A regular family night is important to us — to step back from the everyday, enjoy spending time together, and create lasting memories for our girls. Last year, we scheduled a monthly excursion, paid for primarily through family memberships, gifts, an…
Get Organized in 2012: 7 Steps to a Better Budget
We try to go through our budget regularly, but as time goes on it’s easy for it to become just as much of a mess as the rest of my house. The hubby gets lax about packing a lunch. I get caught up in shopping momentum through the holidays and righ…
{The New Home Ec} Cash, Check or Charge
I go through phases with our finances. I often find that a cash budget helps keep me under budget — especially at the grocery store. I can physically see how much money is left to spend each week. Plus, I truly believe that using cash is the best…
{The New Home Ec} Daily Deals on Great Tools for Teaching Kids About Money
When I lamented on the challenges of teaching kids about money in a digital society, who knew I would find great deals on financial literacy tools just a few days
{The New Home Ec} Best! Deal! Ever! (Until Next Time)
“Lowest price of the season!” “Our best deal yet!” “Biggest sale of the year!” You’ll see this type of advertisement all year long. Does it make you twitchy to buy right away, while the price is right? ThatR…
{The New Home Ec} Online Tools for Organizing Your Budget
January always feels like the perfect time to get organized — the calendar is filled with white spaces, we’re culling the toys to make room for new Christmas gifts, and
{The New Home Ec} Meals Planned for You: Relish Deal on Eversave
A weekly meal plan can help keep your budget under control. Not only will it stop you from ordering an emergency pizza when your evening falls apart, but it can keep your grocery expenses down because you are buying only what you need. A few years ago,…
{The New Home Ec} Kids and the Magical Money Machine
Yesterday, I went to several stores in search of play money, to aid in training my kindergarten Girl Scout troop for their first cookie sale. It was nowhere to be found. I did, however, find a toy ATM, a purse that included 3 pretend credit cards, and …
{The New Home Ec} 15 Ways to Reuse Holiday Decorations
After New Year’s Eve there’s a scramble to clean up the holiday decorations that you so gleefully put up just the month before. Taking away all that festivity can be a sad affair for those of us who enjoy a little sparkle in the cold months…
{The New Home Ec} How to Save $3500 in 2012
Whether you want to save money for a vacation, pay off debt or just stop living paycheck to paycheck, you’re going to need to readjust your spending habits. It doesn’t have to mean reducing your daily menu to rice and beans or giving up all…