15+ of the BEST Grocery Budgeting Tips EVER

February 22, 2019 by Danielle

As a busy mom, I try really hard to maximize our income the best we can. One of the most varying areas in our budget has always been groceries. So I’m often searching for smart ways to keep it as low as possible, without living on ramen noodles and pb&j sandwiches. Here’s 15+ of the BEST Grocery Budgeting Tips EVER that I’ve found, tried and loved!

Now, maybe some of these won’t work for you. Don’t overwhelm yourself and try to do all of them at once. Pick a couple that would be best for your situation, then maybe down the road implement a few more!

Grocery Budgeting Tips

Make a list, and STICK TO IT. Be strict with yourself on this, or at least plan ahead for which situations you are allowed to budge on (for example, if you see an item and you FOR SURE need that for a recipe this week, and you KNOW you don’t have any). I’ll admit, I struggle with this – thus bringing us to my saving tip number two….
Only carry cash with you. Check sales/prices, check your list, and bring enough cash (don’t forget tax). I know that if I carry cash, I’m less likely to purchase things I don’t need because I would be horrified if I got to the register and didn’t have enough.
Make sacrifices, or substitutions. For example, leave the cheese off your meat sandwich and use lettuce instead. Or splurge one day a week on a ‘gourmet’ sandwich with cheese, but in exchange take pb & j another day even if it isn’t your favorite.
A name isn’t everything = be willing to try non-name brand items. Most of the time, I get generic-brand items for a lot less than popular brands, and really don’t notice a difference (other than the savings).
Try to make fewer shopping trips. I know myself well enough to know that the more trips I make the the store, the more ‘extra’ stuff I buy. Now, I cannot bring myself to shop for the whole month in one day – although that is a goal of mine to work towards. However, Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic is amazing at this, so be sure to go check her out to see how she does a whole month at once. For now, I just do one trip per week (as best as I can) – so try what you can.
Coupons – please know that I am Not. A. Coupon. Person. Seriously, I hate dealing with coupons, unless some kind person at the store says ‘oh, here’s a coupon for that item in your cart’ – imagine how often that happens, though. If you are then you’re my hero, and I tip my hat (not that I ever wear hats, but if I did) to you! I will note, though, that Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less says coupons aren’t where the savings are – it’s in the store sales. Go read her article for more on that – it’s GREAT!
The biggest saving tip FOR ME – cooking from scratch as much as possible. Now, I LOVE pre-made dinners and such that make life all the less stressful and more convenient, but it does come with a higher price tag. If you can bring yourself to do a little more from scratch, it can really add up with savings.
Learn which stores have the best prices for common foods. Checking the ads is a fantastic way to take care of this, especially since items can change each week. Sometimes, however, there are stores that just always (or mostly) have certain items cheaper. For me, I always buy milk at my local Aldi store because I’ve never gotten it more than $1.99 each. Compared to the other MAIN store I shop at, there’s is rarely down that low.
Use what you have on-hand. Yes, I know stocking up is a great thing, but also be sure you’re utilizing things instead of letting them go bad. A good idea is seeing what you have then planning meals AROUND what is already on your shelf.
Avoid the ‘snack packs’ and other sugary convenient kiddie snacks. I do get these sometimes, but am trying to do better. Getting on-sale produce, crackers, yogurt, etc. will not only help your budget, but also help your family be more healthy.
Check your local bakeries later in the evening to see if they have any mark-downs for the day they’re trying to sell.
Drink water. This is really REALLY hard for me! I love my Dr. Pepper, and juice. However, I AM trying to reduce my intake to only one Dr. Pepper per day, and doing mostly water the remainder. Still struggling, but progressing!
Purchase produce when it’s in season (thus, on sale!) and FREEZE it for later. This way, you can stock up while it’s more cost-friendly, but enjoy those fruits and veggies year round.
Eat at home more often. I love eating out, but my family has done really well as of late to eat at home a LOT more often, making eating out a special occasion or treat. Even then, we watch for Kids Eat Free specials, birthday deals, ‘happy hour’ dinner specials, etc.
Eat less meat. Meat can be really expensive, so having it less often can really help the budget. Or just exchange your normally expensive cuts for a downgrade type cut – for example, instead of boneless chicken breasts do drumsticks and thighs. Or a cheaper cut of steak instead of a Ribeye.

Bonus Grocery Budgeting Tips!

