I Heart Frugal - Page 4 of 34 - Spend Less. Live More

Elf on the Shelf Ideas and Crafts

Elf on the Shelf Ideas to try this year

Are you looking for some Elf on the Shelf ideas, crafts, and costumes?

Elf on the Shelf has become so popular in the last few years that it is hard not to participate in all the Elf on the Shelf craziness.

My son came home from school last year and asked why we don’t have an elf. I tried to avoid it as long as possible, but this year our little elf is going to make his appearance.

It is a nice reminder that Santa is watching and can help with discipline at least for the month of December. -maybe I should leave it out all year! hehe

So since I’m going to join in on this “Elf on the Shelf” craze, I along with you, need some ideas because I like to plan ahead.

My fellow bloggers have come up with some super cute and creative ideas in this roundup post.

Many of these ideas are simple and cute. They will have your little ones talking about their elf all day and give them something to look forward to each morning.

Just remember to keep it simple and have fun with it! Don’t let this little elf stress you out this year and use these Elf on the Shelf ideas to make your life easier.

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December 2, 2019 by Sarah | Comments Off

Meal Planning

Cheap Aldi Meal Plan – 7 Dinners Under $35

Cheap Aldi Meal Plan

Do you know how to meal plan? It is easy to create a cheap Aldi meal plan with the low prices found at this store. Have you heard of Aldi, a popular discount grocery store? Most people that are into saving money have at least visited Aldi once or twice.

But if you are looking to save money, this Aldi meal plan is definitely something you want to check out.

If you are new to Aldi it is a popular discount grocery chain that started in Europe and eventually made it’s a way to the states. It is owned by Trader Joe’s so most of the food is of high quality.

Aldi’s low prices come at a cost, but after you get used to Aldi’s little quirks such as renting your grocery cart for $0.25 and bringing your own grocery bags, you will fall in love with the savings.

My Aldi’s Challenge

My challenge for this post -it was really just a personal challenge- was to buy at least seven dinners, so dinners for one week, and keep my cost under $35.

Do you think I was able to do it? (I know the suspense is killing you!)

If you answered yes, because of Aldi’s low prices, you are correct.

This post will show you how to create a simple meal plan from Aldi for under $35.

You will also find some of the meals are on the larger side so depending on the size of your family, you may end up with leftovers. I have a family of four with kids ages currently seven and five and this was plenty of food for all of us. My husband and I even got lunch leftovers a few of the days.

I will include my a printable menu plan and printable grocery list at the end of the post so read through to pick up your goodies and get ready to save!

How to Score Free Makeup and Free Makeup Samples

Do you want free makeup?

How to Get Free Makeup with these tips. Getting free makeup and free makeup samples is not as hard as it sounds. #freebie #free #makeup #deals — How to Get Free Makeup

If you are a girly girl, getting free makeup sounds like a dream come true! And let’s be honest, if we are buying name-brand makeup it can get pretty darn pricey.

What if you could get free makeup? This would totally make “up” your day! Pun intended!!

And every time I hear the word FREE I get all giddy!

Yes, getting my makeup for free would be the cherry on top of my dark circles and uneven skin tone! HA!

Not to mention, I’m like a kid in a candy store when I walk into Sephora or Ulta. But… then I look at the makeup prices, turn around and walk out (scowl) – that is unless I have a gift card. -thanks, mom!

Check out my favorite ways to save money below:

Rakuten – Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten is a money-back site that rewards you for doing something you already do: shopping online. Click through Ebates before you shop online and you will receive a percentage back of what you spent. How it works: They make money by referring you to shop at a store and then share their commission with you. The best part is it costs you nothing. Also, they have thousands of the BEST stores to choose from including Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy, Priceline, Macy’s, Petco, Bed Bath & Beyond, Groupon, Amazon and so much more. Sign up through my link and receive a $10 bonus just for signing up! Read my Rakuten Money-Saving Review here.

