Tag Archives: save

25 Ways to Save Money and De-Stress Your Life!

save money and destressThe new year is prime time start evaluating your life. Everyone is over-committed, stressed out and overwhelmed. During times like these I like to stop and think about ways I can make my life easier by downsizing my stuff. Because more stuff (mental and physical) means more stress. Let’s downsize our lives and upsize our happiness, mmmmk?!

Here’s my how-to:

  1. Do an inventory
    Keep a piece of paper in each room. For one week write down everything you use. At the end of the week, compare the list of stuff you used to the stuff that you didn’t use. Consider getting rid of the unused stuff. You probably don’t need it.
  2. De-clutter
    Once you do the inventory, it will be so much easier to de-clutter. Think of the object’s usefulness and it’s meaning. And not everything needs a meaning, folks. If you tend to hoard things, get an honest friend or family member to help you clean house!
  3. Donate your stuff
    Once you de-clutter, you need to get rid of all your unwanted stuff. Non-profit agencies, such as Goodwill, can benefit from your donation. You may even be able to write your donation off your taxes.
  4. Sell your stuff
    If the idea of profiting off your old stuff appeals to you, consider selling it. It will take more time than donating it, but it might be worth the time and effort. (See my post on how to sell at flea markets.)
  5. Eat in
    Not only will eating at home save you money, it can also provide relaxation. If cooking stresses you out, consider making simpler dishes. Dishes with less than 5 ingredients (that you can pronounce!) tend to be healthier and easier to create. I never make anything too complicated. Here’s some of my favorite recipes and food ideas.
  6. Reconnect with nature
    During a stressful day at work, I’ll take a walk on my lunch break. It clears my head and gives me that much needed break. On your nature walks, see what you can observe– plants, leaves, creatures! It’s so easy to forget the wonders of nature.
  7. Turn off your phone
    On those nature walks and in your life, we all need to turn off our phones once in a while. At first you might feel panicked. I sure did! (What if someone needs to reach me?!) Well, you know what? If they need to reach you, they’ll leave a voicemail. Plain and simple.
  8. Stop checking your email so damn much
    I took my work email off my phone because I recognized that it was stressing me the hell out. No one emails emergencies. Work can wait. Try checking your email at scheduled points during the day. It helps productivity and sanity.
  9. Have technology-free weekends
    I’m totally guilty of spending the entire weekend on the computer. This blog won’t write itself! But I also realize that I need to spend less time with the screen and more time with the people that matter. Won’t you try technology-free weekends with me?
  10. Kiss your cable bill goodbye!
    Cable is one of those bills that you don’t really need. Watching television is a time-suck. For those times that you need some movie escapism, see my article about free and legal ways to watch movies online!
  11. Rely on the library for books and entertainment
    The library is an often underused resource. People forget that libraries aren’t just for books! Libraries host programs, may collect DVDs and usually have free wi-fi! Need more ways the library can help you save money? Check it out! (Pun intended.)
  12. Say no to unnecessary crazy
    We’ve all got a little crazy in our lives. Don’t deny it. And much of our crazy is self-imposed. Learn to say no to things that aren’t important to you and get that unnecessary crazy out of your life!
  13. Keep a journal
    Writing things down, especially for me, is therapeutic. It lifts a weight off my shoulders to just write down everything I’m thinking and it helps me sort through choices or emotions. Try it next time you are feeling stressed out or you have to make a big decision.
  14. Recognize the stresses in your life & if possible, eliminate them
    Just merely recognizing the stresses in your life is a huge step in making your life easier. Once you recognize the stresses, you can combat them with relaxation techniques, or even better, you can try to eliminate the unnecessary stresses. Does your commute stress you out? Try to move closer to work. Does having a messy house stress you out? (It does me!) Set up a cleaning schedule.
