Sweet Frugal Life Archives - Sweet Frugal Life

Free Summer Gift Tag Printable

June 4, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Use this cheap summer gift idea for students, teachers and friends.

Are you looking for a cheap summer gift idea for your students, teachers or friends? Maybe you want to tell them you will miss them this summer or were thinking about them. Well! This is for you! I have the printable available for instant download at the end of this article! You are free to download it and use to give to whoever you are thinking about it!

I originally decided to make these gifts for the girls I teach at church. Due to life (hello spring of 2020) I haven’t seen them for a few months and I miss them! So, I decided to make a little “thinking of you” gift to leave in their mailboxes. With the help of my kids (they always have the best ideas) we came up with the idea to give them a few Otter Pops….because….who doesn’t like otter pops?!?!?! I can’t think of anyone!

And, because I know YOU all love FREE as much as I do…..I decided to turn my little gift tag into a free printable for you (available at end of post). Just cause I love ya all! 🙂

Otter Pop Summer Thinking Of You Gift

This otter pop gift is so quick and easy to put together! Don’t waste any more time and start

Your Supplies:

Box of Otter Pops (unfrozen)
String
This Free Printable

Putting It All Together:

I’m sure this little summer gift is self explanatory, but I’ll run through the details of putting it all together.

Grab 3 (or however many you want) otter pops.

Tie them together with a string (or yarn, or ribbon, or whatever you have on hand).

Print and cut out this Otter Pop gift tag Printable.

Tape the Otter Pop gift tag onto your otter pops.

And wa-lah! You are done!

Deliver these beauties to their lucky recipients and make someones day!

Download Your FREE Otter Pop Printable Here!!

Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

50 Free Screen Free Summer Kids Activities

Pin to use the printables again next summer!

I hope you enjoyed this free summer gift idea!

How to Freeze Strawberries (the easy way)

June 3, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy tutorial for freezing strawberries.

I found the BEST deal on strawberries last week. I could not contain my excitement! They were only $1.25/pound! So….naturally….I bought 16 pounds. My kids eyes were wide open as I walked through the door with my two large flats of strawberries. They for sure thought they would get to eat every last one of those beauties! Sadly, I had to tell them that I would be freezing most of them (but, of course we also ate a bunch!). It was fun to spend the afternoon in the kitchen with my kids while I showed them how to freeze strawberries.

It’s so easy to freeze strawberries and a great way to save money on produce. If you can find a good deal, buy them in bulk and freeze them to use all year long! I’ll be showing you exactly how to do that in this easy tutorial.

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 To Freeze Strawberries

First, let’s gather all of the supplies. You probably already have everything you need at home (yay! love when that happens!).

What You’ll Need

Strawberries (yum!)
Small, sharp knife
Ziplock Freezer Bags
Cookie Sheet

Prepping the Strawberries

The first step to freezing strawberries it to wash all of your berries. You need to wash off any dirt and grime.

Once your strawberries are clean, set them on a paper towel and let them dry for 30 minutes or so. While they are drying look through the berries and throw out any that are mushy or dark colored. This is a sign they are going bad and won’t freeze well.

Next, use your knife to cut off the strawberry tops and slice the berry in half.

You can keep your strawberries whole if you prefer, but I think they defrost a little easier when sliced in half.

Lay your sliced strawberries side by side on a cookie sheet. Fill the cookie sheet as full as you can, but don’t let the berries touch each other.

How To Freeze Strawberries

Once your cookie sheet is full, stick it in the freezer for 3-4 hours, or until your strawberries are frozen.

Once the berries are frozen it’s time to put them in your freezer bags. This part is so quick and easy!

Take your cookie sheet out of the freezer, use a spatula to scrape your strawberries off of the cookie sheet and put them in a Ziploc freezer bag. I like to use the gallon sized bags, so I can fit more inside.

Once your freezer bag is full, squeeze out all the air, seal it tightly, and write the date on the outside.

Throw your bag of strawberries into your freezer and enjoy! These berries will stay good for 6-12 months. I like to use them in fruit smoothies, pies and other desserts. My kids love to eat them frozen straight out of the bag!

Quick Freezing Strawberries Tutorial

Wash strawberries thoroughly
Let dry for 30 minutes, discard any berries going bad
Cut off tops
Slice or quarter each strawberry
Place strawberries on a cookie sheet
Put cookie sheet in the freezer for 3-4 hours, until berries are frozen
Once frozen put all strawberries into a large freezer bag
Get all air out of bag, seal and date
Toss the bag into your freezer
And done!

8 Foods You Should Freeze in an Ice Cube Tray

How To Freeze Fresh Corn

How to freeze Pancakes for a Quick Frugal Breakfast

Don’t forget to pin to use this tutorial again!

I hope this easy tutorial helped you learn how to freeze strawberries.

What to Say To Someone Who Loses Their Job

May 28, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to help a friend through a job loss.

A few years ago our family experienced the awful situation of my husband (the sole income earner in our family) losing his job. It was a really difficult 7 months as we struggled with someone that I know many go through. Having no income, trying to job hunt as door after door was shut in his face, all while trying to stay positive for the kids was hard! However, like most trials in life, we learned many lessons that will stay with us forever. We learned to be resilient, patient, and how to pinch every penny. We also learned how to be more sensitive to others going through similar situations. I am now much kinder, loving and more understanding to all those who lose a job. I thought I would share a few tips with you today about what to say to someone who loses their job, so you can help a loved one through this difficult time.

What NOT To Say To Someone Who Lost Their Job

First, let’s start with what NOT to say to someone who lost their job. Each of these phrases were said to either me or my husband when he was unemployed. I know that they were all said with the very best of intentions, and I never held it against anyone, but they hurt and I have learned to not say them to anyone. So, I urge you to never say these things to someone who lost their job.

1. “How are you affording to live?”

First off, personal finance is personal. We all know we shouldn’t ask people about their money and income situation…being unemployed is no different.

