This post about how to maintain a home to avoid costly home repairs is sponsored, however, all opinions are my own. Unexpected home repairs can be expensive. In fact, they can destroy your home maintenance budget very quickly if something serious goes wrong. Following a regular home maintenance checklist is the best way to stay on top of things. Here are the most common home repairs to tackle to keep your house in tip top shape. Damp Basement and Foundation Damage When we lived in our previous home, we had periodic basement … [Read more...]
Easy Gardening Tips that Won’t Break the Bank
February 13, 2019 by · 3 Comments
If you are looking for easy gardening tips, you need to keep an eye on your budget. Some gardening ideas sound great, but are incredibly expensive. I have been a fan of frugal gardening for years so I decided to share a few easy gardening tips that won't break the bank! Backyard Gardening on a Budget I have been gardening for many years...ever since my preschooler came home one day with a Lima bean plant that he grew in class that he wanted to put in the ground. Well, the boy is now a teenager who asks for Trinidad Scorpion … [Read more...]
Financial Wellness Checklist and Using a Bullet Journal to Save Money
January 8, 2019 by · Leave a Comment
As we enter the new year, you should consider working through this financial wellness checklist to ensure financial security in the years to come. For most people, money is in limited supply and the demands on finances are fairly high. Gas must be purchased regularly if we want to continue driving to work and kids need to eat. And they generally eat a LOT. Unless you sit down to tackle a few financial tasks occasionally, you won't truly be financially 'healthy'. One way to get a great look at your household budget … [Read more...]
Holiday Budget Tips and Quick Side Hustles for Fewer Post Holiday Bills
August 14, 2018 by · 2 Comments
This post about holiday budget tips has been sponsored. All opinions are my own. You're thinking 'It's still summer, who wants to think about Christmas bills'... right? Well, I am already seeing ads for high tech holiday gifts and those aren't cheap! Want to skip the holiday gift giving DEBT this year? You need to start pinching your pennies and searching for a few holiday budget tips. There are plenty of ways that you can save money and MAKE money in the next 3 months before you start your Black Friday shopping adventures. Keep reading … [Read more...]
Waste Free School Lunch Tips to Save Money and Reduce Trash
July 17, 2018 by · 2 Comments
I know....you are in the middle of summer vacation and don't want to think about school lunches, right? Well, my kids go back to school in 3 weeks so I am thinking about what they will bring to eat this year. Sending a waste free school lunch is important to me but it definitely takes a bit of planning. One of my favorite tips to save money is to ditch the disposables. No sense throwing your hard earned cash in the garbage can, right? If you want to cut down on lunch costs this year, here are a few school lunch tips that might help. Check … [Read more...]
Turn Summer Chores for Kids into Smart Money Management
June 19, 2018 by · 6 Comments
This post about summer chores for kids and smart money management has been sponsored by BusyKid. All opinions are my own. Ever since my kids were young, they have been given chores. Since we live in the burbs, they aren't out milking cows at 5 Am but I try to make sure they have a few things to do most days. Since they have a lot more free time during the summer, they have more chores to go along with more free time. Summer chores for kids are a great way to teach them responsibility. It also lightens your own workload at the same … [Read more...]
How to Plan for Your Retirement When Money is Tight
April 9, 2018 by · 8 Comments
This post about how to plan for your retirement has been sponsored by GuidedChoice. All opinions expressed here are my own. When my husband and I first moved to Atlanta, we were in our late 20's. I was 7 months pregnant with our first child and we were broke. After 7 years as a graduate student, my husband had his first real job. Every single penny we owned went into our first mortgage. We also had a car loan, a home improvement loan for some required fixes, and all the costs associated with a new baby. Add in the fact that I was a stay … [Read more...]
Tips for Saving Money on Clothing for Teens
May 3, 2017 by · 8 Comments
This post about saving money on clothing for your teens has been sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are my own. Last month, while planning our Florida vacation, my daughter came to me and told me that only three pairs of her shorts fit her from last year. Great. Three days before we leave and she has barely any summer clothes to wear! While teens tend to grow slower than smaller children, they still outgrow their clothes. Whether it is a growth spurt of a couple of inches or a broadening of the shoulders, my teens still need new … [Read more...]
What to Look for in a Financial Advisor Before Your Hire Them
April 26, 2017 by · 1 Comment
From the time my husband and I first moved in together after college, we have had financial goals. We started saving small amounts of money very early in life, even when we were struggling to pay the bills. We bought our first house at the age of 27 and when our first child was born that same year, we opened a college savings account as well. While we have had financial goals our whole lives, we have never spoken to a professional about our finances. We decided it was time to bring in a financial advisor and we have an appointment with one … [Read more...]
Creative Ways to Save for a Vacation and Why Your Family Needs to Take One!
April 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Family vacations aren't always cheap but they are a great way to relax and reconnect with your family. Vacations don't always need to be expensive to be one of the best times of your life. You don't actually need to go to a 5-star hotel and eat only in the most exclusive restaurants. Some of the best memories you can make with your family will be on a family vacation. Your child won't remember the quality of the hotel you stayed at but they will remember the card games, trips to the beach and all that togetherness that you enjoyed. That … [Read more...]
