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How To Start A Babysitting Co-op To Save Money On Childcare

November 16, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Tips for setting up a money saving child care co-op!

I am so excited to share exactly how to start a babysitting co-op to help you save money on childcare!

Let’s be real here, being a stay at home mom is hard! It’s late nights, crying babies, fighting kids, zero alone time, and so so many messes. And….it’s 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is a long, tiring and lonely job.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being a stay at home mom, but it isn’t easy at all. Which is why I think it’s SO important for moms to have regular time away from the kids. We need those stress free moments to run errands, go to doctors appointments, meet up with a friend for lunch, or just to have some peace and quiet to recoup.

The only problem is that it can get really expensive to pay for child care for each of these outings. And that’s where a neighborhood babysitting co-op can come in.

Years ago my friends organized a child care co-op for our neighborhood and it was such a blessing for each of us stay at home moms. I’m so excited to share the details with each of you today so you can start your own!

What Is A Babysitting Co-Op?

A babysitting co-op is a group of parents who take turns watching each others kids. A co-op uses tickets to pay each other, instead of money. The more you babysit, the more tickets you earn! Use those hard earned tickets to pay someone else in the co-op to watch your own kids. It’s really a beautiful system!

Why Form A Babysitting Co-Op?

I loved being apart of a babysitting co-op. It helped me and my family in so many ways, and I think it can help you:

Save money on childcare
Help your kids make new friends and develop social skills
Give you alone time to run errands or get things done around the home
Helps you get to know the neighborhood kids better

It is truly a win-win for everyone!

How To Start a Babysitting Co-op

You can start your very own babysitting co-op, it is really easy and I’m here to walk you through every step!

1. Find Members

If you want a co-op, you’re going to need a few more members! Take a few minutes and brainstorm who you would like to invite to your babysitting group. It will work best to invite those that you are already close to, such as friends, family members, neighbors or moms from your church. Being able to trust each other to watch your kids is so important!

Personally, I wouldn’t want to bring a group of random strangers met over the internet together for a child care group. Try to brainstorm a group of like minded parents that are all familiar with each other. Aim for 8-16 families; to few means not enough babysitters and to many can get confusing.

2. Set The Rules

The babysitting co-op rules will be different based on your groups needs and preferences, but here are a few you might want to consider:

Sick Children: Children who are sick should not be dropped off at a babysitters home, and a babysitter should not babysit when they have sick children at home.
Be On Time: All group members will be expected to respect each others time by picking up their kids right when the shift ends. If you are late picking up your child you will have to pay double tickets.
Call Ahead: Everyone will need to call ahead before dropping their kids off. If nobody calls by the time your shift starts, you will have the day off from babysitting!
BYOD: Parents must provide a few clean diapers and wipes when dropping off unpotty trained kids.
Switch Shifts: If you are unable to complete your scheduled shift you will need to find another co-op member to cover for you and then let all group members know of the change.
Discipline: Decide as a group if there will be discipline allowed while babysitting and what forms are acceptable.
Kid Limit: You might want to make a limit of how many kids can be dropped off at each babysitter at a time. Somewhere between 5-7 kids per parent is a good rule of thumb, depending on ages.

3. Make a Schedule

Next, set up the babysitting schedule shifts. Shifts will vary depending on what works best for your group. My group was mostly stay at home moms wanting childcare to run errands during the afternoon, so all of our shifts were on weekdays. But, other groups could have weekend and evening shifts available if that is what they need. Do what works best for you!

Here are an example of what the daily shifts could look like in your group, remember it’s okay to adjust them in whichever way will be best for you!

Monday: 9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Tuesday: 9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Wednesday: 9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Thursday: 9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Friday: 9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Saturday: 12-3 and 5-8

Have each person in the group sign up for one or two shifts each week. For example, I might have the Wednesday 9-12 shift. So, every Wednesday I will set aside my morning to babysit any kids that need to be watched at that time.

Feel free to use my provided babysitting co-op schedule here to set up a calendar of each shift and who will be babysitting when. Make sure everyone has a copy of the calendar so they know who is available and when.

4. Ticket System

Now for the fun part, setting up the ticket system! To keep the babysitting fair and track babysitting hours, I suggest using tickets as payment. Each family will begin with 10 1-hour tickets and 10 1/2-hour tickets. These tickets are good for one kid at a time. So, when you ask someone to babysit for 2 hours for 2 kids, you will need to pay them 4 1-hour tickets. The babysitter can then use those tickets to ask someone to watch their kids for them. The more you babysit, the more you tickets you’ll earn!

I have included Sitter Buck tickets in my free babysitting co-op printables here! Make sure to print the Sitter Bucks onto cardstock and laminate each ticket. These will be passed around to many hands, so the more durable you can make them, the better!

5. The System

You are just about ready to start your first babysitting co-op, I’m so excited for you! The system is simple really.

First, have everyone choose their shifts, fill out their contact info provided in my babysitting co-op freebies, and handout tickets (10 1-hour tickets and 10 1/2-hour tickets for each family). Make sure everyone has a copy of the contact info and schedule.

Then, if you need a babysitter for your kids, just look at who has a shift that day, call them up and ask if they can watch your kids. Now all you have to do is drop your kids off during their shift and enjoy a few hours of kid free time!

When you pick up your kids, pay the babysitter with your tickets. Easy Peasy!

You got this!

Feeling intimidated about starting a babysitting co-op??? Because you shouldn’t! Grab my free babysitting co-op printables here, grab a few friends and get started!

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How to start a babysitting co-op to save money.

How To Stop Living Paycheck To Paycheck In 6 Steps

November 14, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to not live paycheck to paycheck anymore.

Are you tired of feeling like there is never enough money? Are you ready to learn how to stop living paycheck to paycheck? It IS possible and I’m here to tell you how!

Why Do I Need To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

I had someone ask me this question a few months ago. It all started when I was encouraging my readers to save more money each paycheck, and someone asked me, “Why? What’s wrong with living paycheck to paycheck?” I understand this reasoning and think it’s a very valid question! So, today I’m going to explain exactly why it’s important.

Here are a few benefits of having some extra cash every pay period:

Less Stress. If you have extra money each pay period you will no longer be having to worry during those last few days before you get paid. You won’t have to wonder whether you will have enough money to get you through to the next payday.
Prevent Debt. Emergencies come up. Unexpected expenses arise. This is just a simple fact of life. If you are able to save a little bit each pay period you will have the cash needed to pay for these emergencies, rather than putting it on a credit card.
Save For Your Future. More money means more opportunities to save for the future. This might mean being able to save for retirement or grow a sinking fund for a fun purchase.

Follow the easy steps below and you will have more money in your budget, and more importantly, more money in your bank account.

Step #1: Make A Zero Based Budget

The very first thing you need to do to stretch your paycheck is to make a budget. I highly recommend using a Zero Based Budget.

A zero based budget is when you budget every penny of your paycheck so that your income and expenses are the same amount. This does NOT mean you spend all of your income. It simply means that every dollar has a place and a purpose within your budget.

