Photo credit: Brian Dixon
Summer Bucket List
Classic View
Grid View
How to Get Your Children Excited About Read-Alouds
Reading aloud with your child can be a magical bonding experience—discover creative, age-appropriate ways to make story time something they’ll look forward to every day.
Reading aloud with my children has given me some of the sweetest, most meaningful memories. When my older kids were little, we’d pile onto the couch or gather around the table with a snack and a stack of books, sometimes only getting through a few pages before someone interrupted or wandered off. It wasn’t always calm or picture-perfect, but those imperfect moments added up to enduring memories and a lasting love of books.
Now that I’m in the “little years” again with my younger kids, I’m reminded how special it is to savor stories together, to hear them laugh at silly voices or ask endless questions about what might happen next, and to bond over books.
If you’re trying to make reading aloud a habit in your home, some simple tips can help.
Tips to Help Children Enjoy Read-Alouds:
1. Start (& Continue) with Picture Books
When you’re first starting to read aloud together, don’t jump straight into chapter books. That’s akin to asking your six-year-old to skip elementary math and leap right into algebra.
Instead, start with picture books — reading just a little more each day to help your children’s attention span to grow over time.
Even once you’re reading chapter books, make sure that you also include a regular diet of picture books, especially for younger ones. We often begin our read-aloud time with one or two picture books that everyone crowds around to listen to and then we pick up our chapter book once I’ve finished reading the picture books.
In this way, we’re making sure that read-aloud time offers a little bit of something for everyone — and it helps provide some variety, too.
2. Ease into Chapter Books
While I do love picture books, I think it’s also good to work toward reading books that are a little bit above a child’s level to help them think and learn to analyze, and to expand their vocabulary. This is especially helpful to keep in mind if you have a range of ages listening to you read aloud — I’ve found that when I read at the level of my older child, my younger kids often understand much of what I read and get into the story, too!
I, of course, avoid inappropriately mature content with my younger kids, but I’ve found that kids often understand more complex stories and vocabulary than I might have expected and it’s worked well for me to read at the reading level of an older kid when I have younger kids listening too.
But, I recommend that you slowly work up to these more complex chapter books. Once you’re reading your children picture books regularly, gradually introduce some short chapter books. Look for chapter books that have pictures at least every few pages and that have chapters no longer than a few pages.
Here are some chapter books and series I recommend for this:
3. Stretch Story Time
Just as you want to gradually increase the complexity of what you read, you’ll also want to gradually increase how much time you spend reading together.
If you’ve never done much read-aloud time before, I’d recommend starting with just five or ten minutes and working up from there. For those who have young children, starting them on chapter books by reading while they are eating breakfast or lunch is a great way to introduce them to good read-alouds while their hands are already occupied and their bodies are still.
With some practice, you’ll probably find that your children are engaged for longer stretches and they may even be begging for more after you’ve already read two or three chapters.
4. Become Best Friends With the Library
I’m a champion of local libraries as they can provide a steady stream of great book options — all for free! What I love about the library is that I can check out literally dozens of books each week and then go through them to decide which ones will be best to read. If I bring some books home that don’t end up being a good fit, I can easily return them — without any guilt because they were free!
Help your children learn to love the library, too, by regularly bringing them with you to the library and helping them find good books to check out.
5. Choose Quality Books
There are so many book options available and it can be hard to navigate even the children’s section at the library. For book ideas, I consult book lists from:
- Our My Father’s World curriculum
- Honey for a Child’s Heart
- Hand That Rocks the Cradle
- Read For the Heart
- Educating the Whole-Hearted Child.
Resource books like Honey for a Child’s Heart can help you choose what to read to your children according to their age, reading level, and even interests or seasons, whether that’s animals, vehicles, or “picture books about grieving.”
6. Choose Books That Will Interest Your Child
Do you like to read books that are boring and on topics that don’t interest you? I’m guessing you don’t! So why would you expect your children to get excited about listening to books on topics that aren’t their cup of tea?
I love to choose books for my children that I think they will really love. For instance, my children are really into books that involve mystery and adventure. So books like Snow Treasure, Spiderweb for Two, and Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of Nimh are ones they have lapped up.
Some of our other favorite books that I think any child would enjoy have been:
- All-of-a-Kind Family
- The Cricket in Times Square
- James and the Giant Peach
- A Bear Called Paddington
- Wonder
- The Golden Goblet
- Johnny Tremain
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
- Childhood of Famous Americans Biographies
- Youth With a Mission Biographies
It is so fun to read together when you’re all engaged and completely interested in the topic and storyline. Plus, there’s nothing better than getting to the end of a chapter and having everyone begging, “Please, please, just one more chapter!”
