How to Save Money on Your Holiday Dinner
Do you plan on hosting holiday dinners this year? It really is so much fun to be the host of holiday dinners, but it can also be really expensive. I am planning on having Thanksgiving at my house and I found myself recently being overwhelmed with the idea of how much it is going to cost to feed 17 people dinner. But I have found some budget-saving tricks that have my stress easing up!
If you are looking for how to do that as well, here are some tips to teach you how to save money on your holiday dinner:
Potluck style – Why not let your guests contribute to dinner as well? I don’t know about you, but in my situation, I found that almost all of my guests have asked me what they can bring. So I told them! I have people bringing pies, green bean casserole, rolls and more! This frees up my budget a lot!
Coupons – Lots of coupons are released during the holiday season. You can pair these coupons with the already rock bottom holiday sales prices.
Keep it simple – Some of the most amazing foods are also some of the most simple foods. You can make a really delicious dinner of just the basics like turkey, potatoes, and veggies. These staples don’t cost that much so it actually makes a pretty budget friendly dinner. I just bought a huge turkey for $20 a bag of potatoes for $2.50 and salad fixings for less than $10. That’s a $30 dinner right there.
The fact is that the holidays are not about the money that it takes, but it is about being together. You can be together and not spend a lot of money, but still have an amazing time during the holidays.
Do you have any budget-friendly, holiday dinner tips?
Real Life Thrift Store Decor Win
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.
5 Tips When Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner
I love Thanksgiving, it makes me happy having family together and the conversations we get to have. It’s a great time to catch up on life and strengthen those relationships. If you are the lucky ones hosting the big day, then you’ll know it’s quite a big undertaking. You need to think about the food, table settings, decor, and entertainment. Hopefully these 5 big tips will help you have a successful Thanksgiving.
- Get ready now. If you don’t have the day planned out, you’ll want to sit down and write it out now. Schedule out time of when people will be arriving, what you will be eating, food assignments, and then take note of what how many will be coming. Take time of when you should thaw the turkey -it’s days before, so be aware of that! Also, be sure you know the times you will be cooking the rest of the food.
- It’s best to have more than not enough. After you have the number of people coming, then plan out how much food you need of each. It’s so much better to have more food than not enough. So go big! Leftovers are just fine.
- Set the table and get house ready the day before. This is a huge help to have your home cleaned and your table set the night before you start cooking. That way you can focus on the food and welcoming your guests and not be too overwhelmed.
- Make as much food ahead as possible or delegate. This will help you out too if you can make the pies and other items ahead of time. This will save not only time but on clean up. You’ll have a few items already make and the mess cleaned. Be sure to delegate out food too that might be time consuming.
- Be prepared with games or activities for kids to keep them busy. This will definitely help with noise and happiness when everyone has something to do, including the kids. You can have someone in charge of bringing activities or crafts for the kids.
Stay on Budget For Christmas With These Tips!
This time of year is when a lot of people go into debt, but that doesn’t need to happen if you plan, prepare and be smart about Christmas. Not only will planning ahead of time help the pocket book, it will also lighten the load and ease the stress. So here are some tricks and tips to staying on budget this year.
Switch things up
What I mean is don’t feel the pressure of having to gift “things” this year. Give experiences, essentials (clothing, bath towels, swimming suit, etc.) or things to make memories. Not only can this be great in making memories with your kids but it will help your kids to not feel entitled.
Buy clearance items
I’ve found some great gifts on clearance that I’ve stashed away for Christmas. You don’t need to feel like you have to buy everything in November and December, spread it out and buy all year round. I just recommend making a note of what you’ve bought and for who because even though you saved and bought it before Christmas it’s easy to go over your budget when spread out through the year.
Set up automatic transfers
Did you know your bank can set up automatic transfers between your accounts? Set up your accounts to automatically set aside money for Christmas each month or every paycheck, whatever works for you. This is a great option if you’re not disciplined to do it yourself every month. Or if you can’t set it up through your bank, talk to your HR/employer to see if they’re able to send a portion of your paycheck to a savings account. There are options out there to help you save.
