How to Save on Car Insurance
Are you cringing every time you pay your car insurance bill? Ugh..I know I do. I also have a daughter that is near driving age, so I am doing what I can right now to get my rates down before they get jacked up from her being on our policy.
If you are interested in seeing how you can get your rates down as well, here are some great tips on how to save money on car insurance that you can follow now to start saving big:
Shop around. Shopping around is the single most important thing you can do to get your insurance bill down. You might be surprised to find out how much other companies will be willing to go on your rates.
Drive less. The less you drive, the less you have to pay for insurance. Whoo hoo!
Raise your deductible. If you can afford to pay a little bit more in the event of an accident, raise your deductible. This will lower your rates.
Stick with liability. If your car is worth less than 10 times the cost of your premium, skip the comp/collision.
Maintain good credit. If you have poor credit, your rates will be higher. Sucks, but it is just the way it is.
Check rates before you buy your car. Different cars have different insurance rates. Be sure to check out insurance rates before you buy a new car so that you aren’t shocked when you get your bill.
Don’t pay monthly. If you have the money, try to choose the 6 month payment option. You typically get a discount for paying all at once as opposed to monthly.
How to save your first $1000!
If saving $1000 seems undoable to you, I promise you, it is not. All you need to do it have willpower and a lot of drive. It’s not as hard as it seems. As a matter of fact, I have put together this list of 5 steps to saving your first $1000 to get you started:
• STOP EATING OUT. Seriously. Just stop already. Did you know that the average family spends nearly $4000 per year eating out. That’s over $300 per month!
• Go through your closets. I bet you have some old stuff that you can sell just hiding in the back of the closet somewhere. Don’t stress it, just sell it
• Skip the new clothes. How much money do you spend on clothes each month. You may be surprised by the number. Wait a couple of months before you go clothes shopping again and I bet you will be able to add a high chunk to savings.
• Return that stuff you won’t use. Do you have brand new items that you never got around to using? Take then back!! I looked around the other day and discovered $80 worth of items that we have never (and will never) use.
• Work more. Do you have the option to work some overtime? Do it! No overtime? How about you pick up a side hustle. Even babysitting for friends and family can add up quickly.
Have you already completed BS1. How did you do it?
Please share all of your tips! We can all use any advice we can get.
Spring Skiing Safety & Money Saving Tips
Can you guys believe it’s almost March? It’s one week away and that also means spring is just around the corner. If you live in an area like me, then Spring can bring so many different weather patterns. We get nice sunny days as well as snowy cold days. March is one of my favorite times to ski. Why? Because the days are longer which means you can get more sun and the temperatures are usually more pleasant. If you’re like me and enjoy some spring skiing, be sure to check these safety tips as well as money saving tips as you hit the slopes.
Spring Skiing Safety Tips
- Lather on the sun screen, especially your face, including your nose, cheeks and ears. With the sun out more, you will most likely get a sun burn. Also, be sure to bring lip balm! This is seriously a lifesaver.
- Watch weather conditions before you head to the mountains. Be aware of avalanche warnings and read all new signs and warnings at your resort. With changing conditions, trails may need to be maintained or even closed.
- Ski in layers. During the spring the days can start super chilly, get really warm, then end super chilly again. Be ready for all conditions with many layers that you can shed or add on throughout the day.
- Be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. If it’s warmer out, you’re body is getting warmer which needs to be hydrated frequently. Take short breaks throughout the day and get some rest, shade, re-apply the sunscreen and drink water.
Spring Skiing Money Saving Tips
- Ski resorts during late March, April and May have highly discounted logging and ticket prices. This would be a great time to take the whole family skiing at better prices.
- Watch for lift ticket “specials” for each day of the week. I know a few resorts that do date night deals, family night deals, kids ski free days. Check websites before you go and notice these spring months will have cheaper prices. Be sure to search for coupons at your local resort as well. A little research will go a long way.
- Watch for clearance items on skiing equipment. You can grab them now for spring skiing and to be used for next year.
