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25 Free Things To Do In Winter

December 11, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life21 Comments

Fun winter activities for families!

I absolutely love the snow!  There is nothing better than waking up to a fresh blanket of new snow and seeing it sparkle in the sunlight.  The only negative thing about the snow is that it’s so cold!!  Unfortunately, I live in an area where it stays cold for many, many months!  We all get a little stir crazy around here being cooped up for so long.   Because of this, I’ve learned to get creative during these cold months to help us stay sane and stay in budget!  Here are my favorite free things to do in winter.

free winter activities - fun ideas for kids during winter

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Snow Winter Activities For Families

Do you live in a place that gets a lot of snow?  Use it to your advantage and plan some fun winter activities for families!  There are so many fun ways to enjoy fresh snow!

1.  Build A Snow Cave

You might enjoy spending the day outside building a snow cave as a family.  Turn it into a competition to see who can build the best cave.  You could even get extra creative and turn your cave into a castle.  Add some stairs, windows, or any other fancy feature you come up with!

2.  Make Snow Candy

Have you ever read the book Little House in the Big Woods?  It’s one of our favorites!  In this book Laura Ingalls grandmother made the kids snow candy, and we have been making it every year since then!

To make snow candy, just place an empty bowl outside while it’s snowing.  The bowl will collect fresh, clean snow.  Once it’s full, bring it inside and immediately pour pure maple syrup on top.  The syrup will harden to make a sweet treat!

  • Related:  Easy Cinnamon Candy Recipe For Christmas

3.  Sledding

Sledding is one of my kids favorite free winter activity.  Sleds are fairly cheap and most sledding hills are free to enjoy!

Try a few sledding hills around town and see if you can find a new favorite.  This is a fun way to enjoy spending the day laughing with friends and family.

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4.  Winter Walk and Scavenger Hunt

Get outside and enjoy the snow with a winter walk and scavenger hunt.  You can turn the scavenger hunt into a game by putting together a list of different items to find while on the walk.  A few ideas for the hunt might be:  a pine cone, icicle, boot tracks, animal tracks, a snowman, etc.

5.  Snowball Fight  

Another free thing to do in winter is to have a snowball fight with your friends or family.  Keep it light and fun so that everyone can enjoy it.  This activity is guaranteed to bring a lot of laughs and memories!

6.  Build a Snowman

Spend some time with your family outside building a snowman.  You could even go a step further and build a family of snowmen!  All you have to do is ask everyone to build the snowman that fits their unique personality!  Make it the same height that you are, and give it your scarf and gloves, or anything else that fits your personality.

7.  Snow Ice Cream

You might enjoy making snow ice cream with your kids.  Here is a simple recipe to try it out.  This is a fun way to enjoy the snow…while staying indoors!

Fun in the Snow for Families -free winter activities

 

 

Winter Indoor Activities

Don’t like going outside in the snow???  I get it!  Here are a few winter indoor activities for families!

8.  Movie Night

Snuggle up together, pop some popcorn and have a family movie night.  Watch a few old classics or try something new.  All that matters is that you are spending time together. 

Not sure where to stream?  Try Paramount+ for free for one week!

9.  Bake Bread

I love spending cold winter days in my kitchen baking something warm.  It’s the perfect season for baking bread.

After you’re done with the bread lather it with homemade butter and eat it together as a family.

10.  Homemade Cocoa

There is nothing better than a hot mug of cocoa on a cold winters day.  It only takes a couple of minutes and a few ingredients to make a big batch homemade hot chocolate mix.  Make the hot chocolate together as a family and enjoy sipping it next to a warm cozy fire.

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11.  Family Slumber Party

Haul blankets, pillows and sleeping bags onto the living room floor and have a large family slumber party together.  You can watch movies, play games and eat treats before falling asleep.  This will be a night your kids will always remember!

12.  Read a Novel as a Family

My family loves to read a novel together every winter.  I usually pick a classic and read it to the kids for 20-30 minutes in the evenings.  A few favorites have been Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little.

13.  Make Paper Snowflakes

You might enjoy spending an afternoon cutting out paper snowflakes and hanging them around your home.  We like to tape a few to the windows and use invisible thread to hang some from the ceiling.  You can find countless Youtube video tutorials about how to make snowflakes.  This is such a fun, cheap and easy craft!

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14.  Make Play Dough

Make some homemade play dough at home!  You can use your homemade playdough to build snowmen or other fun creations.  Check out my favorite playdough recipe here.

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15.  Have An Indoor Picnic

You don’t have to have warm weather for a picnic, have one at home in your living room!  All you have to do is spread a blanket out on the floor, bring a few of your favorite picnic foods and enjoy a picnic indoors!

16.  Make a Fort

Gather all the blankets and chairs in your house and build a gigantic blanket fort.  Play games, read stories and spend the day hiding out in the fort.

  • Related:  Fun activities to do at home

17.  Make a Sock Snowman

Sock snowmen are a fun, easy winter craft!  All it takes is a little creativity and a few random items found around the house to turn an ordinary sock into a snowman!

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18. Play Board Games

We love board games in our family and they are perfect to play when you are stuck inside!  You can find some cheap board games at your local thrift store, but there are plenty of fun games played with just a deck of cards or dice.

  • Related:  20 Family Board Games, all Under $20

19.  Make Friendship Bracelets

Spend a few hours with your kids making friendship bracelets.  Just braid three threads together and tie in a circle.  Be sure to make two bracelets!  One to give away to a friend and one to keep.

