Sweet Frugal Life

Being Frugal Doesn't Make Life Any Less Sweet

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out these kid friendly easy cheap dinner ideas!

This month I have been participating in a January Pantry Challenge.  My goal has been to save some extra money by eating the food I already have at home and spending less at the store.  This is not always an easy task, but I love the challenge and pushing myself out of my comfort zone!  As I’ve been trying to cut my grocery expenses I’ve found a few pantry dinner ideas that I am so excited to share with you!

How To Stock A Frugal Pantry

I love having my pantry, freezer, and cupboards stocked with a few of our every day staples.  Having a well stocked pantry makes it much easier to throw together a few easy pantry dinner ideas, without having to go to the store.

The best way to stock up your pantry is to buy a few extra of the items you would normally be buying anyways.  For example, when I need ketchup, I’ll buy 3 bottles of ketchup, rather than just 1.  This gives me the extra food on hand, that I know I buy and use regularly.

When stocking your frugal pantry, try to focus on buying frugal friendly food items.  A few of my favorites are:

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Pasta
  • Oatmeal
  • Vinegar
  • Beans
  • Eggs
  • Potatoes
  • Popcorn

Related:  Cheap Foods to Buy For a Well Stocked Pantry

pantry dinner ideas - easy dinner ideas for picky eaters

Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

Alright!  Let’s get to it!  Here are a few of my easy pantry dinner ideas.  I hope they will inspire you to use food that you already have at home to put together a few easy dinner ideas.

Most of these dinner ideas are kid friendly and easy to customize and change to your personal eating preference.

1.  Taco Soup

Taco soup is the perfect pantry dinner to throw together using ingredients you already have at home.  It’s really easy to throw together whatever you happen to have in your fridge to make this soup.

Use chicken, beef, or beans (or a combination of all three!) as the base for your soup.  Then, add in onions, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and whatever else sounds good to you for a nice, warm, and hearty taco soup.

*My favorite taco soup recipe is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking recipe ebook!

2.  Pasta Bake

Looking for an incredibly easy-impossible to fail-quick to fix pantry dinner idea????  This easy pasta bake is just what you need!  You only need 4 ingredients to throw it together, and one of them is water (seriously.)!  You can find this easy Pasta Bake Recipe here!

3.  Chili With Cornbread Waffles

Have a can of chili sitting in a cupboard and some cornmeal?  Make chili with cornbread waffles!  This is my kids favorite cheap and easy dinner!

To make chili with cornbread waffles, you will first need to heat up a can of chili over the stove on medium-high heat.

While the chili is warming up, make your cornbread waffles using the recipe below.

 

Cornbread Waffles

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup buttermilk if you do not have buttermilk just mix 1 Tbsp vinegar into 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • In large mixer cream together the sugar and oil.
  • Add eggs and milk and mix well.
  • In separate bowl stir together the baking soda, flour, cornmeal, and salt.
  • Add all at once to egg mixture and mix until smooth.
  • Pour batter onto waffle iron and cook until lightly golden brown.
  • Serve with chili and cheese on top.

Serve the chili on top of the cornbread waffles and sprinkle with cheese.  You will now be your kids favorite person, seriously.

4.  Spaghetti With Garlic Toast

Spaghetti is one of the easiest pantry dinners around!  Have a box of spaghetti noodles and a jar of spaghetti sauce???  All it takes is a few minutes to warm them up on the stove and, boom dinner is ready!

I like to serve spaghetti with a side of garlic toast, which is so easy to make!  Get out a few bread slices from a loaf of bread and spread butter on top and then sprinkle it with garlic salt.  Cook the bread slices on a cookie sheet, under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until brown and toasty.  That’s it!  Garlic toast is a great side for a family friendly dinner.

5.  Burrito Bowl

Burrito bowls are a perfect way to use up ingredients you have sitting in your fridge and pantry.  Layer your burrito bowl with rice on the bottom, and layering with beans, cheese, seasonings.  Top your burrito bowl with your favorite toppings.

A few topping suggestions are:  tomato’s, salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, lettuce, corn, avocado, cilantro, ranch dressing, and anything else that sounds good to you!

6.  Sloppy Joes

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make sloppy joes.  Sloppy joes can easily be made with some ground beef and a few other pantry staples.  This is a very freezer friendly meal, so I will double the recipe and then freeze half for another day.

These are best served on hamburger buns, but we have used a regular loaf of bread when in a pinch.  All about pantry friendly here!

*My favorite Sloppy Joes recipe is available in the Mel’s Home Cooking ebook.

7.  Tomato Soup With Cheese Toast

We always keep a can of tomato soup stocked in our pantry for nights when I’m to tired, or busy, to make a big dinner.  It only takes a few minutes (and hardly any effort!) to heat up some tomato soup over the stove

I love to serve tomato soup with a side of cheese toast.  Make cheese toast by placing some cheese onto slices of bread and then cooking them on a cookie sheet under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

8.  Tacos

Tacos is another quick and easy dinner you can throw together using pantry ingredients.  Make your tacos using any meat you happen to have at home, such as chicken, pork, or beef.

To make tacos just cook your meat over the stove.  Once cooked add 1/2 cup water and a packet of taco seasoning.

If you don’t have a packet of taco seasoning in your pantry, that’s ok!  You can make it yourself!  Check out my favorite taco seasoning recipe below!

Easy Taco Seasoning Mix

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions
 

  • In small bowl mix all ingredients together.
  • Use 2 Tbsp taco seasoning mix in replace of 1 packet of taco seasoning.
  • Store seasoning in a tupperware container or jar in your pantry.

 

Cook and stir your meat with taco seasoning and water until the water has cooked off, about 5 minutes.

Serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings.  We love cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

9.   Homemade Pizza

We love homemade pizza at our house!  Use this homemade pizza dough recipe to make the crust, and then top it with your favorite toppings, or whatever you have in your pantry.  

Get creative!  You can use barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, or even Thai sauce.  For toppings try different kinds of cheeses, vegetables and meats. 

If you don’t feel like making homemade pizza dough, you can even use French bread, biscuits or tortillas to make your pizzas.  Find out how here:  Easy Pizza Alternatives.

10.  Bean Burritos

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make bean burritos!  This is a very quick and easy meal to prepare, and they are freezer friendly!  (yay, I love freezer friendly!) 

To make bean burritos just mix beans (we use black or pinto beans), cheese, rice, and taco seasoning together.  Place mixture on tortillas and gently roll up.

Heat your burrito in the microwave or oven and serve!  Easy peasy!

11.  Stir Fry

Stir fry is another dinner staple at our house!  It’s the perfect meal to make on busy days.  The three steps to a good stir fry are vegetables, protein, and sauce.

Choose whichever protein and vegetables you have in your home already.  A few protein suggestions are:  chicken, beef and shrimp.  There are so many vegetables that make a great stir fry, such as:  peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms and peas.

Sauté your protein in a large frying pan.  Add vegetables and continue to sauté until cooked.  Next, add sauce and stir together.  Cook and stir for a few more minutes until sauce has thickened.

Serve your stir fry over rice or noodles, whichever is in your pantry.

My favorite stir fry sauce is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking eCookbook, but I also really like this 3 ingredient stir fry sauce.

12.  Stroganoff

Stroganoff is another simple and pantry friendly dinner.  You can whip up some stroganoff with ground beef, sour cream, cream of chicken soup mix and some seasonings.  Serve it over noodles or eat it Idaho style, served over a baked potato!  Yum!

13.  Breakfast for Dinner

My kids love when I make breakfast for dinner.  It’s such an easy, fun dinner to make when your pantry is feeling bare.  We love to make waffles, pancakes, eggs and a smoothie for Saturday night dinners once or twice a month.

14.  Twice Baked Potatoes

I grew up on an Idaho potato farm, so potatoes are always a staple at my house.  They are so cheap, easy and filling!

Twice baked potatoes are a great way to make a filling meal out of ingredients you probably already have at home.  I love this recipe from Ree Drummond.

15.  Quesadillas

Have some tortillas and cheese???  Make quesadillas for dinner!  You can customize your quesadilla in whichever way you want!  We use salsa, beans, chicken, onions, peppers and green chilis.

A fun way to serve quesadillas is to set out all of the ingredients you have to make them for a quesadilla bar.  Let everyone fill, and customize their own tortilla and cook on the griddle.

Save Money and Cook At Home

I hope these pantry meal ideas gave you some inspiration for cooking without having to go to the store.  Cooking dinner using your pantry ingredients is a great way to save extra money on groceries. 

Remember, to try to use the foods that you already have at home.  If a recipe calls for something you don’t already have, be creative and find a good substitute, do not run to the grocery store!  Because we all know if we go to the grocery store for “just one thing” we always leave with more (is that just me????).

Related Articles:

How a Pantry Challenge Will Save You Money

Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

15 Products You Should Always Buy Generic

Pin this article for future reference:

easy dinners to make from the pantry ingredients - easy dinner ideas for homemade cooking

easy dinner ideas when cupboard is bare - quick to fix family dinners

I hope you enjoyed these easy pantry dinner ideas!

How To Save Money On Preschool

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Frugal preschool hacks.

The Preschool age of raising kids is just one of my very favorite ages!  It is so much fun!  I love the sweet innocence, and the fact that their cute personalities are starting to show.  The only negative to these years is that paying for preschool tuition can get expensive!  Preschool is optional for many families, but for those of us who want our kids in school before elementary school I am sharing a few ways to save money on preschool!

Why Is Preschool Important?

