How to Maintain a Social Life if You’re on a Budget
Having a social life on a budget isn’t an easy thing to accomplish. One of the turn offs for most people in regards to living a frugal life is that they think that if you’re a frugal person that you will have to sacrifice your social life. Now, I’m not saying that you’re going to be able to go with your friends to Hibachi every weekend or that you’ll be able to tag-a-long with them to see all of the hottest movies and concerts, but you can still have a social life even if you’re a frugal person. Below, I’m going to give you some tips that will help you manage a balance and a social life.
Maintain a budget.
Now, I know, I preach about budgeting all the time, but that’s because it’s extremely important. If you want to have a social life, I highly suggest putting a bit of money aside every month that you can use for social events. Incorporating this into your budget will be a lot easier than you think and you won’t have to turn your friends and family down all the time. Plus, you’ll still be able to pay your bills when they’re due.
Eating out.
One of the most common things you probably get invited to is dinner with your family / friends. Dinner is one of the easiest and best ways to connect with the ones that you care about. However, it’s also an easy way to blow through your budget when the hefty dinner bill makes its way to your table. If you want to eat out, but you don’t want to rack up a huge bill, you should search for coupons and deals at restaurants in your area. Sometimes, you can find deals that are so good that you won’t pay more for eating out than it would cost you to cook the same meal in your own home.
Take advantage of freebies.
Most towns have plenty of free events that you can take advantage of. For instance, some towns have a fair or a parade, so why not go to it if it’s free? Also, when restaurants or new businesses open, they’ll usually have some sort of town celebration. Free events are something that more people should take advantage of. First of all, they won’t harm your budget and they could also open you up to new experiences.
Happy hour.
If you’re going to go out with your friends or family members, why not take advantage of happy hour? For instance, one place I like to go with my friends and family members is Starbucks, but many people don’t even know that Starbucks has a happy hour. If you go during happy hour, you can save a ton of money on drinks. There are also plenty of other places that have happy hours for you to take advantage of.
Do you have any tips on how people can save money and maintain a social life? If so, leave them below.
5 Tips For Saving Money On a Father’s Day Gift
Father’s Day is coming, and finding that great gift for dad can be hard. Even though you may be on a tight budget, you can still find a really great gift for dad for a low price. Here are some tips on saving money for that special day to celebrate dads everywhere.
#1. Start planning early.
It is never too early to start planning for Father’s Day. At least one month before Mother’s Day, stores start planning for both holidays because people do like to start looking as soon as possible. Checking the stores around March will inspire ideas about what you want to get for both your mother and your father.
#2. Dropping hints about the special day.
Some people like to drop a lot of money on a gift for their dad, but the only problem with that is that an expensive gift does not necessarily mean that it is something they really wanted. Why spend a lot of money on something that is not needed or wanted? By dropping a few hints about Father’s day, your father may talk about something simple that he really wants, which will mean saving you a lot of money on his gift.
#3. Try looking on the Internet.
Once you get an idea of what to get your dad, it is time to start looking for that gift. While there may be advertisements available in your local paper, you might want to fire up your laptop and try looking online. For Father’s Day, a lot of stores have special deals, and you may be able to find that gift that dad wants for a lot lower price.
#4. Think outside the box.
Sometimes, the best gifts do not necessarily come from a store. Your dad might not have any idea what he wants, or he may be the kind of man that has everything, which makes shopping for him especially challenging. A gift does not necessarily have to come from a store, but just making the day about the special man in your life that is responsible for you being here is all that matters. You can have a barbeque for your dad with his favorite food, side dishes, and dessert. After, you can then take him out for whatever he wants like a movie or a trip to a museum, or whatever else you know he is interested in.
#5. Your children can help make Father’s Day gifts.
