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Cheap Father’s Day Gift Ideas Under $25

May 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Best gifts for Father’s Day under $25.

Father’s Day is right around the corner. I love any day when I get to celebrate the amazing men in my life, and all that they do for me. Fortunately, showing someone that you love them doesn’t have to cost a lot of money (shocker, right?!! 😉 )! Here are 25 cheap Father’s Day Gift Ideas he is sure to love! Everything is less than $25!

Techy Father’s Day Gifts

Are you shopping for a dad who enjoys a lot of screen time? Try one of these affordable gift ideas!

1. Apple Watch Stand

This highly rated Apple Watch Stand is a great gift for the Apple user. It has a spot to hold both your phone and Apple watch while being charged and has a few different colors to choose from, there is something for everyone!

2. Remote Holder

Is your dad constantly losing the remote??? How about gifting him a remote holder for Father’s Day. This remote holder is a great option and can be mounted to the wall with removeable adhesive, no tools necessary!

3. Wireless Charging Pad

A great gift idea is a wireless charging pad. I loved this one from Amazon. It’s thin, attractive, has a lot of good reviews and comes in many different colors! Basically perfect all around!

Father’s Day Gifts For Someone Who Loves To Be Outdoors

My husband loves to be in the great outdoors, so I am always shopping for affordable outdoor gear. Here are a few of our favorites.

4. Personalized Pocket Knife

I love personalized gifts and this personalized pocket knife is the perfect gift for fathers day. You can request to get his name engraved on the knife, or leave a sweet message. This pocket knife also comes with a rope cutter, can opener, and glass breaker.

5. Camp Chair

It’s always nice to receive a new camp chair, especially if you spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities. Check out this camp chair which is less than $25!

6. Stadium Seat

A stadium seat is the perfect gift for a dad who spends a lot of times attending sporting events. I found a portable stadium seat for a really good price here!

Father’s Day Gifts For Someone Who Loves To Cook And Eat

I love all of these fun gift ideas for the dad who enjoys food and cooking!

7. Grilling Set

Are you shopping for someone who loves to grill? How about gifting them a new grilling accesories set? This is a great option, it’s under $20 and includes multiple accessories and an apron!

8. Grilling Apron

Help your dad feel special while he’s in the kitchen with a fun apron like this one. It’s the perfect gift for the man that loves to cook!

9. Hot Sauce Set

You might want to gift your father this global edition hot sauce set. It’s such a fun way to help them try new hot sauce flavors! This set comes with 5 different flavors, each from a different region around the world.

10. Knife Sharpener

A knife sharpener is another great Father’s Day gift idea. It’s always helpful to have a few of these around to keep your kitchen knives sharp. Here is a great knife sharpener from Amazon, it has great reviews and the price is right!

11. LED Grill Light

Does your dad love to grill? Consider gifting him an LED Grill Light. This is such a fun accessory and can be used in multiple ways for many different projects.

12. Beef Jerky

You can’t go wrong with gifting Beef Jerky as a father’s day gift! Try to find a brand or flavor that is unique, so that he can try something new! This Cattlemens Beef Jerky looks and sounds delicious!

Father’s Day Gifts For Someone Who Loves Tools

Perhaps the dad you are shopping for this year spends a lot of time using tools. Check out one of these ideas for him!

13. Digital Tape Measure

This digital tape measure would be a great addition for any dad’s toolbox. Measuring can be a lot easier and quicker with a digital tape measure and this one will measure up to 165 feet and has multiple accessories. Yay!

14. Tool Roll

If you are shopping for someone who has a lot of tools or enjoys being the handy man, this tool roll is a great gift idea! It includes 19 storage slots for different tools and accessories. Plus, it’s less than $25!

Father’s Day Grooming Gifts

We all need to groom, right? Right! Help your dad feel special this year with these affordable grooming gifts.

15. Grooming Kit

Another great cheap Father’s Day gift option is a Grooming Kit. This 5 in 1 grooming kit includes a hair clipper, hair trimmer, nose trimmer, shaver and precision trimmer. It’s the perfect all in one set up for any man.

16. Beard Kit

Does your father sport a beard? He might like this beard kit! It comes with shampoo, oil, conditioner, brush, comb, scissors and more. A great all in one set for the man in your life!

17. Man Soap

Even men like fancy soap! Get your man a nice bar of Dr. Squatch Man Soap. We love this Pine Tar scent.

