Category: Frugal Life

Top 8 Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

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The winter months can be tough to pinch pennies; I get it. But, know that there are some great tips for you to save money by merely reducing some simple electricity draining activities.

Here are great ways to save money this winter:

  1. Replace Incandescent Light Bulbs With LEDs LEDs are much more energy efficient. These bulbs will not only save more power, but they’ll also last longer. Check out these LED bulbs.
  2. Unplug Electronics After Use. You might not be charging your phone, etc., but the chargers could still be drawing energy at home. Try using a smart power strip that shuts off the current when the electronics are not in use.
  3. Use Cold Water For Laundry. Using hot water will consume more electricity simply because the water heater will need to run. You can merely try not to use super hot water, but something that isn’t too cold either.
  4. Take Shorter Showers. By taking shorter showers, it will reduce how much water you use, which will limit the amount of time that your electric water heater needs. Sounds simple enough, right? Just use a timer and take a shorter shower.
  5. Energy Efficient Showerhead. You can save 2,000+ gallons of water every year by using a more efficient showerhead. This measure will save you tons of money on your electric bill, for sure.
  6. Adjust Your Thermostat. We keep our thermostat at a certain temperature and keep it there all winter long. We do not touch it unless absolutely necessary.
  7. Use Solar Lights Outside. We love having these lights outside. They’re relatively cheap and don’t need energy due to being solar powered, so it’s a win-win!
  8. Motion Sensors. All of our outside lights have these detectors, etc. Motion sensors can significantly help you when someone might forget to turn off the lights.

These suggestions are just some simple tricks that we have done to reduce our electric bill in the winter time. They have really and truly helped us. What have you done that has cut your electric bill?

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Holiday Dinner, Without the Fuss

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By: Marla Bautista 

As families grow, seemingly, so does our holiday budget. It’s not enough to cook a regular meal during the holidays. We need an entire Holiday spread, to include (but not limited to), pre meal snacks (for the cook), appetizers, dinner, desserts, and specialty beverages. There are levels to the Holiday meal madness that we often inflict upon ourselves.  The effort that goes into making holiday meals shouldn’t cause you anxiety and exhaust your bank account. Want to prepare a Holiday meal that is not only amazing, but also stress free? In this article, you will learn how to do just that! 

Make a Plan 

Start your holiday meal planning with lists, Yes, Lists with an S. You will need a list of guests. This will help you know exactly how many people you’re expecting for the holiday. Make a list of proposed food items for your menu.  This may be tricky if you are planning on sharing dish obligations with other guests.  Have you heard of Sign Up Genius? This is a great place to create sign ups for any event.   You can also create a sign-up for Holiday Dishes and share it with your guests, so they too can sign up to make a dish! Best part about it, it’s free! 

Find Deals  

There are a lot of grocery stores offering coupons and other discounts on your holiday meal ingredients. If you have a grocery rewards card, you could score some awesome deals! Some stores honor the use of manufacture coupons and store coupons simultaneously. Check out your stores coupon policy to find out the best way to acquire a great deal. During the Holiday Season some stores offer discounts on side dish items when you purchase a turkey or vice versa.  If you don’t eat meat. Check out the local farmers markets and family farms.  Because it’s late in the season, many farms are trying to get rid of produce that may not survive during the winter months. There, you are sure to find deeply discounted veggies. 

Think Outside the Box

You don’t always have to make traditional dishes for the holiday.  Try making a few non traditional, items that will compliment the dishes you already make. Instead of mashed potatoes and gravy, try making a loaded mashed potato casserole or baked potatoes. Instead of making a Traditional Macaroni and Cheese, try another pasta dish filled with cranberries and other sweet and savory holiday flavors. Kid friendly dishes are always a hit when you have picky eaters. Check out www.recipes.com for a few simple, kid friendly holiday dishes.

