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Shared May 23, 2019 comment

5 Things You Should NOT Buy at Dollar Tree

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 23, 2019 | 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 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.

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.

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!

Gretchen’s $56 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on May 23, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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

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?

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 21, 2019 | 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:

Eric Hoffman
Galatians for You by Tim Keller
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
Timothy Keller
Wholehearted 8-Part Message Series
The Bible Project: Word Study: Lev – “Heart”
The Voice of the Heart by Chip Dodd
What Am I Feeling? by Dr. Josh Straub and Christi Straub
Crystal’s Favorite Things on Amazon
CrystalPaine.com
MoneySavingMom.com
YourBloggingMentor.com
Crystal’s 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.

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!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 19, 2019 | 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

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.)

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

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

Published: by Brigette on May 18, 2019 | 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

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared May 17, 2019 comment

5 Books I Finished in April

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 17, 2019 | 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:

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

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

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

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

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!

Shared May 16, 2019 comment

How to Have a Yard Sale – 10 Yard Sale Ideas For Success

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 16, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Planning to have a garage sale soon? I’ve had a number of successful garage sales over the years and these are my top 10 garage sale tips!

{Looking for other creative ways to make some extra cash? Check out our big list of income-earning ideas and our favorite legitimate paid online surveys!}

Since I’m a minimalist at heart, I’ve always loved to declutter, go through old stuff, and purge what we no longer need.

Back in our law school days, I frequently had garage sales to earn a little bit of extra cash — because every little bit helped stretch our really tight budget during those financially lean years!

Since I’ve had SO many garage sales over the years, I’ve learned a lot about how to have a successful garage sale.

If you’ve been thinking about having a garage sale soon, here are my top 10 garage sale tips!

Yard Sale Tips: Where to Begin

1. Collect clutter year-round.

Always have an ongoing Garage Sale stash you’re adding to.

Try to regularly declutter and purge what you don’t need. When you come across something you no longer need or use, stick it in a box! Once that box fills up, start another box! And another.

Without much effort at all, by the time your garage sale comes along, you’ll have multiple boxes of stuff you can sell!

I used to do this throughout the year and then have an annual garage sale each year. It made things super easy because I already had everything in one place to sell. I didn’t have to spend days going through items and figuring out what to sell.

2. Have a plan.

A successful garage sale does not happen without organization.

At least one week before your garage sale, I recommend going through your home top to bottom and clearing out any last-minute clutter that’s not already in the garage sale boxes. At least 2-3 days before the sale, set aside an afternoon to price everything out and organize your items. And then the day before the sale, devote a few hours to the final organization — advertising on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, getting some cash together for change, making signs, etc.

Do not wait until the last minute to pull off a garage sale. Either it will flop or you’ll run yourself ragged — or both. If you’re in a new location or you’re new to hosting a garage sale, I’d suggest that you start getting organized at least 3-4 weeks in advance.

NOTE: Getting organized for a successful garage sale:

How are you going to display items? Do you need to borrow or make a clothes rack?
Do you have enough table space? If not, check and see if you can borrow tables from friends or put together some makeshift tables out of plywood and boxes.
What signs will you be using and how many do you need? Where will you be displaying the signs to best direct traffic to your home? Drive the routes people will be using to find your home and decide on locations for your signs ahead of time.
Who is going to put the signs out on the morning of the sale? Designate someone for this ahead of time and let them know specifically where to place the signs.
How much cash should you have on hand and how will you keep it in a safe location?
Do you need to purchase a license for running a garage sale in your area?
Do you have enough help?

3. Team up.

One of my top garage sale tips is that you should never do them alone! Find friends or family to team up with.

Not only does this arrangement mean you have a larger quantity and variety of items to sell, but it also means you have more help. Divvying up the responsibilities between 3 or 4 people makes a garage sale much more manageable.

Plus, it just makes it more fun when you’re doing it with friends and family!

4. Location, location, location!

If you want to have a garage sale that flops, pick a location that is off-the-beaten-path and hard to get to. That’s a surefire way to lose a lot of business.

Don’t live near a busy intersection? Look for alternative locations like the home of a friend or relative.

We always had really successful garage sales at our home in Kansas, because we lived right between two very heavily-trafficked streets. We put up some good signage and the crowds came!

5. Timing is everything (well, just about).

I don’t advise planning a sale in the freezing cold Winter or the blazing hot Summer. Choose a time of the year when the weather will be very pleasant and try to check the weather forecast ahead of time to make sure rain is not expected when you’re planning your sale.

In addition, find out what days of the week are best for yard sales to run in your area. Fridays and Saturdays are usually really popular, but you’d be surprised to find that in some areas Thursdays are big days for garage sales.

6. Price things to sell.

Of all my garage sale tips, this is one of the most important — and something that I have seen people miss the mark on time and time again with garage sales!

When people come to a garage sale, they are expecting to pay garage sale prices. Keep this in mind when you price your items.

While pricing can vary a bit depending on the area you live in, it’s really important to price things to sell. A good rule of thumb is to price things at what you feel would be a good bargain if you were buying that item at someone else’s garage sale.

And it’s better to price something on the low end and have someone actually buy my item, than to have 25 people pick up the item and put it back down on the table because it is too expensive.

