Frugal Living

February 19, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half

Are you struggling with the cost of groceries?

You are not alone! An average family of four spends over $800 a month on groceries and household products a month.

This is a lot of money in the over all picture of things. Now if you add in mortgage or rent payments (which where we live account for 75% of a monthly paycheck), utilities and entertainment your paycheck is getting used up fast.

To make matters worse the cost of food is on the rise. So how do you keep your grocery budget down and still cook amazing, healthy meals for your family?

The answer is relatively simple. You need to change your grocery shopping and meal strategy just a bit.

Don’t stress, below you will find 25 amazing money saving tips to help you cut your grocery budget in half and put more money back into your wallet.

25 Tips To Help You Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half:

Learn how to grocery shop on a budget.
DO NOT leave home without your grocery list.
Learn the secrets of the grocery store.
DO NOT grocery shop while hungry.
Learn how to meal plan and grocery shop only for what you need.
Enroll in multiple store loyalty programs and redeem your rewards to free groceries.
Don’t be store specific about your grocery shopping. Deals are to be had at all stores.
Cut coupons, print coupons, load your card with coupons. Coupons can add up to great savings.
Download the Ibotta money saving app. Simply click, shop and save.
Shop your local dollar store for grocery savings.
Shop online. Order pantry staples online through various websites and get them delivered to your door and save.
Stockpile on your savings. Most items go on sale every 5-6 weeks so stock up while you can.
Eat less meat based meals. Try going vegetarian once or twice a week.
Stock up and use rice, beans, pasta and other dried foods for your meals and save.
Eat more homemade meals and less processed foods.
Buy frozen vegetables and fruits when fresh produce is too expensive.
Eat what is on sale, base your meal planning on seasonally cheaper foods.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat and use your slow cooker or Instant Pot and marinades to make great meals.
Shop bulk stores for deals. Note, not everything in a bigger quantity is a deal, shop smart.
Track your spending.
Shop store brands and generic brands versus name brands.
Shop your local farmers market.
Growing a garden can save you amazing amounts of money on produce all year round.
Buy what is in season and freeze it. Freeze your extras to save money.
Participate in U-pick or gleaner programs in your area.

Having a plan when you grocery shop is your best money saving tool.

Your best line of defense against the rising cost of groceries is a well thought out plan. And knowledge of how the grocery store likes to make you pay more for less.

If you have the time I would hands down recommend The Grocery Budget Makeover course which is an online course that shows you the money saving secrets of the grocery store.

You can take this course online at your own pace. This is the course that helps save us tons of money monthly on groceries.

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Do you use a weekly meal plan?

I have to recommend the MyFreezeEasy Meal Planning program. If you are a busy mom and figuring out what’s for dinner is not your thing. Don’t sweat it.

With MyFreezEasy you stock the freezer with all the meals you enjoy. Pick and choose from the amazing meal plans and recipes. Cook them the day you do your preparation or freeze them for later.

Did you know you can make over 10 meals in one hour?

You can all you need is the right recipes, the grocery shopping lists and the time. Reserve an hour one evening or on the weekend and get the kids involved.

Fill the freezer, save money at the grocery store and save time during the week.

Cut your grocery bill in half.

Above we listed off 25 money saving tips to help you cut your grocery budget. Add in The Grocery Budget Makeover course (and all it’s money saving secrets) and a great meal plan and you could be saving money on your household grocery expenses in no time.

Have a great day,

Cynthia

February 8, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Going Green & Saving Money

Green living.

Is a sustainable lifestyle centered on using less and making less waste. Preserving the Earths resources all while living well.

A common example of green living is recycling and reusing goods. Or choosing reusable storage containers versus single use items.

Frugal living.

Is about living well on less. Cutting out the extras and saving money. Making smart choices with your hard earned paycheck.

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Going green and saving money.

You can save the planet, live green and save money all at the same time. And it is reasonably easy to do. You just need to make some minor changes to your daily activities.

