With cold weather nearly upon us, it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to stay cozy and warm in your home. One way to combat the chill is to invest in a set of flannel sheets for all the beds in your home. Flannel sheets are made out of cotton but are heavier, warmer, and softer than your normal cotton bedding.
In this post today, I have rounded up the some of the best affordable flannel sheets to keep you sleeping peacefully until warmer weather arrives again. Because this is Simply Frugal, this list contains affordable, budget-friendly options that will keep your wallet happy too!
One fun thing about flannel is that there are a ton of fun patterns to choose from. Plaids, Christmas themes, winter themes, kid patterns, geometric designs and so many more. Here's a list of some really fun patterns I found on a budget:
Costco also has some great affordable flannel sheet sets, but I am unable to link to them as they are a seasonal item in-store only. Homesense is also worth a look for budget friendly sheets.
Because there are great solid colour flannel sheets too, I've rounded up my favourites below. Solid colours are great to dress up a patterned duvet or to simply add a pop of colour or coziness to any bed.
I hope you enjoyed this selection of cozy affordable flannel sheets! There are so many different designs and price ranges from the sources I found. I'm sure you'll find something that suits you well!
Fall is nearly here! One of my favorite seasons (besides Christmas time) is Fall! I love the comfort food, the way the light changes in the evening, the crisp fall air, and warm, cozy sweaters. Along with those things, Fall is a great time to do fun, frugal activities specific to the season.
Create the BEST Fall Bucket List with these ideas. These ideas are perfect for frugal people, who are looking for free or low cost activities to do this fall.
Here is a Fall Bucket List for Frugal People that you are going to love! There are plenty of ideas to fill up your fall calendar with frugal fun.
The Best Fall Bucket List:
Go to a Pumpkin Patch.
Have a pumpkin carving contest with friends/family.
Find fall festivals and harvest events happening in your area.
Go to a local apple orchard to pick delicious apples.
Go for a hike. The temperature will be much more bearable than in the summer time!
Try Halloween themed cookies. Like Oreos. You can only get them this time of year.
Creating a fall bucket list doesn't have to be expensive. Embrace the season by enjoying simple pleasures like exploring local parks, crafting with fallen leaves, or cozying up with a good book and a warm drink. These budget-friendly activities allow you to savor the beauty of autumn while making lasting memories without breaking the bank.
With Halloween quickly approaching, you might be wondering how to save some money on this year’s costumes.
Saving money on Halloween costumes can be easy, you just need to know a few simple tricks! Take a look at these 7 ways to save money on Halloween costumes and get the fun looks you love for less.
1. Visit a local thrift store.
Thrift stores are perfect for finding cheap dress up items when crafting your own costumes. Find scarves, hats, gloves, fabric, dress up jewelry and other items perfect for creating the look you want. And since it is a thrift store, you never know what you might find. Be sure to stop in especially on 50% off days, and stop in often as inventory is always changing.
2. Comb your own closets.
Take a look in your own closet for items you might be able to use. This includes many of the items listed above such as hats, scarves, dresses, old wedding and prom items, make up, and other accessories. You might be surprised at what you already have on hand that is usable. If you are looking for an accessory that you don’t have, ask family and friends to look in their closets before you go out and buy new. They just might have what you are looking for!
3. Swap with friends.
Ask your friends what costumes from years past they might have on hand. This is a great way to get a new to you costume for your child. You can even swap old costumes your children don’t wear anymore with friends for their old costumes. That way, you can get rid of items while getting some new to you items.
4. Shop Late
Halloween stores need to sell all of their merchandise before Halloween. Once Halloween is over these shops close their doors for the year. Try shopping one or two days before Halloween and you will probably see lots of costumes that have been discounted by 50% or more! This could mean some huge savings but the downside is the inventory is usually limited.
5. Shop Amazon
Amazonhas a great costume shop during Halloween. I highly suggest checking out their selection of costumes as they usually have really good prices on Halloween costumes.
6. Visit your local dollar store.
Your local dollar store will have all sorts of accessories that can lend a hand to homemade costumes. Look for princess crowns, magic wands, police badges, face paint, costume reflectors, glow sticks, candy bags, and other items perfect for making your costume a hit! For just a buck, the price on these accessories is right!