20.  Have A Family Dance Party

Sometimes our family (or maybe just this tired mom! 😉 ) just needs a good old fashioned dance party!  We crank up a few of our fave dance tunes and dance the grumpy faces away!  It’s the perfect way to turn a bad day into a great day!

 

Winter Activities In Town

Need to get out of the house, but don’t want to spend a lot of money?  Try one of the activities below!

21. Visit the Library

The library offers a lot of free activities for everyone in the family.  Take advantage of all the many free programs and be sure to check out a book or movie while you are there!

22.  Serve a Meal at a Homeless Shelter

There is nothing better for a child to learn than how to care for others.  Pick a day as a family to help serve a meal at the local homeless shelter.  This is such a humbling experience!

  • Related:  101 Frugal Ideas To Light The World

23.  Visit a Pet Store

Visiting a pet store is a great way to spend an afternoon.  We love walking around the local pet store and visiting the cats, dogs, and birds.  My kids ask to go regularly and I never complain!

24.  Donate to a Thrift Store

As a family go through all of the toys, clutter, and household items.  Fill up a large box of items to donate to a thrift store.  It feels so good to start the new year fresh and clutter free!

25.  Visit a Neighbor

Do you have an elderly neighbor who might need a visit?  Or maybe someone new to the neighborhood?  As a family pay a special visit to someone needing company.  It’s a great way to brighten their day and get to know someone new!

 

In Conclusion

There are some many free things to do in winter!  I hope that you are able to pick a few off of this list and have a budget friendly, magical winter spent with the ones you love!

 

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Fun At Home Activities For Teens

15 Free At Home Spring Break Activities for Kids

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Free Family Winter Activities

free winter activities for kids - family winter fun ideas

fun winter activities for free - winter family activities

 

What are your favorite free things to do in winter?

How To Teach Kids To Give During The Christmas Season

December 9, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life1 Comment

How we use our giving jar to help others.

Ahhhh January.  The month of new beginnings.  Fresh starts.  Resolution’s and goals.  A month where we clear out the clutter in our life, figuratively and literally, and decide what we can do to make our life a little better than it was before.

Which brings me to December.  The month of giving and sharing.  Where we try to focus more on others than ourselves and look for those who may be in need of charity and service. My family has a favorite family tradition in December.  We choose a family in need.  Either from the neighborhood, a local giving tree, or any other we may hear about who is down on their luck.  We then play the part of Secret Santa. 

We go to the store, buy the gifts on this families want and need list.  We wrap the presents up in beautiful wrappings and bows and secretly deliver them to where they need to go.  We look forward to this tradition every year.  I love teaching my kids to serve others.  I love that through service they are humbled and learn how lucky (maybe even a little spoiled!) they are in comparison to others.  And I love the thought of bringing a smile to someone’s face come Christmas morning.  Did I mention I LOVE this tradition!?!

December also just so happens to be the month that is hard for us (maybe you too???) to stick to our monthly budget.  We try to plan ahead for it.  We try to cut down costs.  But, we still found ourselves struggling to afford all the fun festive activities and gift giving we wanted to participate in. As we discussed what we would cut out I refused to limit our Secret Santa tradition.

Enter:  The Giving Jar

And so we came up with the beautiful idea of The Giving Jar.  I grabbed an old junky used mason jar from our basement, cut a small hole in the top and named it The Giving Jar.

As the fresh new month of January begins, our Giving Jar sits empty.  As the year goes on we as a family puts every single coin we receive into the jar. And when December comes a long our jar is full.  This is the money we use for our Secret Santa tradition.  Our Giving Jar has blessed the lives of so many, and have also helped to teach our kids to give during the Christmas season.

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I love that old junky mason jar.  I love watching it fill up throughout the year.  I love when one of my kids tries to stuff some newly earned dollar bills inside.  And I love watching my kids as they proudly carry it into the store as we purchase gifts for others.

It’s pretty cool how something old and used could become something so beautiful and special and can do so much good for others…..including me.

 

Related Articles:

Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

How to Save Money For Christmas

 

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This jar has helped me teach kids to give during the Christmas season, and it can help you too!

Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

November 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life28 Comments

The best homemade hot cocoa mix recipe makes everything better!

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

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

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How To Make Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

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

Gather Ingredients

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

You will need:

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

Mix It Together

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

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

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

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

Hot Cocoa Mix

5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

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

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Store in a tightly covered container.
  • To make hot chocolate:  Stir 1/4 cup mix with 3/4 cup boiling water.  Enjoy!
  • Related:  25 Completely Free Family Winter Activities

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

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

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

In Conclusion

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

Related Articles:

Christmas Hard Candy Recipe

Frugal Christmas Traditions For Families

Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

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

Easy Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial

October 13, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

How to make toilet paper roll pumpkins!

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

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

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

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

“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.”

Toilet Paper Pumpkin Craft Supplies

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

Supplies Needed:

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

Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin Instructions

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

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

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

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

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


You are almost done! 

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

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


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

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

 

A Few Tips

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

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


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


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

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

Happy frugal crafting!

 

YouTube Tutorial

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

 

You might also like:

–Rice Krispie Halloween Monsters Recipe

–No Sew Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

 

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Enjoy your toilet paper pumpkin!

DIY Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

September 2, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life3 Comments

Check out this No Sew Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial!

