5 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Brand New Car
Are you contemplating the purchase of a vehicle? I know that all of the bells and whistles of a new car sound like it would be so great, but there are some pretty solid reasons why you should stick to buying just used cars.
Here are 5 reasons you should never buy a brand new car:
- They are expensive. Yeah, that’s obvious, but brand new cars are expensive. Did you know that the average new car loan is $30,000? That is a lot of money. You are going to save a significant amount of money if you buy a used version of the car you are looking for.
- Depreciation. New cars lose a lot of their value once you drive it off of that lot. Like a lot. The average new car loses 20% of its value in the first year, some cars can lose up to half of their value! This is a great reason to reconsider your idea to buy a new car.
- Interest payment. This goes along with how expensive they are, but the more expensive a car is, the more interest you will be paying on it.
- Higher insurance rates. New cars will cost you more to insure it. Because they have a higher payout, the insurance companies will charge you more. A leading insurance company has released the numbers and have acknowledged that you will save, on average, over $700 per year when you buy a new car.
- Door dings happen a lot. I know that this one is a materialistic view, but it is worth considering. When you drive around and park in busy parking lot, you are likely to get door dings a lot. This is far more frustrating when you have a beautiful, shiny new car. If you buy a used car, you still don’t want to get dents and dings of course, but it’s less stressful.
5 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Brand New Car
Are you contemplating the purchase of a vehicle? I know that all of the bells and whistles of a new car sound like it would be so great, but there are some pretty solid reasons why you should stick to buying just used cars.
Here are 5 reasons you should never buy a brand new car:
- They are expensive. Yeah, that’s obvious, but brand new cars are expensive. Did you know that the average new car loan is $30,000? That is a lot of money. You are going to save a significant amount of money if you buy a used version of the car you are looking for.
- Depreciation. New cars lose a lot of their value once you drive it off of that lot. Like a lot. The average new car loses 20% of its value in the first year, some cars can lose up to half of their value! This is a great reason to reconsider your idea to buy a new car.
- Interest payment. This goes along with how expensive they are, but the more expensive a car is, the more interest you will be paying on it.
- Higher insurance rates. New cars will cost you more to insure it. Because they have a higher payout, the insurance companies will charge you more. A leading insurance company has released the numbers and have acknowledged that you will save, on average, over $700 per year when you buy a new car.
- Door dings happen a lot. I know that this one is a materialistic view, but it is worth considering. When you drive around and park in busy parking lot, you are likely to get door dings a lot. This is far more frustrating when you have a beautiful, shiny new car. If you buy a used car, you still don’t want to get dents and dings of course, but it’s less stressful.
Exploring St. George, Utah: 5 Attractions You Need to Visit
St. George, Utah is a very popular destination in the spring and fall. It has perfect weather and some fun attractions that are perfect for a variety of ages. Here are 5 attractions you won’t want to miss while you are there:
- Pioneer Park. This is seriously a favorite for our whole family. This isn’t the typical park. It’s a rock climbing adventure in open space. While there be sure to clip to the top and see the beautiful view down below. Make sure there is parental supervision while climbing. There are steep ledges, so you’ll want to climb together as a family. My little 3 year old even loved climbing around the red rocks. You can find the location here.
- The Thunder Junction All Abilities park. This is such a fun park with a lot to offer. Be sure to wear your swimsuits so you can take advantage of their splash pad area. There is also a fun train you can ride for $1.00 per person. You see more information and times on this page.
- Sand Hallow State Park. This state park has both sand and water. What more could you want? Bring your sand toys or small boats and enjoy this park with the family. If you are visiting during the summer months, this is a refreshing place to visit and cool off. You can find more information here.
- The Shoppes at Zion (outlet mall). If you are a shopper, then this is a definite must. Shop with over 30 premium shops and restaurants. I’ve found so many great deals while shopping at these outlets. Location you can find here.
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. If you want more of an outdoor, camping or hiking adventure, be sure to check out this area. There are camping areas that are absolutely beautiful. You can also do a day hike. We have been to Sand Cove and it was so fun. Bring your sand pails and play in the sand or go on little hikes around the natural beauty. More information can be found here.
