budget

How to Save on Back to School Supplies

July 13, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Use these frugal tips to help you save money on back to school supplies shopping this year.

chalkboard background with school supplies scattered with title text "How to Save on Back to School Supplies"

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If you aren’t careful, back to school can completely ruin your family’s budget. Before you know it you could spend hundreds of dollars on each child and still discover that something is missing. But, there are a few things you can do to save money on back to school supplies.

Reuse Lunch Boxes and Backpacks

Unless there is something obviously wrong with last year’s lunch box and backpack, it is perfectly OK to reuse them. It may not make them the coolest kids with the newest stuff, but chances are the only one who is going to know that they are reusing the previous year’s bags are your child themselves.

This is one area where I tend to purchase plain, high quality items rather than fun lunch boxes and backpacks. Many backpack companies, like Jansport and Eastport, offer lifetime warranties on their bags. It is worth the investment when your child can use it all through school.

Shop on Back to School Tax-Free Weekends

Some states have introduced Back to School Tax-Free weekends which are…well, exactly what they say. You can do your back to school shopping on these weekends and the savings really does add up!

As of the 2020, the following states offer Tax-Free Weekend: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Each state has different stipulations on what is included, but you can regularly get not just school supplies but also coats, clothes, shoes, blankets, computers, and books.

Heather, from Passion for Savings, has the complete list of Tax-Free Weekend dates here.

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DIY Dollar Store: Tape Resist Art

May 4, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

This adorable tape resist art project can be made with supplies from your local dollar store for budget-friendly art piece you and your kiddos will love making!

collage image with oil pastels, white canvas, washi tape and finished art project with title text "Dollar Store Tape Resist Art"

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I’ve been feeling all kinds of crafty lately. Anyone else? You feel me. So, I made a quick trip to the dollar store to see what I could find. I was blown away! I really had to control myself because the craft section was on point.

With just a few materials (and a total cost of $3.00 I might add), I was able to make this adorable tape resist project. It was the perfect activity to do with my daughter on a rainy day.

What is Tape Resist Art?

The idea of tape resist is that paint or oil pastels won’t stick to any area of the canvas that is covered with tape. So, wherever you place your tape lines, the color won’t bleed into those areas.

Instructions

Choose whether you want to use a 5×7 inch or 8×10 inch canvas. You can buy these in 3-packs at Dollar Tree or any dollar store.

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How to Stock Your Pantry on a Budget

March 23, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Building a pantry of dried and canned goods shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Using these tips, I’ll teach you how to stock your pantry on a budget!

glass jars filled with dried lentils, rice and beans sitting on shelf with title text "how to stock your pantry on a budget"

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Stocking up your pantry can very quickly get expensive if you aren’t careful. But, there are a few things you can do to help keep your food bill down without having to sacrifice or go without. I’ve put together a few tips on how to stock your pantry on a budget to help you save money.

Shop Discount Stores

Aldi and Ruler Foods are fantastic places to get food cheaply but they are by no means the only discount stores that exist. In fact, many of them are local stores with clever names like Stuff and Things. Your local dollar store is also a fantastic place to stock up on canned foods. But, make sure you check the expiration date on everything you buy from discount stores before you put them in your basket. You don’t want to buy anything nearing its expiration.

It also helps to know what you already have on hand, so use my free Pantry and Freezer Inventory printables to keep track of what you have in your pantry and what you need to buy.

Buy in Bulk

When possible you can save a considerable amount of money by buying in bulk. Specifically, buying canned foods and dry foods in large quantities can wind up costing less than half the price per ounce as smaller portions. Check the price per unit to see the difference.

If you don’t have a need for 20 pounds of flour or rice, you can still shop from the bulk bin aisle of your grocery store. You can bring glass jars with you and fill them with as much or as little as you need.

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Budget-Friendly Game Day Appetizers

January 21, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Hosting a Super Bowl party doesn’t have to break the bank. These budget-friendly Game Day appetizers will feed a crowd and save you enough to splurge on fancy beer. 😉

From homemade crackers, chicken flautas, and allergy-friendly bagel bites to dips and crock pot appetizers, we’ve got a range of recipes for whatever you’re craving and they’ll fit any budget.

