16 Fun Thanksgiving Activities for Adults and Kids

Thanksgiving Activities for Families with Kids can be Fun & Frugal.

Are you looking for some fun Thanksgiving activities for families with kids? A few of these fun activities can really make the day special and memorable.

Even with concerns about Inflation and pandemics, you can still have a fun, safe gathering, without spending a lot of money.

The activities we plan are some of the best ways to keep kids and parents engaged and looking forward to this holiday.

If everyone or most everyone participates, the fun memories created will last a lifetime.

Whether you are a kid, teen or adult, coming up with activities to share on Thanksgiving is a very doable … Read more »

Thanksgiving Grocery Sales & Deals: Discount Food to Stock Up On!

Thanksgiving Stock Ups - A Great Time to Capture Sales on Grocery Food Items!

Are you looking for Thanksgiving Grocery Deals? You’ve come to the right place. It’s time to stock your pantry and freezer!

Even with prices soaring due to inflation and supply chain issues, we’re still seeing some loss leaders and great sales.

Buying up Thanksgiving grocery deals is a great way to save money and make those savings last for several months.

Get Those Holiday Loss Leaders

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Get Those Holiday Loss Leaders2 Using a Freezer for Thanksgiving Deals3 Look For Thanksgiving Sale Pricing on These Items4 Annette’s Thanksgiving Menu for 20225 Thanksgiving Savings Video

Grocery retailers … Read more »

How to Prepare Your Car for Winter – Free Winterizing Checklist

Prepare Your Car for Winter

Do you want to prepare your car for winter so you can get where you want to go safely? Do you live in a part of the country with the potential for severe winter weather?

We’ll share some of the best and least expensive ideas for what to keep in your car and how to get your car ready for winter. That way you can go over the hills and through the woods, to whomever’s house you go.

If you winterize your car, despite harsh weather conditions, you’ll still keep yourself safe and you’ll be less likely to be stranded.

Winterizing Your … Read more »

Scratch Marks on Plates? 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Knife Marks

5 ways to get scratch marks off of dishes.

Do you want to get rid of knife marks on plates? If you’re prepping for a party, the holidays or just want your stoneware or dishes to look cleaner and less worn, we’ve got 5 easy solutions for you.

Why Does Silverware Leave Utensil Marks on Plates?

Do you have these gray metal marks on your dishes? We couldn’t find a silverware or ceramics expert who shed light on why silverware, flatware or silverplate leaves metallic marks on dishes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Why Does Silverware Leave Utensil Marks on Plates?2 Five Ways to Get Metallic Knife Marks Off of PlatesRead more »

Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget! 4 Tips to Save Time and Money.

Hosting my first Thanksgiving Dinner - what should I do?

Here’s a free email newsletter subscriber question about hosting her first Thanksgiving.

I will be cooking my first Thanksgiving Dinner for my Family and I am overwhelmed!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 I will be cooking my first Thanksgiving Dinner for my Family and I am overwhelmed!2 Don’t Fret over Your First Thanksgiving Dinner!3 Keeping the Cost of Thanksgiving Down4 Ask people to help with your First Thanksgiving5 Set a Fancy Table for Your First Holiday Meal6 Reader Suggestion: Cooking The Turkey Ahead of Time7 How Much Turkey Do You Need?8 How To Cook … Read more »

How to Pay for College With No Money and Without a Trust Fund

How to Pay for College with no Money - College graduate

A Reader asks How to Pay for College With No Money and without a Trust Fund.

Question: My daughter is a senior in high school and is preparing to head off to college. We have no money saved for her college expenses and feel like loans are the only option we have. What should we do?

MoneySmartFamily: You have more options than you realize. Keep reading to learn about several of the easier ones.

1. Get Government Grants

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 1. Get Government Grants2 2. Find Scholarships That She Can Win3 3. Learn from A Scholarship Winner4 … Read more »

Medical Cost Sharing? The Complete Guide to Health Share Plans to Save Money

Mom holding a baby's hand - medical cost sharing.