7. Be Enthusiastic
Enthusiasm is contagious. If you’re excited about a book, your children usually will pick up on your excitement and join in.
When we’re getting ready to start a new read-aloud, I usually preface it by telling my children why I’m looking forward to reading it, giving them a little teaser as to what it’s about (this is often just reading the back of the book — which usually has some good teaser material on it), and why I think they’ll enjoy hearing me read it. After my little pep talk about the book, my kids are usually begging me to hurry up and start the book already. 🙂
8. Make Reading Time Fun
Want to make reading time even more fun? Get a little creative in what it looks like every day.
Maybe some days you read outside on a blanket spread out over the grass. Or, you all head out to the sandbox and you read while your children play in the sand.
How about making some hot cocoa and snuggling under a blanket? For a really special memory, set up your tent in the backyard (or create one in your basement with blankets!) and huddle in together and read with a flashlight.
If things seem a little dry in portions of a book, I’ll sometimes use funny accents or totally dramatize things just to make it fun and exciting. If my children are intently listening and then beg for more when it’s time to stop, I know that I’m accomplishing my goal of making read-aloud time something they love.
9. Don’t Expect Your Children to Sit Perfectly Still
Speaking of making reading time fun, one of the biggest things we’ve done is to not expect our children to sit still and just listen. While I know some people expect that read-aloud time means everyone sits with their hands in their lap while mom reads, that’s not at all what happens at our house. In fact, I’ve found that often my children listen better when their hands are busy.
So I encourage my children to play with Legos, or draw, or color, or do some other quiet activity while I’m reading. They seem to enjoy it a lot more — and the time flies!
We also often read as part of our meal times. It’s a great way to get in a few pages or a few chapters — while your children’s hands and mouths are busy eating!
10. Engage Your Children
When you’re reading, stop and ask questions along the way. “Why do you think they did that?” “Was that a good response or a poor response?” “What would you do if you were in that situation?”
Get your children’s minds turning and their creativity flowing. Some of our best discussions have come as a result of a book we’re reading.
Also, take time to answer their questions. It can get tiring to continually be answering question after question. But if you’re willing to take the time to listen and really respond to what your child is asking, they’ll not only learn a lot, but you’ll probably be blessed by some of the conversations this leads to.
As you’re reading, stop and locate where a country, state, and/or city is that the book mentions. My children have learned so much geography just from this simple activity.
If you encounter words that they are unfamiliar with, I love what my friend Sally Clarkson told me that she would do with her children. She said she’d stop, explain what the word meant, and then have each of her children use that word in a sentence. Talk about a great hands-on way to increase your vocabulary!
11. Don’t Be Afraid to Stop a Book If It’s Not Working
I wanted to end with this encouragement: if a book just isn’t working, don’t feel like you have to keep slogging through it. There are plenty of excellent books out there, so there’s no need to waste time on books you just aren’t enjoying at all.
Give yourself grace, chuck your guilt, and move on to a better book!
Bonus Tip: Model A Love of Reading
Like all things parenting, sometimes modeling is the best way we can encourage our kids to follow the path we want them on. I think it’s really helped our kids love reading to see me and Jesse reading in front of our kids and talking about books together!
So, I encourage you to take some time to read books yourself and use these tips to create shared memories around books with your children while instilling a habit that will impact them for life!
Related Links:
- Five Ways to Get Books for Free
- How to Find More Time to Read
- Change Your Life and Challenge Your Mind By Making Time for Reading Good Books
- Q&A: How do you choose what books you read?
- 15 Must-Read Children’s Books
- 5 Books I Finished Recently
- 50+ Frugal Screen-Free Activities for Kids
What are your best tips and suggestions for enjoying read-alouds? What are your family’s favorite read-alouds? I’d love to hear!
Want your kids to read more this summer?
Download our FREE Summer Reading Printable Pack!
Shared Sep 5, 2013
comment
52 Different Ways to Save At Least $100 Per Year: Shop at Aldi {Week 27}
52 Different Ways to Save At Least $100 Per Year: Shop at Aldi {Week 27}
Every week in 2013, I’ll be sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you’ll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you’re already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.
10 years ago, I stepped foot into Aldi for the first time in my life — and I was pretty much instantly sold. Since then, we’ve saved thousands of dollars by regularly shopping at Aldi.
