Jamerrill has a great post up sharing her once-a-month Walmart grocery shopping haul for a family of 10. If you have a large family, I think you’ll be inspired by her post.
Summer Bucket List
Classic View
Grid View
How to Earn Free Books From My Reader Rewards Club
Do you love to read? If so, you’ll want to check out My Reader Rewards Club, a site that gives you the opportunity to earn free books and audio by filling out surveys, referring friends, and more.
It’s very easy to earn a free book — without even having to refer a friend!
My Reader Rewards Club offers Christian books from Tyndale, including Nonfiction books, Fiction books, Parenting books, Kid’s books, Audiobooks, Ministry Resources, and more! They even have Adventures in Odyssey audios and books!
Our family has gotten a number of free books from them over the past few years and I have loved being able to get brand-new books completely free! (Here are 8 more ways to get books for free!)
How to Earn Your First Free Book:
1. Go here to sign up for My Reader Rewards.
2. Complete the following actions:
- Share your birthday to get 15 points.
- Sign up for the Tyndale email newsletter to get 20 points.
- Take the gratitude quiz to get 15 points.
- Take the My Reader Rewards Club Member Survey to get 45 points.
- Take the What Decade Do You Belong In to get 15 points.
- Want to earn more points? You can refer friends and earn 10 points for every friend you refer. Or, you can share on social media to earn 10 points.
3. Use these 110 points to choose one the books that are available for 110 points or less. When you choose a book, add it to your cart and go to checkout. Shipping is free. You’ll usually receive your order within 2-4 weeks.
Links You Should Check Out:
Join the FREE 4-Week Easy Meals for the New Year Challenge!
(Note: This post was sponsored by Plan To Eat. All opinions are my own. Read our disclosure policy here.)
Is staying on track with a menu plan one of your goals for 2018?
If so, you’ll definitely want to sign up for the FREE Easy Meals for the New Year Challenge hosted by Plan to Eat! This 4-week challenge will help jumpstart your success in making menu planning a routine habit in your home.
When you sign up for the challenge, you’ll gain access to a FREE 30-day trial of Plan to Eat (no strings attached!) and 30 easy-to-prepare recipes for the month — including my Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole and Butterhorn Rolls!
You can then drag those recipes — plus any of your other favorite recipes around the web — into your custom meal planning calendar and Plan to Eat will automatically make your grocery list for you. How easy is that?!
This challenge will also help you:
- Save time at the grocery store by not aimlessly wandering the aisles.
- Save money by eating out less.
- Eat better food by being more strategic and less impulsive.
- Have less stress in the kitchen because you will have a plan for dinner.
- Eat more meals together as a household.
Note: If you love the Plan to Eat meal planning service during your 30-day trial, you can choose to continue subscribing once your trial ends (for just $4.95/month or $39.95/year). But the trial is completely FREE with NO payment info required! You get a month to explore this meal planning service while going through the challenge!
Go here to get started with the FREE Easy Meals for the New Year Challenge.
Shared Jan 30, 2018
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How I’m Making Over $700 Monthly as a Part-Time Teacher — Without Leaving My Home!
How I’m Making Over $700 Monthly as a Part-Time Teacher — Without Leaving My Home!
Note from MSM: After we posted about this unique Work-At-Home opportunity last year, we had TONS of readers send in testimonies of their great experience teaching with VIPKid! We thought it would be inspiring to hear a direct testimony from a reader who started as a new teacher with VIPKid and loved it.
Guest post from Meagan
My husband, John, graduates from chiropractic school in April, but isn’t able to practice until he finishes all of his Board Exams and gets his license in August.
As a homeschooling stay-at-home-mom of 3, I’ve done my best to bring in extra income whenever able to supplement the school loans. Throughout the 5 years that he’s been in schooling I’ve cleaned a car dealership and tutored at night, and I currently nanny a child 40 hours per week in my home.
But, the loans will run out and we’ll need to several months of expenses until John can practice — which seems daunting at best and down right scary at worst.
As John and I prayed and discussed our options, it seemed prudent for one or both of us to pick up extra part-time work in the months leading up to his graduation. Yet, for various reasons the thought of leaving home, pumping milk (as our youngest is 13 months and not yet weaned), and being spread even thinner filled me with dread.
A few days after this conversation, I opened my inbox to read the daily update from MoneySavingMom.com. The very first article listed was about a Work-From-Home opportunity with the company VIPKid — an online ESL company in China that contracts Americans, with a Bachelor’s degree, to teach English online to Chinese students.
At first, I was skeptical of VIPKid, but I’ve been a reader of MSM for the past 5 years and know Crystal would never recommend something to her readers unless she was positive about the quality. So, I jumped in and started the application the next day.
The interview process with VIPKid was intense and involved role playing to demonstrate your ability to teach English to a 4-10 year old Chinese student. But I was hired within 2 weeks of starting the interview process and had classes booked my first week of teaching!
