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Shared Jul 3, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s $63 Grocery Shopping and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 3, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Aldi

I’m supposed to bring fruit to 2 get-togethers this week so I took advantage of Aldi’s great prices on strawberries and blueberries this week!

1 Split Top Wheat Bread – $0.99

5 pkg Strawberries – $0.99 each

2 pkg Blueberries – $1.49 each

1 pkg Red Grapes – $2.89

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

1 pkg (16 oz) Shredded Cheese – $3.69

1 Rice Cakes – $1.29

1 lb Butter – $2.69

1 can Refried Beans – $0.79

Total: $22.74

Dillons

1 Vanilla Extract – $4.99 (I normally don’t use vanilla extract when a recipe calls for it because it’s too expensive to keep on hand. However, I am making food for other people this week so I thought I should probably use it for that.) 🙂

1 Kroger Powdered Sugar – $1.49

4 pkg (3 lbs each) Tyson Frozen Chicken Breasts – $4.99 each (I always stock up on frozen chicken breasts when I can get it for this price. This will last us for several weeks.)

2.10 lbs Bananas @ $0.59/lb – $1.24

1 bag Kroger Flour – $1.79

1 Green Pepper – $0.99

1 Lettuce – $0.99

1 Kroger Bath Tissue – $2.99

1 gallon Milk – $2.99

Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 6, Get $3 off instantly):

4 Hefty Freezer Bags – $0.99 each, used 2 $1/2 coupon from the 5/18 RedPlum insert – $0.49 each after coupons

4 Speedstick Deodorant – $0.89 each, used 2 $0.50/1 printable and 2 $0.50/1 coupon from the 6/15 SmartSource insert – $0.39 each after coupon

4 Ronzoni Pasta – $0.49 each, used 2 $1/2 printable – Free after coupon

Total before sales and coupons: $99.94

Total after sales and coupons: $40.80

Total for all grocery items: $63.54

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Fruit, Smoothies, Cinnamon Rolls (for a special July 4th breakfast), Banana Muffins

Lunches

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit/Veggies/Banana Muffins, Baked Potatoes & Broccoli, Rice Cakes with Peanut Butter

Dinners

Chicken Fajitas, Grapes

Dinner at my parent’s house (I’m bringing a fruit salad.)

“Boy’s Night Out” (My hubby and son will eat out while I spend the evening with some of my girlfriends – I’m bringing fruit.)

Spaghetti, Biscuits, Green Beans, Tossed Salad

Southwestern Roll-Ups, Steamed Broccoli, Peaches (from my canning last fall)

Grilled Chicken, 30-Minute Rolls, Tossed Salad

Leftovers

Shared Jul 2, 2014 comment

ENDS TOMORROW! Get $176 in FREE bonuses when you set up a checking/savings account!

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Could you use an extra $176 in cash right now? Well, I’ve got exciting news for you! You can get $176 in bonuses for the next three days only with this special offer from Capital One. You’ll want to jump on this while you can!

Here’s how to get $176 in bonuses:

#1. Open a Savings Account and get $76 in Bonuses

::Open a no-fee 360 Savings® account between June 30 and July 3, 2014.

::Deposit a minimum of $500.

::Get a free $76 bonus after 30 days. You can close your account or leave your money in there and earn interest on it.

Sign up for you $76 free bonus here.

(Note: If you plan to do both offers, be sure to open the Savings Account first, then the Checking Account.)

#2. Open a New Checking Account and get $100 in Bonuses

::Open a fee-free 360 Checking® account between June 30 and July 3, 2014.

::Use your Debit Card to make 5 purchases or use CheckMateSM to make 5 remote check deposits (or a combination of both) within 45 days of opening your account.

::On day 50, a $100 bonus will be added to your account. You can close your account or leave your money in there and earn interest on it.

There is no minimum purchase required, so you could make 5 small purchases to qualify. Sign up for your $100 bonus here.

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Shared Jul 2, 2014 comment

8 Ways to Teach Your Kids To Be Financially Independent

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I’m honored that one of the strategies we use to teach our kids was featured on Time.com today as part of their article on 8 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Be Financially Independent.

Head on over here to read it.

Also, check out my post Why We Pay Our Children for Doing Chores.

