5 Tips to Save You Money Right Now {Dating}

Whether you're single and ready to mingle, in a serious relationship, or married 25 years, dating is a big time important aspect for most of us. Just because wedding vows were spoken does not mean the dates stop. NO NO NO!!! Dates are more crucial than ever after the wedding. Ya gotta keep the anticipation, romance, and excitement alive! Pursue each other.

In this day and age, dates can be WAY expensive. I'm sure we're all quite in touch with the price tag of dinner and a movie. Yikes! Dating should be fun regardless of budget. I do think an added bonus to being budget conscious is it (hopefully) forces creativity.

So here we go with creative dating suggestions to be easier on the wallet and add to the fun in your relationship.....

1. Take a walk. If you have plans to go to a baseball game, allow extra time to stroll the surrounding areas hand-in-hand. Walk around your neighborhood. Walk to the coffee shop a few blocks away and then savor every drop of your drink. Being active doesn't have to mean running a marathon or taking a spin class. Just get moving together in whatever way you like. It's simple gestures like these that allow you to spend quality, much needed time together.

2. Explore your city. Unless you live in New York City or Chicago, American cities are not really set up for a lot of walking. Go somewhere in your city you've never been before. Drive to a new area. Go downtown and look at the architecture. Find the hole in the wall restaurant. Now it is important to be aware of safety and to know your surroundings. That being said, drive or walk through unchartered territory and you may be amazed what what you discover.

3. Date night in. Romance it up!!! Do what you need to do to break out of the norm. Turn off the TV, put away the iphone, walk away from the computer, send the kids to Grandma. Open a bottle of wine and play cards, Twister, or truth or dare. Get creative! Have a Bourne Identity marathon, then head over to a convenience store for slushies and junk food. Set up a slip and slide in the back yard without the kiddos. Just you and your date playing like kids in the sprinkler. FLIRT!!

4. Split meals. Now before you roll your eyes, hear me out. There's something really neat about picking out food together and sharing. You will hopefully eat slower and more of a normal portion this way as well. We all know restaurants can be kind of pricey. There's absolutely nothing wrong with fine dining on a budget. When you split, you can actually enjoy more kinds of foods, appetizer, wine, and dessert as well. Split it all and cut your bill in half! The Lady and the Tramp knew romance was sharing a single string of pasta, hehe :-)

5. Progressive dinner. This is by far one of the coolest activities I've ever done. Organize an evening for a dinner party with your friends where appetizers, dinner, and dessert will be served at different houses. The group "progresses" through the meal at each house. It's so much fun! You get to hang out with friends, eat great food, and not spend a ton! Try it!


Hopefully that gives you a few new ideas to try out and keep the flames ablaze. Stay tuned for more frugal ideas to come!

5 Tips to Save You Money Right Now

It's time for our monthly install of money saving tips. I hope you have been able to implement some of the tips you've read on this blog. Saving money is very possible even in this economy. Let's do this!



1.) Look at your receipts. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten FREE food just by simply filling out a little survey from my restaurant receipt. Make sure you read the small print! I don't fill out the ones that say "you could will $5000!" but I do fill out the ones that say "FREE cheeseburger". Um, yes please!! All you do is fill out the survey and then write down the validation code on your receipt. Take the receipt back with you the next time you go (usually needs to be within 30 days) and get your free food! Now that's what I'm talking about! Also, Starbucks is notorious for their $2 grande drinks after 2pm. Again, look at your receipt. If it says you can get it, then get it!!

2.) Use reusable bags. Not only is this better for the environment (I heard that it takes something like 1000 years for a store plastic bag to decompose!!! Yikes!!) but it can also save you money! You might be surprised to find out that some grocery stores actually PAY YOU to use reusable bags. For example, Reasor's (a local grocery store) pays 0.06/bag and they apply it towards your total grocery bill. Heck yes!! Not only are you helping the environment, but you get money off your bill. Ask your local grocery stores if they offer this. You might be delightfully surprised.

3.) Join store loyalty/rewards programs. This is a no-brainer. CVS is a prime example of how you can save a ton just by having a store card. This is NOT a credit card. I'm not telling you to have a store credit card just so you can save money. Studies have shown when you use plastic, you tend to buy more. CVS has something called extrabucks. You can get these when you buy certain items in the store and you also get them quarterly. CVS will often have awesome sales but you can only get them if they scan your store card. It's easy, FREE, and will save you a bunch!

4.) Use restaurant punch/loyalty cards. How many times do you eat at McAlisters, Panera, Qdoba? If you go there with any frequency, you can rack up some major points and even get FREE food just by them swiping or punching your card every time you go there. Simple. Do it. There's no reason you can't save when eating out.

5.) Scan your mail for coupons. Each week you get what looks a lot like junk mail. Before just throwing the stack away, look through it. I have found some AWESOME coupons and have even gotten FREE food/store items this way. This requires absolutely no extra effort on your part. It's delivered right to your door and all you have to do is look through it. This also includes the blue Valpak envelope. Dude, there are some awesome coupons in there that range from electricians, to window replacements, to plumbers, etc. Check it out!


Happy Saving!!!

5 Tips to Save You Money Right Now

Let's face it, money just isn't growing on trees anymore. Ah, the days when I could just go outside and pick a dollar or two off my money tree. Those were some good times. But alas, that tree has died roots and all. Still blaming El Nino for that one...


So whether your money tree has passed on to the next life or is still plentiful, here are 5 tips to save you money right now!


1.) Find loose change. It's everywhere. Search the couch, bottom of your purse, pants pockets, car, dresser, kitchen counter, etc. You will be surprised how quickly it adds up. Once you gather it all up, you can either spend it or put it in the bank. You decide!

2.) Don't throw away coupon/store mailers. Once a week most people get a wad of coupons (Redplum or Smart Source) in the mail. This is money. Now you don't have to use a coupon on a product you will never use just to use it, but do look through it to see if there are any coupons for PRODUCTS YOU ACTUALLY USE. The savings really do add up. The grocery stores also send out mailers for sale items. Read these. You may find a fantastic deal.

3.) Date/family night in. I love a good night in with the family but sometimes you need to get creative to keep it exciting and fun. Plan a game night with popcorn and other yummy snacks. If you invite friends, have everyone bring a dish/snack. Build a fort in the living room and watch a movie (with everyone inside the fort). Light a fire or a bunch of candles and have a date night in with your love. Hey maybe other fires will start to burn ;-) Pour a glass of wine, turn on some jazz, and work on a puzzle.

4.) Look for the long lost gift card. You may have a gift card somewhere in your house right now. Think of your last birthday or holiday. Chances are someone got you a gift card. Have you used it? If not, that's money right there. Find it and plan an outing specifically around the dollar amount on your card. Squeeze every last drop out of it.

5.) Meal plan from what you already have if your pantry. This can be a little harder until you get used to doing it. Take a look at your pantry and see what you can make from ingredients you already have on hand. You may have enough for several meals. These don't have to be super fancy. Basic is a-okay. Use what you have and then make a grocery list if necessary. You will be surprised how much you don't need to buy at the store when you do this.


What are some things you do to save money? Bring on the savings!!