I was also skeptical of the pay base of $14-$22/hr, but it is accurate and I personally make $20/hr. I set my own hours and teach from 5:30 – 7:30 a.m., Monday – Friday and a few odd hours on the weekend. My first month I earned $688 and my second month I earned $780. (Keep in mind this income doesn’t have taxes taken out.)
This VIPKid teaching process hasn’t been without challenges. My husband has had to step it up by helping more with the kids and other chores. It has also been a big adjustment for me to go to bed and wake up earlier (thanks to the 12 hour time difference.)
Another challenge as a VIPKid teacher was one of logistics. We live in a 2-bedroom townhouse with very few private spots to host a video-chat classroom. Some people teach in a closet, the basement, or just put up a sheet behind them. My solution was to turn our downstairs bathroom into a mini-classroom!
I decorated the walls, set up bright lights, repurposed a rolling set of drawers to house my classroom props, and set up boxes on the vanity to make a “standing desk”. The location is far enough away from the bedrooms so I don’t disturb sleeping children, and everything is easily put away when classes are done!
It has been a blessing to be able to stay at home and teach while the kids are sleeping. It feels good to know that by the time they wake up, I’ve already earned $40! VIPKid has been such a creative and unexpected answer to our prayers.
Meagan is a homeschooling mom of 3 (ages 8, 5, 1). She has an Education degree and loves crafts.
Looking for more in-depth advice on how to make money from home?
Be sure to check out my book Money-Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make A Difference, where I share creative ways to manage money, generate income and–most importantly–live a life of deeper meaning, fulfillment, and generosity than you might have ever imagined possible. This book is packed with hard-won wisdom, real-life stories, and practical tips to help inspire and motivate you!
Gretchen’s $42 Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 4
Dillons
1 can Bush’s Beans – $1, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Simple Truth Fruit & Grain Granola Bars – $1.49
2 pkg Betty Crocker Fruit by the Roll – $0.99 each, used $1/2 printable – $0.49 each after coupon
5 pkg Annie’s Mac & Cheese – $1 each, used $1/5 e-coupon – $0.80 each after coupon
1.84 lbs Bananas – $0.90
1 gallon Milk – $1.89
1 can Hunt’s Tomatoes – $1, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
2 pkg Baking Soda – $0.57 each
2 cans Kroger Beans – $0.59 each
1 can Kroger Green Beans – $0.59
2 pkg Kroger Shredded Cheese – $2.49 each, used $0.85/2 e-coupon – $2.06 each after coupon
1 pkg Kroger Rice – $0.89
1 pkg Kroger Tortillas – $1.79
1 pkg Kroger Flour – $1.29, used $0.40/1 e-coupon – $0.89 after coupon
1 lb Laura’s Lean Ground Beef – $6.99, used 50% off e-coupon – $3.50 after coupon
1 pkg Chili Seasoning – $1, used Free e-coupon – Free after coupon
1 Pineapple – $0.99
2 Post Great Grains Cereal – $1.29, used $1/2 printable – $0.79 each after coupon
2 cans Red Gold Tomatoes – $0.49 each
1 loaf Bread – $2.49
1 Simple Truth Sour Cream – $1.99, used $1/1 e-coupon AND $0.25/1 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.74 after coupon and rebate
1 Tennesse Pride Sausage – $2.99
Used $0.25/1 Ibotta rebate for any receipt
Used $10 off order catalina I received for buying diapers last week
Total after coupons and rebates: $22.88
Aldi
1 dozen Eggs – $1.58
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $0.83
1 canister Raisins – $2.79
2 pkg Strawberries – $1.49 each
1 pkg Corn Chips – $0.99
1 Baking Powder – $0.99
1 pkg Roma Tomatoes – $1.29
2 Avocados – $0.49 each
2 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each
1 pkg Baby Carrots – $0.99
1 bag Potato Chips – $1.49
1 lb Butter – $2.49
1 pkg Oyster Crackers – $0.79
1 Lettuce – $0.99
Total: $20.06
Total for both stores: $42.94
Menu Plan for This Week
We all ended up getting sick for several days last week and were living on saltines and ginger ale. So we still have produce, chicken, and frozen veggies leftover from last week’s shopping trip that needs to be used up this week.
Breakfasts
Biscuits & Gravy, Fruit x 2
French Toast, Fruit
Cereal x 2
Toast, Eggs x 2
Lunches
Mac & Cheese, Carrot Sticks x 2
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Veggies x 2
Turkey, Cheese, Crackers, Fruit x 2
Leftovers
Dinners
Hamburgers, Chips, Green Beans
Sour Cream Enchiladas (using ground venison), Corn Chips, Steamed Broccoli
Hawaiian Haystacks, Sliced Avocados
Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Spinach Salad
Chili, Corn Chips, Fruit Salad
Venison Roast, Carrots, Potatoes
Chicken Noodle Casserole, Steamed Peas, Pineapple
What I Read & Watched This Past Week
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
Last week, I read Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. Our Community Group is going through this book together and I was supposed to read a few more chapters of it for our group discussion… but then I started reading and just kept reading and reading.
