Pumpkin and doughnuts mixed together?? Yes, please! If you love muffins and you’re looking for a new recipe to try, put this one at the top of your list!
These Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins combine the best of both worlds – Donuts and Muffins!
This recipe is the perfect marrying of two of my favorite things for fall! The muffins were a little drier than I expected and the batter was thick, but when rolled in butter and cinnamon sugar, they were pretty much perfect! And my family agreed!
Pumpkin Donut Muffins Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/3 cup buttermilk (or make your own buttermilk)
- 1 15-oz. can pumpkin puree
- 10 Tablespoons butter, softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar (or raw sugar)
- 2 eggs
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
How to make Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins
1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 12-18 muffin cups (or line with paper) and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger; set aside.
3. In a smaller bowl, stir together the buttermilk and pumpkin; set aside.
4. In a large bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix well.
6. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on low speed. Then add half of the pumpkin mixture and mix on low speed.
7. Repeat with the rest of the flour mixture and pumpkin mixture.
8. Fill greased muffin tins roughly 3/4 full of batter and bake in preheated oven for about 20-23 minutes (until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean).
9. Let the muffins cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
10. While the muffins cool, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small bowl and mix together the cinnamon and sugar in another small bowl.
11. Roll or dip the muffins completely in butter and then roll or dip them in the cinnamon/sugar mixture until they are fully coated.
12. Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
Storing Pumpkin Cinnamon Muffins
Once the muffins are completely cooled, you can place them in a food storage container and store at room temperature or freeze for later.
Do not store muffins in the refrigerator as that can dry them out.
How long do Pumpkin Donut Muffins last?
Not long in our house!
Like any muffin, they are best fresh — but should last at least a couple of days at room temperature.
If you want to make them in advance, you can freeze them — although we’d recommend freezing them WITHOUT the sugar topping and adding that once the muffins defrost.
Pumpkin Muffins Recipe FAQs
Using enough fat is key for moist muffins. This recipe has lots of butter — so don’t cut back if you want your muffins to stay moist!
Overmixing the flour into the batter is one of the main reasons muffins and breads become gummy. When you overmix the flour, you develop extra gluten — which works to bind the muffins together, giving them that gummy texture. We recommend only mixing the flour until just combined.
Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins
Ingredients
For the Muffin Batter
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 15 oz. pumpkin puree
- 10 tbsp butter softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar or raw sugar
- 2 eggs
- For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup butter melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2½ tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 12-18 muffin cups (or line with paper) and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger; set aside.
- In a smaller bowl, stir together the buttermilk and pumpkin; set aside.
- In a large bowl of a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and mix well.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on low speed. Then add half of the pumpkin mixture and mix on low speed.
- Repeat with the rest of the flour mixture and pumpkin mixture.
- Fill greased muffin tins roughly 3/4 full of batter and bake in preheated oven for about 20-23 minutes (until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffin comes out clean).
- Let the muffins cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.
- While the muffins cool, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small bowl and mix together the cinnamon and sugar in another small bowl.
- Roll or dip the muffins completely in butter and then roll or dip them in the cinnamon/sugar mixture until they are fully coated.
- Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
More Pumpkin Recipes:
- Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
- Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Crescent Rolls
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Freezer-Friendly Pumpkin Bars
- Freezer-Friendly White Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
What is YOUR favorite pumpkin recipe to make? I’d love to hear!
FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!!
Mornings just got so much easier with this FREE list of 50+ Easy & Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Busy Weekday Mornings!
How to Clean Your Teeth at Home
Note from Crystal: I know that this topic might be a bit controversial and I personally would differ with some of the conclusions of the guest poster and do believe that regular dental visits are something that should be prioritized if you can at all make it happen in your budget. However, I decided to share this post here because I thought it might give some great ideas for those of you who are unable to afford regular dental care. It also is a great reminder for all of us to think outside the box and this might be a great option for in between dental visits and/or to reduce the costs of needing extra expensive dental work.
Please do your own research and do what is best for you and your family. If you have other suggestions for ways to save on dental care, I’d love for you to leave them in the comments. As always, sharply critical comments will be deleted but we welcome kind and gracious comments that contribute to the conversation.
Guest post from Liberty:
When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned? How about your kids’?
If you’re like many people, you find it challenging (particularly on the budget) to faithfully book teeth cleanings for each family member every six months.
The average cost of a regular teeth cleaning is $137. Multiply that times a couple of children, plus parents, and you have a regular six-month monstrosity of a dentist’s bill!
It can be difficult enough living on a tight budget without worrying about a huge extra bill, or the worse alternative. an outbreak of cavities (bigger cost alert!)
We all want to provide the care our kids need to enjoy clean, healthy teeth for a lifetime, but sometimes it’s harder than getting your six year old to eat shrimp at your friend’s dinner table!
The good news is you can professionally clean your entire family’s teeth at home for less than the cost of a new crockpot!
My grandmother, a dental assistant for 30 years and only recently retired, taught my family how to clean our teeth ourselves.
I grew up cleaning my teeth at home (and watching my mother clean my teeth when I was younger) and neither I nor any of my siblings have ever had a cavity.
Every once in a while, we’d visit our grandmother and she’d offer us free teeth cleanings at the dentist’s office. But she always ended up saying, “I don’t even know why I do this, your teeth are just so clean!”
The best part about cleaning your teeth at home is that it’s unbelievably easy and extremely cost-effective, in addition to causing other health benefits you may not expect. Teeth cleaning is so easy teenagers can do it — and that’s saying a good deal!
There are four simple steps to clean your teeth:
1. Floss thoroughly.
Run the floss between every tooth twice: once up and down on one side and once up and down on the other side.
2. Scale and scrape.
Gently scrape your teeth with a scaler along the gum line, between your teeth, and over the flat surface of each tooth. Be sure to gently scrape out any grooves you may have in your teeth, and to avoid widening cracks.
You’ll want to use a professional-quality, stainless steel scaler — they’re actually quite affordable. Don’t use one of those cheapie Walmart teeth-scaling kits.
3. Polish and brush.
Put a small amount of pumice polish on your toothbrush and give your teeth a good brushing. Pumice whitens your teeth and removes plaque and tartar at the same time.
Brush with side-to-side, up-and-down, and circular strokes. Make sure you brush along the gum line as well as the surface of the teeth themselves.
