How to Make Easy Kool-Aid Sherbet
If you want an easy, yummy treat that the whole family will enjoy, here you go! This Kool-Aid Serbet takes only 3 ingredients and is super easy to make that even the little kids can help. It’s the perfect quick fix treat that will keep you cool this summer.
Kool-Aid Sherbet
Recipe & Picture by Butter with a Side of Bread
Ingredients:
1 Package Kool-Aid (any flavor)
1 Cup Sugar
3 Cups Milk
Directions:
1. In a bowl, whisk together all three ingredients until the sugar and Kool-Aid mix are dissolved. Pour into a shallow dish, cover and place it in the freezer for about 2 hours, until it’s mostly set.
2. Place the partially frozen sherbet back in a bowl and mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Refreeze in the covered, shallow container until set. I would do it overnight to get it nice and frozen. Set the Sherbet out about 10-15 minutes prior to serving.
The Best Ways to Save Money on Back to School Lunches
Have you started your back to school prep yet? If you said no, get to it! It’s time to get a move on so you aren’t scrambling to do it later. I don’t know about you, but I hate scrambling for back to school. You have to battle the crowds, the prices are crap and it’s just overwhelming and exhausting. I’m ready for some downtime. That is why I am all about prepping for back to school right now.
We all know about planning for clothes, shoes and supplies, but many of us forget to plan for lunches! That’s right. The kids have been eating at home so long that you may have forgotten about the need to pack lunches. Here are some of the best ways to save money on back to school lunch expenses I always follow:
Use coupons
Really this is just part of regular grocery shopping, but the good news is that you can almost always find coupons for lunch box items like granola bars and snacks like cookies, etc. This is the only time I usually buy these types of foods and I love having coupons for it!
Shop Clearance
I mentioned it before, but I will say it again. I am the queen of clearance and I am not even exaggerating one single bit. I often shop at my local Safeway Store (Albertson’s for those of you that have those), and I always hit up the three shelf clearance rack that they have by the big double doors that lead to the back of the store. They often have super good clearance prices which become AMAZING when combined with coupons. Last week the Quaker Granola Bars were Buy 2, Get 3 Free (Regular price $2.99 per box). I found 10 boxes in the clearance section (50% off of regular price), so that that meant that I paid $1.50 per box for 4 boxes and got 6 free. That is $6 for 10 boxes of granola bars. That is just $0.60 per BOX!! It’s not hard to find sweet deals like this, you just have to be willing to look.
Shop Online
Yes, there are even good online deals for food! Check Amazon and even check for Google Express discount codes to order online and pick up in store at places like Walgreens, Walmart, etc.
What is your favorite way to save money on back to school shopping for lunches?
Real Life Decor Deals! How Did I do?
Okay, as much as we all like to save money, I know that there are plenty of people out there that just can’t handle the thought of decorating using things found at yard sales or thrift shops. The truth is though, you can find some excellent pieces at amazing prices and you can put together a great look in your home.
I’m about to share with you some of my recent purchases and the price I paid for each piece. Sure, not everyone has the same style, but I am quite proud of my set up here and for the budget I was working with, it is quite astonishing.
So, I recently moved into a home that is literally twice the square footage of my old home and in this new home, I have a family room and a living room. We spend most of our time in the family room and I had no idea how I was going to decorate or furnish the living room because of how much I had spent on the rest of the house.
Here’s what I spent on this room and let me tell you I get compliments from every person that walks in this room. Little did they know I spent less than $200 on the ENTIRE thing.
Buffet (yard sale) – $20
Futon/Sofa (brand new at a local liquidation store) – $115
Clock (Goodwill) – $5.99
Rug (Overstock) – Free with credits from past purchases.
Beyond Blessed Pillow (Walmart) – $5.98
You are my Favorite Sign (Goodwill) – $2.99
Candle Holders (Safeway Clearance) – $4.20 for both
Potted Fake Plant (Goodwill) – $4.99
Isaiah 49.16 sign (yard sale) – $1
Table Runner (Goodwill) – $2.99
Total Spent: $163.14
So, what do you think? Was this $163 well spent? I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m actually quite happy with how I made this budget work for this space!
The point of this post though is to show you that you can fully decorate and furnish a space without putting much money out at all. I could have easily bought a used sofa for $20-$50 and saved close to another hundred dollars.
Things to Do in Park City, Utah During the Summer
We just got back from a trip to Park City and boy was it fun. Park City has a little of everything which makes it the perfect summer vacation destination. I’ve found over the years there are some great spots to visit that are either free or affordable which makes this easy on the budget.
