Mom retirement planning is hard! Come on, let’s admit it, moms…it’s hard to think about retirement when you have little kids keeping you busy day after day. But we know we have to and the earlier, the better. Thanks to the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council for this top ten list of mistakes for moms to […]
Five Characteristics to Embrace to Get Rid of Debt (& Keep it Away!)
When my husband and I got married in 2003, we had over $25,000 in debt between us (student loan debt, car loans, etc.). Less than 6 years later, we had paid it all off. Now, thanks to the frugal choices we’ve made, our only debt is our mortgage. Life isn’t easy, but our experiences have […]
5 Realistic Ways to Save Money when Eating Out
My family and I went to the Mall of America on Father’s Day and decided to splurge one time and eat at the Rainforest Cafe. My husband, kids and I had eaten there a couple times, but my parents and grandma were visiting from out of town and had never been there, so we thought […]
A Family Coupon Outing
As a frugal mom, sometimes I’ll take my family out on a “coupon outing.” I feel kind of like a geek admitting it, but going on an outing that revolves around using up good coupons for family fun can be so worth it, as long as you have the money budgeted for it. I did […]
How to Save Money on Veterinary Care for Your Pets (Our Story)
If you have a pet, you know how expensive it can be to take care of him or her, especially when they get sick. So how do you care for your pets without going broke? Short answer: Shop around, and especially check out rural veterinary clinics. You may find the best yet most affordable veterinarian […]
Comfort for Those of Us with Underwater Mortgages
It’s not hard to wind up with underwater mortgages. When you have an underwater mortgage, it can feel like you’re sinking because you find yourself in a position where you owe more than you could currently sell your home for. How Underwater Mortgages Happen My husband and I bought our first and current house in […]
New Year’s Resolutions for Health (& Finances)
Are you making New Year’s resolutions for health or finance? According to an article in the Star Tribune (12/30), here are the top 10 New Year’s resolutions: 1. Lose weight. 2. Get organized. 3. Spend less, save more. 4. Enjoy life to the fullest. 5. Stay fit and healthy. 6. Learn something. 7. Quit smoking. 8. […]
The Costs of Raising a Child
The costs of raising a child are surprising! Did you know that parents spend an average of $330 a year on gifts for their children, and that raising a girl costs $3,000 more than raising a boy? Some interesting facts on the high costs of raising our kids in this infographic, from www.easyfinance.com!
Three Myths about Couponing and Why Anyone Can Do It!
Think using coupons will cramp your style? If you found you could save 60-70% on your groceries, would that change your mind? Here are 3 beliefs about couponing that even I have had in the past, but then realized weren’t true! 1. “Clipping coupons takes too much time!” Not if you use coupon lists provided on […]
Knee Surgery, Home Repairs, or Disney World? Life’s crummy choices…
Living with a torn ACL is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Two summers ago, when I was 7 months pregnant with our youngest, Thor, I fell on my just-mopped, slippery kitchen floor, twisted my knee and tore my right ACL. Living with a Torn ACL It hurt like you wouldn’t believe. I […]