Everyone that has ever been on the road of becoming debt free, knows that you have to be “weird,” like Dave Ramsey says. There are a lot of sacrifices you and your family must make in order to live a frugal lifestyle so 
you can throw every penny toward your debt. We’ve all experienced that moment when [Read more…]
One Week Aldi Meal Plan
It sounds crazy but I’ve been put-off of Aldi for some time. While I know it has been PROVEN to save families money, it has been hard for me to depart with my local grocer. This isn’t because I am snobby or think I’m too good for Aldi. I’ve truly come to enjoy going to the grocery store near my house. The same people are there, they are friendly and helpful, and it’s less than a mile from my home. However, this week, I took the plunge and headed to Aldi for our weekly grocery trip.
Pros of Aldi
The number one perk of shopping at Aldi is obviously saving money. It has been reported that switching to Aldi can save shoppers up to 40% of their grocery bill, and maybe more in some cases. For instance, if you are willing to cut things from your diet or change up your weekly meal plan, you may be able to save even more by heading to Aldi instead of your traditional grocer.
Another Aldi perk is the fact that you’re minimizing your biological footprint a little bit. Aldi requires you to purchase bags or bring your own reusable bags. Oftentimes, people just put the loose food right into their car. Getting rid of bags reduces the environmental impact a bit and it also helps Aldi offer the low prices it does.
Cons of Aldi
Not everything about Aldi is great though. In some cases, Aldi may be difficult to find. The traditional grocery store is only one mile away, while Aldi is 5+ miles away. Most people find the drive to be worth it though. And, with Aldi opening new stores every year, there are likely to be new stores popping up in your area.
Additionally, it can be a bit of a pain to shop at Aldi. There are extra things you wouldn’t normally think about. Most people have a hard enough time remembering to bring their grocery shopping list, never mind your own bags and a quarter for the cart. However, if you’re going to become an Aldi regular, you can always keep these things in your car for last-minute shopping or “just in case.”
My One Week Aldi Meal Plan
Not everyone will be able to pull off a $50/week meal plan. The following items and meals are meant to feed two people for seven days.
- Eggs (12) $2.49
- Milk (we use skim) $2.79
- Bread (white loaf) $0.89
- Shredded cheese (larger bags than in the traditional grocer) $1.89
- Ground beef $6.42
- Bacon $4.19
- Fresh chicken breast $6.60
- Canned chicken breast (4) $1.69 each
- Stuffing Mix (2) $0.79 each
- Cream of chicken soup (2) $0.49 each
- Salad Mix (2) $1.99 each
- Peppers (3) $1.19 for 3
- BBQ sauce $2.19
- Seasonings (2, based on need) $1.19 each
- Sugar-Free Fudge Pops $1.49
- Coffee $2.89
Total: $48.68 before tax
Some of these items get switched out, depending on need. Next week, for example, we probably won’t need new seasonings but we will need butter. Thankfully, the prices are so low that little swaps like that barely make a difference and you’re able to manage to keep your grocery budget low (ours is about $50 per week).
Obviously having a grocery list with no planned meals is kind of useless. So, what did we make with these ingredients?
Breakfast Options (with coffee and milk):
- Eggs and bacon
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Omelette with cheese and peppers
- Eggs and toast
Lunch Options:
- Salad (we get the remade Caesar Salad kit)
- Chicken salad sandwich (you’ll need mayo, which is less than $1 at Aldi if you don’t already have some)
- Grilled cheese
- Leftovers
Dinner:
- Bacon cheeseburgers
- Shredded BBQ chicken (crockpot)
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
- Meatloaf
With this meal plan, you will have some repeat meals. For instance, we ate all of our dinners twice, except for meatloaf. However, it is something that has helped us save money ($200 a month is a ton).
The plan is to use the additional savings to put towards my student loan repayment and savings. I can’t wait to see how much we are able to save!
Want one of the recipes mentioned above? Reach out to [email protected].
How Alice and Scott Paid Off $200,000 of Student Loans in Less Than 7 Years
Today I have the honor to share with you the debt free journey of one of my closest friends!
Alice and I met during our sophomore year in college back in the year 2000.
Even back then I saw how determined and focused Alice was when she set her mind on accomplishing a goal.