To make a zero based budget you will need to first write down the amount of money you expect to earn this pay period.

Next, write down all of your expected expenses, don’t forget contributions to sinking funds, retirement, etc.

Your goal will be to get your expenses to equal your income. For a full tutorial on making a zero based budget check out this article.

There are many different ways to budget! We prefer the You Need a Budget software. You can also use just plain ol paper and pen. feel free to download my budget worksheet below. This is a great place to get you started!

Step #2: Track Your Spending

Now that you have made your budget it’s time to track your spending. And, when I say track your spending I literally mean to track every.single.penny. you earn.

It’s easy to track your spending, but it does take time. You will need to write down everything that you buy and what budget category that item falls under. If you buy a 50 cent candy bar, write it down under the “Food” category.

This exercise gives you a huge amount of insight into how you are spending and exactly where your money is going. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much a few bucks here or there add up, but they do!

While you are writing down your expenses, look for trends in your spending and evaluate how you could change some of these habits.

Maybe you tend to always buy items on a stressful day, could you find a new way to deal with stress?

Or perhaps you are constantly picking up a Starbucks on your way to work, could you limit yourself to just one Starbucks a week?

Remember, it’s OK to spend money! But, if you are wanting to save a little more, you will need to find some ways to cut back. Tracking expenses is a great way for you to figure out just how to do that.

Related: Common Overspending Triggers and Solutions

Step #3: Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

The third step when learning how to stop living paycheck to paycheck is to cut out all unnecessary expenses. Look through your spending tracker and pick out a few items that you could cut out of your budget. This might be eating out, going to movies, cable TV, daily coffees, etc.

Need some inspiration about what to cut? Be sure to check out these articles:

How to Cut Your Budget; When There is Nothing Left to Cut

What we cut from our budget to save over $2500 a year

11 Things to do Today to Lower your Monthly Expenses

Don’t forget to look at the expenses that you can minimize on, rather than cutting out completely. Perhaps you spend $150 a week on groceries, could you reduce that to $130 a week? That would be an extra $80 a month or $960 a month.

Related: 10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Step #4: Save Your Bonus

Whenever you are offered a bonus or raise at work, save it! I know the temptation when getting these raises is to “treat yo self”, but you are already use to living on less. Use that raise to bump up your savings account, or other finance goals. I promise it’s worth it!

For example, if you are offered a 5% raise, put that extra 5% into your savings each paycheck. This is one of the easiest ways to save more without having to sacrifice the life you are use to.

If you truly do not want to save all of your raise, maybe just save part of it. Put 90% of your raise into a savings account, and use the other 10% for spending.

Step #5: Automate Your Savings

Set your checking account to automatically take a certain amount of money each month and deposit this into your savings account. This is an easy way to save for retirement, emergency fund, or anything else you need, without having to actually do it yourself!

When your savings is automatic you don’t ever have to make the choice whether to save or spend on something else, that decision has already been made for you! You’re saving it.

My husband and I made all of our savings automatic years ago and it has made a world of difference in the amount of money we are able to save each month. This money doesn’t even feel like it belongs to me, because it goes straight to savings. It feels amazing to be able to watch that saving account grow regularly and consistently.

Step #6: Make More Money Through Side Hustles

Last, but certainly not least is to find a way to make more money. If you would really like to save more each month, you might need to find a way to increase your income. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get a second full time job.

All you need is a few extra hours each week to devote to a side hustle. If you are struggling finding that extra time, try to give up one thing in your life and use that extra time for side hustling. This might be your nightly 30 minute TV time, or maybe those few hours you sleep in on Saturdays.

When choosing your side hustle, be creative! There are so many possibilities! Look at your talents and interests first to find the perfect fit for you.

Are you crafty? Perhaps you could make crafts to sell on Etsy. Do you like to write? Consider starting a blog! Maybe you enjoy teaching? Look into teaching kids in China (all from home)!

Related: Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home

If there’s a will, there’s a way!

If you are really wanting to stop living paycheck to paycheck, it is going to require some sacrifice and effort.

I truly believe if you follow the six steps I shared today you will be able to find more room in your budget and you will be able to save more money each month.

Here is your friendly reminder that these steps aren’t easy! Nothing good in life is easy! Cutting expenses and finding extra money will take some time and sacrifice on your part.

But, I can also promise you that if you are willing to put in the work and the dedication you will find extra money in your budget each paycheck, and this can change your life!

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Have more money this month by following this simple 6 step plan so you can stop living paycheck to paycheck today.

Quick New York City In A Weekend Trip

November 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

NYC In Three Days

I have always dreamed of visiting New York City. There is just something about the lights, the buildings, and the hustle and bustle of the big apple that appealed to me. I’ve talked about this dream with my sister for years and one day she stopped me and said, “Let’s do it! Let’s go visit New York City this year.” And I said, “Ok!” We decided to try to keep the budget low and to visit NYC in three days, which wasn’t easy, but we were able to make it work! I was a little worried that only one weekend in New York City wouldn’t be enough time, but I was wrong. We were able to see all of our “must sees” and had the time of our lives! Here are a few tips for a quick New York City in a weekend trip!

Our Quick New York City Weekend Trip

We spent a lot of hours researching and planning our NYC trip. The first thing we did was make a list of the places we MOST wanted to see. The statue of liberty and a Broadway show were at the top of that list.

Next, we started researching for the most frugal ways to visit all of our favorite attractions. Through that process we came up with our budget friendly, quick New York City in a weekend trip itinerary. Below is everything that we did, and a few frugal tips to help you plan your own trip!

Day 1: Thursday

We took a direct flight from SLC to Newark airport and landed at about 6pm. To save money we decided to split an uber ride to our hotel, and cost us about $30 per couple.

Using Priceline we booked the Dylan Hotel located in Midtown Manhattan. We loved it! The hotel is located close to a lot of top attractions, it was clean and the price was very reasonable for the location!

*Hotel Money Saving Tip: We booked out hotel through Priceline because they seemed to have the best deals. When using Priceline we didn’t get to choose which hotel we booked, but we were able to choose the area and the hotel star rating. The hotel we got was amazing, exactly what we wanted! We scored a boutique midtown hotel (with a king bed, which is hard to find) for only $200/night!

*Hotel Money Saving Tip: When booking any travel make sure you use Rakuten first, this one simple step gave us an extra 6% cashback on our hotel purchase.

After settling into our hotel we walked down the street to Uncle Pauls Pizza. The pizza was delicious and only $4/slice, exactly what we wanted!

Once we were full from pizza we walked around and enjoyed some sight seeing. We visited Grand Central Station, St.Patricks Cathedral, window shopped down 5th Avenue, and ended the night in Times Square. Everything we saw Thursday night was completely free!

Related: 20 Things To Do In New York City For Free

Day 2: Friday

On Friday morning we got up early for breakfast. We went to a small restaurant, across the street from our hotel, Home Front Deli. It was delicious! They made the absolute best bagels I tried all weekend! I highly recommend!

After breakfast we headed to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This was one of my favorite stops of the entire trip! It is WELL worth the money! You could spend DAYS in this museum. We focused on the Egyptian Room, The American Wing, and European Art. Everything was absolutely incredible!

