Saving Families Money Since 2007
Sprouts is offering another freebie!
Today only, you can get an e-coupon for free Milton’s Cauliflower Crust Pizza!
Valid through May 2, 2026.
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
Never in my wildest imaginations did I expect to so quickly realize that I LOVE running since I started training for a 10k. It is crazy to be discovering that something I had told myself I couldn’t do for years is the very thing I’m just absolutely coming to adore??!!
I did three runs on the treadmill and two runs outdoors + Jesse and I took a short hike on my rest day!
My treadmill runs were all around 2 1/2 to 3 miles long. I was only planning to run a 5K for my long outdoor run on Sunday, but I was feeling so good, that I decided to just keep going and ended up running 4 miles without stopping at a 10:40 average pace — SAY WHAT??? And it felt so good!
I downloaded the Strava app this past week and love it! My hope this next week is to hit 5 miles on my long run. We will see!
I met with my dietitian earlier this week to go over how to best fuel my body for running – especially as I’m planning to start running 5+ mile stretches.
She gave me such good advice and encouragement and also said I must start eating some simple carbs 30 mins before my run. I’m so scared to eat before running (I’m afraid I’ll get cramps/upset stomach but I also know there’s no way I can do the longer runs well without fueling my body properly!)
Any runners out there have great suggestions for what you like to eat as a pre-run snack??
My dietitian ended the call going, “Crystal! I can’t believe how far you’ve come since we started working together!!”
And it’s so true! From a girl who was so afraid of eating enough calories and spent so much time worried about a number on the scale, to a strong woman who is loving running and weight training and fueling her body well and eating at least 500-600+ more calories a day and feeling GREAT!!
I don’t say it lightly – my dietitian has changed my life! And I still can’t believe I’ve paid $0 out of pocket!!
Click here to read my story and see if your insurance covers this program, too!
Kierstyn, Micah, David, and I went to the library on Monday — one of their favorite places to go! They discovered a new tub of free books and I wish you could have seen how excited they were. In fact, Kierstyn went around and told other people in the library about it because she didn’t want anyone to miss out!
Parenting tip: don’t stress over the small stuff like what your kids wear. If they want to wear a PJ top and a completely clashing pair of pants to the library, roll with it. If they pick out their clothes and it’s not inappropriate, go with it!
Also: never judge another mom by the outfit her child is wearing.
I shared this on Instagram and thought it might encourage some of you:
Time with life-giving friends is so important and so soul-filling.…but it’s rarely going to fall into your lap
If you’re lonely or longing for community, don’t wait for someone else to reach out first.
Ask yourself:
Who do I want to get to know just a little better? Then do the tiny brave thing and reach out.
Try:
• “I’d love to grab coffee sometime!”
• “We’re headed to the park tomorrow; want to join us?”
• “I made extra soup tonight. Do you have dinner plans?”
• “Want to walk with me one morning this week?”
If someone doesn’t respond or isn’t interested… don’t take it personally. Just keep reaching out until you find your people… the ones who say yes.
And when they share? Listen. Ask good questions. Care about their life.
Check in. Remember important dates. Pray for them. Send a voice memo of encouragement. These tiny deposits build real friendship.
Don’t wait for community to magically drop into your lap. Show up. Initiate. Be the kind of friend you’re hoping to find. 🤍
Who is one person you could reach out to this week?
The rhythm of Friday Sabbath has been SO good for us! In fact, I’ve started extending it from not just being the 9 am to 12 pm time with Jesse in the morning but also taking a much slower afternoon, too.
Since our weekends are often full (and with 6 kids!) and I work at least 5-6 hours most Saturdays, this has been such a helpful thing to have one day a week that is more focused on fun and relaxing and life-giving things. (Sunday is usually just church and hanging out with family and friends, but with six kids and sometimes their friends here, it’s not really what I’d call “restful”! :))
Jesse and I went to Sam’s Club and I price compared a bunch of items and took pics for an upcoming post on the best things to buy there. And we found yeast – finally!!
This was less than $7 for 2 pounds!! Just store it in the freezer.
This is just in time because I got wheat and am pulling out my mill and I’m excited to get back to grinding my own fresh flour again!!
Watching my man pour into David makes me fall in love with him all over again. ❤️
David loves me but he adores Jesse obsessively.
Watching how much David loves his earthly Daddy and how safe and secure he feels with him is such a picture to me of what our relationship with our Heavenly Father should have. No worry, no stress, just peace in His arms knowing I’m loved and safe and secure.