I am so excited to share with you how she and her husband paid off almost $200,000 of student loans in less than 7 years!
In this interview, Alice shares why they worked so hard to pay off their student loan debt and how they remained focused on their goal for so long.
Here is the interview:
ME: Thank you for sharing your story with Our Debt Free Family! Please introduce yourself so our readers can get to know you.
My name is Alice, and I’m 33 years old. I’m happily married to my best friend, Scott. We have one son, and we just celebrated his first birthday. We live in Oregon.
ME: Thanks, Alice! What made you decide to focus on becoming debt free?
I came from a poor upbringing, and my family never taught me how to manage my finances.
During college I opened up a credit card and ended up with about $10,000 in credit card debt. The only way I could pay the minimum balance was by doing cash advances from that same credit card. It was the most awful feeling in the world, and I felt like I didn’t have any control over my life.
Fortunately, after my first summer internship in grad school, I was able to pay off that debt. I never wanted to put myself in that situation again.
The only debt I felt was justified were school loans and a mortgage. I didn’t initially plan to pay off my school loans so quickly. However, when I found out that my husband and I were unable to write off the interest on our school loans for taxes, we made it our goal to pay them off quickly.
We also wanted to make sure we were debt free (besides our mortgage) by the time we had kids. 
ME: How much debt did you pay off, and how long did it take you?
Our student loans totaled about $200,000, and we paid them off in about 6.5 years.
ME: That’s awesome! What did you do for work while you were paying off your debt and about how much did you earn during that time?
My husband and I are both pharmacists. Our total annual income is over $100,000.
ME: What sacrifices did you make to reach your goal?
I don’t feel like we really made any sacrifices. I never had much growing up, and I’ve kept that mentality to live a more minimalistic lifestyle. We never felt the need to buy luxuries like expensive cars, jewelry, or electronics.
ME: What are your best money-saving tips?
Max out your retirement if you can.
In addition to that, automatically put a percentage of your paycheck into a separate account that you know you won’t touch so you never see that money to begin with. Then you won’t have the urge to spend it, and you can use it for your next financial goal.
ME: That’s a smart strategy! What would you say to someone considering starting their own debt free journey?
The journey is tough, but once you’re debt free, the feeling is so rewarding – this huge weight is lifted. Also, when you get your paycheck, that money is truly yours.
ME: Mike and I can’t wait to experience that feeling! Have you made any big purchases with cash? If so, how long did it take you to save for those items?
We saved for about half a year for the car. For our vacations, it usually just took us a few months to save. For our wedding, we saved for about half a year. For our down payment for our house, it took us about two years to save.
ME: Amazing! You did all of that while you were paying off your debt! What has been the best part about your debt free journey?
Both my husband and I have the same mindset when it comes to finances, which has made our journey so much easier.
We never felt like we weren’t able to enjoy what we loved doing, which was to travel. To ensure we were still able to do that and pay off our debt simultaneously, we just reprioritized where our money went.
You can be frugal and still have fun.
I want to thank Alice and Scott for agreeing to share their story with us.
While they are both pharmacists and they earn a healthy living now, that wasn’t always the case.
Alice and I spoke after the interview, and she agreed to let me share a little more about her story.
She mentioned her poor upbringing, but Alice had more challenges during her childhood than her family’s financial situation.
When she was little, she was part of a family of five that included her grandma, her younger brother, and her parents. Her dad was the sole income-producer for the family, working as a cook at a Chinese restaurant.
Her mother never worked because she had mental disabilities so Alice took on the cooking and the cleaning for the family.
When her mother’s disabilities grew worse, she became violent, and eventually, Alice’s little brother and her grandma moved to live with her uncle in another state.
Alice decided to stay with her parents and lied to avoid being placed in foster care. Her dad tried to escape from the problems at home and developed a gambling addiction, losing most of the little money that he earned for the family.
Alice started bussing tables at the age of 14 because she constantly feared that she and her parents would be out on the street at any moment.
Throughout all this, she clung to the idea that if she worked hard in school, she could create a better life for herself and her family.
She earned straight As in high school and college and put herself through graduate school (where she met Scott) so that she could provide financial stability for her own family one day.
