Frugal Ideas

How to Make Sure You Don’t Overspend During a Family Vacation

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Tips, Travel | 0 Comments

Family vacations are cherished times when memories are made and bonds are strengthened. However, without careful planning, it's easy to spend more than intended, turning a joyous occasion into a financial burden. Gatlinburg, with its appealing mix of natural beauty and tourist attractions, is a perfect example of a destination where families might find themselves tempted to overspend. In this blog, we will share practical strategies to ensure you manage your budget effectively and still enjoy the wonders of your trip. Set a Realistic Budget Before you depart, have a clear financial plan in place. Start by listing all anticipated expenses: travel costs, accommodations, meals,...

6 Tips for an Enjoyable Vacation in Sevierville

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Tips, Travel | 0 Comments

Source Located near the majestic Smoky Mountains, Sevierville, Tennessee, offers more than just breathtaking scenery. This vibrant town serves as a hub of activity and history, providing visitors with a mix of adventure, cultural insights, and relaxation. Whether you're looking to explore the great outdoors, delve into the rich heritage of local history, or simply unwind, Sevierville has something to enchant every traveler. With a variety of attractions and the welcoming spirit of its residents, this charming town promises a vacation filled with delightful discoveries and lasting memories. Explore Local Wineries and Adventure Parks Sevierville is home to several local wineries that offer...

Cashback Apps that Help Cut Down Your Grocery Bill!

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Saving Money With Coupons, Tips, Using Coupons | 0 Comments

Groceries are out of control right now. Everything has gone up. A dozen eggs is over $5 here in New England right now! That's CRAZY. I think it may be time to get some chickens. 😉 My suggestion is to get back to using coupons and combine that with sale prices and cash back apps! Cashback Apps that Help Cut Down Your Grocery Bill Using cashback apps can help you save on food and health & beauty products in stores or online. I recommend using Ibotta, and Checkout 51. Both of these apps are super easy to use and all you need to do is open the app, select the product, scan the product and then scan in your receipt. That's pretty much it. And when you reach a certain about of...

Tips for Eating Healthy For Less

by Karen Mendes | Healthy Living, Saving Money With Coupons, Tips | 0 Comments

Tips for Eating Healthy for Less With the rising cost of healthy foods, most people find themselves eating less nutritious meals. The fast-food chains have done very well this past year because people are choosing to eat off of the dollar menus to save money. There are things you can do to eat healthily but not spend a fortune. Here are a few tips on certain categories of foods that may help you stay healthy without breaking the bank. Meat Did you know that buying your meat on Thursdays is the best time to get good quality cuts of meat without paying full price? Most grocery stores mark down their meat on Thursday so they can rid of them before stocking the fresher meats for the weekend...

30 Ways To Pay For Your Vacation Without Dipping Into Your Savings

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Tips, Travel | 1 Comment

Want to plan a family vacation but you don't want to dip into your savings? There are so many things you can do in a years time, to save extra money, that you could then use towards a vacation. 30 Ways To Pay For Your Vacation Without Dipping Into Your Savings Get a short-term second job. By graduating with an online TEFL course you can develop an English language teaching side hustle! Have a garage sale. Or two. Make your own coffee one day more a week than you normally do. That could save you up to $156 a year! Don't eat meat twice a week. When we were kids, a trip to Europe was a big thing. I had a friend whose family wasn't wealthy and the way they saved up to go was by changing to...

Frugal Living for Homeowners: Small Steps You Can Take to Save Big

by Karen Mendes | For The Home, Frugal Ideas, Tips | 0 Comments

A rich person once admitted that if you watch your pennies then the dollars watch themselves. It makes sense; being frugal is an exercise in micromanagement. If you pay attention to regular expenses, it will make a tremendous impact on your bottom line. Here are a number of small steps to take to ensure you’re working toward big savings. Frugal Living for Homeowners: Small Steps You Can Take to Save Big Stop Drinking a lot of Coffee Drinking coffee becomes a ritual. Aside from mornings, people consume it in the afternoon and evenings. These days, a cup of coffee can cost more than a few dollars. Even if you make coffee at home, you may wind up spending a lot each week on beans,...

FREE 52 Week Money Saving Challenge Worksheet {Save $1378 in one Year}

by Karen Mendes | Free Printables, Frugal Ideas, New Years | 13 Comments

It's time for another 52 Week Money Saving Challenge where you can save $1378 in one year! I know how hard it can be to save money and I need an actual plan to save. I also need something that is easy and that will keep me accountable. Just like with losing weight, if I'm accountable I do so much better. 52 Week Money Saving Challenge Worksheet If you have problems saving money and really want to save this year, this 52 Week Money Saving Challenge Worksheet keeps you on track for saving $1378 by the end of the year. It helps you slowly build up your savings all year by telling you exactly what to put into your savings account each week. There are 5 columns on the worksheet - Week...