- Pack your own food. This is a good way to save money all year round. When we go skiing we pack our own sandwiches and snacks. Even though our sandwiches aren’t gourmet, they taste SO good when you are right off the slopes and starving. So bring your own food and drinks and save a lot of money.
- Check out the package deals if you are considering staying overnights. These packages will include lift tickets as well as lodging and even entertainment at some resorts. This way you won’t be buying everything individually.
- Check your resort for “free” events, entertainment and classes. During the spring, many resorts will offer free “extras” just to get more people to their resort. This is a great time to take advantage of these freebies.
Anniversary Date Night Ideas That Will Keep You On Budget!
It’s a celebrate that comes around every year and one I look forward to. Each year we try to take the time to celebrate what keeps us together, our love for each other. This year I wanted to share some of the ideas we’ve done in the past and what we’re planning on doing this year to celebrate.
Re-enact your first date – this was fun for us as we meet up in downtown Salt Lake. I make a scavenger hunt out of the events that happened that day with little messages in a bottle.
Memory Book – I found this over at the Dating Divas and we had so much fun putting it together! It’s a cute way to document all of life’s crazy adventures in a scrapbook, journal time capsule. They have other adorable ideas you can purchase and put together as well for your anniversary. Or if money is tight, put together your own adventure book with pictures from the past and places you’d still like to go.
At Home Staycation – Last year things were tight on money and when we thought we were going to be able to go out of town we ended up having to stay home, but we still had a great time. We sent the kids away to grandma’s house and explored our own town. We found new homes to walk through and dream about then hit up a new restaurant. Afterwards we headed home with some treats and a Redbox movie. The next morning we went out for breakfast and took a hike close by. It was a great little staycation we both enjoyed.
Fondue Night – we have kids and when they were younger we sometimes had to celebrate at home due to schedules and budget. So we had our own little fondue night after we put the kids down for bed. First we got the chocolate melted and chopped up our dipping items. Then we enjoyed while chatting at the table.
Slide Show – I’m excited to put this together this year! We’re celebrate 11 years in March so we have tons of memories to look back on. I’ve put together years’ worth of pictures, videos and music on a slide show for us to watch after we get massages. It’s a fun way to make it a little more personalized while cuddled up on the bed.
Super Easy & Yummy Chicken Fajita Soup
It’s that time of year when all I want is warm comfort food. I could eat soup and rolls every day of the week if only my kids would appreciate that too. I’ve tried a lot of soups this winter and found a few of my favorites. Some are super tasty, some are unique and some are downright simple. This one lasts in the last category. This is a crock pot recipe with items you most likely have in your pantry already. It’s definitely a winner.
Chicken Fajita Soup
Picture & Recipe by the Recipe Critic
Ingredients
-
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1½ cups water
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional Toppings:
- sour cream
- diced tomatoes
- green onions
- cilantro
- lettuce
- diced avocado
- tortilla strips- you can either buy them at the store or make your own!
Directions
- Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray. Add chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix cream of chicken soup, salsa, corn, black beans, water, cumin, and cilantro. Pour over the top of chicken.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Remove the chicken and shred with two forks. Place back into the slow cooker and add shredded cheese. Continue cooking until cheese has melted about 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings.
**Tip- I LOAD the toppings on, this is what makes the soup. So don’t go stingy on the avocado, cheese and tortillas strips. They are so yummy in this soup. Also, this serves 4-5 people. If you have a larger family, I would double the recipe.
5 Fun Things To Do With the Kids at Home During Spring Break!
Can you believe it’s almost spring? That means spring break is just around the corner and while I’m excited for the change of pace, I know if I’m not prepared and have some ideas we’ll all go crazy! So I’ve thrown together 5 things we’ll be doing over spring break this year.
Backyard Camping – I’m hoping for some warmer weather in which we can pull out the tent and set it up in the backyard. We’ll grill up some food and even roast marshmallows all while having fun in our how backyard.
Bedroom Makeover – my girls’ room has needed a little bit of a face lift so we’re going to tackle their room and make it fun together. From coming up with ideas of things to hang up, to cleaning out the closet, it will be perfect for when school starts back up.