After visiting The Met we rode the bus down to the Top of the Rock and were treated to absolutely amazing views of New York City.

We chose to visit Top of the Rock, instead of the Empire State Building, because the price was cheaper and the views were better! I loved that we could see the Empire State Building and Central Park in our view.

Next, was lunch at The Halal Guys for the best Gyros I have ever had. This is seriously a must stop. The portions were huge and only around $8 for a platter.

That night we had tickets to go see The Lion King on Broadway. This was one of our big splurges for the trip and it did not disappoint! We paid full price for our tickets to The Lion King, but there are ways to get discount Broadway Tickets.

*Broadway Money Saving Tip: To get discount Broadway tickets stop by the TKTS booth located right in Times Square. These same day tickets are heavily discounted for a select shows.

Another way to get cheaper tickets for Broadway is to check out the Today Tix website. We used this service for a Broadway show Saturday night and were very pleased with the discounts we got!

Related: Kauai on a Budget

Day 3: Saturday

For breakfast on Saturday we went to Zuckers Bagels for another classic NYC bagel. If I’m being honest, I didn’t enjoy this breakfast quite as much as Home Front Deli, but it was still delicious!

Immediately after breakfast we headed to the 9/11 museum, this is what I had been most looking forward to.

We were treated to an amazing museum full of heart wrenching photos, survivor stories and gut wrenching facts. Total we spent about 3 hours walking around and taking it all in. But, honestly we could have spent all day there, they had so many exhibits and a lot of great information to look through.

After the museum we headed Downtown to hop onto the Staten Island Ferry. This is a completely FREE ferry that takes you right past the statue of liberty. It was so simple to walk right on to the ferry. I recommend going to the very back so that you can also be treated to a view of the NYC skyline.

The views of the Statue of Liberty were even better than we had expected! Once we arrived in New Jersey, we walked off, went around the corner and walked right onto the next ferry to ride back to Manhattan. So easy, and you just can’t beat a good view for FREE!

Next, we headed to Brooklyn for a walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. It was a wet and stormy day, but we still enjoyed the views on the bridge. The architecture was incredible!

That evening we had dinner at Melt Shop for some gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. The food was amazing and very budget friendly!

After dinner we headed to another Broadway Show, Waitress.

This wasn’t my favorite Broadway show, but my sister really enjoyed it, so to each their own!

Day 4: Sunday

Our plane was leaving Sunday afternoon, so we were thrilled to have a few hours left to enjoy the big apple.

We stopped by Wafels and Dinges for breakfast, and I have been dreaming out this place ever since!

After breakfast we decided it was time for cookies, which is totally normal, right???!?! We went straight from breakfast to Levain Bakery for the absolute BEST cookie I have EVER had!!! You MUST, I repeat, MUST stop by Levain Bakery. Their cookies were absolutely amazing!

We ate our cookies in Central Park and then spent the rest of the morning wandering the paths and enjoying the day. It truly is a beautiful park with so many unique areas and sights. I loved strolling through all of the different areas.

Our trip was a busy whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change it for anything! We were able to see everything we wanted to see, and had a lot of fun doing it! I can’t wait to go back again one day and visit even more of the amazing sights.

Be sure to check out my post 20 Completely Free Things to do in New York City for more budget friendly New York City ideas!

I hope this gave you some good ideas for your quick New York City in a weekend trip!

12 Products Worth Buying To Save Money In The Long Run

November 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Items Worth Purchasing To Save More Money In The Long Run

If you are a long time reader, you know I am ALL about looking for ways to cut expenses, spend less and save a few bucks. However, there are times when SPENDING money is actually the best way to be frugal. Today I am going to share some of my favorite products worth buying to save money.

How Can Spending Money On A Product Save Money?

I know it doesn’t really make sense! Spend money to save money! But with some products it actually really really works! I like investing in quality products that will:

Reduce the cost of a bill or budget category I already spend money on.
Last a long time without needing to be replaced.
Reduce the amount of reusable products I already regularly buy.

If the one time expense will continually reduce my regular expenses for years to come, it is worth the money for me. Below are some of the products I recommend buying to help save money in the long run.

Products Worth Buying To Save More Money

1. Tempered Glass Screen Protector

One of my very favorite purchases ever has been my tempered glass screen protector for my cell phone. It is worth every penny and then some!

Our cell phones go almost everywhere with us! Which is great, but also a little risky that they will break.! Cell phones are expensive and cost a lot of money to be fixed.

If you cover your screen with a tempered glass screen protector all you will have to place is the protector instead of the entire phone, saving you huge bucks if your screen ever cracks (which let’s be honest…..happens).

2. Rechargeable Battery Charger

Investing in a rechargeable battery charger is a great way to save money on batteries.

When we bought a Wii years and years ago for our kids, we bought a rechargeable battery charger and batteries to go with it. We have used those batteries so many times for Wii remotes, the cost was well worth it!

3. Makeup Eraser

My friend gifted me a makeup eraser a couple of years ago, and I have never looked back since! These microfiber cloths easily clean off your daily makeup with only the help of some warm water. I no longer have to buy disposable makeup remover cloths or products. Yay!

The best part? It’s reusable! So, wash your cloth and reuse again and again. Great for the environment, and your pocket book!

4. Drying Rack

A drying rack is another smart purchase to save money in the long run. Air drying clothes will extend the life of your clothing and it saves you money on electricity bills by not having to run your dryer as often.

Consider purchase an indoor drying rack that can be easily tucked away, or an outdoor retractable clothesline (I’ve had my eye on this one for a while now!).

5. Reusable Sandwich Bags

Rather than buying disposable ziplock bags over and over again, consider buying resusable sandwich bags instead! You can use them to pack lunch boxes, or to freeze leftovers for another meal. That’s right, they are even freezer safe! These are a great product to help you save more and spend less!

6. Produce Storage Containers

One of the most important ways to save money on groceries is to prevent food waste. Spending a little bit of money on high quality produce storage containers will help produce to last longer so that you won’t be throwing away food that you spent your hard earned dollars on.

Related: Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

7. Dryer Balls

I recently switched from dryer sheets to dryer balls and I keep wondering why I didn’t make the switch sooner! They have been so efficient in keeping my clothing soft and static free.

Dryer balls can be used over and over again, cutting out the need to buy dryer sheets! Plus, dryer balls helps dry your clothes faster and more efficiently which will save you in high energy costs. Try them and let me know what you think!

8. Hair Clippers

When my husband and I first got married many many many years ago I bought a $15 set of hair clippers. Over the next ten years those $15 hair clippers have saved us roughly $750 on hair cuts!

I am NOT a professional hair cutter. As a matter of fact, I’m really not that good at cutting hair. But, I kept practicing, trying and watching YouTube videos until I became more confident in my abilities.

This small investment has been a huge money saver to our family. Here is a similar pair of clippers with great reviews.