Go to the store WITHOUT YOUR KIDS. I have a hard time with this, since I have four little ones, but I do still try to get the shopping done when daddy is home to watch them (plus it’s a nice break for me from the mini van!). With kids, you’ll get more ‘can I get these’, whining, and be a lot more distracted.
Go shopping AFTER you’ve eaten. When you’re hungry, you’re more likely to buy more items and buy things you normally wouldn’t care about. Going on a full stomach can even help you realize that certain things just aren’t necessary.
Find a produce co-op, such as Bountiful Baskets. I started using this when we moved to our new house (had just learned of it from my Uncle), and it’s been a HUGE help with our grocery budget. You can get produce for a lot cheaper, stock up on in-season-so-low-priced items, PLUS it helps (at least it has us) your family eat more produce, which is great for your health.

What are YOUR Best Grocery Budgeting Tips?

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!

How to Pay Less for Your Auto Insurance

February 23, 2015 by Danielle

If you drive a vehicle, it is the law that you must be covered by auto insurance. Depending on where you live, what type of car you drive and your driving record, you might be paying an enormous amount in auto insurance premiums. However, there are some things you can do to limit the amount of money you spend on auto insurance. By doing a little research, the amount that you pay can drop significantly, while still maintaining enough coverage that will allow you to drive legally. Here are some ways you can go about paying less for your auto insurance Austin.

1. Shop around

If you think that all auto insurance companies are the same, you are sadly mistaken. You will find that the rates they charge for the same amount of coverage can vary widely. This is why it is in your best interests to call as many auto insurance providers as you can. You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing this. In fact, tell the representatives at the companies you call that you are comparing rates between providers. You can also say that you will choose the one that offers the lowest rate. This might cause the representative to give you a favorable rate just to get your business.

2. Start living in a better area

As mentioned earlier, where you live can play a huge role in how much your auto insurance costs. If you live in a neighborhood where car thefts are common, it goes without saying that insurance companies are going to charge you more. This is because there is a greater likelihood of your car being stolen. Living in a better area with less crime will cause providers to lower your premium.

3. Think about buying a different vehicle

The newer and more expensive a vehicle is, the higher your insurance premiums will be. This is due to the fact that it will cost more to repair or replace a new vehicle than an old one. Sports cars and other high-performance vehicles will also cost you more to insure because of the increased risk of a high-speed collision.

4. Increase your deductible

Your deductible is how much you need to pay prior to your provider paying you a settlement on a claim. By increasing this deductible, most auto insurance providers will enable you to lower the amount of your premiums. This can save you a tremendous amount over the life of the policy.

Budget Saving Giving: Festive Goodie Basket

October 27, 2014 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. #TasteTheSeason #CollectiveBias

Less than two months until Christmas, guys. TWO MONTHS! That’s less than 9 weeks to take care of decorating, activities, shrinking bank accounts, parties, gift giving and hopefully quality family time! Now, before we all run around screaming like our hair’s on fire, take a big breath because I’m here to help you with at least some of that! Let’s all take a look on how to pull off Budget Saving Giving with this Festive Goodie Basket! Don’t worry…recipes and printables included!

Though some of my friends think I’m crazy (not denying it, but bare with me) I really like to save money during the holidays. I don’t think that breaking the bank is a smart way to spend the holidays! And really, it shouldn’t be about the money, it should be about family and friends, right? To help me not spend a fortune, I really enjoy making quality, homemade treats to give to our neighbors and friends.

You may be saying ‘life’s even busier during the holidays, there’s no way I have TIME to make delicious treats!’ I said I like to save money….but I also love saving time, and you can get BOTH! I’m going to share with you 3 recipes for tasty treats you can put together in the Festive Goodie Basket really quick, saving your piggy bank AND giving you more time for the holiday fun! First, run over to Walmart and grab the necessary ingredients…. As far as the food is concerned, it’s even a quick trip, just hit the baking aisle and then swing by the refrigerated dairy section, then you’re out in a flash! Please do pay first, though 😉 You may need to pick up a couple things for the basket, unless you can find most on-hand!

Truffles – Ingredients

1 block Kraft Philidelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 regular-sized package chocolate cookies with cream filling
2-3 packs Kraft Baker’s Chocolate, in your choice of flavor (I use semi-sweet & white chocolate)

Truffles – Directions

Crush the cookies in a zip-lock bag. The more ‘smooshed’ the better! Here’s Wonder Woman helping me out with the holiday goodies!
Mix the cookie crumbs with the softened cream cheese until it’s well-combined. Roll into 1″ balls and place on a sprayed baking sheet. If you want them on pop-sticks like I have mine, insert those now. Refrigerate about an hour.
Melt the Baker’s chocolate according to directions, then carefully dip each truffle ball so it’s covered. Once done, refrigerate the truffles at least an hour for the chocolate to harden.