Other than having a day out dedicated to your dad, your children can also make gifts of their own to show Grandpa how much they love him. Even the simplest things like drawings, or grabbing a camera, taking a photo, then printing it out and gluing it to a piece of cardboard that the kids can decorate is going to mean more to your father than even the fanciest gift. To make a drawing that the kids made even better, finding a simple frame for it will make the drawing last a lifetime, and your dad will have a nice frame to hang on the wall right beside his favorite pictures.
10 Fun Things You Can do For Free if You’re a Teenager
This post is for both teenagers and moms. If you’re a teen and you’re strapped for cash, you can go ahead and scroll down for some funs things you can do that are free. Trust me, we’ve all been there and most of my tips come from life experiences. If you’re a mom, you can print these things out and give them to your teenage daughter the next time they’re moping around the house saying they’re bored or the next time they try to hit you up for some money.
#1. Do yoga.
Now, I’m not saying that you have to go out and join some sort of yoga classes. After all, that would cost money. However, I am saying that you could find some great instructional videos on YouTube and follow along. There are tons of free yoga videos on YouTube for you to choose from. If you want, you could even invite some friends over and you could all partake in the yoga experience.
#2. Go to a museum.
Most museums will offer a free day during the week, so take advantage of that. If not, most museums will let you in for free if you’re a student, so tell them you’re currently in school.
#3. Invite your friends over to play board games.
Call up your friends and tell them that you’d like to have a board game night. Have everyone bring over their favorite board games and you could all sit around and play them with each other.
#4. Have a movie night.
Call up your friends and see if they would like to come over for a movie night. Have each of them bring a copy of their favorite movie. If you have a Netflix subscription, you could also find a movie on Netflix that none of you have seen and watch it together.
#5. Have a clothing exchange.
Collect all the jewelry, makeup and clothing you don’t want anymore and put it all on your bed. Tell your girlfriends to bring their clothes, makeup and jewelry they don’t want anymore either and lay all of this stuff on the bed. All of you can take turn trying out different clothes, jewelry and makeup and trade with each other.
#6. Go to a playground.
Ask your friends if they’d like to come to a playground with you. After all, I personally think swings are still fun, no matter how old you may be.
#7. Go for a walk.
Going for a walk is a great way to clear your mind and get some exercise. If you have a pet, such as a dog, you could take it with you. I’m sure the dog will certainly love it!
#8. Go to the beach.
If you live near a beach, you could lay out in the sun or maybe go for a swim. Invite some friends along, as well.
#9. Go for a hike in the woods.
Going for hikes in the woods can be very relaxing and are a great way to connect with nature.
#10. Go to the mall.
Sometimes, it can be fun to go to the mall and just walk around. Invite some friends to accompany you and you’ll surely have a great time.
8 Tips to Save Money On Gas
The price of gas is going higher and making it harder to go anywhere in the car. However, there are ways that you can save money every time you fill up at the gas station. Interested in making your dollar stretch more for every gallon you pump? Here are some ways to save money on gas:
#1. Establish a routine when it’s time for gas.
Some people wait until the low fuel light comes on in order to get gas, but that is going to force you to find the gas station closest to you, which can end up costing you more than necessary. If you decide to get gas every time you hit the quarter tank mark, then that will give you the time to find the cheapest gas station in town and save money.
#2. Take advantage of cell phone technology.
Cell phone are only getting smarter, and now there are apps available to help you find gas stations that are in your area, and can even map out the most efficient way to get there.
#3. Regular maintenance helps cars run better.
Studies have shown that people who do take their cars in regularly for oil changes and tune ups are going to save money at the gas station, because their cars will run a lot more efficiently.
#4. Grocery stores have reward programs for gas.
Some grocery stores have a special rewards program in which you can earn coupons that can be used at their own gas pumps, or they have an affiliation with a gas company. For every dollar you spend at the store, you can earn gas cards or coupons for things like a nickel or dime off of every gallon of gasoline you buy.
#5. Do not carry anything on the roof of your car.
Though this may sound like strange advice, the truth is that hauling anything on the roof of your car is going to make your car less aero dynamic, which will make the engine work harder. When it comes to transporting things, the best place to carry it is in the trunk or even hauling it behind your car on a small trailer.