I always felt so uncomfortable when we got this question. We were mostly living off of our emergency fund, unemployment benefits, and my husbands side jobs he would bring in. This wasn’t something I really wanted to explain to others. It was personal and stressful.

2. “What Happened????”

I think the question, “What Happened?” is really common when someone loses their job. It’s meant more as being interested in their life, but it’s usually not an experience others want to talk about.

Whatever happened was most likely a terrible experience and nobody wants to relieve bad experiences, so do them a favor and don’t ask for details. If your friend wants to tell you the whole story, they will. Otherwise, it’s just best not to pry.

3. “You’re lucky. I wish I could sit at home all day.”

Never treat your unemployed friend like they are in a desired position. Nobody wants to be without a paycheck, so don’t even joke about it. It’s not funny when it is actually the life you are living.

My husband once told me that the worst part of being unemployed was that he didn’t “feel like a man.” It crushed him. He personally feels that as a man it is his responsibility to provide for our family, we depended on him and his paycheck. It absolutely crushed him when it was gone. Please don’t ever make light of someones personal nightmare.

Plus! Most unemployed people do NOT sit around all day. My husband spent all day every day looking for jobs, calling potential employers, interviewing, writing his resume, and doing side jobs to bring in some extra income. He kept busy from the early morning hours to way after the sun had gone down.

Related: What To Do If You Lose Your Job

4. Nothing

I know it’s hard to know what to say when someone is going through a situation you haven’t been in. But please PLEASE don’t just ignore the elephant in the room. Say SOMETHING! Saying something is MUCH better than not saying anything.

It really hurt when good friends treated me as if life was normal. It felt like they didn’t care. I just wanted the situation acknowledged in some way.

5. “Everything Happens For a Reason”

Honestly, looking back on the past 7 years of going through unemployment and then seeing where we are now….I am SO glad he lost that job. The job he has now is much better in almost every way. Plus, we grew and learned and are better people now than we were then. We have more gratitude, more contentment and more appreciation for our life.

With that being said, I would still NEVER tell anyone that they lost their job for a reason. That’s just not what they want to hear at the time.

It almost feels as if your experience is being demeaned, like you shouldn’t feel sad about it because their’s a reason for it. Let your friend figure out these lessons for themselves and allow them to feel whatever they need to feel!

6. “It could always be worse! Did you hear about Bob down the street who lost his job, wife and house in one month?!?! At least that didn’t happen to you.”

We all know that life could always get worse. That does not mean we should tell each other that fact. Saying this phrase to someone is an easy way to make them feel like their hardships do not matter.

7. “What can I do to help you?”

I know that this phrase comes from a good, loving place. But, if your unemployed loved one is anything like me they will probably answer with a smile and say, “Nothing, we are fine.”

Instead of asking what you can do to help, look for a need and start helping. Most people won’t ask for help, but they might accept it if it’s given to them.

What You SHOULD Say (or do) When Someone You Know Loses Their Job

Now, let’s discuss a few things you SHOULD say (or do) to a friend who has just lost their job. These are also all phrases that were said to us during our months of unemployment. It’s funny how the smallest gesture or phrase can change the entire day. It might not feel like much, but kind words can make a huge difference in someones life.

1. “I have a few friends in a similar career as you. I’ll ask around about job openings and get back to you.”

Helping your friend in a job search is one of the best ways to show your support to them. If you know of someone who might have job leads, reach out to them and see if you can help your unemployed friend get a foot in the door. Networking is so important when unemployed!

We had an acquaintance in our neighborhood, not even a friend at all, reach out to us when my husband was unemployed. (He worked a job similar to my husbands.) This acquaintance went out of his way to search for job openings for my husband. He pulled strings, he asked for favors and he found a few leads for us.

We didn’t ask this man to do any of this for us. He just did it to be kind. I’ll never forget that generosity and hope to pay it forward many times over.

Related: Unemployed: What I learned the hard way.

2. “I believe in you. You got this!”

If you have a friend going through a job loss, they probably need a good pep talk! Encourage your friend, give them praise, compliment them and let them know you see goodness in their future.

3. “I know how hard you worked at that job.”

Your loved one is probably second guessing their abilities in the workplace right now. Be supportive and encouraging. Remind them that they are an important, valuable and hard worker.

Even better would to point out specific example of how great they are, things you’ve noticed them doing over the years that makes them special, unique and needed.

4. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Your friend may or may not want to talk about their unemployment situation. It’s important to give them that space to vent, but not pressure them into it.

If they do want to talk, always listen without judging. Give kind and supportive feedback and never ever criticize them or their decisions.

5. Serve them.

Look for ways you can serve your unemployed friend. We had so many envelopes of cash secretly dropped off at our doorstep, it moved me to tears every single time.

You don’t always need to give a cash hand out. You could also drop off a gift card to a restaurant or movie theater, mow their lawn, offer to watch their kids, or invite them out to lunch with you. Most people will not accept a hand out, but secret service is always much appreciated.

6. Give them a hug.

We all need a hug every now and then. When someone you know loses their job, give them a big long hug. They need your love so much.

In Conclusion

Every person will handle unemployment differently. What you should say to someone who loses their job will vary from person to person. You are friends with this person for a reason, follow their cues and treat them how you would want to be treated.

And when they find a new job, celebrate them! Give them a hug (yes, another one!) and tell them you knew they could do it! Job searching is a long, tiring process and your loved one deserves some recognition!

Pin To Save For Later:

I hope these tips helped you know what to say to someone who loses their job.

15 Products You Should Always Buy Generic

May 21, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

Skip name brands and always buy these generic products to save you money.

Want to know a little secret about me???? I use to be such a brand snob….it’s true! I was proud of the fact that I “only bought name brand.” For some strange reason I thought that made me important, special, cool (not proud of this!). Fortunately, I have learned and matured and I don’t think this way anymore! I now know that brands mean nothing. It’s true that some name brands are better….but some generic products are just good. I actually prefer a few generic to the name brand. If you are wanting to save some money I recommend you switch to more generic products and less name brand. Here are a few of the products I recommend you always buy generic.

