Save Money. Cook at Home.

Photo by Alyson McPhee on Unsplash

One of the easiest ways to save money is to cook your meals at home. When you buy pre-packaged foods or fast food, you are paying more for the convenience and it is far less healthy than the food you can cook yourself.

If you don't know how to cook, now is a great time to learn! If you can read and follow directions, you can cook. Go to Pinterest and look for easy meal ideas and recipes. 

There was a time when I didn't know how to cook. I relied on boxed foods and take out for several years. Then came a time of financial hardship and I was forced to learn how or my family would starve. I would feed my family of 5 on as little as $25/week sometimes. 

With each thing I learned to make myself, my confidence in the kitchen grew. Now I can throw a meal together out of almost nothing! It just takes practice and determination!

Even now, I don't cook fancy or complicated meals. When my family likes a new recipe I try, it goes into my meal rotation of favorites. When I start getting bored with food, I look for new recipes.

Now that we have fallen into a world of uncertainty, we are using up the foods in our pantry and freezer. I have had to become even more creative. I have chosen to look at it as a challenge to keep me on my game. 

How are your cooking skills?

Stimulus Checks

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Let's chat about money and stimulus checks today, shall we?

From my understanding everyone who has filed taxes in the past should get $1,200 single and $2,400 couple as a one-time payment. If you have dependents 17 and younger, you'll receive an additional $500 per child. Unemployment compensation is $600/week for 4 months.

Unless you are an "essential employee", you are likely not currently working due to the virus outbreak, so what's the best plan of action for your money?

Personally, I would stock up on food. (Stock up, not Hoard.) Create a menu plan for at least a month.

Go through your pantry and freezer and make up a plan to use up everything you have and fill in the gaps with your shopping list. Stock up on baking supplies and canned goods. Use up those leftovers, rather than let them go to waste. You can eat them for lunch the next day. Bake your own treats rather than buy pre-packaged.

You want to make this money go as far as possible since it looks like we will be social distancing through April, possibly longer.

Next, I would pay my priority bills - rent/mortgage and utilities. Though these companies may give you a break due to the virus by not evicting/foreclosing or turning off your utilities at the moment - when this is over they will be expecting payment in full. 

This is NOT the time to buy new electronics or designer goods. Don't waste your money! Be financially responsible and ensure that your family is taken care of! 

How do you plan to use your stimulus check? Let me know in the comments!

One Day At a Time

Even though things are far from normal at this time, don't give up on your dreams and goals. Take it one day at a time and focus on what you need to do today.

None of us know what the future holds. Your progress may have slowed, but don't let it stop completely. Then you'll have to work twice as hard to get back to where you were! No more going backwards! I'm preaching to myself here too!

I want to create more content for you guys - in addition to my personal goals. Let me know in the comments what kind of content you would find beneficial.

It's another beautiful day here. My husband and I enjoy sitting on the porch and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine before it gets too hot. We've taken a little break from yard work the past two days. We have so much lawn debris the city needs to pick up before we can put anymore out.

Since the Corona virus and self-distancing has started I have been keeping busy with yard work and a little housework, but I also want to work on personal development. I want to use this time to come out better!

So I'm thinking about going through all my self-improvement notes and courses to put together a plan to begin implementing those things. Just because you read about something doesn't mean it's helping you. Action is a must.

Hope you are doing well during this time of uncertainty! Don't forget to let me know what kind of content you are interested in. 💓

52 Things To Do That Won't Cost You Any Money!

Since I last wrote, we (internationally) have been struck with the Corona virus (Covid-19). Many of us are self isolating and practicing social distancing. Life as we knew it was changed seemingly overnight!

In my area (south Alabama, USA), they have closed schools for the rest of the year. The children will do their learning online rather than attend school and risk catching or spreading the virus. Only essential stores and fast food are open. Even our beaches are closed. It's a frightening time.

I have been keeping myself very busy at home. It is Spring here and we have been doing a lot of work in our yard. We spend at least 2 hours most days working outside in the fresh air and sunshine. We also take the dogs walking in the early evening before sunset.

I'm getting lots of exercise this way and have been drinking more water as a result!

Since everyone's normal routines have been tossed out the window, many are feeling kinda lost. I have written an e-book that is filled with activities to help you beat boredom but won't cost any money to do.

Sections Include:
* Improve Your Health
* Improve Your Home
* Get Crafty
* Family Fun
* Personal Development
* Self-Care

Please click the picture above to purchase and browse my Etsy shop.

Tell me, how are you handling the virus outbreak? Is there anything you are struggling with? Please share in the comments!