Saving & Simplicity

Smart Money, Simple Living

Frugal Living

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7 Luxuries Under $10

7 luxuries under $10. Sometimes life needs a little bit of luxury. Simple things that make all of life's busy days worth it. Chocolate, massages and more.

Life needs a little luxury. 

But it doesn’t have to break the bank.  I am talking little things every once in a while.  Little pick me ups.

Maybe you need them daily or weekly or maybe after a really long stressful week you need them all.

Little things that brighten your day and make all the crazy, busy life stuff worth it.

Little luxury locations. 

You may find your luxuries at the corner coffee shop or in a candy box or wrapped in a blanket with a good book.

Luxuries are unique to the person.  I find luxury in good chocolate, great coffee and a few minutes of quiet.

Below you will find a list of 7 luxuries that are only a click away. And if you have Amazon Prime they will be delivered in two days.

7 luxuries under $10. Sometimes life needs a little bit of luxury. Simple things that make all of life's busy days worth it. Chocolate, massages and more.

7 Luxuries Under $10:

1. Chocolate… what else do I need to say.

Life is always better with chocolate and when it’s creamy dark and melts in your mouth it is even better. Lindt Excellence – Touch of Sea Salt chocolate bar is divine.

It’s just the right amount of salt and cocoa to balance out even the most stressful of days.

2. Coffee…mornings are always better with coffee. 

Smooth, sweet and balanced to help you approach your day.  Or maybe you are an afternoon pick me up coffee drinker or an evening cup and conversation type.

Peet’s Cafe Domingo Medium Roast Coffee is a great way to start your day.  Fresh quality, brews the best cup of coffee.  This medium roast is smooth and aromatic blend of Latin American Coffee.

3. A good book makes the day. 

I always end the day reading a great book and my son does the same.  Its a great way to quiet the mind, relax and unwind.  Maybe learn something new or expand our imagination.

Currently I am reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis and this book is great.  I think every woman and man on the planet should read it.  You can become who you want to be.

The kindle version is within the budget of $10.

4. Massages that make you melt. 

Sometime we just need a great back rub.  Feel your tension and stress melt away with the Luxury Jade Roller.

This double sided authentic jade roller can be used for facial massage or body lymphatic massage. Heal your mind and body.

5. Sometimes a good bath is all you need. 

Stretch out and unwind in a warm bath with lavender and chamomile Aqua Spa Bath Oil.

Add a couple of cucumber slices to reduce the puffy eyes and you have a relaxing spa afternoon or evening.

Bath oil will help replenish your skins moisture and lavender will help relax you.

6. Sometimes we just need something pretty.

Who says something pretty must cost the world.  Bracelets are a great addition to any outfit and a little bit of luxury to add to your day.

This multi-layer leather and sparkle bracelet by 17 mile is a great piece of luxury.

7.  Great smells are a little bit of luxury.

Even better when they help you relax and unwind.  If you have trouble sleeping at night add a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil to a tissue and place it in your pillowcase just before bed.

This trick works wonders even on my worst insomnia nights.  Lavender essential oils can also be added to a diffuser or bath for the relaxation benefits.

Life’s little luxuries. 

Don’t need to break the bank.  Simple, easy bits of luxury that cost less than $10 each. Sometimes in life it’s the simple things that are the best.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

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21 Delicious Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

21 delicious Thanksgving dinner recipes. Appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, sauces, desserts and drinks. Food is better when shared with family & friends

Thanksgiving is a time to come together. 

For great food with family and friends. It’s a time to give thanks for all that you have and the year ahead.

In our house it means lots of people, lots of talking and lots of yummy food.  It is all better when shared.

Below you will find a great list of 21 Thanksgiving dinner recipes covering appetizers, side dishes, main course, desserts, sauces and drinks.

This list is big and there is a lot of food here but everything is so good and you will have leftovers. Isn’t that the best part of the Thanksgiving?