  15. Decide to be happy with what you have
    Simply deciding to be happy can make you a happier person. You don’t have to have sunshine and rainbows all the time to just take a couple minutes each day to look around and name three things you are thankful for.
  16. Rent or buy a smaller home
    I’m a big proponent of living small. We do it everyday in our Airstream trailer. Living in a small space has actually made me much happier. We have less space to clean and we collect less junk!
  17. Research minimalism and let it inspire you
    I used to think more is more, but after reading about minimalist homes online and in books, I’ve become a convert. Minimalism doesn’t have to mean emptiness. I think of it more in terms of tidiness and cleanliness. People with minimalistic homes think about things before they bring them into their space. Their conscious of their choices and everything has a purpose. It’s totally inspiring.
  18. Stop making giant, unobtainable to-do lists
    (This list isn’t unobtainable because I know you can just do two or three of the items! You don’t have to do everything.) Major guilt here on this one. I always make these huge lists of to-dos that end up stressing me out and I never end up getting all the items on the list done. Instead of making these giant lists choose two or three things that absolutely need to get done that day and do those items.
  19. Cut down on your sugar intake
    Since my family has been having some health issues lately, I’ve been much more conscious of my diet. I already don’t eat gluten, but I know that I can always make my diet better, so I began to look at the amount of sugar I consumed. And I discovered that sugar is hidden in everything! In the past year I’ve slowly been weaning myself off sugar. It hasn’t been easy but it’s effected my mood greatly. Instead of feeling grouchy in the afternoon and after dinner when I needed my sugar fix, I’ve felt more energetic. And I’ve become very sensitive to sugar. Now foods with too much sugar taste bad to me. It’s nutty.
  20. Steer clear of chemicals
    Living with less and living a more natural life go hand in hand. I no longer have room for five different house cleaners, so I use my go-to cleaner, vinegar! And now I don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals in cleaners leaching out into my food.
  21. Learn the difference between need and want
    Learning the difference between need and want is so, so hard. I’m not going to deny it. I still struggle with it, but a few tactics have helped me. When I am about to buy something, I’ll take just a couple minutes to reflect on the item. I ask myself: Do I really need this? Am I going to feel guilty after purchasing this? Do I have room for this? Just doing that two minute reflection has helped me to learn the difference between wants and needs.
  22. Remember that no one is perfect
    We all slip up sometimes. We all fall of the savings bandwagon. And if you do, there are ways to get back on. Recognize that we all make mistakes. Blogs and websites are carefully curated and often they don’t show the humanity of the author’s life. We all have things we are dealing with, we all make mistakes, we all are imperfect. Remember that.
  23. Learn to let go of negative feelings
    Negative feelings clutter up our minds and often times, we buy things to make up for something. Maybe we’re trying to keep up with the Jones. Maybe we’re trying to just “fit in.” Don’t let those negative feelings wreak havoc on your wallet or your life. Learn to let go by meditating, journaling or taking those nature walks. Learn to let it go.
  24. Buy products that can do double-duty
    Always, always, always purchase products that can do double-duty. This is a space and money saver. Like I said before, vinegar can do quadruple duty. It’s a cleaner, de-greaser, you can wash your hair with it and you can use it in your barbecue!
  25. Collect experiences, not things
    And my favorite piece of advice is to collect experiences, not things. Things only give us temporary happiness. But when we think back to those happy experiences we had (like a dream vacation) we’ve got long-lasting happiness.