7. Make Your Own
Making your own Halloween costume is possible and can be done without touching a sewing machine. Look around your house and see what you already own and what you can turn into a costume. Have an old cheerleading outfit, football uniform, golf clubs or just a scary mask sitting around. Get creative and let your imagination run wild. Get your children used to making their own costumes and not dressing up in the same costume everyone else is wearing. You can also spend some time searching Pinterest for creative and fun costumes to make at home.
There you go! 7 ways to save money on Halloween costumes! See how easy it can be to create the perfect Halloween costume for less? With a little creativity, you're sure to come up with the perfect costumes for everyone.
What are your most favourite affordable Halloween costumes?
Find the best School Backpacks for less. This selection will take the stress out of shopping while saving money too.
The best school backpacks
Can you believe it? Back to school is just around the corner. Save money on back to school shopping by purchasing your school backpacks at a price that feels right.
It can be overwhelming in-store so shopping online is a great option.
Browse this list and save time while getting the best deals. No need to spend a ton of time or money when the deal hunting has been done for you!
This list truly has something for everyone to start the school year off right. There are even some backpacks listed that include lunch kits and more. Go ahead and start shopping today for the best selection.
From solid color options to school backpacks with patterns, the options are endless for the school year. This list has it all.
This Roots backpack is from Costco Canada. It looks great for high schoolers and has a lot of pockets!
7. Kids Recycled Backpack $39
I realize that this one is more than $50 when it's not on sale, however, it's from Gap Canada and they always seem to have some sales or coupon codes happening. So if this is the backpack you need, do not pay full price for it!
8. Super Mario Bros.™ Canvas Backpack for Kids $39.99
Perfect for the kid that loves Mario! This Old Navy backpack is sure to be a hit with early elementary aged kids.
9. Outbound Kids' Multi-Pocket Backpack $16.99
Great price for a great backpack! This simple backpack is perfect for younger kids.
10. Outbound Oak Kids' Recycled Backpack $19.93
This Outbound backpack is a smaller backpack perfect for daycare or preschool.
11. Skip Hop Zoo Big Kid Backpack $38
Oh man these are cute and perfect for younger kids! This is a bigger version of the classic Skip Hop backpack that I'm sure you have seen.
12. Skip Hop Zoo Little Kid Backpack $30
Here's the smaller classic version of the Skip Hop backpack. Perfect for daycare or preschool.
13. Patterned Backpacks from The Children's Place $49.95 or less
The Children's Place has a great selection of backpacks! You'll see Spiderman, Minecraft, princess, Paw Patrol, dinosaur, colorblock and more! They are currently on sale too!
14. High Sierra Swoop Sg Backpack $49.99
This High Sierra backpack has so many pockets! Perfect for the high schooler that likes to be organized!
15. SoYoung Neo Rainbows Backpack $48.98
This SoYoung backpack is a cheerful backpack in two different sizes. Like all backpacks I find, this one is machine washable.
16. Jansport Superbreak Backpack $30.20
This Jansport backpack is perfect for the kid that just wants a plain black, functional backpack.
17. Impact 3-Piece Backpack Set $19.98
You can't beat the price on this one! This is a backpack set that includes a lunch kit and a pencil case.
18. Dickies Varsity Backpack $24.97
This Dickies backpack is everything you need in a backpack. Has a front zipper pocket, side mesh water bottle pocket and interior padded laptop sleeve.
19. All Canadian Backpack $29.97
Another black backpack with lots of pockets, perfect for carrying everything that's needed at school!
20. Reebok Celeste Backpack $34.97
This Reebok backpack has storage for a laptop, sunglasses, water bottles and so much more!
21. Jetstream Marble Print Backpack $29.97
So much storage! This Jetstream backpack has pockets everywhere. Includes my favorite water bottle holders and more.
22. Dog Paw Prints Backpack $44.64
Perfect for the child who loves dogs! This Paw Prints backpack is another with lots of pockets.
23. Foldable Backpack $35.99
So this backpack is different than the others because it has a separate section on the bottom for shoes and a pocket on the front for holding wet items.
24. Lightweight Water Resistant Backpack $49.99
This one looks like a really durable backpack perfect for preschool or kindergarten. Lots of different patterns to choose from!
25. Casual Style Lightweight Bag $38.99
This backpack comes with a lunch kit and a pencil case! There are a ton of different designs to choose from too. Perfect for the high schooler.