#6. Use the air conditioner as little as possible.
During the summertime, the first thing you do is get into their cars and crank up the air conditioner, but using it can actually cause you to use more gas. Opening the windows on a hot day to let in the breeze is a great way to stay cool and keep you from using too much gas.
#7. Use a credit card that offers cash back.
Some credit cards have point systems, and may even offer you something like double or triple points every time you fill up their car.
#8. Use online shopping as much as possible.
Using the Internet can come in handy because you can buy things from stores and have them shipped to your home instead of having to get into the car and head to the mall, and with free shipping available on most orders, you can save even more money.
12 Fun Things Teens Can Do in the Summer That are Budget-Friendly
This post is going to be mostly geared towards teenagers themselves or parents that have a teenager. Trust me, as a parent, you probably have your teen coming up to you all the time and telling you how bored they are. If this is the case, below I’m going to list some things that teens can do to have some fun in the sun this summer and these things are also budget-friendly.
#1. Make your own ice cream.
Ice cream is a summer time staple, but have you ever thought about making your own? If not, you should consider it, because homemade ice cream tastes amazing and it’s not expensive to make. Plus, it will give you something to do.
#2. Have a garage sale.
This will give you the chance to de-clutter your room, plus you’ll make a few extra bucks in the process. You could use the extra money to go shopping for new clothes, go to a movie, etc…
#3. See a movie in theaters.
Call up some of your friends and see if they want to go to the theater and watch a flick with you. You’ll have a great time, especially if the movie is in 3D.
#4. Go to the beach.
The beach is always fun and it’s completely free. Invite some friends to go with you to the beach and you’ll have an even better time.
#5. Get a job.
A job will give you something to do and you’ll make some cash.
#6. Go for a hike.
Why not explore some hiking trails in your area? Once again, you could invite some friends to go with you.
#7. Go to the park or a playground.
I don’t care how old you get, you can still have some fun at a playground or a park.
#8. Start your own garden.
Why not start your own garden and grow your own food? A garden can be a great way to get some exercise and it will also put you in a better mood.
#9. Go to the mall.
Why not just go to the mall and walk around for a little while? No one says you have to have money to go to the mall. Also, you could invite some friends to accompany you.
#10. Hop in a pool.
Do you have a pool at your home? If so, you could jump right in it. If not, you could maybe ask one of your friends that have a pool if they would like to go swimming. If all else fails, you could always go to a public pool.
#11. Have a sleep over.
Invite some of your friends over to your house and have a sleep over. You could watch movies together, play video games, board games, etc…
#12. Make your own movie.
Do you have access to a camera? If so, you could try getting some of your friends together and making your own movie.
4 Money Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Vacation
Going on vacation is one of those things that a lot of people look forward to. It’s nice to just sit back, be calm and relax. Unfortunately, a lot of people while on vacation will become too relaxed, let their guard down and become a little bit lazy when it comes to watching their finances. Keep in mind that tourists/vacationers are the perfect targets for scammers, paying too much for meals and making errors that end up in lost money. Below, I’m going to give you a list of money mistakes that can totally ruin your vacation experience.
#1. Credit card fraud.
This is something that I’ve had to deal with in the past and it is not fun in any way, shape or form. When you’re on vacation, you’re probably using your credit card or debit card at a bunch of different locations, so you’re more susceptible to people gaining your personal information. The best thing you can do to prevent this from happening is keeping an eye on your card balances and statements even while you’re on vacation. I have mobile alerts set up for my credit cards and debit card, so I know when transactions occur. Alternatively, you can go online and check your account information.
Also, credit card companies will monitor your account activity and they’ll take note when they see a bunch of purchases. Therefore, in an attempt to protect you, they could flag your account and suspend your card, because they think fraudulent purchases are being made on your account. This could easily ruin your vacation, because you could be stranded without money. Therefore, it’s important that you let your bank or credit card company know when you’re going on vacation, so they don’t inadvertently flag your account.
