Sweet Frugal Life

Being Frugal Doesn't Make Life Any Less Sweet

10 Free Fathers Day Gift Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

Celebrate dad with these Free Fathers Day ideas.

Do you ever want to gift your Dad something extra special…..but constantly draw a blank???   This is how I feel every.single.holiday.  I am constantly racking my brain for that perfect “knock your socks off” gift…..but, I am also on a tight budget and don’t want to spend a lot of money on this gift. This makes it so difficult!  You know what I have learned though???  My dad doesn’t want me to spend a lot of money on him!  Sure, he wants to be loved and appreciated, but that doesn’t come with a price tag.  It comes through loving actions and careful thought.  So, I have started giving him Free Fathers Day Gifts.  They are all chosen from the heart with love and thought to his personality.  Here are a few of my gift ideas.

frugal fathers day ideas

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will receive compensation from purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Here are 10 Ways You can Show Dad You CARE, Without Spending a Dime

1.  Bake Him Something

Bake your dad his favorite treat!  Does he have a favorite cookie, or does he love fresh homemade bread?  Make it for him!  Be sure to package it in a gift bag with a nice ribbon for the perfect finishing touch.

My dad loves homemade snickerdoodles, so this is a gift I’ve given him for a few Fathers Day.  He loves the cookies and loves that I remember his favorite things.

2.  Watch the Game Together

If your dad loves to watch sports, invite him over to watch a game together.  Use this as a time to enjoy each others company and bond over something he enjoys.  Ask him questions about the game and take genuine interest in his interests.

My grandpa LOVES to watch “the game”, it honestly doesn’t matter what “the game” is, he just wants to watch it.  I lived with him very briefly a few years ago and I treasure the evenings when I sat down next to him, watched a game together, and listened to him explain all of his insights and opinions on what we were watching.

The simple moments spent with a loved one is often the times that bring the best memories, don’t you think???

3.  Give Him Service

Do something kind for your dad!  Does his garage need cleaned out or the lawn mowed?  Don’t even ask him first if he needs help!  Simply find a need, show up at his house, and get to work.  He will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and your willingness to help him without being asked.

4.  Send Him a Thoughtful Card

Pick out a nice card for your dad (from The Dollar Tree, of course), and write a thoughtful note inside.  Let him know just how much you appreciate everything he has done for you.  Stick it in the mail, or hand deliver it with a hug!

My love language is words of endearment, so a card means more to me than any other gift I could receive!

5.  Movie Night

Does your dad have a favorite movie?  Invite him over to watch the movie together.  Make sure to provide some popcorn and other treats (I love Good and Plenty…I know, I’m weird).

I always know I can get in some good quality time with my Father-In-Law if I offer to watch a John Wayne movie together!  I don’t necessarily enjoy John Wayne, but I know he does, and that’s what matters most!

4.  Get Outside

Is your father an outdoors man?  Suggest a day in the mountains together to go on a hike or fishing trip, choose whatever your dad enjoys most.  He’ll love that you’re the one doing the inviting!  Enjoy the quiet time together as a way to get to know him a little better.  Ask questions about his interests and childhood.  You just might learn something new!

7.  Game Night

Host an old fashioned game night at your house.  Invite your dad and a few of his friends and family members over.   Ask him to teach you one of his favorite games, or you can teach him one of yours!

Games are such a great ice breaker and the perfect way to have some laughs and bonding time together.  My favorite memories with my grandfather was playing games with him.  He didn’t talk much, but when we played games together he had a twinkle in his eye and I loved watching his quirky side come out.

Need a few game suggestions?  Here’s my list of our favorite frugal games.

8.  Best of Memory List

Make a fun list of all of your favorite memories together.  Include a few heartfelt memories, and some funny ones.   You could make the list a little extra special by including a few photos!

I have made my parents a few of these memory books from Mixbook.  They aren’t free, but you can make one for less than $20.  Memory Books are such a sweet keepsake.

9.  Cook Him Dinner

Invite your dad over for dinner and cook him all of his favorite foods.  Let him relax while you do all of the work.  Don’t forget to decorate the table in his favorite colors or interests (maybe even a sports team theme???).

My dad loves antiques, so if I were to decorate a table for him, I would be sure to include a few antiques as centerpieces.  Think for a few minutes about what your dad loves, and try to add it to the table in some way.  It’s these special details that can make a big difference.

10.  Play a Sport Together

Does your dad love sports?  Spend an evening outside playing a sport together.  You could shoot some hoops, play catch, or whatever it is that your father would enjoy most.  You might not be a sports fan, but play it with him anyways.  This makes it even more special that you were willing to put your interests aside for your sweet dad.

In Conclusion

There are so many cheap ways to celebrate Fathers Day!  The most important thing is you show him you care and love him.  Choose one of these free Fathers Day ideas and spoil him rotten!

 

Related Articles:

Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

10 Valentines gifts for him under $10!

 

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Your dad will love these Free Fathers Day ideas.

10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The best tips to save money on groceries.

Groceries is one of the biggest monthly expenses in most households.  And, unfortunately food prices continue to rise every single day.  The good news is that this is one of the expenses that can be lowered, it just takes a little extra effort.  I’ve been learning how to save money on groceries for over a decade now.  It has taken a lot of trial and error, but I have finally found a few tricks that work.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I may be compensated by purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

secrets to spend less on groceries

1.  Meal Plan

Make a meal plan for all of your weekly meals and snacks.  Browse through pinterest boards, and recipe books to give you fresh ideas of what to cook each week.  As you meal plan, make a list of  groceries to buy.  Take this list with you to the grocery store and only buy what you wrote down, nothing else!

A good meal plan will be written based on what you already have in your pantry and cupboards.  Take a few minutes to take inventory of what you already have at home and plan your meals around those items.

Meal planning limits impulse buys and the temptation to eat out.  Do not skip this important step!

2.  Keep it Simple

It’s fun to experiment and try making a few fancy meals.  But, when you meal plan remember to think about the cost of ingredients.  Sometimes those fancy meals have ingredients that will cost you a lot of money.

Try simplifying how you cook to save money on groceries.  You don’t need to have simple meals every day of the week, but try to plan a few meals each week that are simple and basic.

Here are a few simple dinner ideas:  breakfast for dinner, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta bake, bean burritos, spaghetti, quesadillas, etc.

3.  Buy What’s On Sale

As you meal plan check the weekly grocery ads to see what’s on sale for the week.  Plan your meals around those sales.  For example:  If chicken is on sale, I will plan a few meals with chicken.