Make your list and check it twice
Set up your list at the beginning of the holidays, or even year. Make a list of what everyone wants (great to add to as they find more things they want) and the price you see them for. Then when the price drops you’ll know when to buy. It’s a great way to get the best deal for what you want. I also love to use CamelCamelCamel to find the lowest price Amazon has dropped the item to.
Don’t let Christmas and the holidays get you in debt and stressed out so much that you can’t enjoy them! Remember what the true meaning of Christmas is and enjoy the time you get with those you love.
Stay Warm this Winter without Turning Up the Heat
I know many people who have been playing the “don’t turn on the heat” game to see how long they can go without turning on their heater in order to save as much as possible. While I understand this game, I do not participate. Partially because I hate being cold, but mostly because I have children, including a toddler and I refuse to let them be cold. We take other steps to stay warm this winter without turning up the heat (notice that I said turning up, not turning on):
- Keep your thermostat set to a lower temperature. We keep ours hovering around 67-70 degrees. That is perfectly reasonable to us. If someone in the family is chilly at those temps, it is likely because they aren’t wearing enough clothing. My son, for instance, likes to wear just shorts around the house all the time. I am constantly telling him to put on a sweatshirt!
- Wear more clothes. To piggy-back off of that last point, make sure you are wearing suitable clothing for the temperature in your home. Wear socks and a sweatshirt and you will feel completely different than you will without.
- Winterize your home. It is amazing how much cold air gets into the home through the windowsills and doorframes. Put plastic over your windows, weatherstrips around your doors or even buy or make some door snakes and your home will be much warmer and cozy.
- Get thermal curtains. Again, windows can be a huge source of heat loss for homes. There is a lot of cold air that can come through your windows during the winter. Be sure to buy thermal, or at least, very thick curtains and keep them closed during the winter (other than warmer, sunny days). This will help to trap the heat inside which means that your furnace won’t have to work as hard.
Best Places to Find New Home Decor Pieces
Are you wanting to redecorate your home? Does redecorating not fit into your budget? That’s ok! There are quite a few ways to redecorate your home within putting out hundreds of dollars each go around.
I personally like to redecorate a little bit with each season. Not only for holidays but just for a new vibe with the new season. With summer comes lighter, brighter colors and with fall we bring out the oranges and browns. Christmas I like to stick to whites and blues. If you are wondering how you can save some money while mixing up your looks, here are some of my favorite tips on how to find the best places to find new home decor pieces:
Shop Amazon – Amazon is a great place to buy home decor items such as curtains, wall quotes, bedding, throw pillows and artwork. You can find some really good deals and of course, Prime members get that free 2-day shipping!
Thrift Shops – Thrift shops are an amazing place to buy home decor items. You can also find really great deals on furniture at thrift stores. If you replace the furniture in your home, it looks like almost an entirely new place.
Your storage – Before you buy anything new to decorate your house together, be sure to look through your own storage and find out if you have any decorative pieces that you would like to use. Chances are, you have stuff stored away that you don’t even remember having. It’s like a brand new decor piece!
I am currently pulling out my winter and Christmas decor pieces. Yes, I know that we aren’t even to Thanksgiving yet, but I am feeling Christmas early this year. When do you start decorating for Christmas? Do you go all out or just change up your color and/or style?
Tips For Shopping Black Friday 2018
Black Friday ads are already out, are you ready? Every year the ads come out earlier and earlier and it actually makes me excited. I love saving money and getting my Christmas shopping done early. There are so many deals and stores that participate so it can be a little overwhelming too. Here are a few tips while shopping this Black Friday.
Make a list. You can’t start your shopping unless you know what you are shopping for. It’s also a good idea to right a price point for each item. That way you can know what a good deal is. Have your whole family write down their lists as well. Be sure to include gifts you need to buy for in-laws and neighbors. Once your list is written down, you are ready to shop!
