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Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom®

Saving Families Money Since 2007

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Shared Feb 17, 2018 comment

Slow Day: Week 7

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Slow Day: Week 7

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

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 Saturday, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day — and I’ll let the pictures almost 100% speak for themselves, instead of giving many explanations. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!

I spoke at Discipleship Group on Wednesday morning about Family of Origin and Genograms. Here were some of my notes/my genogram poster board that I brought as an example. I had them set out the night before so I would remember to bring everything I needed to bring.

Kaitlynn and I have been leaving little notes to each other around the house. 🙂 I woke up to find this one on the mirror.

I love this man so much! Here he is helping make lunches for the kids before school.

We kept Valentine’s Day super simple this year — and we just bought Dollar Tree Valentine’s this year.

Silas made this beautiful Valentine for Jesse and I and gave it to us on Valentine’s morning.


I made Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins using this Banana Bread recipe.

It was a perfect evening snuggling and watching Olympic figure skating.

Shared Feb 17, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $71 Grocery Shopping Trip, Zaycon Order and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $71 Grocery Shopping Trip, Zaycon Order and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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

Aldi

1 pkg Smoked Turkey – $2.25

1 pkg Sliced Pepperoni – $1.95

1 jug Pancake Syrup – $1.29

2 gallons Whole Milk – $2.72

1 32-oz carton Half and Half – $1.59

1 8-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 32-oz carton Greek Yogurt (for some reason, this isn’t on my receipt)

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

1 pkg Applesauce Cups – $1.15

1 can Olive Oil Cooking Spray – $1.35

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1 12-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $2.15

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.49

1 bag Broccoli Crowns – $1.05

1 3-lb bag Lemons – $1.89

2 pkgs Romaine Hearts – $3.58

1 bag Zucchini – $1.45

2 pkgs Baby Carrots – $1.50

1 2-lb bag Carrots – $0.79

1 bunch Bananas (2.39lbs @ $0.25/lb) – $0.60

1 16-oz bag Mini Cucumbers – $1.75

2 Pineapple – $1.78

1 bag Mini Sweet Peppers – $1.69

2 16-oz cartons Egg Whites – $3.98

1 bag Pretzels – $0.85

1 jar Onion Powder – $0.99

1 jar Garlic Powder – $0.99

1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $1.75

1 pkg Hot Dog Buns – $0.59

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.59

1 loaf Sandwich Bread – $0.65

1 Dark Chocolate Bar – $1.99

1 32-oz pkg Spaghetti – $1.09

Total: $53.32

 

Zaycon

For several years now, I have been buying almost all of my chicken, ground beef, and ground turkey from Zaycon. It’s no secret I’m in love with their quality meat and affordable prices!

This is my first time purchasing their Premium Hickory Smoked Bacon, and it is fantastic! I’ve been wanting to “splurge” on buying their bacon for awhile, but I’ve been waiting to save up enough referral credits. It did not disappoint! 🙂 It comes frozen in 12 3-lb packages, which makes it super easy to throw in the freezer with no packaging work on my end. We love the hickory flavor of the thick-cut slices.

If you haven’t tried Zaycon before, I highly recommend it! As an added bonus, they offer regular sales and promotions, as well as a wonderful referral program.

36lbs of Bacon (@$3.79lb) = $136.44, minus $27.29 (a promo/sale code they were offering) = $109.15

~Used $109.15 of Referral Credits

Total: FREE

Harris Teeter

1 28-oz pkg Seapak Popcorn Shrimp – $3.49, used $0.75/1 Seapak Product – 2-11-18 SS; Includes 8 oz or Larger Only (exp. 04/08/18) (doubled) – $1.99 after coupon

1 pkg Fresh Spinach, reduced – $1.00

1 head Cauliflower – $1.99

1 tub Spring Mix, reduced – $1.00

1 jar Peanut Butter – $1.00

1 bag Eight O’ Clock Coffee Beans – $2.89, used $1.00/1 printable – $1.89 after coupon

1 tub Arla Cream Cheese Spread – $2.99, used $2.99 evic coupon – FREE after coupon

1 24-oz tub Cottage Cheese – $2.69

5 cans Libby’s Green Beans (B2G3) – $2.78

1 bag Red Grapes (2.50lbs @ $0.99/lb) – $2.48

1 64-oz carton Almond Breeze – $2.50, used $0.75/1 Blue Diamond Chilled Almond Breeze Almondmilk – 2-11-18 SS; Includes 64 oz or Larger Only (exp. 04/15/18) – $1.00 after coupon

Total after Coupons: $17.82

Grocery Total for the Week: $71.14

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

Fried/Scrambled/Boiled Eggs, Cereal, Oatmeal, Fruit, Yogurt, Toast

(I didn’t buy any cereal or eggs this week in hopes that we will use up some of the random half-empty cereal boxes that have been regularly ignored for weeks now, as well as a few dozen eggs that have past their “sell-by” date!)

Lunches 

Turkey Sandwiches, Carrots, Pineapple x 2

Baked Potato Bar (Broccoli, Bacon, Cottage Cheese, Shredded Cheese, Butter), Grapes x 2

Build-Your-Own-Tossed Salad (Romaine, Spring Mix, Fresh Spinach, Chopped Fresh Veggies, Craisins, Chicken, Shredded Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Homemade Dressing) x 2

Leftovers

Dinners

Popcorn Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes, Tossed Salad

Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (family recipe that is similar to this), Homemade French Bread, Green Beans

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Steamed Carrots, Baked Potatoes, Fluffy Cream Cheese Biscuits

Grilled Chicken, Roasted Cauliflower, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins, Strawberries

Night out with Girl Friends (for me; the rest of the family will probably use McDonald’s gift cards the children got from their grandparents for Valentine’s Day)

Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad

Venison Bacon Burgers, Macaroni and Cheese, Sauteed Zucchini

Shared Feb 16, 2018 comment

GetReferred.com: Earn more money from referrals on your rewards sites!

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GetReferred.com: Earn more money from referrals on your rewards sites!

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

Do you love rewards sites and wish you could get more people to sign up underneath you — so that you can ultimately earn more credit or money?