It really challenged me in a lot of powerful ways. I didn’t agree with all of it and I thought some of the humor was just overboard cheesy, but many of his questions really challenged me in my walk with Christ.
Here’s one quote I loved: “When we try to follow Jesus without being filled daily with the Spirit, we find ourselves frustrated by our failures and exhausted by our efforts.”
And another: “The keyword for grace is ‘done’. Our punishment was taken by Christ. He has made a way where there was no way so we live with a freedom and appreciation for what has been done. Fans are all about the ‘do’, but followers celebrate the ‘done’.”
Jesse and I are headed on a fun trip to NYC Tuesday and Wednesday (follow me on Instagram if you want to see some peeks into what we’ll be up to while we’re there!), so here’s the stack of books I’m bringing with me. Yes, I’m pretty much always over-prepared and overly-ambitious when it comes to books, but hey, at least I never have to stress about killing time if there’s a flight delay! 😉
What I Watched Last Week
Jesse and I went to see Jumanji last week. We’d heard mixed reviews from friends and wanted to see it before taking our kids. Sadly, we were disappointed with the movie. It had a lot of inappropriate lines in it and it wasn’t really even that funny. So yeah, we nixed the idea of taking the kids.
(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.)
This week, we continued watching Arrow. We’re really enjoying the show so far. I’ve heard that it gets darker and not as enjoyable as it goes along, but currently, we’re really enjoying it! (Note: This is definitely more of a PG-13 type of show.)
We also loved watching the next episode 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 Jan 28, 2018
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A Peek Into Our Lives This Past Week (+ an update on my goals for 2018)
A Peek Into Our Lives This Past Week (+ an update on my goals for 2018)
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! ?
Kathrynne turned 13 this week! We celebrated with a fun birthday party at the trampoline park with some of her closest friends. I’m so grateful for the amazing gift she has of such good friends.
And I can’t believe that I am now the mom of a teenager! I’m excited about this new season of life. The older she gets, the closer we get and the more that I just love hanging out with her. So I think it’s only going to get better from here!
We had fun watching one of my friends 4 young kids on Saturday night so that she and her husband could go on a date. It was fun to have little ones at our house — something we don’t have very often!
We made banana muffins, played Hedbanz, the older girls made homemade slime with Kaitlynn, and we had fun banging on pots and pans with their one-year-old.
I love this photo! Some women long for flowers and chocolates from their man. I’ll take this. Because it’s almost as romantic to me as when he does the dishes!
And I also proclaimed my love for Roasted Vegetables.
Or because they decided to jump out and do it scared! And/or because they decided to believe that God was bigger than their fears and that He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies those whom He calls.
One of my heart’s desires is to raise kids who are confident in who God has made them to be and how He has gifted them. I love watching them develop their unique gifts and talents and seeing what makes them come alive.
Kaitlynn’s teacher at her new school noticed Kaitlynn has a gift for hand-lettering so she offered to pay her $5 to do some lettering on their class plate.
You guys, I have to admit that I was kind of nervous that she might mess the plate up. (I mean, the students had already all signed it and put their fingerprints on it! What if they have to re-do the whole thing because she misspelled a word??)
Yes, I may have some insecurity and people-pleasing issues! But this girl didn’t! She just sat down when she got home from school and got to work.
She never second-guessed her ability or whether she could do it. She just confidently did what she knows she’s gifted at — and had fun doing it!
This girl inspires me to live out my giftings more confidently and to not shy away from doing things because I’m afraid of failure. I want to own the gifts God has given me and use them to glorify Him and bless others.
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: 5 books read so far (look for a book update coming tomorrow)
2. Read through the entire Bible.
**Progress: I’m using the Robert Murray M’Cheyne plan and am on Day 28 — yay!
3. Write one handwritten note to someone every week.
**Progress: 5 notes written total this year so far
4. Run 500 miles.
**Progress: 40 miles run so far
Marriage Goal
5. Go on an overnight trip with Jesse without the kids.
Family Goals
6. Read 10 books aloud with the kids.
7. Take the kids to South Africa.
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 we’re currently working on finishing Content Creation 101 — a new YourBloggingUniversity course!
Links You Should Check Out:
Slow Day: Week 4
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 didn’t end up making it into real clothes before school dropoff… it seems that’s been happening more often recently! At least I got my run in!
Mornings at our house…
Ready for Discipleship Group… I met a friend for a quick breakfast before we headed to church.
(My notes for a short talk I gave this week as part of the main session.)
Jesse picked me up from Discipleship Group and we drove to downtown Nashville for a date at ETCH (we had been given a gift card three years ago in exchange for a project I helped a friend with — we finally decided it was time to use it!)
