Traveling to Hawaii is expensive. Add Disney’s Aulani Resort (twenty-one acres of Disney magic on O‘ahu’s western coastline) to the mix, and we are talking about crazy money. Having been there, I can say that it’s worth it! You don’t have to spend as much as you think, as there are a lot of ways…
Finances
How to Become a Financial New You
This post was sponsored, and paid for, by SunTrust. All opinions are my own. Money can be a tough subject for some people. A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck. Others have disasters or unfortunate events befall them (family death, divorce, natural disaster, etc.), some go through a time of incurring additional expenses (marriage,…
How I Get My Toddlers to Do Their Own Laundry
I have regularly involved my children in doing laundry for over a year now. Starting at about age 2 their laundry duties have gradually increased. Now that they are 3 and 5, they are doing the majority of their own laundry every week. Their duties include: Putting dirty laundry in the hamper. Helping me load…
Should I Have a Second Child? 7 Reasons Why Two Kids Are Better Than One
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of P&G. The opinions and text are all mine. My friends are just about to welcome their second baby. The first was quite an adjustment for them (as it usually is for most). They are a little nervous and apprehensive that this second one…
5 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Communicate with Your Spouse About Money—Without Having to Talk
The following 5 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Communicate with Your Spouse About Money—Without Having to Talk have helped my husband and I be in the ‘know’ of what’s going on with our finances without actually having to broach the topic in a conversation. Communicating with a spouse about money is sometimes tough. More often than…
10 Ways to Save Big on Halloween Costumes
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love dressing my kids up and attending parties, carving pumpkins, and eating caramel apples. Although many costumes can be expensive, here are 10 ways to save big on Halloween costumes. 1- Borrow costumes from a friend. Ask friends if they have any old costumes that they’d be willing to…
How to Upgrade Your Dishwasher to Stainless Steel for Around $100.00
I was upgrading my friend’s home and he loved the dishwasher he currently had—the only problem was it was out of date/black. All of his other appliances were stainless steel. We searched around and the equivalent dishwasher in stainless steel would have cost him over $450.00. I decided to see if we could change the…
How to Teach Your Toddlers to Work, Earn Money, and Become Frugal
Children thrive in environments where they learn to help, have skills to do things, and feel like they contribute. Children should be taught the concept of earning something through work at a young age. I have been learning by experience how to teach toddlers to work, earn money, and become frugal. My daughter, Aurora, is…
Flipping an Older Cabin into Your Luxury Vacation Home
We all dream of a luxurious vacation home where we can bring our family and friends to make memories for years to come. Unfortunately, luxury homes come at a premium that most of us are not able to afford. But you don’t have to give up your dreams of owning a fantastic vacation home. Consider…
How You Can Use Your 401K to Start a Business (Tax-Penalty Free)
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Guidant Financial for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. How You Can Use Your 401K to Start a Business (Tax-Penalty Free) I am a business woman at heart. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. As a result, I am constantly thinking…
How to Make Money from Home with Contena
Welcome to Money-Making Stay-at-Home Moms: How to Make Money from Home with Contena There are 38+ interviews in this series (see links to additional interviews below). Today I’m continuing my Money-Making Stay-at-Home Mom Series (this is 38) by adding an awesome company to it. Working from home by writing for Contena. Freelancing for Contena is a legitimate…
Financial Illiteracy—Why It’s a Problem and How to Avoid it
“Financial illiteracy is not unique to any one population. It affects everyone; men and women, young and old, across all racial and socioeconomic lines. No longer can we stand by and ignore this problem. The economic future of the United States depends on it.”—President’s Advisory Council. Below you will find tips and links to resources…
Estate Planning for Blended Families
I have two kids from a previous marriage and my husband has four from his. As we have become a blended family, the need to draft a will has become too difficult to do on our own. So, I reached out to a friend who is a lawyer and specializes in estate planning. I’ve asked him a…
7 Extremely Effective Ways to Save Money Booking a Disney Cruise
Today, I welcome my friend and Disney Travel Expert Danielle who shares 7 extremely effective ways to save money booking a Disney Cruise below. The phrases “Disney Cruise” and “saving money” don’t typically go together! As a seasoned Disney cruiser (I’ve done 7) and as a busy, active travel agent I have…
How to Smoke a Papa Murphy’s Pizza
I was compensated for this review of Papa Murphy’s. All opinions are 100% my own. #DealsAt425 #Ad My boyfriend and I have a combined six kids. Eating out with 8 people is not only very expensive, it can also be somewhat disruptive to those around us. Although we all really love a variety of food and flavors,…