Garage Sale Pricing: How to price Garage Sale items

7. Advertise well.

The marketing of your sale is usually the number one factor in how well your sale does. You can have great items, great prices, and a great location — but if people don’t know how to get to your house or can’t find it on their own, you won’t have a successful garage sale!

So put some time and effort into making a number of quality, clearly-readable signs, and put them in conspicuous places that easily lead to your home. The brighter, bolder, and bigger the sign, the better!

And don’t forget to advertise on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist! Both are free to advertise, so why not?! And remember — the more details you can put in your ad, the better. Mention specific items, brands, and sizes.

Often times people are searching for really specific items on Craigslist or Marketplace, so even if they’re not looking at garage sales, they might see one of your listed items pull up in their search! The more descriptive you can be in the listing and title, the better.

And be sure to use proper grammar and spelling, too. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference!

8. Clearly mark your prices.

It’s easy to want to just stick a big sign on a table saying that everything on that table is a quarter, but in the long run, it is much more efficient to go ahead and put price stickers on everything. Instead of having to make up prices on the spot, people will know exactly how much something is. In addition, some people are too shy to ask the price of an item, so you’ll lose a sale if an item isn’t marked.

I’ve found it’s worth paying the few dollars it costs to buy pre-priced stickers for most items. It makes things SO simple and fast!

I also recommend having a variety in pricing — with plenty of really inexpensive items. Often, when you have a lot of inexpensive items, people are more likely to pick up more items — and it will often help sell some of your larger-ticketed items in the long run!

{Tip: If you are running a garage sale with multiple families, just put initials on all the price tags so that you can keep a tally sheet of who sold what. And you can even have two people working the money table — one to keep track of the tally sheet and one to handle all of the money transactions.}

NOTE: How to Display Clothing at a Garage Sale

The better you display your items, the faster they will sell — after all, if people can’t see your stuff, they won’t buy it.

See if you can borrow (or even rent) a few clothing racks to hang as many of the items as possible.

For folded items, make sure the fronts of the shirts are clearly facing out and have everything divided up by gender and size.

Take a few moments throughout the sale to tidy up the clothing areas to make sure it looks inviting to potential buyers.

9. Mark items down on the last day.

Things are usually pretty picked over by the last day of the sale. That’s the perfect opportunity to get creative and hand out rock-bottom bargains!

Consider making everything half-price on the last day. We even used to let people “Fill a Bag for a Buck” on the last day of our garage sales, and it was really effective! Sometimes we’d get rid of 25 bags of full stuff in just a few hours by doing this!

Or, if you have quite a bit of stuff left and feel ready to close up shop, you can give things away for free during the last hour of your garage sale.

Creative Yard Sale Ideas

10. Don’t forget the cookies and lemonade!

This is one of my favorite garage sale tips! What better way to teach your children entrepreneurial skills and let them earn a little money in the process than to have them set up their own little cookie and lemonade stands at the sale?

Or, if it’s cold outside, try selling hot chocolate, coffee, and fresh cinnamon rolls. I remember we even set up a pancake griddle and sold hot pancakes one year! Everyone loved it.

Baked goods — like homemade cookies and bars — actually sell really well at garage sales. Sometimes you can make over $100 just from selling baked goods!

We also used to let Kathrynne run her own little toy table when she was younger. Everything was a penny and she had a great time interacting with customers and taking money. Best of all, it was a great learning experience for her! It was a chance for her to practice communicating with adults and learn the value of money!

What Not To Sell at a Garage Sale

While it’s true that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” there are still a few things you shouldn’t bother trying to sell at your garage sale.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but in general, I probably wouldn’t sell the following items:

Anything that’s broken, or defective.
Toys, puzzles, and games with missing pieces or parts.
Clothing with rips, holes, or stains.
Towels or linens with strong smells or stains.
Anything with mold or mildew.
Electronics with battery corrosion, frayed chords, or faulty wires.
Already-opened personal hygiene items.

What are your best garage sale tips? I’d love to hear in the comments!

Shared May 15, 2019 comment

5 Things You Should NOT Buy at ALDI

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 15, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Because so many of you loved my list of 25 best things to buy at ALDI, I decided it was time for me to put together a list of what NOT to buy at ALDI!

{Psst! Wondering why I love ALDI so much? Read this post on why I think everyone should shop at ALDI to save money!}

5 Things You Should Never Buy at Aldi

As you well know, I think you can save a lot of money by shopping at Aldi. However, that doesn’t mean that everything at Aldi is a good deal.

One of the most popular posts on my site is my post on 25 of the best things to buy at Aldi. Today, I thought it would be fun to tell you what I think you shouldn’t buy at Aldi.

Here’s my list of what I think you should avoid buying…

1. Name Brand Items

Don’t buy brand name items! Why? Because not only are these usually over-priced, you can’t use coupons on them to save more money.

What to buy instead: The Aldi brand/off brand counterparts for these name brand items. In most cases, you’ll save 40-60% off of what the name brand item is priced! And we’ve found that it usually works or tastes just as good! (See above photos for side by side comparisons.)

2. Aldi Finds

When you walk in the store and near the end of the store as you’re going to checkout, Aldi typically has what they call Aldi Finds. These are often name brand items and are typically unique or weird flavor combinations.

I don’t know exactly where they get these from, but my theory is that they were some kind of overstock or trial run at mainstream grocery stores that didn’t do well. (Anyone know?)