4. Replace your toothbrush regularly.
The pumice polish ruins your toothbrush’s regular cleaning capabilities, so buy yourself a new toothbrush each time you clean your teeth at home.
Yes, even replacing toothbrushes every six months doesn’t raise the cost to more than a fraction of the cost of a crockpot!
It can be intimidating to clean your teeth the first time — you may want to begin by cleaning your family’s teeth at home, and still going in for a cleaning occasionally to see how well you’re doing. Get x-rays. Ask the hygienist if there’s much of a buildup on your teeth. Make adjustments to your home-care routine accordingly until you have the process mastered.
You’ll still save money without worrying about sacrificing the health of your teeth in the process.
DIY teeth cleaning is a cost-effective, rewarding experience!
As you run your tongue along your teeth and feel the newly-smooth surface (the rough plaque having vanished along with the pumice), smile big and show your teeth as you think of all the things you can do with the money you saved.
Legal Disclaimer: As you’ve guessed, I am neither a dentist nor claim to be. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for obtaining professional dental advice. Please use at your own risk.
Liberty is so fascinated with effective DIY teeth cleaning that she wrote an eBook about it: Goodbye Dentist! Professionally Clean Your Family’s Teeth (in Under $20). You can download your free copy (opens in Dropbox) of this step-by-step, pain-free, detailed guide to becoming your own dentist and saving hundreds of dollars.
The secret to being a happier mom
I can’t WAIT for you to hear today’s episode… but first, I have to say a huge thank you to all of you for your support and excitement about my podcast officially launching last week with the first two episodes.
Even though I’ve been blogging for over 13 years and running online businesses for longer than that, it’s still scary to put something brand-new out into the world. But you all are the most amazing cheerleaders.
Thank you for listening to the podcast, for subscribing, for telling your friends and sharing it on social media. Most of all, thank you for the kind emails and texts and DMs and comments you all sent to me last week. It truly blessed me more than I can adequately describe in words.
You all are in for a treat with today’s episode! In addition to talking about kids and cell phones, our favorite site for crockpot menu plans, a book on hormones, and how to keep your home from being over run by toy clutter, I bring on Jeannie Cunnion to share about The Secret to Being a Happier Mom.
Jeannie is a mom four boys and a two-time author of books that have deeply impacted me in my mothering journey. In our conversation, she shares powerful words of advice for moms who feel like they aren’t enough, she talks about how to stop carrying around mom guilt, and the key to freedom and joy as a mom.
If you need some encouragement as a mom or if you wonder if you are completely messing it up, you’ve got to listen to this episode!
In This Episode:
[00:28] – Do you like small talk? I share my pretty blunt personal opinion on this and ask you to weigh in.
[03:38] – Over and over in the last year, I’ve been asked whether my kids have cell phones. I know this is a very personal decision for each family, but I share what our family policy is on cell phones in today’s episode.
[05:31] – Do you struggle to plan menus and make grocery lists? I talk about a site that I LOVE for simple, yummy, and easy crockpot menu plans.
[07:10] – My book pick of the week is The Hormone Reset Diet by Sara Gottfried M.D. If you think you might have hormone imbalance, this book is a fascinating read.
[09:42] – Jeannie Cunnion and I dive right in to sharing encouragement for the mom who feels like she’s failing.
[12:32] – I share how much relief and joy I’ve discovered as I’ve changed my approach to parenting.
[14:06] – Jeannie offers sage advice to moms who feel pressure to get it all right and to be perfect. “When we don’t model perfection for our kids, it frees them from the pressure of feeling like they have to get it all right.”
[22:02] – Jeannie talks about what she’s reading right now (I’m excited to read this book!) AND she shares a simple tip that’s saving her life right now.
[25:30] – Today’s Q&A segment is from Jena. She asks me how I keep clutter out of our home and how I encourage our kids to purge toys, clothes, stuffed animals. I answer this question specifically related to toy clutter, since so many moms have asked me for advice in that.
(Have a question you’d love for me to answer on the show? Email it to: [email protected])
How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show
The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player we’ll include in the show notes of each episode. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.)
Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.
Sponsor Spotlight
Today’s episode is sponsored by Twigby — a company dedicated to providing fantastic phone service at great prices. As I mentioned in the podcast, if you are looking for a great deal on a phone for your teen (or yourself!), I’d highly recommend checking out what Twigby has to offer.
Unlike traditional cell phone companies, they give you the ability to create your own custom, prepaid plan — without a contract or an unnecessary activation fee.
You don’t have to mess with going to a store and picking out a phone plan. You just go to their site, pick your phone plan and either switch your current phone over or get a new phone, and they get it all set up for you.
My favorite part about their service (in addition to their great prices!) is that they offer plan flexibility with the ability to change plans or phones at any time for free. You’re not locked into an expensive contract that has activation and termination fees.
They also offer Free Overage Protection, so you can rest easy in knowing that you will never be charged for overages without your go-ahead! You have complete control.
Special offer! Want to save 25% off your first 6 months of Twigby? Click here.
Links and Resources:
- Enneagram Types
- My Instagram post about small talk
- Twigby phone service
- The Hormone Reset Diet by Sara Gottfried M.D.
- Jeannie Cunnion
- Libby (app)
- Parenting the Wholehearted Child by Jeannie Cunnion
- Mom Set Free by Jeannie Cunnion
- Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
- Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
- 5 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Toy Clutter (my article mentioned in the Q&A segment)
- CrystalPaine.com
- MoneySavingMom.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]
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!
3 Books I Read + 1 Movie I Watched
Welcome to my weekly Book-ish post where I share what I’ve been reading and watching recently. If you missed it, you can see my Reading Goals for 2018 and 44 Books I Plan to Read This Year.
(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
The last few weeks have been incredibly full and I have had very little time to read, as a result. And oh how I have missed it!
Things finally slowed down to a much more manageable pace last week and I was able to start fitting in my regular reading again and it felt so good! I’m hoping to still finish out the year hitting my 100 books goal. It feels a little far-fetched right now, but we’ll see! 🙂
Anyway, if you’ve missed my Monday book posts, the reason I haven’t posted them is because I just haven’t had much to report recently in the way of books read. But I’m hopeful that is changing… starting this week!
Here are the three books I finished this past week:
1. I’d Rather Be Reading
It’s only appropriate that I finished this book the very week I’m lamenting about not having as much time to read recently as I wish I would have had! If you are a reader or a lover of books, you’ll enjoy this book.
