Prioritized Living

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How to Create a Budget-Friendly Restaurant Date Right at Home

How to Create a Budget-Friendly Restaurant Date Right at Home

Imagine this: It’s Saturday night. You get dressed up and head out on the town with your lucky husband to enjoy a kid-free, romantic dinner at a great restaurant.

If you’re watching your spending, this kind of extravagance can be rare or even impossible. Dinners out come with a hefty markup, and arranging childcare can be challenging and expensive.

But what if you could create a restaurant date experience that was so easy and affordable that you could enjoy it over and over?

Try this four-step process for replicating the fancy dinner date experience right at home and on a budget:   [Read more…]

Eat Up and Save Big Money on Vacation Dining

Eat Up and Save Big Money on Vacation Dining

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…]

7 Budget-Friendly Gift Picks for the Christmas Eve Shopper

7 Budget-Friendly Gift Picks for the Christmas Eve Shopper

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

When I was growing up, one of our annual Christmas traditions was waving goodbye to Dad for a few hours on Christmas Eve.  He was off to the mall for Christmas gift shopping!

Every year, we never knew what to expect from Dad under tree.  In my case, I think that was primarily the result of having a kooky dad . . .

. . . but it’s slim pickings out there on Christmas Eve!

If you struggle to find great holiday gifts at the last minute, back away from the eye shadow collections and novelty socks.

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed procrastinator or the holidays have just snuck up on you this year, you absolutely can get your hands on gifts that people love.

And you can do it on a budget.
[Read more…]

Easy Ways to Save Thousands on Your Wedding

Easy Ways to Save Thousands on Your Wedding

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

Buy anything that’s labeled “wedding” and you’ll get the marital markup.

Weddings are not cheap.  Some people save for years.  Some hit up well-to-do relatives.  Others solicit donations or even go into debt to pay for the nuptials of their dreams.

Before you elope in frustration though, consider these areas where you can save thousands of dollars on the final bill. [Read more…]