I’m a frugal mom, obvi. But there are some things I will happily pay for, even if it’s not cheap, if I think it’s a good value or it’s important for my family. Here are a few family activities I believe are a great value.
I asked her several times if she was sure she wanted to do it. I’m sorry to say I even tried to talk her out of it. And she not only said she wanted to every time I asked, she said ‘of course’ she did, as if not doing it was the silliest concept she’d ever heard.
So race day came and we stood at the starting line about to set off on a 5K that would take us across a 34-hundred foot long bridge over a river, down two more miles of highway, then back over the bridge. In 90 degree heat. In July. In the subtropics.
As the starting horn sounded she took off like a bullet, stopping to take a break only after making it up the 55 foot incline and down the other side to the one mile marker. We walked off and on through the next two miles but my 6-year-old’s spirit never skipped a beat. (more…)
If you’re really looking to cut spending, you can do it. But it may take a real, hard, honest look at what you’re spending your money on.
Some of these suggestions are no-brainers. Some are a little harder. And some might make you mad that I’m even suggesting them.
But maybe you’ll find a few ways to save a little money.. and help your health and the planet in the process. (more…)
You know I love to make hair bows for my daughter. So I couldn’t let 4th of July go by without a patriotic hair accessory. And this ponytail holder is possibly the easiest thing in the world to make. (more…)
Get your crib (your house, not your baby’s crib) ready for 4th of July with this super simple paper chain craft.
I got the inspiration from something I saw at Michaels for $20! But $20 seemed a bit too steep for me so I made my own for free! (more…)
Get patriotic on a budget this 4th of July! I love making simple and cheap crafts with my kids to celebrate Independence Day. Check out our crafts and get free printables to make your own. (more…)
I’m always looking for ways to save more money on groceries. And saving time and avoiding stress in the process is like a perfect trifecta. And that’s just what grocery pickup does for me.
After using Walmart’s service for a few weeks I’m mostly thrilled with it. Here are my pros & cons of grocery pickup. (more…)
I’m kind of late to the stay-at-home mom thing. About eight years late in my opinion.
That’s how long it’s been since my first baby was born. 18 months later I had my daughter. The years after were filled with sadness, guilt, exhaustion, and lots of conversations about whether we could be a one salary family.
Finally last year the opportunity presented itself and we took the leap. I quit my high-stress, 24-7 career and we moved six hundred miles away where I became a stay-at-home mom.
But the irony is that when I could finally raise my babies full-time, they were no longer babies. In fact, I was working to teach them to be more independent and self-sufficient.
Without infants to feed and care for constantly, I was hit with a much different life than I had been dreaming of for so long. But it was a blessing nonetheless. I’m thrilled that I can always see them before and after school, I can take them to any extra-curricular activity they want to try (which is a lot), and I can control what they’re eating and kiss them goodnight every night.
But you don’t stop being you. Your mind doesn’t stop going 90 miles an hour. And old habits die hard. These are the reasons why I learned a lot of things not to do as a new stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately I learned them after I’d already done them. (more…)
When setting out to craft the Frugal Mom’s Guide To Summer series, I knew I wanted to include some tips on how to take the best photos to capture your amazing summer memories. And let me tell you, it’s not that easy to take great pictures at the beach.
So who better to offer tips than a professional photographer? My longtime friend Corey, owner of Best Part Photography, has been taking stunning pictures of beautiful families for five years. Check out her pro tips on taking the best beach photos. (more…)
I strive to be super organized. I mean, I make lists for my lists. No joke. So now that the kids are out of school and home all day, it’s really throwing a wrench in my daily organization. So I need separate organization plans just for summer. Yep, I’m a nerd.
If you need a little extra organization and fun ideas for summer check out some of these awesome printables I’ve compiled for you. (more…)