Cookies in a Jar

I’m so in love with jar gifts, and they’re super easy to make! You can really get creative with them, too! These cookies are delicious once baked, with the directions clearly listed on one of the adorable free printables!

Cookie Jar Gift – Ingredients

1 Large Jar with Lid, clean
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 – 1 cup Chocolate Chips
Free Printable Jar Lid Topper with Instructions
Free Printable Jar Label – be sure to add your signature/family name!
Twine or ribbon
Cloth for lid
Scissors & tape/glue

Cookie Jar Gift – Directions

Because jar sizes can be different, start with HALF this recipe to make sure everything will fit. Mix the sugar, baking soda & powder, flour and salt. Carefully pour into jar. Add the cocoa powder, then top with a layer of chocolate chips. If that leaves enough room for more, then do the same again! Put the lid on tightly.
Wrap a piece of twine/ribbon around the jar and secure with tape. Tape the label printable in the center.
Place the cloth over the lid and secure in place with twine or ribbon. Tape or glue the lid topper onto the top, so they know how to bake their yummy cookies!

My favorite part of this gift are the next recipe….super addictive Caramel Marshmallow Cookies!

Caramel Marshmallow Cookies – Ingredients

3/4 cup Butter, softened
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 1/4 cups Flour
1 tsp. Corn Starch
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1 pack Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallows
1 pack Kraft Caramels

Caramel Marshmallow Cookies – Directions

Melt the caramels according to directions, then dip the marshmallows in so they’re covered. Place in freezer until needed. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line two cookies sheets, set aside.
Cream the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until mixed. Stir in the baking soda, baking powder and corn starch. Slowly mix in the flour until everything’s well-combined.
The cookies are large, but that works nicely for the gift basket. Roll a large piece of dough into a ball, then flatten well. Place one caramel-covered marshmallow inside, then wrap the dough so it’s covered. Make sure it’s covered well by the dough, or it will melt through…still tastes great, but doesn’t look as nice.
Bake for 12-18 minutes, or until dough is slightly browned and mostly cooked. Do not overcook, since the softness is one of the great things about this cookie!

Festive Goodie Basket

Now it’s time to take your fabulous goodies to make your Festive Goodie Baskets, so you can hand them out to your friends, neighbors, even party guests…saving you both time AND money! Since you’re taking these to people, I recommend putting the truffles and made cookies in packaging or wrap, securing it with matching twine or ribbon. Looks pretty, stays clean and safe to eat!

Supplies For Basket

Basket or Bowl
Goodies: Truffles, Cookies in a Jar, Caramel Marshmallow Cookies
Filler, such as fake grass (craft aisle at Walmart)
Green foam (that holds fake flowers, craft aisle at Walmart – to secure truffle sticks)
If desired, a mini jar to hold the foam/truffle sticks (craft aisle, less than $1)
Accent decoration (I found pretty gold leaf accents for less than $1 on clearance)

Assemble Your Basket

Place some filler in your bowl/basket. Place the Jar in securely so it stands nicely. For your truffles, put some of the green foam either directly into your basket, or into a mini jar, then stick in the sticks as such…
Wrap a little ribbon around the base of the truffle sticks to make it pretty. Place in the cookies, your accent piece and VIOLA! You’re done with a beautiful, delicious AND budget-friendly gift ready to take!

Notice my basket is color/style schemed more towards fall the Christmas? I’ve learned that another great way to save time and money during the holidays….plan and give EARLY! I give these all out during early November, which means that during the actual holidays I can really focus on what matters most: my family! Also, people get plenty later during the season, so give them a little something extra early on so it puts their season off to a wonderful start!

If you need more inspiration, check out the Cooking Up Good website. They have recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more! What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

Smart Money Smart Kids: Dave & Rachel’s New Book

April 5, 2014 by Danielle

I received a free digital copy of this book to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Guys I’m So. Dang. Excited! I’m part of the launch team for Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruze’s (his daughter) new book: Smart Money Smart Kids. Now that I’ve read the entire thing (and am preparing to re-read it), I have to admit I don’t even know where to START in telling you guys about it! Seriously, there is so much amazing info in it for raising your kids to be smart with money, have a grateful heart, and basically prepare them for a successful future! The best way to begin something is just to begin, right? I think this ‘beginning’ should be mine and Hubby’s not-so-great financial history. So let’s just dive right in, shall we?

First of all, I’ve been a huge fan of Dave’s for awhile now. After reading his Total Money Makeover book, it completely changed how Hubby and I view our financial situation. Up until that point, however, our financial knowledge was very VERY limited. Starting our family while still in college, we used that as an excuse to rack up substantial student loans to cover our education and many living expenses. We also didn’t think much about going on several family vacations. Add to that our attempts at starting a large business that completely failed and lead us to bankruptcy…..ya, our financial situation was beyond critical.

