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Easy French Bread Recipe

March 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life18 Comments

I can’t wait to show you how to make French bread at home!

Have you been wondering how to make French bread at home?  This easy French bread recipe is where you should start!  I turn into my kids favorite person every time I make it!  It is soft and light and tastes perfect as a side for soup or pasta.  You must try it!

Easy French Bread Recipe

To make this easy French bread recipe you will need the following ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. yeast
  • 3 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 5 1/2 cups flour

First, in a stand mixer gently mix the water, sugar and yeast together.  Let it stand for 10 minutes until yeast is dissolved.  It should be frothy and bubbly.


Next, add the rest of the ingredients.  Make sure to add the flour slowly, mixing it in as you go.  You might need a little less flour or a little more. 

I add a little flour and then mix for a minute and then add a little more until the dough looks right.  The dough will be done when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl when mixing and be slightly sticky.


Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with a tea towel.  Place it in a warm spot and let it rise for ten minutes.  After rising gently punch the dough down in bowl.  Do this for two more times for a a total of 3 punch downs and 30 minutes of rising time.


Split dough in half and shape into two loaves.  Place them on a greased baking sheet to bake.

Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes.  Once it’s done cooking brush with butter to make the crust soft. Slice and serve.  ENJOY!


Have you ever made homemade French bread?  It is so fun!  And this recipe is easy to make ahead and freeze for later!  Sometimes I freeze the dough in a freezer bag, and then let it rise, shape and bake later.  Other times, I make the bread and freeze it after it’s baked!  Whatever works best for you!

Soft French Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. yeast
  • 3 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 5 1/2 cups flour

Instructions
 

  • Mix the water, sugar and yeast together. Let it stand for 10 minutes until yeast is dissolved. It will be frothy and bubbly.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients. Make sure to add the flour slowly. You might need a little less or a little more. I add a little flour and then mix for a minute and then add a little more until the dough looks right. You will want it to pull away from the sides of the bowl when mixing and be slightly sticky.
  • Place the dough in a bowl and cover. Let it rise for ten minutes and then gently punch the dough down in bowl. Do this for two more times for a a total of 3 punch downs and 30 minutes of rising time.
  • Split dough in half and shape into two loaves. Place them on a greased baking sheet. I will usually freeze half the dough in a freezer bag to use for another dinner.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Once it’s done cooking brush with butter to make the crust soft. Slice and serve. ENJOY!

In Conclusion

You can easily make homemade French bread yourself!  Let me know if you try this recipe.  I would love to hear how it worked for you….and I might just come over and sneak a few bites ;).  Happy baking!

Related Recipes:

  • Grandmas Famous Banana Bread Recipe
  • Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe
  • Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

Liked what you read?  Pin it for future baking!

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Enjoy this easy French bread recipe, you will love it!

Honest Review of eMeals

March 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Is eMeals worth the money and if it is right for you.

Are you looking for an honest review of eMeals?  I’m excited to share my experience with this amazing meal subscription service with you today.

A few weeks ago I decided to try out eMeals when I ran into a major meal planning rut (have you ever had one of those???).  My meal plan was feeling stale, and I felt as if I made the exact same dinners over, and over again.  I was feeling tired of cooking, tired of trying to come up with fresh cooking ideas. 

For years I have been hearing about a meal subscription service called eMeals.  I finally decided to try it out.  My hope was that eMeals would give me some fresh ideas and help me get out of my meal planning rut.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made through links in this post.

What Is eMeals?

If haven’t heard about eMeals, I’ll give you a quick run down!  eMeals is a meal subscription service that will send you fresh, new meal plans and dinner recipes each week.  

These meal plans are catered to your family size, needs, diets, and food preferences.  The goal is to save you time, money and to make it easier for you to get dinner on the table each night.

In addition to the meal plans and recipes, eMeals will also send you a shopping list for the meals you choose to make that week, which is so awesome!  Plus!  If you enjoy shopping for groceries online (hello, Walmart Grocery Pickup, my BFF) eMeals gives you the option to send your grocery list straight to your preferred store (Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, Instacart or Shipt), making online grocery shopping even easier than it already was!

How Does eMeals Work?

Signing up for eMeals is so easy!  First, just head over to their website and make an account.

During this process you will be asked to choose your family size between two options:

  • 1-2 servings
  • 3-6 servings

And you will choose the food style your family prefers.  The current options are:

  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Budget Friendly
  • Clean Eating
  • Diabetic
  • Gluten Free
  • Heart Healthy
  • Keto
  • Kid Friendly
  • Low Calorie
  • Low Carb
  • Mediterranean
  • Paleo
  • Quick and Healthy
  • Slow Cooker
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

I chose the Budget Friendly option for my family (no surprise there, amiright????).

After you have your account you will then have access to the current recipes eMeals offers.  When a new plan comes available each week you will be alerted through e-mail.

I loved using the eMeals app to browse the recipes and make my shopping list.  It was so user friendly and easy to use!

When you have picked the recipes you want to make for the week just click “Add to List.”  The ingredients you will need for that recipe will be added to your shopping list, easy peasy!

Take this list with you to the store to do your grocery shopping.  Or!  If you prefer to use an online grocery system, just send that list right over to one of eMeals grocery partners (Walmart, Amazon, Kroger, Instacart or Shipt) and done!

Now all that’s left to do is cook and enjoy the delicious eMeals recipes at home.

  • Click here to try eMeals FREE for 14 days.

What Type Of Recipes Does eMeals Provide?

Honestly, one of my biggest surprises when using eMeals was the huge variety of recipes available.  There really is something for everyone, and I wasn’t expecting that.

You can choose the meal plan that works best for you and then you will be given 7 dinner recipes each week, including side dish ideas for each recipe, which I LOVED!

But, you do not have to stick to the same meal plan that you originally choose!  I switched my meal plan category a couple of times, and it was SO easy to do!  All you have to do is go into your Account, and where your Dinner Plan is listed, just click “Change”.  You can then easily select the new plan you want.  I started with Budget Friendly, and then switched to Clean Eating, and then to 30 Minute Meals.

Each of the plans I tried provided my family with delicious and easy to fix recipes.

We definitely tried a few recipes that we didn’t enjoy, but most of them have become new family favorites and will be going into my regular meal planning routine.

  • Related:  How To Make A Meal Plan For Beginners

How Much Does eMeals Cost?

There is a price to using eMeals, but good news, you can try eMeals out for FREE for 14 days when signing up through this link.  This is a great way to become familiar with the app, try out a few recipes, and help you decide if this is the right meal subscription plan for you or not.

If you decide to keep using eMeals you can get a 12 month subscription for just $4.99/month or a 3 month subscription for only $9.99/month.


 

My Honest Opinion

Now, that I have shared all of the eMeals details with you it’s time to give you my honest opinion.

