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Top Money Saving Tips for Home Essentials

May 29, 2017 By Thomas Bawdy 1 Comment

Furnishing your home is something that can end up costing you a small fortune if you let it. The problem is that we are constantly bombarded with advertising about items that we simply have to have in our homes. The fact is that you do not have to spend a lot of money to make your home look good, and turn it into a comfortable place to live.

There are ways that you can save money on home essentials. Even larger items can be purchased more affordably, if you are prepared to put some time and effort into the process. Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which you can furnish your home more affordably.

Re-using and making yourself

All too often we throw things out, just because they have started to look a little worse for wear. Have you ever thought of simply putting items to a different use? Doing so is good for the environment, and for your bank balance. For instance, creating pillow covers is just one of many uses for old curtains. Upscaling items you already have can be a great way of giving a fresh look to your home.

Buying second hand

You do not always have to buy new items for your home. You can pick up some great bargains in second hand stores, and at auctions and garage sales. Remember that you should always haggle over the cost. You will usually be able to get a reduction on the marked price. You may even want to hold a garage sale yourself, so you can make some extra cash to buy items for your home as well as getting rid of things you no longer need. This means that you end up spending less from your household budget.

Doing your research

There are some things that you would not want to purchase second hand, such as a mattress for your bed. When you are buying a mattress you need to know that it’s going to last and that it’s hygienic; you cannot do this if you buy second hand. This does not mean that you cannot get a good deal when buying a new mattress, or other home essentials. You just need to do your research, using sites such as https://www.thesleepjudge.com/best-memory-foam-mattress-reviews/ so that you ensure you get the best value for your money.

Planning ahead

One thing that we all tend to be guilty of sometimes, is buying at the last minute. This is not a good idea. If you know that you are going to need an item, give yourself plenty of time to make a purchase. This gives you chance to look around and get the best deal, instead of having to pay an inflated price because you are desperate.

It’s also a good idea to think ahead generally. There is nothing wrong in shopping during the sales in January for essential items for the following Christmas. You should spend time looking at sales and offers on a regular basis, although it’s important that you do not buy just for the sake of it. Remember, this article is all about saving money on essential items.

There you have it, several ways that you can save money but still get those home essentials that you are looking for.

Feed a Hungry Teenager Without Breaking Your Grocery Budget

August 10, 2016 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

I’ve heard about how a hungry teenager can eat everything in the house, and now I’m experiencing it firsthand. My son isn’t even a teen—just 12—but over the last six months, he’s grown three inches and put on 20 pounds. I used to think my husband could eat a lot, but our son can easily eat double or triple what his dad can eat. Then an hour or two later, he’ll tell us he’s hungry again.

If you have a tween or teen, this may sound all too familiar.

However, we don’t really have enough room to raise the grocery budget, so we’re finding creative ways to keep him full.

Foods to Keep a Hungry Teenager Full

Protein. Meat can be expensive, but growing teens need protein to help them feel satiated. We make sure to serve an ample serving of protein at breakfast and during every meal. Some of our favorite breakfast proteins include homemade meat patties, eggs, or bacon.

Healthy Carbs. Three staples in our teen’s diet are white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and rice. He often eats rice with breakfast, homemade baked French fries for lunch, and baked sweet potatoes for dinner. These carbs help fill him up and round out his meal. After he eats an entire plateful of food and is still hungry, we give him vegetables and one of these carbs.

Fruits. These are a great way to fill up hungry teens, especially in between meals. I find that grapefruit is my best bet. It’s not that expensive, and it’s large and watery, so it fills him up. Other options include apples, pears, bananas, oranges, or whatever other fruit you have on hand. I always buy a lot of fruit when doing my weekly shopping.

Veggies. Vegetables are another choice that aren’t that expensive. Organic carrots are .50 a pound at Costco. We buy the ten pound bag and prepare them as raw carrot sticks or as roasted carrots. Whenever a vegetable is on sale, I stock up and make extra knowing that our son will have multiple servings.

