Things have been quiet around the blog lately, because I’ve been working hard on my book. The good news is that it’s getting close! I’ve pulled together more than 500 ways to save money without the repetitive “stop drinking lattes every day” and “cut the cable” advice you read everywhere. I’m excited to release it soon, and I hope you’re excited, too!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on a title for this book. Leave your ideas in the comments below.
These Christmas shopping tips don’t take much effort, but they can save you a bundle on all your holiday shopping this season!
With a little nervous excitement, I checked my purse one more time.
It was early on Black Friday morning. The only day of the year I happily get up before the sun.
Part of it is my love for a good bargain.
I can’t help but love that I get to spend the day with my Mom. (Girl time!)
But there’s also some pride to the fact that a lot of my spending today will be done using tricks I’ve carefully worked on all year long.
Sure, I’ll dig into the savings I held back for buying gifts.
But there’s so much more to it than that!
In fact, over the years I’ve created a whole bag of tricks when it comes to saving and spending on Christmas gifts.
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Last week was an exciting milestone. With week number 100 of the 5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week series on the books (er, blog), that means there are 500 money saving tips in that series alone! It’s fun to know that our family is still finding creative ways to save money. Even better is that we get to share them with you.
In case you missed it, there’s some exciting news that comes along with this milestone! I’m compiling all of these tips into one easy to read e-book. I’ll be rolling out more details soon, but you’ll definitely want to be one of my subscribers when the book launches. (Hint, hint!) You can do that here.
Everyone wants to spend less on Christmas giving. Convince family, friends, and coworkers to have more fun while giving using these gift exchange themes!
The giving season is upon us again, and that can mean a lot of spending. Gifts for family, friends, coworkers, teachers, and more are probably on your list.
Like most of us, you want to simplify your gift budget this Christmas. And if you can get a whole group of people on board with the idea…all the better!
Most people are relieved to have fewer things to buy, so it should be easy to get everyone at work or at the family gathering to buy into the idea.
If you really want to sell them on the idea, have a fun gift exchange theme in mind. Themes make the party more fun than ever!
It doesn’t have to be the same old ideas.
Let’s look at some different gift exchange themes so you can find the right one for your gift swap group.
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Medium Sized Family will receive a canvas to review in exchange for this post.
I know that I don’t often share deals (outside of Fridays) here, but I knew you would want to learn about this one. If you’re thinking about Christmas gifts, why not grab a canvas print of a family picture for that loved one?
A canvas print feels much more special, and even more so when it’s a special photograph.
The good news is that Canvas On Demand has agreed to give my readers 60% off your entire order! And there’s plenty to choose from there. From incredible photo-to-canvas art for parents, Coloring Canvas for kids, and customizable photo gifts, including ornaments & more, Canvas On Demand can help with your holiday haul. Check them out and mark some of your shopping “done”!
Two years ago, I decided to start celebrating the ways our family saved money each week. Not only did this give my Hubby and me the motivation to keep working hard to pay off debt, but we hoped that sharing our money saving ideas would inspire our readers to save more, too.
The first few weeks, I wondered if I could really write about these things week after week without becoming boring and repetitive. But over time, I realized that with the changing of the seasons, the years, and the way we do things, there’s always another way you can save money.
Based on the number of people who have read these posts, I’d say you feel the same way. You want to save money for the things that mean the most to your own family. It’s so nice to have a whole community of savers in one place!
Last weekend, we attended my Dad’s retirement party. People wrote ideas for his bucket list, and I couldn’t resist having a little fun with the cherry pie I made (Dad’s favorite!).
I’m so happy for him. After all, my parents are absolute whizzes when it comes to pinching a penny. After years of being responsible with their money, my parents are able to retire without the debt that so many others still have.
I’m keeping that in mind when we make our own money goals!
Grocery shopping is a mindful process for the frugal. I’ve shopped at a bigger chain for years, because between coupons (they often send me coupons for $20 off my purchase!), discounted gas, and deal stacking, it’s worked great for saving my family a ton of money.
But lately I’m starting to wonder if I wouldn’t be better off finding the time to shop at Aldi instead. Is it just me, or are grocery prices climbing again?
I’ll let you know how this goes and if shopping Aldi is a money saver for our family of 7. I have shopped at Aldi in the past, but it hasn’t been my “go to” grocery store for years. So if you’ve got any hot Aldi tips, leave a comment!
While there are still many things on this list that cost less than $10, I’m sad to say that this year I had to raise the limit here to $15. Happy inflation! (Not…)
Whether you’re ready to make a little splurge on yourself or you need a gift idea that fits into your budget, you can’t go wrong with anything on this list of cool things under 15 dollars!
Ever since the, ahem, “events of 2020”, it’s been difficult to find deals under $10. I can’t guarantee that the price of these items will stay under $15, but they were at that price point at the time of this update.
Best thing to do is click over and see if the price is still close to $15.
You’re sure to find something here that matches the gift exchange themes your group set up this year!
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Do you want an apple cinnamon french toast casserole that isn’t too eggy and won’t make you wait until tomorrow? This recipe perfectly starts your day!
There’s nothing like the scent of apples baking to take you back to Grandma’s house.
In fact, this simple apple cinnamon french toast casserole smells so good, you can’t resist taking just a little taste fresh out of the oven.
Because when you combine fresh apples with the taste of a delicious cinnamon raisin bread, the flavors are irresistible.
I'm Jamie, and I want to help you afford a beautiful life with your family. Learn more. 