Not only are they usually not a great deal, but they are also probably a sort of risky purchase since they are likely a flavor or item you haven’t tried before.

What to buy instead: Stick to the Aldi brand regular deals and pass up the Aldi Finds.

3. Seasonal Items

Aldi has a big section of the store (well, big percentage-wise when you compare it to the size of the store!) devoted to Seasonal type deals. Right now, there will be a lot of summer toys and other things that would be geared toward the summer months.

While they often do have some good prices, unless you were looking for that specific item and/or saving up for it and you know this price is less than what you’d pay elsewhere, skip this section of the store.

Why? Because you’ll just end up spending money on “good deals” that you don’t need and weren’t planning to purchase in the first place. This, in turn, will negate all of the savings you are getting on groceries!

What to buy instead: Focus on purchasing the items that are already on your grocery list instead of impulse buying.

4. Pre-Packaged Food

If you normally buy pre-packaged snacks and frozen foods, then you will save some money by buying them at Aldi. However, please don’t start buying pre-packaged foods just because you think they are “so inexpensive” at Aldi.

What to buy instead: Ingredients to make your own homemade snacks and items!

5. Things You Can Get Cheaper at Dollar Tree

If you have a Dollar Tree in your area, be sure to peruse the food and household product aisles to price-check the Dollar Tree prices and sizes against the Aldi prices and sizes.

While some Aldi prices are the same or less, some items are significantly cheaper at Dollar Tree. For instance, see the lemon juice shown above? It’s regularly $2.49 at Kroger, $2.39 at Aldi, and just $1.25 at Dollar Tree!

What to buy instead: Nothing! If you can get it cheaper at Dollar Tree, don’t buy it at Aldi! 🙂

Do you agree with my list? What do you think you shouldn’t purchase at Aldi? I’d love to hear!

Gretchen’s $48 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan

Published: by Gretchen on May 15, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

2 dozen Eggs – $0.59 each

1 Gallon Milk – $1.49

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99

3 pkg Strawberries – $1.29 each

1 pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.49

2 cans Green Beans – $0.49 each

1 pkg Fruit Squeezies – $1.49

1 pkg Frozen Corn – $0.79

1 pkg Thin Wheat Crackers – $0.99

2 pkg Blueberries – $1.69 each

1 loaf Bread – $0.99

2 Half & Half – $1.59 each

2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.49 each

1 pkg Frozen Chicken Nuggets – $3.79

2 Seedless Cucumbers – $0.99 eac

1 Yeast Packets – $0.89

1 pkg Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.69

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

1 pkg Cheese Crackers – $1.49

Total: $37.83

Dillons

1 Bare Naked Granola – $2.49, used $3/1 e-coupon – Free plus overage after coupon

1 pkg Goldfish Crackers – $1.99

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

1 loaf Bread – $1.49

2 bags Apples – Marked down to $0.99 each

3.31 lbs Bananas – $1.62

2 Kraft Barbecue Sauce – $0.49 each

1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.69

Total after coupons: $10.53

Total for both stores: $48.36

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Fruit

Lunches

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

Dinners

I’m keeping dinners simple and easy this week since my husband is working night shift.

Chicken Enchiladas, Chips (leftover from a few weeks ago), Fruit

Chicken Nuggets, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Strawberries

French Toast, Eggs, Sliced Apples

Spaghetti, Banana Muffins (using old bananas in my freezer), Steamed Corn

Barbecue Chicken in the Crockpot, Green Beans

Grilled Steak (from the freezer), Baked Potatoes, Homemade Bread

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Tossed Salad

Shared May 14, 2019 comment

How to Be Married to a Strong Woman

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 14, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Want to know what it’s like to be married to a strong woman? Jesse and I have been married for over 16 years and we’ve learned a lot through trial and error. In this podcast episode, we share our best advice, hard-won lessons, and practical tips for working through your differences in marriage.

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

How to Be Married to a Strong Woman

Jesse surprised me as we were prepping for this week’s podcast episode by telling me he had recently deleted Facebook off of his phone. I had no idea that he had, but I had noticed he has been knocking things off his to do list right and left.

In this episode, we not only talk about boundaries we’ve set for our phones, a book we are reading, and recent travels. Plus, we tackle a somewhat hot-button topic that multiple listeners requested: How our marriage works since I have such a strong personality.

Working Through Conflict Live on the Podcast

As we start discussing the topic, we actually offer a perfect unplanned example of how we work through conflict and misunderstanding — because I began this segment by saying something that rubbed Jesse the wrong way.

He and I walk through this together, talk about how it made him feel, what I was trying to communicate, and how I could have said it better. We then go on to discuss what we’ve learned in the past 16 years of our marriage and how we make it work, even when we disagree.

We end up with (again, unintentionally!) sharing the ABC’s of a healthy marriage: acknowledge your weaknesses, believe the best about your spouse, and communicate your hearts.

In This Episode:

[02:33] – Thank you so much for listening to the podcast and a big special shout-out to those who have left reviews. I read a kind review that a listener recently left for the show. (Psst! I love it when you leave reviews and we may read your review on a future episode!)

[03:30] – We talk about what’s saving our lives these days. I was so inspired by Jesse’s answer. In fact, I changed what I was planning to share as a result!

[09:47] – My book pick this week is one that my sister recommended: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Have you read it?