Shared Jul 2, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: Spent $4.64 out of pocket

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 2, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

CVS Shopping Trip

Transaction #1

2 pkg CVS Diapers/Training pants – $6.99 each (Buy 1, Get $3 ECBs)

1 Root Beer – $0.99 (This will be a special treat for the 4th of July!)
Used $0.25/1 CVS coupon from the in store machine

Used $3/$15 CVS coupon from my email inbox

Used $9 ECBs from previous shopping trips

Total with tax ($0.96): $3.69, Received $6 ECBs

Transaction #2

1 Gillette Venus Razor – $7.29 (Buy 1, Get $4 ECBs)
Used $2/1 printable

1 Gold Emblem Candy – $0.99 (I was planning on using a $3 ECBs from transaction #1, but it printed out as a $6 ECBs so I had to throw something in at the last minute. I’ll add this to my candy stash I keep to give as gifts or set out when we have company.)

Used $6 ECBs from Transaction #1

Total with tax ($0.67): $0.95, Received $4 ECBs

Total for all transactions: $4.64 plus $4 ECBs leftover

Shared Jul 1, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip: Spent $3.26 out of pocket!

Published: by Crystal Paine on July 1, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Walgreens Shopping Trip

Transaction #1

1 Starbucks Iced Coffee – $1
Used $1/1 printable

Paid $0.07 (tax), Received $1 Register Rewards

Transaction #2

1 Crystal Light – $2
Used $1/1 printable

1 Save & Smile Paper Towels – $0.69

Used $1 Starbucks Register Reward from Transaction #1

Paid $0.88 (total with tax), Received $2 Register Rewards

Transaction #3

1 GUM Toothbrush (2 pk) – $2.50

Used $2 Register Reward from Transaction #2

Paid $0.68 (total with tax), Received $2.50 Register Rewards

Transaction #4

1 Starbucks Iced Coffee – $1
Use $1/1 printable

1 Crystal Light – $2
Use $1/1 printable

Paid $1.21 (total with tax), Received $1 Register Rewards and a $2 Register Rewards

Transaction #5

1 GUM Toothbrush (2 pk) – $2.50

1 Save & Smile Paper Towels – $0.69

Used $3 Register Rewards from Transaction #4

Paid $0.42 (total with tax), Received $2.50 Register Rewards

Total for all transactions before coupons, sales and Register Rewards: $20.80

Total for all transactions with tax after coupons, sales and Register Rewards: $3.26, with $5 Register Rewards leftover (That’s like getting everything free!)

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

Click here to sign up!

Shared Jun 30, 2014 comment

Peek Into Last Week: A birthday date, new hairstyles, freezer cooking, watching the World Cup without cable TV, and a trip to Dallas!

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 30, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This past week was a full week, but it was packed full of wonderful times with dear people, special memories, and many blessings!

We have a tradition at our house where the birthday child gets to go on an outing of their choice with both Dad and Mom separately. Kaitlynn went out with Jesse to Cracker Barrel last Saturday her birthday date with dad.

For her birthday date with mom, she chose to go to the mall — which I was not in the least surprised about since she is becoming quite the little fashionista. She asked specifically to go to Forever 21, Aeropostle, Bath & Body Works, and Pottery Barn.

Not sure where she got the fashionista/decorating gene from, but it clearly wasn’t me. She did, however, get some of my frugal gene because she chose fragrance that was 75% off at Bath & Body Works and a shirt that was 20% off at Forever 21. Total spent = $18 out of pocket. Memories made together = priceless.

Also, I totally cracked up at her comment when we were walking around Pottery Barn. She said, “It’s too expensive to actually buy anything here, but I love to look around the store for ideas.” That’s my girl. 😉

Silas is quite the little sports fanatic, so he’s been closely following the World Cup scores and games. Only, we don’t have cable, so the guys have had to get creative in finding ways to watch the games. The above was how I found them on Sunday — all cozied up watching together on the iPad — whooping and hollering their hearts out.

For Thursday’s game, they figured out a way to hook up the iPad to the TV so they could watch it on a larger screen. When there’s a will, there’s usually a way. 🙂

Kaitlynn has been attempting to learn how to do a beachy waves look on my hair using a new curling wand I got on sale.

This is another look Kaitlynn did on my hair this week. She’s also been practicing on my make up, learning how to do smoky eyes looks and more.

At the rate this girl is learning (thanks to YouTube and Bethany Mota), I will soon have my own live-in cosmetologist, hair stylist, and personal shopper!

This is my new dear friend and neighbor, Tam. I wish you all could meet her. She and her family have been direct gifts from God to our family as we settle in TN.

They’ve loved on us, brought us food, watched our kids, made us cookies, listened to us, made us salsa, laughed with us, prayed for us, introduced us to many of their friends, and been the hands and feet of Jesus in this big transition.