If you have room in your grocery budget buy extra of what’s on sale.  If you buy it when it’s on sale, you will be spending less in the long run.  I like to stock up on snacks, cereal, fruit (buy fresh and freeze for later), and canned goods during sales.

The best way to check ads is by using the Flipp App.  It’s a completely free app to use and very easy to navigate.  You will enter your zipcode, select your favorite stores, and then can browse each of the ads.  There are new ads each Wednesday.

4.  Shop Your Pantry

Before you ever meal plan or even look at the weekly ads, look through your pantry.  Take a quick inventory of what you already have.  Plan your meals around those items.  Turn it into a game and try to come up with as many meals as you can, only using the ingredients you own.  This is a great way to use up the items you bought shopping sales.

If you have kids, turn this into a game.  Tell your kids that you are playing  Box Car Children (did anyone else love those books as kids????).  You can only eat the food you can find and gather around the house.  Kids love this!

Another way I use up my pantry is by having regular YO-YO nights.  YO-YO stands for “You’re On Your Own” and is really just a fancy way of saying we are having leftovers for dinner.  When I plan Yo-Yo for dinner the family knows we are eating leftovers and whatever can be found in the pantry.  Cheapest dinner around!

5.  Utilize Cashback!

Take advantage of every cashback app available.  It hardly takes any time to scan your receipts and you get FREE MONEY!

If I ever see my husband throw a receipt in the garbage without getting cashback I ask him, “Would you ever throw 50 cents in the trash can?  No!  But when you throw away a receipt without scanning it first, it is the same as throwing away money.”  The small cashback adds up!  In the 5ish years I have been using cashback apps I have gotten hundreds of dollars  back.

My Fave Grocery Cashback Apps

Ibotta:  The first cashback app I ever used was ibotta, and I’m still using it weekly.  It’s so easy to use!

All you have to do is shop, check the app for rebates, scan your receipt, and the money is instantly put into your ibotta account.  Easy.  Peasy.  They have a wide selection of rebates, and I can always find something to earn on.  My favorite rebates are the “any brand” rebates they often put on items such as milk, produce, pantry items, beauty and household.

*******Sign up for Ibotta with this link and you will get up to a $20 welcome bonus!  Yay!  This is the perfect way to try it out!***********

 

Discover Card:  My FAVORITE way to earn cashback is by shopping with my Discover Card.  I know a lot of people don’t like using credit cards, and I get it!  But, for me, this has been the best way for us to earn more money.

In short, when I shop with my Discover Card I automatically earn cashback on all purchases.  They give you 1% cashback on EVERYTHING and 5% on different categories that are rotated monthly.  (Currently, I am receiving 5% on groceries).

You don’t have to do anything, just use your card and your cashback will grow.  I earn around $500 cashback with Discover a YEAR, and all I do is shop like normal!

Fetch Rewards:  Fetch Rewards is hands down the easiest cashback app to use!  All you have to do download the Fetch Rewards app, scan your grocery receipt, and fetch will automatically reward you with points.  It’s seriously that easy!

These points can be redeemed for gift cards to ALLLL of your fave stores (I usually choose Amazon or Target!).  One of my favorite parts of Fetch Rewards is that your points can be redeemed for as little as $3 (3,000 points equals $3).  This makes collecting the reward quick and fun.

Checkout 51: Checkout 51 is very similar to ibotta.  You shop, scan your receipt and qualified purchases and you will get the rebated money instantly in your account.  Once you reach $20 in your account you can request your money, same as ibotta.  Most importantly, it only takes a few minutes to check for rebates and one minute to scan your receipt.  I have made over $50 cashback using Checkout 51!

6.  Cook From Scratch

The more you cook from scratch, the less money you will spend on groceries.  I know how big the temptation is to grab the prepacked foods at the grocery store.  But, if you really want to save money on groceries you need to learn to resist this temptation.

If cooking feels really overwhelming to you, start small with a few simple recipes.  Slowly try new things.  Don’t let a few failures get you down.  I have been cooking almost my whole life and I still make a few flops every now and then.

If you struggle finding the time to cook start meal prepping during the week.  Set aside one day each week as your meal prep day.  This might be a weekend, evening, or whenever you have free time.

Your meal prep day will be the day you cook up your meat, cut up veggies, and mix up a few snacks.  These can all be stored in your fridge to use throughout the week for meals.

7.  Buy Meat on Sale

Meat is one of the biggest grocery expenses.  Get into the habit of only buying it when it’s on sale.

One way to get cheaper meat is to buy it in bulk.  Look for places selling bulk meat, like Butcher Box, and stock up when they are having sales.

7.  Shop Less Often

How many times have you gone to the grocery store for “just one thing” and left with a cart full of food?!?!?  It has happened to me more times than I would like to admit!  The less times we go to the grocery store, the less money we will spend (I know you’re shocked right).

The next time you feel that temptation to run to the store for one little thing, don’t do it!  Instead, figure out how to make it work without buying that one ingredient.  Look up a good substitute ingredient, or find something else to make.  I promise your bank account will thank you!

8.  Calculate Your Spending

Make sure you don’t go over your grocery budget by keeping track of how much you are spending while at the grocery store (before checking out!).  Whip out your phone calculator and add up each item as you put it into your shopping cart.

This helps keep you on track so there is no surprises at the checkout counter.  If you see you are going over your budget, take some of the food out of your cart and put them back on the shelf.

The EASIEST way to keep track of how much you spend while grocery shopping is to shop using Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup.  This is probably the best invention ever.  Not only does it save me time and sanity (hello no crying kids in the grocery cart), but it also saves me so much money!

The Walmart Grocery App is easy to use.  Just open it up, click the items you want to add to your cart, and then check out when done!  You will select a time and day to pick up your groceries at your nearest Walmart.  A nice Walmart employee will bring your groceries out straight to your car and load them up for you!  It’s the best!!

Grocery shopping this way helps me easily keep track of how much I am spending.  Before I check out I look at how much money I have spent, if I have gone over the grocery budget I delete a few items until I get to the right amount.  I haven’t gone over budget since I started doing this!

********If you want to try Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup (AKA My Favorite Thing Ever!) you can get $10 off your first order by using this link!

9.  Buy Generic

I use to be such a name brand snob (not proud of it) and insisted I would never buy generic.  Many years later I am so glad I saw the error of my ways.Most generic grocery brands are just as good as the name brand, sometimes even better!  I now wish I would have realized this earlier, we could have saved so much more money!

Try buying less name brand and more generic and you will notice a huge savings on your grocery spending.  This is such a simple change that can make a big difference.

