How To Live Simply (and Cheaply): Starting A More Fulfilling Frugal Life

by | Sep 30, 2020 | Saving Money

Wondering how to live simply when you feel like you’re already following most frugal living advice? Time to dig deeper!

Here’s another fabulous post from one of our favorite frugal folks from the Frugal Living Facebook group, Belinda Lents!

(If frugal tips are your favorite, you can join us here!)

Do you ever feel like you have read countless money saving articles only to realize…

…none of them apply to your real life?

I mean, I don’t even drink coffee or eat out on a regular basis.

Over the past twenty years, I have read hundreds, maybe even thousands, of articles on how to save money.

And a few years ago, it finally occurred to me that I was already doing most of the common suggestions.

It was time to dig deeper.

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20 Frugal Ways To Keep Your House Warm (Without Emptying Your Savings)

by | Sep 8, 2020 | Saving Money

These frugal ways to keep your house warm are so easy to put in place…but they’ll save you a ton of cash!

Fall is something to get excited about, especially when life seems so crazy and otherwise unpredictable.

There’s hot cups of tea to look forward to. And warm cozy sweaters you haven’t seen in months.

And those surprisingly enormous heat bills coming in the mail.

Ok, so maybe you aren’t looking forward to that one.

But that’s ok.  Because today we’ll talk about a few simple things you can do to save money on that bill.  So maybe we can make it not-so-enormous this time.

Ready to learn how to stay warm at home?

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5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week #159

by | Aug 28, 2020 | Ways We Saved This Week

 

Well hello again!

I’m sorry to say that I haven’t blogged so inconsistently in the entire time I’ve written at Medium Sized Family as I have in 2020.

This year has stretched me in so many new ways. Some days I feel like I’m rocking the Little House On the Prairie life. Other days, I can’t even get a load of dishes clean (let alone anything else).

I have a feeling I’m not alone.  😉

This week, school started back for our kids. We’ve got some of them back in public school, and some of them I’ll be homeschooling. As in traditional homeschool…which is a lot of work!

But, I hope the new school year will give us a chance to get back to something resembling a routine. And maybe I can make more time for writing.  (It’s my favorite part of blogging!)

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Walmart Christmas Layaway 2020: How To Use It To Save The Most

Walmart Christmas Layaway 2020: How To Use It To Save The Most

by | Aug 9, 2020 | Holidays, Saving Money

Curious about how Walmart Christmas layaway 2020 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!

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The “In and Out Jar”: A Different Way To Save Money

by | Aug 6, 2020 | Saving Money

 

For years we’ve had an old mason jar sitting on our kitchen counter.

I think it originally held some marbles from an attempt at a chore/behavior plan (that I can’t even remember anymore).

Then one day, I must have dumped some loose change in there.

Along the way a few random screws and some Box Tops dropped into it.

It’s kind of the “junk drawer” of jars.

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5 Ways We’ve Saved Money This Week #158

by | Jul 31, 2020 | Ways We Saved This Week

 

Am I the only one who has lost her desire to shop?

Don’t get me wrong…I don’t think that’s a bad thing. 😉

After all, I spent our #yearofno fighting the urge to buy anything that wasn’t essential.  

And now, wearing a mask (with asthma and a touch of claustrophobia) isn’t appealing to me. It certainly makes me think hard about whether I really need that thing in the back of a big store.

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