Sensibly Frugal Living

The Benefits of Meal Prepping

So, I have explained the benefits of meal planning in a previous post, but have you ever thought about meal prepping? Meal prepping is exactly how it sounds. You prepare dishes and snacks ahead of schedule to store in your fridge or freezer. Let me explain the benefits of meal prepping…

Benefits of Meal prepping

Money saving. Prepping all of your meals and snacks in advance means no last minute dashes to the store or ordering takeaways.
Time saving. If you take a few hours on a Sunday to meal prep, then you save yourself the hassle of meal preparation each night of the week.
Minimises waste. Meal prepping will ensure you use all of your ingredients at the start of the week, so you are not throwing out unused produce at the end of the week.
Portion control/ dieting. Whether you just want to improve your portion control or are dieting, then meal prepping is perfect for you. Prepping the correct sizes when you are not hungry or in a rush will ensure you eat the correct portions once cooked.
Less stress. Knowing what you are going to eat for each meal, and that it is already prepared, takes the stress out of meal times for you.
Health benefits. This point does link into portion control, but meal planning also allows you to prep healthier options and add variety. Not only that, if your meal is prepared in advance you will be less likely to opt for takeaways/ unhealthy options because you ‘can’t be bothered to cook’.

I meal prep primarily to save money and time. I bulk buy meats etc to prepare into meals for freezing. For example, my chicken fajitas are super easier to prepare in advance. I bulk buy chicken breasts because it works out cheaper per breast, I split the pack into freezer baggies (2 breasts per bag). I then slice three peppers and share those out between the bags. These bags are then frozen to be used within 3 months. When I want fajitas, I plop the contents of one bag into my slow cooker and add spices and a little water. It’s that simple.

I even go one better. My family prefer baby spinach leaves to lettuce, but we’d never use a whole bag in a week. I buy one bag, separate the leaves into the correct portions, place in freezer baggies, and freeze for when we need them. I simply take a bag out of the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight to thaw. Thawed spinach will wilt, so it is best to add to the slow cooker, than to eat as a side.

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Visual Debt Repayment Trackers

Following on from my Visual Savings Tracker post on Monday, I wanted to do a debt repayment tracker post today. Not only will I provide a link on how to make your own debt tracker, I also have a link to free printables!

Whether you are trying to become totally debt free, or just pay off that car loan or in-store finance card, a visual debt repayment tracker is the way to go. You can see just how much you have paid off at a quick glance, and you can help yourself by visualising the repayment in bite-size chunks/ steps.

This method is particularly useful if you are repaying debt with a partner. You both can clearly see how much has been paid into the debt, and the further you creep up the chart, the more motivation you will have to pay the rest off.

If you want to create your own trackers, then check out my savings trackers post. The principle is the same, just the financial goals are different. However, if you want print outs, then I have a link to some fab freebies. I found @debtfreecharts on Instagram.She is the go to place for debt charts within the debt free community of Instagrammers.

Head over to the website, Debtfreecharts.com, to download your visual debt trackers right now!

Good luck with your financial goals!

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Visual Savings Trackers

As a family, our biggest savings goals are for our holidays. For years we didn’t go abroad due to cash flow and negative thinking in terms of being able to save, but we have found living a frugal life with financial goals as a motivator works well for keeping us on track with saving for the big things we really want.

An important step in this process for us is our visual savings trackers. We create our own, but you can download basic or personalised ones from Etsy. Visual savings trackers are a great motivator because you can see your progress (or lack of) at a quick glance. If the whole family are on board and saving toward the same goal, then they too can see progress when it is made and add to it when they put money into the fund.

The picture above is one of our handmade ones. You can also create something similar within a few minutes. By all means make one on a spreadsheet to print if you prefer, but we draw our own as my daughter likes to decorate them.

Decide on the total amount you need to save.
Choose what increments to go up in. (We use £50 increments for the larger figures.)
Using a pencil and ruler, draw your chart. I keep mine simple as I’m not that great of an artist. You could get fancy and make your chart look like a savings jar or a suitcase if you are saving for a holiday.
Each time you hit an amount, colour in that line.
You and your family will be able to see the chart fill as your savings fund fills.