Referrals are one of the easiest and quickest ways to quickly accrue points or credits on rewards sites. And if you’re not a blogger or someone with a large online presence/following, it can sometimes be difficult to take advantage of referral credits.

I’ve had dozens of readers come to me over the years asking how they can earn more through referrals without being a blogger. And that’s why I am SO excited to tell you about GetReferred.com!

{This is not a sponsored post, and I do not get referral or affiliate credit when you sign up. I’m just genuinely excited about this opportunity for my readers, so I wanted to share it with you!}

I think GetReferred.com could be a game changer for earning referral credits to sites like Swagbucks, Stitch Fix, Birchbox, Ibotta, Rakuten (formerly Ebates), Groupon, and SO many more!

Here’s how to get more referrals:

  1. Go here to register for a GetReferred.com account.
  2. Once you’re logged in, click on the “submit a code” button up top.
  3. Select the company from the dropdown menu.
  4. Paste your referral link in the box and hit the “submit” button.
  5. Do this as many times as you’d like for all of the various websites/companies you have referral links for. (They offer a HUGE selection of companies!)
  6. Look under “my account” to see all of the codes you’ve submitted, plus how many times they’ve been viewed by other users.

But that’s not all! If you’re looking to sign up for a website or service that you know has referral perks, but you don’t have anyone to sign up under, you can use GetReferred.com to sign up under a stranger.

Here’s how to find a referral to sign up under:

  1. Log-in to your GetReferred.com account.
  2. Search for the company, website, or service you’d like to sign up for.
  3. Click on “get referral” once the site pops up.
  4. It will auto-populate a referral link for you to sign up under, so that you get your sign-up bonus for that particular site (and that person gets a random referral bonus, too!)

In a nutshell, GetReferred.com is a community sharing website for referral links. It’s a win-win! You can find referrals to sign up under plus get credit for people who sign up under you.

There are some tricks to getting “seen” more often when people are searching for referral links to sign up under. Once you’re logged in, you can click on the little trophy icon up top to see how often your codes are being seen and complete achievements to be seen more often.

Go here to sign up for GetReferred.com and start earning referral rewards at your favorite sites!

I’d love to know! Have any of you ever tried this site? What has your experience been?

Building community and making new friendships can be scary! But overcoming that fear and stepping out bravely can lead to beautiful relationships in life!
Shared Feb 15, 2018 comment

Hosting My First Come as You Are Night for Local Women

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Hosting My First Come as You Are Night for Local Women

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

Building community and making new friendships can be scary! But overcoming that fear and stepping out bravely can lead to beautiful relationships in life!

One of my big hopes for 2018 was that I would get brave enough to stop waiting for the invitations, and start being the initiator.

Because of past rejection and insecurities, initiation is outside my comfort zone and there are a lot of fears involved for me. But I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines of community and missing out on beautiful relationships. I’m ready to start reaching out, initiating, and opening the door of my heart and home more — despite the awkwardness and fear that is there for me.

So, with this in mind, I put it out there on the internet the first week of January asking if anyone lived in the Nashville area who was craving community with other women who wanted to live intentionally. If so, I asked them to message me.

The Invitation

I had no idea if I’d hear from anyone at all or maybe a dozen people, but I was excited to see where it led.

Well, guess what? I ended up hearing from at least 100 women!! Because so many women responded, I asked everyone who contacted me to fill out a form to share more details about themselves and had them sign a commitment form, as well. (I did this because I wanted to narrow down the list to people who really wanted to go deep in relationships and were willing to put themselves out there and take initiative, as well.)

Here’s what the commitment statement said:

Yes, I am interested in being part of a community of women who are committed to authentic relationship.

In this spirit I commit to the following:

√ I’m willing to be honest and vulnerable.
√ To go first.
√ To reach out.
√ To trust other women.
√ To not gossip.
√ To keep conversations confidential.
√ To love extravagantly.
√ To believe the best.
√ To listen and ask questions.
√ To be gracious when there are differences of opinion and belief.
√ To show up fully and bravely.
√ To be a safe space for other women.

Of the initial 100+ people who contacted me, 50 women filled out the form! I invited those women to a Come As You Are Night. (I shamelessly stole this idea from the pre-release copy I got to read of Just Open the Door by Jen Schmidt.)

The Email

Here’s part of the email invite I sent out:

Because of the incredible and overwhelming response, my vision for what this is going to look like has changed some. I had initially pictured that maybe 5-10 women might be interested. Instead, there were dozens and dozens and dozens of women who answered my initial post and over 40 of you who filled out the Google form.

I realize that God might have something bigger here than my initial idea of one small gathering of women who meet on a monthly basis; I think maybe He’s opening the door for there to be multiple groups (maybe one hosted by you!) across the Nashville area!

So here’s what I’m thinking: I’d like to invite all of you who signed up on the Google form to a Come As You Are Night on February 9, 2018 at 7 p.m. It’s going to be hosted at XXXX.

Wear your comfy clothes (yoga pants or sweats or whatever you feel comfortable in!), bring a super easy snack or drink (whatever you have on hand or something that’s super simple), and come just as you are — without needing to pretend or perform or please or impress. Just be exactly who are, short-comings and struggles and all. 🙂

We’ll gather and get to know one another and we’ll share our hearts and we’ll talk about community and friendship. And yes, there will be questions and conversation starters that everyone will be asked and I’ll encourage you to share vulnerably with the women who are there. (You filled out the Google form saying you were willing to be authentic and vulnerable and go first so I’m going to hold you all to that! ;))

My desire for this evening is that we’ll all be brave and be willing to share openly and, that by doing so, we’ll find some connections and community with other women. Ultimately, my hope is that we’ll all leave with the names and numbers of at least a few new friends that we will plan to connect with on a deeper level in the weeks and months to come.

And 23 women (most whom I had never met and who had never met each other!) showed up at our house for the first Come As You Are night. These brave women showed up not know what to expect or who was going to be there.

The Agenda

The night was filled laughter, good food, amazing conversations, and incredible openness.

For those who have asked for details on the agenda, I started the evening by sharing my vision to connect women, to encourage women to get to know people in their local area, to encourage women to build authentic community, to be intentional and vulnerable.

