank you for commenting and emailing.

Thank you for sending in suggestions, telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and buying my books and courses. Thank you for the way you constantly encourage and cheerlead me.

From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful for you.

photo credit

Shared Nov 21, 2018 comment

Gretchen’s $69 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on November 21, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons

3 pkg Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.77 each

1 bag Flour – $1.59

2 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $1 each

1 pkg Ritz Crackers – $1.99

3.21 lbs Bananas – $1.57

2 bag Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1.49 each

2 pkg Jello Pudding – $1 each

1.24 lbs Tomatoes – $2.10

2 bags Apples – Marked down to $0.99 each

2 Lettuce – $1.29 each

1 lb Ground Beef – $3.49

Total: $27.59

Aldi

1 pkg Refrigerated Pie Crust – $1.39

1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.47

1 box Cake Mix – $0.85

2 lbs Butter – $2.29 each

2 cans Pineapple Chunks – $0.95 each

3 cans Corn – $0.47 each

1 can Cream Corn – $0.49

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

2 cans Mandarin Oranges – $0.79 each

2 cans Pumpkin – $0.79 each

1 bag Asparagus – $1.39

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99

l bag Sugar – $1.15

1 bag Mini Marshmallows – $0.89

1 bag Chocolate Chips – $1.89

1 lb Sausage – $1.89

1 Sour Cream – $0.89

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 lb Oven Roasted Turkey Breast – $3.99

1 bag Powdered Sugar – $0.95

1 box Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.49

1 bag Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 bag Frozen Peas – $0.79

2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.49 each

1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99

2 Seedless Cucumbers – $0.89 each

1 galoon Milk – $1.79

Total: $41.43

Total for both stores: $69.02

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cinnamon Rolls, Toasted English Muffins, Eggs, Leftover fruit and yogurt

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Tossed Salad, Turkey Sandwiches, Leftovers

Dinners

Nacho Bar (We’re having friends over and I’m providing the chips, tomatoes, salsa, olives and lettuce. They are bringing the rest of the stuff!)

Thanksgiving with my parents (I’m bringing Apple Pie, 5 Cup Salad, Pumpkin Bread, Cinnamon Bread, Cheesy Corn Casserole and Toll House Pie.)

Upside Down Pizza, Breadsticks, Tossed Salad

Beef Enchiladas, Chips, Steamed Peas

Waffles, Eggs

Out to eat for my son’s birthday dinner

Leftovers

Shared Nov 19, 2018 comment

The 2 Books I Read the Past 2 Weeks

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 19, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.

(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

I didn’t get a chance to post a book post last week because were in India, but I’m excited to tell you about these two books I finished the past two weeks.

The first book was Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. If you’ve gone to India, lived in India, or plan to visit India, I think this will be a very insightful and interesting book.

Honestly, it gave me such helpful perspective as I prepared to head to India for the second time. It was sad, intriguing, and yet it gave me hope, too.

I think it’s so easy for those of us who live in the Western world to feel like we have better answers to how to help or fix poverty. But as this book clearly shows, we don’t really understand at all what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Because I had experienced some of what this book talks about and been to some of the areas the book refers to, it made the story come alive in a really vibrant way. It’s hard for me to put into words how it impacted me, but it’s one of those books I’ll be mulling on for a long time to come.

Note: There is a lot of crass language and mature topics discussed in this book. It’s real and raw and doesn’t sugar-coat anything. The author went to great lengths to present the story as accurately as possible and, there wasn’t anything she said that was refuted by people I met in India.

A big thank you to Leigh Kramer for telling me about this book and highly encouraging me to read it.

I’m a big fan of Katie Ganshert and have been wanting to read Wildflowers from Winter for awhile. I think it was her first book and I feel like the depth of her writing and character development has improved quite a bit in her subsequent books, but I still enjoyed this novel and definitely wanted to keep reading it even when I really needed to put it down and go do other things.

When I Find Time to Read

People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.

I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies or shows you really think I need to read or watch?