I understand that not everyone feels the need to have their children in preschool, and that’s OK!  My belief is that there are a million different ways to be an EXCELLENT parent and that there is NOT a one size fits all when it comes to raising kids.

We decided to enroll each of my three kids in preschool for a variety of reasons, I’ll share a few of them below:

  • Learn important social skills.  I really wanted my kids to get practice interacting with kids their age, so they could learn how to share, say sorry, and be a good friend.
  • Practice being in a structured learning environment.  Another important part of preschool for me is giving the kids practice sitting still, following directions and listening to a teacher.
  • Give them a head start on kindergarten and reading readiness.  I really love that preschool gave my kids a head start on reading and math skills.  It helped me feel more confident when sending them to kindergarten.

money saving tips for preschool - budget friendly preschool ideas

How To Save Money On Preschool

Alright, now let’s get to the nitty gritty!  Here are a few ways you can cut costs on preschool tuition!

1.  Compare Prices

An important step to saving money on preschool costs is to shop around.  Make sure you spend time, research, and effort to compare prices of multiple preschools in your area.

I recommend asking for preschool recommendations on Facebook Marketplace and from a few good friends.  Once you have a list of possible preschools call each of them to find out more information.

As you are shopping around make a list of each preschool including their tuition price, preschool times, and pros and cons of each one.  This will help you when making the decision of which school is best for your child.

I’ve found that the preschools done out of the home tend to be the most budget friendly.

2.  Try A Public Preschool

Most preschools are private, but there are also many public preschools available if you look for them.  These public preschools are usually made available to low income families or kids with developmental delays, but they will sometimes accept others who don’t qualify….so make sure you ask!

The best way to find public preschools in your area is to spend some time googling local public preschools to see if you can find some.  I also recommend calling your local school district to see if they offer any public preschools.

3.  Offer To Volunteer

Many years ago, when my oldest was in preschool and money was tight, I asked her preschool teacher if there was anything I could do to help in the classroom in exchange for a discount on preschool tuition.

She was so nice and excited about my request!  It was truly a good situation for both of us.  Immediately I was put to work copying papers and cutting out shapes for craft projects.  In return she gave me a 25% discount.  Yay!  She’s the best!

In the years since then I have heard from other friends of preschool teachers offering similar discounts in exchange for help in the classroom.  Remember that not every teacher will agree to this request, but it never ever hurts to ask!

4.  Form A Preschool Co-op

Instead of paying for preschool, form a co-op with a few other moms and teach preschool yourself!  A preschool co-op not only saves money, it is also fun! 

Here’s how it works:

  • Find 4 other moms who have children the same age as your preschool child.
  • Host a meeting with the other moms where you can discuss curriculum, routines, and expectations for the preschool.
  • Assign each mom one week every month to teach the preschool kids at her home.

I’ve found it works best when everyone is following the same routine and curriculum to help the preschoolers get use to the structure of a classroom, which is why the meeting is so important to have.

I did a preschool co-op with a few friends for my youngest child and I loved it!  It was such a fun way to interact with my son and his friends.  Plus, it was free!

Our preschool co-op schedule looked something like this:

  1. Review the calendar and date.
  2. Discuss the weather.
  3. Lesson focused on a color, number, or letter.  The lessons were pre-assigned to each mom before the year started.
  4. Free play time.
  5. Snack time.
  6. Story time.

Each mom was also asked to choose and host one field trip during the year.  My field trip was in the fall, so we toured my dad’s potato cellar and talked about potato harvest!  It included a ride in a tractor, so the kids were all in heaven!

5.  Homeschool Preschool

If a preschool co-op isn’t your thing, you might want to consider teaching your child preschool lessons at home yourself.  This is what I did for my middle child, and we both loved it!  We still talk about our time together spent doing preschool.

A homeschool preschool often works best when you set a specific day and time to do school.  This really helps to keep you and your child on schedule. Next you should spend some time planning out your daily curriculum.  It might help to look up kindergarten readiness tips to help you decide what to focus on while you teach.

There are also many free printables offered on pinterest that you can use for your homeschool preschool.  It really is possible to teach preschool at home!

In Conclusion

Raising kids is expensive, but there are steps we as parents can take to help alleviate some of those huge costs.  If you are wanting a way to prepare your child for kindergarten, without breaking the bank, try a few of these suggestions!

I have done most of them and saw first hand how helpful they can be in decreasing the high cost of preschool tuition.  If I can save money on preschool, then you can too!

Related Articles:

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21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

Screen Free At Home Kids Activities

Pin For Future Reference:

save money on preschool - money saving tips for moms

 

I hope this article gave you some good tips on how to save money on preschool.

19 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Freeze

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Foods you can freeze to save money.

Have you ever wondered what foods you can freeze??  There are many common freezable foods, but today I want to share about a few food items you probably didn’t know you could freeze!  These are all food items that freeze well, but aren’t talked about as much as the other common freezable foods.

Sweet Frugal Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.  As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Supplies Needed to Freeze Food

There are a few supplies you will need to help you freeze food.  The initial investment is worth the amount of money you will save!

I use each of these products when freezing food, and they all work great!  A vacuum sealer does the best job of getting all air out of the bag, which is important!  So if you will be doing a lot of freezing, I do recommend getting the vacuum sealer.  But, each of these products will work.

Benefits of Freezing Food

You might be wondering why it’s important to know how and what foods to freeze.  Freezing food is a great way to save money on groceries.

Here are three of the most common times I freeze food to save money:

1.  Freezing Leftovers

Have you ever had to throw out food from your fridge or pantry because it had past it’s expired date before you could use it?!?!?

This happens to me All.The.Time!

The trick????  I’ve learned to freeze my leftovers, rather than storing them in the refrigerator.  This one simple change has saved me so much money and has prevented a lot of waste in the kitchen.  Win, win!

You can easily freeze leftovers by putting them into a freezer ziplock bag or container and tossing them into the freezer!  Most leftovers will stay good in the freezer for 3 months.  These frozen leftovers are perfect for a quick meal on busy days.

2.  Freezing Sale Items

Another reason to freeze food items to stock up on sale prices.  When I find a great sale on perishable foods, I stock up on a few and freeze most of it to use for later.  I just really love not having to pay full price for groceries (or really for anything!).

To find grocery items on sale in your area I recommend downloading the free Flipp app.  This awesome app scans all of the local grocery sale ads so you can easily see what’s on sale each week.

When you find a good deal, stock up and freeze the excess!  

3.  Freezing Foods Before They Expire

If you have items in your pantry that are close to reaching their expiration date, you might want to stick these items in the freezer!  The freezer will prolong their shelf date and give you more time to using it, preventing you from having to throw it away.

Foods You Didn’t Know You Can Freeze

Alright, now let’s get to the fun part!  Most people know that you can freeze strawberries, onions, chicken, etc.  Today’s article is all about foods you probably didn’t know that you can freeze.

1.  Butter

Butter is a great item to buy on sale and freeze for later use.

How To Freeze:

To keep butter fresh for a few months you can easily freeze it in it’s original packaging.  If you are wanting to store it in the freezer for longer, I would put the butter in a freezer bag.

Use the butter within 4 months for best results.

How To Defrost:

You can defrost butter in the refrigerator overnight, or set it on the countertop to let it thaw at room temperature.

2.  Flour

Another great item to buy on sale and freeze for later is flour.

How To Freeze:

To freeze flour put it in an airtight container, like a freezer bag, or one of these storage containers.  Fill the container as full as possible, the less air the better!  

You can keep flour in the freezer for 6-12 months.

How To Defrost:

Let flour thaw at room temperature before using.

3.  Eggs

Most people are shocked when I tell them that eggs are freezable!  But, it’s true!!!  You can freeze eggs.

How To Freeze:

To freeze eggs, just crack them into a bowl and whisk together with a fork.  Next, you will pour the eggs into a freezer bag or container, get out as much air from the bag as possible and put them in your freezer.  So easy, right?!?!

Eggs will stay good in the freezer for 6-12 months.

How To Defrost:

Thaw eggs in the refrigerator and then use them to make scrambled eggs, omelets, or in baking.

4.  Avocados

Another great food to freeze is avocados!  Frozen avocados can be used in dips, baking, or I like to put ours in smoothies.

How To Freeze:

You can freeze avocados by chopping them into small pieces and placing the pieces into a freezer bag or freezer container, and then putting the bag into the freezer.

Use your frozen avocados sometime between 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

Let the frozen avocados sit in the refrigerator overnight to defrost.

5.  Cream

Many recipes call for a small amount of cream, which is great except for it leaves us with a large container of leftover cream.  Save this excess in the freezer to use at a different date.

How To Freeze:

I love to freeze cream using an ice cube tray.  It makes it easy to pull out a few tablespoons for recipes!  Learn exactly how to freeze cream using an ice cube tray here.

Frozen cream cubes will stay fresh for 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

You can pull your cream cubes straight from the freezer and directly into your soups or recipes.  They can also be defrosted by placing them in the refrigerator overnight.

6.  Bread

Buy bread when it is on sale, and then freeze it to use later!

How To Freeze:

Bread is one of the easiest thing to freeze!  All you have to do is put it in the freezer, and done!

The packaging the bread comes in from the store is enough to keep the bread fresh for a few months!  See how easy?!?! 

Bread can stay in the freezer for 3 months before using.

How To Defrost:

Your bread will taste best if you defrost it in the oven.  Just warm your oven to 325 degrees, remove bread from packaging, and let it sit in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

7.  Grated Cheese

Cheese is a great item to buy on sale, or in bulk and then grate to freeze for later.  Cheese can turn a little crumbly when frozen, so it works best to grate it first and then freeze.

