Can you believe it is time to start thinking about holiday family photos already? The holidays are the perfect time to get family photos done, especially if you are considering photo greeting cards or other photo gifts. But how can you get amazing pictures without going broke? The great news is there are plenty of ways to save money on family holiday photos while still putting your best foot forward. Take a look below at 6 ways to save money on family holiday photos so you can be sure you get gorgeous photos at a great price.
1. Scour for coupons.
Chances are, you won’t have to scour at all! Newspapers are filled with photo studio coupons around the holiday season since studios know this is when customers are most active. Chances are you can find packages for as low as $20 with coupon for some of your favorite local studios.
2. Look for mini sessions.
If you want to use a private photographer, look for mini session deals. Many photographers offer mini sessions around the holidays which include a 30 minute session and 8-10 images. This is perfect for snagging a few shots that you can use in greeting cards and photo gifts! Ask local photographers in your area if they offer any mini sessions.
3. Head to Old Navy.
Why? Because they offer all sorts of color coordinated pieces for the whole family! Plus, during the holidays you can score these items for as much as 50% off. Choose a color theme of 3-4 colors and mix and match Old Navy clothing pieces for a picture perfect wardrobe.
4. Skip the extras.
Do you really need that photo keychain? Mousepad? Or fancy editing? Probably not. Skip all of these extras no matter how cute they are. Instead, stick to the basic prints and packages you are offered and bypass any additional photo perks which can hike up your price.
5. Ask a friend to take the photos.
Do you have a friend with a creative eye? Ask them to help you out. See if they will take a few family shots for you in exchange for a small fee or favor. Find a nice field or fireplace to gather around and take a beautiful shot. Use online photo editing (a program like PicMonkey is great) to make your photos pop! Then, just save and send them to your nearest photo lab for printing.
6. Check out Groupon.
Groupon is where I find a deal every year on portraits from Walmart. While Walmart definitely isn’t fancy, I’m still very happy with how our photos turn out! We also get a ton of photos with the package! Win!
As you can see there are many simple ways to get holiday family photos for less. Give these tips for getting holiday family photos for less a try and see what amazing results you can achieve.
I’d love to know how you save on family holiday photos each year. Let me know in the comments!
Sure, slow cookers are great for roasts and chili, but did you know they can do so much more? There are literally hundreds of dishes you can prepare in your slow cooker, and they aren’t just for dinner either. Take a look at these 7 meals you may not have considered cooking in a slow cooker. So whether it be breakfast, lunch, or dinner you need to prep, you can put your slow cooker to work for you! Here are 7 ideas to get you started!
1. French toast bake.
Do you want to simplify breakfast? There are tons of recipes for slow cooker French toast. By combining a mixture of eggs, bread, water, and select spices, you can make your own French toast bake that is perfect for serving at breakfast on Sunday morning or any day of the week, really!
2. Taco casserole.
Did you ever think about preparing tacos in a slow cooker? Add your cooked ground beef, chopped veggies, cheese, and taco chips along with select seasonings and you have a taco casserole. This pairs well with a side salad and is a meal you will be happy to come home to.
3. Brownies.
Yes, you can make brownies and other cakes in your slow cooker! There are so many recipes out there that allow you to slow bake your dessert. Can you imagine how amazing your house will smell? Head to Pinterest where tons of slow cooker recipes for brownies and cake await you.
4. Biscuit/breakfast gravy.
Heading to a breakfast potluck or just want a nice Sunday breakfast? Consider preparing a breakfast or biscuit gravy in your slow cooker. You only need a few ingredients and in no time you have the perfect, creamy topping for biscuits, toast, and other breakfast items.
5. Cider/Hot chocolate.
Yes, you CAN prepare hot beverages in your slow cooker. This includes various kinds of fall cider as well as hot chocolate. Or my personal favourite, chai tea! Your slow cooker will make it easy to prepare these hot seasonal beverages in bulk, so you can easily serve a crowd!
6. Barbecue sauce.
Why not try making your own signature barbecue sauce? Your slow cooker is perfect for creating the best blend! Use a variety of ingredients and spices to create the perfect blend (ketchup, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce, etc.) and see what you can create. Your slow cooker makes it easy for you to prepare your sauce in bulk which you can then can or freeze for later.
7. Baked fruit.
Try baking fruit such as apples or peaches in your slow cooker for a sweet breakfast or dessert. You can top them with sweet seasonings for the ultimate treat! If you haven’t tried baked fruit, your slow cooker is the perfect way to experiment!
Are you ready to get creative with your slow cooker? Give one or all seven of these ideas a try. Need a recipe? The internet (especially Pinterest) is chock full of them. Give one a try!
I’d love to know what your favourite thing to make in the slow cooker is. Let me know in the comments below!
I had the opportunity to attend a pre-grand opening event at a new Value Village that has opened in the area. Not only was it really fun to attend, they challenged me to see how far I could stretch $50. Challenge accepted!