My salad was delicious!
After school snacks… Kathrynne made a mask in one of her classes so she wore it home! 😉 Also, just to clarify, that is sparkling cider. And yes, the kids like to drink their drinks in unique glasses. We have plenty of normal cups and glasses, but they usually prefer “grown-up” glasses and I just let them go for it! 🙂
Kaitlynn always has a project she’s working on!
My current reads: Daddy Long Legs and Mom Set Free.
Shared Jan 27, 2018
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Brigette’s $100 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Brigette’s $100 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan for 6
Aldi
1 gallon Whole Milk – $1.56
1 16-oz carton Heavy Whipping Cream – $1.55
1 2-lb bag Frozen Tilapia – $3.59
2 Whole Chickens (5.5lbs each) – $10.86
2 16-oz bags Egg Noodles – $2.18
2 4-lb bags Sugar – $2.18
2 1-lb boxes Butter Quarters – $3.90
1 Extra Virgin Olive Oil – $2.69
1 bag Zucchini – $1.45
1 bag Broccoli Crowns – $1.15
1 Pineapple – $0.89
2 bags Baby Carrots – $1.50
1 2-lb bag Carrots – $0.65
1 bunch Bananas (1.74lb @ $0.33/lb) – $0.57
1 bag Green Grapes (1.86lb @ $0.89/lb) – $1.66
1 bunch Celery – $0.85
1 Artisan Lettuce – $1.19
1 2-lb bag Yellow Onions – $0.99
1 large tub Organic Spring Mix – $3.79
1 bag Fresh Parsley – $1.15
1 jar Pure Vanilla – $3.49
2 cans Tomato Sauce – $0.38
1 box Pure and Simple Apple Pie Bars – $3.99 (I’m so excited Aldi started carrying these – the ingredients are similar to Larabars, which we love!)
1 box Saltines – $1.19
2 loaves Bread, reduced – $0.40 (I have no idea where the other loaf is in this picture – but we came home with two, I promise!)
3 dozen Eggs – $2.64
2 cans Organic Pinto Beans – $1.78
Total: $58.02
Harris Teeter
3 64-oz cartons Orange Juice – $2.97 (Great price, and these will last us for this week and next)
2 3-lb bags Fuji Apples – $4.98
2 40-ct boxes Zing Sweetener – $3.98, used 2 $1.50/1 Born Sweet Zing Organic Stevia Sweetener – 1-7-18 SS (exp. 03/10/18) – $0.98/2 boxes after coupons
2 cans Petite Diced Tomatoes – $1.00
2 cans Mild Rotel – $2.00
1 64-oz carton Almond Breeze – $1.97
2 10-ct bags Flour Tortillas – $1.98
2 5-lb bags Flour – $1.98
1 Artisan Lettuce, reduced – $1.00
1 5-lb bag Bread Flour – $3.39
Total: $22.25
Sams
I don’t have a membership to Sams, but my friend texted me earlier this week to tell me they had a whole pallet of these large boxes (each box has 30 individual sized packages) of organic cranberries reduced to $3.91 each!! I LOVE craisins, and I LOVE this brand because they are sweet and juicy, but don’t have any added sugar (they are sweetened with fruit juice only). These normally retail for $15-20 each, and I’m not sure why Sams was clearancing them since they don’t expire for over a year. I asked my friend for 5 boxes (I actually wanted more, but didn’t want to be greedy. :)) She bought 10 boxes for me, and would only let me pay her $20 for all 10. So the super great deal turned out to be super SUPER great for me! Ha!
10 large (30-ct each) boxes Patience Organic Craisins – $20.00 (see my story above)
Grocery Total for the Week: $100.27
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Everyone is responsible for making/cleaning up their own breakfast. Choices include:
Cereal, Oatmeal, Fruit, Toast, Scrambled/Boiled/Fried Eggs, Smoothies
Lunches
Cheese Quesadillas, Apples, Carrots
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Craisins, Baked Zucchini “Fries” x 2
Build-Your-Own-Tossed-Salad Bar (Lettuce/Spring Mix, Celery, Carrots, Apples, Hard Boiled Eggs, Shredded Cheese, Craisins, Nuts, Dressing) x 2
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Build-Your-Own-Burritos (Venison Taco Meat, Seasoned Rice, Black Beans, Shredded Cheese, Lettuce, Onions, Salsa), Fruit Salad, Green Beans
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Make-Ahead Butterhorns, Saltine Crackers, (Company for dinner – One family is bringing a relish plate and dip, the other family is bringing dessert)
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Roasted Parmesan Broccoli, Easy Whole Wheat Bread
Pearl’s Chili (recipe from Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook), Make-Ahead Butterhorns, Tossed Salad
Baked Potatoes topped with leftover Chili and Shredded Cheese, Tossed Salad, Pineapple
Oven-Blackened Tilapia, Steamed Carrots, Apple Slices, Bread Machine Buttery Rolls
Leftovers
My Newfound Love of Roasted Vegetables
It was only in the last few years that I discovered this thing called roasting vegetables in the oven. I know, I know… I must have been living under a rock?
