Piecing together ways to save money, protect the environment, and keep kosher.
Over the past 2+ years, I have been searching for ways to save on things we use a lot of. As a teacher and a graduate student (and coupon clipper), I often have to print documents from home. I do try to use the backs of paper by rerunning paper through again for less important... Continue Reading →
The weather does not always cooperate with our family plans! Some days off we might have a particular outing planned, and the rain interferes. Here are a few ideas for in and out of the house (no matter where you live). Note that some of these ideas may not be open on a holiday. The... Continue Reading →
(updated 3/5/17) One of the best ways to save at the grocery store is to have a list. Even better, have a menu for the week and then make a list from it. We try our best to make a menu on Saturday nights and go grocery shopping on Sundays. I admit, though, we do... Continue Reading →
(Updated 3/5/17; Pictured above - my husband and my oldest son, then 3, making challah.) Making challah can be a very fulfilling mitzvah and is one of the major mitzvot for women. I admit, though, that during the last several years with me working full-time, I barely get to make challah at all. However, every time I do, I... Continue Reading →
(updated 1/20/26) This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. It seems like whenever I look at the calendar there is another party or event coming up that I need a gift for. I try to do a few... Continue Reading →
(updated 4/14/17) If you think about it, everything you use once and throw away adds to your daily costs. It also adds to our landfills and impact on the environment. To get away from this whole throwaway society, we try to use many reusable products in our home. The savings may seem small, but over... Continue Reading →
I cannot believe how expensive medicines have gotten. Some copays are $60+ for one medicine! However, I have found a way to save a ton on medicines that my family and I take on a regular basis. Many insurance companies have a mail order pharmacy that you can get several months at a time of your medicine... Continue Reading →
(updated 1/26/26) Several years ago a classmate at UMSL told me about this great website (Paperbackswap.com) where you can swap books with other people. Since then, it has become my favorite way to get books for home and teaching! You can post any books that you want to trade and create your own wish list... Continue Reading →
I wish I could say this is an original idea, but I got it from browsing for money saving tips one day online. I used to cut coupons, but hardly ever used them in the store. The idea I found was to use a photo album to organize your coupons. I use a slide-in album... Continue Reading →
Over the years, I have seen various customer rewards programs come and go. However, there is one that has reaped great benefits for us. When I was teaching full-time, I signed up for OfficeMax's free MaxPerks program for teachers. They also have a version for businesses, too. The guidelines have changed over the years, but basically every... Continue Reading →
Surviving on a tight budget 