Four things to ask before making a big (or small) purchase

I have already told you how my husband and I dug our way out of debt. And I've talked about ways we save money everyday. 

I wanted to talk to you today about how to control your spending. This is still something I am working on, it's work. 

But you see, in order for us to get out of debt, it took some behavior changes. I had to really become intentional in my spending. That was difficult for me. If that's not something you struggle with, great. But for many, it is. 

So I have four questions I ask myself before I make a purchase.

1. Do I really need this. 

That's a fair question. Do I really need what I am buying, or do I just think I need it? Is it a want? And what is driving that want? Is it emotional? If it's not a need, or something I have wanted for more than six months and it's at an extraordinary price and I have the extra cash to pay for it... it goes back on the shelf. 

2. Do I have something else that will serve the same function? 

What is that old saying "use it up..."Do I have something I could "make it do?" Do I really need another tshirt? Cardigan? Coffee mug? 

3. Where am I going to put it? This is a big one for me. I have declared war on clutter in my house. So before I purchase something I have started to ask where I will put it. And now when I bring something into my house, it usually means something else is LEAVING!

4. Can I get it for a better price else where? Before I buy anything I have gotten in the habit of looking either on Amazon or Craigslist. This has proven to be smart. I recently bought Ry a new booster seat and found one on Amazon for $30. Then I looked on Craislist and found almost the exact same one for a third of the price. 

What are some ways you curb your spending? Leave me a comment telling me! I love to hear from you. 

The Thrifty Couple, Thrifty Thursday, Frugal Friday, SITS Sharefest, Small Victories Sunday, #PinUpParty

Creating memorable parties on a budget

I was so honored to write a guest post for Creative Home Keeper. Here is an excerpt from that. 

My oldest son is three and my youngest son will be two in the next few months. So that means I already have four birthday parties under my belt.

I have made mistakes, I have gone overboard, and I have spent more money than one should to celebrate a child’s first year of life. And then I saw the light.

Click here for more. 

Beer Bread with honey!

I am not very good at making bread. In fact, my husband asked me to stop trying. Ouch! 

But this three ingredient beer bread is so easy and delicious and freezes like a dream. I first shared it on the blog THREE YEARS AGO. Wow, we are getting old around here. 

But the post was in desperate need of a photo update so I decided to take care of that and reshare that recipe with you. 

Click here for more. 

Tips for saving at the supermarket

The other day my grocery store had little bags of precut apples on sale. They were Buy One Get One Free which made then roughly $2 each. 

On the surface that sounds like a good deal. But is it? Not when I can get a pound of apples for $1.29 

So today I wanted to talk about areas in the supermarket where you might be wasting money.

1. Don't buy prepackaged produce. I know I just talked about the apples, but the same applies, generally, to most precut, prepackaged produce. Yes, you will have to spend time washing and cutting fruit, but it's a negligible amount when you consider the amount of money to will save in the long run. 

There is an average 66% price difference between precut produce and regular produce. 

2. Or little cups of yogurt. My family LOVES yogurt. But the small 6-ounce cups cost around $.50 to $1 each! This is just ridiculous when I can buy a 32-ounce tub for around $2. 

Of course you can always make your own. (Although I can't seem to get the flavor just right.)

3. Or premade lunches. Lunchables are so convenient. But you can make a healthier option that also include turkey, cheese, fruit and a snack for less than the cost and far less waste of a lunchable. 

4. Check the price per unit. Often times the grocery store will put the price per unit on the label on the shelf. It is usually in the upper lefthand corner. 

In fact, I used this just this week when buying a box of baking soda. The big box comes out to be just $.03 an ounce while the regular sized box was $1.06 an ounce. The bigger box is definitely a better deal but... 

5. Only upsize if you need to upside. Of course the larger box at the cheaper rate is a better deal, but only if it is in your budget, if you need it and if you have the room to store it.

A 40 pound bag of rice might mean more for your money, but it's not worth it if it means you will overspend at the super market. 

6. Keep track of how much you're spending before you spend it. I like to carry a notebook with me and write down how much each item costs. As I put the item in my cart and cross it off my list, I write down the cost of that item. 

This helps me to see how much I am spending, but it also helps me in future budget planning. 

7. Keep track of what is in your pantry. You can use these free printables to keep track of what is in your pantry and freezer. That way you don't buy duplicates of what you already have and spend money you don't need to.

8. Don't ignore your sales flyer. Before you go shopping check your store's sales flyer. And plan your meals based on what is on sale. 

I firmly believe you can save cash on your groceries without clipping coupons. Not that I have anything against coupons. Believe me. I love them. 

What about you? How do you save money at the supermarket. Join the conversation below. 

Linking up at Thrifty Thursday, The Thrifty Couple, Frugal Friday, Small Victories Sunday. 

Crowd-Pleasing Game Day Food On a BUDGET

Sunday is game day! And no matter who you care cheering for it is still a fun time. Whether you're watching the game, the commercials or the Katy Perry concert. 

If you're hosting a party or have been invited to a party check out some of my budget-friendly crowd pleasing game day food ideas. 

Taco Roll Ups. So this is my version of a the Chili's Southwest Chicken Eggrolls Copy cat. Or as I am calling it "taco roll ups." Click here. 

love this version of Buffalo Chicken Dip because it features NO canned chicken (just fresh) and no processed cheese. And it's so yummy. 

I love these spicy and sweet pork tacos because they are very simple to make. You dump it all in the slow cooker and go! 

Mini BBQ Chicken Pizzas are a great way to use up leftovers and they are cheap and easy. Excuse the blurry photos, that was one of the first recipes I ever posted. 

So what about you? What are some of your favorite game day foods? 

Alphabet Train Table

My boys love toys with wheels on them. Trucks, trains, tractors, you name it. So at Christmas my mother had this great idea to make them a small multi-use table perfect for eating, learning, puzzles, coloring and of course playing with trucks and trains. 

My mom started off with just a basic white table and two chairs. You can purchase one for around $40 on Amazon (affiliate link) or $25 on Ikea (without the seats). 

I also see them at yard sales every now and again. 

Mama used acrylic craft paint from Michaels to create the alphabet building, as well as the tracks and road. I like the Craft Smart and the Apple Barrel craft paints. 

She then painted the boy's names on the chairs. A tractor for Ryals, who is OBSESSED with tractors and an airplane for Isaac. She then sprayed everything is a protectant. 

Clearly the boys LOVE it. And it's perfect for playing with our trains and cars. But also for eating lunch, playing with puzzles and play-doh and sitting for quiet learning time. 

What I love about the table is that it's extremely light and portable, Ryals can carry his own chair (without scraping it across the floor) and it takes up very little space. 

What about you? Do you have any multi-purpose play equipment in your house?