Many people have asked what the difference is between Health Share Plans and traditional Health Insurance.  We’ll answer many questions about the medical cost-sharing industry in this article.

Things like:

What’s the Difference Between Medical Cost Sharing and Traditional Insurance?

How Long Has Medical Cost Sharing been around?

What types of things do cost-sharing programs cover and not cover?

How much can you save with Medical Cost Sharing programs?

Who are the biggest players in Medical Cost Sharing?

See an example of what a large medical expense would cost you with a cost-sharing account.

Problems with Affordable Care Act Insurance

It happens over and over again. People crying at … Read more »

The Secret Fix: How to Rehydrate Droopy Limp Carrots

How to rehydrate droopy limp carrots and other veggies

Have you ever purchased carrots that are rubbery, limp and droopy? Have carrots that you store in your refrigerator lost their crispness and crunchiness?

Don’t despair, your produce is not ready for the trash can or compost pile. You can rehydrate limp carrots and return them to their crisp and crunchy original condition.

Watch the video at the bottom of this page as Steve demonstrates how easy it is to fix limp carrots.

Why Do Carrots Get Rubbery and Limp?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Why Do Carrots Get Rubbery and Limp?2 How Carrots are Sold3 How We Buy Carrots4 Why … Read more »

The Ultimate Guide to 28 Most Popular Online Outlet Stores

Ultimate Guide to 28 Great Online Outlet Stores

In today’s inflation-driven economy, finding the best online outlet stores is essential for consumers looking to save money without sacrificing quality.

What sets these outlets apart is not just their remarkable deals but also their commitment to customer satisfaction. 

Many of these stores boast return policies that are a breath of fresh air compared to traditional wholesalers or liquidators. 

It’s reassuring to know that when you shop at these outlets, you’re not merely taking a chance; you’re buying with confidence. If an item doesn’t meet your expectations or isn’t in great working condition, most of these stores offer a hassle-free return process that … Read more »

How To Buy A House With Bad Credit: 5 Steps to Ownership

Buying a home with bad credit or a low credit score is possible.

Buying a home with bad credit can really be challenging. And if you have a poor credit score it can be even tougher. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a home, but you’re struggling with saving a down payment or raising your credit score, we’ve got hope.

There are several steps you can take to repair credit, find a lender, and realize that goal of homeownership. This guide will help you find all the resources you need.

Step One: Work on Your Credit

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Step One: Work on Your Credit2 Step Two: Start Saving for Your Down PaymentRead more »

15 Ways to Wreck Your Food Budget

15 ways to wreck your food budget - tips for saving money

Learning to manage your food budget is one of the fastest ways to start turning around your family household budget. We see so many families practice grocery shopping habits that drive their food costs through the roof.

If you’ve never been shown how to master the art of food shopping and meal prep, don’t feel bad.

It’s a much easier game to learn than you realize.

Take the Quiz and See How You Do

Put a checkmark next to any statement that describes something you’ve said or done in the past six months:

 1) I go to the store several times each week.

Going to the … Read more »

Saving on Back-to-School Supplies — 5 Black Belt Tactics

Back to School Supplies - 5 Ways to Save Big Money.

The late summer months are the best time to stock up and save money on Back to School Supplies.

Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, this can be one of the most expensive times of the year for families with young children. Why?

The reason is that back-to-school costs can really take a toll on your family’s household budget.

According to the National Retail Federation, retailers expect that consumers will shell out more than $80.7 billion during this back-to-school shopping frenzy (k-12 and college combined).

50.1 million students will attend public elementary and secondary school. So if you do the math it comes out to … Read more »

Organic Food on a Budget: 12 Secrets to Save Money and Eat Healthily

Organic Food On A Budget #OrganicFoodSavings #OrganicOnABudget #SaveMoneyOnGroceries

Are you looking for ways to eat healthier organic food on a budget? Have you ever asked, “How can I save money on organic food?”

We are always asked about how to save money on organics every time we do a grocery seminar or take phone calls during a radio interview on grocery savings.