#2. Watch for pickpockets.
There are some cities, especially in Europe, where you constantly have to be careful of pickpockets. If you’re a guy, you should try to wear a wallet with a chain or carry your wallet in your front pockets. As for women, you try to carry a fanny pack with your money in it or a money belt. Leave things like fancy bracelets and necklaces at home, because it’s easy for someone to run up and break those off of you and run away.
#3. Overspending.
Overspending is a common problem for vacationers. Always go to bargain websites and search for the best motels/hotels that have the cheapest rates. Also, try to find a hotel/motel that offers free breakfast. Consider bringing your own snacks and drinks with you if you’re driving to your vacation destination. That way, you spend less money on fast food and at gas stations.
#4. Avoid timeshares.
Chances are, you’ve been on vacation before and you’ve been approached about a timeshare offer. It can sound tempting, because they’ll usually offer you incentives to listen to their sales pitch, but who wants to spend time on their vacation listening to some salesman that’s trying to sell you on a poor investment? Avoid timeshares, because if you take them up on the opportunity, you’ll spend a ton of money and you’ll likely kick yourself for it in the future.
Nursery Room Tips if You’re on a Budget
One of the favorite things for an expecting mother and her significant other to do is setting up a nursery room. However, it can be tough to do this, because a lot of moms out there will go overboard on trying to create the perfect nursery room and end up going through their budget fairly quickly. It’s estimated that each baby nursery will cost, at the very minimum, $1,500 in just the beginning. After that, it’s hard to tell what expenses you may encounter.
That being said, there is some good news. It’s very easy to cut down on nursery expenses if you get a little bit creative. So, if you’re on a budget, I’m going to show you how to save money on the nursery room for your upcoming bundle of joy.
Save money on wall art.
Did you know that it’s estimated that most people spend at least $150 on decorations for the nursery alone? Well, I’m going to show you how you can cut down on that expense. Instead of going out and buying stuff like decals, picture frames, hanging letters, etc… You can make your own stuff to hang up on the walls or you can make your own wall art.
For instance, with one of my children, I purchased some stencils and some paint and then I painted the room myself. I did the whole room in Sesame Street characters and it wasn’t that difficult whatsoever. It was cheap, looked absolutely amazing and most of all; it was fun! My husband and I had a great time decorating the room and doing the painting ourselves. It was so easy to do that some of our older kids even helped with the decorations.
There are some great ideas out there that will help a nursery look great if you’re on a budget. For instance, you could even paint one whole wall in chalkboard paint, which will be a whole lot of fun for the baby once they’re older.
Ask friends for help.
If you want to save some serious cash, you can always ask your friends if they have any hand-me-downs. I’ve given my friends things like changing tables, gliders, etc… Therefore, it never hurts to ask your friends for some help, because they’ll more than likely be willing to lend you a helping hand. Also, don’t be afraid to list items you need on your baby registry. That way, maybe some friends or family will buy you the things you need and present them to you at the baby shower.
If you want, you could even incorporate the nursery decorating process as one of the baby shower activities. Give each of your friends and family members a stencil and allow them to draw/paint it on the wall. It will make your guests feel special, because they can always say they got to help with decorating the nursery and it will also mean less work for you.
Get items and décor that will last.
Instead of buying things that you’re probably going to get rid of once your child hits a certain age, you should try to buy things that are going to last through the years. For instance, you could buy a dresser for your child’s room, rather than a changing table. Just change your child’s diapers on the dresser, instead. Also, remember when I mentioned the chalkboard paint above? Chances are, your child is going to love that for many years to come. Also, there are cribs that have the ability to transform into beds or even chairs. Basically, you just need to remember to think ahead and prepare for the future.