So this is more than just a story of how two pharmacists paid off their student loans.
This is a story of how Alice chose to overcome the challenges in her childhood through consistent focus, determination, and hard work, and now, she and Scott are well on their way to achieving true financial freedom.
Where To Go From Here
If you are struggling with your student loans, know that there are options available to help you out. One thing that a lot of people with large debts often don’t consider is balancing their payoff planning with refinancing. If you do owe a ton, consider going with an outfit like Social Finance (SoFi) and refinancing. If you owe more than 10% interest it might be worth your time. Click the link here or go with the banner below to contact them.
More Loan Options
If you have federal student loans, you can look into income-driven repayment plans that can limit your monthly payments to a percentage of your income. If you have a good job and credit score, you may be eligible for student loan refinancing. In this case, a lender will pay off your old loans and issue you a new one with either a lower interest rate or lower monthly payment. To learn more about refinancing, check out this resource.
For more of our great articles, consider reading these:
How To Pay Off Debt When You’re Behind On Your Bills
How Lauren Greutman, The Recovering Spender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt
Learn About How Ron and Thu Paid Off 137,000 in 7 Years
Easily Save Money With Paribus
Frustrated With Great Lakes
Walmart Savings Catcher Phone Number
8 Ways to Donate Your Stuff to Help Those in Need
You’re on a mission.
You’ve searched your house from top to bottom, closet to garage, storage box to storage shed. You pulled out everything that you wouldn’t mind parting with so that you could make some extra money.
You’re motivated to declutter and simplify your finances… and your stuff.
[Read more…]
My Guilty Pleasure (Plus How Much I Spend on It Every Month)
Every girl has her “thing.” Some ladies like to get their nails done every week or every other week. Others like to have their hair professional cut and dyed. Me? I really just like books. Like every “guilty pleasure” though, it costs us money. So, I decided to sit down and see exactly how much I spend on books every month.
My “Clever” Husband Noted My Books in a Recent Post
If you didn’t know, my husband is the Clever Dude. Recently, he posted a blog about how much hobbies cost and mentioned my “book habit.” Here’s what he had to say…
She’d happily run away with the beast from Beauty and the Beast just for a chance to get a minute in that library.
Folks, he’s not wrong. I really do love books. There is a line in my budget for Audible/Amazon/books. However, as with anyone trying to improve their finances, I read my husband’s post and decided to take a look at how much my book addiction costs me annually. Drew estimated the cost to be about $100 total, which would mean I’m spending $1,200 per year on books.
As great as that sounds, I don’t have a book collection surrounding me in my office right now. So, how much am I really spending on books?
So, How Much Does My Book Habit Really Cost?
Honestly, it varies from month to month so much. Sure, there have been months where I spent more than others. I’ll come home with a stack of books from the store one month and only use my Audible credit the next. When it comes to solid monthly costs I spend $25 monthly on Amazon book services (Audible and Kindle Unlimited). That equates to about $300 per year on digital books alone.
When it comes to physical books on my shelf, I have plenty. But, as Ariel from The Little Mermaid sang at the top of her lungs, I WANT MORE! Most of my collection is paperback, so they don’t cost as much as their hardcover counterparts. I also buy all of my books secondhand using ThriftBooks or the fantastic used bookstores around me. There are people that will buy a book new, read it once, and sell it back to the store. Most of the reads on my shelf cost between $3 and $25.
At the end of the day, my annual spending on books probably lands closer to $1,000 in total. Of course, I have others hobbies, but most of them are relatively frugal. I have a lot of plants in my home, but most were gifts and caring for them isn’t too expensive. Yoga, hiking, and kayaking are all things I’m passionate about too. Each of these things doesn’t cost a ton of money though.
When you combine all of those activities, I probably am spending about $900 annually. There are some folks in the debt-free community that wouldn’t spend a penny on new books until their debt is paid off. I think life is worth living, experiencing, and enjoying though. So, there will always be a line in my budget for my hobbies.
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Kitchen Staples: How to Stock Your Kitchen Without Breaking the Bank
If you read Monday’s blog post you know I’m no stranger to moving. In fact, I consider myself a bit of a moving professional at this point. That being said, there are some things that go overlooked when you are starting fresh in your new place. One of the biggest rooms that gets overlooked is the kitchen.
