Taco night is a regular occurrence in our house. It’s quick, easy, and everyone’s happy! I love it when no one complains about what’s for dinner!
But here’s the thing… 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, let’s 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 we’re always ready when a taco craving hits (which is often). It’s perfect for ground meat, chicken, or even veggies if we’re going the meatless route. And yes, I’ve totally used it on roasted potatoes and in soups too—it’s that good.
Why I Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning:
It’s 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 use—and uses spices you probably already have.
No mystery ingredients. Just simple, real pantry spices. No preservatives, no weird fillers.
It’s super quick. Takes five minutes (if that!) to mix together.
If you haven’t tried making your own taco seasoning yet, this is your sign. It’s one of those little kitchen swaps that feels like a win every time you use it.
Want the recipe? Here’s 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 you’re 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 monthly Amazon Music 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 — 7 audiobooks for FREE!
Here’s 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!). That’s 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 — and you keep them forever, even if you cancel.
That’s 7 audiobooks totally free — no strings, no spending. Just be sure to cancel your memberships before the trials are over, unless you intend on continuing your memberships.
Here’s How to Stretch It Out for 7 Months of Free Listening:
June to September: Use Amazon Music to stream one audiobook a month (these don’t 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.
That’s 7 FREE audiobooks spread across 7 months — 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 money—without 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.
It’s packed with simple, relatable, and proudly frugal wins. Some are everyday habits, others might give you a new challenge to try. Either way, it’s 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. Let’s see how many squares you can check off—and who in your circle is the most frugal of them all.
Groupon Exclusive – Join Costco, Get a $50 Costco Shop Card!
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 Membership — Choose Gold Star Membership (C$315 package value) or Executive (C$480 package value) for access to exclusive member-only savings
C$50 Digital Costco Shop Card — Included with either membership, valid in-store and online
A promo code to receive a C$200 Digital Costco Shop Card 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: Get C$100 off 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.
Mother’s 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, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to enjoy a nice Mother’s Day without spending a dime. Look below at these 7 Mother’s Day gifts that don’t cost a cent, and see how you can celebrate Mom for free.
1. Give her the gift of time.
Don’t try to fit in time for Mom on Mother’s 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 Mother’s 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 Mother’s 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 Mother’s 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 Mother’s 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. Mother’s 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. Don’t let a limited budget keep you from showing Mom how special she is. Consider these 7 Mother’s Day gifts that don’t cost a cent, and see how even a frugal Mother’s 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!
Our family has done quite a few road trips over the years. It can be a fun way for us to see more of the world around us!
Because of this, I find myself googling road trip activities often. I love seeing what others think of bringing for their kids!
While we don’t limit screen time on the road, I do find that the girls get tired of their devices quicker than expected. That’s why I like to pick up some new activities before we hit the road (or airplane).
We’re about to embark on another road trip this week so I’ve visited Dollarama and ordered a couple of things from Amazon.
This year we have a 9 year old and a 13 year old, so they are able to do activities on their own or together.
Want to see what I got?
Here are our Road Trip Activities:
Paper Character Kit from Dollarama
This one I bought for my nine year old, but I think if my 13 year old gets bored enough, she’ll make one too! As far as I can tell without opening the package, it looks like we don’t need glue to do this. I’ll throw in a pack of markers too.
Pipe Cleaners from Dollarama
Such a weird thing, but both girls LOVE a new pack of pipe cleaners. The creations they make impress me every time! Keeps them entertained for quite a while too.
Spot What! book from Dollarama
This looks like a fun “I Spy” type of book. I found it online at Amazon.ca for $17.99 but I got it from Dollarama for $5.
Embroidery Kit from Dollarama
This is for my 13 year old. One of her dance teachers did an embroidery project with them before Christmas and she enjoyed it. I thought this could be something that she could pick up and put down as she pleases. Even at home.
Design a House Stickers from Amazon
I’ve seen these quite a few times on Instagram and thought my daughters would have fun with them too. Basically, the kit contains tiny stickers so they can design their own rooms in a house. The kit has four rooms to design.
My youngest loves making origami. So when I saw this book recommended by Everyday Reading, I knew I had to get it! They are brain twister origami puzzles. You have to fold the papers a certain way to solve the puzzle.
This was also bought a while ago, but I thought my oldest might enjoy having it in the car for this trip. Last road trip I bought some cheap baking sheets from Dollarama that I think will work great for containing any small spills.
What sort of activities do you like to bring along on road trips? Any of the things I listed interest you?
Road trips with kids can be a fun adventure, but let’s be honest, they can also come with endless “Are we there yet?” questions. Keeping kids entertained is key to a smooth and mostly stress-free journey. Whether you’re heading out on a weekend getaway or a cross-country drive, I hope I’ve helped inspire you with the road trip activities that we’re bringing along!
Homes in general create a large amount of waste. However, I happen to think the kitchen is the biggest offender of all the rooms in the house. From rotten produce to packaging, there’s almost an endless amount of waste coming from this one room! If you have been considering a no waste kitchen there’s no better time than now and I’ve got some tips to help you get started.