Top Tips from Frugal Moms
I didn’t start out as frugal person. Instead, I had to learn things over the years that have helped me save money. A lot of people think that saving money is something that just comes naturally to me. At this point it does, but it wasn’t always like that. I also always get asked what advice or tips I’d give to someone that wants to be a frugal or savvy shopper. I’ve talked with some of my fellow frugal moms and we’ve come up with a list of some of our best tips. Scroll down to check them out.
Start a garden.
A garden is great for you physically, mentally and financially. Gardening will put your mind at ease and gardening is also considered to be a form of exercise. Plus, you’ll have access to fresh food that you don’t have to pay for.
Get a programmable thermostat.
Did you know that a programmable thermostat saves the average person as much as $180 every single year? Programmable thermostats are cheap and extremely convenient. While you’re away from home, there’s no point in leaving your air conditioning at the same temperature. With a programmable thermostat, you can set it so that it will go to a higher temperature while you’re gone and it will automatically adjust itself to a lower setting before you get home.
Do-It-Yourself cleaning products.
There are plenty of different ways you can make your own cleaning products and chances are, you already have all of the ingredients already in your home. With some vinegar, baking soda, lemons and cornstarch, you can make a ton of different household cleaners that can take on tons of different tasks. Also, by making your own cleaners at home, you control what goes into your cleaning products. That way, you don’t have to worry about harmful ingredients or chemicals.
Shop at the Amazon Outlet.
Did you know that Amazon has an outlet section? As if Amazon didn’t already offer great deals, you’ll find significantly discounted items at the Amazon Outlet. At the Amazon Outlet, you’ll be able to find deals on anything from Jewelry, to electronics, to clothing. Of course, you should never buy anything you don’t truly need, no matter how great the deal may be.
Use coupons.
You had to know that this was going to be on the list; right? Right now, you’re on one of the internet’s biggest resources for coupons. I highly suggest you use our coupons to your advantage the next time you’re at the store. Coupons can save you a ton of money.
Use smartphone apps.
There are plenty of apps out there for your phone that can save you a ton of money. For instance, you could use the app, GasBuddy, to find the best prices on gasoline in your area. RedLazer will allow you to scan the barcode on items while you’re shopping and then it will present you with the best deals. Go through the app store and look at all over the great money-saving apps.
5 Ways You Can Stretch Your Wedding Budget
Did you know that the average wedding in America actually costs more than a car? According to studies, the average wedding costs $30,000. This is just simply too much money to spend for most of us. My husband and I had an amazing wedding and we did it on a very strict budget. Below, I’m going to give you some tips that will help you stretch your wedding budget as far as possible.
#1. Consider a Colored Dress
Everyone these days wears white dresses. When’s the last time you were at a wedding in which the bride didn’t come out in a white dress? I don’t know why white wedding dresses are all the rage, because they’re so typical, in my opinion. There are plenty of celebrities out there that have decided to break the mold and wear a colored dress, so why not give it a shot yourself?
If you go with something besides a white dress, you’ll no longer have to flip through magazines or go to a bridal shop and look at all of those expensive white dresses that are far too overpriced. Instead, you’ll be able to go to stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc… Also, with a colored dress, you won’t look like every other bride out there.
#2. Consider Your Venue
A lot of weddings take place at restaurants, hotels, lofts, etc… Sure, those are some great places to have a wedding, but why not break the mold and have your wedding somewhere else? Maybe consider having your wedding at a park, on the beach, etc… These places will be much cheaper and you may even score a location that’s tax deductible. I’ve even known some people that have their wedding at their own home.
#3. Save on Alcohol
A lot of people want to get the top shelf champagne and have it served at their wedding, but that’s not necessarily what the guests want. Instead, they’re there to have a good time. So, instead of paying for some top shelf champagne, you should serve beer, instead. Do this and you’ll have a lot of happy guests and you’ll save money.
#4. Have Your Friend Marry You
A man of religion or a state official is going to cost you around $1,500 if you want them to marry you. So, why not have a friend do it; instead? It’s easy to become ordained online and your friend will likely marry you for free. I’ve known people that have gotten ordained just so they could marry some of their friends. This will make your wedding more personal and fun, too.
