Looking for a great freezer-friendly one-dish dinner idea? After the popularity of my sister Olivia’s Easy Individual Mini Meat Lasagna recipe post, I asked her if she would create another freezer-friendly individual serving recipe for you all and I can tell you these mini chicken pot pies will NOT dissapoint!
You will love this Mini Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
This recipe is great for when you need a quick dinner for one or two people or when you are wanting a yummy lunch to take with you to work or school.
These can be reheated in the oven or microwave and are very portable! Also, feel free to experiment with different vegetables or meat in the filling! Enjoy!
Mini Chicken Pot Pie Recipe Ingredients
Pie Crusts:
- 3 cups flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 10 Tablespoons water, room temperature
Filling:
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups milk
- 1 Tablespoon minced onion
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 package frozen mixed vegetables (16 ounces)
- 3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
Mini Pot Pies Substitutions and Additions
This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to make substitutions based on whatever foods you have in the house (or your family’s preferences).
You can easily substitute store-bought refrigerated pie crusts if you don’t want to make your own — just re-roll the scraps to make more mini crusts.
You can also swap cooked turkey for the chicken (great for post-Thanksgiving leftovers).
Mix and match your favorite veggies — using frozen if that’s easier, or fresh (just make sure you par-boil the fresh veggies first before adding them to the sauce).
And if you’d prefer to make one large chicken pot pie, this recipe should make enough crust and filling for one 9″ pie plate.
How to make Individual Chicken Pot Pies
To prepare crusts:
- Mix together flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add water, and mix with a fork.
- Using your hands, press the pastry together to form a ball.
- Cover crust and set aside until the filling is ready.
To prepare filling:
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Using a wire whisk, stir in flour and salt.
- Add milk and cook until smooth and thickened, stirring continuously.
- Remove from heat, and stir in the remaining filling ingredients — seasonings, veggies, and chicken.
To assemble pies:
- Place 1 cup of filling into 6 mini greased pie pans.
- Roll pie crust to 1/8-1/4 thickness and cut out 6 circles. (I divided the dough into thirds and cut two circles out at a time using a pan lid.)
- Place circles over the filling, flute edges, cut slits in the center, and bake uncovered at 350º for 30 minutes. (Note: the pies will be partially cooked at this point, but not ready to eat).
- Let the pies cool completely, then cover securely with foil and freeze.
To reheat:
- Place frozen, covered pot pies into a cold oven (do not preheat).
- Heat the oven to 350º and bake for 30 – 60 minutes, or until heated through.
- OR, pop a pie out of the foil pan and place it on a microwave-safe dish. (You may need to slightly thaw the pot pie if it won’t slip out of the pan.)
- Microwave on high for about 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Note: For easier handling and to prevent oven spills, cook pot pies on a baking sheet.
How to serve individual Chicken Pot Pies
The best thing about these delicious pot pies is that they are essentially a complete meal in and of themselves! They provide the meat, vegetables, potatoes, grain, etc. all in one nice little package.
However, they also pair well with a salad, your favorite cooked, roasted, or steamed vegetable, and fresh fruit.
How to store this Mini Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
We recommend tightly wrapping the partially cooked (and cooled) pot pies in tin foil and freezing them — they will last months this way!
If you have any leftovers after fully baking the pot pies, you can refrigerate them in any food storage container.
Individual Chicken Pot Pies FAQs
There are a few things you can do to prevent your crust from getting soggy. Make sure your gravy/sauce is thick enough and not too runny (add more flour if it seems runny).
Also, allow plenty of time for your partially cooked pot pies to cool before putting them in the freezer (otherwise condensation might make the crust soggy).
And finally, make sure you cook the frozen pies long enough to fully bake the crust all the way through (up to an hour).
Yes, we actually recommend that you put the frozen pot pie directly into a cold oven and THEN start the preheating process. This method seems to produce the best reheated results!
We’ve had the best luck freezing the chicken pot pies after they are partially cooked. We recommend baking them for 30 minutes, then letting them cool, and then freezing them.
Freezer Friendly Individual Pot Pies
Ingredients
Pie Crusts:
- 3 cups flour
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks, softened)
- 10 tbsp water room temperature
Filling:
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups milk
- 1 tbsp minced onion
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 16 oz. frozen mixed vegetables
- 3 cups cooked chicken cubed
Instructions
To prepare crusts:
- Mix together flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add water, and mix with a fork.
- Using your hands, press the pastry together to form a ball.
- Cover crust and set aside until the filling is ready.
To prepare filling:
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Using a wire whisk, stir in flour and salt.
- Add milk and cook until smooth and thickened, stirring continuously.
- Remove from heat, and stir in the remaining filling ingredients — seasonings, veggies, and chicken.
To assemble pies:
- Place 1 cup of filling into 6 mini greased pie pans.
- Roll pie crust to 1/8-1/4 thickness and cut out 6 circles. (I divided the dough into thirds and cut two circles out at a time using a pan lid.)
- Place circles over the filling, flute edges, cut slits in the center, and bake uncovered at 350º for 30 minutes. (Note: the pies will be partially cooked at this point, but not ready to eat).
- Let the pies cool completely, then cover securely with foil and freeze.
To reheat:
- Place frozen, covered pot pies into a cold oven (do not preheat).
- Heat the oven to 350º and bake for 30 – 60 minutes, or until heated through. (Note: For easier handling and to prevent oven spills, cook pot pies on a baking sheet.)
- OR, pop one pie out of the foil pan and place it on a microwave-safe dish. (You may need to slightly thaw the pot pie if it won’t slip out of the pan.)
- Microwave on high for about 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Nutrition
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Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
Brigette’s $77 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $77 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
Smoked Ham – $11.73 (I’ll dice this and freeze in meal-size portions. This amount will last us quite a few meals.)