I have some exciting news to share!!! I finished my 6th book and it comes out in September!!!
Want to know what it’s called???
This book is something I wrote for each and every woman. It’s for the woman in college, the married woman, the single woman, the mom with lots of kids, the woman doesn’t have kids, the empty nester, and anything and everything in between.
It is part memoir (sharing so many stories of my upbringing and how my parents and grandparents influenced me when it comes to money + lots of stories from our early years of marriage) and it is part practical handbook.
It is packed with my best time-tested advice on how to change your financial future — one step at a time — written in a very realistic, down-to-earth, encouraging style.
Whether you are struggling and stressed or feel like you are in a good place financially and would just like to fine tune things, The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women is for you.
We have a lot of fun pre-order bonuses coming, but I’ve got something special for anyone who pre-orders this weekend!
If you pre-order this weekend, you’ll get an exclusive invite to a live Q&A call with me! We’ll hang out and chat and you can ask me anything + some of my family will be joining us for a bit to answer questions, too!
To pre-order and get your ticket to this exclusive live call with me, just go here and fill out this form! (Once you sign up, you’ll have an opportunity to submit questions you’d love for me to answer on the live call!)
I finished The Nightingale! And yes, I cried multiple times – especially the part where she says goodbye to the boy that had become like her son (if you’ve read it, you know!)
I was reliving so many of the emotions I felt of when we said goodbye to C – putting him in his car seat and telling him how, how much I loved him, and sobbing wondering if I’d ever see him again. Knowing it was best for him to reunify with his mama but also not knowing if I could stand the hole in my heart with him not in our home anymore. It was a beautifully moving book with many heart-wrenching but also redeeming parts.
I’m continuing to watch When Calls the Heart. I finished Season 11 this week and started Season 12. Will I finish Season 12 and 13 this week? We’ll see!
And Jesse and I are hoping to start a new show to watch together. We have some ideas, but we’ll see what we land on! Feel free to send your suggestions our way!
Lots of worship music while running! I know some people love to listen to podcasts or audiobooks while running, but I am just loving worship music! The kids have also been begging to listen to Holy Forever on repeat when we are driving recently and then belting out the words.
Listen in this week as Jesse and I share five exciting updates from the Paine house on this week’s episode of the podcast! Some of our updates are more practical, some are deeply personal, and a few honestly caught me completely off guard… and Jesse comes into the conversation without knowing what I’m going to share, which makes it even more fun as we walk through what’s been happening behind-the-scenes in our world!
I start off with something that might sound minor but honestly felt pretty significant to me — a recent dentist visit that went surprisingly well after years of being told something was wrong with my teeth. After working with a functional medicine doctor and trying oil pulling (something that I was very skeptical about), I had a completely different experience at my last appointment. It made me think more about the connection between oral health and overall health and whether some of the small habits that I have added might actually be making a difference.
From there, we share an update about our son David as he prepares to start kindergarten this fall. If you have been following our story, then you know how remarkable that moment feels for our family. David’s team has been working closely with us to create a plan that supports his unique needs, and hearing the goals that they have set for him is both exciting and emotional. David continues to surprise everyone with his determination and personality, and we talk about some of the ways that he’s already showing just how capable he is!
Another unexpected development is that I agreed to run a 10K with our daughter. That decision has launched me into a whole new world of running, training, and learning far more about shoes and socks than I ever expected.
I also share how an unexpected invitation is taking me to Guatemala this summer, something that’s been on my heart since we adopted David, and finally, the biggest update of all: I finished writing my next book! I reveal the title, share the story behind how it came together, and explain why this project feels especially meaningful to me.
The Smartest Ways to Save at Starbucks — If you love Starbucks but not the prices, check out this post and discover the best ways to save right now.
Walgreens 101 — Walgreens is one of those stores that can become a gold mine for savings once you know what to look for. This in-depth guide will help you walk into Walgreens with a plan and walk out knowing you got a great deal.
Spaghetti Pizza ($10 Dinner Idea) — This recipe combines two classic favorites into one dish, so you can’t go wrong! The spaghetti serves as the crust and it has typical pizza toppings, and your family is sure to love it!
My First Time Shopping at Costco and What I Bought for $67 — I finally made it to Costco for the first time ever and walked away with some great finds for under $70 total! Read this post to see what I bought and what we thought — and don’t miss the comments section, filled with helpful tips from readers.
