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Money Saving Mom

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Saving Families Money Since 2007

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List.

Summer Bucket List

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Shared Jun 3, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Shopping Trips (the vacation edition)

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Shopping Trips (the vacation edition)

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 of five. This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunches, 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.

We were in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois until Wednesday evening, so I’m skipping post a menu plan this week because we went out once a day while on vacation and ate the free hotel breakfast in the mornings and then just had one snack-y meal using snacks we brought on the road with us.

But I did go grocery shopping twice, but before I share those trips, I have to share a few food related pictures from our trip.

Wisconsin, we fell in love with you! Also, Silas says that his impression is that everything is FREE in Madison! 😉

But seriously, if you’re looking for a great vacation spot with kids, check out Madison, WI. I’ll be sharing more of our day there and some of the free things we did in a post in a few weeks.

Based upon all of your recommendations, we stopped at the Cheese Chalet and bought cheese curds and then headed to Culver’s for frozen custard. Yum!

I have so many more pictures I could share from our trip, but I save those for future posts. For now, here’s a peek into what groceries we bought last week…

I found a number of closeout prices at Kroger on dried fruit, fruit snacks, and healthy cereal. Since these are closeouts, not markdowns, they qualify for the Buy 5, Get $5 Off deal!

There was only one box left of the Mott’s Fruit Snacks, but I was excited to get it for just $0.37!

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

  • 2 bags Bugles — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • Veggie Chips — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • 1 Mott’s Tropical Fruit Snacks — $0.37 when you buy 5 participating items (on closeout)
  • 4 boxes of cereal — $1.49 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • 2 bags Raisins — on closeout for $1.18 each
  • Milk — $2.99
  • 2 bags of Chex Mix — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • 1 bag of papaya — marked down to $0.99
  • 2 coconuts — marked down to $0.99
  • 2 Colgate toothpastes — $1.99 when you buy 5 participating items (I thought it was going to take the $4/2 Digital coupon off, but instead it took off the $2/1 Digital coupon — lesson learned, either load the coupons on one and a time and don’t load another one until I’ve used one or else buy 3 toothpastes in order to get all 3 free! I could have asked them to take this off my order, but then the coupon already came off and then it would have messed up my Buy 5, Get $5 off deal… I decided to just pay for toothpaste — something I haven’t done in a long time!)
  • 2 lbs. of ground turkey — marked down to $2.09 each
  • Cheddar brats — marked down to $1.29 each
  • Simply Popped — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • Total with tax: $31.24

I was excited about the bread and bacon Friday-Saturday deals!

Wow! Look at all these Produce Markdowns I found this past week! My eyes sort of bulged out when I saw all of these $0.99 red bags!

I bought 5 packages each (the limit) of bread and bacon and stuck all of them in the freezer to have for summer. I’m thinking the bread will be great for sandwiches or French Toast and the bacon will be great for Breakfast for Dinner nights!

I could barely fit everything into one photo!

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

  • Orville Redenbacher popcorn — marked down to $0.69
  • Oui Petites — marked down to $0.99
  • Simple Truth Eggs — $2.79
  • 5 loaves of Sara Lee bread — $0.99 each as the Friday-Saturday deal
  • 3 big bags of Mom’s Best cereal — on closeout for $1.15 each
  • 2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste — $1.99 each when you buy 5 participating items, used $4/2 Digital coupon (it worked today!) = free after coupon
  • Palmolive dish soap — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $0.50/1 Digital coupon = $0.49 after coupon
  • Veggie Chips — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • Simply Popped Popcorn — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
  • 5 packages Kroger bacon — $2.99 each as the Friday-Saturday deal
  • 8 bags of marked down produce — $0.99 each
  • Total with tax: $41.82

Shopping Trip Totals: $73.06

And yes, I was a bit over-budget (by $3) this week, but I wanted to go ahead and stock up on these deals as I’m going to be out of town Tuesday and Wednesday at a conference and I’ll make sure I’m a few dollars under-budget this coming week.

Did you get any great deals this past week? I’d love to hear about them!

Cute Summer Tops
Shared Jun 1, 2019 comment

My Favorite Cute Summer Tops for Women (all from Amazon!)

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My Favorite Cute Summer Tops for Women (all from Amazon!)

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

Looking for some cute summer tops for women that are inexpensive and durable? Here are 3 of my favorite summer tops from Amazon that I have worn over and over again in the last year!

Cute Summer Tops for Women

3 Cute Summer Tops From Amazon

As you likely well know, I love finding great clothing deals at great prices on Amazon. And I love sharing those great finds with you all!

In today’s post, I want to share 3 summer tops for women I purchased from Amazon and absolutely love! All of these have held up well to multiple washings, are very comfortable, are inexpensively priced, and fit well.

Cute Summer Tops

1. Amazon Essentials V-Neck T-Shirt

These tees come in a two-pack for $18.50 shipped (Less than $10 each shipped!) and they are some of my favorite v-neck tees! They are soft, fit well, but aren’t too tight.

You can wear them tucked in or left out. I prefer to tuck them in and wear them with a belt or to do a half tuck.

I got the navy/turquoise set (see the two pictures above). This particular set is currently out of stock, but they have a lot of other colors available in this same style and price.

Cute Summer Tops

2. Made By Emma Short Sleeve Chambray Shirt

I adore this shirt and usually always wear it at least once a week! It’s lightweight, soft, and so comfortable.

You can wear it untucked for a casual look, tucked in for a more tailored look, or with a cardigan or jacket.

Cute Summer TopsMany of the reviews on Amazon say that it runs small. I have on a small here and that’s the size I usually wear. It’s possible that some of the larger sizes aren’t as true to size.

The only drawback of this shirt is that Amazon doesn’t offer free returns on it and it’s $14.97 + $4.99 shipping.

Cute Summer Tops

3. WLLW Crew Neck Sleeveless Shirt

This is another shirt that I wear almost weekly! And it’s just $15.99 shipped or less (depending upon what size and pattern you choose).

It comes in a number of different patterns and colors.

One thing I wanted to mention is that some of you have ordered this and some of you said your shirt was a bit darker than mine was and you felt like the material looked different than mine does.

The good news? This shirt has free returns, so if you order it and don’t like it, you can easily return it — completely free (Amazon will email you a shipping label to return it).

Note: Many of you asked about the shirt I have on underneath this tank. It’s this halter top bralette and I really love it for halter top tanks!

How to Search for Clothes on Amazon

Be willing to dig. It’s not always easy to find what you’re looking for at first. Sometimes, you have to put in specific search terms to find exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t give up within a few tries; it’s probably there if you’re willing to dig!

Use as specific of search terms as possible. If you know a brand name and specific type of what you’re looking for, be sure to include those details in the search terms. Amazon carries a LOT of brands and you might be surprised what you find and the prices they are offering.

Look at the related searches. If you find an item you love, be sure to scroll down on the page to see the “Related Searches” items + the “People Who Bought This Also Bought” selections. In both cases, I’ll often find some great options there that I might not have found just by searching.

Cute Summer Tops

What To Check For Before Making a Purchase

Check if they offer free returns. Many clothing items on Amazon offer free returns. This means that if you don’t like the item for any reason, you can go on Amazon and request to return it. They’ll send you a free shipping label so you can return it and get your money back.

Read the reviews. I learn so much by looking at the reviews. You can often also see pictures of the actual item on someone. This is really helpful!

Always check the shipping price. Many clothes ship free to Amazon Prime members. Make sure you check the shipping price before falling in love with something — because sometimes it won’t be free and might be as high as $5-$6.

Look to see where something is made/ships from. Some of Amazon’s clothing ships from China and takes 4-6 weeks to arrive. Be aware of this when you are looking at items — especially if you are hoping to get them within in a few days.