When you are getting ready to move most people focus on getting the place furnished. Not many people are concerned with their kitchen. Of course you can bring your old pots and pans, cooking utensils, etc. from the last place but you likely won’t be moving your food.
Repurchasing all of the food items that are normally in your kitchen can get costly though. So, I came up with a kitchen staples list and a few ideas on how to stock your pantry without breaking the bank.
Kitchen Staples
Kitchen staples is a term used for those items that are always in your pantry but you may take for granted at times. Think about that bag of flour that you know is in your kitchen right now or the spices you are certain are above your stove. All of those items are staples that normally stay behind when you move from one place to another. You don’t even realize how convenient having these kitchen staples is until you need them.
- Bread Crumbs
- Broth
- Canned Tomatoes – Diced, crushed, tomato paste, etc. can come in handy with some recipes!
- Canned Beans
- Dressing/Sauce – You’ll need to buy ketchup, mustard, mayo, any other regular condiments as well as cooking sauces (like soy).
- Flour
- Frozen Goods – Frozen veggies and quick meals are great kitchen staples to have at your fingertips.
- Minced Garlic
- Nuts – Read about why I always buy my nuts in bulk.
- Oils – Cooking oils (vegetable, peanut, etc)
- Pasta and Pasta Sauce
- Rice
- Salsa
- Spices – Depending on how expansive your spice cabinet is you may want to consider moving this with you! Spices can be pretty expensive.
- Sweeteners
- Wines – Cooking wines. Again, consider moving these with you (especially if they are unopened).
Your personal kitchen staples list may vary. For instance, if you have an allergy or dietary restrictions your list may have additional or removed items from the list. You may also consider some kitchen items to be “must haves” that others do not.
Stock Your Pantry For Less
Now that you have the preliminary list of kitchen staples you may be thinking, “there is no way I can afford to restock an entire kitchen.” Well, don’t worry! There is.
In my experience the best way to combat the cost of groceries and other kitchen items is to compare prices. It is likely that you’ll be able to find most of these items on sale in your area (and there may even be a coupon circulating). You can also try shopping at Aldi (something I recommend). By switching to shopping at Aldi many people have been able to cut their grocery bill down significantly so stocking your new kitchen with groceries from there should help cost as well.
If you have any items you think should be added to the kitchen staples list or how to stock up for less, please let us know! We’d love to hear from you.
Photo: Vogue
The Easiest Ways Your Family Can Save On Vehicle Expenses
There is no avoiding expenses when you own a vehicle. Not only do you need to purchase it to begin with, but you also need to keep it in good shape. You need to pay for maintenance, fuel, and other things. But there are ways to reduce these costs and make them more manageable. Here are some of the easiest ways your family can save on vehicle expenses.
Find a Trusted Mechanic
When it comes time to get repairs done on your car, you’ll need to hire a mechanic to do them for you. Unfortunately, some mechanics can overcharge you. If you want to save money on your repairs, you’ll need to find a reliable mechanic and stick with them. There are over 180,251 mechanics in the United States, so there are many to choose from. Take your time finding one. Look at reviews online or in-person from previous clients as well as their pricing. If you hire them and don’t like the experience, try someone else. If you can eventually find a good mechanic, sticking with them can help you save money in the future.
Get Good Insurance
Car insurance can mean the difference between paying huge amounts of money and paying nothing after an accident. It can cost you between $200 and $300 to replace your windshield without insurance, so make sure you get the best possible insurance for your family. Review it regularly and make sure that you let your company know about any changes to your situation that might improve your rates. Finally, don’t feel bad about shopping around for other policies. Sometimes you can get the same coverage for less money somewhere else.
Keep Track of Gas Prices
Gas prices can vary between different stations. If you keep track of what the prices look like in your community, you can save money by going to cheaper gas stations. Use apps that keep track of gas prices or write them down as you’re out in the community. Then you can keep an eye on different patterns and know what your best options will be when it’s time to buy gas.
As long as the distance that you travel doesn’t cancel out the savings, your family can spend less money on gas this way. However, don’t go overboard. If it will cost you too much gas to drive to a cheaper station out of your way, then it is not worth trying to save money that way.