In fact, I estimate that we save at least $15-$20 per trip every time we shop at Aldi. That adds up to around $780 to $1,040 in savings per year — or at least $9,000 in 10 years. That’s certainly not something to sneeze at!
Here are three reasons I think everyone should consider shopping at Aldi:
1. They Have Regular Low Prices
One of the best reasons to shop at Aldi is that their regular prices are almost always lower than you’re going to find at most any other grocery store. I love that I can count on these low prices. Without ever looking at a sales flier or clipping a coupon, I can see significant savings on my grocery bill.
2. They Have Amazing Produce Sales
Seriously, the Aldi produce sales can be incredible, sometimes even bordering on crazy low! I typically buy the most of whatever produce they have on special buys. If possible, I’ll buy extras to freeze, too.
As they rotate their rock-bottom produce sales every week or two weeks, we can eat a variety of fruits and vegetables — all at a fraction of the cost.
If you find that your Aldi consistently has a poor selection of produce, you can also price-match the produce sales at Walmart. This allows you to still benefit from the amazing sales, while almost guaranteeing that the produce selection will be in stock and high quality.
3. They Don’t Offer a Lot of Variety
At first glance, this might seem like a negative not a positive. But hear me out.
I love the fact that I don’t have to choose between 57 different varieties of cereal when I go to Aldi. There are just a few choices and they are pretty much all completely different.
There aren’t different brands, sizes, or choices that can make your head spin. Instead, what you see is what you get.
For me, this is incredibly freeing as it simplifies shopping. I can run in and run out of Aldi in nothing flat because I don’t have to compare ingredients or cost per ounce. I just pop the one kind they carry into my cart and move onto the next item on my list.
Recommended Resources
Need more convincing? Check out this Aldi 101 post.
If you’ve not read Slash Your Budget and Eat a Whole Foods Diet With Aldi, I’d recommend it. I especially loved Carrie’s one-month of Aldi menu ideas in the ebook. For more Aldi menu ideas, check out The Aldi Queen.
Also, I’d suggest checking out eMeals. They offer budget-friendly Aldi menu plans. Best of all, all the work is done for you — you just print the grocery list, shop, and cook! Find an EMeals coupon code here to make it even more affordable!
Be Strategic: Stick With Staples
If you want to successfully save money by shopping at Aldi, you’ve got to stick with buying staples. I know that pop-tarts and chicken nuggets might be less expensive than their regular grocery store counterparts, but they are a lot more expensive than it is if you just buy chicken breasts or ingredients to make muffins.
So skip the pre-packaged stuff and fill your cart with staples. Not only will you probably be eating a more wholesome diet, but your pocketbook will also benefit a lot.
Try Things at Least Once
If you’re leery of shopping at Aldi, don’t be. Just be courageous and go check out your local Aldi store. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised! You can see a list of some of my readers’ favorite things to buy at Aldi here.
(Tip: If you have multiple Aldi locations in your area, visit each of them to check them out. Sometimes, the cleanliness and product availability can vary widely from store to store.)
Not every single item will be something your family loves, but commit to trying things at least once. After all, you can’t knock something until you’ve tried it!
Are you a fan of Aldi? Why or why not? I’d love to hear!
How to Cut Your Grocery Bill Without Using Coupons
Gretchen’s $37 Weekly Grocery Shopping Trip and Menu Plan
Dillons
1 Lays Kettle Chips – $1.98, used $1/1 printable – $0.98 after coupon
1/2 gallon Milk – $2.12
Kroger Chips – $1 (These are for company we are having for lunch one day this week.)
1 Turkey Hill Ice Cream – $3.50, used $1/1 printable – $2.50 after coupon
2 Kroger Shredded Cheese – $1.67 each
2 Ramen Noodles – $0.20 each
1 Nature’s Harvest Bread – $2.49, used $0.55/1 printable – $1.94 after coupon
1 Kroger Cleaner – $0.79
1 Kroger Butter – $1.77 (We didn’t need butter, but I couldn’t pass up this price!)
10 Horizon Chocolate Milk – $0.50 each, used $2/10 e-coupon – $0.30 each after coupon
2.58 lbs Bananas @ $0.52/lb – $1.34
4 Chapstick – $1 each, used 2 $1/2 coupon from the 8/25 RedPlum insert – $0.50 each after coupons
2 Tyson Frozen, Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (3 lbs each) – $5.97, used 2 $2.50/1 printable (no longer available) – $3.47 after coupons (I was THRILLED to find these on sale at this price. I printed this coupon several weeks ago and have been waiting for a sale. This is an amazing price!)
