One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the kid crafts & projects tucked away among our Christmas decorations.

We have gingerbread men, homemade ornaments, handcrafted wreaths, and — my personal favorite — holiday photo projects. I love seeing how the girls have grown from year to year.

Handprint …read more    

I’ve been couponing for more than 15 years now, but things have really changed in the last few years. There’s a little less clipping and far more clicking, for starters. Digital couponing has changed everything for me — I can continue saving money while spending less time with my coupons.

My …read more    

My girls are at a tricky age. Short of the youngest, there are no toys on the wish lists. The teen is at an age where she basically has everything. She has a smart phone, a school-issued tablet, and a laptop. What’s left?

The tween is especially difficult she’s still too …read more    

I’ve been thinking a lot about appliances lately. First, the dishwasher went, then the dryer started eating clothes. Actually, it goes back even further, to the 2-year period when every, single appliance in the house took their turn. Last year, out washer and dryer died the night before Thanksgiving.

We spent …read more    

Today is Veteran’s Day. Tomorrow the post office will close, the banks will be closed, and schools everywhere will take part in special programs to honor our nation’s vets. My girls are making cards right now.

Make a card, call a family member, thank someone in the military — there is …read more    

Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, and I’ve been preparing for weeks. My menu is set, the grocery list was made, and lunch is planned for 2pm on Thanksgiving Day.

From there, it’s fairly simple to gather what I need and enjoy the day. Especially with a little more …read more    

We’re in the thick of birthday season here. My youngest turned 7 last week, and her birthday party is this weekend. In a few weeks, the tween will have her own birthday party, followed by the teen a month later. Combined, my girls have now celebrated 30 birthdays, and it …read more    

I was up extra early on Sunday morning, courtesy of the time change. It gave me the opportunity to see my friend and fellow frugal blogger on a local news station, sharing her tips for saving at the grocery store even without coupons.

Cherie had a lot …read more    

I’ve been a pretty frugal person for my entire married life. We clip coupons. We eat at home. We don’t have cable.

Yet, extras still manage to creep into the budget. They never seem like a big deal at the time, but before you know it, you’re out an extra $25-30 …read more    

Today, my “baby” is 7. She is the youngest of 3, but she has a personality and style all her own. She loves princesses and trains. She plays soccer and Barbies. She adores her big sisters and won’t stop squeezing the pets. She’s twirly and wild and fun.

And, she just …read more