#5. Make Your Own Arrangements
Did you know that the average American pays out $2,069 just on flowers for their wedding? Consider making your own arrangements or delegating this task to a friend or family member. There are many unique ideas for creating a beautiful set-up for wedding receptions. You can start off by dressing your tables by buying table covers wholesale that would make a statement to instantly upgrade the look of your venue. This way, you’ll have some beautiful arrangements, but they won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Do you have any tips that would help someone stretch their grocery budget? If so, leave your tips as a comment below.
8 Tips to Stop Spending So Much Money on Food
As you all now, I’m big on frugality and saving food. First of all, food waste is horrible, because there are people out there in the world that are starving. Secondly, when you have to throw out food, it’s like you’re throwing out money. Once again, I’m going to bring you another topic that will help solve both problems. I am going to give you some tips that will help you to stop spending so much money on food and these tips will also help you cut down on the amount of food that you waste. That being said, let’s get started.
#1. Make a List of Meals
It’s important that you make a list of meals you plan to make. Next, you need to go through your pantry and refrigerator to see what ingredients you could incorporate into your meals and which ones you don’t have. Next, make a list of the items you need from the grocery store.
#2. Stop Buying So Much Food in General
If you’re like most Americans, you probably go on a shopping trip weekly or maybe even bi-weekly. In other words, you’re buying enough food to last you the whole week or maybe even two weeks in advance. Buy things that you actually need to prepare your meals, rather than buying things on a whim. Try to stick to the items you’ve marked down on your menu / grocery list.
#3. Clean Your Refrigerator
It’s important that you clean your refrigerator and make sure that it’s not all cluttered up. Having a cluttered fridge will make you forget about things you have in your fridge and you may not consume these items before their expiration date.
#4. Rearrange Your Refrigerator after Grocery Shopping
It’s important that you put all of your new items you purchased in the back of the fridge and bring the older items to the front. That way, you’ll be more likely to use up the older items before they expire.
#5. Make Banana Nut Bread
I buy bananas every time I go out to the store, but bananas go bad fairly quickly if you’re not careful. When bananas get bad, I have an amazing banana nut bread recipe that I employ. That way, I don’t have to throw the bananas out.
#6. Use Your Old Bread for French Toast
Bread is another thing that goes stale fairly quick. When this begins to happen, I get out the French toast recipe and that’s what my family has for breakfast.
#7. Don’t Follow Expiration Dates
Okay, so you can’t ignore expiration dates completely, but you shouldn’t put all of your trust in them. Expiration dates are typically very generous, so if something is “expired” it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad.
#8. Use Smaller Plates
Smaller plates will encourage you to dish out smaller portions of food. If someone needs to, they can get up and refill their plate. With bigger plates, you run the risk of serving more than you and/or your family members will eat.
8 Gifts You Can Purchase for Under $10
Are you on a tight budget, but you need to get a gift for someone? Don’t worry, because we’ve all been there. It’s easy to put together one of those great do-it-yourself projects you’ve probably seen online or been told about by a friend, but those can take a lot of time and skills that you may not have. After all, look at how many of those Pinterest fail pictures are out there on the Internet. Below, I’m going to list out some gifts that you can purchase for under $10 and you won’t have to worry about any sort of assembly.
#1. A Magazine Subscription
Let’s face it, digital media has practically taken over, so you can find some great magazine subscription deals. Most popular magazines out there have actually cut their subscription fees in half from what they used to be. I know you can get subscriptions to certain popular magazines for as little as $7/month. Therefore, getting someone a subscription to a magazine they’ll enjoy could be a great gift idea.
#2. A Netflix Subscription
A subscription to Netflix’s streaming service is only $7.99 and in return you gain access to thousands of movies. This is much cheaper than going out and purchasing films on DVD or going to see movies in theaters. Consider giving someone a month-long subscription to Netflix for a gift.