Cute Summer Tops

Two other tops that didn’t make it to my top 3 list, but that I also love and wear often are the two above shirts:

  • FOMANSH Color Block Tee (this one looks a tad different than the one I have on above but Amazon says it’s the one I have — it has free returns in case it shows up looking different!)
  • Vemvan Striped Block Tee (comes in a number of different colors and is just $15.99!)

Other Places to Get Great Deals on Clothes

Your Closet — Don’t run out and get something new because “you have nothing to wear” without first checking your closet. There might be a dozen items in there you’ve not worn for awhile just because you forgot about them! Save yourself a trip to the store plus the money for new clothes by making sure you’re wearing what you already own!

Thrift Stores — Thrift stores are a gold mine of deals, if you have the patience to dig and look. Approach it like a treasure hunt, have strict guidelines for what you are looking for, and make sure

Swap Meets with Friends — Get your group of girlfriends together and have everyone bring what they no longer love, need, fit into, or wear and swap out clothes. This is a fun way to freshen up your closet — for free!

TJ Maxx — I’ve found lots of great deals at TJ Maxx over the years. You never know quite what you’ll find, but it’s a great place to find deals on basics like camis, socks, scarves, and workout clothes.

Target — Target often releases great coupons through their cartwheel app that can be paired with items from the Clearance Racks. This can make for great deals!

What are YOUR best tips for finding great deals on clothes? I’d love to hear!

Other Related Links:

Aldi grocery haul
Shared Jun 1, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $78 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $78 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 gallon 1% Milk – $1.45

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.45

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.79

1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

1 6-pk Unsweetened Applesauce Cups – $1.69

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.99

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.79

1 3-lb bag Jazz Apples – $3.75

1 Pineapple – $0.99

1 Cantaloupe – $1.19

1 Cauliflower – $2.09

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.89

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59

4 individual cartons Greek Yogurt – $2.36

1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

1 can Whipped Topping – $2.65

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 pkg Sliced Turkey Pepperoni – $2.19

1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.29

1 32-oz box Spaghetti Noodles – $1.09

1 bag frozen Broccoli Florets – $1.09

1 bunch Bananas (2.58lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $0.98

1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.69

1 bag frozen Mixed Vegetables – $0.75

1 bag Cilantro – $0.65

3 Avocados – $2.07

3 cartons Blackberries – $2.97

2 cans Garbanzo Beans – $0.96

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.38

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

1 bag Plain Rice Cakes – $1.15

1 bag Flour Tortillas – $0.65

1 bag Nacho Tortilla Chips – $0.75

1 box Honey Nut Oats – $1.15

1 box Frosted Flakes – $1.39

6 dozen Eggs – $3.54

Total: $76.34

Harris Teeter

Peaches (2.88lb @ $0.68/lb) – $1.99

1 pkg Barilla Ready Pasta – $1.99, used $1/1 Barilla Ready Pasta, exp. 6/2/19 (RMN 04/07/19) (doubled) – FREE after coupon

1 Heinz Ketchup – $1.99, used $1/1 Catalina printout (doubled) – FREE after coupon

Total: $1.99

Grocery Total for the Week: $78.33

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Fruit, Yogurt, Cereal, Oatmeal, Smoothies, Pancakes (recipe from “Trim Healthy Mama” cookbook)

Lunches

Build-Your-Own-Salad-Bar (romaine/spring mix, chopped fruits and veggies, craisins, chicken, hard boiled eggs, avocados, garbanzo beans, shredded cheese), Pretzels x 2

Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes, Apples, Mini Peppers, Cheese Sticks x 2

Cheese Quesadillas, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Taco Salad, Pineapple

Spaghetti, Easy Italian Breadsticks, Mixed Vegetables

Homemade Grilled Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad

Crustless Quiche (using leftover ham from the freezer), Roasted Cauliflower, Biscuits, Blackberries

Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Roasted Broccoli, Pineapple

Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Peaches

Leftovers

Shared May 31, 2019 comment

55 Things to Make with Ripe Bananas

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55 Things to Make with Ripe Bananas

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

Wondering what to do with ripe bananas on your kitchen counter? I love banana recipes, so I decided to put together a HUGE list of 55 things to make with ripe bananas!

(Psst! Be sure to check out our family’s very favorite Freezer-Friendly Banana Bread Recipe! We also really love these Homemade Breakfast Cookies!)

55 ideas for what to do with ripe bananas

What to Do With Ripe Bananas

We love bananas at our house, but occasionally, life happens and it’s easy to let bananas go past their prime. Or, sometimes, I’ll find bananas marked down at the store because they are starting to get too ripe.

I’m really weird in that I prefer to eat bananas when they have some black spots on them, but the rest of my family won’t touch them once they are at the “Black Spot” stage.

When we have an abundance of over-ripe bananas, I either freeze them to use in smoothies and baking later, or I go ahead and make one of our favorite banana recipes with them.

ripe bananas on counter

I thought it might be fun to put together a list of some of my favorite things to make with ripe bananas!

The recipes on this list are a mixture of some of my favorite banana recipes right here on this blog, plus some other recipes I gathered from other sites that I hope to try soon.

Most of them are fairly healthful (with a few exceptions) and many of them are family favorites. Enjoy!!

Table of Contents

Breakfast Recipes Using Ripe Bananas

homemade breakfast cookies

1. Homemade Breakfast Cookies — Looking for a quick healthy breakfast option that will fill you up, give you energy for the entire morning, and taste great too? Try breakfast cookies — a nutritional and delicious breakfast on-the-go for busy morning.

whole grain baked oatmeal

2. Whole Grain Baked Oatmeal — This easy baked oatmeal is a great way to use up over-ripe bananas… and everyone can choose their own toppings for a make-your-own-breakfast buffet!

patriotic toast

3. Fourth of July Toast — Isn’t this cute! You could do it on waffles too — just a bit of cream cheese, strawberry jam, sliced bananas, and blueberries.

healthy banana pancakes

4. Healthy Banana Pancakes — Only 6 ingredients (and they are grain-free!)

banana walnut oatmeal

5. Banana Walnut Oatmeal — The deliciousness of oatmeal with sweet bananas and crunchy walnuts!

brown sugar banana french toast

6. Brown Sugar Banana French Toast Casserole — Yes, it is as good as it sounds (and looks). This is the perfect dish for your next brunch!

pan fried cinnamon bananas

7. Pan-Fried Cinnamon Bananas — A crispy, sweet, pop-in-your-mouth snack that’s sure to please.

breakfast banana split parfaits

8. Breakfast Banana Split — Don’t these look absolutely amazing! It’s like a yogurt parfait on steroids!

chocolate chip oatmeal breakfast bars

9. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Bars — These soft and chewy “brownie-like” bars are nutritious enough to be considered a breakfast food too!

banana pancakes

10. Banana Pancakes — The best, lightest, and fluffiest pancakes with a hint of banana sweetness.

Banana Bread Oatmeal Bars

11. Banana Bread Oatmeal Bars — Need a quick breakfast or hearty snack on-the-go? Give these filly bars a try. They’re absolutely delicious.

baked banana oatmeal cups

12. Baked Banana Oatmeal Cups — Similar to a muffin, these oatmeal cups are packed with nutrients that will keep you feeling fuller longer.