Halloween is just around the corner!  I love this time of year; I love the pumpkins, the crisp cool air, the changing leaves, and the excitement in my children.  My kids love to dress up and run around the neighborhood trick or treating.  The urge to craft came on strong the other day and I decided it would be so fun to make my kids new bags for trick or treating.  I wanted to create something cute, but also simple and frugal (because that’s how I roll!).  I came up with the idea of this DIY trick or treat bag.  I’ll be honest with you….it was even EASIER than I originally had planned!  (win!)

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Disclosure:  “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.”

DIY Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial

My favorite thing about this tutorial is that it is an easy craft projects for non sewers, but comes out looking professional!

The first thing you will need to do to make this no sew Trick or Treat bag is to gather all of your supplies.

Supplies Needed:

  • –Canvas Craft Tote
  •  Scrap fabric (I chose Halloween colors)
  • Wonder Under
  •  Iron/ironing board
  •  Pattern for tracing

Find Your Pattern

Now that you have gathered your supplies it’s time to find your pattern.  You can choose any design, picture or pattern.  It doesn’t even need to be Halloween related!  

When we were choosing patterns I asked my kids what picture they wanted on each of their bags.  My daughter requested a cat and my son asked for a spider, so those are the patterns I searched for.

You can easily find patterns by searching on google, they are fairly easy to find.  Just type in the pattern that you want.  For example, if you want to use a spider just type in, “spider tracing pattern.”  You will find many different patterns to choose from!

Another great option for patterns is to look at clip art in Microsoft Word.

Once you have found the pattern you want to use, print it and cut it out.

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Prepare Your Design

Next you will need to transfer the pattern onto your chosen fabric.  I recommend following the directions on your wonder under fusing, they are all a little different.

When I transferred my pattern I cut out a large square of wonder under (large enough to cover the entire shape), and ironed the rough side onto the wrong side of the fabric.


Then I used my tracing pattern to trace the shape onto the paper side of the wonder under.

Once the pattern is traced, cut the picture out (fabric and all), fabric scissors are really helpful to cut out the fabric.


Lastly, gently pull off the paper backing of the wonder under.

 

Iron On The Picture

Now, center your cut out fabric picture on the bag where you want it.  Use a warm iron to iron the picture to the bag.  The wonder under fusing will fuse the fabric to the bag, making it stick.

I have found that holding the iron steady for 5-10 seconds over each section of the picture helps give the applique a nice firm hold.


That’s it!  You’re done!  See, I told you it would be easy!!  It probably took me a total of one hour to finish both bags!  Quick crafting, is my type of crafting!  Imagine all the fun designs and fabric you could iron onto a bag!  So many fun ideas!


In Conclusion

Use your imagination when making this DIY Trick or Treat Bag.  There are so many fun possibilities.  You could iron on a pumpkin, ghost, witch hat, bat, skeleton, or fun lettering.

I can’t wait to watch my kids go trick or treating with their new bags!

 

Related Articles:

Easy Pumpkin Craft Tutorial For a Fun Fall Decoration

Fall Bucket List for Families

Monster Rice Krispie Treats

 

Pin for Future Reference:

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I hope you love this DIY Trick or Treat Bag as much as we did!

Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

July 14, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The best at home date ideas!

Looking for some cheap at home date night ideas???  You’ve come to the right place!

I’ve been married 17 years and life has HAPPENED.  Right now the majority of our time is spent taking care of our three kids, working our jobs, and maintaining our home.  It’s been far to easy to become consumed with all of our long list of “to dos” and leave less time for each other.  We have learned that we MUST make date night a priority, or else it probably won’t happen. 

However, dating can be expensive!  Just dinner and a movie could easily cost you a quick $50.  PLUS, when you have to hire a babysitter….those dates can add up fast.  I have BEEN there!   

We learned quickly that if we wanted to have regular date night, without breaking the budget, we needed to start having them at home.  We brainstormed some fun at home date ideas, schedule a night each week, put the kids to bed, turn off the TV, put away all phones and other distractions and we spend time together.  It has done wonders for our relationship!

I’m excited to share our cheap at home date night ideas with you!  I hope you can find something that you and your partner will enjoy together.

  • For even more free date night ideas check out my post, 20 FREE Valentine Date Ideas.

Our Favorite Cheap At Home Date Night Ideas

Remember that a good date night is all about spending time together.  There are so many free things you can do during a date night at home!  Enjoy these easy at home date ideas!

1.  Candlelight Dinner

There’s no rule that says you have to go out to a fancy restaurant in order to enjoy a romantic dinner.  You can have it right at home!

Put your kids to bed and enjoy a quiet dinner, just the two of you.  Set the mood by lighting some candles, dimming the lights, and adding a pretty tablecloth.

Make sure to cook your favorite dinner before hand to enjoy together.  It doesn’t even need to be fancy, as long as it’s something the two of you both love!

2.  Put Together a Puzzle

Grab a puzzle and spend some time putting it together.  This is such a great time to talk and laugh.  We love having a project/goal we can work towards together.

Bonus!  If you choose a more difficult puzzle you can turn your date night into a multiple night date!  My husband and I love Dowdle Puzzles.

3.  Would you Rather

Ask each other “would you rather” questions to get to know each other a little better.  This is such a fun way to learn more about each other. 

You can ask serious questions, or be a little more lighthearted and fun.  I’m still surprised at all the random idiosyncrasies I keep learning about my husband!

Here are some fun Would You Rather questions to help you get started!