#3. A Hulu Subscription
Hulu is less than $10 per month and will give you access to a ton of movies and television shows. If the person you’re getting the gift for loves watching tv, you may want to get them a Hulu membership.
#4. Alcohol
It’s hard to go wrong with alcohol. Consider getting the person a nice bottle of wine or maybe even get them a few of those sampler bottles, so they can try different types of liquor. It’s completely up to you, but I’m sure they’ll have an amazing time.
#5. Candy
Everyone out there loves candy. Consider going to one of those candy stores in the mall and getting an assortment of candy. If that doesn’t sound good, you could always stop by the super market and get a whole box of candy for under $10. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with chocolates.
#6. Pandora Membership
Pandora is an app that a lot of people use on their smartphones that enables them to listen to playlists. For a minimal fee, you can purchase a Pandora subscription and the user can enjoy ad-free playback. Therefore, you may want to consider getting someone a month of ad-free Pandora.
#7. A Smartphone App
There are plenty of apps I see in the app store all the time that I’d like to have, but I don’t want to spend the minimal amount of money to purchase them. Consider buying someone a smartphone app for their phone.
#8. A Plant
I’ve purchased plants for friends before that they can hang above their porch. Typically, you can find a beautiful plant for under $10 and it will be something that they can show off.
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7 Fun and Free Things to do With Your Friends if You’re a Teen Girl
On the weekends, my teen girl absolutely loves to do things with her friends, but she also realizes that money is very important, because I’ve taught her some very valuable money lessons over the years. So, she’s always looking for something to do with her friends that won’t cost her any money. I’ve sat down with her and we’ve thought up some really cool things that she can do with her friends that won’t require any of them to really spend any money. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the things that we’ve been able to come up with.
#1. Go to the Mall
Just because you go to the mall doesn’t mean that you have to spend any money. Send your friends a text message and ask them if they’d like to hang out at the mall with you. Once you’re there, you can just walk around the mall and check out a bunch of different stores. You could even try on things if you want, just so you can see how you would look in certain things.
#2. Call Up a Friend and Have a Nice Chat
Almost every girl loves to talk on the phone, so just call up one of your friends and chat with them. I’m sure they’re like it, as well.
#3. Invite a Friend Over
Invite a friend over and just hang out in your bedroom with them. I’m sure you’ll both enjoy having some company.
#4. Have a Movie Night
Invite some friends over to your house and watch some movies with them. Ask each girl to bring some movies over or if you have Netflix, you could certainly find something that none of you have ever seen before. Oh, and don’t forget the popcorn!
#5. Play Hide and Seek in the Dark with Flashlights
This is a popular game that teenagers love to play. Basically, one girl goes off and hides in the dark and everyone else tries to find her while using flashlights. This is quite a bit more fun than playing in the daylight, but keep safety in mind.
#6. Have a Clothing Swap
Invite your friends over and you all lay out all of the clothes that you’re willing to trade with each other. After that, you can all try on different clothing and see what you like. If you want, you can also include things like shoes, purses, nail polish and sunglasses in the clothing swap.
#7. Go to Sephora
This is one thing that my daughter and her friends absolutely love to do, because Sephora has a ton of makeup and they let you try it all out for free. My girl and her friends love to try on radical things, such as an ultra-bright shade of lipstick and then they all take pictures together and post them on Twitter, Facebook, etc…
What are some things that your daughter and her friends do that don’t cost any money? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
6 Maintenance Tips for Your Washing Machine
Earlier in the week, I gave tips on how to save money on appliances, because they are very expensive. An appliance breaking down is something that everyone dreads, because it could cost you tons of money to replace it. Therefore, you want to make sure that you properly maintain your appliances, so that way you decrease the chances of one breaking down and then you have to shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a new appliance. One of the main appliances that stay at home moms use is the washing machine and they’re very expensive to replace. Therefore, I’m going to give you some tips that will help you properly maintain the machine and increase its lifespan.