Ripe Banana Snack Recipes

breakfast banana pops

13. Breakfast Banana Pops — Yum! The kids will love these better-for-you popsicles!

chocolate covered banana bites

14. Copycat Trader Joe’s Gone Bananas — These chocolate covered banana bites are such a great little treat, and they are quite addictive!

chocolate peanut banana roll ups

15. Chocolate Banana Roll-Ups — These sweet treats are the perfect after-school snack, mid-morning treat, or quick breakfast.

banana coconut pudding

16. Banana Coconut Pudding — Such a light and refreshing snack that’s also dairy AND sugar-free!

easy banana yogurt bites

17. Easy Banana Yogurt Bites — Bananas mashed with yogurt form the base of these frozen “cookies”. Then chocolate and peanut butter are drizzled over the top for a heavenly treat!

baked banana chips

18. Baked Banana Chips — When you want a little something crunchy, savory, and sweet at the same time, these banana chips will suffice!

banana chocolate chip energy bites

19. Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Bites — Banana Chocolate Chip Energy Bites are a healthy breakfast or grab-and-go snack. Perfect for lunch boxes! 5 ingredients and 5 minutes are all you need!

chocolate peanut butter banana pops

20. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Pops — These easy to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Pops need to be in your freezer at all times during the summer! Made with simple ingredients, they’re perfect for snacking or dessert!

nutella banana crepes

21. Nutella Banana Crepes — These Nutella banana crepes are super easy to make, indulgent, and delicious!

Nutella banana sushi

22. Nutella & Banana Sushi — These delicious Nutella and banana fruity snacks are so easy you can prepare them for the after-school rush in five minutes. They also look cute on party platters.

healthy banana ice cream

23. Banana Ice Cream — The best delicious and creamy banana ice cream is a healthy dessert or snack — only one ingredient and unlimited flavor options!

chocolate covered frozen bananas

24. Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas — A deliciously refreshing treat on a warm summer day — and so easy to make!

Breads to Make with Ripe Bananas

banana bread

25. Freezer-Friendly Banana Bread — Our family has made this banana bread recipe for years and we LOVE it! It also makes an easy homemade gift idea! 

chocolate banana bread

26. Freezer-Friendly Chocolate Banana Bread — This recipe uses frugal ingredients we almost always have in the house, it’s deliciously moist, and it’s more nutritious than most desserts (but it tastes just as rich).

chocolate chip banana bread

27. Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread — Looking for a hearty snack or delicious addition to your breakfast table? Look no further than these fabulous whole-wheat banana chocolate chip muffins!

cinnamon swirl banana bread

28. Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread — This bread is so easy and delicious with swirls of cinnamon throughout.

gingerbread banana bread

29. Gingerbread Banana Bread — Soft and moist gingerbread combines with sweet homemade banana bread for the ultimate holiday baked good.

honey cinnamon banana scones

30. Honey Cinnamon Banana Bread Scones — These tender scones are filled with the comforting flavor of banana bread and are topped with a cinnamon sugar dusting and a simple cinnamon brown sugar glaze!

whole grain banana bread

31. Whole Grain Banana Bread — Over-ripe bananas are the perfect complement to freshly ground whole grain as they give lots of extra moisture and sweetness.

Banana Muffin Recipes

chocolate chip banana muffins

32. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins — These muffins are not “healthy”, but they are yummy, frugal, and so easy to whip up.

gluten-free banana muffins

33. Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Muffins — All the deliciousness of banana chocolate chip muffins, but gluten-free!

banana coconut muffins

34. Whole-Wheat Banana Coconut Muffins — These healthy, vegan muffins are made with whole wheat flour, bananas, coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut sugar, and coconut! Coconut lovers will go crazy for these muffins!

protein packed double chocolate banana muffins

35. Protein-Packed Double Chocolate Banana Muffins — These muffins are so rich and delicious — and packed with extra protein to keep you satisfied for longer.

Smoothies to Make with Ripe Bananas

banana green smoothie on wooden table

36. Clean Eating Banana-Coconut Smoothie — A great option for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions

pick me up smoothie

37. Pick-Me-Up Smoothie — This deliciously refreshing smoothie is packed with frozen fruit, protein, and just a touch of honey for that “pick-me-up” you need mid-afternoon. Give it a try instead of reaching for cookies or another cup of coffee.

blueberry banana green tea smoothie

38. Blueberry Banana Green Tea Smoothie —  A delicious recipe that contains lots of wonderful antioxidants.

green monster smoothie

39. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie — Packed with good-for-you ingredients… you can enjoy this smoothie often for breakfast, snack, or anytime you need a pick-me-up!

cinnamon roll smoothie

40. Cinnamon Roll Smoothie — A cinnamon roll you can sip through a straw. You can’t beat that… but you can blend it. 🙂

tropical smoothie

41. Tropical Shake — This thick, creamy, refreshing shake is the perfect recipe for the long, hot summer afternoons. It’s a healthy version of “Pina-Colada meets Orange Julius,” combining some of my all-time favorite flavors.

sweet potato smoothie

42. Sweet Potato Smoothie — Don’t knock it till you try it. The banana adds so much creaminess… it’s extremely refreshing!

patriotic smoothie

43. Red, White, and Blue Smoothie — Looking for a fun, festive and healthy way to kick off a patriotic holiday? You can’t go wrong with this colorful smoothie!

Chocolate Banana Smoothies

44. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie — This chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie is ridiculously simple, super healthy, and SO delicious! It’s the perfect afternoon pick-me-up!

Desserts Using Ripe Bananas

banana split cake

45. No Bake Banana Split Cake — All the fabulous flavors you’d expect from a scrumptiously melty banana split sundae, all in an easy to prepare no-bake dessert.

double chocolate banana cake

46. Double Chocolate Banana Cake — Lightly sweet, moist, and chocolatey. No frosting required!  

zucchini banana sheet cake

47. Zucchini Banana Sheet Cake — need to feed a crowd? This sheet cake will do it! Topped with delicious cream cheese frosting, you can’t go wrong!

brown sugar banana blondies

48. Brown Sugar Banana Blondies — Delicious dessert bars that will have everyone going ape! The banana batter is baked to perfection then topped with incredible brown butter frosting!

banana coconut oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies

49. Whole Wheat Banana Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies — These healthy cookies are a favorite in our house. They are good right out of the oven or eaten frozen. 

chocolate bottom banana bars

50. Chocolate Bottom Banana Bars — These bars are so delicious, you’ll want to make a double or triple batch!

51. Banana Chocolate Chip Snack Cake — A healthified cake your family will love!

banana pudding

52. Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding — Just like the Banana Pudding from Magnolia Bakery in NYC

banana fudge

53. Healthy Chocolate Banana Fudge — This healthy banana chocolate fudge has just a slight taste of banana to it. I cut it up into 16 bars, hoping it would last longer.

banana fritters with caramel sauce

54. Banana Fritters with Vanilla Caramel Sauce — These banana fritters are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, loaded with big chunks of caramelized banana and served with vanilla caramel sauce.

chocolate banana tart

55. Chocolate Banana Tart — This quick and simple recipe only has five ingredients and it’s gluten-free, Paleo and vegan.

60 Super Quick Meal Ideas printable preview.

FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout!

Meal time just got so much easier!

What are YOUR favorite ideas for what to do with ripe bananas? Tell us in the comments!

How to Pay Off Debt on One Income
Shared May 30, 2019 comment

Paying Off Debt On One Income

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Paying Off Debt On One Income

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

Have you struggled with paying off debt — especially if you’re living on one income? These are some great tips and tricks on how to pay off debt in creative ways!

{Need more encouragement? Read about finding contentment in the pit of debt, what to do when it feels like you’ll never get out of debt, how to overcome discouragement when you’re in debt, and how to stay motivated when you’re paying off debt.}

How to Pay Off Debt on One Income

Guest post from Ali of Meanwhile at Naptime:

Debt is a killer. Unfortunately, our family has lots of it.

We did a lot of things wrong our first few years of paying off debt… but this past year, we were able to pay off $32,000 (in addition to our mortgage payments), and it feels so good!

How we got all that debt…

Graduate school! The majority of our debt is student loans.

We floundered a bit our first year or two after graduation, making minimum payments and telling ourselves it would all work out somehow.

After a year of minimum payments, our debt was even higher as we couldn’t even keep up with the interest.

We buckled down, made a plan and wrote up a budget.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by debt follow these tips to become debt free on a one income!

