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, … [Read More...]
Family Budget Spreadsheets 2021
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 help families build a strong … [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...]
7 ALDI Soup Ideas
Are you an ALDI shopper? I pulled together a list of ALDI soup ideas using ingredients I found at the store. These family favorites are hearty, tasty, and easy on your grocery budget. A few details about this list of ALDI Soup Ideas: ** I planned these soups around my family of 4, which includes 2 adults, 1 teenager, and 1 tween--both of my … [Read More...]
My 2021 Planner
Are you looking for the perfect 2021 planner? Today, I'm sharing mine. It is highly functional, affordable, and at the moment, wide open for all the possibilities and opportunities that 2021 will bring. While I embrace the digital world, paper is the way I plan my life. I have been using a paper planner since my early college days in the … [Read More...]
How to Cook Split Bone-In Chicken Breasts
Looking for budget-friendly protein? Consider split bone-in chicken breasts. They're less expensive than boneless, skinless chicken breasts and won't dry out while cooking. What is a split bone-in chicken breast? A split chicken breast is a chicken breast with the bone and skin. Two split breasts equal one whole chicken breast. Sometimes, the … [Read More...]
How to Create a Family Balance Sheet + Get a FREE one for your family!
Need a quick snapshot of your finances? Let me show you how to create a Family Balance Sheet. I'm a firm believer that finances must be organized and neat, and a Family Balance Sheet helps you keep track of your finances in one tidy spreadsheet. If it's updated regularly, you will always know how much you OWE and how much you OWN. You'll know … [Read More...]
How We Paid off Six Figures of Debt
In September 2019, my husband and I accomplished our biggest financial goal in our almost 20 years of marriage. It was so big that I cried for two days straight--we paid off six figures in non-mortgage debts. How we got to six figures of non-mortgage debt: In the summer of 2012, we found an opportunity to purchase an office building for our … [Read More...]
7 Aldi Grilling Ideas
Are you an Aldi shopper? Do you love to grill? I used the Aldi flyer and put together a meal plan of 7 ALDI grilling ideas. Everything was DEE-LICIOUS! A few details about this list of ALDI Grilling Ideas: ** I planned these dinners around my family of 4, which includes 2 adults, 1 teenager, and 1 tween. Both of my girls eat as much as … [Read More...]
Delicious Summer Cookout Recipes
Don't heat up the kitchen! Fire up the grill! Every night is a cookout in the summer. Here are 20 delicious summer cookout recipes. Enjoy! 20+ Delicious Recipes for Your Summer Cookout Grilling Tips: How to Grill Chicken Without Drying It Out like the Sahara - Grilled chicken breast is quintessential with summer grilling. I used to serve the … [Read More...]
How our Debt Freedom Plan Prepared Us for the Pandemic
We have hit uncertain times and this pandemic has felt like a wall that is unscalable. For many households, their finances and budgets are in limbo. Businesses have shut down, manufacturers have paused production, and many people have been laid off or furloughed. Life, as we knew it came to a halt for so many of us in mid-March, and life going … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed through April 2020
April 2020 might go down as the most frugal month of my lifetime. With the global pandemic and the decline of our small business, I have flexed frugal muscles that I didn't know I have. LOL! Operation Frugal Living is in full swing at my house. We've always been a frugal household by being intentional with our money, but we have been affected … [Read More...]
How I’m Managing our Family Budget during the Pandemic
Like many across the globe, my family's finances are a bit unstable due to the Coronvius Pandemic. I feel like going forward life will be known as Pre-Coronavirus and Post-Coronavirus, kind of like what happened after 9/11. Pre-coronavirus, we didn't think twice about shaking a stranger's hand, using the ATM keypad, or going to the grocery store … [Read More...]
Free things to do during the quarantine
Governors across the country have ordered many of us to stay home. Shout out to the health care workers, grocery store workers, restaurant workers, cleaning and sanitation workers, truck drivers, military personnel, journalists, and everyone else on the front lines. Thank you for your service! Personally, to pass the unexpected free time, I've … [Read More...]
Basic Frittata Recipe
Looking for an easy meal, but short on ingredients? A frittata is a quick and hearty meal that is a great way to use up any leftovers or food that you already have in your refrigerator or freezer. Basic Frittata Recipe I love the ease and flexibility of a frittata. It makes a great dinner, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and snack. The … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in February 2020
Frugal living is NOT about feeling deprived. Frugal living is being intentional with our money and creative with our resources, so we have more to put towards the things that are important to us. We want to live WELL on LESS Money. Frugal Kitchen in February: Curbside Pick-up: I continued my new grocery routine in February. I cannot … [Read More...]
How I Organize My Kids’ Paperwork, Artwork, and Mementos
Kids create a lot of paper during their childhood. They create a lot of other stuff too, but that's for another post. Today, I'm sharing how I have handled ALL of the paper, artwork, mementos, and miscellany over the last 14+ years that I've been a mother. For starters, both of our girls are sentimental. They like to hear stories, … [Read More...]
How We Frugal-ed in January!
Welcome to my first "How We Frugal-ed" recap of 2020. Frugal living is NOT about feeling deprived. Frugal living is being intentional with our money and creative with our resources, so we have more to put towards the things that are important to us. We want to live WELL, on LESS Money. Frugal Kitchen in January: Meal Plan. Meal Plan. … [Read More...]
My 2020 Financial Goals & A Recap of 2019
I never really embraced the idea of choosing a word for the year. I tried it in the past and was gung-ho for the first month and then forgot all about the word. However, 2019 was the first year that I found a word that I could stand by. I adored my word and everything about what I was trying to achieve for 2019. I even kept this below image on … [Read More...]