4.  Food Tasting

Get brave in the kitchen by trying out some new foods together.  When planning for this date look for new food at the grocery store that you normally wouldn’t buy.  Perhaps, some fancy cheeses and unique fruits.  You might even find a few new favorite foods!

5.  Personality Quizzes

I’m a bit of a nerd in the fact that I seriously love personality quizzes.  I’m betting there isn’t a personality quiz out there that I haven’t taken. 

For a fun date night you could both take a personality quiz and then read each others results.  This is such a great way to get to know each other and understand the other better.  Understanding your spouses personality can really strengthen your marriage.

6.  Dream Board

Another cheap at home date night idea is to put together a dream board together.

A dream board is a board where you put your dreams, goals, and aspirations on.  This can be done using pictures or words.  Being able to voice your dreams and then visualize it is a great way to achieving it!

Spend some time together dreaming up your future and then put those dreams on paper with your dream board.  Print out a few pictures that represent your dreams to add to your board.

Make sure to gang it up somewhere that you will both see it regularly.  This part is important to see success!

7.  Outdoor Picnic

If it’s warm outside, set up a little outdoor picnic. This is so easy to do!  Just lay out a blanket to sit on, pack all your favorite finger foods, and enjoy time together in your own backyard. 

Try to schedule it right before the sunset so you can enjoy dinner and a show.  Be sure to bring an extra blanket for snuggling.

  • Related:  50 FREE activities to do with your kids over the Summer Break

8.  Ice Cream Sundaes

Ice cream is definitely not just for kids!  My husband and I have a serious deep love for ice cream.  It’s fairly common for one of us to buy a pint of ice cream as a sweet gesture to the other. 

How about turning an ice cream sundae into a cheap at home date night!   Grab some ice cream and your favorite toppings and enjoy a sundae with your sweetie.  Finish it off with a cherry on top (of course!).

9.  Play Name That Tune

Are you and your significant other music lovers??  Test each others music knowledge with a friendly game of name that tune. 

You could travel back in time and play some of the hits from when you were kids or listen to the current hits.  Turn it into a friendly competition with a small wager (maybe loser has to make the bed the next morning????).

10.  Learn a New Skill

Is there a new skill you have been wanting to learn?  Why not learn it together, as a couple!  Watch some YouTube videos about the skill, or sign up for an online class together.  These could be a few weeks worth of dates, as you continue to learn and improve your new skill. 

Perhaps you will want to learn about photography, cooking, art, or a foreign language?  The options are endless!  Maybe you could each pick a new skill you would personally like to learn and you can take turns supporting and learning the others chosen skill together.

11.  Game Night

I have a serious love for all games and it’s one of my favorite ways to spend an evening, it also makes a great date night.

Get out a few of your favorite board games and have an old fashioned game night.  Pop some popcorn, or your favorite snack choice, and enjoy a night of friendly competition, food and good laughs.

12.  Star Gazing

Spend a quiet evening together watching the stars.  You could download a free astronomy app onto your phone to help you find some new constellations.

This is such a great date for snuggling, good conversation and a beautiful view.

13.  Indoor Smores

Did you know that you can roast marshmallows indoors???  Because you can!  Spend the evening together roasting marshmallows over the stove top and make indoor smores. 

You can make the treat even extra special with gourmet smore toppings.  Consider adding caramel, peanut butter, or any other goodie to your smore.  It’s OK to act like a kid again with this fun treat!

 

In Conclusion

You do not have to spend a lot of money, or even leave your house for a special date night.  I am challenging you to start making date night a priority….even if you have to do it while staying at home!

 

 

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What are some of your favorite cheap at home date ideas???

 

 

Free Printable Chore Chart

April 3, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life15 Comments

Best free chore chart for kids.

Are you looking for a free printable chore chart for kids?  Because I have one for you today!

Teaching my kids how to work is a huge priority for me.  In today’s world with busy schedules and so many kids focused on screens, it’s hard to find the right way to instill a hard work ethic.  I’ve tried so many different methods and kids chore charts to try to encourage my kids to be hard workers.  Many of those methods have failed, but the method we are using right now has been going strong for 7 years.  That’s definitely a record in my house!  Of course, I don’t know if it is teaching them the hard work ethic I desire, but I know it has been teaching them a lot about household chores and so I am happy with it!

Honestly, my chore system is nothing fancy, SO un-fancy in fact that it probably shouldn’t even be called a “system”! 😉

Kids Household Responsibilities:

Here are the three main household chores my kids are responsible for each week.

Bedrooms

First, the kids are responsible to keep their rooms clean and tidy, including making their bed each day and putting away any clutter.  This usually only takes 5 minutes each morning, sometimes more or less. 

Once a week they are required to vacuum and dust their rooms, we usually do this on Saturdays.  I always check on Saturdays to make sure they did what was asked of them and to verify that they haven’t stuffed anything under the bed or in their closets (because, that has been known to happen from time to time….).  

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Dishes

We have three “Dish Duties” that we rotate each week between our three kids.  These duties are:  Load the Dishwasher, Sweep the Floor, and Wipe the Counters. 

After our nightly dinner the family all cleans up the dishes together with the kids each helping with their specific assignment.

Household Chore

Each week my kids are assigned a Household Chore.  The Household Chore is usually centered around a room in the house; one that the entire family uses, so we all need to help keep it clean.  These chores are rotated each week, so that the kids all get even turns with each job.

