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Shared Apr 6, 2019 comment

Get paid to be a shopper with Shipt!

Published: by crystal on April 6, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for unique income-earning opportunities? Shipt might be a great option for you!

If you’re looking for a part-time job or even just a way to earn extra cash on the side, you might consider becoming a shopper with Shipt!

Shipt pays you to shop for and deliver customer’s groceries to their homes.

Shipt lets you set your own hours for a completely flexible schedule. You can work as much or as little as you’d like — part-time or full-time! Depending on tips, you can earn up to $22/hour or more.

Go here to apply to become a Shipt shopper.

Shared Apr 4, 2019 comment

Goals for 2019: March Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 4, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Did you set goals for 2019? Here’s an update on how I did on my 2019 goals in March.

It’s April 4, 2019. And it’s time to check in on our goals! How are you doing on the goals you set for 2019?

I spent some time today reviewing March and reflecting on the blessings of the past month and the lessons I learned. I also looked at my goals and how I was doing in each area. (If you missed My Goals for 2019 post, read it here.)

In order to keep myself accountable (and because I know some of you really enjoy these posts) I’m sharing a goals update post at the beginning of each month. I hope that this will not only motivate me to be focused and intentional this year, but I hope it might also inspire you in the goals you set for 2019.

So here’s my goals update for April 4, 2019:

Personal Goals

1. Read 40 books I already own. (I’m using GoodReads to track my reading this year!)

Update: I finished 9 books in February — 3 were books I already own. Look for a Book Update post in the next few days where I share more about my thoughts on the books I finished.

2. Slowly read through the New Testament using the She Reads Truth Bible reading plans at the beginning of each chapter.

Update: I finished John in March.

3. Listen to 2 audiobooks per month. (I use the Libby app to get these for free.)

Update: I finished to 7 audiobooks in March! Two of those I finished were ones I was already halfway through, but I was still super excited to have gotten in so much audiobook listening this past month!

4. Complete all of the Organize in 5 Diary tasks to get our home more organized and set up better organizational systems. (Psst! Did you get yours? It’s just $9 right now.)

Update: This has been going so well and I’m happy to report that I have been 100% keeping up with this. YAY! (You can see two posts I did on some of my organizing projects in January and February: Cleaning Out the Cookbooks & Organizing My Purse & Bathroom.)

5. Stay offline for 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. (I share more about why I chose this goal here.)

Update: I didn’t do this perfectly, but I hit this about 60% in March and with everything that went on and some extra work projects, I’m celebrating that.

6. Leave my phone in the basement every night. (I talk more about what inspired me to make this goal here.)

Update: I did this most every night in March except for the nights where I was traveling and the nights where Jesse was out of town (he was gone on three different trips in March, so I keep the phone by the bed when he’s gone in case he would need to get ahold of me).

7. Go to bed before 10:30 p.m. 5 days per week. (I’m using this little spreadsheet I made to track most of my personal goals)

Update: Okay, I’ll be honest and say I did not do a good job of this in March. Here’s to doing a better job in April!

Marriage Goal

8. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.

Update: We got a trip booked to Destin, FL at the end of April!! We’re renting an AirBNB with two other couples and are so excited about it! We also are looking at possibly doing one other weekend trip later in the year. We’ll see!

Motherhood Goal

9. One-on-one time with each child at least 3 times per week. (I am planning to dedicate 40 minutes per child after dinner each evening at least three nights per week to hang out and spend time with each child individually.)

Update: This has been going so well! And I’m thrilled to report that I hit this every week in March!

Family Goal

10. Take the kids to at least two continents and 4 states we haven’t traveled to. (We’re hoping to travel to Europe in the summer and South America at some other point during the year. I have travel alerts set up to track the best prices for flights and am hoping to find a great deal to snag in the next 4-6 months!)

Financial Goals

11. Pay cash to redo our room and renovate our bathroom (we have to pull out the shower and put in a new one because it was installed incorrectly and is leaking and ruining the floor/wall and we want to do a few renovations while we’re at it + we want to finally decorate our room — we left it really bare when we moved in and decided to wait to prioritize it in the budget).

