Money Saving Mom®

Guest post from Kyle of Shultz Photo School

It’s the end of November already and the holidays are here! The excitement is building, and so is your to-do list. One of the things on the list: Christmas Cards!

Don’t just use any ole snapshot this year. Here are a few tips to get a pro-quality pic for cards or gifts, but without the pro quality cost.

Step 1: Light it well.

Set up shop just inside your front door OR just inside an open garage door. Place your subject inside the door a mere 1-2 feet. You’ll be left with soft, even front light. It’s easy to work with and very forgiving.

One warning: do NOT take the pic in direct sunlight. Shoot at a time of day to where your kiddo is in the shade of the doorway. This will keep the light soft and even.

Step 2: Cover up any distractions with a backdrop.

To save loads of money, find a bed sheet, or better yet, your favorite blanket or quilt. Textures and colors can work great — don’t be afraid of them! This year, I used a quilt I bought for my wife last Christmas.

Drape the quilt or sheet over a shower curtain rod, a paint roller extension pole, or even a long broom handle. Use clamps or some duct tape to keep it from sliding off.

Get it all situated and hoist it up in the air. It should be light enough to make a great volunteer project for the hubby (just have him hold it up). Or simply prop it up between two high backed bar stools, etc.  I cheated by using my backdrop stand, but I’ve boot-legged it many times.

Place the backdrop just a few feet behind where the subject. This way it’ll still get some light on it. The further back you place it, the less bright it will be. Here’s a sneak peek of my setup inside my front door:

Step 3: Add a bench, a chair, or just stand… and snap away.

The garage is a great place for the whole family as it’s wider. I just found a bench from inside and brought it out for the kids to sit on:

Simple enough. Here are a few results:

Kyle Shultz teaches parents about photography at Shultz Photo School. He says all 3 of his kids look like his beautiful wife. If you’re interested in more helpful photography ideas, be sure to register for the FREE $17 DIY Studio mini-course over at Shultz Photo School.

Guest post by Asheritah of One Thing Alone

Your Thanksgiving feast doesn’t have to break the bank to be delicious.

This year, to help us reach our monthly financial goals, I decided to keep our Thanksgiving meal simple. I asked each of our family members which traditional Thanksgiving food is most important to them, and then strategized ways to make everyone (and our budget) happy.

Obviously, I haven’t yet prepared the meal, but here’s what we’ll be having:

• Turkey breast: $3.49
• Peas: $0.89
• Corn: $0.49
• Mac & Cheese: $0.49
• Sweet potatoes: $0.07
• Stuffing: $0.69
• Corn muffins: $0.47
• Pumpkin pie (homemade): $1
• Butter: $0.80
• Eggs: $0.50
• Milk: $0.20

TOTAL: $9.09

In all, the meal will cost us less than $10 for 3 adults and 1 child. I’d say that’s a win!

Here’s how you can do it, too:

1. Simplify the meal.

Ask your family members what’s one item they each really want, and feel free to let go or downsize those foods that are never a big hit anyway.

My husband wanted stuffing. I wanted corn muffins. Our daughter wanted mac & cheese, and my father-in-law wanted something sweet. I felt like we HAD to have turkey, but we’re not really a fan of the big bird, so the little turkey breast tenderloin fit the bill without hitting our wallet.

We also simplified the sides. Since we’re loading up on carbs, I added some veggies to make our meal healthier but opted out of the typical casseroles.

2. Shop sales at discount stores.

I bought most of my ingredients at Aldi, but I also scored cheap produce at a local discount store that offers incredible deals (like two 10-pound bags of sweet potatoes for $1.69).

I also try to shop sales whenever I can, especially if they’re cutting already-low prices. I bought the turkey tenderloin when it was on sale a few weeks ago and stuck it in the freezer for the future. I also got the butter on sale awhile back and keep a stash in the freezer. By buying sales in bulk year-round, I can stock up and save on staple pantry items.

3. Cook what you can from scratch.

Most pumpkin pies cost around $5 in grocery stores. By making it at home, I’ll be saving 80%. I’m using a small pie pumpkin a friend gifted me for fall décor, a $0.65 can of evaporated milk, and a homemade crust that will cost a fraction of what ready-made crusts cost in-store.

Cooking from scratch means I can afford more variety because I’m paying less for raw ingredients.

At the end of the day, it’s not the Thanksgiving meal that matters but rather a thankful heart. Whether you have a table overflowing with the richest foods or a simple meal shared with those you love, the important thing is to come together with gratefulness and express our appreciation for each other.

How to you keep your Thanksgiving celebrations frugal and fun!

Asheritah is a writer, speaker, and blogger at One Thing Alone. She helps overwhelmed women find joy in Jesus through devotionals, videos, and Scripture art. She’s also the author of “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional.”

Guest post from Becky of Milo & Oats

Living with diet restrictions can be a huge budget-buster. From food allergies to celiac disease, there are a variety of health needs that might leave you searching for an economical way to bake for your loved ones.

Here are some tips that will have you baking up delicious treats without breaking the bank!

Make your own flour blend.

Do you eat gluten-free? Do you have a loved one with a wheat allergy?

If you’ve had experience baking gluten-free, you know it requires multiple flours for baking success. However, commercial pre-made blends can be expensive! It’s much more cost-effective to make your own.

There are many gluten-free flour blend recipes out there. A quick Google or Pinterest search should get you started in finding recipes with which to experiment.  Once you have a recipe in hand, you’ll need to actually purchase the appropriate flours!

The natural foods section of your local grocery store will likely carry a variety of gluten-free flours. However, this is usually not the most cost-effective. My favorite to place to purchase gluten-free flours at a great price is Azure Standard. I buy rice, milo (sorghum) and teff flour, as well as potato and tapioca starch. If you don’t have a local Azure drop, Vitacost may be a good option.

Use everyday ingredients.

Ingredient substitutes can be shockingly expensive. We have an egg allergy in our family, so previously I have used egg replacer powder. Then, I realized there are many other ways to replace eggs. Flaxseed, banana, or applesauce work well as an egg replacement.

These are all ingredients I tend to have on hand, anyway. Not to mention, they are healthier than using a synthetic replacement!

Buy in bulk.

We love our Costco. I have found savings on ingredients that would otherwise be considerably more expensive — coconut oil and flax seed make the list.

We also buy the Kirkland brand chocolate chips. Did you know that they don’t contain dairy?? They have been one of my greatest Costco discoveries. Way less expensive than buying those little bags of specialty chocolate chips!

We are not Sam’s Club members but I’m sure they have some allergy-friendly deals worth discovering, too.

Focus on foods you can eat.

This one is so important, but probably took the longest for me to discover. Focus on all of the delicious, safe foods that you can eat!

Baking with allergies can be discouraging because there are so many ingredients to alter, or replace entirely! By concentrating on recipes that require less replacement, your baking success will be greatly increased. Your results will actually get eaten, not thrown out…again.

Apple crisp naturally requires no eggs and a smaller amount of flour. A big bowl of berries with some lightly sweetened coconut whipped cream is a treat! Cut yourself some slack and relish eating those wallet-friendly, in-season foods.

These are just a few tips we use — I’d love to know what you would add to my list! 

Becky is a wife and homeschool mom to five incredible kids. She loves chocolate, books, and baking allergy-friendly treats for her family. Becky is the blogger behind Milo & Oats and loves chatting about everything from parenting to curriculum hoarding to what’s for dinner.