“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. ”

1. Medicine

Medicine is one item I use to always buy name brand. I truly thought if I didn’t buy the box that said “Tylenol” it wouldn’t work the same.

It was mind blowing when my brother, who was going through medical school at the time, showed me that the ingredients on the name brand and generic pain reliever was the exact same. I was paying double for the exact same thing! I have never bought name brand medication since.

Start buying all of your medicine, both prescription and over the counter, generic. You can feel confident buying the off brand because the FDA requires all medications to meet their strict standards.

2. Cereal

One of the more expensive items at the grocery store is cereal, especially if you are buying it regularly. Skip the name brand and buy generic instead. This one simple change will make a huge difference in your grocery budget.

We love the big Malt O Meal bags of cereal. Our favorites are: generic lucky charms, fruit loops, honey bunches of oats, and frosted mini wheats. Try a few until you find the ones you like best.

Related: 10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

3. Bottled Water

The cheapest way to get water is to buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up frequently with tap water. Tap water is free, and you can’t get cheaper than free!

If you need or want to use a plastic water bottle buy the store brand as opposed to name brand. Water is water and it’s not worth paying extra for!

4. Sunscreen

Similar to medication, sunscreen is monitored by the FDA. This means that the same ingredients protecting your skin in a name brand sunscreen will also be in a generic sunscreen.

The name brand sunscreens might charge a little extra for scent, but if that’s not important to you I suggest buying an off brand bottle instead.

5. Spices

The quality of your spices depends more on the freshness rather than the brand. When buying spices always check the sale by date and ignore the brand name. You can a very fresh generic brand spice for a lot cheaper price.

6. Toilet Paper/Paper Towels

Name brand paper goods, such as toilet paper and paper towels are expensive. Fortunately, the off brand paper products are much cheaper and work just as good! Walmarts store brand is my go to for the best price and most reliabel toilet paper and paper towels.

7. Baking Supplies

Save yourself some cash and buy all of your baking supplies generic. Off brand Corn meal, baking mixes, sugar, baking powder, etc. all taste and work just as well as the more expensive name brand.

The only exception I make is with yeast. I always buy my yeast name brand because it does seem to make a difference.

8. Cleaning Products

Any one else out there as obsessed as I am with the Magic Eraser (it’s no joke a moms best friend!). I use to pay a lot of money for this wonderful cleaning pad….and then I discovered I can buy the exact same thing for so much less, the only difference was their wasn’t a fancy name attached to the package. Just search melamine pads on Amazon and you’ll find tons of affordable products that work as good as the original Magic Eraser.

Most other cleaning products are the exact same way. You don’t need a fancy name brand product to clean your house.

Better yet! Save even more money and make your own cleaning products! Here are 5 of my favorite homemade cleaning recipes.

9. Snack Foods

Buying snack foods at the grocery store is a quick way to spend a lot of money. Make it easier on your budget by buying the generic brands.

Most snack foods will have delicious generic options. My kids actually prefer Walmarts store brand Ritz crackers. We also buy off brand granola bars, cookies, and frozen pizzas.

Try a few different store brands until you find the right snacks for you.

10. Frozen Fruits and Vegetables

Buy your frozen fruits and vegetable generic and you won’t tell a difference in taste or quality. We usually use these frozen produce for cooking and smoothies and it tastes just like name brand.

11. Canned Food

Your canned goods, including fruits, vegetables, beans, etc, will all taste the same no matter what the label is on them. For the healthiest option look at the ingredients and try to pick a can low in sodium.

Personally I do like name brand soups though!

12. Condiments

Our family can go through a bottle of ketchup way to fast! Fortunately, we always buy generic condiments, so we aren’t spending a fortune! Try buying all of your condiments store brand, including mayo, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, etc.

Related: 25 Items You Must Have In A Frugal Pantry

13. Aluminum Foil

Another great product to always buy generic is aluminum foil. This can be really expensive if you are buying brand name. For most uses the generic aluminum foil will work just as good!

14. Pre-Packaged Salads

I am a huge fan of pre-packaged salads. Truthfully, I just won’t eat salad unless it’s already all cut up and made for me (real talk folks).

The Dole salads are delicious, but expensive, so I always buy my salads generic. I was surprised to find that I actually like Walmarts store brand salads even BETTER than the name brand! Go figure!

15. Food Storage Baggies

It’s no secret that the cheapest way to store food is by storing them in reusable containers. However, sometimes we just want to use a Ziplock bag! Right?!?

There is truly no difference between Ziplock and the generic food storage bags. It doesn’t matter what name is on the box, all bags will store your food the exact same. Save money and buy generic!

In Conclusion

Switching which brand you buy at the store is one of the easiest way to save money on groceries and other household items. This simple change will add up in helping your budget.

Remember, not all brands (generic or name brand) are created equally. Try a few different products, experiment with the brands until you find what you like. Just never be a brand snob like I was!

Pin For Future Reference:

What are your favorite generic products to buy to save money?

10 Quick Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill in Summer

May 7, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to lower your electricity bill in summer.

Summer time is just around the corner. I can’t wait for the slow pace of summer and the fun memories we will make. The only downside to summer is the increase in the electricity bill! It gets hot around here, which means we run our Air Conditioner a lot. I have researched a few ways to lower your electricity bill during summer and wanted to share them with you!

1. Seal Leaks

Often you will find air leaks around windows and exterior doors of your home. These leaks lets the hot air in during the summer.

Spend some time checking all of your doors and windows for leaks. Many of them you will be able to see, but others might require a little more searching.

One tip I have used before is to wet my hand and hold it around the door or window. It there is a leak I will notice my hand getting cold due to the slight breeze.

Once you determine where your air leaks are you will need to seal them off. This can be done with caulking and/or weatherstrips.

2. Close Your Curtains and Blinds

Give your home added insulation by closing your window blinds and curtains on hot summer days. This will keep your home cool and the heat out. Keep in mind that heavier curtains will insulate better!

