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organizing | diy | frugal living

Do It On A Dime

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How I Save On Groceries!

by Filed Under: Money Saving, Recipes

My family likes to eat healthfully and as naturally as possible (no we aren’t perfect), and our grocery budget for the week averages around $90 for three people.  For everything.  Here’s how I achieve those savings and don’t have to spend a lot of time.  ‘Ain’t nobody got time for extreme couponing!

1)  Meal Plan:  This is the single most important element of saving on groceries.  Sit down with your store flyer (or find them online) and find what meat is on sale (provided you eat meat).  Plan everything around that main dish.  Chicken on sale that week?  Grab your favorite recipe and make sure you have all the ingredients.  I have our family’s favorite recipes in a recipe binder so I can easily meal plan and I know the go-tos that everyone will love.  You can see more on meal planning here.

2)  Go meatless once a week.  This give huge savings in and of itself.  Get creative with beans, mushrooms, peppers, cheese.  There are lots of yummy meatless meals out there that will save you at least $7-10 on your grocery bill every week.  Here are a few of our favorites.

3) Stock up on good meat discounts:  If there are really great meat markdowns, buy a few and freeze some, that way when chicken isn’t on sale, you have a stash of meat on hand.  No coupons required.  Just a small amount of advance planning.  Check when your grocery store does markdowns.  There will usually be a daily markdown, and a big weekly markdown (I usually aim to go to the store this day).  We store extra in our deep freezer.  You can see how I organize our stash here.

4) Download the FREE ibotta app.  There are TONS of cash-back rebates on fresh produce (not joke) and other products you were probably going to buy anyway (lots of natural options.)  You complete an easy task (like answering a poll, watching a 30 second video) and after scanning your store receipt, they credit your account with cash, and you can get giftcards, or straight up cash to paypal.  I have been using this app for years and I have earned hundreds of dollars in savings.  There isn’t any prep work.  Just have your phone in store with you as you shop, and do it as you go.  No extra time required.  Click here to get the app!

5) Shop by BOGO.  We plan most of our grocery trip around By On Get One (Free) sales.  And word to the wise: you don’t have to buy two at most stores to get the savings!  Lots of times you will find that these BOGO sales align with what is already on ibotta.

6) Stacking.  Here’s where you can get a little fancy if you want.  I don’t extreme coupon, but I do bring in 5-7 store coupons for additional savings (many that I can stack with what is on ibotta).

 

HOW TO GET COUPONS

  • Subscribe to your Sunday newspaper for ad inserts.  There are three types: Red Plum, Smart Source, and P&G.  Label these with the date, file, and you can use them as you need!  (Note: The best deals usually come from circulars from the previous weeks, not the current one).
  • Visit online sites that do all the work for you.  Find the grocery store you shop at, and these sites provide links to online coupons that you can print at home, circular match-ups so you know what coupons to use, and even ibotta deals on top of that so you know what the best scores are.  They take the guesswork out of eveything and align the great sales for you.  Then you pick the few you are interested in! You can get coupons on loads of different items, we recently used cashcoup and saved so much money! I highly recommend checking them out.
  • Dr. Google.  Need a coupon for a specific item?  Google that product and the word “coupon.”  I usually can find what I need this way if you are having trouble!

8)  Stock up for 6-8 weeks.   More sales will be there.  I promise.  The next time the store has a sale (in about 6-8 weeks) you are ready to stock up again.  And buy what you are actually going to use and eat.  Otherwise you aren’t saving, you are just spending.  See my point?  There is always another deal and another day.

I hope this was helpful to you so you can see how I meal plan and get the most bang for my buck.  Here is a video that walks you though how I use ibotta and stacked deals with coupons this shopping trip:

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*YouTube has been such a blessing and I am fortunate to get to work with many brands that I love and use daily!  I have been using Ibotta since 2013 and have saved hundreds using this app, so when the company approached me wanting me to share my rebates and grocery savings, I was really excited.  Thanks to Ibotta for sponsoring this post and video.  As always, all opinions are genuinely my own.*

Vlog | Weekend in Ashville, NC

by Filed Under: Advice & Vlogs

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Summit of Craggy Gardens (Blue Ridge Parkway)

This past weekend Charlie and I headed to Ashville, NC from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon.  It was a quick trip while my mom had Carson to celebrate our 30th birthdays.  (Charlie hit the big 3-0 on the June 28th).  Here is were we stayed and some excellent restaurants we wholeheartedly recommend.