9. LED Light Bulbs

As your old incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with LED light bulbs. The cost upfront is more expensive, but so worth it in the long run. LED light bulbs last longer and uses less electricity than a traditional light bulb. Check out this Light Bulb Showdown article to see the huge life time savings in this one simple change.

Related: How To Save Money On Electric Bill In Winter

10. Reusable Water Bottle

We all know that drinking water is great for our health. But, buying disposable water bottles again and again costs a lot of money. Fortunately, we can drink water without having to buy disposable water bottles!

Instead of wasting plastic and money, invest in a reusable water bottle and fill it up with water from home! I love buying items that I know I can use over and over again, for, well, forever! Here is a great priced insulated water bottle with fabulous reviews!

11. Menstrual Cup

Alright ladies, this ones for you! Quit wasting your money on disposable feminine care and invest in a menstrual cup!

This DivaCup is reusable and has FANTASTIC reviews. I know it might feel a little different at first, but I recommend you try it! You might like it more than you think! And it will save you money in the long run!

12. Digital Antennae

One of the best things we did for our budget was to cancel our cable TV and buy a digital antennae. A digital antennae is a one time cost for free monthly TV.

True, it doesn’t have as many channels as cable TV does, but it gives you access to your local television channels for free! Which means you won’t miss the news, big sporting events or the popular current TV shows.

Spending Money To Save Money

Sometimes you have to spend a little bit of money to save money! These are all products worth buying to save money, but I might have missed a few! What else would you add to this list?

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Products Worth Buying To Save Money

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

November 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life24 Comments

The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

We love keeping hot chocolate stocked in our home during the cold winter months. My kids will spend hours and hours playing outside in the snow and the first thing they ask for when they come inside is some hot chocolate! Back in my “spender” days I use to buy hot chocolate mix at the store like it was nobody’s business! Once I started learning how to save and live a frugal life I learned how to make hot cocoa from scratch with this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe and I have never looked back!

Not only does making your own hot cocoa save you money, it is also so quick and easy to do. We love this easy homemade hot chocolate recipe because it tastes much much better than anything we ever buy from the store. I like to whip a huge catch up at the beginning of every winter and keep it stored in the pantry for the kids to use whenever they need a warm drink.

How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Once you start making this easy hot cocoa recipe you will never go back to the expensive store bought kind. Kids love to help make this recipe and it’s a fun family activity to do together.

Gather Ingredients

All you need is 5 cheap ingredients to mix up this creamy hot cocoa….and you probably already have them all in your pantry!

You will need:

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup powdered creamer
1/8 tsp salt

Mix It Together

Now, with a spoon, stir all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

That’s it! You are done! (see, I told you it was easy!)

You can store your homemade hot chocolate mix in an airtight container in a cupboard. This mix will should stay fresh for 6-12 months.

When you are ready to enjoy your hot chocolate just stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 boiling water in a mug. Enjoy! Feel free to add marshmallows, candy canes, or whipped cream for an even more festive treat!

Hot Cocoa Mix

Print Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup powdered creamer
1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in a tightly covered container.
To make hot chocolate: Stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 cup boiling water. Enjoy!

Related: 25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

This easy homemade hot cocoa also makes a great, cheap Christmas gift for neighbors or friends!

Just put some in a mason jar and put a pretty bow around it! Make sure to attach the instructions so your neighbors will know how to use it.

Related: Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

In Conclusion

This easy hot chocolate recipe will cost you pennies to make and tastes so very delicious! I hope your family will enjoy it as much as we do!

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Don’t Forget To Pin This Recipe To Use Again:

I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe!

How To Make Money As A Teenager

October 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy ways for teenagers to make money.

Are you wondering how to make money as a teenager? Or maybe you are a parent to a teen and you are looking for ways to help them earn a little extra cash. Either way, I understand just how important it is for teenagers to make money, and I want to help!

Teens are getting to that age where they are feeling more like adults. They are usually ready for a little extra responsibility and many have a wish list of items they want to buy.

I remember being a teen and dreaming of new clothes, going to the movies with my friends, and wanting to buy all of the trendy accessories (hello chokers!). The secret to being able to buy this stuff??? Getting a job and learning how to make money. Today, I am excited to share a few ways teens can make money.

Remember to always check with your parents before attempting any of these suggestions. When and what job you get should always be a discussion between you and your parents, they love you and want what’s best for you!

“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” I am a member of online affiliate programs and will be compensated by purchases made from links in this post.

1. Babysit

My very first job way back when was as a babysitter for kids in my neighborhood. This was such a great learning opportunity. Babysitting taught me responsibility, patience, creativity and helped me earn a lot of money.

If you are interested in babysitting I recommend you start with people you know well. Share a flyer with neighbors, family or friends to let them know that you are available to babysit and how much you will charge. I would start charging a small amount until you have gotten some experience.

Encourage those you babysit for to share your name and phone number with others. When I hire a babysitter, I almost only do so if I had heard good things about them. Word of mouth is key!

Consider taking a Babysitting Class such as this one offered from the Red Cross. Or read this American Girls Babysitter book. These are great ways to learn some new skills that will help you be the best babysitter you can be!

2. Do Yard Work

Hire yourself out to do various yard work chores around your neighborhood. These chores might include mowing lawns, raking leaves, pulling weeds, planting flowers, etc. There are so many instances when adults just don’t have the time or energy to work in their yard and would happily hire a teenager to help them.

Post some flyers around your neighborhood and on your neighborhood Facebook page letting people know that you are available to hire for yard work. If you do a good job, they will probably tell their friends, which means even more business opportunities!

3. Walk Dogs

If you love dogs you might want to become a dog walker. Many people will hire teens to walk their dogs while they are at work, out of town, or maybe just not up to a long walk.

Pass out flyers at a dog park or around your neighborhood letting people know that you are open for business.

4. Camp Counselor

Another great way for teens to make money is to work as a camp counselor at a summer camp. These camps love to hire teenagers and can be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved.

If you love kids, the outdoors and have a lot of energy than you would make a great camp counselor!

5. Tutor

Which school subjects do you excel in? Maybe math or science or English comes really easy to you. There are a lot of parents who would love to hire a qualified teenage tutor to help their kids in these subjects.

You could advertise on the elementary and community Facebook pages in your area, along with handing out flyers at school to let people know you are available and which subject(s) you can tutor.

6. Sell Your Clothes

If you have clothing sitting in your closet that you haven’t touched for months (or maybe even years), SELL THEM! There is a huge market right now for quality, gently used clothing -especially if any of them are name brand.

You can list your clothing for sell on websites such as Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or Thredup. Or, bring them to a consignment store in town to sell to, our favorite is Uptown Cheapskate.

Related: Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home

7. Pet Sitting

Another great job for pet loving teens is to hire yourself out as a pet sitter. You might be hired to take care of someone’s pets while they go on vacation or at work.

Duties could include letting the dog out of the house, feeding a fish, or just giving them some love and attention.

8. Referee

Becoming a sports referee is the perfect job for teenagers who enjoy sports and staying active. Ask around at your local sport leagues and parks and rec to see if they are hiring. This also makes a great summer job if you are looking for something short term.