Read a thon – while spring break is just that, a break, I still want my kids keeping up on the things they’ve learned so we’ll be hosting a read a ton! We might invite neighbors over but we’ll have lots of treats and goodies they can enjoy while throwing their pillow on the floor and diving into a good book.
Craft/Baking – we love to craft and are always on Pinterest looking for fun ideas! So we’ll be making time to craft and create something new in the kitchen out of their kids cookbook! And, if the weather is looking good we might create something fun in the garden like getting our fairy gardens put together.
Playdate – these keep me sane. Playdates aren’t just for kids, sometimes I just need the break too and it’s nice to sit down and chat with my mommy friends. We’ll usually make lunch together for all the kids and then clean up and chat about everything while the kids run around and play.
How to Save on Makeup
Do you wear makeup? How much money would you say that you spend each month on makeup? I know that there are those out there that spend hundreds of dollars each month on their cosmetics. I wear makeup, but I’m not really a “makeup enthusiast” if you will, so I don’t often spend a lot, but I like to save where I can. Here are the tips I follow on how to save money on makeup:
- Coupons. Oh, the great coupon. They are just the best aren’t they? You can use coupons at most big box stores, drugstores and even grocery stores to get discounts on your favorite makeup brands.
- Subscription boxes. Subscription boxes are affordable and fun, but my favorite thing about them is that they allow me to try makeup out before I spend the money buying the full size product. This is great because I cannot tell you how many times I have bought a product only to discover that it is not flattering for me, it is the wrong shade, etc. Getting these boxes have prevented that for the most part. Additionally, I am not a wearer of a lot of makeup so these boxes tend to last me for a very long time.
- Amazon. Amazon is an awesome place to find deals on makeup. They ave basically an unlimited supply of countless brands and price drops galore! I have gotten $15+ mascara for $2, eyeshadow for $0.99 and more awesome deals just from shopping Amazon for makeup. I have found that as long as I am comfortable with the colors you are ordering, you have no worries buying online. I tend to buy all of my mascara through Amazon as well as my eyeshadow. I always buy my foundation in person though.
Do you wear makeup? Do you find yourself spending an arm and a leg each time you buy new makeup for yourself? How do you save?
Valentine’s Day Classroom Party Tips
Have you received notification from your kiddos about their Valentine’s Day party? I’m sure you have! My kids are SO excited to exchange Valentine’s and to have a party in school. This year I am one of the lucky moms that get to help with the party. We’ve decided to do 4 rotations which helps with the organization and makes it a little less chaotic. Check these out.
Valentine’s Day Craft Rotation.
There are SO many different crafts that you could do with your kids. Depending on the age group you have will determine what craft you want to do. Here are a couple of suggestions. Younger kids make this super cute headband or for older kids you could have them make these cute VDay candy robots.
Valentine’s Treat Rotation
A Valentine’s Day party would not be complete without a traditional sugar cookie decorating. Bring pre-made heart shaped cookies and let the kids frost and decorate, then enjoy their yummy treat. If you need to do Gluten Free treats, then you could also make some of these super cute Rice Krispie treats as well.
Valentine’s Games Rotation (2 games= 2 rotations)
We are going to do Valentine’s Bingo and Valentine’s Headbanz. These games are easy enough for the kids to quickly understand, yet fun enough to last the full rotation. They are also very doable and won’t take too much time to prepare.
Pass out Valentine’s to classmates.
At the end of the party the kids will be passing out their Valentine’s to each of their classmates. If you don’t have yours yet, be sure to check out Amazon and Walmart for all of their super cute options. You could also check out your local grocery stores for some great prices too. You should see them in your weekly ad this week.
Valentine’s Dates on a Dime!
Valentine’s Day is just a week away and if you don’t have plans for the day I have just what you need! From celebrating with your honey to spending some time with your kids here are some of my favorite ways to spend Valentine’s Day on a dime.
