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Unique DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids

Unique DIY Kid’s Costumes That Will Save You Money #halloween #DIY #save #frugal — Unique DIY Kid’s Costumes That Will Save You Money

Are you ready for Halloween? Are you looking for unique DIY Halloweens Costume for your child? If you are like me, we participate in Halloween dress up activities in early October so we start looking for costumes in September.

Yet, if you are trying to save money this year you may want to save the sticker price at your local Halloween store and make your own.

My mom is a talented seamstress. She made ALL of our Halloween costumes when we were kids. She was super creative and designed Jeanie costumes, ghosts, clowns, and much more. With four kids, I often wonder when she found the time. Yet, these are now costumes I will never forget.

We had very few pictures back then, but the memories remain. I often forget my parents didn’t have cell phones to annoy their offspring by taking 50 pictures of everything they never want to forget – or post on social media – Sorry Kids! Back then we only remembered the things that made a BIG impact and these homemade costumes my mother created are something I will hold dear.

So this year, consider making your own costume instead of paying a HUGE sticker price. You will save money and it will be a special costume for your little one to remember long into adulthood. Also, the costumes listed below are budget-friendly and easy to make. Check them out and let your kids take a peek. My son already has his eyes on the cardboard boxtume! Also, a few of the costumes can be used for a child or an adult, so you can match your little one, which is my favorite thing to do!

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September 30, 2018 by Sarah | Comments Off

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How to Live Frugally for Beginners and Save More Money

How to Live Frugally for Beginners

(Updated 12/2021)

You may be asking yourself how to live frugally, especially if you are new to frugal living. If you are trying to be more accountable with your money, frugal living is certainly the way to go.

Frugality is a means to living a better life. You see, by living below your means, you can begin to pay off debt, build an emergency fund, and also build your savings and retirement accounts.

Yet, if you are currently spending more than you make, you will want to track spending and determine your deficit. Once you have this number and list of spending splurges, it will be easy to find areas of your budget you can cut.

In this post, I will cover my top frugal living tips for beginners. Even if you are new to frugal living, this post is sure to help you find practical ways to save more money.

Why Live Frugally?

There are many reasons to live a frugal life; however, saving money would be at the top of my list. I do not believe in paying full price unless I absolutely have to. This way of living has helped my husband and I pay off our student loans, our car, and we are on track to paying off our mortgage too. We are also able to live a comfortable life and take a few vacations per year because we are willing to do the work it takes to live frugally. Reasons to live frugally:

pay down debt
save up for an emergency fund
save up for a vacation
less money stress
save for retirement
financial security
retire early

Choose Frugal Over Cheap:

Many times frugal living is often confused with being cheap. yet frugality in 2022 is different than back in the great depression. In fact, it’s fun to save money and you can really do it without anyone noticing.

You can still buy people gifts and go out to eat, if you learn to do it the frugal way.

Nonetheless, frugal living means being intentional with your money and finding the best deals. Hence, not paying full price for items you can get at a discount or creating spending categories so you can budget better.

Frugality also means buying quality over quantity and using savings tips and tricks to get a good deal for items you use.

I love living my life the “frugal” way even though I could spend more money if I needed to because I have learned to save and always have a surplus of money. There is not much money stress in my life because I choose to live frugally.

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September 3, 2018 by Sarah | 13 Comments

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Hot Gourmet Coffee Copy Cat Recipes to try This Fall

Do you like to save money on coffee by making your own coffee at home, but it never seems to have that same gourmet coffee taste?

If there are two things I absolutely LOVE I would have to say the Fall season and a great cup of hot gourmet coffee! Fall is, by far, my favorite seasons!

Here in Michigan, we still get warmer weather until the end of October sprinkled with a little rain and sunshine! Things cool down a tad so we do not have 95 degree days with humidity – you should seriously see my hair on those days! Not to mention all the fun Fall activities, food, and – what this post is about – drinks!

One way to warm yourself up on those “Oh so chilly” mornings, is to pour yourself a nice, hot cup of coffee. It is like getting a warm hug on those chilly fall mornings. And let’s face it, if you have kids like me, you probably can’t function until you have finished cup two or three. (I swear I am trying to cut back.)

Yet, I am always looking for ways to save you money and I know I like to treat myself to a Starbucks or McCafe every now and then. However, if I kept up that spending habit my budget would go downhill, like a pumpkin rolling out of the patch.

So with you in mind, I have found some of the best copycat recipes on the web! Try them out this fall and keep your mornings full of love, peace, and hot coffee – we will save the iced coffee for summer.

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August 27, 2018 by Sarah | 12 Comments

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17 Tips on How to Find Cheap School Supplies

When I saw my first “school supply” list I was in awe. I did not realize I would need to run all over town shopping sales to buy these 20 items the teacher requested.

The following year, I had two kids in school and the list and spending grew!

I realized, just like everything else in my life, I was not going to pay full price for this super list of school supplies.

Boy, times have changed! When I was a kid, I absolutely LOVED back to school time! I’ve always been a bit of an office supply geek! – I once got mad at my hubby for using my new large post-it notes for his daily “To Do” list! Haha! But I don’t remember teachers sending home lists of supplies we needed except for higher grades. The schools provided all the learning tools we needed and we were left to pick out a cool trapper keeper and some paper…Maybe a few pencils.

But picking out all of that paper mania was SO much fun and still IS if you know how to shop.

Truth be told, many schools are in dire need of supplies. I know this first hand because I was a teacher for 13 years before starting this blog. Maybe it was the age group – I taught middle school for 10 years – but my kids didn’t seem to have the basic supplies and often came to class without a writing utensil. (This is probably no surprise to any parents of middle school students.) Many kids were left to fend for the “borrow cup” on my desk, a swirled mess of cropped sticks – some with just barely enough lead to make a scratch.

I demanded collateral for each and every one of those pencils. Why? Because I knew I wasn’t getting another set until the second semester and if I ran out, I would be spending my own money to buy more! (Bless you ALL teachers that spend their hard-earned money to promote learning. I Love ya’!)

Unfortunately, when I sent home a supply list, most of the time I never saw a single item brought in except for the rare box of kleenex.

Therefore, when my kids started school I wanted to make sure they had everything they needed for the best learning experience possible. But spending a fortune was not an option, so this momma found some ways to find cheap school supplies and save on back to school!

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August 10, 2018 by Sarah | 13 Comments

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55 Summer Activities for Kids that are Frugal or Free

55 Summer Activities for Kids that are Frugal or Free!

Did your kids get out of school this week? My kids were out last week and unless you go year-round, your kids are ready to let loose and enjoy their summer. But let’s face it, planning summer events can get pricey. So it is best to find summer activities for kids that are frugal or free.

Let me just say, I LOVE it when my kids are home. Although they can drive me nuts by yelling the word MOM 50 times in an hour period, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Don’t get me wrong, I like my free time when they are at school, and in fact, this is my only blogging time, but since they are home I am going to make the best of it and work on this blog while they are having their short amount of screen time. (hee hee)

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June 18, 2018 by Sarah | 27 Comments

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