Don’t Stress

Holiday meal planning is all fun and full of grandeur ideas until you have to shop, prep, and cook 10 dishes with one oven.  Give yourself some time. If there are items you can prep days ahead, do it! Chop your onions, celery, sweet potatoes, and anything else that can be refrigerated, a few days prior to the holiday. Relax, if you’re a planner, make a plan of action for your Holiday cooking times.  If you’re cooking a turkey, that’ll probably take the longest. Prep and cook it early on so that you can have oven space for your other items later in the day.  If you fry your turkey, even better! Less cook time and more oven space. Take breaks. If you have an item that requires a lengthy cooking time, use that time to catch up on your favorite TV show or book. If time allows, take a power nap.

No matter what your holiday plans, you can do it with ease by incorporating few of these tips. Make a plan for your holiday meal, find the best deals and discounts, and don’t sweat the small stuff. The season should be spent making positive memories with your loved ones. Don’t stress, everything will turn out fine, even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned. Be flexible and have fun! Best Wishes!

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Ladies Fashion Under $40

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Winter fashion calls for me being broke. Okay, all fashion does. I love fashion and being able to show off my personality for the different seasons. The really best part is that you can look good and still not be completely broke. I have found some of my favorite fashion items at amazing prices. Go get your shopping on!

Here’s Ladies Fashion Under $40

Fall Checked Ruana Poncho All over plaid checkered pattern, on a darling ruana poncho! This oversized, one-sized, cardigan is a perfect way to top off your winter styles. Complete with a tassel trim to add a bit of texture!

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Cherry Cordial Striped Sweater Color blocked, striped knit sweater with a statement sleeve and fitted cuffs!

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Peppered Coal Cowl Sweater Grab your favorite cup of coffee and head out for your weekend errands in cozy style this fall! This cowl keeps you classy, while the relaxed fit keeps you ultra comfortable! Who says you can’t have it all?

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Wheat Fields Textured High Low Sweater  Deep V-neck, and an oversized fit make this high-low sweater a favorite! The heavy texture, and cuffed sleeves add a texture and detail that set you apart!

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Round Neck Chenille Sweater | Ash Grey  Velvety soft, thick weave sweater with a high round neck and oversized fit, perfect for a cozy cold day!

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Thermal Stripe Drop Shoulder Top | Wine  Get into the fall spirit with this perfect transition piece! Show off your summer tan with the drop shoulder detail, but stay warm with the thermal soft fabric and long sleeves!

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Have a Frugal Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. I love gathering around with my near and dear friends and family, plus I love the food. We have hosted many, many times, and it adds up. Everything about the holidays costs money, and it stresses me out. But I want to have a good time and make sure it is ‘perfect.’

That said, you can still have a wonderful Thanksgiving by being frugal. Here are some wonderful tips:

  1.   Ask guests to bring something: People know how expensive holidays can be and most of the time they will offer to bring something. Cover the pieces that you can and ask them to make a dish. It’s that easy. If ten people attend, you have ten side dishes/desserts right there. Make sure to send out these super adorable notecards, too.

 

  1.  Take advantage of sales: You start to see Thanksgiving items go on sale about 2-3 weeks before Thanksgiving. You will even begin sighting coupons for those items, so take advantage of it. Price out, shop around and compare. Sometimes the deal might seem too good to be true! Check out our coupons.

 

  1.  Do homemade: Whenever possible, make elements yourself, especially if you price out how much it costs to make yourself versus buying. Some bits that we make ourselves: sweet potato casserole, crescent rolls, gravy, and stuffing. You will find all of these dishes are cheaper to make yourself.

 

  1. Keep decorations low: I love all the decorations, but I have to pull away from them. You don’t need a ton and if you already have some, reuse it! I tend to stock up on this after the holiday for the following year, so I don’t have to pay full price or their ‘sale’ price.

 

  1.  Choose off brands: You would be surprised to find that there isn’t much difference between name brands and store bought brands. Store brands tend to be cheaper, especially when there is a sale.

 

How do you manage to be frugal during the Thanksgiving season? There are so many options to keep it cost-effective and still enjoy yourself.