At any rate, this whole roasted veggies thing has rocked my world and helped me discover that there are veggies I didn’t think I liked that I actually love, so long as they are roasted.
The thing about roasting veggies is that you basically can’t mess it up. I never use a recipe. I always just eyeball it. And it always turns out yummy!
You can basically roast any vegetable! (Well, I don’t know that iceberg lettuce would be really great if it’s roasted, but pretty much anything else is fair game!)
Our favorite veggies to roast are broccoli, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts. (Here’s how we roast Sweet Potato Fries and here’s an amazing Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe. I also highly recommend these Homemade Kale Chips.)
Basically, all you need to do is throw the veggies on a pan, sprinkle them with herbs or spices, drizzle them with oil, and roast them to perfection. We also love to sprinkle parmesan cheese on broccoli. It’s SO good!
What are some of your favorite ways to roast veggies? I’d love to hear!
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Shared Jan 25, 2018
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Sign up for this free class on how to become a virtual assistant!
Sign up for this free class on how to become a virtual assistant!
If you missed this class when we offered it on Tuesday or you were frustrated by the technical issues we experienced, I’ve got good news! We’re offering it again TONIGHT — on a different platform!
Need some extra $$ in your budget? Want to learn how to earn an income from home — without selling anything?
Carlee and Victoria are two busy moms who needed to earn an income from home in the margins of their days. Neither of them had time for sales parties or the cash on hand for minimum orders, and they both needed flexible hours that allowed them to keep staying home with their precious kiddos.
And they found it!
What Carlee and Victoria discovered (and what I know to be so true, too!) is that there are lots of small business owners who need help running day-to-day operations of their businesses. From posting to social media to writing emails and handling customer service, Virtual Assistants (or VAs) do it all.
And they do it from home.
During nap time, school time, early mornings or after bedtime, these moms work on their computers from the comfort of their homes – and earn an income doing it.
Carlee and Victoria got so many questions about their jobs that they couldn’t even answer them all. So they’ve put together a free class all about what they do, how they do it, and how you can join in, called Moms Work Hard: Earn an Income from Home Without Selling a Thing!
Their desire is empower moms to use skills they already have to work from home for years to come, changing the financial future of their families. They teach methods that not only have been proven by experience, but they also set up VAs and the business owners with support for sustainable, long-term growth.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a virtual assistant? Join us tonight (January 25, 2018) at 8 p.m. CT/9 p.m. EST for a free class on how to earn an income from home as a virtual assistant.
In this class, they’ll teach you:
- How to find margins in your busy days to work from home
- How to discover the skills you ALREADY have that you can use right away
- 3 strategies to finding your first work-at-home job
- How to get on track to positively change your family’s future
Plus, the three of us will host a live Q&A at the end to answer your burning questions! I hope you can join us!
Sign up for this free class on becoming a virtual assistant here.
P.S. If you can’t make it live to the class, you’ll get a link to the replay if you sign up!
24 Simple Ways to Live Frugally
Guest post from Ane
I’m often asked how to save money, and my response is always ‘live more frugally’.
So how do you live frugally? How do you save more money day-to-day?
I’ve compiled the following list of ways I save money every day.
Please note, this list is not for the faint of heart. My lifestyle is very low-maintenance compared to a lot of people and, as such, my frugal life may not be suitable for every individual. However, even if you pick only one item from the list below to start saving, it will put you one step closer to a frugal life.
Always remember, saving one penny at a time adds up in the long run!
1. Turn off your water heater during the day.
This one never occurred to me until a landlord said if I could remember to turn the water heater off in the morning before leaving for work, then turn it on when I returned home, it could save up to $10 a week! She was right, too – I immediately saw a decrease in my electric bill and I’ve been using the trick ever since.
2. Turn those lights off!
Again, a basic idea, but it’s true. Don’t leave every light on in the house. Flip the switch – save a few bucks.
3. Turn off the water!
Yes, I’m sure you heard that a lot growing up, I know I did! My parents were always reminding us to not turn the water on full blast, to turn it off when soaping up hands or dishes. This was redundant when I was a child, but as an adult, it saves me a lot of money. Don’t flush money, literally, down the toilet.
4. Compare grocery costs and keep a list.
It may surprise you to compare costs in one grocery vs. another – and perhaps not a good surprise! For instance, our local grocer costs up to $0.30 more for basic vegetables and fruits than WalMart.
This may not seem like a lot, but a simple thing like creating a grocery list by store will help you remember where to buy which item at the lowest cost. You’ll be surprised how much you can save! I save up to $75 a month shopping at our local Aldi vs. WalMart.