1 16-oz bag Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – $2.49
1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.49
2 tubes Cinnamon Rolls (Birthday breakfast choice for my son…I think my homemade cinnamon rolls are WAY better than the canned kind, so I’m trying not to have my feelings hurt. ;)) – $2.78
2 gallons Whole Milk – $4.08
2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.38
5 dozens Eggs – $3.15, plus receive $0.10 rebate from Checkout 51 – $3.05 after reabte
1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.69
3 3-ct pkgs Multi-Colored Peppers – $4.47
1 head Cauliflower – $1.95
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.99
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.49
2 3-lb bag Gala Apples – $3.78
1 pkg Broccoli Crowns – $1.39
2 pkgs Mushrooms – $0.98
1 bag Chopped Pecans – $5.29
1 jar Hot Fudge Sauce – $1.99
1 jar Caramel Sauce – $1.99
3 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $5.67
1 32-oz tub Nonfat Greek Yogurt – $3.49
1 pkg American Cheese Singles – $1.79
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.83
1 loaf Bread – $0.83
Total after Rebate: $69.62
Harris Teeter
1 5-lb bag White Potatoes, reduced – $1.00
3 boxes New York Texas Toast – $3.87, used 3 $0.55/1 New York Bakery Garlic Breads – 9-10-17 SS (exp. 11/05/17) (doubled) – $0.57/3 after coupons
5 boxes Mueller’s Pasta – $3.38, used 2 $0.55/2 Mueller’s Pasta – 8-27-17 SS (exp. 10/07/17) (doubled) – $1.28/5 boxes after coupons
4 cans Dole Crushed Pineapple – $3.00, used 2 $0.75/2 Dole Canned Pineapple – 9-10-17 SS (exp. 11/30/17) (doubled) – FREE after coupons
2 cans Condensed Tomato Soup – $1.18
1 bag Red Grapes (2.27lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $2.25
1 bag Eight O’clock Coffee – $2.89, used $1.00/1 printable, plus receive $1.50 rebate from Checkout 51 – $0.39 after coupon
1 bag Riceworks – $1.84, used $1.00/1 Riceworks Gourmet Snacks – 9-17-17 SS; Includes 5.5 oz or Larger only (exp. 12/30/17) – $0.84
1 Atkins Harvest Trail Bar – $1.00, receive $1.00 rebate from Checkout 51 – FREE after rebate
Total after Coupons and Rebates: $7.51
Grocery Total for the Week: $77.13
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Each person is responsible for making and cleaning up their own breakfast. Choice include:
Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Toast, Boiled/Scrambled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Fruit, Cereal, Yogurt
Cinnamon Rolls and Scrambled Eggs with Cheese (Birthday Breakfast choice for my almost 9-yr old)
Lunches
Baked Potatoes with Cheese, Peppers, Grapes x 2
Leftovers x 4
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Peppers, Apples
Dinners
Taco Salad, Ice Cream Cake (Birthday Dinner)
Turkey Gravy over Rice, Green Beans, Biscuits
Hamburger Pie, Tossed Salad, Apples
Oatmeal Pecan Pancakes, Eggs, Smoothies
Simple, Perfect Chili, Homemade Cornbread (It’s not fall weather in the South this week – so we are just pretending! :))
Ham and Beans, Leftover Cornbread
Leftovers
How to Make Money From Home as a Virtual Assistant
So many women are looking for ways to earn money from home — which I’m a big fan of! Many try signing up with some kind of company like Plexus or Young Living or starting a blog. Those are great options and I know many people making a full-time income from them and loving doing so.
But one option that is very under-explored and few people seem to consider is becoming a virtual assistant. Many online (and offline) companies will hire virtual workers to help with a variety of projects for their site and there is always a big need out there for good virtual assistants.
In fact, most of the great virtual assistants I know are turning away jobs because there is so much opportunity and not enough time!
No matter what your skill set is, there’s a good chance there is a virtual assistant opportunity for you. For instance, here are some of the ways I currently use virtual assistants on my team:
- Graphic design, website design, website maintenance
- Customer service — trouble-shooting tech issues, issue refunds, answering customer questions
- Blog posts — Finding, vetting, and drafting posts, responding to comments, designing graphics for posts
- Facebook — Scheduling posts, responding to comments
- Facebook advertising — Setting up ads, watching and tracking the results
- Email — Answering questions from readers, keeping my email organized, fielding complaints, setting up email newsletters
- Advertising and marketing — Talking to potential advertisers, negotiating contracts, keeping all of the details straight for ad buys
- Product creation — helping me create course content, managing & running the details of a course launch, setting up all of the details for affiliates
And that’s just a very short list! There’s no way that I could do what I do without having a fantastic team of virtual assistants working for me. Some of them who started out as part-time contractors are now full-time employees, but they still work remotely!
People can’t believe it when I tell them that we don’t have an “official office space” and that most of the people on my team live in different states and time zones!
That is the beautiful thing about running an internet business. You can find the best of the best people and hire them — without having to ask them to relocate to your area!
4 Steps to Getting Started as a Virtual Assistant
Over the years, I’ve had people come and ask me how you become a virtual assistant. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all plan — especially because there are so many types of virtual assistants and there are so many different companies looking for virtual assistants. But if you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant, here are a few suggestions:
- Be a Self-Starter — Don’t wait for the opportunity to drop in your lap. Go out and teach yourself everything you can to be the best virtual assistant you can be in the area you believe you are most suited for.
- Volunteer Your Time — Is there a company you are interested in working for? Approach them and volunteer your time and services for the first 20 hours. You have to start somewhere and not only will this be great experience, there’s a chance that the company will hire you on after you’ve completed your 20 hours!
- Keep Your Rates Low — Many virtual assistants can charge upwards of $35 to $40 per hour. Which is fantastic for them, but that might be way out of reach of newer bloggers and online businesses. Start out by charging a really competitive rate like $12 to $15 per hour. As you gain more experience and the work opportunities pick up, then you can increase your rates.
- Be Incredibly Thorough — When someone will email me and offer their services or ask for a job, I quickly scan the email to see how attentive they are to detail. You would not believe how many times there will be glaring errors in an email (like spelling my name wrong or getting my website URL incorrect)! And this is often in an email from someone who says they are detail oriented or fantastic at customer service! The little details matter.
If you are interested in becoming a virtual assistant, I want to invite you to join me on Thursday for a free webinar I’ll be doing with Gina Horkey.
During the last three years, Gina has replaced her previous full-time salary with part-time virtual assistant work. And she still works as a VA – in addition to teaching others how to become or find one.
In this webinar, Gina will teach you:
- What a virtual assistant is.
- What VAs do.
- The current need that exists.
- How to get started working as one!
- Plus, she’ll take your questions live at the end!
Sign up for this free webinar here.
P.S. Can’t make the webinar live? Go ahead and sign up and we’ll send you a replay after it’s finished!
Gretchen’s Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Dillons
We were out of a LOT of items since I haven’t done a grocery shopping trip in a couple of weeks! This was probably one of the biggest shopping trips I’ve done in quite a while!
5 Kroger Cheese – $1.99, used $1/1 e-coupon x 5 (no longer available) – $0.99 each after coupons
1 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $2.99
1 Danimal Smoothie – $1.49
1 can Kroger Great Northern Beans – $0.59
1 bag Milky Way Bars – $1.99, used $1/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon
1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.29
1 Post Honey Bunches of Oats – $2.29, used $1/1 e-coupon – $1.29 after coupon
2.62 lbs Bananas – $1.28
3 Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars – $1.59 each, used $4/3 printable AND $3/3 Ibotta rebate – Free plus overage after coupon and rebate (Plus, received a $2 catalina!)
1 KidFresh Fish Sticks – $3.49 (Special treat!)
2 Casa Fiesta Refried Beans – $0.99 each, used $1.25/2 Ibotta rebate – $0.37 each after rebate
3 Navel Oranges – $2.67
2.53 lbs Sweet Potatoes – $2.50
Submitted $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt
Total after coupons and rebates: $21.79 (Plus received a $2 catalina!)