Truthfully, my expectations were low when I first signed up for eMeals….but I ended up enjoying eMeals much more than I thought I would.  I was worried that the recipes would require a lot of expensive ingredients and a lot of effort, but they really didn’t.

The meals I chose were all simple, basic, and quick to fix.  Plus, I had most of the ingredients already in my pantry, which made these recipes great for my wallet.

Who Is eMeals For?

Although I think eMeals is a great service, it is not for everyone, but I do think it can be beneficial for many people.  eMeals might be for your if:

  • You struggle finding time to Meal Plan.
  • You want to cook at home, but aren’t sure where to start.
  • You are looking for an easy way to try new recipes.

Who Is eMeals Not For?

I don’t recommend eMeals for you if:

  • You feel confident meal planning.
  • You have time to research new recipes to try.
  • Your budget is to tight to add an extra subscription plan to.

I enjoyed trying eMeals and the new recipes I received.  However, I have decided that I will not be continuing using eMeals.  I am very comfortable with meal planning and cooking, so I don’t think this is something worth spending my money on.

However, if you have been struggling cooking at home and making your meal plans, I do suggest trying this subscription service to see if it helps you or not.

In Conclusion

I really enjoyed trying this program and was so happy to find it not only useful and helpful, but a great resource for those looking for fresh meal ideas.  My favorite part of the service is that it caters to your family specific needs and eating preferences, and it really did make meal planning a lot easier!

Let me know if you try eMeals.  I would love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments!

Want New Recipes?

Are you looking for some fresh new recipes to add to your collection?

Make sure to check out my Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe eBook.  These tried and true recipes are easy to make, cheap to fix, and delicious to eat!

Grab your copy here!

Related Articles:

  • 15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas
  • How To Make A Recipe Binder
  • Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

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I hope you enjoyed my honest review of emeals meals subscription service.

Cheap Farmhouse Decorations

March 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life8 Comments

Farmhouse decorating ideas on a budget.

I moved into a new home about a year ago and have been slowly trying to incorporate some cheap farmhouse decorations.  You want to know what I’ve learned?  Farmhouse decor is expensive!  I’ve been searching trying to find the best deals to fit my budget.  I was so excited to find some great budget friendly decorations on Amazon last night.  Everything is under $20 (yay!).

“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ”

 Farmhouse Lantern

Lanterns are very trendy right now.  I love the fresh look of this Farmhouse Lantern.  It is under $15 and has a lot of great reviews.

Striped Pillow Cover

I have been needing some new pillows and loved this striped pillow cover.  Using covers is such a great frugal way to redecorate.  This pack of two pillow covers are under $15 and the perfect way to add a farmhouse style to your home.

 

Potted Plants

I might have a bit of an obsession with artificial plants.  They are such a great way to add a little color and life to any room.  Can you believe this darling potted plant is under $10???  Cause it is and I want a dozen of them!

Dish Towel

Adding a few French Stripe Dish Towels to your kitchen is an easy way to add some farmhouse charm.  This pack of dish towels comes in a set of three and is less than $15!

Farmhouse Throw

Nothing says farmhouse like a comfy throw blanket over a couch.  This farmhouse throw is beautiful and full of charm.  I can’t wait to snuggle up in it!  Right now it’s under $20, which is a fantastic price!

 

Serving Tray

You can never have to many galvanized pieces around the house.  This round galvanized serving tray would look beautiful for a coffee table centerpiece.  Add a little artificial plant and it’s golden!

 

Farmhouse Wreath

Start your farmhouse look at the front door with this beautiful wreath.  Grab a few extra for multiple rooms around the house.  At under $20 this is a great deal!

Glass Milk Bottles

I have these darling mini glass milk bottles sitting on my front entry table and I always get a lot of compliments on them.  They give a good vintage look, but still very in trend.  They are priced right at just under $12!

Vintage Sign

How fun would it be to have your very own personalized vintage farmhouse sign.  To get your name and personalized year on your own sign it will only cost you $16.99.  That’s a great deal!  Wouldn’t this make for a great gift too, maybe for a wedding???

Wire Egg Basket

I am seriously obsessed with this rusted metal egg basket.  I can not wait until it gets shipped to my house.  It’s vintage, cute, rustic and total farmhouse.  Basically everything I’m looking for! is sitting in my Amazon cart right now and I can’t wait until it gets here.

 

Let me know if you buy any of my suggestions!  We can be home decor twins!

 

 

You might like these related articles:

8 Cheap Ways To Update Your Yard

10 Ideas for Date Night at Home

Pin this article for the next time you are farmhouse decor shopping on a budget!

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What cheap farmhouse decorations are you shopping for?

Fun Easter Lesson For Kids

March 2, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

Fun Easter ideas for kids!

Easter is almost here, yay!  This is such a beautiful time of year to celebrate new life and new beginnings, and of course the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Although I love Easter I have actually never really been a huge fan of the Easter bunny and the materialism that comes with Easter.  The whole idea of a giant rabbit giving my kids presents just has never really resonated with me (am I weird????).  Because of this I’m always looking for activities to teach kids the true meaning of Easter, and what it’s really about.  We have tried a few different things in the past and nothing has really seemed to feel right to me.  I came up with this fun Easter lesson for kids and I am really looking forward to implementing with my kids.  Hopefully it can become our new Easter tradition!

Gather Your Supplies

It will only take a few minutes to gather your supplies needed for this fun Easter lesson for kids.

First, print out 7 scriptures from the Bible that discuss the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

These are the 7 scriptures I suggest your type and print out for your Easter eggs:

  • Jesus Enters Jerusalem:  Matthew 21:6-11
  • Sacrament:  Luke 22:1, 19, 20
  • Garden of Gethsemane:  Matthew 26:36,39
  • Judas Betrays Jesus:  Luke 22:47-51
  • Pilate Washes His Hands:  Matthew 27:22,24
  • The Crucifixion:  Luke 22:33-34
  • Jesus Appears:  John 20:10-20

Next you will need to number 7 Easter eggs and put the corresponding scripture in the right number of egg.  You want the scriptures in order of the events happening.

And that’s it!  Now you are ready to teach your kids about the true meaning of Easter.

Implementing This Fun Easter Lesson For Kids

This Easter activity is meant to begin on the Monday before Easter. 

Starting with the egg numbered 1, have your kids open one egg each day of the week.  Your first egg will be the scripture Matthew 21:6-11 and you will end on Sunday with the egg containing the scripture of John 20:10-20.

After the egg is opened each day, read the scripture together and discuss what it means and how we can relate it to our lives.


This activity has been a lot of fun for the kids to participate in.  I’m hoping it will help us keep our focus in the right place, yet also be a little fun for the kids as they open a new egg each day.

How do you teach your kids the true meaning of Easter?

Pin this article to remember each year:

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Check out my other Easter posts:

Easter Egg Sun Catcher

Dollar Tree Easter Basket Ideas

I hope you enjoy this fun Easter lesson for kids!

