Watch Halloween Movies for FREE During the 31 Nights of Halloween! (Check Out the Complete Movie List Here)
Freeform (formally ABC Family) offers 31 Nights of Halloween which means FREE Halloween movies to watch! This kicked off on Tuesday, October 1st this year and runs through Halloween, October 31st. You can also download the Freeform app for free. Here is the complete schedule, hopefully a few of your favorites will be featured!Tuesday, October 1
- Golden Ticket Day 12:30pm/11:30c Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- 3pm/2c Monster House
- 5:05pm/4:05c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 6:45pm/5:45c Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
- 8:50pm/7:50c Hocus Pocus
- 12am/11c Zombieland
Wednesday, October 2
- Freeform Premiere 11:30am/10:30c Scared Shrekless
- 12pm/11c Monster House
- Freeform Premiere 2:05pm/1:05c R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House
- 4:10pm/3:10c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 5:50pm/4:50c Hocus Pocus
- Freeform Premiere 8/7pm-11/10c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 12am/11c ParaNorman
Thursday, October 3
- 12:30pm/11:30c Edward Scissorhands
- 2:40pm/1:40c ParaNorman
- 4:45pm/3:45c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Double Feature - 6:50pm/5:50c The Addams Family (1991)
- 8:55pm/7:55c Addams Family Values
- 12am/11c Edward Scissorhands
Friday, October 4
- Freeform Premiere 11am/10c Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins
- 11:30am/10:30c Hook (1991)
- 2:35pm/1:35c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Double Feature - 4:40pm/3:40c The Addams Family (1991)
- 6:45pm/5:45c Addams Family Values
- 8:50pm/7:50c Hocus Pocus
- 12am/11c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
Saturday, October 5
- 7am/6c ParaNorman
- 9am/8c Hocus Pocus
- 11:10am/10:10c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 1:40pm/12:40c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 3:45pm/2:45c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 5:50pm/4:50c Hocus Pocus
- Freeform Premiere 8pm/7c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
- Freeform Premiere 9:30pm/8:30c Goosebumps
- 12am/11c Monster House
Sunday, October 6
- 7am/6c Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- 9:30am/8:30c Monster House
- 11:30am/10:30c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 1:30pm/12:30c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 3:35pm/2:35c Hocus Pocus
- 5:45pm/4:45c Goosebumps
- 8:15pm/7:15c Hotel Transylvania
- 10:20pm/9:20c Hocus Pocus
- 12:30am/11:30c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
Monday, October 7
- 11:30am/10:30c Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
- 12:30pm/11:30c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
- 1:30pm/12:30c Dark Shadows (2012)
- 4:10pm/3:10c Hocus Pocus
- 6:20pm/5:20c Hotel Transylvania
- 8:25pm/7:25c Ghostbusters (1984)
Tuesday, October 8
- 11am/10c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 1pm/12c The Corpse Bride
- 3pm/2c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 5:30pm/4:30c Ghostbusters II
- 8pm/7c Iron Man
- 12am/11c Scooby-Doo (2002)
Wednesday, October 9
- 11am/10c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 12:40pm/11:40c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 2:45pm/1:45c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 4:55pm/3:55c Iron Man
- 8/7pm-11/10c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 12am/11c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Thursday, October 10
- 11am/10c Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins
- 11:30am/10:30c R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House
- 1:40pm/12:40c Monster House
- 3:45pm/2:45c Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo
- 6:15pm/5:15c Hocus Pocus
- 8:25pm/7:25c Hotel Transylvania
- 10:30pm/9:30c Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!
- 12am/11c Monster House
Friday, October 11
- 11am/10c Scared Shrekless
- 11:30am/10:30c Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo
- 2pm/1c Hocus Pocus
- 4:05pm/3:05c Disney and Pixar’s The Incredibles
- 6:45pm/5:45c Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story of TERROR!