10.  Meatless Mondays

Spend less money on expensive meats by incorporating a few meatless meals into your weekly meal plan.  We like to have Meatless Mondays, which is one day every week when I plan a meal without meat.  You can set up your meatless days however works best for you.

I have found the best meatless meals are meals with beans, quinoa, soups and pastas.

BONUS

11.  Learn from Others

One of the best things I have one for my grocery budget is to study!  I read blogs, follow money saving Instagram accounts, and do what I can to study and learn from others grocery tips.  It takes time, and it takes a little bit of effort, but it has helped me tremendously!

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Money Saving Mom.  She gives realistic advice to help moms (and anyone!) save money.  I actually just bought her BRAND NEW ebook Slash Your Grocery Bill:  25 Tried and True Strategies and was so impressed!  She goes over 25 of the best methods to save money on groceries, giving details and easy to follow instructions.

I actually had no idea you could freeze baking mixes until I ready this book (it’s shared in tip #16!).  I am planning on whipping up a few baking mixes today and sticking them in my freezer for later use.

The best part is she has the book on sale for only $8.50!  Don’t waste any time and download Slash Your Grocery Budget today!  It is full of so much money saving goodness!

In Conclusion

I know you save money on groceries!  Try a few of the tips in this article, the more you try, the more you will save.  The most important thing is to never quit.  It takes constant effort to spend less at the grocery store.  I know you can do it!

 

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I know you can save money on groceries with these strategies.

 

 

The Best Budget Travel Tips

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Sharing my best Budget Travel Tips for your next vacation.

Do you long to to see the world, but finances are always holding you back?  I get it, I have this inner struggle almost daily.  But guess what I have finally learned……you CAN travel while on a budget!  We have successfully traveled to Disneyland, Kauai,  New York City, and more, all without spending a fortune.  You can do it too, you can travel, make memories, and see new places….it just takes a bit more planning, and a little more effort.  Today I’m sharing 17 of my Favorite Budget Travel Tips!  I wanted to gather even extra advice, so I asked my amazing Instagram followers for their budget travel hacks as well.  My wonderful followers delivered with some great responses and budget travel tips.

20 Plus Budget Travel Hacks

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made from links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Budget Travel Planning

1.  Plan Ahead

One of the most important budget travel tips is to plan thoroughly.  Plan your trips well ahead of travel time.  This will give you the time needed to search out the best deals, learn the peak travel times, and begin your travel Sinking Fund.  I prefer planning at least a year in advance; but anywhere between 6-12 months is ideal.

2.  Research

Study, research, and learn everything you can about the place you want to go.  Read travel blogs, check out books from the library, and a regularly check out travel websites to watch for deals on hotel and flights.  This gives you a good idea of how much the trip will cost, so when you see a good deal, you will know it’s a good deal.

3.  Be OK With Less

We have all seen the picture perfect vacations, with the expensive restaurants and luxuries.  It is fun to dream about these ideal vacations…but it’s more fun to be debt free!

Learn to be OK with a vacation that is maybe less than glamorous.  Ask yourself, “are you going on a vacation to relax and make memories, or to have the best pictures to show all of your friends????”  I bet it’s to make memories!

Most of us want a trip that is fun and relaxing, one where we can rejuvenate and make memories.  This can all be accomplished WITHOUT the fancy resorts.  Be mindful of your personal reality and financial situation.

This might mean your vacation will be a camping trip, or a stay cation.  For some it just might even be a stay at a resort island.  No matter the trip you can afford, love it, embrace it and make it the time of your life!

4.  Make a Budget and Stick to It

After some thorough research you should have a good idea of how much your trip will cost.  Use this information and your monthly income to make your trip budget.

Write this number down and commit to it.  You will find it extremely easy to spend a little extra here, and a little extra there, and before you know it you have gone FAR over budget.  Practice self control and don’t allow yourself any wiggle room.

5.  Travel Sinking Fund

Once your travel budget is in place, you need to make a Sinking Fund.  This will be a fund you save into over a long period of time.

Choose your target travel date, and divide your Sinking Fund by the number of months until travel.

For example:  if I had a budget of $1000 and wanted to travel in 6 months, I would divide $1000 by 12 and get $84.  I now know that I need to save $84 into my sinking fund each month to have enough money to cover the trip.

6.  Travel During Off-Peak Times

If possible plan your travel dates during off-peak travel times are for your specific destination (this will vary based upon where you are going).  Traveling off-peak will save you money on flights, hotels, and activities.  You’ll also be treated to less crowds!  (my fave!)

Off peak traveling does come at a small sacrifice.  To save money you might not have the best weather or specific circumstances, but it will save you money, focus on the positive!

More Travel Planning Tips From Instagram:

mommypa123:

“Besides having a vacation sinking fund, I buy stuff for vacation after season on clearance.”

melfinaw:

“RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH”

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

sellybelly:

“Travel off season!  Sometimes waiting just 1 week after “peak” times can save you hundreds.”

How to Travel When You are On a Budget

Savings On Traveling

7.  Tuesday Travel

Tuesday is the secret budget travel date.  Airfare is commonly cheaper on Tuesdays, than other days of the week.  Knowing this, try to plan your travel dates around Tuesdays.

8.  Road Trip

Seriously consider driving to your destination instead of flying.  The costs are significantly less, and some of the best family memories can be made in a car!  Really!

9.  Incognito Browsing Window

When you are searching flights, change your browser to incognito.  Websites use cookies to monitor your browsing habits; if they see you are searching for a particular flight, they will raise the prices.  Fortunately, with an incognito browsing window you can look at flights without being seen by cookies (yay!).

10.  Only Pack Carry-On Luggage

Most airlines charge for all checked luggage.  Save that money and only bring a carry-on suitcase.

Honestly, this is so hard for me (I like to pack options….)!  I am that person who is always sitting on my suitcase, trying to pack my clothes down while zipping it up at the same time.; all while looking longingly at my pile of clothes that didn’t fit into the suitcase (cue sad violins).

But, even though I don’t like to pack less, it is WORTH IT!  And truly, I never miss that extra “stuff” once I’m on vacation.

11.  Check Multiple Airports

When booking flights check all airports in the area you are traveling to.  You can usually find much cheaper deals at a smaller, less popular airport in the area.  This might mean you have to travel a little further to get to your final destination, but the savings is worth it.

What’s Instagram Saying????

thingsilearntalongtheway:

“Flying isn’t the only way to get around.  I once took a 12 hour overnight bus to save $500.”

amandaraybould:

“Pack half of what you think you need to pack so you don’t ever have to check a bag!”

hayleebroadhead:

“Use the Gas Buddy app.”

kkrhea12:

“Gate check your bag for free instead of paying when you initially check in, $25 saved!”