After reading the Total Money Makeover about two years ago, we decided to turn our lives around completely. We started by moving to an area (and different state) where there was much more job potential (and a lot better pay) than where we were stuck in Utah. By doing so, we tripled Hubby’s annual salary. I have yet to figure out how we got by before….a mixture of amazing family support and the grace of heaven, probably!

We have now been working as hard as possible to get rid of our debt, which currently sits at an appalling $105,000 NOT including our home! The majority is student loans, then there’s one auto loan, a little credit card debt, and a chunk that we owe our parents (for daycare and such help while we were in school). This is not chump change, guys! We’re throwing as much as we can at this debt, and making many sacrifices along the way. No cable (not really a sacrifice), driving as infrequently as possible to save on gas and repairs, keeping a close eye on our utilities and groceries (see the 15+ Best Grocery Budgeting Tips Ever), and trying to avoid ‘extra’ stuff such as eating out and toys/games/etc. It’s a long process, but we’re determined to pull this off!

Now, I’ll be perfectly honest with you all: Hubby makes a pretty decent salary. Growing up, I never would’ve thought my family would have this income with just ONE spouse working. But think about it….this nice salary is going mostly to DEBT! To things that are in the past, instead of things we could enjoy now or save for in the future. Depressing, right?!

This is NOT what I want for my kids, so I want to arm them with as much knowledge, experience and attitude as possible in financial wisdom. That’s where Smart Money Smart Kids comes in! Dave and Rachel break it down into very specific, age-appropriate levels. With lots of personal stories and a back-and-forth type narrative, this is so fun to read! What I love the best, though, is that these lessons not only teach kids how to be financial smart, but it helps build their entire character in a way they can TRULY succeed in their life!

Here’s some of the things they touch on:

Build the desire in your kids to WORK, not be lazy. This will help them in so many ways throughout their life. Work isn’t really a four letter word!!!
Money doesn’t grow on trees. Kids need to learn that it does have a limit, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Delayed gratification: learn to save! Set age-appropriate goals, allow your child to work towards something. Imagine their sense of pride and accomplishment when they’ve EARNED something by working for it.
Do you think it’s easier to give away money that’s not really yours anyway? Of course it is! Teaching your children that everything is really God’s money anyway will help foster a giving heart….now THAT will go far in their lives!
When their old enough, teaching your child the importance and benefit of a budget is crucial. Starting the habit when their younger will make it second nature when they’re grown and have much more at stake. Help them tell their money where to go, not wonder where it went!
Debt IS a four letter word! Just like in our situation where it’s taking EXTRA work, sacrifice and lot of years of our lives to get rid of, debt can truly ruin your child’s future. Raising them to avoid it altogether can do amazing things for them. This is one of the best things you can teach your child!
Student loans: AVOID THEM! There’s so many other options, and even Hubby and I (thinking back) could have paid for our college a dozen better ways than the loans. We just didn’t realize, and didn’t care. If I gave ONE piece of advice to my sisters and children on finances….avoid student loans!

Really, there’s TONS in Smart Money Smart Kids that every parent should utilize with their children. Heck, they even cover the different types of family situations (divorced, step-families, special needs kids, etc.). Seriously, they cover EVERYTHING you need to set your kid up for success!

Smart Money Smart Kids is available for pre-order NOW…and comes out April 22nd! So do your kids and all the future generations a favor and go pre-order it RIGHT NOW. It could be the best purchase you ever make for your child’s future.

2013 Best of Busy Mom’s Helper: Non-Recipes

December 25, 2013 by Danielle

I can’t believe I’ve been blogging on here for the majority of this year. It’s been so much fun, and such a HUGE outlet for me. To celebrate, and to offer all of us a little extra time with our families this holiday week, I’m going to be sharing the 2013 Best of Busy Mom’s Helper – today is non-recipes!!! I’ll find the top posts from the year (based on pageviews) and list them right here – in case you missed some of the most popular fun and creativity! I’m only going based on through November, though – I figure December has been seen recently enough 😀

Best of 2013 Series: Non-Recipe / Busy Mom's Helper

Today’s part of the series: Non-Recipe posts

Superhero Soda Gift Set

This was a fun little gift for Hubby for Father’s Day. People have been enjoying the free printables all year!

DIY Kid’s Chef Hats

So much fun for the little kitchen helpers – plus completely customizable!

DIY Backpack Center

I can’t tell you what a help this project has been – a nice place for backpacks and jackets, plus the dry erase frames are PERFECT for notes and reminders!