A C C O M M O D A T I O N S

The Beaufort House
http://www.beauforthouse.com/

A S H V I L L E   E A T S

The Early Girl Eatery [Organic, local, casual]

Bouchon  [French restaurant, stellar wine]

Beaufort Inn Breakfast  [Two course breakfast included in your reservation]

Chocolate Lounge  [Incredible!  Sustainable chocolate]

Gourmet Chip  [Pitas and home-made chips to die for!]

For those of you thinking of visiting Ashville for natural beauty and relaxed foodie culture, I highly recommend it!

IMG_2121 IMG_2104 IMG_2109  IMG_2088And here’s a fun vlog sharing a few of the highlights!

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

 

Simple & Organized Airline Travel

by Filed Under: Organization

I used to be a chronic over-packer.  I’m not gonna sugar coat it.  I just was.

I’ve gotten to the place where traveling lights is so much more practical and easier.  We have quite a few flights planned this summer, and here is how I’m keeping my travel plans and stress low.

1)  Travel Simply.  Don’t over-pack!  If you are debating whether or not to bring something think about it like this: if you can buy it for $20 in 20 minutes or less at your destination, you can leave it behind.

2)  Use Zipblock Bags!  Store entire outfits in Ziplock bags (especially kids’ clothes).  Get to your destination, and each days’ outfits are planned and ready to go.  No thinking required.

3)  Make your own packing cubes using old comforter or sheet cases, and makeup bags.  They work just as well and keep your luggage extremely organized.

4)  Make your luggage stand out.  Use a ribbon or a tag so it’s easy to spot in the conveyer belt for checked bags.

5)  Take a photo of your parking spot at the airport.  You won’t forget where your car is.

6)  Bring simple snacks with disposable packaging.  This is a great way to get rid of leftovers in the fridge before your trip.  Bring empty water bottles to the airport and fill them once you are checked in.

7)  Save those Starbucks gift cards for the trip home.  You won’t be able to bring food mostly likely, and every airport has a Starbucks!

8)  With kids, prepared does not mean more.  Less is more.  Simple is better.

9) Travel with a garbage bag, jam all the dirty clothes in over the course of the tip, toss it in your luggage, and wash immediately when you get home.

10)  Unpack right away.  You will be refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of your routine.

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*This is not a sponsored video.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Dollar Tree DIY Ice Pops

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree, Recipes

As the days start to get warmer and sunnier, it’s time for ice pops!  I was so excited when I saw Dollar Tree sells and ice pop mold, and I was quite impressed with the quality.

Making your own ice pops is so easy (and healthy).  Whisk the following ingredients together and pour into ice molds!

  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt (or other flavored yogurt)
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Watch the video to see the tutorial in action and for some cooking with Carson:

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Space-Saving Dollar Tree DIYS

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization

The majority of the messages and comments that I receive are those of you asking how to organize small spaces.  You don’t have a walk-in closet and you lack storage options.  I want to keep providing you ideas and inspiration for making the most of what you have.  Small spaces are NOT a curse, they really can be a blessing.

Here are two quick ideas that we use around our home:  The first is turning Dollar Tree bins into drawers and the second is a tank top organizer.

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Inexpensive and easy.  Watch the video below to see how to make them!

Tools needed for Pull Out Drawers:

  • Dollar Tree bin with a lip or ledge
  • 1/4″ Aluminum Trim Channel (comes in 4 ft lengths), cut to size
  • #6 1/2 inch screws
  • Power Drill (with a drill bit slightly wider than screw, and a bit about 1/3 the circumference)

Tools needed for Tank Top / Scarf Organizer:

  • Wooden hanger
  • Dollar Tree shower rings
  • Scarves and tank tops!