I shared how my hope for this night was that people would connect with at least a few women in a deeper way and that they might even leave with the names and contact information of at few women that they would plan to reach out to personally and invite over to their home or invite out to coffee in the next week or two — and maybe that become good friends in the coming months!

I then had everyone go around and introduce themselves — sharing their name, where they live in the Nashville area, and telling us one interesting thing about themselves.

Use these 8 questions to form authentic, genuine friendships with people you've just met! These are GREAT.

 

The Questions

After everyone introduced themselves, I had a list of 8 questions that I put together and we broke into groups of two and talked about one of the questions for 5 minutes and then moved on to a different person/different question.

Here are the details of this from my notes (for those who like specifics! And yes, I had very specific notes for the evening — because that’s how I roll!)

7:50 p.m. — In an effort to help us all go deeper in relationships tonight and start being a little more authentic and vulnerable, we’re going to do a fun exercise — I have a few questions that I am going to have each of you answer… however, instead of having you share with the entire group — because I know that can be scary and intimidating, I’m going to have you turn the to person next to you and answer the question.

I’ll give you a few minutes and I want to encourage you to ask followup questions, if you have time. Ask why, dig deeper, encourage the person next to you to share as much as you feel like they are comfortable sharing. Don’t be afraid to step a little out of your comfort zone in the questions that you ask.

Remember: This is a safe place. And the more you are willing to share authentically, the more opportunity there is to develop relationships. And great questions are the way to open doors to stronger relationships.

Question #1: Where did you live in grade school and what was your house like? (I went first and demonstrated how I could answer this question. I did this with the first few questions so that women had a little bit of time to think of their answers!)

Trade places with people

Question #2: What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Trade places with people

Question #3: What is one of the wildest things you’ve done as an adult?

Trade places with people

Question #4: What is your greatest fear?

Trade places with people

Question #5: What was one of the happiest moments of your life?

Trade places with people

Question #6: What is one of the biggest obstacles you’ve had to overcome in your life?

Trade places with people

Question #7: When was the last time you cried and why?

Trade places with people

Question #8: What are you celebrating right now?

We ended up going over the 5-minute mark for most of the question/answer time (I love that I had trouble getting the women to stop talking!), so we only got through 7 of the questions before it was past 9 p.m. and I wanted to make sure to respect everyone’s time. It was a great way to go deep in relationships pretty quickly and to get to know a number of women in the room in a short span of time.

A big thank you to my friend, Melissa, for all her help with pulling last night off and being my extroverted sidekick! And thank you so much to Jen for inspiring me to stop waiting to be invited and to start being the initiator!

I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with this hospitality thing! I’m already looking forward to planning another night soon!

Tshanina Peterson attended the event and made a video sharing about how it impacted her life and she gave me permission to share it here in hopes that it would challenge some of you to step outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself, too!

It’s amazing what happens when you just open the door! Who can you reach out to today?

Shared Feb 14, 2018 comment

Why I Started Doing 10 Push-Ups a Day

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Why I Started Doing 10 Push-Ups a Day

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

At the beginning of 2018, two people I follow on Instagram were challenging their followers to commit to to doing 18,000 push-ups in 2018. This would be 50 push-ups a day for 350 days total (allowing for 15 grace days throughout the year).

I thought it was a great idea and something I might enjoy doing… but the reality is that 50 push-ups is a whole lot of push-ups, especially for someone like me who hasn’t really done many push-ups in the last year or two. (Okay, who am I kidding? I don’t think I’ve done ANY push-ups this past year!)

Push-ups just aren’t the thing I usually think to do when I want to get in a workout. I’ll run or walk or do planks or lunges, but I’m just not that into push-ups.

But I was still intrigued with this idea. However, I just really felt like it might be a little much to go from no push-ups at all to 18,000 push-ups in a year. So, in the spirit of what Job Acuff teaches in his book, Finish, I decided to cut down the goal.

Yup. That’s what I said: I cut down the goal.

I know, I know. We hear everywhere that we are supposed to set these big, hairy, audacious goals. And I think there is a time and place for that.

But I also think there are plenty of times and places for tiny, doable, realistic goals.

Jon Acuff shares more about this in his article on Goal-Setting Tips:

We tend to think we need huge goals. Go big or go home! Aim for the moon so that even if you fail, you’ll land amongst the stars. That sounds nice, but doesn’t work in real life. If your goal is to lose 10 pounds and you only lose eight, you aren’t excited. You failed by two, and in that moment, most people give up.

Recognizing that, we asked the participants in our study to cut their goals in half. The theory was that if you only tried to lose five pounds and lost eight, you would have won by three pounds. You’d feel successful and keep working on your goal. The crazy thing is that nothing changed—you lost the same eight pounds, but your perspective was different. What happened when we did this? The people with smaller goals were 63% more successful. Go big might be a good slogan for a gym wall, but if you really want to win, go small.

Armed with this inspiration, I set my own push-up goal for 2018: to do 10 push-ups per day in 2018.

Yes, that was nowhere near as impressive as 18,000 push-ups, but it was still a lot more than zero push-ups!

And this simple little goal has made a difference in my life. Not only have I made this a habit that I now do without thinking (I have done these 10 push-ups pretty much every single day since January 1), but I’ve noticed that my arm strength is increasing, my core is getting more toned, it’s so much easier to drop and do 10 push-ups! In fact, I think I might increase to 20 push-ups a day!

How did I make this a habit? Well, it was three steps:

1. I Decided On a Habit

I chose the habit of 10 push-ups a day because it sounded like a tiny bit of a challenge, but also something that was doable. It would only take a few minutes a day, but it would get my heart rate up a little, it would increase my arm strength, and it would tone my core.

When choosing a habit you want to develop, I challenge you to just pick one. I know that feels boring. I know it feels like it won’t make much difference. I know there are so many areas in your life you probably want to change or new habits you want to develop. But if you only choose one habit at a time to work on, it will mean you have time to focus on that habit and follow through with it.