Have a Frugal Thanksgiving

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Frugal Thanksgiving Decorations

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There is something about the holidays that make it so much fun, do you agree? I love being able to decorate and have so many fun options for my family and guests. People always compliment me on our decorations.

I just love to decorate and have things be so pretty in my house… I love adding new items to my house each year.

Check out some of favorite Thanksgiving items for this year

  •  Orange Wheat Mix Fall Wreath
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    There is something about the holidays that make it so much fun, do you agree? I love being able to decorate and have so many fun options for my family and guests. People always compliment me on our decorations.

    Natural and refined, this Orange Wheat Mix Fall Wreath shows off all of the brilliant colors of fall. You’ll love the way this wreath looks in your home.
    Wreath measures 14 in. in diameter, Crafted of foam and natural materials

  • Happy Fall Wreath Framed Wood Art
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    This simple Happy Fall Wreath Framed Wood Art piece is the perfect addition to your home this fall. Its delicate details bring this framed masterpiece to life. Framed print measures 19.5L x 0.75W x 19.5H in., Frame crafted of wood, Tan and white distressed wood frame
  • Happy Fall Y’all Double Sided Outdoor Pillow
    Give your outdoor seating a fun, fall update with our Happy Fall Y’all Double Sided Outdoor Pillow! You’ll love its buffalo check print and hint of southern twang! Pillow measures 18L x 18H in.
  • Hello Fall Buffalo Check Table Runner
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    Add a rustic touch to your harvest dinner table with this Hello Fall Buffalo Check Table Runner! It makes a great alternative to a table cloth on Thanksgiving. Runner measures 90L x 16W in.
  • Ceramic Pumpkins, Set of 3
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    A cornerstone of fall décor, the pumpkin is one of autumn’s most recognized symbols. Bring fall colors to your tabletop with this set of fun, ceramic pumpkins! Set of three (3) pumpkins Pumpkins measure 4.5H, 5.25H, and 5.5H in.
  • Natural Woven Orange Pumpkin
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    Our Natural Woven Orange Pumpkin will bring an earthy element to your fall décor. This piece has a homey feel that you’ll totally fall in love with.

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Frugal Tips for Halloween

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I don’t know about you, but I feel like the whole fall/winter holidays drain my bank account. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas; they all happen quick!! Think about how much money we go through during this time; It’s exhausting. But I want my son to have the best memories, so I try not to feel guilty about it.

I can still have a good time AND feel good simply by being penny-pinching more. I put together a list of ways you can be frugal this Halloween season.

Halloween is one of those holidays where lots of opportunities arise to get creative and make unique crafts, decorations, and costumes. The best part is that you can do all of this on a budget! Halloween has no rules. Follow these 8 Frugal Tips to a Fun Halloween, and you’ll be sure to impress your friends and neighbors!

Here are some frugal tip for Halloween

  1. Create Your Costume: My goodness! I feel the costumes go up in cost every year. There is no way dressing up should be more than $50 per kid. It just doesn’t seem worth it to me. You can even find some costumes at thrift shops or Goodwill that cost WAY LESS!! So, if you want to DIY your look, there are so many fun ways to do so. Use what you have and go to the dollar store for some smaller accessories that you might you need. If you do not have the time to create a costume check out costume for less.
  2. Reuse Items: Each year we keep pieces for the next year. We saved all of our pumpkin carving kit parts and just washed them all out so we could use them again! We even kept the little tablecloth that we carved pumpkins on so that we didn’t have to buy a new one. Also, keeping your Halloween basket simple and fun is great. Kids don’t always like the same characters each year so just get the pumpkin buckets so they can reuse them without a fuss!
  3. DIY Halloween Decorations: You can get super cheap items to put together from the dollar store or even Amazon. You can find mason jars and add orange lights inside of them. BAM! It is THAT easy. You can have your children make some crafts and even use those! There are so many different crafts to do. Taking coffee filters and making them into spider webs is a great idea!! (enter sponsor links here)
  4. Watch Sales: I always love to get items AFTER the holiday when they receive a heavy discount. Be smart about this though because the total can add up. Only get what you REALLY know you will use and are a great sale!
  5. Make Candy Creations: I don’t mean literally create your candy because, well, no. What I mean is, buy some small items and make goodie bags from them. You get a better bang for your buck this way, and can fill them with treats that you know kids will love!
  6. Pumpkin Carving: Carving pumpkins is expensive. Do you know how much pumpkins cost these days? If you have more than one kid, you recognize the amount increases quickly. Try going to a pumpkin patch where it might cost you less, or allow kids to share and be creative with their pumpkins. Sometimes smaller pumpkins are EVEN better than the larger ones. If that doesn’t work, then try a different kind of craft other than a pumpkin carving!

