Hello all. Sonja here from Practical Stewardship.

First I wanted to share a few items that I can’t do without as a frugal, health-oriented mama.

Almost EVERY TIME I go to Costco, I buy these things:

Dave’s Killer Sprouted Bread: I believe it was this summer that Costco changed their brand of sprouted organic bread to Dave’s Killer Sprouted Bread. The other sprouted bread they sold previously was fine – a bit dry, but I would take it. I see (and taste) why Costco changed their sprouted bread supplier. THIS Dave’s Killer is a winner. At $6.99 for 2 loaves, we are in! [Read more…]

I just finished up my third 4-Week No-Spending Challenge. I am so thankful it’s over, too! While I love painting our family into a monetary corner occasionally. I love that we spend even less than our frugal selves normal spend. We always try to eat frugally, but during a no-spending challenge, we especially hunker down and eat through our pantry.

You can go here to read the exact parameters of the four week no-spending challenge. But I really only allowed myself to buy perishables for four weeks. We were to “shop” out of pantry and freezer for the month. I was a GREAT exercise, but it’s sure nice to be done. [Read more…]

A year ago I laid out and executed my first no-spending challenge. Go here to see the first no-spending challenge results. I liked it so much I thought I’d do it again around the start of the year since the new year is a fabulous time reevaluate spending habits and get a good look at the budget (really any day is a great day to do this don’t you think?:). Well, since the Sarr household is cruising into the lean months, we decided it would be a great time to take another no-spending challenge. [Read more…]

Post by Contributing  Author, Sonja Sarr of Practical Stewardship.

20 Unusual, Crazy, and Weird Ways to Save Money Part 2

I just posted 20 Unusual, Crazy, and Weird Ways to Save Money Part 1 over at my blog, Practical Stewardship. You can go there to find other strange and different ways to save money.

So today I am going to let you in on a few little secrets. Secrets of how we save money. Some of these ways to save money are unusual, some are crazy, some are weird, and some are even embarrassing…or maybe they are completely normal to you.

Anyway, each one of these ways to save in and of themselves are not a big deal. At all. Most of these ideas will just save a few pennies here, and a few pennies there. But you know what? If you are serious about saving money, you think differently than the typical person thinks. You think beyond the silly thing you are actually doing to save those pennies. What I am actually sharing is not these crazy and weird ways to save money. I am exposing my brain to the way the saver thinks. [Read more…]

I’ll be honest. I try to avoid eating out at almost all costs…figuratively AND literally! I try to think ahead, use the crock-pot or make portable meals a lot (go HERE to see 80+ different and easy crock-pot recipes). Sometimes with our crazy lives eating out is unavoidable. You’ve gotta spend some money, but there are still ways to spend less.

1. Eat an apple, banana, carrot or some other kind of fruit or vegetable or crackers or something so you aren’t as hungry when you eat out… [Read more…]

Frugal No-Candy Easter Basket Ideas. Hmm…by the title I am not saying “Frugal No-Fun Easter Baskets,” either. And I’m not saying there isn’t a place for candy. I just know that my kids will be surrounded by sweets, treats, and desserts from family, friends, and church. Anyone else in the same boat? In fact we have an old Easter basket bucket that we dump candy in from all of the holidays, and my kids still have candy in it from Christmas…2013. Oops! But they are just candy canes. Oh, they work their way through the basket, but there is no shortage of things to celebrate, and people often use candy as a go-to celebration tool but there is more than that. [Read more…]