Exploring St. George, Utah: 5 Attractions You Need to Visit
St. George, Utah is a very popular destination in the spring and fall. It has perfect weather and some fun attractions that are perfect for a variety of ages. Here are 5 attractions you won’t want to miss while you are there:
- Pioneer Park. This is seriously a favorite for our whole family. This isn’t the typical park. It’s a rock climbing adventure in open space. While there be sure to clip to the top and see the beautiful view down below. Make sure there is parental supervision while climbing. There are steep ledges, so you’ll want to climb together as a family. My little 3 year old even loved climbing around the red rocks. You can find the location here.
- The Thunder Junction All Abilities park. This is such a fun park with a lot to offer. Be sure to wear your swimsuits so you can take advantage of their splash pad area. There is also a fun train you can ride for $1.00 per person. You see more information and times on this page.
- Sand Hallow State Park. This state park has both sand and water. What more could you want? Bring your sand toys or small boats and enjoy this park with the family. If you are visiting during the summer months, this is a refreshing place to visit and cool off. You can find more information here.
- The Shoppes at Zion (outlet mall). If you are a shopper, then this is a definite must. Shop with over 30 premium shops and restaurants. I’ve found so many great deals while shopping at these outlets. Location you can find here.
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. If you want more of an outdoor, camping or hiking adventure, be sure to check out this area. There are camping areas that are absolutely beautiful. You can also do a day hike. We have been to Sand Cove and it was so fun. Bring your sand pails and play in the sand or go on little hikes around the natural beauty. More information can be found here.
Exploring St. George, Utah: 5 Attractions You Need to Visit
St. George, Utah is a very popular destination in the spring and fall. It has perfect weather and some fun attractions that are perfect for a variety of ages. Here are 5 attractions you won’t want to miss while you are there:
- Pioneer Park. This is seriously a favorite for our whole family. This isn’t the typical park. It’s a rock climbing adventure in open space. While there be sure to clip to the top and see the beautiful view down below. Make sure there is parental supervision while climbing. There are steep ledges, so you’ll want to climb together as a family. My little 3 year old even loved climbing around the red rocks. You can find the location here.
- The Thunder Junction All Abilities park. This is such a fun park with a lot to offer. Be sure to wear your swimsuits so you can take advantage of their splash pad area. There is also a fun train you can ride for $1.00 per person. You see more information and times on this page.
- Sand Hallow State Park. This state park has both sand and water. What more could you want? Bring your sand toys or small boats and enjoy this park with the family. If you are visiting during the summer months, this is a refreshing place to visit and cool off. You can find more information here.
- The Shoppes at Zion (outlet mall). If you are a shopper, then this is a definite must. Shop with over 30 premium shops and restaurants. I’ve found so many great deals while shopping at these outlets. Location you can find here.
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. If you want more of an outdoor, camping or hiking adventure, be sure to check out this area. There are camping areas that are absolutely beautiful. You can also do a day hike. We have been to Sand Cove and it was so fun. Bring your sand pails and play in the sand or go on little hikes around the natural beauty. More information can be found here.
Organize Yourself at The Beginning of Every Month! Quick Tips to Keep You Organized!
The beginning of the month is a great time to reset yourself and prepare you for the month ahead. It’s a great time to get organized, set your budget, set new goals and more. Here’s some great ideas for you to get organized at the beginning of every month!
First set yourself some new goals. We all know about new year resolution’s and goals but make some monthly realistic goals for yourself as well. I usually set my budget goals at the beginning of the month as well as eating habit. These are my two big ones. I also try to get family goals and things I want deep clean for the month.
Organize your phone and photos. Its a great time clear out your photos from your phone and organize them onto your computer. I take 100’s of photos through the month of my kids and it tends to take up a lot of memory. Even my iCloud has been filled, so I download all my pictures and videos at the beginning of the month to make sure I have enough storage and memory for the next months adventures.