Compare Stores for the Best Deals. Now that most ads are out, you can compare the items you want with the different stores that have them for Black Friday. Which store has it for the best price? If you don’t want to hunt each store, be sure to follow Freebies2deals to help you out!
Buy Now if Possible. Once you have your items written down, your price points, and where you will buy them, then be on the look out for those items going on sale NOW. If you see that price or even a lower price, then buy them NOW. Seriously, a lot of stores are doing doorbuster deals which might include some of your items, so be on the lookout.
Have your Coupon Codes, Gift Cards Ready. Each store will have added ways to save money. So check their website for coupon codes. Be sure to grab those gift cards you may have on hand. You want to use them! You can also sign up for emails. This is a great time to have these deals emailed directly to you.
Be Quick! You’ve probably experienced Black Friday where you have all of the items in your cart, just to find out that when you check out half of your items are already out of stock. That can be frustrating! There are limited number of items for just about every Black Friday deal. So, when you are online and ready to purchase your items, be quick and check out fast. Most items can be returned if you change your mind.
2018 Veterans Day FREEBIES & Deals!
Veteran’s Day was created to honor the men and women who served in wars. We always love participating in these offers and plan out or day around the free activities and meals offered the military men and women & their families! Here is a roundup of restaurants and stores across the country that would like to extend an additional gratitude of thanks by offering discounted and/or free items to them.
Things to know about these offers:
- Nearly all require you to be dressed in military uniform or provide your military ID. It is best to make sure you have yours with you, no matter where you dine.
- Offers listed below are available only on November 11, 2018 (unless otherwise stated).
- Some offers available only at participating locations. Make sure to inquire prior to ordering.
Non-Restautant Deals:
B&B’s for Vets: offers a free night’s stay to active and retired military and one guest each on and around November 11th. Space is limited, so be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible.
Car Wash: Car washes across the country are offering free car washes on November 11th, head here to find on in your area
Colonial Williamsburg: Free admission ticket for Military families from 11/9-11/12
Great Clips: Veterans and active service members who come in Nov. 11 get either a free haircut or a free haircut card to redeem with proof of military service (coupon good through end of year)
Meineke Car Care Centers: Free Basic Oil Change on Veteran’s Day at participating locations
National Parks: Free entrance on Veteran’s Day (includes entrance fee)
Publix: 10% off Groceries for Veterans, Military Personnel, and their families on 11/11
Sport Clips: Free hair cuts will be offered to active-duty US service Members and veterans on 11/11
Restaurant Deals:
54th Street Grill & Bar: Free Meal up to $12 on November 11th
Applebee’s: Get a free meal, from a special menu.
Back Yard Burgers: All Veterans and Active Duty Military who present their military ID or are in uniform will receive a free Back Yard Classic Burger.
Bar Louie: Free App or Entree (11/11)
BJ’s Restaurants & Brewhouse: All vets and active military get a free entree (under $12.95)
Bob Evans: Get a free meal, from a special menu. Offer available all day long.
Bruegger’s Bagels: Veterans and active military members may enjoy a free anysize coffee.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Free small order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries.
California Pizza Kitchen: Free Meal (list of options) November 11th
Chevys Fresh Mex: On Veterans Day from 3 pm to closing, Chevys Fresh Mex will offer a complimentary meal and the complimentary meal will be a 3-item combo, choosing among Tacos, Enchiladas, Flautas, Tamales and Chile Relleno.
Chili’s: Free meal from a special menu.
Chipotle: November 11th all U.S. military, military spouses and veterans get a buy one get one free burrito, bowl, salad or tacos.
Cracker Barrel: Free slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake.
Denny’s: Active, inactive and retired military personnel get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam. Offer available November 12th from 5am-noon.
Famous Dave’s: Get a free two meat combo.
Firebirds Grill: Free Meal Monday November 12th
Friendlys: Free Dine in Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner November 11th
Golden Corral: Visit them on November 12th for a free beverage and buffet meal from 5-9 p.m.
