Happy Friday everyone! This is just a fun (and very overdue) update on the gifts that I crocheted for Christmas. My neighbor gave me a big bag of yarn last fall, so I went to work creating things to give for Christmas, instead of spending money.
I can read the confusion in their eyes, when I tell people things like how I cut my own hair. They seem surprised when we don’t rush out to buy a new minivan after the birth of our third child. They marvel at the time we spend, out in the sun, working hard on …
Looking for a weekend upcycle / refashion project? I am currently in my third year of not buying any new clothes, so we can put all of our money towards paying off our debt. Surprisingly, it hasn’t been all that hard. I have versatile clothing, including many basic items. Once in a while, I …
A special post from Derek F. Smart consumers know the value of shopping around for goods and services, whether they’re looking for the most reliable mobile phone provider, researching the cheapest energy service, or trying to find the best lender. But many people who are savvy shoppers for most other …
For any new readers, Monday Medley posts serve as an update on our family. One of the purposes of this blog is to document our journey out of debt and to financial semi-independence. I like to post every few weeks about our new adventures, successes, and setbacks. So, what have …
Here is a special weekend post with a super-easy meal idea. All you need is three ingredients to make this delicious version of a classic sandwich (plus some bread). Our weekends are always packed, both with family fun and side hustling to make extra money. We depend on meals that …
There are two simple ways to improve your finances: spend less money or increase your income. Our extreme goals require extreme effort, which is why one tactic isn’t enough . . . we do both. Our progress in 2015 was due to living frugally and hustling to earn extra money. We were able …
I may be a bit late with to the year-end review party, but here is the update on our progress. 2015 was an important year for us in many respects. We made progress on improving our finances, but also made quite a few changes to our lifestyle which will enable …
My mission is to destroy debt and build up assets to facilitate financial semi-independence. While this is a newly-defined goal, I’ve always looked for ways to earn extra money. One of my favorite side hustles is participating in research studies. It can be tricky to find and qualify for these …
I remember the determined conniving that would follow every time I saw a “free kittens” sign as a child. I would beg, draft pet-care contracts for my parents, and try to earn extra money to pay for food and supplies. I always expected that as an adult, my home would be …