How To Cut Costs On Travel Food

10.  Pack Your Own Food

Save on food costs by packing as much of your own food as you can.  If you’re driving, pack a cooler full of cheap, quick to fix meals.

If you’re flying use Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup to order your groceries online, and the pick them up when you get to your vacation spot.  Always pack your own snacks and a lunch to eat at the airport.  Airport food is so expensive!

11.  Book a room with a kitchen

When booking a hotel room, find one that has a small kitchen.  This will help you prepare more food at the hotel and save on expensive eating out costs.  Or, even better stay at an Airbnb Rental.

I love to make easy, quick to fix meals while traveling.  We like oatmeal, sandwiches, frozen dinners, etc.

12.  Restaurant Gift Cards

Buy a few gift cards on Restaurant.com for restaurants in your travel destination.  These gift cards are sold at a discounted price giving you more food for less price!  (yay!)

You can also buy restaurant gift cards at Target.  If you use your Target Red Card you will get 5% off your purchase, including gift cards!

13.  Share Meals

When eating out order one large meal and request a few extra plates.  You can all share the one meal together.  Most waiters and restaurants are happy to oblige to this request!

What’s Instagram Saying?

flybytheseatofourpants:

“Bring your own food, eat out once a day.  Use credit card hotel points.”

garnishathome:

“Book an Airbnb with a kitchen so you can do some, or all, of the cooking yourself.”

theresa.runn:

“I make pizza the night before our travel day so we save money and time by not having to stop for lunch.”

Where to Stay

14.  Rent a Home

Consider renting a home from Airbnb instead of staying at a hotel.  The prices are much lower than hotels, and we love having a little extra space for our family.

****Bonus:  Save even more and get $40 off your first Airbnb Rental using this link! *******

15.  Earn Cashback

Always book your hotel through the Rakuten website.  This is the easiest way to earn cashback.

Rakuten partners with many popular travel websites, such as Travelocity and Priceline, to give you cashback on your normal purchases.  Many hotels offers 10% cashback on hotel room bookings.  This is free money, don’t miss out!

It’s so easy too!  Simply log into Rakuten, click the website name you want to shop on, and book your room as usual.  You will receive your cashback check every few months in the mail.

********Bonus:  Sign up for Rakuten using this link and you will get an EXTRA $10 cashback after you spend $25 (which is so easy to do if you’re traveling!)**********

What’s Instagram Saying????

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

3girlsmom29:

“Don’t buy anything at the hotel.”

Anonymous:

“I find that boutique hotels have modern looking interiors at a fraction of the cost of staying at a big hotel chain.”

Entertainment

16.  Free Activities

Every city you travel to will have free activities to do, you just have to search for them.  Take some time, do a little research and find the free activities every where you go.  Spend the day at a beach, explore a new park, go on a hike or explore a free museum.  You might just stumble upon a secret treasure.

17.  Use City Pass

Explore a new city using a a City Pass, or something similar.   City Pass gives you huge discounts on the top city attractioins, and is available in most large cities.

What’s Instagram Saying????

stewbrosmom:

“We always do Restaurant.com, Groupon, Living Social for discounts on food and activities.”

chantelle.hitchock:

“Camping is cheap. Also, travel near national parks – hiking is free!  Pack snacks for road trips.”

garnishathome:

“Google the best free sights/activities for the area you are visiting and plan ahead.”

 

In Conclusion

A good vacation is such a great way to unwind and relax!  You can enjoy this without going into debt or spending a fortune.  Just remember to do your research and plan smartly.

 

Related Articles:

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What are a few of your budget travel tips?

How To Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Everything you need to know about how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Truthfully, I use to be so in love with my cable TV (this was back in my non-frugal days).  I remember telling my friends that, “I could never live without my DVR!”  I didn’t even know how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Well, years and years later, I am here to tell you that I CAN actually live without cable (go figure 😉 )!

Five years ago we decided to make some big cuts in our budget.  When the talk of whether or not we should cut out the cable I wasn’t super thrilled with the idea.  But, I wanted to trim our budget and knew that this was a need, not a want.  So, we cancelled it.

And you know what.  There has not been a single day when I have regretted it.  There have definitely been a few times when I have MISSED having cable,  but I have never regretted getting rid of it.  The amount of money that we have saved is so worth it.

If you are wanting to cut costs in your budget, I highly recommend cutting out the expensive cable or satellite television.  I’ll share a few budget friendly options below.

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save money today with cheap tv options

Budget Friendly Cable Alternatives

It wasn’t even hard to find a few cheaper services for our family.

Digital Antennae

The first and cheapest option we did was to buy a digital antennae.  This was a one time purchase of $30 and enables us to get all of the public channels for free.  The only TV we had for a few months was this digital antennae.  If you are on a strict budget, this is the perfect option for you.  It provides great TV with NO monthly payments.  My kids love watching PBS Kids and my husband and I enjoy the news and a few favorite evening shows (I’m talking about you This Is Us).

Library

Did you know that your local library has hundreds of free videos available to checkout??  They do!  If you aren’t using this great service, I recommend starting now.  We love to stop every week and choose a couple of new books and videos while returning the old ones.

Young woman watching TV

Streaming Services

Looking for more options than a digital antennae provides?  Check out these affordable subscription services.

Netflix

Netflix is seriously one of the best inventions ever!  They have just about anything you would want to watch, available 24/7!  Documentaries, horror films, chick flicks, popular TV series, kids shows, and more!  Everything is there!

With plans starting at just $8.99/month, this is a great budget friendly option for TV viewing.

Hulu

Another great option is Hulu.  They are one of the cheapest options with the lowest plans only $5.99/month.  One of my favorite things about Hulu is there great selection of new releases and current TV shows available.  You don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on current TV.

Disney+

One of the newer TV subscription services available is Disney+.  Our family have quickly became huge fans!  We love all of the Marvel and Disney options.  My teen/tween daughters especially enjoy watching the Disney Channel original series.  Plans start at only $7.99/month.

Amazon Prime Video

We all love Amazon (don’t we? or is that just me???).   One of the awesome perks of Amazon is Amazon Prime.  With their low price of just $12.99/month you are given access to stream hundreds of popular TV shows and movies, including a few Amazon Prime originals.  PLUS!  Amazon Prime offers access to music, books, two day shipping and more!

How To Watch

You can watch these streaming services on your smart TV, computer, or phone.

If you don’t have a smart TV I recommend getting a Roku.  The Roku gives you the ability to access all of these subscription services in one easy place.  It is a one time low price and very user friendly.  There are hundreds of apps/channels available to add to your device, some of them are even free…no subscription required!  Yay!