[14:38] – Are you interested in blogging? Curious about starting? I’d love to have you join me in my free blogging class!

[15:43] – I explain what Jesse and I will do in our episodes now that we’re done sharing our story, and introduce today’s topic. We then accidentally demonstrate this dynamic ourselves.

[20:00] – This example illustrates that it’s important for me to recognize that I tend to say things that make Jesse feel run over.

[22:20] – In the context of our marriage, what has helped Jesse not feel bull dozed by my strong personality. We talk about keys we’ve learned for better communicating and why it’s so important to recognize your differences and acknowledge when you feel hurt or shut down.

[32:29] – We also offer some simple steps to a healthier marriage: acknowledge your weaknesses, believe the best about your spouse, and communicate your hearts.

[33:18] – Today’s Q&A question is this: “What are some good questions to ask the person you’re dating?” We share suggestions ranging from finances to personality type to praying together.

[40:19] – If you have any questions, suggestions, feedback, or a topic you want us to talk about in the future, send me an email at [email protected]!

Links and Resources:

Everything Food Conference
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Terminal List by Jack Carr
Crystal’s free blogging class
Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey
Crystal’s Favorite Things on Amazon
CrystalPaine.com
MoneySavingMom.com
YourBloggingMentor.com
Crystal’s Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day. I share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, and anything I’m pondering.)
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.

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!

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

Click here to download!

Shared May 13, 2019 comment

A Peek Into April at Our House

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 13, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Every month in 2019, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into the previous month. I thought this would be fun to give you a behind-the-scenes look at our month and recap some of the highs and lows and special memories of the month.

April started out with getting to have Audrey & Jeremy Roloff to our house to be on the podcast.

Then, I left on a school bus with a bunch of 7th and 8th graders to help with our church’s Middle School Camp.

I’m not part of student ministry at our church but my good friend Lauren (who is a leader in student ministry at our church) was telling me they were short on leaders who were available to go to the 7th-8th grade camp.

Well, I got one of my crazy enneagram 7wing ideas and said, “I’d be happy to go if they could use my help!”

It was the BEST weekend. And that’s kinda crazy for this introvert/Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) to say seeing as I stayed in a cabin with 20 girls/leaders!

In fact, I kept thinking all weekend, “Maybe I should do student ministry!!” But then I remembered that this is my season to be in women’s ministry and my plate is a little full right now between that and being a wife and mom and working full-time! 😉

But folks, I just LOVE middle schoolers! And I especially loved getting to hang out with my favorite middle schooler who was there (Kaitlynn).

We went deep and talked about what it means to live wholeheartedly. We worshipped together. And there were tears and lots of raw honesty and heartfelt conversations and prayer about very real and painful struggles.

There was also plenty of fun. Zip-lining (my happy place), trying to flip on the giant swing (I didn’t succeed!), cereal parties, awful and hilarious karaoke, dance parties, and so much laughter.

{Kaitlynn’s notes from one of the messages at camp.}

Oh and two hours to Kentucky and back with 34 very sugared-up middle schoolers that involved wasps on the bus, Gummi Bear throwing, singing, and heavy rain the leaked through the bus roof for at least an hour!

There wasn’t a dull moment and I’m so grateful for all of it — and to the amazing leaders who invest so much into these kids’ lives. I have a whole new level of respect for them!
.
Also, I loved getting to serve alongside Lauren. She’s such a good friend and a gift in my life and getting to serve with your friends is one of the best ways to deepen your relationships. Zip-lining together doesn’t hurt, either (see last photo). ❤️

We also ate so many Homemade Energy Bites. I lost track of how many batches we made this past month!

My friend, Katherine, invited me to go with her to see John Crist at the Ryman. And then she totally surprised me when we got there by saying she had bought as front row seats! It was pretty cool to be up that close!

I am so grateful for the kind, gracious, and giving people God has put into my life like Katherine. She is always encouraging me and I love it when we get to hang out.

She came to me on Sunday morning in April and asked if we could both wear our matching “fancy” dresses and high heels to church (thank you, Amazon!)

I honestly was planning to wear a super casual outfit to church and there was part of me that wanted to come up with an excuse or reason to say no to the extra work it would require to get “gussied up”.

Plus, people don’t really dress up much at our church and I knew my shoes and dress would likely make me stand out.

But then it hit me: My 11-year-old daughter wants to *match* with me. This is a GIFT. Who cares if I stand out? Who cares if people wonder if I accidentally got my dates wrong and thought it was Easter?

Yes, it meant taking a little extra time but the smile on her face and the excitement when she saw me all dressed up was SO worth it!

Then, as we were walking into church, she reached for my hand to hold it. And I could see how crazy proud and happy she was to be matching her mom.

These days are fleeting. These moments are priceless. And this little choice I made to “say yes to the dress”, was 100% worth it.

April also included a LOT of flag football! Silas was chosen to be the quarterback and the rusher this season, so he had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and he handled it so well. (Though I admit it’s stressful to be on the sidelines as mom!)

We finished out 9 months of the Discipleship Program by me leading a session on remembering, rejoicing, and re-telling what God has done.

We studied Joshua 24 and the stones of remembrance and then we all made our own stone.

Here was my stone — with the word Enough on it. A reminder to me that God is enough for me and that I am enough in Him, something that He has taught me over and over again this past year.