For example instead of buying bottled water, swap it up for a stainless steel reusable bottle and refill as needed. Note that bottled water is a multi-billion dollar industry and some companies are simply re-bottling the water straight out of the tap.

Another great way to save money and go green is to bring your cloth shopping bags from home. Where we live they charge five cents for every plastic bag you use – they cost the store way less. But most of the time the plastic bags end up in the garbage after a single use.

Green it up by bringing your cloth bags from home. You are saving money and saving the environment.

Frugal living and green living go hand in hand.

They are both about living well on less. Less money (money saved) and less waste (money saved). You will find that frugal families opt for homemade cleaners, cloth shopping bags, pre-made meals and travel water bottles.

All of which will save you money and help you live a greener life.

Simple ways to live greener and save money:

1. Plant a tree.

Did you know that you can help your energy costs, add more oxygen to the air we breath and make your yard more beautiful just by planting a tree. Trees will shade your yard in the summer and help keep the heat in during the winter. Fruit trees can help cut your grocery budget.

2. Turn off the tap.

Do you get charged for your water use? Save yourself some money and help preserve the water by turning off the tap. When you are brushing your teeth turn the tap off. Washing the dishes, turn off the tap. Install low flow toilets and shower heads to further save you money and preserve the water.

3. Grow your own food.

Planting even a small garden of lettuce, tomatoes and herbs can save you money. You save the planet by not adding to the carbon foot print, less chemicals are used on the vegetables and you know what you are growing and what you are eating.

4. Cleaning green.

Chemical cleaners are huge business. The company marketing teams have us believing we need this cleaner for floors, this cleaner for counters and these other ones to clean the bathroom.

But in reality all you need is baking soda, vinegar, castile soap, water and some essential oils to clean every inch of your home.

A common cleaner in our home is a 50/50 water and vinegar solution with a small squirt of castile soap and a few drops of essential oils. This solution will clean your whole home and the essential oils will help disinfect.

5. Personal green.

Did you know that most of your personal hygiene products are made with chemical that harm the planet and aren’t that great for you either? Think about it, what is in your make up or body lotion?

Most soap products that are on the market contain petroleum products or chemicals that make that silky lather. Opting for natural based personal products can help save you money.

Yes, most natural based products are more expensive but they tend to last longer so dollar for dollar you are still winning with a natural based product. My favorite natural line is Burt’s Bees.

6. Green your decorating.

If you are painting opt for a more natural based paint and the cost should run you about the same. You will also be thankful for the low odor.

If you are decorating a room opt for vintage, natural products instead of brand new. Also opt for real wood products. Vintage decor, real wood and natural based decor will save you money and help the environment.

7. Recycle and reuse.

Do you recycle your pop containers and glass? Did you know you can get money back from your local recycle depot? What about reusing all that scrap paper for kids crafts. Or those old shirts for cleaning rags.

Save yourself the money. Checkout what you have before you shop. Do you have something that can be re-purposed and reused? Save yourself the money.

Our favorite green living money saving items:

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

February 6, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Five Frugal Must Haves

Helping you save money.

Sometimes life gets difficult. Sometimes the budget gets tight. Other times we simply want to save more money and live a bit more frugal.

Save for the future, pay down debt. Live a little bit simpler.

Great ways to save money.

Cutting down on your household expenses is a great way to save money. Managing your grocery budget and stretching items to meet the demand. Looking for ways to cut costs and save money.

My favorite way to save both time and money is to meal plan. Knowing what’s for dinner is a huge time saver.

Planning your weekly meals allows you to grocery shop accordingly and spend with in your budget. Another great way to save money is home cooking, make it from scratch and skip the processed food aisle.

If you are looking to save money beyond the kitchen look at your home temperature, are you running things too hot or too cold.

Adjust the thermostat to a medium temperature and purchase a thermostat lock. What about the laundry room? Are you a cold water washer or do you run everything on hot?

The most economical laundry solution is to cold water wash and hang dry. Another great ways to save money around the home is to check all your seals.

Make sure your weather stripping is up to date, cracks are sealed and all your appliances and heaters are preforming in top condition.

