Saving Money
How We Save on Back-to-School Without the Store Meltdown
August 21, 2026We spent $162 on school supplies and clothes for three kids this year, down from $310, and nobody cried in aisle nine. Here is how.
The Cash-Back Apps I Actually Keep on My Phone
July 28, 2026I deleted nine money-saving apps in one night. The four that survived earned us $212 last year for about ten minutes a week.
Buying Kids' Clothes for Less: Consignment, Hand-Me-Downs and Timing
June 3, 2026How we dressed three growing kids for about $640 last year: the bin system, consignment sale tricks, and when to buy what.
27 Things I Stopped Buying (And Honestly Don't Miss)
March 27, 2026From paper plates to name-brand cereal, the 27 things that quietly dropped off our shopping list, and the three I tried to quit but couldn't.
The Pantry Challenge: Eating From the Shelves for Three Weeks
January 14, 2026Last January we ate from our shelves for three weeks and spent $168 on groceries instead of $850. What worked, and the lentils nobody ate.
Holiday Gifts on a Budget: Our Four-Gift Rule
November 12, 2025Something they want, need, wear, and read. How the four-gift rule keeps our Christmas around $100 a kid without anyone feeling cheated.
Birthday Parties Under $75 That the Kids Still Talk About
August 7, 2025Backyard campouts, a homemade carnival, and a pancake party. Five birthday parties we threw for under $75, with the real receipts.
How We Do a No-Spend Weekend With Three Kids
June 7, 2025Three kids, two days, zero dollars. What we actually do on a no-spend weekend, what we stock up on beforehand, and where it went wrong.
The $5 Rule That Quietly Saved Us $1,140 Last Year
May 12, 2025Every five-dollar bill that lands in my wallet goes into a coffee can. Last year that added up to 228 bills. Here's how it works for us.