Budget - Tumblr Posts
Landscape Gravel Design ideas for a large southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel garden path in summer.
Southwestern Landscape - Gravel
Photo of a large southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel garden path in summer.
Enclosed Family Room in Albuquerque Huge transitional enclosed carpeted family room photo with yellow walls, a wood stove and a brick fireplace
If there's any advice I could give people on a smaller food budget, its where possible, invest in sauces and seasonings or make your own.
(There are tons of low-cost, high-output recipes for making your own sauces, dried powders, growing your own herbs in small pots indoors, ect.)
I've been in situations before where I've been eating cheap packets of instant ramen for dinner five days out of seven, and it was so, so much more tolerable when I was able to change the flavor instead of eating the same basic, pretty bland chicken one over and over.
I could made herby, garlicky ramen one night, sweet chili another, ect.
I'm pretty lucky in that where I live things like jars of sauces and pots of seasonings are very cheap, and I know its not like that for everyone, but if you are in a situation where you can spare a little for some pots or jars, it really can make a difference to being able to tolerate food repetition.
Fitness on a budget: Affordable strategies for staying active without breaking the bank.
Fitness on a budget: Affordable strategies for staying active without breaking the bank.
Do you want to get fit but don't have a lot of money to spend on gym memberships, equipment, or classes? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many people face the same challenge, but that doesn't mean you have to give up on your fitness goals. There are plenty of ways to stay active and healthy without breaking the bank. Here are some affordable strategies for fitness on a budget:
Use what you have. You don't need fancy machines or weights to get a good workout. You can use your own body weight, household items, or outdoor spaces to exercise. For example, you can do push-ups, squats, lunges, planks, or burpees using just your body weight. You can use water bottles, cans, books, or bags as makeshift dumbbells. You can use stairs, benches, walls, or playgrounds as props for cardio or strength training.
Find free or low-cost resources online. The internet is full of free or cheap fitness resources that you can access from anywhere. You can find videos, podcasts, apps, blogs, or websites that offer workouts, tips, advice, or motivation for different fitness levels and goals. For example, you can find YouTube channels that offer yoga, pilates, dance, HIIT, or aerobics classes for free. You can find apps that track your steps, calories, distance, or heart rate for free or a small fee. You can find blogs or websites that offer fitness plans, recipes, challenges, or community support for free or a nominal charge.
Join a group or a club. Another way to stay fit on a budget is to join a group or a club that shares your fitness interests. You can find groups or clubs online or offline that organize activities, events, or meetups for different sports or hobbies. For example, you can join a running club, a hiking group, a cycling team, or a martial arts class that meets regularly and offers guidance, coaching, or camaraderie. You can also join online groups or forums that offer support, accountability, or inspiration for your fitness journey.
Be creative and have fun. Finally, the most important thing is to be creative and have fun with your fitness routine. Don't let money be an obstacle to your health and happiness. Find ways to make fitness enjoyable and rewarding for you. Try new things, challenge yourself, mix it up, and celebrate your progress. Remember that fitness is not a chore but a lifestyle choice that can improve your physical and mental well-being.
Seattle Midcentury Exterior
Easiest Layer Dip In just a few minutes you can mix up a warm and tasty Mexican-style warm bean and cheese dip to serve with chips. It's great for an impromptu get-together.
Broke af?
But still interested in feeding yourself? What if I told you that there’s a woman with a blog who had to feed both herself and her young son…on 10 British pounds ($15/14 Euro) per week?
Let me tell you a thing.
This woman saved my life last year. Actually saved my life. I had a piggy bank full of change and that’s it. Many people in my fandom might remember that dark time as when I had to hock my writing skills in exchange for donations. I cried a lot then.
This is real talk, people: I marked down exactly what I needed to buy, totaled it, counted out that exact change, and then went to three different stores to buy what I needed so I didn’t have to dump a load of change on just one person. I was already embarrassed, but to feel people staring? Utter shame suffused me. The reasons behind that are another post all together.
AgirlcalledJack.com is run by a British woman who was on benefits for years. Things got desperate. She had to find a way to feed herself and her son using just the basics that could be found at the supermarket. But the recipes she came up with are amazing.
