money Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Over 100 Staycation Ideas

March 18, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Don’t have the budget to swing an expensive vacation this summer? Even though Disneyland, cruises, and road trips are super fun, for the normal person it’s just not practical to splurge on one every single year. It’s still nice to have some type of family vacation, though, right? Well, here’s the list to save your vacation woes…Over 100 Budget-Saving Staycation Ideas!

Yesterday was Wonder Woman’s last day of 2nd grade, so our house is on ‘official’ summer break mode. Seriously, WHY do kids go crazy the DAY it’s summer break? Do they have a switch? Whatever it is, I do find it slightly annoying. Anywho…since we’re trying our hardest to get out of debt, we’re putting the big N-O to any big vacation plans this year. I don’t want to do NOTHING, though, so went on the search for some awesome Staycation Ideas. This list of over 100 ideas will have us spending plenty of staycation time together, and I’m sure there’s something perfect for your family, too!

Here’s 25 Awesome Staycation Ideas over at Living Well Spending Less

The Extreme Coupon Professors have 100 Staycation Ideas for Your Summer Fun

Six Sisters’ Stuff shared these 30 Cheap Staycation Ideas, and they’re fabulous!

Forbes has a list of 16 Things To Do On a Staycation that’ll help get your brainstorming going

My family (and sometimes just Hubby and I) will surely enjoy some of these 123 Amazing Staycation Ideas from the lovely Dating Divas

What better way to relax and enjoy yourself than with these 22 Ways to Turn Your Home Into a Staycation Resort from This Old House?!

Have you done any Staycations in the past that you absolutely loved? Please share in the comments below!

15+ of the BEST Grocery Budgeting Tips EVER

February 22, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

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

December 28, 2020 by Kelly Dedeaux

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 this blogger made over $20K with less than 60K pageviews

February 18, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

When people ask me what I do for work, I tell them I’m a full-time blogger. 90% of the time this brings on the question “do you actually make money blogging?” That’s a difficult question, because it varies for each person – from making LOTS of money, to no income, to even costing them money. Each story is different, each blog is different, but I’m going to tell you how THIS blogger made over $20k last year with less than 60k pageviews a month!

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

Now let me clarify a few things – I made just over $20,000 (was just over $23k total), but that wasn’t profit – it was gross income. I’m still at that stage where I choose to put everything I earn back into my blog. Things like hiring a VA, courses (like BlogPreneur) and ebooks (like How I went from 17k pageviews to 350+ monthly pageviews in 9 months), conferences, supplies for posts, even a Family Forward Conference/Vacation was out of that money. I’m only counting what was actually PAID to me – some work was done in November/December but payment will count as 2016. When I average out the year, my monthly pageviews were under 60,000 per month. You DON’T have to have high pageviews to make money blogging – but yes, it would help!

Here’s some big things I did that jumped my income up from around just $5k in 2014 up to $20k in 2015.

#1: I improved my photography

I learned some amazing tips for handling my camera and styling shots during the Click Retreat in January. Then I took the Confidence Workshop from MeRa Koh and really learned how to use my camera manually. This made a HUGE difference in my pictures! I still have a lot of improving to go, but it’s already come a long way, and my photos are more likely to get repinned if they look awesome. This helped my income because brands are more eager to work with someone who has excellent photography.

#2: I took the Business2Blogger Course: BlogPreneur

Ran by three amazing bloggers who combined make OVER 6 FIGURES A MONTH: Holly from Kids Activities Blog, Becky from Your Modern Family and Paula from Beauty Through Imperfection, this course teaches you EVERYTHING from photo editing, how to help a post go viral, social media, and writing for your audience. Guys, I haven’t even FINISHED all the great videos yet, as I work through them one by one, but my blogging business has seen a huge difference – this gave me a big push towards the end of last year, and has me super hopeful for 2016!

#3: I Connected with Other Bloggers

This isn’t a competition, it’s a community. Tearing each other down helps nobody, building each other up helps everybody! I’ve made some amazing friends and gotten new connections thanks to those friends. We help each other with blogging questions, bouncing off ideas, and support. I recently released my new Disneyland Activity & Autograph Book and asked in my communities if anyone could help me spread the word. I was left in tears as not a few, but DOZENS of wonderful bloggers didn’t hesitate to support my new project! These connections can be your lifeline with your blog – don’t ignore them.