How to Plan for a Game Day Party

When hosting any kind of party, it is important to know about how many people you are expecting. This way, you can plan your food budget to make sure that you don’t spend an arm and a leg feeding everyone.

The trick for calculating appetizers for any party is:

1-2 pieces per person per hour bite size snacks
1-2 ounces of dip per person
1-2 drinks per person per hour (this could be one beer, one glass of wine, one can of soda or one bottle of water)

How to Keep it Budget-Friendly

For parties where you won’t have a sit-down meal, one of the best ideas for keeping food costs low is to make your own veggie and cheese tray.

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20 Frugal Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

January 8, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

whitewash wood board with red felt hearts and title text "20 Frugal Valentine's Date Ideas"

Valentine’s Day can get expensive very quickly. But it doesn’t have to cost a lot. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost you a thing! There are tons of fun things you can do to celebrate the day that are free or incredibly cheap. Here are 20 frugal Valentine’s Day date ideas that you and your special someone will love!

Dress Up for Dinner at Home

If you want to dress up for dinner but you don’t want to pay expensive prices, then dress up for a candlelit dinner at home! You could even use that china you save for special occasions.

Make Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Rather than pay $1 or more per chocolate-covered strawberry, make your own together. You’ll likely see strawberries on sale the week of Valentine’s Day. Pick up a pint and grab a bar of milk or white chocolate. Break the chocolate into small pieces and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between. Once the chocolate is melted, hold on to the green top of your strawberry and dip it in the chocolate. Lay it in a plate or sheet pan lined with parchment paper and allow to cool completely. Easy-peasy to make a whole batch and it will only cost a few dollars for the ingredients. Feel free to make them fancy with sprinkles or decorating sugar.

Go to an Arcade

Relive your childhood by going to an arcade. Arcade bars are popping up all over in which games are $.25 and you’re just expected to order at least one drink. Bond over old-school games like Frogger or try your hand at some pinball.

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50+ Ways to Save Money on Monthly Expenses

November 11, 2019 by Sarah 1 Comment

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I’m always looking for ways to save money on expenses. Yes, rent is typically a set expense every month, but we can implement some ways to save on the expenses we can control. Some of these money-saving tips may seem like common sense, and some may seem pretty out of the box. Either way, watch your monthly bills shrink by using some (or all) of these tips. Leave me a comment with which tip you are most excited to start doing!

Save Money on Food Expenses

Keep a Freezer and Pantry Inventory

Knowing what you have on hand will make it so much easier to plan meals or know what you need (or don’t need) to buy. Use my free printable freezer and pantry inventory charts to keep organized.

Meal Plan

After double checking what you already have in the pantry and freezer, use your grocery store flyers to plan your weekly meals based on what is on sale. Only buy what you need. – Renee Bolling

Regrow Food Scraps

Green onions are my favorite food scrap to regrow. Just place a 1″ piece from the root end in a cup with an inch of water. Place the cup on a sunny window sill in your kitchen. Change the water every few days and you’ll have a continuous supply of green onion. Simply snip off what you need from the top of the plant. In addition to green onions, you can do this with lettuce, garlic, herbs, and celery to name a few. Checkout Buzzfeed’s post for a more extensive list.

Cut one meal out per week

I’m not going to tell you to never go out to eat, but cutting out one meal out per week can save you $20-50 depending on family size. Have a homemade pizza night at home instead.

Make Cold Brew Coffee at Home

Making cold brew coffee at home is so simple you’ll kick yourself for ever paying for Starbucks. Simply add 1/2-1 Tablespoon of coffee grounds to a french press for every cup of cold water. My french press holds 32 ounces, so I add 4 Tablespoons. I prefer to make the brew pretty strong and then I add non-dairy milk. Allow the coffee grounds to steep in the water for 24 hours. Strain using the press, and you’re done! Pour over ice and mix in your favorite syrups, milk or creamer. You’ve got delicious cold brew for pennies.

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How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

June 3, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

jars of vinegar and baking soda on a counter with a sponge and lemon cut in half

A garbage disposal is a great way to keep your kitchen tidy, but shoving bits of food down the drain can breed lots of germs and bacteria. This bacteria can leave a stench throughout your kitchen. Maybe you think you have cleaned it out but the smell just won’t go away. Luckily, there are lots of options to get it clean and smelling fresh.

