Pet Care on a Budget!

Let's be honest, pet ownership can be costly. You can still be a great pet owner without breaking the bank, and yes on a budget! Let me preface this post by saying, please Do Not adopt any pet if you are unable to care for it properly, we have to be good stewards of our pets. That being said, let's talk about pets on a budget. First, sign up for your stores rewards card. Most big box pet stores and some brick and mortar have a rewards program. This means that you spend X amount and gain $ off your next purchase. Also consider, that independent retailers get to offer frequent buyer programs! for example, buy 10 bags of food get your 11th free. It doesn't seem like much but every little bit helps. In addition, don't be afraid to ask if coupons are available. Many demo and sales reps make weekly or monthly visits to stores, and they usually bring coupons with them for customer use. It's not popular opinion but is does have its place, online shopping. It doesn't benefit your local brick and mortar but when you are on a budget sometimes the deals are online, and you have to do what you have to do. sites like Chewy and Amazon have some great deals at wholesale prices verses retail, plus not waiting in line, crowds, or gas to get there. For dogs and cats I have found many great deals on beds, leashes, toys, potty pads, clothing, collars, poopy bags etc, at discount stores. Ross, Marshalls, TJmaxx all have great pet sections with lots of name brand items for cheap! Even Costco has great deals on occasion, usually giant dog beds for 20 bucks! Even Big lots, Burlington, and .99/ dollar tree  stores have pet sections worth checking out. If your favorite big box store is also online, it's worth looking into, online versions of these stores offer automatic shipping options for pet supplies at a discount if you sign up for it (you can choose the intervals, ie monthly, every 3 months, 6 months etc). Please note if your budget should change you can always cancel the automatic shipping option at any time with most sites. In addition don't forget about Target and Walmart, they have some great options for budget pet shopping. Pets have always been a passion of mine, so I always try to emphasize that even though you are on a budget, just do the best you can with what you've got. That being said, food is one area where budget pet shopping needs to be done with caution. Although it may be tempting looking at cheap food options budget wise, be aware that it comes at a cost. Grocery quality pet food is priced low because quality it very low. In the pet food industry price reflects quality (for the most part). I know this is very tempting when you are on a budget to buy a $5 bag of food, but the damage it will do in the long run, isn't worth it. Pay a little more (if you can) up front for pet food, so you have a healthier pet in the long run and less vet bills. If you would like more information on the ins and out of the pet food industry there is a great documentary called Pet Fooled it's a must watch. Ok, lets tackle vet care, this is a biggy and usually very expensive. First tackle what you can at home holistically, there are some great Facebook groups for this, like Natural care for animals and people. Most independent retailers will care specialty items for holistic care, like ointments and tinctures. Obviously if you suspect your pet needs vet care go, go, go. To help cut costs, look for low cost and mobile clinics. Some big box stores have mobile and/or low cost  vet clinics on site. Some vets will have coupons for first time visitors in local flyers or in office don't be afraid to ask. If you find yourself in a pet emergency and no funds, there are still options. Most vet offices have Care credit (so you can make payments), you could also try setting up a go fund me if you really need help fast. If you are in California there is a foundation called Actors and Others for Animals that offers help. I'll add more to this post as I think of it, stay tuned!

The Tiered Tray Trend, On a Budget!