Saturday is the day we complete household chores.  After breakfast the kids work on both their household chore and bedroom chores.  Once they have completed both of these, and I have inspected to make sure it was done correctly, they can then have free time.

Our current list of household chores are:

  • Family Room
  • Bathroom
  • Basement
  • Kitchen
  • Entry
  • Your Choice

I love to include a Your Choice option in the rotations so that the kids can have a little control over the area they clean.  They all look forward to when they get a Your Choice chore.

If a child is assigned “your choice” for the week they can then choose from these job options:

  • Wash Windows
  • Laundry
  • Clean Out Car
  • Refrigerator

I keep a chore list hanging in our kitchen so that my kids always know exactly what is expected of them each week.  These chores are changed every Saturday as we prepare for a new week.

 

Free Printable Chore Chart

After a lot of request I decided to turn these free chore chart for kids into a printable for you to use in your home!

You can download your free printable chore chart for kids at the bottom of this article.  

I recommend printing these printables out on white cardstock to keep them sturdy and durable.

After printing it, cut out each of the the household chores checklists and then laminate them using contact paper.

 

Next, laminate the the Family Weekly Chores, Chore Chart, and Bedroom Checklist.  I prefer sticking these larger printables in a page protector, because it’s easier.  But, you can do whatever works best for you!

 

Printable Bedroom Checklist Chore Chart

Now that you have your chore chart all put together, it’s time to start using them with your kids!

Hang one bedroom checklist in your childs bedroom.  The closet door is a great place for this.  Now, whenever your child completes their daily and weekly bedroom chores they can use a dry erase marker to mark off each chore.  This helps you as the parent to quickly see what they have completed, and reminds the child of what should be done each day.

Family Weekly Chores Chart

Next, hang up the Family Weekly Chores chart somewhere that your family will see it often.  I like to put mine in the kitchen or entry area.  Write each of your kids names next to a chore.  That will be their assigned household chore for the week.  Once the week is over, rotate the names down to the next chore.  This gives everyone a fair chance at each chore.

Your child can use the chore checklists while working on their household chores.  This helps them stay focused on the chore and remember all of the details.  

 

Chore Chart Printable

I also included a basic chore chart printable.  This gives you the option to fill in the chores you want your child to do each week, just in case they are different from our families chore chart.

 

Grab Your Free Printables Below!

 

 

I truly believe one of the greatest gifts we can give a child is teaching them how to work.  They WILL look back one day and thank you for giving them this gift.  I whined and yelled and cried and complained and told my parents they were the meanest in the world…..but I grew up….and I realized just how GRATEFUL I am that they taught me how to work!

The saying says there is more than one way to train a horse!  That falls true with kids too!  This is what works for my kids, you might find something different that works for your family.  All that matters is that we are TRYING.  Keep trying mamas!  We got this!

 

 

Related Articles:

  • The Bucket Family Chore Chart
  • How To Teach Kids About Money

 

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Don’t forget to download my Free Kids Chore Chart Printable using the link above!

Allowance For Teens: A Great Teaching Tool

March 7, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

Teaching Teenagers To Manage Money Well.

It’s so important for kids to learn how to manage their own money from a young age.  I truly believe if we teach them to do this while they are young, they will have much less money problems when they get older.  And this is the reason why I think that an allowance for teens can be a great teaching tool.  

Perrsonally, I begin giving my kids an allowance at age 8.  You can read more about my reasoning why they receive an allowance and how much I give them here.

Once my kids turn 13 their allowance is increased, but they are also required to pay for most of their own clothes and a few other expenses.  This is an important teaching tool to help prepare them for the adult world.

Why An Allowance?

I know many of you might be wondering why an allowance for teens is a good idea.  This is honestly a question I get a lot, and I understand the confusion.

An allowance is not a handout.

Let me repeat, An allowance is not a handout.

If done the right away, giving your teenager an allowance is not going to spoil them, make them lazy, or teach them to look for handouts (these are all things I’ve been told when I tell people my kids get an allowance).  

Let me explain using this example:

Child without an allowance comes to me and says, “Will you buy me these $50 pair of jeans?”  My response would probably be, “Those are to expensive, let’s try to find something cheaper.”

This child might learn two things from this moment:

  1. Mom is cheap and won’t let me buy what I want.
  2. Mom gets to decide what is worth spending money on, not me.

But, if your teenager is given an allowance along with the responsibility to buy their own clothing the situation could go like this:

Child with an allowance comes to me and says, “Mom, I really want to buy these $50 jeans, but that would take all of my money.  Do you think I could fine them cheaper somewhere else?”

In this situation the child is learning to:

  1. Make their own decisions about how to spend their money.
  2. Deciding for themselves what items are splurge worthy.

Either way the money for the jeans is still coming from the moms pocket, but with the allowance the child is able to learn how to manage their money themselves.

My Experience.

So, this afternoon I had a fun shopping trip with my 13 year old daughter.  I happen to love shopping (yep, frugal AND a shopping lover!) and I love quality time with my kids, so it was a GREAT day!

However, shopping trips with my daughter tend to bring some stress (for me) and anxiety (for her).  Read more below for what happened today….

the Travel Kings

My daughter has inherited my frugal ways…..to the extreme.  She hates to spend money, it actually gives her a little bit of anxiety to even consider spending any money…..and I get stressed because there are times when she NEEDS to spend her money, and I wish that she would.