We love being able to save money and still celebrate all the holidays! Do you have some ideas on how you make your Halloween frugal? Let us know in the comments below!

Frugal Tips for Halloween

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Family Meals On The Go

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By: Marla Bautista Ever wanted to find easy ways to survive busy days and maintain healthy eating habits for your family? In this article, I will give you a few tips that I use to feed my family on the go, stretch my family’s grocery budget, all while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  I have a typical family size, five people; myself, my husband, two sons and a daughter. We are grazers.  We like to eat small portions of food throughout the day. Which mostly keeps us satisfied.  I do cook dinner every evening.  On a normal week, our family’s activities include five days of therapy for my son who has Autism and gymnastics for my daughter. My normal is probably most peoples, busy. 

I use Sundays to meal prep for the entire week.  I juice fruits and veggies for my husband, make breakfast sandwiches, and snack items for the children.  I have not started to meal prep dinners because… I have no clue why.  For lunch during the weekdays my husband takes a juice that I prepare in our swanky Breville Juicer.  I love this juicer because it is easy to use, easy to clean, and it is durable.  I purchased it on Amazon along with glass bottles to store the juice. I use a simple recipe that includes kale, spinach, apples, lemon, cucumbers, ginger and celery.  I prepare enough for the week, freeze them and take them out daily for his lunch.  The items cost about $20, which is less than eating out daily.

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  • For breakfast meal prep, I make a variety of foods. Today I’m going to talk about breakfast sandwiches.  I usually make breakfast sandwiches with English muffins, every now and then I use bagels, but I feel like they are often too heavy to eat every day. I use a recipe called Morning Muffin Makers from Allrecipes, it is easy and cost effective. You can swap out the items as you please, this recipe is fail proof. Check out the link below!
  • I love prepping snacks, it’s my favorite, and the options are endless! My children will pretty much eat any snack food you put in front of them! The meal prep containers I use are small and colorful.  I purchased them on Amazon.  If you haven’t noticed by now, I kind of an Amazon Prime mom! When I prep the kids’ snacks for the week, I rotate between cold and room temperature snacks. Our refrigerator space is limited, I try to do all cold snack items one week and all room temperature items the next.  Cold items are usually a yogurt or cheese, some pepperoni or salami and a fruit or veggie.  Room temperature snacks consist of crackers or Chex Mix, Raisins or Prunes, and beef jerky. These are a great after school snacks, it’s budget friendly and will suffice their appetites until dinner time.
  • Although, I currently do not prep my dinners for the week, I do try to plan what I will cook.  Some days I will put a frozen London Broil in the crockpot with some veggies and make potatoes or rice as a side dish.  I am sort of envious of all the Instant Pot hype I’ve been seeing. What do you think? Should I dive in, or will I have an Instant Pout?
  • A few tricks or alternatives when grocery shopping can often save some families hundreds of dollars per month.  Using coupons, I believe, is the number one way to save during your shopping trips.  You can get coupons from your local Sunday Newspaper, Coupons.com, and many stores have a loyalty card that can be used for increased savings. Make a meal plan prior to going shopping.  If you have a visual note of exactly what you need, you’ll less likely buy junk food or other random unneeded items. Try to limit your shopping around the 1st and the 15th of every month.  My husband gets paid around those dates and the price of food is usually a little higher at this time.  I like to shop on the weeks outside of payday, unless we absolutely need something during that time.