I especially loved the section where she talks about how we need to stop apologizing for not liking a certain book or not wanting to read a certain book. I’ve always felt like a fraud as a reader because I’ve not read certain classic books and haven’t really had the desire to. This book encouraged me that that is okay… I can embrace who I am as a reader and be okay if I don’t love books that others absolutely adore.
2. Slow Down, Mama
This book was sent as a gift from the author. It has a lot of practical advice and suggestions for living more intentionally. I found that most of it was refresher type of material since I’ve read a lot of similar books.
However, there was one part that stuck out to me and will stay with me a long time and it was on writing a reverse bucket list. I’ve always heard people encourage writing a bucket list… but a reverse bucket list was a new idea to me. The author asks the question, “What is it I hope I never become or do?”I thought it was a profound question to ask! And I’m still pondering what my answer would be.
3. The Newsmakers
I listened to this free audiobook on the Libby app and had high hopes for it. It started out well and intrigued me… but then I felt like it fell completely flat.
I wanted so much more from it and was sad that it ended just as I’d guessed it would. I kept listening because I was sure there was going to be some plot twist and really great surprise ending. Nope. I should have read the reviews on Amazon before listening to it.
Jesse and I went and watched this movie. It was the sequel to Unbroken and very worth seeing, if you loved the book. Have you seen it? I’d love to hear what you thought!
When I Find Time to Read
People are always asking me how I find time to read. Honestly, it’s because I love to read, because I’ve chosen to prioritize it, because I don’t have a lot of other hobbies, and because I can’t not read. Also, when you love something, you usually can find ways to get creative to find time to fit it in — even if it’s in the little nooks and crannies of life.
I wrote a post on 3 ways to find more time to read — even when life is busy. And here are 7 more ways to find time to read.
What did you read and watch this past week? Any books or movies or shows you really think I need to read or watch?
*HOT* 16×20 Shutterfly Prints as low as $4.99 shipped, plus more!
*HOT* 16×20 Shutterfly Prints as low as $4.99 shipped, plus more!
Wow! Through tomorrow, Shutterfly is offering 250 free prints and a free 16×20 print when you use the promo code GOODTIMES at checkout! Please note that you do not have to order both for the promo code to apply.
You can choose from a 16×20 Calendar Poster, 16×20 Collage Poster OR a 16×20 Print!
Here are a couple of deal ideas:
16×20 Calendar Poster – $22.99
Use promo code GOODTIMES
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Use promo code GOODTIMES
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These would make such great personalized Christmas gifts!
Thanks, Hip2Save!
Money-Making Mom Hardcover Book for just $4.98 shipped!!
Whoa!! ChristianBook.com currently has my Money-Making Mom Hardcover Book on sale for just $0.99! Shipping adds $3.99, so you’ll pay $4.98 shipped!
This is an amazing price for the hardcover version!
Here are more details on the book:
Money-Making Mom is packed full of brand-new stories and information — details that you’ve not read here on the blog before. I had so much fun digging deep, writing from my heart, and writing new material that has come from years of having my own business and making many mistakes.
I think you’ll enjoy getting a closer look at the behind-the-scenes of what has made MoneySavingMom.com successful, as well as hearing about many, many failures I’ve made along the way.
Best of all, this book doesn’t just share my story, but there are dozens and dozens of success stories from many different women who are in different seasons and who have a wide variety of different businesses and income-earning ventures.
Money-Making Mom is not a book about about making money as a blogger or even just about making money online. Instead, it’s a hands-on manual to help you discover your passions and talents and turn those into a profitable business — whether online or offline.
Woven through the pages is my heart to inspire women to uncover their gifts, use their talents, and make a difference in this world! Because you have a story. You have a message. You have gifts and talents. And the world needs your story, your message, your gifts, and your talents!
Go here to get your copy of Money-Making Mom for just $4.98 shipped.
Thanks, Christina!
Doughnuts, Spirit Week, a book signing, and my new podcast!
Welcome to my weekly post I share a peek into our lives, talk about things I’m loving, share links to interesting articles or helpful ideas I’ve collected throughout the past week, and just talk about whatever is on my heart! ?
(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
All three kids had Spirit Week at their schools this past week — which mean they had different themes for each day and they got to dress up accordingly. (Above is a peek at Silas and Kaitlynn dressed up for 50’s day… they came down to work out with us after they were ready for school!)
My friend, Jeannie, invited me to go to her sister’s book signing at Draper James in Nashville.
I had never been to this store (it’s not really the place for frugal people!) but it was adorable!
Jeannie is the author of two books that you all have heard me talk about so often — Mom Set Free and Parenting the Wholehearted Child. I’m so excited because Jeannie is going to be my guest on Tuesday’s podcast episode. We’re going to be talking about The Secret to Being a Happier Mom… and it’s truly a fantastic episode. You won’t want to miss it!
Speaking of my podcast, it was a pretty big week for me with launching The Crystal Paine Show to the world. And your kindness and excitement and support of this new endeavor meant the world to me. Truly, thank you so much!
(In case you missed the big announcement, you can read it here.)
Kathrynne was nominated by the students at her school for a special award. So she got special recognition at the Homecoming Game on Friday night. I’m so proud of this girl and how much she has come out of her shell in the past few years. I used to think she was incredibly introverted. Now I’m beginning to wonder if she is maybe a full-fledged extrovert for how much she loves people and spending time with her friends.
Speaking of Kathrynne, she got all decked out for the Glow in the Dark Homecoming Dance this week, too. (Dress was casual — which she was thrilled about!)
I used to be the mom who shot down my kids’ ideas. I would come up with valid reasons for saying no… we didn’t have time, it would cost money, and so on.
But if I’m being honest, I usually said no because it would be inconvenient or uncomfortable for me. It would require extra time and effort or it would disrupt my plans and schedule.
The older my kids get, the more I’m realizing that life is short and I don’t want to look back and regret all the times I said no and missed out on fun opportunities, memorable experiences, or blessing my kids.
Case in point, on Thursday night, Silas asked if we could bring doughnuts to his class at school on Friday. Instead of saying no, I told him that if he could make sure everyone was ready to leave at 7 am, we could buy doughnuts at the little airstream shop on the way to school.
And so he made sure everyone was ready early! And I wish you could have seen the glow on his face as his proudly walked into school (dressed up for school Spirit Week, in case you were wondering about the baseball uniform!) carrying his bag of doughnuts.