Give it a go! You may just find a visual chart will motivate you and your family to see those lines fill with colour!

Happy Saving!

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Benefits of Meal Planning

If you are looking to save money on your groceries, save time wondering what you are going to cook each night, and cut the stress out of producing hearty meals for the family, then meal planning is the way to go.

Why is Meal Planning so Important?

Less waste. If you plan what you are eating throughout the week and write your grocery list accordingly, you are less likely to buy unnecessary items. This is especially important for perishables. You can also plan your meals around items in your pantry, so they are used before their expiry date.
Saves money. This point links into the above. Only buying necessary items from your meal plan list will stop you wasting money on junk food and food items you don’t need.
Healthier eating. Planning meals and knowing what you are going to cook each night will ensure you eat healthy meals and don’t just reach for the quick, unhealthy options or take out.
Less stress. Knowing what you are cooking and when you are cooking it will ease the stress of cooking for yourself and/or family. It’s one less thing to worry about on busy days.
Family on the same page. If you meal plan, you can create a menu to stick to the fridge. This will ensure the family knows what you have planned and stop the inevitable ‘what’s for dinner?’ questions. If you have a family who tend to eat different meals at different times, a set meal plan will ensure everyone eats together as a family.

Have I convinced you to meal plan? Yes? Good. Now you can check out my post on effective meal planning, to kick start your process with a bang.

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How Your Frugal Lifestyle Benefits Your Children

Most parents strive to give their children a better life than they had when they were children. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that this means giving your children everything they ever wanted, spending a fortune, and providing them with a privileged lifestyle.

What if I told you that a better life doesn’t mean a more expensive one? A frugal lifestyle not only benefits you and your finances, it also has many benefits for your children as they grow and develop.

Money Savvy

You are the role model your children will watch as they grow. Your frugality with money will encourage them to be money savvy adults. Living within their means is an important lesson for them to learn as a child.

A This is Money article stated that in 2016 two in five 18-24 years olds were already an average of £3000 in debt on top of their student loans, and 37% had no plan for repaying their debt.

Closer Family Unit

The frugal life requires creativity when it comes to family time. Free, fun activities for the family usually include, hikes, walks, picnics, bike rides, board games, garden days etc. Children appreciate the time you spend not the money. Family activities that encourage talking, interaction, and family memories make for a closer family unit.

Life Skills

Not only will your child gain a life skill in money management as mentioned above. There are many other life skills you can pick up when living a frugal lifestyle: sewing clothes, cooking from scratch, upcycling, growing food are just some of the skills that your child may develop.

Respect and Consideration

A child that is brought up in a household that respects money will have a natural respect and awareness in regards to finances as an adult. They may also respect you as the provider because they understand the value of money, that time equates to money, and money doesn’t grow on trees.

A poll by CreditCards.com found that 2 out of 5 parents asked admitted they had paid off debts for their adult children.

Future Benefits

Is one of your goals to save money for your child’s college/ university fees? This is one of the best gifts you can give your children. If a frugal lifestyle will allow for this, then there is no greater reason than your child’s education, and they will appreciate it greatly when they are not lumbered with student loans.

Contentment

An appreciation in the small things is not only useful when being money savvy, but it is fantastic way of thinking for your child’s mental health. Always wanting and striving for more can be unhealthy. Setting goals and ambitions is important, but only if your child can find contentment and happiness in all they are blessed with.

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Effective Meal Planning

If you are meal planning, then you are already winning! Saving your money, time, and sanity just by planning your meals is a no brainer, but can you meal plan more effectively? I have a few tried and tested tips for ensuring your meal planning is top notch.

Check Your Pantry

Before you meal plan, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer and take an inventory. Use this inventory to pick meals that will use up the items you already have. This will prevent waste and save you money.