Why We Decided to be a One-Income Family:

I want to be a stay at home mom.

I had a degree and a job, but once our daughter was born, I knew where I wanted to be.

After moving across the country for graduate school, we had no family to watch our baby and childcare costs were so high that it just didn’t make sense for me to work anyway.

We are both happy with this decision and we have been able to reach our financial goals on one income and here’s how we did it.

How We Paid off $32,000 on ONE Income!

If you’re interested in how to pay off debt, here are some of the tactics we used to help pay down our massive sum of debt…

1. We Implemented a Zero-Sum Budget

You must have a budget. No way around this one. If you want to pay down your debt you have to tell your money exactly where to go.

A zero-sum budget is simple, your income – expenses = 0.

If you have any money left over at the end of the month you are not done. You must tell that money where to go.

All our leftover money went to our student loans.

2. We Prioritized Our Debt

Getting out of debt is our number one financial goal.

We wrote down all our money goals — ALL of them. Then we prioritized and dropped those that wouldn’t fit in this year. We placed our student loans at the top.

Sometimes when motivation started slipping we had to ask ourselves, would I rather go out to eat or be debt free?

With that as our goal, we were able to keep ourselves on track each and every month.

3. We Put Our Entire Tax Return Towards our Debt

We didn’t keep any of it — once that money came in, we threw it right at the debt!

4. We Used a Pay Raise to Increase Debt Payments

With our budget in place, we knew how much money we spent on things like groceries and utilities.

When my husband got a raise, the only numbers that changed were our debt payments and our savings.

5. We Put Any Bonuses Towards Deb Payments

Any time we got a bonus at work, we put ALL of it toward our debts.

6. We Canceled Subscriptions

When creating our budget, we had to make some sacrifices — subscriptions were one of the first things to go.

For instance, I had been getting HGTV magazine for years. It was hard to say goodbye; but now, a year later I don’t miss it at all. Similarly, this year, we’re dropping Netflix to see how much closer we can get to our goal.

7. We Skipped Vacations

We decided that we could have fun at home without a vacation. It was a tough decision but we saved hundreds of dollars by skipping the vacation this year.

Create a family bucket list full of free or cheap ideas instead of a family vacation this year (see below!)

8. We Found Free Family Events

Honestly, this one was one of our favorite “sacrifices”.

By looking for free events we got to know our community quite well and saw how much our own city has to offer.

Our local radio station has been a great resource for finding free events. We also checked with our local parks department, local schools, and we signed up for a community newsletter.

As a result, we’ve been to museums, zoos, and even got a family caricature done for free!

Take the time to look for free or cheap events and you won’t be disappointed.

9. We Sold Our Stuff Online

Chances are there are plenty of things in your house that you don’t use or even need.

Sell them online to make some extra money.

We did… and as a result, we were able to refill our emergency fund and free up some cash for more payments!

Final Thoughts on Paying Off Debt on a Single Income

The hardest part is staying motivated. It’s hard to see your money go to payment after payment. We had to regularly remind ourselves of our desire to be debt free to keep us going.

Now looking back, our year of paying off debt was actually a lot of fun — and SO worth it.

We made many sacrifices, we followed a strict budget, and we prioritized our debt. We worked hard and found lots of ways to save money too — and as a result, we paid off $32,000 in just ONE year, living on ONE income! I am forever grateful I get to stay home with my babies every day.

We’re still working on our debt, and hoping to do EVEN BETTER this year!

What are your best tips for how to pay off debt on one income?

Ali is a stay-at-home mom to three kids. She is mastering the art frugal living and helps stay at home moms learn how to control their finances while running a home. Read all about mom life and frugal living at Meanwhile at Naptime.

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

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Shared May 30, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s $51 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $51 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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

Aldi

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 box Cinnamon Crunch Cereal – $1.39

1 box Instant Brown Rice – $1.79

1 pkg Sugar – $1.73

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

3 pint Blueberries – $0.99 each

1 Pineapple – $1.29

4 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each

1 Yeast Packets – $0.89

1 Baking Powder – $1.19

1 Half & Half – $1.59

1 Gallon Milk – $1.49

1 loaf Bread – $0.89

1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 pkg Snack Crackers – $1.69

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – $0.49

Total: $32.44

Dillons

1 pkg Simply Popped Popcorn – $0.99

1 box Honey Bunches of Oats – $1.49

1 box Honey Nut Cheerios – $1.49

5 boxes Mott’s Fruit Snacks – $0.99 each

2 boxes Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1 each

1 Clif Mojo Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 Clif Nut Bar – $1, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $0.50 after coupon

1 Green Pepper – $0.89

1 bag Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1.49

1.86 lbs Grapes – $1.84

2.74 lbs Bananas – $1.34

1 bag Kroger Carrots – $0.99

1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.29

Total after coupons: $19.26

Total for both stores: $51.70

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Fruit, Toast, Eggs, Oatmeal

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Salad Bar, Crackers/Fruit/Veggies, Leftovers

Dinners

Pizza at Family Get Together (provided by my in-laws)

Chicken & Rice, Sliced Pineapple

Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Chips, Carrot Sticks

Mac & Cheese, Steamed Peas

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Tossed Salad

Chicken Enchiladas (from the freezer), Steamed Broccoli, Fruit Salad

Shared May 29, 2019 comment

How Foster Parenting Has Changed Our Lives

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How Foster Parenting Has Changed Our Lives

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

Have you ever thought about foster parenting? In this episode, my local friend, Fran, joins me to talk about how fostering has impacted their family in ways they never expected.

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

How Foster Parenting Has Changed Our Lives

On this week’s episode of The Crystal Paine Show podcast, not only do Jesse and I share some fun book updates, a hilarious podcast review we received, and something that’s saving my life, but I also am joined in studio by one of my dear local friends!

Fran Maynard and I got to know each other well over the past few years as our families were in Community Group together. Then, she and I got even closer two years ago as we were in a small group in our church’s Discipleship Program. This past year, Fran and I also had the privilege of leading a small group together through the Discipleship Program.

A Front Row Seat on This Beautiful Journey

During the past two years, I got to have a front row seat in watching Fran and her family go through the training and interviews required to become foster parents. Then, I’ve seen them open their home and hearts to a sweet little girl (see the precious blonde toddler in the photo above?) and also become passionate about the great need in our community.

As I have seen Fran’s heart expand, as I’ve witnessed how this journey has impacted their family in such beautiful ways, as I’ve watched her advocate for children who need a temporary or permanent home and family, my heart has been deeply touched. And it has deeply impacted our family in ways we never expected (more on that story in the months to come!)

In today’s episode, I asked Fran to share more of her story and how foster parenting has changed their families lives in ways they could have never dreamed or imagined. I hope that her words inspire and touch you as they have inspired and touched me.

Whether you have any interest in fostering at all, I urge you to listen to this episode and prayerfully consider where you are being called to step out in faith and obedience to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others — whether it is signing up for foster parenting classes, coming alongside other foster parents, advocating for children who are in the foster care system, helping walk with families who are struggling, serving single parents, or reaching out and serving in a completely different capacity.

Powered by RedCircle

In This Episode:

[03:32] – Jesse did it! He inspired me to listen to the Killing Lincoln Audiobook by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard.

[06:20] – Dear Bob & Sue, the book I actually picked to tell you about this week, chronicles the authors’ visits to all 58 (at the time) national parks. It is hilarious and made me want to go visit a lot of national parks — something I’ve never thought I’d want to do!

[08:26] – What’s saving my life this week? My eye mask! I talk about why I started using it, when I use it, and how it helps.

[10:33] – We are doing a #100DaysofSummerFun Family Challenge this summer! Check out my Instagram account to see all the fun activities we do! 

[12:29] – Meet my wonderful friend Fran, learn how we met, and hear about their path to foster.

