Most of us find it difficult, if not impossible, to finance Christmas out of December’s paychecks alone. That’s why in today’s installment of Christmas in July we’re going to discuss how to pay for Christmas. The Christmas in July series is all about planning ahead in order to avoid a stressful Christmas season (read more about this … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: How to Pay for Christmas
Managing Finances
Simple Strategies to Help Your Home Show Well
Our move across the country is only a couple of weeks away. We’ve listed our house here and are hoping it sells quickly. Of course, hoping isn’t all we’ve done. We are working closely with a real estate agent and have enlisted some strategies to help our house show well. Our house isn’t brand new and it certainly doesn’t have the most … [Read more...] about Simple Strategies to Help Your Home Show Well
Tips for a Budget-Friendly Move
The expenses associated with moving to a new home can add up quickly. This is especially true of long-distance moves. Though some expenses are unavoidable, others can be avoided or minimized with careful planning. Here are some of the frugal strategies my family is using as we move across the country this summer. Strategies for a … [Read more...] about Tips for a Budget-Friendly Move
Affording Stay-At-Home Motherhood
I love telling stories about when my husband and I first met. One of the best stories is how he, during our very first interaction, asked me how many children I wanted. His question didn’t bother me and it set the tone for open, honest communication in our relationship. Given this initial discussion, it likely won’t surprise you that we … [Read more...] about Affording Stay-At-Home Motherhood
Frugal Approaches to Heating Your Home
We’ve had a number of super cold days recently. We want to keep our home warm so we’re comfortable and the pipes are protected, but we don’t want to break the bank doing so. I’ve looked into it and found several affordable approaches to keeping our home warm. Perhaps some of these will work for you, too. How to save money when heating … [Read more...] about Frugal Approaches to Heating Your Home
Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
We have several family members coming to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us. As much as I love cooking, I’d rather spend time visiting with my loved ones than in the kitchen preparing meals. We’re also on a tight budget, so I don’t want to break the bank when purchasing foods for us to eat. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up … [Read more...] about Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
Caring for Your Family by Purchasing Life Insurance
Big changes in life provide opportunities to reevaluate your family’s financial needs. We’ve been reevaluating our needs, including our life insurance needs, as we prepare to welcome our baby girl. Personally, I don’t enjoy talking about finances in general. The specific topic of life insurance is even worse! After all, discussing this … [Read more...] about Caring for Your Family by Purchasing Life Insurance
Why I’m Glad We Don’t Have Cable or Satellite TV
A few weeks ago my husband and I had access to cable television because we were staying in a hotel for a couple of days. Though we have a TV in our living room, we don’t have cable or satellite for it. We typically enjoy having temporary access to cable. My husband will watch a couple games and other sports-related shows. Together we’ll … [Read more...] about Why I’m Glad We Don’t Have Cable or Satellite TV