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I’ve always been a little hesitant to buy trips on Groupon or Living Social, but they always look like they have good deals. A lot of my friends use Air BNB when they travel and I’ve been told it saves them so much money when traveling.

OMG what an awesome idea, lady! I agree 100% that that’s better than a gift you don’t really need. I always get so stressed out about money during the holidays and this year with a new baby arriving in 2 or 3 weeks, money is definitely tight. My mom to this day still insists on buying my hubby and I at least a few things, but I always struggle to…[Read more]

I think it’s all about establishing your priorities. Obviously the conferences are important to you, but could those $1500 in savings be better spent on something other than hotel stays? If the answer is yes, then heck yea I think you’re doing the right thing by trying to find ways to save money. But yea, I definitely agree that it’s hard to…[Read more]

Kayla – right there with you! I have a 10 year old and 7 year old twins. We’ve had and will keep having lots of family celebrations 🙂

Here’s a couple of things I’ve learned:
– Don’t be afraid to borrow. Ask neighbors and family nearby if they have folding tables/chairs they can bring so you don’t have to rent them.
– Watch for sales at…[Read more]

And it also really drives home the point about starting early! A little bit socked away in your 20s has a huge impact if you let it roll. I’m in my 40s now with 3 kids and I am SO glad I started putting money in a 401k when I was in my early 20s. It wasn’t much, then, but it definitely has formed a nice foundation to build on!

Keep watching…[Read more]

The national average is around 3%. So, for budgeting purposes, maybe that’s a good place to start? Totally agree with making sure that our possessions get a second life, though, too. That’s a great way to give back and keep things out of the landfill, too.

You can also use sites like Charity Navigator to help you find organizations to work…[Read more]

My kids are a little older (10, 7 and 7) and they are really starting to understand “cost.” I do think that at these early ages it’s about helping them understand the value of money and how far it does (or does not!) go.

It’s really helpful to take them with when you have to buy a birthday present for a friend or family member so that they…[Read more]

Hey Antoinette, I love it! At a certain point, you just don’t need any more stuff and yet our friends and family want to do something for us. I think this is super-smart. Well done!

I haven’t tried it, but I love the concept. The frugal side of me is concerned that I won’t be able to use coupons and would end up spending more. On the other hand, the I-hate-grocery-shopping-with-a-passion side thinks you can’t put a price on the feeling of bliss felt by never having to step foot in a grocery store again. LOL!

You are absolutely right! I had not even considered teaching her about purchasing decisions…that’s huge! *feverishly adds that to my list of parenting lessons*

I agree! I think you make a great point with the rewards programs too. So many people don’t understand how to really take advantage of the rewards without getting caught up in more debt. Worry less about the rewards and more about staying out of debt.

That’s a really good point. It doesn’t have to be financial and you can still help out. I like that a lot better than just giving money.

This is great that you are starting early. I would check with your local banks and see what they have. The credit union I used to work for had a great savings workshop and a list of activities you could do at home with your child. Most importantly, I think parents often focus so much on savings that they miss the opportunity to also teach children…[Read more]

Tying the savings lesson to special purchases is a really good idea! I’ll definitely try that out. Thanks, Kayla!!