26. Water Resistant Backpack $48.99
Sometimes, a solid colour backpack is just the thing that kids want. This water resistant backpack with high ratings is perfect for teens.
27. adidas Laptop Sleeve School Backpack $31.97
This adidas backpack is a sturdy, highly rated backpack that is perfect for higher elementary/middle school grades.
28. Solid Colour Backpack $36.99
This solid colour backpack is another option with lots of pockets. Comes in several different colours.
There you have it! A great selection of school backpacks found in Canada for under $50! Which ones do you think your kids will like the most?
If your child is not yet old enough for a typical part time job but mature and responsible enough for making money, there are plenty of ways they can get started! This summer, they can supplement their allowance, tuck money into savings, or build up their comic book collection.
Some ideas I have gathered are traditional money makers and others are new needs in this modern busy world we live in.
Your little entrepreneur is sure to find something in this list of 10 ideas they can do this summer to make money! These are fantastic ways to teach responsibility, money management, and many other life skills in a real life setting.
Set Up a Lemonade Stand
The good old stand by money maker of yesterday can still be a great operation now to draw in kids and adults alike . A sweet and simple lemonade stand is a good way to teach your child some money making skills, a new recipe, persistence, marketing, and more. Set them up at the end of the driveway or a local park.
Making Crafts
Kids who like to make anything like duct tape wallets, friendship bracelets, watercolor paintings, doll clothes, pot holders, necklaces, etc.. can turn it into a little business to build up their funds. They can be sold to friends, family, and neighbors or even setup on an Etsy storefront, brought to craft shows or similar venues.
Being a Babysitter/mother's helper
If your child is old enough they can advertise for independent babysitting but even younger children, probably at least 8 or 9, who enjoy younger children can be a mothers helper keeping the kids occupied, making lunch, and playing with the children while mom does other tasks.
By Mowing/Pulling Weeds
Children make fantastic helpers in the yard and no doubt you have a neighbor or two who can use a little help with the mowing or pulling weeds from the flower bed. Since growing season is in the summer but many people still have to work they extra hand is appreciated.
Bring in Mail/Newspapers/Water Plants
Summer is prime vacation time and people are often looking for someone to bring in the mail, gather newspapers, and water the plants while they are gone and this is a great job for kids to get them started on responsibility and money making. You can accompany younger children and let older children go on their own.
Pooper Scooper
Those with dogs in fenced in yards frequently need to clear it all out, and it's a job no one likes. But turning it into a money maker is a win win for both sides. Invest in bags and a long handled scoop (that your child can pay back in payments) and let them give a hand while filling their pockets.
Having a Yard Sale
When I can make money AND clean out the clutter it is a very good day indeed. Enlist the kids help sorting out knick knacks as well as clothes and toys no longer wanted/needed and have a yard sale. Let them do the majority of the work including setup, taking money, and handling customers.
Washing cars
Double duty jobs are the best! Kids can cool off and have fun while earning cash for movies, toys, and more. Car washing is a need and it seems especially during the summer when bugs, dust, and pollen are at a high! They can make signs, pass out fliers, and offer deals to get the word of mouth going around the neighborhood.
Pet sitting/Walking Dogs
While everyone is vacationing without their pets a great need is someone to come several times a day to walk and play with the dogs, clean kitty litter, feed fish, and similar tasks or while they are at work instead of paying big bucks for a doggie daycare.
Starting seeds
If your child has a green thumb (or wants to find theirs) you can have them start seeds or make cuttings for plants and sell them. Many people just don’t have the time and getting a hold of organic plants without pesticides can be difficult. Serve a need and make money by starting butterfly plants and veggies to sell in the neighborhood. You can also advertise on local Facebook groups (meeting in public place of course!)
How do your kids work to earn extra money during the summer?
Groceries. We need them and we have to buy them. Yet, while they are a necessity, do you find that you have quite a high grocery bill? Are you frustrated by that fact? There are ways to keep grocery costs down and I'm about to reveal my secrets that will help fix your problem.
You might be feeling as though there's no possible way to lower your grocery bill. But, I'm of the mindset that our grocery bill is one of the most flexible bills we have to pay. There is no set monthly bill that a grocery store sends our way, unlike the phone company. We make the call on how much our bill will be each time we stop at the store.