[14:11] – Fran shares with us a little bit about her childhood, her journey, and how it affected her decision to foster.

[16:18] – I ask Fran how they were first led to consider fostering and whether they had fear going into it.

[19:46] – The biggest surprise for Fran and her family in this process was the unbelievably positive response from their kids and their community. The hardest part? All the unknowns. The most beautiful part? The growth that their children have seen in their hearts and their faith.

[24:14] – We talk about the great need for willing and able to foster families in every community and Fran shares some words of wisdom and recommendations for those who may want to foster in the future.

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 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.

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 May 28, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget (+ what we ate)

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget (+ what we ate)

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 of five. This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunches, 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.

Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and we will be compensated if you click through and sign up. Read our disclosure policy here.

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget

I told you we were doing a 100 Days of Summer Fun Challenge this summer. We’re currently on Day 10 and it’s been so good. This photo was taken at the top of Fort Negley in Nashville.

We went there as a family to have a picnic dinner one night this past week. It was my idea — and well, let’s just say, the kids weren’t as excited about it as I was.

(You can read more about our evening there here… and hopefully it helps you remember that we’re far from perfect over here!)

photo of a salad

I bought some marked down salmon a few weeks ago and it was a fun addition to my daily salads this past week. Yum!

Pizza Hot Pockets

On Tuesday evening, I made a big batch of Pizza Hot Pockets. I used the basic idea from Ham & Cheese Pockets, but I used pasta sauce, browned ground beef, and cheddar cheese.

I made two pans and it was enough for two nights (plus some extras for lunch) and these were a hit!

Kroger Grocery Shopping Trip

Kroger Shopping Trip #1

$0.50 salad

I loved the $0.50 salads. The second day, I added some of the cooked salmon to it and it tasted amazing!

Sprouts coupon

Sprouts coupon

Did you download your free Sprouts coupons??

Sprouts Shopping Trip

Sprouts Shopping Trip

I got both of these for just $0.20 out of pocket at Sprouts!

Note: I accidentally picked up the non-organic peppers. I realized my mistake at the register when the coupon didn’t come off! I offered to go get the organic peppers so I could exchange them with these and the cashier said, “Oh, don’t worry about it! I’ll just take those off your order!”

If you missed my post from last week and you love Dollar Tree, be sure to check out my thoughts on 5 Things You Should Not Buy at Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree Shopping Trip

Dollar Tree Shopping Trip

While I was at Dollar Tree taking photos for the above post, I also picked up 4 bottles of lemon juice (for my Gallon of Lemon Water a Day habit) and I picked up some Coconut Oil cooking spray to try out.

I asked on Instagram if anyone had tried the coconut oil cooking spray. Some of you said you loved it. Some of you said it didn’t work at all. So I guess I’ll just have to try it for myself and see! 🙂

Sonic Corn Dogs

And of course, we had to stop by Sonic for their $0.50 corn dogs on Thursday!

Kroger sale

I was so excited about the fun deals at Kroger for Memorial Day weekend! (And the kids were super excited about sweet tea, cookies, and ice cream bars!)

Kroger sale

Kroger deals

Someone told me that they use the Deluxe Grahams for s’mores! We’ll have to try that!
Kroger deals

These are so great to have on hand for hosting people over the summer!

Kroger deals

Kroger Shopping Trip #2

  • 5 packages of Keebler cookies — $0.99 each with the Weekend Digital coupon
  • 1 pack of Snapple — $1.99 with the Weekend Digital coupon
  • 5 boxes of ice cream bars — $0.99 each with the Weekend Digital coupon
  • 5 packages of hot dog buns — $1.19 each
  • 4 boxes Cinnamon Frosted Flakes — marked down to $1 each
  • 2 bags of avocados — marked down to $0.99 each
  • 1 package Butterscotch chips — marked down to $1
  • 2 packages turkey — on closeout for $2 each
  • Pickle relish — $0.79
  • Kroger pickles — $1.59
  • Mustard — $0.49
  • Dijon mustard — $1.25
  • 3 salad kits — marked down to $1.49 each
  • Total with tax: $39.79

Practicing Hospitality on a Budget

A question I often get is how we can afford to practice hospitality with a $70 grocery budget. We love opening up our home and I love finding creative ways to do it frugally. (See my post here for some ideas for hospitality on a budget.)

Some friends from India were in the states and we wanted to have them over along with a few other families. I knew that our Indian friends actually enjoy real American food so I thought a traditional cookout would be fun!

We had about 20 packages of beef hot dogs and beef brats in the freezer — that I’ve picked up when they’ve been on great sales over the past 3-6 months. So I invited everyone to come and said we’d provide the hot dogs, brats, buns, and condiments. Everyone else brought a side and/or drink.

This made it easy for everyone and also really simple to pull off! It was such a wonderful evening of games, laughter, and good conversation!

Headed on a Road Trip!

On Saturday morning, we left for a quick family road trip to visit three states we haven’t all visited before (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa). We brought snacks for the road, some food for some meals, and we are staying at hotels with free breakfasts. We love to splurge on one meal out at a local restaurant each day on our trip.

(Follow along on Instagram stories to see what we’re doing, seeing, and eating in these states!)

What We Ate On Our $70 Grocery Budget This Past Week

Note: When you see the meals below, please remember this: I buy ahead often. Which means that when I find a great deal on something I know we’ll use, I buy as much as I can afford in our budget to have on hand.

This means that you aren’t going to see all of the groceries my shopping trip that I used to make all of the meals we ate.

Please also remember that I’m putting this out there and it’s not a perfectly balanced menu. This is just really what we ate — and I hope that it encourages you to see the real-ness and lack of perfection here.

Our Menu Plan

Breakfasts:

  • Cereal, Pancakes, Oatmeal, Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Lunches:

  • Ham Sandwiches, Carrots, Oranges, Salads, Leftovers, Cookies (We also got a few $0.50 corn dogs at Sonic in the afternoon.)

Snacks:

  • Fruit, Peppers, Popcorn, Cookies, Hard Boiled Eggs, Cereal, Granola Bars, Chocolate Milk

Dinners:

  • Sunday — Fend for yourself
  • Monday — Grilled Beef, Twice Baked Potatoes, Hawaiian Rolls, Oranges
  • Tuesday — Homemade Pizza Pockets, Oranges
  • Wednesday — Leftover Pizza Pockets, Peppers, Creme Brulee
  • Thursday — Pancakes
  • Friday — Cookout with five other families at our house (we provided all of the Brats/Hot Dogs — I had these stockpiled in the freezer from recent deals — plus the condiments and buns. Everyone else brought a side/drinks.)
  • Saturday — We stopped at McAlister’s on our way to Madison, WI.

$70 Grocery Budget Totals

Total spent on groceries: $70.64

Cashback earned this week: 100 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards + $0.75 for submitting my receipt to iBotta rewards and buying snack bars + a snack.

