Archives for May 2016

Stop Buying These Money-Wasters: 7 Fast and Fool-Proof Foods You Can Make at Home

The supermarket is ripping you off.

In less time than it takes you to drive to the store, pick up some staple food item, and return home, you could have done all of the prep work to make it yourself – and for a lot less. Some of these items (like croutons, baby food, and yogurt) may seem mysterious and difficult to create at home, but they are fast and near-foolproof to create in your own kitchen.

As a bonus, yours will probably be tastier than what you could pick up at the store . . . and you will save a ton of money without spending a ton of time.

Here are seven foods that you can make super-fast and easily at home on the cheap.

Read the rest of my recently published blog post on Money Pantry!

Getting Started With Time Management: Keep It Working

This post is part [part not set] in the series Getting Started with Time Management.

If you’re just tuning in, check out the previous four posts in this series.

By now you’ve put together a system for yourself:

You’ve taken stock of your goals and activities.
You’ve taken a hard look at how you currently spend your time.
You’ve built a time map based on how you spend your time and how you want to spend it.
You’ve picked a planner that complements the way you think.

Now, with wild enthusiasm, you go full speed ahead . . . until one of two things happens: [Read more…]

The Problem with Your Organization System

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

You know in your soul that you are an organized person. Your home, regrettably, paints a different (and messier) picture.

However, the problem is probably not you.

The issue could be the system you are using to organize your stuff. Before beating yourself up over your disorganized space, consider these technical — and easily fixable! — issues that could be the culprit.
[Read more…]

Save Time and Money with a Supermarket Pick-Up Service

Having someone else do your grocery shopping? It sounds like a major luxury . . . right?

Instead of spending time alone or with small children in the supermarket, a friendly person takes care of your whole order and even packs it neatly into your car when you arrive to pick it up.

Even if the idea is appealing, you may be reluctant to try out a service that sounds pricey. However, our family actually saves time and money by occasionally using our supermarket’s pick-up service.

Read the rest of my recently-published blog post on Money Saving Mom, one of the largest personal finance blogs and one I’ve been reading for years!

Make It From Scratch: Greeting Cards (For Non-Crafty People)

Photo courtesy of Nova Development

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Read my policy here.

My artistic skill development stopped somewhere around age five. In kindergarten, I made perfectly-acceptable, childlike drawings, but my 7-year-old niece’s artwork far outpaces anything I’ve created since. Handmade greeting cards can be beautiful and cost-effective, but what if you’re a non-crafty person like me? You can still make high-quality, printed and personalized greeting cards . . . using your computer.

Here’s how the costs work out for me:

Store price: $0.99 for a cheap card up to $4.99 for a standard card
Price of computer-made: $0.55 for a personalized card
Savings: 44% – 89%

[Read more…]

How to See Fast Results When Organizing

Organizing your home, office, or car can be daunting. Even when you get going, it can be hard to see the results you want any time soon. Get visible and oh-so-satisfying results for your efforts with these easy tips: [Read more…]

Want to Save Money on Your Kid’s College Tuition? Don’t Pay It

“Have you started saving for college?” a co-worker whispered apprehensively when I announced my first pregnancy at the office. The question wasn’t unreasonable — even though my kid will be in the graduating class of 2037 . . .

Do you wonder how you’ll ever foot the bill? Try this concept on for size:

Don’t pay for college.

Grab your smelling salts. You can absolutely do it.

My parents were educated beyond college and wholeheartedly believe in the importance of higher education. Still, while they offered to pay for room and board for their five kids, they gave us the responsibility of handling the rest of the bill.

At the end of the day, we all managed to enter excellent college and graduate programs, land great jobs and do it all with little or no debt.

Here’s how you can help your kids do the same . . .

Read the rest of my recently-published blog post on The Penny Hoarder, the world’s largest personal finance blog with more than 8 million readers!

Make Mom’s Day Without Spending a Fortune

Pricey jewelry that’s too nice for almost every occasion and expensive brunches at crowded restaurants aren’t the things that make Mother’s Day great. Sometimes less really is more. In planning to celebrate that special woman in your home, consider these low-cost (or no-cost) ideas for brightening her day: [Read more…]