We had fun going to get manicures on Monday with a gift card I had! It’s amazing how close you can feel to someone you just met last month!

On Tuesday, I did a little No-Oven Freezer Cooking and made Energy Bites and Healthy Protein Peppermint Fudge while Jesse made pancakes. I love getting to work in the kitchen with my best friend!

And I was SO happy because the fudge was a HUGE success. More details on my freezer cooking session and the recipes I used coming tomorrow or Wednesday.

Kaitlynn is always creating beauty and art wherever she goes. On Wednesday, we made snowflakes (her idea — who says you can’t make snowflakes in June??) and then she used them as a stencil for painting watercolor pictures. It was a fun indoor project on a hot summer day.

Thursday, I flew to Dallas to speak at a conference there on Friday and Saturday. If you go on business trips regularly, you’ll want to check out my post I wrote on 4 ways I save hundreds of dollars each year on business trips.

The conference on Friday was such a blessing. I started the day rather out-of-sorts and ask some close friends to pray for me as I just felt so inadequate to be there speaking. Well, God answered their prayers and gave me so much energy for the conference, but also brought a number of unexpected blessings my way, too.

A dear mom of four adorable kids and longtime blog reader made me an organic salad and homemade salad dressing (her delicious recipe is here) and brought it to me at the conference… Because she knows I love salad so much and try to eat a salad everyday. She even wrote down all the ingredients so I’d know exactly what was in the salad and dressing! I was blown away by her thoughtfulness and kindness!!

It was so fun to get to spend time with my dear friend, Rachel, at the conference as she and her family live near Dallas. We have so many wonderful memories of time spent together in our teens… Just wish we didn’t live miles & miles apart now!

After a busy, tiring, but oh-so-blessed two days speaking in Dallas, I was thankful for a few minutes at the airport to put my feet up and read this book I’ve been loving on finding margin and breathing room in your life.

Also, notice my shoes? We had to run out and buy those at Kohl’s on Friday night because the Aerosole sandals — one of my beloved pairs of speaking shoes that I was planning to wear on Saturday — broke beyond repair on Friday. I was just grateful we were able to find a replacement Aerosole shoes that I love and that I had a Kohl’s gift card with me that covered the unexpected purchase!

You just never quite know what will happen when you’re on the road. I’m just grateful it wasn’t a run-in with the escalator this time! 🙂

We had a quiet Sunday & Monday — which was a blessing after a busy week. Lots of hanging out together as a family, cooking together, cleaning together, playing games together, watching movies together, and just being together. It was bliss!

Kathrynne had me teach her how to make Homemade Energy Bites tonight so that she could make them every week instead of me (we’ve been going through a batch per week recently!) I was so impressed with how well her batch turned out, but most of all, I loved her willing initiative and desire to save me time and effort!

I’m working myself out of job — and it’s a bittersweet thing.

And I’ll close out this long post with my favorite picture from this week: Not much in the world can rival this. So blessed that this boy still loves his nightly Mama Snuggles! I’m soaking them up!

How was YOUR week last week? I’d love to hear!

Shared Jun 30, 2014 comment

My 6 Goals For This Week

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 30, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We’re heading back to Kansas for most of the week this week, so I’m keeping my goals really simple.

Last Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

~~1. Finish reading Brother Andrew: Behind Enemy Lines aloud to the kids. Finish reading The Saturdays to the kids.~~

~~2. Write a love note to Jesse.~~

~~3. Work for 45 minutes on embroidering quilt square for my sister’s baby quilt.~~

~~4. Play a game with the kids.~~

~~5. Have a family movie night.~~

Personal Goals

~~6. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-32.~~

~~7. Exercise 4 times.~~

8. Go to bed by 10:30 p.m. every week night. {Still working on this one!}

9. Finish reading Breathe, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), ~~Rhinestone Jesus~~, and The Measure of Success.

Business Goals

~~10. Prep for my speaking engagement in Dallas on Friday & Saturday.~~

This Week’s Goals:

Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals

1. Start a new read-aloud with the kids.

2. Have a movie night with Jesse.

Personal Goals

3. Work on memorizing & reviewing Romans 1:1-32.

4. Exercise 4 times.

5. Go to bed by 10:30 p.m. every week night.

6. Finish reading Breathe, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), The Measure of Success, The Nesting Place, Carry On, Warrior, After the Boxes Are Unpacked, and The Traitor’s Wife. {Probably way too ambitious, but I’m trying to finish up my June Reading List.}

How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives! You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.

