We’ve cut our grocery budget substantially. However, we hold on to a few conveniences to save time, even though they cost a bit more … We used to spend a lot more than we really needed to on food. Between putting our entertainment expenses on a budget, and putting a few principles to work, we … Read more
Our Costco receipts used to be downright scary. Now, not so much! Here’s how we did it … Our monthly Costco trips used to be in the $500-$600 range pretty regularly. This used to contribute to groceries and household spending in the $1300+ range, which was way too much. Now that we’ve begun budgeting in … Read more
Tonight I had my own version of a marshmallow experiment, and it turned out really well … Bags of marshmallows in our house do a couple of things if they’re not eaten in one sitting. The smaller ones get a bit hard and become marsh-not-so-mellow. The larger ones stick to each other and get really … Read more
A great place to shave expenses is by smart grocery shopping. Here are some hacks for doing just that … One of the first places that people look to save money is on food. Smart grocery shopping isn’t just one strategy; it’s a collection of strategies. Any one, or several of them, will help you … Read more
This exercise in meal planning has gotten me through a lot of lunches … One of the most straightforward ways to reduce expenses is to pack your lunch if you’re not already doing so. The trick is taking the time to prepare the lunch. It’s not difficult, but it does take some time. It takes … Read more
I do a few things pretty well. Cooking hasn’t been one of them. For a surprisingly long time I’ve been able to get by knowing hardly the first thing about preparing a hot meal: Through high school my parents prepared the meals. Through college I had a meal plan. Through graduate school I only did … Read more
My daughter’s “love languages” are gifts and quality time. I think I do all right with the gifts, but I can do better on the quality time part. I had planned to stop at Sheetz to pick up a large-ish Rice Krispies® treat for my daughter. Somewhere along the way, though, I decided instead to … Read more
A big part of personal finance advice revolves around finding ways to spend less. Less money going out the door means more money staying in your bank account. By and by, some purchases draw an above-average amount of fire. Bottled water is one of them. I’ve seen at least three posts over the past few … Read more