Spaghetti Pizza ($10 Dinner Idea) — This recipe combines two classic favorites into one dish, so you can’t go wrong! The spaghetti serves as the crust and it has typical pizza toppings, and your family is sure to love it!
When it comes to saving money on food, these reader-shared ideas are simple, practical, and might just change the way you shop and cook! I love that these ideas don’t require extreme couponing or hours of prep work. They’re practical, everyday habits that cut grocery bills and reduce food waste.
Recently on Facebook, we asked:
“What’s something you do to save money that others might find unusual?”
The responses were incredible, especially when it came to food.
If you missed the conversation, you can read through it here.
This post is a compilation of some of the BEST food-related ideas shared in that thread. The cost of food has steadily increased over the past few years, and even small price jumps on everyday items like eggs, meat, produce, and pantry staples can easily add hundreds of dollars to a family’s monthly budget. It’s not just “treat” foods that cost more; it’s basics.
Here are some of the smartest (and slightly unusual!) food-saving strategies shared by our community:
One of the most repeated tips was simple but powerful: Make a full inventory of your freezer, pantry, and fridge before you shop.
This does two things:
Try this:
Several readers also mentioned that using grocery pickup helps eliminate impulse purchases, because you’re not walking past end caps and seasonal displays.
It could be worth paying a small fee to avoid this temptation — and save yourself time! — but Kroger doesn’t even charge for grocery pickup.
Even better, you could have your groceries delivered to you with Kroger Boost (check out this post to see if Kroger Boost is worth it for you).
If you shop at Walmart, using online ordering (and Walmart+) can make it even easier to stick to your list and avoid temptation, whether you’re shopping for groceries or other household needs.
Travel can wreck a food budget quickly. One reader shared that whenever they travel, they pack at least one meal per day and try to stay at hotels with kitchenettes.
Meals you could pack include:
Even replacing just one restaurant meal per day for a family can save $40–$80 daily while traveling. That adds up fast!
This is such a smart (and sustainable!) idea. Whenever you use up pasta sauce, jelly, or salsa that comes in glass jars, wash the jars, remove the label, and reuse them.
Glass jars are perfect for storing:
Instead of letting small amounts of food go to waste, you store them neatly and use them later. Free containers + less waste = double win.
This tip is especially helpful for families with kids. One reader shared that when her kids were little, she always kept a cooler in the car stocked with:
That way, they avoided quick “let’s run in for snacks” trips that turned into $30 impulse purchases. The key takeaway? Plan ahead to prevent convenience spending.
Clearance meat and apps like Flashfood were mentioned multiple times. If your store marks down meat early in the morning or on certain days:
One reader even shops multiple stores once a month early on Saturday mornings and stocks up for the entire month, saving around $50 each time. That’s $600 per year.
If you garden, maximize your harvest.
Readers shared that they:
Even if you don’t garden extensively, growing just a few high-yield items (like tomatoes or herbs) can offset grocery costs.
This one is surprisingly effective. Some families split one entrée when dining out, and sometimes even have room for dessert afterward.
Others look for kids-eat-free nights. Even couples without kids shared they split meals regularly. Restaurant portions are often large enough for two, and cutting that bill in half makes dining out far more affordable.
One reader shared an incredibly smart strategy:
When bone-in hams are deeply discounted at Christmas or Easter, she buys several. She cubes and freezes portions, then grinds some for ham salad and uses leftovers in soups.
The same goes for whole turkeys and crockpot beef roasts. A single roast can become 3 to 4 meals when stretched intentionally.
Instead of tossing leftover vegetables, put them into a container in the freezer, even an old Cool Whip or cottage cheese container, or the glass jars mentioned above.
Add to it throughout the week, whether it’s extra carrots, onion scraps, corn, green beans, etc. Once it’s full, turn it into vegetable soup. It reduces waste and creates a nearly free meal.
This might sound simple, but it works. Packing a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jam for trips or busy days can eliminate fast food stops entirely.
It’s not fancy, but it’s filling and it’s inexpensive.
One reader shared that they stopped buying steaks and instead returned to inexpensive casseroles their mom used to make. Especially for retirees or smaller households, casseroles stretch across multiple days. They often involve lower-cost ingredients and you can get multiple servings.
This is an old-school frugality ‘trick’ that still works and having a ready-made meal will lead to less temptation to dine out.
Several readers mentioned ways to save on dining out, including:
If you have a few minutes to spare for surveys and scanning receipts, you can easily earn gift cards and use them for occasional restaurant meals to keep the food budget in check.