21 delicious Thanksgving dinner recipes. Appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, sauces, desserts and drinks. Food is better when shared with family & friends

21 Delicious Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes:

Cauliflower Soup – Good Housekeeping

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Roasted Artichokes & Caesar Dip

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Roasted Asparagus & Ricotta Tart – Good Housekeeping

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Sage & Orange Roasted Turkey – Woman’s Day

You will need:

One Pan Roasted Turkey Breast & Root Vegetables – Good Housekeeping

You will need:

Apple & Potato Gratin – Woman’s Day

You will need:

Maple Bourbon Gravy – The Suburban Soap Box

Maple syrup makes everything better.

You will need:

Rosemary Monkey Bread Stuffing – Country Living

You will need:

Pecan Pie Glazed Carrots – Woman’s Day

You will need:

Best Coriander Roasted Sweet Potatoes – Woman’s Day

You will need:

Apricot Glazed Green Beans – Woman’s Day

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Maple Cranberry Sauce – Two Peas & Their Pod

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Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts – Woman’s Day

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Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes – Woman’s Day

There is something about mashed potatoes and Thanksgiving.  They pair well together.

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House Rolls – Women’s Day

You will need:

Maple Butter – Woman’s Day

You will need:

Pumpkin Pie – Woman’s Day

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Double Pecan Chocolate Pie – Woman’s Day

Everything is better with chocolate.

You will need:

Blackberry Mint Moscow Mule – Good Housekeeping

You will need:

Hot Buttered Rum – The Food Network

You will need:

Chai Latte – The Food Network 

You will need:

Do you sense a theme?

I am loving all the fall recipes this year that are using maple syrup.   This year especially you will find an incorporation of maple syrup in Thanksgiving recipes like the maple cranberry sauce and the pecan pie glazed carrots.

There is just something about maple syrup and its natural sweetness that pairs well with a fall dish.

I wish you an amazing Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

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50 Healthy After School Snack Ideas

50 healthy after school snack ideas. Easy to make, kid friendly snacks. Granola, fruit slices, vegetables, chocolate bananas, avocado toast and more.

After the bags are unpacked and the shoes are put away snacking is on the agenda. 

Today we are talking about healthy after school snacks for your little ones.  Kids love coming home to easy access snacks after school.

My best advice is to prepare a few of these snacks ahead of time and have them available. Opting to have cut up vegetables, fruits or other healthy snacks available promotes healthy food choices.

Also having dips and spreads on hand and allowing your child to prepare their own snacks helps promote interest in cooking and healthy eating.

Snack rotation. 

Below you will find a list of 50 healthy after school snack ideas.  A great idea to save money and keep it interesting is to have a snack rotation.

This week have one collection of snacks available and next week have another collection of snacks available. Change up the after school snacks from the ones you sent in today’s lunch.

You can also have mini versions of meal leftovers available for snacks. Such as sliders or a mini quiche or section of waffle with nut butter and bananas. Keep it simple and keep it interesting.

Variety is the spice of life.

50 healthy after school snack ideas. Easy to make, kid friendly snacks. Granola, fruit slices, vegetables, chocolate bananas, avocado toast and more.

50 Healthy After School Snack Ideas:

  1. Vegetable Slices & Dip
  2. Carrot Sticks and Hummus
  3. Cucumber & Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
  4. Sliced Cheese
  5. Crackers and Spread
  6. Apples & Nut Butter
  7. Yogurt
  8. Cottage Cheese & Pineapple
  9. Popcorn
  10. Tortilla Chips and Salsa
  11. Nuts
  12. Trail Mix
  13. Sliced Meat
  14. Roasted Chickpeas
  15. Muffin Bites
  16. Hard Boiled Eggs
  17. Avocado Toast
  18. Oranges
  19. Berries
  20. Celery & Seed Butter Spread
  21. Cherries
  22. Kiwi
  23. Peaches
  24. Seed & Nut Protein Bars
  25. Pears
  26. Smoothies
  27. Small Salad
  28. Bell Peppers & Ranch Dressing
  29. Melons
  30. Snap Peas
  31. Coconut Chips
  32. Chia Pudding
  33. Yogurt Parfaits
  34. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
  35. Homemade Granola Bars
  36. Energy Bites
  37. Fruit Leather
  38. Chocolate Avocado Pudding
  39. Frozen Chocolate Bananas
  40. Homemade Popsicles
  41. Apple Chips
  42. Vegetable Chips
  43. Guacamole and Tortilla Chips
  44. Grapes
  45. Fruit & Cheese Kebobs
  46. Beef Jerky
  47. Oatmeal Cookies
  48. Quesadillas
  49. Muffins
  50. Sweet Potato Chips

Saving money on your snacks. 