Aldi
2 pkg Strawberries – $1.29 each
1 gallon Milk – $1.77
3 dozen Large Eggs – $0.44 each
1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99
1 can Enchilada Sauce – $1.89
1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – $0.59
1 loaf Bread – $0.89, used $0.10 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.79 after rebate
1 pkg English Muffins – $0.79
1 pkg Rice Cakes – $1.49
1 pkg Tortillas – $0.99
3 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each
1 lb Ground Turkey – $1.89
1 lb Ground Beef – $3.19
1 Mayonnaise – $1.89
1 lb Butter – $2.46
1 pkg Peanut Butter Crackers – $0.89
1 pkg Brown Gravy Mix – $0.35
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $0.79
1 pkg Gala Apples – $3.99
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup – $0.49
1 can Pumpkin – $0.79
1 Vegetable Oil – $1.85
1 pkg Celery – $1.29
1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.83
1 pkg Red Grapes – $1.58
2 Cucumbers – $0.59 each
1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79
1 Sour Cream – $1.19
1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 bag (5 lbs) Potatoes – $2.49
1 pkg Crackers – $1.39
Total after rebate: $49.83
Total for both stores: $71.62
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Toast & Eggs x 4
Cereal x 2
Cinnamon Rolls, Fruit
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks, Grapes x 2
Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies x 2
Fish Sticks, Fruit Salad
Baked Potato Bar
Leftovers
Dinners
Eggs, Toasted English Muffins, Strawberries
Spaghetti, Biscuits, Green Beans
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Pumpkin Muffins, Crackers
Brown Bag Burritos, Homemade Applesauce, Sliced Veggies
BBQ Meatballs, Homemade Bread, Steamed Peas (from freezer), Sweet Potatoes
Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy, Rice, Fruit Salad
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Tossed Salad
It was a BIG week at our house last week!
Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
Whew! It was a BIG week at our house last week! We got a new pet, we celebrated Jesse’s birthday, Jesse and I ran the Tough Mudder, and I spoke at the Tribe Conference! Here are a few pictures and more details…
Meet Quill, our brand-new hedgehog We have been researching, learning, and planning for him to join our family for a number of months, so getting him this week was pretty exciting!
I will try to refrain myself from sharing too many Quill photos on here, but we kinda think our hedgie is just about the cutest, so yeah, no promises that I won’t at least share a favorite photo here and there! 😉
For September 11, Jesse and the kids did the 343 Workout of the Day at Crossfit — one rep for every firefighter who lost their life on 9/11.
Since we had the privilege of getting to go to the 9/11 Museum & Memorial this summer, our kids have a much deeper understanding of the significance of this day.
Silas did all 343 reps because, he told me, he, “wanted to make sure to honor every single hero.”
There were many, many more heroes on that day, but it was a small way for our kids to stop and remember.
May we never forget.
Jesse celebrated his birthday this week and we had fun doing some fun things for the occasion — including a dinner out at one of our favorite restaurants and some surprise gifts we had planned for him. His birthday also caused me to reflect on the last few years.
3 1/2 years ago, because of how unexpectedly well the blog was doing, we made the decision for me to step into the primary bread winner role. I haven’t talked about this much online, but there were definitely a lot of challenges to us as we’ve navigated this new season.
Some days, we didn’t see eye-to-eye. Some days, we both wanted to throw in the towel. Many days, people questioned or criticized or didn’t understand our decision.
But I’m grateful we stuck with it — even on the hard days. Because we are growing in our communication skills, growing in our respect for one another, and growing into the gifts that God has uniquely equipped us with.
With each passing day, I become more grateful for this man and the sacrifices he makes so I can live out the calling God has given me. Our family is stronger, our kids are happier, our marriage has been strengthened, and individually we are more fulfilled.
This year, I feel like we’ve really found our sweet spots and both feel so content and fulfilled in knowing them. This peace was hard won and required many honest and difficult conversations. It required compromise and sacrifice on both of our parts. But it’s been worth it.
Sometimes, God calls you to take a leap of faith that doesn’t make sense to many people. Sometimes, it’s hard and lonely and filled with wondering whether you really made the right decision.
But you keep trusting, keep taking the next step, keep having the hard conversations, keep going when people tell you you should turn around.
And then you wake up one day down the road and see that it wasn’t a big mistake. It was actually the road to greater blessing and joy than you ever dared hope.
I had the opportunity to speak at the Tribe Conference on Saturday. I talked about How to Build Your Blog Without Killing Your Soul — sharing some of my lessons learned from my Year of Rest. I loved getting to be there — and to meet some of you!
On Sunday, Jesse and I ran our second Tough Mudder. It was 10 miles and 23 obstacles and we did it in less than 4 hours — which was our goal!
We had so much fun and this one was MUCH easier for me than last time around. (Read all about my very first Tough Mudder experience here.)
I realized that not only am I physically stronger and healthier than I was last time, I’m also mentally much stronger. All that working out + eating healthier + taking better care of myself + deep heart work is paying off!
Was I scared about some parts of this Tough Mudder? Absolutely! Were there times when I wondered if I’d be able to complete an obstacle. YES!
But even though I was scared, even though I had doubts, I did it scared… and I totally surprised myself by what I was capable of! Plus, I had so much fun!
Take that, fear! I don’t have to live in bondage to you. I can sign up, show up, do the thing, and have fun in the process. Because you are not the boss of me!
Links You Should Check Out:
Ever thought about becoming a virtual assistant? There is a HUGE need for this right now as I know many blogger and online entrepreneurs who are looking to hire those with excellent skills. If you are interested in what it takes to become a virtual assistant and what types of jobs you can do, you don’t want to miss Thursday afternoon’s free webinar I’m hosting with Gina Horkey. Sign up for it here.
27 Ways to Feel Happier For FREE! I had fun putting together this list of some of my favorite ways to have a pick-me-up, without spending any money.
Like free samples? Sign up to get free samples from PinchMe!
I’m so excited that the trees are starting to turn colors! I’m determined to soak up every bit of fall foliage this year and here’s why.
Looking for a yummy weekend breakfast? I highly recommend these Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls.
Did you take the free Productivity quiz yet? If not, go take it here. I found it really insightful — and encouraging!
We Paid Cash: Our Honeymoon
A testimony from Krystal of Simple Finance Mom:
When my husband and I first got married, we decided to put our money into a savings account instead of splurging on a big honeymoon. Instead, we promised ourselves we would do a big trip on our one-year anniversary. You know, when we had more money…
Then year one came and went with no trip. As did year two. And then year five. And then year eight.
Last year, our ninth year of wedded bliss, we laughed at how naive we were in thinking we would have more money later in our marriage. Kids. Pets. A home. Good ol’ Murphy who always pays a visit from time to time.
But then we realized it was time we stop putting ourselves last on the totem pole. It was time to plan a “honeymoon.” We know our marriage is one of our greatest investments. So we committed to going on a week-long trip to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, no matter what.