I can’t always say yes to every idea my kids have, but I want to say yes as often as possible. Because I don’t want to spend this one shot I get at parenting shooting down my kids’ ideas.
Let’s say yes to doughnuts and memories and bringing joy and delight to others today — even if it means we have to get out the door a little earlier or tweak our plans to accommodate those yeses. It’s worth it!
Did you see this deal? You can get 10 audio dramas from Lamplighter Theatre for just $20!! (As you can tell from the photo above, we might just be a wee bit of a fan of these dramas!)
Links You Should Check Out:
- How I Listen to Audiobooks for FREE
- 10 Experience Gifts for Kids
- Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
- Our $70 Grocery Shopping Budget + Menu Plan
2018 Goals Update
Personal Goals
1. Read 100 non-self-help books that will build me up/encourage me/inspire me/recharge me. (Fiction/story-driven/biographies/inspirational living books/devotionals.) See the list of 44 books I plan to read this year.
**Progress: 61 books read so far this year
2. Read through the entire Bible.
**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am all caught up— yay!
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
**Progress: 37 notes written so far this year
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 368 miles run so far
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.Jesse and I went to NYC together in January.Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
**Progress: We’ve finished three books so far.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.We took this trip in July. What a memorable experience!8. Go on a family road trip.
**Progress: We’ve been researching some options for this and are planning to make this happen over Fall Break. Stay tuned!
Financial Goals
9. Save up to pay cash to finish off an office for me and workout room for Jesse and me in the basement in our new house.
**Progress: The workout room is DONE and the office is almost done!
10. Replenish our Emergency Fund (we dipped into it to replace my car when it got totaled because of the carpet beetle infestation.)
Business Goals
11. Increase our gross income from the business by 8%.
12. Launch 5 new courses.**Progress: We launched 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January, Content Creation 101 in February, 4-Week Blog Coaching Program in March, Email List Setup 101 in March, Make Over Your Mornings LIVE in April, the Facebook Live Masterclass in May, and we launched Build Your List 101 in June!
Crazy Hair Day, Waffles, and a Movie Date
Welcome to my weekly Slow Day post, inspired by Monica from The Homespun Heart. My Word for 2018 is Slow and, in the spirit of that word, I’m taking one day each week (Wednesday) off — I’ll be unplugged and offline and plan to move at a slower pace, take time to do things that refresh me, and just really focus on being present and savoring the moment.
Each week, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!
(Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, and we will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through our links. Read our disclosure policy here.)
Kaitlynn and Silas had Crazy Hair Day on Wednesday at school.
Kaitlynn wore a wig… and Silas decided he wanted to keep it simple and just spike his hair up. 🙂
I went with the kids to Morning Assembly a school and had to laugh at all of the fun hairdos that showed up! 🙂
After Morning Assembly, I went to church for Discipleship Group.
And then Jesse picked me up for a movie date. We love middle-of-the-day dates! This movie was the sequel to Unbroken and very worth seeing, if you loved the book.
Jesse has been having some health issues recently and we’re in the middle of waiting to get more specific answers and direction… it reminds me to cherish the moments we have together.
Jesse dropped me off back at home and went to pick up the kids from school, so I listened to this audiobook and did some baking. (Note: I was disappointed in this audiobook — more on that in my book post on Monday.)
I was so happy with how this Pumpkin Waffle recipe turned out!
It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve cooked and taken pictures and posted a recipe on the blog… so it felt so fulfilling to do so. I’m inspired to make this more of a regular thing around here on the blog again!
After the waffles and photos were done, I made some tea and worked on some projects.
The waffles were a hit!
Jesse and I closed out the night by watching the first episode of the newest season of This is Us (sooo good!). It was a good day!
Brigette’s $61 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $61 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
1 12-pk Belle Vie Grapefruit Sparkling Water – $2.39
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.36
2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.38
1 48-oz pkg Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – $5.39
6 cans Green Beans – $2.28
2 3-lb bags Gala Apples – $3.38
1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.69
1 Cantaloupe – $0.89
1 bag Fresh Brussel Sprouts – $1.49
1 bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.49
1 bag Broccoli Crowns – $1.15
1 bag Red Grapes (2.30lbs @ $0.79/lb) – $1.82
1 pkg Zucchini – $1.45
1 Cauliflower – $1.79
1 3-ct pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.79
1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.99
3 bags Green Beans – $2.97
1 3-lb bag Mandarin Oranges – $1.79
2 8-oz pkgs Deli Sliced Cheese – $1.60
2 12-oz pkgs String Cheese – $3.40
1 16-oz pkg Deli Sliced Ham – $2.99
1 24-oz carton Lowfat Cottage Cheese – $1.59
1 bag Nacho Chips – $0.75
1 box Cheddar Crackers – $1.49
1 large Bag Popcorn – $1.69
1 bag Gluten-Free Pretzels – $1.75
1 32-oz box Spaghetti Noodles – $1.09
2 boxes Honey Nut Oats – $2.30
1 pkg Hawaiian Sweet Rolls – $0.99
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.65
1 pkg Hotdog Buns – $0.59
1 jar Minced Onion – $0.99
2 loaves Sandwich Bread – $1.70
Total: $61.57
Grocery Total for the Week: $61.57
Weekly Menu Plan
We are Chicken-Sitting this week for some friends who are out of town, so we’ll be getting 8-10 farm fresh eggs every day! 🙂
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfasts. Choices include:
Cereal, Rhubarb Muffins (we have a HUGE bag of rhubarb in the freezer, compliments of my in-law’s garden this summer), Oatmeal, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Veggie Omelets, Toast, Fruit
Lunches
Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Carrots, Apples x 2
Pretzels, Cheese Sticks, Cucumbers, Grapes
Leftovers x 4
Dinners
Taste of Home Casserole (recipe from Trim Healthy Table Cookbook – I’ll use ground venison), Easy Homemade Biscuits, Tossed Salad
Baked Spaghetti,Roasted Broccoli, Homemade French Bread
Chicken Gravy over Rice, Tossed Salad, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Green Beans
Hamburgers on the Grill, Skillet Fried Potatoes, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Sliced Apples
Taco Salad, Spanish Rice (I’ll use my homegrown cilantro), Cantaloupe
Lentil Soup, World’s Best Honey Cornbread, Fresh Veggies with Dip
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Creamy Milk Rice, Green Beans
Our $70 Grocery Shopping Budget + Menu Plan
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.