#1. Clean your Machine
Have you noticed that your clothes aren’t coming out of the machine as clean as they used to be? Maybe you even smell an odor emitting from the machine? If so, you need to clean the inside of the machine. What you want to do is take 3/4th cups of bleach and mix it with a tablespoon of some of your laundry detergent. Run a soak cycle and then run a rinse cycle, which will clean out all of the bleach. Now, you’ll have a fresh and clean machine that won’t stink and will operate much more efficiently.
#2. Keep the Lid Up or the Door Open
Did you know that you’re actually supposed to do this after every single load? This way, the moisture in the machine will evaporate.
#3. Clean up Your Messes
It’s important that if you spill something on your washing machine that you clean it up immediately. First of all, it can be a pain to clean up a spill that’s been sitting on the machine for an extended period of time and the finish on the machine can actually be damaged by the chemicals being spilled on it.
#4. Wipe Down Your Washing Machine Weekly
This is something that I’m even guilty of from time to time. I’ll completely forget to wipe down my washing machine. Every week, you’ll want to wipe down your washing machine on the outside, so that it’s nice and clean. However, you shouldn’t neglect the inside of the machine, either. There could be dirt, lint or even some soap residue in there.
#5. Clean the Dispenser
You know that manual that you got with your washing machine that you likely put in the closet and never even flipped through a single page of it? Well, now is the time to get it out and learn how to clean the fabric softener dispenser. There should be instructions in the owner’s manual and you should never use detergent to clean it.
#6. Keep an Eye on Your Hoses
A lot of people hook up their washing machine and never check the hoses again. It’s important that you make sure that the hoses haven’t become bent. Also, if the hoses are over five years old, it’s time to replace them whether they’re bent or not. If one of the hoses ends up springing a leak, you could end up flooding your home.
5 Things That You Should Really Know About Credit Cards
Getting a credit card is one of those things that I typically never suggest to anyone, because it usually leads down a very bad path. However, I can understand if you want to have a credit card, because you never know when an emergency could arise. If you’re thinking about getting a credit card, I’m going to outline some things that you should know about them.
#1. Check Out Credit Card Comparison Websites
It can be tough to find the credit card that is right for you, because there are so many options out there to choose from. Therefore, I would highly suggest that you take advantage of one of the many credit card comparison websites out there, so it can make choosing the perfect card much easier for you. For instance, Credit Karma, the site that allow you to check your credit report anytime you want, has an excellent credit card comparison tool. You can find the card that will suit your needs and also help you save the most money. For instance, if you have credit card debt right now, Credit Karma will help you find a card that you can transfer your balance to, which could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
#2. Take Note of the Protection You Get with Your Credit Card
Different credit cards carry different protection programs. For instance, there are some credit cards that will protect against fraudulent charges, theft, non-delivery and some will even enable you to receive extended warranties on items. It’s important that you know what type of protection you have. I’ve actually had people get hold of my accounts before and make fraudulent charges. Lucky for me, I was protected and the money was replaced.
#3. Ignore the Gifts
A lot of credit card companies out there will offer people some sort of gifts or special 0% APR for a short term. These things are usually perks that will entice you to sign up for a credit card. Remember, you don’t want short term benefits if it’s going to cost you more in the long haul.
#4. Beware of Rewards Cards
Rewards cards are excellent choices, but only if you plan to use a credit card responsibly. What I mean is that you should never carry a balance. When you make purchases, you should make sure to pay off your balance every single month. That way, you take advantage of the rewards and you’re not going to have to pay any interest fees. The reason I say you shouldn’t carry any debt with a rewards credit card is because rewards credit cards typically have higher interest rates.
#5. Negotiate
Credit card companies are typically willing to negotiate with you. Therefore, if you’re ever late on a payment, you can usually talk with them and they’ll wave the late payment fee and they won’t even put a mark on your credit report. Also, you can usually negotiate with them to lower your interest rates or monthly payment. Therefore, never be afraid to negotiate.