Finance Archives - Page 2 of 3

Ideas for Affordable Date Nights

February 1, 2018 by Danielle

We received a vehicle to try out for the week, but all opinions are ours alone.

It’s happened so many times during my marriage – we *finally* get a night without the kiddos, but the budget just isn’t large enough to something big or fancy. Not that we mind, because we can still have an incredible time together. If you’re not sure what to do for wallet-friendly adult time, these great Ideas for Affordable Date Nights should help. After all, spending time with your special someone doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and you can spend nothing while still having adventures and making memories together!

Check for Local Deals

Restaurants, movie theaters, local entertainment venues – they often have deals or specials that can save you some money. While the 20% off may not save much, sometimes you can find the Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion at a great place for dinner or other activity. If you get the Valpak, Weekly Newspaper Ads, or just check online at the venue you’re interested in going to, be sure to check for savings.

Squeeze in ‘Mini’ Dates

You can still do a ‘date’ without spending enough time for a full meal or movie. Sometimes it can save you tons to just do a 30-minute trip to get drinks or frozen yogurt together! Hubby and I sometimes do this right after school drop off in the morning – driving nearby to grab drinks (enjoying the heated seats in the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport during the cold months, plus the smooth ride for our drinks!) and listening to music WE want to hear for a change. It doesn’t take long, doesn’t require a babysitter or extra planning – it’s just a short chunk between morning drop off and heading to work that we can spend some time.

Don’t Go the ‘Normal’ Times

It’s definitely more convenient for the majority of people to go on their dates in the evenings and weekends. If you’re able, try to fit in a lunch on a weekday instead. Maybe take a shorter lunch at work one day so you can go longer the next with your significant other. This way, meals are often less expensive, wait times are shorter, you avoid most crowds – and if all your kids are in school, you skip the cost of a sitter. This goes along really well with our first idea of searching for deals – many more options are available at the less popular times. This also works great to catch an early matinee instead of a full-price evening movie. As an added bonus – usually less traffic!

Bring Your Date From Home

You can still ‘go out’ without paying for restaurant foods or entertainment. Whip up something tasty at home and bring it along for a picnic, or pack a comfy and large blanket to snuggle in the back seat while reading a book together. A hike is another fun activity – plus exercise, so I guess there’s that bonus. Heck, you could even pull up a movie on Netflix on your phone if you wanted to!

Enjoy a Nice Ride, Music & Conversation

One of the very first dates hubby and I had, I went to meet him late at night when he got off work at a local restaurant. Not many places were still open, so we drove to a park and sat in the car listening to fun music and comedians, and enjoying some great conversation. It’s one of my favorite dates, actually!

We still do this occasionally, like recently when we got to use the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for a week. The sound system was AMAZING, and we loved the ability to hook up our phones via bluetooth so we could turn on OUR music. It was plenty roomy for snuggles, and had USB plugs for when the battery on our phones got low. It was also neat having a moon/sun roof – a feature which the kids especially loved when they got to ride in it!

Make Running Errands a Couple’s Chore

I know, doing your grocery shopping for date night doesn’t sound especially amazing – but it can still be quality time together AND you’re saving money by saving time. While you’re at it, pick out a special dinner, dessert and/or drink to share later when you get home, so then it’s even like a double date! Plus, when hubby goes to the store with me, he appreciates me more because he realizes how hard I work to fit shopping into my schedule AND to keep our budget costs down. And don’t forget to take out the car seats ahead of time if you’ll be picking up a LOT of things – like us picking up several bags of salt for our home water filter.

Luckily, the Mitsubishi Outlander had plenty of trunk space – plus a cover so you can’t see that there’s stuff inside when you close the trunk (so we didn’t have to unload it right away)!

Service Projects

This is one on my list for when our lives aren’t QUITE so hectic – volunteering at our local animal shelter together! It’s fun times and memories, plus you’re doing good service for others. Go rake someones leaves, serve food at a homeless shelter, or put together kits to send to troops or those in need. A date doesn’t HAVE to be focused solely on you two, it can be you two also doing good for others.

Hit the Gym

If you go to the gym – or want to start – make it a good time TOGETHER. You can help support and encourage each other, plus maybe have a few laughs at your honey in aerobics class or you attempting a new piece of equipment in the weight room. Friendly competition doesn’t hurt, either.