Fat. Healthy fat can definitely help fill up a teen. We’re big fans of avocado. We often make guacamole to serve with our salads and soups. We also serve it as a snack with organic corn chips. Coconut oil, coconut cream, and coconut milk are also great ingredients to use in muffins, smoothies, and desserts to help satiate your child.

Foods to Avoid

Junk Food. I know, I know, teens love this stuff. But the truth is, they can wolf down a bag of Cheetos or chips and then be hungry just a little later because they were eating empty calories. We like to keep the junk food to a minimum and rely on healthy staples instead. In the long wrong, when it comes to teen appetites, healthy food IS cheaper. Plus, you’re helping your child maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Fast Food. The stereotype has teen boys living off fast food. While it is temporarily filling, if your child relies on this type of food frequently, he may be facing health issues down the road.

Our family has a number of food intolerances, so we can’t rely on other staples that will help fill kids up like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or cottage cheese, but those are also fairly nutritious options.

What are your favorite foods to help fill your growing teen’s bottomless pit? Please share.

To Grow Wealthy, Stay Where You Are

May 27, 2016 By MelissaB 1 Comment

When I was little, I devoured the Little House on the Prairie series. I felt bad then for Ma and Pa. I felt bad for the way they struggled financially, facing setback after setback. I felt bad that they always had to move just as soon as they were settled.

But then I read the books again as an adult. Then I read them one more time to my daughters. Now I realize, as much as Pa was a loving father, he was responsible for a lot of his family’s financial hardships.

Life in Wisconsin was good for them. But once Pa got the itch to go west, his family never had a stable environment. They never got more than a few years into getting settled and making a life for themselves before they moved again.

Does Moving Now Cause the Same Financial Difficulties?

Most people would argue that life was different then, and moving around now doesn’t cause as much financial hardship, but as someone who recently completed a 2,000 mile move, I would disagree.

My husband and I had lived in Chicago for 14 years before we made the move last July to Tucson, Arizona. We went for my husband’s work and because the move would give us a lower cost of living and a pay raise for my husband. On paper, everything looked good.

We foolishly thought we’d stay for two to four years. Now, I’m not sure we should move so soon if we want to prosper financially.

Even though my husband’s employer paid for the move, we still had many expenses like setting up the utilities and paying deposits on them, buying a few new pieces of furniture, etc.

Breaking Even and Getting Ahead Takes Years

We bought a house when we moved here, knowing that we weren’t sure how long we’d stay. We’ve had our mortgage for 15 months now, and in that time, we’ve paid down $4,300 on principal. Our home has increased just $1,100 in value during that time. That gives us a cushion of about $5,400, but I’m guessing if we were to sell our house next year (which would be two years that we’ve lived here), we’d be losing money thanks to realtor fees.

We’ve also just reached the point where we’ve started to discover ways to save money in our new city. Now I know where the cheapest places are to buy groceries, secondhand clothes, etc. Our first few months here we spent much more than we normally do on groceries because I didn’t know which stores offered the best deals.

We also have finally found decent doctors and dentists. Our first few months here, we found out my daughter need 6(!) cavities filled. We had to go to four different dentists before we found one that we liked and could trust. All of those different visits cost us a little less than $200 out of pocket, and that was before her cavities were even filled.

Of course, I’m not saying never to move. In our case, the decrease in cost of living and my husband’s raise made it possible for us to own a house, which we couldn’t afford to do during our 14 years living in Chicago. However, the whole story isn’t just on paper. When you move, there are many incidentals that add up. Moving repeatedly can cause you to struggle financially.

It’s no surprise to me that the only time in life when Pa and Ma flourished financially was after Ma put her foot down and refused to move from DeSmet, North Dakota. Without the constant moves, they could finally get established and become comfortable financially.

How often do you move? Do you agree that frequent moves are detrimental to your finances?