Jesse’s grandma, whom we all affectionately refer to as “Oma” had a health scare in April and had to be hospitalized and then have bypass surgery. Jesse got to go to Wichita to be with his family the week of the surgery and I was so grateful he was able to go. We got to see her the following week when we went down to Easter. She’s such a fighter and was already back home and determined to make a full recovery and be better than she was before!

I’ll admit, I kind of felt badly when I saw all of the cute dresses, adorable matching outfits, and beautiful family photos in my feed for Easter.

We didn’t even get a family photo for Easter because we spent most of the day traveling back from our whirlwind weekend trip to Kansas.

As I was kind of feeling sad that I was maybe the one of the only people on the internet to not have an Easter family photo to share, I realized that it’s okay to march to the beat of a different drum.

I can appreciate and celebrate the cute kids and big smiles and pretty dresses and adorable coordinating outfits. I can celebrate my friends and online friends who are posting these.

But that doesn’t mean I’m less of a mom if I don’t have photographic proof of the Easter we had.

As the saying goes, “Her success is not my failure.”

Instead of a coordinating matching Easter outfits photo, I did get this photo the day before Easter — which makes me so happy because there were so many laughs involved in our quick stop to treat the kids to lunch at one of our favorite fast food restaurants in Kansas: Spangles!

Note: I made the mistake of saying on Instagram stories that I like Spangles better than Chick-fil-A. Let’s just say, the internet did not like that. At all! But hey, what was that I said about marching to the beat of a different drum?

Silas spent quite a bit of time in April working on his science fair project — which was a remake of Kathrynne’s: a tornado simulator.

Jesse and I went and looked at tile for our bathroom since we’re getting ready to remodel it. We had no idea what we were doing and I had to ask the lady, “Could you tell us what goes on the walls and what goes on the floors?”

We spent the last few days of April on a trip to Destin, FL. It was our first time to go and it every bit lived up to the hype people have given it!

I am so grateful for the gift of these friendships. And if there’s one thing I can encourage you to invest in and prioritize, it’s life-giving relationships.

People who believe in you, but who will also call you out when you need some hard truth.

People who will celebrate your success, but who ultimately love you for you — not how many followers you have or how much money you make.

People who will laugh with you and cry with you.

People who have seen you at your worst and still love you.

People who see the best in you and who bring it out of you.

People who give you the freedom to be 100% uniquely you, with all your quirks and baggage AND gifts and talents.

People who don’t make you feel like you need to be more or be less.

And when you find these people, prioritize the relationships, even when you are tired or stressed or have a lot on your plate. It’s so worth it!

Don’t have these kinds of relationships? My best advice is to start reaching out and being that kind of friend to someone else. ❤️

Yes, I’m in the above beach picture. Can you spot me in my accidental bearded disguise?? 😉

I cannot stop laughing at this photo from our beach trip.

We were trying to do one of those cute “everyone jump at the same time and look all happy and graceful and excited to be at the beach” photos.

Only, when I jumped up and excitedly flung my hands into the air, I smacked Jesse in the head really hard and then hollered out in shock from the pain in my arm and the concern that I had hurt him.

He was fine. I was fine. But we forever have this perfectly timed photo to remember the moment by.

Also, notice how completely opposite we are compared to our friends… who, as someone messaged me earlier, look like they are professional “photo jumpers.”

There’s a little peek into our April. How was YOUR April?

Shared May 12, 2019 comment

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

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 12, 2019 | 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 $0.99 over-budget this week… however, since I’ve been under-budget the past few weeks, I’m good with it! 😉

I went to two different Kroger stores on Tuesday morning while I was dropping the kids off at school.

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

Chocolate Milk — marked down to $1.49
Carrots — $0.99
Breakfast Sausage Links — marked down to $1.79
3 packages of breakfast sausage — marked down to $1.79 each
Total with tax: $10.24

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

Kroger Half & Half — $1.79
3 boxes of Shrimp Potstickers — marked down to $1.49 each
2 packages of King’s Hawaiian Hot Dog Buns — marked down to $1.79 each
2 bars of Lindt chocolate — $0.99 each
1 box of Matzo Ball soup — marked down to $0.50 each
1 box of Stuffed Clams — marked down to $2.99
2 packages of salmon — marked down to $1.99 each
Hunt’s Tomato Sauce — marked down to $0.25
Hormel Chili — marked down to $0.49
Mint — marked down to $0.25
Simple Truth Eggs — $2.99
Diced Ham — $1.59
Dove PB Eggs — $0.09
2 packages of Bran Muffin Mix — marked down to $0.25 each
2 Salad Kits — marked down to $1.99 each
1 bag of apples — marked down to $0.99
2 boxes of Kroger cereal — $1.49 each
Kroger baking mix — marked down to $0.79
Barlean’s Forti-Flax — marked down to $1.50
Lemon juice — $2.49
Milk — $2.69
Total with tax: $43.59

I was excited to get this printout offer to take a survey and get $5 off my next shopping order.

We invited friends over for dinner on Saturday, so Jesse ran to the store on Friday to pick up a few things we needed for that.

Kroger Shopping Trip #3:

2 bunches of Lettuce — $1.79
Ragu Pasta Sauce — $1.50
Kroger Butter — $3.19
Breyer’s Ice Cream — $3.99
Cottage Cheese — $3.89
Total with tax: $17.16

What We Ate This Past Week

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.