And when you do something over and over and over again until it becomes ingrained into your day, you can then add another new habit and then another new habit, and another new habit. Slowly, ever so slowly, that’s how you change your life!

So pick that one habit. Focus on that habit. Don’t stop focusing on it until you do it without thinking about it. It just naturally happens. That’s when you know it has truly become a habit. And when it has truly become a habit, it’s time to pick another habit to focus on! 

2. I Decided When I’d Do It

It’s not enough to choose a habit; you also need to know when you are going to make this habit a part of your daily life. I’ve found that habit-stacking is a highly effective way to develop a new habit.

What is habit-stacking? Well, basically, it’s using an existing habit as a trigger. So for instance, I already have the habit of running pretty much every single morning. I love running and it’s something that I do without really thinking about it. I just get up, get my running shoes on, and go down to the garage and run on the treadmill.

After that, I come up to our room and take my shower and get ready. So, I decided to stack my habit of 10 push-ups a day onto this pre-set habit: As soon as I get upstairs to our room, I drop and do 10 push-ups. And then it’s done for the day!

If you don’t decide when you are going to do something, there’s a good chance you’re not going to do it. What habits do you already have in your life? How could you stack this new habit onto one of those.

Maybe you want to read for 10 minutes a day, so you put your book right by the coffee maker in the morning and that’s your reminder that as soon as you make coffee, you sit down and read for 10 minutes.

Or maybe you want to remember to write down 3 things you are grateful for. You put a journal in your car and a reminder on your dashboard that as soon as you get in your car in the morning, you open up the journal and jot down three things.

When you make something a part of your pre-established daily routine, it is much more apt to happen. And then pretty soon, it will be such a part of your life, that you can stack another habit onto it! And then another!

3. I Followed Through & Did It

Once you’ve determined the habit you want to develop and decided when you are going to make it a part of your daily routine, then it’s time to just do it! Get some accountability in place, if need be (maybe a friend who checks in regularly, or by posting on social media, or through a spreadsheet or habit tracker app that you use), and then just get up and do it every day.

Developing new habits doesn’t have to be this complicated process. It doesn’t have to require fancy tools or hiring a coach. It just involves picking a habit, choosing a time to commit to the habit every day, and then getting up and doing it.

One tiny habit at a time, one push-up at a time, you can change your life!

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Such great advice and tips on how to make time for your BIG goals in life!
Shared Feb 13, 2018 comment

How I Found Time to Start a Non-Profit & Write a Book!

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How I Found Time to Start a Non-Profit & Write a Book!

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

Such great advice and tips on how to make time for your BIG goals in life!

The following testimonial was sent in from reader, Hannah, who blogs at Broken & Hopeful:

I can’t tell you how many people look at me incredulously when they discover I started a nonprofit last year, and wrote a book (a short book, mind you, but a book nonetheless!) all while mothering two small children, being a wife, and trying to maintain my household.

Let’s be honest… my house isn’t as clean as it probably should be. But I still can’t believe all of this happened over the last year, and it was really the small steps all added up that made it possible.

I have been following Crystal’s various courses over the last few years, and I started making small changes in my morning routine, using the fringe hours more wisely, and creating the time I needed to be able to pursue my dreams.

I really do attribute being able to succeed in these areas to Crystal’s teaching and mentoring through the years.

I believe the following items were key in making this all happen, and might be helpful as you pursue your dreams in the midst of daily life:

1. I tweaked my morning routine to get up before my kids.

This was HARD for me. I love my evenings and did not savor the thought of getting up before the sun.

I created some motivators to help in this transition — prepping coffee the night before so I just had to push a button to get it started, having my books and Bible in an easy place to find in my groggy state, and making a small prioritized list of what I’d like to get done once my time with God was finished in the morning.

If the kids got up early, I just moved the rest of the list to later in the day or the next morning.

I have tweaked this again in the last few months (the heavy-lifting with writing the book and starting the nonprofit is done) and let myself rest and sleep a little more.

When I start another project, this might change again, but I figured out how to make the mornings work for me, whether I get up hours before my kids or only half an hour before them.

photo from GoddessMychele on Instagram

2. I made the most of small pockets of time.

I spent a chunk of time creating the outline for my book, and then just followed it in writing each section — so anytime I had 15 minutes in between things, I tried to jot a few notes down about that section.

I used the time during my running workouts to really focus on what I wanted to say, and would speak things into my phone to write out later once I was finished running.

When we were camping, I would use times when the kids were napping or hanging out watching a movie and recovering from our hikes to write.

3. I made my work schedule work for me.

I do pastoral counseling with my nonprofit, so I can plan my schedule around times when my husband is home to care for the kids (he’s a firefighter, so his schedule is weird).

Sometimes that requires me to work evenings and weekends, but I can then take some time to rest during the week, and that is ok.

I don’t want to be a workaholic — I want to be productive with my time. There is such a difference, and it allows me to still be there for my family while also getting stuff done.

4. I made changes slowly.

This whole thing took place over about 18 months, and I had already made changes to my morning routine prior to that.

Getting overwhelmed doesn’t help anything, so don’t rush the process.

Whatever your goals are, you can do it!

You can pursue the dreams you have, while still doing all the other things, but it may take a little longer. That’s ok!

Looking back, I can’t believe what has happened over the last year in small bits, and I am grateful that God has been the strength for all of it.

You can order Hannah’s book from Amazon here.