Family Trip To San Diego

March 1, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life13 Comments

Visiting San Diego on a Budget.

A couple of weeks ago I blogged all about our trip to Disneyland.  Before heading to the most magical place on earth we spent a few fun filled day in San Diego.  In our typical travel fashion, we visited San Diego for cheap, but we still had so much fun.  Here’s a peek at our family trip to San Diego.

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I am a Get Away Today partner and may receive commissions for Get Away Today vacations booked through links on my site.

Family Trip To San Diego

Once we arrived in San Diego we checked into our hotel, the Holiday Inn Express San Diego Circle.  We loved this hotel and it was a great value.  It had a modern layout and design.  Plus, the kids always had the pool to themselves, and the room was the perfect size for our family of five.  This truly was the perfect hotel for us!

We found this hotel on Get Away Today.  I am seriously in love with Get Away Today.  They offer the best discounts on any Southern California Vacation, and are so easy to work with.  I used them a few years ago for a trip and knew that we wanted to use them again for this trip.

**Bonus:  Get Away Today is offering my readers an additional discount, use the coupon code:  SweetFrugal at checkout for an extra $10 off your vacation package.  Yay!  I love extra discounts!

Coronado Beach

It didn’t take long for me to decide that we wanted to spend a beach day at Coronado Beach, it looked beautiful and absolutely perfect!  Plus, I loved that the parking was FREE (I love free!).

We went to Coronado Beach on a Sunday and were honestly expecting large crowds, but to our happy surprise the beach was quiet and peaceful.  It ended up being a perfect day!  My kids loved playing in the calm waves and hunting for sea shells.

When the tide went out around 2 in the afternoon we were able to find dozens of perfectly round beautiful sand dollars.  It was a fun little treasure hunt walking up and down the beach collecting our treasured sand dollars.

If you are looking for a great San Diego beach and love finding great shells go to Coronado Beach.

 


Sea World

We spent one more day at San Diego and wanted to use that time at Sea World.  This was a highlight of our trip!  The park was so empty, we were able to walk right onto every ride, had great seats for all the shows and loved learning more about the beautiful sea animals.

Get Away Today offers 7 day Sea World tickets for a great price.  If you are wanting to spend a few days at Sea World be sure to buy those tickets from Get Away Today.  We only had time for one day though so we bought our tickets directly from Sea World’s website, which ended up being the better deal.

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My One Regret….

We had a wonderful time in San Diego, my only regret is that we didn’t spend more time there!  It is such a beautiful city!  Next time we visit I will be planning a few extra days there.  We all can’t wait to go back and visit again!

Related Articles:

Over 20 Tricks for Travel on a Budget

Kauai on a Budget

20 Completely Free Things to do in New York City

Pin this article for your next trip:

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I hope you enjoyed reading more about our family trip to San Diego.

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

February 24, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy tips to spend less on children’s clothing.

One of the sure things about kids is that they keep growing (and growing, and growing and growing).  It feels like my kids ALWAYS need a new pair of shoes, or a new shirt, etc.  Any other mamas out there relate????  Constantly buying new clothes for your kids can get expensive fast!  Fortunately, there are some secrets to spending less on children’s clothing.  Here are a few tips to help you learn how to save money on kids clothes.

kids clothes on a budget - budget friendly tips for parents (1)

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

I know how tempting it is to buy all of the cute, fresh, trendy kids clothing you can find at the mall, but I promise, with a little work and practice you can find JUST as cute clothing, for a fraction of the price.  Here’s how!

1.  Buy Gently Used Clothing

Gone are the days where the only place to get gently used clothing is from your Great Aunt Lucy’s attic.  Now, we are so lucky to have many, many options to purchase used kids clothing.

Here are a few of my favorite places to shop for preowned kids clothing:

Garage Sales

Garage sales are one of my favorite places to buy used clothing for my kids.  They seem to always have the lowest prices, I can easily walk away with a huge bag of kids clothing for less than $10.

Here are a few tips for buying kids clothing at garage sales:

  • Search Facebook Marketplace the night before you want to visit the yard sales (usually Thursday night or Friday night) to find a few listings that are advertising kids clothing.  Only stop at the houses that have said they have kids clothes for sale.
  • Make a plan and map out which sales you want to go to first, and in which order.
  • Leave first thing in the morning to start yard sale shopping.  A good rule of thumb is to get to your first stop 5-10 minutes BEFORE it was advertised to open.  This gives you first pick of the clothing, which will also be the best quality!
  • Clothing at yard sales are negotiable.  Never be afraid to offer a lower price than marked.  The worst thing that can happen is they will say, “No”, but they almost always say “yes”.

Thrift Stores

Another great place to purchase preowned children’s clothing is at kids thrift stores.  These stores are picky about what items they purchase, meaning that you can feel confident you will be buying high quality clothing for a fraction of the price.

My favorite children’s thrift stores are Kid To Kid and Once Upon A Child.  Bonus!  You can sell your used kids clothing to these stores to earn money!

In addition to the kids thrift stores you can find some great deals at multi-purpose thrift stores such as, GoodWill, Deseret Industries, and Savers.

  • Related:  Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home

Facebook Marketplace

You can also find some great deals on used clothing on Facebook Marketplace.  It’s so easy to search for the exact size and gender you are looking for on Facebook Marketplace with their search and filter options.  If you don’t find what you are looking for when you first check, make sure to set up a notification so you can be alerted when it is listed.

2.  Shop Clearance Racks

Get into the habit of going straight to the clearance racks at every store you go to.  These racks are usually hidden in the back of the store or department, so make sure to look thoroughly for those wonderful yellow clearance stickers.

Clothing almost always goes on sale at the end of a season.  This is a great time to stock up for the next year for a fraction of the price.  For example, when my kids were wearing a 2T size, I would buy winter clothing for them in 3T size on the clearance racks in the spring.  Their new winter clothing would be stored at the top of their bedroom shelf to bring out the next year.

clearance rack

3.  Shop At Discount Retailers

Discount retailers is another great spot for budget friendly kids clothing.  These stores sell name brand, high quality clothes for a huge discount.

My favorite discount retailers are Ross and TJ Maxx.  I’ve found that Ross is a little bit cheaper than TJ Maxx, but they are both a frugal options for clothing.

4.  Host A Kids Clothing Swap

Most moms are looking for a cheaper option for kids clothing.  Find a group of moms, such as in your community, school, church, neighborhood, etc. and organize a Kids Clothing Swap together.  This way everybody wins!

I’ve participated in a few of these before and love the concept so much!

Here’s how it works:

  • Invite moms to join you for a Kids Clothing Swap.
  • Plan a day and time that will work for most people.
  • Everyone brings any used kids clothing that they want to swap.
  • Organize the clothing by sizes and gender.
  • Let everyone pick a few new-to-them pieces of clothing to take home.