How To Freeze:

After grating your cheese, simply put it in a freezer bag, remove all of the air, and place in the freezer.

You can keep frozen cheese in the freezer for 6-9 months with best results.

How To Defrost:

Let the cheese defrost in the refrigerator overnight before using.

8.  Milk

Yes!  You can freeze milk!  Shocked???  I was too!

How To Freeze:

You shouldn’t freeze a milk carton that’s full.  So, use about 3/4 of a cup from the carton before freezing.  This allows room for expansion.

Once you have a small amount of milk out of the carton, you can stick it in the freezer.  That’s it!

Milk will stay good in the freezer for 6 months.

How To Defrost:

Defrost milk in the refrigerator overnight before using.

9.  Chips

Found a deal on chips?  Buy a few and throw them into your freezer to save for your next party (or midnight snacking if you’re like me….).

How To Freeze:

Chips can be frozen in the sealed bag they came in.  All you have to do is toss them into the freezer, bag and all!

Make sure to use your frozen chips within three months of freezing. 

How To Defrost:

To use, just thaw them at room temperature!  Easy peasy!

10.  Pizza Dough

When I make our Friday Night Pizza Dough I always double the recipe and freeze half for the next Friday.  This gives me something easy to pull out and use for a quick dinner (and it totally looks like I spent all day making it….when I really just got it from the freezer, win!).

How To Freeze:

To freeze pizza dough you need to put it in a freezer bag, get all of the air out, seal tightly, and freeze.

Use your frozen dough within 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

When you are ready to use your frozen pizza dough, let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight.  

11.  Cooked Pasta

Freezing cooked pasta is a great way to preserve any pasta leftovers you might have from dinner.  You can freeze spaghetti, rotini, fetuccini noodles, and more!  As long as they don’t have the sauce on top, they can be frozen.

How To Freeze:

To freeze cooked pasta, you will first need to let it cool completely and then lightly toss the pasta with olive oil.

Next, lay the pasta in a single layer on a cookie sheet.  This doesn’t need to be perfect, but flash freezing does help prevent the pasta from clumping together in the freezer.

Stick the cookie sheet in the freeze and let the pasta freeze for about 1-2 hours (this is called flash freezing).

Once frozen, scoop the pasta off of the cookie sheet and put it in a freezer bag or a freezer container.

Place in the freezer and use within 3 months. 

How To Defrost:

You can reheat your frozen pasta in the microwave or by boiling it in hot water.

12.  Sauce

While freezing pasta, you might as well freeze some sauces too!  Right???  Right!

You can freeze almost any sauce, including:  spaghetti sauce, enchilada sauce, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, and more!

How To Freeze:

To freeze sauce just put it into a freezer bag or container, get all of the air out, and seal tightly.

Use your frozen sauces within 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

Defrost sauces by placing them in the refrigerator overnight.

13.  Herbs

Herbs are definitely freezable!  If you enjoy gardening (like I do!) freezing your home grown herbs is a great way to save money!

How To Freeze:

I love to freeze my garden herbs in an ice cube tray.  This gives me quick access to them when I need them.

To do this you will need to fill an ice cube tray cube with herbs to about 3/4 full, next add olive oil until the cube is full and freeze.

Once frozen, take the individual cubes out of the tray and place them into a freezer bag.  

For best results use frozen herbs within 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

You can put the frozen herb cubes straight from the bag into soups and stews.

14.  Pancakes

Pancakes are my busy mom hack to less stressful mornings!

How To Freeze:

Check out this article for all the details on freezing pancakes.

How To Defrost:

You can defrost your pancakes using the microwave, which is great because the kids can do it themselves if they need to!

15.  Sandwiches

I first heard about freezing sandwiches from Fun Cheap or Free!  This is a great way to save your kids uneaten sandwiches, or to prepare for an upcoming busy day.

Be sure to check out their freezing sandwiches article here for all of the details!

16.  Grapes

Frozen grapes are one of our very favorite snacks.  They are juicy and delicious!  My kids claim (and I have to agree!) that frozen grapes taste just like a grape snow cone!  You must try this!  When you find grapes on sale, buy a few extra bags to freeze. 

How To Freeze:

The first step to freezing grapes is to wash them and then let them dry thoroughly.  Once the grapes are dry place them into a freezer bag, take out all air, seal tightly and then place in the freezer.

Use within 3 months.

How To Defrost:

Don’t defrost your frozen grapes!  Eat the grapes straight out of the bag for a delicious snack!

17.  Nuts

To keep your nuts fresh for longer, freeze them! 

How To Freeze:

Nuts are easy to freeze!  Just put them into a freezer bag, get out all air, and seal tightly.

Frozen nuts should be used within 6 months. 

How To Defrost:

Let your frozen nuts sit in the refrigerator overnight to defrost and then use.

18.  Mashed Potatoes

I grew up on an Idaho potato farm, so I am alllll about the potatoes!  My husband loves to make mashed potatoes at our house, but he always tends to make more than we eat (eyes bigger than the stomach thing…..).

Instead of throwing these extra potatoes away, we freeze them to use for another day!

How To Freeze:

Freeze your mashed potatoes in a freezer bag or freezer container.  Remove as much air as possible, seal tight and put into the freezer.

How To Defrost:

To use frozen mashed potatoes, let them thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in a small pot over the stove.  While heating on stove add a couple of tablespoons of sour cream.  This will give them a yummy and creamy consistency.

19.  Frosting

Yep!  You can freeze frosting!  And it’s very easy to do!

How To Freeze:

Just scoop the frosting into a freezer bag, get all of the air out and seal tightly.   Done and done!

The bag can then be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.  

How To Defrost:

To thaw frosting, let it sit in the refrigerator over night and then it’s ready to use!

In Conclusion

These are just a few suggestions of the many, many foods available to freeze.  I encourage you to start trying to focus on buying sales, and freezing for later, and freezing foods before throwing them away.

You will begin to see a huge savings in the amount of money you are spending on food if you start using your freezer more!

You Might Enjoy These Related Articles:

How to Freeze Raspberries

How To Freeze Fresh Corn

Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

Don’t Forget To Pin For Future Reference:

what foods can freeze - best food items to freeze to save money

easy foods to freeze - how to freeze leftovers

I hope this helped you learn what foods you can freeze!

Valentine Gift Ideas For Her Under $10

By: Sweet Frugal Life6 Comments

Budget friendly Valentine Gifts to give.

Are you looking for the best Valentine Gift ideas for her??  I have you covered! There is no need to spend a fortune on gifts.  I believe you can show your loved one that you care about her, without spending a lot of money.

Here are 10 Valentine Gift Ideas, all under $10 you can give to the woman in your life.  If you are looking for some budget friendly valentine gifts for him check out this article.

budget friendly valentine gift ideas - gift ideas for her under $10

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10 Valentine Gift Ideas For Her ALL Under $10!

1.  Facial Sponge

I have been wanting to try this Facial Sponge with Activated Bamboo Charcoal for a while now.  It is all natural and the reviews sound amazing and claim it is really beneficial at clearing up skin.  I also really love that it is guaranteed, if you don’t like it you can return it for a full refund. 

This would make a great valentine gift!  Plus, it’s only $6.74!

2.  Lavender Essential Oil

Another great gift idea for your special lady is this Lavender Essential Oil.  The smell is perfect for a relaxing bath or to diffuse in the evenings.  If you are shopping for someone you enjoys essential oil, this is a great buy!

3.  Perfume 

I love receiving perfume for gifts.  It’s a luxury I rarely buy for myself, but absolutely love when someone gifts me some.  You might consider buying this Versace perfume to gift to someone this year.  It smells great and costs less than $8!

4.  Book

If you are shopping for someone who loves to read, consider buying them a new book.  The War That Saved My Life is a wonderful feel good book.  You can get the paperback version for $8.39, which is a steal! 

 

5.  Phone Case

Another great Valentine Gift idea for her is to buy her a new phone case.  I personally have this clear phone case and love it.  Browse Amazon for a while until you find the right look for your special lady.

6.  Gloves

It’s always nice to get a pair of new gloves during the cold months.  These cute winter gloves are less than $10 and include touch screen fingers, so you can still use your touch screens while wearing the gloves.  Yay!

7.  Body Cream

 What better way to pamper your loved one than with this Cocoa Butter Body Cream.  It smells great and is the perfect consistency of soft and creamy!  It is currently a great price at only $5.49!

 

8.  Farmhouse Decor

Farmhouse decor is all the rage right now, and something many women would love to receive more of.  This little blue lantern is really cute and only $4.99.  You can buy two of them!

9.  Notebook

 Are you shopping for someone who enjoys journaling?  Maybe you could buy her a new notebook for journaling.  This floral journal is so pretty and only $8.51.

 10.  Manicure Kit

A manicure kit is a great valentines day gift!  This one is perfect with 10 stainless steel pieces for all of her grooming needs.  It’s perfect to bring when traveling.  Plus, it’s currently on sale for just $9.99!

 

In Conclusion

I hope this list helped you to find the perfect gift to give to someone you love this year.  Finding great buys for a good price is my favorite type of shopping!

Remember, it’s not the price that matters, it’s the thought that counts.  And, I truly mean this!

 

Related Articles:

20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas

10 Gifts for Mom Under $10

 

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5 Times You Should Always Ask For a Discount

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to negotiate for a lower price when shopping.

While out shopping do you ever haggle for a lower price??  Because it is totally possible, acceptable and common to do in many situations.  This is one of my favorite ways to help me save a few dollars.  I know that bartering can feel a little intimidating, so today I thought I would share a few tips to help you know when and how to ask for a discount.