Check for Coupons or In-Store Sales

If you use coupon apps, you can base your weekly meals on what coupons are available to you. Check in-store or online to find out what deals your chosen grocery store have on that week. If you team the sales with your pantry inventory, you can save yourself a lot of money.

Daily Routine

It is pointless planning a meal that requires a lot of prep on a day when you are busy/ working late etc. Jot down a few notes on your daily routine throughout the week, so you can better plan your meals to suit your routine.

Meal Schedule

If you create a weekly meal schedule i.e. Monday’s is soup night, Tuesdays is slow cooker night, then you have already helped yourself out. You know what recipes to look for, and the family already has a rough idea of what will be for tea. You may find that you regularly have basic ingredients leftover in your pantry if you plan this way. For example, if you made a red lentil soup with vegetables last Monday, you may have leftover red lentils in the pantry to make a red lentil and bacon soup this week.

Tried and Tested Recipes

Have a list of recipes that your whole family enjoys as a reference. There’s is no point creating a meal that only three of five people like. Aim to try new recipes every couple of weeks, and if they are a hit, add them to the list.

Create Your Meal Plan and Shopping List Together

If you have taken your inventory and planned your meals you will know exactly what ingredients you need to buy. Writing your shopping list as you meal plan will ensure you don’t have to spend time trying to remember what you need later.

Batch Cook

If you can double up on a recipe, then do so. Soups and stews etc can be doubled up and the leftovers frozen for another week. Planning your batch cooking when you meal plan will ensure you account for the extra ingredients on your shopping list.

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I hope these tips are useful to you. These are just a few of the things I do when I meal plan. Feel free to comment with your ideas and tips. I’m always keen to streamline my process more.

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The Ins and Outs of a Side Hustle

I have had many people asking me what a side hustle is. Side hustles are a big deal in the budgeting and debt free community, and can be useful in helping you meet financial goals. So, buckle in for your lesson in side hustles and some side hustle ideas to get you started.

What is a Side Hustle?

A side hustle is a way to make money alongside a full time job/ primary income. It’s that simple.

You tend to find that most side hustles are quick money makers, but not of substantial values. Remember, if you are making substantial money from a side hustle, the tax man wants to know about it.

Why Side Hustle?

Like I said, side hustles are popular in the budgeting and debt free community because they are a great way to speed up the process of paying off debt or growing savings.

You can side hustle for any number of reasons. For example, to fund Christmas, save for a holiday, or to buy a car etc.

Side Hustle Ideas

I have put together 10 simple side hustle ideas to get you started:

Selling unwanted items. If you have unwanted items to sell around your home, then why not make money out of them? Using sites such as Ebay, Gumtree, and even Facebook Marketplace is a fast, effective way to make cash.
Online Surveys. This can be a little hit and miss, and you need to put the time into the surveys to get the rewards (which can be small), but if you are dedicated to your cause you can build up cash to redeem into your Paypal account. There are many online survey sites to choose from. I have personally used Swagbucks, MySurvey, and Opinion Outpost.
Selling handmade items. If you have a skill for creating things, then why not make some cash out of it. Etsy is a great site for selling handmade items.
Weekend jobs. Could you make a little cash helping neighbours with their gardening, walking dogs, or washing laundry? These are just a few ideas of how to make money during the weekend.
Start repping. In the UK, many people side hustle by repping for businesses such as Bodyshop, Avon, and Scentsy etc. You can sell items via social media or hold home parties.
Mystery Shopping. Did you know that you can earn cash by becoming a mystery shopper? Mystery shoppers perform a set of designated tasks in a specific store/ business i.e. asking a member of staff for help, buying a product, or making a complaint etc. They then make a report on their experience. Grassroots and Market Force are popular mystery shopping companies to research.
Freelance Writing. If you have a talent for writing, why not sell articles to magazines/ online sites? Even sending in pictures with short, life stories to women’s magazines can bring in a little cash.
Stock Photography. If you have a knack for capturing great pictures, you can make some money selling your pictures to stock photography sites. Sites such as Shutterstock will pay royalties each time your image is downloaded.
Babysitting. Babysitters earn good money, and usually grow a reputation via word of mouth. It would be worthwhile to pay for a first aid course, and even the necessary vetting checks to encourage more parents to hire you.
Affiliate marketing. If you have a good following on various social media sites or a blog, you can market products to your followers. You provide an affiliate link to the product, and if your followers buy the product via your link, then you receive a commission. Amazon Associates is an affiliate program worth researching.