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Simple (and cheap!) Purse Organization

by Filed Under: Organization

Life is crazy, but your purse doesn’t have to be.  I feel like as a mom, there are so many things that I need to keep on the go.  To keep the clutter (especially paper clutter–can I get an amen?!) out of my purse, I have a few systems that I employ that really help.

1)  Get a purse organizer.  This is a game changer.  I got mine from Etsy (you can click the images below), or you can get them for less than $10 on Amazon.

2)  Get yourself a purse trash can.  I use an old pill bottle.  You can leave the lid on or off (sometimes off is easier, and things don’t fall out!)

3) Gift card organizers are great for those gift cards or even credit cards, too.  You can get them at the Dollar Tree!

4) $1 file folder for paper clutter.  You can find these at the Dollar Spot at Target (and they have the cutest patterns).  I label mine with:

  • Store Coupons– So I have them in hand when I head out on a shopping trip
  • Grocery Coupons– I grocery shop with coupons, and after I cut them, I stick them in my organizer before I go to the store.
  • Receipts– After I buy anything, I stick it in here for safe keeping, and I can file when I get home…or more realistically at the end of the week/month
  • Other– Random papers I need to hold on to
  • Extra– Extra coupons of items that were out of stock (this happens a lot–you know what I mean if you coupon)
  • Business Cards– Cards I get out and about, and my Doitonadime cards
  • Child– Coupons for kid goodies and free stuff!

See all of these tips and MORE in my video (plus how to get deodorant stains out of your shirt!)

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*This is not a sponsored video.  All opinions are genuinely my own.  Links contain affiliates.*

$10 Toddler Learning Center

by Filed Under: Organization, Teaching

Creating a functional and learning-centered area of our home for Carson was a must for me this month.  He’s showing so much interest in coloring, drawing, and creating.  My budget was small, though.  I didn’t have much to spend, but I love how this space is maximized.

I thrifted the desk but you can also find it here if you are looking for one (they are not expensive).  You can also find the cutting board organizer here.  You can find a similar storage ottoman here.

 

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Dollar Tree Shopping Vlog (new store!)

by Filed Under: Dollar Tree

It was the grand opening of this Dollar Tree a couple of weeks ago.  So a shoeless Carson and I took a peek around and picked up a few things.

I love some Dollar Store shopping, and I’m taking you along!

Come see some cool products (and stay tuned for some easy DIYs coming up!)

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Toy & Playroom Organization

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Organization, Teaching

Toys.  Everywhere.  When you have kids it’s the truth!

There are a few things that we do to cut down on toy clutter throughout our home, and I hope that these tips are helpful to you!  This is part of a collab video with Jady A and OrganizedClutterbug!

1) GET AN ORGANIZING SYSTEM…YOU REALLY CAN SCORE THIS FOR UNDER $60!  I love these organizing cubbies to store toys in the playroom paired with canvas totes.  

 

 

 

2) LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TOYS your child has access to.  Sometimes, we live under the mentality that more is more, and our kids seem to tire of toys easily.  I find that when they have less options (that are rotated out) they do worlds better!  Store them in sets that are easily put away.  Plus, with less, you can clean up faster.  We love the chalkboard labels from Michaels and chalk pens.

3)  STORE YOUR PUZZLES (or items with loose pieces) IN PENCIL POUCHES.  You will love this.  They are virtually indestructible and save so much space.
4)  HAVE AN ALWAYS-OUT BASKET TO PLACE NOT-IN-USE TOYS.  This way you are constantly purging and only the toys that your child likes will stay out.

5) GET CREATIVE.  I made a DIY lazy susan for Carson’s art supplies using a cheese platter (and I turned the table into a chalk table!).  You can see more on that here.

6)  MAKE USE OF HIDDEN STORAGE AROUND YOUR HOME.  We use everything from large tote baskets, small burlap baskets (with cute labels) and storage ottomans that can serve a dual purpose to store toys.

7)  STORE TOYS IN BOOKSHELVES.  If you can stand to part with a few books, move up the bottom rung of your bookshelf and put in canvas bins.

What do you do to tame the toy clutter?

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