by Jamie Jeffers | Oct 8, 2019 | Holidays
Looking for $20 Christmas mantel ideas? Here’s how to use what you have (with a few fun freebies!) to create a fun look.
I’ve always felt pressured to make my mantel look extra special at the holidays.
There are two problems with that.
One: I’m not a DIY kinda gal. Being crafty just isn’t in my skill set.
And two: I hate to spend money! It seems like you have to spend a fortune to create most of the beautiful looks you find on Pinterest.
None of that has changed. But I still decided to set out to create a beautiful Christmas mantel for our home.
And I pulled it off for less than $20!
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Oct 1, 2019 | Frugal Living
Wondering if frugal family living can work for you? Here’s how to make the frugal life work with your kids (without feeling deprived!).
Boy, did it feel good to step out of that car and stretch our legs.
That rest stop came at just the right time after a couple of hours of driving time.
And our kids couldn’t wait to get to the special treats they’d packed in their lunches that morning.
(Getting in a little kickball time before we had to hit the road again didn’t hurt either!)
While we are a frugal family, that doesn’t mean any of us have to feel deprived.
In fact, a lot of the things we do in daily life are simple enough.
And in the long run, things like stopping for a picnic lunch instead of drive thru kids meals saves us money, sure…
But it makes our lives richer in other ways, too!
(Extra time together, fresh air, and better health spring to mind.)
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Sep 19, 2019 | Recipe
This easy pear bread recipe is the best way to use pears! It’s delicious, and perfect to serve as a snack, breakfast, or take on the go. Yum!
Pear trees can be funny.
They can go a long time before producing any fruit.
And then one year, you’ll suddenly get a bounty of pears! Before long, you’re searching for ways to use pears…when you stumble across an amazing pear bread recipe.
Click here to jump to recipe!
I mean, everyone thinks about using up bananas in a banana bread, but how many of us automatically think of a pear bread?
Starting now, you do. Because you are going to love this delicious, easy recipe.
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Sep 18, 2019 | Debt, Saving Money
Wondering how to pay off debt and save money? You can do both, and it will change your life for the better! Take these steps to get it done.
We were running late for school. I hustled the kids to the car (“Tie your shoes in the van!”), slammed the door, jumped in, and turned the key.
The tire light came on.
Should I get out and look? That stupid light comes on all the time, and it’s always just a little low on air. I don’t have time for that.
But I knew it would nag at me all the way down the road. So I jumped out to ease my mind before we rushed to school.
Except that this time, I have a totally flat tire.
Unexpected? Check.
Expensive? Check.
Unexpected expenses are called that for a reason. They pop up out of the blue, and they are never a cheap fix. In fact, they are so likely to happen that they should be expected.
Even if you’re living debt free, most of us are just one or two unexpected expenses away from falling into debt. And if you already owe money, unexpected expenses can put you into a never-ending cycle of bills.
But what if you’re actively paying off debt? Should you really be worried about saving money when you have high interest rates?
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Sep 4, 2019 | Parenting & Household Tips
Does your group or school need to raise money? Here’s the best way to get the funds you need without begging friends and family for money (again).
This post has been sponsored by Funds2Orgs. All opinions are my own.
If you have school aged kids, you know all about fundraisers.
It seems like every time they come home from school, they’re bringing another flyer asking you to buy more things you’ll never use.
And (of course) there was an assembly that whipped the kids into a frenzy over the thought of winning their own Xbox system.
Not only do you resent the fact that you have to break your child’s heart again this year (because there is no way you could sell enough to win that Xbox!)…
But you also have to wonder what they’re learning from all of this.
Look, you understand that the school needs to raise money. And you appreciate that they are trying to be creative instead of hiking up your fees.
But should raising money be done in a way that almost encourages greed?
Isn’t there a better way?
Well I can tell you that there absolutely is. Not only does this fundraiser turn the tables and teach children about kindness and giving to others…
…but they also don’t ask you for any money.
Sound too good to be true? Don’t worry, this is a legitimate fundraiser that many schools and groups have used with great success.
Here’s how it works.
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Sep 2, 2019 | Holidays, Saving Money
Curious about how Walmart Christmas layaway 2019 works? Find out what makes it a great alternative to putting another holiday on plastic!
Remember the days of the blue light special? Back then everyone seemed to use layaway programs to help them afford Christmas gifts.
Over time, more people began to use credit cards instead of dealing with the hassle of layaway programs.
But layaway still exists! And it’s actually a fantastic way to avoid debt this Christmas.
Given all the scary statistics about Christmas spending and compounding debt problems (read all about that here), you should be doing everything possible to avoid pulling out the card this season.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the best layaway program I’ve found is at Walmart. They will set you up with a program with no extra fees.
That’s much better than what your average credit card company will do for you!
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 30, 2019 | Ways We Saved This Week
Sometimes it really strikes you how much the little actions you take every day add up to something big.
Take packing a lunch, for instance. Seems like an annoying thing you “have to” do.
But if you think about it, you’re saving maybe $5 every day by packing that lunch.
Over the course of a year you’ll save $1250!! (Not counting weekends and 2 weeks for vacation time you may or may not have…)
What you’re doing matters! I see you working every day…and I think you rock. 🙂
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 23, 2019 | Ways We Saved This Week
Here’s a list of things that are more fun than car shopping for the third time in two years:
*A good punch in the nose.
*Watching golf on TV.
*A long drive with all 6 kids in the car.
Doing this much car shopping was never in my plans. But I don’t get to choose how the world moves.
And luckily, we’ve been getting better at car shopping! (I mean, after a while you kind of have to, right?)
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 21, 2019 | Income
Every August, we celebrate a little here at Medium Sized Family. This year, the blog turns 4 years old!
As a stay at home mom, I just love blogging.
For one thing, the accountability from this blog allowed our family to pay off thousands in credit card debt.
And building a business from nothing feels like such an accomplishment!
So what did I learn from my fourth year of blogging? What’s working? What isn’t?
If you’re a blogger now or have ever been interested in being one, let’s chat!
(more…)
by Jamie Jeffers | Aug 14, 2019 | Saving Money
These ideas about how to save money every month are awesome! Because once you get them in place, you’ll save month after month. Who doesn’t want extra money lying around??
When you look over your family budget, do you ever get the urge to reach into those numbers and give them a tight squeeze?
No, not in a “I wanna give you a hug!” way…
…in a Homer Simpson “Why won’t you go lower!!!” way.
I’m not always that violent with my budget numbers, but it is fun to see how much I can squeeze from a penny!
Since so many bills demand to be paid monthly, one of the best ways to get more from your paycheck is to figure out how to save money every month.
You can never have too many money saving tips! So today, let’s talk about some ideas that you probably haven’t tried yet.
(more…)
I'm Jamie, and I believe that you can build your savings, even when life is frustrating. 