Having a full variety of snacks on hand is great, but it can get costly.  Save money by shopping your store flyers, bulk buying or making it from scratch.

Keep track of what you have and mix and match.  Who says you can’t have roasted pumpkin seeds in your homemade trail mix or sunflower butter with your apples?

Use what you have, improvise and get your kids involved. Shop around and save money.

Have a great day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

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10 Easy Halloween Crafts For Kids

10 easy Halloween crafts for kids. Halloween is a time for creation and imagination. Ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and more. Trick or treat bags and decorations

Halloween is a time for creation and imagination.

Don’t get me wrong I think all year round is a great time for DIY and crafting but Halloween is a great time to bring out the pumpkins, the bats and the ghosts.

There is something fun about Halloween crafts with the kids.  It brings out the creator and imagination in all of us.

For example, five of us may all be carving pumpkins but not one of them will be the same. Each one will be a unique creation.

Below you will find some really great Halloween craft ideas for the kids in your life.  All of these crafts are easy to make and require minimal supplies.

Have fun, get creative and enjoy some crafting time.

10 easy Halloween crafts for kids. Halloween is a time for creation and imagination. Ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and more. Trick or treat bags and decorations

10 Easy Halloween Crafts For Kids

1. Vampire Corner Book Marks – Easy Peasy and Fun

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2. Clothespin Button Bats – I Heart Crafty Things

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3. Halloween Broom Bags – Women’s Day

You will need:

4. Ghost Lollipops – A Beautiful Mess

You will need:

5. Eyeball Door Garland – Paging SuperMom

You will need:

10 easy Halloween crafts for kids. Halloween is a time for creation and imagination. Ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and more. Trick or treat bags and decorations

6. Spooky Spider Soap – Happiness is Homemade

You will need:

7. Halloween Spider Slime – The Tiptoe Fairy

You will need:

8. Glittery Trick Or Treat Bags – HGTV

You will need:

9. Peak A Boo Pumpkins – HGTV

You will need:

10. Painted Ghost Rocks – Easy Peasy Fun

You will need:

All of these crafts are great and to be honest my son has already asked to make the spider slime and the spider soap in the coming weeks.

Personally, I am not so much a fan of spiders nor slime. Call it a Mom thing. But the painted ghost rocks or the lollipop ghosts and the trick or treat bags those look cool.

I wish you a happy afternoon of crafting and a great day,

Cynthia

Saving & Simplicity

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Amazon’s Best Selling Mattress

Amazon's best selling mattress will have you jumping into bed. And the price is AMAZING! Are you a side sleeper or back sleeper? Get your best nights sleep.

Are you having trouble sleeping?

Struggling to get a GOOD nights sleep?   Do you toss and turn trying to find the perfect position?

Calling all sleepers!

Are you a side sleeper or a back sleeper?  Honestly, I swap between the two. Which is NO PROBLEM with the Linenspa Memory foam mattress!

With an 8 inch profile of firm support memory foam all there is, is happy sleeping.

And it’s not just memory foam.  Infused with cooling gel technology this mattress is breathable and formulated to help prevent over heating.

And it comes in a box!

Delivered right to your door in an easy to handle box. The Linenspa Memory mattress arrives at your door compressed and rolled up in a convenient, easy to move box.

Don’t worry this thing is easy to move around!

So what is so great about this mattress?

The Linenspa memory foam mattress has over 5000 reviews on Amazon and 4.5 stars.