- 7:15pm/6:15c Hotel Transylvania
- 9:20pm/8:20c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 12am/11c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
Saturday, October 12
- 7am/6c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 9:30am/8:30c Disney and Pixar’s The Incredibles
- 12:10pm/11:10c The Nightmare Before Christmas
Double Feature - 1:50pm/12:50c The Addams Family (1991)
- 3:55pm/2:55c Addams Family Values
Saturday Scream-a-thon - Freeform Premiere 6pm/5c Scream
- Freeform Premiere 8:40pm/7:40c Scream 2
- Freeform Premiere 11:20pm/10:20c Scream 3
Sunday, October 13
- 7am/6c Ghostbusters II
- 9:35am/8:35c The Corpse Bride
- 11:10am/10:10c The Addams Family (1991)
- 1:15pm/12:15c Addams Family Values
- 3:20pm/2:20c Disney and Pixar’s Finding Dory
- 5:25pm/4:25c Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
- 7:30pm/6:30c Disney’s Moana
- 10pm/9c Hocus Pocus
- 12:10am/11:10c The Corpse Bride
Monday, October 14
- 11:30am/10:30c Hocus Pocus
- 1:40pm/12:40c Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
- 3:45pm/2:45c Matilda
- 5:50pm/4:50c Mrs. Doubtfire
- 8:55pm/7:55c Hotel Transylvania
Tuesday, October 15
- 11:30am/10:30c Matilda
- 1:40pm/12:40c Mrs. Doubtfire
- 4:45pm/3:45c Hotel Transylvania
Double Feature - 6:50pm/5:50c The Addams Family (1991)
- 8:55pm/7:55c Addams Family Values
- 12am/11c Hocus Pocus
Wednesday, October 16
- 11am/10c Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 1:40pm/12:40c Hocus Pocus
Double Feature - 3:50pm/2:50c The Addams Family (1991)
- 5:55pm/4:55c Addams Family Values
- 8/7pm-11/10c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 12am/11c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Thursday, October 17
- 11am/10c ParaNorman
- 1:05pm/12:05c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 3:10pm/2:10c 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- 5:15pm/4:15c The Corpse Bride
Double Feature - 6:50pm/5:50c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 8:55pm/7:55c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 12am/11c R.L. Stine’s Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House
Friday, October 18
- 11am/10c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
- 12pm/11c National Treasure
Triple Feature - 3pm/2c Scream
- 5:40pm/4:40c Scream 2
- 8:20pm/7:20c Scream 3
- 12am/11c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
Saturday, October 19
- 7am/6c ParaNorman
- 9:05am/8:05c Hocus Pocus
- 11:15am/10:15c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 4:15pm/3:15c Disney’s Zootopia
- 6:45pm/5:45c Hocus Pocus
- 8:55pm/7:55c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 11:25pm/10:25c Ghostbusters II
Sunday, October 20
- 7am/6c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
- 8am/7c Hocus Pocus
- 10:05am/9:05c Disney’s Zootopia
- 12:35pm/11:35c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 3:05pm/2:05c Ghostbusters II
- 5:35pm/4:35c Hocus Pocus
- 7:45pm/6:45c Hotel Transylvania
- 9:50pm/8:50c The Addams Family (1991)
- 11:55pm/10:55c Addams Family Values
Monday, October 21
- 11am/10c The Corpse Bride
- 12:35pm/11:35c The Addams Family (1991)
- 2:40pm/1:40c Addams Family Values
- 4:45pm/3:45c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 6:25pm/5:25c Hotel Transylvania
- 8:30pm/7:30c Goosebumps
Tuesday, October 22
- 11am/10c Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic
- 12:03pm/11:03c Scared Shrekless
- 12:35pm/11:35c Monster House
- 2:40pm/1:40c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 4:20pm/3:20c Goosebumps
- 6:50pm/5:50c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 8:55pm/7:55c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 12am/11c Monster House
Wednesday, October 23
- 11am/10c Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
- 1:30pm/12:30c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 3:30pm/2:30c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 5:30pm/4:30c Disney’s Moana
- 8/7pm-11/10c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
- 12am/11c Matilda
Thursday, October 24
- 11am/10c Matilda
- 1:10pm/12:10c Disney’s Moana
- 3:40pm/2:40c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 6:15pm/5:15c Ghostbusters II
- 8:50pm/7:50c Hocus Pocus
- 12am/11c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Friday, October 25
- 11am/10c Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins
- 11:32am/10:32c Ghostbusters (1984)
- 2:05pm/1:05c Ghostbusters II
- 4:40pm/3:40c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 6:45pm/5:45c Hocus Pocus
- 8:55pm/7:55c Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
- 12am/11c The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror-thon
Saturday, October 26
- 7am/6c Monster House
- 9:10am/8:10c Hocus Pocus
- 11:20am/10:20c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 1:25pm/12:25c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 3:30pm/2:30c Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.
