by Kati | Aug 8, 2020 | Spend Less
Flour for baking your own bread, canned home-grown tomatoes and saving the leftover lard for frying foods instead of butter are just some of the things my grandmother considered her staple pantry items. When I think of the term “Pantry Staples” it reminds...
by Kati | Aug 8, 2020 | Spend Less, Vacations
The perfect road trips are a great way to have a fun and frugal family vacation on a budget. Growing up, we took many road trips as a family. Every summer we would drive up the east coast to visit family, roll around in “northern grass” and play games (and...
by Kati | Aug 8, 2020 | Money
With what's going on in today's economy, the thought of losing your job is a real possibility. Perhaps you're already in that situation. But don't lose hope, there are things you can do and places you can go to help you through this tough time. The first place you...
by Kati | Aug 7, 2020 | Spend Less
When it comes to saving money, it might not sound like paper roll products could put you over. However, many times it’s the small expenses here and there that start to bust our budget. If you are looking to start creating a stockpile for your family, or just stop...
by Kati | Aug 7, 2020 | Recipes, Slow Cooker
Chipotle Crock Pot Barbacoa Recipe Easy to make and tastes great are two reasons to try this Chipotle Crock Pot Barbacoa Recipe! You can put it on tacos, tortillas or even a salad! The cut of meat for this delicious recipe is an economical one so it's great for...
by Kati | Aug 7, 2020 | Budgeting
Creating a budget and figuring out how to stick to a budget is by far the hardest part of gaining control of your finances. For us, we spent so much money outside of our budget that we ended up carrying balances on our credit cards. And then paying them off using next...
by Kati | Aug 7, 2020 | Spend Less
I'm a breastfeeding advocate… it's free, natural, and always at the perfect temperature. But sometimes you need to find the best baby formula for your baby. I do understand that there are situations in which you cannot breastfeed your baby. I got pregnant with...
by Kati | Aug 6, 2020 | Spend Less
Have you ever noticed how many paper household goods you use in an average day, or even how many you have in your home? There’s toilet paper for the bathroom, paper towels for cleaning, and tissues for stuffy noses. If you have kids running around the house, then you...
by Kati | Aug 6, 2020 | Spend Less, Vacations
When you’re on a tight budget, it can be challenging to think about vacations, especially affordable summer vacations. Setting a travel budget for your family might be the easiest part of the entire trip, but saving up for it can be a challenge. Going into debt just...
by Kati | Aug 6, 2020 | Spend Less
One of the main reasons people spend money is not out of necessity, or even want, but boredom! So here are some productive things to do when bored instead of spending money. If you are working with a tight budget this month (or maybe every month), then spending money...
by Kati | Aug 5, 2020 | Spend Less
Looking for the best toilet paper deals this week? I've got a simple trick to help you figure out that silly “toilet paper math” so that when you are standing in front of a gazillion packages of toilet paper and they just about SCREAM at you like a math...
by Kati | Aug 5, 2020 | DIY
If you need to learn how to clean stainless steel sink in a cost effective manner, you're in for a treat! For the last three years I've asked for one thing for Christmas: a new kitchen sink. My husband thought that was a horrible gift to buy me, but they are...
by Kati | Aug 5, 2020 | Money, Spend Less
Need some ideas for youth fundraising? Well, I've got them! Those summer camps, tickets, trips and extra gas money can bring a big price tag, especially when you're not prepared for them. We've put together a list of fundraising ideas that could help you offset those...
by Kati | Aug 4, 2020 | Recipes, Slow Cooker
Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches Recipe This easy, classic sandwich has become one of our family favorites! If you don't have cheesecloth to place the rosemary and bay leaves in, you can use an inexpensive men's handkerchief. Don't waste any of that delicious juice...
by Kati | Aug 4, 2020 | Debt
Paying off debt can be an incredible life changer. No more worry about having enough money at the end of the month. No more frustrating bills coming in the mail showing how much money you're spending on interest, and wasting, because you used someone else’s money....