Why Ask For a Discount

I love asking for discounts because it is a great way to save money on items I was going to be buying anyways!  If you had the option to pay full price for something, or get it for a cheaper price….wouldn’t you always choose the cheaper price???  I would!

Asking for a discount is a lot more common than many people realize, especially in a few specific industries.  I always tell myself the worst thing that could happen is they will say, “No”, so I might as well just ask!

How To Ask For a Discount

Asking for a discount is really fairly simple.  It takes a little bit of courage, a lot of kindness, and being willing to speak up!  Here are a few other tricks I have found when trying to decide how to ask for a discount when shopping.

It Never Hurts To Ask

My rule of thumb is that it never hurts to ask.  The worst thing that can happen is you’ll be told “no”, which really isn’t that bad of a thing to happen, right?!?!  So, just ask!

I know that this can feel scary, but I promise it gets easier the more you try!  So, the next time you start to wonder if you could get the price for cheaper….ask and find out!

Be Polite

My general rule in this world is to just be kind to everyone, and asking for a discount is no different.  Kindness can go a long way when you are trying to negotiate a price. 

Remember to never be condescending or pushy to a salesman.  This will only turn them off and make them not want to work with you.

The best way to ensure you get that coveted discount is to smile, use the words “please” and “thank you” and look them in the eye.  Try to be their friend and understanding to their position and job.

Ask For a Manager

Many times the sales person you are talking to is not authorized to give you a discount, which is totally fine!  If you are told that they are unable to discount your item just politely ask to speak to a manager.

Most managers are able to give discounts, if they feel it is appropriate to do so.

Walk Away

If you are not given the discount you have asked for, be willing to walk away.  Many times when they see that you aren’t willing to back down, they will come back and give you the discount.

Most stores would rather see the item sold for a discount than not sold at all.

When To Ask For A Discount

I honestly believe if you ever want a discount, to ask for one!  But, there are some situations when you should ALWAYS ask for a lower price and I’m excited to share those times with you!

when to ask for a discount - how to ask for discounts when shopping

Ask For A Discount On Furniture

When you are shopping for new furniture keep in mind that the sales person is paid on commission.  The more money you spend, the more money they will earn.  Because of this commission furniture prices are greatly marked up.  Which is actually great for everyone involved. 

The marked up prices gives the sales person a lot of room when negotiating.  I recommend to never pay sticker price on any piece of furniture you are buying.  And yes!  You can even negotiate the delivery costs!

Ask For A Discount On Vehicles

Another time you should always ask for a discount is whenever you buy a vehicle.  It doesn’t matter if you are buying a used or new vehicles, both are negotiable!

One of the most important things when it comes to car negotiating is to be prepared and do your homework before coming to the car lot.  The best way to prepare yourself is by researching online vehicle information, especially finding what a fair price point is for the vehicle you want.  I love to use Kelly Blue Book to help me research any potential vehicles value.

Car salesman want you to make a purchase sooner rather than later, and this can work in your favor.  If your suggested sales price isn’t well received let them know that you are willing to walk away and shop at other car lots.  This will usually alert them to meeting you somewhere in the middle.

You do not need to be pushy during these negotiations.  Simply ask them to cut some money off the sticker price, and wait to hear their offer.  Sometimes less talking makes much more of a difference than more talking.

Ask For A Discount On Medical And Dental Bills

Did you know that the price you are quoted for your medical or dental work is not what you always have to pay?  Because, it’s true!  These are negotiable!

When negotiating your medical bills I suggest simply asking if there are any discounts available to bring down the cost.  Many billers will work with you in finding a few things to cut out or a discount to apply.

One of my favorite ways to knock some money off the price of a medical or dental bill is to pay with cash instead of using insurance.  This obviously can’t be done for all procedures, but if there are some you are having done that aren’t to expensive and you have the cash to pay for it, let the doctors office know!  Every single time I have paid cash for a medical or dental procedure I have received a big discount.

Also, there are often mistakes on medical bills.  Make sure to look through each bill closely to ensure you are paying the correct price.  If you ever see any billing mistakes make sure to call the billing office to get them corrected.

Ask For A Discount On Damaged Items

I absolutely love finding damaged items at stores.  Why???  Because it means I can buy it for a fraction of the price!  Here are a few things I have bought for super cheap because they were damaged:

  • This cute sign from Hobby Lobby had a black smudge on the bottom.  So, I asked if I could get a discount and they gave me 90% off!  And then I use some white paint to hide the smudge!

  • Another item I got from Hobby Lobby was this white planter.  It has a small chip in it, so again I asked if I could get some money knocked off the price.  They gave it to me for 90% off!  And no one ever notices the chip!

  • Lastly, I bought this dress from a local clothing boutique.  It had some foundation on the front, so I asked the sales lady if I could get it for cheaper and she immediately agreed!  I was able to get 75% off the dress and easily washed the foundation off before wearing it.

 

Like I mentioned earlier, it is often much cheaper and easier for stores to sell these items at a discount, rather than having to fix it themselves.

Asking For A Discount On Monthly Bills

Another great place you should always ask for discounts is on your monthly bills.  Everything from internet, insurance, and credit card interest are negotiable.

All you need to do to ask for this discount is to call your service provider and request a lower rate.  Most providers will be willing to work with you, especially if you have been a loyal customer for a few years.

Be sure to check out my article, 5 Bills To Negotiate, for more tips to scoring that discount on your monthly bills.

You Got This

The next time you are wondering when, if or how to ask for a discount, remember these 5 situations.  They are all moments when I have asked for a lower price and have been successful, and I know that you can too!

Remember to brave, confident, and that it never (ever!) hurts to ask for a discount.

Related Articles:

How To Stop Impulse Buying For Good

How To Save Money At Target

11 Things to do Today to Lower your Monthly Expenses

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20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Our favorite budget friendly valentine dates!

With Valentines Day just a couple weeks away my husband and I started brainstorming some free date night ideas.  Valentines Day does not always have to be celebrated with an expensive dinner and fancy night out.  There is no price tag on quality time spent with the one you love very most.  And now our list of 20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas.

I’m sharing a few of our favorite ideas below!  Some are a little more romantic, and others are just plain old fun!  There is a great date idea for everyone!

These dates are perfect for any date night, it doesn’t have to be on Valentines Day!  I hope you find a new favorite!

20 Free Valentine Date Ideas

It’s possible to enjoy a fun date with your spouse…without having to spend any money!  Here’s a few ways you can do it!

1.  Candlelight Picnic

There is no need to go out to a fancy restaurant to have a candlelight dinner.  You can set one up at home!

To make an at home candlelight dinner, just put a blanket on the floor and few candles set around the room.  Make sure to cook your loves favorite dinner and enjoy talking eating and talking over candlelight.

2.  Night Drive and Star Gazing

You might enjoy going on a long drive, just the two of you.  This is a great time to talk without any interruptions.

Drive to somewhere secluded and wrap up in a blanket together and enjoy some star gazing from the back of your car.  Use a star finder app to locate a few constellations.

3.  Netflix and Chill  

Who doesn’t love to Netflix and Chill????  This is a classic date, and for good reason!

All you have to do is set up some blankets and pillows in front of the TV.  Snuggle together while watching your favorite Netflix shows.

4.  Game Night

Another great free date night idea is to have a game night together.  Pop some popcorn, get out your favorite snacks and crack open a few games.  Let your flirty and friendly banter come out and enjoy a fun game night together with just the two of you.

If you are needing some fun, family friendly games, check out this article!

5.  At Home Star Gazing

If you don’t want to go for a drive to look at the stars, you could do some star gazing at home!

Make it a little more special by stringing up some Christmas lights on your back porch and getting out a few blankets to snuggle in.

6.  Stroll through Memory Lane

Get out old pictures and letters you may have written to each other.  Reminisce about your first dates and talk about how special your love story is.  This is a great way to rekindle the flame and to grow closer together as a couple.

7.  Cook Dinner Together

Do you or your significant other enjoy cooking?  You might enjoy spending an evening cooking in the kitchen together!

Turn on some music and enjoy each others company while cooking dinner together.  Light some candles in the kitchen to help set the mood.

After the dinner is cooked you can enjoy eating the nice meal together!

8.  Couple Questions

Even after 16 years of marriage, I am still learning new things about my husband!  It’s always fun to find out a new quirk or story from his past.

Find a list of couple questions, like this one, to ask each other.  This is a fun free date night to see how well you already know each other and enjoy learning new details about your lover.

9.  Roast Smores at Home

You don’t need a campfire to make smores!  You can roast them right at home over the stove.

Make them into gourmet smores by adding peanut butter or nutella to the graham cracker!  Yum!

10.  Dessert Iron Chef

Play an at home version of Iron Chef.  This is such  a fun cooking competition game!

To play Iron Chef, pick a few “secret ingredients” that you both have to use in your dessert concoction.  Set a time limit for each person to whip up the best dessert they can, while using the “secret ingredients.”  End the game by taking turns judging each others desserts.

11.  Snowy Walk

If you live in a cold climate (like I do), Valentines Day usually includes snow.  Use this to your advantage by taking a walk with your love out in the snow.

Try to explore a new trail or area you have never been before and enjoy the winter beauty together.

12.  Comedy Night

Have an at home comedy night.  Grab your favorite snacks and search you tube for funny videos or watch a comedian on Netflix, our favorite is always Jim Gaffigan.

13.  Window Shopping

If you are wanting a free Valentines Date out in the town you might enjoy window shopping.  This is a fun way to browse the stores, without having to spend money.

