Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
Sorry for the late post once again! We've had a whirlwind week with family in town! We've been having so much fun playing with cousins that we don't see often!
While this tip isn't for everyone, it is perfect for those that are headed back to university!
Skip the university or college bookstore this year! The best place to buy (or rent!) your textbooks is online. Here are a few places that you can buy used or rent textbooks:
Textbook Rental
Simply type in the title, author or ISBN number of the books you need into Textbook Rental and they'll send you a copy at a huge discount! Textbookrental.ca is the leading website for Canadian students looking to rent or buy their textbooks at a huge discount. Students can also sell their textbooks to Textbookrental.ca and earn cash.
Amazon.ca or Amazon.com
If you live near the US border, Amazon.com might be a better option for you, but Amazon in general is a great place to buy used textbooks! All you need is the ISBN number from the list of books your instructor tells you to get, and then you just enter that into Amazon.ca or Amazon.com. I think it's even possible to resell your books to Amazon and then get a gift card for the value of your used books.
Kijiji or Craigslist
Kijiji and Craigslist could also be a good place to look for used textbooks. You could simply do a search for the books you're looking for or even make an ad listing the books that you're in search of.
Of course, there are probably a lot of other places to buy or rent your text books. If you have experience with getting textbooks cheaper, I'd love to see your tips in the comments!
With back to school time around the corner, it's time to start thinking about ways to save on everyday necessities. Packing your child’s lunch instead of buying it at school may be a great way to save money already, but wouldn’t it be great to save a little more? Take a peek below at these 7 smart ways to save money on school lunches so you can pack your child a great lunch for less.
1. Skip the baggies.
Yes plastic sandwich baggies are convenient, but you will buy box after box as the year goes on. Instead, buy reusable containers for sandwiches, chips, fruit, etc. You can simply wash and reuse them over and over. I quite like these ones from Amazon.
2. Skip individual servings/packaging.
Yes the individual applesauce, yogurts, and fruit cups are convenient, but you are paying more for the extra packaging. Instead, buy these items in bulk and then divide them up yourself. It takes a little extra time but the savings are worth it.
3. Know what to buy in bulk.
If your child has favorites that need to be included in each lunch, you can buy them in bulk. Nuts, chips, granola bars, etc. can all be purchased in bulk for less. Buying these items in bulk also saves you from having to run out for last minute shopping trips.
4. Skip the sandwich.
You don’t always have to pack sandwiches in lunches. Get creative with a peanut butter alternative like Wowbutterby letting your child put it on a banana with toppings such as coconut. Or wrap lunch meat in a piece of lettuce for a cool and easy wrap.
5. Invest in a thermos.
A thermosis great for packing warm foods such as soups and stews. Soup can be purchased inexpensively as well (about $1 a can) and is great paired with a sandwich, fruit, or crackers.
6. Meal plan.
Just as you plan your nightly dinners, planning your weekly lunches can help you save cash. This way, you can plan your lunch menus based on weekly sales and specials and stock up on essentials for less. Plus, you could possibly use up those dinner leftovers! You might find my Back to School Action Plan useful.
7. Listen to your child.
Many parents pack items that their child isn’t interested in, so they won’t eat it or it ends up in the trash. Listen to your child and try planning a weekly menu together. This way they are getting foods they enjoy and you can encourage healthy lunch options at the same time.
By following these tips, you can plan weekly lunches that are tasty and budget friendly at the same time. Give them a try!
What are your money saving school lunch ideas? Let me know in the comments below!
Signing up for Swagbucks is a great way to save money! Swagbucks is my internet search engine of choice because I earn points called SB, which I can then redeem for Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and even PayPal credit! Talk about a great way to purchase gifts or even every day essentials for free! I'm a huge fan of Swagbucks.
It's completely free to sign up. So go sign up now, then I'll tell you my top 9 tips to earn points called SB!
Tip #1 - Refer your Friends
Swagbucks has a great referral program. For each new person that you refer to Swagbucks.com, you will earn 10% of the referrals earnings. You will continue to earn 10% for as long as your referral is active on Swagbucks.com, with no maximum limit.
And while I’m at an advantage because I have a blog, you can still earn referrals if you have a Facebook page, Twitter account, or email address!
Start sending out invites to everyone you know. Here’s how:
Once you have signed up for Swagbucks, go to “Invite Friends” located at the top of Swagbucks.com.
Choose how you want to connect with them – Facebook, Email, Twitter, etc.
Send out a request.
I recommend updating the status of your own Facebook Page with your referral code when you win Swagbucks or when you receive a gift card.
If people see you are earning free stuff, they'll want in on the action too!
Tip #2 - Download the SwagButton
The SwagButton makes it faster to earn points (called SB). The SwagButton is an extension for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. With the SwagButton, you will have access to all the earning opportunities Swagbucks has to offer. Earn for searching the web. See the coupons and special offers. And enjoy one-click access to Swagbucks TV, Games, Surveys, Coupons and much more. You will also be alerted when there is a new Swag Code made available.