I love all things decor, especially seasonal decor! I just love how cozy and welcoming a nicely decorated home feels. You don't even have to spend a ton to add a sweet seasonal touch. lately I've been seeing  a lot of seasonal tiered trays. If you type in #tieredtray on instagram or search for them on Pinterest thousands come up. This leaves me with such great inspiration for my own tiered tray. Don't worry we'll stick to the budget theme, so here's how to get the adorable tiered tray on a budget. First you need a tiered tray, you can either make your own (check out Pinterest) or purchase. If you purchase be sure to search for the deals. This is a top trend so tiered trays are getting expensive, but not everywhere. This fall the target dollar spot released cute and inexpensive 2 tiered trays for under $5! I found mine at hobby lobby and used their 40% off coupon from their website, you can also find it on their Facebook. If your budget is even tighter, utilize garage sales and thrift stores. I even saw an adorable 3 tiered tray on the Facebook marketplace for CHEAP! After to find your tray the fun starts, filling it!You wouldn't believe where I have found the cutest trinkets for my tray, yes even seasonal trinkets. I found some great ceramic halloween figures at the drug store of all places, and the best part, half way through fall they were only $2.50 ea! Also Hobby lobby, if you catch the sales right or use the coupon  you can find some fantastic tiny trinkets. I usually find them on the individual tiered table displays they have, on occasion I might find smaller pieces down an aisle. The target dollar spot is also an awesome find for inexpensive tray trinkets, and filler. There are many adorable finds at dollar stores and biglots too. Additionally do not forget about Homegoods, Marshalls, and Ross, many many good finds there. I found a cute pumpkin mini sign at Homegoods for $3.99! Don't worry if you can't afford to fill out your tray all in one season, my husband and I make it a tradition to pick out one new item a year to add. You can fill in the gaps with leafs, pinecones, sticks, pompoms, cloth napkins,  beads, a strand of mini lights, etc. and Lastly don't forget to use what you already have around the house. I see many tiered trays with a cute coffee mug, candles, decorative salt shakers, mini plates, even food (think coco packets, and candy canes). You could even wrap a nice scarf around your tray. I found some pretty inexpensive decor and filler at Tuesday Morning as well, like a bag of faux pears and silk plants, even scented pinecones. You just have to get creative, but it is possible! Here's my first attempt;

Welcome!

So, I'm trying something new, this blog. I'm new to the blogging world, but I'd love to see what it's all about. So here I am, newly laid off, and wondering what next? What do I do (other than job hunt) with all this free time? let's try blogging, yes? The point of this blog is to show people how to enjoy the life you've been given, even if that means you're on a budget. I have always lived on a budget for one reason or another, initially sure that sounds sad. In all actuality it's not that bad, it can even be fun to score a bargain at your favorite store. Whether it's groceries, home decor, or clothes there is a bargain to be had. On this blog I intend to share my shopping scores and adventures with all of you. My hope is that you can find joy in the little things, and that you can make the most with what you do have. If there is a topic that you would like to see discussed (on a budget of course) please feel free to comment :) Happy Budgeting!

Wedding on a Budget!

So you're getting married and on a budget! Take a breathe it's possible, and doable! Once you've set a budget and know what you're working with you can start planning. Let's start first with utilizing the friends and family you have, don't be afraid to ask for help or their skills. If you have a family member or friend who is a photographer, DJ, baker, hair stylist, or florist ask for their services and see if they would be willing to give you a deal on them. The majority of your budget (usually half) will be the food. If your budget and crowd are small consider potluck style, I know it's not super fancy. However, you have to work with what you have. Also look into your favorite restaurants, most of them cater. Keep in mind going buffet style will lessen your food cost greatly, verses plated meals. I used a great app for wedding planning called The Knot. The Knot is a great resource for all things wedding, you can read reviews and ratings, and book vendors all within the app. We found our DJ and Baker this way. Ok so lets talk about the dress! this is also a big part of your budget. Of course take advantage of sales and bridal expos, but also look into used dresses. I know this sounds weird but, there are shops that sell or rent great dresses. If you think about it, most wedding dresses are only worn once so some decide to donate theirs after the big day. Even eBay has wedding dresses for sale if you're feeling adventurous. Next is flowers, hiring a florist can be expensive so consider making the arrangements yourself, or with a friend. We found that both Costco and Trader Joes allows for special orders for their floral departments, at a better cost than florists. We chose Trader Joes, their flowers are delivered daily and fresh. We spoke with the manager and placed an order for a specific date, and type of flowers. have buckets and vases ready to allow 1-2 days for the flowers to open a bit before building bouquets and such. Then put together a team to build the center pieces, bouquets and boutonnieres. You can find some great vases at the dollar tree, or thrift stores. We found a great set of vases on Amazon for our center pieces, all matching, beautiful and cheap! Speaking of Amazon, this was a great tool for wedding planning. I found a set of plates (dinner, dessert, cutlery, plus champagne flutes) that looked like real china, but were actually plastic! best part, you throw them away when done, no washing rented dishes! easy clean up. Instead of buying tables, chairs, and linens consider renting. We found a great company who delivered them to our venue, set up, tore down, and picked up all same day. The cake, also not cheap, but there are ways around that. If you have a family member that bakes consider asking them to make your wedding cake. If that's not an option find a baker whose willing to work with your budget. We had a small budget so we needed options, instead of a 4 tier wedding cake that would have cost well over 400 dollars, we went smaller. Small as in cupcakes, we found a 4 tiered stand on Amazon and die cut cupcake liners that looked like lace. The baker made a small cake for us to cut, it fit on the top tier, and the rest was cupcakes. Not only was it delicious it's a cheaper option! Plus they delivered and set it all up.  If you utilize Pinterest at all you know how helpful this can be. We found some great ideas for favors, flowers, and cakes on Pinterest. Etsy and Hobby Lobby are also awesome tools for wedding planning. Hobby Lobby has a great wedding section with all kinds of decor, signage, ribbon, etc a lot of great ideas there. Etsy was a great resource for wedding favors, some sweet and inexpensive ideas too. If budget is really tight, consider doing an alcohol free wedding, use sparkling cider for the toast instead. Remember you and your guests don't need to be wasted to have a great time. Plus no need to hire a bartender. Invitations can cost a lot if you go overboard, instead of multiple invites and save the date cards that get thrown away, consider e-vites or digital invitations. If you must have a physical invite do just one, forget the superfluous save the dates etc. We found a great invitation and rsvp set on vista print of all places, lots of cute options to choose from for just a few cents a piece. We spruced up our invites by wrapping them in paper lace doilies and twine to mimic the beautiful $6 a piece die cut ones we first saw (not in budget). Lastly, the venue, this will eat a good portion of your budget too, so consider using a beautiful park, beach, or backyard for your reception. Sometimes it is easier to have both the ceremony and reception in the same venue, less driving, gas, cost etc. Be aware if you use a state park or beach you may need permits (especially if alcohol is served) talk to your city hall to find out the requirements. Banquet halls, rec rooms, dance halls, community centers, auditoriums, churches, schools, and some restaurants have large rooms available to rent for events, always worth looking into. Ok bride to be, you got this. Let the creative juices flow and you'll be able to pull off the perfect wedding day. Remember don't sweat the small stuff, do the best you can, and most importantly enjoy it! Your wedding day flies by fast, take in all the moments before it's gone.