#4: I Managed my Time Better

You could work 18 hour days on your blog and STILL have plenty left on your list of things to do. I learned to prioritize and focus. I learned what my own strengths were, as well as my weaknesses – then I hired a VA to handle what would take a large chunk of my time. Yes, it costs money to have a VA, but she can do her assigned tasks a ton faster than I would – and then I was able to focus my attention on other items of my blog.

#5: Apply for Sponsored Posts – a Lot

Guys, pageviews aren’t everything. They’re awesome and nice and helpful – but QUALITY is meaning more and more. Make your blog easy to navigate, be consistent with social media and INTERACT with your followers, use beautiful photos, and just be you. Apply for sponsored posts as much as you can – but stay with what your blog is about. Don’t sacrifice the quality of your blog, or your followers, just to grab a sponsored post. I won’t do alcohol posts unless it’s for cooking. That’s just not me or my blog. I won’t review horror movies because I HATE them, and don’t cover that type of thing. Stay consistent to YOU and YOUR BLOG. Watch for opportunities that match, make a great pitch for a unique idea, then deliver high quality content. One sponsored post will turn into two, then three, and so on. Don’t let fear prevent you for trying for those paid opportunities!

My Newest Budget-Saving Trick

January 9, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for AmericanExpress Serve. I applied for the Serve Cash Back card to facilitate my review and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #ServeSomeGood

I love budgeting – making the spreadsheet, tracking our expenses and income, planning how we can afford our necessities, maybe get some fun wants, and hopefully save for future goals. Whether you love to budget or not, My Newest Budget-Saving Trick can help you keep more green to use for whatever you choose!

Recently, I shared 5 Best Money Saving Tips with you, one of which being to use the American Express Serve® Cash Back prepaid debit card. Not only does it make it so you don’t have to carry bundles of cash around, but still give you the benefits of a ‘cash only/envelope’ system, but you can earn money BACK! I mentioned I planned to use this for the majority of my spending to test it out, and I loved it!

Knowing that I had a set amount on my card, whatever amount it was that I’d chosen to load onto my card easily online, it worked just as great as a cash-only system. I only had a card to worry about, too, instead of cash that could be lost or stolen. I mean, your card can be, also, but you can report it and get any stolen funds back and the card replaced. Cash, not so much.

There’s also some handy money management tools online for no or low cost, so whether you just love learning more about finance help or really need to up your financial knowledge they’re there to help! There is a low monthly fee of $5.95, which did leave me hesitant at first – but I learned you earn that much and more easily with the 1% cash back on purchases. The cash back you earn is quickly added to your account after your purchase, so it’s available whenever you are. Just log in to redeem your earnings for your next purchase.

They also offer free direct deposit, free online bill pay, and free in-network ATM withdrawals. A $2.50 AmericanExpress Serve fee applies for out of network ATM withdrawals.

So what are you waiting for? Register on-line to get a prepaid card in the mail. There’s no credit checks, minimum balances or hidden fees.

How to Pay Less for Your Auto Insurance

June 7, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

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.

Simple Neighbor Gifts from Clearance Sales

December 7, 2014 by Kelly Dedeaux

This post contains affiliate links, which help support this blog. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Despite working like crazy, my to-do list just seems to grow ever longer this holiday season! With everything to do, I’m not getting the quality family time I want. One thing I’ve been trying to do to help is find ways to cut down on time AND money, especially with my gift giving. Luckily, I planned ahead last year and was able to make some super adorable Simple Neighbor Gifts from Clearance Sales!

Now, I’m not one of those people who hits the stores extra early the day after Christmas to get the best sales. One, I’m not brave enough to fight through the deal-hunting mobs and Two: I like my sleep. A lot! So I just get around to shopping after-Christmas clearance sales a day or two after that. Maybe I miss out on some great deals, but I still always manage to find the perfect things to make the next year so much nicer! Last year I was able to nab twenty or so of these cute ceramic holiday bowls….for $0.50 a pop!

Fun, right?! They’re perfect for pretty much any treat you want to give as neighbor gifts, whether it’s cookies, snack mix, wrapped candies or whatever. I wanted to make them a little ‘extra special’, though, so decided to get out my trusty Silhouette Cameo and add some vinyl! I chose some sayings like ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’ and the classic ‘Merry Christmas’. Plus images like a swirly Christmas tree or star.

