I was in a cookie rut. Whenever my daughter and I make cookies, it always seems to be Peanut Butter Cookies. Don’t get me wrong, peanut butter cookies are delicious (and my husband’s favourite), but sometimes I want something a little different!
So, enter Fall M&M Monster Cookies! They’re easy to put together and delicious so they’re sure to please! And they still include peanut butter, so my husband is on board. š These Fall M&M Monster Cookies have everything. Peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips and M&M’s, make for my FAVORITE Cookie!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 1/2 Cups oatmeal
2 tsp baking soda
1 Cup chocolate chips
1 Cup Fall colored M&M’s (red, yellow and brown) + extra to press on top of the cookies prior to baking
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, baking soda and eggs.
Add in the oatmeal one cup at a time, stirring well.
Add in the 1 cup of chocolate chips and the 1 cup of Fall M&M’s.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto your baking sheets about 2-3″ a part. Press a few extra M&M’s into the tops of each cookie.
Bake for 9-13 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies will be slightly soft when you remove them from the oven but will set as they cool.
(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read theĀ disclosure policy here.)
A Budget Binder for your financial success
Setting up a Budget Binder in your home is a terrific strategy for staying on top of your finances. It should not only be a record of what is spent, but it should include your estimations for what will likely be spent in the coming year(s). This binder or manual should be a go-to for all of your questions regarding what you can afford and how long it will take to reach your financial goals.
Here’s how to create a Budget Binder:
1. Find a binder that works for you. I really like this binder, but any binder will work. I would choose one that has at least a 1ā³ spine width.
2. You will also want to have some tabbed dividers so that you can separate your budget binder into sections. These Removable Index Tabs are perfect to add to each section. The tabs are writable and repositionable so you can move them around or use the same one if you need to refresh the page.
3. I like to divide my Budget Binder up by months. (One section for each month of the year, January – December) In each section/month, I include a Monthly expense tracker, a Monthly budget and bill tracker, a Monthly debt payoff tracker, a Monthly reflection sheet and Month at a glance calendar sheets. In the back, I have a yearly finance goal worksheet and spending trackers.
I have created an easy to follow printable budget planner that takes the overwhelm out of budgeting! Use this planner to dream about yearly financial goals, track your bills and spending, discover what you did well, what you need to improve on and so much more! This planner will help keep you focused and ensure nothing is missed.
4. Also in the back, create a section for account information and include names of financial institutions, addresses, contact information, passwords and any other details that would be worth having at a glance.
5. You can also add pouchesto hold receipts, a page to record prices on your favorite items, or anything else that might be useful in keeping your family in the black!
There you have it! It’s that easy to set up a budget binder. Do you keep a Budget Binder? What pages do you keep handy in your family budget binder?
Taco night is a regular occurrence in our house. Itās quick, easy, and everyoneās happy! I love it when no one complains about what’s for dinner!
But hereās the thingā¦ I stopped buying those taco seasoning packets ages ago. Once I started mixing up my own, there was just no going back. This homemade taco seasoning is so simple, way more affordable, and the best part? I can tweak it to fit our taste buds. Which, letās be real, most of us are not built for spicy food.
I love that the savings add up too. Overall, this homemade version costs just a fraction of what you’d spend on the packaged kind.
I like to make a small jar each time and keep it in the pantry so weāre always ready when a taco craving hits (which is often). Itās perfect for ground meat, chicken, or even veggies if weāre going the meatless route. And yes, Iāve totally used it on roasted potatoes and in soups tooāit’s that good.
Why I Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning:
Itās customizable. You can control the heat, the salt, and the flavour balance.
It saves money. Those little packets may seem cheap, but the homemade version costs pennies per useāand uses spices you probably already have.
No mystery ingredients. Just simple, real pantry spices. No preservatives, no weird fillers.
Itās super quick. Takes five minutes (if that!) to mix together.
If you havenāt tried making your own taco seasoning yet, this is your sign. Itās one of those little kitchen swaps that feels like a win every time you use it.
Want the recipe? Hereās the blend I use, feel free to tweak it to your liking!