18. Toiletry Bag

Everyone deserves a new toiletry bag every now and then! Your father might love this mens toiletry bag. It’s the perfect gift, especially for someone who travels often.

Father’s Day Gift Ideas For The Best Dad Ever

I know that your dad is the best ever (so is mine 😉 ). Why not let HIM know just how amazing he is with one of these fun dad gifts!

19. Best Dad Shirt

What better way to help your dad feel amazing this Father’s Day then with a Best Dad shirt. I found this cute one on Amazon, along with many others!

20. Dad Mug

There is nothing better than being reminded of how amazing you are each morning with your coffee mug! Check out this cute Best Dad Ever mug. He will love this daily declaration of love!

21. What I Love About Dad Book

Dads deserve a little extra attention and love for all of the hard work they do for us. This What I Love About Dad Book gives 100 different prompts for you till fill in about why you love your Father. It would make such a sweet keepsake for a child to give to their father.

22. Father’s Day Picture Frame

Gift your dad a special keepsake picture and frame. It’s the perfect gift for them to keep on their desk and remember how much you appreciate them. Make sure to include a picture of the two of you together!

Father’s Day Accessory Gifts

Here are a few fun accessories to gift your dad this Father’s Day.

23. Leather Journal

Shopping for someone who loves to write or sketch? Why not buy them a beautiful leather journal? I love this vintage handmade leather journal, it has great reviews and an affordable price.

24. Baseball Cap

My husband can never have enough baseball caps, he calls it “his thing.” If you are shopping for someone similar, consider gifting them a new baseball cap like the one here.

25. Leather Money Clip

How about gifting dad a new leather money clip? Here is a great and affordable option he might love!

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed these Father’s Day gift ideas. But, remember as a parent, I know that all I want on these special days is a little bit of time spent with my loved ones. It truly doesn’t matter how much you spend on a gift for Father’s Day, all that matters is that you take the time to show him how much you care.

10 Free Father’s Day Gifts

10 Valentines gifts for him under $10!

What are some of your cheap Father’s Day gift ideas this year?

Honest Stitch Fix Review 2021

May 4, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

What came in my Stitch Fix Box!

Want to see what came in my most recent Stitch Fix box? I’m going to show you today and share my honest stitch fix review!

I started using Stitch Fix about a year ago. Truthfully, I was a little hesitant at first, the prices seemed a little high, but I received some free clothing credit and decided that I had nothing to lose!

The box I received was so fun to open, and I found a few items that I loved! Ever since then I’ve been ordering a new box every few months, and I haven’t loved everything that I’ve been sent, but I’ve loved the entire process. I decided to share with each of you what came in my newest Stitch Fix Box and my honest review of this clothing styling service.

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

What Is Stitch Fix?

Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that will send you a box of clothing items picked out specifically for you and your style. You can try these items on in the comfort of your home and then decide what to keep and what to return. There is no commitment to keep everything in your box.

How Does Stitch Fix Work?

Stitch Fix is actually really simple to use!

When you first sign up for a Stitch Fix account you will be asked to fill out a thorough style profile. The style profile will ask you everything from your sizes, personal style, colors you wear and don’t wear, and your price preference. Make sure you give as much details as possible when filling out your style profile. This is one of the most important parts of helping your stylist understand your clothing needs and wants so that they can choose the items that will benefit you most.

Next, you will schedule your order. Stitch Fix will give you a calendar of available times to choose from, you can choose to have a subscription with boxes sent on a regular schedule, or a one time “fix.”

The last part of scheduling your order will be leaving a note to your stylist. Don’t skip this!!! Let your stylist know exactly what type of clothing you are looking for or any other details about what you hope to get in your Stitch Fix. I have found this note makes a huge difference in what you receive. Last week in my stylist note I requested a hoodie and they followed through with delivering it! Yay! I was so happy to know that my request was heard and met.

After completing your Stitch Fix order you will be charged a $20 styling fee. But don’t worry! This styling fee can be applied to any of the clothing in your box that you choose to keep.

Your personal stylist will now prepare your Stitch Fix box. Using your style profile and notes they will select 10 pieces to send to your email for you to review.

This email gives you a little bit of control about what will be in your order. Within this email you can select up to 5 pieces that you want sent to you in your fix. If you don’t like any of your stylists picks, no worries! Just don’t select any of them and you will be sent 5 completely new items.