9. Use Ibotta

Do you ever help out with the grocery shopping in your home? If you do, make sure to download the free ibotta app to start earning free money on items you would be buying anyways.

Ibotta offers cashback on many groceries and other household items. All you have to do is take a picture of your receipt and check ibotta for any matching items. So easy! You probably won’t make a ton of money, but it is perfect for a little extra cash, without much work!

10. Detail Cars

Start a car detailing business. This means you will hire yourself to vacuum, and thoroughly clean the interior of someone’s car. I have paid teenagers to do this for me before, and it was worth every penny.

Pass out flyers in your neighborhood and post on the community Facebook page to let people know about your business and prices.

11. Start a YouTube Channel

Did you know that you can make a lot of money on YouTube??? Because you totally can!

The first trick to starting a YouTube Channel is to choose a topic you are passionate about. This could be anything from music, Minecraft, Legos, makeup, dance, etc. Your passion and knowledge can then be shared through video on YouTube.

As your subscribers grow so can your ability to earn money. There have been many teens who have found success on YouTube, and you can do it too!

12. Bag Groceries

You could try to get a job at one of your local grocery stores to work as a grocery bagger. This is a great job for teenagers who need a flexible schedule and reliable income.

13. Sell Used Devices

Maybe you have old devices sitting around your house, you can sell many of these devices for some quick money through Gazelle. All you have to do head to the Gazelle website, fill out a few quick questions about your device, and you’ll instantly receive a quote. Gazelle will send you a free shipping kit for you to use to send in your device and will pay you within 24 hours of receiving your device. So easy and painless!

Related: 10 Household Items To Sell For Quick Cash

14. Wash Cars

Another great way for teens to make money is by washing cars. All you need to get started is some water, towels, and car soap! Let your neighbors and friends know that you are willing to wash their cars and what your prices will be. This is a great service that many will pay a teen to do for them.

15. Take Pictures

Are you interested in photography? You might want to consider starting a photography business. There are many people who will happily hire an amateur photographer to take family pictures for them if the price is right.

Watch a few YouTube videos to start learning more about photography and editing. Then, after a little practice you can showcase your work through social media so that people can see your talent!

16. Teach Swim Lessons

Most swimming pools hire teenagers to teach swim lessons to younger kids. If you enjoy swimming and the water this could be the perfect job for you!

17. Clean Out Window Wells

A few years ago a teenager started a business in my neighborhood to clean out window wells. He crawled down into our window wells and cleaned out the mice, leaves, and other garbage that had blown inside.

I was so happy to pay him exactly what he charged to do the dirty work that I did not want to do. If you are willing to work hard and get your hands dirty, consider cleaning out window wells.

18. Work In Food Service

Food service companies are always hiring teens to help in their restaurants. You could be a server, deliver food, work as a cashier, or more! Check around at your favorite restaurants to find out who is hiring and how to apply.

19. Work At A Movie Theater

Does your teen love movies? They just might enjoy working at a movie theater. They can sell tickets, or work at concessions. Movie theaters are usually a fun environment to work at too.

20. Give Music Lessons

If you are talented musically, consider giving lessons to younger kids. Parents will pay for violin, piano, voice, guitar, etc. for their kids. This is a great job to have because you can pick your own hours and work from home. Yay!

21. Work in Retail

Working in retail can be a great job opportunity for teens. Most stores will hire teens as cashiers or to stock shelves. Most retail stores will require that you are 16 or older, so make sure to check the rules before applying.

22. Sell Your Photos

If you love taking pictures on your phone, why not sell them to earn extra cash! This is actually so easy to do too! Bloggers love to buy stock photos to use in their articles and websites.

A few websites that you can sell your photos to are:

23. Flip Furniture

Flipping means that you buy something used, fix it up, and then sell it for more than you bought it for. Many people have been able to earn good money by flipping furniture.

You can shop at garage sales, estate sales, or thrift stores to find used wood furniture to fix up. Most pieces will need to be sanded, stained or painted, and new pulls/knobs added. This requires a little bit of your money upfront, but can be worth the sacrifice once you sell the new and improved furniture.

24. Sell Items on Etsy

If you love to craft or create, you might enjoy making and selling items on Etsy. There are hundreds of handmade items you can make and sell. Such as jewelry, t-shirts, home decor, art, etc.

25. House Sit

Offer to house sit for close family and friends. When they go out of town they might need someone to get their mail, water their plants or flower beds, and watch over their house to make sure it stays safe and sound while they are gone. This can be a fairly easy gig, but also high in demand for many households.

26. Work on a Farm

Are you willing to work hard? You might enjoy working on a farm. I grew up on a farm and know just how important hard working teenagers can be for farm work.

If you live in an area with a lot of agriculture, I recommend asking around to find a few farmers you can talk to. Ask if they are needing any extra help and tell them what hours you would be available to work.

Farm work isn’t easy, but it can be a very fulfilling job. A farmer might hire you to help with animals, move pipe, or drive tractor. This can be a great learning experience for teens!

27. Teach Sport Skills

Teaching sport skills to young kids is a great way for sport loving teens to earn some extra money. Pick a sport that you love and know well, and offer to help kids develop skills with that sport.

You could even plan a day camp for your sport where multiple kids come and learn drills, play games, and do other activities to help them learn.

28. Hang Christmas Lights

Hire yourself out during the Christmas season to hang light on neighbors homes. This is something many busy adults or the elderly would love to hire out so that they don’t have to do it themselves.

Be sure to advertise on a community Facebook page, place flyers around town, and spread the word to your friends and family. Word of mouth is always the best form advertisement!

29. Wash Windows

Another great idea for earning money around the neighborhood is to wash windows. All you need is some water, a good outdoor window cleaner, and a squeegee and you’ll be good to go.

I’m sure you will find plenty of neighbors and friends willing to pay for this service.

30. Work At a Golf Course

You might enjoy working at a local golf course collecting golf balls. This is a great teen job for anyone who loves golf and being outside.

31. Sell Baked Goods

Do you love to bake and spend time in the kitchen? Why don’t you start a baking business? You can make cookies, cakes, brownies, and other goodies and sell them to people in the neighborhood.

Related: Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

32. Start A Blog

Teens can blog too! And you can make money doing it! Yay! Try starting a blog where you share about a topic you are knowledgeable in.

I won’t sugar coat it, starting a blog is hard work and it can take a while to earn money, but over time if you keep working at it, you just might have a profitable business! Here are a few things I wish I had known when I started blogging.

33. Wrap Christmas Presents

Another great job idea during the holiday season is to offer to wrap Christmas presents for people who are just to busy (or don’t enjoy) wrapping the presents themselves.

Tell a few friends, neighbors and family about your new business to see if anyone is interested. If you do a good job they just might tell all of their friends!

34. Use Rakuten

If you ever shop online, I highly recommend using the Rakuten app (or website) to earn money while you are shopping. This is one of the easiest ways to earn extra spending money. Rakuten rewards you with cashback on most of your online purchases.

All you have to do is sign up Rakuten, open the app (or website), click on the store you want to shop at, shop as normal-including checkout. And that’s it! You will be rewarded with a percentage cashback from your purchases.

