Tag Archives: saving

Tips

Tips for Saving Money on Fuel this Summer

Posted on by lantan

For many of us, summer is officially here as our kids are now out of school for the next twelve weeks or so. If you’re like me, then this means you’ll be spending a little more time in the car driving from place to place. While I’m thankful that my son is only 4 ½ and I don’t have to do the extended amount of driving that many people with multiple kids who are older do, I will still be spending more time running around town than usual over the next few months.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that with the high cost of fuel today and the extra miles we’ll be putting on our vehicles, we’ll be spending more money this summer at the pump. If you’re interested in learning how you can save money on fuel this summer, keep reading. I’ve done a little researched and found out about some out-of-the-ordinary tricks for saving money on fuel.

Service Regularly – Many of us are guilty of driving an extra 500, 1000 or more miles than we should before getting our oil changed and our vehicles properly serviced. This mistake can cost us money though…in fact, this can cause us to spend up to 20% more in fuel if we’ve got something like a bad air filter in the vehicle. So, make sure you get your vehicle serviced when it’s due – every 3,000-5,000 miles depending on your vehicle. Air Up the Tires – You may not realize this, but it actually costs you more money to drive a vehicle that has slightly deflated tires then it does to keep the tires full. Did you realize that when you drive on tires low in air, that you could be wasting up to $5 for every $20…
Tips

How to Save Money on Fall and Winter Clothes for the Whole Family

Posted on by lantan

I know I’ve talked about how you can save money on the kids when it comes time to clean out their closets and update the outgrown clothes, but I haven’t talked about how you can save money when shopping for the entire family as fall and winter approach. And, as you know, clothing expenses aren’t just limited to the kids. After all, adults like to freshen up their wardrobes from time to time too!



So, how can you bring some new styles to your closet, as well as the kids’, this fall/winter without breaking the bank? Here are a few ideas:

Sell the clothes you don’t wear anymore. While we all know the time and effort behind hosting a garage sale, the truth is that garage sales are still excellent for helping people get rid of the stuff they don’t need anymore…AND make money. If garage sales aren’t your thing, then consider selling the clothes that are in good condition on eBay. You will be surprised at how easy it is to sell unwanted items (including clothes) on that site. Regardless of which method you choose, you will get rid of the unwanted clothes and make money that can go towards new clothes this fall/winter for the entire family. Be savvy and shop online for everyone. If you’ve read this blog for long then you know that I’m a huge supporter of shopping for kids’ clothing online, but I’ve just recently started to shop for my own clothing online. It isn’t because I can’t find good deals online for myself or my husband, but instead it’s because we are the ones to sacrifice as we’re always replacing our kids’ clothes due to their growth spurts. However, there are times when we need (and deserve) to add a few new…
Tips

Wedding Travel on a Budget

Posted on by lantan

The summer is almost here and for a lot of us that means that a wedding is about to take place. While we all love attending weddings, the out-of-town weddings can be a bit burdensome, especially for those who are trying to save money. Even if you aren’t actually in the wedding, traveling to attend one isn’t necessarily cheap. However, there are some things that you can do to help minimize the cost and ensure that the wedding is an enjoyable experience.

Book Lodging Online. We all know that one of the most expensive parts of traveling is paying for lodging. I can remember when $60 would get a nice hotel room. Now, it seems like a decent room costs at least $150 per night, unless you know where to shop for your hotel room. My favorite place to book hotel rooms is on Priceline, but there are other sites like Travelocity and Expedia that are pretty similar. Basically, these sites help hotels fill rooms. They do this by offering “customers” rooms for a fraction of the price they would get by booking at the hotel…or their website. The cool think about Priceline is that you can enter in the amount of money you’re willing to pay for a room and possibly get one for that price. On several occasions I have booked a room at a 5 star hotel for $65! It’s worth it if you’re looking to save a little money while attending an out-of-town wedding. Leave the Kids at Home. If it is at all possible, leave the kids at home when you head out of town for a wedding. First of all, most children couldn’t care less about the couple in love and tying the knot and will therefore only be bored during the trip. In…
Recipes

Holiday Treats for Kids

Posted on by lantan

We are right in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle as Christmas is less than a week away! What does this mean, aside from the shopping and wrapping? It means that the kids are about to go on Christmas break for a couple of weeks!

I have to admit that sometimes I get a little apprehensive about the school breaks as it is hard to keep little minds busy and out of trouble. However, at the holidays, I do look forward to spending extra time with my school-age son and his little brother, together. One of the things that I make a point to do with my little “big” man is to get him in the kitchen with me so we can bake some of our favorite holiday treats.

These moments are precious to me because I know that my boys are going to outgrow the age where they enjoy cooking with their mom soon. Plus, we never know when our last breath will come so it’s important to make the most of the time we have with our children.  Anyways, if you are looking for some holiday treats that the kids will enjoy making and the whole family will love, here are a few recipes!

Pistachio “Christmas” Cookies:

1 Pkg. Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix 1 Box Pistachio Pudding/Pie Filling Mix 1.4 C. Flour ½ C. Melted Butter 2 Eggs 1 C. Shelled & Chopped Pistachio Nuts ½ C. Dried Cranberries  Preheat oven to 350°. Stir cookie mix, pudding and flour together in a large bow.. Then, add the eggs and butter. Stir until mixed well. Fold in pistachios and cranberries. On parchment lined cookie sheet, place rounded spoonful about 1 inch apart and bake for 8-10 minutes.  (Makes about 2 dozen cookies)

Not Your Ordinary Peppermint

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Tips

How to Save on a New Year’s Eve Dress

Posted on by lantan

Although we often focus on Christmas at the holidays, Christmas isn’t the only holiday during this time of year. For most Americans, there are three holidays they celebrate within a 2 month period: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. The reason we are so focused on Christmas is because that is the busiest of the three holidays. It’s also the most expensive, which causes many people to look for ways to cut costs at this time of year and I’m one of them!

By the time we reach the day after Christmas, most of us are a bit relieved, but still feeling the financial strain the holiday placed on us. However, we have to press on in order to make it through New Year’s Eve. After all, what is New Year’s Eve without the customary celebration? It’s boring!

Okay, so you can’t cut a lot of costs of New Year’s Eve by eliminating the party, but you can save money when shopping for the New Year’s Eve dress with the tips below.

Wear an “Old” Dress – Gasp! know, I just suggested you reuse one of your holiday dresses for the New Year’s Eve party. Before you freak out about it, think about it rationally. Choosing a dress you already own for the party will save you a ton of money. And, when you accessorize it differently that you have before, most people won’t even realize that you are wearing the same dress! For example, wearing different jewelry, adding a bolero jacket and/or adding an accent belt at the waist are all simple ways to create a new look with an old dress. Swap with a Friend – Another great way to save money on a New Year’s Eve dress is to exchange dresses with a friend who is close to…