Got any ways to make life easier and save money at the same time? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

8 Ways to Save Money by Reusing Leftovers

leftoversYou probably already know that leftovers can be a big money saver. Duh, they all say. But let’s be real, leftovers get old quick. Pun intended. I do pretty good at eating leftovers, but after a couple of days I’m sick of eating the same thing. So what’s a girl to do? Repurpose and upcycle those leftovers, that’s what!

Here’s some of my favorite ways to repurpose leftovers:

1. Make chili even heartier with spaghetti noodles!
Chili can last a long time– especially if you make a big ol’ pot. When I was little we never ate chili alone. We always ate it over spaghetti noodles. It makes the chili heartier, last longer and stretch further. When we were grown, my mom told me this was a “poor person thing” but until I moved out of the house I had no idea that people ate chili without spaghetti noodles!

2. Put an egg on it!
One of my favorite ways to spice up leftovers is to throw in a fried egg. Eggs are super cheap and I seem to always have extra in the fridge. Protein power! My absolute favorite is a breakfast pizza. Throw a raw egg on top of your leftover pizza and heat in the oven until the egg white is well… white. So delicious!

3. Don’t throw that last bit away!
Sometimes it’s tempting to throw that last tiny bit of chicken or sauce away. It’s not enough for a whole meal, right? But before you toss it, think about ways you can pump it up. Adding more sauce or more vegetables can beef up that last little bit of food into a whole meal.

4. Smorgasbord!
As you might have noticed, when I was growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. It didn’t bother me much because my mom had a great imagination and encouraged us to have one too. She used to tell me that the local grocery store during the fall was a pumpkin patch. I didn’t find that out until last year. Man, was she clever. At the end of each week, she’d break out all the leftovers and we’d have a little dab of everything. We got to pretend we were kings eating at our very own smorgasbord.

5. Experiment
It’s so easy to get in a cooking rut. Eating the same 5 meals is easy. But challenge yourself to experiment. Get creative with your cooking. Try to eat all of the stuff in your pantry and fridge before you go shopping. See what you can come up with. Don’t feel very creative? Websites like Recipe Key can help you to find recipes using just the ingredients you have in your pantry.

6. Remember, you don’t always have to use leftovers right away.
Certain foods lend well to freezing. Chili for example. You don’t have to eat chili for the next two weeks (because you’re eating is with spaghetti noodles, right?). You can freeze half of it and break it out during an extra busy or extra chilly weeknight.

7. Leftovers can be made into totally different meals
One of the worst things about leftovers is that they can be boring. But they don’t have to be because they can be made into totally different meals. I used to hope, hope, hope that we had leftover rice at our meals to make rice pudding. My mom’s recipe for rice pudding is the best. Stale bread can be made into french toast, leftover veggies can be made into quiche and leftover spaghetti sauce can be used as pizza sauce! The possibilities are endless, people.

8. Use it as compost
Don’t feel guilty when that leftover tortellini looks like a science experiment gone awry. You can’t eat it now. (Well you could, but you could also end up in the hospital.) But you can still compost it! Throw it in the compost heap and use it to get that garden good and fertile! Helpful hint: Used coffee grounds make excellent plant fertilizer!

Do you have any tips for upcycling leftovers? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

18 Ways the Library Can Help You Save Money

18 ways the library can help you save moneyIf you’ve been reading this blog very long, you know that by profession, I’m a librarian. If you haven’t been reading this blog very long, welcome! I’m glad you’re here. Pull up a chair and grab a cuppa, let me teach you something!

On a daily basis I’m surprised that many people wander into my library without knowing even half of the services we provide. With that being said, not all libraries are the same. Duh! Your library may not have everything I’m about to share (they might have more!), but it’s always helpful to ask what services your local library offers.