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Shared Nov 19, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $69 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on November 19, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 large canister Quick Oats – $2.39

2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.30

3 8-oz blocks Mozzarella Cheese – $2.97

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.65

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.38

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.34

1 32-oz tub Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.29

1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 head Cabbage – $1.29

2 bags Frozen Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 large Butternut Squash (3.61lbs @ $0.39/lb) – $1.41

1 head Cauliflower – $1.89

1 bag Envy Apples (1.80lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $1.78

1 bag Gala and Granny Smith Apples (3.50lbs @ $0.25/lb) – $0.87

1 carton Grape Tomatoes – $1.39

1 bunch Bananas (2.66lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $1.01

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.69

2 large cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.85

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.99

1 bag Pretzels – $0.79

1 box Crispy Rice Cereal – $1.15

1 box Honey Crunch Oats – $1.29

1 box Honey Nut Oats – $1.15

1 16-oz box Butter Quarters – $2.04

3 dozen Eggs – $3.33

2 bags Rice Cakes – $2.30

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

1 loaf Bread – $0.65

2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese – $0.50

1 24-oz jar Honey – $4.69

1 pkg Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters (5.65lbs @ $0.89/lb) – $5.03

Total: $69.43

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Carrots, Apples x 2

Pretzels, String Cheese, Bananas, Cucumbers x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Hamburger Vegetable Soup (using venison vs beef), Easy Homemade Flatbread Crackers

15-Minute Chicken Fried Cauliflower Rice, Strawberry Muffins, Applesauce

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Tossed Salad, Simple Roasted Butternut Squash, Homemade Biscuits

Upside-Down Pizza (using pepperoni vs ground beef), Green Beans

Date Night (for my husband and me!), Macaroni and Cheese, Applesauce, Green Beans for the Kids

Thanksgiving Dinner: (Our plans are still up in the air – since I’m still not sure if I’m hosting and how many I’m hosting :), I didn’t buy any ingredients for this meal. I will definitely be making another trip to the store once I finalize what’s happening. We’ll for sure have Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Make-Ahead Butterhorns, Green Beans, and Pumpkin Pie. I always try to add in a few interesting side dishes and another kind of pie. Does anyone have any “must-make” suggestions for me?)

Chicken Soup with Homemade Noodles, Tossed Salad, Italian Breadsticks

Shared Nov 16, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $92 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on November 16, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1 5-lb bag All-Purpose Flour – $1.15

1 1-lb box Butter Quarters – $2.04

1 bag Pecan Halves – $4.99

1 pkg American Singles – $1.25

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.65

4 8-oz pkgs Mozzarella Cheese – $3.96

2 16-oz bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.15

1 can Whipped Topping – $2.65

1 32-oz carton Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.29

2 loaves Honey Wheat Bread – $1.70

1 box Honey Wheat Puffs – $1.69

1 box Rice Squares – $1.79

1 box Saltine Crackers – $0.75

1 bag Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.34

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.38

1 Acorn Squash (1.87lbs @ $0.39/lb) – $0.73

2 16-oz bags Mini Cucumbers – $3.38

2 bags Organic Romaine Hearts – $3.98

2 Cauliflower – $3.78

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.29

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.45

1 Butternut Squash (4.10lbs @ $0.39/lb) – $1.60

1 3-lb bag Granny Smith Apples – $2.99

2 pkgs Blackberries – $1.78

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.59

1 4-lb bag Sugar – $1.29

4 dozen Eggs – $4.44

1 jar Hot Caramel Sauce – $1.99

1 8-ct pkg Reeses – $1.25

Total: $72.06

Harris Teeter

2 3-lb bags Gala Apples – $4.98

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

10 cans Green Beans/Corn (B2G3) – $2.70

2 jars Simply Ragu – $2.50, used $0.75/2 Ragu Sauces – 11-4-18 SS; Includes 16 oz or Larger Only (exp. 12/02/18) (doubled) – $1.00/2 after coupon

2 cartons College Inn Broth – $2.88, used 2 $0.50/1 College Inn Broth or Stock – 11-4-18 RMN; Includes 32 oz or Larger (exp. 12/04/18) (doubled) – $0.88/2 after coupon

Total After Coupons: $10.41

Sawyer’s Produce

(This is a local produce distributor close to my house that occasionally offers discounts to the general public – entire flats only. This is a LOT of strawberries, but we’ll eat quite a few strawberries the next few days, and freeze the rest. Yum!)