Hooters: Free Meal (from list)(requires a drink purchase)
Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea House: Free Salad Bar for all Veterans on November 12th
Hy-Vee Free Breakfast: Free breakfast buffet for veterans during regular breakfast hours on Veterans Day.
Ikea: Free entree for Veterans.
Krispy Kreme Free Doughnut & Coffee: Get a free doughnut and small coffee. No ID required.
Lamar’s Donuts: Free donut and a 12oz coffee for all veterans and active military.
Little Caesars: Free Hot-N-Ready lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (our personal favorite)
Logan’s Roadhouse: Get a free dessert a participating locations. Veterans year round receive a 10% discount to guests who present a military or veterans’ ID.
Longhorn Steakhouse: Free appetizer or dessert (no purchase required, no restrictions) to anyone showing proof of military service. In addition, guests that dine with Veterans on November 11 will receive 10% off.
Max & Erma’s: Free Hand Crushed Cheeseburger, endless seasoned fries, and drink to all Veterans and Active Duty Military on 11/11
McCormick and Schmicks: Veterans and their parents and/or spouses receive a complimentary entree from a special menu on November 5th. (Reservations are required)
Mimi’s Cafe: Ffree entree with the purchase of any non-alcoholic drink at Mimi’s Cafe on Veteran’s Day, 11/11/16. Entrees on the Veteran’s Day menu include Grilled Chicken & Frites, Chicken Chop salad, Brioche Cheeseburger, or Farmhouse Tacos.
O’Charley’s: Receive a free meal at any location on November 11th.
Old Country Buffet: Free buffet and drink for all veterans and active duty military.
Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom: Participating locations will offer a complimentary craft beer (ages 21+) to active and retired military personnel
Olive Garden: Get a free entrée from a special menu to active-duty military and military veterans. The special menu features six of Olive Garden’s most popular items. Entrées are served with unlimited homemade soup or famous house salad and warm, garlic breadsticks.
On The Border: All veterans and active duty military will receive a free meal at OTB’s. The meal is from the”Create Your Own Combo menu,” which is a “choose 2” or “choose 3” menu.
Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage. Outback also is offering active and former service members 15% off their meals and their families’ Nov. 12 through Dec. 31.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery: Get free Magnificent Seven® meal.
Ponderosa Steakhouse: Free Buffet from 4pm – close
Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert from their select Veterans Day menu.
Red Robin: Free dine-in Red’s Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries.
Ruby Tuesday: Free appetizer up to $10.
Shoney’s Offers Free All-American Burger: Get a free Shoney’s All-American Burger.
Sizzler: Veterans and active-duty military personnel can get a a free lunch and beverage on Veterans Day.
Spaghetti Warehouse: Receive a special “buy one entree, get one free” coupon offer and they are encouraging its guests to “invite a veteran to lunch or dinner.” Coupon can be redeemed from Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13. The coupon is available here on the Spaghetti Warehouse website.
Starbucks: Enjoy a free Tall Brewed Coffee. In addition, for every Veterans Day Starbucks Card or eGift purchased, Starbucks will contribute $5 to help support programs assisting service members, military spouses and veterans. Offers available only on November 11, 2016.
TGI Fridays Free Lunch: Guests who show valid military ID can enjoy a free lunch menu item up to $12. This offer is valid on Friday, November 11th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.
Texas Roadhouse: Free Lunch and non-alcoholic beverage (from menu) on November 11th
Tijuana Flats: A free entree will be offered to all military on November 11, 2016.
Village Inn Free Breakfast: Get a free Inn-Credible V.I.B. breakfast on Veterans Day.
Weinerschnitzel: Free Chili Dog, Small Fries, and a Small Pepsi for Veterans and Active Duty Military Service Members on 11/11
White Castle: Receive a free breakfast combo or Castle Combo Meal #1 – #6.
Wienerschnitzel: Free Chili Dog with a small fry and a 20-ounce drink to Veterans and Active Duty Service members.
