Goofball started attending kindergarten this month and lunch has been quite the new adventure. We shelter our kids from consumerism as much as possible. We don’t watch much television, except for football games and limited specials like the Thanksgiving parade. Instead, the kids watch old cartoons on YouTube or Disney …
A few weeks ago, I happened to glance out of the front window at our crabapple tree. The apples were starting to ripen and fall to the ground. It was about time to start our yearly ritual of raking them up and disposing of the apples. I remember one day …
Wow. All of a sudden it’s September, I’m buried in work, Goofball started kindergarten, and the littlest ones are back at daycare. Time may be advancing quickly, but we’re doing our best to make the most of every day. This list is my inspiration for getting started on holiday gifts. …
My current predicament is the result of having misguided priorities for far too long. I used to believe that my future happiness was dependent on a prestigious, exciting occupation. I dreamed of fancy suits, expensive cars, and designer handbags. I worked hard to obtain material possessions and stature that are no longer important to …
I’m always on the lookout for new ways to save money. I have cut my son’s hair from the beginning and started doing cuts for my husband in the last year or two. It would be unfair and not at all frugal to pamper myself with a visit to the salon, so I’ve had to learn how to cut my …
There are variety of pseudo-scientific guidelines regarding the time that it takes to make or break a habit, including the misinterpretation of research which gave us a 21-day timeframe. While habits may be difficult to overcome, they usually encompass one discrete activity. I agree that it can be difficult to quit smoking or consistently …
We recently had our big joint birthday party for Goofball and Tornado. Money is always tight with our debt issues, but especially so this year as I’m on maternity leave from work. Now, with a few years of practice, we have pretty much perfected the frugal and fun kids’ birthday party. We …
The hard work is paying off . . . we’ve started harvesting fresh vegetables from our garden. It’s a great feeling to provide your family with delicious, homegrown food without having to swipe the credit card. The first “fruit” of our labor was some crispy green beans. Then, in the …
I never realized how easy it is to make your own paint! I had seen this firework art project many times on Pinterest, but didn’t want to spend money on paint. After some quick searching online this morning, we were able to throw together a fun activity with things around …
My little Goofball just celebrated his fifth birthday. We had a great day without having to spend much money at all. I am a firm believer that children need time and attention far more than they need things or entertainment. We will have a party for him, shared with Tornado, …