Spending money is part of living…..I mean….we all need to wear clothes, right?!?!?.  It’s important for kids to learn that spending isn’t the problem, over spending is the problem.

Today’s Shopping Trip

So, today we were on a mission.  My daughter had a list, and she wanted to buy it all….without spending a lot of money.

I, on the other hand, wanted her to buy everything on the list without feeling any anxiety or guilt.

Our list included:  2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of track shoes, a dress, and a swimsuit.

It was QUITE the tall order for my daughter the saver, but we were determined to make it happen!

I let her make the decisions about where to go (she chose the discount store Ross and the second hand store Runway Fashion), what to buy, and how much to spend.

She thought carefully about each decision, she calculated and recalculated how much she was spending, she said no to many things and yes to a few things.  I was a proud mama as I stood by and watched!

A few times she looked at me for advice, and I would always reply with the same questions; “Do you NEED it?  Do you LOVE it?  Will you WEAR it often?  Is it WORTH the money?”  As I walked her through these questions she was able to feel confident in her decisions.

The Perfect Shoes

Three hours later we ended the day at the mall sipping on Jamba Juice and feeling proud to have found everything on the list, all at the right price (yay!).

While at the mall we noticed a store having a big going out of business sale.  Ignoring my advice about spending triggers, we decided to pop in for a quick browse.  This is where my daughter excitedly proclaimed that she had found “the perfect shoes”…..and I’ll admit, they were pretty darn cute!

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The price was right, the fit was perfect, and she was smitten…..but they weren’t on her list…..she didn’t need them….and she was feeling a lot of anxiety and guilt about buying them.

My sweet daughter worried that she shouldn’t make this purchase, she didn’t want to waste her money and spend unwisely.

I assured her that she has always been wise with her money, she saves a large sum of her allowance each month, she always pays her tithing, she still has plenty of money in her “spending” jar…..and it is OK to spend a little bit of money on something that just makes you happy!

So.  She bought the shoes!  You better believe this frugal-tight-wad-mom was so proud of her for making that decision!

And….guess what, she has been on cloud 9 all day because of it!  The shoes haven’t left her feet, she’s been showing them to everyone in the family and has been pairing them with different outfits.

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In Conclusion

THIS is why we give teens allowance.

Today, I kept my mouth shut and let my daughter take control of her shopping experience.  She made the decision to only buy used or discounted clothes.  It was up to her to decide what was “splurge” worthy and what wasn’t.  She learned to budget, she learned to say no, and she learned to say yes.

She was able to come home with less money in her pocket, but also a feeling of accomplishment and confidence.

This is a girl who is preparing for the adult world of spending.

 

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How do you feel about an allowance for teens????

Which is best: Debt Snowball or Debt Avalanche Method?

October 6, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life5 Comments

The differences between the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche.

Are you looking for the best way to pay off debt?  You are not alone!  One of the most important things to do when paying off debt is to develop a plan.  This plan should give you motivation and direction for your debt payments.  Two of the easiest ways to pay off debt is by using the debt snowball or debt avalanche methods.

Neither of these methods are superior to the other.  They both have great qualities and offer excellent motivation for getting rid of debt.  I’ll explain all of the pros and cons to these two methods in this article.

quickest way to pay off debt - best debt pay off plan

How to Pay Off Debt With The Debt Snowball

The Debt Snowball is the method Dave Ramsey recommends, and probably the most popular of the two.  The Debt Snowball was designed as a way to help you gain confidence with paying off debt.  The idea is that as you pay off your smaller debts first you will become more excited to pay off the larger ones.

  • Related:  Why I Disagree With Dave Ramsey

To use the Debt Snowball method you will first list all of your debts in order from the smallest debt to the largest.  Do not pay attention to the interest rates, instead focus on the amount owed.

While continuing to make minimum payments on all debts, begin actively trying to pay off your SMALLEST debt FIRST by paying more than the minimum payment each month.

For Example:

  • $800 Credit Card with 5% interest
  • $5,000 Car Loan with 7% interest
  • $25,000 Student Loan with 15% interest

Pay off the credit card first, while continuing to make minimal payments on the other two debts.  Next you will pay off the car loan, and then lastly you will tackle the student loan.

This will mean that you will use ANY extra money that comes your way to paying off this one debt.  Try to cut out any unnecessary expenses and use that extra money to tackle each debt.

As you pay off those small debts you will have more practice and motivation to be able to tackle the larger debts.

Debt Snowball Pros

There are many pros to using the Debt Snowball to get rid of your debt.  A few of these include:

  • Builds Confidence
  • Keeps you motivated
  • It’s simple to follow

Debt Snowball Cons

The biggest con to using the Debt Snowball is that there is a possibility you will spend more money because you aren’t paying off the highest interest first.

If you choose to pay off a debt with only 2% interest and wait to pay off the debt with 15% interest, you are having to pay that extra interest rate longer, making it cost more in the long run.

This is where the Debt Snowball and Debt Avalanche methods differ.  Next, I’ll explain all about the Debt Avalanche.

How To Pay Off Debt With The Debt Avalanche

The biggest difference between the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche is that in the Debt Avalanche you will list your debts in order from the highest INTEREST to the lowest interest.  You will then continue to make all minimum payments for all debt while focusing all extra cash to paying off your debt with the highest interest rate.

