A few minutes after my 5 am alarm went off, strong storms knocked out electricity in our neighborhood. So far our home seems to be without damage, just some branches and things knocked over that are easily dealt with.
Hopefully the electricity comes back soon, though. I just did about $300 worth of grocery shopping this weekend. It would really suck to have to replace it
If you know me, you know I love coffee, and I prefer my morning coffee hot. I’m not ready to dig out a camping stove yet, so I tried a hack I saw floating around. You put four tea lights in the cups of a muffin tin and put a pan of water or whatever you’re trying to heat above them. I fully expected it not to work, but it did! The water even started boiling. It did take a while, but I got my hot coffee.
I did try using my tea kettle first, but the saucepan worked better.
Since the electricity is out, I am writing this on my phone, so please excuse any typos. 😄
In today’s economy, saving money at home isn’t just a smart move—it’s essential. Whether you’re looking to build an emergency fund, reduce debt, or simply need more funds for food or rent, mastering the art of frugality can make a significant difference. Here, we’ll explore ten easy ways to cut costs and boost your savings without sacrificing comfort or quality of life.
1. Embrace Meal Planning
Meal planning is a simple yet effective way to streamline your grocery shopping and reduce food waste and unnecessary purchases. By planning your meals for the week, you can avoid impulse purchases and ensure you’re using ingredients efficiently.
How to get started:
Set aside time each week to plan meals.
Create a shopping list based on your plan and stick to it.
Incorporate leftovers into your meal plan to maximize usage.
If you need a little help, I have a Meal Planner in my shop. It’s in PDF format, so you’ll get it instantly, and you can either print the pages you need or use them digitally. It’s on sale for a limited time for only $0.99, so get it now.
2. DIY Home Maintenance
Handling minor home repairs and maintenance yourself can save you a ton of money. You can find tutorials for just about anything online for free. I usually watch or read a few before starting to really know what I’m getting into, and different people have different tips and tricks.
How to get started:
Start with simple tasks like fixing leaky faucets or painting walls.
Use online tutorials and guides to learn new skills.
Invest in a basic toolkit for home repairs. For bigger tools, see if there’s a place to rent them or if a friend has one you can borrow until you know it’s worth purchasing.
With streaming services for everything, cutting the cord on traditional cable can lead to big savings on your monthly entertainment bill. It’s easy to subscribe to so many that you end up not using them often enough to justify the cost.
How to get started:
Evaluate your current cable and/or streaming usage and identify unnecessary channels.
See what streaming services you’ll realistically use this month. You can always pause or cancel and resubscribe in a month or two to lesser used ones. I try to only have one or two active subscriptions at a time.
Don’t forget about free streaming channels, YouTube and antenna TV as well.
Look for bundles that offer internet and streaming services together.
4. Optimize Energy Efficiency
Improving your home’s energy efficiency can greatly reduce utility bills and contribute to environmental sustainability.
How to get started:
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.
Seal drafts around windows and doors.
Use a programmable thermostat to optimize heating and cooling.
Unplug or turn off things when not in use.
Take advantage of sunlight and nice outside temperatures by opening windows and turning off the AC.
Dress efficiently for the temps. Add or subtract layers before reaching for the thermostat.
5. Practice Mindful Consumption
Being mindful about what you buy and consume leads to smarter financial decisions and reduces clutter in your home. (Bonus: Less clutter means less to clean!)
How to get started:
Ask yourself if a purchase is a need or a want before buying. It’s okay to splurge on a “want”, but it’s important to know the difference with mindful spending.
Declutter regularly to understand what items are truly worth it. If you didn’t use something similar the first time, you probably don’t need it.
Practice gratitude for what you have, reducing the urge to buy more.
Be creative! Do you already own something that could work instead? Can you easily make it?
6. Grow Your Own Food
Starting a small garden can provide fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables while reducing grocery expenses.
How to get started:
Start with easy-to-grow vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs.
Use vertical space or try container gardening if space is limited. (Container gardens are a good way to reuse plastic containers, too!)
Learn about composting to enrich your garden’s soil.
Green bell peppers
7. Make Use of Public Libraries
I love the library! Public libraries offer a wealth of free resources, from books, ebooks and movies to workshops and events. One of my local libraries now offers kits for things like baking, exercise, self-care and gardening that you can check out. I’ve even heard of libraries offering seed-sharing catalogs.
How to get started:
Sign up for a library card and explore the available resources. If you’re in a metro area, there’s a good chance you have access to more than one library.
Make friends with your librarians. They’ll let you know about new books and resources that are of interest to you.
Check out digital offerings, such as e-books and audiobooks.
Attend free workshops and community events.