Make it a little more fun by picking out funny items for each other to try one.  See who can find the funniest outfit and promise each other you will try it on no matter what!

14.  Photo Scavenger Hunt

You might enjoy a date night photo scavenger hunt.  Try to complete the list together, but give yourself a certain amount of time to make it more exciting.  This date is always so fun!

Free Valentines Day Date Ideas

15.  Fondue Night

Have a fondue night at home by melting chocolate chips in the microwave.  Enjoy good conversation together while dipping fruit and marshmallows into the chocolate.

16.  Heads or Tails Drive

A heads or tails drive is a really fun date night idea!  First, pack a picnic dinner into the car.  Then, Go for a drive using a coin to find your destination. 

At every intersection flip the coin.  If the coin lands on heads, turn right.  If it is tails, turn left. turn right if it’s heads and left if it’s tails.  Do this for 10-20 intersections and then enjoy eating the picnic together at whatever the destination ends up being.

17.  Paint Night

Let your artistic side show with this free Valentines Date idea!  Whip out the paints and a few canvases for you and your honey to paint on.  Enjoy talking to each other while painting your individual masterpieces.  I’m not very creative, but I do always enjoy this activity.  It’s so soothing!

18.  Video Games

Play a few Wii games together or pull out the old school Mario Bros.  Let your competitive sides show with friendly banter and laughs.

19.  Sledding and Hot Chocolate

Let your inner child show and go sledding together.  End the night back home snuggling next to the fire while sipping hot chocolate.

20.  Health Night

If you are looking for a physical activity to do on a date, consider doing some couples yoga together.  You can find a lot of great, free videos on YouTube!  Afterwards prepare a healthy dinner together and enjoy each others company while focusing on your health.

In Conclusion

There are so many ways to date your significant other, without spending any money.  The most important part of a date is spending quality time together!  

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101 Frugal Ideas To Light The World

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy Ways To Light The World This Year!

Have you heard about Light The World?  It’s a campaign my church puts on every year to encourage individuals, families, and communities to serve those around them throughout the month of December.  I love participating in this month of service!  It’s been the best way for me and my family to remember what the holiday season is all about.  Here are 101 frugal ideas to light the world.  I hope they will inspire you to spread goodness and light, without having to break the bank!

Frugal Ways To Serve Your Community

There are so many people working hard in our community.  I love being able to pay it back to them through a little more service and love.

1.  Smile at a stranger.

When walking through the store look up and smile at those around you.  You never know who just might need a little pick me up!

2.  Donate a gently used toy to a local charity.

Look through your kids toys and books and find (one or two or five) to donate to a local charity.

3.  Visit a nursing home to talk with the residents.

Stop by a local nursing home to get to know some of the elderly who live there.  Ask them about their life and listen to their stories.  Visit them again a few weeks later to continue to develop the relationship.

4.  Stop and help a stranger who is having car problems.

If you notice someone on the side of the road needing help, stop and see if you can help.  Look for opportunities to serve a stranger in need.  Sometimes if we aren’t looking for them, it’s hard to see them!

5.  Gather all of the grocery carts in the parking lot and return them back to the store.

Help a store employee by gathering all of the grocery carts in a parking lot and returning them to the store so that someone else doesn’t have to do it!

6.  Ask a cashier how their day is going.

The next time you are checking out at a store, ask the cashier how they are.  Genuinely listen as they tell you.  Leave them with a smile and a thank you!

7.  Donate food items to your local food bank.

Look around the house and collect some non-perishable food items from around your house and donate them to a local food bank.\

8.  Deliver homemade treats to your local police or fire department.

Make some homemade treats and deliver them to your local police or fire department to thank them for their hard work.  We love these Christmas Tree cookies and this Cinnamon Candy recipe.

9.  Hold the door open for someone at the store.

Let someone else go into the store in front of you while you hold the door open for them.  This is such a simple, but kind gesture!

10.  Donate blood to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross always needs more blood donations, this is such a selfless way to serve.  You can check the American Red Cross website to find a blood drive happening in your area.  

11.  Put coins in an expired meter.

If you walk past a meter that has expired, help someone out by dropping a few coins in to keep it going.

12.  Pick up litter.

Go to a local park, or walk alongside the road, and pick up any trash and litter that was left behind.

13.  Compliment someone on an opposing sports team.

If you attend or participate in a sporting event, give someone on the opposing team a sincere compliment.  Look for their talent, and let them know that you see it.

14.  Donate gently used makeup to a women’s shelter.

You can light the world in your community by donating some of your makeup to a women’s shelter.  Make sure it is only gently used and still in good, usable condition.

15.  Run a 5k for a good cause.

Research any races happening in your area.  Choose one that is raising funds for a good cause and sign up to participate.

My sister and I use to run a 5k every year to help fight Breast Cancer, it was such a great experience to do together and to help spread awareness.

16. Check out the Just Serve website and choose a few service opportunities in your area to do.

The Just Serve website (and app) is full of service opportunities in many areas.  All you have to do is go to the website and enter in your zip code.  You will be shown a list of needs and suggestions of what you can do to help.  Take a look at it and find a few things you can help with where you live.

17.  Start recycling.

If you don’t already recycle, consider starting now to help keep our earth clean and healthy.  Research how to get a recycling dumpster at your house, or find a few around town you can bring your items to recycle.

18.  Thank a veteran for their service.

Call a veteran and thank them for their service.  Let them know how much you appreciate them.

19.  Compliment a mother with young kids.

If you come across a mother with young kids at the grocery store, pay her a compliment.  The chances are she’s trying to get her grocery store shopping as quickly as she can and feels a little stressed.  

All it takes is a simple, “You have well behaved kids, you must be a good mom” to change her day!

20.  Donate a warm coat to the homeless shelter.

Look through your coats, gloves, hats, boots, etc. and find a few that are in good shape to donate to a local homeless shelter.

21.  Leave a kind review for a local business.

Spend a few minutes leaving positive reviews online for local businesses that you enjoy.  This is such an easy way to help a business succeed.

22.  Offer your seat on the bus to someone.

While riding on the bus or train, offer your seat to someone who is in need of a seat.

23.  Volunteer at your local animal shelter.

Are you an animal lover?  Contact your local animal shelter to ask how you can help serve them.  Many animal shelters need help walking, caring for, and playing with each of the animals, which is so much fun to do!!

24.  Donate gently used books to your local library.

Find some gently used books in your home to donate to your local library.  This is easy to do, but you might want to call your library to ask if they have any specific needs.

25.  Have a yard sale and donate your earnings to a charity.

If the weather is nice consider having a yard sale to earn money for a charity.  Let people name their price for each item you are selling and tell them where their money will be going so they can help participate in light the world!

26.  Share a link to a fundraiser on your social media accounts.

Find a link to a fundraiser or charity you want to support and share it on social media to help spread the message and to give others the opportunity to donate.

27.  Volunteer to clean your local church.

Bring your family to clean your local church.  This is a great way to work together to do some good in your community!

28.  Serve food at a soup kitchen.

You might want to consider volunteering to serve food at a soup kitchen nearby.

29.  Let someone cut in front of you while standing in line.

An easy way to light the world in your community is to let someone cut in front of you in line.  Whenever someone does this for me it changes my entire day and helps me to see the good in the world!

30.  Volunteer to read to kids at a local hospital.

Call a local hospital and ask if you can come read books to kids who are staying in the hospital.  This can be such a rewarding experience for everyone involved!

31.  Candy Cane Bomb a parking lot.

A great way to serve your community is to candy cane bomb a parking lot!  This is done by leaving uplifting notes attached to candy canes on windshields in a parking lot.  

32.  Send Christmas cards to soldiers.

Let’s support our soldiers this year by sending them Christmas cards.  This is a great activity to get your kids involved in.  The entire family can help make cards and to write sweet messages inside.  You can learn more about this cause here.

33.  Donate used electronics and gadgets to a local community center to use.

I have a few old phones just sitting around my house that we never use.  These have just been collecting dust ever since I upgraded.  If you can relate to this at all, consider donating these electronics to a local community center to use.

34.  Volunteer to coach a youth sports team.

Youth sport leagues are always in need of volunteer coaches.  If you enjoy sports and working with kids, you might enjoying offering yourself as a coach.  As a parent with kids who participate in sports I greatly appreciate the time these coaches give to the community.

35.  Learn CPR or another life saving skill.

You can serve your community, and those close to you, by learning CPR.  This gives you the ability to possibly save someone’s life and is an important skill for us all to know.

36.  Tape quarters to a machine at the laundry mat.

Leave a fun surprise for someone at the laundry mat by paying to do their laundry for them.  All you have to do is tape a few quarters to some machines at the laundry mat, and you will make someone’s day!

 

Frugal Ways To Serve Your Neighborhood

Are you looking for some free ways to light the world in your neighborhood and with your friends?  Here are a few ideas to get you started!

37.  Call a friend you haven’t talked to for a while.

Think of a friend you haven’t talked to in a while and call them on the phone, just to chat (no texting!).

38.  Invite a friend to join your family for dinner.

If you are going to be cooking dinner anyways, you might as well invite a friend to join your family!  Maybe think of someone in the neighborhood who might be lonely and invite them over to join your family for dinner.

39.  Shovel a neighbors driveway.

The next time it snows and you are out shoveling your driveway, go next door and shovel their driveway too!

40.  Go caroling around your neighborhood.

Does your family enjoy singing?  Go door to door one evening and carol to a few of your neighbors.  This is such a fun way to bring a smile to someone’s face.

41.  Share a happy memory with a friend.

Think of a friend that you share a happy memory with.  Send that friend a text and tell them about the memory.  Hopefully it brings some light and laughter into both of your days.