16 cartons Strawberries – $10.00 (my kids ate one entire carton before I had a chance to snap a pic)

Grocery Total for the Week: $92.47

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Puff Pancake, Scrambled Eggs, Apples – Birthday Breakfast for my Daughter

Breakfast Provided at Church

Other 5 days: Cereal, Oatmeal, Fruit, Yogurt, Toast, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets (everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts)

Lunches

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Strawberries, Cauliflower Soup

Build-Your-Own-Salad-Bar (Romaine, Chopped Veggies, Strawberries, Craisins, Pecans, Hard Boiled Eggs, Dressing) x 2

Leftovers x 2

PB and J Sandwiches, Apples, Cucumbers x 2

Dinners

Stuffed-Crust Pepperoni Pizza, Green Beans, Ice Cream Pie (Birthday Dinner)

Chicken Gravy over Rice, Tossed Salad, Pull Apart Oat Rolls

We’re hosting a Soup/Pie Get-Together at our house – everyone is bringing things. I’m making Cheesy Hamburger Potato Soup and Caramel Apple-Pecan Pie.

Taco Salad, Homemade Applesauce, Roasted Zucchini

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Creamy Mashed Cauliflower, Homemade English Muffin Bread

Chili Cheese Baked Potatoes (using leftover chili from last week which I froze), Strawberries, Roasted Broccoli

Leftovers

Shared Nov 15, 2018 comment

Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Rome

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 15, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my series on our 10-day trip to Rome and India where I’m sharing a peek into our trip — where we went, what we learned, and how we saved money. For details on why we went to Rome and India, read this post. For more information on where we stayed in Rome, read this post.

We only had one full day to see the sights in Rome and we wanted to make the most of it — and we also wanted to keep our expenses down as much as possible. So we ended up deciding to only spend money on a few things today — the tickets to the Vatican Museum, lunch out at an outdoor cafe (we ate snacks we had brought with us on the trip for breakfast and then grabbed some inexpensive sandwiches for dinner), and gelato. We also stopped once at a convenience store to re-stock our water bottles since they were selling them for around $0.75 USD each and that was half the cost of anywhere else we found.

We opted against paying for any transportation and instead just walked everywhere. It was a LOT of walking (maybe 10-12 miles?), but it meant we got great exercise and we got to see a lot more of Rome very up close and personal!

As we were walking, we kept seeing signs advertising “American Breakfasts”. I found it interesting that this is what they consider an American Breakfast… and the price is kind of crazy high! (Scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee and orange juice for around $17 USD with the exchange rate. Say what???)

They day could not have been more perfect weather-wise. I wore comfortable shoes, leggings, a tunic top, and a heavy long sweater and that was the right outfit choice as it was cozy, and I found that when the sun was behind a cloud, I needed my sweater.

But when the sun was out, it was warm enough that I didn’t need my sweater during the middle of the day. (I also brought a lightweight scarf in the backpack and ended up using it when it cooled down in the evening.)

It was fun to pop into McDonald’s and see what they offered in Rome. It was definitely somewhat different than America!

We started the day off by visiting the Pantheon (it’s completely free to get in). I had visited here back in 2016 so it was fun to get to take Jesse here to experience it!

Jesse went around and read almost every plaque and sign and absorbed all of the historical significance. I love watching him hungrily lap up anything history-related!

Next, we headed to the Trevi Fountain (it’s free to visit). Even though the fountains were off because they were being cleaned, there were still mobs of people taking photos.

The sun was so bright and the crowds were so packed that we struggled to find any place with decent lighting to get a photo. But after multiple tries, we finally got this one.

It was a long walk to Vatican Museum and it took us over 30 minutes to get there, but it was a beautiful walk. There were a LOT of people outside St. Peter’s Basilica, and we we had to almost push through the crowds to get to the museum.

(We found out later that the pope has his general audience to the people on Wednesdays so that’s why it was so crazy crowded at St. Peter’s Basilica! I’d recommend not going on a Wednesday unless you want to get to see the pope. We didn’t realize we could have seen him… I somehow missed that in my research!)

We had purchased our tickets online in advance for the Vatican Museum. It was 4 Euros more per ticket to do this, but when we saw the huge crowds, we were glad that we had.

In the end, it didn’t save us an hour or two of extra time waiting in line to have booked our tickets ahead of time, but it definitely saved us some time and also gave us peace of mind that we would be able to get into the museum!