Have a Date Night ‘In’

This happens the most for us – we just can’t afford/find a sitter, so we get the kids to bed then have a date night at home. We aim to do this at least 1-2 times a week, because it’s quality time together that doesn’t have to cost a single penny extra! We enjoy watching shows together, playing video games, even doing some housework while chatting. What matters is having that time with your special someone, to strengthen your friendship and love together and keep the memories alive.

Babysitter Swap

By the way, an AMAZING way to save money on dates is to take turns with other parents (who you trust, obviously). One night you take your kids AND theirs while they go out, then swap another night. It’s really great if you can get 3-4 (depending on how many kids that would entail) so you rotate more with less of YOUR turns, and then you can even double date!

What’s YOUR favorite affordable date night?

5 Grocery Budget Tips

January 16, 2018 by Danielle

I hear so many other moms that are just as frustrated with grocery shopping as I am. We not only have to plan the menu, shop for the food, prep & cook the meals, then hope everyone likes it. Don’t even get me started on dishes! With all that to worry about, we shouldn’t be stressing about breaking the bank, too. Hopefully these 5 Grocery Budget Tips can offer a little help as you try to save money AND feed your family quality meals.

Plan your meals in advance – Meal planning is the #1 way to save money on your family’s food. When you have a plan, you can shop in advance, buy in bulk, and buy to sales when available. Don’t forget to ‘shop from your pantry’ to not only save the grocery budget, but also help rotate your food stores before items expire. If meal planning isn’t your thing, check out our Meal Plan on a Budget book – it has 52 weeks of meal plans WITH recipes for you!
Write/type your meal plan on paper – What happens when you get busy and forget what the plan was? Or what if you get sick and someone else needs to fill in? Always put your meal plan on paper. Also, don’t forget your SHOPPING LIST! It does help to organize it on paper by the aisle/area of the store it can be found in – this helps prevent random wandering and potential ‘splurge’ purchases.
Clip coupons – You don’t even have to do it the old-fashioned way anymore. There are coupon apps, digital coupons and other great ways to save coupons for groceries. I’m not a fan of this generally, but every now and then there’s one for something I know I’ll be getting. Every little bit helps!
Shop for sales – You can buy what is on sale on a particular day or week and plan your meals around that. Wait to plan your menu until you see the weekly circular ads. You should also shop for fruits and vegetables that are in season to save more money, and even buy extra then wash, cut and freeze for later on.
Don’t ignore generic products – there are a few things I do prefer getting ‘name brand’ because we can either taste the quality, the ingredients are better and/or the price point just doesn’t make a different. In general, though, we stick to off-brand items – especially if the grocery store you shop at has it’s own ‘brand’ of things – these are often much less expensive!

With these tips, hopefully your grocery budget can not only be less stressful to deal with, but maybe you can even find ways to cut it down and help your finances somewhere else in your budget! Don’t forget to take a look at our Meal Plan on a Budget – affordable, family-friendly recipes already organized into 52 weeks of meal plans (breakfast, lunch AND dinner) with all the recipes there for you!

Car Buying Made Easy

May 23, 2017 by Danielle

When I was little, I remember adults always complaining about all the life changes and such, and wondered why the big deal. Now that I’m ‘adulting’ the best I can, I realize how stressful it is that life throws so many changes our way, and we do the best we can to keep up with it. A big one for us was our plan a year ago to adopt 3 or 4 children into our family, so we got all prepared with a large, 12-passenger van to fit the whole crew. Fast forward to now, we’re adopting 1 child – meaning that vehicle was more space and money that we needed! Luckily, Car Buying was Made Easy thanks to Capital One® Auto Navigator®, and we found the perfect loan AND vehicle for our family – before we even hit the dealership!

As you can probably guess, we’ve been super busy and overwhelmed with everything the past year, so the last thing I wanted was a big hassle for buying our new van. I didn’t want to feel pressured by sales people, or be unsure about which vehicle was right for us. I’m sure you’ve been through all that before, too – the car buying process can sometimes be a nightmare! The Capital One® Auto Navigator® was a lifesaver for us- seriously, it was developed to simplify car buying and financing! This great tool adds transparency to the confusing process of car-shopping by allowing consumers to pre-qualify for auto financing and SEE their financing terms even before visiting a dealer!

