Free Scholarships & Grants: Find Gold on the College Scholarship Rainbow!

Author | October 26th, 2023 | College & Education, Free Stuff
How to find college scholarships - Gold at the End of the Rainbow

Are you looking for free college scholarships and grants? We have tips and tricks to land tons of college money.

This blog presents lots of proven ways to find more scholarship hacks. It shares how to prepare for them and how to win more awards. It’s time to start gathering in scholarship winnings!

What if there really was a pot of scholarship gold waiting for you at the end of the scholarship rainbow.

And what if you KNEW that with some effort, discipline and organizational skills you could find the path that leads to that pile of money. And then, of course, take … Read more »

Inexpensive Ways to Beat a Cold Fast? Here’s How to Get Healthy Quickly!

Author | January 2nd, 2024 | Medical / Health
16 ways to cure a cold a one or two days.

Do you want to prevent or cure a cold faster? Finding the cure for the common cold has been mankind’s pursuit for hundreds of years.

While we haven’t found THE cure, we have found many ways to prevent illness or regain your health quicker.

With today’s Coronavirus concerns this Cold & Flu season is horrible and tricky. Catching a cold or the flu could be almost inevitable and dangerous.

How to cure a cold and beat sickness is a game everyone wants to win.

If you leave your house at all or have a large family, you’ll be surrounded by people. And those people … Read more »

Fun Family Tradition Examples: For the Holidays and The Whole Year

Author | October 24th, 2023 | Holidays, Recreation/Fun
Fun Family Traditions for Christmas, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Halloween and more.

Are you looking for some new and fun family traditions?

Whether your family is large or small, young or old, establishing traditions can cement relationships. It can also evoke warm feelings and create memories that last a lifetime.

Over the years, we’ve read numerous books about the value of family traditions.

These habits and rituals add stability to the yearly calendar as the kids eagerly anticipate and participate in the preparations for each special event. Traditions don’t need to be expensive or elaborate to be memorable.

We hope our most enjoyable ideas will provide the impetus for you to create your own family traditions. … Read more »

Free Stickers! 190 Tested & Easy Ways to Get Stickers Mailed To You

Author | October 1st, 2024 | Free Stuff
A mac laptop with free stickers on it.

Are you looking for free stickers? Do you want name-brand stickers from companies you, or your kids love? We do!

At MoneySmartFamily we love free stuff. Especially free things that our kids love or that can be given as gifts.

We’ve researched hundreds of companies and created this easy-to-use list. We update it every few weeks to keep it current and to make sure all of the sites still offer free stickers. 

108 Companies with sticker request forms on site. (page 1)

28 places to send a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) (page 2)

19 places with a … Read more »

How to Get The Most FAFSA Money and Pell Grant Awards

Author | October 19th, 2023 | College & Education
Maximize FAFSA and Pell Grant Money.

If you want to legitimately get the most FAFSA money for your college education, follow these tips and tricks. You’ll get maximum federal student aid in Pell Grants by following our research when you fill out your FAFSA application.

Debt-Free College Series # 4 – FAFSA and Financial Aid

We have  5 kids who have attended college, and we have filled out FAFSA applications with every single one of them.

As a matter of fact, we’ve filled out the FAFSA application several times with each of them.

In the process, we’ve learned several tips from our own experience and from financial aid experts.

In this blog, … Read more »

DIY Halloween Party Games, Crafts & Food Ideas for Fun Harvest Festival

Author | October 17th, 2023 | Holidays
DIY Homemade halloween. A scarecrow, a jar of candy corn and a pumpkin shaped cookie.

Are you looking for some Fun Homemade Halloween party games? We’ve assembled a great list to make your party a frugal and fun success. We started with 13 games, but the list keeps growing. We’ve also added some crafts and fun food ideas.

Halloween and the Fall can make for some really fun homemade Harvest party games. We know some people are squeamish about taking their kids out “Trick-or-Treating” so why not borrow some of these ideas. We’ve used variations of some of these for our kids’ birthday parties.

They work great as carnival-type booths or as party games for a small … Read more »

Reduce College Costs: Things to do in High School to Prepare for College

Author | October 12th, 2023 | College & Education
6 Things High School students can do that will crush the cost of college.

There are six things a teen can do in high school that will help to reduce the cost of a college education. We’ve done many of these with our 5 kids and they graduated college without any student loans!