Shared Jun 30, 2014 comment

12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge: Week 26 Update

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 30, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Are you joining us for the 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge? If so, it’s time for our weekly check-in to post our progress.

June’s Challenge:

We’re focusing on developing the habit of a better morning routine. I encourage you to create a simple and doable morning routine and to stick with it.

New to this challenge? Read more details on the plan for this year here.

My Morning Routine Challenge for June

I created a new morning routine (see it here) and am working on sticking with it.

I’m also hoping to keep up with January’s habit of exercising at least 4-5 times every week, February’s goal of eating a big salad at least six times a week, March’s goal of drinking 8 glasses of water a day, April’s goal of cutting back on sugar, and May’s goal of getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep every night.

This Week’s Progress:

So I still have a long way to go when it comes to my morning routine, but I’m encouraged at the progress I’m making.

Here’s the rundown of how I did on my bedtime/wake-up time:

Sunday night — 10:15 p.m.
Monday morning — 5:15 a.m.
Monday night — 10:35 p.m. (I took a 30 minute nap during the day, too.)
Tuesday morning — 5:15 a.m.
Tuesday night — 12:15 a.m.
Wednesday morning — 6:53 a.m.
Wednesday night — 12 a.m.
Thursday morning — 6:45 a.m.
Thursday night — 11:30 p.m.
Friday morning — 6:30 a.m.
Friday evening — 1:15 a.m. (couldn’t sleep — not sure why!)
Saturday morning — 7:15 a.m.
Saturday evening — 11:15 p.m.
Sunday morning — 7:15 a.m.

So overall, I still have some work to do — especially when it comes to getting to bed earlier — but I’m making some good headway. And I’m encouraged by that!

I hit my water goals six of the days, exercised four days, ate a salad every single day, and didn’t have sugar once (yes, can you believe it? I’m quite proud of myself! ;))

How Are YOU Doing?

Leave a comment telling us how you did on your exercise goals this past week. If you’re blogging about this challenge, leave the direct link to your blog post about the challenge below. Are you on social media? You can also share your progress on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter by using hashtag #12MonthstoaHealthierYou.

Shared Jun 28, 2014 comment

10 Tips to Read Aloud to Kids

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 28, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Sarah of Early Bird Mom

Reading to kids regularly is a fabulous frugal summertime habit. It costs little to nothing if you get your books from the library or trade with friends, and it’s a great way to spend quality time together.

My mother tells a story of how she started reading to me when I was just a few months old. Actually she was reading Little House books to my older step-sister and I came along for the ride. That tradition continued in our family until I was well-established as a bookworm myself. Now that I have 4 boys of my own, reading together is a favorite activity in our house as well.

Reading to your kids isn’t automatically an easy thing to do, especially if you have kids of multiple ages or have a very active kid who doesn’t like to slow down to listen. If you’d like to spend more time reading together with your children, here are 10 tips to help you get started!

Here are 10 tips for reading aloud to kids:

1. Make it a habit.

Pick a reading time and put it on your schedule. After breakfast? At bedtime? After lunch? If you work it into your day, you’ll be more likely to do it and your kids will come to count on it.

2. Stop before they get tired.

Some kids can listen to books for hours. Some will only sit for 5 minutes – try to stop before your kids get antsy.

3. Remember that picture books aren’t just for babies.

There are lots of great picture books for elementary school and beyond.

4. Don’t require kids sit still.

If your kid won’t sit quietly while you read, never fear! Lots of kids listen better (and retain tons) while playing as you read. Offer Play-Doh, toy cars, crayons, or Legos. My 3-year-old has a habit of getting out his fire trucks when I start reading. He will stop playing to come see the pictures every now and then.

5. Don’t be afraid to dump a book that’s not working.

I’ve had plenty of duds – either the book was too long or my kids just weren’t interested. There’s no point in forcing a book that no one wants to read. There are too many other great books waiting to be enjoyed.

6. Turn the story into a craft.

If you’re feeling extra crafty, you can find easy projects to go along with most children’s books on Pinterest.

7. Keep your car stocked with books.

You never know when there will be an opportunity for an impromptu reading sessions with the kids.

8. Use audiobooks!

These are great for quiet time and car trips.

9. Keep a list of books you’ve read together.

Kids will enjoy looking back over the list and remembering their favorites. You might even get them to write a short review.

10. Build up their attention spans.

If your kids aren’t used to long read-alouds, start small. A short chapter of a Lemony Snickett book only takes 10 minutes. Shut the book when it’s done and your kids will be begging for more!