(I had read online that you’ll sometimes have to wait in line an hour or two just to get your tickets. And there’s a possibility that there will be so many people there that you won’t get to get tickets at all.)

The one place we knew we wanted to see for sure in the museum was the Sistine Chapel. You end up walking through a lot of the museum to get to it!

I had been to the Vatican Museum before, but it was fun to see it again (this time in a less sleep deprived and hungry state!)

The ornate-ness of everything can almost feel overwhelming! It’s inspiring and beautiful and just so much — everywhere you look!

This was one of my favorite photos from this day. It aptly captures the essence and beauty of the Vatican Museum.

And of course, Jesse stopped to read a LOT of signs and take it all in… and then he’s been telling me so many interesting tidbits from what he learned over the past week!

You’re not supposed to take any photos in the Sistine Chapel… though so many people were anyway! But I stood outside the chapel and took this photo looking in to give you a little peek!

We made the mistake of not looking for the secret passageway to get to St. Peter’s Basilica from the Vatican Museum so we didn’t end up getting to go into it because the line to get in was massive and we likely would have waited in it for 2-3 hours (it’s free to get in but because it was Wednesday and it was the day that the pope does the general assembly there were SO many people waiting in line!) But we did get some great photos outside!

By the way, on the Vatican site, it says you can’t bring backpacks in to the museum — that you’d have to check them for free at the coat check. But we were able to bring our backpacks in and they didn’t ask us to check them.

We ate a late lunch a cafe and then made our way to the Coliseum. On our way, we saw this — I guess it was a restoration of this site that had been dug up in an archeological dig? It looked like painstaking work but it was fascinating to watch!

I hadn’t gotten to spend time at the Coliseum last time we went to Rome, so I was thrilled to get to spend some time there this time! It’s so massive and impressive!

The gates were closed by the time we got there so we couldn’t go in it (you have to pay to do so), but we got to walk around the entire thing and take our time soaking it all up and being pretty awestruck by how massive it was.

On the back side of the Coliseum, there was hardly anyone and it kind of felt like we were having our own private tour! Also, if you don’t actually go inside, it’s completely free to walk around it for as long as you’d like!

After spending time at the Coliseum, we headed to the Spanish Steps. I’d not been to this area on my last trip (at least I don’t think so!) and it was so beautiful and upscale. (There were so many high end shops around here I almost felt like we had better leave because we weren’t dressed nicely enough to be walking down these streets with Gucci shops!)

We sat on the Spanish Steps for quite awhile to take a breather and to just take it all in!

Drew, Jamie, and their two kids — our fellow travelers and good friends!

On the way back to our apartment, we knew we wanted to find a gelato shop. We decided to look for one that had a lot of people at it as we’d been told that was the sign of a good shop. We found Giolitti and it had people all around and was bustling inside, so we decided to go with it!

I’m more of an ice cream person than a gelato person, but when it Rome, you need to buy gelato and then eat the entire huge cone yourself since you walked so many miles! 🙂

I’m so grateful for Jamie’s friendship and that it worked out for us to go on this trip together. Jamie has loved me so wholeheartedly and poured into me so much this past year.

We’re so different and yet we complement one another so well. Also, it’s such a gift when you can just be yourself in a relationship and you don’t have to try to be “on” or to even worry about what the other person is thinking.

We’ve experienced so much crazy together on this trip and we were talking about how much you really get to know people when you are in close quarters and experiencing long days and short nights and weird schedules and challenging circumstances (like racing through airports and barely making some of our flights because of different flight delays, spending 3 days in a hotel in India that only had primitive bathrooms, learning to eat interesting and unique foods with our hands only in India, language barriers in India, luggage that didn’t make it on our flight, many unexpected delays, jet lag, hotel rooms that wreaked of mold and smoke, days that were so hot we were dripping with sweat for hours… and so much more! I’ll be sharing about all of this in my upcoming posts!)

Trips like this bring out the best and worst in people and it’s only served to further strengthen our friendship to experience all of this together! I’m so grateful!

Have you been to Rome before? If so, what are your favorite budget-friendly recommendations? Tell us in the comments!

Next up: Our rather eventful flight from Rome to London, almost missing our flight, all of our bags not making it on the flight, and more about our first day in India. Stay tuned!