I’m trying something new this week! Instead of posting a menu plan at the beginning of the week and then sharing my shopping trips throughout the week, I’m sharing what we actually ate and what groceries I bought this week.
Please remember this: I buy ahead often. Which means that when I find a great deal on something I know we’ll use, I buy as much as I can afford in our budget to have on hand.
This means that you aren’t going to see all of the groceries in these shopping trips that I used to make all of the meals we ate. And it also means we didn’t use all of these groceries up this week — because some of them will be saved for later weeks!
Please also remember that I’m putting this out there and it’s not a perfectly balanced menu. This is just really what we ate — and I hope that it encourages you to see the real-ness and lack of perfection here. 🙂
Kroger Shopping Trip #1:
- 3 Family-Sized Boxes of Nabisco Ritz Crackers — $1.99 with the Kroger Friday-Saturday Digital Coupon
- 2 boxes of Raisinets — marked down to $0.19 each
- Naked Juice — on closeout for $1.79, used $2/1 coupon — they deducted it down to $1.79 = FREE after coupon
- 4 jars of Yoplait Oui Yogurt — marked down to $2.39 total
- Bananas — marked down to $0.39/lb. = $1.88 total
- Total with tax: $12.46, Got a $3 catalina back
Kroger Shopping Trip #2:
- 1 Kroger Cottage Cheese — $1.89
- 1 Johnsonville Sausage — marked down to $2.29
- 5 packages of Kroger Ground Turkey — marked down to $2.29 each
- 1 package Johnsonville Italian Sausage — marked down to $1.99
- Used $3/$15 meat coupon Kroger mailed to me
- Used $3 catalina earned in shopping trip above
- Total with tax: $12.72
Kroger Shopping Trip #3:
- 1 Salad Kit — marked down to $1.89
- 1 bag of oranges — marked down to $0.99
- 1 bag of peppers — marked down to $0.99
- Oui Yogurt (2-pack) — marked down to $1.19
- 1 dozen eggs — marked down to $1.19
- 1/2 gallon chocolate milk — marked down to $1.39
- Grapes — on sale for $0.88/lb. = $2.15
- 3 cans of Kroger pumpkin — $0.99 each
- 1 gallon milk — $2.69
- King Arthur Flour — $3.89, used $1/1 Kroger Digital Coupon = $2.89
- Oats — $2.49
- Butter — $2.99 when you buy 5 participating items
- 2 bottles Palmolive dish soap — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items, used 1 $0.50/1 Kroger Digital Coupon
- Colgate toothpaste — $1.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $2/1 Kroger Digital coupon = FREE after coupon
- 1 bottle Head & Shoulders — $1.99 when you buy 5 participating items, used $1/1 Kroger Digital coupon = $0.99 after coupon
- Total with tax: $29.75
Note: I forgot to buy the second bottle of Palmolive the first time around, so I had to go to customer service and add it to my order to get the $5 off!
Kroger Shopping Trips #4 & #5:
- 1 Kroger cottage cheese — $1.89
- 1 bottle Naked Protein Smoothie — marked down to $1.79 (not pictured; I picked this up for Kathrynne to have for lunch since she can hardly eat anything right now because she just got her expander put in in preparation for getting braces)
- 2 packages of Pitas — marked down to $0.79 each
- 4 dozen Simple Truth eggs — $1.77 with Kroger Friday-Saturday Only Digital coupon
- 1 dozen medium eggs — marked down to $0.49
- 1 Yoplait yogurt — Free with Free Friday coupon
- 2 yogurts — marked down to $0.29 each
- 2 packages of butter — $2.49 each when you buy 5 participating items
- Yo Crunch Yogurt — $0.99 when you buy 5 participating items
- 2 bottles Simply Lemonade — $0.99 each when you buy 5 participating items
- 1 bag of apples — marked down to $0.99
- Total with tax: $23.71
What We Ate This Week
Breakfasts:
- Cereal, Oatmeal, Baked Oatmeal (from the freezer), Toast/Eggs, Banana Bread with Peanut Butter (Everyone is on their own for breakfast!)
Lunches:
- Hard Boiled Eggs, Avocados, Salad, Banana Bread, Turkey Burgers, Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti Noodles & Sauce, Leftovers, Apples, Peppers (Jesse & Me)
- Sandwiches, Fruit, Veggies, Granola Bars, Yogurt, Cookies, Capri Sun (For the kids — They are in charge of their own lunches.)
Snacks:
- Banana Bread, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Fruit/Veggies, Hard Boiled Eggs
Dinners:
- Sunday: Leftovers/Fend For Yourself
- Monday: Turkey Burgers, Pickles, Peas, Grapes
- Tuesday: Chipotle (School Spirit Night Fundraiser)
- Wednesday: Pumpkin Waffles, Grapes
- Thursday: Spaghetti Casserole, Steamed Peas
- Friday: Spaghetti Casserole, Banana Bread, Steamed Broccoli (yes, we made enough to have it two nights in a row!)
What I Spent This Week
My grocery week runs from Saturday to Friday. However, I had $11.85 leftover from this past week, so I’m subtracting it from this week’s total.
Total for all these groceries minus the extra grocery money from last week: $66.79
Cashback Earned This Week: 125 points from Fetch Rewards for scanning my receipts
Help me out! Do you like this new format of me sharing my grocery shopping and menu plan? I’d love to hear your honest thoughts!
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Easy Pumpkin Waffles
It’s that time of year when I just want to bake anything and everything pumpkin! It makes me feel like fall is in the air — even if it’s still mostly shorts and t-shirt weather here in Tennessee!
These Easy Pumpkin Waffles are the best way to welcome Fall!
These waffles are so easy to make, they are good for you, and they are just the right blend of hearty but not too dense. I made them yesterday and they were a hit at our house! If you want to add a little fall flavor to your menu this week, try these!
Ingredients for Easy Pumpkin Waffles
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1-1/4 cups buttermilk (or make your own buttermilk with vinegar or lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup fresh or canned pumpkin
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
How to make Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
1. Preheat a Belgian Waffle maker and grease with cooking spray or butter.
2. In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, buttermilk, pumpkin, and melted butter.
4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just blended.
5. Scoop roughly 1/2 – 3/4 cup batter onto the waffle maker and bake until golden brown (most waffle makers have a light that turns green when they are ready).