While we knew we didn’t want to spend an outrageous amount of money, we wanted to go on an international trip. After doing our due diligence and having a few discussions, we compromised with a budget that felt right for both of us.
In order to pay for our trip, here a few ways we saved.
We tapped into our Vacation Savings Account.
Each month, we have a small amount that is saved automatically for our summer trips. Last year, our trip was smaller knowing we would have this big trip coming up. It really helped our stockpile of savings grow little by little over time.
We set aside our tax refund.
This was a great jump start to our budget, and covered all of our round-trip airfare.
We skipped using a travel agent.
My hubby gets all the credit here. He spent hours and hours researching locations, things to do, travel expenses, etc.
We were fortunate to be gifted a timeshare for our resort stay. A family member was gracious enough to give us a week at a resort. This limited the resorts we could visit, but it literally saved us thousands!
We only paid the fees and taxes for our visit.
We planned flights well in advance. Again, hubby gets the points for this one! Once we decided a location, he price checked flights and airports. When prices dropped, we jumped and bought our tickets for a great discount.
We shopped around for excursions.
We only did the things we really wanted to do, not everything that was offered to us. Experiencing the culture was amazing! We loved every minute of it!
At the end of the day, we learned that while we can’t afford frequent trips that cost thousands and thousands of dollars every year, we also can’t afford to NOT invest in time alone as a couple. Strategically saving over time bonded us as a team, and afforded us an unforgettable trip.
The memories are worth far more than the meager budget we started out with.
Krystal is a teacher turned homeschooling mama of two. She recently paid off over $80,000 of debt with her husband, and now writes about making family finances simple. You can read her debt free story, as well as tips for budgeting, saving, and investing for beginners at Simple Finance Mom.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small?Submit your story for possible publication here.
27 Ways to Feel Happier… for FREE!
Sometimes, it’s easy to fall prey to believing that we’ll only be happier and more fulfilled when our circumstances change. But the truth is, those of us who live in first world counties have the ability to make choices that will affect how we feel.
If you ever wake up in a funk or you just wish you could spend a day at the spa but time and money aren’t at your disposal to do so, here are 27 Ways to Feel Happier — for free!
1. Hug someone.
2. Make a warm drink (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or Decaf Chai Latte) and savor it.
3. Create a playlist of music that makes you happy.
4. Go outside and look up at the sky.
5. Write a note to encourage someone else.
6. Sing like no one can hear you. 😉
7. Take a walk.
9. Turn on some music and dance.
10. Write out three blessings.
11. Watch a comedy clip on YouTube.
12. Dress in something that makes you feel great.
13. Find a quick workout on YouTube and do it.
14. Organize something.
15. Send a text to tell a friend you’re thinking of her.
16. Tell someone thank you for something they’ve done for you.
17. Light a candle.
18. Bake something.
19. Smile at people today and see how many people you can get to smile back at you.
20. Find a joke or funny clip online and email it to a friend.
21. Listen to a podcast that inspires you. (This is one of my current favorite podcasts.)
22. Reach out and offer to help someone.
23. Make someone else laugh.
24. Create something beautiful.
25. Sign up for some freebies. (Free makes me happy!)
26. Invite a friend over for tea or coffee.
27. Open up your windows in the morning and let the fresh breeze in.
What other ideas would you add to my list? I’d love to hear! Share them in the comments.
P.S. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of The Happiness Dare if you need encouragement and inspiration to add more “shots of happy” into your life.
A Peek Into Our Life This Past Week
Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
This week started out with a fun family excursion to Stillhouse Hollow Trail & Waterfall. You can read all about that in this post here.
On Thursday, I flew out to San Jose, CA to spend Friday and Saturday at the beach (near Watsonville) with a few friends to celebrate one of my friends’ 50th birthdays.
It was a true vacation for me filled with lots of relaxation, beach-walking, quiet, good conversations, seeing parts of CA I’d never seen before (we got to spend an evening in Monterey and see sea otters!), and good food. It was my first trip this year by myself and I missed my family a lot. It made me so grateful for how I’ve changed my lifestyle now that I rarely travel for business and that I get to spend so much more time with my husband and kids. I’m so grateful for how much we love to be together!
I wrote this Instagram post the day I left:
I woke up at 4:00 am this morning burdened for my kids. Each of them has their own set of struggles and I was reviewing them in my head.
The reviewing quickly turned to worrying which escalated to full out anxiety.
Am I spending enough time with them?
Are they eating healthfully enough?
Did I ask her the right questions in our conversation?
Does she feel loved enough?
Should I have responded to him like that?Pretty soon, I had spiraled to a place of beating myself up and feeling so much shame and guilt as a mom.
And it didn’t help that I was leaving for California this morning to be gone through Sunday.
I got on the plane still carrying the weight and burden with me. And then I opened up my Bible reading and read this: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you REST.”
And I heard Him whisper to me, “You are free, Mama.”
“When I died on that Cross, it was for you. It was for your mistakes and your mess-ups.”
“It was so you don’t have to carry around the weight of guilt and shame and feelings of not doing enough.”
“Rest in me. Let me be adequate where feel inadequate. Trust Me in the messy, broken spaces.”
“Look to Me when you don’t know how to respond or what the next step is. Lean on Me when you feel overwhelmed with this job I’ve given you to raise these three humans.”
“Let me carry your burdens. Stop stressing and worrying and striving and trying so hard.”
“I came to give you life and hope and joy. Rest in me. You are free, Mama.”
What I’ve Been Learning
More and more, I’m noticing that I’ve stopped feeling the need to wear makeup everyday or spend a lot of time on my hair.
It’s not that I’m giving up makeup or fixing my hair, it’s just that I’m becoming more and more comfortable in my own skin.
I used to pretty much never step foot out of the house without full makeup on and my hair fixed. Now, I often leave the house or get on Instagram Stories with messy hair and no makeup.
It feels good. It feels freeing. And it’s evidence of the work that has happened in my heart in the past two years.
I still like being put together and try to spend a little time making myself presentable every day, but I stopped worrying so much about what other people think or say about how I look.
Some days, I have on a cute top, cute jeans, cute shoes, and full makeup. Other days, it’s a hat, 6-day hair, workout clothes, and little to no makeup. It doesn’t change who I am inside.
And I’m learning that the people who love you most don’t care about how pulled together you look or not. And that the people I want to attract online won’t care either.
There’s so much freedom in just showing up as YOU — on the great hair days and the messy bun days.
Links You Should Check Out:
- Struggling financially? This post might encourage you: When Your Bank Account is Almost Empty.
- If you find that you often have trouble focusing or you’re just curious how productive you are, you can take this Productivity assessment (which I found very interesting and insightful!)
- Missed my recent webinar on 3 Strategies to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed? I’m offering it again LIVE this week and it will be co-hosted by Jami Balmet from Young Wife’s Guide. Sign up for FREE here.