- Information Center- First you’ll want to head to the information center. There are pamphlets and coupons that you can get to save you money. One coupon you’ll want to grab is the FREE Tanger Outlet Coupon booklet. This coupon is usually just in the coupon holders by the information stands, or you can ask the employee at the booth. This coupon booklet usually costs $5, so that’s a great way to save.
- Utah Olympic Park- Check out their site here for all of the information. One important tip- the Olympic Park is only open from 9am-6pm. We got up there too late to enjoy the park this time. So plan accordingly. One thing you won’t want to miss is the FREE outside Discovery Zone. This is where kids can swing from ropes and maneuver through nets and suspended wires. So fun!
- Biking Trails- Be sure to check out all of the fun bike rides around Park City. This is FREE and a win for the whole family. If you want a nice flat trail check out the trail that goes by the dirt bike jump park which is located at 2392 Holiday Ranch Loop Road Park City, Utah. If you want more challenging ones, then check out these 5 trails.
- Tanger Outlets-Now that you have the FREE Tanger Outlet Coupon booklet, head to the stores and do some shopping. There are playgrounds for the kiddos to keep them entertained while you shop.
- Take a walk down historic main street. This could be a totally free activity as well, unless you want to try out a local restaurant which I highly recommend. I love walking the street as the sun is setting and the lights turn on.
- Alpine Slide and Coaster. This is so fun for older kids and adults. Get an all day pass or just a one-time, but it will definitely be a highlight.
- Attend a summer event or farmer’s market. You can always ask the information center what is going on the days you are in Park City. There are always fun ones during the summer.
The Best Ways to Save Money on Back to School
When is school back in session in your area? My kids start back in early September, but I know many kids who head back in mid-August. Even though I still have about 6 weeks til then, I’m all about getting started now so that I might be able to save a little bit of money!! I have three kids, but only 2 in school (middle school and high school) and it gets expensive. If you find yourself stressed about by it too, there are ways that you can save.
Here are some of the best ways to save money on back to school that I always follow:
Spread your shopping out
I try very hard not to do all of my shopping at once. While, yes, I do set and stick to an overall budget, I find it difficult to spend hundreds of dollars at once. For me, it is better to spread the shopping trips out so it’s not such a huge hit at once.
Shop Clearance
I am the queen of clearance and I am not even exaggerating. I NEVER shop full price and I almost always exclusively shop in the clearance section of the store when I do shop. I also like to combine coupon shopping with clearance. For instance, JCPenney often offers $10 off of $25 deals and I always combine the $10 off $25 with the clearance deals I have found. It has gotten me some sweet deals before.
Shop Online
Yes, there are good deals to be found when shopping online, but I have found that the best thing about online shopping for me is that I shop for what I am looking for, buy then I am done. Whereas, when I am shopping in store, I find myself looking at other great deals that I don’t necessarily need so I may spend more than I had expected.
What is your favorite way to save money on back to school shopping?
The Best Way to Save Money on Home Decor
It’s super rainy outside today. For some reason, I always clean best when it is rainy and blah outside. So today I am cleaning. I am like deep cleaning, you know the kind. I’m washing shower curtains, cleaning door jams, moving decorative pieces to dust under them, etc. Since I’m already moving them long enough to clean them, I might as well move them to a different part of the house to shake up the look of the place a bit. Does anyone else do this? The problem when i do this, is that I inevitably end up with an empty space, because I will find that I am over some pieces and i want a change.
That being said, I am also a girl on a budget, so I can’t just run out and buy any piece of home decor that I want. I have to shop smart. That’s why I am always looking for the best way to save money on home decor and here is how I do it:
- Shop Amazon. Amazon is a great place to find great deals on home decor items such as drapes, wall decals, and prints. I have purchased sheer window panels for just $6 per pair on Amazon! Plus, I don’t even have to leave the house!
- Shop thrift stores. I love love love going thrift shopping for housewares! I tend to hit up the thrift shops that are in high end neighborhoods, where people with money trade out their decor often and then donate it, so that I can buy it for pennies on the dollar. Do not assume that just because it’s at a thrift shop that it won’t be old, ugly.
- Check out Buy/Sell/Trade Groups. Are you on FB? Check out the multitude of buy/sale/trade groups on Facebook and see what awesome deals you can find!