How can a high schooler start to reduce college costs?

College is a monumental expense for parents and students alike. Who among us is prepared for paying out tens of thousands of dollars over a 4 or 5-year period? However, with any large expense, the more you and your child prepare, the more manageable the expense can be.

We have helped five of our own … Read more »

Money Gifts for Kids: Should You Give Cash Presents to Your Adult Children?

Author | December 2nd, 2023 | Kids & Money, Gifts
Do Money Gifts to Adult Kids really help them?

Will money gifts to Adult Kids really help them? Do financial bailouts enable our children and make them dependent on us as parents? Here are 8 ways to help without enabling them.

Money Gifts for Adult Kids — What Should We Do?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Money Gifts for Adult Kids — What Should We Do?2 A Retiree/ Senior Mom Helping out Adult Children3 Twelve Tips for Giving Money Gifts to Adult Kids.4 12. Consider putting it in an Annuity or other Investment5 When money gifts to adult kids need to stop!

A website visitor asked:

We have three grown … Read more »

10 DIY Non-Scary Halloween Costumes that are Easy, Cheap & Fast

Author | October 10th, 2023 | Holidays
10 non-scary, cheap, family friendly halloween costumes.

We’ve got tons of ideas for non-scary Halloween costumes that are easy and cheap to make.

Have you thought about Halloween costumes for you or your kids yet? Does the cost of costumes scare the fun out of Halloween for your family?

Planning for Halloween Takes the Cost out of Costumes

Halloween will be here before you know it. And costume-loving families know that putting together a unique and inexpensive costume takes some planning and some time.

The earlier you start, the more complete and creative your outfit will be—plus you’ll have more time to find great deals.

We know it may sound strange, but … Read more »

Grocery Store Sales Cycles: How to Save a Ton Of Money Stocking up with Holiday and Monthly Deals

Author | October 5th, 2023 | Groceries
Grocery Store Sales Cycles - brown grocery bags stacked on the floor and counter full of sale items.

Knowing the Grocery Store Sales Cycles by month and for each holiday is a great way to save tons of money on food and to fill your pantry and freezer with bargain-priced groceries.

One of our best money-saving grocery strategies is to stock up on loss leaders around the holidays. Grocery stores drop the price of various food items each month and on each holiday to entice shoppers to come to their stores.  That’s the time we swoop in and pick up deals to last several months.

Every holiday brings an opportunity to find great bargains because most grocers put traditional foods … Read more »

Is Swagbucks Legit, or is it a Scam? Our Review [Earnings Reveal]

Author | September 29th, 2022 | Recreation/Fun, Make Money, Shopping
Is Swagbucks Legit? It is a survey company, search engine, shopping portal, movie previews, playing online games, and trivia contests online!, and something for everyone!

When we first heard about the Swagbucks website, we had to ask ourselves, “Is Swagbucks legit? Or is it a scam?”

We had tried some of the other survey sites and were really disappointed. So we started researching this site to find out.

A blogger friend mentioned how she earned hundreds of dollars in gift cards through Swagbucks. We really doubted the validity of her claim.

We Googled “Is Swagbucks Legit or a scam?” and found some very interesting blogs. Some people didn’t like this website, but others praised it. The positive reviews also claimed to have earned gift cards and cashback through … Read more »

33 Places that Buy Used Cell Phones for Cash – Broken or Working

Author | January 16th, 2024 | Utilities / Phone, Make Money
Trade in Used Cell Phones for cash.

Have you ever wondered, “Who buys used cell phones?” Many stores are willing to buy used cell phones for cash.

Do you have some old cell phones sitting in a drawer? Would you like to turn that outdated technology into cash?

This article will help you turn your unneeded phones into needed money.

We’ll share stores that are nearby where you can get cash today for your phone.

And we’ll also share several online options where you can get a quote and then mail your phone in for a cash payout.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Best Places to Sell Old Phones Online2 Places … Read more »

59 Fun, Inexpensive & Interesting Hobbies

Author | January 9th, 2024 | Recreation/Fun
Fun, Inexpensive & Interesting Hobbies #InterestingHobbies #InexpensiveHobbies #FunHobbies #INeedaHobby #AffordableHobbies #MakeMoneyHobbies

Have you ever said to yourself, “I need a hobby?” Are you looking for some fun, inexpensive, or interesting hobbies to try?