3. Use Ceiling Fans

Use your ceiling fans to help keep yourself cool while at home. They are much cheaper to run than an air conditioner. Remember, they only cool you if you’re sitting under them, so turn them off when you aren’t in the room.

4. Open Windows To Let In The Breeze

If you live in an area that gets cool in the evenings, use this to your advantage! Open up your windows, turn off the air conditioner and let the cool breeze in. We like to keep our windows open up all night, and then in the morning we shut them to trap the cool air in for as long as possible.

5. Spend More Time In The Basement

It’s no secret that heat rises, so spend more time in your basement. The more time you hang out downstairs, the less you will need to run your expensive A/C.

We like to head to the basement in the afternoon, right when the heat starts to rise. It’s always nice and cool and a good change of scenery!

6. Unplug Devices

A device plugged into the wall will use energy (which costs you money), even if it’s not in use. Get into the habit of unplugging all devices and appliances when they are not in use. So, the next time you finish using your toaster, coffee maker, phone charger, etc. unplug it from the wall and you will see your utility bill decrease.

7. Use LED Bulbs

As your old incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with LED light bulbs. The cost upfront is more expensive, but so worth it in the long run. Check out this Light Bulb Showdown article to see the huge life time savings in this one simple change.

8. Keep Lights Off

Another way to lower your electricity bill is to keep household lights off as much as possible. Turn off all lights when you leave a room and when the sun is shining.

A few months ago we found our utility bills a little high, so we had a talk with our kids reminding them to please turn off lights when they aren’t using them. The kids responded well, and the next month we were so happy to see our electricity bill decrease!

9. Increase Thermostat Setting

Try increasing your thermostat setting by a few degrees. We try to keep ours at 78 degrees during the summer months. Every degree you can raise your thermostat will make a difference in your electricity bill.

If 78 feels high, try increasing it just 1 degree every few weeks. Your body will adjust to the higher temps and it won’t feel as hot if you do this slowly.

10. Use Your Grill

Ditch your oven and do more cooking outside on the grill. The heat from the oven contributes to heating the house, resulting in your A/C unit needing to be ran more. Keep that heat outside by using your grill more often.

Get creative with your meals! Did you know you can grill a pizza??? You can! We do it all the time and love it!

In Conclusion

Choose two or three (or all ten) of these tips and start implementing them into your routine. If you stay consistent you will see a change in your electricity bill immediately.

You Might Enjoy These Related Articles:

8 Ways to Save Money on Utilities This Winter

What to Cut From Budget to Save Thousands

Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget

Pin For Reference Next Summer:

I hope this helped you learn how to lower your electricity bill in summer.

Legit Ways To Earn Money From Home

April 23, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

How to make money from home.

A few years ago I made a promise, to myself and to my family. I promised that I would figure out a way to earn money from home.

You see, I am a stay at home mom…I have been for 14 years. I love this job. It is important to me to be available to my kids before school, during school and after school. I get that this isn’t what’s best for every family, it’s just what’s best for me personally. Like I always say, there are a thousand different ways to be a FABULOUS parent!

The problem was that, I also wanted to contribute to the family income. I like money (don’t we all???). My husband doesn’t earn a huge paycheck, and I really wanted to help our family financially.

So, I promised myself that I would find a way to earn money while still being a stay at home mom.

I tried teaching piano lessons from home. But, the schedule didn’t work with my kids schedule.

Then, I started cleaning Airbnb rentals, which technically isn’t out of the home…and that was the problem. I hated leaving the kids alone for hours while I went to clean. They are old enough to be alone…but it just didn’t work for us.

And, that is why I blog. Honestly, I do not earn a ton of money, but I earn a little bit, so I keep working at it.

I get that blogging isn’t a job for everyone, but there are dozens of ways to earn money without even leaving the house! There truly is a job for all personalities and talents.

Who Can Benefit From Working From Home?

There are many, many people who could benefit from an at home job:

Stay at Home Moms who want to earn an extra income (like me!)
Someone wanting a more flexible work schedule
If you are paying off debt, and want an extra income to pay it off quicker
Anyone looking to make extra money in addition to your 8-5 job

This article contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission from purchases made using links in this post.

How to Make Money Without Even Leaving Your House

Sell Your Clutter

We all have clutter sitting around our house (or is it just me…..). Sell these items online to earn a little cash. Every 6 weeks or so I like to grab a few unused items around the house and list them for sell. I don’t make a lot of money doing this, but I do make some spending money. And you can too!

Sell items in your home on websites like:

Ebay

Facebook Marketplace

Poshmark

Sell Baked Goods

Do you love to bake? Make a business out of it! You could bake specialty cakes, cupcakes, cookies or other desserts and sell them for special occasions.

This has been a successful side hustle for many bakers. Start spreading the word among family, friends and Facebook offering your services for special occasions. I love to support in home bake shops!

Join an MLM

I have many friends who have been able to make money while joining an MLM (multi-level marketing). It’s a great way to make new friends and share a product that you love. Most MLMs will require some money upfront for a set up cost, so be prepared for that.

Before you put in any of your money to a company be sure to do thorough research to be confident you will get that money back through your sales.

Here are a few MLM companies you might enjoy:

Young Living Essential Oils

Mary Kay

Scentsy

Pampered Chef

Norwex

Younique

Rodan + Fields

Usborne Books

Jamberry

Magnabilities

Avon

Do Online Transcription Work

A transcriptionist types recorded audio files and converts them to text. This is usually done for medical or legal companies, but other companies hire transcription work as well.

This can be easy to learn and has many possibilities available. The only skills required are the ability to listen and type what you hear, not bad!

If you want to learn more check out this article from The Penny Hoarder. She gives great details about where to find transcription jobs.

Teach English to Kids in China

Teaching English to kids in foreign countries has grown to popularity over the past several years. It’s a job that can be done from home, you can usually choose your own hours, the pay is good, and it can be so rewarding! The lessons are all pre-planned, all you have to do is show up and teach! Easy peasy!