Not only can you see if you pre-qualify for auto financing prior to heading to the dealer, but it doesn’t impact your credit score. In other words, no risk! It was also a really quick application process, then once we were pre-qualified we were able to browse – online, in the comfort of our own home with NO sales person pressure – over 3 MILLION vehicles from more than 12,000 participating dealers throughout the country. In other words, we had plenty of options 🙂

Here’s some things to consider as you’re browsing for your new vehicle:

What payment are you COMFORTABLE with, and what would you PREFER
- Just because you’re approved for up to a certain amount doesn’t mean that payment is what’s best for your budget
What are the HAVE TO aspects of your vehicle, and what are just NICE TO HAVE features
- You may not be able to find every single feature you’re wanting, but focus on the have to things then go from there with ‘nice extra’ things – for example, I really would’ve loved a lighter colored interior, but it wasn’t a necessity. I did get all my ‘have to’ points as well as several of my wants, though!

You’ll come to the dealership prepared with your pre-qualification from Capital One® Auto Navigator®, so you don’t have to worry about as much pressure – you’ll also already have some vehicles picked out that you’re wanting. And thanks to Auto Navigator, you already got to see dealer ratings, car reviews and even access to car history reports, so you can be confident in your purchase instead of just relying on sales people to be fully honest and not just focused on making a good sale.

Just because a life change put you in need of a new vehicle, doesn’t mean you have to deal with extra stress and hassle of car buying – because now it can be MUCH less stressful and even FUN when you get pre-qualified beforehand, and even ‘shop’ for your vehicle before leaving your house!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

20 Tools & Charts to Help Kids Save Money

May 9, 2017 by Danielle

Good financial sense is so important, and can have a huge impact on your adult life. A lot of that knowledge and good money habits starts when we’re young, though, so it makes it super important to teach our kids about finances and how to best manage theirs – including saving. To make it a bit more fun, here are 20 Tools & Charts to Help Kids Save Money!

It’s no surprise that my personal favorite are the superhero money banks, right? I also love the board games, the printable checklists and even the job charts for earning extra money.

1. Cashflow Board Game [Two Boys One Girl and a Crazy Mom]

2. Kids Responsibility Money Management Printables [Modern Messy Parents Messy Kids]

3. Guidelines For Teaching Kids About Money [Thirty Hand Made days]

4. Teach Kids About Money Responsibilty Checklist [A Bowl Full Of Lemons]

5. Money Management Skills For Kids [Hay Hay Life]

6. Teaching Kids to Manage Money [Organize Your Stuff Now]

7. 5 Personal Finance For Kids [Everything Finance Blog]

8. Mom I Need Money Job Chart [One Good Thing By Jillee]

9. Fill The Piggy Bank Game [The Kindergarten Connection]

10. Helping Children To Save Plus Free Printable [The Inspiration Edit]

11. Teaching Kids The Value Of Money [Love More Live Blessed]

12. Mini Accountabilty Binder For Kids [Thirty Hand Made Days]

13. DIY Save Spend & Give Jars [Creative Savings Blog]

14. 365 Day Savings Challenge And A Free Printable [Fun Happy Home]

15. Teach Your Kids Money Smarts Chart [The Suburban Mom]

16. My Savings Goal Visual [Educator 101]

17. Mason Jar Superhero Banks [Fireflies and Mudpies]

18. Printable Savings Chart For Kids [Temecula Blogs]

19. Teach Kids To Budget and Free Printables [Kids Money Lessons]

20. Kids Chore Chart With Money [Gridgit]

What money saving idea for kids is your favorite?

Who’s the Hero of Your House?

April 27, 2017 by Danielle

We’re glad to partner with StarTex Power, a subsidiary of Constellation, to bring you this fun quiz & see who’s the hero of your house! Thanks for sponsoring this fun post! #HeroOfTheHouse

There’s so many ways you can be a hero – by helping others, being brave, caring for animals, the list goes on and on. Another way you can be a hero is by helping your family to save money – so when you keep that particular type in mind, who’s the hero in YOUR home? We’ve got a fun quiz to help you find out!

If you want to skip right to the quiz because you just can’t wait to find out who the hero of the house is, then you can TAKE THE QUIZ HERE.

I took the quiz, and was thrilled at my results – I’m the hero of my house! Woot woot! When talking with my kids about some of the questions, I realized I need to do better at teaching them ways they can help the family save energy – thus saving us money, as well. Here’s some great tips from StarTex Power to help out:

Save on Heating & Cooling Your Home:

That bright sun blaring in, or that snow-chilled wind in the winter, can really affect the temperature in your home. Use curtains – especially blackout ones – to help keep that heat or cold outside. If the evenings cool down quite a bit, you can open the windows during that time to help naturally cool the temperature in your home.