- Yard sales. Yard sales are an absolute awesome place to find sweet home decor treasures at a steal! Check them out, you won’t regret it. I do want to remind you though to stick to the high end neighborhoods for the nicest pieces at the best prices.
What are your go ways to score deals on home decor?
The Best Way to Make Money by Shopping at Thrift Stores
Do you like to go thrift shopping? Me too!! Listen, I have been one to overspend at thrift shops on stuff that I loved but didn’t need, I have gotten fab deals on stuff that I do need. Both of those things feel amazing and are a ton of fun, but the thing is, neither compare to the thrill of shopping at thrift stores to flip your item just to make big money! It’S AWESOME! I’m not exaggerating one bit.
Flipping at thrift stores is a great way to make extra money, but there are also quite a few people who make a full time lucrative living.
Set a budget. Set a budget for how much you can afford to invest and stick to it. Look at this like a business and run it that way. Buy things at super low prices, but ONLY things that you will be able to sell at a profit and as quickly as possible.
Stick to name brand items. It’s hard to sell clothes that are walmart brand, or other non-well known brand. I get it though. I don’t buy off brand clothes used when I know I can buy them for like $5 brand new.
Shop on discount days. As you can tell by my previous thrift shopping posts, I am a big believer in those discount days. This is no different (actually it’s probably just MORE important) for flipping your thrift store finds. If you don’t know what I am talking about, be sure to get to know your store’s schedule for sales or days that they offer color tag discounts. For me, my local Goodwill offers a discount on a specific color tag and this deal changes every Sunday, so Sunday is a great day to shop there! Get to know this type of schedule and you will find some good deals.
Have you ever made money thrifting?
Pay It Forward This Summer!
We’re constantly out and about enjoying our summer and tend to come in contact with a lot of people. So teaching my children about paying it forward has come up in a few conversations we’ve had. It’s a good reminder that it’s the simple things we do for each other that can make this crazy life a little less stressful. So here are some simple pay it forward ideas you can use to bless others.
Heart Attack Someone – no reason to wait around for Valentine’s Day to heart attack someone. Find a widow in your neighborhood or stop by a friends house who could use a pick me up.
A Hug – a simple hug could brighten a dear friends day.
Offer to Take A Photo For a Tourist – It’s so simple and we all know how precious those pictures are. So the next time you’re at an amusement park watching Mom gather her family for a picture, ask if she’d like you to take it for her.
Make Dinner for a Neighbor – Often times I find myself delivering meals to those who just had a baby or have come home from surgery but it doesn’t hurt to surprise someone with a homemade meal. We all know we have those rough days, you might just be their angel that day.
Pay a Meter That’s Expired – not only will they be grateful when they see this simple act but they’ll avoid a ticket and having to pay much more.
Pick up Trash – the next park date you have, make it a goal to pick up a bag of trash or any garage you see on the ground. Just make sure you take a bag with you.
Hold the Door for Someone – we’re in and out of stores and restaurants all summer. There’s lots of opportunities to simple hold the door for someone else.
Bring Donuts to Work – I mean who wouldn’t love a tasty treat when they come into work.
Leave Any Unneeded Coupon Near The Product – as you’re going around the store and find yourself not needing some of the coupons you have, leave them near the product so someone else can benefit from it.
Offer to Watch Someone’s Children – sometimes, especially during the summer, mom just needs a moment of peace and quite. Offer to have her kids at your house while she gets some time to herself either to run errands, clean the house or just relax and take a nap.
Let Someone go Ahead of You – either in the checkout line or the bathroom, standing in line isn’t the funnest. Offer to let someone go ahead of you.
Let Your Spouse Sleep In – maybe won’t work all the time or with every schedule but why pay it forward in your own home. I’m sure they’ll be waking up on the right side of the bed.
What other ways have you Payed it Forward or had a simple act of service done for you? We’d love to hear them all in the comments below.
The Best Way to Save Money at Thrift Stores
Do you like to go thrift shopping? I do! I mean, I have literally bought probably 75% of my clothing at thrift shops (and the rest have been bought at discount stores such as Ross Dress for Less). The thing is though, I know it seems like it is super easy to save money when you are thrift shopping, but the reality is that thrift shopping can actually cost quite a lot of money these days, especially with the prevalence of higher end thrift stores that have been popping up all around us.
In order to combat spending too much when I go to thrift stores, I follow a couple of rules. Here are my rules for the best ways to save money at thrift stores:
Budget for it. Just like with everything else, you need to budget for your thrift shopping. If you only have $20 left for the week, do you really think that that $20 should be spent at the thrift shop on something that you may not necessarily need.
