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How I’m Throwing A Cookie Decorating Party on a Budget

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How to throw a cookie decorating party Pinterest graphic

Every Christmas, I throw a cookie decorating party. Generally, I have a few of my friends here, along with their children, and we decorate cookies, do Christmas crafts, listen to music, and watch movies. As you can imagine, this kind of get-together can get costly fast. You have cookies, icing, decorating tools, a table cover, food, etc. However, I never break my budget when it comes to throwing this party. Here’s how I’m doing it.

Go To Aldi

Aldi has the best prices around where groceries are concerned, there’s no doubt about that. Sometimes heading to Aldi isn’t as convenient for me, but if I’m throwing a get-together, I ALWAYS head there. For this party, I’ll be making a couple of grazing boards to snack from. Things like salami, pepperoni, veggies, fruit, and cheese are all reasonably priced at Aldi.

I’m also going to snag everything I can for the cookie making at Aldi (flour, sugar, baking soda, confectioner’s sugar, etc.). Again, things are just cheaper there.

Hit the Dollar Store

The next store on my list to hit for the party is the Dollar Store. There are a few things I will pick up as party favors and other craft materials there. Many Dollar Stores have fun Christmas mugs throughout the holiday season. Everyone attending the party will get one to put their hot chocolate in and they can take it home. For $1, that’s a steal and a great little party favor!

They also have ornaments that we will paint. Again $1 for a set of ornaments to decorate is a steal. I’ll also grab other things like a table cover to protect my table during the decorating, a pack of festive plates, and a little candy to go into their gift bags. We also do small gifts (under $20), so I’ll grab a couple gift bags too.

Planning for Cost

The biggest thing about throwing a cookie decorating party, or any kind of gathering, is knowing what your budget is ahead of time. Know exactly how much money you want to spend or are willing to spend on the event. Pinterest is a great place to find DIY and budget-friendly dupes and ideas.

All of that said, having a decorating party like this has become a great tradition for us. It is somewhere between Friendsgiving and Christmas – and we love it. Even if it’s fancier some years than it is others, it is something we can always look forward to. Whether we spend $20 or $100, it is something we can enjoy every year.

To me, that is the best part of it all – I could buy a package of pre-made sugar cookies and icing and we’d still be able to carry on with this tradition.

Readers, what are some of your holiday traditions and how do you plan to cover the cost each year? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 

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6 Ways to Reduce Your Family’s Dental Costs

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Dental health is important for your overall well-being, but sometimes it can be expensive to keep your and your family’s dental health in shape. Fortunately, reducing dental costs for your family doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips below can help reduce the costs of your family’s dental care, so you can focus on achieving the best dental health possible.

1. Invest in Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Taking proper care of your teeth and gums can help you avoid costly dental procedures like fillings, crowns, and root canals. Regularly brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day will help keep your teeth and gums healthy. If your children are old enough, make sure they do the same. You can teach them how to brush by making it fun. Cartoon characters are another great way to encourage children to brush their teeth.

2. Use the Free Checkups on Your Insurance

It’s important for people of all ages to get regular dental checkups every six months just like how you should visit a doctor at least once a year. Most insurance plans offer some type of free checkup or preventive care. Be sure to take advantage of this and visit your dentist for regular exams and cleanings, too.

You can also get free checkups if you’re a new dental patient. Most dentists are willing to give you a free consultation to encourage you to become a patient.

3. Avoid Keeping Sugary Drinks in the House

As much as sports drinks are harmful to your teeth, researchers found that exposure to energy drinks such as Rockstar, Monster, and Red Bull resulted in twice as much enamel loss as exposure to sports drinks such as Powerade, Gatorade, and Propel (3.1% to 1.5%). Sugary drinks are terrible for your teeth and should be avoided, or at least limited. That’s because sugar feeds the bacteria in plaque, which leads to tooth decay and cavities. Reduce or limit the number of sugary drinks that your family consumes to reduce costly dental issues later on.

4. Look for Affordable Payment Options

Some dental offices offer payment plans that can help your family afford the care they need. Ask your dentist about what plans are available or if there are any discounts for paying in full upfront. You can also talk to your insurance provider about what type of coverage is available for dental care.

Payment plans are common and can be a great way to spread the cost of dental care over time. If you’re not sure what options are available, ask your dentist or insurance provider for more information.