This was one I didn’t know – but makes perfect sense! Planting trees in the right spots in your yard can provide shade not only for when you’re outside and getting a bit hot, but for helping keep your house more cool by blocking some of those hot sun rays.

Watch Your Appliances & Tech:

This is one we do – we skip the dry cycle in the dishwasher. We have a rack & area on our counter where we can empty the clean, wet dishes to then they just air dry. This can save quite a bit of energy, especially if you have a big family that uses a LOT of dishes, like us!

Especially with how common technology devices are nowadays, the power for running and charging them can really add up. I work from home, so my computer takes up quite a bit during the day – but I try my best to turn it off when not in use to cut down on power usage. Using a power strip makes it much easier – plus gives you more outlet space than a wall outlet anyway 🙂

Leave Some Water for the Fishes:

Please tell me I’m not the only one who use to be told ‘save some water for the fishes’ when I’d shower too long, or drank a lot at the water fountain! But it’s true – saving water can really make a difference, especially to your utility bills. Cutting your shower time to 5 minutes can really add up – even one minute less can save up to 5 gallons of water. Times that by the 7 people in my house, and that’s a LOT of saved water!

So – are YOU the true hero of the house? Find out now, and see who can save the most energy after utilizing some of these awesome tips!

Take the Quiz Now

Meal Plan on a Budget: Feed Your Family for Less than $5 Per Person a Day!

September 8, 2016 by Danielle

Nobody wants to spend a ton of time or money at the grocery store, right? Yet it can be frustrating each week creating a meal plan! Now we’ve got you covered with the Meal Plan on a Budget: Feed Your Family for Less than $5 Per Person a Day! A Full 52 weeks of meal plans WITH recipes on a budget!

Want this FREE? Check out how HERE

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure for more info.

PDF: $8 – that’s less than $1/month for a complete meal plan!

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That’s right, a WHOLE YEAR of weekly meal plans right at your fingertips, with all the recipes! Talk about easy, right? The weekly plans average to less than $5 per person per day – well, technically under $4 per person per day, but that leaves you room for buying snacks, drinks, desserts, etc.

The meal plans rotate, so you get a large variety of meals and it doesn’t get repetitive. No, you won’t be having steak for dinner every single night, but you won’t be eating ramen noodles every week, either. It’s all about balance – and that’s where this is super helpful! The work is already done for you, so you just need to make your shopping list, get the supplies, and create the tasty recipes according to the plan.

Available here as a PDF Download – only $8

Also Available here on Amazon as a printed book

This is designed for 8.5×11, so the text and photos are beautiful and large. The printed book has a shiny soft-cover, perfect binding. Nab your copy from Amazon or a PDF download today!

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Note: prices were based on averaging a few regular grocery stores, without coupons or big sales. Your price may vary on store, season, and preferences (generic vs. brand name, organic, gluten-free, etc.) This is not nutritional or allergy advice. Use your own best judgement when feeding your family.

Check out our other products HERE

Family Home Binder

Unofficial Disney Activity & Autograph Books

2018 Planner & Calendar

Summer Camp Kits or Kid Activity Packs

Join me at The Pinners Conference

July 8, 2016 by Danielle

I’ll be presenting a class during The Pinners Conference – as such, I receive an affiliate rate when you use my code to purchase a class/ticket. You also receive a 10% discount using it, so it’s a win-win situation!

Do you love Pinterest? Have you always wanted to sit down in a class to learn some of the amazing crafts, recipes, finance tips, shopping ideas, style tutorials and more? Then you’ve GOT to Join me at The Pinners Conference on September 9th & 10th in Arlington, Texas!

There’s SO MANY great classes being offered – you can check them out here. I’ll be teaching on Easy Meal Plans on a Budget! Check out my little bio on the site…..I feel all ‘professional’ looking at it 😉

Be sure to use Promo Code: BUSYMOM for 10% off your ticket!

Some other great ones are:

Natural Beauty From the Kitchen – by Amy Greene
Simple Science Experiments for Kids – by Rachel Miller
How To Create A Family Budget – by Carrie Elle Lindsey
Get Ready for your Trip to Disney – by Shannon Schmid & Autumn Reo
Watercolor Techniques with Markers – by Jennie Garcia
Creating Really Awesome, Free, Kids Crafts – by Jamie Dorobek
Upcycled DIY Succulent & Herb Terrariums – by Randi Dukes
#HASHTAG Tote Bags – by Samantha Conner
Crafting with Crap LIVE (and Interactive)! – by Holly Homer & Jamie Harrington
Kid Cooking Made Easy – by Toria & Juian Frederick
Easy Recipes for Busy Families – by Crystal Van Tassel-Lopez

And so many more!!! Party planning, home decor, money saving, hair styles, fun crafts, yummy and easy recipes, parenting or kid activities – seriously, there’s something (or a FEW somethings) for everyone! I can’t wait!!!