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Five Frugal Must Haves:

In an effort to help you save money around your home we have come up with five frugal must haves. Now we have spread them out from the kitchen to the laundry room to the bedroom. But in all honesty we could have come up with five frugal must haves for each section of the house.

I hope that all these items help you save money and cut down on your household expenses.

1. Instant Pot

The Instant Pot is an amazing appliance. I love the set and forget, go bath the kids and dinner is ready aspect of this appliance. But really you can cook soups, stews, roasts, yogurt and frozen chicken in your Instant Pot. It is a huge time saver and money saver. Purchase cheaper cuts of meat, marinate and cook till tender. Home cooking just got easier.

2. KitchenAid Mixer

The KitchenAid mixer is great for all avenues of baking. Skip the pastry aisle at the grocery store and bake your own at home. Also with the KitchenAid mixer you can make pizza dough, bread dough, muffins and more. Add an attachment and you can make pasta, ketogenic vegetable sliced wraps or vegetable pasta. There is even a grinder attachment. Your options in the kitchen are limitless.

3. Low Flow Shower Head

Let’s face it showering can waste a lot of water which in some areas can be costly. Adding in a low flow shower head can save you on your utility bills.

4. Warm Blanket

Remember how I mentioned before about finding a medium temperature on the thermostat. Add a great blanket to the bedroom or living room for comfort and warmth without adjusting the expense dial.

5. Dryer Balls

These have two time and money saving purposes. Dryer balls speed up the drying time on clothes as well as fluff and soften without chemicals. You can add essential oils to your dryer balls if you are looking for scented laundry. No more buying dryer sheets and your utility bill will thank you.

Five amazing but simple items that will help you live more frugally and save money.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

January 28, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Beginner Sewing Projects

Learning to sew.

Sewing is a frugal tool that will stay with you always and save you a ton of money. Even if you just learn the basics like sewing on a button or fixing a tear in your favorite shirt.

Being able to hem a pair of pants is also a great skill. Or fix your child’s favorite teddy bear.

Below you will find some great beginner sewing projects that will help save you money and provide you with something very useful.

7 Beginner Sewing Projects:

1. Simple Tote Bag – Crazy Little Projects

You will need:

2/3 yards of fabric
matching thread

Note this project is a sewing machine project but could be sewn by hand.

2. Jumbo Receiving Blanket – Happy Hooligans

You will need:

1 meter of flannel for the front of blanket
1 meter of flannel for the back of the blanket
coordinating thread

Note this project is a sewing machine project but could be sewn by hand.

3. Pillow Case -Polkadot Chair

You will need:

1 1/2 yards of fabric for pillow case
seam tape

Note this is a sewing machine project.

4. Sunglasses Case – Sew DIY

You will need:

Note this project is a sewing machine project but could be sewn by hand.

5. Baby Bibs – Life With My Littles

You will need:

1/3 yard cotton fabric
1/3 yard soft and cuddly fabric
snaps

Note this project is a sewing machine project but could be sewn by hand.

6. Pencil Case – Crazy Little Projects

You will need:

1/4 yard of two different fabrics
9 inch zipper

Note this is a sewing machine project.

7. Drawstring Gift Bags – Positively Splendid

You will need:

fabric scraps
ribbon

Note this project is a sewing machine project but could be sewn by hand.

Additional sewing materials a beginner may require:

sewing kit
scissors
pins
safety pins
sewing pen
sewing machine
needles
cutting board

Making money with your basic sewing skills.

If you can learn to sew a blanket edge or baby bib you can create an additional income for yourself. This past week I purchased a baby blanket and bibs from a local vendor.

She creates these wonderful blankets in her spare time and she uses the money to help support her family. And yes they require a little bit of skill and time but they are not hard to make.

If you have the time and willingness to learn you could create a great side income for yourself. For example the blanket I purchased cost over $50 given the detailing.

The vendor only markets locally and generally by word of mouth and she is pretty busy. She sets aside select time to work on sewing projects and creates a great income for herself.