Hannah is a pastoral counselor and executive director of Broken & Hopeful, a nonprofit whose mission is to personalize the message of abiding in Christ through donation-based pastoral counseling to bring rubber-meets-the-road change to this life of loving Jesus and finding hope in Him.

photo source

Shared Feb 13, 2018 comment

Gretchen’s $63 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4

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Gretchen’s $63 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4

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

Dillons

1 Kroger Frozen Green Beans – $1

1 Breyers Ice Cream – $3.49, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $2.99 after coupon

1 Kroger Sour Cream – $1.29, used $0.30/1 e-coupon – $0.99 after coupon

1 Luvo Frozen Mango Chicken – $4.99, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 Arla Cream Cheese – $2.99, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

1 V8 Fusion Juice – $1.50, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon

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

1 SweetTarts Hearts – $0.50, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1 can Tuna – $0.75, used $0.25/1 e-coupon – $0.50 after coupon

1 pkg Kroger Yeast – $0.99

1 Knorr Selects Rice – $1.99 (I had a free e-coupon for this but it didn’t come off.) 🙁

1 Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1.25

1 Kroger Unbleached Flour – $1.29

1 Simple Truth Breakfast Bars – $1.50

2 pkg Steak – (Buy One, Get One Free) $7.34 for both

Total after coupons: $19.84

Aldi

1 bag Shredded Cheese – $2.99

1 Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate – $1.19

1 lb Butter – $2.49

1 pkg Moo Yogurt Tubes – $1.55

2 dozen Eggs – $1.47 each

1 loaf Bread – $0.79

1 pint Blueberries – $1.79

1 jar Spaghetti Sauce – $0.99

1 Crisp Rice Cereal – $1.19

1 bag Sugar – $1.39

1 bag Mandarins – $2.49

1 can Northern Beans – $0.69

2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each

1 Cantaloupe – $1.29

1 pkg Cheese – $1.79

1 bag Spinach – $1.49

1 Pineapple – $1.19

1 bag Red Grapes – $2.64

2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each

1 bag Chewy Granola Bars – $1.49

3.72 lbs Bananas – $1.63

1 bag Dried Apricots – $2.79

1 can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies – $0.59

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $0.99

1 pkg Crackers – $1.49

1 gallon Milk – $1.88

Total: $43.71

Total for both stores: $63.55

Menu Plan for This Week

Breakfasts

Cereal x 3

Eggs & Biscuits x 3

Cinnamon Rolls, Juice

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Strawberries, Mandarins x 2

Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Grapes

Crackers, Cheese, Fruit, Veggies x 2

Leftovers x 2

Dinners

Chicken Noodle Casserole, Steamed Broccoli (from freezer), Cantaloupe

Soft Tacos (ground venison, spinach, cheese, sour cream), Rice

Spaghetti (using ground venison), Biscuits, Steamed Cauliflower (from freezer)

Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Heart-Shaped Dinner Rolls, Cupcakes & Ice Cream (Valentine’s Dinner)

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, Chips, Fruit Salad

Hawaiian Haystacks

Grilled Chicken, Fruit Salad, Homemade Bread

Shared Feb 12, 2018 comment

What I Read & Watched This Past Week

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What I Read & Watched This Past Week

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

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.

What I Read Last Week

I finished two books this past week — one that I am positive is going to make my Top 10 list for 2018! Which one is that? It’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

My friend, Melissa, gave me this book and said it had really impacted her life. I hadn’t heard of it before and wasn’t sure what I was going to think of it.

Then I started reading… and within a few chapters, I knew it was going to be one of those really life-changing books. I slowly savored a chapter or two per day and was really sad when it was over with. I’ve already told Melissa that we are going to go through it as a book study once we finish going through Mom Set Free because I’m ready to read it all over again! 🙂

The book is all about how our emotional and spiritual health are so tied together and how we often overlook this. The author talks about how often we seem to think that our past and our baggage and all the things we try to pretend don’t exist or stuff down or not deal with won’t affect us in the long run… but it will!

There are so many things I gleaned from this book and so many sections that challenged me in deep ways. I feel like I will be processing its message for a long time to come.

One of the areas in the book that really encouraged me was to recognize how much the changes I’ve made in the last two years to slow down and savor life more. I realize how these changes have truly allowed me to become so much healthier as a person — physically, mentally, and spiritually.

There were numerous quotes that I loved from the book, but one that I shared on Instagram was this:

“True freedom comes when we no longer need to be somebody special in other people’s eyes because we know we are lovable and good enough.”

In Christ, we are enough. We are loved. We are redeemed. We are forgiven.

When we live in light of this truth, we can walk in amazing freedom and confidence — and we can love other people so much more deeply and authentically.

I also finished reading The Story of the World: Volume 1 aloud. I started this with Kaitlynn as part of her homeschooling last semester and then, when we enrolled her in a local private school for this semester, I wanted to go ahead and finish it. So I decided to make it a book we read aloud at dinner.

While the writing could have been tighter, we really enjoyed reading it — especially since the kids have studied so much of this in school the past two years and they all wanted to pipe in with their thoughts and opinions on different stories!

What I Watched Last Week

Jesse and I went to see The 15:17 to Paris. I didn’t know much about this movie before we saw it. Jesse had read about it and thought it seemed interesting — especially since it was based upon real-life events. (I found out that it appears to be very closely in line with the actual story.)

It’s the story of three ordinary young men who overpowered a gunman on board a train bound for Paris. The actual young men play themselves in the movie — even though they have no previous acting experience.

The story is slow to build and the acting isn’t great… it kind of feels like you are watching someone’s YouTube video of their life, only the videography is way better than it usually would be if it were a YouTube video.

It felt very slow and untraditional in the way that it progressed, but all throughout, there is this underlying story of overcoming the odds and persistence in spite of failure. When the movie was over with, I felt inspired and challenged… and I found myself mostly liking the movie even though it had lackluster acting and slow development.

Note: There is quite a bit of language in the movie, there is a club scene, and there is definitely some blood and intense scenes. I had to close my eyes during the part where they are helping the man who is injured and bleeding. I just can’t do that much blood. (Read the full review of the negative and positive elements of the movie here.)

(By the way, we got MoviePasses for Christmas and we have fallen in love with them. You just can’t beat $10 per month to be able to see one movie of your choice every single day. Read my in-depth review of MoviePass here.)

We also loved watching the next two episodes of This is Us — I can’t stop talking about what an amazing show that is!

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 you really think I need to read or watch?

Shared Feb 11, 2018 comment

A Peek Into Our Week (+ an update on my goals)

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A Peek Into Our Week (+ an update on my goals)

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

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! ? 

This week was filled with recovering from sickness, working on moving projects, launching Content Creation 101, a Slow Day and spontaneous dates, planning for the Come as You Are Night (see more below), watching the Olympics, and spending time with friends. Oh and I also decided to try experimenting with Instagram Live…

Join Me for My Daily Instagram Live Show!