Update: We picked a contractor and are getting this booked! Hopefully it will be happening in the next two months!

12. Pay cash to paint the walls in the main floor of our home.

~~13. Fully fund our Emergency Fund~~ (This is a carry-over from 2018 and we are hoping to have this done in the next few months).

Update: This is DONE! YAY!

Business Goals

14. Redo/set up a much more intentional customer acquisition experience for all three of our email newsletters.

Update: We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes working on this and made some BIG progress in March.

15. Finish launching the rest of our beginner Your Blogging University courses. (If you want to start a blog, be sure to check out my other site, Your Blogging Mentor.)

Update: I’m working on my next course, Monetize Your Blog, and it’s going to be a bigger/more comprehensive course than I’ve ever done but I’m continuing to make good progress.

~~16. Launch a Blog Coaching/Accountability Group membership. (I’ll be opening this up to a very limited number of people in January of 2019. Stay tuned!)~~

Update: We launched this to 100 people at the end of January and it is going SO WELL and I am just loving it already. We’ll be opening it up to more people in April. Stay tuned!

How are YOU doing on your goals for 2019? I’d love to hear about your successes and struggles. Tell us in the comments!

Shared Apr 3, 2019 comment

Kroger vs. Aldi: Which is cheaper?

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 3, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Is it cheaper to shop at Aldi or Kroger? If you’ve ever wondered, read this post for the full scoop on which store is actually cheaper.

{Note from Crystal: While I love shopping at Aldi, I’m also such a fan of Kroger markdowns, so this was a fun guest post to read!}

Graphic with bold text that reads "KROGER VS. ALDI Which One Is Actually Cheaper?" above a paper grocery bag filled with fresh produce like bananas, apples, squash, lettuce, and tomatoes, with "MoneySavingMom.com" at the bottom.

Guest post from Heather of The Debt-Free Mama

I grew up with a mama who LOVED our local Aldi store — it’s how she stretched those dollars to feed our family of eight kids.

When my husband and I started our marriage in 2009 with $75,000 of student loans, payday loans, AND credit card debt, we were determined to pay it all off as fast as possible.

With an Aldi store right down the road from our home, it became my go-to grocery stop over the years. My husband tried to convince me to use coupons for other stores but I refused to try anything different.

Grocery store refrigerated dairy section stocked with rows of shredded and sliced cheese, yogurt cups, and milk containers with price tags displayed along the shelves.

Trying Out Kroger for One Month

We started 2019 with a renewed energy and focus to pay off our mortgage of $99,000 over the next five years.

However, by early February I realized I wasn’t practicing what I was preaching — I wasn’t trying new strategies to save money.

Thanks to MoneySavingMom.com’s Instagram account, I had been watching her savings at Kroger for months. So I gave in and decided to try an experiment. I told my family and friends, “Okay, I’m going shop at Kroger for one month and see if I can save money.”

The day came. I had saved digital coupons and knew I should scan the perimeter of the store for the markdowns. But I had no menu list, no shopping list. What I DID have were sweaty pits and cold hands just thinking about something different — something completely outside of my shopping comfort zone!

I Felt So Awkward!

I took a deep breath, walked into Kroger, and shopped through my Kroger coupon app.

You guys, I felt so awkward. Not to mention, it took me over an hour to shop. Plus I still spent more than I expected I would!

I went home, looked at my purchases and then scanned my pantry and freezer to see what meals I could put together for a few dinners.

I continued visiting a couple local Kroger stores 3-4 times a week for about a month. I got faster each time and more creative with our dinners.

Assorted discounted groceries on a kitchen counter including milk marked "Woohoo Great Deal $0.19," eggs, cheese, bread, and Snickers bars with visible clearance price stickers.

My Best Finds at Kroger:

$0.29 per packet of Simple Truth organic baby food (normally $1.25)
$0.19 half gallon of milk (normally $1.79)
$0.25 pint of cottage cheese (normally $1.25)
$8.47 for 3.15lbs of pork chops (normally $17.29)
$9.34 for 2.84 lbs of beef stew (normally $17.01)
$.79 for a package of smoked polish sausage (normally $1.99)
$0.99 for dozen Simple Truth organic eggs (normally $2.79)

Hand holding a container of cottage cheese with a bright yellow clearance sticker that reads "Woohoo Great Deal $0.15" and "Small Curd Cottage Cheese" printed below.