- Are your kids growing like weeds? Here are 27 Ways to Save on Kids’ Shoes.
- I was honored to be a guest on the Publishing Profits Podcast where I talked about How to Make Money Blogging.
6 Simple Tips to Save on Daily Basics
The following is a guest post from Whitney of Lazy Life With Littles:
No time to clip coupons? No problem!
I love coupons, but there are so many easy ways to save money nowadays without spending hours going through newspapers, only to find three or four coupons relevant to you and your family’s needs.
Below you’ll find a roundup of different ideas from my arsenal that you can use to save money on things like groceries, clothing, restaurants, and daily essentials.
1. Download the Coupons.com app
I’m sure you all have heard about this website before, but (if you didn’t already know) it now has an app! No printing necessary!
Just go here to download the app. Search for the stores you shop (like Walmart or Target) and link your loyalty card. Load some coupons to your card and just scan it at check out. Your coupons will be applied to your transaction. That simple!
2. Never underestimate the power of Dollar Tree
I go to the Dollar Tree about every week — sometimes more!
There are so many great deals you can score at Dollar Tree. They have a good selection of frozen fruit (great for smoothies), plain quick oats, and snacks for the kids (raisins, peanuts, pretzels). Sometimes if you’re lucky, they even have name brand items, such as Nature’s Own bread or Juicy Juice juice boxes.
Other good buys from Dollar Tree include: beauty and hygiene products (makeup, cotton balls, deodorant), craft supplies, party supplies, and medicine. Look around, though. Sometimes they have hidden gems throughout the store that you never even knew you needed. ?
3. Check out Groupon
Groupon is great for getaways, but I enjoy it mostly for the local deals. If your family likes to eat out often, check out Groupon for new restaurants to try at a discounted price.
There are also great deals on family fun like miniature golf, bowling, and museums. I’ve tried and enjoyed some new outings that I might not have otherwise done because I came across a good deal on Groupon (new restaurants, a winery tour, mystery dinner).
4. Shop Aldi
If you haven’t made the switch over to Aldi yet, I highly recommend you do so. Aldi has come a long way from what it used to be. I shop Aldi for most of my groceries each week, in addition to another store (usually Kroger) for the rest.
Aldi’s products are now made without the use of trans fats, added MSG, or synthetic colors. They also have a decent amount of organic options, and even some gluten free products! Their produce usually always has the best prices in my area in comparison to other grocery stores.
Aldi also has a line of baby products, and kitchen & bathroom essentials. I use the diapers for my little one and they seem to work just as well as the big name brands. Same goes for their garbage bags and toilet paper. And speaking of toilet paper, Aldi’s 4-pack of TP is only 0.59 cents!
Note: Since shoppers do bag their own groceries at Aldi, I suggest investing in durable, reusable bags.
5. Go to garage sales and thrift stores
I LOVE garage sales!
Garage sales are by far the lowest priced place to find clothes, especially baby clothes. You can find many pieces that look brand new, but for a fraction of the original price. I’ve seen baby clothes for 0.25¢ to 0.50¢ per item!
Even if you’re not in the market for clothing, you can find virtually anything else at garage sales: house decor, baby items, furniture, plates and dishes, knick knacks, shoes, etc. etc. etc. All at a very affordable price!
If it’s not garage sale weather, check out your local thrift store. The prices may not be as low as those found at garage sales, but they probably come close. Some thrift stores even have deals for the week (example: a specific colored tag is half off), so be aware of those, too.
6. Don’t forget Big Lots
This discount retail store is one that I love to frequent. They sell pretty much everything: furniture, toys, hygiene products, electronics. My favorite buys are the foods, though. They have a great selection of minimally processed, packaged products (great for on-the-go snacks for kids).
Examples of things I have personally bought from Big Lots include: Annie’s products, individual fruit and applesauce cups, protein and granola bars, Kashi cereal, almond milk, coconut water, jams, and dried fruit. They even discount items further if the sell by date is approaching. I recently bought a box of KIND breakfast bars for $1.25, and a few bags of granola for 0.25 cents each!
And there you have it — a few simple things that I do (and you can, too!) to save a little money on a day-to-day basics.
What are your tips to save on daily life?
Whitney is the lazy guru at Lazy Life With Littles. She is a wife, mother, blogger, and lover of simplicity. She believes in doing everything in life the easiest way possible.
Brigette’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $55 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
Because of the possibility of Hurricane Irma hitting South Carolina, our local Aldi was packed with customers, and the shelves were mostly empty. It was impressive! 🙂 Needless to say, my grocery list had to be revamped since they were out of so many things.
2 dozen Eggs – $1.16, plus receive $0.10 back from Checkout 51 – $1.06 after rebate
1 16-oz carton Egg Whites – $1.89
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.89
1 bag Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 bunch Bananas (2.35lbs @$0.29/lb) – $0.68
1 bag Green Grapes (2.05lbs @ $0.79/lb) – $1.72
2 Cucumbers – $0.98
1 bag Zucchini – $1.79
1 4-ct pkg Baby Lettuce – $1.99
1 bag White Tortilla Chips – $1.19
1 1-lb bag Shredded Mozzarella – $2.49
1 12-oz bag Shredded Colby Jack – $1.89
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.69
1 32-oz carton Half & Half – $1.69
1 64-oz carton Cashew Milk – $2.49
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.98
1 can Parmesan Cheese – $2.29
2 1-lb pkgs Butter – $4.90
1 loaf Wheat Bread – $0.89, plus receive $0.10 back from Checkout 51 – $0.79 after rebate
Total: after Rebates: $34.39
Harris Teeter
3 boxes Apples Jacks – $5.37, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) and 1 $1.00/1 printable, plus receive $0.50 back from Checkout 51 – $1.87/3 after coupons
2 boxes Corn Pops – $3.60, used 2 $1.00/1 printable, plus receive $0.50 back from Checkout 51 – $1.10/2 after coupons and rebate
2 boxes Honey Comb – $4.00, used $1.00/2 printable, plus receive $1.00/2 back from Ibotta – $2.00/2 after coupon and rebate
2 Spaghetti Squash – $3.87
2 Wewalka Family Style Pizza Crust – $2.98, used 2 $1.00/1 printable – $0.98/2 after coupons
Gala Apples (3.11lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $3.07
2 large bags Green Grapes (I had wanted to buy more at Aldi, but they were really picked over) – $4.97
1 gallon Orange Juice – $3.49
2 cans Bush’s Chili Beans – $1.60, used $0.75/2 printable (doubled) – $0.10/2 after coupon
Total after Coupons and Rebates: $21.45
Grocery Total for the Week: $55.84
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making and cleaning up their own breakfast. Choices include:
Cereal, Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat, Toast, Scrambled/Fried/Hard Boiled Eggs, Fruit
Lunches
PB and J Sandwiches, Apples, Carrots, Cheese Sticks x 2
Just Like Campbells Tomato Soup (recipe from the “Trim Healthy Mama” Cookbook), Grilled Cheese Sandwiches made with Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Leftovers x 4
Dinners
Taco Salad, Spanish Rice, Grapes
Homemade Cheese Pizza ( or Veggie Pizza for those of us who will eat it ;)), Raw Veggies with Dip
Chicken Gravy Over Rice, Roasted Zucchini, Grapes, Kefir-soaked Muffins (I’ve been making my own kefir recently – if anyone has any recipes, or tips for kefir-making, I’d love to hear them!)