Aldi grocery shopping haul
Shared May 25, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $82 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $82 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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

Aldi

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.45

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 can Whipping Cream – $2.25

1 gallon 1% Milk – $1.45

1 16-oz carton Egg Whites – $1.69

3 dozen Eggs – $2.34

4 individual-serving tubs Greek Yogurt – $1.96

2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30

2 bags Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 pkg Blueberries – $1.49

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.19

1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $1.09

1 bunch Bananas (2.53lbs @ $0.42/lb) – $1.06

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.89

1 Cauliflower – $2.25

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.19

1 3-lb bag Gala Apples – $2.29

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 Seedless Watermelon – $2.89

2 cans Green Beans – $0.76

1 16-oz pkg Baby Carrots – $0.69

1-lb Premium Sausage – $1.89

1 5-lb pkg Fresh 73/27 Ground Beef, reduced – $8.16

1 pkg Uncured Turkey Franks – $1.99

2 cans Chicken Breast -$3.10

1 bag Salsa Tortilla Chips – $0.99

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.65

2 bags Rice Cakes – $2.30

1 40-oz jar Peanut Butter – $2.19

1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

1 32-oz bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.19

1 8-oz pkg Sliced Muenster Cheese – $1.15

1 24-oz carton Lowfat Cottage Cheese – $1.59

Total: $75.80


Harris Teeter

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $1.94

1 jar Hellman’s Mayonnaise – $2.47, used $1 off Hellmann Mayo or Sauce, 11 oz+ (RMN 05/19), plus receive $0.75 rebate from Ibotta – $0.73 after coupon and rebate

1 can Pringles – $0.97, used $0.35/1 Pringles Wavy, exp. 6/30/19 (RMN 05/19/19) (doubled), plus receive $0.35 rebate from Ibotta – $0.08MM after coupon and rebate

3 bottles Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauce – $3.00, used $1/3 Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, exp. 6/30/19 (SS 05/19/19 R) – $2.00/3 after coupon

2 boxes Quaker Granola Bars – $2.98, used $1/2 Quaker Life Cereal or Chewy Granola Bars, exp. 7/7/19 (SS 05/19/19 R), plus receive $0.25 rebate on any granola bars from Ibotta – $1.73/2 boxes after coupon and rebate

1 Colgate Toothpaste – $1.00, used $0.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste, exp. 6/1/19 (SS 05/19/19) – FREE after coupon

Total after Coupon and Rebates – $6.32

Grocery Total for the Week: $82.12

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Peanut Butter on Rice Cakes, Apples, Cucumbers x 2

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Strawberries/Blueberries, Mini Peppers, Chips x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Freezer-Friendly Barbequed Meatballs, Butterhorns, Green Beans, Watermelon, Macaroni and Cheese

Crustless Ham Quiche (using leftover ham from the freezer), Broccoli, Biscuits

Sausage and Cauliflower Rice Skillet, Tossed Salad, Leftover Biscuits

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Carrots, Watermelon, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls

Chicken Gravy over Rice, Roasted Cauliflower, Tossed Salad

Taco Salad, World’s Best Honey Cornbread

Hamburgers/Hotdogs on the Grill (homemade buns), Baked Potato Fries, Watermelon

a photo of Dollar Tree
Shared May 23, 2019 comment

5 Things You Should NOT Buy at Dollar Tree

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5 Things You Should NOT Buy at Dollar Tree

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

Since you all loved my list of what NOT to buy at Aldi, I thought it’d be fun to put together a list of what NOT to buy at Dollar Tree!

What NOT to Buy at Dollar Tree

What You Shouldn’t Buy at Dollar Tree

Wondering what you shouldn’t buy at Dollar Tree? Well, I’ve got you covered in this post!

Now, before you think I’m here to disparage Dollar Tree, let me be clear: Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places to shop at. And I’m thrilled that I passed that love on to my daughter!

I mean, what’s not to love about Dollar Tree? Everything in the store is a dollar or less.

If you’re wondering what I think you should buy at Dollar Tree, be sure to check out my HUGE list of the best things to buy at Dollar Tree.

I go to the Dollar Tree for Valentine’s Day gifts. We have a family Christmas tradition where we all go to Dollar Tree and buy each other stocking stuffers! I even think it’s a great place to save money on groceries!

But just like any other store, there are definitely some things I think you should not purchase at Dollar Tree because they aren’t great deals. I put together a list of my top five things below:

(Psst! Did you see my list of 5 Things You Should Not Buy at Aldi?)

1. Cheap Plastic Toys

If you want to buy the cheap plastic toys, you totally can — especially if they will give your kids a lot of enjoyment. (Hey, if a cheap plastic toy for $1 will buy you 30 minutes of peace and quiet, I’m all for that!)

In full disclosure, we have totally have bought the games, puzzles, activity books many times over the years (especially for road trips). That said, we try to be careful that we’re not buying cheap toys that won’t work and are just going to break in a few minutes.

2. Boxes of Cereal

While they do have name brand cereals, they are small boxes and the price per ounce isn’t a great deal — especially compared to what you’d pay for cereal at Aldi.

mac and cheese at Dollar Tree

3. Mac & Cheese

I’ve told you that my kids are big fans of the boxed Mac & Cheese at Aldi — and it’s less than $0.50 per box! Also, there are often deals on Annie’s Mac & Cheese where you can get it for $1 per box or less!

Looking for a really delicious homemade mac & cheese recipe. I highly recommend this one.

4. Chips/Pretzels

If you don’t have a Kroger or Aldi, the prices on tortilla chips and pretzels could be a good deal for you, however, the packages are smaller than a typical bag of chips or pretzels at the grocery store.

For reference, most Aldi stores have larger bags of chips/pretzels for $1.19 and Kroger often larger bags of chips/pretzels on sale for $1.

towels at Dollar tree

5. Hand towels and wash cloths

Of all the things you can buy at Dollar Tree, hand towels and wash cloths are one of the few things I think you should never buy. Why? Because they are basically scratchy, non-absorbent rags.

I mean, if you want to buy them for rags, be my guest. But I think you’d be better off using leaves off your backyard trees than these “towels”. 🙂 Okay, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but still, just don’t buy these!

Instead, if you need to buy hand towels or wash cloths, wait until Kohl’s has a deal and coupon. Then, you’ll spend $1-2 per hand towel and wash cloth to buy something that actually works!

Do you agree with my list? Is there anything you would add to it? I’d love to hear!

Related Links:

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

Click here to download!
Aldi Trip
Shared May 23, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s $56 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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Gretchen’s $56 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

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

Dillons Trip

Dillons

4 bags Taco Bell Shredded Cheese at $3.49 each – On Sale Buy One Get One Free, used one Buy One Get One Free coupon (I found a coupon dispenser by the cheese with this coupon!) – $0.87 each after coupon (I was so excited about this price! I wasn’t sure if the coupon would work, but the cashier said I could use it. I plan to go back and grab four more bags later today!)

2 bags Apples – Marked down to $0.99 each

3.23 lbs Bananas – $1.58

1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.69

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.89

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.88 each (I was SO excited about this price! My kids love strawberries!)

1 Core Water – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 can Kroger Refried Beans – $0.79

1 box Sunbelt Granola Bars – $2.29, used $1/1 printable – $1.29 after coupon

1 Clif Mojo Bar – $1.25, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

Total after coupons: $15.47

Aldi Trip

Aldi

2 bags Mini Cucumbers – $1.49 each

1 bag Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

1 Half & Half – $1.59

2 pkg Frozen Broccoli – $0.95 each

2 bags Frozen Peas – $0.79 each

1 pkg MooTubes – $1.55

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

1 pkg Snack Crackers – $1.49

1 pint Blueberries – $1.69

1 Grape Jelly – $1.65

1 pkg Sausage – $1.89

1 bag Avocados – $3.79

1 loaf Bread – $0.89

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.95

1 bag Potatoes – $1.99

1 bag Spinach – $1.39

1 box Fruit Squeezies – $1.49

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 canister Oats – $2.59

1 dozen Eggs – $0.58

1 bag Roma Tomatoes – $1.29

Total: $40.95

Total for both stores: $56.42

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Fruit

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Tossed Salad Bar, Baked Potatoes, Cheese/Crackers/Fruit, Cheese Quesadillas, Leftovers

Dinners

Southwestern Roll-ups, Steamed Peas

Homemade Pizza, Breadsticks, Steamed Broccoli

Meat Potato Quiche, Fruit Salad

Memorial Day Grill Out (We are having our small group over and everyone is bringing their own meat to grill and a side dish. I’ll be doing hamburgers and cookies.)

Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage

Taco Salad Bar

Dinner at my parents house

Shared May 21, 2019 comment

Are you willing to give up what’s making you sick?

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Are you willing to give up what’s making you sick?

