Sweet Frugal Life

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How To Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Tips for Universal Studios on a budget!

Our family recently got home from a fun vacation to Universal Studios Orlando.  We had so much fun spending the week together as a family, making memories, and riding all of the fun rides with our 3 kids.  One of my goals for this trip, and every trip we take, is to have a memorable vacation without having to spend a ton of money.  So, today I’m going to share exactly how to save money on your Universal Studios vacation!  I hope it will help each of you be able to take this trip, even if your budget is tight.

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Best Tips to Save Money On Your Universal Orlando Vacation

Any vacation will cost money, but there are some tricks you can do to lower the price a little bit.  Learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation below!

1.  Stay At A Hotel With A Kitchenette

One of my best budget travel hacks is to book a hotel that has a small kitchen, or kitchenette.  This was a huge money saver for us!  We ordered groceries from Walmart and had them delivered to the hotel the first day that we arrived.  I also saw a lot of people using Amazon Fresh to get groceries delivered. 

Using our kitchenette we were able to eat all of our breakfasts and lunches in our room, and only ate out for dinner.

Hotel Breakfast Ideas:

  • Cold Cereal
  • Instant Oatmeal
  • Muffins
  • Yogurt
  • Granola
  • Fruit

Hotel Lunch Ideas:

  • Mac and Cheese
  • Sandwiches
  • Bagels with Cream Cheese
  • Fruit
  • Protein Drink
  • Salad
  • Cup of Noodles

2.  Book Discount Universal Tickets

When purchasing your Universal Studio tickets, make sure to buy them from a discount retailer, you’ll be able to get the best deals and a few added perks!  I bought our tickets from Undercover Tourist and was so impressed with the price and ease of the purchase.

A couple other discount retailers I recommend are Costco and Get Away Today (use code SWEETFRUGAL for $10 off your Get Away Today vacation package!).

3.  Split a Meal

Another great way to save money at Universal studios is to split a meal between two people, instead of buying one for each person in your group.  All of the meals that we had at Universal Studios were very large portioned, making it easy to buy one meal and split it two ways!

4.  Skip Park-To-Park Tickets

Universal Orlando sells two different types of tickets.  You can either purchase a single park per day ticket or a park-to-park ticket.  The single park per day ticket will allow you into one of the Universal theme parks each day.  The park-to-park ticket allows you to visit multiple parks in one day.

Now, I totally think the park-to-park tickets are convenient and fun, but I still recommend skipping buying them.  Why you might ask?  Well, first off each park is huge and can easily fill an entire day.  It takes a lot of time to get to each park, so we prefer staying and enjoying one park each day.  The amount of time it takes to walk around one park, and then walk to the next park, and then walk around the other park just doesn’t make much sense to me.

The second reason I recommend buying a single park per day ticket is because it is much cheaper than the park-to-park tickets.  You can see the exact same attractions for a cheaper price.  I personally don’t think it’s worth the extra money.

Now, honestly, I give this tip with a little bit of hesitation.  If you are a big Harry Potter fan, than paying the extra money *might* be worth it to you.  The only way that you can experience the Hogwarts Express ride is if you have a park-to-park ticket.  The Hogwarts Express was closed when we were there, and at first I was really sad about it, but now I don’t feel like we missed much by not riding on it.  We were still able to experience all of the other incredible Harry Potter attractions.

Another exception I would make to my advice of skipping the park-to-park pass is if you only plan to attend Universal Studios for one day.  If you only have one day for the park, buy the park-to-park….but if you are going to be there for multiple days anyways, then save yourself some money and purchase the single park per day passes.

5.  Visit During The Off Season

One of the easiest ways to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation is to plan your visit during the off season months.  The cheapest months to go to Universal Studios Orlando is in January, February, or September.  Not only will Universal Theme Park tickets be cheaper, but so will hotel rooms and many airfares.

6.  Skip The Express Passes

Another extra you can purchase is the Express Pass.  The Express Pass is in addition to your regular Universal Studios ticket.  This amazing pass gives you the ability to cut to the front of the line on almost every ride (all but two!).  It is a great way to save time, ensure that you can ride all of the rides, and stay out of the heat. 

I was jealous of every single person who was using the Express Pass, however I do not recommend you buy one…..and here’s why:

The Express Passes are really really expensive.  Like, more than double the cost of your ticket expensive.   Plus, I don’t think they are necessary!

We visited Universal Studios during one of the hottest, busiest times of the year….and we were still able to ride on every ride that we wanted to ride in.  Yes, we had to stand in long lines, yes it was hot….but we survived!  And saved a ton of money in the process!

Standing in long lines is not the most fun way to spend a day….but it doesn’t have to be a terrible thing!  To help make the experience a little more enjoyable make sure to bring a lot of water, a mist spray bottle, snacks and some fun games.  Before our trip I downloaded the Heads Up app onto my phone and we had so much fun playing it while standing in line.  We were even able to make a few friends this way!

7.  Fill Your Water Bottle At The Free Coca-Cola Freestyle Stations

One of my favorite Universal Studios money saving hack is to fill up your water bottle with ice water for free at the Coca-Cola Stations around the park.  These stations are available in multiple locations (you can find exactly where on the Universal app).

You can bring your water bottle into the park and fill it up for free with ice water at any of these stations.  Many of them even had free cups available for anyone who didn’t have a water bottle.  It’s a great way to stay hydrated while at Universal Studios, without having to spend money on drinks.

My kids loved using these collapsible water bottles, they were lightweight to carry around, and then pull out and fill up whenever we came to a freestyle station.

free water at universal studios

8.  Pack Food Into Park

Buying food inside of Universal Studios is expensive.  You will save so much money if you pack your own food into the park each day.  We like to pack a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches, and fruit.  This way we can bring it with us around the park and we don’t have to pay for a locker.

9.  Purchase Souvenirs Outside Of Universal Parks

Souvenirs are a fun part of traveling and visiting somewhere new.  We love bringing home a memento or two from our travels. 

The problem with souvenirs at Universal Studios, is that they are very expensive!

Fortunately, you can buy the exact same products (or very very similar) for much less if you buy them outside of the park.

For cheaper Universal souvenirs check out Amazon, Target and Walmart.  You can even buy an interactive wand on eBay for cheap…and use it to cast spells while at Universal Studios!  Turn around and sell it once you get home again!

10.  Choose A Hotel Off Site

You can find a lot of great hotel options within the Universal Resort.  However, if you are trying to cut costs, I recommend booking a hotel outside of the resort hotels.  You can find a lot of great value hotels on International Drive.

Just remember, when booking a hotel off site to add in the “extras” you will be paying.  These extras might include:  resort fees, shuttle bus, parking, etc.  I still think you can find good deals, even with these extras, but the extra costs can be a shock if it wasn’t planned beforehand……and we don’t like surprises when it comes to our pocket book!

11.  Buy Tickets In Advance

Universal Studios tickets prices tend to increase the closer it gets to a specific park date.  You will save much more money (and time!) if you buy your park tickets in advance.  I recommend getting them as soon as you decide to go, months in advance is best!

