I love frugality. Especially as a tool to gain financial independence. But I’m not going to tell you to stop enjoying your favorite coffee. It can be enjoyed as an occasional, relatively inexpensive treat, a cheap date with your honey, or a reward for sticking to your financial goals. Instead, I’ll share a few tips […]
Frugal Baby: how to raise baby on the cheap
The key to frugal baby care is to identify what babies truly need. The advertisers would have you believe that baby needs fancy expensive “stuff” that will keep you in debt until baby’s in college. Not true. Frugal Baby: How to raise baby on the cheap Babies need very little in order to be […]
Financial Peace University: 10 reasons I’m glad I did FPU
Update: I’m no longer a fan of Dave Ramsey’s shame-based approach to personal finance, especially since becoming knowledgeable about financial trauma. As I’ve learned more about money and read more personal finance books from other experts, I’ve formed other, more well-informed opinions. One of my biggest money mistakes has been the “follow a guru” mentality. […]
How To Afford Cloth Diapers
Unfortunately, I eliminated my cloth diaper stash after my youngest child potty trained. (She was, after all, going to be my “last baby” right?) Yesterday I got my first batch of cloth diapers in the mail. I’ve enjoyed fondling them ever since. You mean I have to wait months before I get to actually […]
Falling Income: How To Deal
Many families are dealing with job loss or reduced income. Budgets are getting tighter and tighter. Even if the current economic situation hasn’t much affected you personally, you may still be taking proactive measures to be more frugal. Which is certainly a smart move. You may be wondering how you can start saving some money […]
How Not To Quit Blogging: overcoming roadblocks to your blogging goals
Are you a blogger who’s discouraged and thinking of throwing in the towel? Any blogger who hasn’t thought about quitting either isn’t human or never really got started. There are many reasons you may want to quit. Maybe your blog isn’t earning money. Or you’re discouraged by negative feedback – or no feedback at all. […]
BlissDom Blogging Conference Notes and Thoughts
Several years ago I attended the Blissdom blogging conference in Nashville, TN. It was my first blogging conference and was so much fun! Then I published a series of posts from the notes I took. I consolidated these into one long post, below. If you’re interested in blogging, be sure to sign up for my […]
Cheapest Foods to Eat: Simple Strategy to Save on Food
Preview: One of the simplest ways to spend less on food is to choose the cheapest foods to eat to build your meal plans. You won’t have the stress of couponing or chasing sales, and you’ll probably eat healthier too. With ever-increasing food costs, a trip to the grocery store is enough to give anyone […]
How to Get Out of Debt As a Single Mom: 14 Tips
Preview: 14 tips on how to get out of debt as a single mom, from someone who did it herself. In the early 2000’s, I became a single mom with four kids. While grateful (and privileged) to be able to live with my parents while I got on my feet, it felt like a huge […]