Smart Money

March 20, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Number One Money Saving Tip

Wouldn’t it be great to have money left over at the end of the month?

To have all the bills paid and have some extra cash left over to put into savings or spend on something you really want?

Or to take the kids on a great outing or family vacation. Maybe you want to create an emergency fund for those rainy day mishaps.

Or maybe you are looking for that one tip to help you get started on saving money.

Maybe you have been trying to balance your budget but you are struggling with where to cut your expenses and wondering how to save more money.

Having a balanced budget and having all the bills paid and money left over would be great!

If you are new to budgeting I have the best book for you The Total Money Makeover. This book was amazing when we first started our money saving and budgeting journey and it made a huge difference.

I recommend this book hands down to anyone looking to learn more about debt reduction and budgeting.

Related Posts:

10 Money Saving Tips:

Track your spending and write it down
Pay with cash
Setup a meal plan
Skip the dining out and try some home cooking
Brown bag your lunch
Bring your coffee from home
Create a price log for your groceries
Have a weekly budgeting meeting
Use a cash envelope system
Try to equate the hours worked to the goods price

Our number one tip for saving money would be creating a weekly budget and sticking to it.

Start by taking an honest look at where you are spending your money. Gather up a weeks worth of receipts and bills. A month would be better, but start with what you have.

Tally up and write down where all your hard earned money is going. You may be surprised with what you find. There maybe a few too many dining out receipts or shopping receipts.

Or maybe you over or under paid a bill. Use all this information to help you set up your monthly or weekly budget.

Budgeting your groceries and entertainment expenses is also a great money saving idea.

Great money saving tips.

In the list above there are 10 great money saving tips. You will notice that number one suggests tracking your spending and writing it down.

Did you know that more people succeed with saving money or weight loss when they track what they are doing. Another great tip is to pay with cash.

This gives you a tangible representation of product worth. Also trying to equate how many hours you worked to afford a good is an honest look at spending your hard earned dollar.

My favorite tip besides our number one of budgeting has to be meal planning. And the reason being is we were wrecking our budget by eating out so much.

Once we started meal planning we started saving hundreds of dollars each month. And meal planning is real simple to do and super cost effective. It is also a huge time saver.

Looking to save more money.

Try one of the tips listed and then add in another. One tip may save you a couple dollars a week. Two tips may save you $50-$100. Try each tip and see what works for you. Maybe you just need to look at where you are spending your money and see what you can go without in order to save more money.

I wish you an amazing day,

Cynthia

March 18, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Money Saving, Time Saving Healthy Meals

Are you looking to save time and money while still creating healthy meals?

Home cooks all over the world want to simplify mealtimes, put unfussy (but still healthy) meals on the table, and ditch the frantic late afternoon craziness (you know what I’m talking about) of hangry kids, frozen meat, or unsoaked dry beans.

If that’s you, hang on. Your life is about to get a lot easier.

Once A Month Meals is opening it’s monthly membership to the public and this means big savings:

Save money and waste less food
Thousands of recipes so you’d find ones that fit your family
Healthy meal ideas and plans for no-guilt mealtimes

Once a Month Meals gives you everything you need to shop, prep and cook a bulk of your monthly meals in just one day — and freeze those meals for when you want to eat them.

And they make it SUPER easy!

Simple step by step instructions to time saving, money saving healthy meals:

1. Sign up with Once A Month Meals

Subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis, and get access to all our freezable recipes, pre-made menus, and dietary filters!

2. Make a menu

Make and customize a menu from one of our menus, from a recipe, from your favorites, or from scratch!

3. Print your instructions & recipes

After you edit and customize your menu, choose your serving size and print your documents to get started!

4. Shop for your groceries

Gather and purchase your ingredients from your optimized and organized, ready-to-go Shopping List.

5. Prepare your ingredients

Chop, dice, and slice to prepare all your ingredients ahead of time according to your Prep Sheet.

6. Cook your recipes

Follow the step-by-step Cooking Day Instructions to prepare your freezer meals quickly and efficiently.

7. Eat or freeze your meals

Cook, package, and freeze your meals according to your Recipe Cards for proper storing and freezing.

8. Thaw and serve meals 

Prepare or reheat your meals according to the instructions on the Label or your Thaw Sheet. Then serve and enjoy!

Take the stress out of cooking.

With Once A Month Meals they take the stress out of cooking. Imagine opening the freezer or fridge and dinner is ready and waiting for you.

Doesn’t this sound great!

Plus you get a great community of like minded Moms, Dads and cooks there to help you with recipes, substitutions, questions and more.