Reading aloud is an excellent habit to build with your kids! If you’re not completely convinced, read my 9 reasons to read to your kids this summer.

What are your best tips for reading aloud to your kids?

Sarah Mueller is a child of God, wife and homeschool mom to 4 boys, from toddler to teen. She loves helping busy moms develop simple systems to help their homes run more smoothly. You can find her at Early Bird Mom.

photo source

Download our FREE Kid’s Summer Reading Printable Pack!

Looking for a fun way to encourage and motivate your kids to read more?

Be sure to download our FREE Kid’s Summer Reading Printable Pack! It comes with a reading challenge, reading time tracker, and fill-in-the-blank summer reading list.

Shared Jun 28, 2014 comment

Homemade Allergen-Free Moon Sand

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 28, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Special Needs Homeschooling shows you how to make Allergen-Free Moon Sand.

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Click here to download!

Shared Jun 27, 2014 comment

Brigette’s $28 Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan for 6

Published: by Brigette on June 27, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I tried to keep our grocery spending lower this week – which will give me some wiggle room in the budget to make some bulk purchases the next couple of weeks! We’re going to visit family and friends back in Michigan, and while we’re there I’m excited to go to my all-time-favorite Amish bulk foods store, as well as the “Honey Farm” where we buy raw honey.

For meat this week, I will be cooking up a turkey from the freezer (I always stock up around Thanksgiving when they go on sale – and I’m down to the last one!), as well as venison (thankful for a husband who loves to hunt!). We’ll be using milk from the freezer.

Walmart

(Harris Teeter was running a 2-day sale last weekend on eggs, but rather than drive a few miles to Harris Teeter for just one thing, I price-matched at Walmart since it is less than a mile from our house)

2 cartons (30-ct each) eggs – $2.37 each (price-matched Harris Teeter) – $4.74

1 gallon Orange Juice (price-matched Food Lion) – $3.49

Total: $8.23

Harris Teeter

(Super Doubles this week, up to $2 coupons – wahoo! I made two separate trips, and below is the combined totals)

2 packages Reynolds Cupcake Liners (@$1.19 each) – $2.38, used $1/2 Reynolds printable (doubled) plus $1/2 Harris Teeter evic – $0.62 MM on 2 after coupons

1 Gillette Deodorant – $5.49, used $2/1 Gillette printable (doubled) plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.49 MM after coupons

2 cartons organic Evolution Organic Greens Juice ($3.99 each) – $7.98, used 2 $2/1 printable – NLA (doubled) – FREE after coupons

3 packages Perdue Simply Smart Chicken Nuggets (B1G1 @ 7.99) – $11.99, used 3 $2/1 Perdue printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

2 (36-ct) packages Chinet Plates (B1G1 @ $3.69) – $3.69, used 2 $1/1 Chinet printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

4 (40-ct) Truvia ($3.75) each – $15.00, used 4 $2/1 Truvia printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

3 cartons So Delicious Coconut Milk ($1.50 each) – $4.50, used 3 $1/1 So Delicious Dairy Free Product, exp. 9/30/14 (SS 06/15/14) (doubled) – FREE after coupons

2 (6-ct) packs Zevia ($3.33 each) – $9.99, used 2 $2/1 Zevia printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

4 boxes Muellers Pasta (B1G1 @ $1.99) – $3.98, used 2 $1/2 Mueller’s printable (doubled) – FREE after coupons

2 jars Earth Balance Peanut and Coconut Spread (@$2.50 each) – $5.00, used 2 $1/1 Earth Balance printable (doubled) – $0.50 each after coupons

2 packages Hefty plates (B1G1 @ $2.99) – $2.99, used $1/2 Hefty plates printable – $0.99 for 2 after coupons

3 boxes Horizons Macaroni and Cheese ($1.25 each) – $3.75, used $0.55/1 Horizons printable (doubled), $1/2 Horizons catalina printout (doubled), and $0.55/1 Harris Teeter evic – $0.10 for 3 boxes after coupons

2 boxes Cheerios ($2.00 each) – $4.00, used $1.10/2 printable (doubled) – $0.90 each after coupons

2 boxes Total ($2.00 each) – $4.00, used $1.10/2 printable (doubled) – $0.90 each after coupons

2 (24-ct) boxes Lipton Tea (B1G1 @$3.29) – $3.29, used 2 $0.75/1 Lipton printable (doubled) – $0.29 for 2 after coupons

