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 … [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...]
Where we found EXTRA money in April
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 April of 2021, I have found over $6500 for the … [Read More...]
How to Create Your Own Debt Freedom Plan
Many years ago, my husband and I faced what we thought was an insurmountable hurdle--six figures of non-mortgage debts. These were loans that we knowingly took on and looked great on paper, but they became a weight on our shoulders. Stressed out, we ventured into Dave Ramsey’s online Financial Peace University home course for help. Prior to … [Read More...]
Where we found EXTRA money in March
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. January and February were stellar months with finding … [Read More...]
25 Ways to Find Money for Your Emergency Fund
Emergencies happen when you least expect them. My husband sent me a short text a few years ago, "truck $700." My stomach sank. He took the truck to our mechanic because a dashboard light came on. We were hoping for an easy (and inexpensive) fix, and we were certainly not expecting this news. But the truth is, we have the money. Our emergency … [Read More...]
How to Build your Emergency Fund
This post was first published in 2016. Life suddenly changed for most of us in March 2020 and this past year of the pandemic has reinforced how important an emergency fund is. If you're able, maybe use some of your stimulous money to put towards building an emergency fund. Your future self will be grateful. A few years ago, our van needed four … [Read More...]
7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Finances
Take a deep breath, spring is finally here! If your winter was as long and cold as mine, then you're also looking forward to opening windows, breathing in the fresh air, and soaking up the sunshine. Springtime soothes the soul and revives our spirits. For many, it's a time to clean the house and the closets, wash the windows of their winter … [Read More...]
Where I found EXTRA money in February
Finding extra money has become 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 on a morning run at the beach! I have used the extra money to pay off debt, fund family trips, or build up our Christmas savings. In January, I found more extra money than I ever … [Read More...]
My Honest Review: I donated plasma to earn money!
I donated my plasma to earn extra money--here's my honest review. On New Year's Eve, I was loafing around and surfing Facebook when I caught a post from a good friend who shared that she had just made over $600 in one month by donating plasma. The money was going into her summer vacation fund. $600? Summer vacation money? I immediately … [Read More...]
Our Family Finances Update: January 2021
January 2021 was a month of extremes in my family's finances. On one side, it could go down as a very resourceful month. We found over $1600 in extra cash...and on the other side...well, you should scroll down for the details! Found Money in January: $1681 Found money can be found from various sources, such as rebates, refunds, online sales, or … [Read More...]
My Word for 2021
Choosing a word to focus on for the New Year has been very popular over the years. I joined the crowd many years ago only to completely forget about my word by mid-March. But 2019 was different. My word was REDUCE. I wanted to reduce our non-mortgage debt, my clutter, my distractions, my impact on the environment, and my consumption of … [Read More...]
Family Budget Spreadsheets 2021
This offer is now closed. Are you ready for a fresh start? After the year we've had, I think we all are! If your fresh start for the New Year includes improving your finances, you are not alone! Saving more money is one of the top resolutions that people make...after getting in shape and eating healthier. My mission has always been to … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in November 2020
November is the start of what can be an expensive season. Here's how we frugal-ed our way through it. Frugal Wardrobe in November: I have a small bedroom closet, so I like to keep my wardrobe fairly lean, but highly functional. Also, I tend to keep pieces for a long time, as I learned years ago that buying quality clothing lasts much longer … [Read More...]