For Example:

  • $25,000 Student Loan with 15% interest
  • $5,000 Car Loan with 7% interest
  • $800 Credit Card with 5% interest

In this example you will pay off your student loan first because that is the debt with the highest interest.  The point of the Debt Avalanche is that by getting rid of the debts that charger higher interest you will be able to pay off the debt quicker.

  • Related:  Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget

Debt Avalanche Pros

A few pros to the Debt Avalanche method are:

  • Possibly become debt free quicker
  • Saves you money in the long run

Debt Avalanche Cons

  • It takes longer to see results
  • Requires more patience

Master Your Money Super Bundle 2020 

Which Debt Payoff Method is Best For You?

So, what does this all mean for you???

The answer to that question will be personal.  It will be different for everyone.  There is no right or wrong debt payoff method.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, unsure of yourself and needs some help to get going with your debt, than the Debt Snowball will probably work best for you.

If you are already feeling super motivated and you want to get rid of that debt ASAP, then you might prefer the Debt Avalanche.  This method will get you aggressively paying off that debt and will cut out some of those interest costs.

What do I recommend?

I personally recommend you research, research and more research.  Study everything you can about both methods.  Once you have studied everything you can, make your decision.  You will naturally feel more comfortable and be drawn to a certain method.

Once you make the decision best for you, GO WITH IT, own it.  Do everything in your power to get rid of that debt.

I promise paying off debt WILL be hard…..but I also promise that your future self will THANK YOU for being willing to put in the work.

You Might Enjoy These Other Articles To Help You Save More Money:

The 6 Step Plan to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

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I hope this article helped you understand the differences between the debt snowball and debt avalanche methods.

How to Start Budgeting for Beginners

September 7, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Your Budgeting Questions Answered!

I receive so many messages on a daily basis from people wanting to learn how to start budgeting, but they don’t know how to take that first step.  It is always so amazing to me when I see others who want to improve their life and financial situation.  This isn’t an easy thing!  It can be scary trying to make such a big change into the unknown.  There can be a lot of questions when you first start budgeting and I want to answer some of those for you. 

Disclosure:  “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.”

 

How do I start budgeting?

The very most asked question I receive on Instagram is from people wanting to know how to start budgeting.  I think one of the hardest parts of most new habits is starting.  It is always hard to take that first big, sometimes scary, step in a new direction.  I have three suggestions to help you get on the right track for a successful budget.

1.  Make A Zero Based Budget

I recommend making a Zero Based Budget.  This is a budget where your expenses and income will be the same, in short…..you give every dollar a job to do within the budget.  This does not mean you SPEND every dollar, it means that it has a purpose and place within your budget.

If you are new to budgeting, it might take you a while to figure out just how much money to budget for each category.  This is normal!  A budget is fluid, meaning it is always changing. 

I had about a year of FAILED budgets (no lie) before I finally learned what works for me and my family.

A great resource to get started is my Free Budget Worksheet.  Grab it by signing up below!

 

 

2.  Track All Expenses

Once you make your Zero Based Budget I recommend tracking all of your expenses throughout the month.  Yes, this means writing down every.single.thing you spend.  Even that $1 pack of gum.  Write it down and track it!

Tracking your expenses keeps your budget accurate, and gives you a great window into your spending habits.  By tracking your spending habits, you will be able to see what areas you are over spending in and areas you could cut back.  This is crucial knowledge!

3.  Check Out Dave Ramsey

I highly recommend everyone new to budgeting, frugal living, or paying off debt read the book, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.  This book changed my life and was the one thing that put me on my path to frugal living and mindful spending.

Check it out from your library, borrow it from a friend, or order it from Amazon.  No matter how you get it, just read it.  Dave Ramsey uses easy to understand terms as he explains exactly how to fix your financial situation.

 

What is the best way to keep track of day to day spending?

Ok.  So now that we understand it’s important to track spending, let’s talk about exactly how to do that!

Truth is, there are many different ways to track spending.  There is no right or wrong way to track spending, the most important thing is that you stay consistent.  Here are a few options to try:

1.  Excel Spreadsheet

When we first started budgeting my husband put in hours (and hours and hours) making us an excel spreadsheet budget.  It was full of details and catered to our spending and needs.  

We loved this method.  It was free and easy to customize and liked that we could make it exactly how we needed it.  However, it was very time consuming to make and upkeep.

2.  Budgeting App or Software

After using the excel spreadsheet for a few years we moved on to a computer budgeting program.  It was seriously the best decision ever.

We have been using the You Need a Budget budgeting app for about 10 years now and have never looked back.  It is so user friendly and very affordable!  I love that you can download the app onto your phone and update it as you spend.

A few other great apps available are Every Dollar, Mint, and Pocket Guard.

3.  Paper and Pen

There is nothing wrong with tracking expenses with old fashioned paper and pen.  As a matter of fact, I know many who prefer budgeting this way.

When tracking spending it is important to stay consistent.  Pick a day of the week, schedule a time, and develop a routine for tracking your spending.

 

How do you use cash envelopes?

Cash envelopes are a great way to limit your spending and stick to your budget.  I always recommend them to anyone who consistently is going over budget.  Plus they are so easy to use!

Just make your budget, and then get out enough envelopes for your spending categories.  Label each envelope, “Clothing”, “Groceries”, etc.  Stuff the envelope with enough cash to cover your budgeted amount.

As you go throughout the month, use the cash envelope to purchase items in each category.  Once the cash is gone, your spending for the month is done!  

  • Related:  Have More Money With The Cash Envelope System

 

How do you make a grocery budget?