Amazon Prime Days are coming! July 8 – 11, 2025 are going to be GREAT for finding deals!
To take advantage of the deals, you have to be a Prime member. BUT! If you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial!
In the mean time, here’s how to get ready for Prime Day:
Make sure youāre a Prime member. The best deals will be Prime exclusives. (sign up for a free trial above!)
Make a list of things you’re shopping for. Think of birthdays, Christmas, essentials you use every day, and even “want to have” items. This will help you to remember what you’re shopping for and stay in control of your spending.
Add items to your Amazon cart that you are hoping go on sale. That way, if they drop in price, you can find them quickly.
With Amazon Music, you can now can get one Audible book per month as part of your monthlyĀ Amazon MusicĀ subscription. Unlimited subscribers can now enjoy one audiobook per month, including the largest catalogue of audiobooks from Audible, top podcasts and millions of songs ad-free.
Get 7 Free Audiobooks
Yes, you read that right ā 7 audiobooks for FREE!
Hereās the deal:
Right now, you can sign up for a4-month free trial of Amazon Music, which includes one free audiobook each month (you get to pick!). Thatās 4 audiobooks to enjoy.
Then, if you’re new to Audible or recently canceled, you can grab a 3-month free trial of Audible when you sign up by July 31. That gives you 3 credits to use on any audiobooks you want ā and you keep them forever, even if you cancel.
Thatās 7 audiobooks totally free ā no strings, no spending. Just be sure to cancel your memberships before the trials are over, unless you intend on continuing your memberships.
Hereās How to Stretch It Out for 7 Months of Free Listening:
June to September: Use Amazon Music to stream one audiobook a month (these donāt stay in your library, so listen before the month ends).
June to August: Use your Audible credits to grab one book each month and download or pre-order them.
October to December: Listen to the Audible books you downloaded earlier.
Thatās 7 FREE audiobooks spread across 7 months ā smart, frugal, and totally doable.
Think you’re pretty frugal? Love finding deals, stretching your dollars, and getting creative with how you save? Then you’re going to love this.
I created a Frugal Bingo Card to celebrate all the little things we do to save moneyāwithout sacrificing fun. Whether you’re a coupon queen, a library lover, or someone who can whip up a full dinner from what’s in the pantry, this bingo card is for you.
Itās packed with simple, relatable, and proudly frugal wins. Some are everyday habits, others might give you a new challenge to try. Either way, itās a fun way to recognize just how resourceful you really are.
So grab the free printable, play along with friends or family, or even share your progress on social media. Letās see how many squares you can check offāand who in your circle is the most frugal of them all.
Have you been thinking about getting a Costco membership? Well right now, for a limited time only, Groupon has a couple of Costco membership offers worth checking out!
Here are the highlights of the offers:
1-year MembershipĀ ā ChooseĀ Gold Star MembershipĀ (C$315 package value) orĀ ExecutiveĀ (C$480 package value) for access to exclusive member-only savings
C$50 Digital Costco Shop CardĀ ā Included with either membership, valid in-store and online
A promo code to receive aĀ C$200 Digital Costco Shop CardĀ with the purchase of a Mexico or Caribbean vacation package of C$3,500+ through Costco Travel
Book by December 31, 2025, for travel by May 31, 2026.
The Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed within 10 days of travel.
Not combinable with other offers; not redeemable for cash.
Executive Membership Perk: GetĀ C$100 offĀ a Costco.ca order of C$200+
Disclaimers: Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at Costco Gas Stations, Car Washes, or Food Court Kiosks. Valid only for new members and those whose memberships (Primary and Household) have been expired at least 18 months or more.
Motherās Day comes just once a year, so why not do all you can to make sure it’s a special day? If you are worried about your budget being too tight to celebrate sufficiently, donāt worry! There are plenty of ways to enjoy a nice Motherās Day without spending a dime. Look below at these 7 Motherās Day gifts that donāt cost a cent, and see how you can celebrate Mom for free.
1. Give her the gift of time.
Donāt try to fit in time for Mom on Motherās Day, make it a priority. Give Mom the gift of your time to enjoy the things she may want to do, such as go for a hike, watch a movie, or just spend time together around the dinner table.