42.  Offer to babysit a neighbors kids.

Is there someone in your neighborhood who might be in need of a babysitter for their kids?  Offer to babysit for them so that they can run errands, get things done around the house, or just have a little free time.

43.  Read a friends blog articles.

If you have a blogger friend make sure to spend some time reading their blog articles.  This is an easy, but huge, way to support your friends business.

44.  Make and deliver cookies to your neighbors.

One of my favorite parts of the holidays is the goodies!  And I love sharing these with my neighbors.  Bake a batch of cookies and bring a plate of them over to your neighbors.

45.  Rake leaves for your neighbor.

Look around the neighborhood and find a few houses whose leaves need to be raked.  Without letting anyone know, go rake them and dispose of the leaves.

46.  Volunteer to help a friend pack or move.

If you know someone who is moving off yourself to help them pack or to move their boxes.  This is a great way to make a stressful time a little bit easier for your friend.

47.  Forgive someone who has hurt you.

Are you holding a grudge towards someone who has wronged you.  Try to find a way to let it go and to offer that person forgiveness.

48.  Help someone put up their Christmas lights.

If you see someone outside hanging their lights, stop and offer to help!  This is a job that always goes much better with more hands!

49.  Offer to run errands for someone.

Try to think of someone who might have a hard time getting out of the house, maybe someone elderly, sick, or just busy.  Offer to go pick up their groceries, or run a few other errands for them.

50.  Bring flowers to a friend.

Pick up some pretty flowers from the store, or pick a few wildflowers, and deliver them to a friend.  You could bring them to somebody who is having a bad day, or just as a random act of kindness.

51.  Scrape ice off your neighbors windshield.

Wake up a little early one morning and scrape the ice off of one of your neighbors cars so that they won’t have to.

52.  Leave supportive and kind comments on your friends Facebook posts.

As you scroll Facebook or Instagram make an effort to leave kind and supportive comments on their posts.  It always feels good to know others are reading and caring what we post!

53.  Highlight someone you admire on social media.

Think of someone in your life who you look up to and admire.  Post about them on one of your social media accounts to let others know about the great qualities you admire in that person.

54.  Bring a friend a cup of homemade hot chocolate.

If the weather is feeling cold and dreary mix up some hot chocolate and bring it over to a friend.  You just might make their entire day!

55.  Visit a widow in your neighborhood.

Spend an afternoon visiting a widow who lives in your neighborhood.  Genuinely listen to their stories and get to know them.  Try to form a friendship that will last a lifetime!

56.  Teach others a talent for free.

Do you have a special talent you can help others learn how to do?  Maybe you could offer to teach them for free.  This might be giving free music lessons, teaching how to sew, or gifting a free photoshoot to a family.  Whatever you do best, share it with others!

57.  Invite your neighbors over for a family game night.

Call up a few of your neighbors and invite them over for a family game night.  This is a great way to laugh, get to know each other, and have a fun evening.

58.  Mow a neighbors lawn.

Light the world in your neighborhood by mowing someone’s lawn for them.  Try to think of someone who could use some extra help in the yard, and go mow without even mentioning it to them!

59.  Leave a thank you note in your mailbox for your mail carrier.

Let your mail carrier know how much you appreciate them by leaving a thank you note to them in your mailbox!  I love this easy way to brighten someone’s day!

60.  Decorate a neighbors driveway with sidewalk chalk.

Another great way to serve your neighbors for free is to draw pictures and uplifting messages on their driveway and sidewalk.  Just make sure there isn’t any rain coming that day!

61.  Apologize to someone who you might have wronged.

Is there someone who you might have hurt in the past (or maybe present)?  Take some time to apologize to them and to repair the relationship.

62.  Offer to clean someone’s house who just had a baby.

Do you know of a new mother in your neighborhood?  Or maybe someone who is expecting a child?  Offer to clean their house (or at least a bathroom, or two) for them so that they can rest.

63.  Brings a neighbors dumpster back to their house on garbage day.

After the trash has been picked up in your neighborhood bring the dumpsters back to the house for a few of your neighbors so that they won’t have to do it!

64.  Buy lemonade from a lemonade stand.

The next time you pass by a child selling lemonade, stop and buy some from them.  This small gesture can make a huge difference to young kids.

65.  Introduce yourself to a neighbor you haven’t met.

Is their a neighbor you haven’t had the chance to meet yet?  Take a few minutes to go introduce yourself and get to know them better.

66.  Compliment your friend’s children.

Honestly, one of the best ways to serve a friend who has kids, is to compliment their kids.  Tell your friend what you love and admire about their kids and you will make their day!

 

Free Ways To Serve Your Family

I love the opportunity to serve my family!  Sometimes I think it’s easy to ignore the ones closest to us, and light the world gives us motivation to remember everyone, including our family members.  Here are some light the world ideas for your family.

67.  Write a letter to a grandparent.

Spend some time writing a letter to one (or all!) of your grandparents.  Let them know the things that you appreciate and admire about them.  Make sure to share a few memories with them to help them smile.

68.  Decorate a family members bedroom door.

To serve one of your family members you live with you could decorate their bedroom door.  Cut out hearts, or draw some fun pictures to tape to their door.  Make sure to leave a few uplifting messages to0!

69.  Call your parents, just to chat.

Give your parents a phone call just to ask how they are doing.  Spend some time visiting about their day and let them know you love them!

70.  Leave notes in your kids lunchboxes.

Write a few notes to your kids and hide them in their lunchboxes.  My kids love when they are surprised like this at lunch!

71.  Go around the table at dinner and tell each family member what you love about them.

Have a special family dinner where you tell each other what you love about each other.  Give everyone a chance to have kind words shared about them.  This is a great bonding activity for families!

72.  Leave a note on your spouses car windshield.

Sneak over to your spouses work and leave a love note on their windshield.  The note will be a fun surprise for them to find after work!

73.  Spend one entire day without your phone.

Make a conscious effort to put your phone away for one entire day.  Try to choose a day when you aren’t expecting any important phone calls.  Use this extra time away from your phone to interact more with your family and others around you.

74.  Interview your grandparents about what life when they were growing up.

Set up a camera and spend an afternoon interviewing/recording your grandparents.  Ask them questions about what life was like when they were growing up.  This will be a special video you can share with other family members!

75.  Make a list of 100 things you are grateful for and share it with a family member.

Sit down for a few minutes and think of all the many things you have to be thankful for.  Write them all down, try to think of 100, and share them with a family member.  This will brighten both of your days!

76.  Tell your child you are proud of them.

Let your kids know that you are proud of them.  You could write them a note, send them a text, or just tell them face to face.  This is something we all need to hear from time to time.

77.  Hug a family member for 8 seconds.

Give a family member a huge for 8 seconds before letting go.  Studies have shown that an 8 second hug will release oxytocin, which helps you to feel calm and loved.

78.  Read a book to someone in your family.

Sit down with a few of your kids, siblings, or grandkids and read them a book.

79.  Speak kindly to yourself for an entire day.

Make an effort to spend one day giving yourself compliments!  You deserve to be treated with kindness too!

80.  Eat lunch with your child at school.

Surprise your child at school by showing up to eat lunch with them!  You can make it even extra special by bringing a pizza, or their favorite takeout food.

81.  Leave a love note in your spouses lunch box.

Slip a love note into your spouses lunch box before they go to work.  Make sure they won’t see it until lunch time!

82.  Leave a kind note on a mirror in your home.

Use a dry eraser marker to leave a kind note on a mirror in your home.  It will be such a fun surprise for someone to come home to after a long day!

83.  Secretly make one of your siblings beds.

Sneak into one of your siblings bedrooms to make their bed for them.

84.  Learn about an ancestor.

Research about one of your ancestors to learn more about their life.  Share the stories you find with your family so that the ancestor can be remembered and celebrated.

85.  Surprise your family by cleaning the house, without being asked to.

Clean the house (or just a part of the house) without anyone asking or expecting you to.  Your family will love coming home to a clean house!

86.  Compliment your sibling.

Give your sibling a compliment, just because.  You might want to tell them their hair looks nice, or they are a good cook, or anything else you might notice about your siblings.

87.  Make your spouse breakfast in bed.

Quietly wake up before your spouse and make them their favorite breakfast.  Serve it to them in bed and let them rest and relax before having to get up.

 

Free Ways To Serve Your School/Work Place

School and work places can be a hard environment for many people.  I think it’s so important to look for ways to serve your peers all year.  Here are some ways to light the world at school or in the work place.

88.  Write a thank you note to one of your teachers.

Write your teacher a thank you note to let them know how much you appreciate them and all they do for their students.

89.  Tell a joke to someone to make them laugh.

Share one of your favorite jokes with a friend to make them laugh, and then listen to let them share a joke with you.

90.  Get to know a co-worker better.

Try to talk to a new co-worker who you don’t know very well.  Ask them questions about their life and interests and genuinely listen to their responses.

91.  Befriend someone who looks lonely.

Look for someone who might be lonely at recess and introduce yourself to them.  Invite them to play with you and try to become their friend.

92.  Bring baked goods to your co-workers.

Surprise your co-workers with some homemade baked goods.

93.  Stick up for someone who is being gossiped about.

If you hear a friend, classmate, or school member being gossiped about, stick up for them!  Kindly let the gossipers know not to talk that way and then change the subject.

94.  Donate to a teachers wish list.

Ask your local school for some of the wish lists the teachers have.  Buy a few items off that list to donate to the school and teacher.

95.  Write your employer a thank you card.

Write your employer a thank you card to thank him for the job you have and for being a good boss.