One of the more popular companies to work for is VIPKid. I have actually gone through the application process with VIPKid before and it was very quick and painless! They do require all teachers to have a bachelors degree, but it can be a degree in anything (woo!)!

Another great company to look into is EF Education First. This is the oldest private language teaching company. They are well respected and a great company to look into. They also require a bachelors degree in any major.

Related: Work From Home with EF Education First

Become an Online Tutor

A great opportunity for anyone who enjoys teaching kids is to become an online tutor. Look into companies like Tutors.com for teaching opportunities. This could be such a rewarding job!

Start a Blog

I fell in love with blogging a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back. It truly is the perfect fit for me. Blogging stretches my talents and interests while providing a little bit of spending money to me and my family. Some day I hope to earn a bigger income, but for now I enjoy learning and growing.

If you are interested in starting a blog, be sure to check out my article: 10 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Blogging. And, feel free to ask me any questions, I love to talk blogging!

Use Cashback Websites

You can earn a little extra cash just by shopping normally. Every time I shop online I use the Rakuten website to earn cashback. It’s super easy to start earning!

All you have to do is:

Log into the Rakuten website or app
Select the store you want to shop at (they have almost every online store, seriously).
You will then be redirected to that store website
Shop as normal and complete your purchase.
You will then receive a percentage of cashback from your purchase! It’s as easy as that! Rakuten sends checks out every three months, it’s such a fun mail day when it arrives!

My rule is to NEVER do any online shopping without going to the Rakuten website first! New signups can even get a $10 bonus after spending $25 using Rakuten! It’s a great way to try it out, while earning money at the same time.

Related: 5 Ways to Earn CASHBACK on Purchases

Sell Your Photgraphy

If you enjoy taking pictures consider selling them online. You don’t even need a fancy camera, just use your phone! There are many websites out there who are willing to buy your images for their stock photography. A few websites to check out first are: SmugMug, Getty Images, and 500px.

Rent Out a Room on Airbnb

Another great way to earn money from home is by renting out a room on Airbnb. Is there possibly a room or area in your home that goes unused? This might be a basement, Mother-In-Law Apartment or Guest House. These would all be perfect spots to rent out. If it’s not being used, you might as well make some money from it, right?!?!

Create Online Courses

I love online courses! I’m always taking one, for reals! It’s just SO convenient to take a course online rather than having to take the time and hassle to learn all of the information myself.

Think of something that you are an expert on, and create a course out of it! I know people who have created courses about: painting, web design, photography, sewing, math, fashion, makeup and MORE! Really anything! I created an online course where I share info about frugal living and I have been able to earn a steady income from it.

Pick a passion, and develop a profitable course from it. Signing up with a platform like Thinkific makes course creation even easier!

Become a Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a great work from home job, with hundreds of different possibilities depending on your skills.

Virtual assistants are hired by many bloggers or influencers to manage social media, research trends, make travel arrangements, send emails, proofread and much more.

You can market yourself out as a Virtual Assistant on places such as Facebook, or join a virtual assistant website to get yourself in front of more eyes.

Freelance Work

Hiring yourself out to offer freelance digital services is easy to do using Fiverr. On Fiverr freelancers are connected with businesses needing digital work done. I have hired many people off of Fiverr and have been impressed by everyone I have worked with. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, I highly suggest trying it!

A few freelance services being offered on Fiverr include:

Write blog articles
Edit blog articles
Write resumes
Design logos
Edit images
Draw pictures
Create PDF files
Write jingles
And more!

Check out their website to get some inspiration of how you can use it to earn money from home.

Home Salon

Did you go to beauty school by chance? How about cutting hair out of your home? I love to support in home hair salons. The price is usually a little cheaper and I love the casual atmosphere.

You don’t even need anything fancy! Just do it in your kitchen!

Sell Your Craft

If you enjoy creating or crafting, turn it into a business. Etsy is the perfect place to sell your handmade goods.

A few of the items selling well on Etsy are:

Jewelry
Digital Artwork, such as invitations, birthday cards, etc.
Handmade clothing
Art

Start an In Home Daycare

Offer to watch kids within your own home. You could watch just one or two kids, or look into become licensed as an in home day care. This is something I have considered doing multiple times. I love kids!

Spread the word through Facebook Marketplace that you want to start doing this. There is always someone looking for a babysitter!

Work for Amazon

Check out the virtual job opportunities Amazon has listed. They are often adding jobs for Customer Service, but these go quick. Check their website regularly so you can land the job as soon as it’s listed.

Start a YouTube Channel

Everyone has a story to tell, why not share it on YouTube while also making money. Your YouTube channel should be focused around a topic you are passionate about, such as sports, music, travel, food, fashion, etc.

If you love what you are talking about, others will respond and want to learn more. Growing a YouTube channel takes time, so be patient, but keep trying!

Related: 12 Side Hustles for Stay at Home Moms

Teach Music

Do you play an instrument or enjoy singing? Consider teaching music lessons out of your home. The great thing about this job is you are able to be your own boss, set your own hours and decide your pay. It’s also so rewarding to watch your students learn and grow with their instrument.

Pet Sitter

If you love animals you might enjoy hiring yourself out as a pet sitter. Many people are looking for someone to watch their pets while they are out of town or at work. This is such a fun way to earn some extra cash and get to play with animals.

The best way to spread the word is on Facebook Marketplace or through friends.

Complete Tasks on Amazon Mechanical Turk

A quick and easy way to earn a few extra bucks is by working on Amazons Mechanical Turk. Amazon Mechanical Turk will you pay you for completing small simple tasks. These tasks range from data entry, identifying items in a photo, transcribing, research and more.

The payout is small (like 5 cents small), but the tasks are very quick to complete. I use to do these tasks quite a bit while watching TV in the evenings. It is legit, but you won’t earn a lot of money (consider yourself warned).

Start a Podcast

Have something to say? Like to talk? Well, start a podcast!