After this email review, all that’s left to do is wait for your Stitch Fix box to shop up on your door step! This is such a happy day!

Your box will come with 5 clothing items, a receipt, a prepaid envelope for returns, and a sheet of styling ideas for each of your clothing items.

Look through your Stitch Fix and try on each of the clothing items, this is the fun part! You can now pick and choose which of the 5 items you want to keep and which ones you want to return, remember there is no commitment to keep anything sent to you.

Anything that you keep will have the $20 styling fee applied towards this item.

Plus! If you decide to keep everything in your box you will get 25% off your entire order!

Once you decide what you want to keep it’s time to check out. All you have to do is go to the Stitch Fix website and click on “Check Out.” You will then be directed to a survey about your box contents. On each item select “keep” if it’s something you want to keep or “return” if it’s an item you want to return. That’s it! Just confirm your order and then you’re done.

The last step is to pack the prepaid return envelope with the items you want to return and stick them in the mail box. You will be charged for the items you decided to keep, but not for the items you send back.

It is such an easy and fun way to shop!

What I Got In My Stitch Fix Box

So, do you want to see what I got in my most recent Stitch Fix Box??? In this box I received a hoodie, jeans, jogger pants, sweater, and a necklace set. This was my first time receiving jewelry in my box, and it was a fun surprise.

I liked the necklace set, but I didn’t love them enough to keep. In the future I hope to receive a few more accessories.

Next up was this jean and sweater combo. Again, I liked them both, but just didn’t love them. I have a strict rule to only buy things that I truly love, it saves money and prevents impulse buys!

Related: How To Stop Impulse Buying For Good

Here is the hoodie and jogger pants together. I had asked for a hoodie, and I appreciated that they sent me one, but I didn’t love the big logo. However, the joggers I loved! I had been wanting to buy a pair of black joggers recently, so this was a very fun surprise.

The only item I chose to keep from this stitch fix box were the black joggers. They were just what I needed.

Is Stitch Fix A Good Deal?

I know many of you are wondering if Stitch Fix is a good deal or not. Well, as a frugal blogger I will give you my honest opinion……No. I do not think that Stitch Fix is a good deal.

The clothes are higher priced then the ones I normally buy, and there is a risk of not liking anything in your box and having to pay a $20 styling fee for returning everything.

But!

Even though I don’t think this is the best clothing deal, I do still enjoy receiving a Stitch Fix box occasionally. It’s fun, it makes shopping easy and the clothing is very high quality.

How Much Does Stitch Fix Cost?

Like I mentioned earlier, you will have to pay a $20 styling fee for each box, which can then be applied to any item that you keep.

When you fill out your style profile you will be prompted to select your price preference. I personally select, “The Cheaper The Better”, but the price options go up to $200.

My “Cheaper The Better” boxes have always been between the price range of $40-$80. The joggers that I decided to keep were $50, which is more money than I would normally spend on a pair of joggers. But, the quality is much higher than I usually wear and I know they will last me much longer than my other clothes usually last.

Pros of Stitch Fix

Alright, so now that you have the run down of what Stitch Fix is all about, I want to share a few of the reasons why Stitch Fix might be for you. Here are a few Stitch Fix pros:

Stitch Fix is easy. If you don’t enjoy going into the store and spending hours shopping and trying on different clothing, then you will probably love Stitch Fix. There really is no easier way to shop!
Stitch Fix is fun! Opening up each Stitch Fix is such a fun surprise. I love getting to see what was picked out for me.
You get to try new things. One of the things I have loved most about Stitch Fix is getting to try new clothing options that I never would have picked for myself. It has really pushed me out of my clothing comfort zone, in such a good way and I love that my style has broadened.
The stylists really listen. When I first started using Stitch Fix, I was a little unsure just how helpful the personal stylists would be. Now, after 5 boxes I can confidently say that the Stitch Fix stylists are amazing! They have really listened to each of my requests and have worked hard to get me what I want.
Returns are easy. I was really nervous to try Stitch Fix, because I worried the returns would be difficult and I would be stuck with clothes that I didn’t want. It ended up being the complete opposite! Making returns are so quick and painless!
You can try it risk free. The reason I started trying Stitch Fix was because I was given some free clothing credit. This credit covered the styling fee, which gave me the confidence that if I didn’t like anything in my box, I could return it all without any out of pocket costs. I decided there was nothing to lose. You can try Stitch Fix risk free too! Just grab this free $25 Stitch Fix credit here!