96.  Leave a kind note on a co-workers desk.

Secretly leave a kind note on one of your co-workers desk.  In the note you could share a few things you appreciate and admire about them.

97.  Volunteer to be a school crossing guard.

Many schools need crossing guards to help the kids cross the road safely.  Volunteer to do it for free!

98.  Sit with someone new at lunch.

Sit by someone you don’t usually sit by at lunch.  This is a great way to meet more people and make new friends.

99.  Donate a sick day to a co-worker.

Offer one of your sick days or paid leave to a co-worker who has been ill or struggling with a family emergency.

100.  Offer to make copies for your child’s teacher.

You could light the world at school by offering to make copies, put up a bulletin, or help your child’s teacher in any other way they might need.

101.  Tell the principal how much you appreciate a teacher.

Make sure the school principal knows how much you appreciate your child’s teacher.  Sometimes a compliment means more when it is told behind someone’s back.

 

There Are Many Ways To Light The World

I hope you this article gave you some great light the world ideas.  There are so many ways we can light the world and brighten someone’s day, without ever having to spend a lot of our own money.

I truly believe if we all make it a little more effort to love others we can change the world for the better!

 

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I hope this article gave you some great free light the world ideas!

Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe For Christmas

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Try this Christmas hard candy recipe this year!

Years ago I went home with my boyfriend (now husband) for Christmas.  We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas together and I was able to celebrate the holiday with new experiences.  It’s always interesting to me how different families celebrate each holiday.  On this visit all those years ago I was introduced to many new traditions (they open all of their presents Christmas Eve, was, ALL the presents.  Anyone else do this???) and lots of new foods!  One of my favorite Christmas treats his mom made for us was Cinnamon Candy.  I begged her for her recipes and I have been making this Cinnamon Candy recipe ever since!

It takes less than 30 minutes to make and requires very few ingredients.  Yay!  This Cinnamon Candy recipe is now a tradition in our own home and we look forward to making it every year.

You can make this Christmas hard candy recipe two different ways.

The first way is with red food coloring and cinnamon oil, which is how I always make it.

Another way to make this candy is using green food coloring with peppermint oil.

My mother in law makes a batch of both flavors, but I have only made it with the cinnamon.

cinnamon hard candy recipe - easy homemade Christmas candy

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How to Make Your Own Cinnamon Candy

It’s easy to make Cinnamon Candy, which is one of the reasons why I love this easy recipe!

First, gather all of your ingredients.  You will need white sugar, light corn syrup, water, cinnamon oil (or peppermint), and food coloring (red for cinnamon, green for peppermint).

I usually buy cinnamon oil at a local craft store in the cake decorating section.  It is also on Amazon here.  Do not use cinnamon extract, it will not taste the same…I promise, I have tried!  It needs to be cinnamon oil.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water together in a medium sauce pan.  Stir mixture continually until it boils. 

Insert a candy thermometer and continue stirring occasionally.  Keep stirring until thermometer reaches 300 degrees.

 

Remove candy from heat once it reaches 300 degrees.  Quickly stir in the oil and food coloring.

Immediately pour it onto an oiled cookie sheet.

Pick up the pan and gently tilt it left, right, back, forward to help the candy fill up the pan.

Let candy cool completely and then you can break it into pieces.  I usually just use the back of a spoon to crack each section.

Christmas Hard Candy Recipe

Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe for the Holidays!
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 3 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon or peppermint oil
  • 1 tsp either red (for cinnamon) or green (for peppermint) food coloring for cinnamon or green (for peppermint) food coloring

Instructions
 

  • In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and water.
      Cook on medium to high heat until candy thermometer reads 300 degrees (hard crack stage), stirring occasionally.
      Remove from the heat. 
    Stir in oil and food coloring, keeping face away from mixture as odor is very strong.  Immediately pour onto an oiled cookie sheet.
      Cool and break into pieces.
      Store in air tight container.

This Christmas cinnamon candy recipe also makes the perfect gifts to hand out to neighbors and friends!

Let me know if you try it and like it!  It puts a big smile on my husbands face every year!

Check out my other Christmas Recipes:

Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

Easy Hot Cocoa Mix Recipe

I hope you enjoy this easy cinnamon candy recipe!

Honest Review of the 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

What I think of the 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle.

I am an affiliate with Ultimate Bundles.  This means that I will earn a commission if you purchase the bundle through my links in this post.  As always, my opinions are honest to my own experience with the Master Your Money Super Bundle.

It’s that time of year again!!  The 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle is available to purchase!  If you bought the 2019 Master Your Money Super Bundle than you know just what a great value it is.  And, this years bundle is no different.  I just finished going through each product offered and I’m excited to share with you a few of my favorites!

What is Ultimate Bundles?

First things first, let me tell you a little about Ultimate Bundles.

Ultimate Bundles is an amazing company that puts multiple related digital products together into one “bundle.”  The bundle is then sold for a limited time for a huge discount.

Most bundles are valued over $1000, but are sold for somewhere between $30-$50.  They are amazing deals!!!

A few of the bundles I have purchased from them before is the Homemaking Bundle, Genius Bloggers Toolkit Bundle, and the Gardening Bundle.  With each purchase I felt that I was getting a fantastic deal and loved all of the products in the bundle.

But!  My very very FAVORITE bundle is the Master Your Money Super Bundle.  This is where my passion is and I love being able to share this great deal and resource with you.  

What Is The 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle?

The 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle is a bundle of products all devoted to teaching you how to manage money, make a budget, pay off debt, live frugally, and much much more (seriously, it’s amazing!).

With this bundle you will get:

  • 8 eBooks
  • 17 eCourses (including my course!!!  yaaaaay!)
  • 13 workbooks and printables

  The total value of the Master Your Money Super Bundle is $1,712.94.  BUT!  You can get all of that for only $37!  This is honestly such a great deal!

Master Your Money Super Bundle 2020

What Is In The Bundle?

There are so many great products in this years Master Your Money Super Bundle.  I was seriously impressed with the quality of products, there is honestly something for everyone.

My very favorite product in the bundle, just happens to be my very own, Quick Start Guide to Frugal Living eCourse.  I am so excited to have it included in the bundle! 

There are many other products I think you will love, but I’ll share my very favorites below!  These 6 products are worth over $240.  So, even if there are only a couple of products that you are interested in the bundle, it is still so worth the $37!

Quick Start Guide to Frugal Living eCourse:  A $47 Value

The Quick Start Guide to Frugal Living is an eCourse I created a few years ago to help people learn how to budget, live frugally, and spend less money.  I wanted to save you the time, headache and hassle of having to research and study each of these topics on your own.

Through detailed lessons, videos, free printables, real life examples, and more I share with you everything you need to know to start living the frugal life.  I cover everything from making a budget, saving money on groceries, couponing, making your own cleaners, and everything in between!

If you implement the lessons in this eCourse you will get your $37 investment back and more!

Baby on a Budget eCourse:  A $49 Value

One of my very favorite products in the Master Your Money Super Bundle is the Baby on a Budget Course by Erin Artfitch.  The course covers everything new parents need to know when preparing for a baby.  She teaches you exactly how to save money on labor and delivery expenses, diapers, feeding, childbirth classes, toys, and more.

Erin shares great tips that can be beneficial to all parents.  I love how she understands that some people might want to spend money on baby supplies, so she teaches you how to do it while on a budget.  You don’t have to sacrifice!

The course also includes a beautiful Baby on a Budget Workbook to help you take notes.

I wish I had a course like this before I started having kids!  It was honestly so informative and would have saved me a lot of money!

Beyond the Budget, Command Your Money & Build Lasting Wealth eCourse:  A $97 Value

Another great course in the 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle is Beyond the Budget: Command Your Money & Build Lasting Wealth by Nicole Hatcher.  Nicole does an excellent job of teaching you all of the important aspects of wealth.  She covers topics from retirement planning, getting out of debt, writing a budget, and building wealth.

If you are unsure where to begin with your finances, or feel insecure about things like index funds or estate planning (like I sometimes do!), then I think you could really benefit from this course.  I loved Nicoles easy to understand approach to teaching these important topics.

Debt Payoff Planner:  A $17 Value

Shannon Cairns Debt Payoff Planner is a beautiful 52 page workbook devoted to helping you pay off your debt successfully.  Through helpful visuals, tips, and debt thermometers she guides you through the steps you need to take to pay off debt and become financially free.  

This is a great resource for anyone who is paying off debt, but needs a little guidance and motivation with the process.

The 2021 Budget Binder Printable:  A $12 Value

If you enjoy using a planner to help keep your finances organized, you will love the 2021 Budget Binder included in this bundle.  I was blown away at the freebies included in the budget binder.  It has over 270 pages to print out and use during the 2021 year.

You will receive everything from monthly budget worksheets, cash envelope trackers, spending tracker, debt tracker and more.  Everything you could ever want in a budget binder is here.  I couldn’t print mine out fast enough!

The Beginners Guide to Creating Financial Wellness eBook:  A $19 Value

If you purchase the Master Your Money Super Bundle you will also recieve The Beginners Guide to Creating Financial Wellness.  This is a fantastic ebook created by Danielle H. Davis.  Through 30 steps Danielle teaches you what you need to do to organize your finances, manage money, and set yourself up for financial success.

In each chapter she teaches you why each finance step is important and how to implement it into your life.  I especially enjoyed the exercises she gives at the end of each chapter.  These exercises build on each other and are such a great motivation to apply what she teaches throughout the ebook.