Ibotta – Ibotta is an awesome money-saving app that allows you to receive rebates for stuff you already buy. All you have to do is find your store and search the available rebates for that week. Once you find your rebates, start shopping. Next, send your receipt by taking a picture and uploading it which is super easy. I suggest doing this right when you get home from the store so you do not forget. It is as easy as taking a simple picture and clicking your rebates! Ibotta has recently added some online shopping to their app as well, so you have more options. Use my link and receive a $10 sign up bonus when you redeem your first rebate! Read more about Ibotta here: Ibotta, Awesome Rebate and Money Making App.

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November 20, 2019 by Sarah | Comments Off

Budgeting

Mouthwatering Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe – Frugal Recipe

For the next four weeks, I will be showcasing some of the frugal recipes I make at home. Let me preface by saying, I am not a master chef, but I am a master at saving money. And one of my favorite ways to save money is to meal plan and save on food.

Yes, your food bill does not have to take up your entire paycheck. You can make yummy recipes that will leave your family feeling full and you will save money on evening snacks if you are cooking these mouth-watering, easy meals.

The best part about this easy baked ziti recipe is there is always leftovers so I usually get two meals out of this recipe, which costs around $7 total to make so that is $3.50 per meal. -Not $3.50 per serving, $3.50 per meal! You get my excitement here, right?

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November 14, 2019 by Sarah | Comments Off

Save Money

3 Simple Steps to Slashing Your Bills

3 Simple Steps To Slashing Your Bills

Are you spending too much money and finding it hard to get ahead? If you overspend and are looking for ways to save money, you are going to love this guest post by Jon Dulin from MoneySmartGuides.com. Check it out here:

3 Simple Steps to Slashing Your Bill - Learn how to slash your bills and take your financial planning into your own hands #budgeting #budgets #savemoney — 3 Simple Steps to Slashing Your Bill

If you are like most people, money always is tight.

No matter what you do, it seems that you are struggling to get ahead financially.

Chances are you haven’t tried the trick I am about to teach you.

I have found there is one trick that I use that saves me the most money.

It does take a little bit of work to set up, but once you do, it becomes a habit.

If you are willing to put in a little work, you will be amazed at how much money you can save using this trick.

And once you make this savings trick a habit, you can begin to use other ideas to cut your monthly spending to save even more money.

Are you ready to get started?

The simple 3 step process is outlined below:

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November 11, 2019 by Sarah | Comments Off

Save Money

How to Get Ready for Christmas and Stay on Budget

It is that time to start thinking about the Holidays. And yes, learning how to get ready for Christmas can help eliminate stress in your life and your budget. Let’s face it, Christmas can cause a huge strain on your budget if you are not prepared.

According to a study by the National Retail Federation, consumers will spend $1007.24 on Christmas this year, which is up 4.1% from last year.

Regardless, it is best to make a plan and be ready now before it gets too close to your family parties and the actual date. If you wait you end up becoming a last-minute shopper and most likely spend more than what you were planning because at that point you have no choice.

If you want to take the stress out of the Holidays, it is best to prepare during November. In fact, this year, I am planning on finishing and wrapping all of my presents before December 1st. The only way for this to happen is to be prepared.

I have been planning my Christmas budget all year and I save certain accounts specifically for Christmas present and activities. The two main sources of my Christmas budget are from my Ibotta earning over the year and my Poshmark earnings. I am also selling on Facebook and have put my earnings in a cash envelope specifically for Christmas.

A few other side hustles I have done to set money aside for Christmas are VIPKID (currently making the most here) and User Tester (love this one, but can’t always qualify for tests so haven’t made that much.)

Anyway, the reason I am mentioning my side hustles in this post is to show you I consider this extra money and I am setting it aside for Christmas. If you haven’t saved over the year and are finding yourself falling short, consider going through your house and finding items you no longer want or need and selling them to give you an extra cushion.

You could also consider doing something part-time before the Holidays. I’m not suggesting you need to go over the top, but these are just ideas if you need extra money. I recommend only buying gifts you can afford or possibly making gifts if you are super short on cash.

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November 7, 2019 by Sarah | 11 Comments

Elf on the Shelf Ideas to try this year

Cheap Aldi Meal Plan

My Aldi’s Challenge

Related Meal Planning Posts:

Do you want free makeup?

Check out my favorite ways to save money below:

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe – Frugal Recipe

3 Simple Steps To Slashing Your Bills

How to Get Ready for Christmas and Stay on Budget