Cons of Stitch Fix

Now, I do love Stitch Fix, but it’s not perfect. Here are a few of the cons I have found:

It’s expensive. The clothing is not the most frugal friendly option available. It is an expense that you will need to budget and plan for so that the price tag isn’t a surprise.
You never know what you’re going to get. I love the element of surprise with each Stitch Fix box, but it can also be a little scary to not know what is coming. There have been a few items in each box that I have wondered why someone would ever choose that item for me.
The styling fee. When ordering a Stitch Fix you do have a small risk that you won’t like anything in your box and will have to pay the $20 styling fee. I have always enjoyed at least one thing in each box, but I have heard other negative experiences from others.

In Conclusion

Getting a Stitch Fix box can be a lot of fun. I do think it’s worth trying if you are wanting to change up your wardrobe and don’t enjoy shopping. Especially if you use some free credit so you can try it risk free!

Have you ever tried this before? Did you think Stitch Fix was worth it?

Save Money on Name Brand Clothing by Shopping At ThredUP

My Honest Review of Kids on 45th

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

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I hope you enjoyed my honest Stitch Fix box review!

Mason Jar Gift Idea For Gardeners

April 28, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Gardening gifts for mom.

Looking for some gardening gifts for mom? You might love this mason jar gift idea for gardeners! It only cost me $4, and turned out so cute! I love when that happens!

I truly believe that when it comes to giving to our loved ones, it’s not the price tag that matters….it’s the thought that counts. If your mom loves to garden, check out your local Dollar Tree and put together a cute mason jar gift for her! She will love that you remembered one of her hobbies and hand picked a gift just for her.

What To Put Inside

The first thing you need to do when making this garden inspired mason jar gift is to stop by the Dollar Tree, AKA: my favorite store ever! I love shopping at the Dollar Tree because there are so many fun finds there!

If you are shopping for gardening items I suggest going in early March. Dollar Tree will usually put out their spring items in March, making it the best time to shop for gardening items. I went in early April and could still find a few fun items to buy, but the selection was sparse.

First, I stopped by the garden and summer section. I was able to find some flower seeds, garden gloves and a fairy garden decoration. It was so fun to find such a great selection of flower seeds.

Next up was a stop at the candy aisle. Because, candy is always the perfect addition to every gift….amiright or amiright?!?! I was hoping to find some spring candy to add to my mason jar gift and I was happy to find the perfect item! I grabbed the Spring Lifesavers, they are the perfect colors!

The total amount spent at Dollar Tree was just $4! And, since I already had a mason jar at home this gift was very budget friendly!

Putting Together This Mason Jar Gift Idea For Gardeners

Now that you have bought the supplies it’s time to put it all together. Don’t worry, this part is so easy!

First, place the fairy garden decoration in the bottom of the mason jar.

Now, roll up the garden gloves and stick them behind the garden fairy.

Place the garden seeds behind the gloves. I placed a few around the back so that they can be seen easily. Mix it up and put them in however works best for you and your jar.

You’re almost done!

Last, just toss in a few pieces of candy. And that’s it! Your mason jar gift for gardeners is done!

Fun Gardening Gift For Mom

This is a great gift to give for Mothers Day, birthdays, or any “just because” time. Use your creativity when putting together this easy mason jar gift. It doesn’t have to require a lot of money or expensive items to spoil the gardener in your life.

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I hope you enjoyed this mason jar gift idea for gardeners!

Cheap Mothers Day Gift Ideas

April 16, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Mothers Day 2021 Gift Ideas.

Are you looking for some cheap mothers day gift ideas? That perfect gift that will help mom feel special, but will also fit in your budget? I’ve got you covered! Mother’s Day is such a special holiday. I love celebrating all of the many wonderful women in the world.

Whether you are shopping for a gift for your sweet mom or a special lady in your life, I hope this list of cheap gifts for women helps you find the perfect gift for that perfect someone. Best of all?? Everything is under $30!

Cheap Gift Ideas For Mothers Day

1. Bamboo Bathtub Caddy Tray

Moms deserve a little break every now and then! This Bamboo Bathtub Caddy Tray is the perfect gift to give her a little relaxing time. It’s expandable with multiple slots and sections for all of her favorite devices and bathtub needs!