5. Shop Around for a Dentist

The cost of dental care can vary significantly from one dentist to the next. Shopping around can help you find a dentist that offers quality care at an affordable price. Ask friends and family for recommendations, or look online for reviews. Compare prices and services offered to find the best deal. Just make sure you’re not sacrificing the quality of care in order to save a few dollars.

Finding an affordable dentist is important because the cost of dental care can add up quickly if you don’t have insurance or a payment plan. Finding the right dentist can help you get the care your family needs without breaking the bank.

6. Talk to Your Dentist About Preventative Care

According to Colgate, there are four types of dental bridges: traditional fixed bridge, cantilever bridge, resin-bonded bridge, and implant-supported bridge. Depending on the type of bridge your dentist recommends, you can save money by opting for generic bridges instead of their branded counterparts. Ask your dentist about any generic alternatives that may be available.

Your dentist can also recommend preventative care treatments that can help reduce costly procedures later on. For example, tooth sealants can help protect your teeth from cavities and decay. These treatments are relatively inexpensive, but they can save you money in the long run.

Money and Holidays: Remembering the Reason for the Season

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Money and holidays - remembering the reason for the season

Money and holidays. These two things are enough to stress most people out. However, instead of biting your nails and worrying about having all the biggest, best gifts under the tree, take some time to reflect on the real reason for the season. Your mind (and your wallet) will thank you.

Here are some ways I’m being more present and spending less this holiday season.

DIY Holiday Gifts

Every year, I make some kind of Christmas gift. One year, everyone got a homemade crocheted scarf, the next everyone got handmade socks, or their favorite Christmas cookies in a tin.

This year, I’ll be making several gifts for my little one’s grandparents. Overall, nine gifts across all the grandparents will only cost me about $100. That’s just over $10 per person – not bad! More than the financial aspect though is that I will spend time with my little one, friends, and family while creating these crafts.

Video Calls

During the pandemic, most people were interacting with their loved ones via video call. This is still a possibility and necessary for those of us who don’t live close to all of our family members. Set up a few dates throughout the holiday season to sit down and video chat with folks who live farther away. Spending time catching up can be an amazing gift for both parties and help you reconnect – that’s one of the biggest joys of the holidays for me.

Throw a Party

It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Don’t forget that the season is meant to be spent with the ones you love. Throw a potluck get-together to keep cost low and enjoy yourself. You’ll get to see everyone near-and-dear to your heart without the pressure of swapping gifts.

Gift Swaps

Speaking of swapping gifts, we have plans to go to a gift swap this year with other families who have babies. While I have not been a fan of swaps in recent years, I love the idea of it. You get to enjoy the feeling of giving a gift without the pressure of buying a gift for everyone. There is no guilt over how much you spent, nor is there guilt over buying every single person a present.

Money and Holidays: Reflection

These are just three things I’m doing to step out of the mall and into the season this year. There are plenty of things you can do to improve your outlook around money and holidays too. For example, you might schedule a time for your family to be at the local soup kitchen, volunteer your time, or adopt a family in need.

The point is that you don’t have to go bankrupt to have a beautiful holiday. In fact, some of the most memorable moments will be those that you didn’t spend a dime on.

Try to step outside your own expectations and remember the real reason for the season. Happy holidays!

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How to Practice Mindful Spending During the Holidays

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How to practice mindful spending during the holidays

As the holiday season ramps up, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting. Just six years ago, my husband (then boyfriend) and I were living in a motel, getting ready to spend Christmas homeless. No Christmas tree. No gifts. We had two plates, two cups, two of each eating utensil, one pot, one pan.

Now, it seems easy to go overboard during the holidays. While we aren’t rich, by any means, we are able to buy each other nice gifts and truly enjoy the season of giving. However, I want to practice more mindful spending as we enter the hustle-and-bustle of the end of the year.

What is Mindful Spending?

Mindful spending is more than knowing where your money goes. Satisfied Spending defines mindful spending as, “lifestyle-based money management.” When you practice mindful spending, you are bringing awareness to how you act, think, and feel about money. This helps you create a more sustainable money management plan for yourself because you are getting to the root of your attitude and thoughts toward finance.