I saved a total of $100 in February by trying this new technique.

In my normal Aldi routine of picking meals for the week, making the list, and then buying what I needed, I kept myself to $100-$120 weekly. However I often spent extra fun money by stopping in at the Walmart next door. Browsing equaled spending more than I needed to and buying things that weren’t essential for our home.

Because I was now ONLY shopping with coupons at Kroger, I saved on our grocery budget, AND in the fun money category.

I saved $46.66 just using the digital coupons. This DOES NOT include all of the money I saved buying clearance items. We also saved in our gas category by using our Kroger points at their gas station.

I know I could save even more over time because I’d get smarter and learn how to layer coupon deals.

What I Enjoyed About This Method:

Finding killer deals on dairy and meat.
Getting creative with our meals.
Dinner seemed quicker to prepare because they weren’t complex recipes.
We got to try different items or brands because they were on sale.

What Was Challenging For Me:

I have a baby and a toddler with me so nothing is quick in-and-out.
I had to make sure I always knew what was already in my pantry and fridge.
I needed to make sure we ate up the produce (clearance) more quickly so it didn’t spoil.
I am a unit-cost shopper and often I felt like the coupon deals still weren’t a better price than the Kroger brand of the same item.

My Plan Going Forward:

Since quick in-and-out isn’t part of my life right now, I still plan to utilize my Aldi store on a regular basis. However, I have decided to adjust my meal planning routine to continue to save money.

Instead of picking recipes for a week’s worth of dinners, I use what we already have, piece together dinners, and fill in the holes. I did this process just last night and was surprised to find that I already had the majority of four dinners on hand — I just needed an item here or there to supplement. Then I added a chunk of items for when we have guests over next Sunday.

I still plan on stopping by Kroger a couple mornings a week to snatch up the clearance meat. I will also keep an eye on their Friday/Saturday ONLY sales and buy only the items that will really benefit our family.

Three Kroger receipts laid out side by side on a table showing itemized grocery purchases, prices, totals, and savings amounts from separate shopping trips.

Lessons Learned From This Kroger Experiment:

It’s okay to try new things. In fact, it’s more than okay. It’s necessary for growing as an adult. You might discover you like the new thing.
When you’re new at something, you aren’t going to do it perfectly. That’s okay, too.
When you try a new thing in one area of your life, you become more open to trying new things in other areas of your life.

This experiment started out as a challenge to save money for our family. While I did do that, the real value came when I opened up to other new things in my life. I hope that reading about my experience encourages you to try a new method in saving money for you and your family.

You never know. You might just LOVE it!

Heather Burgette inspires and educates women to boss their dollars, everything from budgeting to saving and investing. Heather shares her own journey of paying off debt at The Debt-Free Mama.

More Ways to Save Money on Groceries at Kroger and Aldi:

If you’re looking for more grocery shopping and meal planning inspiration, be sure to check out Brigette’s shopping trips!

a photo of Crystal Paine with a Contigo cup

Shared Apr 2, 2019 comment

Cal Newport on Digital Minimalism & why he doesn’t have social media

Published: by Crystal Paine on April 2, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This week, I got the privilege of interviewing Cal Newport on my podcast. We talked about digital minimalism, deep work, teens and technology, and why he doesn’t have social media accounts.

Cal Newport on Digital Minimalism

I am super excited to bring you this week’s episode of the podcast… but I have to be honest and tell you that recording this episode was one I was pretty nervous about.

You see, unlike most of my other guests, I didn’t have any relationship with Cal Newport. I didn’t know anyone who knew him. I didn’t know his publisher. And I’d never connected with him on social media (because, as we’ll talk about on the show, he doesn’t have social media!)

It Never Hurts to Ask

When I read his book, Deep Work, at the beginning of 2019, I knew immediately that I wanted to try to have him on the podcast. But since I had read his book and knew how carefully he guards his time and commitments, I figured it would be a long shot for him to even consider coming on my little show.