12.  Stock Up On Extras Before Traveling

You will get the best bang for your buck if you buy any miscellaneous items at home rather than waiting until you get to the theme park.  These extras might include:

Prices on these miscellaneous items increase drastically once you get to Orlando, with an even bigger increase if you purchase them inside the Universal Parks.

13.  Take The Bus

To save money on transportation try using the Orlando public bus system, instead of Uber.  Rides on the bus are only $2 each, or pay $4.50 to ride the bus for the entire day, such a good deal!  Look through the bus routes here to see if any of them will work for you.  It might be slightly inconvenient, but you can’t beat the price!

14.  Book A Hotel With A Free Shuttle

Many hotels near Universal Studios offer free shuttle service to the park.  When you are trying to find the perfect hotel for your family, make sure to check to see if they offer this shuttle service.  It can save you a lot of money in the long run.

15.  Utilize Free Universal Lockers

I don’t recommend purchasing a locker at Universal Studios.  Yes, it would be so very convenient, but it costs money, and we are trying to save money!  Right?  Right!

When preparing for a Universal day only pack items that can fit into a small backpack.  You can carry this backpack around with you and it will be allowed on most rides.  The rides that don’t let you bring a backpack are:  Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster.

However, each of the rides that don’t allow backpacks will offer FREE lockers for you to store your backpack!  They are easy to use and completely free.  All you have to do is use your barcode from your ticket, or use a barcode pass issued to you by an employee within the ride.  This barcode will open and lock the locker door for you to use before and after the ride.

So, instead of renting a locker all day, keep your backpack with you and rent one for free when you need to!

In Conclusion

We had such a fun time visiting Universal Orlando this year.  We are huge Harry Potter fans and just loved drinking butterbeer, walking through diagon alley, and exploring all of the fun details of the park.  I hope that you are able to visit and that this article helped you learn how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation.

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Have so much fun on your next trip!  I hope you have some good ideas about how to save money on your Universal Orlando vacation!

 

The Best Deals At Dollar Tree

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The best things to buy at the Dollar Tree.

I love shopping at my local Dollar Tree.  Not only are the items all affordable ($1.25???  yes please!), but they also have quality products!  However, the truth is that not all items sold at your local dollar store is a good deal.  We are often led to believe that because something is sold at the Dollar Tree, it MUST be the best price in town, right???  Well, this is not always the case!  Today I am going to share the best deals at Dollar Tree.  These are the items that you can always count on to be a better price than you can buy anywhere else.

Best Deals At Dollar Tree

The next time you are shopping at Dollar Tree, make sure to look for these amazing deals!

1.  Pregnancy Test

There is no need to spend a lot of money on pregnancy tests!  Just hop on over to your local Dollar Tree and pick up one of these tests for just $1.25.  They are just as accurate as the tests you can buy at the grocery store, but for only half the price!  Yay!

 

2.  Ovulation Predictor

Another great buy in the pregnancy sectioin is an Ovulation Predictor.  You can buy a big pack of these at Walmart for a good price, but the ones at Dollar Tree are still cheaper!

 

3.  Hair Scrunchies/Hair Ties

The Dollar Tree is a great place to buy hair scrunchies and hair ties!  They are not only affordable, but also super cute!  I love the huge selection available!

 

4.  Bleach

One of the best deals at Dollar Tree is their bleach.  For only $1.25 you can get a 96 oz. container of bleach!  That is a great price and I haven’t been able to find it cheaper anywhere else.

 

5.  Bandaids

If your kids are anything like my kids you probably go through a lot of bandaids.  Fortunately, you can buy them for a great price at Dollar Tree!

 

6.  Flip Flops

I love grabbing a few pairs of flip flops at the Dollar Tree every summer.  They are super cute and comfortable, plus it doesn’t matter if they break or get lost….because I spent less than $1.50 on them!

 

7.  Candles/Wax Melts

You really can’t beat paying less than $2 for a candle and a carton of candle wax melts.  Whenever you need to buy a candle, make sure to buy it at the Dollar Tree.

 

8.  Coloring/Activity Books

Dollar Tree has a huge selection of coloring and activity books perfect for kids.  I love to buy a few at the beginning of each summer to keep my kids entertained for the next few months.  The books are constantly changing and I love looking through the new selection regularly.

 

9.  Seasonal Items

Another great buy at Dollar Tree are the seasonal items.  Dollar Tree is wonderful at rotating through a large supply of seasonal toys, decorations, food and more.  It’s a great place to stock up on summer fun activities or stocking stuffers….and everything in between!

 

10.  Greeting Cards

The cheapest place to buy greeting cards is always at the Dollar Tree!  For only $1 you can get TWO greeting cards to give to your loved ones.  This is a great buy!

I also love to buy a package of blank note cards.  For $1 you get 6 blank cards, and can use them for any occasion!

 

11.  Gift Bags

The next time you are at Dollar Tree make sure to stock up on gift bags.  They are a fantastic deal and come in so many designs and sizes.

Want to know the best part of buying a gift bag???  It’s reusable, so the one time purchase can be used again and again!

12.  Sticky Notes

Another great buy at the Dollar Tree is the sticky notes.  I love using sticky notes for weekly planning and list making, so I always buy a package or two!

 

13.  LED Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs are expensive, buy can save you a lot of money in the long run!  Buy your LED lights at Dollar Tree so that you can still get the long term rewards, without the high price tag.

 

14.  Nail Polish

I have two girls in my home who LOVE doing their nails.  They buy a lot of their nail polish at Dollar Tree because the prices are MUCH lower than at other stores.

 

15.  Picture Frames

Did you know that you can even buy picture frames at Dollar Tree?  Because you totally can!  I love buying picture frames at Dollar Tree because they are so cheap, and have a lot of different styles and sizes to choose from!  Yay!

 

In Conclusion

The Dollar Tree has so many great deals, especially the ones listed above!  I have been able to save my family a lot of money by buying each of these things at Dollar Tree, and I hope this article will help your family save money too!  That’s what I’m here for after all!

 

Related Articles:

Dollar Tree Pantry Organization Tips

Dollar Tree Easter Basket Ideas

How To Save Money On Diapers

 

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I hope you enjoy the best deals at Dollar Tree!

 

Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids 2022

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The best kids summer reading programs.

Summer is just around the corner and I can’t wait for the lazy days of summer.  I love the BBQs, the late nights, the snow cones (ohhhh the snow cones) and the lack of schedule.  However, I do NOT like when the kids are bored (because….that usually leads to complaining…and I REALLY don’t like complaining!).  One of the things that I have found to help curb the summer boredom (and complaining) is to sign my kids up for free summer reading programs.  

These fun kids summer reading programs are the perfect way to keep kids busy, learning, entertained and to help prevent the summer slump.  Most of these reading programs offers incentives and prizes which encourages my kids to keep reading throughout the summer months.  They love accomplishing their goals and receiving a fun reward at the end!

I have been searching for a few free summer reading programs to sign my kids up for this year and wanted to share them with each of you!

summer reading programs in 2022 - easy kids activities for summer

2022 Free Summer Reading Programs

If you are looking for some good reading programs for your kids this summer, make sure to check out each of these!