2 Sweet Baby Rays Barbeque Sauce (B1G1 @ $2.29) – used $1/2 Sweet Baby Ray’s printable (doubled) – $0.29 for 2 after coupons

2 bags Lays Kettle Cut Chips ($2.50 each) – $5.00, used $1/1 printable – NLA (doubled) – $0.50 each after coupons

1 package Huggies Pull-Ups – $8.99 – used $2/1 Pull-Ups printable (doubled) plus $2/1 Harris Teeter evic – $2.99 after coupons

1 bag Milky Way Unwrapped Bites – $3.69, used $1/1 Unwrapped Bites from RP 06/15/22 insert (doubled – I needed these for a baking project for VBS) – $1.69 after coupons

Baking Powder – $1.27

1 bag (3-ct) Reduced Avocados – $1.00

~Received $2.15 refund at Customer Service for the Fiber One/Nature Valley Bars that rang up incorrectly last week

Total after all sales, tax and coupons: $12.23

Local Farmer’s Market

3 heads of reduced Broccoli @ $0.79 each – $2.37

1 reduced Cabbage @ $0.29/lb – $0.97

1 head Romaine lettuce – $1.29

3.25 lbs reduced ripe Strawberries – $2.99

Total: $7.62

Fresh Produce from a Friend’s Garden

Total: Free (Thanks, Kathryn!! :))

Weekly Total after all sales, tax, and coupons: $28.08

Weekly Menu Plan

Breakfasts

Scrambled Eggs and Toast, Avocado Smoothies, Cereal x2, Oatmeal x2, Zucchini bread

Lunches

Macaroni and Cheese/Strawberries/Cucumber Slices, PB&J on Homemade Bread/Carrot Sticks, Build-Your-Own Tossed Salad with Hard Boiled Eggs, Grilled Cheese Sandwiches/Chips/Cucumbers, Veggie Omelettes/Strawberry Smoothies, Leftovers x2

Dinners

Meat Potato Quiche, Roasted Broccoli, Strawberries

Chicken Nuggets, Homemade Oven Baked French Fries, Sautéed Green Beans

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Pull-Apart Oat Rolls, Tossed Salad

Best Chicken Pot Pie (I will be using turkey), Steamed Broccoli

Broccoli/Cheese Baked Potatoes, Easy Whole Wheat Muffins, Relish Plate

Grilled Turkey Burgers on Homemade Buns, Grilled Broccoli, Creamy Milk Rice

Venison Roast/Potatoes/Carrots in the Crockpot, leftover Pull-Apart Oat Rolls

Shared Jun 27, 2014 comment

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 27, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

If you’re looking for a simple, frugal, and nutritious way to use up some fresh (or frozen) blueberries, this is your recipe! These muffins are packed with flavor, freezer friendly, and delicious!

Guest post from Laura of Life As A Loewen

I love the way blueberry muffins can be eaten for breakfast, snack, or even dessert! This recipe is super-simple, (practically) fool-proof, and makes you the “muffin hero” in less than a half-an-hour!

Even more, I love that this recipe is fairly healthy, using intentional ingredients to make a more nutritious muffin. It’s a great recipe to make when blueberries are on sale!

Ingredients for Blueberry Muffins

2 eggs
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup melted coconut oil
¾ cup sugar
4 cups whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
6 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 ½ pints of fresh blueberries

NOTE: Use as many or as few blueberries as you like. I love LOTS of blueberries, but make it to your taste.

How to Make Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Grease two 12-cup muffin tins.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, melted coconut oil, and sugar and mix well.

3. Add a cup of flour, followed by baking powder and salt.

4. Next, alternate adding milk and the remaining three cups of flour, being sure not to overload your mixer while mixing together on a low setting.

5. Fold in the blueberries, taking care to not over-mix as you want to keep the blueberries intact.

6. Soon batter into greased muffin tins, filling each ¾ full.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes.

8. Enjoy!

Recipe

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Author Crystal Paine

Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 8

Cook Time 18

Ingredients

2 eggs
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup melted coconut oil
¾ cup sugar
4 cups whole wheat flour or all-purpose
6 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 ½ pints fresh blueberries

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Grease two 12-cup muffin tins.
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, applesauce, melted coconut oil, and sugar and mix well.
Add a cup of flour, followed by baking powder and salt.
Next, alternate adding milk and the remaining three cups of flour, being sure not to overload your mixer while mixing together on a low setting.
Fold in the blueberries, taking care to not over-mix as you want to keep the blueberries intact.
Soon batter into greased muffin tins, filling each ¾ full.
Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes.
Enjoy!

