If you've just made the decision to quit your job so you can stay home with your kids and follow your passions, congratulations!! Seeing people make the jump is the thing that gets me more excited than anything! Now that you've made up your mind, you're probably wondering how exactly to make it happen. When you're used to living on two incomes, it can be hard and scary to make the switch to living on one income. But I firmly believe that it can be done. Here are nine expenses you can cut to make living on one income a possibility: 1. Going Out/Entertainment My husband and I love going to the movies, and we used to do it all the time. Now that we moved back home and our closest theater is 30 minutes away (an hour for the good ones,) we hardly ever go anymore. I guess that's why I was so ... View Post
7 Totally Do-Able Ways to Save Money
Note: This post contains affiliate links. Sick of seeing all your hard-earned money go down the drain when you KNOW you should be saving money? Here are seven totally do-able ways you can save money today to add some more money to your debt payoff, contribute more to the savings account, or just free up a little wiggle room each month. 1.) Try a TV alternative. My husband and I have been cable free for about three years now, and we haven't even missed it! We picked up an antenna to watch live, local TV (I didn't even realize this was a thing!) and aside from the price of the antenna, it's completely free! We get about 10 channels, which include ABC, Fox, and NBC, so we can still watch a lot of the prime time shows we love. Here's one from Amazon, or you could just pick one up at ... View Post
6 Ways to Save Money on Moving (and Your Sanity, Too)
With school almost back in session, the typical home buying season is wrapping up. If you recently sold or bought a home, or are switching from one rental to another, then it’s time to start packing. Moving is one of those chores that pretty much stinks no matter which way you look at it. I just went through a move myself, and I’ll be the first to admit it is not at all fun. But there are a few ways to make it easier, less stressful, and to save some money in the process. The easiest (and most obvious) way to save money moving is by doing it yourself. Hiring movers can be a huge help but also a pretty big cost. Read on for a few more tips to save money, and sanity, while moving. 1. Get free boxes. You can buy boxes at your local hardware store for less than $2 a piece, but if ... View Post
How to Save $1,000 Fast (in as Little as One Month!)
Have you been wanting to build an emergency fund, but you don't know where to start? One of the most important first steps to financial freedom is getting some money saved up. Eventually you want to have money saved up for different things like a new car, vacations, planned medical expenses, etc. But the first thing you want to save up for is emergencies. A lot of people recommend $1,000 to start with in your emergency fund. I think it's a great first goal to shoot for because it doesn't have to take very long to save up, and $1,000 can usually cover an insurance deductible or a minor vehicle repair. If $1,000 sounds way too low to you, then decide on a number that would make you feel safe. Related post: How Much Money Should I Have in Savings While Paying Off Debt? I'm ... View Post
5 Big Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money
Have you heard of the term 'minimalism'? If not, you probably will soon. Minimalism is a rising movement that cherishes experience over possessions. Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist describes minimalism as "the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it." Now, this blog isn't really about minimalism, so if you want to learn more about it I'd recommend clicking on the link above or doing a quick Google search. You'll find tons of great blogs all about the minimalistic way of life. But I do want to share with you some ways that minimalism can save you some serious money. 1.) Save on Housing Even if you don't want to sell all your belongings and live in a tiny house or a travel trailer, minimalism can ... View Post
I tried a “No Spend” Month (and Totally Failed)
It was the end of April, and I decided on a whim to attempt a "no spend" month for the month of May. Looking back now, I realize that was my first mistake--not preparing for something so drastic farther in advance. I'll admit, I thought it was going to be a lot easier than it was. I already consider myself pretty thrifty, so I didn't think going from "watching my spending" to "not spending any money at all" would be all that hard. Boy, was I wrong! Even though I blew my no spend month by week two, there were a few high points for me to take out of it: I didn't spend any money for a week. When I decided to go for the no spend month, I was determined in the beginning. I made it through the entire first week of packing my lunch for work, not stopping for (even cheap) coffee in ... View Post