Our Menu Plan

Breakfasts:

Cereal, Oatmeal, Scrambled Eggs

Lunches:

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

Snacks:

Fruit, Cookies, Popcorn, Ice Cream, Crackers & Cheese, Carrots & Hummus

Dinners:

Sunday — Fend for yourself
Monday — Dinner at TopGolf for Silas’ birthday
Tuesday — Meatballs, Twice Baked Potatoes, Fruit
Wednesday — Leftover Meatballs, Potstickers, Fruit
Thursday — Homemade Pizza, Sweet Potato Fries, Fruit
Friday — Kaitlynn went out to dinner with her class for school formal, Jesse and I met friends for Panera, and Silas and Kathrynne had hot dogs
Saturday — We had friends over for dinner and we made Ziti, Peas, Homemade Rolls, Salad, Apple Crisp/Ice Cream.

Grocery Budget Totals

Total spent on groceries: $70.99

Cashback earned this week: 350 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards + $0.45 for submitting my receipt to iBotta rewards.

Shared May 11, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $83 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on May 11, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

1/2 gallon Orange Juice – $1.59

1/2 gallon 1% Milk – $0.95

1/2 gallon Whole Milk – $0.95

1/2 gallon Unsweetened Almond Milk – $1.69

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

1 large jar Organic Apple Cider Vinegar – $3.99

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.95

1 32-oz carton Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt – $3.49

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59

1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

2 1-lb pkgs Butter Quarters – $3.98

2 cartons Egg Whites – $3.38

3 dozen Eggs – $2.67

1 can Whipped Topping – $2.65

1 16-oz pkg Deli Meat – $2.99

1 pkg Uncured Turkey Franks – $1.99

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

2 pkgs Plain Rice Cakes – $4.30

2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30

1 bag frozen Blueberries – $1.59

2 bags frozen Broccoli Florets – $1.90

1 Seedless Watermelon – $3.99

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.79

1 pkg Mini Sweet Peppers – $2.49

1 pkg Mini Cucumbers – $1.49

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.49

2 pkgs fresh Asparagus – $2.78

1 3-lb bag Gala Apples – $3.29

1 Cauliflower – $2.19

1 bunch Bananas (2.15lbs @ $0.40/lb) – $0.90

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39

1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $1.15

1 carton Strawberries – $1.49

1 jar Strawberry Preserves – $1.49

1 bar Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.85

Total: $78.06

Harris Teeter

(Double Dollar Coupons)

2 pkgs Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Mix – $1.58, used $1/2 Taco Bell products, SS 04/28 (doubled) – FREE after coupons

3 pkgs Perdue Short Cuts Grilled Chicken Breast – $6.42, used $1.50/3 printable (doubled) – $3.42/3 after coupons

2 RX Bars – $2.48, used $1.00/2 printable (doubled) – $0.48/2 after coupon

2 containers Siggi’s Yogurt – $2.50, used $1.00/2 catalina printout – $0.50/2 after coupons

2 containers Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt – $2.00, used $1.00/2 catalina printout (doubled) – FREE after coupon

1 1-lb box Challenge Butter – $2.97, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled), plus receive $0.50 rebate from Ibotta -$1.47 after coupon and rebate

Total after Coupons and Rebate – $5.87

Grocery Total for the Week: $83.93

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Apples, Cucumbers x 2

Pretzels with Peanut Butter, Cheese Sticks, Applesauce, Mini Cucumbers

Rice Cakes with Deli Meat/Cheese, Bananas/Strawberries, Mini Peppers x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Hot Dogs on the Grill with Homemade Buns, Asparagus, Creamy Milk Rice

Mother’s Day – My husband is buying Pizza (Gluten-Free Pizza for me) so I don’t have to cook! :), Tossed Salad

Dinner with Friends (I’m bringing watermelon)

Taco Salad (Seasoned Ground Venison, Romaine, Plain Greek Yogurt, Salsa, Shredded Cheddar Cheese)

Chicken and Homemade Noodles, Tossed Salad, Roasted Broccoli

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Dill Bread, Mashed Cauliflower

Leftovers

Shared May 9, 2019 comment

Homemade Oatmeal Protein Bars

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 9, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This healthy homemade protein bar recipe is super delicious and SO easy to make!

{Looking for more healthy homemade treats? Check out this list of Delicious & Healthy Freezer-Friendly Snack Ideas — including Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Bars, Good For You Peanut Butter Fudge, Honey Sweetened Truffles, and Homemade Energy Bites!}

Stop Buying Protein Bars, Homemade is Better!

Almost a decade ago now, I decided to do the P90X program. I remember it being a really fun time of coming up with creative, nutritious recipes that I could make from scratch on a budget.

And this homemade protein bar recipe ended up being one of my favorite go-to snacks during that season of my life!

I actually found the inspiration for this recipe in the P90X forums, but (in my usual fashion!) I decided to tweak it to my tastes.

The result was these delicious homemade protein bars — which every single person in my family ended up loving! Scroll to the bottom of this post for the printable recipe!

