50 Thrifty Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Father's Day usually finds me with more men to buy for than money in my purse. I love giving gifts to husband, dad, father-in-law, grandfather, step-dad, uncles, brothers, our parish priest and all the special dads in my life. But I also need to feed the kiddies. So my Father's Day shopping focuses on budget. Here are 50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Budget Graduation Open House, Party Shopping Guide With Recipes

Hosting a graduation open house and don't know where to start? Use this party planning guide to throw the perfect backyard bash for your graduate! Here are recipes plus shopping lists for groceries, supplies, decorations and equipment. Being the perennial penny pincher, I've listed cheaper and DIY alternatives--to save you money and hassle! Read on.  Budget Graduation Party Open House Shopping Guide With Recipes. Oh and be sure to use free printable decorations, cards and invitations to save even more. Check out my blog DIY Party Planner and click "graduation" for printables.

Lowfat, Low Sodium Gluten-Free Thai Recipes, Cheap and Quick

I love Thai food, but I'm trying to lose weight. So I improvise recipes with lowfat tweaks. I substitute foods to cut calories, sodium, gluten, fat and sugar. I swap for high fiber, vegetable and protein alternatives. As a busy work-at-home mom, I don't have time for labor-intensive cooking. Here are three quick, easy Thai recipes with diet alternatives.    Lowfat, Low Sodium Gluten-Free Thai Recipes, Fast and Simple

Addiction Recovery Tips for Shopaholic Parents

Shopping addiction is one of the trickiest habits to break, particularly for parents. Kids need many things, and it's not like we can stop buying. We're constantly confronted by temptation. If you're a spendaholic, here's my recovery plan to break the overspending habit. Money Saving Tips for Shopaholics

Cheap, Educational Stocking Stuffers for Kids

I have to laugh when I see what stores tout as "cheap" stocking stuffers. I don't consider anything over $5 "cheap" especially not for stocking presents which are typically filler gifts. If my child is getting three or four bigger, pricier gifts under the tree, I can't afford to spend big on the stocking, too. Having four kids to shop for, Christmas is crazy-expensive enough without the stockings.  Read more

Black Friday Shopping Strategies

 Black Friday...that 'morning after' when bargain-hunters descend like a swarm of locusts and devour every 'hot buy' in site, leaving exhausted, shell-shocked store employees and ravaged shelves. It's the great American dream in the land of plenty! I've braved this tsunami of shoppers before and have a battle plan to share, worthy of General Sherman himself! This was written about stores in West Michigan, but they're mostly big box stores that are available across the U.S. Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Staples, Menards, Sears and mall chain stores. My Black Friday game plan involves three phases: SURVEY, STAKE-OUT, SIEGE and SWEEP-UP Read more Black Friday Shopping Tips 

My Cheap Wedding Under $1,000 for Everything

My husband and I paid for own wedding, reception and honeymoon. We had a cheap wedding, charged nothing and paid it off without going into debt. We paid under $1,000 for a 200-guest wedding, including wedding dress, accessories, tuxedo, invitations, stationary, flowers, decorations, church, music, minister stipend, rental equipment, hairstylist and pictures. Here's how.  My Cheap Wedding Under $1,000 for Everything

Cheap Weddings--How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

My husband and I are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss this year. When we got married, we paid for the wedding, honeymoon and most of the reception ourselves. We came back from our honeymoon debt-free and I'm glad we did. Money woes are major relationship-killers. We have friends who were in divorce court before their wedding was paid off. Here are ways to avoid wedding debt.  How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

Five Secrets for Financial Stability and Success

Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are dependent on public mileage opinion for a paycheck. Here are personal finance tips from a teacher. I've been a Michigan certified K-8, CI and CE teacher for 20+ years. I've worked in public and private school settings. I've also homeschooled my children. This advice is culled from years of frugal living and financial prudence. Read on...

Easy to Make, Inexpensive Children's Baking Set

Inexpensive holidays gifts for children. Diy baker's kit. Easy, inexpensive holiday gifts. Here's how to make a Christmas baking kit for children. Read on...

Anchor Hocking 2 Qt. Glass Batter Bowl with Lid

Must-Haves for Cooking and Baking: Anchor Hocking 2 Qt. Glass Batter Bowl with Lid
I'm a veteran cook and baker. I'm also a space-saver and penny pincher. I've tried out all sorts of kitchen products, utensils and tools. The Anchor Hocking 2 qt. Glass Batter Bowl with lid is a must have for any chef, cook and baker's kitchen.
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Back-to-School Shopping: Best Prices on College Textbooks

Back to School Shopping: How to Save Money and Find Best Prices on College Textbooks
With dwindling federal financial aid, fewer students get money for college tuition, let alone textbooks. College textbooks can actually rival tuition prices. And college textbooks are not tax-deductible. Here are ways to save money on college textbooks.
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Back-to-School Shopping: Avoid Second Hand Stores

Back-to-School Shopping: Why You Should Avoid Second-Hand Stores
When you shop for back-to-school clothing for children, my advice is to avoid second-hand stores. I'm a penny pincher, but second-hand clothing isn't always a bargain. Sometimes it's not even sanitary or healthy.
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