It’s like having a whole kitchen staff in your back pocket.

Once A Month Meals only opens their membership site for a select few days so you need to act fast and get in while you can.

Think of all the money you will save. And not to mention the time you will save after a long hard day.

You can checkout Once A month Meals here.

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

March 13, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

How To Save Money As A Couple

You know how to save money as an individual but what about as a couple?

Is it really any different? Only a bit. Now you have two spenders and possibly two earners. As long as you are on the same page you could save hundreds.

Being a team in your spending and budgeting is important. A great money resource for couples is Financial Peace University.

My husband and I took it and it made a huge difference in how we spend our money, budget and communicate about finances.

You can learn more about Financial Peace University here.

5 Ways To Save Money As A Couple:

1. Set a budget

Setting a budget is real easy. Figure out how much money you both make on a monthly bases. Then figure out how much you both spend.

This may require a real honest look at your spending habits. An easy way to do this is to collect a couple of weeks worth of receipts and bills.

Assess where all the money is going, as a couple make sure you aren’t double spending on the same items.

Figure out where you can cut your spending. What items you don’t need. You can learn 21 items we cut from our budget to save over $1000.

If you require more direction on budgeting checkout this great book.

2. Set goals

Whether they be financial goals or life goals, setting goals as a couple is a must. When it comes to saving money, setting financial goals with your other half is important.

Maybe you want to save for a house, or pay down debt or plan to go on a vacation once a year. Being on the same page and setting those goals will help you devise a plan to reach them.

Sit down with your partner and set 5 goals, write them up on a piece of paper. Devise a date you want to reach these goals by. Set a plan on how you want to reach these goals.

Now that you have this all written down, put it where you will both see it. Maybe on the fridge. Check back and see how your process is. Are you getting close to reaching your goals?

Do you need to tweak your plan? Work together to reach your goals.

3. Communicate

This is huge. You both need to be able to communicate your financial wants and needs. Are you going to be a one income family? Are you going to rent or have a mortgage?

Who is responsible for the finances? Will you have a once a month budget meeting? Or will it be weekly?

Communicating about money will help you stay out of debt. Knowing where your partner stands in the finances will make you a stronger team.

4. Shop and talk

If you are going to go shopping for a big ticket item talk it over with your partner. Make sure you are both on the same page. When you set the weekly or bi-weekly grocery list and budget, talk about it.

Keep the floor open so that you can both talk about where your hard earned money is going.

5. Be frugal

Learn to be frugal and make smart choices with your money. Include your partner in on what frugal choices you are making. Maybe you want to down size to one car.

Or maybe you want to shop more thrift items than brand names. Maybe you want to home cook more meals instead of eating out so much.

What can you change to save more money?

Learn more about frugal living:

Saving money as a couple is doable and quite easy. Sit down, communicate, set a plan, keep a budget and work together.

Have a great day,

Cynthia

March 11, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Saving Money On Baby

Let’s face it having a baby can get expensive.

When you add in all the must haves with the wants and all the other items everyone suggests you need. The bill can get up there.

But it’s not just that, add in the different prices each store sells the items for.

I bought a container of formula online the other day because in our local big box store it was ten dollars more on sale.

So the reality of the purchase was I saved about $15 on one single container of formula by buying it online.

That is crazy when you think about it – a $15 spread in price on one item between two locations.

If there is this much of a mark up on daily use items like formula what about diapers, bedding, baby clothes, bibs and more.

Related Posts:

Are we paying to much for baby items?

That depends on where you shop! My first piece of advice would be to shop around and compare. If you can order your items online great.

I have found Amazon’s Baby Store to be great. They even have a subscribe and save option to help you save more money.

Keep and eye on your local store flyers for baby savings on diapers, formula, clothing and toys. Also sign up for freebies and coupons from your favorite suppliers and products.

What you really need for baby.

This will vary from family to family, but below I will list off a few of the essentials you might want on hand.

Items you may want for baby.

These items again will vary from family to family.

As you can see the lists can grow pretty big. So how do you save money when you are expecting a baby?

Saving money on baby.

There are lots of ways to save money when you are expecting. One is to have a baby shower and request items you know you are going to need or items you are going to want.

Another way to save money is to really look at what you need for baby and space the purchases out over your expecting period. This way you are paying cash for the items and you can watch the store sales to see where you can save more money.

In addition to these savings methods a great way to save is to ask the crocheters and sewers in the family to help with making baby clothes, hats, slippers and blankets. I did this and in fact ended up with more blankets than I knew what to do with.

Do you really need it all?

The plain and simple answer is no. When you think about it here in North America we are accustom to packing our nursery with pretty things and items that make life easier.