So many of you have told me that you really miss my Periscope shows that I used to do. Well, I’ve been experimenting with Instagram Live and it reminds me a lot of Periscope — minus the trolls!

I’ve been hopping on live around 11 a.m. CT every morning to share an inspirational message or practical encouragement. The show is usually 5-10 minutes long and you can interact with me live in the comments. OR, if you miss the show, you can watch the replay for the next 24 hours.

You need to download the Instagram app and have an account. Then, follow me here. You can click on the round profile picture and then it will play my Instagram Live or any Instagram Stories I have recorded over the last day.

Note: I’m currently just experimenting with this to see if it’s something that I want to commit to longterm or not. I’d love your input and thoughts as I decide whether to continue on with it!

I wrote a post this past week sharing about my experience using DiscountGlasses.com.

I also wrote a detailed post talking all about my trip with Jesse to go to the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell Ceremony.

So this happened Friday night. 23 women (most whom I had never met and who had never met each other!) showed up at our house for the first Come As You Are night.

These brave women responded to an Instagram post of mine asking if you were looking for authentic community in the Nashville area. And then they showed up not know what to expect or who was going to be there.

The night was filled laughter, good food (everyone brought a simple snack!), amazing conversations, and incredible openness.

(After everyone introduced themselves, I had a list of 8 questions that I put together and we broke into groups of two and talked about one of the questions for 5 minutes and then moved on to a different person/different question. It was a great way to go deep in relationships pretty quickly and to get to know a number of women in the room in a short span of time.)

A big thank you to my friend, Melissa, for all her help with pulling last night off and being my extroverted sidekick! And thank you so much to Jen Schmidt for inspiring me to stop waiting to be invited and to start being the initiator through her book, Just Open the Door!

I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with this hospitality thing! I’m already looking forward to planning another night soon!

It’s amazing what happens when you just open the door! Who can you reach out to today?

Links You Should Check Out:

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: 11 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: 7 notes written so far this year

4. Run 500 miles.

**Progress: 60 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: I’ve finished one book so far.

7. Take the kids to South Africa.

**Progress: We’re in the process of nailing down dates for our trip right now.

8. Go on a family road trip.

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.

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: 4 Weeks to a More Productive Life launched in January and Content Creation 101 launched in February.

Shared Feb 10, 2018 comment

Slow Day: Week 6

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Slow Day: Week 6

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

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 Saturday, I’ll be sharing a photographic peek into my Slow Day — and I’ll let the pictures almost 100% speak for themselves, instead of giving many explanations. Enjoy a little peek into our lives!

In the middle of Kaitlynn getting ready for school (she leaves for school before the other two kids since her school starts earlier and she likes to get there 20-25 minutes early), the electricity went out and was out for an hour.

I had to wait to run on the treadmill until after the electricity came back on. Gratefully, I was able to get in my run before I needed to leave for Discipleship Group.

My time at Discipleship Group every Wednesday is one of my favorite times every week.

I came home and made eggs for lunch and read for awhile until it was time to pick the kids up from school.

After school, Silas I left to got to the chiropractor and then on a special spontaneous date at Panera.

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

Click here to download!
Shared Feb 10, 2018 comment

Brigette’s $80 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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Brigette’s $80 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6

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

Aldi

2 pkgs String Cheese – $3.98

1 3-lb pkg 80/20 Fresh Ground Beef – $6.82

2 cans Chicken Breast – $3.10

1 pkg Strawberry Gelatin – $0.35

1 box Honey Nut Oats – $1.15

1 loaf Bread – $0.65

1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.59

1 pkg Hotdog Buns – $0.59

2 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $3.18

1 64-oz carton Coconut Milk – $2.39

1 bottle Organic Ketchup – $1.49

1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55

1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.36

1 tin Baking Powder – $0.99

1 10-lb bag Potatoes – $3.19

2 heads Cauliflower – $3.50

1 jar Unsweetened Applesauce – $1.89

1 pkg Blueberries – $1.79

2 large bags Red Grapes (3.69lbs @ $0.89/lb) – $3.27

1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $1.59

1 bunch Bananas (2.96lbs @ $0.35/lb) = $1.04

2 2-lb bag Honey Crisp Apples – $4.98

1 Dark Chocolate Bar – $1.99

Total: $51.43

Harris Teeter

2 boxes Fruity Pebbles – $4.00, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $2.00/2 after coupons

2 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats – $4.00, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $2.00/2 after coupons

3 dozen Eggland’s Best Eggs – $5.91, used 3 $0.55/1 Eggland’s Best Eggs – 12-10-17 RP (exp. 03/10/18) (doubled) – $2.61/3 after coupons

2 pkgs Frigo Wisconsin Cheese Sticks – $4.48, used 2 $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $2.48/2 pkgs after coupons

5 jars Bertolli Pasta Sauce – $7.20, submit for $5.00 rebate from Ibotta ($1.00/1, limit 5) – $2.20/5 after rebate

1 pkg Strawberries – $1.67

2 5-lb pkgs Flour – $1.98

2 pkgs Chocolate Chips – $1.98

2 pkgs Cream Cheese – $1.98

2 4-lb bags Sugar – $1.98

2 48-oz cartons Canola Oil – $1.98

(Plus receive $1.00 off wyb 5 Harris Teeter baking items)

1 pkg Mini Cucumbers – $1.99

1 2-lb bag Carrots – $0.99

1 bunch Romaine – $1.99

1 bag Lemons – $1.99

Total after Coupons and Rebates – $28.82

Grocery Total for the Week: $80.25

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

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

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

Lunches

Build-Your-Own-Salad-Bar (Romaine, Chopped Veggies, Chopped Apples, Craisins, Shredded Cheese, Chicken, Hard Boiled Eggs, Homemade Dressing) x 2

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit, Carrots x 2

Leftovers x 3

Dinners

Chicken Corn Chowder, Homemade Sourdough Bread, Crackers (Meal that a sweet friend dropped by my house “just because” :))

Hotdogs on the Grill, Baked Seasoned Potato Wedges, Grapes, Roasted Cauliflower

Chicken Gravy Over Rice, Easy Whole Wheat Bread, Green Beans (from the freezer)