Clean out your purse and diaper bag. My diaper bag is a throw in and go most of the time. From grabbing some snacks before we hit the park to getting a couple toys for the long drive to grandmas house! So cleaning it out each month gives it a fresh clean look and keeps my sanity together.
Along with the goals listed above make sure you figure out your deep cleaning. This time of year is the perfect time to get the windows cleaned, carpets shampooed etc. If you set a couple of deep cleaning chores on your calendar each month the task won’t seem so daunting.
Clean our the fridge. I love getting my fridge organized and cleaned out each month. I also go through the freezer to see what we have. This gives me a good idea of what meals to plan for the month ahead.
Meal plan. I know planning out a whole month might seem a little much but I love it. I’m able to look through the fridge, food storage and freezer to see exactly what should go on the menu and I’ve looked at the budget so I know what to plan for.
Lastly get those important dates on the calendar! From birthdays to get togethers with friends and family get them written down. That way you’re taking the time to nurture those relationships with your loved ones which is so important. Don’t forget though to set aside some you time this month. From date nights to a massage you need to take care of you!
8 More Things You Should Always Buy New
Yesterday we talked a bit about some things that you should always buy new and as I was going on and on it occurred to me that there are so many more things that I needed to add to the list, so that is exactly what we are going to do today.
Here are 8 more things that you should always buy new:
- Infant / Toddler Car Seats. Car seats have an expiration date, did you know that? In addition, you never want to use a car seat that has been involved in an accident. The only way to make sure that you have the best quality car seat is to buy brand new. No to worry though, you can often find great deals on them, just shop sales and clearance.
- Helmets. Whether bike helmets or motorcycle helmets, these are always best bough new in case they had previously been involved in an accident, which lessens their protective abilities.
- Hot tubs. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Seriously. Hot tubs are a great breeding ground for germs and you just can’t determine how well maintained a hot tub was by its previous owners.
- Stuffed animals. You can buy very inexpensive stuffed animals brand new. Used stuffed animals can come accessorized with bugs or bacteria that you can avoid with a new purchase.
- Baby cribs and other baby furniture. There have been quite a few recalls on baby cribs and other baby furniture. It is best to just avoid any purchase of used furniture to avoid inadvertently buying a recalled item.
- Car tires. Shop around for a deal on new tired. It can be done. There is a chance that any used tires you buy may have been in an accident previously, which could render them unstable.
- Bedding. For the same reasons that you don’t want to buy a used mattress, you should avoid buying used bedding.
Vacuum Cleaners. Thing about the use that your vacuum has received over its lifetime. Would you want to buy that? I didn’t think so. Vacuums are best when bought new.
8 Things You Should Always Buy New
I know that you are trying your best to save money and I know that oftentimes that means shopping thrift stores and consignment shops for clothes, furniture, etc. I love shopping at thrift stores. In fact, you will probably find me shopping thrift stores, much more often than I should, but I figure it’s better than being at the mall and spending big money.
That being said, there are some things that you should always buy new and for good reason, whether it is for health reasons or simply to avoid the “ick” factor.
Here are 8 things that you should always buy new:
- Underwear. Yep, it needed to be said. Used underwear is just yucky! Besides, you can buy some pretty cheap skivvies if you keep an eye on the clearance and sales racks at basically any store. Many department stores even have undies under $2 on clearance. You just need to know where to look.
- Shoes. Shoes are made to form to a person’s foot. Does it make sense for you to wear shoes that have been formed to someone else’s feet?
- Socks. This goes along with undies and shoes of course, but there are just too many foot fungus issues out in this world and I want no part of it.
- Swimsuits. Okay, in all honesty, I have bought used swimsuit tops, but it’s always best policy to buy your swimsuit bottoms new.
- Makeup. Avoid any opened makeup you may find at yard sales, or posted on for sale groups. Makeup can grow bacteria from people’s eyes and skin. No one wants pinkeye just for saving a couple bucks.
- Hairbrush and/or accessories. Too many chances of lice with this one. Lice can live in hair brushes and hair ties for quite a long time.