Some of the main benefits of mindful spending include:

  • less struggle and more enjoyment from your money
  • avoiding buyer’s remorse
  • decreasing feelings of guilt when you make a purchase
  • improved attitude toward budgeting
  • increased ability to make solid buying decisions

While I try to practice mindful spending all year long, it especially comes in hand at Christmas time. I am someone who loves giving gifts. It’s something that brings a lot of joy to my heart. So, at this time of year, the budget has to include gifts, but each gift is well thought out, researched, and I look for good deals. How can you check with yourself and be sure you’re being more mindful with your spending?

Being Mindful With Money at Christmas

It’s easy to go overboard at Christmas time, especially if you have children. I am currently squashing the desire to buy my little girl everything on her Amazon wish list (which I created for her).

At the same time, household debt is at an all-time high in the United States. If you want to avoid additional credit card debt or loans, you should trying to be more mindful about your spending. Here are questions to ask yourself before making a purchase.

  1. Does buying the item significantly impact you financially?
  2. If so, how will the item impact your life or the life of the person you’re giving it to?
  3. How does buying the item make you feel? Anxious? Excited?
  4. When you think about the purchase, does it align with your short and long-term financial plans?

Of course, gift buying and celebrations make it hard to truly assess every purchase you make this time of year. Asking yourself these questions should help though.

Readers, how do you practice mindful spending during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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How Inflation Will Impact Our Holiday Plans

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How inflation is impacting the holidays

Inflation is hitting everybody hard this year. Prices are through the roof. In fact, the price of turkey alone has gone up 23% in the last year. Eggs? 35%. So, getting together for large meals with all the traditional foods may be a bit more difficult this year. Here is how it will impact our holiday plans.

Inflation: A Look At The Numbers

While many government officials have been hesitant to use words like “recession” and “inflation” when speaking about the United States economy, everyone is feeling it.

@districtmediafinance Thanksgiving dinner is looking a lot more expensive this year. #greensbeanspotatoestomatoes #thanksgiving #savingmoney ♬ GREENS BEANS POTATOES – DJ Suede the Remix God

Though the upbeat song in the video above makes you feel a little less anxious about it, the rise in cost of everyday essentials is crippling some families in the U.S. When it comes to celebrating the holidays this year, things are looking very different. People are swapping out their big turkey dinners for something a little cheaper. In some cases, they may choose to skip the big gathering altogether.

Here is how inflation is impacting our holiday plans.

How Inflation Is Impacting Us

This year, we aren’t going to be doing any extensive travel around the holidays. That is the biggest change that will be happening. However, we are also making some changes to our typical menu for Christmas.

Our family typically does a turkey and a ham on Christmas. This year, I am hosting the holiday gathering at my house. We are likely going to only do one main course protein. Sides and other items will be decreased this year as well. After all, it is only one meal. How much do you spend on your weekly dinners?

Tips For Your Family To Beat Inflation

As mentioned in a previous blog post, household debt is at an all-time high in the U.S. For people like us trying to avoid racking up credit card and loan debt, this is simply not an option. How do you still enjoy the season without breaking the bank?

  1. Change the menu. While turkey and ham are the traditional main course items during the holidays, consider changing it up to save money. Swap your turkey for roasted chicken or your ham for a pork loin.
  2. Downsize your celebration. A lot of people get hung up on doing these huge, elaborate celebrations. Downsize things a bit to help you stick to your budget this year.
  3. Find joy in the simple things. The best thing you can do to beat inflation is to find joy in the simple things. A Christmas movie night in your home or driving around to see the lights will provide memorable moments too.
  4. Check out local events. Churches and other organizations in the community may be providing free dinners or items for your holiday meals.
  5. Get help where you can. Whether it is checking the local food bank or asking everyone to bring a dish, it’s okay not to do it all yourself!

How is your family dealing with inflation around the holidays this year? Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments.

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Financial Update: November 2022

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Our Debt Free Family Financial Update for November 2022

We have been trying to keep up with the changes happening in our family recently. Unfortunately, that meant taking on a new car loan. Our family had outgrown our previous vehicle and it was also beginning to have problems. With my husband’s new job and our improved credit scores, we both took time to think about it and decided a new car was worth it. Following that decision, we did a review of our finances. Here’s what things are looking like…

Income Changes for Last Quarter

First, there have been some changes in our monthly take-home income. My husband was extended an offer to become a full-time employee at the company he was temping with. This increased his salary and decreased the amount of money we are paying for insurance month-to-month.