The Results

By only subscribing to a couple of streaming services and cutting out our cable we have saved $500 a year!  This means that in the 7 years since we have cancelled our cable we have saved $3,500!

Just think about what you could buy for $3,500.  I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend that money on something other than TV.  The little expenses always add up!

 

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I hope this helped you know how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Dealing With Unexpected Expenses In Your Budget

By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

How to Deal With Unexpected Expenses In Your budget.

Every month my husband and I sit down for our monthly budget meeting.  Is it fun?  Nope.  Do I look forward to it?  Big no!  Do I do it anyways because I know it will save me money????  Absolutely!

The monthly budget meeting is the time for us to discuss the previous months budget.  We go over what worked, what didn’t work and we put together a new budget for the next month.

Our budget is a zero based budget, meaning every single penny that comes in during the month is budgeted to a certain category.  There is no excess.  This not only helps keep us on track, but it also means we have to stick to what was budgeted, no exceptions!

We try to brainstorm every expense that is likely to arise over the next month.  Sometimes, we forget something.  And other times expenses arise that we had no way to plan for.

Take last month for example.

We had our budget meeting and thought we were entering the month prepared.  A couple of week later we found out that we were going to have to pay $120 for my daughter to participate in track.

We had already agreed that she would be allowed to do track this year, we just didn’t realize how soon that fee would be due.

So, we went back to our budget and made it work.  We were able to cut a few other expenses down in a different category so that we could come up with the $120.  We have done this enough times that it’s become very easy and low stress.

If you are new to budgeting though, it might feel a little daunting when these unexpected expenses come.  I’m here to give you some pointers and help along the way.

5 Ways You Can Prepare (or tweak) Your Budget for Unexpected Expenses

What to do When

Planned Ahead for the Unexpected

It’s not a secret that unexpected expenses happen.  So, it’s our job to prepare ourselves.  Here are two ways you can plan for the unexpected.

Emergency Fund

An Emergency Fund is so important to have at all times.  I can not stress this fact enough, if I could scream it from the rooftops…I would.  Whether we like it or not, emergencies happen!

My daughters track payment was NOT an emergency.  Make sure you only use this fund for true emergencies.  There are other ways to deal with unexpected expenses than dipping into this important account.

I use to be one that thought we were immune to emergencies, and then one day my husband unexpectedly lost his job.

It was awful.  But.  The one thing that kept us going and kept me calm was the fact that we had an emergency fund in place.  Having that emergency fund in place was one of the only things that kept me going.  I had the peace that we would be OK.

I know that contributing to an emergency fund can be difficult…..especially when you have dozens of bills to pay, retirement to save for, mouths to feed, debt to pay off, and a life to live….I get it!

A few tips to help…..

Start small.

Try saving just 2% of each paycheck.  As it gets easier to do, slowly increase that percentage.

Set up a direct deposit.

Look into your bank to set up a direct deposit into a savings account (for emergencies only).  This account should be separate from your checking account so it’s harder to use.

When you set up a direct deposit the money is automatically deposited into your emergency savings account from your paycheck (or checking account, depending how it’s set up).  This way you don’t even have the choice to use that money for anything else.  If you never even see it, than you won’t even miss it!

Miscellaneous Category

You need to include a Miscellaneous Category within your monthly budget.  This category is meant for the unplanned expenses that come during the month.

We put $150 into miscellaneous each month.  This money is used for all of the situations that arise, but weren’t planned for.

When my daughter came to us with the information that it was time to pay for track, we knew we could cover it with our miscellaneous budget.  However, we also knew that we would need to watch our spending in the other areas to make sure that no other “miscellaneous” items arose.

 

 

Fixing Unexpected Expenses

Here are a few ways to make the budget work if you don’t have (or don’t want to use) money from your miscellaneous category or emergency fund.

Pause Spending

If you find yourself over spending in a few of your categories put a pause on all unnecessary spending for the rest of the month.

This may include stopping things like going out to eat, going to movies or buying clothes.  You might also want to limit your groceries, here are a few ways you can spend less on groceries.

This is not an easy adjustment, but remember it is only temporary.

Make Extra Money

If you need some quick cash, look into some ways to earn extra money.

Consider starting one of these side hustles that can be done from home.

Another way to get some extra money is to sell some items around your house.  This is actually my FAVE way to fix the budget.  All it takes is 5 minutes of taking pictures and writing a brief description of whatever you need to sell, and bam!  You’ve made money!

Here are 5 Websites you Can Sell Your Stuff for Quick Cash.  I prefer Facebook Marketplace, but I’ve used them all!

Take a look around your house to find a few items you haven’t touched for a few years (a basement storage room is usually the first place I look), and list that clutter for sale!  If you need some ideas, I’ve got you covered, just check out my article:  10 Items In Your House You Can Sell Quickly To Make Money

Keep Stepping Forward

The most important thing is that you don’t discouraged when these unexpected expenses arise.

There are always be bumps in the road, but you can overcome every single one of those bumps.  I promise!

No budget is perfect.  Mine certainly isn’t!  But.  I keep trying every month to improve little by little.  Learn from each mistake and keep your head up!

 

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Share in the comments how you deal with unexpected expenses in your budget??

Fix Your Budget After a Day of Impulse Shopping

By: Sweet Frugal Life11 Comments

You can fix your impulse shopping mistakes!

It happens to every single person…..and it usually happens more than once.  Everyone goes through moments of weakness when they throw all their common sense out the window, ignores their budget, and spends a day impulse shopping.

It actually happened to me just last week.  Yep.  You read that right!  Miss Sweet Frugal Life ignored her own advice and didn’t stick to her budget.  (not perfect!)

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Let me start at the beginning.

I have been slowly trying to decorate my music room.  When we moved into our house three years ago this room sat completely empty.  We have had to buy all new furnishings, and it has been expensive.

But, after years of buying a few pieces every month, I could finally see the finish line!  All I needed was a few items for the walls and then it would be done!  (yaaay!)

We did everything “by the book.”  Budgeted $50 for two frames from Hobby Lobby, stuffed my cash envelopes with the exact amount.  And I went shopping.

After a quick browse through the clearance section, I walked straight back to the frames.  Unfortunately, while on my way I walked past a picture that stopped me in my tracks.

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It was perfect and EXACTLY what I needed to finish decorating my music room.  I honestly thought that this picture was made for my house.  The colors and the style was just what I wanted and I already knew which wall I would hang it on.

I KNEW that I shouldn’t buy it, I understand Spending Triggers and I teach people daily how to avoid them.  So, I stood in the exact same spot at Hobby Lobby for ten minutes while an internal debate ensued in my head.