It is seriously that easy! You probably won’t earn the big bucks doing this, but you can earn some spending money without putting in much effort!

35. Become A Lifeguard

Lifeguarding is a great way for teenagers to make money. Apply at your local swimming pools, health clubs, and parks and rec departments. Many pools will offer lifeguard training and teach you everything you need to know on the job.

36. Sell Items You Don’t Use Anymore

Look around your room and find items that you don’t like or use anymore. These are the perfect items to start selling to earn some cash! You can list them on Facebook marketplace or have a garage sale. Either way will work great!

37. Start A Day Camp For Kids

When my kids were little a few of the teenage girls in our neighborhood planned a fun day camp for the neighborhood kids to go to. They charged a fee, planned games, themes, activities, and snacks. The kids had a great time at the camp, and our teenage friends were able to earn some money!

How To Manage Your Hard Earned Money

Now that you have some ideas of how to earn money, let’s talk about what to do with the money after you’ve earned it! It’s always exciting to earn money and have spending money for your favorite items, but there is more to money than spending it. Here are a few tips to help you start managing your money wisely.

Save Some For A Rainy Day

Life happens, unexpected expenses will come, and it’s important to always have some money saved for when these times come your way. It might be a needed car repair, speeding ticket (oops), or losing a school textbook that you have to replace, you need to have money set aside for all unexpected expenses.

A good rule of thumb for your rainy day fund is to have 3-6 months of expenses saved. To find this number simply add up how much money you spend in a month and times it by 3. This will give you your 3 months of expenses number!

Related: What is an Emergency Fund: Questions and Answers!

Save Some For Fun

Part of the fun of having money is spending it on things that make you happy! It’s OK to spend some of your money on things that you love. Maybe you enjoy going out to eat, buying new clothes, or going to the movies with friends. Don’t spend all of your money on these fun items, but spend some of it! You worked hard and deserve to enjoy it.

Save Some For Future Expenses

You might have items or experiences coming in your future that you need to save for. Maybe you want to buy a car, go to college, or save up for a future home. Be sure to save some of your income for these future expenses.

In Conclusion

There are so many possibilities for teenagers to make money. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and offer your services. I love hiring hard working teens, and I know many other adults feel the same way. You can do it, and you won’t regret it!

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I hope this article helped you understand how to make money as a teenager.

Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls Under $25

October 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Budget friendly gift ideas for young girls.

Looking for some gift ideas for 5-7 year old girls under $25? I’ve got you covered!

For some reason gift shopping can be so stressful! I always want to gift something that will be loved and enjoyed, but I also have a tight budget I need to stick to. So, I end up shopping for weeks and weeks trying to find that perfect gift that won’t put me over budget.

If you are anything like me, I decided to save you a lot of time and stress! I did the browsing for you! Below you will find 25 budget friendly gift ideas for young girls! I hope these gift ideas help you find exactly what you are looking for.

Crafting Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

Crafting is so fun for 5-7 year old girls. They are starting to understand how to create with their own ideas and are so proud of the finished project. Here are a few budget friendly craft gift ideas!

Rainbow Scratch Paper Art Kit

Keep your young artist entertained for hours with this rainbow scratch paper art kit. It comes with over 100 pieces to use to help her create beautiful rainbow art pictures. My little ones always thought these kits were like magic! They are so fun and affordable!

Color Your Own Water Bottle

My girls both had these color your own water bottles when they were younger and loved them! It’s a fun gift idea to help girls show their creativity and then display it proudly!

Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad

I was so excited to find this Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad. It has tens of thousands positive reviews and looks so fun for kids! The tracing pad comes complete with colored pencils, tracing sheets, and more!

Crayola Coloring Kit

If you are shopping for a budding artist, you might want to buy her this Crayola coloring kit. It comes with 64 Crayons, 20 Short Colored Pencils, 40 Washable Markers, 15 Pieces of Paper and a carrying case. Basically everything she will need to color and draw!

Fun Game Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

I love gifting games to kids. They provide a lot of fun family togetherness time, memories and laughter. Plus, games are a great way to encourage learning and thinking skills.

Monopoly Junior Board Game

You can’t go wrong with a classic board game and one of my favorite classics is Monopoly! Try gifting the Monopoly Junior board game version, so that young kids can enjoy this fun game too!

Candyland Board Game

Candyland is another fun and classic board game for young kids! It never ever gets old! Kids (and adults) of all ages love playing this game (me included)!

Wooden Blocks Game

How adorable is this wooden blocks game?!?! I love it and our family loves playing this game! It always keeps us laughing! This version of the game is so colorful and unique, a perfect combination for kids!

Lawn Dart Yard Game

Encourage your little ones to play outside with this lawn dart yard game. It comes with 4 darts, 2 target rings, a carrying bag and instructions. This is that perfect gift that will be fun no matter what age your child is!

Related: Best Family Games Under $20

Fun Toy Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

Being a 5-7 year old girl means a lot of playing with toys, dressing up, and pretending. Here are a few ideas to keep your little one having fun and using her imagination!

Princess Castle Play Tent

Give your little princess her very own castle with this princess castle play tent! She will love having her own little hideout and will give her some fun opportunities for pretend play.

Toy Tea Set

Look at how adorable this toy tea set is?? It comes with everything a little girl would need to set up her own tea party, plus a carrying case to keep it all organized when not in use!

Magnetic Wooden Dress Up Dolls

My daughters had these magnetic wooden dress up dolls when they were 5 and 7 and loved them! It was so fun to mix and match the different outfits and the magnets make it so easy to put the clothes on and off. It makes for the perfect travel toy too!

Rocket Launcher

Help your kids get out their energy with the Stomp Rocket toy. It comes with 4 rockets that will launch 200 feet into the air. This is the perfect activity for outdoor or indoor play and something that will entertain the neighborhood!

Walkie Talkies

Walkie Talkies are just the most fun ever, seriously! My kids and their friends play with our walkie talkies for hours and hours. You can bring them camping, hiking, or use them for playing night games, so many possibilities! I found a great deal on kids walkie talkies and these would make the perfect gift!

LOL Surprise Dance Doll

LOL Surprise dolls were all the rage last year, so make sure to buy one before they are sold out! This LOL Surprise Dance Doll comes with 8 surprises and doll!

Polly Pocket

Polly pockets were some of my very favorite toys when I was a young girl, and I have loved seeing them make a comeback the last few years! I found the cutest polly pocket swimming set with great reviews! Check it out here!

Doctor Kit

My daughters and their friends spent hours and hours playing doctor with our toy doctor kit! I think it was the most used toy we ever owned! So, I always recommend it to parents! This is a great priced doctor kit similar to the one we owned and loved!

Gift Ideas For Her Room

I love decorating my kids rooms! It’s a great way to let their personality and interests shine! Below are some fun gift ideas perfect for a little girls room.