Supplies

Holiday dish or bowl
Vinyl in text/designs desired
Cookies, candies, whatever you want to fill it with
Cellophane or pretty tulle
Ribbon for tying

Directions

Make sure you measure the inside area of your dishes before getting your vinyl shapes, to make sure they’ll fit. After I cut out the vinyl designs really fast on my Silhouette, I put them on transfer paper and carefully transferred them to the inside bottom of each dish. Rub well to make sure it’s all smooth with no bumps or stuck-up edges.
Add your filler, like cookies or chocolate kisses (if you get the holiday colored ones, it looks even more festive) into the bowls. Wrap with your cellophane or tulle, then tie it off with a pretty Christmas ribbon. That’s it!!!

It only took me about 10 minutes to design and print my vinyl, then maybe 20-30 minutes until all 20-something of my bowls were done! This saved me so much time, they turned out fabulous, and I didn’t have to spend much! I’m so excited to hand these out next week, and know my neighbors will absolutely love their treats and holiday bowls!

Give Extra Gift Idea with Free Printables

May 3, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

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

What are your favorite family traditions? Is it reading the same holiday story on Christmas Eve? Having a massive snowball fight complete with forts? We have many I love, but this year I’m starting a new one with my family. This year I want to spread the love with this Give Extra Gift Idea with Free Printables!

We’ve received so many blessings from others, especially around the holidays. I won’t go into details about our years as two young students with a child, then three, then four…plus a long-term bed rest time and bankruptcy thrown in the mix, but I want to tell you all the amazing good that we were able to experience. Every single year while we were in college as a young family, we received help. Anonymous gifts left on our door, even supplies for an entire turkey dinner. We received toys for the kids, food, clothing, even gift cards to get us by longer. One winter I couldn’t afford good shoes for my kids, and someone not only supplied us with those, but also nice new coats! Envelopes with money labeled ‘to help with your schooling’ were the cause of many joyous tears. Honestly, I think I cried more during the holidays than any other time of year….and it was almost always due to overwhelming gratitude!

Not only did this make an amazing holiday for our family, but it also proved to be a major life lesson for my oldest, Wonder Woman. To this day, she still remembers some of those years, some of the gifts are still played with. She knows how happy that made all of us! Now that we’re more secure, we want to be able to pay it forward to others in very similar situations to what we were in.

As a family, we decided to make this adorable Give Extra Gift so we could pass it out (secretly) to others. A neighbor family with some health struggles, a lonely widow down the street….we even made more simple ones we can give to people that help us everyday: police officers, firefighters, and teachers. It was so quick and easy, and you can adjust it according to YOUR preference and needs! Wonder Woman and the boys are so excited to join us in giving gifts to others, and think it’s so fun to pass on the blessings we’ve received! Plus, it was a FABULOUS family activity!

Supplies

Basket, plastic bowl, or even simple vase
Extra Gum Packs (flavor of choice…have fun with the colors!)
Free Printable ‘Give Extra’ tags
Tape, scissors
Ribbon
Foam chunks
Filler (like mini pebbles, colorful stones, etc.)
Colorful straws
Accent pieces, such as sparkly decor items
Cash bills of choice (you can do $1 bills, $10 bills, whatever you choose!)

Directions

To make the money flowers, twist along the bottom of the bills as such:
In your bowl/basket, place the foam. If you want, wrap some ribbon around to hide the edges. The filler (later) will also help to hide it. Stick your straws/sticks with the money flowers into the foam. Adjust the height of the straws for a prettier look.
Add your filler to make the basket look fuller and hide the green foam. Place your Extra Gum packs around, and stick in your accent pieces behind the money flowers. Print off the Free Labels, cut out the color/saying you want, and attach it with a pretty ribbon. You’re done!

To do the vase:

Add filler into the base. Take your rolled money flowers and tape them behind a large pack of Extra Gum, then tape to a straw/stick.
Place the Extra money flower into the vase (it should stand up on the filler), stick a pretty accent behind it, add a ribbon and tag….you’re done!

This year has been a whole new experience for us, being able to Give Extra to others as a way of saying a huge ‘THANK YOU’ to all those that blessed us over the years! I love getting my kiddos involved, and showing them the fun and joy that comes from helping and giving to others. This may be a new favorite family tradition of mine: making a plan on how/what we’ll do for others who may be in need, work together on it as a family, then experience the happiness (and giggles of the kiddos) as you give it away. Seriously, pure joy!