Nutrition

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Try this recipe today and feel free to use your own variations to suit your family’s needs. Either way, these will be a big hit and probably a new staple in your home!

What are your favorite ways to use up fresh blueberries?

Laura is a mama of three littles {and adopting another!} trying to pursue Jesus daily. Attempting to be genuine and raw, Laura seeks to find the humor in everyday life. Laura shares her journey through faith, motherhood and marriage at Life As A Loewen. She’s passionate, sometimes loud, and always in the mood for cupcake ice cream.

Shared Jun 26, 2014 comment

Hello, Dallas… and how I save hundreds of dollars on business trips!

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 26, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

The view from my hotel room this evening

I flew into Dallas this afternoon to speak at a conference here tomorrow and Saturday. And as I was going about my day, I thought it’d be fun to share a few tips I’ve picked up on how to save money on business trips.

Note I said business trips. That’s very important.

You see, if you really want to save money, I recommend taking road trips. They are much less expensive than flying anywhere. Plus, you can bring a cooler and your own food. And well, they are usually just so much more economical in so many different ways.

So this post is not written from an ultra-frugal perspective. Because well, business trips in and of themselves don’t tend to be ultra-frugal. And that’s okay. Usually, the value you are providing or receiving in return for the expense paid by your business or another business on your behalf makes it worth the investment.

But I know that many of you do take frequent or occasional business trips, and I thought I’d share a few money-saving tips I employed today that might inspire you or spark an idea to help you save money. Because just these four things combined, save me hundreds of dollars every year.

First off, always bring your own reading material instead of being tempted to buy an overpriced book or magazine from the airport gift shop. In fact, always bring a little more than you think you’ll be able to read. Because this way, if there’s a flight delay or some other delay, it can just become a relaxing reading time, instead of a stressful, twiddle-your-thumbs-with-nothing-to-do time.

I save all the magazines that come in from our five or six current subscriptions in a drawer and then bring a few of them each time I travel. I also bring a few books. Usually a few too many… but hey, if we are stranded somewhere for 12 hours, at least I’ll have plenty of good reading material. 😉

Bring your own tea bags, too. I love hot tea — and it’s so soothing on your throat if you’ve been doing a lot of speaking/talking at events. I usually have a few tea bags in my purse and a few more in my suitcase and then I can make hot tea in the hotel room with the coffee maker or I can ask for hot water on the plane to make my own tea.

Not only is a soothing cup of tea is a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day, but it’s much more convenient and much less expensive when you bring your own tea bags instead of buying a hot drink at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

When you arrive at your location, if at all possible, find a place nearby to purchase a case of water or even a 6-pack of water bottles (if it’s a short stay). This encourages you to stay hydrated while you’re busy in meetings or at a conference, and it’s also so much cheaper than buying individual water bottles from the hotel or venue where you’re at.

We also often stop by the grocery store and pick up some food for snacks/meals to extend our travel food budget. Not only is this so much less expensive than eating all your meals out or grabbing snacks from the hotel gift shop, but it’s also much more convenient if you’re needing to eat a quick snack (as I often do) to give you stamina before you go on stage or into that three-hour intensive meeting.

The fourth photo I took today was of my beloved suitcase. I bought this suitcase off of Groupon at a steal and it has traveled many, many miles with me and saved me well over a thousand dollars in the last year.

Why? Because it’s roomy and can fit enough stuff in it for up to an 8-day trip. Which means I never pay for baggage fees — which add up very quickly when you usually travel a few times per month!

When I started traveling regularly, I created a “system” of sorts for packing and have pared down to the essentials I need for trips + a few extras. I typically always pack almost the exact same thing every trip.

(Yes, I don’t have that many outfits so I wear the same progression of 2-3 outfits for almost every trip until those outfits wear out or the seasons change! It might seem really boring, but it actually simplifies things so that packing for a business trip usually takes me very little time.)

You can see a peek into my packed-for-an-8-day-trip suitcase here, if you’re interested.

What advice or tips do you have for saving money on business trips and/or while traveling? I’d love to hear so I can get some new ideas to try!

Shared Jun 26, 2014 comment

We Paid Cash: Our Escrow Shortage

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 26, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

A testimony from Jill

About a month ago, my husband and I received a letter in the mail that the escrow balance on our rental home was short by $1351. After doing some research, we found that we had been paying taxes only on the land the home was built on and not on the home itself.