Utah Readers
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: Free admission for military veterans and their immediate family
Hogle Zoo Military Appreciation Day: November 11th, veterans, personnel and family will receive free admission.
National History Museum of Utah: free admission for veterans and one guest on Veterans Day.
Please note: a lot of these are last years offers but many stores continue to support our Vets year after year. We’ll make sure to update this list as the week goes so you can get the most accurate info. Also be sure to pay attention to dates as not all of them are happening on Sunday, November 11th.
4 Things to Do During The Holidays to Help You Save Money
The holidays are so very stressful for so very many of us. I get it. If you find yourself already stressed about the holidays, I totally understand and I can help! There are things that you can do during the holidays to help you save money. You can make some decisions now that will help you to not only preserve your savings but also will help you preserve your sanity.
- Have a no-gift holiday. Okay, not everyone is on board with this, but it is entirely possible to do Christmas without the gifts. You can choose to do no gifts for everyone, or no gifts for just the adults. If you have a discussion within your family beforehand, this goes over a lot easier.
- Draw names. If you have a big, extended family, you might consider drawing names in an effort to save money on the gifts you buy. I celebrate Christmas with my husband’s family. In our family, we have 7 adults (my husband and I, my sister-in-law and her husband and my brother in law and his wife, and my father in law) as well as 7 children. This year we are considering having the adults (excluding my father in law) draw names and then we will all buy for all of the children. We came to the realization that we had been spending $40-$50 on each person and that easily equaled another $200-$300 spent each Christmas.
- Give food gifts. Give food gifts instead of store-bought gifts this year. I like this because not only is it cheaper, but homemade gifts are from the heart and, for me at least, always appreciated.
- Give experience gifts. Instead of buying all of your kids gifts, why not give an experience gift for all of them? My husband and I have 3 children, and often spend hundreds of dollars on them during the holidays. This money is mostly spent on toys that are played with for a couple of weeks and then forgotten about. This year, we are buying our entire family a long weekend trip to Arizona, which for us was just over $500 for ALL of us. This should be a lifetime of memories for the same price as a couple of weeks of toys. Well worth it in my opinion. If your budget is on the lower side, check out Groupon and Living Social for deals on experiences! (These sites often have deals on Great Wolf Lodge in case that is on your must-visit list)
More Sneaky Places to Find awesome deals on Christmas Gifts
Did you catch our list yesterday of sneaky places to find awesome deals on Christmas gifts? We all know we can hop online to shop or go to your nearest big box store, but I am all about finding the best, uncommon places to find deals on Christmas gifts.
I like saving money and making my loved ones smile with good gifts and this is how I can do both!
- Drug Stores. If you have been following this site for long, you have seen plenty of awesome deals on razors, shave cream, hair products, etc. These make EXCELLENT gifts! Don’t believe me? Gather all of these goodies and place them into a basket from the dollar store and you have an awesome spa-type gift basket that you spent very little on.
- FB Marketplace. Lots of people buy things that they never use and then forget to return them so they try to sell them on FB Marketplace. A quick scroll of marketplace items will reveal some seriously good deals on new stuff!
- Flea Markets. Full disclosure. I don’t love shopping at flea markets. I don’t like it at all, but I fully acknowledge that you can find some seriously amazing deals on all kinds of items at flea markets.
- Craft store. Head to the craft store and check out their clearance items. I have found some of my best deals ever there. Here is an idea of the deals I found at my local Michael’s last year at Christmas:
- 5 Scentsy-type wax warmers – $1.49 each
- 10 wax cute sets – $0.49 each
- 4 Paint your own birdhouse kit – $1.29 each
Do you have any other awesome ideas for places to find cheap gifts? We would love to hea all about them! Let’s share, friends!
Sneaky Places to find awesome deals on Christmas Gifts
Have you started Christmas shopping yet? I am usually close to done by now, but I have had a wild and crazy year and I’m just now getting started! I have found some amazing deals so far though, so I’m excited to save big money on my Christmas budget.