If you are wanting to create a sewing or crafting income for yourself start with something small and spread the word.

Create a business card so others can contact you. If you have the time develop a simple website with examples of your products. Or create an Etsy site if you want to reach a more global audience.

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Learning to sew could open up possibilities.

You could learn to create beautiful projects for yourself, your family and your friends. You could also find a hobby you truly enjoy.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

January 23, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Do You Struggle With Meal Time?

Do you avoid the what’s for dinner question?

And in turn skip it all together and simply order pizza. You are not alone!

Your reason for meal time struggles could be financial, it could be timing, it could be simply you forgot to take something out.

No matter your reason we are going to help you over come your meal time struggles today.

Our family struggled with meal time so bad it wrecked our budget.

As a family we use to hit the drive thru for breakfast and coffee. Lunch was either something simple or a grab and go restaurant style and dinner.

Oh dinner, after getting up at 4 am, commute times and working a long day I just wasn’t prepared nor wanted to slave over a stove and cook a meal.

So takeout became our friend to the tune of a horrible debt.

We fixed all this when we found MyFreezeEasy. And meal time has never been easier. We are saving tons of money too.

Do you struggle with meal time?

Is it the actual preparation time dinner requires? Or is it money and grocery budgeting are not your thing?

Or are you like me and part of the family eats at one time and the rest eat a bit later due to jobs or activities.

No matter your reason we are going to help you save time and money in the kitchen and prepare some delicious meals.

Saving time and money in the kitchen.

The best way we have found to save time and money in the kitchen is to invest in appliances that speed up the cooking or ones that do the cooking for us.

These appliances can take a cheap cut of meat or a bunch of ingredients and make an amazing meal all while you are bathing the kids or working or getting a few minutes of rest and relaxation.

The appliances I am talking about are the slow cooker and the Instant Pot. We have both and love them. As I write this there is a bourbon honey glazed pulled pork cooking in our slow cooker.

Come dinner all I will have to do is shred the meat, plate it with either a salad or chips and dinner is good to go.

We will also use this pork for meals later in the week or other freezer meals like soups, pulled pork tacos, my husband loves pulled pork mac and cheese.

So while I work I am cooking approximately 4 family meals using my slow cooker.

I also love the Instant Pot, where else can you cook frozen chicken breast in 20 minutes and have dinner on the table in under thirty.

The Instant Pot is great because you can cook roasts, soups, stews, whole chickens and so much more. Some models will even let you make fresh homemade yogurt.

Think of all the money you save using these two appliances and the time you save so you can focus on what’s important to you.

If you are looking to save time and money in the kitchen an Instant Pot and slow cooker are a must.

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What to make for dinner?

Do you struggle with the food and the actual meal preparation portion of meal time? No problem we have a solution for you.

Picture this you open the fridge or the freezer and it is full of yummy family friendly meals. You have chicken dishes, beef dishes maybe a soup or a stew.

You could have Keto meals or gluten free, dairy free meals. Your options are endless. And you made them all on or under budget!

Doesn’t this sound great? This is how MyFreezeEasy works they give you all the meal plans, the recipes, the grocery shopping lists and money saving tips.

All you have to do is set aside an hour of time and prepare the meals. Are you thinking I don’t have time to do all this – yes you do.

Did you know you can prepare 10 meals in under an hour? Better yet get your friends and family together and prepare double that and you are set for a few weeks worth of meals.

No more take out or rushing around the grocery store last minute. No over spending your food budget. No more avoiding the what’s for dinner question.

I hope all these tips and ideas help you overcome your meal time struggles.

I wish you an amazing day,

Cynthia

January 14, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

How We Paid Off $5000 Of Debt In One Month

Debt is debilitating.

Not to mention stressful and cause for arguments. And our debt wasn’t for anything special it was credit card debt and loan payments.

Things that had just added up over time.

How we paid off $5000 of debt in one month.

It took some work, some budgeting and some stubbornness. We set a plan and I was not taking no for an answer.