Burritos (Seasoned Venison meat, Shredded Cheese, Salsa, Lettuce, Chopped Onion on Homemade Tortillas), Spanish Rice

Creamy Baked Spaghetti (meatless!), Homemade French Bread, Green Beans (from the freezer)

Barbequed Meatballs (I’ll be using the ground beef I bought, plus mixing in a pound of ground venison. This will make two large pans – one for this week, one for the freezer), Heart-Shaped Biscuits with Strawberry Jam, Pink Applesauce, Steamed Cauliflower, Twice Baked Potatoes, Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Pink Frosting and Sprinkles – Valentine’s Menu

Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Steamed Carrots, Baked Potatoes

Snacks

Cheese Sticks, Fruit, Popcorn, Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Shared Feb 10, 2018 comment

MySurvey: Earn cash or rewards for taking surveys

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MySurvey: Earn cash or rewards for taking surveys

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

MySurvey: Earn cash or rewards for taking surveys

Looking for legitimate survey companies to sign up with?

MySurvey is a company that I have used in the past and earned money from. You can redeem your points earned for cash or prizes, and every 1000 points equals $10.

Go here to sign up.

6CompaniesThatWillPayYouForTakingOnlineSurveys-Pinnable

Looking for more opportunities to make money from home? See my list of recommended survey companies here.

Shared Feb 9, 2018 comment

My Experience at the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell Ceremony

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My Experience at the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell Ceremony

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

It was such an honor to be asked to go to NYC with Inspire Investing to be a part of the Closing Bell Ceremony at the New York Stock Exchange last Tuesday.

Inspire Investing is an organization dedicated to providing low-cost, high impact biblically responsible investments that support Christian ministry. I wasn’t aware of them before they reached out to invite me to their event and was honored that they would ask me to come. They also were kind enough to say Jesse could come with me and to pay for part of our travel expenses.

(Note: They didn’t ask me to write a blog post or mention them online nor did they request that I do any sort of promotion for them, but Jesse and I had such a great trip that I couldn’t help but share about it in a blog post!)

The entire day felt surreal and crazy — even in how it began! You see, because of how the travel day worked out, I ended up only having 10 minutes to get dressed and do my hair and makeup, instead of the hour I was planning on.

No biggie, except for the fact that I was supposed to be meeting a number of people and be on live TV in front of something like 100 million viewers. I just had to laugh while I was putting on my makeup without a mirror in the backseat of the 3-minute Uber ride at how God is constantly giving me opportunities to trust Him — even with little things like hair & makeup!

When we got to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), we had to go through tight security (you can only get into the building if your name is on their list of invited guests). I didn’t know what to expect when we got in nor how many people would be attending this event. I was guessing it was going to be really small — maybe just 20-30 people.

Imagine my surprise when we got inside and found out that there were 130 people there with Inspire Investing! Most of them were financial advisors or in the financial industry and pretty much all of them had flown in for the event from all different parts of the country.

I realized that this was definitely not like a typical blogger or influencer event and I was pretty out of my league. People kept introducing themselves and saying things like, “Hi, I’m so-and-so from such-and-such financial investing firm. Are you a financial advisor?”

I just had to laugh… because I think I was the only mom blogger there. There were a few other bloggers, but they were all personal finance/financial bloggers — not people who write about deals and ways that moms can save money on groceries! 😉

We gathered in this really ornate room and got to hear from the founder of Inspire Investing, as well as get an overview of the history of the NYSE and the importance of it as part of our nation’s economy, as well as how it impacts the global economy.

Inspire Investing had asked if I could be on the podium as part of the Closing Bell Ceremony (when the trading floor closes for the day). I was very honored to be asked to be a part of this and it was such a surreal experience. (This is the second time Inspire Investing was given the opportunity to do the Closing Bell Ceremony. You can rread more from the CEO on his thoughts and experiences at the first Closing Bell Ceremony here.)

About 15 minutes before the Closing Bell Ceremony, they ushered us downstairs to the trading floor and we got to walk through it while all of the trading was still going on. It sort of felt like you were in a movie — only the chaos and people pacing the floor on phones and iPads and the paper littered everywhere was the actual thing, not some scene from a movie!

We took pictures, signed the book, and then went up to the podium. They told us that over 100 million people view the Closing Ceremony every day and that as soon as we walked out onto the podium we would be on live TV somewhere.

The actual Closing Bell Ceremony felt like it was over so quickly. And it basically just consisted of clapping and smiling and clapping and smiling and clapping and smiling for the cameras. 😉 You can watch the one-minute clip here, if you are interested.

(Note: While it seemed like it was just clapping and smiling, the Closing Bell Ceremony is a pretty significant event every day when it comes to our nation’s economy and the stock market.)

After the Closing Bell Ceremony, those of us who had been invited to be on the podium got to sign the wall on the stairwell behind the podium. They said we could write something with our name, if we wanted to. I couldn’t think of a more fitting phrase to include with my name than “Soli Deo Gloria” — as that is truly my heartbeat!

I loved that Jesse got to join me for this experience (a huge thank you to his parents who flew to our house from Kansas to watch our kids!) and we had so much fun together! My only disappointment of the day was that we didn’t get a picture together on the trading floor.

We were in separate groups and security escorted his group out before I got down to the floor from the podium. At least I got this hilarious photo of him looking all dapper at the pre-ceremony reception!

It was an amazing day and one we will remember and cherish for a very long time! Thank you to Inspire Investing for giving us this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Money Saving Mom
Shared Feb 8, 2018 comment

Bloggers: Get Content Creation 101 for just $27!

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Bloggers: Get Content Creation 101 for just $27!

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

I am super excited to let you know that our latest blogging course, Content Creation 101, launches to the public today! The reason I’m super excited is because this is my favorite blogging course to date. And I really mean that!

We had so much fun planning and outlining and scoping this one out. And I think you are going to LOVE the finished product!