Star Projector Nightlight

How fun would it be to give your 5-7 year old girl the gift of falling asleep under the stars every night??? Well you can with this fun star projector nightlight! Right now it’s under $20 and has over 9,000 positive reviews! I almost want to buy it for me! 😉

Squishmallow Stuffed Animal

Squishmallows are all the rage right now for stuffed animal lovers. They are soft, and oh so squishy! This Unicorn Squishmallow is adorable and under $25!

Unicorn Musical Jewelry Box

Here’s another fun gift idea for a 5-7 year old girl, a new jewelry box! This darling unicorn music box is perfect for a little girls favorite rings, necklaces and favorite trinkets.

Mermaid Tail Blanket

What little girl doesn’t dream of being a mermaid?!?!? I think most do! Help them play mermaid for a few hours with this cozy mermaid tail blanket. It has great reviews, multiple colors to choose from and the price is right!

Learning Gifts For 5-7 Year Old Girl

Help the girl you are shopping for learn and develop with these fun and affordable learning toys!

Glow In The Dark Puzzle

The ages between 5-7 are perfect to start introducing puzzles to kids. This unicorn glow in the dark puzzle is so fun, but you can also choose from a few other puzzle themes, such as space, dinosaur and fairies. Just find the theme that suits your little girl best!

Butterfly Growing Kit

How fun is this butterfly growing kit??? The cutest! It comes with a mesh habitat, feeding dropper, instructions and a voucher for free baby caterpillars. This would be such a neat experience for any little girl to watch a caterpillar change into a butterfly.

Kids Baking Set

Introduce your sweet girl to baking with her very own Baking Set. This one comes with a chef hat, apron, rolling pin, and other fun baking gadgets!

Science Kit

Here is a fun beginner science kit! It comes with 11 hands on science activities to help young kids learn more about science and how things work.

Little Girl Gifts She Can Wear

I only have one item on this list, but it was worth keeping it because of how cute it is!

Knee High Animal Socks

Ok, how cute are these knee high animal socks?!?!?! They are adorable and I wish they came in my size! They would make the perfect gift for a little girl.

More Gift Guides

Have even more people on your list you are shopping for? Check out my other budget friendly gift guides below!

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I hope you find the perfect gift idea for your 5-7 year old girl!

Easy Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial

October 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

How to make toilet paper roll pumpkins!

Yesterday I pulled out all of our fall decorations and had fun getting the house looking a little more festive. After that I decided I wanted a few more small decorations, but didn’t want to spend very much money. So, I decided to make this easy toilet paper pumpkin craft!

My friend showed me how to make these toilet paper roll pumpkins a few years ago, and I knew they would be the perfect addition to my house this fall. The best part about these pumpkins is that they cost less than $1 to make! Yep, you read that right, $1!

The only item I bought for this easy fall craft was the fabric. I bought three fat fabric squares from Walmart for 97 cents each. If that’s not frugal, I don’t know what is! If you already have scrap fabric at home, these will be even cheaper to make!

Not only are these crazy cheap to make…..they are also one of the easiest crafts ever! Most importantly, I spent less than an hour making all three of these darling Halloween Pumpkins. If you aren’t a crafter, this is the craft for you!

Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Supplies

First, let’s gather the supplies. You only need three items to make these cute pumpkins, and you probably already have most of them at home.

Supplies Needed:

One roll of toilet paper
One fat fabric square of fabric (or fabric cut to 18″x22″)
Hot glue gun (optional)
A twig for the stem

Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin Instructions

Now that you have all of your supplies, the fun part can begin! Let’s start crafting!

First, lay the square of fabric right side down on the table.

Next, place your toilet paper roll right in the middle of the fabric square.

Now, take the ends of the fabric and tuck them into the middle of the toilet paper roll. As you tuck the ends, make sure to pull the fabric tight, this helps make some cute textures and creases for the pumpkin. Sometimes it takes me a few tries before I get it looking just right.

Keep stuffing the ends of the fabric into the toilet paper roll until all the ends of the fabric are hidden and the toilet paper is completely covered with fabric.

You are almost done!

For the stem, just go into your backyard, or a local park and find a small twig. I had to break my stick to get the perfect twig size.

Next, just hot glue a small amount of glue into the middle of your pumpkin and then stick the twig into the hot glue, making sure it is sticking up correctly.

If you don’t have a hot glue gun, that’s OK! Just stick that stick inside the pumpkin and you are ready to go! The twig will usually stand up straight without the glue.

And that’s it! You are done! Just beware, these toilet paper pumpkins are so addicting! You might end up making thousands. They make great gifts for friends and neighbors.

A Few Tips

Try playing around with the toilet paper to make different shapes and sizes. You can change the pumpkin look just by taking off some toilet paper.

For the polka dot pumpkin, I took off about 1/4 of the toilet paper to make a smaller pumpkin. I also wrapped some toilet paper loosely around the entire roll. This gives it a slightly more rounded look. So cute, right???

I wanted my other black pumpkin to be a little bit larger so, I added extra toilet paper to the roll, and tried to give it a rounded loose look.

I loved the way this one turned out! There really are some many possibilities! And for a whopping 97 cents…..you can make a dozen of these without breaking the bank!

Have you ever made a toilet paper roll pumpkin before??? It truly is such a fun and easy pumpkin craft! Let me know if you try it out, I would love to hear how they turned out.

Happy frugal crafting!

YouTube Tutorial

Check out my YouTube toilet paper roll pumpkin tutorial for even more tips for making this easy fall craft!

You might also like:

–Rice Krispie Halloween Monsters Recipe

–No Sew Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

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Enjoy your toilet paper pumpkin!

Easy Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

September 23, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to make a Broccoli and Grape Salad.

Have you ever eaten a broccoli and grape salad??? Because if you haven’t, you are for real missing out big time! It’s sweet, flavorful and delicious, basically all the best things! Every time I make this easy broccoli grape salad recipe I always get so many compliments and requests for the recipe. It’s a huge crowd hit!

Today I’m sharing this recipe with each of you! I know you are going to love this easy salad recipe and wow everyone you serve it to. I am so excited for you!

This recipe was passed down from my grandma, to my mom and to me. I love sharing it with others because I get to remember my dear mom and grandmother and the hands that have perfected the recipe. It’s been loved and shared by so many! Aren’t family recipes just the best kind of recipes??? I think so!

Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe

To make this salad you will need:

4 bunches of broccoli, florets cut
2 cups of grapes, sliced in half
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Putting It All Together

First, cut broccoli florets off of 4 bunches of broccoli and put them into a large bowl. Then slice 2 cups of grapes in half. Add them to the bowl.

Next, add the honey roasted peanuts and sunflower seeds. I love watching all of the colors come together in this salad!

In a separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar.

Once mixed, pour dressing over the salad and stir well.

All done! It’s ready to serve! This salad tastes even better after it sits in the fridge for 12-24 hours. So, don’t be afraid to make it in advance!

Broccoli Grape Salad

This easy salad recipe is a crowd favorite!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Course Salad

Ingredients

4 bunches broccoli cut
2 cups grapes sliced in half
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix broccoli, grapes, sunflower seeds and honey roasted peanuts together in a large bowl.
In a small separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and apple cider vinegar to make the dressing.
Pour dressing over broccoli and grapes mixture.
Stir well until mixed throughout.

