I want to introduce you to my Frugal Guru, Jen from Jlogged.com.
She recently redid her website to help people use their money wisely. If I want inspiration to stay on track with the family budget she’s my “go to.”
Jen’s one of the few people I can compare detailed notes with about income and out-go and saving and financing, etc.
She knows her business. Her business is living a larger life within her means.
And she lives a pretty good life, eats organically and reduces her carbon footprint, etc.
She’s doing Nablopamo and she’s writing about money for all 30 …read more

Kelly Saunders has been blogging for Thrifty Mommy for over 2 years and has a 3.5 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. Her goal is to save time and money any way she can in order to stay home with her kids. She loves to challenge herself to a price limit of $3-$3.50 for summer outfits and $4-$4.50 for winter outfits for her kids. She says that hand-me-downs are her favorite thing to give and get. Thanks to Kelly for guest posting on Blog Fabulous today.

With all the political hub bub going on today …read more

Two years ago we, a family of four, were able to eat for $100 a week. I thought that was a lot. At some point I realized groceries had become so expensive we raised the budget to $150 so we could stop feeling guilty for exceeding the budget every single week. Except now we’ve noticed we’ve been exceeding even that.

As I’ve been shopping lately I’ve noticed a few tricky trends.

Juice boxes went up 50 cents but they stuck a Sale sign behind them to make me believe I was getting a deal. The garbage bags I drive across town to …read more

I pride myself of being frugal, fiscally responsible and downright cheap.
It’s downright genetic and in my upbringing and out of middle-class economic necessity.
Inflation is out of control as going to the grocery store gets more expensive every time I go. The increased price of gas is leaking out to the price of everything.
I’ve been combating the guilt and frustration at the grocery store by raising my budget and saying, It’s out of my control. We have to eat. I don’t control the price of gas or groceries.
Imagine my shame when I heard Kate Gosselin, mother of twins and sextuplets from …read more

My 2008 resolution is to become compulsively anal retentive.
I wish I had your organizational gene, I recently told my mother. Now that I’m in my mid-30s I’m experimenting with admitting my mother was right about a few things. It hurts a little, but I’m hoping the emotional growth will reap some rewards.
I don’t have that gene. I realized I had a severe lack in that area so I majored in it in college [home making] to develop it, she responded.
So, now I have something worth cleaning and organizing (my new house) and enough space for everything to have a place, …read more

I’m going to spend the next hour or two clicking around and getting to know my new neighbors.
This from Gayla McCord, master of the new Lifestyle’s Channel at b5media:
This month, along with the magic that begins to fill the air from the approaching holiday season, I’ve been given the honor of composing the official welcome to the new Lifestyles channel here at b5media.
The new mega channel has been formed by merging the channels formerly known as Family & Relationships, Arts & Design and Home & Dining.
For those familiar with b5media and the early days of the network, you might remember …read more

I realized my daughter is starting Kindergarten in September and there will be this mad rush for school clothes.
I can’t really understand why kids need a whole new wardrobe for school. I mean, kids get clothes all year long these days right? It’s not like in my Grandma’s day when she saved up enough to buy her children two pairs of shoes a year, for school and Easter Sunday.
I went garage sailing and picked up about all she’ll need for about $12. I’m not about to blow a couple of hundred dollars for this consumerist tradition. I picked up a …read more

 I went out to Pier One and bought a ton of new furniture this weekend. NOT!
Actually, I scored a sturdy entertainment center at the Goodwill for $20. It was an ugly cream faux-wood color but it has great Zack-proofing storage so he couldn’t get into all the electronics.
Bought a $25 gallon of black paint – never skimp on the paint or it will look like crap – and painted the ugly stained-up end tables I was already using to match. Borrowed the primer from a friend who already had some – always prime or sand or the paint will peel off and …read more

I was tagged in a blogger game or memed by Julie Q at The JQ Lounge.
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog with their 7 things as well as these rules. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.
1. I was raised a Mormon Military Brat. We moved a lot, as a result I could pick up and go at any second. For a …read more

When you hear Beauty Carnival don’t you get an image of a bunch of Mary Kay and Avon Lady’s hounding you to try their newest samples and invite all your friends?
Well, I submitted my story about the groovy no-chip nail polish I found. So it can’t be all that bad.
Actually, I enjoyed the article Looks Are Nothing Without Spirit, which echoes my sentiments exactly here and here, so I’d say Maria Palma at Beauty is Withinis a kindred spirit and will be immediately added to my blogroll. Check her out.
I also read about the Top 5 Skincare tips at Beautyriche.com’s …read more