by Kati | Aug 4, 2020 | Back To School, Freebies, Homeschooling
You know how it goes… as the summer fun starts to unfold, it doesn’t take long for the kids come in and you hear a mantra of “I’m Bored.” Well I’m here to help you NOT feel like you need a vacation from your summer fun vacation. You just need some awesome summer fun...
by Kati | Aug 3, 2020 | Spend Less
Aldi is seriously one of the best places to shop for cheap groceries and great Aldi products! The downside is that they don’t take coupons unless they put out a store coupon which is rare. This means that unless you have a few rebate apps on hand, there are very few...
by Kati | Aug 3, 2020 | Budgeting, Spend Less
Everyone encounters a time when you have to use budget savers to make the money you have last until it replenishes and the budget resets. It's usually when you’ve decided not to spend any money for a short period (by doing a spending freeze), or there just isn’t...
by Kati | Aug 3, 2020 | Spend Less
Baby diapers can easily be your biggest expense for the first 2-3 years of your little one’s life, so it's important to learn how to save money on diapers. It’s a necessity that you keep buying until they are potty trained (which for each of my four children was right...
by Kati | Aug 3, 2020 | Debt
There is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to paying off your debt including debt reduction services. However, debt reduction services can feel like a dream come true during tough times. Kind of like a Fairy Godmother that can wave her wand and make our...
by Kati | Aug 3, 2020 | DIY
I was in need of a DIY gel air freshener with essential oils and quickly. Having a large family with lots of kids and cats means my house can get, well, smelly. I shared my toilet time spray with you, but what do you do when you want your house to smell fresh ALL the...
by Kati | Aug 2, 2020 | Spend Less
A common question I receive is if I have any Aldi shopping tips. And I love shopping at Aldi, so I have some insider secrets you are gonna love. Aldi is a hidden gem of a grocery store that you might overlook because they don't accept any manufacturer coupons. But...
by Kati | Aug 2, 2020 | Spend Less, Wedding and Honeymoon
The average wedding ceremony costs thousands of dollars ($34,000 to be precise) and aside from your home and cars, it will probably be the biggest expense of your married life! If you could shave a few hundred to a few thousand dollars off of your wedding bill without...
by Kati | Aug 1, 2020 | Spend Less
If you are trying to save more on groceries, let me teach you how to make a grocery price book. Do you realize that you typically purchase the same 20 items for your family over and over again each week? The milk, the meat, the Kraft Singles, etc. And yes, those items...
by Kati | Aug 1, 2020 | Debt
Many factors play a big role in your credit score including your debt ratio. When it comes to your finances, your debt ratio can ruin even the best financial situation. It can ruin even more than that. Your debt ratio will not just affect your ability to spend, but it...
by Kati | Jul 31, 2020 | Recipes, Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Chipotle Carnitas Recipe In only 15 mins of prep time, and 8 hours “hands off” time in the Crock Pot, you can enjoy this delicious Chipotle Carnitas Recipe at home and save the cost of going out to eat! I usually get a nice Pork Shoulder when I...
by Kati | Jul 29, 2020 | Christmas, DIY, homemade-gifts
There's just something about some vintage glass cake stands that I absolutely love. Glass is timeless and there are so many uses to cake stands that go way beyond just holding a cake. But who wouldn't want a big, beautiful chocolate cake on a vintage glass cake stand...
by Kati | Jul 28, 2020 | Meal Planning
We all love real healthy recipes but they can be hard to come up with daily. If you want to save money on your meals, then meal planning is a key way to do so. To be honest, I hate to meal plan. But my family loves to eat (and so do I). I’ve found that Freezer Cooking...
by Kati | Jul 28, 2020 | Christmas, DIY, homemade-gifts
Painting plates is not as hard as you think it is. You don't even need an art degree to make these Celebration Plates! I've found a great way to make some simple painted plates that don't take a lot of time or talent to do. You can produce these easy painted plates in...
by Kati | Jul 28, 2020 | Recipes, Slow Cooker
We love our Crock Pot. Even during the warm summer months…just pair whatever you cook with a nice crisp salad and it won't feel so “warm”. For this recipe instead of using lots of veggies in our crock, we used a bunch of citruses to pair with the...