Head over HERE and use Promo Code: BUSYMOM to save 10% on your ticket – then join in the fun with us September 9th & 10th at The Pinners Conference!

Easy Ways to Cut Your Budget

April 17, 2016 by Danielle

Have I ever told you that I love finances? Weird, I know – but I actually ENJOY working on a budget, figuring out plans for reaching our goals, and playing with the numbers. What makes it even more fun is finding easy ways to cut your budget!

Hubby and I made a lot of financially unwise choices at the beginning of our marriage, and had kids early while still in college which assisted us making even MORE bad money choices. Years later, we’re now making the right money decisions, and slowly making progress to dig out of the hole we put ourselves in. One of the best ways we’re doing that is by lowering our budget – leaving more money free to save, pay off debt, and use towards our goals. Here’s a bunch of wonderful ideas on how to save money, lower your expenses, and make progress towards YOUR financial goals!

#1: Cut Your Utility and Housing Costs

Move to a lower cost area, if realistic
Rent out a room of your house to help with your mortgage payment
Refinance to a lower interest rate – just make sure your savings aren’t outweighed by the refinancing fees
Compare cellphone plans closely – doing a prepaid may be the best option
Do you really need data on your phone? If not, cut out that cost, and get a cheaper phone
With Netflix, Hulu and other services, cable is much easier to cut out
Internet – can you settle for a slower speed at less cost? Or try calling different internet companies to get the very best rate
If you have a reliable cell phone, do you need a home phone?
Cut your heat and cooling bills by setting the thermostat a little bit lower/higher. Do you really need it 70 Degrees in the middle of summer?
Compare electric companies and look for the best deals in your area/situation – such as Payless Power here in DFW
Also save on heating/cooling by turning the thermostat up/down when you won’t be home
Turn your hot water heater down to about 110-120 Degrees – you don’t need it scalding hot
Don’t forget to replace your air filters regularly, as really dirty/clogged ones can affect your utility usage
Use your windows – in the summer, if it cools down at night open up your windows to let the breeze cool your house
Depending on your budget, slowly work on replacing the light bulbs in your house with LEDs – they can really save energy costs in the long run

#2: Spend less on Groceries and Food

Shop in your own pantry/cabinets before the store
Make a list, and stick to it!
Plan your meals around the season so you’re playing less for fresh fruits/veggies
Eat less meat, and look for cheaper cuts
Clip coupons – if that’s your thing (I pretty much refuse to do this, but do great at keeping our grocery budget low without them)
Don’t be afraid to shop around – certain things are cheaper at certain stores. Just make sure it’s worth your gas/time driving around
Buy in Bulk – often (but not always, so check) it’s cheaper per oz/lb to buy larger quantities at a time
Leftovers are your friend – it can save a bundle if you don’t throw out extra food, or let it go bad
Don’t eat out, or at least do it rarely
Pack a lunch to work instead of eating out
Buy produce when it’s in season, then freeze it for later in the year when it’s more expensive
Generic is USUALLY cheapest

#3: Free or Cheap Entertainment

Skip the gym membership – but still stay healthy and strong by working out at home, at your neighborhood park, or running with a friend. Zumba DVDs or Xbox Game are my personal favorite!
Date night doesn’t have to cost a ton – there’s plenty of free date night ideas you can search for that are just as fun as an expensive place, if not more so!
Instead of going out to a movie, see if Netflix or Hulu or Redbox have a great one you haven’t seen
Search for local museums or places that have a discounted/free day

#4: Shopping for Less & Random Expenses

Amazon Prime is one way I save tons – by ordering stuff online (for the same or cheaper than in-store) I save gas money, time AND don’t get tempted by other things while at the store
Groupon (or other similar places) can help you save about 50% or more on things from pilates class, restaurants, movies and even hair services
Go through your closet – do you REALLY need a new shirt? If so, still try to save money and shop at consignment or hand-me down type stores
Are you spending a fortune on credit card interest fees? Call to see if you can lower it, especially if you’ve made regular on-time payments. If they won’t, try to find a card with a lower rate/annual fee and look into doing a balance transfer
Don’t buy things JUST because they’re on sale!
For big purchases, don’t rush – give yourself a 24-48 hour MANDATORY WINDOW to think it over. You’ll be surprise how many things I realized I shouldn’t/couldn’t/didn’t really want to buy after taking time to consider it
Learn to do some basic repairs yourself instead of hiring out the work
When you DO need to hire out work, shop around for rates and be sure to get references