Buy only what you will wear. It is really, really is to buy something just because it’s a good deal and because you “think” you may wear it in the future. If it is not something that you will for sure wear often, do not buy them.
Shop on discount days. Make sure to get familiar with days that your thrift shop offers discounts. For instance, I have a local Goodwill that I shop often and every week, they offer a discount on a specific color tag and this deal changes every Sunday, so I will stop in on either Sunday or Monday and ONLY shop the special color tag. Another thrift shop that I go to offers 40% off on Thursdays. I only go to that store on Thursdays.
How do you save when you go thrift shopping?
Need Help with Your Chore Chart? Here are 15 Summer Jobs for Kids
It’s summer time and I feel like I’m slacking in my chore chart. The kids are are starting to run wild, which means I need to get a little more organized and have them work! I need to update the chore chart now that there are some summer chores that can be done. Here are 20 that will help your kids get to work, and they just might enjoy them.
- Car Wash. either for your own cars, or if you have teens, send a flyer around the neighborhood and have them wash cars for the neighbors.
- Clean out gutters. This would need some supervision on the ladders, but our older boys really like to help dad clean out the gutters. The summer is the perfect time to get these ready for the winter precipitation.
- Weed flower beds and around trees. This is easy for all ages and it makes such a different in the curb appeal of a home.
- Spray out garbage and recycle cans. Give the kids a hose or pressure washer and spray out the big cans. Grass can make them stinky!
- Practice musical instruments. Keep up their instrument practicing during the summer and it will do wonders for the new school year. I do have a small “piano prize” for my kids if they practice every day of the week. They have done amazing and look forward to Saturday when they get that prize and I don’t have to yell at them everyday to do it!
- Mow the lawn. My oldest just got to that magical height of lawn mowing. YAY! He actually enjoys it. Give them some earphones and tunes and they will mow longer.
- Window washing. With good weather, this is the perfect time to get it done outside.
- Dust cobwebs and dust from outside doors and small spaces.
- Help organize the garage and sweep it out.
- Go through all of their toys and put into 3 piles: Keep, Donate or Throw Away.
- Go through clothing and do the same piles of: Keep, Donate or Throw Away. Get them ready for the next size up if needed.
- Wipe down bedroom furniture. While you’re going through your toys and clothing, wipes down the furniture and fix it up if needed.
- Vacuum and wipe down kitchen cabinets- yes those ones with flour and sugar all on them.
- Take care of your pets. Give the kids more responsibility on feeding, cleaning out cages and walking the pets.
- Water flower pots. This is an easy one for the younger kids. They enjoy getting their pails and watering the flowers and watching them grow over the summer.
Ways To Save Money On Your Electricity This Summer!
We’ve been pretty fortune to have great weather thus far. But it’s starting to warm up which means your electricity bill will increase. There are some ways you can save money on your electricity this summer and they’re simple!
- Replace your air filters
- Make sure your vents are open
- Don’t turn off your AC, just adjust the temperature
- Consider investing in a programmable thermostat and learn to use it
- Use appliances in off-peak hours if you can (8pm or later)
- Only run full loads in your dishwasher and washer/dryer
- Use cold water to wash your clothing in
- Use a clothes line to dry your clothing
- Skip the heat cycle on your dishwasher
- Keep your curtains closed
- Put up blackout curtains
- Consider installing window AC units in bedrooms
- Unplug devices you’re not using
- Take colder showers
These are all small and simple changes but if you change your energy-consuming habits now, you could save tons on your electricity bill tomorrow.
The Best Places to Sell Your Stuff Online
Do you have a closet full of old clothes that you no longer wear? Books that you haven’t read in years? Gadgets that don’t get used? Or, maybe toys that the kids have outgrown? If you are anything like me, you are probably feeling tired of all of the clutter. So, what can you do about it? Well, my friends, you have several options here. You can:
Throw them out. Okay, I know that you don’t want to do this (unless they are broken or completely stained that is)
Donate them. Donating these items are a great way to to declutter and feel good about what you are doing.
Or, you can sell them. Okay, I know you were thinking the same way I was. I don’t know about you, but I could use a little extra money in my pocket so selling my old stuff seems like the perfect way to do it. If you don’t know where to go to sell it, I have some ideas for you.