Family Chore Chart

May 2, 2016 by Kelly Dedeaux

Since our kids are getting older and needing more responsibility, plus ways to earn money for their extra wants, I wanted a way to organize chores. After looking at a few different types of charts, I decided to put together this super-cute, but totally simple, Family Chore Chart!

For those that saw, I was part of the launch team for Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruz’s (Dave’s daughter) new book Smart Money, Smart Kids. It was PHENOMENAL, and has so many great tips for helping raise kids to be successful with money (and life)! If you missed my general review, check it out here. After reading it, I realized that I haven’t given my kids opportunities to learn responsibility, or any experience with money. That’s where this Family Chore Chart comes in!

Now, we do still love our Chore Rewards Treasure Chest, but the kids weren’t learning the money aspect, and it was difficult to separate the paid vs. non-paid chores. So we still use that to earn things for good behavior and ‘as a family’ type things, but for the normal chores this has now proven to work better for us!

Supplies

Large foam board (could use poster board, if you’d rather). I chose WHITE
Fun scrapbook paper for the top border and pockets
Vinyl (or markers) for the text
Scissors
Glue Dots
Popsicle Sticks
Pen/marker for sticks
Nail or something to hang board

Directions

Use the BACKSIDE of the foam board to measure everything out. This way you know how things will fit and how you like the layout. Get your measurements from this.
Gather your scrapbook paper for your pockets. NOTE: I did a different color for the pockets, so I could then color the popsicle sticks to match, according to which one they belonged to. According to your measurements, cut out your pockets. I wanted to keep the commission (paid) chores separate from the normal ‘because you’re part of this family’ chores, so I did one pocket for each. I then did a 3rd DONE pocket, so they can put their sticks in there when the chore is completed.
Gather your scrapbook paper for your pockets. NOTE: I did a different color for the pockets, so I could then color the popsicle sticks to match, according to which one they belonged to. Fold the sides of each ‘pocket’ under, add glue dots to the sides and bottom, then attach it to the FRONTSIDE of the board. Add your vinyl to each pocket (mine says ‘family’, ‘paid’ and ‘done’) or write with markers.
Take your desired scrapbook paper and cut out a top border/banner for the top of your chore chart, and attach it with glue dots. Add your Title/Main Banner (for me it was Family Chore Chart) across the top, as desired.
I just ‘scribbled’ with colored pencils under where our names would go (different color for each person/row), then applied the vinyl names over that.
Take the popsicle sticks and write a different chore on each stick. I colored the ends of the popsicle sticks to match which pocket they would go into. For example: Make Your Bed is a family chore, so I colored the end blue so the kids know it goes in the blue/family pocket.
I wanted to have extra jobs available for those times the kids want/need to earn some extra money, such as for an upcoming event that they must pay for. So along the bottom of my Family Chore Chart, I put vinyl saying ‘Work for Hire’ then just drew a cute little banner string. For the tags, I cut out a 1″x1″ square of scrapbook paper, used a ’rounded corner’ punch to make the corners nice and rounded, hole-punched each one and tied a string through. On each tag is listed an extra chore.
I used strong tape to secure some photo hangers, then from that I hung the tags.

Note: On our chore chart, I do have my children’s ACTUAL names. I added their alias superhero names using PicMonkey to these photos, then after the pictures put the vinyl with their names on there. I don’t ALWAYS call my kids by their superhero names 🙂

Grocery Budgeting Tips

Bonus Grocery Budgeting Tips!

#1: Cut Your Utility and Housing Costs

#2: Spend less on Groceries and Food

#3: Free or Cheap Entertainment

#4: Shopping for Less & Random Expenses

#5: Insurance

#6: Increase your Income

Other Great Posts…

Here’s some big things I did that jumped my income up from around just $5k in 2014 up to $20k in 2015.

#1: I improved my photography

#2: I took the Business2Blogger Course: BlogPreneur

#3: I Connected with Other Bloggers

#4: I Managed my Time Better

#5: Apply for Sponsored Posts – a Lot

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1. Shop around

2. Start living in a better area

3. Think about buying a different vehicle

4. Increase your deductible

Supplies

Directions

Supplies

Directions

To do the vase:

Supplies

Directions