Hobbies are a great way to challenge yourself, learn a new skill, or provide some extra income. And they’re especially fun if they don’t cost a lot of money to get started.

If you’re looking for something new, check out these 59 choices.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Fun & Interesting Hobbies that Became Successful Businesses2 A. Skilled Hobbies3 B. Cool Intellectual Hobbies to Enrich Your Brain4 C. Online Affordable Hobbies5 D. Popular Outdoor & Interesting HobbiesRead more »

Best Inexpensive Places to Cash Personal Checks Without A Bank Account

Author | December 26th, 2023 | Budgeting
Writing a check with a gold pen.

Have you ever wondered how to cash a personal check when you don’t have a bank account? Or where you can cash a check right now and what the charges would be?

You might need to cash a check from a friend because you’re traveling out of state, or you could have an online bank or you may simply not have a bank account at all.

If someone writes you a check and you don’t have access to your own bank, you may have a problem.

Don’t fret, there are several ways you can cash a check without a bank account.

Here’s how you … Read more »

How Long Should I Keep My Car? When Should I Buy a New One?

Author | March 19th, 2024 | Car Auto
How long Should I Keep My Car? - Should I Keep My Car or Sell It? 3 women pushing their black car next to a grassy field.

“How long should I keep my car?” is a question we are often asked. When things start breaking on a car many people think the only solution is to replace it with a new car. 

But is there a point in time when keeping your current vehicle becomes more expensive than selling it?

Making the decision to keep a car and repair it or sell it and buy another one is always tough. But if you follow our 3 step evaluation system, you’ll know the answer to whether it’s time to sell or keep your wheels.

A reader asked us, “How Long Should … Read more »

Meal Planning: 6 Easy Steps to Make Tasty Menus and Save Time

Author | September 14th, 2023 | Groceries, Grocery--Cooking
Easy Meal Planning to make menus

Meal planning seems to be one of the trendiest things to be doing now. Whether you’re into weight training, catering to a specific lifestyle choice (vegan, keto, paleo, etc.), eating organic or just doing menu planning to save time—this will help you eat healthier for less.

Annette and Steve started meal-prepping more than 30 years ago to feed their growing family of seven. Annette has tried many different ways of doing meal planning and has fine-tuned it to be efficient and tasty.

What the Difference Between Meal Planning & Meal Prepping

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 What the Difference Between Meal Planning & Meal … Read more »

FREE Coloring Pages for Adults Online: 25 Cool Printable Pages To Relax

Author | September 13th, 2023 | Recreation/Fun, Free Stuff
A List of Free Coloring Pages for Adults that you can Print and download.

Are you looking for free coloring pages online for adults that you can work on at home? If so we’ll help you find these pages from 25 websites and companies listed below!

From mandalas to zentangles to really cool designs and animals we’ve found them all for you. Most are high-resolution .pdf files that you can download and print out in just minutes.

Even the most productive adults need some time to recharge and refresh. One way to do this is by unwinding with adult coloring pages. And the way to do it inexpensively is to find free online sources.

There are many … Read more »

A Grocery Budget Makeover? The Easy Way to Budget for Food

Author | September 12th, 2023 | Groceries
A Budget Makeover with Groceries is the fastest way to find cash to improve your finances.!

If you’re looking for a Grocery Budget Makeover – start by changing how you shop for groceries.

Because most of us go to the grocery store several times each week, making a few changes in how you shop is one of the fastest ways to rehab your finances.

How can I lower my grocery bill so I can get ahead on my budget?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 How can I lower my grocery bill so I can get ahead on my budget?2 Starting the Budget Makeover with Groceries3 Make a list of the meals you know how to cook4 … Read more »

Book Review: “Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss

Author | September 15th, 2025 | Car Auto, Make Money, Shopping, Uncategorized / MIsc
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss - Best Negitiating Book in the World

How an FBI Hostage Negotiator’s Secrets Can Transform Your Marriage, Career, and Daily Conversations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 How an FBI Hostage Negotiator’s Secrets Can Transform Your Marriage, Career, and Daily Conversations2 Why This Book Matters for Families3 Core Principles That Transform Conversations4 Chapter-by-Chapter Breakdown: Your Communication Toolkit5 Real-Life Applications Steve Uses Daily6 Using AI to Channel Your Inner Chris Voss7 Why Every Family Needs These Skills8 The Bottom Line

Steve Economides has read this book twice in the past year and uses techniques from Chris Voss almost every week in emails, conversations, and … Read more »

How to Freeze, Safely Thaw and Cook Frozen Meat

Author | January 31st, 2024 | Grocery--Freezer Tips
Great Tips for Freezing Meat!