Know When to Let Go
Eventually, you’ll need to say goodbye to the family car. When you reach a point where it is more expensive to repair it than it is to buy a new car, it will save you money to buy the new car. Be careful with your shopping and make sure that you’re buying something your family can afford.
You should look out for lemons. An estimated 150,000 cars made each year have repeated, unfixable problems and are called lemons. If you find yourself making the same repairs over and over, you should consider buying a new car. Even if it’s new and you want to try to keep your investment, a lemon will cost you a lot of money over the years.
Your family car will always cost you some money, but there are ways to make it less expensive. With a few easy plans and some careful research, you can save money on all different aspects of car purchasing and maintenance. Look to these tips to get you started. By making some easy changes, you can save a lot of money and make owning a car a more affordable investment for your family.
Can You Really Plan a Family?
I grew up knowing that my sister and my pregnancies were not planned out. We grew up living paycheck-to-paycheck but we never needed anything we didn’t have. I also remember the first time I learned other people planned children. Planning a family is something that always interested me but can you really plan a family? If so, how do you do it?
Can You Plan a Family?
The answer to this question isn’t an easy yes or no. Personally, I don’t think I could ever be prepared enough for a family (children, at least), which is why I’m not planning to have one. However, other people have seemingly been able to plan out their family and do it fairly successfully.
There are things you won’t be able to plan for though. You’ll never be able to fully prepare and plan for emergencies or the unexpected. For example, if your child has health problems you may wind up in debt paying for hospital bills, etc. There is no way you could have known that they’d be sickly though, so you had no way to prepare for it.
You can plan a family in other ways though. You can save money and create a solid foundation for your spouse and kids but how do you go about planning a family?
How to ‘Plan’ a Family
As stated above, there will always be costs that you cannot plan for but there are ways to plan a family. Here are a few things you’ll want to ask yourself.
- Will you need fertility treatment? If you need fertility treatment you are likely already planning a family, however, you will need to budget additional funds to pay for any fertility treatment you receive. This is not usually covered by insurance.
- How much time will you need off work? Most mothers (and fathers) need some time off work around the birth of their child. It is an emotional and tiring time for everyone. You’ll want to plan for how much time you’ll need off and establish with your place of work whether or not it will be paid.
- Do you plan on using daycare? Once you return to work (if you choose to do so) you may have to pay for daycare for your child. Many establishments will care for newborns at a higher cost. You’ll want to recreate your monthly budget and add daycare to the list of bills.
- Do you have insurance? What is covered? Some insurance companies cover most of your child’s birth but not many companies cover everything involved in the delivery (including pain meds). You’ll want to see what is and isn’t covered so that you can save the difference.
- Do you have enough space in your current living situation for a baby? Will you have to move? If so, that is a huge expense that you’ll need to plan for.
- Will you have any help from family? If you’ve got family in the area you may not spend as much on some things. For example, if your mother watches your child you may save the cost of daycare.
- Do you plan on having a baby shower? If you plan on having a baby shower you can also save quite a bit and get some items you need for you child.
Each of these questions (except the first) are things people with unplanned pregnancies usually have to figure out over the span of nine months. People who plan a family are able to control how much time they have to save the money necessary for the cost of having a child. The first few years of a child’s life can be some of the most expensive so saving money is crucial for planning a family.
Once you and your partner have established savings goals and reach them, you are ready to start your family! Or, like many others, you could plan it out in nine months. What do you think? Can you plan a family?
Photo: Crypto
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How You and Your Family Can Better Support Small Businesses
Supporting small businesses is a great way to strengthen your local community. If the businesses within it are strong and healthy, they will be able to provide for the community’s needs and put money back into it. Since small businesses are so varied, there are many different ways to support them. If you want to encourage your whole family to support small businesses in your community, here are five ways to do so.
Leave Good Reviews
If you love a business, give them a good review online. There are many review sites where you can post your experience and encourage others to give them a try. You can also do this on social media, posting for your followers about how much you enjoy this business. Small businesses often have limited marketing funds, so word of mouth can be a lifesaver for them.