- 5:35pm/4:35c The Addams Family (1991)
- 7:40pm/6:40c Addams Family Values
- 9:45pm/8:45c Hotel Transylvania
- 11:50pm/10:50c Hocus Pocus
Sunday, October 27
- 7am/6c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 9am/8c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 11:05am/10:05c Hocus Pocus
- 1:15pm/12:15c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 2:55pm/1:55c The Addams Family (1991)
- 5pm/4c Addams Family Values
- 7:05pm/6:05c Hotel Transylvania
- 9:10pm/8:10c Hocus Pocus
- 11:20pm/10:20c Dark Shadows (2012)
Monday, October 28
- 7am/6c Dark Shadows (2012)
- 11:30am/10:30c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 1:30pm/12:30c The Nightmare Before Christmas
Triple Feature - 3:10pm/2:10c Scream
- 5:40pm/4:40c Scream 2
- 8:20pm/7:20c Scream 3
Tuesday, October 29
- 7:30am/6:30c The Haunted Mansion (2003)
- 11am/10c The Nightmare Before Christmas
- 12:35pm/11:35c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 2:40pm/1:40c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 4:45pm/3:45c The Addams Family (1991)
- 6:50pm/5:50c Addams Family Values
- 8:55pm/7:55c Hotel Transylvania
- 12am/11c The Corpse Bride
Wednesday, October 30
- 7:30am/6:30c Scooby-Doo (2002)
- 11am/10c The Corpse Bride
- 12:30pm/11:30c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
- 2:35pm/1:35c The Addams Family (1991)
- 4:40pm/3:40c Addams Family Values
- 6:45pm/5:45c Hotel Transylvania
- 8:50pm/7:50c Hocus Pocus
- 12am/11c Scooby-Doo (2002)
Thursday, October 31
- 11am/10c 31 Nights of Halloween Fan Fest
Hocus Pocus Marathon - 12:30pm/11:30c Hocus Pocus
- 2:35pm/1:35c Hocus Pocus
- 4:40pm/3:40c Hocus Pocus
- 6:45pm/5:45c Hocus Pocus
- 8:50pm/7:50c Hocus Pocus
- 12am/11c Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Why You Should Book Your Vacation with Groupon
If you have been reading this blog for long you know how much I love using Groupon to find awesome deals on dinners out, activities for the kids and for vacations too. Have you tried Groupon yet? I literally cannot say enough how great it is to use Groupon and I highly recommend it to everyone I know. Why? Because we all like to save money!
If saving money is not enough incentive for you, I thought I would provide you with a few more reasons why you should book your vacation with Groupon.
Why You Should Book Your Vacation with Groupon
You Will Save Money
You save money, of course. Okay, we have gone over this time and time again, but Groupon offers deals on lots of things, but when we talk about vacations, you can easily save 50% or more off the regular price on these deals.
You Can Save Even More Money
You all know how much I love me a Groupon promo code! Groupon offers promo codes quite regularly and you can save so much more money! These are often 20% off, sometimes though you can find up to $30 off of $100 or similar deals.
You Can Go Anywhere
Groupon offers travel discounts for places throughout the world. You can visit a hotel or resort in the town next to you or head across the globe. Some of the vacation deals are all inclusive, some are airfare and hotel included, some are just hotel. Regardless, you can save a lot of money by booking your vacation with Groupon.
You Get New Experiences
One thing that I have found with booking vacations with Groupon is that my family has experienced so many new things! This is for two very specific reasons:
- We are more likely to go somewhere if we know we can afford it. Seeing the deals offered is great because we know right off the bat that we can afford it. This isn’t always the case when we have to research hotels and flights to a specific place.
- We find places we had never heard of by simply checking Groupon. We once bought a weekend yurt camping trip at a resort and lake that we had never heard of that is located about 3 hours away from us. It has since become our favorite camping spot and we have went there 3 years in a row now. I would have never known it existed without Groupon.
Have you ever booked a vacation on Groupon?