I knew I shouldn’t buy it, I only had enough money in my cash envelope to purchase the two frames, and I REALLY wanted the frames.

The Sad, Truthful Results

You all know how the story ends.  I let out a sigh, threw caution to the wind, and bought that picture using my credit card.

I’m not proud of this moment.  I sure wish I could tell all of you that I’m perfect ALL of the time and never impulse shop!  But, that just would not be true.  I’m just a regular lady trying my best….and sometimes that means failure.

But, you know what!  You can recover from impulse shopping.  There are things you can do to fix your mistakes.

Here are a few ways you can recover from impulse shopping.

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Give it a Day

Do not take off any tags or packaging for at least one day.  Set the item somewhere in your house where you will look at it often.  This will give you time to decide if you TRULY TRULY want to keep what you bought.

Most of the time when I do this exercise I learn quickly that I don’t want the item as much as I thought I did while at the store.  The guilt usually gets the best of me and I decide to take it back to the store.

Other times, such as the case of this picture, I decide that I do really want to keep it and I am pleased with the purchase.

Return It

When the guilt is more than you can handle you should take whatever you bought back to the store and return it.  You can return just about anything, and it’s always super quick and easy to do, just make sure to always keep your receipts for a smoother process.

Whenever I return an impulse buy I immediately feel the guilt being lifted from me.  I have NEVER regretted a return….but I HAVE regretted many purchases….think about it.

Sell Something

If you decide you DO want to keep your purchase, which is fine, you will need to come up with extra money to cover the cost.  One of the quickest ways to earn extra money is to sell something.  If you’re stumped on what to sale, check out this article for a few ideas.

This is what I decided to do last week, I had a lamp in my music room that I liked, but I just hadn’t been loving.  I had been contemplating getting rid of it for months and knew that this was the perfect time to do so.  I quickly listed the lamp on Facebook Marketplace and was able to earn $40 from it!  This easily covered the cost of the picture (plus an extra $10)!

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Adjust Your Budget

If you want to keep your impulse buy, and don’t want to sell anything, than you will need to find some extra money within your budget.

It is perfectly acceptable to move money around in your budget from time to time.  Try not to make a habit of it, but occasionally will be fine.

Take a good look at your budget and see if there is anything you can adjust to cover the costs of what you bought.  Could you cancel your plans to go out to dinner that night?  Or pass on a new pair of shoes?  Find something (anything!) you can do without for this month and use that money to cover the cost of your purchase.

Side Hustle

If the amount you spent was considerably high you might want to consider getting a temporary (or permanent even!) side hustle.  Is their a skill you have that could bring in a little extra money?

Perhaps making and selling a craft?  Babysit a child?  Dog walk?  Clean houses?   I truly believe EVERYONE has MULTIPLE talents they can offer to the world to bring in extra cash.  Make a list of your talents and choose one or two to turn into a side hustle.

In Conclusion

Honestly, I’m glad I came across this picture.  It completed our music room and it’s a purchase I am so happy with!

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BUT…..I should have waited to buy it until we budgeted the money for it.  I made a mistake!  However, I learned from the mistake!  And next time I will not make the same mistake again.

Budgeting, frugal living is not about perfection….it’s about PROGRESS!  Two steps forward, one step back is ALWAYS better than standing still.

Liked what you read?  Pin it for later reference!

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You might be interested in a few of my other articles:

Budgeting for Beginners: FAQ

A Financial Tale of Two Sisters

What I have learned about living a sweet and frugal life on ONE income

Don’t stress next time you impulse shop, you can fix it!

Our Budget Friendly Disneyland Vacation

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

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The best frugal tips for visiting Disneyland!

Last fall we took our family on a vacation to Southern California.  It was the best week exploring California, bonding as a family and enjoying a budget friendly Disneyland vacation!

I started planning this trip a couple of years before it actually happened (planner by nature here!).  We knew we wanted to go on a family vacation in a year or two and we knew that we wanted to save up for it slowly.   Today I wanted to share with you the steps we took as we planned, saved, and explored California all while on a budget.

We spent a few nights in San Diego and a few nights in Anaheim.  Today’s post will be all about our stay in Anaheim.  Be sure to check out my post How we visited San Diego on a Budget to read about our few days in San Diego.

Disney Savings Plan

First, we set our budget.  We wanted to spend less than $5,000 on the trip.  Once the budget was set we developed an aggressive 52 week savings plan.  I pinned this chart up on my wall to keep me focused and excited as I saved little by little each week and got to cross off each week as our Disney fund grew.

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I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I may receive compensation for purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Hotel

Once we had our savings plan set I began researching hotels.  Daily I checked travel websites and read review after review of different hotels.  We needed a hotel large enough to sleep our family of five, one that included an in-room microwave and fridge, free hotel breakfast and the kids requested a pool.  🙂

I was thrilled to find a great deal and exactly what we wanted in Springhill Suites Anaheim Maingate.  We purchased the hotel through Get Away Today as part of a Disney Vacation package.  The kids loved that we had the pool to ourselves every single night.

Springhill Suites provided a huge breakfast each morning, they even had Nutella (my favorite!) for my toast.  The room felt nice and spacious with two queen beds and a small couch (which turned into a bed) and desk.  I think my favorite part of the room was the large closet where we could hang up our clothes and stash our suitcases.  Don’t forget to grab my $10 off coupon from Get Away Today later in this post!

Tickets

Get Away Today is the absolute cheapest place to buy Disneyland tickets.  Promise.  I have searched and searched and could not find any cheaper than what Get Away Today offered.

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February 14, 2020 Update:

Disneyland just raised their prices effective immediately.  However, if you purchase your Disneyland tickets through Get Away Today now through February 20 you can still get the 2019 ticket price!  This will save you up to $75 per ticket!

You can use these tickets anytime throughout 2020.  If you have plans to go to Disneyland this year, buy your tickets now through Get Away Today BEFORE the prices rise.

Plus, if you use code SweetFrugal you can get an extra $10 off a vacation package.

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We decided to spend two days at Disneyland and bought a one day at each park pass.  This made it possible for us to spend an entire day at both Disneyland and California Adventure.  The parks are each so large, I find it’s not worth the extra money to buy the park hopper ticket.  These tickets were part of our hotel vacation package.

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We are huge Harry Potter fans over here, so knew we had to include  a one day pass to Universal Studios to our vacation package.  It was the best day exploring Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.  If you are a Harry Potter fan, you MUST visit Universal Studios.  The attention to detail was incredible!