Here is what I have found so far and a couple of sneaky places to find awesome deals on Christmas gifts in case you are looking:
- Grocery store clearance racks. Seriously, this sounds weird, but almost every grocery store has that aisle or two of books, toys and other non-food stuff, right? Well, these things inevitably end up in clearance! Last spring I was able to buy some seriously adorable winter hats and gloves for less than $1 each!
- Tuesday morning clearance. If you haven’t shopped Tuesday morning yet, you are missing out! The only thing I ever buy there is their clearance stuff and even that I wait until it is 70% off or more. Wow, have I found some good deals. A couple of weeks ago, I found some cool LED jumpropes for my nieces and nephew for $1.25 each!
- Goodwill. I don’t know about all Goodwill stores, but my local Goodwill sells Target overstock items, which means I have scored some seriously low prices on brand new items. I bought one of my nieces a cute Trans by Jansport Backpack last week for just $4.99! Brand new with tags still on. Christmas is covered for that little munchkin!
- Your kitchen. Seriously. Get in the kitchen and start making cakes or muffins, or fudge or bread or something! Food gifts are great to receive, easy and cheap to make and it is a project that you can do together with the family. I guess I can’t speak for everyone, but I love receiving food gifts. The entire family likes to munch on them and I know that they were made with love.
What’s your favorite sneaky way to save big on Christmas gifts.
How to Make a Christmas Countdown Chain Using Your Halloween Candy!
Now that Halloween is over, do you have a TON of candy? What do you do with it? How do you minimize the intake of sugar for your kids? Here is a great way to solve all of your questions- Make a Christmas Countdown Chain! This chain seriously saves me from kid tantrums and tears. Instead of them asking every 10 minutes if they can have another piece of candy, they know that they get one piece a day and each day means it’s closer to Christmas! It does take some time, but the kids can help you out! Here’s how you do it:
Supplies you need:
Plastic Wrap
Ribbon or Yarn- cut into strips long enough to tie
Scissors
Halloween Candy (# depending on when you start your chain-days to Christmas.)
Directions:
Stretch your Plastic Wrap out and keep it straight. Don’t cut it off until you are completely done. Tie Ribbon on the end and add in your first piece of candy. Next you’ll want to wrap the plastic wrap around the candy and twist the end a few times so the candy doesn’t fall out. Then add another ribbon. Repeat this step until you have all of your pieces in your plastic wrap. End the chain with another ribbon-twisting before you tie. That’s it!
Tips:
#1: If you have more than one child, consider using different colors of ribbon or yarn for each kid. That way they know which chain is theirs just by looking at the color.
#2: Remember to twist the wrap after each candy, otherwise they tend to fall out.
#3 If you don’t have enough pieces to go all the way until Christmas, consider going until Thanksgiving or even through the month of November. There can be different ending times, depending on the amount of candy you have.
Citrus Pear Dinners – Are They Worth It or Not?
If you’re in Utah or even Idaho you might have heard of Citrus Pear Dinners. Citrus Pear dinners are healthy, simple, flavorful crock pot or pressure cooker meals made with real ingredients. All their dinners are freezable with easy clean up! So are they worth it?
Here’s what you need to know to decide if Citrus Pear Dinners are worth it to you:
- There’s no need to worry about menu planning, they do all the prep work for you. From figuring out how much you need of each ingredient to marking the ziplock bags, you’re covered.
- They have the option of buying regular size family meals or small family meals to feed your family. (I have 3 kids ages 9, 7 and 3 with two adult, the small size meals work perfect for our family). Since I ordered the small size family, I had to order a minimum of 20 meals which cost about $200 – so works out to be about $10/meal.
- Make sure you have the room in your freezer AND a cooler big enough to get all your meals home in. If you can’t store them, you’ll end up wasting them.