Shared Nov 13, 2018 comment

Law School Struggles, Free Groceries, and a Pregnancy Test

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 13, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I had planned that Jesse and I were going to start tackling topical episodes now that we had told how we met and fell in love on my podcast. But so many of you asked me questions about our story and were so curious after the last episode and asked if we could continue sharing our story in the upcoming episodes we do together.

So in this podcast episode, Jesse joins me again for us to share more of our story — including some stories from our law school days you’ve probably never heard before.

We also talk about the Enneagram and how it has impacted our marriage and our business and we answer the question of what it’s like for us to work together so closely.

By the way, we are still finding our groove when it comes to doing these podcasts together, but I think this one is getting closer to what you’d experience if you were sitting with us having coffee. Yes, we are pretty sarcastic with each other… and you’ll probably start to hear more and more of that as time goes on.

And you’ll likely also hear more and more from Jesse as he warms up to this whole talking to an invisible audience thing. I can also guarantee you that you’ll be hearing a lot more legalese from him since I’m always teasing him about using big legal words and attorney-speak. And he’ll probably tease me about being irritable again. Welcome to our world! 😉

In This Episode:

[01:56] – In honor of the fact that Jesse and I are currently on an international trip, I’m sharing my 5 must-haves for international flights. Would you add anything to my list? (By the way, some of you who are following our trip closely on Instagram Stories will likely catch the fact that I misspoke when I said we were in Rome and heading to India… I was messed up and thinking that this episode was dropping last Tuesday not today when we pre-recorded this part.)

[05:44] – Phones are a privilege, not a right at our house. And I share how this plays out in our home with our oldest, Kathrynne.

[10:17] – I loved this decorating book — which is kind of crazy since I’m not into decorating at all!

[11:42] – You all were intrigued by the last episode that Jesse and I did together so he’s joining me again this week for us to share more of our story — including some of the gritty (and funny!) details of our law school struggles.

[12:28] – Confluence?? Jesse brings out his legalese and I give him a hard time for it. But really, do YOU use “confluence” in your every day speech??

[15:49] – We share why Jesse decided to go to law school, why we set the goal of doing it debt-free, and what it was really like.

[21:35] – Did you know I got over $1500 worth of products for around $50 by playing the “Drugstore Game“. I share details on this and talk about what I did with the 100 tubes of toothpaste I got paid to buy.

[24:38] – We really wanted to have kids from the time we got married, but then we thought we were going to have to give up on that dream… until I got a mysterious case of irritability and a stomach bug. (I promise I’m not a big of a grump all the time as Jesse kind of made me out to be. But hey, I teased him for using big words so I think it’s only fair he got to tease me, too!)

[28:20] – Jesse and I answer a question from a listener: “What does it look like working so closely with your spouse?”

If you have any questions that you’d like me (or me and Jesse!) to address in a future episode, email me at [email protected]!

Links and Resources:

My Favorite Bose Earbuds
Natural Ginger Dramamine
Travelrest Premium Travel Pillow
Travelrest 4-in-1 Premium Class Travel Blanket
How I Packed for a 10-Day International Trip in a Carry-On on Money Saving Mom
What I Pack in My Backpack for International Trips on Money Saving Mom
Twigby (this episode’s amazing sponsor!)
Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith
The Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith
Courtship Rules and Our First Kiss (The Crystal Paine Show Episode #5)
How to Play the Drugstore Game on Money Saving Mom
CrystalPaine.com
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

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

Sponsor Spotlight

Today’s episode is sponsored by Twigby — a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices. As I mentioned in the podcast, if you are looking for a great deal on a phone for your teen (or yourself!), I’d highly recommend checking out what Twigby has to offer.

Unlike traditional cell phone companies, they give you the ability to create your own custom, prepaid plan — without a contract or an unnecessary activation fee.

You don’t have to mess with going to a store and picking out a phone plan. You just go to their site, pick your phone plan and either switch your current phone over or get a new phone, and they get it all set up for you.

My favorite part about their service (in addition to their great prices!) is that they offer plan flexibility with the ability to change plans or phones at any time for free. You’re not locked into an expensive contract that has activation and termination fees.

