Lifestyle Tips

Note: This is part of the “How To – On a Budget” series. Click here to read more ideas for doing life on a budget (building a wardrobe,  having a baby, and giving gifts). We’ve all heard it: “Get your 5-a-day!” But let’s be honest. Sometimes it’s hard to invest in produce when it seems so expensive. Today I’m going to share with you some of my tips and tricks for shopping for produce on a budget so you can…

Today I’m going to recommend the one book that you NEED to have in your kitchen. I have quite a few cookbooks, some that I use more than others, but this one surpasses them all in my mind. My mom got me this cookbook shortly after I graduated from university and needed to start paying back my student loans. She knew I needed to learn how to cook good food on a budget. I’ve been in love with this cookbook…

This is a guest post written by my friend, Tessa Hughes. I asked her to write some tips for all of us who aspire to build a great wardrobe on a tight budget. She and her husband became debt-free last year, and she managed to keep up her fashion while paying off $19,000 in debt (and raising 2 kids)! Tessa runs a styling company out of Vancouver where she helps people build great wardrobes on any budget. Check out her business…

This is a guest post written by my good friend Kristen Foley. She blogs about her life as a nurse and mother on her blog, Scrubs and Pastries. I’m excited for her to share her tips for how to have a baby on a budget, a phase in life I have yet to experience.  My husband and I had a baby girl in January of this year. One day last summer when it was hot out and pregnant ol’ me…

This past week I bought 10 pounds of strawberries. My purpose? DIY jam!  Some people get scared of making their own jam because they imagine standing over a huge pot, pulling jars out and waiting for the *pop* that tells you that your jars are officially sealed. Today I want to share with you one of life’s greatest secrets: freezer jam. My mother-in-law introduced me to freezer jam a few years ago (thanks, Lea!) and it has honestly been one…

I’ve come to realize that no two people’s lives are the same. Now, this may have been obvious to you, but for me, this was a very freeing realization. The more time I spend on social media, the more I come to question my own lifestyle. I so desperately want to pin those delicious looking recipes that I see littering my home feed on Pinterest, but then I realize that trying to make the perfect looking meal doesn’t fit in with…

I don’t know about you, but I get hungry in between meals. It seems that when I get hungry, I also get grumpy, and we’ve come to realize that Fred I often fight more when I feel hungry. To avoid these unnecessary fights, I’ve started thinking through some snacks that have protein and are healthy, don’t cost a fortune, and that I can throw in my purse and go. I bought a few things that I like that I thought…

I hate getting up in the mornings. I usually hit the snooze button 1-4 times each morning. My husband usually has to coax me out of the bed. I’m working on being better at this, but until I become a morning person that just pops out of bed, I need to find ways to save time in the morning. Something that I do to save time is taking breakfast with me on the go. Two months ago, I shared my…

I hate throwing things away. It’s not hard for me to give things away, or to throw away useless things, but I have trouble throwing away boxes, ribbons, and food (specifically). I have seen mold in many different colours because I keep things in the fridge until I’m forced to by the fungus growing on them. (This grosses my husband out, but what can you do?) This is sometimes helpful in being frugal, and has allowed me to save money…

If you are trying to live a frugal life, dating can be the worst. Especially when you’re married and want to keep the magic alive, it’s hard to have a limited amount of funds to spend with your sweetie. I’ve (recently) taken this as another chance to get creative and find ways to save money and still have fun. Before I share some of our date night ideas, I will admit that Fred and I are still working on this.…