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5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week #147

This stack of movies caught my eye as I headed to check out at the library on Wednesday.

My boys are big Star Wars fans, so I picked up one or two of those movies.  And there was the live action Cinderella video that I knew my daughter would love, too.  

Then I noticed that all of the movies were Disney movies…and that’s when I realized what my library had done.

They were showcasing what was basically a free version of Disney+! 

I had to laugh.

It’s so smart!  And hopefully people will take advantage of this and save on one more monthly bill.

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5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week #146

You guys seems to love these 5 ways we saved posts as much as I do!  And you may have noticed that there haven’t been as many of them lately.

Well, that’s because behind the scenes, I’ve been working my tail off to create something I think will be so helpful in your money saving journey!

Because we are all huge fans of saving money, right?

And one part of the budget that we frugal fanatics love to see how low we can go is…

…groceries.  (Of course!)

So be on the look out for more information about this soon!

(If you really can’t wait to hear more, join the waiting list and be the first to know when it’s ready!)

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Inexpensive Christmas Gifts That Will Help You Save Money

Finding the right inexpensive Christmas gifts that still show how much you care can be tough. But this list of unique ideas makes it easy!

Remember in the Little House on the Prairie books when Laura receives the inexpensive Christmas gifts of an orange and some candy? 

One year she even got her very own tin cup to use!

And the year that she received her rag doll was so special to her.

Think about that.  Do you think your kids could even tell you what they got for Christmas last year?

The season has morphed from a simple celebration to an over the top holiday. 

Even if you don’t long for those Little House on the Prairie style days in your home, you probably like the idea of cutting back a bit.

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How To Get Kids To Do Chores (Tips That Work From A Mom Of 6)

Learn how to get kids to do chores. Let’s make that chore chart more than just another wasted piece of paper!

As you walk through the kitchen to do the dishes, you notice the chore chart stuck to the refrigerator.

It’s giving you the stink eye again.

Because here you are, once more, doing a job you should probably have given to one of the kids instead.

You’re just glad your mom can’t see you right now.  She’d be going on and on about how “the kids made the mess, and they can clean it up.”

“Kids have plenty of time to play on their phones, but no time for chores.”

Great points, sure, but they don’t help you to get the kids to actually follow through on the work…do they?

Maybe a chore chart would help.  (Scroll down for our chore chart for teens!)

But what you really need is the follow through.

They don’t have to do it while they sing a song in three part harmony.  (Even though those old cartoons made chore time look so much more fun in chorus.)

Nah.  You just want it done.

Instead of preaching to you about why kids should be helping, let this mom of 6 show you how to get kids to do chores.

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Create a Beautiful Christmas Mantel Under $20 This Year

Create a Beautiful Christmas Mantel Under $20 This Year

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!

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How To Make Frugal Family Living Work For You

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.)

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This Scrumptious Pear Bread Recipe Is An Easy Way To Use Pears

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!

Jump to Recipe

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.

Easy pear bread 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.

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How to Pay Off Debt and Save Money: Why & How You’d Better Do Both!

How to Pay Off Debt and Save Money: Why & How You’d Better Do Both!

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 had 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?

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How to Raise Money This Year With Lessons In Kindness

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.

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