Everyone gets to clean out their closets of clothes they no longer need, and bring home new clothing for their kids….without paying any money!

5.  Accept Hand Me Downs

Alright, I am going to be real honest here…..

When I was expecting my first baby my husbands very kind cousin offered me boxes and boxes of hand me downs from her kids.

But, I refused them all!  In my stubborn, naïve, new mom attitude I thought that I wanted only new clothing.  (I regret this decision!)

Years down the road (and way to much money spent on kids clothing) I realized my mistake.  Ever since I have happily accepted hand me down clothing (and wish I could go shake my pre-mom self for a minute).

  • Related:  Top Secrets For Living On One Income

7.  Repurpose Clothing

Another tip for how to save money on kids clothes is to make your kids clothing last longer by repurposing them.  Here are a few things you might want to do with clothing, instead of throwing it away:

  • Cut jeans with holes in the knee and turn them into shorts.
  • Let the hem out of a dress that is getting to short.
  • Add a patch to cover a stained shirt or pants.
  • Cut the feet off of footie pajamas that have grown to short.

Remember to be creative.  If you can’t think of a way to extend the life of the clothing, repurpose the clothing into something completely new.  Such as a toy, quilt, or rags.

8.  Never Pay Full Price

Make a habit of only buying clothing if it’s on sale or discounted.  Here are a few tips for shopping clothing sales:

Sign Up For Store Emails

Sign up for store emails so that you will be the first one alerted to the current sales.  I am very picky about who I hand my email out to.  But, I have signed up for emails at just a few of my favorite kids clothing stores (Target, Children’s Place, Old Navy) because their sale emails have been so helpful in knowing when the sales are happening.

Shop Off Season

Like I mentioned earlier, shopping off season is a great way to get brand new clothing for a fraction of the price.  In spring, buy winter clothing for your kids to wear the next year and in the fall buy summer clothing.

Use Store Reward Programs/Cards

Many stores will offer points on purchases made through their store reward programs.  My favorite store reward programs are:

  • Target:  Sign up for their red card and get 5% off of each purchase made.  This makes for an even greater deal when you use the card on clearance items!
  • Kohls:  When you make purchases using your Kohls card you will be given 5% in rewards.  These rewards will then be turned into Kohls Cash to spend at the store.  You can use your Kohls cash with clearance items and coupons!
  • Children’s Place:  Another great store rewards program is Children’s Place.  When you sign up for the program you will begin receiving points each time you make a purchase.  These points can be redeemed for cash rewards that you can spend at the store.  Plus, they send out a birthday coupon each year!

Shop Online Deal Sites

You can find great deals on kids clothing when you shop at online deal websites.  A couple of my favorite sites for cute clothes and good discounts are Jane, Zulily, and Burkes Outlet.

9.  Take Care Of The Clothes

One of the most overlooked tips when learning how to save money on kids clothes is to take good care of the clothes you do buy.  The longer you can keep your kids wearing the same clothing, the less you will have to buy, which means more money saved!

Here are a few ways to take good care of your children’s clothing:

  • Air dry clothes after laundering.
  • Wash clothing less often.  I know this one is hard with kids (they can get dirty so quickly), but if an outfit looks clean after one wear, hang it up to wear again.
  • Treat stains as soon as possible.
  • Sort and wash clothes by color.
  • Wash clothing in cold water.

10.  Earn Cashback

If you shop for kids clothing online, make sure to do it through the Rakuten website to earn some extra cash while shopping!  It’s so easy too! 

  • Just log into the Rakuten website (or app!).
  • Search for the store you want to shop at.
  • Click on the store name, you will then be redirected to the website.
  • Shop as you normally do, including check out.
  • You will then be given a percentage of cash back from your purchase.
  • Rakuten mails cash back checks every 4 months (and it’s my favorite piece of mail ever!).

You can then use this cashback to purchase clothing for your children to wear!  This is such a fun way to get more bang for your buck!

In Conclusion

I hope this article gave you some helpful tips to figuring out how to save money on kids clothes.  There are many different options available to us as parents, sometimes the secret is just knowing where to look!  Let me know if you have any other questions or tips that I might have missed!

 

Related Articles:

  • Baby on a Budget: A First Time Parents Guide to Saving Money
  • Kids Birthday Party on a Budget
  • 50 Free Screen Free Summer Kids Activities

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I hope you enjoyed this article about how to save money on kids clothes.

At Home Preschool Activities

February 18, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to entertain preschoolers at home.

Preschoolers are one of my favorite ages!  They are full of so much curiosity and innocence.  I honestly miss having my little ones home with me (they all grew up!).  One thing about preschoolers is that they are a bundle of energy, always wanting to be kept busy and entertained.  Fortunately, there are many cheap at home preschool activities to keep their busy bodies active and engaged.  Here are a few of our favorites!

At Home Preschool Activities

Here are a few of my easy at home preschool activities.  I hope your kids love them as much as my kids did!

1.  Build A Fort

A fort can be a fun place for preschoolers to hide out, read books, and play.

You can easily build a fort by putting a few blankets over the kitchen table.  Or, push some chairs together and drape them with blankets.

Don’t forget to fill the fort with pillows, stuffed animals and a few books for reading.  Enjoy snuggling together inside your newly built fort!

2.  Make White Dirt

My son loved making “white dirt” when he was a preschooler.  This was a simple activity that kept him entertained for hours.

To make white dirt just mix together four cups of flour, 1 cup of brown sugar, and 1 cup of rice together in a 9X13 inch baking pan.

This white dirt is perfect for your preschooler to use for digging and playing with their small toy tractors.

3.  Play In Bubbles

Fill your sink up with water and dish soap to form a bubbly sink.  Let your preschooler play in the sink with plastic cups, spoons, and bowls.

This might make a bit of a watery mess, but it’s so fun for the little ones and a great at home preschool activity.

4.  Make Playdough

It’s so easy to make homemade playdough.  All you need is a few ingredients, and preschoolers can be the best helpers!  I’ve tried many (seriously, MANY) playdough recipes over the years.  This playdough recipe is the very best out there!

5.  Have A Teddy Bear Picnic

Preschoolers love teddy bear picnics!  To host a teddy bear picnic just lay a blanket on the floor and gather all of the teddy bears and stuffed animals in the house to set on the blanket.

Next, prepare a few simple treats or snacks to bring to the picnic.  

Now, all you have to do is enjoy a picnic with your preschooler and favorite teddys.

6.  Play Hide And Seek

Preschoolers love to play hide and seek, and it requires zero materials or planning, which makes it a quick and easy activity for a parent to throw together.

To play hide and seek, one person will close their eyes and count to twenty.  While counting the hiders must quickly try to conceal themselves in a hiding place.

Once the seeker reaches twenty they will search and to try to find the hiders.  It’s so fun to see where kids decide to hide.  Let everyone have a turn being the “seeker” and “hider”.