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program

Another fun summer reading program for kids is from Barnes and Noble.  All they have to do is print out this reading journal, read 8 books and fill out the journal during the summer, and then bring the completed journal into a Barnes and Noble store.  Your child will then be able to choose a free book from the free book lists (which always has lots of fun book choices!).  This is one of our favorite programs and have been participating in it for years!

Books-A-Million

Earn a free “Because of Winn-Dixie” notepad from Books-A-Million after completing their reading challenge.  All you have to do is read 4 books from their Summer Reading Adventure picks in store or online.  Track your reading progress in the provided reading guide book and then show your completed book to a Books-A-Million store associate to get your prize!  Easy peasy!

Camp Book-It

Sign your kids up for Camp Book-It through Pizza Hut.  This is a fantastic summer reading program for your kids.  All they have to do is set up a monthly reading goal and track their progress digitally.  Once they reach their goal they will be sent a gift certificate for a free personal pan pizza!

Chuck-E-Cheese

Chuck-E-Cheese offers multiple reward charts for your kids to use to help them meet their goals.  We like to print off this reading chart to encourage the kids to read during summer.  All they have to do is read every day for two weeks and mark it on their chart.  Once their chart is completed they can turn it in to Chuck-E-Cheese for 10 free play points!  (Note:  Food purchase is required to redeem play points).

 

 

Half Price Books

Half Price Books offers a fantastic summer reading program.  Sign up here to receive a reward map for your child to use when reading.  If they fill out the map they can redeem it for $5 Bookworms bucks to use at Half Price Books in June or July.

Public Library

Check your local library to see if they offer a free summer reading program for kids.  My library has a great reading program each summer that my kids always look forward to!  They always provide a lot of fun coupons, toys and other incentives.

 

Scholastic

Kids can join the Scholastic reading program to earn digital rewards for their reading.  One of the things I love about the Scholastic summer reading is that the more your kids read, the more books Scholastic will donate to kids in need.  So cool, right!!!  It makes reading fun for kids, and gives them the opportunity to help give to others.

Showcase Cinemas

If you live near a Showcase Cinemas you will want to look into their Bookworm Wednesdays reading program.  Your child can receive free admission to a movie on Wednesdays when they bring in a book report written off of one of the books they recently read.

Another thing that makes this deal even sweeter is that accompanying parents/guardians, and siblings under 6 years of age will ALSO get free admission to a movie.

Sync

Teens can get two free audiobooks from Sync each week during the summer months.  This program doesn’t have rewards or charts, but it is a fun way to help teenagers get free books and keep reading!

TD Bank

And last, but certainly not least is the kids summer reading program from TD Bank.  They will deposit $10 into an existing bank account of a child who reads 10 or more books during the summer months!  

 

In Conclusion

Encouraging your kids to participate in these free summer reading programs is one of the best ways to help keep their brains active and literary skills sharp during the summer months.  

You can even turn your summer reading challenges into fun family time.  Reading books together and meeting a goal is a great way to build memories as a family!

 

Related Articles:

50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

At Home Preschool Activities

 

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I hope you enjoy these free summer reading programs as much as we do!

Where to Buy Cheap Prom Dresses

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Best places to get affordable prom dresses!

Last month my daughter and I started on a mission.  The goal?  To buy the “perfect” prom dress, without spending a lot of money.  The only problem???  My daughter was very picky about what she wanted.  Fortunately, after a few days of research and lots of dress try-ons, I’m so excited to share with you that we accomplished our mission!  We found an affordable prom dress, that my daughter LOVES!  Keep reading to learn exactly where to buy cheap prom dresses!

affordable prom dresses - cheap prom dresses for sale

 

Where To Buy Cheap Prom Dresses

It is possible to find the perfect dress….without spending a lot of money!  Find out how below!

Facebook Marketplace

The first place I recommend you begin looking for affordable prom dresses is on Facebook Marketplace.  This is a great place to start your search because many college and high school students love to sell their gently used formal dresses on Facebook!  You can easily found dozens of options, all for a really low price!

Thrift and Consignment Stores

Don’t forget to stop by a few of your local thrift and consignment stores.  They always have formal dresses in stock!  We loved a few dresses from Uptown Cheapskate, but unfortunately they weren’t the right size.  A few other stores I recommend you look at are:

Remember, when thrift shopping to keep an open mind.  Stains can come out, with the right treatment.  Dresses can easily be altered by a local tailer.  Look at the possibilities of what the dress can be, rather than how it appears on the rack.

Online Stores

There are a lot of budget friendly prom dress options online!  Once I started searching for them, I couldn’t believe all of the beautiful dresses we found, that were really affordable!  Here are some of the stores I recommend you look at!

At first, we were worried about buying an affordable prom dress, worried that it wouldn’t fit right or look like the picture.  But then we decided to buy 3 dresses online, all with a free and easy return policy.  This way she could try on a few different options to make sure one of them would work!

Rental Shops

You might want to consider renting a prom dress!  Renting is a very affordable option!  We actually ended up renting my daughters dress this year and are so happy about this decision!  The truth is, you will probably only wear that dress once!  So why spend a fortune on it, right?  Right!

Do a quick google search to check to see if there are any dress rental stores in your area.  We were able to find 3 within 30 minutes of our home.

Another option is to rent a dress from Rent the Runway.  This online rental store will allow you to get 4 items for just $70/month for your first two months.  I love this option because you can order 4 prom dresses, try on each of them, choose your favorite to wear to prom, and then send them all back…..all for only $70!  The best part?  You can cancel your membership whenever you want!  The dresses are all really high end, and $70 is a steal of a deal!

prom dress store - rental prom dresses

Online Resale Store

Another great option of where to buy cheap prom dresses is online resale stores.  These are websites where sellers can list their gently used clothing for others to purchase for a fraction of the cost.  I recommend looking for prom dresses on:

Clearance Sections

Don’t forget to check the clearance rack at all dress shops!  It’s very common for stores to have a few, last season dresses marked down to a low price.  Your best bet is to plan ahead and shop the clearance racks right after prom, this will give you the biggest selection of dresses to choose from.

Your Friends Closet

Oh yes, I did just say to get a dress from your friends (or neighbor, or grandmas best friends great niece, etc.) closet.  Your friends, family and neighbors are a great place to find affordable prom dresses.

Ask around on Facebook, at church, etc. to see if anyone has some prom dresses sitting in their closet that they would be willing to let you borrow.  Most people are always happy to share!  It’s fun to see these beautiful dresses getting used, rather than collecting dust in the closet.

This might also be the perfect time to host a clothing swap!  All of your friends can bring their gently used prom dresses to swap!

Department Stores

Many department stores will carry prom dresses, especially during the spring.  When we checked the department stores, the dress prices were a little high…but they are cheaper than you will pay at a formal dress shop.  Department stores are the perfect place for a nice, new prom dress, that won’t break the bank.

Discount Stores

The next places I suggest you look for an affordable prom dress is at your local discount clothing stores.  Most of them will have a good selection of formal dresses to choose from.  I suggest shopping at:

 

In Conclusion

It is possible to find an affordable prom dress!  It might take a little bit of effort, but it is possible!!  Now that you know where to buy a cheap prom dress….happy shopping!