You have to consider the differing costs of things between countries, but if you just have three ingredients in your cupboard, this woman will tell you what to do with it. Check what you already have. Chances are you have the basics of a filling meal already.
Here’s her list of kitchen basics.
Bake your own bread. It’s easier than you think. Here’s a list of many recipes, each using some variation of just plain flour, yeast, some oil, maybe water or lemon juice. And kneading bread is therapeutic.
Make your own pasta–gluten free.
She gets it. She really does. This is the article that started it all. It’s called “Hunger Hurts”.
She has vegan recipes.
A carrot, a can of kidney beans, and some cumin will get you a really filling soup…or throw in some flour for binding and you’ve got yourself a burger.
Don’t have an oven or the stove isn’t available? She covers that in her Microwave Cooking section.
She has a book, but many recipes can be found on her blog for free. She prices her recipes down to the cent, and every year she participates in a project called “Living Below the Line” where she has to live on 1 BP per day of food for five days.
Things improved for me a little, but her website is my go to. I learned how to bake bread (using my crockpot, but that was my own twist), and I have a little cart full of things that saved me back then, just in case I need them again. She gives you the tools to feed yourself, for very little money, and that’s a fabulous feeling.
Tip: Whenever you have a little extra money, buy a 10 dollar/pound/euro giftcard from your discount grocer. Stash it. That’s your super emergency money. Make sure they don’t charge by the month for lack of use, though.
I don’t care if it sounds like an advertisement–you won’t be buying anything from the site. What I DO care about is your mental, emotional, and physical health–and dammit, food’s right in the center of that.
If you don’t need this now, pass it on to someone who does. Pass it on anyway, because do you REALLY know which of the people in your life is in need? Which follower might be staring at their own piggy bank? Trust me: someone out there needs to see this.
How Did It Know?
Hello hello and welcome to this week’s six sentence story based on the word of the week ACCESS. Follow our narrator, as they indulge in a little paranoia, based in part on my own woes of the week, and the idea that the car knows how much money you have in the bank. I think that my car has access to my bank account, or at the very least, listens in on my conversations when I talk on the phone. I…
View On WordPress
financial knowledge for the girlies 🤍🍓💸
Develop a budget: Creating and sticking to a budget can help you better understand your income and expenses, and learn how to prioritize your spending.
Save regularly: Saving money is crucial for achieving financial stability. You can set up automatic transfers to a savings account so you won't be tempted to spend the money.
Pay off debt: High-interest debt can hinder your financial progress. Make a plan to pay off your debts and focus on high-interest debts first.
Invest wisely: Investing can help your money grow over time. Look for low-cost index funds, which can give you broad exposure to the market at a low cost.
Understand compound interest: Compound interest is the interest you earn on interest. By investing consistently, the power of compound interest can help you build wealth over time.
Research before making big financial decisions: Before making a major decision, such as buying a house or car, research different options and weigh the costs and benefits.
Learn from your mistakes: Every failure or setback can teach you something valuable. Use these experiences to inform your future financial decisions.
Get professional advice: Seek advice from a financial advisor if you're unsure about your financial decisions. They can provide guidance on investments, retirement planning, and tax strategies.
Be aware of scams: Scammers can take advantage of financial illiteracy. Be cautious when someone offers an investment that's too good to be true.
Continuous learning: Financial knowledge is constantly changing, so stay informed by regularly reading financial news, books, and attending classes or webinars.
Ways I save money:
I have lived low income for a very long time and this is how I save money. Personal care: I leave my hair long and put it up if I want it out of the way, only cutting the ends maybe once a year or less. No dye, no "styles", no lotions/potions, no hot appliances. Simple and healthy. I never do mani/pedi unless I do it myself, but no polishes. I only use a one skin moisturizer. Also no make-up. I am 60 and people can't believe how young I look. Shoot if I look that young, why gob it up with expensive bottles and tubes of stuff nobody needs putting MY money into some company's pocket. I need my money. They don't.