  • The comfortable mattress combines memory foam with traditional support of an innerspring mattress
  • Two layers of foam for comfort and enjoyment
  • Quilted memory foam and comfort foam create a plush and cushioned surface
  • This mattress cradles your body with topnotch comfort no matter how you sleep
  • Perfect for the side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper
  • This mattress is a fraction of the cost of major brands

Who says you have to spend thousands for a good night sleep? 

The Linenspa Memory Foam mattress is less than $250 for a King and $110 for a Twin which is a fraction of the cost of a name brand mattress at a couple of thousand dollars.

I don’t know about you but $110 for a good night sleep on one of the best selling mattresses on Amazon versus thousands I think I will take the cheap one thank you.

Simply unpack and use right away. 

This mattress is delivered rolled up in an easy to move box.  Simply take to the selected room.  Unpack carefully and watch as the mattress expands to its true size.

Cover with your favorite linens and pillows and enjoy. Universal comfort meets great sleep.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

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The Best Kitchen Appliances

The best kitchen appliances. We are talking the must have money savers. Appliances that save you time and help get dinner on the table. Some of the best.

We are talking the must haves. 

The appliances you can’t live without.  The ones that help you make it through the day.  The kitchen appliances that save you time and money.

These are the items we are talking about today.

Do you ever wonder…

How your neighbor makes the best meals in under 30 minutes?  Or how on earth did your co-worker have time to make a double chocolate cheesecake after work and still spend time with her three kids?

What coffee maker will make the best coffee?  How do I make a great vanilla latte at home so I can save $5 everyday?

How or better yet is there an appliance that can help me make fresh pasta at home? I am tired of hand mixing, there must be something that can make my life easier.

Is there an appliance that can help me with my Keto diet and meal preparation?

You are not alone. 

These are all valid time saving, money saving, yummy food creating questions.  And the simplest answer is yes.

Yes, there is an appliance that can make your life easier, better, save you time and save you money. All while helping you create the product you are after.

Related Posts: 

First, I want to say we are not talking about.

Large kitchen appliances like gas stoves, dishwashers, fridges and etc.  These are items every home needs.  And I repeat needs.

I remember our fridge died on Boxing Day one year and oh, the food waste and headache involved.  So having a fully functional kitchen with great large appliances is a necessity.

The best kitchen appliances. We are talking the must have money savers. Appliances that save you time and help get dinner on the table. Some of the best.

7 of the best kitchen appliances.

These are small kitchen appliances that will make your life easier.  Save you time and money.  They will help you get dinner on the table in less time and maybe just maybe make you the best chocolate cheesecake you have ever had.

The Instant Pot. 

The most sought after kitchen appliance.  In fact, it was on the top of the must have list for holiday shoppers last year.  And I can say the Instant Pot rocks!  I can cook honey bourbon chicken breasts from frozen in less than 20 minutes.

Not only can you cook chicken. You can make fresh hearty soups, stews, yogurt, cook a roast or steam vegetables. You can even make a double chocolate cheesecake in your Instant Pot.

You can checkout all the available Instant Pots here.   And if you are looking to make a delicious cheesecake you will need this.

Coffee makers, they make the morning easier. 

All you need is coffee is what my favorite coffee mug says. And it’s true, coffee does make the morning easier. But in the world of coffee who makes the best machine.

Honestly, it all depends on what you require.  Are you a latte or cappuccino lover and need the milk frother? Or do you drink tea and coffee and need a machine that makes both?

Do you need a single cup coffee maker or one that makes 6 or more cups?  Or are you looking for all the bells and whistles including an alarm clock.

Set it and forget it.  The perfect kitchen appliance. 

Every kitchen should have a slow cooker. Throw all your ingredients in, set it and forget it.  Let it do all the cooking.  You want BBQ pull pork for dinner use your slow cooker.

You want to make bone broth use your slow cooker. You want to make large portion soups or stews use your slow cooker. I am a firm believer every kitchen should have a slow cooker.

You can checkout some of the best varieties of slow cookers here.

Mixers and makers.

Do you need the perfect kitchen appliance so you can multitask and save time? Are you tired of stirring by hand? Than you need a Kitchenaid Mixer.