Give Second Chances
If you have a bad experience with a local business, don’t go straight to leaving a negative review. Unlike big corporations, small businesses won’t have a lot of reviews. Your single one-star review could have consequences for them. Instead, give them another chance to give your family what you need. Many small businesses have to deal with internal problems. An accounting industry overview showed that 36% of small businesses have timeline issues. Meanwhile, others feel unprepared, with 32% saying they don’t have enough guidance, 29% feeling that their accountant didn’t provide advice, and 23.6% saying their accountant didn’t educate them. With problems like this, there are bound to be some negative experiences. But if your family wants to support small businesses, try to give them a second chance to make it right.
Shop Online
If you find a small business to support, but can’t get to their physical location, try shopping online instead. Not only will it be easier for you, it will also give them a good idea of what people need from them. Over the next 12 months, businesses will overpay for three-quarters of their IT purchases. If your local small business runs a strong online market, they will be able to recoup those costs. Meanwhile, your family can support them and make purchases without leaving the house.
Switch Where You Can
While you might not be able to fulfill all your needs through small businesses, you might be surprised at what you can do. Small businesses are much more than just stores. In fact, 80% of the 322,488 clinical laboratories in the US are operated as small businesses. Look at what your family needs, then consider if a local small business can provide it for you.
Leave Tips
If you and your family go to a small business and have a wonderful experience, be generous with your tips. This is especially true for restaurants, where the waitstaff is nearly entirely reliant on tips in order to make money. While the standard for tipping is generally 20%, you might be able to offer more occasionally. These tips are good for both the small business’s financial health and as a morale boost. So, while it isn’t necessary to leave huge tips every time you’re out, make sure that you’re budgeting it into your plans as often as possible.
Small businesses face a lot of challenges, so it is important to support them in your community. There are many ways for your whole family to do this, no matter what kind of budget you have. So take a look at the businesses in your area and decide how you want to support them. Then apply these five tips. You might be surprised at the difference that your family can make.
Is Your Outlook Holding You Back?
Most people look at me stunned when I say my husband and I have a debt freedom goal. One of my best friends literally lives on credit cards, while others scrounge paycheck to paycheck just to be able to go out to eat and live above their means. What I’ve found is that it isn’t your financial situation that sets you back from reaching debt freedom. In most cases, it is your outlook that makes the difference.
I’m Overly Optimistic
I must admit, I am an overly optimistic person, especially when it comes to the future. After all, it can be whatever you want to make it, right?
This can be both good and bad. Sometimes I do fail to see what could go wrong or when things just aren’t possible. I refuse to accept “can’t.” My husband, on the other hand, is someone who thinks of everything that could possibly go wrong and finds a solution for each of those problems before they even happen. We balance each other well that way.
However, my positive outlook has been beneficial in many areas of our lives. From our debt free journey (we are $20K+ down in a year) to our fitness journeys, positivity has been key!
How a Positive Outlook Has Helped Me With Weight Loss
If you don’t already know, I have been on a weight loss journey alongside my debt freedom journey. Over the past three years, I’ve lost about 132 pounds. My husband has lost 70.
One thing losing weight and paying off debt have in common is that they are both difficult. Extremely difficult. I have to look for inspiration daily to keep on track with both of these goals. Whether I find a new inspirational person to follow on Instagram, read some inspirational article or book, or simply have a dose of daily affirmation, positivity keeps me moving forward.
Positivity and Paying Off Debt
They say there are characteristics most debt-free people have. One of these, for us, is a positive attitude.
We took a look at our finances a couple of weeks ago so that I could provide a debt update here on the blog. When we tallied everything up, we’d paid off $22,565 over the span of a year, bringing our $65,000 debt down to around $40,000.
There are plenty of days we both want to quit and run a credit card for something or take a break from payments to go on a trip. We are both able to keep a positive mindset when it comes to paying off our debt because we know how great it will feel once we reach our goal. We already know what it feels like to hit goals in our weight loss journey and can’t wait to feel what it feels like being debt free!
All in all, a negative outlook could really harm your chances of meeting any of your goals. If you don’t think you can do it, you won’t. Clear your mind from negativity and move towards your newly painted future, whether it be health, finances, or other goals you have in mind.
What do you think? Has a negative outlook ever impacted your ability to meet goals?
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