One of the biggest savings areas mentioned? Simply eating at home, and making baked goods at home instead of buying them.
Inviting friends over for dinner instead of meeting at restaurants can cut costs and even build community. Make hosting affordable and remember it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Soup and bread counts!
None of these ideas are complicated. But they are intentional.
And food is often one of the biggest monthly expenses for families, which means small improvements here can make a big difference.
Focus on building your meal plan around what you already have. Many of us have partial bags of rice, random cans, frozen vegetables, or proteins that get forgotten. When you start with what you own, you reduce waste and buy less.
Even doing this intentionally once per month can trim $50–$100 off your grocery spending!
And, be sure to check out our $10 Family Dinner Ideas and current grocery deals!
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
1 gallon Milk – $2.96
1 32-oz carton Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt – $2.79
1 24-oz carton Cottage Cheese – $2.85
1 32-oz carton Egg Whites – $4.79
1 pkg Turkey Bacon – $3.25
1 dozen Eggs – $1.66
1 bag Frozen Blueberries – $3.69
1 bag Frozen Strawberries – $3.65
1 bag Cilantro – $0.75
1 Seedless Cucumber – $0.89
1 Cauliflower – $2.65
2 pkgs Broccoli Crowns – $4.65
1 10-lb bag Russet Potatoes – $3.99
2 Avocados – $0.98
1 3-lb bag Sweet Onions – $1.99
1 pkg Romaine Hearts – $2.99
1 Roma Tomato – $0.10
1 3-head pkg Garlic – $1.19
1 3-ct pkg Multi-Colored Peppers – $2.25
1 bag Italian Pasta – $1.89
1 box Raisin Bran – $1.99
1 box Crunchy Granola Raisin Bran – $2.75
1 pkg Boneless Chicken Breasts – $13.90
1 5-lb bag Jasmine Rice – $6.39
1 can Table Salt – $0.67
2 jars Gourmet Pasta Sauce – $3.58
2 jar Alfredo Sauce – $3.76
1 box Butter – $2.99
1 Canola Oil – $3.09
1 16-oz bag Shredded Cheddar Cheese – $3.29
1 box Instant Pudding – $0.98
1 pkg Hamburger Buns – $1.25
1 bag Organic Corn Tortilla Chips – $2.59
Total: $97.19
1 box Feel Good Blueberry Pancake Bites – $3.99, received $4 Aisle Rebate plus received 1200 points ($1.20) from Fetch – $1.21 Money Maker after Rebates
1 4-ct box Chobani Yogurts – $2.74
2 boxes Magnum Ice Cream Bars – $5.99, received $2/2 Magnum Ibotta Rebate – $3.99 for 2 after Rebate
1 carton Happy Egg – $2.99, used $1/1 Printable, plus received $0.75/1 Happy Egg Ibotta Rebate – $1.24 after Coupon and Rebate
1 Wild Tuna and Red Bean Salad – $5.59, used $2/1 Wild Planet Publix Digital Coupon, plus received $5.59 Rebate – $2 Money Maker after Coupon and Rebate
1 box Wonder Donut Sticks – $1.62, used $1.50/1 Wonder Publix Digital Coupon, plus received $0.50/1 Wonder Ibotta Rebate – $0.38 Money Maker after Coupon and Rebate
1 10-ct box Lance Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – $2.34
1 bag Cape Cod Chips – $2.24, used $1/1 Cape Cod Publix Digital Coupon- $1.24 after Coupon
Total after Coupons and Rebates: $7.96
Grocery Total for the Week: $105.15
Cereal, Oatmeal, Yogurt Bowls, Smoothies, Eggs, Pancake Balls
Sandwich Crackers, Chips, Apples, Sliced Veggies with Dip x 2
Leftovers x 5
Chicken Burgers, Baked Potato Fries
Build-Your-Own-Rice-Bowl (Seasoned Ground Venison, Shredded Romaine, Salsa, Shredded Cheese, Rice, Grilled Peppers and Onions, Sour Cream, Avocado, Cilantro, Chips)
Company for Dinner – Pasta Bar (Various Pastas, Alfredo Sauce, Marinara Sauce, Grilled Chicken, Venison Sausage), Homemade French Bread (one guest is bringing salad, another is bringing dessert)
Church Dinner (I’m bringing Crockpot Mac and Cheese and Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake)
Cheese Pizza, Broccoli
Venison Roast, Creamy Milk Rice, Roasted Cauliflower
Venison Sausage Gravy over Rice, Biscuits, Green Beans
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
Looking for ways to earn some extra money on the side? Don’t miss this new survey opportunity!