With the Kids
- One of our favorites (and easiest) is the loves heart shaped pizza! You can make your own from scratch or purchase one from Papa Murphy’s.
- Pancakes with secret messages is our family tradition. We’ll dye some of the pancake mix pink and put it in a bottle (similar to ketchup bottles). Then while the pancake is cooking on the one side we’ll write a message on the other, then flip it. We’ll also make pink milk (you can get strawberry milk mix or simply dye your milk pink) to drink with our pancakes.
- A simple heart attack can go a long way! It’d be a fun surprise for the kids to wake up Valentine’s morning to compliments and messages of how much you love them.
- The kids are bound to love a fun scavenger hunt with a cute surprise at the end! Make it dessert after dinner or love letters to each of them but I’m sure they’ll love it.
Couples Ideas
- When you don’t have money for a hotel mix is up and sleep in the living room! We’ve even dragged our mattress down there so we can still get a good night sleep.
- Is your person working on Valentine’s Day? Surprise them at work with flowers or a lunch date. You could even heart attach their car while you’re there.
- Another fun idea, play some truth or dare with your loved one. Come up with some fun ideas of your own and put them in a couple bowls, one labeled truth, and another dare and start playing.
- Treat nights are a fun way to spend a date night at home. One of us will put the kids to bed while the other runs out to get a yummy treat, just for mom and dad!
- At home spa date is a great option if you can’t afford a real spa date this year. Get your bubble bath going and relax with some soothing sounds and candles. Or get even more into it and give each other massages to unwind.
- Scroll down memory lane by looking through old photos and videos. You can go way back to when you were born and share those memories with each other or make it all about the two of you and when you first came together.
- Get in the kitchen together and create something yummy together. Make it dinner or even dessert but cooking together in the kitchen is a great way to each other’s heart.
How to Save Money on Valentine’s Day Gifts
Okay, friends, we are just 10 days away from Valentine’s Day (as of the date of this posting). How are you doing on your Valentine’s Day preparation? Have you bought your honey a Valentine’s Day gift yet? I don’t know about you, but I love to spoil my husband, however, I also like to stay on budget. It’s important to me that we not needlessly spend just because.
If you are the same way and you want to keep your budget under control despite the holiday, it can be done!
Here are some of my favorite tips on how to save money on Valentine’s Day Gifts:
- No gifts. Gifts are not necessary to tell someone you love them. Sometimes actions really do speak louder than words. Don’t let commercials tell you that you need to break the bank in order for your loved one to be happy.
- Groupon. You guys already know how much I love Groupon. It is awesome for finding sweet deals on goods, restaurants, things to do and more!
- DIY. Just make your own gifts! I found quite a few fun Valentine DIY gift ideas while searching online or on Pinterest
- Dollar Tree. Okay, so this isn’t going to work for everyone, but my daughter is sitting next to me right now creating the Valentine’s Day gift that she is giving her boyfriend this year and it is stinking adorable. She spent a total of $6 and it is a home run gift idea!
Do you have any awesome ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts and celebration on a budget? Have you celebrated on a budge before? What kind of gifts were you able to give without spending a lot of money.
I would love to hear any and all tips that you have to share with us!
How to Save Money When Booking a Cruise
Choose Based on Sale
Are you absolutely stuck on where you want to go? Why not scroll through the sales you can find at Cruise websites and roll with what their best sales are. Choose where you go based on what sales are the best. Most cruise destinations are beaufitul anyway so it’s not like you are going to choose badly.
Choose Your Dates Wisely
TThere are certain times during the cruise seasons that the cruise lines work harder to fill rooms than others. This is when you will find the best deals. You can find these times during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas for many cruises or toward the end and right at the beginning of the Alaska cruise season (early May or late September.)
Choose any Cruise Company
Do you best to not feel connected to any particular cruise. When you are looking to book your cruise, make sure that you take a look at all of the cruise companies as you will find more deals that way. Comparison shopping is one of the original ways to save money on just about anything, why would cruises be any different?