2. Women’s Pajama Set

What woman doesn’t love lounging in a new PJ set? I haven’t met one yet! This set is very cute and looks so comfy. It comes in 4 different colors and only costs $24.99!

3. Indoor Herb Garden Starter Set

This Herb Garden Set is the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook or garden. It comes with everything you need to grow cilantro, thyme, parsley and basil right in your window sill. The reviews are great and it’s less than $30!

4. Lip Sleep Mask

Using a lip sleep mask has been one of the best things I’ve done for my lips! This makes a great gift for any lady. It’s something that many won’t spend money on, but love to use! This lip sleep mask is less than $15 and currently has a 10% off coupon to make it even cheaper!

5. Spa Gift Set

This lavender spa gift set is adorable! I love that it comes in a mini tub! Another thing that I love is that it is packed full of an assortment of spa supplies, including bath bombs, body lotion, shower gel, and more!

6. Shower Steamers

Shopping for someone who doesn’t love taking baths? They might love these shower steamers! They come in a 6 pack with different scents. You can use them similar to a bath bomb, but instead of placing them in the bath water, they go on the floor of your shower!

7. Microfiber Hair Turban

Another cheap Mothers Day gift idea is this microfiber hair turban. With over 25,000 positive reviews and less than $10 for a two pack, this is a great find! The hair turban will cut down on drying time making less damage to your hair, which is what we all want!

8. Tote Bag

I love these crossbody tote bags. They are perfect for carrying around all of your necessities. There are many colors to choose from, so you are sure to find something for everyone! Plus they are on sale!

9. Plush Throw Blanket

You can never go wrong gifting a nice throw blanket to someone! I found this pretty fleece blanket and love it! There are many colors to choose from and only $17!

10. Magnolia Table Cookbook

Another great gift idea for moms is to gift them the Magnolia Table Cookbook. This is the perfect present for anyone who loves to cook or Joanna Gaines fans. I have this cookbook and love the recipes in it! The pictures are beautiful, recipes are easy to put together, and some of our family favorite!

11. Slippers

How about buying your mom some cozy slippers! These slip on slippers are the perfect gift! They have so many positive reviews and are a great deal!

12. Scented Soy Candle

This scented soy candle not only has thousands of positive reviews, but is also so cute! I want to try each of the many different scents.

13. The Home Edit Book

I fell across The Home Edit while watching their series on Netflix, and am officially obsessed! They share some of the best organizational tips to make home organizing so much easier. This book would be the perfect gift for anyone!

14. Fruit Infuser Water Bottle

How about gifting a fruit infuser water bottle? These are so fun for making water a little tastier and more fun to drink. This one is super cute and comes with recipes, oh how I love recipes!

15. Faux Plants

A touch of greenery adds some warmth and color to any home. This cute faux plant is a perfect gift for someone who loves farmhouse decor.

16. Mama Necklace

Jewelry is always a great gift idea for women. This Mama necklace is extra special for a mom figure in your life. There are three different colors to choose from, and a lot of great reviews!

17. Pretty Dish Towels

I love these pretty Denim and Cotton dish towels. They come as a set of four and are a very trendy design. Dish towels are something I always love receiving as a gift, because mine get so dirty to quickly!

18. What I Love About Mom Journal

If you are looking for a gift from a child to mom this What I Love About Mom journal is perfect! The child can fill in the journal prompts all about mom and then gift it to her. This makes a perfect keepsake for many many years.

19. Best Mom Ever Mug

Sometimes traditional gifts make the best gifts! I love this beautiful marbled Best Mom Ever Mug. It comes with a matching coaster and stirring spoon.

20. Sheet Mask Set

Give mom some pampering this year with this set of 8 sheet masks. They have no harsh chemicals and are the perfect way to brighten and hydrate your face.

21. Himalayan Salt Body Scrub

This 10 oz. Himalayan salt body scrub looks so cute and fun to use. It is a great way to exfoliate skin and help your body to relax.

22. Makeup Organizer

If your mom enjoys makeup, she might like having a new organizer. This rotating makeup organizer is adjustable and perfect for storing all things makeup, jewelry and skin care.

