Search Results for: blog saving money with meal planning

How Being a Stay-at-Home Parent Saves Money

Are you a stay-at-home parent or want to be? Good news! While you may not be earning and income, chances are you are saving a ton of money. Here is how. Child Care Fees Let us start with the obvious, child care fees. If you aren’t staying home with your children, you will probably need to pay for child care. The cost of child care can be high, sometimes wiping out any income you are gaining by working. Obviously this depends on your position and income level, but it is the first expense you should allow for in your budget. … Continue reading →

Common Sense Money-Savers

You don’t need to be a financial guru in order to save on a family vacation. Rather, all you need is a little common sense. By following these simple tips the next time you head out on a seasonal escape, you can spare your wallet a major dent: Stay with Family or Friends: By staying with a loved one instead of at a hotel, you can save a ton of money. However, there are certain rules to consider so that you don’t burn your accommodation bridge, including not overstaying your welcome. It’s important to leave when you say you are … Continue reading →

How Our CSA is Saving Us Money

Each week, we get a bounty of organic produce for only $15. The result is that we are eating healthier meals and saving money at the same time. After a few weeks of participating in the CSA, I’ve learned a few things that can eliminate waste and increase the benefit of the savings that we have been experiencing. Here are my tips. Because the exact type and amount of produce can vary by week, it is important to be flexible and creative with meal planning. As I unpack the week’s supply, I start brainstorming how I will use what we … Continue reading →

Thinking Ahead to Save Money

A little thinking ahead can save you a lot of money. for example, have you ever had to pay a late fee for not getting a bill or a form in on time? Don’t put things off. Make thinking ahead a part of your normal lifestyle, and you will reap the rewards. Recently, my daughter has been taking ice skating lessons. I was chatting with one of the other parents while the kids were pretending to eat a pizza off of the ice (sound strange, but it is way to practice balance). I found out that we actually paid 10 … Continue reading →

Planning a Frugal Resort Vacation pt 2

Summer is here and it is time to get away as a family. If you are like most families, you took a staycation s last year. This year, you may be more inclined to actually go somewhere special. A resort vacation will probably fit the bill. With that said, going to a resort for vacation does not mean throwing all rules on frugality out of the window. Instead, you should be even more frugal than normal in order to get the best vacation for the least money. In part 1 covered the early stages of planning such as determining your … Continue reading →

Planning a Resort Vacation pt 1

Summer is here and it is time to get away as a family. If you are like most families, you took a staycation s last year. This year, you may be more inclined to actually go somewhere special. A resort vacation will probably fit the bill. With that said, going to a resort for vacation does not mean throwing all rules on frugality out of the window. Instead, you should be even more frugal than normal in order to get the best vacation for the least money. Here are some things you should do when planning a frugal vacation: Decide … Continue reading →

Tips for Saving Money at the Circus 2

Congratulations. You scored some inexpensive circus ticket sand are ready to see the show! Everyone is looking forward to it, and you are happy that you didn’t have to re-mortgage your home to attend. But wait. The expenses are just getting started. You haven’t gotten past the snacks and souvenir stands yet. Goodies Once you get to the circus and are happily settled in, watch out! There are enough items to purchase to make your head spin and your wallet fly away. I’ll give you a good example. Cotton candy is just sugar, coloring and air. But if you buy … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Summer Fun

A new report claims that this year’s summer vacation could cost a family of four 30 to 60 percent less than last year. Too bad the deals are being offered at a time when most families are tightening their purse strings more than ever before. Still, if you are planning to take an annual summer trip with the kids, and you are on a budget, some of the following deals may be too good to pass up: FREE EATS AT DISNEY WORLD Disney World is once again helping cash-strapped families. The resort’s unprecedented “buy four nights, get three free” deal … Continue reading →

Saving Money on a Special Diet

When you discover that you need a special diet, you might start to panic. Not only do you have to figure out new ways of cooking and eating, but you may also see a spike in your grocery bill. Special foods sometimes can cost a lot more than what you usually buy. Recently, a member of my family was told a “low glycemic index diet” was needed. This diet pays close attention to foods that cause a sudden rise in blood sugar. The goal in this diet, is to eliminate many carbohydrates that might cause that spike. Each food has … Continue reading →

Saving Money at the Shore

Heading down to the shore can be a great family vacation. But like any attractive summer vacation spot, things can be pricey. We are vacationing down at the shore this week, and we are having an amazing time. The weather is wonderful, and the water is warm. Having never been to the beach together as a complete family, we are so incredibly lucky that we have the opportunity to build sand castles and play in the waves. Of course, we are trying to do everything as frugally as possible. Here are some of the things I’ve learned this week. Hopefully, … Continue reading →