Are you looking for the perfect 2023 planner? Today, I’m sharing mine. It is highly functional, super affordable, and at the moment, wide open for all the possibilities and opportunities that 2023 will bring. While I embrace the digital world, paper is the way I plan my life. I have … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in August 2022
Another month of 2022 is in the books and another month of frugal-ing. My found money in August was made up of a lot of little amounts and unfortunately, was not as high as in previous months. For starters, I didn't donate plasma this month and that is usually my biggest source of extra cash. Lately, the line has been really long to get in and I … [Read More...]
My #1 Tool that Saves Me Hundreds on Groceries
This post was originally published in 2015. I still use this simple tool for meal planning! Meal planning is the #1 way I save money on groceries. I can NOT stress that enough and I write about it all of the time. So I'll repeat it. "MEAL PLANNING IS THE #1 WAY I SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES." And there is one tool that makes meal planning very … [Read More...]
Egg & Sausage Burritos (Freezer Recipe) | Breakfast on the Go
This post was originally published in 2013. Be sure to check the comments for loads of tips and ideas for these egg & sausage burritos. In an effort to alleviate the morning rush, I make a big pan of these breakfast burritos for our freezer. And after nine years, this Egg & Sausage Burritos post continues to be my most popular recipe, … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in July 2022
We've seen higher grocery and fuel bills lately, so we're upping our frugal game to help the budget. Our financial goals are still important to us and we want to hit them regardless of the rising prices. How I frugal-ed in the kitchen: I spend a lot of time in my kitchen. Here are five ways that I saved money this month. 1. Winner … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in June 2022
It's been a long time since I've shared a "How I Frugal-ed" post, but for a variety of reasons, I'm making a more conscious effort lately to flex my frugal muscles. Here's how we frugal-ed in June. How my husband saved us $460...for awhile at least. In 2017 we updated our kitchen with new paint, flooring, and appliances. Because we … [Read More...]
10 Ways to Save at Giant Food Stores
This post was originally published as a sponsored post back in 2015. Today, I'm updating it since a lot has changed at GIANT. This updated post is not sponsored. As the home manager, my mission is to serve my family quality and tasty food on our limited budget. GIANT Food Stores of PA has been part of my weekly grocery shopping routine for years. … [Read More...]
Start Planning and Budgeting for Summer TODAY!
After a long winter, are you dreaming of blue skies and sunny days? We are! As a family, we are looking forward to camping trips, a week at the beach, and cookouts with friends. I want to make sure we have time to squeeze everything in and the funds to do it all. If you haven't already done so, NOW is the time to start mapping out and budgeting … [Read More...]
Why not run the family office?
Many years ago, I read Thomas J. Stanley’s book, Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen, and I had an aha moment. Chapter 17 in this book is titled, “Why not run the family office?". In highly affluent circles, a family office is a private wealth management firm that manages the finances and … [Read More...]
How to Save Money on Groceries
Are you spending more at the grocery store lately? Rising prices are affecting everyone's bank account, and groceries are leading the way. Everyone is trying to figure out how to save money on groceries! According to CNBC, the cost of chicken and eggs has increased by 10%! Those are weekly staples at my house! Groceries is one budget category … [Read More...]
Ibotta Review: How I Earn Cash Back on Groceries
This is my honest review. All links to Ibotta are to my referral link. When you join, you will also get a referral link to share with your friends to earn additional cashback. What is Ibotta? Ibotta is a free cashback rewards and payments app that gives you cash for everyday qualifying purchases when you shop and pay through the app. Your … [Read More...]
My One Goal for 2022
Rather than create a long list of goals I'd like to accomplish for 2022, I'm going to focus on just one personal goal for this year. I will work on other things too, like exercising more, reading more, eating healthier, and blah, blah, blah! But instead of stressing about a long list of ideas, I'm just going to focus on one goal and it's a … [Read More...]
How We’re Saving for College with Upromise
This post is NOT sponsored by Upromise. Instead, it is my honest review. All links to Upromise are my referral links. Way back in 2008 I signed up for a Upromise account and then it sat unused for many years. I don't recall why I never used the account, but I guess it just slipped my mind. Back in 2008, I was a mama to a toddler and infant, so a … [Read More...]
Family Vital Information Binder
Creating a family vital information binder is an important project that you should add to your urgent to-do list. This binder stores ALL of your financial information in one location. For me, it wasn't about making my life easier, but rather, making my family's life easier if they needed vital information in the case that I am incapacitated or just … [Read More...]
7 ALDI Salad Ideas
Are you an ALDI shopper? I pulled together a list of ALDI salad ideas using ingredients I found at the store. These family favorites are fresh, tasty, and easy on your grocery budget. A few details about this list of ALDI Salad Ideas: ** I planned these salads around my family of 4, which includes 2 adults and 2 teenagers who eat as much as … [Read More...]
Roasted Vegetable Sauce for Pasta
If your garden is overflowing or your neighbors are begging you to take their extras, then you need to make a batch of Roasted Vegetable Sauce. It is super easy, unbelievably delicious, yet incredibly cheap if everything is from your garden. You can use tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, onions, celery, carrots, and/or eggplant and … [Read More...]
How to Budget (and Pay) for Yearly Bills + a FREE Speadsheet
Not sure how to budget for your once-a-year bills? They can cause a panic, especially when just one bill is into the four figures, like our property taxes or auto insurance! But let me show you how to budget (and pay) for yearly bills with a strategy I've used for years. I built a monthly system to set aside money specifically for our yearly … [Read More...]
Where I found EXTRA Money in May 2021
Finding extra money is a game for me. Over the years, I have found money through rebates, refunds, online sales, and even the ground. Yep, I found a $20 bill while running on the beach! I have used the extra money to pay off debt, fund family trips, or build up our Christmas savings. Through May of 2021, I have found over $6800 for the year! … [Read More...]
5 Steps to CRUSH Debt + FREE Debt Payoff Goal Tracker
Did you make a goal to pay off debt this year? For many years, we made a yearly goal to chip away at our six figures of non-mortgage debt. It took us years to pay it all off, but we achieved it in 2019. I celebrated my 50th birthday month by sending in the very last payment. Our journey to debt freedom started back in 2013 when we found … [Read More...]