5. Buy a used car and pay cash.
Many people want the latest auto, I get it. I’m not one of those people, and I’m okay with it! I bought my car used from a neighbor, gave him cash, and now I have no monthly auto debt. The auto insurance is also WAY less for older cars!
Driving a used car has all kinds of other perks, too — like teaching you contentment in life!
6. Shop around for better car insurance.
You may be surprised how much less you can pay for auto insurance just by shopping around online. I was!
7. Buy used.
This, obviously, doesn’t apply to everything, but if possible, buy it used. For instance, a few years ago I needed a new washing machine. Instead of running up my credit card, I looked at local flea markets and yard sales and found one for only $50!
I bought that machine three years ago and it’s still running strong! Remember, new isn’t always better.
8. Shop outlets for clothes.
I love shopping for clothes. Love, love, love! I really enjoy the name brand and designer clothes, which can really put a dent in my savings. However, a few years ago, a friend turned me onto outlets and I haven’t looked back!
Fortunately, I’m within a thirty minute drive of two outlet malls, and the savings have been fantastic. I found two Banana Republic blazers for $10 each and a $199.99 Ann Taylor dress marked down to $29.99.
The savings on clothes alone have been fantastic, and as I work in a office that requires me to wear suits on a daily basis, this has been a great find.
9. Look at local thrift stores.
I’ve saved a lot of money by thrift store shopping. Of course, there are a lot of things I wouldn’t recommend buying at a thrift store, but there are so many great ways to save on some things.
For instance, when I adopted my dog a few years ago, I needed a crate for him to sleep in. The most inexpensive one online or in-store ran $40+. I walked into our local Molly Mutt Thrift Store and found a crate for only $5! Thrift stores are also a good place for dinner ware, coffee mugs, kids games, and furniture.
10. DIY furniture and knick-knacks.
Unless you’re buying an antique, furniture and decorative items have very little, if any, resale value.
Why not look to Pinterest for some DIY ideas on how to paint that old coffee table you found for $5 at a local yard sale? Or perhaps repaint a vase you found for $.50 at a farmer’s market?
The DIY tutorials online are endless, and there are SO many unique and fun ways to make your own home decor! Not to mention the bragging rights when friends come over.
11. Use Merchant Coupons.
Not every store has coupons, but before you shop, do a quick browse on their website or do a Google search to see if they have any discounts.
Macy’s, JCPenney’s, Ulta, Michaels Arts & Crafts, and Kohl’s — just to name a few — almost always have a coupon code or barcode to have the cashier apply at check out. You’ll be surprised how much you save with this trick.
12. Find free weekend events.
This one is actually really easy to do. If you have kids, check out Macaroni Kid for a local calendar of events – usually free! The library and bookstores frequently offer free children’s book readings. Weather permitting, find a local park for the kids to play on Saturday.
For the adults, discover a unique hiking trail, walk the greenway, see if there are any live music concerts with free admission in your town, go to the library and borrow a book or movie, and check a local events calendar online to see what free weekend events your community offers.
I’m always amazed by the variety of free events and entertainment that are offered in my community, and you might be too!
13. Take advantage of happy hour.
For those of you who enjoy dining out, you know how quickly those restaurant tabs add up. So plan your dining, if you can, around happy hour. You’ll find a drastically reduced food and beverage menu. I’ve found that this can almost halve my final tab – just remember to leave a nice tip!
14. Groupon it.
While I do not use Groupon excessively, I did recently stumble across a local business offer for $12 beginner horse back riding lessons for children.
Since their initial lessons start around $50, this was phenomenal! I think they are a great resource, especially for local restaurant discounts and events. Worth looking into!
15. Free admission days.
Want to go to a museum but don’t want to spend the $12 admission cost? A lot of museums offer free admission day – our local art museum is the last Saturday of every month. Just remember to put it on your calendar so you don’t forget the date!
If you’re a Bank of America customer, you can also get free admission to museums during the first weekend of each month throughout the year.
16. Workout outside.
Have a gym membership but rarely use it? Try finding a local park that offers a fitness trail as an alternative. We have a local park that offers outdoor elliptical, weight training and walking trails – and while enjoying the fresh air!
17. Check if your employer offers any employee benefits.
Some employers offer 401k match, childcare reimbursement, healthcare coverage, college tuition payment and more!
My employer, for instance, offers up to $240 a month in childcare costs. They put it right into my paycheck each pay period! So if your employer offers benefits, make sure you check again and see if there are any offers you can take advantage of.
18. Save your pocket change.
This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people discard, drop or just leave their coins anywhere in their home. Start a coin jar and see how full you can get it. (This is also a great money saving tactic to teach kids how to save!)
19. Switch to a low-cost cell phone provider.
The large providers too often bundle packages to make it seem you’re saving when in reality you’re not. Shop around and see if you can find an lower price option.
I use Cricket Wireless and I’m amazed how much less their prices are than Verizon or AT&T. Another great option is Twigby.