Why Does Organic Food Usually Cost More?

Organic food products, on average, cost 50 percent more than standard foods. But you could end up spending 100 percent more, especially on dairy products and meat.

According to Fox … Read more »

Saving on Back-to-School Clothing — 5 Frugal Fashion Tips For Kids

Back-to-School Clothes: 5Frugal Fashion Tips for Kids!

We’ve got Frugal Fashion Tips for Kids when you’re shopping for back-to-school clothes. These will help your kids to look nice, be a little trendy, and not cost a fortune.

We outfitted 5 kids with wardrobes each year. We also found lots of ways for them to look fashionable while staying within our frugal spending limits.

5 Ways to Save on Fashionable Back-To-School Clothes

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 5 Ways to Save on Fashionable Back-To-School Clothes2 1: Start with a Clothing Inventory3 2: Build a List with Each Child4 3: Consider Buying Used5 4: Start Early / Finish … Read more »

Amazing! 10 Stores That Will Price Match Amazon Today!

Stores that Price Match Amazon - Amazon Box with store logos on it.

Do you know which stores will price match Amazon near you?

What better way is there to save money than to find retailers who will match or even beat one of the low price leaders? If you want your order TODAY or want it cheaper keep this list handy.

We’ve researched 14 of the largest retailers who advertise price matching policies and have found those who will match Amazon’s prices and a few that won’t.

Amazon’s Market Dominance

Amazon was founded in 1993 as an online bookstore. In 1998 it started to really take off and now Amazon has disrupted and transformed the retail … Read more »

11 Fun Easter Traditions for Families: Crafts, Decor, & Activities for a Great Celebration

11 Easter Traditions for Families - Crafts, Decorations & Activities. #EasterDecorations #EasterCrafts #EasterActivities

Are you looking for fun Easter Traditions for your family? Traditions are a type of glue that holds families together and builds enduring memories.

Fun traditions don’t have to be expensive, elaborate or logical – some can be downright silly. But for kids, having consistent events throughout the year is something that adds stability and anticipation to life.

Jellybean trails through the house are one of our favorite family Easter traditions.

Here are 11 different Easter traditions and crafts that are part of our family’s history.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Jelly Bean Trails2 Easter String Balls3 Marble Eggs4 … Read more »

6 Reasons Why Eggs Are So Expensive? Where to Find Cheap Eggs

Why Eggs Cost So Much and How to Buy them Cheaper

Are you wondering how to save money on eggs? In the past 12 months, egg prices have shot through the roof! And we’re getting asked regularly by friends and media people, “Why are eggs so expensive and how can I get eggs for less?”

In Arizona, we’ve seen prices as high as $10 per dozen.

Are you wondering how you can still eat eggs without going broke? Or are you wanting to find ways to still have eggs in your weekly menu, but stretch them further? Or do you want to reduce the number of eggs in a variety of … Read more »

18 Grocery Stores that Offer Senior Discounts

Grocery Stores with Senior Discounts - Woman selecting fruits and veggies

Are you wondering which grocery stores offer senior discounts in your area? Do you know which days and what ages qualify for the senior discount?

Grocery shopping can be one expense that is difficult to trim down. Luckily, there are many ways to cut back on your grocery costs.

With the use of store sales and coupons, you can dramatically reduce this line item in your budget. However, these money-saving grocery tips can be even more powerful if you are able to combine them with a senior discount. 

Watch the video at … Read more »

5 Required Emergency Fund Examples to Protect Your Future

Emergency fund Examples for building emergency fund savings.

If you’re building an emergency fund, you’ll want to set some savings goals based on the five-category examples in this article. We’ll give you emergency fund examples, amounts and categories.

If you’re managing a budget and have extra money available each month, you’ll want to take note of our emergency fund examples.

We took several years to accumulate our 5 category Emergency Fund Savings account. We’ll tell you what the categories are, how much we saved and where we keep it (it’s in a special high-yield bank account).