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

Want to know more about the Discipleship Program I’m always talking about? In this episode, I bring on our pastor to share more about why he started the program, some of the key truths in it, and how it has impacted Jesse’s life and my life!

Missed previous episodes of The Crystal Paine show? You can listen to them here.

Thank you to @sarahmaewrites for this truth bomb quote.

“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)

Three years ago, I was sitting at a session in our church’s Discipleship Program and I heard our pastor ask this question and I almost started crying right on the spot.

I knew I was unhealthy. I knew something wasn’t right right. But I didn’t know what was wrong or how to fix it.

But in faith, I said, “Yes!” Whatever it took. Whatever it meant. I wanted to get well.

I didn’t know what that “yes” was going to cost me. How I was going to have to let go of years of unhealthy patterns, unhealthy behaviors, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and codependent relationships.

But I’m here to tell you it was all worth it. It was hard. It was painful. And it changed my life.

(A photo I took from the most recent women’s Discipleship Retreat.)

(A page from my Discipleship Curriculum book.)

This is my third year of being in this intensive Discipleship Program at our church. And I am a completely different person.

I don’t live in bondage to insecurity and fear. I don’t need the approval of others to feel validated. I’ve stopped believing so many lies and have replaced them with truths.

I no longer need to impress people or exhaust myself trying to get people to like me. And I have begun to walk in the immense freedom that comes when you live as loved.

And I stand here gently whispering to anyone who feels like I felt three years ago, “Do you want to get well?”

On today’s podcast episode, I’m honored to have our pastor on to share more about his story, what prompted him to start this Discipleship Program over 7 years ago, and some of the life-changing truths Jesse and I have learned in it.

If you’ve ever wondered more about this program I’ve mentioned OR you are just feeling stuck, lethargic, and emotionally unhealthy, please do not miss this episode!

In This Episode:

[00:25] – Welcome back to the Crystal Paine Show! I give a little backstory about today’s guest, our pastor Eric Hoffman.

[03:37] – The first six months after we moved were a low point for Jesse. He struggled to find his worth outside of his work.

[06:36] – Being part of the Discipleship Program at our church is truly what God used to radically shift his perspective and understanding of God. It also helped him uncover and discover his giftings and the way he is wired.

[08:29] -I share how I was very reluctant to sign up for the Discipleship Program and talk about how exhausting and hard it was for me to go through it the first year. And yet, ultimately, it ended up changing my life in powerful ways. And then, Jesse and I have both had the opportunity to lead small groups through the program the last few years.

[10:36] – Eric takes us back to his less-compassionate days, and explains what brought him to where he is today.

[14:08] – We hear a story about Eric’s conversation with a friend in a coffee shop.

[16:12] – How did Eric manage to keep living out of the truths of what he had learned in day-to-day life?

[19:11] – I talk about how much the program has changed not only my life, but also those of the women I’ve gotten to walk through it with.

[22:37] – What are some first steps that people can take to get out of living in a rut? Eric shares a lot of practical tools and resources here.

[32:54] – Eric leaves us with a great idea of something that he and his wife do with their kids at the dinner table to teach them how to express their emotions in a healthy way.

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 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.

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 May 19, 2019 comment

This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget (+ our menu plan!)

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This Week’s $70 Grocery Budget (+ our menu plan!)

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

I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 budget for our family of five. This includes almost all of our breakfasts, lunches, 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.

Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and we will be compensated if you click through and sign up. Read our disclosure policy here.

I was excited about the Buy 5, Get $5 Off Sale that Kroger was running this week! Barbecue Sauce for $0.49 — no coupon needed? Sign me up!

I was sad to find that my store was completely sold out of the Pancake Mix that was on sale for just $0.99. But I still have three boxes of pancake mix that I got on sale/marked down, so I can totally wait for another sale!

Here’s what I got at Kroger on Tuesday (I especially excited to finally find another markdown on eggs again!):

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

  • Chex cereal — marked down to $0.69
  • 5 dozen cage-free brown eggs — marked down to $0.99 each
  • 2 Moose Tracks yogurt — marked down to $0.25 each
  • 2 Simple Truth yogurts — marked down to $0.49 each
  • Simple Truth Organic Maple Syrup — $3.99, used $1/1 Kroger digital coupon = $2.99
  • 2 boxes Kroger Raisin Bran — $1.49 each
  • Hillshire Farm ham — marked down to $2.19
  • Hillshire Farm brats — marked down to $1.49 each
  • 3 Bountiful Salad Kits — marked down to $1 each
  • 2 pounds Private Selection Ground Beef — marked down to $3.79 each
  • 1 bag of onions — marked down to $0.99
  • Vitamin D milk — $2.69
  • Huggies baby wipes — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $0.50/1 Kroger digital coupon = $0.49
  • 2 bottles Kraft barbecue sauce — $0.49 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • Suave Kids’ Shampoo — $1.99 each when you buy 5 participating items, used $1/1 Kroger digital coupon = $0.99
  • 2 Speedstick deodorant — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
  • Sara Lee whole wheat bread — $1.49 when you buy 5 participating items
  • Tropicana Probiotic — marked down to $1.29
  • Bear Naked Granola — $2.49 when you buy 5 participating items, used $3/1 Kroger digital coupon = free after coupon
  • Stayfree pads — $1.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $2/2 Kroger digital coupon = $0.99 after coupon
  • Total with tax: $44.06

cookies

Need an end of year Teacher Gift? Here’s a great idea!

Asheritah wrote in and said: “I made your chocolate chip cookies today for my preschooler to take to school. They’re DELICIOUS! I feel like I’m #winning at this mom thing… at least for a nanosecond out of my day.” (By the way, here’s the free label she used.)

a photo of Aldi

Did you see my post on 5 Things You Should NOT Buy at Aldi?

By the way, the marked down Lentil Salad I got above was kind of blah and I wouldn’t buy it again.

I was super stoked that Kroger had a weekend sale on butter! We had just ran out of the butter I bought in the last sale!

Did you get your free Core Hydration Water at Kroger?

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

  • 2 bags of peppers — marked down to $0.99 each
  • 1 bag of oranges/lemons — marked down to $0.99 each
  • 1 bag of oranges — marked down to $0.99
  • 2 tubs of salsa — marked down to $0.50 each
  • 1 bottle of organic carrot juice — marked down to $1
  • Core water — FREE
  • King’s Hawaiian Rolls — marked down to $1.79
  • 5 jars of Prego — $0.99 each with Friday-Saturday special deals
  • 5 pounds of butter — $1.99 each with the Friday-Saturday special deals
  • Total with tax: $24.07

family fun at Sonic

We kicked off 100 Days of Summer Fun on Saturday with walking to Sonic. Our goal is to do some simple family fun activity every day for the next 100 days.

If you want to join us, you can follow along with my Instagram stories where I’ll be documenting what we do each day.

(And if you want to join us, I’d love for you to share your family fun on Instagram or Facebook and tag me (@themoneysavingmom) and use the hashtag #100DaysofSummerFun.)

What We Ate This Past Week

Note: When you see the meals below, please remember this: I buy ahead often. Which means that when I find a great deal on something I know we’ll use, I buy as much as I can afford in our budget to have on hand.

This means that you aren’t going to see all of the groceries my shopping trip that I used to make all of the meals we ate.

Please also remember that I’m putting this out there and it’s not a perfectly balanced menu. This is just really what we ate — and I hope that it encourages you to see the real-ness and lack of perfection here.