Spaghetti (I made up and froze some homemade sauce last week when a friend gave us a box of homegrown tomatoes. I use spaghetti squash instead of noodles for myself since I need to eat gluten-free), Italian Garlic Bread, Roasted Cauliflower
Grilled Chicken, Green Beans, Biscuits, Cantaloupe (leftover form last week)
Baked Potatoes with Seasoned Hamburger and Cheese, Broccoli, Fruit Salad
Leftovers
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
27 Ways to Save on Kids’ Shoes
Reader Sara wrote in with this question:
“What advice can you offer for buying gym shoes for my quickly-growing daughter? I’m not comfortable buying used, and cheaper options from Target and Walmart seem to fall apart in a matter of weeks.”
I decided to post this question to the MoneySavingMom Facebook page so that everyone could chime in! All of you came up with some GREAT tips for saving on kids’ shoes, and I thought I’d combine and share them here in one place!
27 Secrets to Saving on Growing Kids’ Shoes:
1. Ask grandparents to buy shoes instead of more toys. If your kids have grandparents who can afford it and want to bless your children with lots of extras, politely ask them if they could opt to purchase shoes instead of an abundance of toys and extras.
2. Try online discounted shoe stores. You can often get steep discounts on brand-name shoes when you shop online at stores such as 6pm, Zappos, Shoes.com, and Shoeshow.com.
3. Buy new brand-name shoes on eBay. Even if you want to stay away from used shoes, don’t rule out eBay! You can often find brand new pairs of shoes at majorly discounted prices on eBay if the timing is right.
4. Shop the outlet stores. You can score great savings at outlet stores for athletic shoe brands: Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Skechers, and more. Many outlet stores often have buy one, get one deals that make each pair half-price! Consider buying one size for now and a size up for later.
5. Be on the lookout for Amazon Athletic Shoes Sales. Amazon frequently has their Deal of the Day on athletic shoes where you can get at least 40% off regular prices on name brands. (We post these when we see them!)
6. Check out the Surprize by Stride Rite shoes at Target. Multiple readers said this Surprize brand holds up better than other name-brand shoes, and they’re only $30 a pair!
7. Kohl’s Kohl’s Kohl’s. If you’re a deal seeking mama, you know how deal-friendly Kohl’s is! You can frequently get killer deals on shoes at Kohl’s when you combine a sale with coupons — either online or in-store. Just keep an eye out for price drops and coupons. (And don’t forget about Kohl’s cash, too!)
8. Be aware of what material shoes are made of. Certain materials last longer than others when it comes to shoes. Supposedly, man-made materials fall apart more easily. It might be something to consider if you have a child who blows through shoes frequently.
9. Don’t forget to use Ebates when you shop online. Ebates offers a percentage back as a rebate on your purchase –usually between 3% and 10%. If you’re already going to be making the online purchase, you might as well get a little kickback, too!
10. Try Dick’s Sporting Goods for brand-name shoes. They often offer some of the lowest prices on brand names like Under Armour, Saucony, Nike, and more. One reader said she exclusively shops there and can almost always get her kids’ shoes for under $30 each!
11. Don’t forget about outdoor stores. Although REI can be overpriced, they often have clearance and garage sales (if you’re an REI member). They also offer great deals on holiday weekends and often send out coupons if you’re on their mailing list. You can get quality outdoor adventure brands at a steep discount if you know when to shop! Sierra Trading Post is also a fantastic option, as their prices are significantly lower than REI.
12. Try shopping at Academy Sports + Outdoors. One reader said that at her store, the shoes are organized by price. Start at the bottom where the prices are the lowest, and work your way up until you find a shoe that works!
13. Shop at Nordstrom Rack. This is the discounted, outlet version of Nordstrom. They have amazingly low prices on all kinds of brand name items, including shoes!
14. Let kids choose their shoes, within reason. Obviously this will come with a price cap and guidance from the parents, but allowing kids to have a say in the shoes they buy adds a degree of responsibility — which probably means they’ll be careful to take better care of them and make them last a little longer!
15. Buy a size up. Often times, shoes will fit just as well a half size up, which will make them last a bit longer. One reader even suggested using a shoe insert to make it fit better until the child grows fully into it.
16. Shop the shoe racks at Ross, TJMaxx, and Marshall’s. These discount stores are known for amazing prices on brand name items, including shoes! The best part is that they are organized by size, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for at a glance.
17. Shop at Meijer with rewards. Did you know that Meijer sells name brand shoes?! They sometimes even have buy one, get one for $1 sales! You can also use Meijer rewards to further sweeten your savings.
18. Think out of season. As with anything, you’ll often find the best deals on items when they are out of season. Buy shoes a size up for your children when they are on major out-of-season markdown, and put them away for later! Many readers said that department store clearance sections are great for this!
19. Try on styles and track prices. If you’re nervous to buy online, go shopping and have your child try on various sizes and styles. Write down the ones that fit best, and then start tracking the prices online. Wait for a good sale and buy when the price is right! (This works really well on Amazon with their price tracker!)
20. Don’t forget about classic shoe stores. Stores like Shoe Carnival, Rack Room Shoes, and Famous Footwear specialize in shoes and often run all kinds of amazing sales you can take advantage of — like buy one, get one half off! Many of these stores also have rewards programs and/or coupons.
21. Check shoe store growth policies. Some shoe stores will give you a free pair of shoes if your child outgrows the shoes in a certain time frame.
22. Shop the online Joe’s New Balance Outlet. If you prefer New Balance brand or you’re wanting to see if New Balance might be a great brand for your child, consider buying online at the Joe’s New Balance Outlet. They offer incredible markdowns, many of which are hard to believe! We frequently post these deals, because they are just SO good!
23. Shop at Burlington Coat Factory. Who knew that Burlington sold shoes? I certainly didn’t! Apparently you can get GREAT discounts on shoes there! Just another option to keep in mind.
24. Find the brand that lasts the longest for your child. No two brands of shoes are made exactly the same way, and different brands will work better for different feet. Your kid may blow through New Balance in a month, but be able to wear Adidas for a year. And another kid may have feet that fit best with Saucony. It’s important to figure out which brand lasts the longest for your child and stick with it.
25. Make shoes a priority and buy other things secondhand. Shoes need to fit well, because they support a child’s feet — and ultimately their hips, knees, ankles, and more. It’s important to find a pair of shoes that are comfortable and fit well, especially if they’re running around at recess or playing sports. If you have to increase the budget a little bit in order to not skimp in this area, maybe consider buying other things secondhand (like clothing, toys, electronics, and more).