However, I decided to get brave and send him a compelling email pitching him the opportunity to come on my show. What’s the worst that could happen? He could not answer or he could respond and say no.

To my surprise, not only did I get an email back, but I got an email back with a YES! I was ecstatic and excited and quite nervous to do the interview! But I’m really, really happy with how it turned out (and I don’t even think you can tell I was nervous!)

What We Talked About

I loved the insights Cal shared in this episode! We talked about:

What Deep Work can look like for us in our everyday lives (including some special insight for busy moms!)
His thoughts on why he doesn’t use social media (which I find fascinating!)
How we can make technology serve us well and enrich our lives
Why technology might be hurting our kids and what practically we can do about it.

It’s a really important conversation and I highly encourage you to find 30 minutes sometime in the next few days to listen in.

(My water tumbler that I talk about on the show.)

In This Episode:[02:53] – This week, we talk about water tumblers, drinking a gallon of water per day, and inflammatory issues (it sounds like we’re getting old!) in the What’s Saving My Life segment.

[06:55] – My book pick is one that I actually recently re-read (I rarely read books more than once, so you know I really liked it!) and recommend the book, the audiobook, AND the movie!

[09:35] – Did you know you can earn cash back for shopping online? I’ll tell you how!

[10:28] – I introduce today’s guest, Cal Newport and ask Cal to define the difference between Deep Work and Shallow Work. He then talks about how busy women and moms can find time for deep work.

[13:16] – We hear an example of what deep work looks like in practical terms for an everyday woman.

[15:15] – Cal has never had a social media account. He explains his reasoning behind this choice. It’s pretty fascinating!

[18:36] – I ask Cal to share some advice for people like me who don’t ever plan to give up social media but who also find the idea of being a digital minimalist appealing.

[23:08] – We talk about how to raise kids with a healthy view of technology and social media and I share a recent example of a choice we made with our oldest and how that played out in a surprising way!

[26:41] – The question of the week is this: “What’s your easiest tip for saving money?” I talk about saving money on groceries. Jesse talks about goal setting and saving for bigger purchases. And we both discuss budgeting.

[30:54] – Speaking of questions, if you have one you’d like us to answer, email me at [email protected]! (Also feel free to get in touch if you have suggestions, thoughts, or comments. I love hearing from you about the podcast!)

Links and Resources:

Cal Newport
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
Contigo water tumbler
How I Drink a Gallon of Water Every Day
Turmeric Curcumin with Bioperine Joint Pain Relief
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
How I Listen to Audiobooks for Free (info on the Libby app)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (movie)
My post on How to Make Money With Ebates
YouNeedaBudget
My Favorite Things on Amazon
CrystalPaine.com
MoneySavingMom.com
YourBloggingMentor.com
My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: [email protected]

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)

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

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 Apr 1, 2019 comment

The Best Things to Buy in April

Published: by crystal on April 1, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Maximize your savings this month with this list of items that are best to buy during the month of April!

Did you know you can save quite a bit of money if you wait to buy certain items during certain months throughout the year? Check out this list of the Best Things to Buy in April!

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

Click here to sign up!

Shared Mar 31, 2019 comment

$70 Grocery Budget: Kroger Deals & Sprouts Weekend Deals

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 31, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 grocery 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.

Kroger Shopping Trip #1:

2 Aussie Conditioning Treatment — $1.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $2/2 Kroger Digital coupon = $0.99 each
2 boxes of Orville Redenbacher popcorn — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
1 Bertolli Pasta Sauce — $1.29 when you buy 5 participating items
1 bag potato chips — marked down to $0.99
2 packages of Beef Fajitas — marked down to $3.99 each
2 dozen organic eggs — marked down to $1.49 each
Olive Oil Spray — $2.99
Vitamin D Milk — $2.49
Total with tax: $27.06

I went to Kroger again on Friday to grab the Special K bars that were part of the Friday & Saturday deal.

When I walked in, I saw this sign for this 4-day sale that I didn’t know anything about!! Plus, I found that they had pineapple and cantaloupe on sale for $0.99 each!