3 Ways that You Can Workout for Free
Do you know what I find a little crazy? The idea that you cannot get fit without spending a bunch of money on a gym membership. In reality the first Health Club (gym) in the US didn’t even open until 1939, with health club chains not starting until the 60s and 70s. Was everyone out of shape until these opened? No. The reality is. People just stayed active in other ways.
Yes, I know that the world is not the same as it used to be and we all have more sedentary lives than we did a hundred years ago, but the fact remains that a gym membership, while nice to have, is far from a necessity. There are plenty of ways that you can workout for free. If you are looking for a way to get or stay fit, without paying exorbitant gym memberships, check out this list.
3 Ways that You Can Workout for Free
Hit the trails
Hiking or walking on trails is great exercise, it’s fun and it is also a great way for you to get fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature around you. I promise it is nothing to fear.
Hit the track
Many public schools have a track that is available for the public to use. If you don’t like the idea of walking around in trails, head to the track and walk, jog or run around that. The cool thing about tracks is that it is super easy to calculate your walking distance this way in the event that you do not have a fitness tracker. A regulation track is 400 meters, or approx ¼ mile. That means that four times around the track is 1 mile.
Fire up your laptop
Check out YouTube for awesome workout videos. There are thousands available for free. You can also check Netflix and Amazon as well.
5 Things You Should Always Buy New
I don’t know about you, but I love buying used stuff. I love saving money and I have no qualms about using someone’s used stuff. If it works, if it is in good shape, I am all about it. Plus, there are so many awesome places and websites that you can buy used stuff! It’s hard not to shop used. That being said, there are several things that I never buy used.
Car Seats
You should never buy a used car seat. The thing is, you simply don’t know the history of the seat, and they are considered unsafe if it has been involved in an auto accident previously.
Bike Helmets
Safety has to take priority over saving money. That is one of the reasons that you should always buy bike helmets knew. You can’t always spot scratches, dents or dings that may have occurred in a crash or fall and these could affect your safety in the event of a crash.
Laptops
Laptops are so cheap now anyway, there is just no reason to buy used. Once a computer gets a virus or any kind of issue, they will only get worse. At least when you buy new you can get some kind of warranty to keep your laptop going as long as possible.
Footwear
One word. YUCK. Two things about buying used shoes. Over time shoes become worn to a specific foot, so by the time they make it to a thrift shop, it is likely that they are fit to a specific foot and could cause you foot pain. Additionally, foot fungus is real. You have to be careful to avoid stuff like that!
Hats
Maybe this is just me, but I am not a fan of buying used hats. It could be that I have a fear of head lice so that could be it, but I tend to avoid hats for this reason.
What do you refuse to buy used?
5 Things You Must Do in San Francisco (With Savings Tips Too!)
I recently returned from a fun adventure in San Francisco, California and I had to share my must-do list. This time I was NOT traveling with kids. However, most of these activities I would take make kids and do them the next time we are there. San Francisco has so much to offer and I loved every second I was there.
- Bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a definite must and a highlight of our trip. First, we found an amazing place to rent our bikes. It’s called Basically Free Bike Rentals. Let me explain how it works- You grab your rental bike from the location near Fisherman’s Wharf. You will get the value of your rental for in store credit at Sports Basement, which is a sporting goods store, conveniently located on the bike trail to the bridge. So we got our bikes, paid about $35 for the day and then went to their sports store and bought $35 worth of items for FREE with our credit. Super cool and totally legit. The bike across the bridge is so fun. There are some beautiful views of the bridge on the trail from Fisherman’s Wharf. Take your time and enjoy the ride. On the way back, you can ride the ferry from Sausolito…which is my #2 favorite thing to do.
- Visit Sausolito and walk around the stores and ride the ferry back to the wharf. This is the best way to get back, unless you are ambitious and want to ride your bike back over the bridge. The town is charming. Be sure to stop at Venice Gourmet Delicatessen and get an Avocado Turkey Club sandwich. It’s simply amazing. The ferry ride back is super fun too. Go to the top and let the wind get in your face and enjoy the views from every angle.
- Ride a cable car. This totally lives up to the hype. You need to “hang out” as you are on the cable car. It’s terrifying, but totally worth it. We did it a few times. Be sure to get on the route that goes by Lombardi street. You can even hop off there and walk down the curvy street which is beautiful. A way to save on transportation in the city is to get the multi-day passes if you are there for awhile. One Cable Car ride is $7, so it will add up. You can also walk the city pretty easily.