 

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I hope this article gave you some ideas about where to buy cheap prom dresses!

7 Simple Ways To Get Your Budget Back On Track (for good this time!)

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to fix a broken budget.

Struggling with a broken budget???  We have all been there, and I’ve definitely been there more times then I would like to admit!  It might have happened because we gave into spending temptations to many times, or perhaps we let lifestyle creep sneak in.  Or, there could have been a lot of unexpected expenses arise.  There are so many reasons why we go over budget, it happens to everyone!  Going over budget is normal, not great, but normal….but only if it happens occasionally.  If you are looking for ways to fix a broken budget, I’ve got you covered!  Keep reading for 7 simple ways to get your budget back on track (for good this time!).

how to get your budget back on track - how to fix a broken budget

How To Get Your Budget Back On Track

It is possible to fix a broken budget!  Follow the steps below to get your budget back on track once and for all!

1.  Stop Unnecessary Spending

The first step you need to take to get your budget back on track is to put a pause on all unnecessary spending.  This doesn’t mean you cant pay your bills or buy food.  It means that you will only spend money on things that are necessary for living.  But, things like entertainment. going out to eat, home decor, etc. should be completely stopped.

There are so many ways to enjoy life, without having to spend money.  Try a few new easy recipes at home, enjoy some at home date nights, and be creative about finding things for free!

2.  Track Your Spending

If you aren’t already tracking your spending, now is the time to start!  Tracking your spending is one of the most important (but easily skipped) steps to fixing a broken budget.  Writing down every purchase that you make will hold you accountable to your purchases, making it much less likely for you to impulse shop.  

I recommend taking time every single day to write down what you bought that day.  Then compare your purchases to your budget to make sure you are staying within your goals.

3.  Use Cash Envelopes

Anything thing that really helps me fix a broken budget is to start using cash envelopes.  The cash envelope system is really fairly easy to use!

First, look through your budget to determine the amount of cash you have left to spend for the rest of the month.

Next, you will need to go to the bank and take out that exact amount of cash out of the bank.  Divide the cash into different envelope categories.  Once your envelope is empty, you literally can not buy anything else (no cheating!).  I explain more about how cash envelopes here.

And, yes, you CAN use cash envelopes for online purchases!  I explain exactly how to do so in the video below!

 

4.  Give Yourself A Reward

I’ll let you in on a little secret about me…..I love to reward myself!  It motivates me to work hard and reach my goal.  Whenever I start struggling with my budget, I set up a reward system to help me stay focused on my money goals.

Choose your reward by thinking of something fun, but frugal, that you would enjoy getting.  I love to reward myself with a treat from my favorite pastry shop or by buying myself a new small piece of jewelry.

Set up your reward system in a way that will help you get back on track with your budget.  For example, if you go 10 days without splurging on any unnecessary spending, then you can treat yourself to your small reward.

5.  Return Recent Purchases You Don’t Need

Do you have any recent purchases that you regret buying?  Or perhaps that you don’t regret, but know deep down it wasn’t the best decision to buy?  Return these items to the store ASAP!  This is the quickest and easiest way to fix a broken budget caused by impulse spending.

6.  Sell Clutter In Your Home

Another option for getting more money back in your pocket is to sell clutter around your house that you don’t need or use!  My rule of thumb is that if I haven’t touched it for a few months, it needs to go!

Use the money you earn from selling your clutter to get your budget back on track, don’t spend it on something frivolous, put it to use in a budget category that needs it.

7.  Use An Accountability Partner

One of the best ways to get back on track with your budget is to find an accountability partner to help you reach your goals.  An accountability partner could be your spouse, a friend or everything in between.  Ask the person you choose if they will help hold you accountable to your money goals.  Share with them your desire to fix your budget and what you need to do to get there.

As you go about your day to day routine, make sure to check in with your accountability partner regularly.  Make sure to always call this person to help you when you get the urge to spend, they can talk you through your spending choices to help you make the one that will help your budget best!

8.  Focus On Your Goals

The most important things to remember is to stay focused on your goals.  Set a goal of where you want your budget to be, write it down and then hang it up somewhere so that you can see it regularly.  A bathroom mirror or phone lock screen are great options for this!

When you stay focused on your BIG goals, it’s easier to say “no” to the temptations that come along.

You Got This!

Please don’t beat yourself up for getting off of your budget.  Like I mentioned earlier, it DOES happen, and there IS hope for fixing it.  The fact that you are reading this article shows me that you want to stick to your budget and make it work.  

I know that through a little bit of work, some sacrifice and following these steps you can fix your broken budget!

 

Related Articles:

How To Find Extra Money In Your Budget

How to Make a Zero Based Budget

How To Stop Living Paycheck To Paycheck In 6 Steps

 

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Follow these simple steps to get your budget back on track, for good!

Is Butcher Box A Good Deal? Here’s My Honest Review!

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Here’s my honest Butcher Box review!

For years I have been asking “Is Butcher Box a good deal?”  I kept hearing so many people say how awesome Butcher Box is and I have been wanting to try it out for myself!  I finally got my wish when they contacted me and offered to send me a box to review.  Talk about a dream come true!  I know a lot of you out there have probably heard about Butcher Box, but have been unsure if it’s right for you or not.  Today, I’m sharing my honest review of Butcher Box to help you make that important decision.

This article contains affiliate links.  I will be compensated from purchases made from links in this article.

What is Butcher Box?

First things first, Butcher Box is a meat delivery service that offers 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef; free-range organic chicken; heritage-breed pork, wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon, and more!!  These high quality meat products will be sent straight to your doorstep.

But!  The thing that makes Butcher Box most special is their commitment to raising animals in a humane way, with no added hormones or antibiotics, EVER!

Their mission is centered around making the lives of farmers and animals better, and helping the consumer gain access to a higher quality meat.  (win, win!)

How Does It Work?

Butcher Box works very similar to other subscription services.

First, choose your box from the 5 different box choices.

The box choices include:

Custom Box Classic

  • 9-14 lbs.
  • $159/month

The Custom Box Classic gives you the option of choosing your own cuts of beef, pork or chicken.

Custom Box Big

  • 18-26 lbs.
  • $288/month

The Custom Box Big gives you the same option of choosing your own cuts of beef pork or chicken as the classic custom box.  The Big box is just…bigger!

The Basic Box

  • 7-7.5 lbs.
  • $99/month

The Basic Box includes high quality beef, organic chicken, and pork.

The Mixed Box

  • 8.5-11 lbs
  • $137/month

The Mixed Box is the box that I ordered.  It came with high quality selection of beef, chicken and pork.  The amount and exact cuts will vary month to month, but we were very pleased with our box.

The Beef and Pork Box

  • 8-11 lbs
  • $137/month

The Beef and Pork Box will give you a variety of both beef and pork cut meats.  You will find anything from tenderloin to steaks to ground beef and more.

The Beef and Chicken Box

  • 8.5-11 lbs
  • $137/month

In the Beef and Chicken Box you will be treated to a selection of both chicken and beef meat cuts.