First, I want to remind you that grocery budgets will vary greatly!  There is no secret amount or right/wrong way to budget for groceries.  Food prices vary in different parts of the world, and different families have different needs/diets.

It will take some trial and error to find the right grocery budget for you.  A good rule of thumb is $120/person/month.  So, a family of four would have a budget of $450/month.  However, if you find yourself needing more in your budget that’s OK.  Make your budget work for YOU!

 

How do you save money on groceries?

Groceries are one of the biggest expenses for most budgets.  But!  I have learned a few ways to ease this burden!

1.  Meal Plan

The number one way I have found to keep those costs low is to meal plan.  Plan out every meal you want to eat for the week.  As you meal plan, write out your grocery list, and stick to this list while you shop.  Having a plan reduces the temptation to impulse shop and eat out.

2.  Walmart Grocery Pickup

Another fantastic way to stick to your grocery budget is to use Walmart Grocery Pickup.  It is completely FREE and you get to shop at home (in your PJs!) and then pick your groceries up at the store.  You don’t even have to get out of your car!!

The thing about Walmart Grocery Pickup is that you are able to watch your cart total on the app as you shop.  If you find you are spending more than your budgeted amount, just delete a few items from the cart!  So easy!  So helpful!

  • Related:  10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

 

What are the easiest cashback apps for frugal beginners?

I’m always getting asked about the best cash back apps.  And, I love answering this question because cash back apps are one of my favorite things ever!!  I mean you get paid to buy things you would be buying anyways!  It just doesn’t get much better than that!

Here are a few of my favorite:

1.  Ibotta

Ibotta is the cashback app I have been using the longest.  It’s easy, straightforward and always has a few rebates available!  Sign up using this link for up to a $20 sign up bonus!  Whoo!

2.  Fetch Rewards

The easiest cashback app ever is Fetch Rewards.  Fetch Rewards takes less than a minute to use, and rewards you with points for every receipt.  These points can be redeemed for gift cards to your favorite places (Target and Amazon!!).  Try it for yourself here and use code FETCH2K to get 2,000 bonus points!

3.  Rakuten

Another very easy app to use is Rakuten.  Rakuten gives you cashback when you shop online at participating retailers.  I never buy anything online without first checking the Rakuten website!  Sign up today and get $10 bonus when you spend your first $25!

I share more details about cashback apps here!

 

What should my budget look like?  What is normal for our family?

When you are learning how to budget it’s important to remember that no two budgets look the same, and that’s how it’s suppose to be.

My normal will be different than your normal.  What I spend on groceries, will be different from what you will spend on groceries, etc.  This is one of my favorite parts of a budget.  You can customize it and find something that works for you personally!

With that said, I do recommend following Dave Ramseys budget percentages.  These aren’t the law, but I do like that it gives me a basic number to shoot for.

 

 

What can you do when you cut back, budget and still don’t have enough money?

I loved this question; because it is so relatable and a very real situation for many of us.

My first piece of advice is to keep your head up!  You are NOT alone!  There are so many dealing with similar struggles.  I strongly believe that together, we CAN help each other reach our financial goals.  Reach out to facebook groups and instagram accounts that discuss this issue.  Surrounding yourself with others in this situation should give you the strength, support and ideas to help get you through it.

When you have done EVERYTHING you can think of and the money is just still NOT adding up, that means it’s time to take more extreme actions.  Here are a few ideas to take when you need to be “gazelle intense.”

  • Related: How to Cut Your Budget; When There is Nothing Left to Cut

 1.  Sell items in your home

Look around your house for items you don’t use very often.  Sell these to earn a little extra money.  My goal is to always earn about $50 each month just by selling my clutter.  It’s possible!

10 Items In Your House You Can Sell Quickly To Make Money 

5 Places Online To Sell Your Clutter and Earn Cash).

2.  Start a side hustle

Try to find another way to bring in extra money.  A side hustle is a job you can do during your free time.  Here are a few side hustle ideas you can do at home.

3.  Make some sacrifices

Look through your budget one more time and find a few things you could cut out to have more money.  Could you stop going out to eat, or maybe you could switch cell companies to lower your phone plan, could you cancel your TV subscriptions or maybe not going to the movie theater?

I know that each of these can and will take a huge sacrifice, but remind yourself that the sacrifice is temporary.

4.  Earn more money

Consider asking for a raise from your current employer.  If you have been working at the same location for over a year, many employers will consider giving you a raise.  It never EVER hurts to ask!  Just ask politely and confidently.

If a raise won’t happen you might want to make a job change.  Begin searching around for a job that will pay better and still make you happy.

5.  Downgrade

If you are in desperate need of more money and none of the other suggestions will work for you, you might want to look into downgrading in a few areas of your life.  This might mean trading in your car for a cheaper model or moving into a more affordable home.

I understand it is NOT easy when the money just ISN’T there.  ESPECIALLY when you feel as if you have sacrificed again, and again and again.  I get it, I have been there!  Keep your head up.  Keep trying.  I believe in you!

In Conclusion

I hope this article answered all of your questions about budgeting and gave you the tools you need to know how to start budgeting!  Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.  I’m always happy to help!

Remember that learning to budget takes time, and that’s OK!  Don’t give up if you fail the first few times…..keep trying and keep learning.

 

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budgeting questions and answers

FAQ from Budget Beginners (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this helps you understand how to start budgeting for beginners.

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