Simple Money

We are the family sitting in the bleachers at a Thursday night volleyball game, eating soup out of thermoses instead of buying from the concession stand. We’re totally okay with a hearty chili, soup, or spaghetti for dinner on the go. Honestly, we’re usually just thinking about how nice it is not to be eating …

I didn’t start decluttering to save money. I started because I couldn’t stand looking at all of it anymore. But about a year in, my husband and I looked at our bank account and did a double take. We hadn’t budgeted less. We hadn’t clipped more coupons or made some big financial plan. We had …

There are a lot of silly ways you could be wasting your money.  It usually happens slowly, over time.  As we make more money, we slowly start to spend more money.  Before we know it, even though our incomes tend to increase over the years, our savings don’t always grow to match that rate.  Why? …

I’m always looking for ways to save money on groceries. Groceries are expensive – especially when feeding a family wholesome, clean foods!  Every first quarter of the new year we take on a grocery no-spend challenge. The dates vary, depending on our annual vacation, but inevitably, I’ll try to squeeze out at least thirty days …

Here are 40 things you should be buying secondhand. You might be surprised! Decluttering and living simply often means making smarter choices about what we bring into our homes. You can be mindful about what you bring into your home AND save money. Before you turn up your nose at the thought of buying used …

Giving when you have nothing may seem like an impossible ideal.  However, what if there were ways you could make a positive impact on the world without any financial limitations? It’s totally possible to give, even when you don’t have any money. The power of compassion is not limited, even when your pockets are empty, …

Do you ever feel like saving money is out of reach?  It could be that in our days of technology where things are fast and furious, we’ve forgotten how to slow down and keep things simple.  Turns out, living a simple life actually leads to money-saving too. Even our phones have turned into this huge …

Meal planning for beginners… I wish it existed when I first learned to “cook”, if you can even call it that! (I literally set our kitchen cabinets on fire once while boiling water. Oh, how far I’ve come!) If ever there was a time to learn how to meal plan, it’s now.  Groceries are EXPENSIVE. …

As summer approaches, I’m always looking for free activities to do with my family, that don’t cost me any money, help create memories, and fill the gaps in our days. You could go shopping. I used to do that a lot before simplifying. It was something to do. I would go buy all the things …

​Eight years ago, while pregnant and with a baby at home, I was standing in a line wrapped around a department store at 3 AM, doing the pee dance and waiting for some unknown great deal.   Looking back, it was utterly ridiculous and unnecessary torture for my always full bladder.    I had a plan, …

Minimalism and simple living have so many benefits. Living a simpler life, decluttering your home, and embracing experiences over things can lower your anxiety, give you more free time, and generally help you live a more fulfilling life. Minimalism can also save you a lot of money, even if you are not a “frugal minimalist”. …

Have you ever taken a no spend challenge? If not, have you ever thought about taking a no spend challenge? Maybe a no spend month? Or a no spend weekend? Heck, even a no spend day! I usually do at least one no spend month ever year, often in January.  Why? You would not believe …

Saving on monthly expenses is one of the biggest impacts you can have on your monthly budget. We have been there (recently), where we had to count every single penny entering our bank account and leaving our bank account. I quit my corporate world job last year to stay home with my family and start …