At the top of the Swagbucks homepage, you will find "More".
Hover over that and a drop down menu will appear.
Click on SwagButton from the list.
You will then be directed to a page to add the button to your browser. I use Chrome so it gave me instructions for adding it to Chrome.
Tip #3 - Follow Swagbucks on Facebook and Twitter
Not only do you earn points for searching online, but there are always swag codes to be found that you can type into your account for extra points. (Log into your account then enter the code into the box that says "Swag Code" at the top of the page)
Swagbucks releases codes on the blog as often as once a day.
Tip #5 - Watch Swagbucks TV
Find the “Earn” section on the left sidebar of the homepage then click “Watch”. You will earn a different amount of points depending on what you watch.
Although this may be tedious, if you're doing something on your computer anyways, you could turn the volume down and still tinker away!
Tip # 6 - Do the Daily Polls
Click on the “Daily Poll” button on the left sidebar of the homepage. Take the Daily Poll and you'll win one point. This isn’t the biggest reward out there. But it takes 10 seconds and every Swagbuck adds up!
Tip # 7 - Use Shop & Earn
Canadians can Shop & Earn! Every time you're doing some online shopping, make sure to head over the Swagbucks homepage and click on the "shop" button on the left sidebar. Depending on the store you're shopping at, you will earn a varying amount of points for every dollar you spend. (Currently you will earn 4 SB for every $1 spent online at Walmart.ca)
Tip # 8 - Join Team Challenges
Quite often, Swagbucks will put together team challenges. When you join a challenge, you will automatically be assigned a team and when you contribute a certain amount of points to your team, you will earn a bonus!
Tip # 9 - Swag Code Extravaganza
Another thing Swagbucks does quite often is they have Swag Code Extravaganzas! They will release about 6 swag codes throughout one day on their various social media and other platforms. The last extravaganza they had, if you collected all the swag codes, you would have had an extra 30 points for your account!
I hope this helps those of you that want to earn more! Swagbucks is a great way to save on the things you need! Happy earning!
One way to save big through the year is to ditch the disposable products that you use on a daily basis. (Or reuse them.) While our household hasn’t 100% ditched the disposables, we’re still pretty good at reusing the stuff we can!
Here are some ideas to help eliminate or reduce paper/plastic products that you may purchase on a regular basis. I wouldn’t try to eliminate all of these products all at once, just slowly reduce and eliminate them one at a time.
Paper Towels
I still purchase paper towel, but maybe once a year? It’s honestly for my husband. Ha! For big wet messes I like to use beach towels (or any dirty towel I have laying around.) Washcloths work great for cleaning windows or small messes.
Napkins
Well, we don’t really use cloth napkins, but those little baby washcloths sure come in handy for cleaning up my daughter. We also have a pile of napkins from restaurants in the drawer and car that come in handy. (since they’d be thrown out at the restaurant anyways, we take them home.)
Plastic shopping bags
I try to have my own reusable shopping bags on hand at all times, but sometimes I forget! Plus, if I’m being honest, I like to bring home plastic shopping bags once in a while to use in our garbage cans.
Sandwich/freezer bags
I’m the crazy lady who washes and reuses sandwich and freezer bags. (I can’t be the only one?) I’ll have them drying out all over the place in the kitchen. I don’t wash the really yucky ones though or the ones that had meat in them. Those get tossed. I actually had to purchase sandwich bags the other day and I was surprised at the cost! (I didn’t even have a coupon!)
Aluminum foil
We don’t use aluminum foil very often, but sometimes when we do, I can reuse it because it wasn’t touching any food. I just fold it up gently then pull it out next time I need some for grilling veggies or covering a cheesy lasagna!
Straws
I have switched from plastic straws to stainless steel straws over the last few years and we have been loving them! Most of them come with cleaning brushes so they’re really easy to keep clean.
I think by eliminating or reducing the amount that you use these items, you can save big through the year.
What disposable products have you eliminated from your home? What items would you like to eliminate?
Are you one of those people that checks the expiration date on food before you open it? It's a habit for many, as we want to make sure the food we eat is fresh and safe for consumption. And while food expiration dates can help keep us safe, they may also be adding to the food you waste. The truth is, not all food items are dangerous if consumed past the expiration date. Many, in fact are still fresh, edible, and can be very much enjoyed. So how do you know what is safe and what is not? Below, we'll reveal the truth about food expiration dates!
The Truth About Food Expiration Dates
First, you need to know the difference between sell by dates, use by dates, and expiration dates.
Sell by dates:
Some items are marked with a sell by date, which is when the store needs to have it off the shelves and available for sale. You will often see this with fresh items such as bread, chicken, ground beef, and baked goods. Can you eat the items after the sell by date? YES! It is not expired, it is not unhealthy, it is just not permissible for the store to sell the items pass this date. When purchasing these items, you do want to use them within 2-3 days of purchase. If you can’t, then you should freeze them for use at a later time.