Rather than buying whatever I fancied without any thought put into it, I thought it would be fun to put together a “capsule wardrobe” for fall. A capsule wardrobe is a very small collection of clothing that you love that changes with each season. This concept appeals to me because I often find myself going for the same pieces over and over again in my closet. And I’m quite fond of (trying) to be minimalistic. Perhaps you feel the same?
I rifled through the racks and pulled out anything I thought would work for me, being sure to pick out a good assortment of tops and bottoms. I didn’t find any shoes because I’ve got pretty small feet and the selection in my size wasn’t very abundant. (Like at most stores!) However, I do have shoes at home that will work. 😉 It was fun filling my basket to the brim!
I’ve been craving colour in my wardrobe lately so I was trying to pick out some good fall colours that I liked. Value Village didn’t disappoint in the colour department. I ended up with a bit of a theme. Cobalt/navy, beige/gold and plum for tops. Bottoms are a neutral denim.
As I mentioned, I was challenged to spend $50. I tried my best to stay within budget, but I went a bit over. Here’s the break down:
Beige H&M sequined top $3.99
Cobalt blue Simons sweater $7.99
Gold Banana Republic sweater $9.99
Navy Hollister ruffle top $7.99
Purple Old Navy tank $5.99
Cobalt button shirt (omitted from the tally because it’s from Amazon.ca)
London skinny jeans $7.99
Banana Republic denim skirt $11.99
Gap jeans (omitted from the tally because I owned them already)
TOTAL: $55.93
Here are some pieces that I already owned that I’m incorporating into my fall capsule wardrobe:
Accessories are generally a big part of capsule wardrobes, (I think, I’m no fashionista) but they’re honestly not really my thing. I wear my wedding rings all the time, but that’s it! However, I do have one accessory that I have been wearing because the baby likes it. It’s the hot pink teething necklace pictured below. I think it can go with all the colours I have in my wardrobe, except for the purple tank.
So now, if I were to add everything together that you see above, I spent under $130 for an entire wardrobe. (I’ve have to purchase other new things recently because I’m losing weight and everything was falling off of me 🙁 ) Not bad! Especially since everything was bought over a span of a few months.
Now, you may be wondering how to create a capsule wardrobe with stuff you own already. Here’s how:
Do a purge. Empty out your closet in it’s entirety and lay everything on your bed.
Sort each item into three piles: Keep (you love and regularly wear the item), Maybe (item may not fit quite right, sentimental…etc. Put it all in a bag then store away. If at the end of the season/year you don’t “rescue” anything from the bag, donate the bag.), Donate (self-explanatory).
Assess what you have left. These are the clothes you love and wear regularly. You should see your “style” pop out at you with what you have left.
Fill in the gaps. Perhaps you need a new pair of jeans. Or a black tank top. Shop for one item at a time and get them on sale. However, I recommend quality over price, within reason, especially since most items in a capsule wardrobe will be getting frequent use.
The amount of clothes you have in a capsule wardrobe depends on your personal needs/desires. I’ve seen some people stick to 50 pieces, others with 37 and others with less than that. Maybe you need two capsule wardrobes. One for work wear and one for weekends. Do what works for you.
Have you considered creating a capsule wardrobe for each season? I bet you already own quite a few pieces you could incorporate!
Disclaimer – This is a sponsored post brought to you by Value Village. All opinions are 100% my own.
Here’s a question that a reader of Simply Frugal would love some help with:
I am a single person, trying to live frugally. I have it down in every other area of my life, but when it comes to meal planning and buying food, I seem to waste a lot. How do you eat healthy and frugally when you are single?
Can you help her out with some awesome suggestions?
Just because you're frugal, doesn't mean you don't deserve to treat yo' self once in a while! It also doesn't mean your treats have to be expensive! Here are 16 ways that you can treat yourself for free today!
Feel-Good Ways to Treat Yourself for Free
Rewarding yourself for little (or big) accomplishments and treating yourself to a little pick-me-up to help you get through the week, is important. I'd also go as far to say it's a necessity in order to not fall victim to frugal fatigue. However, it’s not always a good idea to spend money every time you feel like doing something special for yourself.
But, don't let that discourage you. There are quite a few ways that you can feel like you did something nice for yourself without paying a cent.
The next time you feel like treating yourself, try any of these 16 Ways to Treat Yourself for Free.
Read at the beach:
This is something my husband and I would do regularly before we had kids. We would make a day of going to the beach with a book or magazine and just sit and read. People watching is also fun.
Bubble Bath:
Every once in a while, a warm bubble bath sounds really, really nice and relaxing. It's a great way to put that bubble bath to use that was given to you as a gift. If you have Epsom salts, throw those in too! Or try my Homemade Sore Muscle Soak!
Take a Nap:
Now this one sounds like a fantastic treat to me right now! I'm working on very limited sleep during the night because the baby is waking up far too often for my liking. Grabbing a mid day nap sounds wonderful. 🙂
Go for a Walk:
Get out and get some fresh air. Walk around the neighborhood or find a nice wooded trail. Go by yourself or bring the family or a friend. Enjoy the scenery and focus on all the details surrounding you.
