This is What Happens When You Give a Teen an Allowance….
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 tends to bring some stress (for me) and anxiety (for her). You see….once my kids reach the age of 13 they are required to pay for all of their own clothes, along with a few other expenses. We have decided instead of mom and dad deciding what clothes are in the budget, we would give her an allowance so SHE can decide how to…
My Story: The nightmare experience that changed me from Spender to Saver
I’ve tried to write this story many, many times. I’ve typed, and deleted more times than I can count. It’s hard to share about a time in my life when my thoughts were so dark, my joy completely gone, and my shoulders heavy with burdens. This is a time in my life when I would wake up every single morning with tears in my eyes and panic in my chest. The moment I opened my eyes was the hardest part of my day. The realization that I was going to have to live another dark day was almost more than I could bear. I still have some PTSD from this…
A Financial Tale of Two Sisters
The story you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect those involved. (Note Sarcasm 😉 ) Once upon a time there were two sisters. One was named Jane and the other Melissa. Jane and Melissa were raised by two hardworking, frugal minded parents. These wonderful parents raised the sisters to understand the importance of saving money, spending wisely, and budgeting. Jane and Melissa both began receiving an allowance at age 12. They were both given the same amount of money and were taught to save at least 10%, tithe 10% and the rest they could spend. Melissa began babysitting at a young age. The…
Debt Snowball Vs. Debt Avalanche
Two of the most common methods for paying off debt is the Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche. Neither of these methods are superior to the other. They both have great qualities and offer excellent motivation for getting rid of debt. Debt Snowball The Debt Snowball is the method Dave Ramsey recommends. When using the Debt Snowball you will list your debts in order from the smallest debt to the largest. While continuing to make minimum payments on all debts, begin actively trying to pay off your SMALLEST debt FIRST. This will mean that you will use ANY extra money that comes your way to paying off this one debt.…
The life lessons that taught me to budget for JOY while living in the present!
I’ve been asked a few times my opinion about spending money on life experiences right now, or if it’s best to keep saving and wait for the future. The obvious answer from a frugal, budget loving blogger, who loves to encourage everyone to spend conservatively and plan for their future, would be to advise everyone to wait until later and build your wealth now….. However…….. I actually feel very strongly about the importance of budgeting money to experience JOYFUL experiences right now. In THIS moment….because, you know what, those golden years you are anxiously waiting for, they just might not come….. My sweet mother was a huge saver. I have…
Budgeting for Beginners: FAQ
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.” I receive so many messages on a daily basis from people wanting to start managing their money and living frugally, but they don’t know how to take that first step. I admire everyone who wants to improve on their life and financial situation, it can be scary trying to make such a big change into the unknown. I decided it was time for a FAQ article for all you brave…
What I Learned From the July Pantry Challenge
I am a member of online affiliate programs. I may receive compensation for purchases made through links in this post. All opinions are my own and I only recommend things I truly use and love! I just finished my month long pantry challenge!! If you’re not aware of the term, a pantry challenge is meant to encourage you to use up items you already have in your home, (pantry, fridge, freezer, shelves, etc.), instead of spending money at the store on groceries. My goal was to save a little extra money during the month by spending less on groceries. To do this I decided to cut my regular grocery budget…
Small changes in your lunch habits can make big changes in your wallet
Finding ways to save money in your budget doesn’t always have to be extreme. Sometimes all it takes is small consistent new habits to make a big results. We decided that instead of having my husband go out to eat lunch with his coworkers every day we would instead pack him a lunch to take. He usually has leftovers from dinner and some fruit or a salad, sometimes he will make himself a sandwich. I added up how much this saved us over a year. I estimated we spend about $3 a day on the lunch he takes to work. He works approximately 250 days out of the year making…