#5: Insurance

Compare companies/agents – and often! What was once the best/cheapest plan for you may now be more expensive than others
Don’t be afraid to call and ask for a lower rate, especially if you haven’t had many claims
Don’t hesitate to protest your property taxes if you think they’re too high

#6: Increase your Income

I’m not going to list the zillion things people say you can do to increase your income – you can search on Google or Pinterest for those and find plenty 🙂 For me, this blog has helped to increase our income and is helping us work toward the goal of Nerd Dad working from home – our dream!

My Favorite Blogging Resources

April 6, 2016 by Danielle

I know, typically this blog doesn’t cover actual BLOGGING topics – so if you aren’t a blogger, or not interested in becoming one, just check back tomorrow for more awesomeness! If you ARE one, or looking at becoming one, I thought it’d be good share My Favorite Blogging Resources – the things that helped me the most with increasing my blog income, traffic and strategy, as well as the products and such I personally use to make my blogging career easier!

Contains affiliate links that support this blog at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure for more info.

I started this blog in early 2013, but didn’t really take it ‘seriously’ until early 2015. As I tried frantically to bring up my traffic, social media following AND income all at once, the day-to-day of this business really made me want to pull out my hair. I would read tons of online posts and plenty of Ebooks on the subject, and while many weren’t ultra helpful (some not even accurate anymore, since the blogging world changes quite often) there were some resources that made a HUGE difference and allowed me to finish 2015 with a bang, making over $20,000 for the year.

I’m not going to list the things that weren’t REALLY worthwhile, because – as I said before – there’s plenty I read and researched, but it didn’t make much of a difference. I only want to include in this list the BIGGEST things that helped me grow, and that continue to help me increase as 2016 progresses – and my goals for this year are REALLY awesome!

#1: The Best Blogging Courses

I’ve paid more money than I’d care to admit trying different blogging courses – but I’ve finally found the ONE blogging course that I’d recommend. It included so much, had quality instructions (videos AND free printables) AND made the biggest difference: The Blogpreneur Course. The 3 awesome ladies that put this together make a combine 6+ figure income EACH MONTH from their blogs. Obviously they know what they’re doing!

#2: Blogging Ebooks that are Worth The Money

Originally, I wanted to share with you how many ebooks I’ve read total, so you could see that number versus how many I highly recommend. Once I got to ten (in the past 1-2 years, mind you) I decided I was bored going back through it all – sorry! But of them all, here are the ones I really do recommend and believe are worth the money.

#3: Blogging Posts that Really Know Their Stuff

We all love free stuff, right? There truly are some fabulous posts about blogging – tips, suggestions, the social media part, etc. – out their on the internet totally free and ready for you to find them. The problem is, there’s EVEN MORE posts like that that just don’t quite qualify as really helpful. They may have been at one point, but keep in mind that blogging is always changing, especially the social media aspects of it! Here are my top favorite articles that have made the biggest difference in my blogging.

Here’s a list of more good blogging posts – but the above list are my favorites!

#4: My Favorite Blogging Tools and Resources

Hosting with Servously – I’ve tried several hosting companies, from Bluehost to GoDaddy and more. I’m sticking with Servously because not only have I had so little down time, but the rates are fabulous (starting at just $10 per month), you get into their private Facebook group for even faster support, they back up your site daily, and they grow with you! I can’t say enough good about them!
Tailwind – I love the ease of Tailwind, making it so I don’t have to be ON Pinterest tons throughout the day. Which is good, since I’d get sucked in even more and spend my whole life pinning and repinning things! It’s affordable, and allows you to set up your own schedule, then just pin through their system and VIOLA, it handles it all for you.
Adobe Creative Cloud – this is great for editing, creating printables and products, and so much more!
PicMonkey – this is what I use for 99% of my blog post images, as well as creating certain graphics and such for printables and products. It’s so fun, easy and LOTS of great options!

Budget Friendly Easter Basket Ideas

March 10, 2016 by Danielle

I received some free product to help facilitate this post. All opinions are 100% mine alone.