I firmly believe that this is a must have kitchen appliance. Partly because I have the fresh pasta making attachment and the vegetable sheet cutter.

The vegetable sheet cutter is perfect for Keto and Paleo based dishes.

Inside or outside the kitchen you need this. 

Every home should have a grill.  And I am not talking anything too technical but when it comes to summer BBQ’s you need to have a grill.  We actually have two and love them. Oh, sorry I am wrong we have three if you count the camping BBQ.

What can I say, even when it snows you will find us grilling up burgers or chicken breasts. We have this indoor grill which works great for grilling sandwiches as well.

Now when it comes to outdoor grills you can go with the pellet grill variety or the traditional BBQ grill.

Are you a smoothie lover? 

Than you require the best blender.  One that can blend all your fruits and vegetables into a smooth delicious breakfast shake.

The Ninja Blender series is one of the best blenders on the market today. We use ours every morning and love it!

What is the one small appliance every home should have even if you only use it ten times a year? 

Every home should have a waffle maker even if you only use it for the occasional Sunday Brunch and Christmas Morning Breakfast.

Did you know you can cook shredded hashbrowns and scrambled eggs in a waffle maker?  You can even grill a ham and cheese sandwich.

There is something about fresh made waffles and maple syrup that just make a morning better.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

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Frugal Living Surviving On One Income

Frugal living, surviving on one income. It can be done. Learn 75 frugal living tips to help you succeed and thrive in a single income household.

Yes, you can afford to stay at home with your kids!

It will take some planning and hard work but it can be done.  You can be a stay at home parent and raise your family on a single income.

The key is to be smart with your money and to live frugally.

Before you quit your job there are a few things you may want to do first. 

The most important thing to do when considering going from a two income household to a one income household is to communicate with your spouse and agree.

There needs to be a mutual understanding and support of the idea otherwise it just won’t work.

You will need a plan.

A plan to track your spending and a budget you stick to, to make it all work.

Paying off as much of your debt before going to a single income household is also suggested.

If you can save an emergency fund and extra “just in case” living expenses that would be a bonus.

You can do this.

Frugal living, surviving on one income. It can be done. Learn 75 frugal living tips to help you succeed and thrive in a single income household.

75 Frugal Living Tips To Help You Survive On One Income:

  1. Track your spending
  2. Set up an emergency fund
  3. Start living a simple lifestyle
  4. Cut your grocery budget in half
  5. Shop sales and price compare
  6. Use coupons
  7. Pay cash for everything
  8. Start using Ibotta to save money
  9. Shop the thrift store
  10. Start shopping at discount retailers
  11. Learn to fix things and how to use tools
  12. Go without
  13. Start freezing these things to save money
  14. Downsize your home
  15. Be a car share family
  16. Start meal planning
  17. Skip the drive thru and start cooking at home
  18. Cook more vegetarian based meals
  19. Purchase a deep freeze
  20. Eat cheaper meals
  21. Start a pantry
  22. Preserve the bounty of the season
  23. Stockpile beans, rice, pasta and other dry goods
  24. Barter or trade for items you need
  25. Use cloth diapers
  26. Stop paying for daycare
  27. Set up a capsule wardrobe
  28. Use it, mend it & pass it on
  29. Cheap date nights
  30. Buy used items
  31. Cut the cable and use Netflix & Amazon Prime
  32. Look for free entertainment
  33. Start baking your own bread
  34. Start living more frugally 
  35. Grow your own food
  36. Purchase seasonal produce
  37. DIY your gifts
  38. Make your own cleaning products
  39. Start using refillable containers
  40. Plan your trips and your errands
  41. Find cheap fuel
  42. Cancel things you don’t need
  43. Free frugal family fun
  44. Account for every penny you spend
  45. Do clothing swaps with friends
  46. Try a meal swap
  47. Learn to stretch meals by adding broth, beans, water and rice
  48. Switch to energy efficient lights and appliances
  49. Unplug & turn off
  50. Organize your home
  51. Redeem your recyclables for cash
  52. Wash your clothing in cold water
  53. Line dry your clothing or use an interior clothing rack
  54. Stop trying to “keep up”
  55. Lockup the thermostat
  56. Plan staycations or camping vacations
  57. Be cheap and creative
  58. Shop local
  59. Sign up for Amazon Prime and save on shipping
  60. Start cooking & baking
  61. Ask for gift cards and practical items as gifts
  62. Plan no spend weekends
  63. Have a spending freeze
  64. Skip the salon and cut your family’s hair
  65. Invest in an oven lunch box 
  66. Use public transport
  67. Use community services
  68. Do cook once, serve twice meals
  69. Make your own spa and bath products
  70. Stock up on sale items
  71. Watch for free stuff in the newspaper
  72. Research and Youtube how to do things
  73. Join Facebook clothing swap and sale groups
  74. Start a Mommy (or Daddy) & Me group for support
  75. Have faith, it may be hard but the end result is worth it

