Being frugal doesn't mean that you have to live your life in a no fun zone. Maybe you assume that saving money means that you aren't spending any money which in turn, means that you aren't doing anything fun. Contrary to that belief, being frugal is fun!
How to make being frugal, fun!
Each and every day, we are each faced with choices on how we choose to make money, and then, in turn, spend that money. Some people like to spend money on food, while others prefer to spend money on "things" or on making memories. There's no right or wrong way to spend your own money. It's your choice. But what about those people who like to have it both ways? They like to save money, but also have fun doing so. Is it possible to be able to do both? To actually be frugal and fun? Absolutely. You can have your cake and eat it too. Need some ideas and inspiration? Here are some suggestions on 10 Ways You can Combine Frugal with Fun.
Enjoy and embrace nature.
The great outdoors can be 100% free, and 100% fun. Think of the options waiting for you right out your back door. You can go biking, hiking, roller skating... all in nature and all for free. Hours upon hours of fun await you with an endless supply of outdoor activities. All without making a dent at all in your wallet.
Create a random dish with items in your pantry or fridge.
We all need to shake up our taste buds every now and then, right? Instead of running to the store and buying something new, or spending your hard-earned dough on delivery, create a taste bud masterpiece with something fun that you can find in your kitchen. You save money by using what you have and have fun by exploring a fun, one of a kind dish.
Host a small get together.
Have an event or win in life that you want to celebrate? Host a party in the comfort of your own home! No need to rent out a venue for a high cost when you can host at home for free. Better yet? Have it be a pot luck where everyone brings a dish. Less money to spend on food and everyone has fun trying each other's dishes and exchanging recipes.
Educate yourself.
Get in tune with all the free things going on in your town. You may be surprised by how many pubs, restaurants or coffee shops in your area offer free bands to listen to on the weekend. Or take a look and see if there are free movies or music in the parks. The events are free for a reason, to be accessible for all to attend!
Binge watch a favorite movie series or shows.
Forget about spending a high ticket price at the movie theater...try to binge watch a few of your old favorites at home. Pop your own popcorn, just the way you like it and snuggle up in your pajamas for a night of fun and relaxation.
Makeover yourself and your friends.
Who doesn't like to be pampered? Going to the spa and the salon can be pricey, but having a fun makeover day at home can be awesome. Have all your friends bring over their makeup and have fun pampering and trying out new looks!
Give geocaching a try.
If you love scavenger hunts, this may be something new and fun to try. Research if it's popular in your area, and give it a go. You can uncover all kinds of hidden treasures when searching for those disguised items placed by others in the great outdoors.
Host a Freezer Meal Party.
These are the best. Invite a group of your cooking buddies over, have them all bring ingredients for their favorite quick meals, and have fun dividing up, sharing and freezing for later. What a quick and inexpensive way to stock up dinner for later and enjoy the company of some of your favorite people!
Be on the hunt for free books.
Who doesn't love a good book? But they can be expensive to buy. Instead, hunt around your town to see if there are any Little Free Book Libraries to get books from. (If you've never heard of them, check 'em out!) Also, don't forget about the awesomeness of the local library. This post also has some great ideas to help you get free books!
Relax and go fishing.
Fishing is full of fun from the casting out of the line, to the excitement of reeling in that fish. It can be a totally fun way to relax, or even catch your own dinner!
Finding ways to save money can be fun and rewarding! By allowing yourself to be open to trying new things and using some creativity, the options are out there to enjoy. Try spending your time, not your money, by trying new things and making new memories. You may be amazed by all the fun freebies available to you when you are open and accepting to try them!
What are your ideas for combining frugal and fun? I'd love to hear your ideas!
Do you find your pantry and freezer overflowing with food, yet you keep buying more food?
Would you like to join me for an impromptu pantry and freezer challenge? You could possibly save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill by eating out of your pantry and freezer!
We’ve been feeling lately, in the Simply Frugal household, as though we’ve got way too much food just hanging around not leaving the pantry and freezers. (umm, except for the ice cream, that mysteriously disappears ;)!)
Since I’d like to use up what we have in the freezer and pantry to use up many items that are coming up on their prime, I thought a challenge would get me motivated! Maybe it will help you as well?
Here’s the plan:
Starting on Wednesday, April 18, the Eating from the Pantry/Freezer challenge will officially start!