We put all our extra money toward the debt and worked some extra long hours to cover the rest.

And it feels great. Yes, we may have said no to dinners out, weekends away and some extras but we did it.

$5000 in a month may seem like peanuts to some, but to us it made a significant dent in our debt.

Related Posts:

Learning to budget.

Taking an honest look at where all your money is going is important. Gather up all your receipts from this last week or this last month and add it all up.

Figure out where all your hard earned money is going. If there is something you can cut back on great. Maybe eating out less or cooking more homemade meals and pastries.

If you would like to learn more about budgeting and getting out of debt checkout this book, Total Money Makeover was great when we started looking into our finances and correcting how we were spending.

You can learn about all the stuff we stopped buying to save money.

Blogging to make extra money.

I started blogging initially to share how we were winning against debt and living more frugally. I wanted to be able to share our tips and tricks with others so they could succeed against debt.

In the process I learned how to make an income off my blog. This extra income helped us pay down more debt and provide for our family.

You can learn more about how to start a blog here. I love blogging. I get a chance to help other people, share my knowledge and make an income to help support my family.

If you are looking for a work from home income to help support your family, look into blogging. It has been rewarding, challenging, unique, creative and so much more.

I have learned so much and met so many interesting people.

Setting a plan and sticking to it.

These last few months I have been real stubborn with our budget and paying down our debt. You see we are expecting our second child so I want our finances in better order.

I don’t want that stress weighing over me while I am recovering and taking care of our new little one at home. So I set a plan that all budget items would be tightened short term and all extra money would go toward the debt.

If this meant no eating out or no vacations that was fine. It also meant we spent less on holiday gift giving this year which honestly went over well with our family. We weren’t the only ones trying to save some money.

If you are looking to save money or pay down debt make a plan that works with your finances and stick with it. Be stubborn. Explain your circumstances to those who ask.

If you eat out on a regular basis make a plan to cook more homemade meals.

Or maybe you are use to going out on the weekend and spending lots on entertainment, figure out some cheaper activities or plan a no spend weekend or month to help you save.

If we can do it so can you.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

January 10, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Money Leaks – Little Fixes That Could Save You Thousands

Are there money leaks in your spending?

The common answer would be no. But you would be surprised to know that most people have them and they are usually pretty common items.

Leaks that are costing you thousands of dollars annually if not monthly.

Subscription Leaks:

Did you sign up for a free trial, pay the postage, give your credit card and continue to get new items from the company every month? Those new items aren’t free, check your credit card statement and put a stop to the charges. Companies are sneaky, they will offer you a freebie and ask you only to pay postage, take your credit card and in the fine print it says will start full subscription once trial expires.

Do you have apps on your smart phone you pay for monthly but don’t use? Ones you may have subscribed to months or years ago. Those charges are re-occurring unless you stop them.

What about digital or hard copy magazine or gift box subscriptions do you still get those even though you don’t use them? This is one of the items we stopped when we first started cutting back our spending.

Membership Leaks:

Do you pay $19.99 or whatever your monthly gym membership is even though you only go maybe once a month? Did you know a visit to your local recreation center is cheaper. Or what about working out at home?

Monthly memberships come in all shapes and sizes these days. Friends of ours belong to a local products membership where they get a box every two months with select local products to try. We also have friends who belong to the monthly wine club and receive a box of specifically selected wines each month.

Honestly these memberships are great but are they really worth it when you are trying to cut back and save money?

Payment Leaks:

Do you pay your bills a few days late or leave a balance on the credit card? Those extra charges, interest and late fees are money leaks. Ones you need to plug as soon as possible. Why give the bill collectors or the credit card company any of your hard earned money.

If you do have an outstanding balance on your credit cards work hard to pay it off so you won’t be paying those extra interest fees.

Television & Entertainment Leaks:

Do you still pay for cable but hardly use it? Or is your cable bill so high you are looking else where for entertainment? You are not alone. A lot of people when they are looking to cut back on expenses cut the cable and look into other online methods of television entertainment. Some examples are Netflix or online media streaming boxes.