Kroger Shopping Trip #2:

5 boxes of Special K Bars — $1.49 each with Friday-Saturday deals
Flour — marked down $1.39
3 bags of sugar — $0.99 each
Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips — marked down to $1.50
Organic Greens — marked down to $2.99
2 Grapefruit — marked down to $0.99
Organic canned tomatoes — marked down to $0.49
Pumpkin Spice Sparkling Cider — marked down to $1.39
Half & Half – $1.79
Asparagus — $0.89
Kroger cereal — $1.49
3 tubs of Purity Ice Cream — $1.99 each
2 cantaloupe — $0.99 each
2 pineapple — $0.99 each
Total with tax: $35.41

And I got an email from Sprouts with a coupon to scan at the register to get some GREAT produce deals. (This coupon is also available in the app, if you have the app.)

Sprouts Shopping Trip

2 Blackberries — $0.99 each
8 cucumbers — 4 for $1
8 pounds of oranges — $1 per 4 pounds
Total with tax: $6.22

Total spent on groceries: $68.69

Cashback earned this week: 75 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards,$0.25 back from iBotta for submitting my receipt

Shared Mar 30, 2019 comment

Brigette’s $84 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on March 30, 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

1 3-lb bag frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – $5.39

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1-lb roll Sausage – $1.89

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.95

1 16-oz carton Heavy Cream – $1.55

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.55

2 32-oz cartons Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt – $6.58

4 individual Flavored Greek Yogurts – $2.36

1 16-oz bag Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

1 large canister Quick Oats – $2.29

2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30

1 box Crisp Rice – $1.15

4 dozen Eggs – $3.12

1 16-oz carton Egg Whites – $1.69

2 cans Green Beans – $0.76

1 bunch Bananas (1.81lbs @ $0.34/lb) – $0.62

1 bag Radishes – $0.49

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

1 large jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.89

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

4 Avocados – $1.96

1 pkg Mushrooms – $0.89

1 Pineapple – $0.99

1 3-ct pkg Multi-Colored Peppers – $1.99

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.99

2 pkgs Mini Cucumbers – $2.38

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.99

2 pkgs Baby Carrots – $1.50

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.69

1 pkg Grape Tomatoes – $1.15

1/2 gallon 1 % Milk – $0.78

1/2 gallon Orange Juice – $1.59

1 can Garbanzo Beans – $0.48

1 jar Salsa – $0.99

1 large jar Grape Jelly – $1.09

1 jar Chicken Bouillon Cubes – $1.69

1 bag Nacho Tortillas Chips – $0.75

1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix – $0.29

1 jar Pasta Sauce – $0.85

1 bag Four Tortillas – $0.65

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

2 bags frozen Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

Total: $84.27

Grocery Total for the Week: $84.27

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

Lunches

Cheese Quesadillas, Applesauce, Carrots x 2

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches/Rice Cakes, Carrots/Cucumbers, Apples/Bananas x 3

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Pancakes, Sausage Patties, Scrambled Eggs

Meatloaf (I use a mix of mostly ground venison and some ground hamburger), Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes

Taco Chicken Casserole (I’ll sub plain greek yogurt in place of sour cream), Tossed Salad, Pineapple

Pepperoni Pizza, Breadsticks, Fresh Raw Veggie Platter with Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

Slow Cooker Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Biscuits

Baked Potato Bar (Fried Bacon, Roasted Broccoli, Plain Greek Yogurt, Salsa, Shredded Cheese, Avocado, Garbanzo Beans), Pineapple

Leftovers

Shared Mar 28, 2019 comment

Gretchen’s $53 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 5

Published: by Gretchen on March 28, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Dillons #1