  1. E-Books
    E-books are one of our lesser known services. People often know that we carry print books, but they tend to forget that we also have a generous e-book collection. Most libraries are venturing out into e-book territory. Some even have access to Overdrive, a global distributor of e-books. Overdrive carries amazingly current titles and sometimes you’ll get the e-book before the print book gets on the shelf!
  2. Tax Assistance
    During tax season, many libraries will offer tax workshops or professional advice. Public libraries are great at offering this service.
  3. Workshops
    Most libraries offer some sort of workshops and programming. These programs can range from computer classes to gardening classes and everything in between.
  4. Videos
    People always seem shocked to know that our library checks out DVDs. We’ve got DVDs and occasionally even screen movies. Sometimes the movies screened at libraries are educational, but sometimes the movies are just for fun. And the best part is that the movies are free!
  5. Magazines
    When did magazine subscriptions get so expensive? I don’t know, but it’s a little out of control. Many libraries subscribe to a wide range of popular and scholarly periodicals. Some libraries will even let you take the magazines home for a limited time period!
  6. Interlibrary Loan Services
    Don’t think that your library is limited to just the books that it has on it’s shelf. Libraries work with each other to get you the books that you need. You won’t even have to visit the other library to obtain the book, the book will be sent to your home library! On a related note, in my state you can also walk into any public university and use their services because you pay for them with your taxes! Often university libraries have more money than public libraries or community college libraries (like mine). And more money equals more books!
  7. Makerspaces
    This is a new thing that some libraries are setting up in their facilities. Makerspaces are a place that people can go to tinker, fix and learn to create stuff. Makerspaces first started as places for people to tinker with technology, but I’ve also seen makerspaces that teach users how to sew or create woodwork. The possibilities are endless and this is a really exciting new aspect of libraries.
  8. Meeting Rooms
    Meeting rooms are nothing new for libraries, but they are a service that is often forgotten. Many libraries offer room usage for free or a very nominal cost. Some libraries even have event space for weddings, conferences or family reunions.
  9. Technology rentals
    Calculators, e-readers and laptops– libraries are venturing out and letting users check out all sorts of technology-related objects. Call your local library and check to see what they are  lending out today!
  10.  Out-of-the-box rentals
    Libraries have been known to check out some wild stuff. I’ve seen instances where libraries check out everything from gardening tools to gaming systems. The last library I worked at checked out art work!
  11.  Kid’s activities
    Public libraries are the best for kid’s activities. Story time, yoga for kids and all kinds of arts and crafts will keep those little ones busy long enough for you to browse the collection!
  12. Research help
    I would love to help you with your research questions. Please, just ask me! If you encounter someone at the reference desk, often times, research is their favorite thing to do. Most of my questions involve the location of the bathroom and I would love to help someone research something interesting. Heck, I’d love to help someone research something boring.
  13. Free Wi-Fi or Computer Use
    A home Internet connection is getting more expensive by the day. Seriously. When will someone put a cap on that?! Anyway, libraries offer free wi-fi and computer use. Even if you have your own computer and Internet connection, it’s nice to know that if something ever goes wrong, your local, trusty library should be able to help in that department. I’ve also known people to forgo paying for a personal Internet subscription and just use the library’s wi-fi.
  14. Copying and Faxing Services
    I think every library I’ve ever been to has a copier. Usually library copies are way cheaper than at a print shop too. Many libraries also having faxing services for a small fee. Much smaller than a big box printer, I guarantee it.
  15. Job Services
    With the downturn in the economy, many a brave library took job services onto their already overloaded plate. I’ve seen libraries with resume workshops. I’ve seen libraries partner with superb non-profits like Dress for Success to help women get the business attire they need. And I’ve even seen libraries host job fairs! Holy canoli. Libraries do it all.
  16. Legal Issues
    One of the most common questions I get at the reference desk (other than where is the bathroom?) is about legal issues. Many libraries respond to this by setting up a program to host a lawyer and answer legal questions for free. At the very least, your library should be able to point you in the right direction for legal help.
  17. Free Books to Keep or Books on the Cheap
    Libraries often host an annual book sale to weed out their old collections and gain a little profit for new books. Library book sales keep costs insanely low. Like anywhere from 10 cents to a dollar low. That’s cheaper than Amazon prices, people. At my library, we even have a book rack at the door where we give away (nice, new!) books that have been donated that we can’t use for whatever reason. For free.
  18. Genealogy
    Genealogy help is a growing trend in libraries and man, is it interesting. Oftentimes with your library card, you’ll be able to access expensive sites like Ancestry for free! Libraries also often have local history collections that can be helpful in the search for your own history.

I hope you’ve learned a little something-something today and will reach out to see what cool and interesting things your home library offers. Is that too Reading Rainbow-lesson-ish? I don’t care, call me LeVar Burton ‘cuz libraries bring it out in me. Let me know in the comments if your library offers something out of the norm!

love,
melanie

 

 

How to Save Money at Your Local Fair

save money at fairIt’s fair season, ya’ll! The air is crisp and so are the dollar bills in my pocket. I love a good state fair as much as the next fellow, but I don’t love dropping my hard-earned cash. Here’s how I saved some money this year at the fair.

1. Check the website! Each fair is going to be different, but with the larger fairs, the “deals” will usually be published on the website. Deals could include free admission on certain days, discounted tickets if you buy in advance and free admission for children or seniors. The NC State fair has all of these deals!

2. Keep an eye out for free events. Our fair had free bluegrass music, tons of fascinating exhibits– like blacksmithing, beekeeping and pottery, and other super interesting educational events. The fair isn’t all rides and deep fried food.

gorilla girl3. Consider bringing your own food or sharing. Yes, the food is insane and often makes the trip, but it’s also crazy-expensive. Consider bringing your own food, bottles of water and sharing. Bottles of water were $2 at our local fair. That’s crazy town, people. Bring your own.