If you look at other countries and how they care for babies you will notice a significant difference in items you require. Most other countries use baby slings instead of strollers.

Breast feeding is promoted as a first choice to formula. Note, I support any method that means baby is fed and all are happy.

A frugal family will boil bottles and nipples versus buying a bottle sterilizer.

Other families will opt for cloth diapers versus disposable. Which I will note I read a study that says an average baby goes through $2000 in disposable diapers versus $350 in cloth diapering supplies which is a huge difference.

There are also families that go all out on creating the perfect nursery and buying name brand everything. Do you have to? No.

Do what is right for you!

I am very serious with this one. Do what is right for you. If you want to formula feed – do it. If you want to breast feed – do it.

If you want to cloth diaper, research the best brand for your needs. If you want to use disposables use the right one for your baby.

At the beginning and end of the day it is just you, your family and your new addition. Make the best choices for you.

Have a great day,

Cynthia

March 4, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

Super Cheap Spring & Summer Activities

Plan a holiday full of great family fun activities.

Without breaking the bank. Below you will find a list full of activities sure to keep your children occupied during the Spring and Summer. No more wondering what to do or where to go.

*Bonus. These ideas are frugal, cheap and fun.

Staycation or vacation

No matter where you vacation this year there is something on this list to entertain you and your family. You could be vacationing at a resort and looking for a down day or frugal activity.

Or you could be staycationing and looking for a fun family weekend activity. There is something on this list for everyone.

Simple, easy last minute activities.

You have a weekend afternoon and the kids are restless. Or you did the theme parks and you need a simple evening activity. What can you plan in a pinch that is cheap on the budget and fun to do.

A great activity is a picnic in the park. If you can pack a few sandwiches or snacks from home or stop by your local grocery store and pick up some meal ideas. Toss a blanket in the car, add in a ball, Frisbee or kite and you have a fun frugal afternoon.

Take a stroll around your local park or beach front. Collect rocks, leaves or shells for future art projects. Taking the dog for a walk is always a popular activity in our house.

What about drawing or painting? Arts and crafts are a great frugal fun activity.

75 Super Cheap Spring & Summer Activities:

Visit the beach or local park
Play in the pool
Go fishing or boating
Visit a local farmers market
Make a fort out of cardboard or blankets
Work in the garden
Plan a picnic in the park
Play in the sprinkler
Toss around water balloons
Blow bubbles
Play a game of soccer
Go on a nature walk
Have a sundae bar
Play touch football
Go swimming
Go camping in the backyard
Visit the local water park
Play mini golf
Go biking or hiking
Set up a lemonade stand
Volunteer
Build a sandcastle
Plan a scavenger hunt
Visit your local art gallery
Play Twister on the lawn
Build bird houses
Play lawn bowling
Play badminton
Checkout a local festival
Have a movie night
Visit the water slides
Visit an amusement park
Go to the driving range
Cook a meal together
Plan a BBQ
Visit the zoo
Wash the cars
Have a fondue lunch
Take a class
Go horseback riding
Go day camping
Have a fire pit and roast hot dogs and marshmallows
Visit the next town over for a day
Attend an outdoor concert
Attend a local ball game
Make crafts
Stargaze
Do fun science experiments
Visit your local fish hatchery
Go to a movie matinee
Make homemade ice cream
Rest and relax
Read a few books
Take in a fireworks display
Make your own bubbles (1 cup distilled water, 2 tbsp dish soap, 1 tbsp glycerin)
Go to the flea market
Have a tea party
Visit a national park
Take a free kids workshop at Home Depot
Have a game night
Paint the sidewalk with chalk paint
Find a local u-pick and pick fruit or vegetables
Have a family dance party
Build a castle with Lego
Visit family and friends
Teach your child to skip stones
Plan a treasure hunt
Go bird watching
Checkout local garage sales
Fly a kite
Visit your local recreation center
Play Frisbee in the park
Pick wild flowers
Have a brown bag lunch on the patio
Plan a luau in the backyard

I wish you a great Spring and Summer full of great family memories. Remember fun activities don’t have to break the bank. Sometimes it is the cheapest, simplest activities that are the most fun.

“Playing with the box is more fun than playing with the toy.”

Have an amazing day,
Cynthia

February 25, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

101 Super Frugal Living Tips To Save Money On Household Expenses

Home is where you raise your family.

Where you gather with friends. It is also the main source of your expenses. Running a household be it on a single income or a dual income can be hard in any economy.

There are always wants, needs, must haves and bills. Learn how to cut down on your household expenses with these 101 super frugal living tips.