1 Sunbelt Granola Bars – $1.49

1 Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.88

2 jars Zia Italiana Spaghetti Sauce – $1 each

2 Mom’s Best Cereal – $1.79 each

2.13 lbs Bananas – $1.04

1 bag Frozen Cauliflower – $1.19

1 bag Kroger Rice – $0.89

1 pkg Blackberries – $0.99

Total: $13.06

Dillons #2

2 pkg Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $0.99 each

1 pkg Kroger Flour – $1.79

2 Green Leaf Lettuce – $1.69

1 pkg Kroger Yogurt – Marked down to $1.49

1 pkg Yum Earth Organic Pops – Marked down to $1.49

Total: $10.13

Aldi

2 dozen Eggs – $0.58 each

1 lb Butter – $2.50

1 pkg Fruit & Grain Bars – $1.39

1 pkg Red Grapes – $3.34

1 pkg Snack Crackers – $1.49

3 Avocados – $0.39 each

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

1 Half & Half – $1.59

1 pkg Frozen Strawberries – $1.95

1 pkg Thin Wheat Crackers – $0.99

3 cans Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup – $0.49 each

1 gallon Milk – $1.49

1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.69

1 pkg Oven Roasted Turkey – $3.99

1 loaf Bread – $0.89 (not pictured)

1 Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

Total: $29.96

Total for all grocery items: $53.15

Menu Plan for This Week:

Breakfasts

Cereal, Eggs, Toast, Oatmeal, Fruit

Lunches

Turkey Sandwiches, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Crackers/Cheese/Fruit/Veggies, Tossed Salad, Fruit Smoothies, Leftovers

Dinners

Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks

Sour Cream Enchiladas, Chips, Fruit Salad

French Toast, Eggs

Chicken Tetrazzini, Steamed Cauliflower

BBQ Meatballs, Baked Potatoes, Homemade Bread

Mac & Cheese, Sliced Avocados

Leftovers

Shared Mar 27, 2019 comment

This cute and comfy striped tee is just $11.99 on Amazon!

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 27, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I found a cute and comfy striped tee on Amazon recently and I had to share it with you.

Get this Tulucky Women’s Striped Tee for just $11.99 with FREE Amazon Prime shipping + free returns. (I’m wearing a size small above.)

This was what I wore yesterday as part of the Get Your Pretty On Spring Style Challenge (I bought the Annual Membership on Black Friday weekend!).

Yesterday’s prompt was to wear a colorful striped t-shirt, jeans, an olive jacket, a gold necklace, and white shoes. This was my own variation of it.

This shirt also comes in a variety of colors — and there are also some short sleeved options, too.

If you want to see a peek into how the Outfit Formulas work for the Style Challenges, you can sign up for the free Casual Wardrobe Basics Builder and get 20 different outfit ideas from just a few mix and match pieces.

P.S. Here are the links to the rest of my outfit: Shoes, Jacket (I can’t find the exact one, but here’s a similar one), Jeans (I think I got these from Stitch Fix a long time ago?)

Shared Mar 26, 2019 comment

How Myers-Briggs Can Help You Have a Better Marriage

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 26, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guess what? I have some big news about a change we’re making going forward with the podcast! Jesse is officially my new co-host on The Crystal Paine Show!

I’ve gotten such great feedback every time he’s been on the show and we have had so much fun recording together, so I’m excited to have him joining me on every episode!

Today’s guest is Meg Tietz is the host of the beloved Sorta Awesome podcast. Meg is really passionate about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and I’m thrilled she agreed to come on the show and share her wisdom on this topic.

Whether you’re a personality type junkie or have no idea what the letters in ENFP or INTJ mean, you’ll definitely come away from this episode with some valuable insights on how understanding our personalities and the personalities of those closest to us can change our relationships and our outlook on life.

In This Episode:

[01:51] – Jesse chats about the trip that he just got back from, and I explain that the house actually didn’t fall apart while he was gone (unlike some of the past trips he’s taken!).

[04:30] – I took off a little over 24 hours after Jesse got back for a sisters’ trip to New York City.

[06:06] – We chat about an app I recently discovered that is fascinating us and sort of saving both of our lives.

[08:48] – Jesse shares a book update, because he surprised me by having read quite a bit since our last podcast.

[10:05] – My book of the week is one I started last year (which Jesse has fun teasing me about!): Everybody, Always by Bob Goff.

[13:03] – Through the end of March, you can get our Make Over Your Year course for 50% off!

[15:18] – Meg Tiets of the Sorta Awesome podcast is today’s fantastic guest!

