I absolutely love our new house. One of the many fantastic things about it is that we have room to grow. It is 1,100 sq. ft. larger than our previous house, giving us an additional bedroom, an additional bathroom, and more living space than we had before. We’re so grateful for the additional space. As much as I appreciate it, though, … [Read more...] about 7 Wonderful Things About Living in a Small Home
Managing Finances
Baby “Essentials” You May Want to Skip
When you look at baby supply checklists, it is easy to see why people say that babies are so expensive. You’re sure to break the bank if you purchase all of these purported essentials! The good news is that not all of these must-haves are essential. Many are convenient to have, but you’ll do just fine without them. Others are just plain … [Read more...] about Baby “Essentials” You May Want to Skip
Cost of Homemade vs. Prepackaged Breakfast Sandwiches
Homemade foods tend to be healthier and often cost less than their prepackaged counterparts. Thus, whenever possible, I try to make homemade varieties. Sometimes I wonder if it is really more affordable to make homemade versions. This week my husband and I crunched some numbers so we could compare the cost of homemade versus prepackaged … [Read more...] about Cost of Homemade vs. Prepackaged Breakfast Sandwiches
7 Money-Saving Modifications to Popular Christmas Traditions
For many Americans, the "most wonderful time of the year" is also the most expensive time of the year. Just how expensive? Experts estimate that the typical American spends between $1,000 and $2,000 on Christmas each year (source). Thankfully, you don’t have to have a couple thousand dollars on hand to celebrate Christmas! We’ve never … [Read more...] about 7 Money-Saving Modifications to Popular Christmas Traditions
The Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a House
Though it is often fun and exciting, house hunting is a very serious endeavor. If you make a good choice, you’ll own a secure, comfortable home that meets the needs of your family. If you make a bad choice, you’ll own a hazardous, uncomfortable home that doesn’t meet the needs of your family. My husband and I have been house hunting … [Read more...] about The Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a House
Choosing to Have Simple Kids’ Birthday Celebrations
My daughter, Amaris, will turn 1 year old in less than a month. What a bittersweet milestone! Though it may be trendy to celebrate a child’s birthday with an elaborate party that includes a bounce house, mobile petting zoo, food trucks, and party favors, we’re choosing a much simpler approach. We’ll go on an outing as a family and enjoy … [Read more...] about Choosing to Have Simple Kids’ Birthday Celebrations
10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Celebrate Your Anniversary
My husband and I are on a tight budget, but we still want to do something fun to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Thankfully, I’ve thought of a number of fun ways to celebrate without spending a lot of money. Fun and frugal anniversary celebrations Relive your first date. What did you wear on your first date? Where did you go? … [Read more...] about 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Celebrate Your Anniversary
Which Documents to Keep and Which to Toss
As we prepared for a move earlier this summer, my husband and I sorted through stacks of paper as part of our attempt to purge our home of stuff we didn’t need. Over and over again we found ourselves debating if we should keep various documents. It’s obvious that we should keep records like birth certificates and our marriage license, but … [Read more...] about Which Documents to Keep and Which to Toss