6. Serve immediately with butter and syrup, if desired.
Best toppings for Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
Butter and real maple syrup taste amazing with these pumpkin waffles — classic, but it works!
For special occasions, top them with cinnamon whipped cream, and maybe even a sprinkle of nutmeg too.
Or sprinkle with chopped pecans and slice bananas for lots of extra flavor!
Storing these Easy Pumpkin Waffles
Eating them fresh from the waffle maker is definitely the way to go! However, if you want to make a bunch in bulk and freeze them for later, you can do that too.
First, make all your waffles and let them come to room temperature on cooling racks.
Place 3 or 4 cooled waffles in a gallon-size zip-top bag, label, and place in the freezer.
To reheat, simply place frozen waffles in a microwave or toaster oven (they will be crispier in the toaster oven) and reheat.
Whole Wheat Waffles Recipe FAQs
The biggest factor in getting crispy waffles is using a very hot waffle iron. Preheat it as you make the batter and it should be nice and hot by the time you’re ready to bake your waffles. Also, make sure you use enough fat (this recipe calls for melted butter).
The common thought is that butter tastes A LOT better, but oil will actually get the waffles a bit crispier. So if you’re a butter lover, you’ll want to stick with butter. If you really want a super crispy waffle and don’t care as much about the flavor, try oil!
Yes! Many pancake and waffle recipes can be interchangeable, so feel free to use this same recipe to make your favorite pumpkin pancakes!
Whole Wheat Waffles Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp brown sugar or raw sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1-1/4 cups buttermilk
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree fresh or canned
- 2 tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat a Belgian Waffle maker and grease with cooking spray or butter.
- In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs, buttermilk, pumpkin, and melted butter.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just blended.
- Scoop roughly 1/2 – 3/4 cup batter onto the waffle maker and bake until golden brown (most waffle makers have a light that turns green when they are ready).
- Serve immediately with butter and syrup, if desired.
Nutrition
Love this recipe?
Make sure to share and save it on your favorite platform below!
More Pumpkin Recipes:
- Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Crescent Rolls
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Freezer-Friendly Pumpkin Bars
- Freezer-Friendly White Chocolate Pumpkin Bread
What is YOUR favorite pumpkin recipe to make? I’d love to hear!
FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!!
Mornings just got so much easier with this FREE list of 50+ Easy & Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Busy Weekday Mornings!
10 of the Best Experience Gifts For Kids
Guest post from Micah of Home Faith Family:
The benefits of giving Gift Experiences for Kids
For my fifth birthday, my dad gave me a choice between two birthday presents.
- A traditional gift.
- A daddy-daughter date with no other siblings to come along.
Coming from a family of seven, there was never alone time… and as a little girl, I was practically my dad’s shadow, so naturally, I chose the date with him.
Fast-forward a few decades later, my husband found himself unemployed after leaving law school, and our family finances were tighter than a knot.
Our children had birthdays coming up, and we felt guilty knowing we wouldn’t be able to buy them the toys they were eyeing at the store.
As my husband and I discussed what to do for our children so they wouldn’t feel neglected on their birthdays, the memory of my father’s date came to mind.
I shared the experience with my husband and we decided to try to give experiences to our children instead of gifts.
Our little ones had SO much fun that this has been their birthday gift ever since!
What are Experience Christmas Gifts?
Experience Gifts can be any number of activities or experiences that you gift to someone — usually instead of a physical item.
You may join them on the experience (going to a movie or on a picnic together) or send them solo (an afternoon at home without the kids, or a massage), but the idea is that you are gifting them an opportunity instead of more stuff.
Gift Experiences for Kids that cost little to no money
I completely understand that a tight budget can be tricky when dealing with experience gifts. In these situations, I’ve found that creativity is my best friend!
1. Use the seasons to your advantage.
Is it winter? Use a trash can lid to go sledding. Are you enjoying summertime? Pick wildflowers together and have a contest to see who can make the most creative headband with the flowers.
2. Have a puddle-splashing contest to see who can make the biggest splash.
This one was a hit with our little boy who loves the outdoors. Just make sure you have a lot of clean towels nearby for when you’re done!
3. Take dancing lessons together using YouTube and have a dance party at home.
Use what you have around your home to decorate the dining room or living room for when it’s time to dance.
4. Go on a nature walk and skip rocks in the river.
5. Take your child on a “tour of their life” in your local town.
Drive them to where they were born, places that have meaning to them, and share your feelings and experiences with them on how much they mean to you. If you do this option, be sure to have a recorder going so you can write these stories down to give to your child later.
More Ideas for the Best Experience Gifts for Kids
When you can budget the experiences, you want to gift your children, you’ll be able to cater to their interest and needs more.
1. Something they love more than anything.
Maybe they’ve always wanted to be a professional baseball player… go enjoy a day at the ballpark.
Or perhaps they want to be a ballerina on ice skates… take them ice skating.
2. Cooking Classes.
Sign up and take a cooking class together and then step back and let your child take the lead. You might be surprised at how well they do in the kitchen.
3. Music Lessons.
Does your son or daughter want to learn how to play a certain instrument? Sign them up for music lessons. If you can afford the lessons but can’t buy the instrument, there are places you can rent instruments from, whether this is the music store or your child’s school.
4. Museum Day Date.
Get lost together exploring the wonders of the world, learning about science, planet Earth, history, or anything else your child has an interest in.
5. Day Away With a Friend.
If your child has no interest in doing a one-on-one date, offer to take them and their friends to a trampoline park, a panic-puzzle room, or another fun, group party place where they can have a blast with their friends and family.
Why we love Experience Gifts for Kids
I promise (from experience) that children will rarely remember the gifts they receive on their birthday. But they WILL remember the time you spent with them and the memories you helped create.
Toys will eventually break and electronics will quickly become outdated, but the pictures you take and the laughter you share will be something you two can hold onto for a lifetime!
What are some of the Best Experience Gifts you’ve been gifted?
Share it with us in the comments below… as well as why you loved this gift so much!
Micah Klug loves being a mother and helping other women DIY their home on a budget, grow their faith in Christ, love their marriage, and strengthen their family relationships by living simply without losing their quality of life or sanity. She writes at Home Faith Family, where you can download your free marriage ebook, “Love Again: 100+ Conversation Questions to Strengthen Your Relationship.”