Shop your Pantry
Before you even head to the grocery store, peruse your pantry shelves to see how many ingredients you already have that will help you put together as many meals as possible. Take inventory. Every once in a while I like to dedicate a week or two to shopping from my pantry. On those weeks, I literally only spend about $30 on dairy products and fresh fruits & veggies. Simply because I'm making an effort to use what I already have on hand. This is a great way to ensure that you don't spend money you didn't have to, and that you don't find good food that has expired.
Have a Meal Plan
I'm a huge fan of meal planning. Like, huge! Every week, I try to have 5 dinners planned out by Sunday evening. Five, because one night we usually eat out and Sundays are spent at my parents. I plan dinners only because lunch usually consists of dinner leftovers and breakfast is a rotation of oatmeal/peanut butter toast/pancakes/French toast/and eggs, each always served with fruit.
This works for us because usually the same things get marked down on the list and I know what each item generally costs. This makes our bill fairly consistent, since there's usually only a few "not usual" items needing to be purchased.
Check out The Meal Planner! I created the printable Meal planner to help make meal planning and saving money easy! The PDF includes:
18 pages
Monthly, Weekly + Daily meal planning worksheets
Meal brainstorming worksheets
Food inventory worksheets
Grocery lists
Price matching worksheet
Party Planning worksheet
Shop the flyer sales
I'll admit and say that shopping the store sales and planning meals around those sales is not my strongest trait. But often times if there's an item on sale that I know we'll use in the near future, I will buy at least a couple. (Chicken is on sale this week so I'll probably buy at least four packages to get us through to the next sale.) If you can get good at planning your meals around what's on sale each week, you'll be saving a ton!
Breakfast for Dinner
Breakfast is cheaper than dinner. There are usually a couple of nights a month where I plan to make breakfast for dinner. Waffles with whipped cream, fresh strawberries and bacon? Yes, please! My husband also likes to make a huge batch of French toast once in a while and we put the leftovers in the freezer for super easy breakfasts.
Use rice & pasta
I like to use rice and pasta quite a bit because I find them to be so cheap! Pasta is very cheap when it's on sale. Rice, when purchased in bulk, is cheap and lasts a long time. I like to make up stir-frys once in a while using rice or pasta to serve the veggies over. (Stir-frys are also a great way to use up vegetables!) Also, I know when I make something involving rice or pasta, it'll be a hit with my toddler, and that's a win!
Eat leftovers
Growing up, I was not a big fan of leftovers. When my parents would inform me that we'll be having leftovers for dinner, I usually cringed. Now, as an adult, I LOVE leftovers! Leftovers mean one less meal I have to make during the week! More often than not, I'll actually double up on dinner just so we have extra. Most of the time we save leftovers for lunch, but occasionally we'll have a busy night that will need a super quick dinner.
Use meat substitutes
These days, I'm actually forced to use something besides meat and poultry because my daughter has decided she'll have none of it. Luckily, she loves beans, lentils and eggs, which I find to be a great grocery budget saver! There are also many other vegetables that are high in protein such as mushrooms, green peas, kale, broccoli and cauliflower that I prepare with each meal.
Use frozen vegetables
While I much prefer fresh vegetables, sometimes buying frozen vegetables can be cheaper in the long run. Especially if you find certain vegetables are always going bad before you have a chance to finish them. (That's cauliflower in our home!) I usually have a bag of mixed frozen vegetables on hand for those nights when dinner can't be made fast enough. We have also determined that steaming them makes them taste the best. They're not as soggy that way!
Use coupons
I don't use a lot of coupons, but as I mentioned above, I've stocked up on pasta (and other items) many times because of some sales and coupons I've had. I also consider paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste and other household items to be grocery items and I won't buy these items unless I have a coupon. There are also some great cash back apps that I use to save even more.
Eat before you shop
This is a tip you probably hear every time someone tells you how to save money on groceries. But, I can certainly attest to its truth! Nearly each time I grocery shop hungry, I end up with extra stuff in my shopping cart. And, it's usually not healthy stuff! A bag of chips? Sure! A bottle of pop? We haven't had that in a while! I always have snacks in my purse because of my daughter, but I've been known to "share" them with her just so I'm not starving and fill our cart full of unnecessary stuff.
There you have it. My 10 Secrets to a lower grocery bill! I hope you found something helpful in this list, or at least something that inspires you!
I'd love it if you would share your tips and tricks for a lower grocery bill in the comments!