More ways to save money while on a single income.

Grocery shopping, shopping in general will be one of the main areas you need to watch and cut back on once you shift into a single income household.

To help you do this I suggest using the Ibotta app to help you save money on every purchase.  Sign up for store reward cards and redeem the benefits.

Also investing in the Grocery Budget Workshop will help you learn more about saving money at the grocery store.

Take Financial Peace University with your spouse and support each other on this journey.

Related Posts: 

There will be things you cut back on, things you may miss. 

When you give up an income source you give up the benefits that come with it.  Such as vacations, dress clothes, eating out, daycare, haircuts, spa days and free time.

You will also be gaining a benefit with a single income household – a new lower tax bracket, which may in its own right be a huge money saver.

Great books to help you survive on one income: 

Did you know you can work from home? 

You can.  You can be a stay at home mom or dad and create an additional income if need be.

You can create a side hustle or home based business.  You could work around your families schedule instead of punching the 9-5.

Did you know people make money selling stuff on Amazon?  Or what about babysitting or dog walking? Do you bake, knit or crochet?

What about making money with social media?

Freelancing or working as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant. You can make a great income from home.

Surviving on a single income. 

Today people are confident, smart, money minded and willing to live well on less for the betterment of their family.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

Updated September 17, 2018


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Frugal Christmas On Little Or No Money

Frugal Christmas on little or no money. Is money tight this Christmas? Don't stress. Learn ways to cut the costs and save money during the holidays.

Christmas on little or no money. 

It can be done. The year I started this blog we celebrated Christmas on a very small budget and it was amazing.  My husband had just started a new job so things were tight.

We had a great home cooked Christmas dinner with all our family and friends. Everyone had gifts under the tree.  The stockings were hung and it snowed that year on Christmas Eve.

Christmas name draw.

In years past we have taken part in name draws for gifts.  In this case you put all the names of the attendees to your Christmas function into a hat and everyone draws a name.

You would do this a few weeks or months prior to your party. You then set a price limit and you purchase one gift to bring to Christmas dinner.

This saves money, time and generally you put more thought into that one gift than if you had to buy twenty other gifts for everyone at the party.

If you are doing a name draw, you could have one draw for the adults and another for the children or mix it up. This is one way we save money during the holidays.

Dollar store Christmas

I have also heard of people doing a dollar store Christmas.  Where you set a ten dollar limit for all your gifts and the rules imply the gifts have to be purchased from the dollar store.

You will be surprised what you can purchase at the dollar store.

I would love to be on the receiving end of a dollar store gift that includes books or stationary or jars or organizers.

I know my husband would gladly accept anything from the tool or automotive section in the dollar store.

Shopping the dollar store is one way to save money during the holidays. It is also a great place to purchase gift wrap, ribbon, tables settings and more.

Related Posts: 

Frugal Christmas on little or no money. Is money tight this Christmas? Don't stress. Learn ways to cut the costs and save money during the holidays.

Homemade Christmas

Homemade gifts and bake goods are always great gifts. Yummy cookies or fudge.

I know people who would prefer homemade gifts over big box store bought items.