 

 

Transportation

Plane tickets for a family of five are pricey, so we decided to drive the 13 hours to California.  I know that not everyone has this ability, but if you live within 15 hours driving distance, I highly recommend it!

Road trips can be a lot of fun!  We made multiple sight seeing stops, listened to audio books, watched movies and played many car games.

While in Anaheim we decided to use the ART shuttle to take us to and from the Disneyland resort.  The ticket prices for the shuttle was very reasonable as part of our package from Get Away Today.

It was so nice to just sit down on the shuttle and rest our tired feet after a long day playing at the park.  The shuttle was always available for us with very little wait time and the ride to and from the hotel was short.  Best decision ever!

Food

I’ll start off by saying that our family are not big foodies.  We would rather spend money on experiences then food, so our way of eating at Disney might not be for everyone!

Before driving to California I packed up a cooler full of snacks and makings for sandwiches.  Breakfast was provided by the hotel daily.

We packed sandwiches, bagels and snacks into the amusement parks with us every day.  For dinner, we ate at budget friendly restaurants inside the parks.  It was so handy having the snacks all packed into individual serving baggies, we whipped them out while standing in long lines and it helped keep the kids happy and occupied.

Below I listed a few of our favorite budget friendly places to eat while inside the parks.

Disneyland

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Bengal Barbeque: The Bengal Barbeque has really tasty meat and vegetable skewers for under $5!

Cafe Orleans:  Cafe Orleans is not your cheapest option, but I had heard so many great things about the Monte Cristo Sandwich I decided to include it in our food budget.

This delicious Monte Cristo Sandwich is only served at the Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans.  The sandwich is the exact same at both restaurants, but $7 dollars cheaper at Cafe Orleans. So, if you want to try the sandwich do it at Cafe Orleans!

We also decided to split the sandwich between my husband and I and then we split a plate of kids Mac and Cheese between my three kids.  Splitting between the three kids was a little small, next time I would buy two kids orders to split.  For the five of us we spent about $30.  Which is the most we spent on a meal the entire trip, but totally worth it to me to get to taste that delicious cheesy Monte Cristo Sandwich!

Rancho Del Zocalo:  Rancho Del Zocalo offers delicious food with very generous servings.  This is another great option for splitting an entree.

California Adventure

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Cozy Cone Motel:  Cozy Cone Motel is a fun little walk up window restaurant with different snack options that can be easily turned into a small meal.  We ordered a couple of chili cone quesos and they were so good and so satisfying, and under $10!  Yay!

Pacific Wharf Cafe:  Pacific Wharf Cafe has great soup and salads each for around $11.  My favorite is Broccoli and Cheese soup served in their famous Sour Bread Bowl.  So GOOD!

Universal Studios

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We weren’t to adventurous while eating at Universal Studios.  After looking through a different locations we finally settled on lunch at Panda Express, which is located at the bottom lot.  It was a good, affordable option!

Souveniers

A month before we left on our vacation I printed off some play money and told my kids that they will need to do chores in order to earn money to buy souvenirs while on our vacation.

They each earned around $25.  We told them that this was their money to spend however they wanted, but once it was gone it was gone.  This honestly helped us to not impulse buy while in the park.  We all had our limit and we stuck to it.

Disney Saving Hacks

I have a great savings hack for all the  Target shoppers out there!  Target has Disney Gift Cards available to buy and these can be used within the park.  If you use your Target Red Card you get an automatic 5% off all purchases, and this counts toward gift cards too!  I didn’t try it, but I think it is genius!

Another hack which saved us huge on booking the vacation was paying with it with our Discover Card.

We like to use our Discover Credit Card (and pay it off IMMEDIATELY) for big purchases like traveling.  I explained all about it in my blog post titled The one idea I disagree with Dave Ramsey on.

Discover will sometimes give 5% cashback towards travel purchases.  So, after I had enough saved for our vacation I waited for the 5% cashback offer.  Once Discover offered the deal, I purchased our vacation package.  In this case I was given around $200 cashback.  A great deal!

Coupon Code

If you are looking into planning a family vacation on a budget Get Away Today will give each of my readers $10 off a vacation package when you use the code SweetFrugal at checkout.  This makes their awesome deals even sweeter!!

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I know you can have a wonderful Budget Friendly Disneyland Vacation!

 

How to Make A Yarn Pom-Pom Garland

By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

Easy Yarn Pom-Pom Tutorial

I recently discovered how to make a yarn pom pom.  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!

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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

How to make yarn pom pom

Take a small string of yarn (the softer yarns seem to work best) and begin wrapping it around two of your fingers.

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Keep wrapping 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.

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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.

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

DIY pom pom garland tutorial

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.

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 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.

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

8 Foods You Should Freeze in an Ice Cube Tray

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Do you want to know one of my very favorite kitchen secrets?  The one secret that I use multiple times each month to help me save money and prevent food waste???  It has everything to do with an ice cube tray!  Instead of tossing excess foods, freeze those foods in an ice cube tray to extend the life and use at a future time.  There are many different foods you can freeze in an ice cube tray, truly the skies the limit!

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Why Freeze Food in Ice Cube Trays?

Many recipes call for half a can of this or a few tablespoons of that.  Tossing this leftover food aside may not feel like a big deal at the time, but when it is continually done over and over again the amount of waste adds up, which in turn means more money spent.

Freeze these leftovers in ice cube trays so you can use them in small portions the next time a recipe calls for it.  These small cubes are easier and faster to thaw than when it is frozen in a large chunk.  Making the cubes perfect for those quick meals!

How to Freeze Food in Ice Cube Trays

Freezing leftovers in an ice cube tray is easy!  I personally use these trays from Amazon.  You can buy a fancier version, but I’m all for cheap and simple!

  1. Simply fill each ice cube tray with the food you want to freeze
  2. Stick the tray in the freezer for 1-2 hours until frozen through
  3. Pop those cubes out of the tray and into a freezer bag (I use these!)
  4. Get all air out of bag and put in freezer
  5. You can now pull out the cubes and use as needed in recipes

These cubes will stay good in the freezer for 3-6 months.

Standard ice cube trays are about 2 Tablespoon (1 ounce) per cube.  This makes 2 cubes equals 1/4 cup.

Freeze these foods in ice cube trays to prevent food waste and to save you time and money #grocerybudget #savingmoney #foodtips #savemoneyonfood #frugaltips #zerowaste

1.  Stock

Have leftover Chicken Stock?  Maybe from a homemade stock or from a box?  Either works!  Simply fill your ice cube tray up with the stock and freeze.  These stock cubes are great to use for soups or sauce.