1 French Bread – $1.79
2 Ball Park Franks – $1, used 2 $1/1 printable (no longer available) – Free after coupon (We don’t eat hot dogs, but my husband will use these for fishing bait.)
4 Navel Oranges – $0.69 each
Total before coupons and sales: $79.21
Total after coupons and sales: $37.05
Menu Plan for this Week
Breakfasts
Toast, Cereal, Fruit, Lemon Pull-Apart Bread
Lunches
Cheese Quesadillas, Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Scrambled Eggs, Cheese & Fruit, Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Dinners
Spaghetti, Biscuits, Tossed Salad
BBQ Meatballs, French Bread, Green Beans
Hashbrown Casserole (from the freezer), Fruit Salad, Steamed Broccoli
Pizza, Breadsticks, Tossed Salad
Pancakes, Eggs
Date Night
Dinner at my parents
We Paid Cash: A New Roof
A testimony from Abbygail
Seven years ago, when my husband and I bought our house, we knew we would need to replace the roof (it had 4 layers including the original cedar shakes from the 1870’s). We didn’t think too much of it, figuring when the time came, we would get a loan or use a credit card.
That was before we heard about Dave Ramsey and our financial world flipped upside down. In the last four years, we have paid off almost $60,000 in debt, paid cash for two older cars, become a single (small) income family, and had two beautiful daughters.
We knew we didn’t want to add anymore debt, so last December we set a goal of saving $10,000 for our new roof by the end of May.
Some of the money was from our tax return, and our church also gave us a portion; but the majority came by hard work and prayer. We really didn’t do much differently than we had been doing since we began our debt-free journey, we just refocused where we were putting our money (saving rather than applying it to the debt.) My husband worked as much over-time as he could, and picked up a few yard mowing jobs and other odd jobs once the weather warmed up.
When I became a stay-at-home mom two years ago, I began babysitting to help pay extra on our debt. So during those 6 months, all that income got put in a jar in our bedroom to serve as motivation. God has been so good at providing opportunities for us. We have been so blessed.
By May, we had the money saved and started getting quotes. We bought the materials ourselves (to take advantage of sale prices) and chose a contractor. They did excellent work and finished in a week. (We are usually DIYers, but this would have taken us months of doing it a weekend at a time.) After returning unused material and getting the final bill from the contractor, we were $2,000 under budget! God is so good!
We gave the contractors a little bonus, gave some back to our church, and went ahead and paid cash for four windows that we hadn’t yet replaced. We also took a mini-vacation for the first time since the start of our debt-free journey (our 4-year-old was SO excited to stay in a hotel/waterpark!)
It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when you are a little frugal and a lot faithful!
Abbygail is a stay-at-home turned work-at-home wife to Robb and mama of two beautiful girls Melea, 4, and Graciela, 1. She does in-home childcare where she not only gets to love on and tell about God to her own babies, but to several other children and families. She loves rural, simple living, walking through the grass barefoot, baking, and above all, serving God.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.
Shared Sep 4, 2013
comment
Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip: $15.28 worth of products for $3.78 out of pocket
Gretchen’s Walgreens Shopping Trip: $15.28 worth of products for $3.78 out of pocket
Walgreens Shopping Trip
Transaction #1
1 Scope Dual Mouthwash – $2.99
Used $1.50/1 coupon from the 9/1 P&G insert1 Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste – $3.49
Used $0.50/1 coupon from the 9/1 P&G insertRedeemed 2,000 points (like $2) from previous trip
Total with tax ($0.46): $2.94, Received $1 Register Rewards (for buying Scope) and $2.50 Register Rewards (for buying Crest)
Transaction #2
2 Nivea Men’s Post Shave Balm – $3.50 each
Used 2 $2/1 coupon from the 8/18 RedPlum insert2 Mentos Gum – Marked down to $0.39 each (filler items)
Used $3.50 Register Rewards from Transaction #1
Total with tax ($0.56): $0.84, Received $2 Register Rewards
Total for both transactions before coupons and Register Rewards: $15.28
Total for both transactions after coupons and Register Rewards: $3.78 plus $2 Register Rewards leftover
Shared Sep 4, 2013
comment
Ask The Readers: How to make the transition from working in an office to working from home?
Ask The Readers: How to make the transition from working in an office to working from home?
Today’s question is from Kathleen:
I currently work full-time in an office and part-time from home, but I would like to transition into full-time freelance work from home within the next two years. I know there are many of you who have also transitioned to work from home full time… so I’m wondering:
What was the hardest part?