- Mattresses. Used mattresses can carry bed bugs and more. You may be surprised to learn this, but you can actually buy cheap mattresses online. They may not be the most comfortable mattress ever, but you won’t be dealing with a bed bug infestation afterwards.
- Non-stick cookware. While I will buy glass cookware and Pyrex, I always say a big NO to buying used non-stick cookware. This stuff is bad for you when scratched and flaking off into your food and that is often the case with used ones.
Things You Can Do When You Can’t Afford a Vacation
Are you finding yourself low on funds lately? What do the kids call it these days? Broke as a joke, that’s it. Is that the status of your wallet right now? I get it. We have all had rough times where it’s hard to spring for extras. That is why you shouldn’t feel bad if you can’t afford a vacation right now. It’s ok, really it is.
There are other things that you can do instead of going on vacation, that can be equally fun!
Here are some ideas of things you can do for those times when you can’t afford a vacation:
Staycation. Seriously, just stay home and relax. I am willing to bet you rarely do that as it is, so it will actually feel like a vacation after a couple of days of treating yourself to relaxation.
Become a tourist. Why not become a tourist of your own town or city? I would be willing to be that there are a lot of things about your area that you are unfamiliar with. Sometimes it is fun to view the place you live with fresh eyes. You may be surprised at how much you learn and how much fun you have.
Have a potluck or get together. When was the last time you had a get together with friends or family? Why not put one together? You can make it a potluck to save on expenses. This is a great way to make some memories.
Complete a project. Do you have a big project that you have been needing to finish, but haven’t had time? Now is a great time to do it! Yeah, more work seems like a terrible idea when you should be vacation instead, but think of how great it will feel to have it done.
6 Fun Spring Break Activities on a Budget
Spring break is coming soon for most of us. It’s a week (or two) when kids are out and ready to play and take a break from homework and regular routines. As a mom, I really enjoy having my kids home. However, I like to be prepared. This year we are staying home so I’ve been planning some activities to do with the kids to keep them occupied. Being prepared also helps me so I don’t go super crazy over the week long break. Here are just a few activities that I’ve been thinking of doing. They don’t cost much and are super easy to prepare.
- Service Project. I like to have the kids think about others for a little bit while on break. Think of ways you can help your school, community, church, neighbors or family. This time of year it’s easy to find yard work. A lot of people are clearing out dead branches and leaves. Find somewhere to go and help clean up. You can also call ahead and find a local food shelter or food pantry that may need help with stocking and organizing food. With kids being out of school they are available during the days so there are usually more times available. I love watching my kids serve and they end up loving it too.
- City Activities. Check your local city and see what is going on the week of spring break. For us, they have a few days where they offer a program for kids to come play different sports at a park close by. This does cost a small fee, but it’s definitely worth the amount to get them outside, playing and socializing.
- Park Days. What is spring break without a day at the park. Take your wagon and walk to a new park you may not have been to before. Call up a few friends and neighbors and meet at a park. If the weather isn’t cooperating with you, check your local mall and see if they have an indoor play area.
- Learn Something New. This may take a little bit of planning on your part but it’s definitely worth it. Ask each of your children for one thing they would like to learn to do this week. It could be cook a new meal or dessert, sew a skirt, skateboard, drive a car (gasp!) or learn a new game like chess or checkers. Whatever it is, plan the day that you will teach them and then stick to it.
- Plan a Day Trip. You don’t have to go far to find a new place to visit. Get onto Google Maps and find a location near you that you have never been to before. Pack a lunch and head out. It could be a new museum you’ve never been to, or a relative you don’t visit often. This will get you out of the house and away from your daily routines which is simply refreshing.
- Visit a New Place. This could be as easy as Chuck E. Cheese’s or a new library in the city. It could be a public pool in a different city or a children’s museum that you’ve never been to. Whatever it is, plan a day where you can go explore somewhere new. It could be the same time you do your day trip or a different day if you want to spread them out. Whatever it is, explore and have fun.
My Top Packaged Items You Should NOT Be Buying at The Grocery Store!!