Podcasting is quickly becoming more and more popular to listeners and will likely continue to grow. Make sure to do some research to learn all about how to get started. If it sounds like the right fit for you, jump in! Let me know if you do, I listen to podcasts every day and love them all! I just might listen to yours!

Re Purpose Your Old Furniture

Fix up some old furniture or decorations in your home to sell. All it takes is some sanding, painting and a little elbow grease to make furniture or decorations new again.

I love the look of repurposed furniture, but don’t like putting in the work. So, I am always buying repurposed furniture for my home. There is a big market out there for this service.

You can sell your finished pieces on Facebook Marketplace! That’s where I buy!

Rent Out Your Car

Rent your car out for people to use when you don’t need it. Turo is a peer to peer car rental website connecting drivers to cars. Basically, you just list your car on the website, you choose how much you want to rent it for and when it is available. You will be contacted when someone wants to rent your vehicle. Such an easy way to earn money, especially if you have a car sitting around and not in use. Check out Turos website to learn more about the details!

In Conclusion

I hope reading through this list helped you to see that there are so many options available to people to earn money from home. I truly believe there is something for everyone!

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How do you earn money from home?

Fun At Home Activities For Teens

April 17, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out these fun, free activities for teens to do at home.

Do you have a teen stuck at home? Do they constantly feel “bored” and have grown out of the typical children’s activities? I have been there! As a matter of fact, I am there right now! My teen constantly struggles finding things to do. So, I decided to sit down with her one day and together we made the ultimate list of at home activities for teens.

At Home Activities for Teens

1. Bake Something New

Try out a new recipe or two. Bake some cookies, bread or offer to make dinner for your family. I’m sure your mom won’t complain about that! Just remember to clean up the dishes once you’re done.

2. Play a Board Game

Get out a board game to play with your family. You could play a game you have never played before, or choose an old favorite.

3. Draw/Paint a Picture

Try to draw or paint a picture. Look up a few YouTube videos for some inspiration. I love these canvas boards for painting. Consider painting a picture that you could hang up in your room.

4. Give Service

Who can you serve today? Could you shovel your neighbors driveway? Play with your little brother? Think of someone, anyone, who needs a little pick me up. Use your time to serve them.

Not only will you make someone else feel happier, you will also feel happier at the same time! Serving others benefits everyone involved!

5. Start a Journal

Start keeping a journal. Write about your day, your interests and your thoughts. Years down the road you will love having this journal to look back on and reminisce.

6. Call a Friend or Family Member

Call a friend or family member up on the phone. This is a great way to see how they are doing, catch up, and enjoy friendly conversation. Choose someone you haven’t talked to in a while, like a grandparent!

7. Go for a Walk or Run

Get outside and exercise! Go for a walk or a run and enjoy the fresh air.

8. Write a Short Story

Use your imagination by writing a short story. Share your talent by showing your story to a friend or family member.

9. Have a Nerf Gun War

Get out the Nerf guns and have a Nerf gun war. Make it extra fun by turning off all the lights and having the battle in the dark. Have any glow sticks lying around? Use those in your battle too!

10. Paint Your Nails

Give yourself a full manicure or make it simple and just paint your nails. Our current nail obsession is gel nails. It’s really easy to apply and doesn’t chip off! My type of polish!

11. Play Catch

Do you have a mitt and ball sitting around? Get them out and play an old fashioned game of catch. See how far apart you can get while still being able to catch the ball.

12. Start a Garden

There is something so rewarding about planting a seed and watching it grow into delicious food. Try starting your own mini garden. Plant your favorite foods to make it even more exciting when it grows!

13. Put Together a Puzzle

Have a few hours to kill? Sit down and put together a puzzle to fill the time. It’s a great way to get out some nervous energy. Our favorite puzzles are Dowdle Puzzles.

14. Teach Yourself How to Knit or Crochet

Learn a new skill and teach yourself how to knit or crochet. This is the perfect activity to do while watching a movie. A great beginner project is to make a scarf (very easy!).

15. Put Together a Craft

My teens love crafting, and maybe you will too! Try making a few new decorations for your room, such as this pom pom garland or these tissue paper pom poms. Search pinterest for even more ideas! There are so many easy craft projects that can be done at home.

16. Practice an Instrument

Do you have an instrument you play? Maybe the piano, violin, flute, etc. Spend some time learning a new song and practicing. You could even teach yourself how to play a new instrument. A great beginner instrument is the ukulele, it’s fairly easy to learn and fun to play!

17. Make a Bucket List

Make a list of 100 things you want to do and accomplish in your life. Include events like graduating from high school, getting married. But, also throw in a few ideas that sound fun and exciting, such as going sky diving or hiking in Europe.

18. Research Colleges

Use the computer to research colleges you might be interested in going to in the future. Look at their tuition rates, scholarship opportunities, and classes offered. While you are at it look at housing available and social activities. Those are an important college too!

19. Clean out Your Closet

Alright, this might not be the most fun activity on the list….but you might enjoy it more than you think! Cleaning out your closet (and under the bed too) is a great way to find some long lost treasures you forgot about. Plus, it feels good to live in a clean space….right??????

20. Build a Card House

Try building a house out of a deck of cards. It takes a little bit of patience and time, but it is also so addicting! Try to see how many stories you can build your house. Admittedly, I’ve never been able to get mine built very high…..but my cousin once had a 17 story card house. It was pretty cool!

21. Learn a New Hairstyle

Check out a few YouTube hair styling videos and experiment with some new hairstyles. For a little extra practice try to convince your mom or sister to let you give them a hair makeover!

My teen daughter loves this hair book and is always getting new hairdo ideas from it.

22. Teach Yourself Calligraphy

Teach yourself how to write in calligraphy. You can easily learn with a little time, patience and practice! Try this calligraphy book out for some extra practice.

23. Read a Book

Enjoy your free time by reading a new book. You can check one out from the library, download one from audible, or read an old favorite from your shelf.