23. Soft Bathrobe

Another cheap mothers day gift idea is to gift mom a soft bathrobe. This Kimono Style Bathrobe is perfect! It has a great length, many different colors to choose from, and looks so comfy!

24. Ceramic Ring Dish

It’s always nice to be reminded that you are loved, which is why this ceramic ring dish is the perfect gift for mom on any occasion! Plus, it’s function! I love functional gifts!

25. Felt Letter Board

Felt letter boards make such a fun decoration in the house. They are perfect for displaying inspirational or seasonal messages. I’ve always wanted one and would love to receive this gift (hint….husband…. ;))!

It’s The Thought That Counts

I love giving gifts to people I care about, and I love receiving gifts. But, there is one thing I hope everyone would remember when shopping for someone. The price tag of a gift does not matter, what matters is the thought and care you put into choosing a gift for someone.

There are so many wonderful, thoughtful gifts out there that won’t break the bank, but will be so fun to receive!

Related Gift Guides:

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I hope this helped you find some Cheap Mothers Day Gift Ideas for mom this year.

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!

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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!

What cheap farmhouse decorations are you shopping for?

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Cheap Foods to Buy For a Well Stocked Pantry

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

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What other items do you think are the best deals at Costco?

19 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Freeze

January 8, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Foods you can freeze to save money.

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

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

Supplies Needed to Freeze Food

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

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

Benefits of Freezing Food

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

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

1. Freezing Leftovers

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

This happens to me All.The.Time!

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

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

2. Freezing Sale Items

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

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

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

3. Freezing Foods Before They Expire

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

Foods You Didn’t Know You Can Freeze

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

1. Butter

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

How To Freeze:

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

Use the butter within 4 months for best results.

How To Defrost:

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

2. Flour

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

Let flour thaw at room temperature before using.

3. Eggs

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

Related: 8 Foods You Should Freeze in an Ice Cube Tray

4. Avocados

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

How To Freeze:

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

Use your frozen avocados sometime between 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

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

5. Cream

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

6. Bread

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

7. Grated Cheese

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

Let the cheese defrost in the refrigerator overnight before using.

8. Milk

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

Milk will stay good in the freezer for 6 months.

How To Defrost:

Defrost milk in the refrigerator overnight before using.

Related: Cheap Foods to Buy For a Well Stocked Pantry

9. Chips

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

10. Pizza Dough

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

How To Freeze:

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

Use your frozen dough within 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

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

11. Cooked Pasta

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

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

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

Place in the freezer and use within 3 months.

How To Defrost:

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

Related: Easy Pasta Dinner Recipe

12. Sauce

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

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

How To Freeze:

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

Use your frozen sauces within 3-6 months.

How To Defrost:

Defrost sauces by placing them in the refrigerator overnight.

13. Herbs

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

14. Pancakes

Pancakes are my busy mom hack to less stressful mornings!

How To Freeze:

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

How To Defrost:

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

15. Sandwiches

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

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

16. Grapes

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

How To Freeze:

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

Use within 3 months.

How To Defrost:

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

17. Nuts

To keep your nuts fresh for longer, freeze them!

How To Freeze:

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

Frozen nuts should be used within 6 months.

How To Defrost:

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

18. Mashed Potatoes

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

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

How To Freeze:

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

How To Defrost:

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

19. Frosting

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

How To Freeze:

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

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

How To Defrost:

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

In Conclusion

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

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

You Might Enjoy These Related Articles:

How to Freeze Raspberries

How To Freeze Fresh Corn

Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

Don’t Forget To Pin For Future Reference:

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

5 Times You Should Always Ask For a Discount

December 18, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to negotiate for a lower price when shopping.

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

Why Ask For a Discount

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

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

How To Ask For a Discount

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

It Never Hurts To Ask

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

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

Be Polite

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

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

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

Ask For a Manager

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

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

Walk Away

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

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

When To Ask For A Discount

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

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

Ask For A Discount On Furniture

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

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

Ask For A Discount On Vehicles

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

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

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

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

Ask For A Discount On Medical And Dental Bills

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

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

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

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

Ask For A Discount On Damaged Items

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

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

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

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

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

Asking For A Discount On Monthly Bills

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

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

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

You Got This

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

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

How To Stop Impulse Buying For Good

How To Save Money At Target

11 Things to do Today to Lower your Monthly Expenses

Pin For Future Reference:

when to negotiate a price - how to haggle with a salesperson