I hope you know there are just some packed items you should not be buying but I wanted to give you my top 5 PACKAGED ITEMS YOU SHOULD NOT BE BUYING AT THE GROCERY STORE!! Don’t get me wrong I still purchase these when I’m in a pinch for time but when it comes to saving money, AVOID these items!
- Instant Oatmeal Packs – I’ve bought the snack ziplock bags and put together our own oatmeal packets that are 1 healthier cause I know what’s in them and 2 cheaper! Inside mine I’d put oatmeal, dry milk, a little brown sugar and then freeze dried fruits like strawberries, blueberries etc. Our favorite though is peanut butter and jelly!
- Frozen fruit popsicles – They containers to make these yourself as super cheap – I’m talking dollar store cheap. And you can simple freeze your own juice with whatever else. Even yogurt works really well too!
- Spices – these are so much cheaper to purchase in the bulk section of your store but also keep in mind you can make your own taco seasoning mix and other favorites your family has! I’ve found my favorite ranch dressing is home made with our own seasonings.
- Pre-slices/cut fruit and veggies – I hope you’ve noticed this at the store when you’re purchasing your fruit and veggies. It’s not cheap to simple have them cut up your fruit and veggies for you so make sure you avoid buying these. (Note: sometimes I’ve found come containers on clearance, then I’ll buy them but only if you’ll be eating them within a day or two.)
- Individual packaged snacks – they’re another thing to avoid buying. Purchasing the whole box of goldfish is a lot cheaper than the individual bags. That’s also true for other individual packaged snacks like prezels, trail mix and more. Take a second and create your own bags with the snack size zip lock bags, you’ll be saving yourself some good money when it comes to kids school lunch!
And one more cause you guys are awesome – watch out for hamburger patties. You can make your own easily, just purchase your ground beef and add your own seasonings. We’ve found the best way to keep them cooking even is to put a thumbprint in the middle. What else have you found cheaper to prepare at home??
8 Tips for a No-Spend Month
How is your spring starting out, budget-wise? If you are in need of a buildup of cash for yourself and your family, now is the time to buckle down and get serious about saving! It’s time for a no-spend month my friends! If you have no idea where to begin, here are 8 tips for a no-spend month that will get your budget in order.
- No restaurants. This is a very real rule. Throughout the entire month, do not stop at any restaurants at all. Did you know that the average family spends over $3600 per year just eating at restaurants? That is an extra $300 per month that you can put into savings.
- No coffee shops. It’s just so easy to swing through the coffee shop. Skip this month and make coffee at home. You will be amazed by how much you can save.
- Shop your pantry. Before you head to the grocery store, check through your pantry and freezer and cook with what you have on hand.
- Just say no. Learn how to be comfortable with saying no to dinners and other activities that cost you money. It’s only a month, you can have plenty of fun at home.
- Go through your closets. Not only will it do you good to not spend any money, but you may find that you have the motivation to bring money in! Find extras in your closet and throughout your home that you no longer use. You can declutter and earn cash at the same time.
- Meal prep. Spend one day each week meal prepping. This will keep you from feeling tempted to rush out to a restaurant or grab convenience food at the grocery store.
- Plan family time / game nights. If you feel like the lack of spending money is going to mean you are bored, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Plan fun family time, such as game nights to keep the family being active and having fun without spending money.
6 Kitchen Organizing Tips
What is the least organized room in your home? If you said kitchen, you are not alone! Kitchens are full of supplies, tools, food and more, all of which are easy to let get out of hand if you aren’t careful.
Here are 6 kitchen organizing tips that you can implement now to get your kitchen and life in order:
- Use glass storage jars. Use glass storage jars for baking necessities such as sugar and flour or items such as coffee and tea. The dry ingredients can’t fall over and spill like they would in their original packaging and coffee and tea containers are often awkwardly shaped and hard to organize. These glass storage jars help keep everything in order and easy to get to.
- Use plastic, lidded bowls to organize drawers. Use plastic, lidded bowls (like the kind you can get at the dollar store), to organize stuff in drawers. This is especially true for drawers used to hold random stuff (a junk drawer as you may call it).