I’ll be sharing my menu plan on Wednesday and would love to hear your plans and goals as well!
What you’ll need to do before April 18:
Do a complete inventory of your pantry, freezer and fridge
Decide what your goals will be for the challenge (how much do you want to save, how long do you think you’ll be doing the challenge for…etc)
Write up a meal plan for at least the first five days of the challenge (Wednesday – Sunday)
Make a list of the items you’ll need to buy to complete your meals. (I’ll still be buying produce, dairy and eggs)
Every Monday following (April 23 and 30) I’ll be sharing my menu plans and progress. (At this point I’m not sure how long I will be doing the pantry challenge, but I will know once I take inventory.) This would be a great time for those of you joining in on the challenge to share or link to your menus and progress in the comment section! I’ll also be tracking how much I’m spending on groceries for the duration of this challenge and sharing my totals.
There’s a Facebook group that I would love to have you join! Click here to join the Simply Frugal Community. I think it will be a great place to share meal ideas, tips and even our struggles during the challenge!
Does this makes sense? Any questions? 🙂
Here are some useful resources to help you out with the challenge:
I think it’s safe to say that the slow cooker is one of my favourite kitchen tools. After all, it cooks delicious meals with minimal effort! Not to mention it’s great to use in the summer when you don’t want to heat the house up.
Slow cookers are generally known for their skills at creating delicious stews and tender meats. But your slow cooker can do so much more! Read on to discover five unique ways to use your slow cooker.
Let the gift giving begin! You can easily make candles for gifts (or yourself) in your slow cooker! I think this is a great way to turn those candles that no longer burn because the wick is gone, into new candles. Learn how to make candles in your slow cooker over at A Year of Slow Cooking.
Make Baked Potatoes
I automatically assume that successful slow cooker recipes have to include some sort of liquid. But this slow cooker baked potato recipe proves me wrong!
Make Bread
I think this idea is genius. Make a loaf of bread in your slow cooker! This is great for the summer months when you don’t want to heat up the house! Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day shows you how to make a loaf of artisan bread in the slow cooker!
Make Brownies
As seen from the unique slow cooker ideas I posted above, you’re not limited to dinner-type meals in the least. So, of course dessert can be made in a slow cooker! Why not try these Triple Chocolate Brownies from Martha Stewart?
Doesn’t it seem as though everyone has an abundance of egg cartons around the home? The typical family can easily go through a dozen eggs in a week, leaving you with an empty carton to recycle. But before you give that old egg carton the heave ho, take a look below at 7 creative uses for egg cartons that you can try! You may never look at egg cartons the same way again.
7 Creative Uses for Egg Cartons
1. Make seed starters.
Poke a hole in the bottom of each compartment, fill with soil, and add a seed. They are the perfect seed starters! If you use cardboard egg cartons, the cups can be planted directly in the ground when ready.
2. Sort office supplies.
Cut away the bottom half of the egg carton and use it to sort office supplies. The little cups are great for storing safety pins, paper clips, push pins and more.
3. Add them to sensory tables.
Cut the compartment into tiny cups and add them to sensory tables for kids to use as cups and pouring devices. They also work great in kiddie pools and sandboxes.
4. Sort your jewelry.
Cut the compartment half and use it to keep jewelry sorted. It is great for holding small pieces (such as earrings) and keeps them from becoming lost or damaged.
5. Make suet balls.
Mix some birdseed and bacon grease into a mixing bowl and spoon into the compartments. Press it in and freeze until solid. Pop the suet balls out and place outside for birds to dine on. They will love them.
6. Craft a sorting game.
Give children a variety of colored chips, marbles, or scraps of paper and allow them to sort the colors into the various compartments. You can also have them sort according to size or shape if you wish.
7. Save them for packaging cushion.
Foam egg cartons are great for storing breakable items such as holiday ornaments. You can also place the entire cartons in between valuables (for example plates, china, and other breakables) when packing.
Bonus: Use them to make egg carton flowers! This is fun for the kids and you! Take a look at all these great ideas I found on Pinterest!
Did you ever think an old egg carton could be so valuable? Give these tips a try for breathing a new life into your empty egg cartons and see how great they can be. Chances are, you won’t need to go any further than your own recycling bin. 🙂
How do you like to reuse your empty egg cartons? Let me know in the comments below!
