The new trimester started at high school today, and my teen is taking Personal Financial Responsibility. I’m pretty excited about it, and I wish more schools offered a similar elective.
12 DIY Projects for Your Next Birthday Party
Around here, we’re in the minority with our at-home birthday parties. We just can’t budget the expensive parties at bounce houses, playlands, and other fancy-schmancy party spots. So, I work
{The New Home Ec} 10 Inexpensive Updates for Your Kitchen
I spend a lot of time in my kitchen — breakfast, lunch, dinner, supervising numerous snacks — so it doesn’t take long for the look to get stale. Unfortunately, everything in there is just so big that I’m kinda stuck with it. We don̵…
{The New Home Ec} 3 Ways Your Vacation Budget Is Closer Than You Think
Two years ago, we had set aside $1000 for a simple, budget beach vacation. Then, I found out we didn’t get the condo we wanted, and everything else was $200-300 out of our range. We were left trying to figure out how to quickly add to our vacatio…
{The New Home Ec} 10 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund
With Tax Day looming, Americans are scrambling to finish paperwork, searching for last minute deductions, and anticipating their refunds. When that money arrives, the tendency is to treat it as
{The New Home Ec} How to Get Out of Debt: One Blogger’s Inspiring Story
For several years, I have watched in awe as my friend Cherie tackled her family’s monstrous debt with determination, grace, and a healthy dose of extreme frugality. She was the inspiration behind my post on debt free bloggers. I watched, with tea…
{The New Home Ec} Mother’s Day Gifts for the Frugal Mom
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to find the perfect gift for the moms in your life. For some of us, though, it’s hard to accept gifts when we know what the family budget looks like. This year, skip buying her expen…
{The New Home Ec} Free Alternatives to Public School
Whether you are choosing a kindergarten for the first time or moving onto a new middle school or high school, there is no decision more difficult — and more important — than your child’s education. When my oldest was in kindergarten, I never …
{The New Home Ec} 9 Ways to Save Money at the Movies
I just love movies. I can have entire conversations in movie quotes. Our DVD collection spans 8 shelves on 2 walls. And, the theater? Oh, how I love it! I have been twice in the last week and would gladly go again if anyone else needs a date for The Hu…
{The New Home Ec} If I Win the Mega Millions, I’m Not Telling My Kids
With the Mega Millions lottery at an all-time world record — $540 million — even I got sucked in. As soon as I found out that you can, in fact, buy Mega Millions tickets in Indiana, I bought some for tonight’s drawing. But I didn̵…