Categories
Frugal

10 Free Hobbies

Do people even have hobbies anymore?  Yes, many people of all ages enjoy having an interesting hobby to occupy some of their free time.  Some of you naturally plan a hobby that can be relaxing.  Others of us need a little push to find a hobby when we’re not at work. Hobbies can be anything that you find interesting and fun.  They can vary in price and intensity.  You could spend a ton of money on a hobby like sailing.  Or, you could find a hobby that is completely free.  Don’t let the lack of funds deter you from learning and finding pleasure in a hobby. The good thing about hobbies is that there is something for everyone.  Many hobbies have been around from antiquity and others are fairly new.  I’ve created a list of free and frugal hobbies that might peak your interest. Playing games – Play alone or with friends.  Board games you already own or swap with friends.  Check on craigslist for free games.  Play card games you own or free ones on your phone.   Sports or exercise – If you enjoy sports, get together with friends and play tennis or frisbee golf.  Take a walk at a nearby park or join a running club.   Gardening – Join a group that swaps cuttings from their garden.  Getting your hands dirty is fun. Bird watching – you don’t have to use binoculars to enjoy watching birds.  Sit near a pond or just watch out the window. Reading – Get a library card and read whatever you enjoy (paper or digital).  Are you a history buff?  Do you love mysteries?  Let the library bring you adventures with the newest best-seller or classics. Cooking – I know, you have to cook everyday…because you have to eat.  But, you could try to learn a different way of cooking.  Trying French cuisine or Korean specialties won’t cost you anymore than your usual meals.  Find youtube videos to take you step-by-step for fun in the kitchen. Explore – Visit new parks, museums, hiking spots, or nature areas.  Take your camera or sketch pad to record your findings. Volunteer – Volunteering can be a hobby that is fun and helps others in your community.  Volunteering can be anything from working in a soup kitchen to petting animals or rocking babies to sleep.  Check out your local United Way or similar organization.  Artistic hobbies – Many artsy hobbies will cost money, but if you use what you have it can be free.  Watch craigslist for any free materials.  Also, check your library for any free classes.   Writing – Try your hand at poetry or begin writing the next great American novel.   Do any of the hobbies listed have your interest?  Join the fun and get going with a hobby that will bring you smiles and at the same time, mental rest.  If you’re like me, you tend to turn everything into a job, complete with competitiveness.  But, to benefit from the purpose of a hobby, it’s important to remember that it’s all for fun. @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Frugal Moms Parenting

How To Feed Your Family For Less

Disclosure: Affiliate links may be included.  Clicking on these links could provide me with a small award, and costs you nothing. I’ve gotten away from meal planning and it has certainly cost me money.  What I’ve found with our family grocery budget is that without a meal plan in place, we make many more “short” trips to the grocery store and spend way too much money! Another reason for meal planning is the way that it can help you use what food is in your pantry or freezer before purchasing new items.  Since we moved to the midwest, we’ve found that food prices are higher in our supermarkets.  Most items cost more, especially chicken.  Because of my chemical sensitivities, I have to purchase organic meats (which are very pricey).  So shopping around is necessary. With meal planning, shopping the various store weekly ads can help me to buy what’s on special.  This helps tremendously for meeting my goal to shop for a variety of delicious foods that are temporarily marked down.  It pushes me to vary the menu plan, otherwise I tend to get in a rut with my meals. It’s also important to use every coupon and cash back service available to me.  I love to shop in stores that offer digital coupons and most stores do that now.  I can easily plan a meal based on a terrific coupon.  This is also a good way to stockpile things that you’ll need when they are marked down + have a coupon code (or paper coupon).  Some of the cash back services change their list of items often, so it’s helpful to check the list often. Here are my favorite apps to save money: Ibotta Saving Star Checkout 51 Ebates Paribus Coupon Surfer What are your favorite ways to make the grocery bill grow smaller?  Sometimes the items on the coupon or cash back apps cost more than the grocery’s generic brand.  Trying some of the generic foods is usually my preferred option, but some generics aren’t near as tasty.  Also, if you look carefully, you can often purchase the name brand cheaper with the generic using sales + coupons. Here is the weekly meal plan: Monday:  Pan-fried Cod and Green Salad Tuesday:  Potato Soup Wednesday:  Spaghetti and Green Salad Thursday:  Tuna Noodle Casserole and Green Beans Friday:  Home-Made Pizza Saturday: Fish with Baked Potato and Green Beans Sunday:  Salmon Patties with Mashed Potatoes and English Peas Our lunch menus are usually leftovers or sandwiches.  I keep deli meat, cheese, and bread in supply.  Breakfast consists of oatmeal with fruit and nuts or bagels.  This keeps it very simple and quick.  The above meals are favorites and I can practically fix them in my sleep. Here are a few posts I wrote about saving money on food: Great Ways to Save How to Make Fall Festival Foods At Home Senior Deals Do you meal plan?  How has it benefitted you?  I would love to hear! @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Frugal Moms