Freezing meat bought on sale is a great way to save money at the grocery store. But if you don’t properly store and protect the meat, your savings can be wasted due to freezer burn. If you follow the steps your frozen meat will save you money and you’ll rarely be disappointed.

Reader Question about Freezing Meat

How do you freeze steak, and keep it from getting dry and tough? We recently purchased filet mignon from Costco, ate two of them (they were delicious) and froze the others. When we defrosted and cooked them, they were awful. Is there is a better way … Read more »

Used Car Buying Checklist: 7 Easy Things to Do When Buying from a Private Seller

Author | December 5th, 2023 | Car Auto
Use Car Buying Checklist

We created this used car buying checklist to help our young adult kids evaluate their next car purchase.

With the recent rise in the cost of used cars, it’s more important now to carefully evaluate the car you want to buy. It’s more important now to carefully evaluate the car you want to buy.

We’ve always bought used cars from private sellers in Arizona. Our state doesn’t charge sales tax on cars purchased from individuals and this saves us 8.6 percent on the purchase price.

But we’re always careful when dealing with private party sales and follow the tips in this article. We … Read more »

Expired Meat: How Long Is Meat Good For After Expiration Date?

Author | January 30th, 2024 | Groceries
Is Expired Meat Dangerous or a Deal?

Are you concerned about food expiration dates on meat? Want to see people question your sanity? Just mention that you often purchase expired meat or meat that is going out of code.

“Code” refers to the date placed by a grocer or manufacturer on a grocery item revealing its use-by, sell-by, or freeze-by date.

We did an interview on ABC’s 20/20 with Elizabeth Vargas. When she saw a video clip of Steve selecting some discounted ham in a grocery store, she was puzzled.

She said, “You are picking up bargains on items most of us would avoid, like expiring meat.”

She continued, “Most … Read more »

Surviving Grocery Inflation! How to Shop Smarter and Save When Prices Skyrocket

Author | February 15th, 2024 | Groceries
Grocery Store produce in wooden crates.

The price of groceries is constantly changing. But how do you survive when grocery inflation drives the price of groceries in your area through the roof? Or how do you adjust when you have changes in your family size?

A Reader Asks about Grocery Inflation and Our Grocery Budget

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 A Reader Asks about Grocery Inflation and Our Grocery Budget2 How Inflated Grocery Prices have Changed our Grocery Budget3 Grocery Inflation Chart 20224 What Hasn’t Changed with Our Grocery Expenses5 What is ShrinkFlation and How to Spot It?6 What You Can Do About … Read more »

Should We Have Kids or Not? It’s Incredibly Expensive to Raise a Child.

Author | August 8th, 2023 | Kids & Money
Are Kids Too Expenisve? Two baby hands counting fingers.

If you think that Kids are Expensive …. You’re right. Have you heard the government statistics about the cost of raising a child?

We raised 5 kids and spent less than 60% of what the government experts estimated. Learn how.

Kerri’s story: How one reader grew up and was taught to manage money.

Question About the Cost of Having Kids: When I graduated from high school, I paid for my own auto insurance, graduation gown, and class ring.

My grandmother paid for my class picture. My graduation gift from my parents was a cell phone with a very limited plan because it was … Read more »

6 Cheap Vacation Ideas: How to Travel on a Shoe String Budget

Author | August 4th, 2022 | Vacation/Travel, Recreation/Fun
Camping in the Forest - Vaction on a shoe string budget

Are you looking for some inexpensive vacation ideas? Have you heard of bloggers who travel on a shoestring budget and have lots of fun?

Have you ever thought about great vacations with limited funds?

And what about this summer with Covid issues all around, could you still get away?

If you’re thinking you can’t take a vacation, think again. We’ve got lots of frugal and cheap tips to make your vacation memorable on a shoestring budget.

If your only option is to travel on a shoestring budget, you still create a fun and enjoyable memory!

Here’s how we and several other frugal … Read more »