I’ve been waiting 4 YEARS to tell you this!
It’s a BIG day for me today… a day that has actually been over 4 YEARS in the making! It’s the day I get to officially introduce you to my brand-new podcast: The Crystal Paine Show!
Why I Waited 4 Years to Start This Podcast
I had toyed around with the idea of having a podcast for awhile, but was inspired actually start one about 4 years ago when I spoke at the Platform Conference by Michael Hyatt. At the conference, Cliff Ravenscraft spoke about how podcasting is a valuable way to connect with your audience.
After hearing him speak, I was SOLD and I immediately wanted to go home and start a podcast. But the timing wasn’t right and there was too much on my plate.
So I’ve patiently (or impatiently!) waited until the right time finally arrived. Here we are, and I’m so excited!
What You Can Expect Each Week
Each episode will go live on Tuesday mornings and will feature multiple segments. Each week, I’ll:
- Share a lesson I’m learning, something I’m pondering, or just give you some behind-the-scenes life updates
- Talk about a book I’m reading
- Tell you about a product or app or life hack that is “saving my life”
- Feature a guest whose life and work has impacted me deeply
- Answer a question from a listener.
- And my plan is to always keep each episode around 30 minutes (since I know your time is valuable!)
My hope is that this podcast will serve as an inspiration to your week, a pause in your day to slow down and reflect a little, a looked-forward-to part of your weekly routine, a place where we can connect on a deeper level… and ultimately, my desire is that you come away from listening to each episode feeling motivated to bloom where you are planted and take intentional steps to move in the direction you are longing to go.
Psst! For more on why I’m starting this podcast and a taste of what you can expect each week, listen to my first episode here.
Episode #1: Why The Crystal Paine Show?
In This Episode, I Share:
- The why behind the podcast
- What you can expect on every episode
- Our new morning routine and how it’s making such a difference in our home
- A book on rest that has impacted me in a powerful way
- Some thoughts answering the listener question: “What would you tell your pre-married self on expectations, dreams, and desires?”
My special guest on this episode is my husband, Jesse. He’s going to be a regular on the show, which I’m so excited about!
He and I share our unconventional love story — including how we met when we were 9 and 10 and how I thought he was sort of a jerk when we first met. We talk about what changed my perspective and share a funny story from the time he had brain surgery (yes, I promise, it’s funny even though it might not sound like it would be!)
Go here to listen to that episode and access all of the show notes and links we mention in it.
Episode #2: How to Stop Feeling So Overwhelmed (with Jennifer Dukes Lee)
In This Episode, I Share:
- Some honest thoughts for that woman who feels like, “I can’t make any friends! I try so hard, but it never goes anywhere.”
- About our brand-new Facebook Group!
- How school lunches work at our house (I talk about my big visions of how this was going to work and the reality of how it actually is working for us.)
- A fiction audiobook I recently listened to and loved.
- My thoughts on a really vulnerable question from a listener on how to stop spending so much time on your phone and actually get up and get stuff done.
My special guest for this show is my friend, Jennifer Dukes Lee. I’m so excited to introduce her to you if you don’t know her already! All three of her books have profoundly impacted me.
We talk about overwhelm and I love Jennifer’s highly actionable advice on how to stop feeling overwhelmed and how to know what you should delegate, dismiss, and do. I also play devil’s advocate and asks what Jennifer would say to a woman who’s afraid of offending someone or hurting a relationship by saying “no.” Her advice is so spot-on and convicting to me!
Where You Can Listen to the Episodes
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? Go to CrystalPaine.com or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app.
Thanks so much for how excited and supportive you’ve been about this endeavor! I’m thrilled to finally be launching this into the world! I’m so grateful for each of you!
P.S. If you have suggestions for topics you’d love me to cover in the future, please leave a comment or email let me know! I welcome them because I want to serve you as best as I possibly can on this show!
Gretchen’s $62 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan
Dillons
1 Half & Half – $3.89
3 Kraft Shredded Cheese – $1.99 each, used 3 $0.75/1 Ibotta rebates – $1.24 each after rebate
1 Yoplait Go-Gurts – $2.99, used $1/1 e-coupon AND $1/1 SavingStar rebate – $0.99 after coupon and rebate
2 pkg Frozen Veggies – $1 each, used $0.50/2 e-coupon – $0.75 each after coupon
3 pkg Bear Naked Granola – $1.99 each (I had 3 $0.75/1 Ibotta rebates for this and doubled checked while at the store to make sure they were still available, but when I got home they had disappeared. Ugh! Does anyone else have this happen? It’s so frustrating!)
3 Knorr Pasta – $1 each, used $0.75/3 e-coupon – $0.75 each after coupon
1 Simple Truth Mac & Cheese – $1.50, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $1.10 after coupon
1 Cantaloupe – Marked down to $0.99
1 bag Cucumbers – Marked down to $0.99
1 bag Apples – Marked down to $0.99
1 Lettuce – $1.29
1 Epic Bar – $1.50, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
1 Hormel Compleats Meal – $2, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
3.04 lbs Bananas – $1.49
Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate for receipt
Total after coupons and rebates: $24.92
Aldi
1 bag Apples – $1.79
2 pkg Frozen Broccli – $1.19 each
1 lb Ground Beef – $3.39
1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99
1 Applesauce – $1.89
1 box Cereal – $1.39
1 can Black Beans – $0.61
1 can Diced Tomatoes – $0.69
1 can Kidney Beans – $0.59
1 bag Mandarins – $2.69
1 bag Flour – $1.39
1 Spaghetti Squash – $1.96
1 bag Tortilla Chips – $1.49
1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.49
1 lb Butter – $2.55
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce – $1.49
1 gallon Milk – $1.79
1 loaf Bread – $1.49
1 dozen Eggs – $0.58
1 pkg English Muffins – $0.99
Total: $37.63
Total for both stores: $62.55
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Cereal, English Muffins, Fruit, Pumpkin Muffins, Yogurt
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Tossed Salad, Cheese/Crackers, Fruit/Veggies, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese, Leftovers
Dinners
Southwest Rollups, Tortilla Chips, Cantaloupe
Homemade Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks
Grilled Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli
3-Bean Chili Chowder, Tortilla Chips, Veggies
Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit Salad
Dinner with friends (We are bringing dessert!)
Out to eat
How to Listen to Books for Free
Interested in how to get free audiobooks? I listen to ALL my audiobooks for FREE — and I have for years now! Read this post to learn how!