Love your Back-To-School Memories

Love Your Back-To-School Memories With Deals From Mixbook UPDATE!!!! Back to school is a time for taking many pictures. Parents love to get school photos and extra curricular photos: ballet, sports, church events, Halloween, and pumpkin patches.   We don’t want to miss anything with our kids and love to create a remembrance of all their favorite and special times.  Affilate links are included.  These links don’t cost you one penny. In years past, scrapbooks had to be made by hand and pictures were carefully placed in pages to preserve our great memories.  Now, with photo-books, all of this is done with the click of your mouse.  Just drop pictures in and all the work is done for you. But, to make this even easier on your pocket-book,  Mixbook is offering great deals.  If you’re a new customer right now you can get 50% off on your order.  This is a huge discount and will have you getting those photos in order to print out a darling photobook.  With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a good time to think about gift-giving and Christmas cards.  Mixbook can handle all of those assignments.  It’s easier with Mixbook!                                     You can create fully custom photo goods that show off your personal style.  Mixbook has so many choices to bring your photos to life.   Custom Photo Books Photo cards and invitations Gallery-wrapped Canvas prints Modern Metal prints Fun photo prints Calendars Acrylic prints Poster photo prints Beautiful and helpful templates are provided on the website.  You can just fill in the spaces with your photos, graphics, and text.  Or, you can do a complete custom design.  Not sure where to get your inspiration?  Check out the Instagram group to get inspired with something new everyday. Schools and businesses can get pricing for large orders when creating a school yearbook or business product.  Mixbook has thought of everything!  They have great deals and coupons all the time, so sign up for their email (bottom of website page) in order to hear about the latest sales.   @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Beauty Frugal Moms Parenting

How To Be A Great Long-Distance Grandmom

Woman and Child

Disclosure: Affiliate links included. A small commission could be earned if you purchase through my links, which won’t cost you a penny. The happy day has arrived and you’re now a grandmom.  The only sad part of this new title is that you don’t live close to your new grandchild.  Being a long-distance grandparent is hard for so many reasons.  Your visits may not be as often as you would like, but there are many ways to stay in touch. I am a long-distance grandmother and each trip to visit the little sweetie is eagerly planned.  When you can’t be close all the time, it’s always shocking to see the huge changes from visit to visit.  Having my child send me pictures and videos online has been a terrific blessing.  It makes me feel like I’m there.  All that’s missing is a hug! One way that I like to stay close with my new grandchild (and his parents) is to send little care packages.  Sending a little gift every month or so has been fun and lets them know that I’m thinking of them often.  Care packages are perfect because they can vary greatly in price. My care packages are not expensive but I do try to send something that the parent values.  When the grandchild is still an infant, the gift can be practical or more of a luxury.  While a baby may be needing a new teether or onsies, a new mom could also benefit from a little self-care. Care packages for moms will be greatly appreciated because new moms are sleep-deprived and can get to feeling the need for something that makes them feel beautiful.  Whether you’re buying for your daughter or daughter-in-law, she’ll love getting to feel pampered. Although there are many pre-packaged care packages available in stores and online, it’s better to be personal when you send a gift.  If you know what her favorite brands, colors, or fragrances are, go ahead and send her something that you know she’ll love.  If you’re not sure, ask her or her husband. Here are a few of my favorite items to send in a care package: Wax melt (non-toxic with essential oils) Soothing lip balm Nursing pads Lovely night gown Journal Cute slippers New mom book with encouraging quotes or verses Herbal teas with beautiful cup Aromatherapy for shower or bath Massage gift card Organic lotions I hope that this list might inspire you to think of the perfect little items for a new mom care package.  Any little, or big, care package will be met with smiles and maybe even a tear or two when it reaches it’s destination.  Don’t we all feel a thrill when we receive a surprise gift in the mail?   @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Home

How Archie Moved Into His New Home

I knew that Archie would have a hard time moving to our new home.  Archie is my sweet little adopted mutt.  He loves routine and our family.  He is a little baby that loves constant cuddling.  Because of my chronic medical problems, I spend hours each day resting.  Archie loves to rest in the recliner with me. Over the months that I spent packing our belongings, Archie was anxious around the packing materials.  Any time that I make any changes in his environment I can sense and see that his response is negative.  As moving day approached, he became accustomed to the mess.  As long as he was getting enough cuddle time he felt safe. Our move was half-way across the country and we spent 3 days making the journey.  We rented a moving truck and loaded all our belongings.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t physically up to driving our car.  We towed it behind the truck and all rode in the cab.  Have you ever been in a 26 foot moving truck? The two steps leading up to the door were very far off the ground.  I used all the hand rails to help pull me up into the truck.  Archie certainly wouldn’t go up the stairs by himself.  We lifted him into the truck and he started shaking.  He shakes in any auto ride in the first few hours.  A few hours after the drive began, he started to calm down.  He took turns sitting in my lap or sitting between my son and I.  We spent a lot of time talking to him and reassuring him that everything was fine. As soon as we arrived in our new home, Archie was happy to get out of the moving truck.   He wouldn’t leave my side and looked very scared.  He followed me around and has stayed under foot now for the last few days.  I’ve tried to  comfort him with the tone of my voice and give him special attention.  The first thing I did was to set out his usual food and water bowl in a spot and showed him where it was.  He was happy to recognize his usual dishes.  He wanted to sniff everything in the new home, and I put out his normal blanket and toys quickly.  We brought plenty of his usual dog treats and offered them frequently.  It’s also important to take care of Archie’s health needs.  I don’t want to wait until he needs some type of treatment to find his new vet.  I’ll be contacting a new vet immediately for a check-up.  All of Archie’s records will be sent to the new vet so that he’ll know all of his health history.  This ensures that nothing will be missed. Here are some of my favorite tips to help Archie with the move: Keep up his routine, as much as possible Bring along his favorite treats and toys Keep his bedding with him, don’t make any changes Speak calmly and reassure him often Share lots of love and cuddles with him Archie will soon be back to his normal anxiety level.  I’ll enjoy the time spent with him, because who doesn’t love extra cuddles? @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

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