We’d love your input on our Medical Coverage Poll below – if you have … Read more »

Molecular Hydrogen: Health Miracle or Brown’s Gas Hoax?

Aquacure - Molecular Hydrogen HHO Brown's Gas - bubbling in a beaker

Have you ever heard of the potential health benefits of drinking hydrogen water, or breathing molecular hydrogen gas (aka HHO or HydrOxy or Brown’s gas)?

Are the claims of health improvement and performance enhancement hype or a hoax?

Molecular Hydrogen has been studied and used more and more since 2016. Researchers are looking at how it can help with various diseases, brain disorders, and skin problems. Although the FDA hasn’t approved these uses yet, some alternative medicine clinics are testing and using it. Also, several companies are now selling molecular hydrogen generators.

We will share the research studies we’ve found, list the companies … Read more »

Romantic Movies: Best PG-13 Family Friendly Valentine’s Day Flicks

If you're looking for movies that have romance or romantic comedy in them, here's a great list! Movie reels with a sheer valentine heart and the title Valentine movie mania

We have watched almost all of the PG-13 Romantic Movies listed below. All of them are family-friendly and are perfect for Valentine’s Day Movie Mania night. Or any other night when you just want to snuggle up together.

If you’re looking for a movie that will warm your heart, try these. We’ve picked movies with romance in them and romantic comedies from war flicks and heartwarming stories to total suspense! We’ve combined some of our favorites with a huge list provided by our Facebook Fans!

Romantic Movies suitable for Family Viewing

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Romantic Movies suitable for Family Viewing2 … Read more »

How to Host a New Year’s Party at Home – Fun & Frugal!

Hosting a New Years Party that is Fun and Frugal

Are you posting a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day party at home and don’t have a huge budget? We’ll share with you what we make to eat, the games we play, and the fun we have.

We’ve hosted a New Year’s Eve Party full of Family Fun each year for the past 20 years of so. Recently we switched to hosting a New Year’s Day Open House. 

This party tradition started years ago and doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon. Even though our kids are grown, they love inviting their friends and helping put on a great event.

When … Read more »

The True Meaning of Gift Giving – Reducing Holiday Gift Pressures (with grace)

Reduce Holiday Gift Pressure Christmas Tree Ornaments

If you’re looking for the true meaning of Gift Giving, how to enjoy Christmas and the whole holiday season without feeling obligated to spend gobs of money. We’ve got 7 ways to overcome Holiday Gift Pressure.

We believe that gift-giving is a tangible way of saying “I love you.” But we also believe that spending lots of money means that I love you more than spending time and carefully selecting an appropriate gift.

A Reader Question about Holiday Gift Giving Pressures

I really enjoy reading about how your family enjoys holidays like Christmas without spending a lot of money (we all know what … Read more »

How to Make A Christmas Budget that Makes your Holidays Jingle with Joy

My Christmas Budget - Six Saving Tips to Make Your Holidays Jingle with Joy

Are you wondering how to set up a Christmas Budget for Gift Giving? We’ll share that and some other tips for saving on gift-giving so that your holidays will Jingle with Joy.

Christmas is coming, and it seems to get here faster and faster each year. And for many families what accompanies the approach of the holiday is the accumulation of lots of presents and . . . lots of bills or credit card debt.

Is there a way to break the cycle of obligatory gift-giving and the weight of January’s debt regret?

Our Christmas Budget Doesn’t Include A lot of Gifts

TABLE … Read more »

Giving Money As A Gift: Is it Better to Give Cash or a Present to Kids?

Gift Giving presents under a christmas tree.

Gift Giving for Kids, it’s an age-old question. Should we give our kids money for Christmas or should we just give them presents? You might be surprised by our advice to this family!

Question About the Holidays and Gift Giving for Kids

I have your three books and have read about the MoneySmart Kids System that teaches kids to manage their own money; I have a question regarding giving money for holidays (to your children). Do you give money to your children for holidays or do you have a rule to not give money?

Our Strategy with Gift Giving for … Read more »