Here are the best places to sell your stuff online:
OfferUp – This is a great app to use when selling your stuff locally. I use this app often when selling items that would be too heavy to ship out. I recently sold my dog kennel on OfferUp and it lasted 2 hours and I was $100 richer.
Ebay – the good old classic. Ebay was the beginning of online relling. You can sell just about everything on Ebay so get to listing, my friends!
Mercari – This app has by far been my most successful way of selling my old stuff! In one week, I was able to make over $150 selling my and my daughter’s clothes. It’s awesome because the shipping price is built into the sale so you simply print out a shipping label and ship it out. No weighing or guessing. You can sell most things on this app. Once you have made a sale, you can request a direct deposit, or you can use it to buy more stuff!
Poshmark – I have also been quite successful selling with Poshmark. It works similarly to Mercari, but is specifically for clothing and fashion items.
3 Ways to Save Money on Your 4th of July Party
The fourth of July is just a few short days away, my friends! What are your plans? If you are hoping to throw together a last minute 4th of July party, have no fear, we can make this happen!
The great thing about a 4th of July party is that it can be put together quickly, easily, and on budget! Don’t believe me? Here are 3 ways to save money on your 4th of July party.
Serve up the Basics
BBQ and the 4th usually goes really well together. So, when you are working on planning your party, make sure to stick to the basics and grill up some burgers and dogs or chicken legs or something else that is easy and inexpensive. Stick with simple and inexpensive.
Hit up the dollar store
The dollar store will have all of the supplies you need to throw a great party. Paper plates, disposable silverware and cups (parties are much more fun when you don’t have a mountain of dishes to do), decorations (you will often find lots of seasonal decorations in dollar stores), and lots more!
Make it a potluck
Do you ever have potluck parties? I love potlucks because it is a way for everyone to get together without one single person or couple having to foot the bill. Yes, typically the host will have to provide a little more than everyone else, but it will be far less expensive than otherwise.
There are plenty more ways to save in addition to these, such as couponing, shopping second hand for decor, or not decorating at all, etc., but these are simple and easy tips to follow, especially when you are planning a last minute party.
3 Ways to Save Money on Your 4th of July Party
The fourth of July is just a few short days away, my friends! What are your plans? If you are hoping to throw together a last minute 4th of July party, have no fear, we can make this happen!
The great thing about a 4th of July party is that it can be put together quickly, easily, and on budget! Don’t believe me? Here are 3 ways to save money on your 4th of July party.
Serve up the Basics
BBQ and the 4th usually goes really well together. So, when you are working on planning your party, make sure to stick to the basics and grill up some burgers and dogs or chicken legs or something else that is easy and inexpensive. Stick with simple and inexpensive.
Hit up the dollar store
The dollar store will have all of the supplies you need to throw a great party. Paper plates, disposable silverware and cups (parties are much more fun when you don’t have a mountain of dishes to do), decorations (you will often find lots of seasonal decorations in dollar stores), and lots more!
Make it a potluck
Do you ever have potluck parties? I love potlucks because it is a way for everyone to get together without one single person or couple having to foot the bill. Yes, typically the host will have to provide a little more than everyone else, but it will be far less expensive than otherwise.
There are plenty more ways to save in addition to these, such as couponing, shopping second hand for decor, or not decorating at all, etc., but these are simple and easy tips to follow, especially when you are planning a last minute party.
Party Food Ideas for Your 4th of July BBQ
I love the 4th of July. I love the red, white and blue, and all of the festivities that come with it. You might get together with family or friends and enjoy a BBQ or a picnic, whatever you do, food is usually involved. This year I wanted to make something different, but yummy. I’ve come up with a few different options. Hopefully one will work for you!
MAIN DISHES
- Monterey Chicken with Pico (Chili’s Copycat) by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
- Hawaiin Roll Ham Sliders by Just a Pinch
- Best Burger Ever by the Plain Chicken
SALADS/SIDES
- The Best Creamy Pasta Salad by Six Sister’s Stuff
- 4th of July Fruit Salsa by Your Cup of Cake
- Fresh Salsa with avocado by Freebies2Deals
DESERTS
- Jell-O Patriotic Mini Fruit Tarts by My Food & Family
- Brownie & Fruit Kebabs by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
- Festive Fruited Cheesecake Flag by Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (can you tell I love her site??)
DRINKS
- Layered drinks by Like Mother Like Daughter
- Sparkling Berry Punch by The Frugal Girls
- Kid-Friendly Patriotic Punch by Mom Endeavors