4. Buy a lunch pass. Not all fairs do this, but if you are just in it for the food, the NC State fair will let you purchase food on weekdays for free with a lunch pass.

5. Avoid parking fees. Lace on your tennis shoes and get ready to walk. Map out the closest free parking lot to the fair in advance and plan to walk. Nothing bums me out more than having to pay to park my car somewhere.

What other kind of tips do you have for saving money at your local fair? Let me hear ’em in the comments.

love,
melanie

20 Weird Ways to Save Money

Weird ways to saveMy dad once told me a story of this guy at his work who was so thrifty that he ate only bologna sandwiches for the last 20 years. That’s it. Two pieces of white bread, a piece of bologna and some mustard. (Not even any cheese!) Every day. His coworkers used to say that he was so tight with money that if you squeezed him, quarters would fall out of his butt. Crude, I know. When he died, they went into his house and found almost a million dollars stashed under his mattress.

I don’t know if the story is true, my dad tends to exaggerate, but it’s the ultimate story of odd thriftiness. I’m not suggesting you only eat bologna sandwiches because I can’t believe the guy didn’t get scurvy. I’m also not saying that you die with a million dollars stashed under your mattress because you do need to live a little. But I thought I’d share some less extreme, but still a little weird ways I’ve found to save cash.

  1. Don’t wash your hair: My hair stylist actually suggested this one and it has saved me a ton of money. I went from washing my hair every day to washing it once a week. My hair is so much healthier now, less dry and I save an hour a day. And I know what you are thinking: But my hair is oily! George‘s hair was too, but when I convinced him to quit washing his hair so much, his body regulated itself and produced less oil. You’ll go through a gross stage where your hair looks terrible for about a week, but see it through. I’ve yet to go completely shampoo-less, but some people swear by it!
  2. Don’t coupon: Believe it or not, couponing can lead to overspending. Those $10 off $100 deals can be a trick to get you to spend more than you planned. Expiring offers, like those from Groupon or Living Social, can also put pressure on you to make an impulse purchase. And believe it or not, some coupons aren’t actually a “deal.” Coupons are usually for name-brand items, and sometimes even with the coupon, the generic brand is cheaper. Ridiculous! Read more about why I don’t coupon here.
  3. Unsubscribe to junk mail and email: Unsubscribe to retailer emails through Unroll Me and junk snail mail through Catalog Choice. The junk mail will never even make it to your mailbox or inbox, taking away the temptation before it happens! It’s also a great tip to keep down clutter.
  4. Shop under a time limit: Shop before you have to be somewhere or set a stopwatch and give yourself a limited time to shop. There’s less temptation when you know you need to just get 5 things and get out. Sometimes I’ll shop on my lunch break and store the food in the break room fridge at work. It gives me a chance to get out of the office and shop on a deadline.
  5. Flush less: If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. Nuff said.
  6. Put a water bottle in your toilet tank: Ok, after this one, I swear I’m going to be less gross. A capped water bottle filled with sand in the back of a toilet tank can displacing enough water to save 10 gallons a day. That’s a savings of almost $100 per year! Sometimes it pays off to be slightly gross.
  7. Displace water in your tub (or bathe together!): Displacing water in your tub can also save some dough. I’ll let you decide what or who to help you displace the water 😉
  8. Cash only: Challenge yourself to operate on cash only. By doing everything from paying bills in cash to using cash for groceries, you’ll see exactly where your money is spent. It might be a little more hassle, but the convenience of credit and debit cards can lead to overspending.
  9. Save condiments: If you eat out, save your leftover condiments. My paternal grandma, god bless her, didn’t pay for a single condiment in her entire life. She had a giant Ziplock in her fridge full of ketchup, mustard and mayo packages. She also freshened her breath with the parsley garnish on her plate. As a kid, I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. But now, I know, she was a smart lady. Smart enough to raise five kids on a single income home. Which leads me to…
  10. Think like your grandma: I don’t know when it happened, maybe the ’80s, but people started to get spoiled. We had a boom economy and “treat yo’ self” was the norm. Maybe they said it differently, “Like totally, treat yourself, dude,” but times were easier. Now, it looks like that time was the exception, not the norm. We need to learn how to make do and mend like our grandparents.