Related Posts:

Money saving tips.

One tip may save you several dollars. Two or three tips may save you up to $100 dollars a week. Try five or six tips and you could be on your way to saving for a holiday or helping yourself get out of debt.

Think about how much you could save this week if you packed your lunch and coffee to go? You could save up to, if not more that $75 a week.

What if you turned the heat down a bit how much would you save? What if you carpooled to work or planned all your errands together how much would you save?

What if you downsized to a smaller house how much would you save in mortgage/rent or utilities payments?

Think about all the money you could save by making just a few small changes.

101 Super Frugal Living Tips To Save Money On Household Expenses:

Assess where all your hard earned money is going. (see message below)
Enjoy the benefits of a budget
Use the cash only envelope system
Learning how to pay down your debt
Contact your bank for a cheaper rate on your checking account
Contact your mortgage broker about a cheaper rate
Become a one car family
Ride your bike, walk or use public transport
Make your own laundry soap
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full
Run your washing machine on the cold water cycle
Invest in good money books
Turn off lights that aren’t being used
Cut the cable
Cancel your landline telephone
Stop using the pay as you go apps on your phones
Unplug appliances that aren’t being used
Turn the heat down and save on electricity
Fix leaky faucets
Turn the water off while you brush your teeth
Hang your clothes to dry. Use a clothes line in the summer and a drying rack in the winter
Check the sales flyers
Use coupons when you grocery shop
Make a grocery list and budget and stick to it
Buy bulk, divide and freeze
Cook from scratch
Meal plan
Eat your leftovers
Pack a bag lunch (For a warm lunch on the go try this.)
Ditch your single use paper and plastic items
Grow a garden
Preserve the bounty of your garden by canning, dehydrating
Turn the lawn into a garden and grow your own food, no more mowing the lawn
Switch to cloth napkins
Save your coins in a jar
Learn to do your own repairs
Swap tools and skills with friends
Downsize your home if you can
Stop buying these things and save money
Sell stuff you don’t use
Don’t buy stuff to impress people
Make your own cleaning solutions using vinegar, water and baking soda
Use it, mend it, re-purpose it, recycle it
Cut up old shirts and use them for cleaning rags
Trade your goods and skills with others to save money
Workout at home, skip the gym
Buy used clothing instead of new
Purchased used, vintage furniture instead of new furniture
Try Youtube, if something breaks or you need to learn something. Youtube it.
Stay home and enjoy what you have
Plan a no spend weekend
Opt to buy generic goods to save money
Plan a meal swap
Weatherstrip the windows and doors
Ensure your furnace and hot water tank are maintained
Keep emergency cash handy
Be prepared for all seasons
Learn what you can freeze to save money
Don’t wait till the last minute with anything, repairs, groceries, planning and etc
Cut back on entertainment expenses
Taking in free kids classes at your local craft stores, hardware stores and library
Do your own housework, baking, landscaping and maintenance work
Purchase quality items that will last
Learn to say no
Learn to take shorter cooler showers
Only fill the bath 1/2 full for bath time
Learn to knit, crochet and sew
Learn to use household tools
Do your own painting and redecorating
Compost your food waste
Add compost to your garden
Plant fruit trees and berry bushes
Shop local
Use reusable bags, re-purpose your plastic bags
Buy energy efficient appliances
Install low flow toilets and shower heads
Maintain all gas and wood burning fireplaces and heaters
Learn how to make money online
Opt for sweaters, slippers and blankets before turning up the heat
Replace all your light bulbs with LED bulbs
Start living with less
If you don’t have a tool or appliance borrow it, or rent it instead of buying it
DIY your gifts
Plan staycation holidays
Plan your errand to save time and gas
Invest in a good slow cooker
Buy cheaper cuts of meat or opt for meatless meals
Buy larger portions of meat and portion them off in different cuts
Drink more water and less pop and juice
Plan cheap but amazing dates
Use reusable soap dispensers
Freeze your leftover vegetables to use in soups and bone broths
Invest in a good coffee maker or tea pot and bring your own coffee or tea with you
Have open communication with your spouse regarding money, goals and life
Plan potluck dinner parties withe friends instead of eating out
Learn to cook something new, variety is the spice of life
Eat more beans and rice dishes
Eat more vegetarian meals
Cut down on the electronic use, unplug and enjoy family time
Start saving for retirement
Learn to live without

Assess where all your hard earned money is going.

One of the keys to saving money is knowing where all your money is going. It maybe going to rent or to utilities or to coffee and a treat.

