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Summer isn’t the only time of year to vacation! Follow these tips for planning a vacation on a budget and you can make it work no matter what time of year you want to relax!
Congratulations! Getting married is one of the biggest achievements in a person’s life. You have put a lot of thought, time and love into this big decision. But have you thought that you need to put a similar effort into your soon to be combined finances? Before you get married there are a few financial conversations you should have.
If you are already married, congratulations to you too! Maybe you have already gone over these topics and are totally on top of your financial game. Don’t write these conversations off! It’s always a great idea to keep these topics at the center of your finances to make sure you are always on the same page.
What is the hardest thing for you when it comes to setting and keeping a budget?
As I have asked several different people what their number one hang-up is when it comes to budgeting, their answer is almost always related to food. Either they have a hard time staying within their grocery budget or they can’t resist the urge to eat out.
Cooking your meals at home is a guaranteed way to save money when compared to eating out. You do need to be careful! If you get too carried away with fancy ingredients, that grocery list can add up your dollars very quickly. To keep yourself on track make sure to follow these 3 simple ideas for cooking on a budget.
Have you ever thought that it’s just too expensive to eat healthy? Organic… way to pricey! Well then you might be wrong! I am so excited to be featured today over at a super cute and helpful blog, Lavender and Cream! In my efforts to learn how to save money on organic foods I found all sorts of tricks on how to eat healthy without paying for it!
Kelly is the one who runs the show over there and she really knows her stuff about eating clean and healthy! After you read about saving money and staying healthy you will really want to take a look around Lavender and Cream! Enjoy!
If you focus on these three frugal tips for throwing your last minute party there will be no need to splurge!
1. Food
Start by looking through your local grocery and superstore weekly ads. Base your menu off what is on sale! You won’t need too much creativity to spark your thoughts on what to make for your menu. If you are looking for super easy, there are usually good deals on frozen appetizer or pizzas, especially around the holidays. If you are going for more of a homemade taste, then you will probably be narrowing your search to the baking and produce sections of the store. Make a grocery list of items you need then do a simple search for coupons on a site like thekrazycouponlady.com to stack even more savings!
When deciding what time to have your party make sure to take into consideration how much food your budget is going to allow. If your budget is closer to the penny side then you might want to have a party planned avoiding meal times and think about serving more of an appetizer or snack type menu. If your budget leans closer to the dollar then you have more options to serve a full meal or entrée.
Homemade is usually going to be your cheapest option when it comes to feeding a crowd. Whether snacks or entrees you can find a quick and easy recipe for just about anything tasty. It might take a little more prep time over popping something frozen in the oven but you will feel better about sticking to your budget and lets face it, homemade always tastes better than frozen.
2. Decorations
Paper! When going frugal décor, paper is always your best friend. I usually snatch up one or two pads of scrapbook paper when I see it on sale at Joanns. The different types of decorations you can make with paper are really endless, especially if you have a cutter like a Cricut! Do a quick Pinterest search of something along the lines of “diy paper décor” and you are sure to find something to help paint that image you have for your party.
You can never go wrong with a banner. Different fonts, shapes, styles, and colors, when you combine your favorites together, your banner will always be a cute centerpiece for your special occasion.
Don’t forget about photo booth props! Super easy to make. Do a Google Image search of different objects to match your décor and theme, print, cut, and glue to any simple stick (seriously, even a stick from a tree could be cute!) and you have your props ready to go! Not only does a photo booth add to the décor but also adds a fun opportunity for your guests to take a selfie and remember your fabulous party!
3. Entertainment
Entertainment for you party does not need to be expensive or time consuming to plan! Less can be more in this case! Stick to the basics! Pull together a few group board games or interactive games like Catch Phrase, Pictionary, or Charades. Everyone loves a good Minute to Win it game! Any of these options is sure to entertain and get everyone laughing!
It doesn’t take much prep or mu-la to put together a frugal fabulous party, have fun! Send me pictures of your parties on Facebook, I really want to see!