26. Be on the lookout at Sam’s or Costco. We often think of these warehouse stores as only having bulk food and household items, but they also have all kinds of other items — including shoes! If you have a membership to Sam’s Club or Costco, be on the lookout for great deals on shoes.
27. Give off-brands a try. Many, many readers commented that they love some of the off-brand sneakers at Kmart, Payless, Target, and more. You never know how a brand will work for your child until you try it! It may pay off in the long run.
Thanks again to all of the MoneySavingMom Facebook followers for sharing these tips!
How do you save on shoes in your family? I’d love to hear your tips & tricks!
Frugal Family Fun: Stillhouse Hollow Trail & Waterfall (Mt. Pleasant, TN)
Frugal Family Fun: Stillhouse Hollow Trail & Waterfall (Mt. Pleasant, TN)
On Labor Day, we drove to the Stillhouse Hollow Falls Trail (near Mt. Pleasant, TN) to hike to the waterfall with our friends the Pogues. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend this hike. And best of all, it’s FREE!
The boys had fun doing a little “off trail” exploring of a tiny waterfall on the way to the big waterfall!
The weather was perfect and the hike was beautiful! There were a number of families with younger kids and quite a few people with dogs (dogs are allowed on the trail so long as they are on a leash).
The trail is 2/3 of a mile and was the perfect trail for kids to hike because it’s not too long to get to the waterfall but it’s still a nice jaunt. The kids had so much fun playing in the waterfall. You could even climb up behind it and sit!
A few things to note:
- The to the waterfall is downhill all the way. So the hike back is a bit more strenuous since it’s
- The temperature at the waterfall is quite cool. Keep this in mind if you go on a day that is not hot and sunny.
- We brought swim trunks for the boys and they ended up getting completely soaked. But they were mostly dry by the time we got back to the car.
- There are no amenities/restrooms. So keep that in mind!
- We brought water bottles and snacks and were definitely glad that we did since we were all thirsty and the kids were hungry after the hike!
You can read more about this trail here. And you can read reviews of this trail here.
When Your Bank Account is Almost Empty
(Note: This post was sponsored by Zondervan. Some of the links in this post are also affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
On Sunday morning, I was chatting with a new friend at church. She and her husband are struggling right now and I was sharing with her how I felt some of those same feelings about ten years ago.
We had an almost-two-year-old and a baby on the way and I was in the throes of morning sickness. Jesse had just graduated from law school, and instead of having that great post-law-school job we had hoped for, he was looking for work.
Oh, and our bank account was almost empty.
Most days, in addition to the nauseousness from morning sickness, there was the constant stress of not knowing what the future would hold. If you don’t have a job when you graduate from law school and then keep that job for at least a few years, it’s really hard to find work.
People want to hire attorneys who have at least a few years of experience under their belt or law student with great grades who are in their last year of law school. The job market for attorneys who have just graduated from law school is pretty much dead.
Jesse was making calls, sending out his resume, talking to people, and we were praying, but it was really discouraging when another day would go by and we were no closer to a job or a paycheck.
For months, we didn’t know where we would be living the next month or how we were going to be staying afloat financially.
Jesse did end up getting one job that lasted for about six months, but then that job ended up being a terrible fit and they asked him to resign. So then he went back to being unemployed again and all of the resume-sending, calling, waiting, hoping, praying, and searching started again.
He finally got a temporary contract job that lasted for a number of months — but we knew that it was temporary. As such, it had no benefits, and at any point in time they could call him in and say they didn’t need him anymore.
He was so discouraged by it all, we didn’t have family nearby, we had very few friends, and I was in the middle of postpartum depression and trying to care for a toddler and a baby.
But as I was telling this friend on Sunday, I look back and see how that time in our life that was one of the hardest was also the time in our lives where we grew the most. Our faith grew, our trust in each other deepened, and we both matured a lot individually.
You know what else came out of that time in our lives? MoneySavingMom.com!
Blogging was something I had been doing, along with a lot of other things to try to bring in some extra income. So far, blogging hadn’t brought in much money for us, but I saw that there was potential there and I also saw that there was huge interest for me to write on the topic of practical ways to save money.
So out of those desperate times, the idea came for me to start a blog focused on helping everyday women save money in practical ways.
I never could have dreamed that MoneySavingMom.com was going to take off like it did! But those early years that I had invested in trying a bunch of different ideas online and (mostly) failing at them began to slowly pay off.
The lessons that I had learned and the strategies I had discovered in those early years, allowed me to be really intentional in how I launched MoneySavingMom.com. And — to my great surprise –the blog took off and within a year, we were making a full-time income from it!
Since that time, it’s been a wild ride of unexpected things. Not all of it has been roses and rainbows, but it’s all been a journey of learning and growing. And I look back and see how those early years of stress and struggle and working so hard to try to make ends meet and stay out of debt paved the way for where we are today.
Because of our journey, I truly believe that there is hope for everyone. That you’re never totally stuck without options. That creativity, hard work, sacrifices, and a can-do attitude can take you further than you probably ever dream might be possible.
Which is why I am so excited about my friend Erin’s brand-new book, More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated.
Erin’s friendship has been one of the unexpected and beautiful blessings that has come from blogging for me. She and I connected through blogging, but we’re now much more than just “online friends”. In fact, she’s someone I count as one of my very closest long-distance friends.
We only see each other once or twice a year, but every time we’re together, it’s like no time has elapsed. We just pick back right where we left off.
I’ve loved getting to watch Erin’s book journey unfold and I’ve stood on the sidelines as a cheerleader for her as she wrote and edited this book. She’s poured her heart and soul into this book, so I was thrilled when I got to read a draft of the final manuscript a few months ago.
I have to say: This book is very different than many money-saving books. It’s not just filled with practical tips and advice (though there is plenty of that); it’s a very well-written story of Erin and her family and their financial journey.
If you’ve struggled financially, I think you’ll be able to relate to some or all of Erin’s journey. Here’s the description of the book:
Erin Odom grew up in the private schools and neatly manicured lawns of Upper Middle Class America, but was thrown into low-income living during the economic crash. She was a stay-at-home-mom, her husband was supporting the family on a teacher’s salary, and despite the fact that they had no debt to their name, they were scrambling to make ends meet.
Suddenly Erin found herself standing in line for food stamps, turning down play dates because she couldn’t afford the gas, and ultimately walking into bankruptcy court in the eighth month of her third pregnancy.
More Than Just Making It tells the story of their breaking point, as well as the triumph of their comeback. It took hard work, creativity, and faith in God’s provision to reset their bank account as well as their hearts, but ultimately they found a new way to thrive and freedom from financial anxiety. You can do the same.
Learn how Erin and her family saved enough money to put $30,000 down on a home, buy a minivan in cash, and begin sending their daughter to private Christian school.
