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.
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. đ
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.
How to live on nothing: When you have no income and you aren’t sure how you’ll get by, here’s some help. Learn how to thrive when you have no money.
Boy have I got a treat for you today!
But first, some background…
There’s a special Facebook group for people who are embracing a life of frugal living.
(You don’t have to love being frugal all the time. A lot of us are living it either by choice or by necessity. And in this group, we think positively, share ideas, and most importantly… cheer each other on.)
(You can request to join here!)
If you’re lucky enough to be a part of the Frugal Living And That #Yearofno Life Group, then you definitely know Belinda.
She’s always sharing amazingly creative ideas for living on next to nothing.
What an inspiration she has been to me (and so many others!).
So…I asked if she would kindly write up a post or two for the blog.
Here’s what she came up with. (I think you’ll love it!)
Well back to school is looking kind of crazy, isn’t it?
Our district announced their plan last night. And so far I think we’ll be ok with it.
But I do worry that everything can change in an instant (like it did back in March!). And I’m tempted to pick up some homeschooling curriculum anyway. It seems to be selling out quickly all over the place!
On the other hand, with my younger kids I feel like we can homeschool without a whole lot of expensive textbooks. So I’m kind of caught in between.
If I had to use a metaphor for 2020, I think it would be the year stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Want to know how to make money as a teenager? These quick tips will have you rolling in cash before you know it. Money making ideas for every kind of teen.
There comes a point in every teenager’s life when they realize that they need money for all the stuff they want and the things they want to do.
And it doesn’t take long for the mom and dad money well to run dry.
So what’s a kid to do?
Well…find a way to earn some cash!
Learning how to make money as a teenager isn’t as tough as you think.
But I’m gonna let you in on a little secret…
I hate starting any post by saying that I’m sorry for not posting for such a long time.
Because I figure that most people are so busy that they don’t even notice how often I post on this blog. And because sometimes my life is so busy that I could start several posts in a row with those words.
But it has been an especially long time since I posted, or have even been active in the Facebook group. And for that, I am sorry!
The funny thing about all that extra time the shut in brought us is that it just made me realize how many things I always want to do around the house and barn but never have time to do.
Well…I found the time for that!
But unfortunately, all those projects have taken away my blogging time.
Finding balance in life between family, projects, life, and work is tough for everybody, I think. I know it’s hard for me!
But I am still passionate about blogging and saving money.
Having trouble getting your family to eat leftovers? Eating leftovers doesn’t have to be a punishment. Save money and lower food waste with a few tips.
One of the first struggles my husband and I had when we got married was something a little weird.
It was leftovers.
I grew up in a house where eating leftovers for supper was a regular occurrence.
(My dad still wonders how my Mom was able to cook only once a week and serve leftovers the other 6 nights. Mom still puts up with him. haha)
The Hubby…did not.
Leftovers were gross, and you didn’t have them unless you absolutely had to.
(Obviously, something totally delicious was an exception.)
So we ended up with a lot of wasted food and money going down the drain.
As we slowly collected kids (we’re up to 6 now), eating leftovers became less of an option and more of a requirement.
It took some time, but I was finally able to convince the entire family that leftovers are actually a good thing.
And I think I can convince you, too.
We all hate to waste food, but we still find ourselves throwing out more every week. Use these simple tips and reduce food waste at home in no time!
Americans waste (on average) a pound of food per person per day.
That sounds incredible…until you think about the last time you cleaned out your fridge.
(How many nasty science experiments went straight into the trash? Sometimes you throw the whole container away ’cause you’d rather buy more Rubbermaids than look at or smell whatever was in there.)
We’ve all had the occasional fruit fly take up residence in the kitchen because we missed a bad piece of fruit.
(Or a whole bowl of fruit has gone bad. No judging here.)
Not only is it gross, but it also makes you feel horribly guilty about the amount of money you’re wasting.
But what can you do about it?
Well, here are a few ideas…
After replacing 5 appliances in 6 months time (and buying another one because we needed it, so really 6 appliances) I should be an appliance buying expert.
In reality, I’m giving all the other appliances the side eye and begging them not to join the others in the old junkyard.
sigh
âCleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.â
If you havenât heard that quote before, Iâll bet youâve lived it!
When it comes to kids room organization, the trick is to keep it simple, sweetie. So letâs talk about simple solutions to problems like the kids room being a constant mess.
(And wouldnât it be nice to get out the door without searching for last minute items for once?)
I'm Jamie, and I believe that you can build your savings, even when life is frustrating. Learn more. 