The All Beef Box

  • 8-10 lbs
  • $137/month

In the All Beef Box you will receive beef cuts ranging from ground beef to roasts and steaks.  Yum!

How Often Will I Receive My Box?

You have three options for delivery frequency.  You can choose to have your box delivered monthly, every 6 weeks, or every other month.  However, you can cancel or pause delivery at any time at no extra cost.  So, if you are needing a break, just put it on pause and continue whenever is convenient for you.

What Makes Butcher Box Special?

Butcher Box is special because of their commitment to delivering high quality products to their customers and their mission of raising animals in a humane way.  Here are a few other highlights about Butcher Box and their animals.

Beef: 

  • 100% grass fed
  • Pasture raised

Chicken: 

  • Free range organic
  • No antibiotics ever
  • No added hormones (Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones or steroids in poultry)

Pork:

  • All vegetarian feed
  • Humanely raised
  • Bacon has no nitrates or nitrites and does not contain added sugar

How Is The Box Shipped?

All of the meat shipped from Butcher Box is frozen and individually vacuum packed.  It will be shipped in a box with insulation and dry ice if needed.  Your meat will arrive frozen, cold and ready for the fridge or freezer.

What Came In My Box?

Alright, now let’s get to the good stuff!  Here is all the nitty gritty about receiving my first box.

I wanted to try out the Mixed Box and was really excited to see everything that I got.  In this box I received:

  • 2 lbs of Ground Beef
  • 2 NY Strip Steaks
  • 4 Top Sirloin Steaks
  • 1lb of Whole Pork Tenderloin
  • 3lbs of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

The meat was still frozen and cold when arriving on my doorstep, just the way we like it!  I also loved the packaging!

How Did It Taste?

The meat we received was so yummy and tender.  It was delicious!  In all honesty, I usually buy fairly cheap meat and we could definitely tell a difference in quality from Butcher Box and the cheaper variety.

My husband even made a point to tell me how much he enjoyed it more than the kind I usually buy.  (hint noted hubby!)

Can I Cancel My Subscription?

Canceling your Butcher Box subscription is super quick and easy.  You can cancel anytime with no charge.  Or, consider just putting your subscription on hold for a few months.

Putting it on hold is a great way to take a break if your freezer is getting to full or your budget is getting tight.

What I Liked About Butcher Box

The Convenience

Butcher Box is about as convenient as it gets!  The ordering process was quick, delivery painless and I didn’t even have to leave my house.  As a busy mom, I am all about making life a little more convenient.

The Taste

We truly loved the taste of Butcher Box meat.  Everything was tender, juicy and delicious!

The Quality

You just can’t get better quality than Butcher Box.  I love that their animals are raised in a humane way.  And, I love that the meat is fresh, organic with no added hormones.

It’s important to me what my family puts in their body, and I know I can trust Butcher Box in this.

What I Did NOT Like About Butcher Box

The Cost

Butcher Box averages about $6/per dinner.  I do not think this is an extreme cost, considering the quality of the product, but it is more than I usually spend on my meat products.

However, like I said before, I usually buy much lesser quality….and we can taste the difference.

Will I Order From Butcher Box Again?

Absolutely!  I will order from Butcher Box again!

After tasting this product, and enjoying the convenience of it being shipped right to my front door, I definitely want to start ordering from them with an every other month subscription.

I decided (to help offset the cost) to keep a mix of higher quality Butcher Box meat and lower quality grocery store meat in our freezer at all times.  It’s a good way to get the best of both worlds.

Try Butcher Box For Yourself

If you want to try Butcher Box out for yourself click here and start enjoying some delicious meat!

 

 

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I hope this answered your question, Is Butcher Box A Good Deal?

 

 

Free Virtual Field Trips for Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Free Online Field Trips For Elementary School Kids!

Are you looking for some fun, free virtual field trips for kids?  I’ve got you covered with this list of free online field trips perfect for elementary school kids, preschool aged kids, or anyone who loves to look at awesome places!

I can’t be the only person with bored kids at home???  I’m constantly being asked, “What can I do?  There’s NOTHING to do!”  Those poor darlings just think they live in the most boring house ever!  

Well, one of the ideas I’ve started giving my kids is to take a free virtual field trip!  This way they can experience the world, without even having to leave home!  It’s educational and FUN, making mom happy and kiddos happy.  Don’t we just love a double win???  Yes, yes we do!

Virtual Field Trips For Kids

I’ve scoured the internet to find the best free online field trips for elementary school kids!  I hope your family and students enjoy them as much as we have!

Animal Field Trips

If you have animal lovers, then they are sure to love a few of the virtual animal field trips below.

AfriCam

Have you ever wanted to go on an African safari????  Try a virtual one with the live cameras in the African bush.  AfriCam offers multiple camera views so you can enjoy all that Africa has to offer.

Dairy Farm

Learn all about the Dairy Farm with this fun virtual field trip.  Kids will be able to tour a real dairy farm and learn all of the behind the scenes that goes on at the farm.

Hen Cam

Get a peek into life with chickens with the Hen Cam.  It shows the day to day life of hens living in a backyard outside of Boston.  Hens are so funny, I could watch them for hours!

Houston Zoo

Another fun animal virtual field trip is to the Houston Zoo.  They have live webcams available to watch the elephants, flamingos, river otters and more!

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

For any dolphin or marine animal lovers out there, you must attend the virtual Marineland Dolphin Adventure for an up close look at a variety of sea animals.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Take a trip to the aquarium without leaving home!  The Monterey Bay Aquarium offers multiple cams for your viewing pleasure.  You can watch the moon jelly, penguins, sea otters, sharks and more.

San Diego Zoo Cam

Another fun animal cam you can watch is the San Diego Zoo Cam.  The San Diego Zoo has multiple animal cams available for you and your kiddos to enjoy.  You can watch the apes, baboons, elephants, giraffes, hippos and more!

Zoo Atlanta Panda Cam

Watch the PandaCam on Zoo Atlanta’s YouTube Channel for a fun treat!  You can tune in live whenever and wherever to watch the panda play, eat, and sleep.

panda eating bamboo

 

Historical Field Trips

Teaching your students a lesson about an historical event or place?  Use one of the virtual field trips below to help bring that history to life.

9/11 Memorial Museum

Take a walk through the 9/11 Memorial Museum with this interactive virtual tour.  This tour does an amazing job of making you feel like you are actually at the memorial museum, viewing the exhibits up close and personal.  It was very moving to go through.

Anne Frank Secret Annex

Tour the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding from 1942-1944.  This is a great virtual tour to see exactly where the Frank family and others lived during WW2 and to learn more about their stories.

Buckingham Palace

Take a peek inside Buckingham Palace here!  You can virtually tour the throne room, grand staircase and white drawing room.

Colonial Williamsburg

Another fun history virtual field trip is to Colonial Williamsburg.  It’s a great look into what was life during colonial times.

Ellis Island

I love this interactive tour of Ellis Island.  They have audio, pictures, and video from passengers arrive on Ellis Island.  The tour takes you step by step through the immigration process into the United States.  It’s very informative and interesting.