- Coit tower and the Greenwich stairs. This is a beautiful walk to the tower and then an even more beautiful walk down the stairs. I love good walks like this. You can pay to go to the top of the tower and see the views, or you can enjoy them from below.
- Ghirardelli Square is a must. Not only do they have amazing ice creams and sauces, the view from the square is breathtaking. Try to be there at night when the square is lit up with lights and the sun is setting on the bay. There are plenty of places to sit right there by the water and enjoy the view.
Hope Squad – School Suicide Prevention – How You Can Get Involved and Help!
Hope Squad is something I’ve recently been introduced to and feel needs to be shared with you! So what is Hope Squad and how can you benefit from it and get involved? This is everything I want to talk about so you can help change the community perception of mental health by creating awareness about suicide and the tools available to prevent suicide.
First Hope Squad is a school based peer to peer suicide prevention program. It all started in the Provo City School District and has grown from there. They are now in different states nation wide and hope to be in all schools as soon as possible. Hope Squad members are taught and educated on recognizing suicide warning signs and how to properly and respectfully report concerns to adults. They are not taught to act as counselors. Each members goes through training usually held after school hours where they have lessons and learn about different signs to watch for but also different ways to get everyone involved.
The Hope Squad members are trained to reach out and assist fellow students who may be struggling with depression, suicide concerns or even bullying. In a world where our children have so many pressures this can make a hug difference in the schools nationwide. They’re working to break the code of silence.
So how can you get involved? Reach out to your school administration. Usually they’ll get the school counselors to help serve as the Hope Squad advisor but additional support can come from teachers, parents, social workers and more. Get involved and bring Hope to your school. To find out more information, checkout their site and contact them to get a Hope Squad started at your school.
Expenses to Prepare For With Kids
Are you thinking about having kids? Are you afraid that you won’t have the money to raise children? First of all, I applaud you. Good for you for thinking about these expenses, that is a smart move!
So, what expenses should you prepare for when you are getting ready to have kids? Well, let me tell you!
Expenses to Prepare For With Kids
Daycare
If both parents work outside of the home, daycare is going to become a substantial new expense, so you need to prepare for it. The price you pay will depend on what type of childcare you choose (nanny, in home day care, day care center, etc), but it is an expense that you should prepare for.
Medical Expenses
Not only will you have the expense of giving birth to the child, but you have to remember, you are adding a family member. You will need to add the child to your medical insurance and if this is your first child, this will generally result in an increase to your costs..
Groceries
Prepare yourself. Once you have kids in the house, your grocery bill is going to grow and grow and grow! Of course, when they are little this won’t be so noticeable (unless they are on formula, which we will discuss next), but once they are a little bit older, all bets are off. I have 3 kids and just my 12 year old son could easily eat $500 worth of food himself each month. Having kids at home requires you to get better at budgeting this expense!
Baby Expenses
When your child is a baby, you can easily spend a couple hundred dollars each month with baby expenses, such as diapers and formula. Just make sure to budget an extra cushion into the family monthly budget when your kids are babies.
Save Time on Breakfast with These Tips
How many kids do you have? If you said anything more than zero, you probably spend an outrageous amount of time on breakfast each day. Do you know though that there are some awesome ways to cut down on this time each day?
I began following these tips years ago and breakfast is a breeze for us now!
Save Time on Breakfast with These Tips
Meal Prep
I know that I harp on this often, but meal prepping can change your life. I’m not being dramatic at all, I’m being completely serious. When you prep your meals for the week over the weekend, you have no need to spend time cooking and prepping each morning. Here are some of the meals that we like to prep in advance
- Egg muffins. Mix some eggs or egg whites with cheese and meat if you want it added in. Pour into a muffin tin and bake. You can keep these in the freezer and pull a couple out each night for breakfast in the morning.
- Breakfast burritos. Mix some potatoes, eggs, meat and cheese into a skillet meal and wrap in a tortilla once done. Wrap tightly and store in the freezer, taking out the night before for breakfast in the morning.
- Muffins. Get that muffin tin out again, because muffins are always a great, simple breakfast! My kids love blueberry muffins so I like to make those and keep them in the freezer individually wrapped.