7.  Paper Bag Puppets

Another fun at home preschool activity is to make paper bag puppets.  Turn a brown paper bag into a puppet by coloring a face on the flap.  Make a few different puppets and then put on a puppet show with your preschooler!

8.  Magic Toothpick Science Experiment

This magic toothpick science experiment is another easy at home preschool activity.  All you need is a few ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare this experiment.  Your preschooler will love watching the pretty colors form!

9.  Caterpillar Soup

Mix up some caterpillar soup with your kiddo by pouring some water into a bowl and then letting your preschooler shake in a few spices.  I try to pick spices with different colors to help give the “soup” some variety and color.

Give the soup a few stirs with the spoon and then set it outside for the “caterpillars” to enjoy.  My kids always figured out this wasn’t really for caterpillars, but they still enjoyed pretending!

10.  Have A Dance Party

Turn on some fun Disney tunes and have a dance party.  Kids love showing off their newest moves!

11.  Form A Marching Band

Form a marching band as a family using items around the house.  Someone can shake spices, another bang two pot lids together, and someone else could use a pot and spoon as a drum.

Use your “instruments” to march around the house like a marching band.  (pro tip:  you might want to wear ear plugs for this activity!  😉 )

12.  Make A Road Out Of Tape

Use painters tape to form a road over the carpet, stairs, couches, everywhere you want!  Let your preschooler drive their matchbox cars over the road.

You can even add a town to your roads by using the tape to make a few houses, supermarket, school, church, etc.

13.  Make Ice Cream

Make homemade ice cream in a bag.  It only takes a few ingredients and Preschoolers love helping to shake the bag and of course try the ice cream!  We love this ice cream in a bag recipe.

14. Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Set up an indoor scavenger hunt for your preschooler to enjoy.  Make a list (don’t forget to include pictures) of items for your preschooler to find around the house.

Give them the list and let them find each item.  Give a snack or small price to them once the list has been completed.

15.  Peanut Butter Play Dough

A fun twist on the the original play dough is this easy peanut butter play dough recipe.  My kids love helping me make it, probably because they love getting to eat some of it!

This is a great activity for teaching the 5 senses to preschoolers.  They can taste, touch, smell, see, and even hear the play dough being squished.

16.  Play Library

Have fun pretending to have a library at home.  Set up a few books around the house and let your preschooler pick out a few to “check out”.  Pretend to be the librarian and let your child come to you to check out each book.

Then, switch places!  Allow your preschooler a chance to be the librarian while you check out books.

17.  Finger Paint

Mix up some finger paint for your child to paint with.  Give them some white papers and let them create a masterpiece!  Don’t forget to hang the painting on the fridge once it’s done!

18.  Send Letters

Teach your child to serve and send love to others by making a few cards or letters for grandparents or other loved ones.

Your preschooler can draw a cute picture inside and then sign their name if they are able to.  Not only is this a fun at home preschool activity, it’s also a great way to put a smile on someone’s face.

19.  Make Cereal Necklaces

Help your preschooler develop their fine motor skills by making cereal necklaces together.

Use some yarn or string and thread it with cheerios or fruit loop cereal until the necklace is the right size.

20.  Cut Up Magazines

Get out a few magazines for your preschooler to look through.  Let them cup out their favorite pictures.  After you have a pile of pictures use them to tell each other stories.

This is a great activity for developing fine motor skills and imagination!

21.  Play Dress Up

Let your preschooler pretend to be someone else for a day by playing dress up.  I always kept a big box of fun dress up clothes for the kids to play with.  These were usually items I collected from the thrift store, like pirate, princess, or super hero costumes.

If you don’t have a dress up box you could lend some of your clothes to your child to dress in for the day.  They would have so much fun pretending to be mom or dad for a few hours!

22.  Cosmic Kids Yoga

My preschoolers all loved Cosmic Kids Yoga.  Its a fun YouTube channel that teaches kids how to do yoga, by telling a story.  There are many different stories and videos to choose from.  This is a great way to keep your kids active and their bodies moving.

23.  Build An Obstacle Course

Another fun activity to keep your kids moving is to make an obstacle course for them to go through.  This can be done in your backyard or wherever you happen to have some large space to run.

Here is an example of what your obstacle course might look like:

  • Do 5 jumping jacks.
  • Kick a ball.
  • Crawl under the trampoline.
  • Walk backyards 20 feet.
  • Swing for 1 minute.
  • Hop on one foot.
  • Carry a ball to another part of the yard.

After you make up the obstacle course for your child, let them then make up a course for you to complete!

24.  Have A Pillow Fight

Grab a few pillows and have an old fashioned pillow fight!  It’s always fun to let loose with your kids!  A pillow fight is sure to bring a lot of laughter and giggles.

25.  Art Hub For Kids

Try the fun YouTube channel Art Hub for Kids for some fun drawing lessons.  This is a great resource for making drawing easy and FUN for kids.  They even have an entire series of drawings for preschoolers.

26.  Bake Cookies

I’ve never met a preschooler who didn’t love baking cookies!  Let them choose their favorite kind (chocolate chip is always a first choice at our house) and then spend an hour baking together, and of course eating!

  • Make sure to grab my recipe ebook for a few of our favorite recipes!

27.  Play Simon Says

My preschoolers always loved to play Simon Says.

Choose one person to stand on one side of the room, this person is “Simon.”  Have everyone else stand on the other side of the room. 

Simon will then instruct the other players to do an activity by using the phrase, “Simon Says.”  For example:  “Charly, Simon says to hop up and down three times.”

The person who was instructed to do the activity then must do what was instructed of them.

If Simon does not use the phrase, “Simon Says” before giving the command, then the player should not complete the activity.  If they do the activity without the phrase “Simon Says” used then that player is then out of the game.

Make sure to give everyone a chance to be Simon, kids love that job!

28.  Make Ooblek

Ooblek is a fun, slimy activity for preschoolers.  It only takes two cheap ingredients and can entertain your little one for hours.

To make ooblek just mix 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water together in a bowl.

That’s it!  Now, just let them squish and play with the ooblek.

29.  Color Hot Rocks

Collect a few rocks from outside for this fun Hot Rocks activity.  This is a fun twist on the typical painting rocks activity that you and your child are sure to love!

30.  Play Store

Another fun pretend play for at home preschool activity is to play store.  We like to play this activity by setting out a few toys and other objects around the room, this is our “store.”

Next, get out some play money (or make some with paper) and put it in one section of the room for the cash register.  Make sure to give some money to the shopper too!

Now, let your little one “shop” at the store, including checking out with the play money at the cash register.

This is a fun activity to let them get some practice at being a grown up.

31.  Make a Sun Catcher

Crafts always make for fun at home preschool activities.  You will need a few supplies for these easy sun catchers, but if you happen to have them around the house it is a great craft projects for little ones!