It still throws me off that Easter is sometimes in March. Is that weird to anyone else? I know it just depends on the calendar, but I’ve just always considered it more of an April holiday. Anywho – it’s on March 27th this year, so fast approaching! Luckily (or shockingly) I’m completely ready with some Budget Friendly Easter Basket Ideas for my kiddos to have a great holiday!

First of all, I need to be clear: I’m definitely FOR tasty treats in Easter baskets! It’s not a true basket without at least some goodie – chocolate, egg-y, whatever. That being said, I make sure to include more non-candy items for my kids to enjoy. Several are also great for family activities, so you can enjoy the day together!

Items I Chose:

Small metal buckets – perfectly sized, fun characters & designs, afforable AND durable so they can enjoy them as pencil holders, storage or toy carriers later
Raisin pouches – great healthy treat
Swiss Milk Chocolate Treasure Eggs – a fun new item from Choco Treasure! Lots of favorite characters to choose from such as Kung Fu Panda 3, Minions or Hello Kitty. Each is a delicate, wrapped chocolate egg that’s delicious milk chocolate. Inside that chocolate egg layer is a plastic egg, holding one of a large variety of toys or games! So far in our Minion ones we’ve got a couple figures, a little puzzle-type game, and a ‘coin’. Treat AND toy all in one!

Dollar Store toys: jump rope, skip-it, bubbles, card games, play dough, magna-doodle, play fishing set
Creative supplies: crayons and sidewalk chalk
Useful items: chapstick/lip gloss, nail polish, hair bows and ties, socks, toothbrush
Other Neat Easter Basket Stuffers: chalkboard bunny clips, Shopkins mystery box (you can get others, too, such as Transformers or Star Wars), sunglasses, summer hat, umbrella

I only spent $8-$15 per child for the stuff shown above (did receive the Chocolate Treasure Eggs for review) – definitely affordable! There were several things I’m going to give as a ‘family’ gift, such as the playing cards, since they don’t EACH need the same thing with that. But playdough, bubbles and jump ropes I wanted to give individually.

You can really mix it up however your family prefers – if your kids are more artistic, include more craft things such as markers, color pencils and stickers. It’s so easy to find fun, creative, useful, delicious things to fill your kids’ Easter baskets with, without breaking the budget!

What are YOUR favorite Easter basket ideas?

5 Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid

December 10, 2015 by Danielle

As many of you already know, we recently moved so we could be closer to Hubby’s job. Even though selling our old house, which we truly loved, was that biggest hassle and stress of the whole thing, we also had many headaches when buying our new one. Since there’s already enough to worry about when moving, I want to help you out with 5 Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid – and hopefully you’ll have less of a headache than we did!

I told Hubby that if we ever have to move again (because I never want to) we’re going to be much smarter with the home loan process! I wish we had looked more into What To Expect and prepared ourselves. Here’s some tips to help YOU!

1: Not Knowing What You Can Really Afford

Many people don’t realize that just because they QUALIFY for a certain amount of home, doesn’t mean they can realistically afford the payments, insurance, taxes and everything for it. You can use a Mortgage Loan Calculator to play with numbers to get an idea of what you’re looking for. Decide what you’re comfortable with, and do NOT let anyone pressure you to go higher!

2: Not Knowing All Associated Costs Ahead of Time

Of course you know about down payments and such, but there’s so many other closing costs to discuss! Will the seller be covering any of it, such as title? What are the costs of an inspection, appraisal, etc. and when are they due? We ran into many expenses that we weren’t planning on, and some were due even before we closed, such as Earnest Money! Be prepared, and plan on more than you think in case something unexpected comes up. The new Capital One digital home loan experience is empowering potential homebuyers to take charge, while providing them the transparency they want and need every step of the way.

3: Expecting Timing to Work Perfectly

We had cash buyers for our home that wanted us to close and move out REALLY fast – and since we were buying a new-build home with no current owners that had to move out, we thought we could get into it the exact same day. That’d be perfect, right? Nope! Just one little piece of paper can move your closing date by several days. Have a back-up plan in case you can’t move in RIGHT on the day you thought, and be prepared for that to happen to avoid more tears (I shed plenty!)

4: Not Completing Your Paperwork on Time and Accurately

Like I said above, one piece of paperwork or one missed signature can delay your closing by quite a bit – perhaps even resulting in you having to start the process all over again if you wait too long! When you get a request for a document, follow through quickly. It’s also a good idea to VERIFY EXACTLY what they’re needing, as some of it may be confusing. Available in select markets, new Capital One digital home loan experience allows customers to pre-qualify for a home loan in minutes from any device, apply online, upload documents and digitally track progress from application to closing. It also includes personalized service from a dedicated loan officer when a customer needs it. Utilize the resources available to you, track your progress with the application and don’t hesitate to ask for help from your loan officer!