This being said, make sure that you look into the cruise line, it’s activities, and reviews and make sure it appears to be cruise that sounds good to you! For example, some cruise lines are geared toward children and some are better for those cruisers without children. You need to make sure to know what to expect, or a good deal doesn’t really matter, right?
Choose to be Flexible
Just go into your cruise search with a flexible mindset and you will find that you are more able to find deals on your cruise. You can’t go into the search with the demand of only choosing one ship or one area and expect to save money.
Have you ever booked a cruise? Were you able to find any deals or savings?
How to Save on a Valentine’s Day Date
Do you have a sweetheart that you want to spend a nice time with this Valentine’s day? If you said yes, you probably think you have to plan for a big, expensive date, don’t you? Well, as a matter of fact. You do not! No worries, my friends! You can follow just a couple of tips and tricks on how to save on a Valentine’s Day date and you can be enjoying a fun, stress-free, romantic date with your special someone.
Here are some tips on how to save on a Valentine’s Day date:
Go out to lunch. Have you ever checked out the lunch menu when you go out to eat? Believe it or not, it is often cheaper than dinner. PLUS, especially on Valentine’s Day, you are going to find fewer people out.
Go for a romantic stroll. A romantic stroll through the park or your favorite place can be the perfect date. Plus, you are keeping yourself healthy instead of filling yourself with high-fat foods!
Have a date night in. Pop a romantic movie on Netflix and get to cooking a nice romantic meal and you will have the best ever date night.
Groupon. You all know that I just love Groupon. You can find some seriously low prices at Groupon and my favorite thing about Groupon is that you are introduced to so many amazing new places when you buy Groupon deals!
Choose a different day. Many restaurants jack up their prices for their “Valentine’s Day Specials.” Additionally, Valentine’s Day this year falls on a Thursday. How about waiting to celebrate until the weekend after to celebrate. Prices will be down as will the crowds.
How do you celebrate a budget-friendly Valentine’s Day?
Money Saving Tips for Your Super Bowl Party
Are you ready for the big day? It’s like a food Christmas to me. I’ve heard Superbowl Saturday is one of the biggest food shopping days of the year. If you’re like me, you’ll be out shopping for those yummy foods tomorrow to get ready for the Sunday game. Here are a few ways to save money & time on your last minute food purchases.
If you have a Kroger affiliated store near you, be sure to check out the coupons they have available. I’ve seen some great ones for little smokies, crackers, soda, chicken wings, pizza and so much more. Be sure to check out their ad and then download the coupons to save you a TON of money.
A great way to save you time is to use the FREE pickup available from Walmart and Kroger stores. You can get the same deals and use the coupons as in store, but you don’t have to wonder around for hours. Reserve your time slot now and start shopping!
Be sure to look at the ad to your local store before you go. That will help you make a list of food that’s already on sale. There are a ton of different foods from steaks, avocados, chips and salsa that you’ll want to grab at stock up prices.
Save on Flowers This Valentine’s Day!
I hear more and more how women don’t want flowers for Valentine’s Day but the more I talk to them all I hear is they’re too expensive. While I do understand that and know that “just because” flowers are nicer to receive than holiday flowers, it’s a great way for someone to show their love. So I wanted to share with you how we save money on flowers!
Grocery Store Flowers – this is my favorite way to get flowers and the one way I find we save the most money. Often times grocery stores will discount their flowers when they start to die but I still find I can get another week or two just by clipping their ends and giving them fresh water. We’ll pay between $5-$10 for a bouquet of flowers and put them in a vase we already have.
Local Flower Shops – make sure you’re signed up for their emails. We have a couple local flower shops that will have deals on flowers. One of my favorite local shops sells “12 Month of Flower” fundraiser cards. We pay $30 for the card and can go to their store each month for a wrapped bouquet of fresh, seasonal flowers! It’s like a gift that keeps on giving all year.
Groupon / Living Social – this time of year we’ll often see discounts on flowers from a variety of sites. My best tip is to make sure you look at the site before you purchase a voucher from Groupon. We’ll usually see voucher that are like $30 but you pay only $15. This is awesome – if they have bouquets that sell for $30. So take a look at the flower website before you purchase your voucher off of Groupon or Living Social.