20. Shop after a holiday.
This handy trick has saved me a LOT of money over the years. Wait until after a major holiday to snag wrapping paper, gift bags, bake ware, etc… Michaels Arts and Crafts often marks their Christmas items down to 70% off. Add that to a 20% off your total purchase coupon and the savings are amazing!
Next year you’ll be stocked and ready to wrap gifts, bring cookies to the office party or decorate your home all at a discounted price.
21. Open multiple savings accounts.
Have one account where you pay your bills from and another savings account where you move any money left over at the end of the month. This will help keep your money separate and you can see how much you’re saving vs. how much you’re spending each month.
I just did this recently and it really works as a great visual to let me see exactly how much I’m saving.
22. Eliminate cable or paid TV services.
Cutting cable may be hard for some people. For me, it’s extremely easy because I just don’t make time to watch a lot of television.
If you love watching television but want to cut cable, be sure to take advantage of low-cost streaming plans — such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or Sling TV.
A lot of libraries offer free DVD rentals as well. While many people no longer have DVD’s, for those of us who do (yes, that would include me), it’s a great way to watch movies for free.
23. Make coffee at home.
A simple thing like a cup of coffee every morning can really take a hit on your savings, even at McDonald’s where coffee is a $1. Assume a cup of coffee every week day, multiply times four and then again times twelve – that adds up to $260. That could pay a few months’ water bill! This is a really easy way to save — especially once you learn how to make a fantastic cup of coffee at home!
24. Pack a lunch.
Instead of always buying a restaurant or fast food meal during your lunch break, bring your lunch instead.
As a single mom, this is a huge money saver. I pack my own lunch for work as well as the boys’ school and daycare meals and we save a phenomenal amount as opposed to eating out.
To be certain, living a frugal life isn’t for everyone. It’s not easy, it requires constant action, and it quite frequently involves not doing what you want to do.
It can be hard work, but it’s work that is rewarding financially and therefore, is worth the effort.
Ane is a thirty-something millennial who is passionate about finding new ways to save money.
My 12 Favorite 5-Minute Self-Care Hacks
Do you wish you had time to invest in yourself but you feel like there isn’t a time block in your day to do so? Doing things to refresh and refuel ourselves doesn’t necessarily have to mean we need a free hour or two.
Here are 12 of my current favorite simple self-care ideas — that you can make happen in 5 minutes or less:
- Turn on a podcast. I love to listen to podcasts while I drive or wash dishes or clean the kitchen or cook. One of my favorites — especially when it comes to self-care and soul care is Emily P. Freeman’s podcast, The Next Right Thing.
- Put on a little makeup. It’s amazing how much happier and put together I feel when I take a few minutes to put on makeup. I recently trimmed my makeup routine down and only regularly use 5 products: a brow pencil, mascara, foundation, blush, and lip stick/gloss. This means I can quickly do my makeup and be on with my day — feeling happier, more energetic, and ready to meet whatever comes my way!
- Wear real PJs to bed. It’s only this year that I actually bought real PJs (can you believe that?). I used to just wear workout clothes or sweats to bed. There’s something about actually putting on a real pair of PJs that just makes me feel more relaxed and cared for. That might sound weird, but it’s proved to be very true.
- Brew a pot (or cup) of tea. I love making decaf tea with cream. It’s one of my favorite daily rituals and one I look forward to. If I’m feeling overwhelmed or tired, I usually stop and make a cup of tea — just to take a minute to slow down and breathe.
- Drink a glass of water. Many of our aches and pains and health problems can be traced back to being dehydrated. Do yourself a favor and drink more water! (Here’s how I drink a gallon of water every day.)
- Text a friend. I love to text a quick text to a friend to let her know that I’m thinking of her or praying for her. It’s simple, but those small investments in relationship can pay off in big dividends over the long haul. (Read my post here on how to be a better friend and how to find good friends.)
- Make a healthy snack. Food is your body’s fuel. Take care of yourself by regularly fueling your body with good food — like fresh fruit sprinkled with coconut, or fresh veggies with hummus, or peanut butter and celery, or a hard-boiled egg, or a piece of whole-wheat toast.
- Go outside. I try to stop at least once or twice a day and just step outside and look around. To breathe in the scents and sights of the world around me. To listen to the bird singing or see the sun rising or marvel at the beauty of creation.
- Clean or organize something. I always feel so fulfilled when I take a few minutes to clean something. This might be putting away laundry, or wiping down the kitchen countertops, or putting away the dishes. It gives you a little boost in your day (or at least it does for me!)
- Light a candle. There’s something about having a candle burning that just makes a house feel homier and makes you feel like you are taking better care of yourself and your family. Also, a messy house can feel cleaner when a candle is burning! 😉
- Make your bed. I know I said that I don’t always make my bed, but after reading the book called Make Your Bed, I’ve been inspired to make this an almost-daily habit. I find that a made bed is a gift to myself. It just makes me happy to walk into the room and see the bed all made — and it truly does inspire me to have more order in other areas of my life, too.