Ford’s Theater

Ford’s Theater virtual tour is a great way to learn more about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the events that took place that fateful night.  Through images of the restored theater, students will learn more about the timeline and experiences of the night Lincoln died.

Great Wall of China

Go on a field trip to the Great Wall of China from the comfort of your own home with this virtual tour!

Mount Vernon

George Washingtons home, Mount Vernon, is a beautifully restored home.  This virtual tour will take you through each room of Mount Vernon so that you can get a view of what it looked like when George and Martha lived there.

Museum of the American Revolution

If you or your students are studying about the American Revolution, be sure to check out this field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution.  Lauren Tarshie, author of the I Survived series, guides the field trip, with a deeper look to the revolution, with a kid friendly twist.

National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center offers multiple free virtual tours for elementary kids.  Each video teaches kids about the signing of the constitution, the civil war and founding of America.

National Museum of Natural History

Check out all of the rooms of the National Museum of Natural History.  This is a self guided tour allowing you to view your favorite areas however and whenever you want!

Plimoth Plantation

Visit the Plimoth Plantation with this virtual field trip to learn more about the early settlers of the United States.  The tour includes multiple videos and a slideshow.

Statue of Liberty

Tour the Statue of Liberty with this online field trip.  It’s a great way to see what it looks like from the inside and to learn more about it’s history.

Titanic Wreckage

Have you ever wanted to see what the Titanic looks under water?  Now you can with this Titanic virtual tour.  It’s a fun way to teach kids about a historical event and give them a look at what happens to an object under water.

Titanic pamphlet

 

Great Outdoors Field Trips

Want to see all of the beauty the great outdoors has to offer without leaving your house?  Well you can with these outdoors virtual field trips!

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Virtual Tour is a an amazing tour along the Grand Canyon Rim to the Colorado River.  You’ll be able to join a 2 hour tour of the Grand Canyon to see all of the sights it has to offer!

Hawaii Volcanos

Check out these amazing Webcams of Hawaiian Volcanoes!  I had so much fun viewing all of the volcano images and can’t wait to show them to my kids.  It’s a great educational virtual field trip!

Mount Rushmore

Get a birds eye view of Mount Rushmore with this virtual field trip.  You’ll get to explore the monument up close and personal, for a little taste of what it would be like to actually be there.

Son Doong Cave

Travel to Vietnam and tour the largest cave in the world, with the Son Doong Cave virtual tour.  The calming sounds and pictures transports you straight into this beautiful cave.

Yellowstone

Take a virtual field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  You can view Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mud Volcano and more!  It’s such a fun way to see all of the unique beauty Yellowstone has to offer, without ever leaving your house!

Yosemite

Yosemite is such a beautiful park and I had so much fun visiting it virtually with this field trip.  

The waterfall in Yosemite National Park

 

 

Space Field Trips

Take a trip to space with these fun virtual field trips.

Mars

I absolutely love this virtual field trip to Mars.  You’ll get to tour the real surface of Mars that was previously recorded by NASAS Curiosity Rover.

Slime in Space

You must check out this fun slime in space virtual field trip.  Here students will get to learn how slime acts when it’s in space.  This is a really fun field trip and experiment!

Space Station

I’m always curious about life in space, and every kid I’ve met is too!  Here’s a fun virtual field trip to the international space station.  Get a peek into how astronauts live in space and what it’s like working at the space station.

Stellarium

Take a fun field trip to the stars.  Check out Stallarium Web to view the constellations, stars and planets.  You can even input your location to locate the stars right above your backyard.

Sun

I love this virtual tour to the sun.  It’s really well made and even makes stops to the moon, Venus and Mercury.

Mars Rover

 

 

Educational Virtual Field Trips

Below are some of my favorite educational online field trips.

Bright Farms

Learn more about how food is grown with the BrightFarms Virtual Field Trip.  You’ll get to peek inside of a greenhouse and watch how indoor farming works!

M&M Candy Factory Tour

Here’s a really fun virtual tour of the M&M Candy Factory.  Watch the entire process of  what it takes to make M&Ms.  It’s a really fun video and tour!

Memphis Fire Department

Here is a fun virtual field trip of a Memphis Fire Department.  Learn all about fire stations and get a look at a fire engine up close and personal.

Mount Olive Pickles Tour

Another fun educational virtual field trip is the Mount Olive Pickles Tour.  It’s an interesting tour showing the entire process of taking a cucumber and turning it into multiple types of pickles.

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Learn more about aviation with a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.  With this virtual tour you’ll be able to see different aircrafts and missiles on display, and learn a few interesting facts about aviation history.

Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy offers multiple virtual field trips for students to take right from the comfort of their home or classroom.  You can choose from multiple topics covered including, climate change, coral, ecosystems and more, there is something for everyone!

Recycling Center

Teach your kids all about recycling with this recycling center virtual tour.  They will learn all about the importance of recycling, and get to watch the big equipment sorting and packing the recycled materials.

Sawmill Tour

Tour the Collum’s Lumber Yard and learn how pine trees are turned into lumber.  It’s a really fun behind the scenes video!

Sawmill (lumber mill)

 

 

Art Field Trips

Do you have an art lover in your classroom?  Take a few of these fun virtual art field trips below!

Frida Kahlo Museum

Virtually explore the beautiful home of famed artist, Frida Kahlo.  Her home, Casa Azul, is full of so much beauty and original art.  It is a masterpiece that is so fun to view from the comfort of your own home.

National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art has multiple video tours and lessons for elementary school kids to take to help them learn more about art.  This is a great resource for teachers and parents!

Vatican Museums

Virtually visit the Vatican Museums and get a close up look of the beautiful art and architecture in each one.  Your students will be able look inside the Sistine Chapel, Raphaels Rooms, and more!

 

In Conclusion

We are so lucky to live during a time when we can travel the world as a family or class, without even having to leave our house.  I hope you enjoy some of these free virtual field trips for kids!

 

 

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Enjoy these free virtual field trips for kids!

How To Make Flour Tortillas

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

I made my kids day last week when I made homemade tortillas for dinner, instead of using store bought.  My homemade flour tortillas recipe is a family favorite around here.  It makes the perfect tortillas that are soft and delicious!

Truthfully, I don’t make homemade tortillas very often because they feel time consuming, and when we are having tacos, I want something quick and easy.  But, the days when I do take the extra 30 minutes to make these, I never ever regret it!

My dad always loved making homemade flour tortillas when I was a kid.  He’s the one that taught me how and I always think of him when I make them.  I remember him standing in the kitchen with his homemade stripped apron rolling out the dough and flipping hot tortillas over the stove.  They are such fond, happy memories and I hope my kids remember me making them too!

homemade tortilla recipe - how to make tortillas from scratch

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How To Make Flour Tortillas

Homemade flour tortillas are so cheap to make!  The ingredients are all staples in my pantry, so it’s nice to be able to make them homemade every now and then, rather than having to spend money at the store to buy tortillas.