Costo & Sam’s Club – These stores are great for large bouquets and this time of year they usually have a pretty good selection. Plus I find they’re larger bouquets so you can divide them up and get a couple vases to put them in.
Don’t forget we post deals for Valentine’s Day flower when we find them. You can keep up on these deals by following our Valentine’s Day Category but hopefully this will help you find the best deal for your budget.
10 Tips to Help You Save Money on Fast Food
Let’s get real, there are many nights that life is crazy and a nice sit down dinner just isn’t going to happen. It’s super nice to be able to go to a drive-thru and have dinner ready in a matter of minutes. With this convenience comes expense. Fast food can add up if you’re not careful. I’ve found some super easy ways to save money and I really do save a TON each time I’m buying fast food. Here are 10 ways you can save money too.
- Watch your mail for coupons and mailers. Coupons for fast food are everywhere. I’m sure you’ve seen those come in your mail or even your email. These coupons can save you a TON just buy tearing them out and using them. Take those coupons and put them in your cars or purse. That way you have them on hand for those last minute dinners.
- Use Apps and Reward Programs. This is super simple and can save you a lot of money. In today’s tech filled world, almost every fast food restaurant will have an App. Simply download your favorite fast food’s app, check out their coupons and rewards program right there on the app. A lot of apps will have free items as rewards which is so worth the download. Be sure to check the app before you go and see what offers are available to help you save the most money.
- Take advantage of Kids Eat Free days. If you have kids you know how expensive it can get to eat out. It would be super cheap if you go on a kids eat free day.
- Know the deals of the day. If you have a favorite place you usually go, be sure you know what deals they have going on each day. That way you can plan ahead and go when you would be eating the deal of the day items.
- Look at the whole menu and know what items can save you money. When you are ordering, look at the menu and see if they have dollar items or cheaper items that you can get more of and still be satisfied. I’ve noticed if you buy a few $1.00 items per person, it’s a lot cheaper than buying just one $6 item per person.
- Order water. I know, I know, this is pretty hard and maybe not what you want to hear, but it’s a simple way to save money. By ordering water you don’t pay that insane amount for a tiny soft drink. Just think, most grocery stores have 2-liter sodas on sale for $1.00. However, when you go out to dinner you will be paying $2 or more for a soft drink for ONE person. Instead of paying that amount, just take your food home and grab that 2-liter soda and share with the family. Soft drink purchases add up way fast, this is a great way to save money.
- Don’t buy side items or share your sides with others instead of ordering one per person. I don’t know what it is about fast food, but I always think I need french fries with my hamburger or chips with my sandwich. Instead of buying one side per person, just buy a couple and share them with your family. If you really want to save money, or if you’re watching your food intake, try not to eat the sides. You can buy the main entree and most likely be satisfied. Again, if you are taking your food home, then grab sides that you already have at home. Most likely you have fruits, veggies or chips that you can add to your meal. You can save a lot by not buying those side items, or by sharing them with others.
- Avoid buying kids meals. I RARELY buy kids meals for my kiddos. They just know they won’t be getting one. First, they are overpriced. Second, the toys are usually junk and provide a few minutes of joy, then those toys are lost somewhere in my car seats. Lastly, did I mention they are overpriced?? Seriously, look on the dollar menus or grab a bigger bundle of those nuggets and share them with the kids. Skip or share your sides and then order water. Super simple and definitely cheaper.
- Skip the desserts and treats. It’s super tempting when you see everyone with an ice cream cone to join in and buy one yourself. However, that is an easy way to save some money. That’s an added expense that you can do on occasion, but not every time you go out to dinner.
- Check your receipts for surveys. Have you noticed that a lot of restaurants have quick surveys at the bottom of your receipts? I do this all of the time. Sometimes these offers will be a free entree or a bogo offer. It’s an easy way to grab a freebie the next time you are at that restaurant.
How do you save money eating out? Comment below and let us know!