I hope this post has been useful to those of you looking to start a side hustle. Let me know if there are any other ideas I could include.

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How Decluttering Makes You More Frugal

Holding onto items might seem like a good idea. The ‘I may need it in the future’ mindset might seem like the frugal approach, but decluttering is more beneficial to your frugality in the long term. Here are some reasons to get decluttering and become more frugal:

Potential cash

Keeping unused items is like keeping safes of cash around the house that you haven’t got a key for. Why keep the scanner or digital camera when you haven’t used them in over a year? The frugal approach is to sell them and put the cash toward something useful.

New Mindset

Decluttering can give you an insight into items you actually use and those you don’t. This can help change your mindset when you are shopping. ‘Do I really need it?’ and ‘Will I use it?’ are questions you will find yourself asking. Thinking before you buy is an important step in frugality.

Minimalism Benefits

This links into the above point. Having a clean, decluttered home can curb your unnecessary purchases because bringing useless items into the house will spoil your minimalist vibe. Wanting to keep your house in a harmonious state is great for mental health and stress. This will encourage careful thought before purchases.

Less Housework Time

If you declutter thoroughly, this can save time when it comes to cleaning and housework. Time management is an important tool in frugality. You may find that you have a little extra time to start a side hustle to bring extra money into the home, or find that you’re not rushing everywhere by car and can walk more to save fuel etc.

Freedom to Make Change

Decluttering your house will give you more options that may not have existed to you when you filled your house. Downsizing to a smaller house to save money may become an option. Important home improvements/ maintenance can be made. Maybe that spare bedroom can be rented out, or you may find space to start a new money making venture.

Having the option to make changes is a long term benefit that can improve your future.

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I hope this post has given you some food for thought if you have been holding onto items, or wondering if decluttering is the right foot forward in your journey of frugality.

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30 Easter Activity Ideas

With the Easter holidays upon us, I have been looking for some free/ inexpensive Easter activity ideas to keep my eldest entertained. Here’s a list of 30 ideas I have found (with links).

I hope there are some crafts in this list that can keep your children entertained over the Easter period.

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Why You Should Make Your Children Work for Their Pocket Money

I am a firm believer that children should work for their pocket money/ allowance. By work I mean do chores around the house. How much you give your children is up to you and your budget, but that shouldn’t mean you hand over your hard earned cash for free. Whether your child is 8 or 16, here are my reasons for making your child earn their pocket money.

Appreciate the Value of Money

If your child has to complete chores for money, they will appreciate that time equals money. When you have to put your own time and effort into a task, the reward increases in value.

Sense of Pride in Relation to Work

Completing a task and being rewarded is a great confidence booster. Starting this healthy relationship between hard work and reward as a child will benefit them greatly in adult life.

Responsibility

Delegating certain chores to your children will give them a healthy amount of responsibility. They will feel you trust them to do essential tasks to a good standard.

Having pocket money and having parents who trust them to use it wisely is also a good responsibility for children to have in order to ensure money savvy adults.

Less Wasteful

If they have had to put their own time and effort into earning the money, they may be less inclined to waste it on pointless things. Once again, the value of money becomes apparent. Encouraging your child to save is another step in their education of life and money.

Increase in Respect for their Parents

Once they realise the effort they have to put in, they may start appreciating the effort their parents put in daily. The ‘I want’ and ‘money grows on trees’ attitude should be a thing of the past.

Preparing them for Adulthood

All the above points will ensure your child has a good grasp on what it means to work hard for their money, how to be money savvy, and appreciate the value of things. Money doesn’t come from thin air, and that includes pocket money.

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