8. Embrace Second-Hand Shopping
Everyone knows I love thrifting. There’s not much in my home that I bought new. Buying second-hand items can save money and keep things out of the landfill.
How to get started:
Explore thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces.
Look for quality items that are gently used or easy to mend or repurpose.
Attend garage sales for unique finds. Garage sales are usually cheaper than thrift stores but can take more hunting to find what you need.
Don’t forget about free second-hand shopping. Look for local buy nothing groups, “come and get it” postings, and good, usable stuff people are throwing away. One (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure, just make sure it was actually intended as trash, and familiarize yourself with local dumpster diving laws if you’re going that route.
9. Cancel Unused Subscriptions
Unused subscriptions can quietly drain your finances. Cancelling them can free up extra cash.
How to get started:
Check your bank statements for recurring charges.
Evaluate each subscription. Are you actually using it? Is there a free option that can fill it’s place?
Cancel those that are not used or necessary, or pause them if you know you’ll need them in a few months.
10. Implement a No-Spend Challenge
It’s easy to get into spending habits. A no-spend challenge involves refraining from non-essential purchases for a set period of time. This helps make it easier to identify non-essential and impulse purchases, saving you money during and after the no-spend challenge.
How to get started:
Choose a timeframe (week, month) and define what counts as non-essential.
Focus on using what you have and finding free activities.
Reflect on the challenge to identify spending triggers.
Brainstorm other ways to handle triggers and make do with what you have.
Conclusion
Adopting creative strategies to save money at home is not just about not spending—it’s about making mindful, intentional choices that lead to better financial health and sustainability. Not all of these tips will work for everyone, but implementing even a few can help with your financial burden. What other tips can you share? Please, comment down below.
Meal Planner PDF Printable
Stay organized and take the stress out of meal planning with our versatile PDF Meal Planner! Whether you prefer to jot down your ideas by hand or manage everything digitally, this meal planner is the perfect tool to keep your meals on track.
Features:
Printable Design: Print the planner to create a tangible guide for y…
Back in February of 2020 I posted a price comparison between Walmart and Kroger to see who had the cheapest prices on groceries. As much as I’d rather not compare today’s prices to those from five years ago (ouch!) I thought it would be a good time to see if Kroger is still the winner.
Kroger vs. Walmart: The Plan
As I did last time, I created a grocery pickup list for each store. While our dietary needs have changed a bit over the past five years, for simplicity’s sake I kept the same list. It’s still pretty accurate representation of staples I regularly purchase. As much as possible, I matched brands at each store or chose the store brand at both. I used the normal price rather than the sale price where applicable. Due to previously being strictly gluten and dairy free, things like bread and milk that most people regularly purchase won’t be on my list.
The Food and Price Comparison
Coffee: Kroger Select Blend Medium Roast, 30.5 oz, $9.99. Walmart Great Value Classic Roast Medium Ground Coffee, 30.5 oz. $10.93. Winner: Walmart Kroger (Also, this one HURT. If you’re a big coffee drinker, too, you may not want to revisit the 2020 prices.)
Frozen Mixed Vegetables: Kroger Store Brand, 32 oz, $2.99. Walmart Great Value Brand, 32 oz, $2.48. Winner: Walmart
Bath Tissue: Kroger 1000 Sheets per Roll Bath Tissue, 12 rolls, $9.29, $0.77 per roll. Walmart Great Value 1000 Bath Tissue Rolls, 16 rolls, $11.62, $0.72 per roll. Winner: Tie Walmart
Walmart is the winner this time around by $4.79. Depending on your budget, that’s significant. If I had gone by the sale price and used digital coupons at Kroger, I would have saved $3. Still not enough to overtake Walmart, but it would bring it close enough in my opinion to choose which store to go to based off convenience or preference.
My Take
Even before this side-by-side comparison, I’ve tended towards shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market closest to my house. It’s about a mile closer than Kroger, and it has a fuel center. There are some things I still find to be better quality at Kroger, though, and I prefer Kroger overall, so I will probably continue to pick based off of what I’m needing and if I know something is on sale at one of the locations.
I’ve also been going to Aldi more. They’re great for staples, the produce at mine is usually good quality, and they’re closer to me than the other two stores. If you’d like me to do a price rundown of a similar list from Aldi, let me know in the comments.
Like I said earlier, my shopping list may look nothing like your shopping list. With more and more stores offering online shopping for pickup or delivery, it’s worth it to periodically do a price comparison between your local stores. It’s so easy to do online, and you may learn ways to adjust your shopping habits and save money.