The first step to reducing kitchen waste is to reduce and reuse packaging. Be mindful when buying packaged items. Jars and containers can be reused for other purposes. Visit your local farmer’s market to buy fresh produce and bring a basket or reusable shopping bag so you do not need to take plastic grocery bags. Not only are these foods better for you, they have a lower impact on the earth. Also, Bulk Barn Canada has introduced a reusable container program at all Bulk Barn locations!
Regrow
Regrow produce from leftovers. Yes, it’s true! Several produce items can be regrown using the ends! From celery to pineapples to green onions and more, you are bound to find a favorite thing your family can regrow.
Don’t Toss Overripe Food
Put overripe fruit to use by making bread, muffins, and other fun baked goods. We are all familiar with using bananas for banana bread, but you can do this with nearly any overripe fruit in your fridge or freezer.
Compost
A great way to work towards a no waste kitchen is to compostand boost your garden nutrients at the same time. Instead of throwing out what your family does not eat, use it to build up your garden and feed your family again. Banana peels and eggshells are great to toss right into your garden beds.
Smart Storage
Invest in storage that makes food last longer. Produce can go bad fast but with the right storage, you can make it last longer than ever. Washing fruits in a bit of Apple Cider Vinegar or white vinegar will kill off mold spores that make them spoil faster. Storing carrots and celery in water can make them last weeks at a time.
No More Sponges
Ditch the sponge for a washable dishcloths that last longer and cut down on bacteria that can make your family sick. I also recently purchased a washable pot scrubber like these, that I LOVE!
No More Paper Towels
Ditch the paper towels for a washable option like reusable towels or microfiber cloths. Reuse empty cans for draining things that cannot be washed down the drain, like bacon grease.
Store Eggs Properly
Make eggs last longer. When storing store bought eggs, put them directly into a sealed container in the fridge. These eggs no longer have the protective coating the chicken leaves on the eggs so they can absorb odors, flavors, and bacteria from your fridge. If you have your own chickens don’t wash the eggs. Slightly dust off feathers and bedding that may be on them and store on the counter. Do not WASH until you go to use them.
Reusable Bags
Shop with reusable supplies like cloth grocery andproduce bags. One trick you may enjoy is bringing laundry baskets or big storage containers when you go shopping. Have the cashiers toss everything into the baskets instead of bags. Move the basket to your car and from your car to your home. It cuts down on waste and makes getting everything in easier. You may want to separate refrigerated and pantry goods in these baskets to make putting everything away easy.
Buy What You Need
Don’t buy more than you need. So often we see a sale and buy more than our families can use before it goes bad. If you do not have a deep freezer, control the impulse to buy out that clearance meat. The same goes for buying produce, milk, eggs and even pantry goods that can go stale.
Go Homemade
To cut down on packaging waste for convenience items like cookies, granola bars, apple sauce cups or even frozen entrees, start making those items at home and storing in reusable containers or your baking ware.
Menu Plan
I can’t write anything relating to food without mentioning the importance of menu planning. Menu planning is especially vital to reducing food waste and lowering your grocery bill because it helps account for everything you buy. When you have a plan for your food, there’s less chance that it will be wasted.
If you really struggle with menu planning, then try out $5 Meal Plan. It happens to be my favorite meal planning service. It’s just $5 a month (the first two weeks are free!), and you get menu plans sent straight to your email along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. Each meal costs around $2 per person or less. This service allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well! If you are interested in joining for free, click here.
Armed with these tips, you should be able to make little steps towards a no waste kitchen. Changing one thing at a time will enable you to see progress and keep more money in your pocket too!
I’d love to know how you plan on going towards a no waste kitchen? Please share in the comments below!
Here are 7 Menu Planning Tips For Tight Budgets that you will appreciate:
When it comes to menu planning, these budgeting tips are going to transform how you view your grocery budget. There are so many simple tricks to help you create amazing meals for your family when you are on a tight budget. This post has some of the best! Armed with a few simple tricks up your sleeve, you can provide your family with delicious meals without breaking the bank.
Create your menu with what you have on hand first.
One of the best menu planning tips is to start not with what you want to buy, but what you already have on hand. Look at your pantry, freezer and refrigerator for great starts to a meal. Utilize your on-hand items and limit your week to week expenses as much as possible focusing on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Ask your butcher for budget cuts of meat.
Not only can you watch for the sales on meat at your market or grocery store, but you can talk directly to the butcher. Sometimes they will have meat that isn’t bad, but can be sold at a fraction of the regular price for some reason. End pieces of whole rib eyes can be found at low prices because they aren’t enough to be a “steak”. Ask for these bits and then cube for stews or braised beef dishes. Sometimes meat isn’t past the ‘best by’ date, but close to it and the butcher has to mark it down. Grab those mark downs and cook in advance to freeze for a later date or simply freeze the meat uncooked as soon as you bring it home.