A few of our favorite books for teens are: Divergent Series, Hunger Games Series and Selection Series.

24. Make a Hand Scrub

Pamper yourself by making your own hand scrub. It only takes a few ingredients!

Hand Sugar Scrub Recipe

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
15 drops of your choice essential oil

Stir it all together and you’re done! We like to store ours in a mason jar.

25. Rearrange the Furniture in Your Room

Take a few hours and rearrange the furniture in your room. It will give your space a whole new feel! While you are at it you can redecorate with the crafts you made in idea #15!

26. Experiment with Makeup

Watch some YouTube makeup tutorials and experiment with some new looks. It’s fun to see how a few different makeup tricks can change your appearance.

27. Shoot Hoops

If you have a basketball hoop outside, go out and shoot some hoops. Spend a few hours practicing and it will be fun to see how well you improve.

You can even take it back to old school and play a game of HORSE.

28. Learn Origami

Teach yourself how to make origami. All you need is some paper and YouTube tutorials. (isn’t YouTube the best!?)

A frog is a great origami animal to start with.

29. Find a Free Workout To Do

There are thousands of free workout videos online. Pick one to do from the comfort of your home. You might enjoy a high energy or dance style video, or a slower paced yoga or Pilates. The choices is yours!

30. Make a Vision Board

Make a vision board to help you focus on your goals. This is so easy to do! Simply brainstorm a few goals you have for the near future. Then print out pictures that represent those goals. Glue your pictures to a poster and you have a vision board!

We like to hang these posters up in the bathroom or bedroom to help us remember what our goals are and keep us motivated.

31. Build a Snowman

If you have any snow outside, get out and build a snowman. See if you can make it taller than you are! Don’t forget to include a scarf, hat and carrot nose (of course).

32. Go Skateboarding/Long boarding

Get out and skate board or long board (whichever you prefer). If you don’t know how to skate board, well, it’s time to learn a new skill!

33. Make Friendship Bracelets

Look up some tutorials on how to make friendship bracelets. They are so easy! You just need some embroidery floss and you are all set. Make two bracelets and send one to a friend and you can keep the other one.

34. Interview Your Parents

Set up an informal interview with your parents. Ask them questions about life when they were your age. I bet you will have more in common than you thought!

It would be fun to record this interview on camera. You will enjoy looking back one day and listening to your parents voice and seeing their mannerisms.

35. Play a Card Game

Get out a deck of cards and play a card game. We love Runs and Bunches, Phase 10, Scum, or Golf.

If you can’t find anyone to play with you, play solitaire by yourself! Try to see how many times you can win in a row.

36. Make a Music Video

Put your creativity to work and make a music video. You can lip sing to your favorite song, or make up your own. Come up with a few fun dance moves to add to the video, and then put it all on camera.

This is a really fun project and a great way to fill up your day. Don’t forget to send your finished video to your friends! They will love to see it!

37. Make a Scrapbook

Put together an old fashioned scrapbook. This is a fun way to highlight an important event or year in your life. It might be a scrapbook all about being on the basketball team. Or, maybe you want to make one about your first year in middle school. You will love looking back on this book throughout your life to remember the special moments you had.

38. Invent a New Recipe

Experiment in the kitchen and come up with a new recipe. It just might turn into a family favorite!

Sometimes we like to blindfold ourselves and choose random ingredients in the kitchen. We mix them all together to see what we can come up with. Many times the results are just gross. But, sometimes it’s delicious and we will make it again!! You just never know until you try!

39. Write a Letter to a Loved One

Who doesn’t enjoy getting mail? I know I love it! It makes my day when I open the mailbox to find a letter addressed just to me.

Send some love to a family member or friend by writing them a letter. Tell them about what you have been up to recently and ask them about their life. Maybe, you will get a letter back!

40. Make Up a Dance

Put your dance moves to good use and make up a dance to one of your favorite songs. Not only is this a lot of fun, it’s also great exercise!

Want even more fun activity ideas? Check out these articles:

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

Screen Free At Home Kids Activities

21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

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What at home activities does your teen enjoy???

My Honest Review of Butcher Box

April 14, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Sharing my experience and honest review of Butcher Box.

For years I have heard 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.

What is Butcher Box?

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 things 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

9-14 lbs

$150/month

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

The Mixed Box

8.5-11 lbs

$129/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

$129/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

$129/month

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

The All Beef Box

8-10 lbs

$129/month

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

How Often Will I Receive My Box?

You have two options for delivery frequency, monthly or every other month. However, you can cancel or pause delivery at any time at no extra cost.

So, 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

***********Currently Butcher Box has suspended orders for a limited time due to high demand. Click here to join their wait list so you can enjoy all the goodness of Butcher Box ASAP!***********

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.

Butcher Box Wait List

If you want to try Butcher Box out for yourself (and I totally think you should) click here to join their wait list! Let me know if you like it or not!

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I hope you enjoyed my Honest Review of Butcher Box!

What To Do If You Lose Your Job

March 31, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The first steps to take after becoming unemployed.

I know how you’re feeling, I have been there. It wasn’t me personally who lost my job (I am a stay at home mom), but it was my husband. Within a heartbeat our only source of income vanished. The financial security blanket for me, our three children and my husband was yanked out of our hands and our world was turned completely upside down. We had the same questions you are probably asking; “Why me?” “What now?” “Where do I begin?” and “How will we survive?” I want you to know, that it WILL all be ok! I have been through it and never thought we would survive, but we did, and you will too!! This article is to help you know exactly what to do if you lose your job.

Take a Breath

First, take a long deep breath. You need to take a moment to just be still. If you enjoy meditating…meditate. If you believe in prayer, pray. No doubt you have a million thoughts and emotions running through your head. You have a long road ahead of you, and you will need to be in the best state of mind as possible.

Apply for Unemployment

One of the very first things you should do when you lose your job is to apply for unemployment benefits. The process for unemployment will vary from state to state. Call, or better yet, stop by your local Unemployment Office to fill out the application and ask any and all questions you have.