I make jars of vanilla pears every year and I have a friend who would gladly accept one or two jars with a big red bow on them over a store bought gift.

Locally we have craft fairs leading up to the holidays full of homemade soaps, soup mixes, quilts and so much more that would make perfect holiday gifts.

Give the gift of experience.

Instead of giving gifts opt for experiences, spend time with someone. What about giving teaching or coaching as a gift?  You could teach the receiver to bake, or knit or another skill.

Or what about the gift of time.  Such as a trip to the zoo or the aquarium or the local tennis court.  You could go bowling or out for coffee or to a movie.

Sometimes time and togetherness is the prefect gift.

Buy them something they need.

Instead of spending money on shiny must have items for your family give them the gifts they need.

Do your adult children need help with babysitting?  Does your college student need books, life essentials or food?

Could your Grandparent use some freezer meals or cookies? Does anyone need socks, mittens or books.

Could you save money on gifts by purchasing gently used vintage items from the thrift store? Children grow quickly and can always use clothes.

A frugal Christmas.

You can have a frugal Christmas with little or no money you just need to set a budget and figure out what people truly want or need.

Christmas is about togetherness, time with family.  For some it could mean a great meal with friends.  For others it could mean caroling in the park.

Celebrate your family traditions and make Christmas your own.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

Updated September 16, 2018

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Extreme Frugal Living At Its Best

Extreme frugal living at its best. Depression era money saving secrets. Learn 25 frugal living, money saving tips and tricks.

We all know someone.

Someone who saves money and does it to such a degree that it has us asking questions. We want to know how they save so much money.  What are their secrets?

Do you know someone who takes frugal living to the next level?  

What do they do that is so extreme?  Would you follow in their footsteps?  Below you will find a list of some of the craziest most extreme frugal living things people do to save money.

Extreme frugal living at its best. Depression era money saving secrets. Learn 25 frugal living, money saving tips and tricks.

Extreme Frugal Living At Its Best: 

  1. Foraging
  2. Homesteading
  3. Family Paper
  4. Washing Disposable Bags
  5. Dumpster Diving
  6. Using Every Last Drop Of Product
  7. No Spend Cycles Of Time
  8. Grow Your Own
  9. Hand Me Downs
  10. Beans & Rice Meals
  11. No Television
  12. No Turning On The AC
  13. Upcycling
  14. Yellow-Mellow
  15. Pantry Meal Challenges
  16. Reuse Gift Wrap & Tissue Paper
  17. Canning, Dehydrating
  18. Preserving Everything
  19. Save It, You May Need It
  20. Wear It, Use It Up
  21. Mend It, Recycle It
  22. Collecting Grey Water
  23. Reusing Single Use Items
  24. No Paper Products
  25. Reusing Margarine Containers & Pickle Jars

What do you do that you would consider extremely frugal? 

After reviewing this list I can honestly say my Grandparents did a majority of these things. My Grandma saved tin foil pie plates and reused them for baking, crafts and food storage.  They would preserve everything and sewing was a required skill.

I remember being younger and our neighbor canned everything. She had shelves and shelves of local produce canned for use throughout the year. A stockpile to the envy of all stockpiles.

Currently our family gardens, preserves the bounty, uses hand me downs, mends what we can, reuses jars and containers and we enjoy no spend family weekends.

Frugal living is a great way to save money.

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Have an amazing day,

Cynthia
Saving & Simplicity

Updated September 15, 2018

by

Target Deals

Target has some amazing deals this week. Men's and women's jeans BOGO 50% off and free shipping. Also get $20 free for shopping the baby department.

Target has some GREAT deals this week.

With the weather changing and back to school, any reason to stock up on denim is a great reason.  A sale on denim is even better!

Women’s Jeans BOGO 50% Off

Men’s Jeans BOGO 50% Off

Get FREE $20 gift card when you spend $100 on baby essentials.

Quick Note: Target offers FREE shipping on orders over $35.  Take advantage of the free shipping and shop online from the comfort of your home.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

Saving & Simplicity