[16:52] – We hear about how Meg discovered the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and why it’s so important to her.

[20:12] – Meg gives a very helpful overview of the Myers-Briggs system for listeners who aren’t familiar with it.

[22:26] – What are Meg’s thoughts on ambiverts? Is it possible to not be a true introvert or extrovert?

[23:22] – We discuss intuition vs. sensing and how it has impacted our marriages in practical ways.

[25:38] – Are you a feeler or a perceiver? Meg explains how this plays out in her marriage and I talk about our marriage, too.

[27:24] – And finally, are you person who prefers to explore all the possibilities or a quick-to-make-a-decision person?

[29:07] – For a listener who wants to find out their type, Meg shares a website she recommends where you can go to take a test to determine your type.

[31:21] – We change gears, with Meg talking about the two books she’s reading right now and how she’s going back to her crunchy roots.

[34:59] – Jesse joins me to answer a listener question on how we encourage/enforce budgeting with our kids and whether we give them an allowance or not.

Links and Resources:

My Hormonology
Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly
Libby app
Everybody, Always by Bob Goff
Meg Tietz on Instagram
Megan Tietz on Twitter
Sorta Awesome Show
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
16 Personalities
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge by Beatrice Chestnut
Diffusers that Meg recommends: Desert Mist from Young Living and Plant Therapy NovaFuse
My Favorite Things on Amazon
CrystalPaine.com
MoneySavingMom.com
YourBloggingMentor.com
My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!)
Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: [email protected]

How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show

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

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

Click here to download!

Shared Mar 26, 2019 comment

Cute tee for summer from Amazon for just $13.99

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 26, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Looking for a cute t-shirt for the warmer weather? This tee is just $13.99 on Amazon!

Get the Aolakeke Short Sleeve V-Neck Tee for just $13.99 with free Amazon Prime Shipping.

I love that this tee is long, so it’s great to wear with leggings. Or, you can tie it for a more fitted look. (I’m wearing a size small above.)

This was what I wore yesterday as part of the Get Your Pretty On Spring Style Challenge (I bought the Annual Membership on Black Friday weekend!).

The prompt was to wear a white tee, colored jeans, and a navy cardigan. I shopped my closet and came up with the above outfit. I really ended up loving it!

The tee comes in pink and green, as well.

A photo of my groceries from Kroger for our $70 budget

Shared Mar 24, 2019 comment

I was $3.17 under budget on groceries this week — yay!

Published: by Crystal Paine on March 24, 2019 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m currently challenging myself to stick with a $70 grocery 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.

Last Week’s Groceries

Last Sunday, I didn’t get a chance to share what I bought last week at Kroger because I was in New York City. However, I wanted to show you pictures since I’ll be using these groceries in some of our meals in the next month.

First up, I was super excited to get peanut butter for just $0.99! I stocked up on 5 jars!

I was also pretty excited about getting those BAGS of avocados for $0.99 per bag. I’ve been eating a lot of avocados the past week!

Then Jesse went to Kroger when I was on my trip to stock up on the really good weekend deals — including 32-oz blocks of cheese for $3.99.

All totaled, we spent right at $70 on groceries for everything shown above.

For those who asked about how I got the coupon-filled Kroger magazine, I wrote a post on it here.

I didn’t make it to Kroger this week until Thursday and I guess it was a good day to go… because I found bagged salads marked down to $0.25 each.

Say what???? It was pretty exciting because I have never seen bagged salads even remotely close to that price!

I wrote more about how I MADE money on multiple items at Kroger that shopping trip.