Master Your Money Super Bundle Pros and Cons

I always want to be honest with you, so I am letting you know that the 2020 Master Your Money Super Bundle might not be for everyone.  Here are a few pros and cons of this bundle to help you make the best decision for you before making this purchase.

Pros:

  • A great value
  • Many products covering multiple subjects and topics
  • Easy to access and use
  • Available to download for 6 months after purchase, meaning you can learn at your own rate.

Cons:

  • A few of the products were repetitive of each other
  • You could find most of this information online for free (but it would take a lot of your time).

The Master Your Money Super Bundle Is For You If:

  • You are wanting to pay off debt, but are unsure where to start.
  • You need some extra motivation to start controlling your finances.
  • You have been wanting to purchase a money course or eBook.
  • You are wanting to decrease your spending, but are unsure how to do so.
  • You have tried to budget multiple times, but have always failed.
  • You feel confused or overwhelmed when discussing your finances.

The Master Your Money Super Bundle Is Not For You If:

  • You are on a tight budget and do not have an extra $37.
  • You feel confident in your finances.
  • You have the time to research the info yourself.

In Conclusion

The Master Your Money Super Bundle is only available for 5 days, so do not miss out on this amazing deal!

I have already learned so much from the courses, and I know you will love it just as much as I do!!  Please let me know if you have any questions!  I’m always here to help.

 

 

 

11 Things to do Today to Lower your Monthly Expenses

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy ways cut expenses from your budget.

Are you feeling stressed about your monthly bills?  The expenses keep coming in yet the income is staying the same?  I have been there!  I have felt the stress of not feeling like we will ever have any extra money.  It’s not fun!  I learned quickly, and a little begrudgingly that in order to eliminate this finance burden in my life I would need to cut some things from our monthly expenses.  And guess what!  It worked!  I was able to eliminate a few things and clear up some extra room in our budget!  Here are 11 Things you can do TODAY (yes, do them now!) to lower your monthly expenses and save more money!

Cut costs on your monthly budget so you can have more money. frugal living help | how to have more money | how to get out of debt | how to save more | budget help #budgeting #budgettips #savingmoney

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Why You Need To Lower Monthly Expenses

You might be wondering why you should take the time and hassle to lower your monthly expenses.  Maybe you feel like you are doing pretty good financially, and don’t want to add any extra stress to your life.

These are legitimate thoughts!

However, I want to present to you a few reasons why the effort and sacrifice just might be worth it!

Pay Off Debt Faster

Do you have debt?  Maybe it’s some lingering student loans, or perhaps a few extra charges on the credit card.

You might not realize it right now, but this debt is holding you back financially.  That extra money you have to pay towards interest each month is money that you have earned, and you deserve to keep it to use for something else!

Once you have paid off your debts you are able to begin saving, spending, and planning for expenses that are important to YOU!  Becoming debt free is one of the best ways to relieve financial burden and finally take charge of your money.

When you cut your monthly expenses you will be able to have extra cash to pay off your debt quicker, putting you one step closer to that sweet financial freedom you deserve.

Save For A Large Upcoming Expense

If you have any large upcoming expenses, such as paying for braces, buying a house, or a new child on the way, lowering your monthly expenses is a great way to save up for that expense.

When you make a few of the changes I suggest below you will have some extra cash that can be used for the big life events that you might have coming up.

Save For Something Fun

Another great reason to lower your monthly expenses is to be able to have more money to spend on something fun!

Maybe you like to vacation.  If you were able to have an extra $200/month, you could put that money into a vacation sinking fund and in a year you will have enough money to take a small vacation.

This didn’t require earning more money or putting the vacation on the credit card, all you had to do was cut some expenses and use that extra cash for something fun!

Imagine the fun things you have been wanting in life, when you do the work to lower your bills, you are giving yourself a chance to afford the fun things in life!

How to Lower Your Utility Expenses

Lowering your utility expenses is one of the easiest expenses you can cut.  It doesn’t require very much extra effort, and can have a huge impact on your finances.

1.  Reduce Your Home Thermostat

Consider lowering your house thermostat by 1 or 2 degrees during the day and 10 degrees at night (just pile on those blankets and flannel pjs!).  We keep our thermostat set to around 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer. 

By making this one simple change you can save up to 10% on your electricity bill!  Quick, go lower that thermostat asap!

2.  Switch to LED Light Bulbs

If you haven’t switched out the traditional light bulbs in your home for LED light bulbs now is the time to do so.  LED light bulbs are more expensive upfront, but through time the savings is huge and well worth the initial cost!  This 6 pack on Amazon is a good deal at $14.

The great thing about LED light bulbs is that they last forever!  Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit here…they don’t really last forever.  But they do last for a very long time!  As a matter of fact LED light bulbs lasts 5 times longer than regular light bulbs.  This means buying less light bulbs which will save you money (yay!).

The other great thing about LED light bulbs is that they use much less electricity, which brings down the cost of your electric bill.  Just one regular light bulb will cost you $15 a year.  One LED light bulb will only cost $6 a year.  Multiply this number by the amount of light bulbs in your home and you will see huge savings.

3.  Lower The Temp on Your Hot Water Heater

Double check the temperature on your hot water heater.  Lower the temperature down to 120 degrees.  This is low enough to see a savings in your monthly bill, but high enough that your showers will still feel warm and your dishes will get cleaned.   For every 10 degrees you lower your hot water temp you will save your family about 3%.

How to Lower Your Household Expenses

It’s no secret that running a household is expensive!  However, there are a few things you can do to help bring down these costs.

4.  Switch your Cell Phone Carrier

Shop around to multiple cell phone carriers.  If you have been with the same cell phone carrier for a while it might be time to switch.  Most cell phone carriers will offer you a good deal for being a new customer, all you have to do is ask!

Your original cell phone provider might even match the deal when they find out your considering switching.  Don’t be afraid to negotiate a little!

Last year our family started using Tello Mobile.  Plans start as low as just $6 month and we have been so impressed with the coverage.


The wireless network you deserve

5.  Negotiate Your Homeowners Insurance

Ask your insurance provider for special discounts on homeowners insurance.  Most will be willing to offer you a deal if you bundle with your auto insurance.

You might also get a deal if you have a security system, have retired recently, been with the same company for a long time or updated your home to make it more disaster proof.  My motto is that it never hurts to ask!  Remember, everything is negotiable!

Don’t be afraid to shop around for different providers while you are at it.  You might be able to find a cheaper rate somewhere else.

6.  Pack a Lunch for Work

One of the quickest ways to lower your monthly expenses is to stop going out to eat.  Eating out regularly is very expensive.  I have found it important to make a meal plan each week and stick to it.

If you consistently eat out for lunch while at work, start packing a lunch from home instead.  Give your co workers a polite, “no thank you” to the lunch invites and eat a lunch from home.

My husband loves to take dinner leftovers in his lunch.  Whenever we have leftovers, we just proportion them into lunch sized servings and stick them in the fridge.  This makes it easy to grab and bring to work, and tastes much better than a sandwich!

How to Lower Entertainment Expenses

Another budget category that is easy to lower are entertainment expenses.  Entertainment usually falls under the want category, making it easy to stretch a little thinner if necessary.

7.  Cancel All Subscriptions/Memberships

Look through all of your monthly subscriptions and memberships.  Pick a few (or a lot) of these subscriptions to cancel immediately.  You just might be surprised how quickly the extra money adds up from this simple switch.

Don’t forget these common subscriptions/memberships:

  • Gym Membership (try one of these free exercise ideas instead)
  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime
  • Hulu
  • Disney Plus
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • Music Streaming Services
  • Beauty Box Subscriptions

If this feels like a huge sacrifice to do all at once, try cancelling just one or two per month.  This will help you ease in to the change.  Just don’t forget to keep canceling something new every few months!

8.  Cut Your Cable

Do you still have cable TV?  Get rid of it to save an extra $40-60 every month. 

We did this a few years ago and I thought we would miss it (especially the DVR).  Fortunately we actually haven’t missed it at all!  There are so many other affordable ways to relax and watch TV.  A few of our favorites is to rent movies from the library and use Netflix.

Other Ways to Save

Now that you’ve reduced your entertainment, household, and utility expenses there are still a few more things you can do to free up some extra money.

9.  Increase Your Auto Insurance Deductible

Consider increasing your auto insurance deductible.  This will result in a lower monthly premium, saving you money each month (which is what we want!!).

Just be sure you have enough money in your emergency fund to cover the deductible in the case of an accident.

10.  Ask for a Lower Credit Card Rate

If you have any credit card debt call these credit card companies and ask for a lower monthly interest rate.  Most companies will be willing to honor this request if you have been paying on time each month.

I know this can be a scary phone call to make, but really the worst thing they can say is, “No”, right???

11.  Sell Clutter Around Your Home

Use your clutter around your home to make a little extra money!  Take an hour today to sort through your home and use a few online platforms to list a some of your clutter for sell. 

My favorite quick-to-sell place is Facebook Marketplace.  Most items I list for sell on Facebook sells within a few hours.  Use this extra cash to help pay for your bills this month.

Try to make a goal to sell a 2-5 items every month.  If you have any debt this is a great way to get this debt paid off a little faster.

In Conclusion

You do not need to implement each of these ideas into your life immediately, just pick a two or three to do today and then pick a couple more to do tomorrow.

These small simple changes will make a big difference over time.

Liked this article?  Be sure to pin it for later reference!

Do these 11 things today and lower your monthly expenses. budget tips | saving money | frugal living | monthly budget | how can i cut costs from my budget #frugalliving #frugaltips #budgettips

what can I do to have more money each month

I hope this article helped you get some ideas about how to lower monthly expenses.

 

 

 

 

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