You can save a lot of money by cutting the cable and streaming your shows online.

Insurance Leaks:

This will vary plan to plan, city to city but if you install a home monitoring device or digital camera system you can save on your insurance.

Also with auto insurance check what you are covered for and what options you have. With our auto policy I save money by limiting who can drive our vehicles and how far we travel to and from the office.

Health insurance is a costly item. Make sure your provider knows what options you use and what services you need. You may be paying more for something you don’t even need.

Bank Fee Leaks:

When was the last time you checked your bank statement and your credit card statement? Did you know the bank could be charging you fees you aren’t even aware of? It is a big thing for the banks to switch clients over to paperless banking.

One of the things that they sneak by is fees. Without a paper statement you aren’t checking your money and fees as regularly as you would if you had a paper copy. Check last months statement and make sure you are getting everything you are paying for.

If something seems a miss ask. Call the bank or drop by and ask them to explain or better yet opt for a plan that better suits your needs.

Shopping Leaks:

Let’s face it we are loyal to a fault. If there is an item we love we will buy it till they discontinue it. But is being brand loyal really saving us any money? Nope!

We use to be loyal to this one gluten free muffin company in large supply till I actually calculated how much we were spending. I can tell you now that there is a fresh batch of gluten free, keto friendly muffins cooling on the counter.

Be open to trying new brands and new products it will save you money. Also be open to do it yourself options when you can.

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Plug your money leaks and save.

Above we noted seven common money leaks but there are way more. Your money leak maybe hitting up the coffee shop every morning or eating out twice a week. Or maybe you travel a lot and don’t checkout all the savings you can get with Airbnb.

Take a look at your spending and see where you are leaking money. Plug the leaks and start watching your savings multiply.

Have a great day,

Cynthia

January 9, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

7 Amazing Knitting Projects For Beginners

Knitting is a great way to create, de-stress, invest in you and the people you care about.

Knitting is a pass time enjoyed by many. I am amazed at the knitting projects I have seen people make. Hats, scarfs, blankets and sweaters.

Knitting is a great way to create something for yourself and others.

Handmade items are always better than store bought and they generally last longer. I still have hats my Grandmother knitted over 20+ years ago.

Frugal DIY and knitting.

If you are looking for a frugal do it yourself project to pass the time while you wait at dance lessons, soccer practice or simply while you watch television knitting is a bought as frugal as they come.

You will require knitting needles, yarn and patterns. All of which are very cheap to purchase. You can even get yarn on discount at most craft stores and thrift shops.

I have also seen knitting supplies available at dollar stores.

Knitting for others and knitting to make money.

Knitting projects depending on your skill level and the size of the project can be completed relatively quickly. You might be able to knit a scarf in a day or a hat over a couple of days.

Locally we have knitting groups and people who knit for a living. Making hats, scarfs, blankets and so much more to earn an income to support their family.

These items are sold locally, but you could sell them on crafting sites as well to make additional income. Knitting patterns are another great way to make a great income online.

7 Amazing Knitting Projects For Beginners:

1. Knitted Beanie Hat – All Free Knitting

You will need:

size 9 – 16″ circular knitting needles
1 skein of bulky weight 5 yarn

2. Arm Knit Blanket – Flax & Twine

You will need:

8 skeins 100% wool Cascade Magnum

3. Confetti Scarf – Purl Soho

You will need:

#15 knitting needles
7 skeins of light weight merino

4. Chunky Leg Warmers or Boot Toppers – All Free Knitting

You will need:

size 11 circular knitting needles
super bulky/ super chunky yarn

5. Easy Baby Booties – Gina Michelle

You will need:

medium weight yarn
size 8 straight needles

6. Knitted Dish Cloths – All Free Knitting

You will need:

size 8 straight needles
1 skein sugar and cream cotton

7. Bow Headbands – Green Bird

You will need:

size 4 straight needles
merino yarn

DIY gifting or money making guide.