2. Give her the gift of appreciation.
Show Mom you appreciate her by writing her a list of all of the things you love about her. Make a list of 20-25 things (even more is better!) that make her special. Use your best writing, put the list in an envelope, and gift it to her on Motherās Day. She will keep it forever.
3. Give her the gift of rest.
Sometimes, Mom just needs a break. Give Mom a little time to herself on Motherās Day. Quiet the house down and let Mom get a nap in. Or, give Mom some time to sleep in that morning. Even just an hour of quiet time will be much appreciated and make her feel like a million bucks.
4. Give her the gift of affection.
Moms love to hug and hold their babies! Take the time to hug your Mom, hold her hand, and truly connect with her. The older children get, the less often this happens, so take the time on Motherās Day to get those hugs in.
5. Give her the gift of help.
Are there tasks around the house Mom needs help with? Start tackling those tasks. Do what you can to get these tasks done so Mom can take them off her plate. This will be a huge relief to her and she will no doubt love the help.
6. Give her the gift of truly being present.
Put cell phones and electronic devices away and be present on Motherās Day. Let Mom know that she is your focus for the day and that nothing else is as important. We get so caught up in devices, this will be a refreshing change for her to see.
7. Give her the gift of patience.
Be patient with Mom today. Motherās Day is about celebrating her and meeting her needs. Be patient with your own needs on this day and instead make the focus about her. Donāt let a limited budget keep you from showing Mom how special she is. Consider these 7 Motherās Day gifts that donāt cost a cent, and see how even a frugal Motherās Day can be a memorable one.
I’d love to hear your ideas or memories of celebrating Mother’s Day! Let me know in the comments below!
I love giving my kids giftsāit brings me so much joy to see their excitement! But you know what I donāt love? Filling our house with more random stuff that gets tossed aside not long after.
Do you feel the same?
That’s why I have started asking myself:
āWhat are my kids going to need later that I can buy now?ā
Itās my way of still treating them (and scratching that deal-hunting itch!) without filling our home with unnecessary extras.
Easter is right on the horizon, so Easter baskets are currently on my mind.
When I think of the question above, I know the weather is changing and we will be spending a lot more time outside. So instantly, bathing suits and pajamas come to mind. It’s pretty much guaranteed that they have outgrown their things from last year.
So think through your current family situation. Will you be going to the pool or beach? What about a family vacation? What do they like to do outside? What are their favourite snacks? What about something to do inside on rainy days?
To help get your creative/practical thinking rolling, here are some of my favourite Easter Basket ideas.
(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read theĀ disclosure policy here.)
WATER & SUN GEAR
My kids always need new bathing suits. Currently my favourite places to get their bathing suits are Old Navy and Gap because of how they fit, but also because they have great sales often. (You know I love a deal.) I really like these one piece rash guard suits because of the built-in UPF sun protection.
Swim goggles are also really useful. My oldest will be getting a new pair of these this year.
Pool toys and bath toys are also a solid choice if your kids will enjoy them. My youngest has been asking for some diving toys, so she’ll be getting this set.
There’s nothing better than sending the kids outside to enjoy some fresh air! It’s even better when they have something fun to ignite their imaginations.
There’s always the classics that need to be replaced such as chalk or bubbles or water guns. But here are some other ideas that are sure to be a hit:
Books (the newest book in their favourite series, a touch & feel book…etc.)
Pajamas
CANDY & SNACKS
No Easter basket is complete without a chocolate bunny or some sort of treat! There are Easter themed candies all over the stores. Grab one or two things you know your kids would like and call it a day.
You could also think outside the box a bit and grab their favourite snacks. Could be things you don’t buy very often that they’ll be excited to receive. Or just things you know they’ll enjoy no matter what. Pringles. Mini bags of chips. Cereal. Ritz crackers and cheese dip. Bear Paws. Goldfish crackers. Apple sauce pouches. Fruit snacks. Bunny Grahams. The ideas are endless.
I hope these ideas help you build Easter baskets for your kids that are practical and enjoyable for everyone! Remember though, Easter baskets aren’t mandatory!