Keyword easy recipes, salad

Try it! You’ll like it!

Let me know if you try this broccoli and grape salad! I would love to know what you think of the recipe! Just last week I took it to a BBQ with friends and everyone was complimenting me and going back for seconds and thirds. I love surprising crowds with this salad!

Mel’s Home Cooking

Do you want even more easy recipes? Check out my cookbook, Mel’s Home Cooking, for more quick to fix recipes.

Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

Free Recipe Binder Printables

Easy Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

Don’t Forget To Pin This Recipe To Make Later:

I can’t wait for you to try this easy broccoli grape salad recipe!

How To Host A Clothing Swap

September 16, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Everything you need to know about hosting a clothing swap.

Who doesn’t love free clothes??? I LOVE free clothes. But, do you want to know what is even better then free clothing??? Helping all of your friends score free clothes too. It makes for the perfect girls night! Time with friends plus free clothing equals everyone is happy! Want to know what the heck I am talking about??? I’m talking hosting a clothing swap!

What Is A Clothing Swap?

A clothing swap is a party where everyone can bring their gently used clothing/accessories to exchange for other gently used clothing/accessories. Each clothing swap will differ from each other in terms of rules and expectations, but the simple motive stays the same: to help others get rid of clothing no longer loved and find new clothing to love again….without having to spend any money!

Why Host A Clothing Swap?

There are many reasons to host a clothing swap! I’ve already mentioned the chance to get new to you clothing for free! But, here are a few other great reasons:

A clothing swap is an environmentally friendly to recycle clothes and reduce waste.
It’s a fun way to spend a night out with friends and make new friends!
Attending a clothing swap will motivate you to clean out your closet and get rid of items you rarely wear.
It encourages you to try new clothing that you normally wouldn’t wear.

How To Host A Clothing Swap?

A clothing swap is fairly simple to host, and the best part of hosting is that you get to make up the rules! Here are a few things to consider when planning your event:

1. Choose A Location

The first step to planning a clothing swap is to choose a location. The location will depend based on the number of people attending. Most of the clothing swaps I have attended have been small and held in a friends living room.

If you have a bigger crowd attending you might be able to find free rental space at a local library or church.

2. Set The Rules

You should spend some time deciding what the rules for your swap will be. This is an important step to ensure that everyone knows what to expect from the party and you can all be on the same page. A few rules I recommend are:

Clothes should be in good condition. No stains, holes, broken zippers, etc.
Clothing should be freshly washed.
Encourage guests to bring 10-15 high quality clothing items. Quality is more important than quantity when it comes to hosting a clothing swap. If to many clothing items are brought, the swap can become overwhelming to sort through.
Set a theme. Make sure to set a theme for the types of clothing to be swapped. Some swaps focus on trading children’s clothing, others might be just for women’s clothing. Decide what type of clothing you want at the swap and let your guests know ahead of time.

3. Invite Guests

Now that you have your rules set, you can start inviting the guests. If you are wanting a small clothing swap, limit your guest list to your closest friends and family. If you want a bigger swap, try branching out and inviting acquaintances along with your friends.

4. Set Up

It’s important for the clothing to be dropped off before the actual event is set to begin. You might want to ask for clothing to be dropped off the night before the official swap, to give you plenty of time to set up. But, asking for donations 1 hour before the swap can also work! It will depend on how many people and items you are expecting.

When setting up the swap, make sure to organize clothing items by size and category to make it easier for your guests to sort through.

It’s also a good idea to have a place for guests to try on items during the swap. If you are hosting at your home, a guest bathroom works great.

5. Swap Time

When it’s time to swap you can organize it a few different ways:

Free for all: Let everyone shop and grab items to their delight. This works best for small groups or close friends. If the group is to big it could cause problems with some people grabbing the “favorite” items first and others leaving without anything. The goal is for all attendees to leave happy!
Lottery: Another way to arrange the swap is to use a lottery. Write all guests names down on separate pieces of paper and put them into a bowl. Draw names out one at a time and assign each name a number in the order they were drawn. Next, let the first 1-5 names drawn shop for the first 15-20 minutes. Then the next 5 names can shop for the next 15-20 minutes, and so on. This gives all guests a fair chance at the clothing.
Swap For Swap: Another way to ensure fair swapping is to give each guest a ticket for every item of clothing they bring. If one person brings 7 clothing items, they will receive 7 tickets. For each ticket they are given they will be able receive that many items of clothing to bring home.

Now, all that’s left to do is enjoy the clothing swap and watch everyone leave with a pile of new to them clothing!

6. Donate Unwanted

After the party is over, make sure to donate whatever clothing items are leftover. Choose a charity, such as Goodwill or Salvation Army to donate the leftover items to.

In Conclusion

A clothing swap is such a fun way to hang out with friends and get some new articles of clothing. They are totally addicting though! Once you start going to these activities, it’s hard to stop!

How to Save Money on Back to School Shopping

Money Advice For Your 20s

How To Live Frugally

Tips for setting up a money saving child care co-op!

What Is A Babysitting Co-Op?

Why Form A Babysitting Co-Op?

How To Start a Babysitting Co-op

1. Find Members

2. Set The Rules

3. Make a Schedule

4. Ticket System

5. The System

You got this!

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How to start a babysitting co-op to save money.

How to not live paycheck to paycheck anymore.

Why Do I Need To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Step #1: Make A Zero Based Budget

Step #2: Track Your Spending

Step #3: Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

Step #4: Save Your Bonus

Step #5: Automate Your Savings

Step #6: Make More Money Through Side Hustles

If there’s a will, there’s a way!

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Have more money this month by following this simple 6 step plan so you can stop living paycheck to paycheck today.

NYC In Three Days

Our Quick New York City Weekend Trip

Day 1: Thursday

Day 2: Friday

Day 3: Saturday

Day 4: Sunday

I hope this gave you some good ideas for your quick New York City in a weekend trip!

Items Worth Purchasing To Save More Money In The Long Run

How Can Spending Money On A Product Save Money?

Products Worth Buying To Save More Money

1. Tempered Glass Screen Protector

2. Rechargeable Battery Charger

3. Makeup Eraser

4. Drying Rack

5. Reusable Sandwich Bags

6. Produce Storage Containers

7. Dryer Balls

8. Hair Clippers

9. LED Light Bulbs

10. Reusable Water Bottle

11. Menstrual Cup

12. Digital Antennae

Spending Money To Save Money

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The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Gather Ingredients

Mix It Together

Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients

Instructions

In Conclusion

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I hope you enjoy this easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe!

Easy ways for teenagers to make money.

1. Babysit

2. Do Yard Work

3. Walk Dogs

4. Camp Counselor

5. Tutor

6. Sell Your Clothes

7. Pet Sitting

8. Referee

9. Use Ibotta

10. Detail Cars

11. Start a YouTube Channel

12. Bag Groceries

13. Sell Used Devices

14. Wash Cars

15. Take Pictures

16. Teach Swim Lessons

17. Clean Out Window Wells