If you are looking to gift your knitting projects or create an income for yourself. Some of the most practical of items are the best ideas. Such as knitted dish cloths, bow headbands, blankets, scarfs and hats.

An arm knitted blanket makes a great gift and can also be sold for $75-$125 depending on the size and design. Hats make great gifts for the millennial on your gift list.

Baby booties and blankets make great shower gifts or crafting shop income ideas.

Happy crafting,

Cynthia

January 7, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

7 Things We Do To Save Money

Saving money or figuring out where to save money can be tricky.

When money is tight it looks almost impossible to save anymore. You have cut back on eating out. The grocery budget is as tight as it possibly can be.

You have turned down the thermostat and added a few blankets. How can you possibly save anymore money?

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Learning to cut back.

After money got tight we cut back on anything and everything. Including skipping the morning drive thru and bringing coffee from home.

We stopped going away every few months and started enjoying more family time at home. We started embracing a more frugal lifestyle and we have more money in the bank now because of it.

Once we took a good, hard, honest look at where we were spending our money it was easier to figure out where we could cut back and save.

We took a weeks worth of receipts to start, then a months worth and figured out where all our money was going. Then we cut back and set a budget.

It was an adjustment in the beginning. When you buy all your pastries and get breakfast on the go, eat out once or twice a week and plan a weekend away every few months.

You just need to come up with a new plan, one that works.

I will let you know as I write this there is fresh bread baking in the kitchen and it smells so good. The Cuisinart Convection Bread Maker one of the best money saving investments we have done lately.

7 Things We Do To Save Money:

1. Skip the pastry aisle and bake our own.

If you have read a post or two before you know half our household is gluten free and the other half eats just about anything. Gluten free goods are expensive. Four muffins or a loaf of bread can be $6.99 which is getting up there.

So we invested in some great pastry recipes and an amazing bread maker. I set aside time once or twice a week to bake some muffins, pastries or bread depending on the week. This saves us over $50 a week on average.

2. Brown bag it.

On average unless you are getting fast food most lunch meals run over $10 plus drinks. Save yourself the money and brown bag it from home. If you work on the road or in the construction field, invest in a portable oven like we did and have warm lunches on the road.

3. Have coffee will travel.

Are you up real early for work like we are and the drive thru is your wake up call? Invest in a great coffee maker and a portable coffee cup or a thermos. My husband uses his Stanley Thermos on the road and loves that it keeps his coffee warm all day.

4. Alternate vacations.

Holidays and vacations can get expensive with hotels, meals, attractions and travel. One way our family saves money is by using Airbnb. We select accommodations that will work with our needs and saved significantly versus hotel fees.

Getting an apartment, suite or home with a kitchen can also help you save on meals. Also look into staying just outside the city center to save even more money.

Or maybe a staycation is more your style and vacation in your own backyard. Relax, enjoy, visit with friends and save money.

5. Out with the paper.

Let’s face it paper products cost money and make a lot of waste. Skip the cost and kick the paper to the curb. Invest in reusable cloth napkins, cloth cleaning rags and kitchen towels.

6. Car sharing.

I will admit we are a two car household mainly because we live in a city where public transit really doesn’t cover our needs. However, when we can we group together all our family activities and rely on one vehicle. This saves us money on gas, car repairs and time.

7. We budget.

Yes, I said the budget word. My husband and I will budget out our month and generally pay with cash so we know where all our money is going. Budgeting has helped us pay down our debt and increase our savings.

Simple changes.

I know the items above sound like real simple changes to make in your everyday but honestly they make a huge difference in your pocket book.

Think about it if you skipped the coffee shop this week and brought coffee from home instead of grabbing a latte to go you would be saving $25-$30 now add in lunch at $10 a day and the savings are really starting to add up.

Cut your cable and run your washer on the cool cycle and you will be saving more money. The savings do add up.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

December 20, 2018 by Saving and Simplicity

The Best Frugal Household Items

It’s all about saving money.