Use your slow cooker.
Slow cooker or Instant Pot recipes are one of the best ways to stick to your menu plan as well as stay on budget. One of the best menu planning tips is to use those budget cuts of meat and tenderize them for amazing meals in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. A beef roast or whole chicken can feed your family several meals for half the price, but may not be as convenient or easy to cook in the oven. Use a slow cooker or Instant Pot and let them do the work for you.
Start your own garden if possible.
If you have time and space to have your own garden, this can be a huge savings for your menu plan each week. Learn to can or freeze your excess produce for future use, and use your surplus year round in your weekly menu plans.
Build around low cost staple items.
For most, this means picking up things like dry beans, rice and potatoes that are low cost but can stretch a meal further. While many would find this unhealthy, if you combine this with nutrient-dense vegetables and limit your high-fat proteins you truly can eat healthy. Focus on whole grains when possible and limit the regular potatoes and white rice.
Buy what is on sale and combine with coupons.
For sales at your market or grocery store, take the time to check your coupons and shop using those coupons on sale items. You’ll get twice as much value toward your menu plan!
Utilize one item multiple ways.
One of my favorite ways to save money is to cook dry beans in my slow cooker or Instant Pot. Dry beans can be seasoned and eaten by themselves, added to soups or chili, refried to make dips or put into burritos. This simple item can be used multiple ways for very cheap.
Take advantage of my favorite menu planning tips that will stretch your budget even further! I’d love to hear your tips that make your grocery budget stretch farther in the comments below!
Take a peek inside your pantry. Go ahead, I’ll wait…
If your pantry is anything like most pantries, you may be looking at mass chaos sitting on those shelves.
If your pantry door is kept closed because it’s not suitable for anyone’s eyes but yours, it may be time to start organizing that space. The good news? It can be simple to get it done and you will have your kids packing their own lunch in no time flat.
Here are a few must haves for pantry organization that will help you get that jump-start to organizing your pantry.
Do Away with the Packaging
Who says that your food items have to be stored in the boxes or packaging that they came in? Instead, check out these Airtight Clear Storage Containers for your pantry space.
Not only do they come in different sizes, they are clear so it’s easy to see what is in them. They also seal tight to keep the air out, keeping food fresher, longer. You can use them to store noodles, cereals, grains, coffee…anything!
Organize your Cans
Cans can take up a ton of space. If you find yourself digging and digging to look through cans to see what you have on hand, you need a change.
Try using a 3-Tier Can Rack Organizer instead. It can hold different sized cans and allows you to place them in a way that they are easily seen. These can save a ton of space!
Use Every Square Inch
Remember that door that we talked about earlier that hides all those things that are lurking in your pantry? Use that space on your door! It’s an area that you might as well be utilizing to free up more shelf space.
Look at installing the Door Mount Cabinet Organizer! It hangs on the door to save space, and you can place your spices, plastic wrap, or other items in it for easy access.
End Bakeware Frustration
How much time do you spend digging around for the proper bakeware that you are wanting to use? If your answer was longer than a few seconds, then your current method of storing bakeware isn’t working. They should be easy to access and grab when needed.
Give the StoreMore Bakeware Rack a peek to see if it would fit well in your pantry. It has built-in dividers that help you organize your muffin pans, baking sheets, and other bakeware in a nice, neat, organized manner.
See All Your Spices at Once
Quit playing hide and seek with your spice jars. Get them visible, all at the same time! Nothing is more frustrating than when you are cooking and need to find the basil quickly. But where, oh where, did the basil go??
Eliminate the time spent searching by using a Spice Gripper Clip Strip. (Try saying that fast five times!) Not only does this allow all your spices to be seen easily, it keeps them all in one place as well. Sounds like a win to me!
Use a Carousel for Random Items
Don’t let the small random items become your nemesis in your pantry! Instead, find ways to organize it better.
Look at implementing a Lazy Susan Organizerfor your spices, baking supplies, oils, barbeque and picnic supplies, cleaning supplies or other random items. This handy little gadget is a fun carousel that spins for easy access.
Wrangle Food Wraps
Sometimes all those food storage wraps can be annoying to organize. Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper, even plastic bags.
These self-adhesive door storage boxes look ideal for wrangling food storage wraps, storage bags or whatever else you think would fit perfectly.
Use Storage Baskets
I think the answer for many organizing conundrums, can be baskets. Specifically plastic storage baskets for the pantry.
I have my pantry cupboard full of baskets that hold snacks for the kids, pastas, grains, chips, canned goods, baking supplies and so much more! I simply pull out the basket with the item I need, grab the item and get on with my day! I like plastic in this situation because they are easy to wipe down.
Your pantry doesn’t have to get the best of you. You can control it, you can organize it! Try a few of the must haves for pantry organization above and see if they help clear that clutter! You may be surprised at how a few easy changes can quickly give your pantry more functionality. Less clutter in your pantry means less clutter in your mind!