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Shared Nov 12, 2018 comment

Our Experience Staying in an AirBnB in Rome

Published: by Crystal Paine on November 12, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to my series on our 10-day trip to Rome and India where I’m sharing a peek into our trip — where we went, what we learned, and how we saved money. For details on why we went to Rome and India, read this post.

Since there were six of us going to Rome and India on this trip — two couples and two kids — we realized that it might be cheaper and smarter to split an AirBnB apartment rental together than to get multiple hotel rooms. It’s not something we’ve done much before, but we ended up loving this option!

I didn’t get any photos in the actual apartment, but you can see photos of the inside here. It was the perfect arrangement for all of us.

Jesse and I took one bedroom and the bathroom closest to it and Jamie and Drew took one bedroom and their kids shared the other bedroom and then they all shared the other bathroom.

The apartment had this old elevator that was so fun to use! And the views out the windows were gorgeous (see the photo at the top of the post!)

The apartment was situated right in the heart of the Jewish quarter and we were able to walk to the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, the Spanish Steps, and more from it. Plus, within a few blocks, there were many different shops, cafes, and restaurants.

(The view out our window one morning — it was so idyllic!)

The apartment was extremely clean and they had tea and coffee on the counter and water bottles, juice, fruit, and milk in the fridge. Plus, they had towels, soaps, and shampoos in every room — just like a nice hotel! And the hosts were very gracious.

The only two issues I would point out that we had were:

1) They asked us to pay an additional $42 tourist tax when we arrived. They hadn’t mentioned this to us before and they asked for it to be in cash. We felt a little bothered that they hadn’t mentioned this and didn’t include it in the apartment fees. However, it is on their site, so it’s possible we just missed it there when we booked. And it’s possible that the government requires this to be collected separately and that it can’t be collected as part of the AirBnB fees. But I still would have appreciated it if they would have mentioned it and let us know they would need it in cash when we checked in.

2) The bathtub leaked when we drained it. We let them know and they came to check on it and offered to call someone to come fix it, but it was the second day and we just decided that Jesse and I would take “sink baths” (there wasn’t a shower in our bathroom — though there was a sprayer in the bathtub). They were very gracious and apologetic about this and I’m guessing they got it fixed as soon as we left!

Many of the buildings in the Jewish Quarter had little gold plates in front of them with names of Jews who were sent to the concentration camps during the Holocaust. It was so sad and such a poignant reminder of the turmoil and heartache from history that these buildings could recount if their walls could talk.

Rome has so many fun outdoor cafes and restaurants!

We’ve only splurged on two meals on our entire trip and this was one of them! We went to Ba’Ghetto Milky — which was just a few blocks from our apartment and specializes in Roman Jewish Cuisine and Middle Eastern Cuisine. We loved it and the service was fantastic!

Fried artichoke hearts are really common on most of the menus and it’s one of the things I fondly remember from my time in Rome!

My salad was so delicious — I was just sad I couldn’t finish all of it!

But of course, I had to save room for Tiramisu! 🙂

All in all, we LOVED going the AirBnB route and not only was it very economical, it also allowed us to feel a little bit more like we were getting a true Rome experience by staying in such a beautiful old building and area!

Have you ever stayed in an AirBnB rental? We haven’t done this much, but I think it’s something we’ll definitely consider doing in the future since this worked out so well!

I’ll be back tomorrow with a post all about our time in Rome — where we went, what we learned, and how we did it on a small budget!

2hr Cleaning Checklist

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1. Have a budget.

2. Use cash or a prepaid card or gift card.

3. Get some accountability.

4. Wait 24 hours.

What tips or advice would you have for Tina? Share them in the comments.

1. Focus on the Positive

2. Stop Saying “I Can’t”

2. Pick Your Own Number

3. Find Someone to Do the Legwork For You

4. Make it a Game!

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

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A Heartfelt Word of Thanks to Each of You

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When I Find Time to Read

What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies or shows you really think I need to read or watch?

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

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Have you been to Rome before? If so, what are your favorite budget-friendly recommendations? Tell us in the comments!

In This Episode:

Links and Resources:

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

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

Sponsor Spotlight

Have you ever stayed in an AirBnB rental? We haven’t done this much, but I think it’s something we’ll definitely consider doing in the future since this worked out so well!

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