Why You’ll Love this Homemade Protein Bars Recipe

They are absolutely delicious!
They are significantly less expensive than any store-bought alternative
They are super easy to whip together with common ingredients
They are freezer-friendly so you can make a huge batch at one time
They are packed with protein that will keep you feeling fuller longer
Did I mention they tasted amazing?! 🙂

Ingredients for Homemade Healthy Protein Bars

1 mashed banana
1.5 cups old fashioned oats
2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
2-4 scoops protein powder
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup melted coconut oil or butter
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup water
1 large chocolate bar (I used organic dark chocolate) or 1/2 cup chocolate chips

How to Make Homemade Protein Bars with Oats

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except chocolate together well (mixture will be somewhat sticky).

mixing up protein bar ingredients in a bowl

2. Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.

healthy protein bars in a pan with chocolate glaze

3. Melt chocolate on the stove or in the microwave and spread over the mixture in the pan.

4. Place the pan in the freezer for at least 2 hours.

homemade protein bars with chocolate on top

5. Cut into 12 bars and wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and store in the freezer.

individually wrapped protein bars for the freezer

6. Thaw slightly before serving.

Enjoy your delicious healthy protein bars recipe!

Homemade Oatmeal Protein Bars Recipe Variations

You can really mix up the flavors in these bars — based on your personal preferences or whatever you have in the house.

Try a different type of nut butter or a flavored protein powder.

You could also use white chocolate instead of dark chocolate.

And trying different nuts, seeds, or dried fruit will really change the flavor without any extra effort.

Homemade Protein Bars Recipe Tips

Make sure you use enough honey and peanut butter so the mixture sticks together well.
Take a few extra minutes to make sure everything is well combined.
Don’t try to eat them too quickly — let them set for the full 2 hours in the freezer so they are nice and firm.

How to Store Healthy Homemade Protein Bars

Keep these bars in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Healthy Homemade Protein Bars with Oats FAQs

Is it cheaper to make your own protein bars?

Yes. There might be rare circumstances where you can stack a sale with coupons and find a bargain price on store-bought protein bars, but any other time, it’s much less expensive to make your own.

What ingredients should not be in protein bars?

Any type of corn syrup or artificial sweetener should not be added to protein bars. Also, avoid soy protein powders.

Is it healthy to eat a protein bar everyday?

These bars are a great protein-packed snack. However, they are not intended to be a meal-replacement bar.

How long will homemade protein bars last?

They should last a couple of weeks in the refrigerator, or easily up to 3 months in the freezer!

How do you get homemade protein bars to stick together?

Don’t skimp on the honey or peanut butter as those are the “glue” that holds these bars together.

healthy homemade protein bars ready to eat

Recipe

Homemade Healthy Protein Bars Recipe

Author Crystal Paine

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Freeze Time 2

Ingredients

1 mashed banana
1.5 cups old-fashioned oats
2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
2-4 scoops protein powder
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup coconut oil or butter melted
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except chocolate together well (mixture will be somewhat sticky).
Line an 8×8-inch pan with foil and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
Melt chocolate on the stove or in the microwave and spread over the mixture in the pan.
Place the pan in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
Cut into 12 bars and wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and store in the freezer.
Thaw slightly before serving.

Nutrition

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A woman getting a smile direct club scan

Shared May 8, 2019 comment

My Honest SmileDirectClub Review (first month)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 8, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for an honest review of SmileDirectClub? In this post, I share my first month of wearing my aligners and my honest thoughts on the experience.

Note: This post is sponsored by SmileDirectClub and contains affiliate links. All opinions are 100% my own. Read our disclosure policy here.

Back in December, I posted an in-depth post about my honest experience with SmileDirectClub. In that post, I shared about how it works to get your teeth scanned, what the process is like, and what you can expect if you sign up with SmileDirectClub.

Psst! Missed my Completely Honest Review post? Read it here.

Why I Signed Up for SmileDirectClub

Many of you asked whether I had decided to go through with the SmileDirectClub treatment plan. I’m happy to report that I worked up the courage to move forward with getting the aligners. 🙂

As I mentioned in my first post, I didn’t have braces as a child. I often wish that I had when I am doing live videos and I notice my crooked teeth. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with SmileDirectClub and do an honest review of my experience.

My hope is that this honest review will help those of you who have considered trying SmileDirectClub make a very informed decision. In addition, I hope to help some of you who are considering getting braces be inspired to look into a less expensive alternatives.

By the way, my treatment plan is only supposed to be 5 months total, if all goes well. I should have a great new smile by my 38th birthday in October. I’m excited!

How SmileDirectClub Works

If you missed that post, you can read it here. Here’s a basic recap of how SmileDirectClub works:

You go to a SmileShop to get a 3D scan of your smile (it’s FREE!) OR you use an at-home impression kit (use coupon code SMILE2022 to get it for just $15) to make an impression so they can build a 3D impression of your smile. (You can see what the at-home impression kit is below.)
Your 3D smile is reviewed by a duly licensed dentist or orthodontist, who will guide your new smile from beginning to end.
They send you a preview of your new smile showing how your smile will transform and begin production of your invisible aligners, as unique to you as a fingerprint.
They send you aligners in the mail that you wear 24/7 (except for when you eat) during a 6-month process. You change these out every week or every other week during the process. (They send you texts to remind you when you need to change the aligners).
You work with a licensed dentist or orthodontist the entire time and they ask you to send periodic photos to help them make sure you are on track.
At the end of 6 months, you can purchase a set of retainers for $99 to help maintain your smile. You just wear them at night to keep your new smile in place.