What was the easiest part?
What do you like best about working from home?
What do you miss the most about working in an office?
Do you feel that financially, you come out ahead working from home?
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Gretchen’s Target Shopping Trip
Target Shopping Trip
1 GoGo Squeez (4 ct) – $2, used $0.90/1 printable – $1.10 after coupon
2 Advil (24 ct) – $3.49 each, used 2 $1/1 coupon from the 9/1 P&G insert – $2.49 each after coupons (Buy 2 – Get $5 Target gift card)
Total before coupons: $8.49
Total after coupons: $6.08, PLUS received $5 Target gift card for buying 2 Advil (like paying $1.08)
See the full list of deals at Target this week here.
Shared Sep 3, 2013
comment
Q&A Tuesday: What are some good non-toy present ideas for kids?
Q&A Tuesday: What are some good non-toy present ideas for kids?
{Making Sock Bubbles}
I live in a small home and we have two boys, a 2-year-old, and a 7-month-old. Every day I am struggling to keep our house neat, because they have so many TOYS! I am also struggling to keep the laundry done, because they have so many clothes! Grandparents, along with other relatives, are constantly buying them toys and clothing. I really appreciate the gesture, but enough is enough! Do you have any suggestions on NON-toy items for Christmas and Birthdays? -Kayla
This is a great question, Kayla!
It’s a wonderful problem that you have grandparents who want to bless your children so much, but I totally get where it is hard because you have limited space.
I’d encourage you to lovingly talk to the grandparents, expressing how much your appreciate how they want to bless your children, but telling them that since you have a small house, you don’t have much room for many extras. (For more on how to approach this with your relative, read this post.)
Here are some ideas:
Books & Magazines
While books do take up space, they can be easier to store, much less messy, and very worthwhile. Give the grandparents a few ideas of titles you’d like to add to your library.
Magazine Subscriptions
Your boys are still small, but when they get a little older, magazine subscriptions like Ranger Rick or Thomas the Train can be a lot of fun. They enjoy getting them in the mail and then you can recycle them or pass them on when you’re through with them.
{Experimenting with Fizzy Sidewalk Chalk}
Bubble Bath or Crayons or Sidewalk Chalk
My children have so much fun with bubble bath and sidewalk chalk, but it’s not something that I usually am going to spend money on. It can provide lots of fun — and is completely consumable!
Time Together
What about suggesting Grandma & Grandma plan a special date with your son instead of buying them a gift? This takes time, but it is often much more meaningful and memorable.
Treats
Is there a special food item your sons love? Maybe juice boxes or fruit snacks or animal crackers? Ask for these as a special treat instead of toys.
Craft Supplies
Crayons, paper, coloring books, and other craft supplies can enjoy hours of creative play!
Gift Cards for Restaurants/Treats
What about asking for a gift card to a restaurant or ice cream shop your child loves? Maybe even encourage the relative to take the child on a date there and let them pay with their gift card?
Memberships to Local Attractions
If you have some local museums, a zoo, or other fun places that offer memberships, ask for a membership. These are pricey, but can provide hours of fun, memories, and entertainment. Best of all, they take up zero space in your house!
Those are just a few ideas I had. What other suggestions do the rest of you have for Kayla?
Related: Dealing With Toy Overload, Four Weeks of Frugal Family Fun, and Consumable Gifts for Christmas.
OVER-SPENDING EVERY SINGLE MONTH?Grab these FREE Budgeting Sheets!
Click here to download!
Alisha’s Walmart and Target Shopping Trips: 10 items for free!
The following shopping trips were submitted by Alisha:
After finding great “Pick Up The Values” coupons from Kimberly-Clark, I printed them out and spent some time taking advantage of Ibotta offers this weekend. I found some great deals and was able to get 10 items for free (after “Pick Up The Values” coupons, and before tax).
Here’s what I bought at Target:
- Huggies Diapers – $8.97 – Used $2.50 coupon
- Huggies Wipes – $1.97 – Used $0.50 coupon
Paid (after coupons) = $7.94
I received $4.25 back from Ibotta (individual offers and $2.00 for buying two Huggies items in the same transaction).