32.  Play Balloon Volleyball

Blow up a few balloons and play balloon volleyball with your preschooler.  There aren’t any rules to this volleyball game!  Just enjoy tossing the balloons to each other and having fun with your kids.

33.  Play Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is another fun game to play with preschoolers.  To play this game have one person stand on one end of the room, this will be the “caller”, and the other players stand in a line at the other end of the room.

The caller will then start calling out commands.  Commands for this game will be “Red Light” or “Green Light.”  When “Green Light” is called the players can walk as quickly as they can towards the caller.  But, when “Red Light” is called the players must stop moving.

The point of this game is to be the first person to reach the caller.

34.  Matchbox Car Wash

Preschoolers love playing in water.  One fun activity is to set up a Matchbox Car Wash.

Get out a few matchbox cars, a cake pan, bowl of water, and a pastry brush.

One at a time put a matchbox car in the cake pan and wash it using the pastry brush.  This activity is so simple, but kids love it!

35.  Make Hand Shadows

Find a dark place in your house and use a flashlight to light up one wall.  Use your hands to make shadows on the wall.  It’s so fun to see what shadows each of you can come up with.

If you are needing some hand shadow inspiration, check out this fun YouTube video!

36.  Play Will It Float

Will It Float is a fun, easy activity for preschoolers to help learn about what items float and what items sink.

To play this game let your preschooler gather a few small objects around the house, make sure to only let them choose items that are water proof.

Then fill up the sink with water.

Have your preschooler guess which items they think will sink in the water and which ones will float.  Last, drop each of the objects into the sink of water one by one.  It’s so fun to see which items float!

37.  Make a Paper Quilt

Cut up small squares of paper and let your preschooler glue them onto a large piece of paper.  They have then made their very own paper quilt!  It’s so fun to let them choose their colors and patterns and use some creativity.

In Conclusion

There are so many cheap at home preschool activities.  I hope you and your little ones enjoy some of these activities on my list. 

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I hope you enjoy these at home preschool activities.

The Best Deals At Costco

February 9, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The best items to buy at Costco to save money!

Years ago I signed up for my very first Costco Membership.  I had heard all about the best deals at Costco and how it could help save me money.  The first time I walked into the store I was so excited to start saving money.

I spent an hour walking through aisle after aisle in the store filling my shopping cart with all of my new fun finds and couldn’t wait to see how much money I was saving.  The beautiful organic produce, the cute kids clothing, and all those snacks!  Oh, was it fun!

And then, I went to checkout. 

My jaw about dropped to the floor when the cashier announced that I owed $300.  “What about all those good deals I grabbed.  I thought shopping in bulk would save me money!” were the thoughts that swirled in my head as I shakily swiped my credit card and the spending guilt set in.

After repeating this process for a few months I realized that my grocery budget was suffering, big time, and Costco was NOT saving me money.  I cancelled my membership and never looked back.

Fast forward ten years, and a bunch of new frugal lessons learned, I decided I wanted to try out Costco again.  But this time, I was going to be using my card with a new, better approach.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made through links in this post.

The Wrong Way To Shop Costco

Here’s the thing, there is a wrong way and a right way to shop at Costco.  If you want to spend less money at Costco, it’s so important for you to understand the differences.

Here are a few of the wrong ways to shop at Costco:

Shopping when hungry.

Don’t ever shop at Costco with an empty stomach (I learned this the hard way!).  You will be much more tempted to grab more food than you really need.

Assuming that buying in bulk is cheaper.

The truth is buying your food in bulk CAN be cheaper, but not always.  Always check the price per unit to help you decide which is the better deal.

Buying more food than you can eat before it spoils.

Before you buy anything at Costco, I recommend you think long and hard about how quickly you can eat the item you are buying.  If you buy a huge pack of spinach, but your family can’t eat it before it goes bad, then unfortunately that spinach gets thrown away, meaning your hard earned money goes to waste.

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

Shopping without a plan.

Going into Costco without a plan is a quick way to break your budget.  Aimlessly wandering aisle after aisle is a huge temptation to many of us (ME!) and should be avoided as much as possible.

Assuming that the sales are a good price.

I LOVE most of Costco’s monthly sale items (hello cheap Premier Protein shakes), but I have learned that just because something is on sale, does not make it a great price.

Like I mentioned earlier, it’s necessary to always check the price per unit before buying something.  I like to compare Costco prices to Walmart Grocery Pickup prices using their phone app.  This helps me know if I can find the same item cheaper somewhere else.

The Right Way To Shop Costco

Alrighty, now let’s talk about the RIGHT way to shop at Costco.  Following these tips will help you get the most out of your Costco membership and not have to leave the store with a mountain of guilt.

Set a budget.

If you don’t already make a regular budget, I suggest you start one now.  A budget gives you permission to spend, without the guilt; but it also decreases the chance of impulse buying.

Give yourself a budget for how much you can spend at Costco each month.  My personal budget is $100/month.

Feel free to grab my free budget cheat sheets below to help you learn exactly how to start budgeting.

Always shop with a list.

Make a list of items you want to purchase at Costco BEFORE going into the store.  If you shop with a list in hand you will be much more likely to stick to it and avoid any impulse shopping. 

Research the current deals, and what you need at that time.  A good rule of thumb is to plan about $10/item.  Of course this number varies based on what you buy, but it gives me a good goal to work towards.

Use a calculator.

Yes!  I am totally *that* person walking around Costco with my calculator, adding up everything before putting it into my cart.  And honestly, it has saved me from overspending so many times!

Add up everything as you put it into your cart to make sure you stay in budget and there won’t be any surprises when checking out.

Know what is a good deal or not.

Like I mentioned earlier, it’s important to check the price per unit of items before you buy them.  I recommend grabbing my free Stock Up Price Guide here to help you learn the best deals of popular food items.

Take a picture of the price guide so that you always have it with you while shopping.  Check it often to help you compare food items before buying them.

The Best Deals At Costco

Here is my list of my favorite deals at Costco.  Most of these items I buy every single time I go to Costco.  Other items I have just noticed that the price is great!

1.  Rotisserie Chicken

I am so in love with Costco’s Rotisserie Chicken.  It’s moist, delicious and a great deal for only $4.99.  This rotisserie chicken is always at the top of my Costco shopping list.

  • Rotisserie Chicken at Costco:  10 cents/oz.
  • Rotisserie Chicken at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  15 cents/oz.

2.  Gasoline

I always make a habit of filling my car up with gasoline every time I am at Costco, even if my tank is 3/4 full.  It’s by far the cheapest gas in my town and I never want to miss out on it.