Psst! Interested in the best audiobooks to listen to? Check out this list of my top 7 favorites!
It’s no secret that I absolutely love books. And I try to invest at least a little bit of time every single day reading.
But on really full days, fitting in reading time can be a challenge. Which is why I’m so grateful for audiobooks! They are the perfect solution to making reading a priority — even if you aren’t able to physically sit down and read a book.
However, if you buy audiobooks online, they are often quite expensive — typically more than you’d pay for the paperback or hardback copy. Which is why I’m a fan of finding ways to listen to audiobooks for FREE instead.
Stop paying: How to get Free Audiobooks
When I first started listening to audiobooks back in 2016, I did extensive research on the best paid audiobook options.
And while services like Audible offer an extensive selection of audiobooks, a great interface, and the ability to own your books…I just can’t bring myself to pay over $12-$15 per month for ONE audiobook!
Because here’s a secret I’m going to let you in on — you can most likely listen to audiobooks for FREE from your local library!
How to Listen to Books for Free
Originally, the audiobook apps that libraries used were not very user-friendly and pretty clunky to use. But now that most libraries use the Libby app, I’ve fallen in love with listening to audiobooks from the library!
There are so many different audiobooks to choose from on it and they are all at my favorite price point: FREE! In fact, I’ve figured out that by using the Libby app, I’m probably saving about $100-$150 per month!
Audiobooks For Free: How the Libby App works
- Download the Libby app and connect it to your local library card.
- Search through the app for a book or audiobook you want to check out (you can search by genre, title, author, book format, availability, and more).
- Once you find a book you want to “check out”, you either place a hold on it (if it’s not available) or choose to borrow it.
- After borrowing a book, you get to keep it in your account for 14 days. After that, it automatically is loaned back to the library for another patron to be able to check out.
One drawback: Many of the popular books have quite a long waiting list, so you might have to wait a bit to get your turn to listen to the audiobook. Also, if you don’t finish listening within 14 days, you won’t be able to pick back up where you left off until you wait on the waiting list again. However, there are many great books that don’t have a long waiting list — or any waiting list at all!
But to have access to hundreds of thousands of audiobooks for FREE is pretty downright amazing. And I love the fact that I don’t have to worry about paying late fines, because a book just expires on the app once your checkout time is up.
Plus, you never even have to make it to the library to check out or return books. You can request and download and “return” books all right from your phone in your living room!
A few tips on How to Listen to Books for Free
These are just a few tips I’ve found to be personally helpful when listening to audiobooks…
- I try to pick audiobooks that are no more than 8-9 hours in length because that’s a manageable length for me to get through before the audiobook needs to be “returned” to the library.
- I always listen to the books on 1.25 speed — you can’t tell a difference. And it means that it speeds it up just a little bit.
- Be sure to listen to a sample ahead of time. Some of the narrators are amazing and some are just annoying to me. I can’t spend 8 hours listening to a voice that annoys me.
- I’ve found that certain genres are best for listening to. I especially love great biographies and fiction. I’ve found that non-fiction isn’t as enjoyable or beneficial to listen to. I prefer to read those since I’m more of a visual learner and want to make sure I catch every word and have the ability to underline/highlight. Try different genres and figure out which you prefer!
Finding time to listen to Audiobooks for Free
The great thing about audiobooks is that you can often listen to them while your hands are busy or you’re getting something else done!
Here are some pockets of time I use to listen to audiobooks each day:
- While I’m getting ready in the morning — hair, makeup, cleaning up our room & bathroom.
- When I’m working in the kitchen — washing dishes, cooking, etc.
- When I’m driving without the kids — heading out on an errand, to school drop-off, etc.
For me, this adds up to about 30-60 minutes of audiobook listening time per day! And I can easily get through one book in 10-12 days this way!
More resources on Where to Listen to Free Audiobooks
If you don’t have access to the Libby app through your local library, here are a few other options:
Larger State Library — If your library is small and doesn’t offer free audiobook apps, consider checking into other larger libraries in your state. You may be able to get a free library card to another library in your state or area that does offer audiobooks. Or, they may offer a paid library membership to out-of-area residents. If you go through a lot of audiobooks, it may be a much less expensive option to buy a membership than to pay to download individual audiobooks from other sites.
Librivox — This site offers thousands of public domain audiobooks — for free. The audiobooks are read by volunteers so the quality isn’t always as professional as what you can download from the library. However, they are free for anyone to listen to on their computer, iPod or other mobile device, or to burn onto a CD. (Note: One of my readers mentioned in the comments that many of the classics have multiple versions available read by different readers, so try a few different versions to find the reader you like best!)
LoyalBooks — This is another HUGE directory of free audiobooks and ebooks. This site used to be called BooksShouldBeFree. It offers a wide variety of public domain audiobooks.
YouTube — Believe it or not, YouTube offers a number of free audiobooks. Some of these are illegally recorded, others are not. To find an audiobook on YouTube, search for the name of the book + audiobook to see if it pulls it up. There are a different YouTube channels that offer free audiobooks, too, such as Greatest Audiobooks and AudiobooksFree.
Open Culture — This site offers a listing of 700 different audiobooks you can download free. Most of the links are to iTunes downloads or MP3 downloads.
Free Classic Audiobooks — This site offers free audiobook downloads in mp3 and in m4b audiobook format for iTunes and the iPod. It’s a pretty old site, but it looks like they update it with new audiobooks fairly regularly.
Learn Out Loud — This site has a Free Audiobook section where they offer 3,000 different audiobooks for free. There are quite a few good selections to choose from. They list free audiobooks from across the web plus some you can download directly through LearnOutLoud.com.
Podcasts — One of my readers recommended the Sparkle Stories and StoryNory podcasts. They offer free audiobooks for kids.
Related Links:
- My Favorite Headphones (affiliate link)
- My Top 7 Favorite Audiobooks
- How to Find More Time to Read — Even in the Midst of a Busy Schedule
- 8 Ways to Get Free Books
- How I Read 15 Books in One Month
- Listening to Audiobooks with Kids 101
- How to Find More Time to Read — Even When Life is Busy
- 7 Ways to Find More Time to Read
- The Top 10 Books I Read in 2019
- 4 Top Reads from 2018
- My Top 10 Reads from 2017
- My Top Reads from 2015
- My Top 10 Reads from 2014