The process is fairly straightforward and easy. The sooner you apply the quicker you will begin receiving benefits, so do this step ASAP!

Don’t let pride get in the way of applying for unemployment, we dragged out feet a little bit because we were to proud, and that was the wrong decision. Remember, this is a temporary situation and you’ll get right back on your feet again, it’s OK to have some help to keep you going.

Look Into Healthcare Options

Unfortunately, losing a job often means losing your health care plan as well. The good news is that there are options available for those out of work!

1.COBRA

COBRA is a great health care option to look into. In short COBRA allows the unemployed to stay on their current employers coverage for a limited amount of time.

It’s important to remember that not everyone will qualify for COBRA and there are some pros and cons to this plan. I suggest doing some thorough research to help you decide if this is the right option for you. I found this this informative article you might want to look at for more details about health care through COBRA.

2. Marketplace Health Insurance (“Obamacare”)

The government health care marketplace, also known as Obamacare was introduced in 2010. This is a fantastic option when unemployed. You are able to buy a plan immediately after losing a job, no matter the circumstances. There are no rules or limitations! Be sure to enroll during the special enrollment period, 60 days after losing your employers health coverage.

3. Private Health Insurance

Another, usually more expensive option, is to buy a plan from Private Health insurance. I recommend a high deductible plan, which will give you lower monthly payments.

4. Medicaid

Medicaid offers financial assistance to low income individuals who are disabled, elderly, pregnant women, children and families. This service is not dependent on your job status, but your income and size of household. If you are unsure if you qualify or not, call your local Medicaid office and they can help you.

Decide What To Do With Your 401K

The next thing you need to do is decide what you want to do with your 401K. Here are a few suggestions of what you should do with this account:

1. Roll It Over

I highly recommend rolling your 401k account into a different retirement account. We prefer putting it into our IRA, because it gives us more investing options.

2. Leave It Alone

If you don’t want to roll it over to a new plan you can leave the 401k as is. I don’t recommend this, as it won’t grow as fast without someone managing it.

Take a Serious Look at Your Finances

It’s time to take a good long hard look at your financial situation. Take some time to sit down and go over your expenses. Try to determine how long your money will be able to cover your living expenses.

If you have an emergency fund (which I hope you do!) this is definitely a time to use it.

Make a Budget

You will need to make a budget based off of your new income, which might be zero for the time being. Be willing to make extreme budget cuts. This is not easy, but remind yourself it is temporary! You will be able to get back to your normal living situation in time.

The most important things to have in your budget are your necessary living expenses: food, shelter, transportation and utilities. Almost everything else can be cut out.

Related: How to Make a Zero Based Budget

Update Resume

Dust off your resume and give it a good update. If you are unsure how to write a resume, or what to include research some free online tutorials or workshops. Your city might have some available, and there are plenty resources online.

Once your resume is updated begin dropping it off to local businesses you would like to work at. Putting your foot in the door never hurt anyone!

Network, Network, Network

One of the very most important things when searching for a new job is to network. Most jobs are found through word of mouth, which takes effort on your part!

Reach out to old friends, coworkers, etc. Ask if they know of any job openings. This is not a time to be shy. Put yourself out there! Most people will be more than willing to help!

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn profile, it’s time to make one. If you already have a LinkedIn profile, update it!

LinkedIn is a fantastic platform for marketing your skills while connecting with prospective employers and opportunities. Use it to your advantage. Engage with others, reach out, show some personality. This can be a huge benefit to you as you begin to network.

Apply For Jobs

Searching and applying for jobs should become a part of your new daily routine.

First, brainstorm a list of potential employers in your area. Get into the habit of calling and/or stopping in to these businesses every few weeks. Hand them your resume, show them your face, ask about job openings, and always be polite and professional (this is important!).

Next, check local job listings for any new leads. Look on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Indeed, Career Building and Glass Door daily. Apply for the ones you feel qualified for.

My rule of thumb, is that it never hurts to try! Send out that resume! You never know what might fall in your lap.

Practice Interview Questions

Use this extra time to prep yourself for upcoming interviews. Research possible interview questions and rehearse your answers. I encourage you to practice interviewing in front of a mirror. It helps you see yourself and your mannerisms and gives you some ideas of things you might want to change.

Follow Up

Make sure you do a thorough follow up after any contact with potential employers. This might be a simple phone call a week after dropping off your resume. Or, send out a thank you email after an interview. This shows future employers that you can take initiative and are serious about the job.

Honestly, these simple follow ups was what led my husband to his job during unemployment.

Stay Positive

Most importantly, try to stay positive. I know how discouraging it can be to lose a job. I know how stressful it gets when door after door after door gets closed in your face. It is hard to stay positive during these hard times, but the more positive you can stay, the better this time will be.

Don’t forget to take time to do things that bring you joy. Go for a walk and get some exercise. Spend a night playing games as family. Read a favorite book. Take your mind off of your job search now and then in order to keep your spirits up.

In Conclusion

Keep your chin up. Many people lose their jobs every day, and they are all able to find new ones, you will too! Please, reach out if you need any help or guidance. I am always here for you!

I have been through this tough struggle, and I am passionate about helping others get through it too!

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I hope this helps you to know what to do if you lose your job.

10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Stretch Meals

March 24, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How 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.

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 use it for three meals that week. Or buy a rotisserie chicken from the store and meal plan several meals for chicken. 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.

Related: Start Meal Planning For The Complete Beginner

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 to feed us several meals.

Consider turning Tuesday dinner into, “Souper Tuesday.” This will be the day each week when you will make soup for dinner. This pot of soup should last your family for several meals. You can even freeze the leftover soup to use 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!

chicken soup with vegetables

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:

Homemade French Bread
Fruit Salad
Green Salad
Roasted Vegetables
Potatoes
Rice

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. 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 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

7. Appropriate Servings

Many of us (definitely me!) eat larger servings than is necessary. Try eating smaller portions at your meals. 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!

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