  • Current Gasoline Price at Costco:  $1.92/gallon
  • Current Gasoline Price at Maverick:  $2.14/gallon

3.  Butter

Another one of the best deals at Costco is their butter.  I always buy this 4 lb. pack of butter.  I store 1 lb. in my fridge and the other 3 lbs. are kept in my freezer until I needed.  Today my local Costco has their 4 lb. butter for $6.95, making it only $1.78/lb.  Walmart Grocery Pickup Butter is priced at $2.98/lb.  

  • Related:  19 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Freeze

We go through about 4 lbs. of butter a month, making it perfect timing for my next Costco trip!

  • Kirkland Sweet Cream Butter at Costco:  11 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Sweet Cream Butter at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  18.6 cents/oz.

4.  Yeast

One of the very best deals that I have found at Costco is the Red Star Yeast.  If you do any baking, make sure to buy your yeast at Costco.

  • Red Star Yeast at Costco:  14 cents/oz.
  • Red Star Yeast at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  $1.16/oz.

*Frugal Tip:  Keep your yeast in the freezer to help it stay fresh longer.

5.  Cashews

The Kirkland brand cashews at Costco yet another fantastic deal.  You can get 2.5 lbs. of cashews for only $13.99, which is much cheaper than at Walmart Grocery Pickup.

  • Kirkland Whole Cashews at Costco:  35 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Deluxe Whole Cashews at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  43 cents/oz.

6.  Craisins

My kids love Craisins, but I haven’t bought them a lot in the past because they can be so expensive.  I was so excited to find these Craisins at Costco for a great price!

  • Ocean Spray Craisins at Costco:  14 cents/oz.
  • Ocean Spray Craisins at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  24 cents/oz.

7.  Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Another great buy at Costco is the organic extra virgin olive oil.  You can buy a 2 liter bottle (which will last a very long time!) for only $9.45.  If organic, extra virgin olive oil isn’t a priority to you, and you are happy with classic olive oil than buying it at Walmart Grocery Pickup will be the better deal.

  • Kirkland Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Costco:  14 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  19 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Classic Olive Oil at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  13.6 cents/oz.

8.  Buttermilk Kodiak Cake Mix

I may or may not have a *slight* obsession with Kodiak Cakes (ok, fine I totally am obsessed!).  It makes me so happy to be able to buy it at Costco for a much better deal than I use to buy it.  For only $11.49 you can get 4.5 lbs. of buttermilk Kodiak cake mix, which is much cheaper than at Walmart Grocery Pickup.

  • Buttermilk Kodiak Cake Mix at Costco:  16 cents/oz.
  • Buttermilk Kodiak Cake Mix at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  23 cents/oz.

9.  Spices

Many of Costco bulk spices are much cheaper than you will find at most grocery stores.  One of my favorites is this this 20 oz. chili powder from Costco for only $5.49.

  • Chili Powder at Costco:  27 cents/oz.
  • Chili Powder at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  32 cents/oz.

10.  Nutella

We absolutely love Nutella at our house.  I don’t buy it very often though because of the price.  I was so excited to find it at Costco for a stealer deal.

These two huge (33.5 oz. each) containers of Nutella are only $12.39!  If you buy Nutella regularly, I suggest buying it at Costco.

However!  If you don’t mind buying off brands, the Great Value brand of Nutella at Walmart IS even cheaper!

  • Nutella at Costco:  19 cents/oz.
  • Nutella at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  22 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Hazelnut Spread at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  15 cents/oz.

Related Article:  15 Products You Should Always Buy Generic

11.  Cheese

I buy one 2 lb. cheese loaf every time I go to Costco.  It’s almost half the price of the cheese I use to buy at Walmart Grocery Pickup and lasts weeks at our house!

  • Mild Cheddar Cheese at Costco:  $2.49/lb.
  • Mild Cheddar Cheese at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  $4.22/lb.

12.  1% Low-fat Milk

I personally do not buy milk at Costco, but it can be a good deal for many people.  My family are not huge milk drinkers, so we wouldn’t be able to drink the two gallons before it spoiled.  If you go through a lot of milk and like 1% milk, than this is a good deal for you.

  • Kirkland 1% Low-fat Milk at Costco:  $2.19/gallon
  • Great Value 1% Lowfat Milk at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  $2.28/gallon
  • Great Value Fat Free Milk at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  $2.19/gallon

13.  Frozen Fruit

Another one of the best deals at Costco is the frozen fruit.  I love buying a few packs of these to use in our smoothies.  These organic frozen Mango Chunks are just one example of the great prices Costco has on frozen fruit.

  • Frozen Mango Chunks at Costco:  11 cents/oz.
  • Frozen Mango Chunks at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  13 cents/oz.

14.  Organic Kirkland Creamy Peanut Butter

If you buy organic peanut butter, I suggest doing it at Costco.  You can buy 2-28 oz. jars of organic peanut butter for less than $10!  Which is a steal!  However, non organic peanut butter will be cheaper at Walmart Grocery Pickup.

  • Kirkland Organic Creamy Peanut Butter at Costco:  18 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Organic Creamy Peanut Butter at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  22 cents/oz.
  • Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter at Walmart Grocery Pickup:  9 cents/oz.

Shop Smart At Costco

It is possible to shop at Costco while on a budget!  I am so glad I have learned the tricks to shopping at Costco.  It has helped our family stock up our pantry and save money on groceries.  I hope these tips for the best deals at Costco will help your family too!

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How To Make Yarn Pom Poms

February 6, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

How To Make A Pom Pom Garland Out Of Yarn

I recently discovered how to make yarn pom poms and I am now obsessed!  These pom-poms turned out to be easy to make and so cute!  My daughters and I spent all evening making pom poms and experimenting with different sizes and techniques.

We decided to turn these yarn pom poms into a cute garland for Valentines Day.  I love how it turned out and am already planning more garlands in other themes and colors!  I see a spring garland in my near future!

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These were so fun (and cheap!) to make, I thought I would share an easy tutorial with all of you!  I was able to use items I already had at home and didn’t need to spend any money (yay!), but you can find some quality yarn for less than five dollars and it will make hundreds of pom-poms!

easy yarn pom pom tutorial - how to make yarn pom poms

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Gather Supplies

To make your yarn pom pom you will need to first gather your supplies.  For this project you will need:

  • Yarn (softer yarn seems to work best)
  • Sharp Scissors

Yep!  That’s all you need!  I told you these were easy!

How To Make Yarn Pom Poms

Now that we have the supplies, let’s start crafting!

First, take a small string of yarn and begin wrapping it around two of your fingers.

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Keep wrapping the yarn around your finger until the yarn looks a good size.  I just eyeballed it, but I probably twisted the yarn about 70-100 times.

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When the pom pom looks right, cut the yarn leaving about 6 inches of a tail.  You will then push the tail through your two fingers and pull it out the other side.

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Bring the tail up on top of the yarn and push it through the top of your two fingers.  Pull it tight (this is important!).

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Now, gently slide the yarn off of your fingers, making sure to keep the yarn pulled tight and kept across the middle (this was a little tricky, but you can do it!).

