Author: cakerwakers

As you’ll remember from last month, our electric bill was $318. What in the world was happening over here? I still have no idea. Regardless, we decided to be more intentional with our electric usage this past month, in the hopes that our bill would be lower in August.  I was hoping for a dramatic…

August is traditionally the time when I start buying Christmas gifts for our children. I know that sounds crazy, but it actually helps our family keep our finances in order during the months leading up to Christmas.  By planning ahead, I can avoid pulling money from our savings account to fund our holiday traditions. Starting in…

Before John and I had a million children, we had a million cats and dogs. We used to regularly take our dogs for long walks at a local nature trail. After switching states and starting our family, we stopped prioritizing walking in the woods. Between the kids and the animals, it just felt like a…

The pandemic’s impact on our life has been pervasive. As I have mentioned before, I have always homeschooled my children.  However, I have never homeschooled under these strange circumstances. Contrary to what everyone thinks, quarantine has been hard on homeschool families too. In the past we participated in a variety of weekly activites. Staying home…

We received our electric bill in the middle of July, and it was $318! What in the world? We’ve never had an electric bill that high before. If there was a reasonable one-time explanation, I wouldn’t be so upset about it. Unfortunately, there is no good reason for why our bill would be that high….

As mentioned a few weeks ago, we recently opened a vacation savings account. For some people, this might seem like a waste of money. I grew up in a poor household, where vacations were a luxury that only rich people could afford. Maybe you’re currently paying off debt, and vacations seem frivolous to you too. …

Children go through clothes quickly. If they’re not outgrowing them, they are staining and ripping them. It can definitely put a strain on the budget. If you have a large family like us, it can cost a small fortune to keep everyone looking clean and presentable. Fortunately for frugal parents, there are lots of tips…

We love our small house. A few years ago we were looking to move. It was hard to find a bigger house that offered everything we currently have in our little home.  Our house is small, but it functions beautifully. We have no wasted space. It really is a well-designed home. The process of trying…

As you know, I’ve been selling everything we own on Facebook Marketplace. Okay, not everything, but we’ve certainly sold a decent amount of stuff. Today, I thought I would share some tips on successfully selling on this online platform. Try to detach emotionally from your belongings. This was probably the hardest part of selling my…

Do you prioritize saving for vacations? In years past, we never specifically set aside money for trips. Recent events have made me reconsider how we once operated. We managed to make $845 by selling things in our crawlspace. From the beginning, I wanted to spend the money we earned on the kids. In my mind,…