DIY Manicure or Pedicure:
I'm sure you can do an almost salon like manicure or pedicure at home after watching or reading an online tutorial. You could even get in some girlfriend/daughter time by doing each others nails.
Visit a Pet Shelter:
Head to your nearest pet shelter to give some animals a few cuddles, pets or a walk! This is a definite feel-good way to treat yourself for free!
Netflix marathon:
If you have a Netflix subscription, you could binge watch a popular series, with popcorn, of course.
Head to a free community event:
I'm fairly certain that all communities offer some sort of free event. For example, our city offers a free summer music concert in a local park once a week. There are also regular events going on for major holidays. Take a look in the newspaper and you should find something of interest!
Swap some clothes with a friend
Are your clothes feeling a bit boring to wear over and over again? Why not try swapping a few pieces of clothing with a friend? You'll have brand new wardrobe possibilities without spending a dime.
Grab a notebook and start journaling:
Journaling can be quite cathartic. Especially if you're in a stressful season of your life. Take the time for yourself to write down all your thoughts and dreams. Allow yourself to vent.
Find that hidden chocolate bar that someone gave you and savor it:
I'll be honest in saying that all my hidden chocolate is gone now, but for a while I was working on some Christmas chocolate that was given to me! It tastes best when I eat a piece hidden from my daughters. 😉
Bake a treat:
Craving a piece of cake? Why not bake an entire cake and invite some friends over? (So you don't accidentally eat the whole thing yourself.) You probably have most of the ingredients on hand already in your pantry.
Picnic outside in the yard or park:
Why not pack up a rotisserie chicken, some buns, fruit and veggies and have an outdoor picnic? This is another favourite thing our family likes to do. We have to eat anyways, so why not enjoy eating outdoors?
Do something nice for someone else:
Doing something nice for someone else will surely put a smile on your face for the entire day. It just feels good to show someone else some kindness. Some cheap ideas are:
Bake someone a batch of muffins to make their mornings a bit smoother
Double up one of your dinners and bring a friend in need the second dinner
A "thinking of you" card to someone who's been on your mind
Give a compliment to a stranger
Let someone else go in front of you in line at the grocery store
Gift your talents to someone (photography, a knitting project, baking, art work...etc.)
Learn something new:
I have a whole post dedicated to skills and hobbies you can learn for free. Check it out.
Say no to something that you are dreading that is not essential:
Sometimes our lives can fill up with things that we should do, because they're "good things". Why not say "no" to that thing that is completely not essential. Saying "no" can feel really good!
I'd love to know the ideas that you have to treat yourself for free or cheaply! Let me know in the comments.
There are certain household items every penny pincher owns, because they know that these items will help them stay on their frugal path. So what are these items exactly? Take a look below at 8 household items every penny pincher probably owns. They hold onto these items tight so they can stretch their budget and live well below their means daily. Here are the items you need to know about so you can live a more frugal lifestyle too. How many of these household items do you own?
1. A Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker.
Frugal people know that a slow cooker, air fryer or a pressure cooker is a staple in any frugal household. They're an easy way to make home cooked meals with very little energy and even when crunched on time. You can make everything from appetizers to desserts in your slow cooker or pressure cooker, which is why they are so popular with frugal people who hate to spend money on eating out.
Why pay for paper or plastic products that you just toss away after one use? Frugal people love to use cloth napkins, towels, and reusable grocery bags instead of paper or plastic. This way the items can be used multiple times before being washed and used all over again.
3. A change jar.
Every devout penny pincher has a change jar. The change jar is where all of the change leftover in purses and pockets is tossed into at the end of the day. Over time it adds up and can be cashed in for more than you may realize! A change jar is a simple way to let those pennies you pinch add up for you.
4. A clothes line.
This depression era staple is still used in many households as a way to save money. A clothesline can help you dry your clothing in the fresh air while saving you money on gas, electricity, and dryer sheets. Consider a clothes line for your drying needs and see if it makes a difference for you. Nothing beats the smell of sun dried clothing anyways!
Vinegar costs about a buck a bottle and has so many practical uses. It makes a powerful household cleaner and can get glass sparkling. Instead of buying pricey cleaning products, frugal people love vinegar for getting their cleaning jobs done.
6. A bicycle.
Frugal people love using bikes to run quick errands as it helps them save on gas and car repairs. It also gives them the chance to exercise and can also be used as a hobby. Invest in a bike so you can use it for quick trips and to perhaps enjoy a fun evening bike ride with the family.
7. A ceiling fan.
Ceiling fans have been replaced by light fixtures over the years, but frugal people will never give theirs up. They can cool the air during the hot summer months, and can be reversed to push down warm air during the cold winter months. Ceiling fans are a cost effective way to keep your home comfortable without cranking up the heat or the AC.
8. Stainless Steel Straws
Frugal people are also conscious of their carbon footprint so anytime they can purchase something to replace a disposable item, they will. Stainless steel straws are a great replacement for plastic straws. This set here even comes with a handy cleaning brush.
What do you think about these household items every penny pincher owns? How many of these items are used in your household? What items would you add to the list?
