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Cheap Summer Snack Ideas

School is out and the living is easy. Days are filled with fun in the sun, adventures in the yard, camp, amusement parks and more. All of that activity makes kids hungry but reluctant to slow down. Here come the summer snacks to the rescue. Kids can fill up on nutritious high energy snacks without adding additional money to the grocery budget. The secret is all in how you play it. So, while the kids get excited about all of their accomplishments this summer, mom can earn a few extra points with the following cheap snack ideas. Popcorn Homemade popcorn … Continue reading →

Frugal Food: Make Your Own Chewy Granola Bars

My kids are crazy for those chewy granola bars. They love to take them with their school lunches or to the park when they might need a snack. They are very convenient to have. Unfortunately, the price of chewy granola bars has been rising, all while the amount you get in a package has been shrinking. Combine that cost with the unsavory ingredients in some of them (“natural” versions are even more expensive), it only makes sense to create my own homemade version. I experimented with a number of recipes but wound up settling on one that uses honey as … Continue reading →

8 Frugal Ideas for the Easter Basket

Pack those Easter baskets for less this year. Here is a list of frugal ideas you can use. Homemade Treats How about some easy-to-make homemade peanut butter cups or bunny-shaped homemade chewy granola bars. These recipes and more can easily be found on Pinterest. Homemade treats are not only less expensive, but they are also free from all of the chemicals that store-bought treats have. Coloring Books Coloring books are so inexpensive, and there are many Easter themed ones out there. The provide a nice foundation for any Easter basket and can be had for a dollar or less. Stuffed … Continue reading →

Meals to Make When You Have No Money for Groceries

Do you need to feed your family this week but have nothing to buy groceries with? What can you do? You might be tempted to use that credit card for food, but that can put your finances in even more danger. If you just need to get through the week, try some of the following tips. You can also use these tips to save the $100-$200 you might normally spend on food and apply that money elsewhere, such as to pay down debt or put toward a needed purchase. First, take an inventory of your items. You might be surprised … Continue reading →

Encouraging Your Teens to Eat Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day… so the saying goes. But try telling that to your family! My younger brother used to hit the snooze on his alarm clock until the last possible second, then throw on some close and rush off to high school without eating. There are lots of “good” reasons for skipping breakfast: I wanted to sleep in. There’s nothing good to eat. It takes too long to make something. I’m not hungry when I first wake up. I want to lose weight. But research has shown that eating breakfast can help boost concentration … Continue reading →

How to Make Oat Flour

Oats are still pretty inexpensive around here, especially when you consider all of the nutritional value that they contain. Oat flour is also gluten free in and of itself. Buying oat flour at the grocery store or specialty store can be quite expensive. This is because there isn’t as much demand of oat flour, making it a specialty item. You are much better off making it yourself. While oat flour won’t behave like wheat flour, you can use it in baking when you combine it with wheat flour (white or whole wheat). If flour prices are getting a bit to … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Stuff and Save

If you want a great way to save money, try making your own items instead of purchasing them. From growing your own food and making your own mixes to creating your own laundry detergent and sanitizing wipes, there are so many ways to save. Plus, it is nice knowing that you don’t have to rely on expensive commercial products if you don’t want to do so. Check out this round up of “Make Your Own” articles. Try one recipe or instructions, or try them all! Frugal Food: Make Your Own Granola Bars? Make Your Own Yogurt Make Your Own Fabric … Continue reading →

Teens Are Getting Frugal

Being frugal is a good thing, no matter what your age. But teens can have a hard time of it, just because of all of the peer pressure to fit in, be cool and have the best “stuff.” With sweet 16 parties costing more than weddings, and celebrity idols sporting seasonal accessories that cost more than a small house, it can be hard for a teen to save money. Teen spending is usually the last to go in a tough economy. Teens have more disposable income, thanks to money given by parents and part time jobs that yield income without … Continue reading →

Save Money on Sweets

I was blessed (or cursed) with a sweet tooth. My body seems to burn sugar right up. Have you ever taken a sugar test during pregnancy? During the test, you are required to fast for an hour or two and then drink a sugary drink that is basically highly concentrated soda syrup, minus the fizzy bubbles. Furthermore, you have to drink the stuff within a certain number of minutes, and the experience is just horrible. Sometimes, they would ask me to repeat the test, because even after drinking that whole thing, my blood sugar would be on the lower side … Continue reading →

Make Your Own “Cool Whip”

Frozen whipped dairy or non-diary products, such as Cool-Whip frozen topping can be a convenient way to add the right flourish to a desert. You can also use the Cool Whip in recipes to make mouses, pies and more. But we never buy the stuff. Instead, we make our own, which is not only much less expensive, but it is also without all of the chemicals you will find in those traditional frozen concoctions. If you want to make your own version, here is how you can do it. You’ll need an empty waxed milk carton to store your home … Continue reading →