How to Turn Ramen Noodles Into a Healthy Meal Idea
It is no secret that Ramen Noodles are a staple in every college student’s pantry. However, ramen noodles are not just for the college student, bachelor, or preschooler anymore. I have even found some organic brown rice ramen by Lotus Foods at Costco that we love, making it a healthy choice for our family! Even if you buy the budget friendly packs of ramen, there are quite a few healthy ways to spice up a package of the fried noodles.
Ditch the Packet
Some people prefer ramen noodles simply because they are cheap, cheap, cheap. Others prefer them because of the beef, chicken, or oriental flavor that comes in the package. While that packet is full of flavor, it is also packed full of sodium and MSG. Make your meal a bit healthier, by ditching the packet, and adding your own herbs and flavoring. Boil the pasta in low sodium chicken or beef broth, and throw in some pepper and herbs, like thyme, or oregano.
Use Uncooked, as a Topping
That’s right. You can eat Ramen without cooking them first! Dig the recipe for your favorite Asian inspired salad out of your recipe box, and simply swap out the Asian noodles for Ramen Noodles. Just discard the seasoning packet and break the noodles up. Add them to your salad just before serving.
Stir Fry
Instead of opting for burgers and fries, pull out a package of ramen, and some fresh or frozen veggies. Cook up chicken or beef pieces, and throw some in some veggies, with a bit of low sodium soy sauce. Meanwhile, cook the Ramen in either plain water, or low sodium beef or chicken broth. Once it is all done, simply toss it all together, and grab a bowl and a seat.
Make a Hearty Soup
There is nothing like a hot bowl of hearty soup, on a chilly evening. Gather the ingredients for your favorite soup, and toss it all in the slow cooker. When there are just a few minutes left of cooking time, add a packet or two of Ramen, minus the flavor packets, and you have yourself an easy, healthy meal.
Limit the amount you eat
Even if you dish up Ramen Noodles to be healthier, you still need to limit the amount you eat. Many carbs come from ramen noodles, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Which is why adding them to a salad as a topping or using it as a filler, is an excellent idea.
The great thing about Ramen is that it’s so inexpensive. Once you get rid of the packet and figure out how to make it into the perfect healthy dish, you are good to go.
I'd love to hear how you use ramen noodles! Let me know in the comments below!
How to Create an Epic Easter Basket from the Dollar Store
Easter is rapidly approaching, which means you have to put together an awesome Easter basket. On a budget? No worries because the Dollar Store is an awesome place to put together an epic Easter Basket. Here’s how to do it.
#1. Find a “basket”
The cool thing about the dollar store is that they have all sorts of bins, baskets, and totes for $1. You don’t have to settle for a basket, you can pick anything! This step in itself can make the Easter basket epic.
#2. Pick a color theme your kids will love
One thing you can do to create an epic Easter basket for your kids from the Dollar Store is to pick a color theme they’ll love. The dollar store has so many different options that finding items with their favorite colors will be easy.
#3. Grab a few toys for the epic Easter basket
The dollar store is lined up with a full aisle of toys to choose from. Not to mention, they probably have an extra aisle full of toys just for Easter. You can pick out some fun toys like little army guys, a mermaid, or a bow and arrow set. If those don’t work, go the more creative route with stickers, bubbles, and play dough.
#4. Add a few extra “special” things
As you comb through the dollar store, just remember that you get to be creative. If you see something your child will like, throw it in the basket. Setting a budget for yourself is definitely a good idea too. For example, $10 for each child, this helps put a limit on what you put in the Easter basket. Everyone knows that shopping at the dollar store can get out of hand quickly. 😉
#5. Get a little creative
Do you know what your little ones will love most about their Easter basket? Is that the basket is creative and not just something that was bought already put together. They’re going to notice the cute little stuffed bunny you picked up. They are going to notice the gum that has five packs in it.
#6. Make it look pretty
Head down the birthday aisle and pick out some fun things to put in that Easter basket to make it pretty. Bows are plentiful in that aisle! You can pick up wrapping paper to wrap a few of the gifts. Making it pretty will make it epic, without a doubt.
How do you plan on creating an epic Easter basket this year? Let me know your ideas in the comments below.
