Archives for June 2017

6 Kitchen Tools That Make Healthy Eating Cheap & Easy (Part 1)

June 26, 2017

This post is part 1 in the series 6 Kitchen Tools That Make Healthy Eating Cheap & Easy.

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

We all want to eat fresh and healthy foods. And we want to serve them to our spouses and kids too.

But eating junk is just so much easier! There’s none of the washing, prepping, slicing, cooking, and storing that you have to tackle with fresh produce, meats, cheeses, etc. Instead, you just grab and go.

And you pay a pretty penny for that convenience — not to mention the toll it takes on your health.

But what if you could enjoy fresh, healthy foods easily, conveniently, and at a great price?

Here are six of my all-time favorite kitchen tools for enjoying good-for-you foods on a budget: [Read more…]

Your Not-To-Do List: 10 Time-Suckers to Knock Out

June 19, 2017

As much as we’d like it not to be true, our time and energy are limited.

We are mere mortals with finite resources and the same 24 hours in a day that everyone else has. So staying productive and keeping sane means occasionally taking inventory of how we’re spending our time. And where we’re wasting it.

In scrutinizing your own recent activities, see if you’ve fallen victim to any of these 10 common time-suckers: [Read more…]

Beauty for Less: My Best Secret for Saving on Make-Up

June 12, 2017

Spending $1 on lipstick or $3 on foundation sounds like a good way to save money in theory . . . until you try it out.

Then you wind up with chalky, patchy lip color and a freakishly orange, dusty face!

So looking our best means shelling out more for higher quality cosmetics.

Even if you skip the department store and hit up your drugstore or supermarket, you’ll still wind up paying $5 – $15 per lipstick tube and more than $10 for mascara. And even if you maintain just a modest cosmetics case, you likely have a handful of lipsticks, some concealer, foundation, blush, mascara, and a few eye shadows.

Boy, can that add up!

Plus, make-up expires, so you have to restock — regardless of whether you still have some product remaining. After all, it’s not worth an eye infection to hold on to your mascara long beyond its shelf life.

So are you tired of shelling out a wad of twenties for your beauty products?

Here’s my secret for saving 50% or more on my favorite make-up brands: [Read more…]

What is Financial Planning? A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

June 8, 2017

What is financial planning?

Simply put, financial planning is the process of creating and following a conscious strategy for your money.

Financial planning means making sure you have the resources to meet your needs while pursuing your goals. You align your money decisions with your customized financial blueprint to make those goals a reality.

If that approach to money sounds incredible but you don’t know where to get started, you’re in the right place. Transform yourself into a pro by working through these four key steps. [Read more…]

Eat Up and Save Big Money on Vacation Dining

June 5, 2017

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

You’ve got the vacation bug!

You’re ready. To ride the waves, relax in the mountains, or take in the culture of a new city.

But eating out on vacation is a major expense. If you’re used to planning your meals and sticking to a food budget at home, heading out to restaurants three times a day is bound to give you palpitations!

Think that you need a big budget for your family’s vacation meals? Think again!

Food-related costs are one of the easiest to minimize when it comes to travel. Even better, there are some painless ways to do it without feeling as though you’re pinching pennies!
[Read more…]