- Smoothie ingredients. Place the ingredients of a smoothie in a freezer bag and in the morning, pour the ingredients into a blender with some milk (cows milk, almond milk, etc). This is a quick way to make a yummy breakfast drink that you can enjoy on the go!
Cereal
I know that you want your children to eat a nutritious and protein packed breakfast, but sometimes a bowl of cereal is just fine. I have seen countless mom-bashing incidents online so I get why people are stressed about it, but I assure you. A simple breakfast such as this does not make you a bad parent I promise.
More Tips for Saving Money on Prescriptions
Did you catch our post the other day on saving money on prescription medication? I am a married and rapidly aging mom of 3, two of which use prescription medication. I know how expensive medications can be. I am all about finding ways to save money in every other aspect of life, I’m all about finding the best ways that I can to save money on prescription medication.
After looking around the other day I discovered and remembered even more ways to save, so I thought I would chat about it today!
More Tips for Saving Money on Prescriptions
- Shop at a big box store. I know you probably love supporting independently owned pharmacies and small business, and I commend that. That being said, when you need to save money, you need to save money. One great way to do this is by shopping big box stores, like Walmart for your pharmacy needs. Walmart, for example, offers many different prescriptions for just $4!
- Go for the 90 day supply. You are going to pay more out of pocket initially, but you typically are going to spend less overall when you buy a 90 day supply rather than a one month supply.
- Look for prescription assistance program. Go online, check your insurance company, check your pharmacy and check your doctor’s office to see if you can find any information about prescription assistance programs that are available to you.
- Update your insurance plan. Look into your insurance plan and see if you can upgrade your prescription program. This is true even if you have medicare. Check out what optoins are all available to you to save where you can.
Do you deal with heavy prescription costs in your family? What ways have you found to save money for your family? Do you have any other ideas for us? I would love to hear them! I’m always looking for new ways to save.
Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe (Panera Bread Copycat)
When it’s cold outside all I want to do is eat soup! Seriously, I’m always looking for new soups to eat. It’s always a fine line to find a soup that not only I love, but my husband and kids love as well. When I made this Panera Bread copycat of their Broccoli Cheese Soup, we all loved it! My kids didn’t even complain of the “green stuff!” It’s definitely a keeper and one we will do over and over again during the winter months.
This recipe and picture comes from The Recipe Critic and I love it. **Note- when I made this, it BARELY fed 5 of us- and 3 of those are small kids! So I usually double the recipe now. **
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- ½ medium chopped onion
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups half-and-half cream
- 2 cups chicken stock
- ½ lb fresh broccoli (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup carrot, julienned
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- Saute the onion in 1 tablespoon melted butter and set aside. In a large pot whisk together the melted butter and flour over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the half and half and chicken stock. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Add the broccoli, carrots, and onions. Let them simmer on medium low for about 25 minutes until the broccoli and carrots are tender.
- Add nutmeg, salt and pepper and sharp cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt and then serve. For a smoother soup puree it in a blender.
5 Ways to Save Money Each Day!
Christmas is coming up and if you haven’t started saving you might be starting to stress about funds. I’m here to say, it’s not to late! Here are some different ways you can save money EACH DAY! Just take the money you would have spent that day and put it psychically into a jar or a different savings account at your financially institution.
Stay away from Starbucks/Swig
I know this sounds so mean for me to even suggest but I can honestly say (from experience) you can save up to $10 a day by avoiding your favorite drink stop. If you just can’t live without your drink, try cutting back. Or look for a different alteritive. I’ve found we can get our Coke fix from the 16.9oz bottles from the store. I spend $3.50 for 8 bottles – that’s less that $.50 per bottle!
Eat at Home
You’ve heard it over and over. And as a freebie/deal blogger, we’ll continue to say it. You can save so much money by eating what you already have at home. So instead of hitting up the pizza store this weekend, save your money and make pizza at home, FROM SCRATCH!
Visit free Events
With the holidays there’s lots of activities and fun events popping up all over. From corn mazes to Christmas lights you have a lot to choose from. But don’t feel like you need to visit the events that cost, there are TONS of options out there you can enjoy for FREE. Take the money it would have cost you to enter these events and set it aside for Christmas.
Drive Less
Around here gas has been going down in price (thank goodness). But that doesn’t mean you should be spending so much time running from store to store. Make sure you plan your trips. If you’re headed into the city, make sure you make all your stops along the way. Planning wisely can save you not only time but money.