Home Decor On A Budget!

My husband and I bought our first home almost a year ago, costly, but exciting! From the beginning we were both so excited to get settled and decorate our home. With that excitement came reality, we just bought a home and it took everything we had to make it happen, so now what?  You budget of course, decide what you can spend, and when, just do what you can with what you have. It may seem impossible to decorate after all the moving expenses and house buying costs etc, but once the unpacking has happened you will find a way. Even if decorating has to happen in increments, it will be done eventually. But, now the fun part, shopping! We found some stellar deals at Big lots, Ross and Marshalls for bedding, kitchen utensils, word art and decor, furniture, even stuff for the garden! Keep an eye out for Big lots' friends and family discount days, they happen a few times a year, and coupons are 20% off your entire purchase! Also, take advantage of their rewards card, this is Not a credit card, this will get you discounts and coupons the more you use it. Hobby Lobby was also a great resource for home decor, plus with their 40% off coupon and sales you can be sure to find a score.  Also check out Home Goods the sister store to TJMaxx and Marshalls, this store is a treasure trove for home decor bargains, and great for seasonal finds too, like Christmas and fall decor! We found a great teak entryway bench on discount, it fit the bill perfectly and what a deal!. In addition, don't discount target for decor on a budget! You can't forget to make a stop at target for home decor shopping! between their dollar deals and hearth and home decor I'm smitten with target! don't forget to look at their clearance end caps, especially when seasons change the last season deals are discounted, these are at the end of aisles and contain a variety of things. If you are an online shopper there are many ways to save on decor. Aside from Amazon home, look into Wayfair (yay free shipping), Joss and Main, Overstock, and Birch Lane. We utilized Birch Lane for our entryway table, and it was a great experience, plus they have a great return policy, and awesome sales. If you are in the market for a large item like a couch, or patio furniture, or dining set, make the best use of seasonal sales. Holidays like Black Friday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Etc, are great times to buy furniture. We found an awesome deal on a dining table set at Jeromes during a holiday sale. It was a  great experience, plus they deliver, and assemble your pieces for you! Lastly, lets talk about thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales! If you don't mind second hand goods, or maybe something you'll need to refinish (it's fun trust me) you can score big time. You can even utilize craigslist and facebook marketplace for second hand goods too. All that being said, it is possible to furnish a home on a budget. Happy decorating!