- Turn on music. I love listening to music while running or cleaning or reading or making dinner or while working on the computer. One of my current favorites is listening to the soundtrack from The Greatest Showman.
What are YOUR favorite quick and easy self-care ideas? Share them in the comments!
P.S. This post was inspired by my friend, MacKenzie. Read her post on 5 Lovelies for My Current Self-Care.
Gretchen’s $51 Grocery Shopping Trip & Menu Plan
Dillons
1 Kroger Ice Cream – $2.50
1 Kroger Cottage Cheese – $1.89, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $1.49 after coupon
2 Simple Truth Coffee K-Cups – $4.99 each, used $2/2 e-coupon – $3.99 each after coupon
2.45 lbs Bananas – $1.20
1 pkg Chobani Yogurt – $1.49, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon
4 Kroger Frozen Veggies – $0.88 each, used $0.40/2 mailer coupon – $0.78 each after coupon
1 loaf bread – $1.99
1 Kroger Peanut Butter – $1.79, used Free mailer coupon – Free after coupon
Total after coupons: $18.28
Aldi
1 pkg Frozen Chicken Breasts – $5.99
1 bag Potatoes – $2.29
1 pkg Lasagna Noodles – $1.25
2 dozen Eggs – $1.59 each
1 gallon Milk – $2.08
2 cans Green Beans – $0.44 each
1 pkg Grapes – $3.15
1 bag Spinach – $1.29
2 Cucumbers – $0.49 each
1 loaf Bread – $0.83
1 pint Grape Tomatoes – $1.29
1 Pineapple – $1.19
1 Jelly – $1.59
1 Frozen Orange Juice – $1.19
2 lbs Butter – $2.46 each
2 pints Blueberries – $0.49 each
Total: $33.08
Total for all groceries: $51.36
Menu Plan for This Week
We still have some veggies and fruit leftover from last week that I’ll be using up this week.
Breakfasts
Toast & Eggs x 4
Cereal x 2
Cinnamon Rolls, Fruit, Juice
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Sliced Veggies x 2
Mac & Cheese, Apple Slices, Grapes
Cheese, Crackers, Fruit, Veggies
Baked Potato Bar
Leftovers x 2
Dinners
Friends for dinner (We’re having a BYO Meat Grill-out and Game Night) – I’ll thaw out a few chicken breasts for us and will be making a fruit salad as well.
Lasagna, Steamed Peas, Spinach Salad
Venison Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Homemade Bread
Chicken Noodle Casserole, Spinach Salad, Fruit Salad
Waffles, Eggs, Bacon (leftover from last week)
Out to eat (Papa Johns Pizza using coupon codes!) 🙂
BBQ Meatballs (using ground venison), Biscuits, Green Beans
What I Read & Watched This Past Week
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
This week, I finished reading Courage to Soar by Simone Biles. It was an easy read (written more for teens and pre-teens), but it was pretty interesting to hear her backstory. As she appeared so confident and happy at the Olympics, it was insightful, and (dare I say?) encouraging, to read of all of the struggles she went through to get there.
It’s so easy to watch someone perform flawless routines and just assume they have natural talent and forget that there is so much hard work that has gone on behind-the-scenes to get to that place where it looks effortless.
Overall, the book was pretty well written and a fast read. It was a little “fluff-y”, but it had some good nuggets of wisdom and inspiration throughout it and I think it might be a great book to give to your daughters or a great book to read if you love gymnastics or are fascinated with Olympic athletes in general (I fit into both of those categories!)
I’m also slowly reading — and absolutely loving — Mom Set Free. I love it so much that a new friend and I started doing a book study on it last Saturday. I can already tell it is going to be so good to read through it and discuss it with another mom!
What I Watched Last Week
Jesse and I didn’t get to go see a movie this past week because the kids were home from school due to the snow AND because the theater was closed due to the snow. We’re hoping to find time to catch a movie this coming week.
(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.)
In the mean time, I finished watching all of Gilmore Girls — including the new Year in the Life. Sad to say, I just was really disappointed with the last few seasons of Gilmore Girls and the Year in the Life version.
I thought the last few episodes and the Year in the Life version were mostly boring and I was disappointed with choices that the characters made. I watched it while doing other things, otherwise, it would have been too boring to just sit and watch (sorry to all of you Gilmore Girls fans!). I really did love the first few seasons. I kind of wish they had just stopped after those… and I am second-guessing my decision to finish out the whole show.
This week, we also started watching Arrow. I totally surprised myself by really enjoying the show. We’re only 6 episodes in, so I can’t speak from great experience, but so far, we’re enjoying it. Have you watched it? (Note: This is definitely more of a PG-13 type of show.)
We also loved watching the next episode of This is Us — I can’t stop talking about what an amazing show that is!
How 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.