Why Financial Literacy Is Not Enough
This post was sponsored, and paid for, by SunTrust. All opinions are my own. When I started back to college after a four-year-break, I struggled. I could understand the literature and topics but my grades were not doing well. On my mid-term report card I was averaging a C across the board. After seeing my…
15 Ways to Save Hundreds and Get Free Food At Kroger
This post is sponsored by U.S. BANK and Kroger. I love to shop at Smith’s Food and Drug Store aka Kroger. There are many reasons why I love to grocery shop at Smith’s, but the main one is that the savings opportunities are awesome! There are so many ways to save and many opportunities to…
3 Easy Ways to Avoid Solicitors and Impulse Purchases
Solicitors often convince us to buy things we don’t really need, want, and/or items we often haven’t budgeted for. They are extremely effective, very convincing, and are usually hard to say no to—or don’t like to take ‘no’ for an answer. The very best way to avoid being solicited and impulsive purchasing is just avoid soliciting and…
Why You Should Have an Estate Plan for Those You May Leave Behind
Financial guru, Dave Ramsey, notes that the mortality rate for human beings is 100%. Death is what you might call an “unavoidable” inevitability. But thankfully, because we know our ultimate fate, we can plan for it and avoid problems that otherwise result from it. Often loved ones are left with a lot to handle: sadness,…
The Best Money-making Survey Sites That Are Trust Worthy
Many people have a little extra time when they are at home watching TV, in the car waiting for kids to get out of school, or during breaks at work, and some people are looking for a new hobby or way to make money from home. If you have extra time and want an extra few hundred…
Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not)
I had the book Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not) by Beth Kobliner show up on my doorstep the other day. I sat down in my living room and began to read through it. As an author of a financial book myself, I was excited to read another money guide for parents…
14 Easy Ways to Save Big on Prescriptions
Most American families have at least one prescription. In fact, studies show that Americans spend over $400 Billion on prescriptions a year. That breaks down to $1,300 a person! That number is mind boggling to me. Luckily, my family is blessed with great health so we don’t have to fill prescriptions regularly. However, at times I do…
Freebies & Coupons You Can Get for Your Birthday
This month I am celebrating my birthday and I’ve been receiving a lot of freebies, discounts, and coupons. Last night I was able to enjoy a meal at a good discount because of my birthday. In the food department, I’ve received over $75 worth of free food vouchers/coupons/offers. Granted most of these I have to buy another…
An Innovative New Way to Purchase Items Online & Build Credit Without Using a Credit Card
With credit card debt reaching historical highs, some debt experts are encouraging consumers to ditch the credit cards and just use cash. Credit card debt can be a vicious thing. Interest rates often run very high and compound, the credit card itself may have an annual fee, there may be late fees, deferred interest, etc. Yet…
Top 9 Tips for Saving Money at Disney World
A lot of families consider traveling to be too expensive for them. Mention the words “Disney World,” and most scoff at the idea of ever being able to take their family there. It isn’t going to be cheap, but planning and budgeting for such a vacation can make it attainable! Besides booking with my friends…
How To Tackle ‘Debt Stress’: 5 Top Tips
Having out-of-control debt is a source of major stress and worry for many. Debt can start small and manageable, but often continues to escalate if not handled properly. Dealing properly with debt stress is important. Try the following: 1. Assess the scale of your debts. Part of the problem for many is not knowing precisely the extent…
5 Tips to Help You Stay Digitally Connected Without Draining Your Budget
In the age of technology, electronics are a necessity. Devices like smart TV’s, computers, and music players and Bluetooth have become a part of everyday life. With new products coming out daily, keeping up with the latest trends can become an expensive habit. The truth is, you don’t have to go broke buying electronics. Take…
Entrepreneurialism and the American Dream Showcased at Ignite Retreat + Weekend Getaway Giveaway
In the midst of my stressful home remodel, I got to have a weekend away with women who I greatly admire and respect. I attended Ignite Retreat. It was such a needed reprieve for me! I was so impressed with every single person I met the entire weekend. It was like the American Dream was on showcase for me to…
Free Financial Boot Camp for New Parents
Babies are the sweetest things, but they are expensive! The average baby costs over $15,000.00 in their first year. Diapers, clothing, formula (if you formula feed), gear, food, supplies, etc., all add up. When I was at about 6 months pregnant with my first, I had to go from full-time to part-time work due to health issues….
23 Must-Read Tips on Preparing Your Home for Its Sale
I was getting ready to sale my home. Life circumstances changed, but I had it on the market for four days and received 2 good and one excellent offers. So the following steps did work! I’ve taken multiple real estate courses. I’ve also been doing a lot of research and asking trusted experts for tips on preparing…