If you’re looking for opportunities to make some extra cash, sign up for Opinion Outpost where you can get paid for sharing your opinion.
Opinion Outpost is an online survey platform that rewards users for sharing their opinions on products, services, and everyday topics. You can sign up for free and complete short surveys, earning points for each one you qualify for and finish.
It’s a simple, flexible way to earn a little extra money in your spare time by giving feedback that helps brands and companies improve their offerings.
Redeem your points earned for PayPal cash or gift cards like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more. It’s a great way to stretch your budget!!
With this FREE Cheatsheet, you’ll learn about 11 apps that help you earn extra $$$ with very little effort!
Petco is packed with free events all April long!
Check out all the fun events Petco is offering this month!
Need new summer shorts? Grab these Women’s High Waisted Athletic Shorts for under $10!
Amazon has these Women’s High Waisted Athletic Shorts for as low as $8.99 when you save an extra 50% off at checkout!
Choose from lots of colors and sizes. Final price varies depending on which color/size you choose.
Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime to get free two-day shipping (and possibly one-day or same-day shipping!) with no minimum. If you’re not sure Prime is worth it, read this post for some helpful info to help you decide! And don’t forget you can sign up for Swagbucks to earn free gift cards to use on Amazon deals!
These 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women are flexible, totally doable, outside-the-box ideas! 🙌
Whoa! Hurry and score a rare deal on these UGG Tazz Slippers!
Nordstrom Rack has these Women’s UGG Tazz Slippers for just $99.99 right now!
This is a super rare deal and these will sell out fast. Choose from three colors.
Shipping is free.
These 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women are flexible, totally doable, outside-the-box ideas! 🙌
Stock up on coffee pods with this deal!
Amazon has these Java Factory Flavored Coffee Pods, 40 count for only $12.80 shipped when you clip the $8 off e-coupon and check out through Subscribe & Save!
This is a great stock up deal.
Note: Once your order ships, you can go into your Amazon account and cancel your subscription if you don’t want recurring orders. If you’re wondering how Amazon Subscribe & Save works, check out our post on making the most of Amazon Subscribe & Save Deals.
Mornings just got so much easier with this FREE list of 50+ Easy & Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Busy Weekday Mornings!
Don’t miss these great deals on women’s sweatshirts at Walmart!
Walmart has this Time and Tru Women’s Crewneck Sweatshirt for as low as $3.49 right now! Available in several colors at this price.
Choose free in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs. Or shipping is free on orders over $35 (or sign up with Walmart+ to get free shipping on all orders, no minimum!). Also, have you heard of Walmart Hidden Clearance?! It’s like a secret treasure hunt!
Click here for more Walmart deals.
These 10 Flexible Side Hustles for Women are flexible, totally doable, outside-the-box ideas! 🙌
Love Academy Sports? You can get $15 off a purchase!
Right now, Academy Sports + Outdoors is offering a FREE $15 purchase coupon when you join myAcademy Rewards (for free)! Just sign up here and you’ll score this exclusive welcome offer.
Even better, you’ll also received $15 off during your birthday month.
Valid for a limited time only.
With this FREE Cheatsheet, you’ll learn about 11 apps that help you earn extra $$$ with very little effort!
All you can eat appetizers? Sign us up!
One of the most loved deals at Buffalo Wild Wings is back! Starting at just $9.99 you can get bottomless appetizers including mozzarella sticks, onion rings, pretzel bites and more!
Prices can vary from location to location. Dine-in only.
Stock up on Triscuits with this great price!
Amazon has this Triscuit Original Crackers Family Size for only $2.18 shipped when you clip the 30% e-coupon and check out through Subscribe & Save!
Note: Once your order ships, you can go into your Amazon account and cancel your subscription if you don’t want recurring orders.
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
This is a Walmart Cash deal you won’t want to miss!
Grab a bag of Smartfood Fiber Pop Popcorn for only $0.54 after Walmart Cash! Here’s how:
Buy 1 Smartfood Fiber Pop Popcorn -$3.54
Clip $3/1 Walmart Cash
$0.54 after cash back
Deal valid until 4/11.
Love stickers? This deal is for you!
Claim your FREE USA themed sticker pack from Sticker Mule right now! Hurry, only while supplies last!
Stickers should arrive within 6-weeks.
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