If you have a limited grocery budget, chances are you eat many of the same foods over and over again. In my household we eat a lot of chicken, ground turkey, brown rice, apples, and bananas. These are some of the most affordable foods in the grocery store, so they’re our staples. Without a little creativity, our meals would get pretty … [Read more...] about Frugal Ways to Create Variety in Your Meals
Managing Finances
Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
The cost of Christmas gifts can really add up. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, we’ll look at a novel way to pay for Christmas gifts. If you missed the initial installment (which describes the purpose of Christmas in July), you can read it here. Credit cards are a contentious subject, especially among individuals who … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
Line Drying Clothes Indoors
When we first got married, my husband was surprised to find that I hang some of my clothes on racks to dry them instead of using the dryer. Though he encouraged me to toss them in the dryer for convenience, I've continued line drying a significant amount of my clothing. Of course, it would be easier to line dry clothes on an outdoor … [Read more...] about Line Drying Clothes Indoors
Growing to Love My Mismatched Furniture
My husband and I are experiencing some challenges as we rearrange to make room for the baby we will welcome this fall. Though it is sufficient, our townhome will never be described as spacious. When its small size is coupled with our motley assortment of furniture, it becomes challenging to find room for our possessions. When we first … [Read more...] about Growing to Love My Mismatched Furniture
Frugal Approaches to Cooling Your Home
I’m so glad that the cold winter has passed and we’re finally getting sunshine and warm temperatures! Unfortunately, this means our electric bill is about to rise sharply. In my never-ceasing endeavor to save money, I’m investigating ways to minimize how much we spend on cooling our home. How to save money when cooling your … [Read more...] about Frugal Approaches to Cooling Your Home
Save Money by Using a Toaster Oven
The humble toaster oven that sits on your kitchen counter could be a great tool to help you save energy and money. Toaster ovens use less wattage than conventional electric ovens and they generally take less time to preheat because of their small size. Additionally, as long as you have a well-insulated toaster oven, it likely will not … [Read more...] about Save Money by Using a Toaster Oven
Book Review: Freedom of Simplicity
In Freedom of Simplicity, Richard J. Foster explores the surprisingly complex topic of simplicity. I’m excited to share about this book because it has had a significant impact on my life. I read it for the first time when I was in college and I’ve read through it at least a couple of times since then. Though many books have helped shape my … [Read more...] about Book Review: Freedom of Simplicity
Affording Maternity Clothes
My frugal sensibilities find it difficult to spend a lot of money on clothes. It comes as no surprise that it’s especially difficult to purchase clothing items that are designed to be worn for the relatively short period of time that comprises pregnancy! Fortunately, I’m visiting a couple of retailers and using a few tricks to try to … [Read more...] about Affording Maternity Clothes