Content Creation 101 is all about the process of planning, writing, and effectively promoting blog posts that will attract loyal readers.Through video lessons, video tutorials, a workbook, printable worksheets, and downloads, we’ll teach you how to:

  • Write effective, engaging blog posts that leave your readers wanting more—no copywriting experience necessary.
  • Design a content system that helps you streamline your workflow.
  • Boost your blog posts’ effectiveness with images and links.
  • Promote your content so you can increase your reach and build your audience.
  • Organize your content so it’s easier for your readers to find the posts they want.
  • Stay inspired as a blogger so you never run out of content ideas!

While we put this course together specifically with new bloggers in mind, I think that it’s the kind of course that experienced bloggers will also find helpful!

If you’ve ever struggled to figure out a good system for what you should post and when you should post it, if you’ve found it difficult to stay organized as a blogger, if you’ve wondered how long your posts should be or if there’s a formula for a perfect post, or if you’ve worried that you’d run out of content ideas or stop loving blogging, this course is for you!

SPECIAL LAUNCH PRICE!

To celebrate the launch of Content Creation 101, we are offering it for just $27 — that’s $10 off the regular price of $37! This special price is only available through Sunday evening, February 11, 2018.

Go here to grab Content Creation 101 for just $27!

P.S. When you add Content Creation 101 to your cart, we’re also giving you the option to purchase the course we launched in December, Branding Basics 101, for a very special price, too!
How to Save Money on Groceries with a Houseful of Teenage Boys! This post is SO helpful and full of great savings tips -- especially if you have a large family with growing boys!
Shared Feb 7, 2018 comment

How I Save on Groceries With a Houseful of Teenage Boys

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How I Save on Groceries With a Houseful of Teenage Boys

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

How to Save Money on Groceries with a Houseful of Teenage Boys! This post is SO helpful and full of great savings tips -- especially if you have a large family with growing boys!

Guest post from Laura Heavenly Homemakers

I just watched my 18-year old son eat an entire pound of strawberries for an afternoon snack. Tonight for dinner, my family will plow through three pounds of boneless chicken, three or four pounds of potatoes, a pound of frozen green beans, several handfuls of mixed greens, and a big bowl full of grapes. They’ll be hungry again before bed, no doubt.

This is my life. Four sons, all teenagers. My table is full and so is my heart.

My grocery budget? Well, it’s not so small either.

When our four boys were little, people told me that I’d have to stock up on lots of potatoes, rice, and pasta as they got older so I could afford to feed them. I’ll admit these tricks help the grocery budget somewhat, but I’ll also tell you that I much prefer to fill my family with nourishment instead of empty calories.

That leaves me in a bit of a pickle then, doesn’t it? (Pickles? Oh yes. We go through a lot of those, too.)

So how can we afford to feed four teenage boys (and their friends!) without breaking the budget or compromising on nourishment? Well, it’s a continuous learning process, for sure, and I’ve been working at it for the past seven years. I’m excited to share some of my best grocery saving tips!

But first let me say this:

Our grocery budget isn’t small.

It can’t be – not if I want my kids to feel satisfied after a meal and to be filled with nutrients too. Did I mention all my sons are athletes and three out of four so far are over 6 feet tall?

If you’re brave, you can click here to get an idea of how much we spend on groceries for our family every month. You’ll see that I’m certainly not one of the moms who spends $50 a week to feed my family because of the huge appetites at our house and our preference for highly nourishing food. I love reading those mom’s tricks, though, because I always learn new ideas for ways to save.

So here we go!

How I save money on groceries with a house full of teenage boys:

1. We drink water.

I can’t imagine how much money this saves us (yes I can) and it’s a win-win! It’s healthier and saves money, too!

Our boys aren’t huge milk drinkers, so I buy one gallon of milk every week from local farmers, which I use for cooking and baking. If the boys want something special to drink, they buy it themselves as a treat.

2. We eat soup.

Homemade broth is extremely nourishing, and I’ve found that it really helps stretch the meat in a meal. If I cook a chicken for one meal, then use the bones to make broth for soup, we’re getting a two-for-one!

Here are our 12 Favorite Soup Recipes that help stretch our grocery budget.

3. We love meat, but still have meatless meals.

We love our cows and chickens and I’m of the opinion that my active family needs the wholesome protein and nutrients that meat provides. But I’ve learned that we don’t need meat for every single meal.

Beans and eggs and nuts and cheese help round out our menus and fill us with protein, and I’ve created many super simple recipes that are painlessly meatless.

4. We eat a lot of frozen veggies, fresh greens, and carrots.

It’s extremely important to me that I serve several veggies throughout the day. I keep frozen peas and green beans on hand at all times – veggies that are inexpensive and happen to be our favorites.

Fresh greens are a staple, and one of the most nourishing options to fill our plates. I pay $6 for a big one-pound container of greens, which lasts our family one week. I’d say that’s a pretty great price for awesome nourishment!

Fresh carrots are inexpensive year-round so we eat them often! I make homemade dips and dressings, which make it easier to get the veggies down.

5. I buy in bulk.

If you saw my storage room, you’d realize this was an understatement. I buy huge quantities of pretty much everything from meat to grains, which means I can buy when I find a sale, then use up our supply while I wait for another sale.

I’ve saved thousands through the years shopping this way – and I love that I’ve also saved time and energy since I don’t have to run to the store for single ingredients very often. I just shop my food storage room!

6. We eat at home.

While this post is about saving money on groceries, it is important to mention that eating at home saves us a great deal of money compared to eating out.

Restaurant bills – even fast food bills – are quite large for our family. So we save eating out for special times when we are on the road (though we almost always pack food for travel too!) I wrote here about other ways our family saves money so we can afford a higher grocery bill. I bet you’ll find you save in many of these ways too!

A table full of teenagers? Bring it on!

I’ll continue to find ways to be creative and save money as I load my shopping carts and fill my fridge and freezer. Ok fine. My two fridges and three freezers. What can I say? I feed a houseful of teenagers. 🙂

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Laura is the lone female in a house full of fabulous men. She fills her days with cooking, homeschooling, and writing at Heavenly Homemakers. Her home is often full of guests and I suppose it goes without saying that with a house full of teenage boys, many of those guests are teenage girls. Please pass the coffee!