I was excited about the weekend deals for this week, including Sabra Hummus for $1.49! We love hummus, so I bought the limit of 5

Thursday Kroger Shopping Trip

5 bags of Stacy’s Pita Chips — $1.49 each as part of the Kroger Weekend Deals
5 packages Johnsonville Sausage — $1.99 each as part of the Kroger Weekend Deals
5 packages Johnsonville Smoked Sausage — $1.99 each as part of Kroger Weekend Deals + I got a $5 off coupon for buying 5
1 lb. Simple Truth Ground Pork — marked down to $2.50
3 bags of Bagged Salad Kits — marked down to $0.25 each
Nourish Bowl — marked down to $1
French Bread — marked down to $0.79
Dole Salad Kit — marked down to $0.50
Spinach — marked down to $1
Pickles — $1.49
Half & Half — $1.79
3 Simple Truth cartons of eggs — marked down to $0.79 each
1 dozen medium Simple Truth eggs — marked down to $1.29
Kroger Water — $0.79
Whole Milk — $2.59
2 bottles of Kraft Barbecue Sauce — $0.49 each when you buy 5 participating items
Gilette Shave Gel — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items + used $0.75 Kroger Digital Coupon = $0.24
Orville Redenbacher popcorn — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
1 bag of cuties — marked down to $0.99
4 bags of Mrs. Cubbison’s Croutons — $0.29 each when you buy 5 participating items, used $1/2 Mrs. Cubbison’s printable coupon + submitted my receipt to get $1 back from iBotta
2 bottles of Ken’s dressing — $1.49 each when you buy 5 participating items, $1/1 Ken’s dressing peelie coupons +
submitted my receipt to get $1.50 back from iBotta
Total with tax: $54.19

On Saturday, I was over on the side of town where Sprouts is, so I ran by in take advantage of the weekend deal to get Blackberries for $0.88.

I also looked at the Manager’s Specials for meat and found Lamb Chops marked down to $2.50. Yes, it was more expensive than what I’d usually pay per pound for meat, but I’ve been promising Silas I would buy lamb if I found a deal on it and I finally did! (He fell in love with lamb when we visited South Africa!)

Saturday Sprouts Shopping Trip

5 cartons of blackberries — $0.88 (Weekend Special)
1 package of Lamb Chop — $2.50
Total with tax: $7.37

Psst! If you have a Sprouts nearby, be sure to check out these freebies you can get.

I also stopped by a different Kroger that was right by Sprouts. There wasn’t anything super exciting, but here’s what I picked up:

Saturday Kroger Shopping Trip

Cantaloupe — marked down to $0.99
1 loaf of bread — marked down to $0.99
1 can of refried black beans — marked down to $0.69
1 bag of flour — marked down to $1.49
Butterfinger — Free Friday offer
Total with tax: $5.27

Total spent on groceries: $66.83

Cashback earned this week: 125 points for submitting my receipts to Fetch rewards, $2.50 back from iBotta

Shared Mar 23, 2019 comment

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

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

Aldi

1 64-oz carton Orange Juice – $1.69

1 64-oz carton Unsweetened Organic Almond Milk – $2.25

1/2 gallon Whole Milk – $0.78

1 gallon 1% Milk – $1.31

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 large pkg Fresh Chicken Thighs ($0.79/lb) – $4.31

1 3-lb bag Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – $5.39

2 cans Chicken – $3.10

1 pkg Turkey Pepperoni – $1.95

1-lb Sausage – $1.89

1 pkg String Cheese – $1.55

1 pkg Cream Cheese Wedges – $1.29

1 16-oz bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $2.19

1 24-pz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.59

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

4 individual cups Greek Yogurt – $2.36

1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.49

2 bags Frozen Riced Cauliflower – $3.78

1 pkg Zucchini – $1.49

1 Cantaloupe – $0.99

1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.69

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.89

1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $2.99

1 pkg Flat Leaf Spinach – $0.99

1 Cauliflower – $1.99

1 3-lb bag Pink Lady Apples – $3.99

1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.69

2 pkgs Blackberries – $1.78

1 3-head pkg Fresh Garlic – $0.79

1 bag Fresh Green Beans – $1.69

1 bunch Bananas (2.54lbs @ $0.38/lb) – $0.97

3 large Seedless Cucumbers – $2.17

2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30

1 box Crisp Rice – $1.15

1 pkg Plain Rice Cakes $1.15

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.65

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.59

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

3 large boxes Buttery Round Crackers – $2.37

1 jar Creamy Natural Peanut Butter – $1.05

1 24-oz jar Honey – $3.99

1 jar Soy Sauce – $1.19

Total: $83.47

Grocery Total for the Week: $82.96