Store-bought cleansers certainly get the job done, but you never know what harsh chemicals you are bringing into your home. Not only does making your own household cleaners eliminate those chemicals, it is also easy on the wallet. A gallon of distilled white vinegar costs approximately $2 and will last months (and months!) as the base for your household cleaners. Add a box of baking soda to the mix and you’re pretty well set.

Before you get to work on the actual garbage disposal, ensure you have fully cleaned your sink and the surrounding area. Scrub the area with baking soda and a wet cloth. This will loosen up any debris and get the area clean and fresh.

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Budget-Friendly Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

April 22, 2019 by Sarah 1 Comment

Every holiday seems to spark panic over planning and sticker shock over prices for gifts and Mother’s Day is no exception. But, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re prepared and you’re willing to put in a little bit of work you can have a fabulous budget-friendly Mother’s Day.

I’ve gathered some great ideas to celebrate the mother in your life that won’t break the bank. If I do say so myself, she will appreciate these more than a piece of jewelry anyway. 😉

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Budget Friendly Vacation Ideas for Families

April 12, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

picture of family outdoors with blog heading

Are you planning your summer vacation? If so, you may be finding it hard to find budget friendly vacation ideas for your family that everyone will enjoy. If your budget is tight this year, you may need to think outside of the box a bit to find the perfect vacation spot. Use these 8 budget friendly vacation ideas for families as a place to start your planning. You never know what fun may come from a great starting idea!

Check out State or National Parks

Visiting a state or national park near your home can be the perfect budget vacation idea. Usually you will only need to pay a small admission fee to open up all the park has to offer. Go camping, grill out, or grab your pole and go fishing. This is the perfect option for those that enjoy the outdoors!

Visit a local Amusement Park

Visiting an amusement park may seem expensive, but if you look at all the ways to lower your cost, they can be quite budget friendly. Packing your own food and eating at your car, opt for a cheaper season pass ticket option and bringing your own drinks can all help cut your costs.

Plan a Beach Vacation

Taking a beach vacation is almost always budget friendly. Grab your sunscreen and swimsuit and head out for a day or two on the water. This can be even more budget friendly if you choose to go camping or stay in your car instead of renting a hotel room.

Visit a Historical Place

Have you ever visited some place like Gettysburg, PA or Lincoln’s home in Springfield, IL? They can be surprisingly budget friendly! Grab the family and head to your favorite historical landmarks for a cheap and educational family vacation option.

Take a local Music Tour

Most larger cities have a local music scene which means that even though you may live in the country, there is likely music near you. Head to the city over the weekend, book a hotel for a night or two and your only other costs can be cover charges or tickets. Make this an even cheaper option by packing your own food and eating at the hotel or AirBnB before you head to your next concert.

Go see Niagara Falls

Every family should see the beauty of Niagara Falls at least once in their life! It’s lucky for families that are looking for a cheap vacation idea that the only cost you’ll have is a hotel room and gas to get there! If you’re driving cross-country, make this an even better vacation by finding other national or local sights with free admission to stop and see along the way.

Visit a “Dude Ranch”

With so many people living in cities, most families never see something as simple as a horse at work. Visiting what was traditionally called a “Dude Ranch” can be a great way to not only learn about life outside of the city, but to get involved too!

Take a Museum Tour

Museums are typically very budget friendly and the chances of your town and state having a plethora of them are very high. Make a list of museums your family would enjoy in your state and spend a week driving to visit them. Your family will enjoy the road trip and learning while you enjoy keeping your vacation within budget.

If you’ve got your heart set on a major trip, consider becoming a mystery shopper as a way to make some extra income or as a way to cut down on some expenses while you’re on vacation.

Produce to Buy in March

March 4, 2019 by Sarah Leave a Comment

One of the best ways to save on your grocery budget is to buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. I’ll be posting a list of produce that you should be buying each month to get the best price and the best nutritional value. Sticking to a strict food budget doesn’t mean you have to give up on fresh produce.

We have the luxury of buying produce year-round, but there is a huge difference in flavor and price from buying asparagus in March or April rather than the fall. You can expect to pay three times as much for that asparagus in October.

Use this list, and your store sales ads, as a guide when making your meal plans this month. Your stomach (and wallet!) will thank you.

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