Gather up a weeks worth of receipts, a month would be better. Calculate where all your funds are going. Take a quick calculation of what you spent on groceries, housing, utilities, entertainment and so on.

Once you have figured out where all your money is going figure out if you can cut any of these items out to help you save on your household expenses.

For example do you eat out a lot? Could you cut back a start cooking more homemade meals? Or maybe you pay huge daycare fees.

Is there a way you can cut those costs down? Such as work from home one day a week or swap babysitting with a friend?

Where can you cut back and start saving?

Have an amazing day,

Cynthia

Updated February 25, 2019

February 23, 2019 by Saving and Simplicity

21 Money Saving Lessons From Frugal People

The best way to learn is to learn from others with experience.

And this doesn’t change when it comes to saving money. In fact I would rather learn from someone who has lived a frugal life than from someone who just talks about it.

You can learn amazing lessons from those that have gone before you.

When we were turning our finances around I learned some great money saving ideas from other bloggers, writers and in fact other moms.

Some of these ideas have helped us pay off over $20,000 in debt and save up for vacations and a new home.

Related Posts:

New to frugal living.

I want to say don’t knock it till you have tried it. Below I am going to list off 21 money saving lessons that will help you save money. But frugal living doesn’t stop there.

Frugal living is a way of life. A choice to live below your means so that you can have more. It’s about making smart choices with your money and your time.

For example it’s about booking an Airbnb room versus a hotel accommodation on your next holiday or business trip. It’s about choosing generic brands over name brands.

It is also about saving your extra money instead of spending it on a new dress or a day at the spa.

Frugal living is about all the little things adding up to be something huge. You can read about the 21 things we gave up to save over $1000 a month.

These items were not crazy expensive items they were all a bunch of little things that add up.

21 Money Saving Lessons From Frugal People:

1. Figure out where all your hard earned money is going. Collect a weeks worth of receipts (a months would be better) and calculate where all your funds are going. Then assess if you really need or want what you are buying.

2. Set up a budget. I know people run and hide when others say budget but they really do work and help you save money. Read this book if you are wanting more proof that budgeting can make you rich.

3. Stop trying to keep up. The Joneses are broke. Your neighbors that are going on constant holidays and have all the toys you drool over. Have you ever wondered how they afford it all? Or are they all on payments?

4. Learn the value of vintage. You can save a ton of money buying second hand goods. And I am not just talking clothing. Used vehicles, tools, home decor and more.

5. Is your coffee habit killing your budget? Skip the drive thru and bring your coffee from home in a reusable stainless steel coffee mug.

6. Get organized. When you know where things are you save both time and money. Knowing what bills are due when saves you late fees. When you know what is in the freezer you save time and money.

7. Purchase appliances that will save you time and money. Life is busy, don’t make it more complicated. Invest in an Instant Pot or slow cooker to assist you at meal time.

8. Simple but effective. Turn off and unplug electrical items you are not using. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

9. Do not fear the “what’s for dinner” question. Invest in a meal plan that makes you want to cook. Home cooking is so much better than take out.

10. Turn it down. Wash your clothing in cold water. Turn down the thermostat and grab a blanket.

11. Find a happy balance and invest in a thermostat lock box.

12. Plan a no spend day or weekend. Work all your daily activities around spending little or no money. Free entertainment, family fun nights and home cooking.

13. DIY it all. Learn to do it yourself. Make your own gifts. Do your own repairs.

14. Swap up and save. Swap babysitting with a friend. Borrow tools from your neighbor instead of buying.

15. Grow your own food. Even if it just salad greens, herbs and tomatoes.

16. Down size. Do you really need all the stuff you have? What about your home, could down sizing save you money?

17. Stop buying bottles water purchase a reusable stainless steel water bottle and refill it as you go. Most bottles of water run approximately $2.75 with it only costing the provider maybe $0.25 to produce.

18. Learn to be happy with what you have. Stop chasing the grass on the other side of the fence.

19. Celebrate your small wins, paying down debt is a long journey that needs encouragement.

20. Enjoy a cheap or free date night at home instead of breaking the bank with dinner, dessert and a movie or concert tickets.

21. Learn from the others that have gone before you. What great ways did your grandparents have to save money?

More than a million ways to save money.

Everyone’s situation is different. What you are willing to cut from your budget maybe different than what I may be willing to cut out. Living frugally is a choice and a journey.

You need to try and see what works. Try one or more of the lessons or tips above and see how much you save. Add in cutting back on a few of your own choices and see how much more you save.

It is all about making smart choices with your money.

Have a great day,

Cynthia

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.

Related Posts:

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.

Related Posts:

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.

Related Posts:

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