How much of a change are we talking here? Well, it’s quite a bit actually. He is taking home $600 to $1,000 more each month. Plus, I have been taking on small projects to earn some extra cash to stash away too. So, we are steadily increasing the amount of money coming in.

Making the Car Decision

When it came to taking out a new loan for a car, we were both hesitant. We were pretty close to paying off our old car, but it was starting to have some issues. Not to mention, the backseat was a struggle when it came to getting the car seat in and out. On top of that, there was no way we could bring the dog along with us if we wanted to.

Budget wise, we wanted to make sure that the payment stayed in the same range we were paying before. This is because we know we can afford that payment, even on the tighter months.

Conclusion

Sometimes, it is going to feel like you are taking steps backwards in your debt-free journey. However, you have to take into consideration your own quality of life. For us, having one car makes sense because we both work from home. That being said, we need to ensure that the car we do have is reliable, safe, and fits the whole family.

Saying goodbye to our old car and hello to new debt was no easy decision, but we are SO happy with the new car. It will last us a long time and we will continue to keep you updated on paying it off here on the blog.

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3 Money Horror Stories That Will Keep You Up At Night

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Money Horror Stories

As you know, we have been on our own debt-free journey for some time now. My husband and I have come a long way, but before we got together (and even for a while afterwards), we’ve made some pretty awful money mistakes. Here are three stories from my past that still keep me up at night.

That Time I Cosigned For A Car

Let’s go back nearly a decade to 2013. At the time, I was living with my boyfriend. We’d been together several years and we combined some of our finances to pay the rent as well as other bills. However, we maintained separate bank accounts and still supported ourselves, for the most part.

That was, until his older car broke down and he needed a new one. His car being out of service hindered me quite a bit – I worked full time and commuted to college, so sharing my car was difficult. So, he went to see about buying something new and I went along with him.

Of course, his credit wasn’t approved for the car and he asked if I’d consider cosigning. Without thinking, I did it. Two years later, after he failed to make payments, the car was repossessed and it remained on my credit for several years. It made it hard for me to get a car on my own and even made it difficult to get approved for housing.

Never again! It still haunts me.

Paying For My Books On Credit

Another past financial decision that I’m occasionally reminded of is applying for an Amazon Credit Card in college. It was a horrible idea. I bought all of my school books on credit through Amazon, but not only that. I was buying anything and everything I could with that credit card. I maxed it out and neglected to pay it on time.

Eventually, my mom helped me pay it off, even though the account was closed. I think about how much debt I was happy to rack up at that time and it’s insane.

Ignoring Bills Until They Go To Collections

At one time, I used to ignore bills that I couldn’t afford and just let them go to collections. It got so bad that, at one time, I had more than $5,000 hanging out in collections. Crazy, right?

Now, I’ve changed a lot of my own personal finance habits to make sure none of these things happen ever again, but…

They still do keep me up at night sometimes.

What are some of your financial horror stories? Share them in the comments below!

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6 Awesome Money Habits to Teach Your Kids

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Saving money might seem difficult for children, but it can actually be easy given you follow a couple of tips. Below are some of the best ways to help your children form awesome money habits. Using these tips can help set your children up for success in the future.

1. Instill the Habit of Saving at a Young Age

The earlier you start teaching your children about money, the better. It’s never too early to start a conversation about finances with your kids. You can begin by simply explaining what money is and how it’s used. As they get older, you can start to instill the habit of saving.

One way to do this is to set up a piggy bank or savings account that they can contribute to. Every time they receive money, whether it’s from an allowance or gifts, encourage them to put some of it into their savings. Help them to set goals for what they want to save up for and praise them when they reach their targets.

2. Encourage Them to Spend Wisely

Teach your children the difference between needs and wants. Needs are things that we must have in order to survive, like food and shelter. Wants are things that we would like to have but don’t necessarily need.

Help them to understand that we can’t always have everything we want and that it’s important to spend money wisely. One way to do this is to give them a set amount of “fun money” to spend each week. Once it’s gone, they can’t spend any more until the following week. This will help them to budget and understand the difference between spending money and saving money.