Our Menu Plan

Breakfasts:

  • Cereal, Oatmeal, Scrambled Eggs, Toast

Lunches:

  • Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrots, Oranges, Salads, Leftovers, Cookies

Snacks:

  • Fruit, Peppers, Popcorn, Ice Cream, Hard Boiled Eggs

Dinners:

  • Sunday — Leftover ziti, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls, salad, peas
  • Monday — Leftovers (We apparently made way too much for when we had guests over on Saturday night! Hey, at least it meant I got two nights off from cooking!)
  • Tuesday — Corn bread, ground beef with tomatoes and onions, fruit
  • Wednesday — Leftover corn bread with chili and cheese
  • Thursday — KFC
  • Friday — Breakfast for dinner: pancakes, sausage, fruit
  • Saturday — Leftover pancakes and sausage, frozen pizza + we walked to Sonic and the kids got drinks and chili dogs

Grocery Budget Totals

Total spent on groceries: $68.13

Cashback earned this week: 136 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards + $0.20 for submitting my receipt to iBotta rewards.

Shared May 18, 2019 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 Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.89

1 bag frozen Broccoli Florets – $0.95

1 3-lb bag Sweet Potatoes – $1.55

1 Pineapple – $0.99

2 Avocados – $0.88

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.24

1 Cauliflower – $2.19

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.49

1 2-lb bag Red Onions – $1.79

3 large Cucumbers – $1.47

1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.79

1 pkg Vine-Ripened Tomatoes – $1.48

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $2.79

1 bunch Bananas (3.52lbs @ $0.42/lb) – $1.48

1 pkg Baby Bella Mushrooms – $0.99

1 pkg Artisan Lettuce – $2.39

1 pkg (5.53lbs) Fresh Boneless Chicken Breasts – $8.45

1 jar Extra Virgin Olive Oil – $2.69

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.45

1/2 gallon 1% Milk – $0.95

1/2 gallon Orange Juice – $1.59

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.69

1 can Whipped Dairy Topping – $2.65

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59

4 Individual Cartons Flavored Greek Yogurt – $1.96

1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.29

1 can Baking Powder – $0.99

1 can Garbanzo Beans – $0.48

1 2-lb bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $4.49

2 2-lb bags Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $4.30

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30

1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

1 box Cheese Crackers – $1.49

1 pkg Plain Rice Cakes – $1.15

2 cartons Egg Whites – $3.18

2 dozen Eggs – $1.78

1 pkg Turkey Pepperoni – $1.99

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.59

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.65

Total: $87.87

Grocery Total for the Week: $87.87

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Carrots, Apples x 2

Pretzels/Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter, Mini Peppers, Bananas x 2

Build-Your-Own-Salad Bar, Rice Cakes

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Hot Dog Cookout (Church Event – we just have to show up!)

Pizza Casserole (recipe from the “Trim Healthy Table Cookbook” – the crust is made from riced cauliflower), Tossed Salad

Crustless Ham Quiche, Broccoli, Brown Sugar Biscuit Twists

Meatloaf, Baked Potatoes, Pineapple, Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower

Healthy Roasted Veggie/Rice Bowl (making a variation of this recipe), Cucumber Salad

Oven Baked Chicken Breasts, Quick Garlic Breadsticks, Zucchini Fries, Pineapple

Venison Burgers, Oven Baked French Fries, Tossed Salad

Shared May 17, 2019 comment

5 Books I Finished in April

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5 Books I Finished in April

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

Want to know what books I finished in April? In 2019, I’m sharing the books I read each month and what my honest thoughts were on those books. If you love books, you don’t want to miss this post! (You can see all of my book reviews for this year here.)

5 Books I Finished in April

I set a goal to finish 80 books in 2019 and a second goal that 40 of those books will be books I already own. (You can see which books I picked to read from those I already own here).

By the way, I’m truly loving using GoodReads to track my reading. You all were right! It is really motivational to see my progress! And I’ve been ahead on my goal for the last month!

I finished 5 books in April — yay! Here’s what I read + my honest thoughts on each of the books:

Troublemaker by Leah Remini

1. Troublemaker

This book had been highly recommended multiple times. When I found it available on Libby, I “checked it out” and started listening to it. Honestly, I almost didn’t keep listening because she has such a strong and brash personality.

But I’m glad I stuck with it because her story was fascinating and sad… but worth listening to/reading. I really had no understanding of what Scientology was before this book and while I know that this is just one person’s story, it was shocking to hear of her experiences in the Church of Scientology, what she was required to do, how she was mistreated, and how much money she paid into the Church as a member.

Note: There is strong and crass language in this book.

Verdict: 3 stars

The Glass Castle

2. The Glass Castle

After I read Hillbilly Elegy, multiple people said I had to read The Glass Castle. Again, I found it was available on Libby, so I checked it out.

It’s one of those stories that I don’t know how to describe. It was engaging and thought-provoking, but also incredibly sad and haunting.

It’s the story of a woman who grew up in a very dysfunctional and poor family… and yet, despite the dysfunction, there’s also this layer of mystique that she paints her parents in. Like, you want to really dislike them, but you can’t fully allow yourself to because they also have these likable traits, too.

The book left me wishing I could have a conversation with the author and her siblings. It was also one — like Hillybilly Elegy — that I wished I would going through in a Book Club setting so I could discuss my big and sometimes disparate feelings about the book.

Note: There is language in the book and also some various details and stories that could be triggering, depending upon your background.

Verdict: 3 stars

Point of View by Elizabeth Hasslebeck

3. Point of View

This book is part memoir, part self-help. Elisabeth Hasselbeck shares lessons she learned from being on Survivor, being on The View, being fired from The View, being co-host on Fox & Friends, and ultimately deciding to leave television and focus on being a wife and mom.

I appreciated her candid honesty about her struggles with pushing herself too hard, trying to do too much, and not acknowledging her limitations and capacity. I also loved the behind-the-scenes stuff she shared about being on the various shows she’s been on.

My complaint with the book is that I wanted more. 🙂 I would have loved to hear even more details on what it was like to be on Survivor, be on The View, co-host Fox & Friends, be wife to a NFL player, and come home full-time to be a mom.

Verdict: 3 starts

As Many Reps as Possible

4. As Many Reps As Possible

I wanted so much to like this book. I loved Chasing Excellence and was hoping this would be a similar book.

It’s written by CrossFit Games Winner, Jason Khalipa, and the premise of the book is promising. He encourages you to live life with the AMRAP mentality.

(If you’re not familiar with CrossFit terms, AMRAP means As Many Reps As Possible. It’s basically where you push yourself as hard as you can go.)

I enjoyed some of the personal stories and inspirational tidbits he shared, but I felt like the book was sort of all over the place, not well edited, and it was hard to follow because it kept jumping from one part of his story to another and then back again.

In addition, I struggled with figuring out what he was inferring when he encouraged people to live with the AMRAP mentality. How does this actually look in real-life? He talks about being fully present when you are working on, or working on your business, or hanging out with your family, but I would have loved for him to unpack that a lot more.

Clearly, most people disagreed with me on this because it has 72 reviews and every single one of them is 5 star! So yeah, you might completely disagree with me on this one!

Verdict: 2 stars

Before We Were Yours

5. Before We Were Yours

This was — by far — the best book I finished in April! Many of you told me you thought I should read it as soon as possible and you were so right.

It’s the tragic and true story of the Tennessee Children’s Home scandals and how they played out in the lives of the children who actually went through this horrific experience.

Truth be told, I had never heard of the Tennessee Children’s Home scandals before listening to this book — and I live in Tennessee! I have asked multiple people who live here and they haven’t heard of it either.

It’s heart-wrenching and horrible and I think a powerful reminder of how money can cause people to make terrible decisions that can hurt people in devastating ways.

The book is well-written and engaging and appears to be very well-researched historical fiction. It is also the beautiful story of sibling love and how trauma and devastation doesn’t have to define your future.

Note: There are a lot of situations in the book when it comes to abuse that could be very triggering to people, depending upon your life experience and trauma. The book doesn’t give nitty-gritty details, but it’s enough that it could be very triggering.

Verdict: 4 stars

What have you been reading recently? Any books you think I really need to read soon? I’d love to know!