To make flour tortillas you will need to first, mix the below ingredients together in a bowl:

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder

mixing dry ingredients together

 

Next, use a pastry cutter to cut in 1/2 cup shortening.  You can use a fork if you don’t have a pastry cutter, but I personally prefer the pastry cutter!  Keep cutting until the shortening is mixed evenly throughout the dry ingredients.

cut in shortening

 

Form a well in the bowl and add 2 cups of boiling water.  Using a spoon, mix all ingredients together well.  

pouring water into dry ingredients

 

Knead the dough for 5 minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.

tortilla dough

 

Next, you will need to roll each ball into a circle until it is flat and very thin.

flour tortilla and rolling pin

 

Fry each tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, or until it’s just barely beginning to brown.  Flip and fry the other side of the tortilla for 1 minute.  Be careful not to cook the tortilla to long or it will become dry and brittle.

frying flour tortilla

Keep the tortillas warm until it is time to use them.  These flour tortillas are perfect for fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.

 

Flour tortilla closeup

Flour Tortillas

How to make soft, flour tortillas at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 tortillas

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 cups boiling water

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder.
  • With a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening.
  • Add boiling water and mix together well.
  • Knead dough for a few minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.
  • Roll each ball out until thin and flat.
  • Fry tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, until it's just starting to brown.
  • Flip over and fry the other side for 1 minute.
Keyword easy dinner recipes, easy recipes, flour tortillas, tortillas

 

Let me know if you try this recipe and how it turned out!  I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

 

Try These Other Recipes:

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

Simple Banana Bread Recipe

Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

 

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I hope this helped you learn how to make flour tortillas!

How To Stretch Meals

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy ways to stretch your meals so you can spend less on groceries.

One of the biggest budget busters in most households is the grocery budget.  There is no denying the fact that food is expensive.  However, there is good news!  Groceries is one category in your budget that you can lower!  It definitely takes a little bit of extra work and effort, but it can be done.  There are a few different ways to lower your grocery expenses, and one of my favorites is learning how to stretch meals.

What Does It Mean to Stretch Meals?

Stretching meals simply means to make the food that you have last longer, feed more people and prevent waste.  It’s really easy to do too!  All it takes is a little more planning and creativity, but each of the following tips are so easy!

Here are 10 ways you can stretch meals so you can save more money.

stretch meals save money - how to cut the grocery budget

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1.  Meal Plan

A smart meal plan is the first step to stretching meals.  When you make a meal plan, try to plan meals that will use the same ingredients.  This is an easy way to reuse ingredients before they go bad.

For Example:  Buy one head of lettuce and plan three meals that week you can use the lettuce for.  Or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store and meal plan several meals for chicken, like I did here.  These meals might be Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Pot Pie, etc.  Here’s how I use one Roast Beef for three meals.  It follow the same plan, buy once and use three times so it doesn’t go to waste.

2.  Use Less Meat

Meat is one of the most expensive parts of the meal.  Stretch the meat out for more meals by using less than the recipe calls for.

For Example:  If you are using a recipe that calls for 1 lb. of hamburger meat, use 3/4 lb. instead.  You probably won’t even notice the difference in your meal.  You can then use that extra 1/4 lb. hamburger for another meal.

3.  Souper Tuesday

Soup is so cheap to make and an easy meal to stretch!  I love making a huge pot of soup when I feed large groups or as a way to feed our family for several meals.

Consider turning Tuesday dinner into, “Souper Tuesday.”  This will be the day each week when you will make soup for dinner.  The pot of soup that you make should last your family for several meals.  You can even freeze the leftover soup to use for a later meal.  Just make sure to use it within the next 3 months.

  • Freezing Tip:  Freeze broth based soups simply by pouring it into a Ziploc freezer bag.  Squeeze out all of the air, seal tight and place in your freezer.  This will stay fresh for 3-6 months.  To thaw:  place frozen soup in fridge and let it defrost overnight.  Warm it up over the stove and enjoy!

Get creative with your soups!  Most soups can be made just by tossing together a few ingredients you already have in your pantry.  A little bit of chicken, broth and veggies will make a fantastic soup!

4.  Include More Side Dishes

Usually the main dish is the most expensive.  You can stretch the main dish out by adding more sides to your meal.

Try using a variety of side dishes and mix it up daily to keep the meals more interesting.

A few of our family favorite side dishes are:

Each of these ideas are budget friendly (especially if you shop sales) and very filling.  Encourage your family to take a few sides along with the main meal.  This will fill the family up quicker, making you able to use your main dish for a few other meals throughout the week.

5.  Use a Filler

Try adding a “filler” ingredient to your recipes.  A “filler” is just a cheaper ingredient, one that the recipe doesn’t call for, that you add to a meal to make it more filling and bigger.

A few of our favorite fillers are: pasta, rice and beans.

Beans

A can of beans is one of the cheapest and easiest ingredient to add to recipes as a filler.  All it takes is opening up a can!

You can use any of your favorite kind of beans, we prefer black beans, pinto beans or refried beans.

These can be added to a wide variety of meals including:  enchiladas, soups, or tacos.

Pasta

Pasta is cheap and filling.  You can easily add it to soups to make them more filling.

Rice

Rice can be mixed with beans or meat to use in burritos, tacos, or enchiladas.  This is also a great filler for soups!

Use your imagination and get creative when choosing fillers!

6.  Meatless Monday

Try incorporating less meat into your meals.  We do this by having Meatless Monday each week.  This is one day of the week when I prepare something, well, meatless!

A few of our favorite Meatless Monday dinners are:

  • Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Homemade Mac n Cheese
  • Bean Burritos
  • Pasta Bake
  • Spaghetti

Grab a few of these recipes in Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book!

7.  Appropriate Servings

Many of us (definitely me!) eat larger servings than is necessary.  Stretch your meals by eating smaller portions.  It’s important to eat enough, just focus on not over eating and this will help you save more for the next meal.

Our eyes might want two large spoonfuls, but remind yourself that one large spoonful will be enough to fill your hunger.

  • Tip:  Eat on smaller plates to help keep the portions smaller!

8.  Meal Prep

Meal prepping in advance is an easy way to ensure you have smart portions for every meal.

I like to set one day aside each week as my Meal Prep day.  This is the day when you will cook your meat, chop your vegetables, and separate all the ingredients into daily meals.

When we prepare the food in advance it’s much easier to plan out the servings and ensure nothing goes to waste.

Store your dinner portions in Tupperware, Ziploc bags or, I really like these containers.

9.  Add Water

Stretch meals by adding water to the recipe.  Water is FREE, making it the cheapest ingredient you own!

You can add extra water to soups or stews to stretch the broth a little further.  Your family won’t even notice the difference, and your soup will last much longer!

10.  Save All Leftovers

All food can be reused!  Try to get into the habit of saving any and all leftovers from each meal.  This food can all be used for a different meal in different ways.

Freeze It

If you don’t think you will be able to use up the leftovers within the next few days you can easily freeze it for later.  Just let the food come to room temperature, put it in a Ziploc bag, get out all of the air, and toss it in the freezer.

For a full list of what can be frozen check out this list from Lauren Greutman.

Reuse It

If you have enough leftovers for another meal, consider saving it to eat the next day.  We love to have leftovers for lunch, and sometimes even dinner.