Net Cost = $3.69
Here’s what I bought at Walmart:
- Viva Paper Towels 8-pk – $8.97 – Used $1.00 coupon
- Scott Extra Soft Toilet Paper – $5.97 – Used $1.00 coupon
- Kleenex 3-Pack – $4.47 – Used $1.00 coupon
- Kotex U Tampons – $3.78 – Used $1.50 coupon
- Poise Pads – $2.72 – Used $1.00 coupon
- Depends – $4.97 – Used $2.00 coupon
- Pull-Ups Training Pants – $8.97 – Used $2.00 coupon
- Scott Flushable Wipes – $1.96
Paid (after coupons) = $32.31
I received $36.25 back from Ibotta (individual offers, $3.00 for buying Kleenex, Scott, and Viva in one transaction, $5.00 for buying two products on two different days, and $20.00 for buying 10 items total).
Net Cost = Like making $3.94!
After the two shopping trips, I made $0.25 and everything but the Depends are items we use.
Have you gotten a great deal thanks to a tip you’ve found here on MoneySavingMom.com? Take a picture of your deal/purchase and write a short post on the deal details and submit it here. If your submission is chosen to be posted, I’ll send you a $25 Amazon gift card! Note: the more creative, unique, and well-written your post, the more chance it will have of being posted.
10 Ways To Save Money On Things You Might Buy Anyway
Guest post from Jamie
No matter how bad economic times are, there are some things we need to (or want to) buy — whether we can find a great deal or not. Of course, it’s always a pleasant surprise when we find these things for less than expected!
Whether you’re buying necessities, or simply things that make life better, everyone loves bargains… right?
Here are 10 ideas to help you find bargains on those unexpected items.
1. Airfare
It’s good advice to buy airline tickets in the morning, before business travelers start shopping. Buy tickets as far out as possible before your travel date as they are cheaper and probably won’t change much in price. Saturdays are good days to fly while Sundays and Thursdays are often the most expensive.
2. Event Tickets
When clubs or theaters have unsold seats, they rely on websites like Goldstar or resellers like Stubhub to fill those seats. Great deals are available — especially close to, or on the day of the show. Some of the hottest events can now be seen inexpensively.
3. Coffee
For some, coffee is a MUST in the morning, or all day. However, expensive brands aren’t always better. Cheaper brands like Dunkin’ Donuts are popular and sell for less than brews from couture coffee houses like Starbucks. Better yet, buy the beans and brew your own at home.
4. Prescription Eyeglasses
If you have a prescription from the last time you saw your eye doctor, use it to order inexpensive glasses from Eye Buy Direct. When you’re using glasses as a complement to contacts, it “pays” to spend less on them! Prices begin around $40.
5. Gift Cards
Find unused gift cards cheaper at websites like Gift Card Granny. Many options are available at an average of 15% off — so, for example, you could get a $100 gift card for only $85. Now that’s smart!
6. Computer Software
Websites like Royal Discount sell new software (that is guaranteed to work) at bargain prices. Students love getting deals on things like software, so they have extra money for the really important things.
7. Cosmetics
Websites like Noveau Cheap help fashionistas find all the best deals in one easy-to-search spot. Look your best every day, for less.
8. Clothing
Ladies clothing is available for bargain prices when you know where to look. Places like the 10 Dollar Mall and 6pm help shoppers find prices that are up to 75% off.
9. Designer Shoes
Everyone needs shoes, right? Bluefly, 6pm, and Zappo’s are great places to find deals — when you want great looks at lower prices, you’ll be amazed at what you might find.
10. Sunglasses
Places like Sunglass Hut and Sharp Shades are great places to find amazing deals on designer-inspired sunglasses.
See, there are bargains everywhere!
Bargain hunting has never been more fun or exciting. Since you might buy many of these things anyway, why not be smart and save as much as possible?
Saving money is always such a great feeling!
Jamie is a not a mom but a sister of two younger brothers. As the oldest in the house, she always felt the need to help out by taking on an extra job searching for the occasional deals. Since her recent move to Colorado, Jamie fell in love with hiking. She also loves live music, spending as much time with the family as possible and puppies (who doesn’t – smiley face!)
Free Printable: Chore Ideas for Kids
Three of the most popular posts on my blog are the 10 Chore Ideas for Toddlers, 15 Chore Ideas for 4-Year-Olds, and 20 Chore Ideas for 7-Year-Olds.
So I asked Jeff from FiveJs.com to put together a free Chore Ideas for Kids printable for those who might want to print the ideas out for inspiration. You can download and print it here.
Do It Yourself: Personalized Picture Books for Babies
Nothing If Not Intentional shows you how to make personalized pictures books for babies.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
6 Ways to Make Laundry Fun
I loved this post from Christa on Six Ways to Make Laundry Fun.
How do you make laundry more fun? You can see one way we’ve made laundry fun here.