There are endless meal planning and prepping options.  Try a few and choose what works best for your family. Your meals can be whatever you want them to be. If they are nutritious and convenient for you and your family, that’s what matters. Conquer your family’s busy schedule and mealtimes without a fuss!

The World’s Best Cooking Products, Recipes, and Tips Find The Perfect Cooking Product

Links 

  1. Morning Muffin Makers http://allrecipes.com/recipe/20682/muffin-morning-makers/
  2. Meal Prep Containers for Kids 
  3. Meal Prep Containers For Adults 
  4. Digital Food Scale 

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The Top 9 Ladies Spring Dresses

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Do you have trouble finding adorable, and affordable dresses? I know I do. When I found these, and ordered them, I knew I had to share them with you all. They are perfect for the beach, date night, work attire, just about anything, really! You won’t be disappointed and your wallet will thank you!

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4 Tips For Freezing Meat & Food

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Did you know that you can freeze other foods, besides fruits and vegetables? You can freeze fish, shellfish, and poultry. Here are some general tips on the freezing process, as well as some specifics on how to freeze fruits and vegetables.

1.Equipment

  • Containers: This is probably the most important item in freezing foods. You will want a tightly sealed product. This will make sure that the foods won’t develop odd flavors, or lose their color. One example of a good container includes freezer bags of various sizes. You may even want rigid plastic containers that have wide tops, or freezing/canning jars. *Make sure that any wrapping or covering used for freezing are moisture proof and that they can be tightly sealed. All packaging materials should be able to withstand a temperature of 0 degrees F.

2. Other equipment Another item that you will need and is essential for freezing vegetables is a large pot and a basket for blanching or steaming. You will also want a kitchen timer The General Freezing Process

  • Select top-quality fresh, ripe but firm fruit and vegetables. You will want to choose vegetables that are best for freezing.
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables in cold water and prepare them. Make sure to keep your work area clean so that you don’t cross contaminate.
  • Pack the food tightly into containers, leaving space needed at the top.
  • For a good seal make sure to wipe the bottom of the container, as well as around the edges.

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3 ways to save money in the New Year

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I am making it a goal to save money this year. I know that I always say I will save, and I even set goals, but I never seem to make it work. I think we get too caught up in superficial items. We have the desire to have the newest and the best, what we think everyone else is easily affording.

When someone asks what our family wants, I usually respond with money. It may seem impersonal, but I can easily put money in an account and not feel the need to buy something that I don’t need.

If we’re honest, we all have received gifts we don’t want, and at times I feel like it was a waste of money. Then the item sits in my closet or drawer because I didn’t really like it. Maybe it’s because, as we get older, we are able to provide for ourselves. Gift cards and money are the way to go, but this isnt about that right now.

I also don’t like for my son to have all these toys! I’d rather have the memories created together as a family that we can look back on. I would much rather have money in his account instead of getting more gifts that just sit in his closet. I am sure that as he gets older and understands things more, he will want gifts, but for now let’s enjoy these moments and give him memories or cash. I am glad that I am able to save money for his account, for our vacations, and just to have for emergencies.

Here are my personal saving goals for the New Year:

  1. If we cancel our cable, will save $1600 a year.
  2. Once we successful potty train Antonio, not buying diapers will save us $500 a year.
  3. Cutting out a few extra also helps. For example, if we stop impulse buying at gas stations, we could potentially save $500.

If we are able to cut out these three things and stick with them all year, we could add $2600 to our savings this year. That is a lot! Putting a number on a goal helps it become more achievable, as you have something to aim for.

What things can you cut from your regular life this year? Maybe it’s the coffee you buy on the way to work or the extra snacks you get at the grocery store. Consider cutting them out, even for just a month and see what you can save. Join me on this journey and lets save some money together this year! Every little bit does help!

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