5: Not Asking For More

If the seller of your desired home is motivated, you can ask for more! Don’t get greedy, but negotiating a few extras or a lower price doesn’t hurt. Now, if there’s many people after the same house then the sellers aren’t going to want to give more than they have to. This is where it’s good to know the market, and get a feel for how desperate the sellers are. Our realtor negotiated us a new fridge, blinds, and even got them to cover some of our closing costs! Get it all in writing to be safe. Again, to get greedy, but see what you can work out.

To celebrate the launch of their new digital and personal experience, Capital One Home Loans is partnering with Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot, stars from HGTV’s Love It or List It, Too, to host a free and open-to-the public Open House event on Saturday, December 12 at the Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco, TX. During the event, they’ll share do-it-yourself tips and tricks for simplifying the entire home buying and owning process. For more information, visit SmartHomeLoans.com

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Varagesale: Sell, Buy & Earn

November 11, 2015 by Danielle

This post is sponsored by Varagesale. All opinions and experiences are my own.

As most of you know, we just made a big move to be closer to hubby’s work. Between clearing stuff out to ‘show’ the house we were selling, to the massive loads we just didn’t want to deal with moving, we tossed a bunch of stuff. I really wish I’d known there was a great LOCAL site where I could earn some extra cash by easily selling all that stuff! Varagesale: Sell, Buy & Earn is such a great idea, especially when you’re wanting to clean out or earn some money.

You’re probably asking ‘what IS Varagesale‘? In a nutshell, it’s an online garage sale that’s not only convenient and keeps things local to avoid shipping/delivery/pick-up nightmares – it also saves you tons of time! Think about how many hours you spend on a typical garage sale: you’ve got to gather your items and store them until you have ‘enough’, set them out, price tag them, advertise, then sit out there waiting and hoping people will come by and purchase. Agh! Wouldn’t it be much easier for list your items in a list of local people who are ACTIVELY looking, like this…..?

I just had to check it out! I signed up for my local area, and got to searching the simple system – this is what it looks like when I sign in. There’s easy menus for your Feed, Discussions, searching Categories (or just search at the top), and keeping your own items and transactions organized.

I’m seriously kicking myself for not holding onto the stuff we didn’t want anymore! But….I’m in need of a few new things for our new house! Like a nightstand – my old one was bulky, falling apart, and just annoying. Definitely not worth keeping! I simply searched and found the perfect one!

I was able to comment on the listing, and send a direct message to the seller to work out pick-up/delivery.

And guess what my local DFW friends – there’s new communities for our area on Varagesale.com now!

There’s all sorts of things – from furniture, decor and games to clothing, appliances and gifts!

How did it get started, you ask? VarageSale was founded by a former elementary teacher, Tami Zuckerman in 2012 after she became frustrated using other sites to buy and sell online. She approached her husband, a programmer, and the two collaborated together to create something more user friendly with a better experience than existing classifieds sites or social networks.

There’s even an APP – because it’s all about convenience and simplicity here!

The app uses location technology to sort the news feed based on what’s closest to you. The more people posting and shopping within a community, the more local your experience will be.

Another nifty and helpful trick for VarageSale users? You can customize your news feed so that only the categories and items you care about, show up! Here’s how: http://help.varagesale.com/article/88-how-to-hide-categories

You can Also WIN!

**Limited Time “Super Seller” Cash Promotion and Family Vacation to Orlando Contest**

New VarageSale sign-ups who join a newly launched community will earn $5 for every item they list for sale (up to 25 items). That’s potentially $125 up for grabs!
BONUS: every item listed for sale is also an entry into a state-wide contest to win a family vacation (up to 5 people) to the most magical place on earth in Orlando, Florida (Disney World).

Super Seller cash offer available to new VarageSale signs-ups only, and only eligible in new VarageSale communities. Limited to first 100 new sign-ups per community. Disney contest is available to new and existing VarageSale users and is state-wide. Full terms at terms.varagesale.com/tx

Be sure to go Sign Up for your local area, then check out Varagesale on their social channels, too!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VarageSale
Twitter: @VarageSale
Instagram: VarageSale
YouTube: www.youtube.com/varagesale
- Check out this channel for lots of short, fun video demos of how VarageSale works