  11. Make friends with thrifty people (and stay away from the big spenders): I’m not saying you should ditch all your rich friends because you might need to use their yacht one day, but being friends with like-minded thrifty people is much easier. Your big spending friends influence you to spend more whether you realize it or not. Hanging out with my friend, Gabby, who is ultra-thrifty has has challenged me to be thriftier too. She is a Craigslist ninja!
  12. Eat raw: Uncooked veggies are significantly cheaper than meat. Plain and simple. You don’t turn on your stove, so you save energy costs and we all know how much cheaper veggies are than meat. If this idea is hard for you (it’s totally hard for me! I’m a big omnivore), challenge yourself to just eating one day or one meal per week meat-free. Even Martha does “meatless Monday,” so you know it’s a good idea.
  13. Forage: I’m no foraging expert, but truly getting back to the land can be an educational, money-saving experience. I wouldn’t recommend you go at it alone, though. You don’t want to end up all Into the Wild, but there are mycological (mushroom hunting!) and foraging clubs across the U.S.
  14. Reuse disposable items: Tinfoil, Ziplock bags, saran wrap and other “disposable” items can all be reused. I, personally, wouldn’t reuse them more than a couple of times because I worry about chemicals, but I had a friend who said his mom still had a package of tinfoil from the ’70s because she always reused it. That’s thrifty, ya’ll.
  15. Reuse coffee grinds: This is one of my favorite tips because, well, I love coffee and I have super dry skin. Coffee grinds are a great exfoliator. My skin glows after I slough some on. The jury is still out, but I also heard that coffee grinds can help cellulite ANDDDD those delicious, fragrant grinds can also be used in your garden as fertilizer. Is there anything coffee can’t do?
  16. Shift your thinking: I once read that if you begin thinking of yourself as a fit person, you’ll become more fit. If you tell yourself you “don’t”  eat something instead of “can’t” eat something, you are taking away the negative emotion and empowering yourself. It works the same with money. Begin thinking of yourself as a saver and you’re more likely to actually save. Try telling yourself that you “don’t” overspend instead of you “can’t” overspend. It’s liberating.
  17. Get Scroogy: The holidays are coming up and it’s oh so easy to walk into the nearest Target and drop $200 bucks on decorations. Try making your holiday decorations out of stuff you have around the house or forgo decorations all together this year. You could also make it clear to your friends and family that you won’t be partaking in present exchanges this year. They’ll probably be disappointed, but explain your reasoning and they’ll get over it. If you’re crafty, you could also try your hand at making gifts this year.
  18. Pick up every coin you find: I have a friend who literally throws pennies away. She also won’t pick up change on the ground. WHO DOES THAT. Last year, my mom picked up every coin she saw on the ground, put it in a jar and at the end of the year, it added up to almost $12. That’s free money!
  19. Go to bed earlier: This is a toughie for me, but I know if I go to bed earlier and get up earlier, I’ll be taking greater advantage of the daylight and using less electricity at night.
  20. Make it a competition: Start a saving competition with your family or friends. See who can  save the most money each month. Make sure there is a prize at the end, so you all have that incentive. May I suggest a weekend trip together?
  21. Bonus tip! Live in an Airstream. No really! We do it and it’s been the biggest money saver in our lives. Want to read more about how we live? Start here.

What weird, crazy or out of the box tips or tricks do you have to save a buck? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

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Why I Don’t Coupon and How I Actually Save Money on Food

1976_Maypo_magazine_adI got extreme one weekend and binge watched multiple seasons of Extreme Couponing on Netflix. It had me totally convinced that coupons were straight up gold and I was an idiot for lazily using coupons in the past. No, extreme was the way to go!

But in practice, extreme couponing or just couponing in general rarely works for me. Here’s why:

1. The time factor. Who are these women who have time to coupon 40 hours a week? I have a full-time job. I don’t even have an extra 20 hours a week for coupons. At some point I need to clean and maybe have a life.