Re-purpose It

If you don’t have enough extra food for an entire meal, add the leftovers with some other ingredients to make a complete dinner.  You can turn most leftovers into a soup or casserole, simply by mixing it with something else!

We love to use leftover taco meat for soup the next day.  I just mix the taco meat with some cans of beans, tomatoes and water and wah-lah-Taco Soup!

 

In Conclusion

Try think outside the box when you are stretching meals.  There are so many different ways you can save money on groceries and make the food you have at home last longer!  You can do it!

 

Related Articles:

10 Quick Ways to Lower your Grocery Bill

Freeze Chicken in Bulk and 6 Freezer Chicken Recipes

How to Cut Your Budget; When There is Nothing Left to Cut

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Stretch meals and prevent waste with these easy grocery saving tips.

How To Stop Emotional Shopping

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

9 Ways To Stop Spending Money When Life Is Getting Hard.

We’ve all been there.  We had a hard day at work.  Life is feeling stressful.  We are looking for something, anything to take our minds off of the worries of the world.  Soooo….we turn to shopping.  Anyone else see themselves in this scenario???  Just me???  It has taken me years to learn how to stop emotional shopping, and now I get to share what I have learned with you.

If you are unsure if you are an emotional spender or not, take a quick look at the list below.

You Might Be An Emotional Spender If….

  • You shop because you are bored.
  • Spending makes you feel fulfilled.
  • You feel guilty after shopping.
  • Shopping makes you feel happier.
  • You go over budget regularly.
  • You hide purchases from family members.

Do any of these sound like you??  Well, the good news is that you can kick this bad habit to the curb.  Today I am sharing how to stop emotional shopping!

stop emotional shopping - how to stop impulse spending

How You Can Stop Spending Money When Life Gets Stressful

Try one of these tips below to stop emotional spending.  I hope they help you like they have helped me!

1.  Identify Emotional Spending Triggers.

The first step to stop emotional spending is to find out what emotions are causing you to shop.  Once you can pin point the exact emotion, you will be closer to overcoming it.

The easiest way to identify your emotional spending is to pay attention to the feelings you have while shopping.  Are you shopping after a disagreement?  Do you feel jealous of someone and are trying to buy items to keep up?

Take notes of the feelings you find.  Write these down and start paying attention to the actions that follow each of the emotions.  When you find yourself at the store after feeling one of the emotions that you wrote down, stop yourself.  Remind yourself that what you are feeling will not be cured from spending.

2.  Shop With Cash

My number one secret to avoiding impulse shopping is to leave your debit card at home and shop with cash envelopes instead.  If the cash is gone, you can’t buy anything, problem solved.  The visual of using envelopes can make a big difference when it comes to impulse spending.

Cash envelopes can really help with emotional spending as well.  When the emotions start coming you might find yourself tempted to start shopping, however, if your debit card is stashed away and your cash is gone….you will have no money to spend!  Try it!!

3.  Stick to the List

Start getting into the habit of  making a shopping list.  If you shop with a list you will be much less likely to impulse buy other items.

The next time you want to go shopping, stop yourself first and make a list.  Write down exactly what you need to buy (need is the key word here).

Commit to only buying what is on the list and nothing else.  If you are feeling emotional this might be difficult to do, but stay strong.  Promise yourself a reward (free reward) if you can stick to your list all month.

4.  Find a New Coping Mechanism

We already identified your emotional spending triggers in step 1, now it’s time to find new ways to cope with these feelings.

If you are shopping because you are bored…..find a new hobby.  Something that will keep your mind stimulated and busy.  Maybe this could even be a hobby that will earn you money with these side hustle ideas.

Or maybe you shop when you are feeling a lot of stress?  Find a new stress reliever.  This might be exercising or a warm bubble bath.  Substituting a new stress reliever is a great way to stop shopping when stressed.

It doesn’t matter what you choose to help you cope, as long as you are finding something that doesn’t involve spending money.

5.  Make it Hard to Spend

Stores are really great at making it easy for us as consumers to spend money, which is great…..except for if you have a spending problem!  Another way to learn how to stop emotional shopping is to follow a few of these easy steps below to make it harder on yourself to spend money.

  • Leave the Debit/Credit Cards at home.

Just don’t even bring your cards with you.  If they are at home, you can’t use them….making spending much harder!

  • Delete Debit/Credit card info from store websites.

Take all of your saved credit or debit card info off of store websites.  Having to manually enter in the information each time you want to make a purchase gives you that extra moment to pause and decide if you truly need to buy it.

  • Keep your savings in a separate bank.

Transfer your money into a separate account or bank and make it harder to touch.  Keep your budgeted spending money in your checking account, while putting the savings and sinking funds into an account that is not connected to your debit card.  This makes getting the money out that much harder.

6.  Unsubscribe from Store Email Lists

There was a time when my email inbox was full of “50% off at this store” ads.  These sales were a huge spending trigger for me.  Especially during times when I was bored.  I would often find myself spending hours browsing this sale and that sale and before I knew it I had spent to much.

The solution?  I started unsubscribing from every store email I received.  It was no longer in my face tempting me during my boredom moments.

If you find yourself consistently spending through these sales emails….try unsubscribing.  It is so freeing!  If you don’t know the sale is happening, you won’t feel sad missing out on it!

7.  Distract Yourself

Find something to do that will distract you from emotional spending.

You might want to sign up for a class, read a new book, or find a hobby.  Choose something that will peak your passions and help you focus on something other than spending.

Starting this little blog has been a great distraction for me.  I am so busy typing and learning that I rarely have time to shop.  My bank account (and husband) thanks me….and all of you readers!

8.  Use the 48 Hour Rule

The 48 Hour Rule has saved me time and time again.  It’s simple to follow really.  When you find something you want to buy, but it is an unplanned purchase, WAIT for 48 hours before buying.

The 48 hours gives you time to decide if you truly want to buy the item and time to research if you can find a better deal somewhere else.

9 times out of 10 I realize I actually did not want to buy it in the first place.  But, sometimes, after 48 hours I go back into the store and buy it…..and there is nothing wrong with that!

Start living by the 48 hour rule….I promise you will thank me later!

9.  Find a Support System

All emotional spenders need an accountability buddy!  An accountability buddy will call you out on your spending mistakes, encourage you to stay strong and be there for you when you are feeling tempted.

When I have used an accountability partner we committed to calling each other whenever we were tempted to spend money.  This friend would then talk to me about the emotions I was feeling and help me find a different way to cope.  And, I would do the same for her.

I honestly never wanted to bother her…..so I really quit spending!!!  It worked like a charm!

Having someone who you will hold you accountable will help you stay within budget and stop unnecessary spending.

In Conclusion

I hope this helped you learn how to stop emotional shopping.  Pick a few of these suggestions and start implementing them today!  The sooner you begin working through these steps, the sooner you will have more money in your wallet!  You can do it, I believe in you!

Related Articles:

Fix Your Budget After a Day of Impulse Shopping

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

The Best Frugal Living Tips You Need to Know

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Now you know exactly how to stop emotional shopping!  You can do it!

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