And cutting household expenses. Have you ever wondered how those on a single income get by or how some people just have it all figured out.

Their secret is investing in items that will help save them money. I’m talking kitchen appliances that save you time and money.

Simple household items that you take for granted that can save you big bucks.

Over the last year we have researched items that will help save you time and money. Cutting your household expenses and putting more money back into your wallet.

21 Of The Best Frugal Household Items:

1. Instant Pot

I think hands down the Instant Pot is one of the best money saving and time saving kitchen items a home should have. Where else can you cook triple chocolate cheesecake, chicken breasts, ginger beef and so much more in minutes.

2. Slow Cooker

Set it and forget it. The timeless household meal maker, the reason behind dump and go dinner recipes. A slow cooker is a household must.

3. Coffee Maker

Why spend $5 everyday at the coffee shop drive thru when you can make amazing coffee at home with this coffee maker.

4. Travel Coffee Mug

Don’t leave home without your favorite travel coffee mug. Save money everyday by bringing your coffee from home.

5. Bread Maker

This is a new investment in our home, but a definite money saver. When gluten free bread and some artisan breads are running $5.99 a loaf a multitasking bread maker is a household must.

6. Travel Oven Lunch Box

Do you work away from home? Travel for work or work on a construction site? Do you prefer warm lunches? This travel oven lunch box is amazing!! I bought one for my husband and we all love it. He gets great piping hot meals for lunch and I get to save on meals by using up leftovers.

7. Kitchenaid Mixer

Cookies, bread, pasta and so much more. You name it and you can probably make it with your Kitchenaid Mixer. We have even invested in the pasta maker attachments for ours.

8. Hanging Clothes Dryer

Save money by hanging your clothes to dry. Invest in a indoor clothes dryer.

9. Dryer Balls

Skip the chemicals and decrease the drying time. Dryer balls speed up the drying time of your clothes and decrease the use of costly dryer sheets.

10. Reusable Soap Dispensers

Are you a bulk buy household? Do you purchase larger bottles of soap? Invest in soap dispensers to save money.

11. Cloth Napkins

Say goodbye to paper products and start using cloth napkins.

12. Tea Towels

No more paper towels. Use tea towels or cloth kitchen towels to clean up messes and cut down on costs.

13. Thermostat Lock Box

Heating and cooling temperatures in a household are an age old debate. Keep the temperature balanced by installing a thermostat lock box. No more surprising costly utility bills.

14. Reusable Dusters

Investing in reusable dusters and floor cloths is a big money saver. At over $10 a box of single use think about all the money you will save.

15. Essential Oils

Essential oils, add them to household cleaners. Use them to deodorize your home. Skip the chemicals and invest in your health and save money.

16. Moisture Barrier

Checking your home for moisture leaks is important. A small leak can cause lots of costly damage. Invest in moisture barriers and window seals.

17. Caulking

Is the sealant going around your bath tub or shower? What about around your sundeck or doors? Water, air and moisture leaks can be costly. Invest in a simple caulking and seal all needed areas.

18. Cast Iron Frying Pan

If you treat it right it will last for ever. Cast iron frying pans can be used on the stove, in the oven, over the campfire and more. You can bake, fry, saute and make a whole meal in one place.

19. DIY Cleaning Supplies

A simple vinegar and water solution can clean your whole home. Skip the costly cleaning solutions and invest in DIY cleaning solutions.

20. Calendar

Keeping track of your daily activities, budgeting, meal preparation and more can save you both money and time. Invest in a calendar that works for both you and your family.

21. Meal Plan

Are you tired of the “what’s for dinner” question? Struggle no more with the grocery shopping budget and the meal plan. Invest in a meal plan that works for you.

Stop wondering how to save money.

Frugal people know that stocking the house with items that will save them time and money is important.

Related Posts:

The secrets is out.

Twenty one simple frugal items that will save you time and money. No more wondering how to save time and money.

You can still do it all and have a great home cooked meal and a great smelling home. Borrow the money saving secrets of thrifty people and start saving money on your household expenses.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia