Budget Archives - the frugal millionaire

How to Save Money on Food without Sacrificing Quality

We all want to save money on food, right? I’ve been experimenting with our food budget lately and have discovered a few tips that have been saving us a decent amount of money each month. We are a family of five – my husband, myself and our three little girls (ages 5, 4 and 1). You would think little ones would be easy to feed but my goodness – my kids are all very picky (aren’t they all?) and go through snacks like there’s no tomorrow.

I’ve also always wondered if what we spend on food is “normal” compared to other families. While doing some research, I came across this chart that details monthly grocery budgets based on family size. As a family of five, we could be spending anywhere from $621 to $1660 according to the chart. And yup – we fall exactly in that range. Our total food spending each month (this includes groceries, restaurants, coffee shops, and some household supplies) ranges from $1,100 to $1,500. Whether we seem to eat out often or spend the entire month cooking at home, we always seem to fall right in that range.

Prior to wanting to save money on food, we spent closer to $1,800 per month. Since cutting back, we haven’t sacrificed one bit on quality and, since I’m more aware, dare I say we’ve been eating better?

Here are 12 ways to save money on food without sacrificing quality.

15 Ways to Save Money in Everyday Life

I don’t budget. Instead, I am acutely aware of my spending every single day. Whether I’m grocery shopping, out with my family or hanging out at home, I try my best to make choices that will save money. And by doing that every single day, you absolutely will see your bank account grow. Here are 15 ways to save money in everyday life.

5 Unique Ways to Make Money Every Day

Do you want to get Starbucks (or any other splurge) for free…every single day?! I’m talking un-budgeted, completely extra money in your pocket each and every day.

If you’d like to have an extra $5-$100 EVERY DAY to spend on fun stuff for yourself and your family, keep reading…

I don’t purchase Starbucks with our family money, but instead find unique ways to make extra money every day. My coffee costs $3.19/day, so I strive to make at least that per day in an off-the-wall way. (Usually I end up making more!) Below are five unique ways to make money every single day!

2 Guaranteed Ways to Stop Stressing About Money

We’ve all been there: bills are due, things around the house keep breaking, a child gets sick, we of course need to eat, and basically the expenses just don’t stop rolling in.

I would say our “low” point was right after our first daughter was born (this was about four years ago). I had quit my full-time job when she was born and was just starting to break into freelancing. My husband was working for himself in construction and remodeling. We had just gotten back from a week-long family reunion (that my parents so graciously paid for or else we would not have been there) which meant my husband missed an entire week of work. We had savings, but for a few months, we were forced to make so many withdrawals that we were practically down to nothing.

I hated that feeling. Every day I woke up with a pit in my stomach. We lived in a very, very modest house (we purchased our first home for less than $150K), we ate pasta with sauteed onions for dinner multiple times per week, we didn’t go out to eat, and we by no means went shopping for fun. We were on a super tight budget, and even then we were still just scraping by.

Can anyone else relate to this?

Stressing about money sucks, period. And heck, I’ll say it, being on a tight budget sucks, too!

Fast-forward four years later (now), and we’ve completely changed our situation. I can honestly say that I haven’t been stressed about money (in that sense) in a while, and it feels incredible. I’m sleeping better, I’m happier and have a healthier outlook on life, my relationship with my husband is better than ever, and I’m truly enjoying life.

Want to know what I did to stop stressing about money? Grab a cup of coffee, this one’s a long one…

Our Four-Step Plan on How to Become a Millionaire

Today I’m getting back to the roots of this blog: Our journey on becoming millionaires.

John and I are just your average couple. We both work full-time with average salaries. We have our own side businesses. John works in construction and gets roughly one job per month. I am a freelance writer and blogger, making between $500-$3,000 extra per month (you can read my income reports here). We’re not unlike any other couple or family that I’ve met. We have kids, we have bills, and we work hard.

However, John and I have a big goal to become millionaires at some point in our lives (the sooner, the better). Here is our four-step plan on how to become a millionaire. As a disclaimer, this would be a “perfect” scenario. I know life can, and most likely will, throw us curveballs that will set us back. One of us might get laid off, we might have a medical emergency. You can’t predict the future; but I think it’s always good to have a plan and goals in mind 😉

Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away! I will admit that I love this holiday. Not for the roses or the gifts, but because it’s a day to profess my love to my husband. Sure, I do this everyday, but it just feels extra-special on Valentine’s Day.

However, the idea of spending money on a silly holiday is not my cup of tea, so I try to find little ways to show romance on Valentine’s Day without spending a fortune. Here are my ideas for this year – I hope you’re able to use a few of them, too!

8 Ideas for Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Breakfast in bed

Who says you have to wait until dinner to do something special for your love? I know for a fact I would win “Wife of the Year” if I made breakfast in bed for my husband, so this year, I will try my best to do that 🙂 A few yummy ideas include heart-shaped waffles or pancakes (add some red food coloring or make them red velvet flavored!), these strawberries and cream doughnuts, or a red fruit platter (strawberries, raspberries, watermelon) and heart-shaped bacon (fold the bacon into a heart and bake in the oven).