Good Ways To Keep Your Home And Budget Protected

by Karen M | For The Home, Frugal Ideas | 0 Comments

A house is the biggest asset anyone can own, as it houses the family, valuables, and many other things we immensely care about. That’s why it is essential to protect your house from burglars or intruders of any kind, to ensure that we and our assets are safe. However, in Ohio, some security measures are way too expensive that we can’t afford, which makes us leave our house vulnerable to attacks. Fortunately, there are more affordable alternatives that will make us feel safe at home without breaking the bank. Here are some ways to keep our home and budget protected. Upgrade Your Door Weirdly enough, 34% of burglars break into houses through the front door. Upgrading your exterior doors to...

Can Solar Energy Be a Wise Financial Move for Families?

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas | 0 Comments

Americans are attracted to the idea of renewable energy, but many fear it may be too expensive to install. Yet statistics compiled by Solar Reviews show that in many states, installing solar panels in a family home can result in savings of more than $1,000 per year. In states like California, meanwhile, solar energy can save a household in the region of $99,000 in a lifetime. For many, that could mean a college education, extra money for reforms, or simply having enough money to set aside for a rainy day. Solar energy is, therefore, a wise choice for those who like to strategize for long-term savings while doing their best to lower their carbon footprint. Solar Energy Prices are Shrinking...

7 Ways To Significantly Lower Your Debt This Year

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas | 0 Comments

If debt has started to weigh you down, here are 7 ways to significantly lower your debt this year. Getting rid of debt takes some pretty large sacrifices. It does not come easily. These tips are big leaps toward getting rid of debt this year, so be prepared to make major changes in your lifestyle to make them work. 7 Ways To Significantly Lower Your Debt This Year Sell your car. One of the biggest ways to lower your debt is to get rid of something expensive. This one seems impossible for some individuals, but if you are in an area that has great public transit, it can save you thousands of dollars a year to downsize. Depending on you family needs, downsizing to just one vehicle is a...

Free Coffee – Free Full Size Bag of Coffee

by Karen Mendes | Free Stuff, Frugal Ideas, Shopping | 0 Comments

FREE Coffee Did I get your attention? I hope so. For all you coffee lovers out there, you can score a full-size bag of FREE Coffee. You just have to pay $1 shipping. I'll walk you through it below. Here is how to get your full-size bag of Free Coffee: You can choose from ground coffee or whole bean, decaf or regular and they have 9 different flavors to choose from. You do have to pay $1 for shipping and handling and they will ask you if you want to add a 2nd bag for under $8 but you don't have to buy it. Just say no. I paid the $1 shipping fee with PayPal so I didn't even have to give them my credit card number. You will have your free coffee in about 7 days. I received my coffee in...

3 Things to DIY While Paying Off Student Loans

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas | 0 Comments

3 Ideas in helping you pay off student loans Once you’re out of school, it can be challenging to pay off your debt, especially if you still have an entry-level job. But by making some things around the home yourself, you can watch your savings add up. Even if you aren’t a craftsman, there are several simple projects you can do around the house. You might be surprised at how much money you can save by switching to DIY products around your home. However, there are also other ways you can pay off your debt faster. For example, using a budget can help you track every dollar of your expenses. That way, you may be able to pay more than the minimum each month. Personal Finance Geeks shares that...

How to Manage Your Housing Expenses Once You Retire

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Tips | 0 Comments

All of your life, you've imagined retirement as a quiet and peaceful period in which you can enjoy the result of your hard-working years. Ideally, retirement is the time to read, relax, and look after your grandchildren and garden, without minding your budget. In the end, that's why you've contributed for so many years to your pension. But we don't live in an ideal world, and therefore, retirement often catches people off guard. You might not be able to afford as much as you did before and this requires careful budget analysis and planning. One of the areas where you might be able to make some savings is your house. And if you can't live alone anymore, you may want to look into senior home...

Practical ways to save thousands in Ireland

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, General | 0 Comments

Practical ways to save thousands in Ireland with small changes Ireland is a beautiful country to work and live in. From the world-famous Irish pubs to beautiful natural landscapes, there are tons of things to do in Ireland. All of these adds up to your entertainment expenses. Cutting down on the cost of living expenses is an important measure you need to take while living in Ireland. It will help you to increase the disposable income which comes handily in case of necessity. It may look difficult to identify the areas from where you can cut down the expenses. We are here to guide you with some proven tips. We will also let you know how to save thousands of money in Ireland with just a few...

How to Tell Flea-Market Trash from Treasure

by Karen Mendes | Frugal Ideas, Tips | 0 Comments

The flea market is a fun and exciting place that offers an experience like no other. It’s like an organized garage sale where you can get handcrafted items that are unavailable anywhere else in the world, or great second-hand items at incredibly fair prices. But, not all items are of authentic quality – so how are you supposed to know the difference? Don’t Be Afraid to Get Dirty There’s a reason that your local flea market offers such great prices when compared to brick-and-mortar retail stores. They’re dirty, dusty and often unorganized – but that’s part of the fun of treasure hunting! Would Indiana Jones have found the Ark if he was scared of getting messy? Okay, so you might not find an...

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