- Use a wooden peg rack for storing lids. Lids are a huge clutter nightmare for kitchens and have been for years. Use a wooden peg rack to keep them standing vertically and out of the way.
- Magnetic knife strips for the win. Find a magnetic knife strip to attach to your kitchen wall. I have one of these and it is amazing. It keeps them up out of the way and also easy to get to.
- Install hooks in your cabinets. Install hooks on the insides of your cabinets (especially under the sink) to store rags, gloves and other cleaning supplies. This is a good way to keep them from cluttering up your cupboards or sink.
- Chalkboard to-do list. Use a self-adhesive chalkboard to create a to-do list inside of a cabinet or on an empty wall to create a to-do list. Using a visual board like this is great to keep up on your grocery list and chores. Plus, since your chore list is right in front of you, your kitchen will stay more organized.
6 Reasons You Should Have a Cleaning Schedule
Do you struggle with keeping your home as clean as you would like it? Does organization not come naturally to you? You may be able to help yourself get these things in order, by keeping a cleaning schedule on hand at home.
If you are thinking about whether or not, you should adopt the cleaning schedule lifestyle, you should definitely do it! It has helped my household tremendously.
Here are 6 reasons you should have a cleaning schedule:
- A schedule helps you remember. I find it very easy to forget to do things that I don’t particular love to do. That’s one of the reasons I keep a cleaning schedule. If I can see on a sheet of paper what I need to do, I know i won’t forget anything.
- Good motivation. I like checking off a project on my cleaning schedule list. It means that I am one step further to done. I find it is a good motivation for me.
- No more procrastination. No longer will you be rushing to clean your house last minute, because with a written or printed schedule you can make sure that the to-do list is checked out throughout the days.
- Helps you to delegate. With a schedule, you can easily delegate the chores to the whole family, instead of taking it all on yourself. I bet that will be a relief.
- Keeps your household running more efficiently. When you have a cleaning schedule that you follow, it helps all of the household chores get done without wasted time. No more wandering around trying to figure out what to do next, because it’s all right there written down for you.
- Housework is done as often as needed. Let’s face it, sometimes we get too busy to remember that we need to clean our sheets or dust behind the tv. With a schedule, you can be assured that you are doing these chores as often as they need to be done and making sure that you don’t let the mess build up.
How to Save Money on All Things Easter
Easter is next week. Are you ready? There are some great way to save money on all of your Easter purchases from your Easter dinner to Easter baskets, to clothes and shoes. If you haven’t finished your shopping there are still some great ways to save money. Hope these help you get ready!
Food & Candy
Check your local ads for prices on Eggs and Ham. Those are the big purchases for Easter. Be sure to check out the different stores in your area. You can do a quick search online and compare prices that way as well. If you’re in Utah, be sure to check Smith’s and their prices. They are hard to beat!
Target has some great Cartwheel coupons that you can use this weekend. There are a TON of Cartwheel coupons on candy like 25% off Dove Easter Chocolates, or 10% off Cadbury & Reese’s Eggs. You can also save 5% on Simply Balanced Organic Eggs.
Amazon has some great prices on candy as well. Plus, if you have prime you can get these shipped right to your door which is super nice.
Clothing, Shoes & Swim Suits
Easter is the time to get new Easter outfits and dresses. It’s also a time to get those swim suits for spring break. Be sure to check out Gymboree, The Children’s Place, Target. You shouldn’t be paying for than $12 on a swim suit. These places will also give FREE shipping. Never pay for shipping. That’s one way to save a lot of money.
Easter Decorations
Michael’s is having their lowest price of the season sale. That means you can take 50% off Easter decoration. Also, you can check out Shopko where they are taking up to 70% off.
Toys, Movies and Games
Target- Get a $5.00 Target Gift Card when you spend $25 or more on Easter baskets, eggs, decor, decorating kits and more. Also check out their BOGO 50% off Toys and Board Games.
Amazon- You always can do a search on Amazon and score some great prices on toys, movies and games.
**Be sure to check this Easter Category often and save on all things Easter!