Clothing: I only buy what I need and sometimes it is used or given to me as a gift. I wear it until it falls apart. I don't have many clothes. How many shirts can you wear at once? One, right? So how many clothes do you really need. I would say I maybe spend $100-200/yr on clothes, probably most socks and underwear. I have a coat I've been wearing for 40 years. Still looks great because it was a good coat. Laundry is only done when it is dirty. I did buy a small portable washer because the laundromat is a killer. This cost $350 and saves me $900/yr. I dry everything outside on a drying rack or inside on the same rack in the winter. My clothes don't wear out as quickly.
Housing: We rent and we rent less than maybe what we want and then make do. If they approve a mortgage for 200,000, buy a house for 150,000. If you can afford 1000 for rent, only spend 750. You get my drift. Always live under what you can afford because all the maintenance, insurance, taxes, and upkeep will also be less. This way you can save. I seriously have very few cleaning products. A bit of all purpose cleaner (I honestly just dilute ammonia with water) goes a long way. Nobody needs all the potions people create. I have simply used hot water on the floors. How sterile does a floor have to be? You're going to walk on it immediately and it will be dirty again, so really, who cares. I have the same old furniture I have had for years. Decent quality, well taken care of, and its lasted decades. Some of it was my grandmother's or mother's. It still works.
Food: LEARN TO COOK FROM SCRATCH. EAT LESS (I can guarantee most people eat way too much of all the wrong things). FINISH IT ALL AND USE THE LEFTOVERS. I buy stuff on clearance, even fruits and veg and quickly process them, stew them, blanch and freeze them, or whatever is appropriate. I have gotten a whole box of fruit and veg for $5 and not one bit of it is wasted in this way. Beans and pulses are good protein. Learn to cook them. Never buy processed, pre-cooked, out of the box foods. You are paying for someone else to do the work. Make a big batch of something and eat it all week, or freeze the remainder and make something different mid-week. LEARN TO COOK. LEARN TO COOK. LEARN TO COOK. Shop the sales at one store only. What's on sale/clearance is what I am eating this week, but this only applies to fruit/veg, meat/dairy, and simple foods. Junk food on sale still isn't food. If you have to make all your own cakes and cookies, you'll eat less, because you can't be bothered. Don't buy ready made.
Transportation: Buy used, no-fun, and buy cash if you can. Keep it until it literally gives up the ghost. Keep it maintained. If you can't afford to do this, you can't afford a car SO GET RID OF IT. Any place that is within a 30 minute walk, WALK, don't waste the gas. You DO need the exercise. Combine errands or do errands to or from work so you aren't making extra trips. Obey traffic rules at all times, it keeps your insurance low. I have a 2012 Civic and pay under $70/month.
Time: STOP WASTING IT. Take all social media off your phone. Take all shopping apps off your phone. Throw away all advertising that comes into the house immediately. Get ad-blockers so you're not tempted to bloody shop. Your money belongs in your pocket, not theirs. No matter what they tell you, they're not doing you favours. If you aren't in front of a screen, you can cook, do laundry, clean your home, mend, iron, and take care of what is yours so it last longer. GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WASTES YOUR TIME. The only thing I have is Tumblr and I am on it maybe a half hour every couple of days.
Entertainment: Use the library. Everything in it is free: movies, books, audiobooks, games, stuff, TV shows, printing costs only a few cents and saves you on stupid dried out ink for your printer you rarely use. Play board games or video games. I can rent both at the library. Visit your local pool, park, join a community sports team, take a hike, go to the beach. If it costs a lot, somebody is benefiting more than you. Change your way of thinking. Instead of thinking "a nice dinner out with a few drinks and a show $$$", think instead of going for a walk with a friend/family and maybe grabbing an ice-cream and a coffee at McDonalds or somewhere cheap. You'll have just as great of a conversation and your bank account won't look like a yawning empty cavern.
I guarantee you that I am just as happy as you, and probably, because I have no debt at all, I might even be more happy than you. Think about it.
Home Bar in Baltimore Picture of a medium-sized, elegant open-concept living room with a bar, gray walls, a television stand, and a brown floor and coffered ceiling.
Gravel - Landscape
Photo of a large southwestern drought-tolerant and full sun backyard gravel garden path in summer.