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I know it’s August. I know it’s about a million degrees outside. I don’t care. I’m ready for cool breezes, for crunchy leaves, flannel shirts and all things pumpkin. As someone who runs off copious amounts of caffeine, my favorite way to enjoy pumpkin is a hot Pumpkin Spice Latte. Here’s my favorite recipe to make a pumpkin spice latte myself when a store-bought latte is too much of a splurge, or I just don’t want to leave the house. You can make it with tea, coffee or turn it into a smoothie for a healthy, frugal way to enjoy pumpkin spice at home.
2-3 tablespoons of milk (original recipe called for coconut. I usually use almond milk. You can use whole milk, too.)
1/3-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Optional: a dash to 1/8 teaspoon of turmeric
Maple syrup, sugar or honey to taste. I like maple syrup.
To make:
Blend all ingredients together. Top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. Enjoy. Repeat. 🙂
I’ve also used this basic recipe to make a pumpkin spice smoothie. All you do is swap out the coffee for the milk of your choice and add a frozen banana or a fresh banana and some ice. While it’s healthy as is, I also like to add an extra spoonful of pumpkin to up the vitamin content, as well as some chia or flax seeds. You could easily leave those out, though.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a yummy pumpkin spice latte inexpensively at home. I've included variations for a chai latte and smoothie, too! The recipe serves one or two, depending on how much coffee you drink. 😉
2-3Tablespoons Milk of choice.I usually use almond milk.
1/3-1/5Teaspoonground cinnamon
1/4Teaspoonground ginger
1/8Teaspoonground cloves
1/8Teaspoon ground allspice
1/8Teaspoonground nutmeg
1/8Teaspoonground tumeric (optional)
Maple syrup, sugar or honey to taste.
Whipped Cream (optional)
Instructions
Blend all ingredients together.
Top with whipped cream and a dash of nutmeg. I like the non-dairy Reddi-Wip
Enjoy.
Notes
I’ve also used this basic recipe to make a pumpkin spice smoothie. Just swap the coffee or tea for the milk of your choice and add a frozen banana or fresh banana and ice. Blend thoroughly. While it’s healthy as-is, I like to add an extra spoonful of pumpkin to up the vitamin content, as well as some chia or flax seeds. You can easily leave those out, though.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy pumpkin spice? If pumpkin spice isn’t your thing, what’s your preferred fall drink or scent? Please share it in the comments.
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It’s hot outside. Like really sticky, sweaty hot. If you’re looking for a talc-free body powder to help you through it, I’ve got a recipe for you.
While you can purchase talc-free powder, making it yourself is simple, allows you to customize it, and is super inexpensive. Better yet, you probably already have everything you need.
Body Powder Recipe
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of Cornstarch
1/4 cup of Baking Soda
10-ish Drops of essential oil (optional)
Make it:
Combine the cornstarch and baking soda in a bowl or jar. Give it a stir or shake to mix. If you’re using an essential oil, add it now, then stir or shake some more to distribute.
Use it:
I keep mine in a jar and use a fluffy makeup brush to dust it where I need it. It works great as an all-over dusting powder, deodorant and shoe deodorizer. You can also dust a little in your hair in place of dry shampoo. For that, I like to put it in my hair at night and then brush it out in the morning.
Customize it:
The basic recipe is 3 parts cornstarch to 1 part baking soda, so you can use that 3:1 ratio to make as much or as little as you need.
Add more or less essential oil based on your preference. You can also use your favorite perfume to make a coordinating dusting powder.
If you find this formula too drying, reduce the amount of baking soda, or omit it all together.
Not a fan of cornstarch? Try using arrowroot. I personally haven’t tried it, so if you do, let me know how it works.
For babies, I recommend just plain cornstarch as baking soda might be too harsh. If you want to scent it, add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. Essential oils aren’t generally recommended for babies under six months, so take that into consideration.
If you like using this as a dry shampoo and have dark hair, you can add a little bit of cocoa powder to the mix to make it less noticeable if you don’t get it brushed out completely.
Re-purpose a shaker jar, such as a spice or Parmesan cheese jar, rather than using a brush or puff to dispense.
Did you see it? I was in the path of totality this year. It was my first time ever seeing a total solar eclipse and it was AMAZING. My photography skills aren’t that great, especially when it comes to sky photos, but they’re not too terrible.
Something interesting is that it never got pitch black like I saw in some areas on t.v. I’m guessing that the cloud cover we had reflected what little light there was to make it like dusk without the pinks and purples.
Solar eclipse before totalitySolar eclipse totality.Solar eclipse totality with grey clouds.Me being nerdy.
Okay, lovely readers. I’m a nerd, so if you have any awesome eclipse photos, (current or otherwise), or other cool nerdy photos, I would love to see them. I’m honestly not sure if photos can be shared in the comments. If not, feel free to drop a link to them on social media.
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