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Knot the tail and wrap the remaining tail across the other middle, this will form a plus sign.  Pull it tight and knot it.  This will form four sections.  Tie another knot securing the yarn.

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Next, grab some sharp scissors.  I used my fabric scissors (aka:  “if anyone uses these for anything other than fabric they will be in HUGE trouble” scissors). 

Begin cutting the loops apart in each section.  Make sure you do not cut the tied tail.  We only had this happened once, but it’s important to remember.

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Continue cutting all of the loops.  Once finished, it will not look very good and you’ll wonder if you did it right!  You did.  I promise.

The pom pom just needs some fluffing.  Shake it, separate the pieces and try to fluff it out as best as you can.

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Once your little ball of yarn is all fluffed out it’s time for a haircut!  This is when you will see your pom pom begin to take shape.

Trim the yarn pieces until they are all nice and even.  I like to cut them fairly short, but not to short.

Play around with it a little bit and you will find the style you like.  My daughters kept theirs a little more long, it’s all personal preference.

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That’s it!  Your pom pom is done!  Isn’t it cute????  The first one takes the longest…..to be honest, I threw away my first five (or was it ten????).

But, once I had a little practice I was able to whip them up much quicker.

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Stick some googly eyes on those pom poms and make little monsters for your kids, OR you can string it together to form a cute garland.  I chose the garland.

Pom Pom Garland Tutorial

Using your pom poms to make a garland is really quick and simple!

DIY pom pom garland tutorial

Gather Your Supplies

To make your pom pom garland you will need to first gather a few supplies.  You will need:

  • Yarn Pom Poms
  • String

After browsing through my house unable to find a string for my garland I resorted to the garage (I was refusing to spend money on this project!).

I found some string in my husbands stash of “stuff” and it worked really well.  Twine or even embroidery thread will work great too.

How To Make A Pom Pom Garland

First, tie a knot at the end of your string and use the string to thread a needle. 

You will then stick your needle right through the middle of your pom-pom, pull it along the string until it reaches the knot, and continue until your garland is at the desired length.

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Knot off the end and you are done!  You can hang your yarn pom-pom garland around your house, but we came up with a different idea.

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We decided to decorate one of our little Christmas Trees as a “valentine tree.”  We have been making little crafts for it all month and decided this pom pom garland would be the perfect addition!

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Let me know if you make a pom pom garland!  I would love to hear how it went.

Related Articles:

  • Yarn Hearts: An Easy Valentine Craft for Kids
  • A Frugal Family Valentines Day
  • Easter Egg Sun Catcher

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I hope this helped you understand how to make a yarn pom pom!

How To Budget With An Inconsistent Income

January 25, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to budget when you have an irregular income.

Have you been trying to budget with an inconsistent income and keep falling short?  Do not worry!  You are not alone!  This is a very common problem that people with irregular incomes experience.  When incomes changes from month to month it can be very hard to know how to budget.  I mean, if you don’t know how much money you’ll be earning each month, how do you decide how much to spend?  I get it, and I am here to help!  There are a few tricks you can use to make budgeting with an irregular income not only easier, but possible.  Today I’m excited to share my tips to help you learn how to budget with an inconsistent income.

First Things First

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s first do a quick run through and how to make a budget.  When it comes to budgeting, I recommend making a zero based budget. 

Zero based budgeting is really just a fancy term that means that when making your budget your expenses will equal your income.  Every dollar you will be earning will have a job, a category it will be put in.  This doesn’t mean you will be spending every dollar, just that you will find a category for every dollar in your budget.

This form of budgeting has helped my husband and I find so much financial success and limit our impulse spending.  If it’s not in the budget, we can’t buy it!

If you are new to zero based budgeting, or budgeting in general, make sure to grab my free Budget Cheat Sheets below to help you get started!

How To Budget With An Inconsistent Income

There are a few different tricks you can do when learning how to budget with an inconsistent income.  I suggest trying a few of these methods out until you find what works best for you and your income.

1.  Make your budget based on your lowest expected income.

My first tip to budgeting with a variable income is to make your budget based off of your lowest expected income for that month.  It’s always better to have to much money, instead of not enough, right?  Right.

When you budget off of your lowest expected income you can be confident in knowing you have budgeted enough money for your monthly expenses.  And, if your income ends up being higher, well, than that’s just icing on the cake!

To find your lowest expected income you will first need to review your income statements from the previous year.  Compare each month until you find the lowest amount you earned last year.

Use that amount of money as your base income for your budget.  

If throughout the month you earn more money than you your lowest expected, you can use that money to:

  • Pay off debt
  • Add to your Hills and Valley Fund (more about this below)
  • Save for retirement
  • Invest
  • Save for emergencies
  • Add to a sinking fund

2.  Budget off of the previous months income.

Instead of living off of the amount of money you will be earning this month, live off of your income from the previous month.

For Example:

Let’s say that you earn $5,000 in January, $3,200 in February, and $5,500 in March.

In February you will not budget or spend any of the $3,200 you will be earning.  Instead, you will be budgeting and spending the $5,000 you earned in January, and set aside your February earnings.  Then in March you will budget the $3,200 from February and save your March earnings until the next month.

Make sense?

Budgeting off of the previous months income can take some practice and self control, but it is a great way to ensure you have the money before you budget for the month.

If you find yourself constantly tempted to spend your monthly income, instead of the previous months, you might want to set up a separate bank account to store that money in until it’s time to use it.

  • Related:  How to Start Budgeting for Beginners

3.  Create a Hill and Valley Fund.

A Hill and Valley Fund is one of the most effective ways to budget with an inconsistent income.

The Hill and Valley Fund is based off of the “Hills” and “Valleys” many people with irregular incomes experience.  Some months your income will be big, like a Hill; and other months it might be a lot smaller, like a Valley.

Creating a Hill and Valley Fund is a way for you to help even out these variable income months.  A Hill and Valley Fund is similar to a sinking fund.

*A sinking fund is a fund you save into regularly, but only use when needed.

The best way to grow this fund is to save some of your excess money during a “Hill” month into this fund, which isn’t always easy, but so important.   Then, on the months when your income is low, a “Valley” month, you can use some of the money you have saved.

You can track your Hill and Valley Fund, similar to a sinking fund, within your budgeting programs.  Or, set up a separate banking account to keep this savings in.  Whichever works best for you!

Stay Consistent

It can be stressful when trying to learn how to budget with an inconsistent income.  One of the most important things to remember is to not let that stress deter you from budgeting.  Keep working your budget, trying different methods, and using your Hill and Valley fund and you will see success.

Try these three steps when making your next budget, and remember to stay consistent.  Consistency is key to living within a budget, no matter how much money you earn.  You can do it!  I believe in you!

 

Related Articles:

Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget

How to Get Your Spouse to Budget

The Best Frugal Living Tips You Need to Know

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