3. Teach Them About Giving

Giving is an important money habit to teach your children. Not only is it good for others but it can also benefit your children in the long run.

When your children receive money, encourage them to set aside a portion to give to charity. Many websites can help your child give donations online. Giving donations will help them to develop a habit of giving and also show them the importance of helping others.

4. Help Them Understand Debt

Debt is something that many adults struggle with, so it’s important to teach your children about it from a young age. One way to do this is to explain the difference between good debt and bad debt. Good debt is something that we take on in order to improve our lives, like taking out a loan for a house or an education. Bad debt is something that we spend money on that doesn’t increase our net worth, like credit card debt.

5. Create Ways to Earn Money

You can create a chore chart with different earnings attached. You can design your own with your kids or you can find a downloadable chore chart online. With 1.8 billion websites operating at the same time every day, you can find downloadables on sites like Etsy, Pinterest, and more.

Another way to earn money is through an allowance. You can give your kids a set amount of money each week for completing their chores. This is a great way to teach them about budgeting and saving.

6. Teach Your Child How to Budget

One way to help your child budget is by giving them a set amount of money each week for spending. This could be their allowance or money they’ve earned from completing chores. Once the money is gone, they can’t spend any more until the following week. This will help them understand the importance of budgeting and not spending all of their money at once.

Teaching your children about money is one of the most important things you can do. By instilling good money habits, you’ll set them up for success in their future, save them from financial stress, and help them to make smart decisions with their money.

Financial Infidelity Is Real! Make Sure You’re Not Doing It

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Financial Infidelity Pinterest image - Our Debt Free Family

I came across a post recently that talked about committing financial infidelity. The blog post mainly focused on one person’s story, but I got to thinking about my past relationships, my current marriage, and what kind of infidelity of experienced – and committed – financially. It was a toe-stepper.

What Is Financial Infidelity?

According to Investopedia, the official definition for financial infidelity is this: it occurs when couples with combined finances lie to each other about money. Simple enough! This could mean anything from using joint funds to physically cheat, hiding money in a separate account, covering up debt, or spending crazy amounts of money on personal items.

Marketwatch Discusses How To Mend Wrongdoings

Many of my recent posts have been reflective (it’s just that time of year for me). However, after reading the post on Marketwatch about this person’s admitted financial infidelity. Here is a clip from the post:

I have committed financial infidelity. This is a second marriage, and one of my sons is unstable and a substance user. He has stolen from us in the past, and two of his children are now living with him.

He doesn’t work, is on public assistance, and demands money from me. He gets very abusive when I don’t give it to him. This is the second time I have gone into debt behind my husband’s back.

They go on to share that, in order to help their child, they have racked up $50,000 in credit card debt that their spouse doesn’t know about. While I haven’t had anything exactly like that happen to me, I have experienced financial infidelity in my life.

My Experiences With Financial Infidelity

On my end, I have committed this plenty before getting together with my husband. I did not communicate about financial transactions, hid money away for a get away, and spent $400 on a painting because I felt entitled to the money in the joint account. All of this without permission, without consent.

Prior to meeting my husband, I was living with a long-time boyfriend. We had combined a lot of our finances, but we were never married (something I’ve learned from). Throughout our relationship, he hid money and spent money on various inappropriate things while I struggled to pay our rent while waiting tables, working a catering job, and going to school full-time. Many times, he lied to me about having money and I would have to ask friends or family, only to find out he had money all along.

He also had me co-sign on a car loan for him and when he failed to make the payments, he allowed them to repossess the car and drove mine into the ground. It is crazy how different my financial relationship with my husband is. We’ve never committed financial infidelity, and there are things you can do to avoid it.

How To Avoid Doing ‘It’

The biggest thing we do in our marriage to ensure these things don’t happen is we communicate about everything, especially when it is money related. Now, it is a little less strict than it used to be because we have more cashflow in our home. So, smaller purchases didn’t need to be talked about. However, when we first got together, there were times we had to discuss a $10 purchase.

These days, we don’t have to talk about every little thing we buy, but we discuss big purchases – even gifts. Sometimes, we still catch each other checking with the other person about a $20 spend even though it isn’t necessary. This is because communication is key to success in your marriage and with your finances.

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