We had two months to come up with the money — and we were worried since we just completed an out-of-state move and I recently became a stay-at-home mom.

I started going through our home looking for anything I was willing to sell. I sold purses I no longer used, business supplies and products from a direct sales company I was no longer part of, a coffee table we had no room for, kitchen items I no longer used, a bridesmaid dress from a wedding I was in, and many other items.

After only 1 month, I had enough to pay the bill!

Here is the breakdown of how we saved up enough to pay this bill:

Put items in a garage sale at my parents’ house — $186

Listed items on local Facebook yard sale pages — $762

Carefully reviewed the escrow bill and called the mortgage company. We found that our homeowner’s insurance had been paid twice, and we received a check back from the insurance company for $562.

Not only did we have enough to cover the expenses, but there was money left over!

I am still listing items on the yard sale sites because I have learned that I truly do not need so many of the items I have in my home, and less is more!

Jill is a wife and a stay-at-home mom to her 8-month-old daughter. She loves finding deals, bargain shopping, and working hard to become debt free.

Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.

Shared Jun 26, 2014 comment

Gretchen’s $32.21 Grocery Shopping Trip and Weekly Menu Plan

Published: by Crystal Paine on June 26, 2014 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Health Food Store

2.21 lbs Zucchini/Squash @ $0.79/lb – $1.75

0.80 lbs Green Beans @ $1.29/lb – $1.03

Total: $2.78

Aldi

2 pkg Red Grapes – $1.78 each (I was SO excited about this price! This is the cheapest grapes have been in our area for a long time!)

1 can Black Beans – $0.59

1 lb Butter – $2.40

1 Pineapple – $1.29

1 pkg Flour Tortillas – $1.19

4 Plums – $0.29 each

1 Cucumber – $0.59

1 box Saltine Crackers – $0.89

Total: $11.67

Dillons

1 gallon Milk – $2.99

1 pkg Kroger Cheese – $2

1 pkg Yogurt – Marked down to $0.99

2 Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade/Orange Juice – $1 each, used 2 $0.50/1 coupon from the 6/15 RedPlum insert – $0.50 each after coupons

1 dozen Eggs – $1.50

1 bag Tyson Frozen Chicken Breasts – $6.99

1 Bear Naked Energy Bar – $1, used Free e-coupon (no longer available) – Free after coupon

1.44 lbs Broccoli @ $1.59/lb – $2.29

Total: $17.76

Total for all grocery items: $32.21

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Cereal, Homemade Granola, Eggs, Toast, Smoothies (with frozen fruit from the freezer)

Lunches

Macaroni & Cheese, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Fruit/Veggies/Crackers, Cheese Quesadillas, Leftovers

Dinners

Chicken & Rice Casserole, Steamed Broccoli

French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit

Black Bean & Cheese Quesadillas, Veggies (from freezer)

Italian Chicken, Freezer Biscuits, Steamed Broccoli, Baked Potatoes

Stirfry (using squash, zucchini, green beans and chicken), Sliced Apples (from last week’s shopping)

Dinner with family

Deer Roast, Freezer Biscuits, Peaches (from canning I did in the fall)

2hr Cleaning Checklist

2hr Cleaning Checklist

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Aldi

Dillons

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

#1. Open a Savings Account and get $76 in Bonuses

#2. Open a New Checking Account and get $100 in Bonuses

CVS Shopping Trip

Walgreens Shopping Trip

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How was YOUR week last week? I’d love to hear!

June’s Challenge:

My Morning Routine Challenge for June

This Week’s Progress:

How Are YOU Doing?

Here are 10 tips for reading aloud to kids:

1. Make it a habit.

2. Stop before they get tired.

3. Remember that picture books aren’t just for babies.

4. Don’t require kids sit still.

5. Don’t be afraid to dump a book that’s not working.

6. Turn the story into a craft.

7. Keep your car stocked with books.

8. Use audiobooks!

9. Keep a list of books you’ve read together.

10. Build up their attention spans.

What are your best tips for reading aloud to your kids?

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Walmart

Harris Teeter

Fresh Produce from a Friend’s Garden

Weekly Total after all sales, tax, and coupons: $28.08

Weekly Menu Plan

Ingredients for Blueberry Muffins

How to Make Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients 1x2x3x

Instructions

Nutrition

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What advice or tips do you have for saving money on business trips and/or while traveling? I’d love to hear so I can get some new ideas to try!

Health Food Store

Aldi

Dillons

Menu Plan for this Week

Breakfasts

Lunches

Dinners

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Ingredients