2.  Yogurt

Freeze your yogurt in ice cube trays before it expires.  Add these cubes to smoothies or oatmeal for added protein and creaminess!

3.  Cream

Cream will stay good in the fridge for about a month.  If your cream is getting close to the expiration date consider freezing it for later.  The frozen cream can be used in making butter, ice cream, sauces, soups, or whipped cream.

4.  Pumpkin

My Pumpkin Cookie recipe calls for about 3/4 can of pumpkin puree.  Instead of throwing away the extra 1/4 can of pumpkin I have started freezing it in cubes, and loving it!  These pumpkin cubes are perfect for smoothies or protein drinks, but can also be used in all of your pumpkin baking!  If you have a baby around use the pumpkin to feed your little one!

5.  Pesto

Freezing your excess pesto is a great way to save it for use in pasta recipes, eggs, sauces, or salad dressing.  They are easy to pop out of the freezer and use in a quick fix!

6.  Tomato Paste

Most of my recipes requiring tomato paste only need 1-2 Tablespoons, making the majority of the can go to waste.  Instead of throwing it away, I have learned to freeze that excess in ice cube trays to use for later.  These freeze well and are perfectly proportioned for my stew recipes!

7.  Lemon Juice

You can freeze fresh squeezed lemon juice, or bottled lemon juice!  The ice cube portions are perfect for drizzling over salads, using in baking, lemonade or for making buttermilk substitute.

8.  Herbs in Olive Oil

Don’t let fresh herbs go to waste.  Place herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano work best) in an ice cube tray about 3/4 full, fill the rest of the cube with olive oil.  Freeze.  You can pull these cubes out of the freezer to use in soups and stews.

Do you use ice cube trays for freezing convenience??  I would love to hear your experiences in the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

And, if you are looking for more Grocery Money Saving Tips check out Crystal Paines (from Money Saving Mom) new ebook, Slash Your Grocery Budget, where she shares her 25 top tips for saving money at the grocery store.

 

The Ultimate Fall Frugal Bucket List for Families

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

“Sweet Frugal Life is an Amazon Associate.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Ahhhh fall!  My favorite time of year.  A fresh start as school begins again, the crisp fall air, and a bountiful garden harvest.  There are so many fall activities making the season perfect in every way!  With fall just around the corner, we decided to make your fall bucket list of everything we wanted to do this season.  Here is what we came up with!  As always, everything is either free or frugal!

1.  Have a Bonfire

Invite some friends over, or head up to the mountains, and have a bonfire.  Roast marshmallows, snuggle under a blanket and enjoy the fresh crisp fall air.

2.  Go Apple Picking

Fall is a great time to buy apples for a low price.  Shop your local farmers markets, or better yet go pick them yourself at a u pick apple orchard.  This is a fun family activity and the prices are always fantastic!

3.  Carve Pumpkins

What’s Halloween (or fall) without a carved pumpkin???  There is no need to buy the kits from the store, just use some kitchen knives and print out a template from the internet.

4.  Fall Scavenger Hunt

Use a brown paper bag to collect colored leaves, acorns, and other fun nature finds.

5.  Fall Crafting

Have a craft day and make a few fun crafts.  You can even invite some friends over to join in the fun.  You might enjoy making these simple Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkins or these No Sew Trick or Treat Bags.

6.  Attend a High School Football Game

Enjoy some community spirit at your local high school football game.  There is just something about the cool fall air, bright Friday night lights, and energy of a crowd to make it officially feel like fall.

7.  Make Applesauce

I love when my house smells of cinnamon and sweet applesauce.  It just makes me happy.  My kids love getting involved in the kitchen and helping me whip up a few batches of applesauce.  I have a few of my favorite canning tools listed in my Amazon Faves.

8.  Go to the Pumpkin Patch

Have a family day at the pumpkin patch.  We love walking around and looking at all of the different colors and shapes and sizes of each pumpkin.  To make it cheaper, just choose one pumpkin for the entire family to share.

9.  Go On a Hike

Fall is the perfect time of year to get up in the mountains and enjoy nature.  Make a day out of it by packing a picnic!  I love seeing the beauty in the forest as the leaves are changing color.

10.  Bake

Is there anything better than fall baking???  I think not!  Here are a few of my fave recipes to try:  Grandmas Famous Banana Bread Recipe or Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe.

11.  Play in the Leaves

Rake up a big pile of leaves and then have some fun jumping into them!  This is the perfect way to get your kids to help with the work…and then celebrate with some fun!

12.  Drink Apple Cider

Warm up some apple cider and sip it around the fire.  Turn it into a new family tradition for the first day of fall each year!

13.  Go to The Corn Maze

Go to your local corn maze and get lost!  Try it both during day time and night time for different experiences.  Look for daily deals to save on costs.  Our local corn maze has “buy one get one free” days and “wear a costume to get in free” days.

14.  Paint a Pumpkin

Don’t like carving pumpkins?  Consider painting one instead.  Paint a funny face on it or even a pretty design, the sky’s the limit!

15.  Dip Apples in Caramel

You can make your own caramel apples, but I always prefer just buying some caramel and dipping the apples right into it!  Less work and you can control how much caramel goes on each apple (the more the better in my opinion!).

16.  Make a Fall Treat

There are so many fall goodies to make.  Pumpkin cookies or apple pie to just name a few!  My kids personal favorite though are these Monster Rice Krispie Treats. They are perfect for Halloween time.

17.  Go On a Hay Ride

Look at your community events and find a place where they are giving hay rides.  These are usually only a few dollars, but such a fun fall family activity.

18.  Roast Pumpkin Seeds

After carving pumpkins, be sure to save the seeds for roasting.  We like to wash them and put them on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle olive oil on top and sprinkle with seasoning salt.  Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Easy and so so tasty!

19.  Go To The Farmers Market

Walk around the farmers market and enjoy the large bounteous harvest.  Taste a few samples, listen to some good music and maybe buy a treat or two.  It makes for a lovely morning out.

20.  Plant Fall Bulbs

This is the ultimate lesson of delayed gratification.  Have your kids help you plant fall bulbs (my favorite is tulips), then anxiously await all winter for them to start popping out of the ground.  It’s such a fun celebration of spring coming!

21.  Watch Football at Home

Invite friends over to watch the football game together.  Ask everyone to bring an appetizer or dessert so you can eat while enjoying the game.

22.  Leaf Art

Have fun with this easy activity for all ages.  Collect a few leaves, lay them down on the table and place a paper on top.  Gently rub a crayon on the paper and watch as the leaves begin to make shape.

 

What are a few things on your fall bucket list!  I would love some more ideas!!

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