Be a helping hand for the day

We have two little girls, and I’ll be the first to admit that I serve them all day and make my husband fend for himself. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, I plan to serve him all day and meet his needs. This will be small things – such as taking out the trash for him (his chore), getting him his coffee in the morning and asking him if he needs anything while I’m up. I know, I know, this is probably stuff I should be doing anyways. But, with young kids, I will admit that I don’t do these things as often as I should. Maybe Valentine’s Day will jump-start a good habit for me.

Give a good, spa-like massage

My husband loves when I give him a massage. Because of this, I do try and give him one a few times a week, but he’s lucky if they last more than five minutes. On Valentine’s Day, I plan on creating a spa-like experience for him in our bedroom: candles, soft music playing, lotion, etc. I’ll also bring in a timer and give him a full, 30-minute massage this time.

Start a project together

One of the best ways to bond with your husband is to do something together, side by side. Recently, my husband and I have painted our kitchen nook table white and we did a puzzle together. Think of a project to start with your husband and begin it on Valentine’s Day!

Cook dinner together

Right after we had our first baby, we started Friday Night Date Night where we made dinner together after our daughter went to sleep. However, three years later and with another baby in the mix, this has slowly fizzled out of our routine. For Valentine’s Day this year, the main thing I want to do is make dinner together after the kids go to bed, just like old times. I’m thinking my husband will grill the steak and I’ll make a few sides (a favorite of mine is chopped Brussels sprouts sauteed with olive oil and about 1/4 cup of pesto!).

Write a love letter

Ok, this is not something I can see myself doing, but I thought I’d throw it out there in case it helps any of you! Write your husband a love letter telling him how much you appreciate him and love him. Even though I would probably never do this, I can’t say I wouldn’t be completely blown away if my husband did this for me! (Hmmm, perhaps I should write him one!)

Go on a long walk, hand in hand

Late in the morning or early in the evening, grab your honey and head out for a walk, weather permitted. You can walk around your neighborhood or drive to a local park or nature preserve. My husband and I have come up with some of our best ideas while walking and chatting side by side.

Talk about your goals for your relationship

These types of conversations are my absolute favorite. Ask your husband first what he would like to see more of in 2016. Then, think about areas you’d like to see your relationship progress. Perhaps you want to run a marathon together or take an epic summer vacation. Or, maybe you just want to make little changes that will improve your relationship, such as limiting the amount of time you spend in front of technology or making sure Date Night actually happens. My most favorite part of being married is that we get to do life together, and I don’t ever want to stop doing life with John. This year, our huge goal is to purchase a rental property. But, I’d be curious to see what else he would like to see us do!

Valentine’s Day really does not have to be about expensive gifts and fancy meals out, but it also doesn’t have to be completely skipped altogether. This year, enjoy the holiday for what it is by showing your spouse just how much they mean to you without having to break your budget.

What are you planning this year for Valentine’s Day?!

8 Easy Ways to Save Money in 2016

Have you set your goals for the New Year yet? While I’m continually setting goals, there is something exciting about a New Year upon us. A fresh start, a new beginning, a change of pace. While my goals for this next year are a tad simpler than in years’ past, there’s one goal my husband and I both are going to enact into our daily lives, and that’s saving money.

My husband and I are naturally savers, but the last half of this year has really gotten the best of us. We’re back into our weekly Starbucks habit, I haven’t budgeted for a grocery store trip in months and I’ve impulse bought more times than I’d care to admit. Thankfully, none of these bad habits have resulted in debt. But they have resulted in us having significantly less in savings than we could have had.

You live and learn—so there’s no point in rehashing all that we did wrong. Instead, we’re focusing on the future and what we can change in order to save more money.

Here are 8 easy ways we plan to save money in 2016.

Why Do You Want More Money?

Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone!

I’ve been thinking recently a lot about the “why” behind doing what I do. For any new readers, I am a wife and mom to two toddler girls, I work full-time, I freelance write and I blog. Not to mention cleaning the house, running errands and all that. To be honest, I don’t feel like it’s too much, but I do have very little downtime. When I’m home, I’m normally doing something productive (I count playing with my kids as productive, haha) except after 9:00 pm. Then, I watch a show with John and we go to sleep. I really love my life, but the busyness of it all recently got me asking “Why?

How to Avoid Getting Into Debt this Holiday Season

Christmas Can Be Merry and Bright, Even if Your Wallet is Light

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the high street merchants and online retailers couldn’t be happier. For people who are financially strapped, though, the coming Yule season isn’t necessarily such a cheering prospect. At this time of year more than any other, the pressure to spend on gifts and festivities is sometimes overwhelming. But you can have a joyful Christmas even if you’re short on cash.

What you can do to make the season brighter?

Meanwhile here you are, trying to make merry with a light wallet. A festive Christmas on a limited budget requires a combination of practicality and creativity to be sure. There are of course the obvious practical strategies such as cutting costs wherever feasible. You can save money on gas, for instance, simply by doing most of your shopping online. But if you just love the experience of shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, keep in mind that many retailers offer fuel promotions. Monitor the Web and your local media for the latest deals. There are many other ways to save as well, which include choosing and using credit cards wisely.

Free Winter Activities for Kids

Cold weather is upon us! Are you looking for some free activities to keep your kids busy during the winter? As a mother of three little girls, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that bored kids = crazy kids and a frustrated mom! This year, I’m making it a point to keep them busy for the sake of ALL of our sanity!