With our new glass cooktop (the first we’ve ever had) I’ve been reading all about the thousands of ways you can screw it up. The most discouraging was to not use cast iron. Our Emeril cast iron that we use everyday had a lot of build up on the sides from over the years. We…
Snow Gear: Is it worth the investment?
As the temperatures continue to drop here in New Jersey, I am faced with the decision of whether or not to purchase snow gear for my kids. Buying snow pants, snow boots, waterproof jackets, and snow gloves for 5 kids adds up quickly. Every year, I have this same debate with myself – is snow…
Working Toward Retirement – November
With the election out of the way (pretty much) and news of a COVID vaccine, the markets have been doing pretty well. A couple things happened this month to increase our deposits. Aside from the pay increase I mentioned last month, our increase to 10% in my work 401k took affect on my last check…
Why do you want to be debt free?
Last week, I read a great post by Beks over at Blogging Away Debt. She wrote about why she wanted to be debt free. Figuring out your “why” will keep you on track with your goals. It’s hard to stay motivated if you don’t have a solid reason to be frugal and thrifty. It is…
Saving for the future – November
It’s been a busy month. Between work and the kitchen remodel, it’s hard to find time to keep up with my weekly posts. I don’t know how Christy does it. She has a full time job (schooling and raising the kids), she has been working on the kitchen too, and she always finds time to…
Painting our Kitchen Cabinets with a Roller and Brush
Last week I undertook the daunting task of painting our kitchen cabinets. They are solid wood cabinets, that have withstood the test of time (They are nearly 60 Years old!). Although nothing was broken or damaged, the cabinets did look incredibly dated. The finish and hardware were awful. However, I knew that they would look…
DIY Kitchen Update: Week 1 Million
As I’ve mentioned a million times, we are in the middle of a DIY kitchen remodel. Although it’s been going fairly well, the stress level in our house has been running high for weeks. I go to sleep thinking about the kitchen, and I wake up thinking about the kitchen. John doesn’t even sleep anymore….
COVID HALLOWEEN
With all things 2020, Halloween is no different. A Covid Halloween has thrown a few wrenches into our normal seasonal traditions. We used to always go to Conte Farms in Tabernacle, NJ for all things picking, which was great. The kids always enjoyed getting blueberry ice cream at their shop after blueberry picking and apple…
Clothing Storage: How We Store and Rotate Clothing
Last weekend I decided to finally switch out the kids’ summer clothes for winter clothes. Although this task is annoying, it is an easy way for our family to save money. We ended up purchasing a few new items, but the bulk of our winter wardrobe came from things we had saved and stored in…
Used Toys for Christmas gifts?
Remember when I sold tons of stuff on Facebook Marketplace over the summer? The whole process made me realize how silly it is to buy new gadgets for my children. So many families are selling lightly used toys, for a fraction of the price offered in stores. My first purchase was a Radio Flyer 4…