- You don’t have to clean it all up! You get there with everything laid out and ready to go. You’ll prep your meals easily and they clean it all up. So you won’t be running your dishwasher trying to get all those dishes you just used to make your freezer meals clean.
- It does take about 2.5 hrs to get all your meals prepped. With that said, you’re making (in my case) 20 meals. It’d say that’s time well spent.
- My area only had night options. And while that usually works for most, I had to find a sitter since my better half works nights (so plan ahead.)
- They do make some special substitutions if needed. So if you’re gluten free or can’t have dairy, they’re able to work with you and your needs. (For the most part)
- You do still have to purchase so items from the store. So we make a couple taco bags and while everything for the crock pot was in there, I did have to still buy the shells, cheese, lettuce and other toppings we like on them. So really your meal cost a little bit more than what you pay for that night.
So really it’s up to you to see if it’s worth it. In my case, I’d save more money doing it myself, BUT I’d much rather go somewhere I don’t have to do all the planning and calculating out how much I need to buy to get my meals prepped. Plus, I got a girls night out of it! I call that a win in my book!
** They currently offer classes in: Cedar City, Heber, Holladay, Idaho Falls, Kaysville, North Ogden, North Salt Lake, Pleasant Grove, Rexburg, Rigby, Riverton, Smithfield, Spanish Fork, and St. George.
5 Side Hustles that Require No Start Up Cash
Have you been thinking about starting up a side hustle to bring in more cash? Trust me, I get it. I am doing the same. I think it’s time to start a side hustle on top of my other side hustles. I have dreams to reach and goals to meet and to do that, I need more money. It’s a never-ending cycle, isn’t it?
Starting a business though can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. Here are 5 side hustles that require no start-up cash that you can do now to get some money rolling in:
Freelance writer – I wrote a post yesterday about different websites where you can make some money doing freelance writing. If you are a skilled writer, this is a great way to earn some money.
Blogger – This one will take a small amount of money to start up, but it can be as low as just a couple of dollars per month. It also takes time to start earning money as a blogger, so now this is not a get rich quick plan, but it can become a successful business.
Dog walker – As a dogwalker, you typically will use the dog owners leash and collar so other than some bags for cleaning up dog waste, you don’t really need to spend any money.
Housecleaning – If you use your clients’ supplies, you can start cleaning houses with no money out of pocket whatsoever.
Virtual Assistant – With just a laptop or home computer, you can become a virtual assistant. No further expenses need be paid out. Of course, if you don’t already have a computer this will be different. I started working as a VA using just my family’s computer.
Have you ever started a side hustle business that didn’t require any startup? What was it? How did it work out for you?
4 Websites that Will Pay You to Write
Do you like to write? Are you good with grammar and punctuation? You might be surprised to learn that you can, in fact, make money by writing online. Truth be told, you can make a lot of money by working as a freelance writer online. I do this for a living, so I know that it is true. Although I’m not yet in this boat, I do personally know several people who make well into 6 figures per year working as freelance writers. If you have the experience and the skills, this can be you.
If you are just starting out though, you can still do pretty well. Here are 4 websites that will pay you to write, even if you are just getting started.
Textbroker – A lot of freelance writers don’t recommend Textbroker because their pay is on the low end, but I know several people who have consistently earned between $500-$1000 each month writing on Textbroker. No, this isn’t full-time income, but it sure will go far in helping you to reach financial goals. Textbroker pays out weekly.
Writer Access – I haven’t yet written for Writer Access, but from what I understand they are very similar to Textbroker. They pay out twice per month.
Upwork – Upworke is for freelancers of all types and there is a massive amount of work handed out on Upwork. Due to the size of their community though, it is easier for scams to pass on here so watch out for any suspicious posts and never pay to do a job. Now that the warnings are out of the way, I know people who earn thousands of dollars every year working on Upwork so the work is there.
Zerys – Another site very similar to Textbroker, these sites are great for beginners because honestly, it is really hard to get your foot in the door with the high paying clients until you have some experience under your belt.
Do you have any great websites that you have worked for before?