More Than Just Making It will encourage readers to rise above their circumstances, empower them with money-saving tips, and reimagine the good life as God designed it outside the myth of the American Dream.
No matter the state of your bank account, this book will give you a lot of hope and encouragement.
Best of all? Much of this book reads like a novel (my 12-year-old picked up this book and started reading it and she got sucked into reading it because it was such a great story!), and the content will leave your heart changed.
In addition to being such a well-written story, it is packed with real-life, practical tips to curb spending, create more income, and practice gratitude and contentment in every area of your life.
Want to check it out first? You can read the first chapter for free to decide whether or not you’d like to purchase it!
A Peek Into My Life This Past Week
Welcome to my weekly post where we take a break from money-related posts and I share about what I’m loving right now and give you a little peek into our life from the past week.
What I’m Learning Right Now
I had to ask forgiveness of one of my kids yet again this past week.
I had told one of them — who is currently struggling with some relationships — that they could come and tell me anything. And I emphasized the word anything.
I had told them how I didn’t want them talking to others about this situation and their frustration, but that they could come to me and air everything they were feeling — no matter how ugly.
So they did yesterday. They were frustrated and upset and, instead of just patiently listening, I sort of flipped out inside… and that came out in my responses.
“What’s changed with you? Why are you all of sudden having such an unkind attitude toward this person? This is not the child I’ve always known you to be.” I asked, genuinely concerned.
And then this child looked at me and said, “I thought you said I could tell you everything. I thought you said it was okay to air my frustrations to you. I’ve felt like this all year, I just was scared to tell you because I was afraid you’d be upset.”
Big OUCH!
I sat there stunned. I had blown it as a mom. Instead of being a safe place, I’d been a judgmental space. Instead of fully listening, I quickly jumped to conclusions.
Instead of processing with them and praying with them, I’d shut them down.
What was the root of all this? It was about ME. It was me worrying about what other people would think. It was about me parenting for others’ approval.
And so, I went back to my child and asked forgiveness and acknowledged why I was reacting like I did and that it was wrong.
What followed was a beautiful conversation about grace, about responding like Jesus, and about how it’s just plain hard to love people sometimes.
My prayer: Lord, help me to parent from a space of knowing that I’m pre-approved by You and it doesn’t matter what other people think. Let me love my kids with Your love, remembering how much I am loved by You.
What I’ve Been Pondering
On Thursday, I got two really discouraging emails. And it got under my skin big time.
I was at the very end of a LONG and full week of launching a brand-new course and hosting three webinars as part of the launch.
We had bumped the launch date up by a week at the last minute because of some unexpected scheduling conflicts. So it meant I had worked a lot of extra hours to pull it off.
I get unkind, rude, discouraging, critical comments and emails pretty much every single day. And usually I’m pretty good at letting it just all roll off my back.
So I knew that when these emails really bothered me, it was a sign that something was out of sorts in my heart and that the cure for that was time offline.
I declared Saturday as a SLOW (mostly) offline day. A day to step away from the noise online. A day to refresh and refuel my weary soul and body.
I slept in, I stayed home all day, I wore comfy clothes, I drank tea, I read my Bible, I exercised, I played fooseball with Silas, I hung out with the girls and watched a few episodes of Gilmore Girls (I’m watching it for the very first time!), I took time to pray and plan and think, I cleaned, I spent time with Jesse, and we capped off the day with dinner around the fire pit and a hilarious rendition of family karaoke.
It was exactly what my soul needed.
If you’re struggling with stress, frustration, or irritation, try taking a slow day. A day where you step away from the busyness, to usual to do’s, the errands, the noise… and just take time to rest, refresh, and remember what matters.
It just might be the perfect balm to your stressed heart.
Links You Should Check Out:
- Did you see that I released a brand-new course this week? Go grab your copy here — it’s $10 off through Tuesday!
- Want a simple and tangible way to make a difference in the lives of those affected by Hurricane Harvey? Here you go.
- I loved getting to hang out with many of you on the live webinars I did this week. If you missed my webinar, shoot me an email (moneysavingmom @ gmail.com) and I’ll be happy to send you a replay link!
- Cookies for breakfast?? Why yes! I’m all about that!
We Paid Cash: Private School Education
A testimony from Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker:
When our first of four children was two years old, I learned that a new Christian school was opening in our town.
At the time, our family was living on a low income.
My husband was a public school teacher in a state that was near the bottom of teacher pay standards, and he and I were both working odd jobs all hours of the day and night.
Still, we could barely make ends meet.
One of my side gigs was freelancing for our local newspaper. I pitched a story about the new school to my editor, and he said to go for it.
While interviewing the school’s director, my heart began brimming with excitement. I had attended Christian schools from kindergarten through high school graduation, and it was something I had desired to provide for our children as well. This school has a unique model where children spend two days per week at home, which makes the tuition more affordable than other Christian schools in our area.
Still, it wasn’t free.
How could we afford Christian school tuition on our income?
I was up for the challenge.
Soon after, I started blogging at thehumbledhomemaker.com. At the time, I didn’t even have enough money to pay for a domain name, so I started my site on a free blogger domain.
Slowly and steadily, the blog began generating an income.
By the time our daughter started kindergarten four years later, we were able to pay for a full year of her tuition in cash.
We did the same the next year. And the next — for both her and her younger sister.
Our two oldest children just started our family’s fourth year at this school. Every year, we’ve paid for tuition in cash.
How did we achieve this dream?
1. We learned how to create more income.
Around the time I started my blog, a financial advisor from our church told my husband and me that we needed to learn how to generate more income for our family.
For some reason, it had not occurred to us before that we had an income problem. Once we realized that we didn’t have enough money to live, we were motivated to do something about it.
We tried a variety of odd jobs, but, in the end, the blog was a perfect match for my personality, gifts, and skill set. Now, years later, my husband and I run it together.
If you desire for your children to attend a tuition-based co-op or school and you can’t currently afford one, creating more income might be a first step.
2. We lived below our means.
Even when my blog began generating a decent income, we continued to live on my husband’s salary for years. We saved almost everything that I made.
3. We put the money in an account that we didn’t touch, no matter what.
When we saw that our dream of sending our daughter to this school was going to be attainable, we set up a special savings account just for school tuition.
We only withdraw from his account when it’s time to pay tuition each year.
As soon as we pay the school tuition, we seek to replenish the account for the following school year–and then don’t touch it again until it’s time to pay.
I will never forget walking my daughter into school on her first day of kindergarten. My eyes were blurry with tears, but it wasn’t only the fact that my baby girl was growing up. I was overcome with emotion that God had provided for our needs and had even made a way for us to achieve this dream as well.
I still cry every year!
Erin is the mother of four children, blogger at The Humbled Homemaker, and author of the new book More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated, which chronicles her family’s journey out of living on a low income.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small?Submit your story for possible publication here.