What the First Month Has Been Like

I had prepared myself that the first month was going to be rough. Kathrynne currently has braces and I watched her suffer through a lot of mouth pain for the first few weeks after she got them.

To my great surprise, I’ve only experienced mild discomfort with the aligners. I’ve follow their instructions to put the new set on before I go to bed. My teeth have been somewhat sore, but nothing like what I expected.

When you first get your SmileDirectClub kit in the mail with all of your aligners, you go in to their website and set up your plan. You put in the day you started wearing them and then they send you email and text reminders when it’s time to change out aligners. This is perfect for someone like me who gets busy and might not always remember.

By the way, you are supposed to wear the first two sets for one week each and then the third set for two weeks. You repeat this every month.

I’m already about 12% done with my treatment plan — and I can already tell that my teeth have shifted and gotten straighter! YAY!

What I Love About SmileDirectClub

I love that the price is less expensive than getting braces. While it depends upon your doctor and insurance, you’re typically going to pay at least $3500 for traditional braces. The SmileDirectClub treatment plan only costs $1895 to $2290 for the entire process! And they do work with some insurance companies, too.
I love that I don’t have to go to appointments. Seriously, I know it’s silly, but it’s true. This was one big factor holding me back from moving forward with getting braces was the time involved going to so many orthodontist appointments.
I love that they are so thorough in explaining the process and setting you up for success. They send you emails with lots of details, they provide links to in-depth articles, and there is a booklet in your kit that answers all the questions you could have.
I love that you can take them out. Okay, call me weird, but the thought of having something semi-permanently stuck in my mouth that only an orthodontist can take out just makes me feel uncomfortable. I love that I can take these out a few times per day to eat and drink.

What I Don’t Like About SmileDirectClub

I don’t like that you have to take them out to eat or drink. You can only drink clear cool water with the aligners in. It can be a bit of a hassle to have to take them out every time to you eat or drink.
I don’t like that they seem to attract lipstick. I haven’t changed anything with my lipstick routine, but ever since I got the aligners, I have to be so careful about what lipstick I wear and how I put it on. Multiple times, I’ve discovered that
I don’t like that they feel unsanitary sometimes. It feels kind of gross to be taking things in and out of your mouth multiple times per day — especially when I’m out and about or am eating with friends. I’ve gotten better at being able to quickly take them out and stick them in the case, but it feels a little gross to do it in front of people. (Hey, I’m just being honest!)
I don’t like that my speech sounds and feels a little garbled. While it doesn’t sound too bad, I can’t talk as clearly as usual with the aligners in. Because of this, I’ve taken them out when I’ve recorded podcasts or spoken at a conference.

(Please note: The aligners are only going on your teeth. They aren’t doing anything with your jaw so they will not correct overbites or other really misaligned teeth issues. You can take a 30-second quiz on their site to see if you are a candidate for their services based upon how your teeth are. I’d recommend getting a second opinion from a local orthodontist if you aren’t sure. I also would highly, highly recommend going into a local shop. This way you can get a scan and make sure you feel comfortable with going through this process.)

Want to try SmileDirectClub?

If you can’t go into a local SmileShop to get a 3D Scan done, you can order an at-home Impression Kit (shown above). Again, I would personally recommend going into a SmileShop. It’s completely FREE to do so and they do such a great job of giving you such a high-quality scan.

But you if you do end up ordering an at-home Impression Kit, use coupon code SMILE2022 to get it for just $15 out of pocket — and then FREE after $15 rebate!

Have you used SmileDirectClub before? If so, I’d love to hear your honest opinions and experience with it. If you have any questions about the process, leave them in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer them for you or find out an answer for you!

Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

FREE Summer Bucket List!!

What You Shouldn’t Buy at Dollar Tree

1. Cheap Plastic Toys

2. Boxes of Cereal

3. Mac & Cheese

4. Chips/Pretzels

5. Hand towels and wash cloths

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

Related Links:

Dillons

Aldi

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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.

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

What We Ate This Past Week

Our Menu Plan

Grocery Budget Totals

Aldi

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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

5 Books I Finished in April

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

Yard Sale Tips: Where to Begin

1. Collect clutter year-round.

2. Have a plan.

NOTE: Getting organized for a successful garage sale:

3. Team up.

4. Location, location, location!

5. Timing is everything (well, just about).

6. Price things to sell.

Garage Sale Pricing: How to price Garage Sale items

7. Advertise well.

8. Clearly mark your prices.

NOTE: How to Display Clothing at a Garage Sale

9. Mark items down on the last day.

Creative Yard Sale Ideas

10. Don’t forget the cookies and lemonade!

What Not To Sell at a Garage Sale

What are your best garage sale tips? I’d love to hear in the comments!

Related Links:

5 Things You Should Never Buy at Aldi

1. Name Brand Items

2. Aldi Finds

3. Seasonal Items

4. Pre-Packaged Food

5. Things You Can Get Cheaper at Dollar Tree

Related Links:

Aldi

Dillons

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

How to Be Married to a Strong Woman

Working Through Conflict Live on the Podcast

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.

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

There’s a little peek into our April. How was YOUR April?

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

Kroger Shopping Trip #3:

What We Ate This Past Week

Our Menu Plan

Grocery Budget Totals

Aldi

Ingredients