Avoid Impulse Shopping
Heading into the store when you’re hungry can be dangerous not only for your health but your bank account. Make sure you’re making your list (checking it twice) and sticking to it when you grocery shop. Also, avoid impulse buys. Headed to the Dollar Store for a specific item, make sure you stick to what you NEED. Anything you see you want, set it back and count it as a win buy adding a dollar to your savings jar/account. Figure out what your triggers are and plan ahead so you can avoid temptation.
3 Tips for Saving Money on Prescriptions
Anyone that regularly takes prescription medication can tell you that it can easily eat up a budget. In fact, medical bills and prescription costs are often stated as reasons people list when filing bankruptcy or falling behind in their debts. The cost of prescription medication can add up very, very quickly.
There has to be a way to save money on this purchase though, right? YES! Just like with most other things, there are tips that you can follow that will help you save money on prescriptions.
If you are searching for any and all ways that you can save money on prescriptions, here is a great list of tips to get you started:
3 Tips for Saving Money on Prescriptions
- Talk to your doctor. I know chatting with your doctor about your lack of money doesn’t sound like much fun, but it can be of great benefit to you. Simply explain to your doctor that you need to be sure and find a way to make this prescription fit into your budget. Your doctor has several options available to him/her that may save you money. For instance, they can prescribe you a generic version of the prescription, a different drug in the same class, they even on occasion are given free samples and high value coupons by the drug companies that they could share with you.
- Look online for coupons. You go online to find coupons for groceries and other purchases. Why wouldn’t you do the same with medications? My son has a severe allergy therefore I always have to have an EPI pen on hand. I can almost always find coupons online that take care of our insurance deductible on these which is a great bonus, because they are not cheap!
- Shop around. Different stores offer the same medications at different prices. Spend a little bit of time shopping around for prices and you may find that other pharmacies are significantly less expensive than the one you typically use.
What ways do you find to spend time with your family without breaking the bank?
Great Cost-Saving Ways to Spend Time with Your Family
If you are anything like me, you would give anything to spend more time with your family. I am not one of those mothers that gets excited when the kids go back to school (no judgment), I genuinely love to spend time with the kids and hang out with them. I enjoy our conversations and learning more about them each and every day.
When my husband is home from work, it’s even better! He is a busy guy, the big kids are busy with school and sports and we frankly, just don’t have a ton of time to spend together as a family. We are also on a budget so it’s not like we can just go and do whatever we want. We try to make plans with intention and focus on doing stuff that the entire family will love that doesn’t strain our budget.
Great Cost-Saving Ways to Spend Time with Your Family
- Movie night. Put away the phones and pop some corn! Have the family snuggle in the living room or family room and watch a movie that everyone agrees with. Make sure to keep the phones in a different room so one of you isn’t busy scrolling through social media and just hang out. Watch a movie on Netflix and you won’t have to spend any extra money at all. It’s an awesome way to spend time together.
- Go hiking. Our family hikes a lot so this may be just us, but our hiking trips have been among our favorite family times ever. We are out there getting fresh air and exercise and spending time together. I love it! We especially love going to new trails.
- Check Groupon. I honestly couldn’t tell you how many amazing family experiences that we have had by finding things to do on Groupon. Groupon is such a great way to find good deals on new things to do. Here are a couple of the things that we have done thanks to Groupon deals:
- Toured an Elk Farm. For $6 total, our family visited a local Elk farm. I didn’t even know that elk farms were a thing, but boy was this fun. This was like $5 years ago and my kids still talk about it.
- Visited a wildlife safari for $18 total. We have a well known wildlife safari here in our state and boy is it cool! We spent $18 total for the entire family to get in and see elephants, bears, cheetahs, giraffes, ostriches and so much more cool stuff. We love it.
- Camped in a yurt 2 nights for $40. We found an awesome deal and was able to rent a yurt for 2 nights for just $40. To this date this was our favorite camping trip ever.
- P.s. DON’T FORGET TO CHECK FOR GROUPON PROMO CODES TO SAVE EVEN MORE!
What ways do you find to spend time with your family without breaking the bank?
