The parsley grows on our windowsill. A few days ago, I realized how spending less money has made our family wealthy in many other important ways. Here are some of the things I love the most about being frugal: More Time With Family & Friends — Since we are spending much less time shopping, we […]
6 Tips for Motivation to Stick to a Budget
January 7, 2009 by
The New Year’s resolutions have been made, and many people have resolved to “spend less money” in 2009. Setting up a budget for the new year can be easy, but finding ways to stay motivated can mean the difference between budget success and failure. Here are some strategies to keep you motivated and on the […]
Audacity — Create Your Own Audio Books on CD
January 7, 2009 by
This past Christmas, my mother-in-law made a fabulous set of audio book recordings on CD for Emily. I consider these priceless heirloom gifts. Emily calls the CDs “Grandma Music”. Char choose three or four bedtime story books and recorded herself reading them using a program called Audacity. You can download Audacity for free by clicking […]
Come Join Me on Financial Bliss
January 7, 2009 by
Good news! I will be a contributing author for the Financial Bliss channel of Blissfully Domestic. I plan to contribute articles at least twice a week and focus on frugality and budgeting. I feel honored to be included with such a strong group of women writers. The site is launching in the next few days, […]
Family Painting Time
January 6, 2009 by
Looking for some good quality time spent together as a family? Try scheduling family painting time! All of us look forward to this when Mark comes home from work. After dinner, we clear off the kitchen table and spread out the paints, brushes, and paper. Altogether it was about an hour’s worth of creative time […]
Frugal Family 101 — Part II
January 5, 2009 by
Here is Part 2 of the Frugal Family 101 Series. To see Part I, click here. Is your family new to the frugal lifestyle, and not quite sure where to start? Here are some simple ways to get everyone on board with cutting back and being more resourceful. Save Automatically — Open a high interest […]
Fun with Felt — Ravioli
January 5, 2009 by
Emily spent a good deal of time this afternoon feeding her dolls these fabulous felt ravioli! If you have never sewn before, this is a terrific starting project because the felt is very forgiving. Since it is ravioli, the seams do not need to be perfectly straight. To make your own felt ravioli, you […]
Frugal Family 101 — Part I
January 3, 2009 by
Is your family new to the frugal lifestyle, and not quite sure where to start? Here are some simple ways to get everyone on board with cutting back and being more resourceful. Have a Family Financial Goal — Having a shared family financial goal is key to your budget’s success. Post your goal where everyone […]
Reminder — Free Coffee Mondays At McDonald’s
January 3, 2009 by
Just a reminder, if you are heading out to work Monday morning, you might want to give yourself enough extra time to make a quick run to McDonald’s. For a limited time, McDonald’s is offering a free premium roast coffee on Mondays. I am not sure if this is nation-wide or not, but the last […]
Barnes & Noble Coupon
January 2, 2009 by
If you already have a Barnes & Noble membership, you can get even more savings by clicking here for a printable coupon good for an additional 15% off one item. To use this deal online, enter code R4E7X9F at checkout for 15% off the highest priced item in your online cart. Offers good until January […]
10 Tips for Planning a Family Vacation on a Budget
January 2, 2009 by
Emily enjoys a s’more while on vacation in a Virginia cabin. It’s the start of a new year, and for many people it is a great time to evaluate your vacation plans. Family vacations can eat up a large portion of your budget, so here are some tips to help you find the best deals […]
Free Tea Samples
January 1, 2009 by
Mmm… I love tea! Mark and I drink tea year-round, but especially during the cold winter months. Here are some great samples you can request for free! I have personally requested and received these, and I highly recommend the following: Yogi Tea — Sample pack includes Meditative Time, Mexican Sweet Chili, and Berry Anti-Oxidant. I […]
Fun with Felt — Pizza Set
January 1, 2009 by
The inspiration for this project came from a box used to deliver Omaha Steaks burgers. Back in October, I got a great deal on beef for 36 cents a pound! You can read more about how I did that here, but the box was about the size of a personal pan pizza box. We decorated […]
8 Frugal New Year’s Activities for Kids
December 31, 2008 by
Waiting for the ball to drop? Don’t know how to keep the kids occupied? Try some of these ideas: Video Game Tournament — For more information on this, be sure to check out my post on 5 Ways to Save Money on Video Games. Coloring Pages — Click here to print out New Year’s Eve […]
Lights in the Woods – An Update
December 31, 2008 by
A few days ago, I posted about Flint Hill Farm’s Lights in the Woods event. Last night, Mark and I bundled the kids up in layers and layers of clothes, packed everyone into the car, and drove 25 minutes to Coopersburg, PA to check it out. For $5 per adult and $3 for children 3 […]
Frugal New Year’s Craft Idea — Sparkly 2009 Banner
December 30, 2008 by
Emily had a great time making this sparkly 2009 banner! You can add glitter glue or further decorate it, if desired. To make this frugal 2009 New Year’s Banner, you will need: Two empty cereal boxes Aluminum foil Pencil Glitter Glue (optional) Yarn Hole Puncher Cut out the largest sides of the cereal boxes. Draw […]
5 Ways to Save Money on Video Games
December 29, 2008 by
Emily (at 11 months) was already enjoying video games with Daddy! Recently, we had a family video game night, and it was tons of fun. In our household, we have a weakness for video games, and buying new games can quickly become expensive. Mark and Emily get lots of mileage out of the ones we […]
Frugal Family Fun — Lehigh Valley
December 28, 2008 by
If you are in the Lehigh Valley, you might want to check out Lights in the Woods at the Flint Hill Farm Educational Center in Coopersburg, PA. Conditions were too muddy to go tonight, but they will have another run Tuesday night, December 30th from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Lights in the Woods includes horse-drawn […]
