Getting the Most out of Your Money at a Football Game

Since it's football season and I am a season ticket holder I thought I would let you in on a few of the tricks to saving money we have discovered over the last year of going to games.  My husband and I stop and eat brunch before the game so that we don't have to eat at the game because the food is over priced and the food at the game tends to lack in quality.  Or even better tailgate and enjoy some BBQ before entering the game!

DIY: Dog Bed Tutorial/Re-purposed Dog-Destroyed Throw Blanket

Here is an easy tutorial for creating a no-sew pet bed from a throw blanket. Anyone can do those- even your kiddos. It is also a great way to re-purpose your pet's favorite blanket....or your favorite blanket that your dog may have damaged. This tutorial is also unique because you can make the dog bed have its own attached blanket easily.

DIY Personalized Dry Erase Memo Board

I told you I know a lot of people with birthdays this season. I made this gift for under $3.00!

I like to give my gifts like this with a wet erase marker instead of a dry erase marker so that when you add to your list you don't smudge off what you wrote before.

So here is how I made it:  I picked up a frame from the dollar store. I used the stock picture in the frame as a guide to cut a piece of scrapbook paper to size for the frame. To make my personalized "K loves E" I chose a leftover paint swatch from my previous project and twisted aluminum wire with my $8 Walmart jewelry tools. I secured my shapes onto the swatch with pieces of a glue dot and rounded the corners with a punch. I glued my self made embellishment to the paper and set it inside the frame. To make my cute little clothespin for reminders and my decorated pen I simply wrapped them both in washi tape bought from Michael's.  (Michael's finalllly has an aisle for washi tape! I wish Hobby Lobby did too!) I secured it to the top of the frame and voila! A completely personalized gift was made for under $3.

Budget Friendly iPhone Protective Case

This phone case is $2.28 and I received free shipping thanks to Amazon Prime. 

It seems like everyone has an iPhone these days (I even caved and got one for Mother's Day).  Since I have a 2 year old and I drop phones numerous times a day I put an Otter Box on my phone.  Within 4 months I destroyed the rubber on the outside (I told you I am hard on phones) and I realized they don't sell the rubber casing alone.  When I went to Amazon to by another case I was appalled at how much the cases cost.  So I started reading reviews of knockoffs and since have bought one plus a spare for all of my phones.  For less than $3 I have a case that is comparable to the protective ability of an Otter Box! I must warn you they require a little more work than the Otter Box.

Envelope System with Printable Envelopes

If you are reading this you are either using an envelope system for budgeting or are interesting in getting your money under control, either way congratulations! My husband and I have been working to become debt free since we found out I was pregnant with my daughter (3 1/2 years ago). We are very close to debt free too. We still have a mortgage on our home and some student loans to pay off. I am only telling you this because I want you to know I am a veteran and I have lived this religiously for the entire three and a half years. It is not always easy to live on a budget but something about it is freeing. I literally feel lighter, I no longer have anxiety attacks, and I am an all around happy person. Other areas of my life have fallen into place since getting money under control: my marriage is happier (which was only possible by the birth of my sweet baby girl), my house is cleaner, I work less, I cook better, and my bank account is fatter!

The "b" word (budget) doesn't have to be a bad word.

Recycling Broken Crayons

I hate being wasteful and as a child I remember loving rainbow crayons. The mystery of what colors would appear excited me for some reason.  So I gathered all of our melted (from being in the car) and broken crayons and peeled the paper off of them.