Tips for Saving Time Keeping Your Kitchen Clean
Okay, I just want to say that as a mom of three, I spend a ridiculous amount of time cleaning my kitchen. I mean, I have the kids help too, but I have a toddler, a middle schooler, and a high schooler. My toddler can’t help much, of course. My teens are both athletes and they are literally rarely home and I can’t just let the dishes sit while we wait. .
Tips for Saving Time Keeping Your Kitchen Clean
- Clean up after each meal. This is a great way to get everyone involved in cleaning up. When you sit down for family meals, everyone needs to pick up their dishes rinse them in the sink and put them in the dishwasher. This little habit will save so much time on housework in general.
- Make a chore chart. Even if your kids are busy, make sure they do their part at home by making them responsible for doing specific chores. On the weekends or whenever they are free, have them be responsible for the kitchen at least once a week.
- Do a nightly cleanup. Before bed, take 5-10 minutes to do a small clean up in the kitchen. Finish loading whatever dishes weren’t loaded after dinner, wipe the counters and start the dishwasher. Waking up to a clean kitchen is a good way to start the day.
- Make one dish meals. Do you ever make one-pot meals? We all know that pots and pans are the worst part of doing dishes and they take the longest amount of time. If you put your focus on making one pot meals, you will be amazed at how much time you will save in cleanup.
- Meal prep. Do you meal prep? If you use a day off to prep meals for the week ahead you will definitely have a lot of dishes to do that day, however, that saves you from having to wash pots and pans every night.
What ways have you found to save time keeping your kitchen clean?
5 Tips to Give you a Little More Energy in Your Day
Who wants a little more energy in their day? I think we all are saying, Yes! I have 4 young kids and am truly exhausted every day. I know women that work full time and have teenage kids, or older women who are now retired that have that same low energy in common. It’s a tricky thing. I know there are some who may not agree with these tips, but in the past year, they have truly worked for me. Plus, they give added benefits! Check out these 5 tips that just may help you get t hat energy you are craving.
- Exercise in the morning. It’s super hard to get up in the morning, but it’s so worth it. I get up at 5:20 am and either go for a nice run or head to my local gym and attend a fitness class at 6am. I’m home by 7:15 and ready to start my day. This exercise gives me the energy I need in the morning and makes me feel so good.
- Take a shower in the morning and get ready first thing. Even if you don’t exercise in the mornings, try and wake up and get right in the shower, do your hair and makeup, get dressed and be ready for the day. I can definitely tell a difference in my energy when I’m in my sweats all day compared to when I’m dressed and feel good about myself. Plus, then when the doorbell rings, you’re not running to your room to get ready, you’re already there!
- Eat a balanced diet. You’ve heard this time and time again. Guys, I SO agree with this. It doesn’t mean you can’t eat that yummy donut or reward yourself with some chocolate. You just need to balance it out with some healthy options too. Listen to your body. If you feel sluggish after eating a certain breakfast, then switch it up. I’m trying to go light on my carbs in the morning and it’s made such a big difference. Try eating some oatmeal or an egg and veggies. You CAN switch it up. I also try to eat some small snacks throughout the day to keep me happy and not hangry throughout the day. This gives me a little more energy when I need it. I love the yummy Babybel cheese and crackers, or hummus and veggies. Throughout the day be sure you’re drinking water. This will also help with your energy level.
- Take a power nap. Yep, you heard me right. You can totally take a nap and not feel guilty, especially if you’re waking up early to exercise. Even if you have young kids it is possible. Find a time when the kids are busy or out of the house and lay down and close your eyes. Don’t get on your phone! So many times I actually fall asleep and it feels so good. This nap gives me that extra energy I need for the after school chaos and nighttime sporting events and dinner. This nap is usually around 20-30 minutes for me. Anything more will give me that zombie/blah feeling. So set a timer and enjoy that 30 minutes of shut-eye.
- Have something to look forward to. If you have every day filled with laundry, dishes, appointments, work and kids. You may feel that weight on your shoulders. Lately I’ve tried to add in something that I can look forward to each day. It doesn’t need to be big. Some ideas could include: A lunch date with a friend, 30 minutes to read that new book you’ve been eyeing, chocolate ice cream you have hidden in your freezer, or even shopping at your favorite store. Think of something in the morning or plan a week at a time. This will help you get some added energy and bring a little more happiness into your day.