Use by dates:
You will often see “use by” dates on dried goods such as cereal, crackers, granola bars, and other dried pantry goods. These items are meant to sit on pantry shelves for a length of time, and will stay fresh for months as long as they are stored properly. The use by date on the packaging suggests which date to eat the item by in order to enjoy it at its freshest. After the use by date, the item may a bit dried out, stale tasting, or just not in its perfect, intended state. Many discount grocers that offer scratch and dent items or close out items offer dried goods that are perfectly safe to eat, but past their use by date.
Expiration dates:
Expiration dates can often be found on convenience items that contain fresh dairy or meat ingredients. You will see these dates on items like canned biscuits, cold dips, and yogurt. Often times, it will be on fresh items that contain dairy or eggs and can spoil easily. Items like this with an expiration date SHOULD be used by the expiration date. If you eat it after that point the fresh ingredients may not be good anymore and you could get sick.
General suggestions:
Dried and processed foods can typically be enjoyed within a reasonable time frame after the expiration or use by date. This would include pastas, cereal, crackers, and canned goods.
Fresh items such as meat, cheeses, and other dairy items can be used a few days past the sell by date, but should never be used past the expiration date. Spoiled meat and dairy products could result in illness.
Hopefully this clears up a little of the confusion out there about food expiration dates. So stop throwing away that food or passing up hot clearance deals based on these labels. Keep in mind their meanings and you can look at food in a whole new way!
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
I’m going to be honest with you and say it’s been a busy/disorganized season of our lives so we’ve been eating out a lot more than we should be 🙁 This is something I want to remedy because truthfully, it’s only because I’ve been “lazy” and frustrated with trying to please everyone’s taste buds. Ugh! Several years ago we decided eating out once a week for a cheap dinner was okay. But lately I’ve been finding we’re eating out once a week plus stopping midday for some lunch or even a treat at least once a week. That really adds up!
I’ve come up with several ways that I think will get our family back on track and eating at home more. I think these tips will help you eat out less too!
Menu plan
Since I’m being honest in this post, I’ve been completely slacking in the menu planning department. And this is huge for me because I’m such an advocate for planning a weekly menu! I know the benefits it has for my family, yet I’ve still been slacking.
I don’t find it difficult to plan a menu, I’ve been doing it for quite a few years, yet it has become a chore to me trying to please everyone. (And there’s only three of us right now!) A wise woman I know, who has many children, once gave me some wonderful advice. I was wondering how she managed to serve meals that her entire family would eat. She told me that she mainly tries to think of what her husband would enjoy. Make him happy and the kids will have to learn to like what’s put on the table. I loved that because I don’t want my children to be picky eaters and it takes the pressure off trying to please every single person! Which would ultimately end up with several different meals being made at each meal time. No thanks.
If you have troubles planning a menu, there are plenty of meal planning services out there like: eMeals, The Fresh 20, Once a Month Mom.
Use the slow cooker
I love my slow cooker. Most recipes I use don’t involve any precooking. Just plunk all the ingredients in the cooker, turn it on, and walk away while dinner is being made! Using a slow cooker in the hot summer months is especially great because it doesn’t heat the house up!
You’ll find many amazing slow cooker meals on Pinterest, in books from the library and even Googling slow cooker meals.
Freezer cooking
Another time saver is using your freezer to stash a whole bunch of freezer meals that you can pull out in the morning to thaw and have on the table just in time for dinner madness. I’m a big fan of setting aside some time to prepare as many freezer meals as I can, especially when I know a busy season is coming up. (a new baby, guests in town…etc.)
You will find an endless amount of freezer cooking ideas online, but I also have some articles you may enjoy:
We often have dinner leftovers that get pushed to the back of the fridge. But by making a conscious effort to eat the leftovers, we can really start to eat out less for lunch or dinner. Besides, leftovers are so easy! Just heat and serve!
Keep it simple
Who cares if you eat tacos every Tuesday or have pizza night every Friday? If your family enjoys it and it’s healthier than eating out, just roll with it! Keeping it simple, especially in busy seasons can be just the ticket to keep you from eating out more than you need to be.
Make treats at home
Maybe it’s just our family, but I find we’re going out for ice cream once a week, or Ice Capps. Especially on nights when my husband plays soccer. Sienna and I like to bring a treat if we’re going to be watching his game. One way we could save, is by making treats at home before we leave. It’s easy to whip up a delicious blended drink or even bring a bowl of ice cream with the ice cream I bought from the grocery store. I just have to be more diligent in trying!
Give yourself grace
One of the most important things, though, is that you need to give yourself grace. If you have the wiggle room in your budget to eat out and it’s something that your family enjoys, I encourage you to budget it in.
Plus, when it’s in the budget, there’s no guilt!. Maybe that means you can budget to eat out once a week, once a month, or every six months. Figure out what works for you and then do it and don’t feel guilty!
How do you eat out less? How often do you eat out? Is this also something you want to change?