2. Coupons are rarely for fresh fruit and vegetables. When was the last time you saw a coupon for a dollar off a dozen oranges? Yeah, never. I’m not a food snob, but I try to steer clear of the processed, prepackaged food.

3. I have no where to store 500 boxes of Easy Mac. I live in a trailer, ya’ll.

That’s not to say that if I see a coupon for toothpaste, I won’t use it. But I’ve recently discovered a much better way to save money on food. Join a CSA.

Here’s how it works: each week, I get a certain amount of points on food. I don’t let myself go over these points or I will be charged. One of my major money spending triggers is just being in a physical store. OO! Those strawberries look good! Or OOO! Green beans are on sale! Ordering my groceries online has almost completely eliminated my food impulse buying. I’ve whittled my food spending down from an average of $500 a month to an average of $250. I’ve cut that bill in half, ya’ll!

I am lucky that my CSA carries a wide variety of food. They don’t just sell veggies, but also dairy and some pre-made stuff, like bread and jellies. If your CSA doesn’t have that kind of variety, you could replicate the process by buying food through Amazon and holding yourself accountable to only spend a certain amount. Or you could use Amazon’s subscribe and save and get the items you need each month delivered to your door. It’s fast, easy and you don’t even have to leave the house! (And Amazon didn’t even tell me to say this, I just enjoy their services!)

Do you coupon? How have you saved money on fresh and healthy food?

love,
melanie

 

A Very Lucky and Eventful Weekend

treeTo call this weekend eventful is an understatement. I’m finally at my new job! Did I tell you all that? I’ve been there about two weeks and I’ve already experienced two power outages. On Thursday, as I tried to leave work, a policeman urged me head back inside. There were tornado warnings and not long after I (begrudgingly) went back in the library, a huge storm blew through.

After it all blew over, I called George immediately. His first words were “don’t freak out.” My mind immediately went to the airstream. I thought something terrible happened to it. Luckily, so luckily, the two 100 year old oak trees (above) fell into the barn and not our soon-to-be home.

But it was close, so close. I’m not very religious, but I think someone was looking out for us.

photo-3

We also moved out this weekend. I’m excited to save money. I’m excited that George will be able to pursue his art full-time. And I’m excited to start the next chapter of our lives.

Was your weekend eventful? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

Pre-Wedding Money Saving Tips

My empty wallet.

My empty wallet.

I talk a big game when it comes to budgets. I make lists and spreadsheets. I even use math! But I’m not great at actually carrying out a budget. On Fridays I really want to go out for a dinner and a couple of drinks. A $4.00 coffee sounds totally reasonable when I’ve been up since 6 am and I have to work late. And somehow a trip to the drug store for a $5.00 bottle of lotion always turns into a $40 affair.

I’m a impulsive spender. It’s bad, I know. But since George and I are primarily paying for the wedding, I’ve been trying so, so hard to save money. The following tips are inspired by Adrienne who has some awesome ideas for saving dough! Totally jealous that she can ride her bike to work!

Here is what George and I have been doing:

  • Attempting to eat everything out of the pantry and fridge before we go to the grocery store. (I particularly hate this one. I have an aversion to left-overs and weird food combos.)
  • Attempting to make cheaper recipes. As someone who needs to eat gluten-free, I’m not loving this one either. We’ve mostly just been eating a lot of eggs…
  • I negotiated to have our rent lowered until our oven is fixed. (It’s been broken for 2 months!) I’d rather have a working oven, but hey, it saves me a few bucks.
  • George has been selling art.
  • I sold a couple of gift cards I had lying around to Plastic Jungle, which I highly recommend if you ever get a gift card you don’t want.
  • And this summer I plan to sell some clothes that I no longer wear on Copius. (Update: I went ahead and put a few items up.)

All of these little things help, but I feel like it’s nearly impossible to save a significant amount of money before the wedding in December. Things keep coming up! (An $80 doctor appointment! Yikes!)

We’ve talked about delaying the honeymoon until the summer, which will save some money, but after all this, I need a break!

Do you have any budgeting tips? I’d love to hear ’em and make a big ol’ list for everyone!

love,
melanie